From the New York Times:
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS
Published: November 29, 2008
QUINCY, Fla. — Bruce Thomas washed cars at his father’s General Motors dealership here at age 12, changed oil in high school, and sold his first Pontiac during college.
His commitment to a famed American industry, part business and part romance, never waned. He took over his family’s two dealerships, building a small fortune. In turn, he showered generosity on local churches, school athletic teams, charity golf tournaments and a group that helps women find jobs out of prison.
But suddenly, all of Mr. Thomas’s success appears to be melting away.
Days go by without a sale. His debts are mounting. His friends offer him cash to get by. “I’m trying to survive as a car dealer,” said Mr. Thomas, now 59, “and I don’t know if I can.”
Top executives of the Big Three automakers are preparing to return to Washington this week with business plans they hope will lead to a federal bailout. But any government help will probably come too late for thousands of dealers like Mr. Thomas who sell American brands.
They have been struggling for years, as Detroit’s fortunes waned, but what remains of their sales is evaporating along with consumer confidence and credit.
The National Automobile Dealers Association predicts that roughly 900 of the nation’s 20,770 new-car dealers will go out of business this year, and automobile analysts say the number of failed dealerships could rise into the thousands next year.
Even if Ford, Chrysler and G.M. survive, many believe a comeuppance is inevitable among dealerships; indeed, for years the nation has had more dealers for domestic brands than warranted by the sales volume of the Detroit automakers.
The economic toll of a mass failure of dealerships around the country has already begun to harm the broader economy. In October alone, 20,000 employees of auto dealerships lost their jobs nationwide, more than half of those who were newly unemployed in the retail trade, according to the Labor Department.
The auto dealers association estimates that new-car dealers produce a $54 billion annual payroll for 1.1 million workers and nearly 20 percent of the retail sales and sales taxes in small and large communities alike.
The auto dealers are not just businesses, of course. Most of them are deeply rooted in their communities, and each is a slice of Americana — their big flags flying, their radio advertisements compelling attention and their Little League sponsorships and other charity helping to improve the lives of local people.
In this small town outside Tallahassee, Mr. Thomas had 50 employees only two years ago when his two dealerships sold an average of 24 new vehicles a month. But now Mr. Thomas is lucky if he sells three new vehicles a week, and he has had to dismiss 10 of his remaining 40 employees in recent days.
Salesmen at Mr. Thomas’s two dealerships — one selling Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep cars and the other General Motors models — are so idle, they spend their time doing Sudoku puzzles, reading sports magazines and calling and writing old clients. They repeatedly implore the mail carrier to buy a car on mornings when he is the only one to come in the door.
Calmly resolute, Mr. Thomas spends his days talking to lawyers and bankers, trying to keep his business alive. Mr. Thomas has lost a lot of money in an investment in a cousin’s Georgia dealership, but many of his problems appear to be not of his making.
The last couple of years of rising gasoline prices took the steam out of the market for his Dodge Ram 2500 heavy pickup trucks and GMC Yukon sport utilities. In recent months, gasoline prices came down, but unemployment began rising here. The weak economy has hurt farmers, government workers and others. Quincy’s middle class is hurting because of plummeting values for homes and stocks.
And now the credit market — the lifeblood of any car dealership — is frozen. Finance companies have tightened credit both for car buyers and for dealerships like Mr. Thomas’s that stock their showrooms with vehicles bought on credit. The car companies are delaying some payments to dealers because of their own problems.
Mr. Thomas has gotten behind in payments to GMAC, G.M.’s financing arm, so the company sent a representative to his dealerships two weeks ago to take control of the keys of new cars on his lots to guarantee that GMAC is paid when any vehicles are sold.
Mr. Thomas has stopped ordering new vehicles, and he is relentlessly cutting costs, including his own salary. He is slashing medical benefits and matching funds for the retirement accounts of his remaining employees. He has stopped giving free oil changes and tires to charities, stopped offering coffee to customers and even canceled janitorial services for the bathrooms.
