The recent news that Consumer Reports put the 2010 Lexus GX 460 on its “Don’t Buy” list has already impacted the vehicle’s future–Toyota has issued a stop-sale order on the $52,000 SUV and commissioned extensive testing to determine the cause of its failure. The safety warning could also pose a public relations problem for the […]
Category Archives: Auto
Most and Least Expensive Cars to Insure
In the market for a new car, but not sure which model to buy? Here’s something that might help: Insure.com has named the most and least expensive 2010 vehicles to insure. While the most expensive is the Porsche 911 Carrera GT2 with an average national premium of $2,944. The least is the Mazda Tribute i […]
How Car Dealers Make Their Money
“Follow the money,” is good advice for someone trying to understand the hidden side of any business. Nowhere is this more important than on a car lot. Rows of shiny new cars on a dealer’s lot make consumers believe that’s where the big money is. But if you follow the trail of dollars, it leads […]
Cabbie Scam Exposed
They’re not as bad as mechanics or lawyers, but taxi drivers do have a bit of reputation for inflating their fares. But is this true or just an urban legend designed to keep Midwesterners out of Times Square? Unfortunately, it appears to have a ring of truth to it. We’re not saying all taxi drivers […]
Avoid Auto Repair Rip-Offs
Do you remember how you felt the last time your car broke down or had a major mechanical issue? You probably felt helpless and stressed – not only because you worried about how to get to work the next day, but also because you dreaded the impending visit to the repair shop. It seems like […]
Ford to shut down iconic car brand
Ford Motor Co. will cease production of its 72-year-old Mercury brand by the end of 2010 after years of declining sales. Mercury’s death is the latest in a string of casualties as Detroit carmakers try to cut costs and invest more heavily in fewer offerings. By shedding a mid-range brand that was more and more […]
Gas Mileage Myths
Do Americans care about fuel economy as oil spills into the Gulf of Mexico and gasoline hovers around $3 a gallon? You bet they do, though they also have a fair number of misconceptions about how to squeeze a few more miles out of every drop. The Consumer Federation of America’s (CFA) most recent survey […]
Rolls-Royce Builds a Real Car
High-tech BMW underpinnings meet classic English cosseting in the new Ghost. Got $245,000? I could afford a Rolls-Royce Ghost. All I’d need to do is sell my house and all my Greek treasury bills. (What? Oh, jeez. When did that happen?) The question is, if I had $245,000 to $300,000 to spend on a car, […]