Salesmen are passing out their résumés to visitors, and they say they are not sure they will get paid from one week to the next.
“You have to laugh to keep from crying these days,” Lynn Mayo, the office manager at the G.M. dealership, said as she wiped away tears. “The whole mess is hard.”
The downturn has been years in the making. Mr. Thomas’s total sales, including repairs and used cars, fell to $26 million in 2007 from $32 million in 2005. This year he hopes sales will reach $20 million based largely on stronger business during the first half. During the last two months, sales and repairs hit a wall.
It is a big comedown for a business that began with Mr. Thomas’s father, Howard, who came to Quincy after World War II to start a used-car business across the street from a Chevrolet dealer. Howard Thomas was so successful, the Chevrolet dealer bought him out and brought him into the new-car business as a manager.
In 1967 Howard Thomas bought half of the local Pontiac-GMC store, and 12 years later it became a Thomas family operation run by him and his son. The business expanded to two dealerships and became a major benefactor to the local Little League team, theater and other charities. More than 400 people attended Howard Thomas’s funeral in February. The business has long been the biggest retail employer in the town after Wal-Mart, and has produced $1 million in sales taxes annually in recent years.
Local officials say they know Mr. Thomas is in trouble, and they fear the consequences of his going out of business. “It would be a huge tragedy for us,” said Quincy’s mayor, Andy Gay, whose first job after getting married was selling cars at a Thomas dealership.
Mr. Thomas’s business is a microcosm for the whole industry. At least 70 percent of the dealerships that have closed so far this year sell American cars, and better than 60 percent of the remaining dealerships sell the troubled Detroit brands. “A lot of them will go out of business,” predicted Rex Henderson, an auto analyst at Raymond James & Associates.
“We have never seen anything like this,” said Denny Fitzpatrick, owner of a Chevrolet-Hummer dealership outside Oakland and chairman of the California New Car Dealers Association. Having already dismissed 56 of his 114 employees, Mr. Fitzpatrick added, “You lay awake at night trying to figure out how to keep these doors open.”
Car dealers are not entirely blameless for their fate. Auto analysts say they did not push Detroit hard enough to build better-quality, more efficient cars. They note that the dealers lobbied hard in state capitals for laws to protect their franchises from the Detroit manufacturers who wanted to limit their numbers and determine their locations.
Mr. Thomas lays some blame on the unions that drove hard bargains with the automakers, some on a news media that “glorified” imports, and some on the Big Three for being “slow to react to the market and what the public wanted,” especially when gas prices rose in recent years.
To compensate, Mr. Thomas said he had changed his inventory the last couple of years to include fewer trucks and sport utilities, adding more fuel-efficient vehicles like the Pontiac G6. He shifted his advertising away from newspapers to the Internet. He gradually reduced his business’ charitable giving, once $30,000 a year, to $1,900 this year.
He has begun a radio campaign offering zero percent financing on all his 2008 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles for 36 months, and savings of up to $12,000 on Yukon XLs.
But sales have not budged.
Speaking in an office decorated with antique golf clubs, autographed baseballs and a photograph of his grandfather posing beside a 1952 Buick Roadmaster, Mr. Thomas said he had no major regrets.
“As a kid I dreamed about cars,” he said. “The business has changed and the cars have changed, and it’s been fun to be part of that.”
But he said he saw more trouble ahead.
“At this point, I see no light at the end of the tunnel,” he said, closing his eyes for a moment to think. “I only see it getting worse. Any bailout to Detroit will take a while to get to Main Street.”
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Take car of that car
By Craig Howie
AOL Autos
A little yellow warning light appeared on the dash of my minitruck restoration project over the summer.
As a good motorist, I took it to a local mechanic who advised me that it was nothing to worry about, that he had had a similar problem with a minitruck he once owned, and he drove it for three years with the warning light on until the bulb behind the light fused.
Great advice, I found, if you want your engine to blow a couple of weeks later (as I found to my great cost, too).
My advice: Don't ignore that warning light. A little warning light also should go off in your head if you detect strange smells emanating from your car, or hesitancy on acceleration, or the car pulling in one direction. All are symptomatic of a growing problem and should be investigated.
Quickly, you'll find that a little routine maintenance can keep you safe and free of more expensive repairs. Most require little more time than it takes to refill the windshield wiper fluid (and don't forget to do that regularly, either).
Here are some top tips to help keep the average motorist safe and, hopefully, trouble free:
Engine oil
Don't stray too far from the mantra of changing your engine oil every 3,000-5,000 miles. Change nearer the 3,000 mark if you pull weighty loads or drive in town or on frequently jammed freeways. The oil level should be checked every couple of weeks, or monthly at least.
When the engine is warm to the touch, check your oil by lifting the hood and finding the dipstick, which will likely be labeled "oil". Pull it out and wipe the bottom of it on a rag, then dip it back into its slot. Pull it out again and inspect the fluid level at the bottom of the stick. It should be at a level between the marker lines, nearer the "full" line is preferable.
If the oil looks dirty or black, take it to your mechanic to be changed, or do it yourself if you're handy. If the oil is clear but at a lowish level, top it off with more engine oil -- ask your dealership which brand it recommends -- though be aware that a very low oil level may indicate a leak.
Transmission
You can detect problems in your transmission if you are experiencing problems shifting gears. A quick check of the transmission fluid level -- similar to an oil check -- could detect if your fluid level is low, which could in turn indicate a leak.
When checking the transmission fluid, make sure your car is running and in "park." You may also wish to put some chocks behind the back wheels.
The trick for transmission fluid is that it should have a slight pinkish tint: Once you've dipped, wiped, dipped and re-examined the fluid level, sniff it to check that it doesn't smell burnt and check that it's not brackish-brown. If it's low, refill with a lubricant recommended for your car, using a funnel to avoid spillage.
Spots of the pink fluid on your street or garage floor usually indicate a leak, which can prove troublesome as the transmission is a closed system. Your mechanic should be able to pinpoint the problem for you.
Safety-wise, make sure you clean up any spilled lubricant immediately -- that sweet, pink liquid proves mighty tasty for household cats and dogs -- as, in my experience, vet bills can easily match a mechanic's.
Coolant
Coolant is the mixture of antifreeze and water used to dissipate heat and maintain temperature throughout an engine by utilizing the radiator. On older cars, check fluid levels by unscrewing the radiator cap, but never when your vehicle is hot. Wait for it to cool down first and also make sure your car is parked on a level surface.
Newer cars will have a sump or reservoir usually placed to the engine's right. If your coolant is at a satisfactory level as marked on the reservoir, and is clear rather than cloudy or brown, you're good to go.
Change your coolant and flush your radiator every two years or so, and make sure your radiator is free of corrosion.
Tires, spare tire and jack
Overinflation and underinflation of tires carry their own perils in terms of safety, tire wear and fuel efficiency. Check your tire pressure every couple of weeks with a handheld pressure tester you can buy at your local automotive mart, or take your vehicle to the "Air" pump at your service station.
Check your owner's manual for the recommended tire pressure and fill accordingly. If you're unsure how to do this, take somebody with you who knows how to do it, and you should be able to do it yourself from then on. Remember to inflate your spare tire, too (temporary spare tires usually have a 50- to 100-mile life expectancy).
A penny is often the simplest way to check tire tread: Stick a penny into a groove with old Abe's head pointing down. If the tread is lower than Lincoln's quiff, your tire level is unsafe. Check all four tires as the tread level may be uneven, which also indicates you have to rotate your tires more frequently.
You can do this yourself with a jack and a strong back, or your mechanic should be able to do this for $20 or so. They'll also be able to check the car's alignment and rebalance your wheels accordingly, which the home mechanic may find tricky.
Battery
Batteries last about three and a half years in general, though extreme weather can also affect lifespan. Keep your battery and its connecting cables free of corrosion by scrubbing them with a stiff wire brush and a mixture of baking soda and water (always making sure you catch the run-off in a tray or suchlike).
Make sure the battery is disconnected before beginning. If you're understandably squeamish about fussing with chemicals and a power source, a qualified professional can always do this for you. Cracks in the battery shell or suspicious bulges usually indicate you'll need a new battery. Replace it before you get stranded in an area you'd rather not be.
Brakes
Your car will tell you when your brakes need work through inimitable but never endearing whines, screeches, grinding and pulling, or a softness when you press the stopping pedal. A red light on your dash will probably be lit also.
You may need to check your brake fluid level, which you can do by checking the master cylinder and comparing the fluid level with the level indicated, and refilling accordingly with fluid recommended for your vehicle. You can also check the condition of your brake hoses; worn hoses will exacerbate other problems.
Others -- in fact, almost all -- will admit defeat and take the car to their mechanic. Early action usually avoids the need for a full brake system overhaul, which is expensive, and minimizes safety issues.
Emergency kit
So you didn't do any of the above and you're stranded -- hah! I'm just kidding: Even the most cautious motorists get let down by their steed.
Here's what your emergency safety kit should contain: Jumper cables, engine oil, de-icer fluid , flashlight , emergency flares, distress flag, first aid kit, pocket knife, water and snacks, blankets , gloves, scarf, hat, cell phone , ice scraper, shovel, tow chain or rope and a jack.
© 2008 AOL, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
AOL Autos
A little yellow warning light appeared on the dash of my minitruck restoration project over the summer.
As a good motorist, I took it to a local mechanic who advised me that it was nothing to worry about, that he had had a similar problem with a minitruck he once owned, and he drove it for three years with the warning light on until the bulb behind the light fused.
Great advice, I found, if you want your engine to blow a couple of weeks later (as I found to my great cost, too).
My advice: Don't ignore that warning light. A little warning light also should go off in your head if you detect strange smells emanating from your car, or hesitancy on acceleration, or the car pulling in one direction. All are symptomatic of a growing problem and should be investigated.
Quickly, you'll find that a little routine maintenance can keep you safe and free of more expensive repairs. Most require little more time than it takes to refill the windshield wiper fluid (and don't forget to do that regularly, either).
Here are some top tips to help keep the average motorist safe and, hopefully, trouble free:
Engine oil
Don't stray too far from the mantra of changing your engine oil every 3,000-5,000 miles. Change nearer the 3,000 mark if you pull weighty loads or drive in town or on frequently jammed freeways. The oil level should be checked every couple of weeks, or monthly at least.
When the engine is warm to the touch, check your oil by lifting the hood and finding the dipstick, which will likely be labeled "oil". Pull it out and wipe the bottom of it on a rag, then dip it back into its slot. Pull it out again and inspect the fluid level at the bottom of the stick. It should be at a level between the marker lines, nearer the "full" line is preferable.
If the oil looks dirty or black, take it to your mechanic to be changed, or do it yourself if you're handy. If the oil is clear but at a lowish level, top it off with more engine oil -- ask your dealership which brand it recommends -- though be aware that a very low oil level may indicate a leak.
Transmission
You can detect problems in your transmission if you are experiencing problems shifting gears. A quick check of the transmission fluid level -- similar to an oil check -- could detect if your fluid level is low, which could in turn indicate a leak.
When checking the transmission fluid, make sure your car is running and in "park." You may also wish to put some chocks behind the back wheels.
The trick for transmission fluid is that it should have a slight pinkish tint: Once you've dipped, wiped, dipped and re-examined the fluid level, sniff it to check that it doesn't smell burnt and check that it's not brackish-brown. If it's low, refill with a lubricant recommended for your car, using a funnel to avoid spillage.
Spots of the pink fluid on your street or garage floor usually indicate a leak, which can prove troublesome as the transmission is a closed system. Your mechanic should be able to pinpoint the problem for you.
Safety-wise, make sure you clean up any spilled lubricant immediately -- that sweet, pink liquid proves mighty tasty for household cats and dogs -- as, in my experience, vet bills can easily match a mechanic's.
Coolant
Coolant is the mixture of antifreeze and water used to dissipate heat and maintain temperature throughout an engine by utilizing the radiator. On older cars, check fluid levels by unscrewing the radiator cap, but never when your vehicle is hot. Wait for it to cool down first and also make sure your car is parked on a level surface.
Newer cars will have a sump or reservoir usually placed to the engine's right. If your coolant is at a satisfactory level as marked on the reservoir, and is clear rather than cloudy or brown, you're good to go.
Change your coolant and flush your radiator every two years or so, and make sure your radiator is free of corrosion.
Tires, spare tire and jack
Overinflation and underinflation of tires carry their own perils in terms of safety, tire wear and fuel efficiency. Check your tire pressure every couple of weeks with a handheld pressure tester you can buy at your local automotive mart, or take your vehicle to the "Air" pump at your service station.
Check your owner's manual for the recommended tire pressure and fill accordingly. If you're unsure how to do this, take somebody with you who knows how to do it, and you should be able to do it yourself from then on. Remember to inflate your spare tire, too (temporary spare tires usually have a 50- to 100-mile life expectancy).
A penny is often the simplest way to check tire tread: Stick a penny into a groove with old Abe's head pointing down. If the tread is lower than Lincoln's quiff, your tire level is unsafe. Check all four tires as the tread level may be uneven, which also indicates you have to rotate your tires more frequently.
You can do this yourself with a jack and a strong back, or your mechanic should be able to do this for $20 or so. They'll also be able to check the car's alignment and rebalance your wheels accordingly, which the home mechanic may find tricky.
Battery
Batteries last about three and a half years in general, though extreme weather can also affect lifespan. Keep your battery and its connecting cables free of corrosion by scrubbing them with a stiff wire brush and a mixture of baking soda and water (always making sure you catch the run-off in a tray or suchlike).
Make sure the battery is disconnected before beginning. If you're understandably squeamish about fussing with chemicals and a power source, a qualified professional can always do this for you. Cracks in the battery shell or suspicious bulges usually indicate you'll need a new battery. Replace it before you get stranded in an area you'd rather not be.
Brakes
Your car will tell you when your brakes need work through inimitable but never endearing whines, screeches, grinding and pulling, or a softness when you press the stopping pedal. A red light on your dash will probably be lit also.
You may need to check your brake fluid level, which you can do by checking the master cylinder and comparing the fluid level with the level indicated, and refilling accordingly with fluid recommended for your vehicle. You can also check the condition of your brake hoses; worn hoses will exacerbate other problems.
Others -- in fact, almost all -- will admit defeat and take the car to their mechanic. Early action usually avoids the need for a full brake system overhaul, which is expensive, and minimizes safety issues.
Emergency kit
So you didn't do any of the above and you're stranded -- hah! I'm just kidding: Even the most cautious motorists get let down by their steed.
Here's what your emergency safety kit should contain: Jumper cables, engine oil, de-icer fluid , flashlight , emergency flares, distress flag, first aid kit, pocket knife, water and snacks, blankets , gloves, scarf, hat, cell phone , ice scraper, shovel, tow chain or rope and a jack.
© 2008 AOL, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Ford, with help from Volvo, tops safe car list
From Associated Press, via Yahoo
By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – The insurance industry named dozens of new cars and trucks, led by Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo subsidiary, to its annual list of the safest vehicles Tuesday, helped by the increased use of anti-rollover technology.
Ford and Volvo had 16 vehicles in the 2009 model year on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of the safest new cars, followed by Honda Motor Co. with 13 vehicles.
Seventy-two cars, trucks and SUVs received the top safety pick designation for 2009, more than double the number of vehicles in the 2008 model year and three times the number in 2007.
"The sheer number of this year's winners indicates that automakers have made huge strides to improve crash protection," said Institute president Adrian Lund.
The selected vehicles are the best in protecting people in front, side and rear crash tests based on institute evaluations during the year. The vehicles are required to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award.
IIHS said electronic stability control is now standard equipment on virtually all new SUVs and three-quarters of passenger cars for the 2009 model year. ESC is standard on more than one-third of 2009 pickups.
Ford was led by the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize cars with optional ESC; the Ford F-150 pickup, Ford Edge and Ford Flex midsize sport utility vehicles; and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small SUVs. The list also included the Mazda Tribute, which has the same underpinnings as the Escape and Mariner.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally argued last week in Washington that the automaker had made safety strides when he testified along with other Big Three executives seeking massive government aid.
"Every year, we're going to improve the quality, we're going to improve the fuel efficiency, we're going to improve the safety, and we're going to keep improving the productivity so we can offer the consumer the very best value," Mulally told a House committee.
Honda and its Acura unit had vehicles in nearly every category, including top-sellers such as the Honda Accord; the Honda Civic 4-door with optional ESC; and the Acura MDX and RDX midsize SUVs; and the Honda Fit with optional ESC. The Fit is the first mini-car to earn the safety award.
Volkswagen AG and its Audi brand had nine vehicles on the list, including the Volkswagen Jetta and Passat and the Audi A3, A4 and A6.
General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. both had eight vehicles on the list. GM's included the Cadillac CTS and the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook large SUVs.
Toyota's top performers were the Toyota Corolla with optional ESC, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra and Scion xB.
Using the awards, consumers can compare vehicles without having to review results from multiple tests. Automakers pay close attention to the institute's findings and frequently note positive ratings in television commercials.
The institute has advocated for an early adoption of anti-rollover technology such as ESC ahead of a government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.
Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. It helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.
IIHS said Chrysler LLC was the only major automaker that did not receive a single award. They said Chrysler could have picked up five awards if the head restraints had been improved in the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, the Sebring convertible and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country.
Chrysler spokesman Cole Quinnell said he could not comment on whether the head restraints might be upgraded in the future. He said Chrysler vehicles are equipped with a variety of safety features and the institute's results "are just one of the sources of information about a vehicle's crash performance."
___
On the Net:
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org
By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – The insurance industry named dozens of new cars and trucks, led by Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo subsidiary, to its annual list of the safest vehicles Tuesday, helped by the increased use of anti-rollover technology.
Ford and Volvo had 16 vehicles in the 2009 model year on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of the safest new cars, followed by Honda Motor Co. with 13 vehicles.
Seventy-two cars, trucks and SUVs received the top safety pick designation for 2009, more than double the number of vehicles in the 2008 model year and three times the number in 2007.
"The sheer number of this year's winners indicates that automakers have made huge strides to improve crash protection," said Institute president Adrian Lund.
The selected vehicles are the best in protecting people in front, side and rear crash tests based on institute evaluations during the year. The vehicles are required to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award.
IIHS said electronic stability control is now standard equipment on virtually all new SUVs and three-quarters of passenger cars for the 2009 model year. ESC is standard on more than one-third of 2009 pickups.
Ford was led by the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize cars with optional ESC; the Ford F-150 pickup, Ford Edge and Ford Flex midsize sport utility vehicles; and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small SUVs. The list also included the Mazda Tribute, which has the same underpinnings as the Escape and Mariner.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally argued last week in Washington that the automaker had made safety strides when he testified along with other Big Three executives seeking massive government aid.
"Every year, we're going to improve the quality, we're going to improve the fuel efficiency, we're going to improve the safety, and we're going to keep improving the productivity so we can offer the consumer the very best value," Mulally told a House committee.
Honda and its Acura unit had vehicles in nearly every category, including top-sellers such as the Honda Accord; the Honda Civic 4-door with optional ESC; and the Acura MDX and RDX midsize SUVs; and the Honda Fit with optional ESC. The Fit is the first mini-car to earn the safety award.
Volkswagen AG and its Audi brand had nine vehicles on the list, including the Volkswagen Jetta and Passat and the Audi A3, A4 and A6.
General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. both had eight vehicles on the list. GM's included the Cadillac CTS and the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook large SUVs.
Toyota's top performers were the Toyota Corolla with optional ESC, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra and Scion xB.
Using the awards, consumers can compare vehicles without having to review results from multiple tests. Automakers pay close attention to the institute's findings and frequently note positive ratings in television commercials.
The institute has advocated for an early adoption of anti-rollover technology such as ESC ahead of a government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.
Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. It helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.
IIHS said Chrysler LLC was the only major automaker that did not receive a single award. They said Chrysler could have picked up five awards if the head restraints had been improved in the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, the Sebring convertible and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country.
Chrysler spokesman Cole Quinnell said he could not comment on whether the head restraints might be upgraded in the future. He said Chrysler vehicles are equipped with a variety of safety features and the institute's results "are just one of the sources of information about a vehicle's crash performance."
___
On the Net:
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org
Monday, November 24, 2008
GM, Tiger Woods part ways
From New York Times:
By KATIE THOMAS
Published: November 24, 2008
General Motors and Tiger Woods are ending their longtime endorsement agreement one year early. The automaker is looking to cut costs and Woods plans to spend more time with his family, a General Motors spokesman said Monday.
Woods’s contract ran through the end of 2009, said Peter Ternes, G.M.’s director of communications for sales, service and marketing. “Tiger is expecting a second child in his family and he’s looking for more time in his schedule,” Ternes said. “At the same time, General Motors is looking to cut costs.”
Mark Steinberg, Woods’s agent, called the decision “very amicable and very mutual.” According to a statement on Woods’s Web site, Woods said, “I am very proud of the longstanding partnership I’ve had with G.M. and have enjoyed being a part of the company’s dramatic product evolution.”
The announcement ends a nearly decade-long relationship that sought to popularize the Buick brand among younger drivers and coincided with Woods’s growing dominance in golf. In 2000, his first year endorsing the Buick line, Woods became the youngest golfer to win all four major tournaments.
He appeared in numerous advertisements for the automaker, and the Buick logo was prominently displayed on his golf bag.
Ternes and Steinberg declined to say how much the endorsement deal was worth. But Bob Williams, the chief executive of Burns Entertainment and Sports Marketing, which tracks celebrity endorsements, estimated that the deal was worth about $7.5 million a year.
Ternes said the endorsement helped expand the car into an international brand, and added that Woods has said he will continue to drive some Buicks.
Steinberg said Woods had been impressed with the way Buick transformed its image, doing away with stodgier models and releasing more updated cars.
“We saw that it was going to work,” Steinberg said. “We saw what Buick wanted to do with their brand.”
G.M. has long been a major sponsor of sporting events and athletes, but has scaled back its spending on sports. It will not have a Super Bowl ad this year, and it has withdrawn its sponsorship of the Masters.
Ternes said General Motors had no plans to end its sponsorship of two PGA tournaments, the Buick Invitational and the Buick Open. Those contracts expire in 2010.
By KATIE THOMAS
Published: November 24, 2008
General Motors and Tiger Woods are ending their longtime endorsement agreement one year early. The automaker is looking to cut costs and Woods plans to spend more time with his family, a General Motors spokesman said Monday.
Woods’s contract ran through the end of 2009, said Peter Ternes, G.M.’s director of communications for sales, service and marketing. “Tiger is expecting a second child in his family and he’s looking for more time in his schedule,” Ternes said. “At the same time, General Motors is looking to cut costs.”
Mark Steinberg, Woods’s agent, called the decision “very amicable and very mutual.” According to a statement on Woods’s Web site, Woods said, “I am very proud of the longstanding partnership I’ve had with G.M. and have enjoyed being a part of the company’s dramatic product evolution.”
The announcement ends a nearly decade-long relationship that sought to popularize the Buick brand among younger drivers and coincided with Woods’s growing dominance in golf. In 2000, his first year endorsing the Buick line, Woods became the youngest golfer to win all four major tournaments.
He appeared in numerous advertisements for the automaker, and the Buick logo was prominently displayed on his golf bag.
Ternes and Steinberg declined to say how much the endorsement deal was worth. But Bob Williams, the chief executive of Burns Entertainment and Sports Marketing, which tracks celebrity endorsements, estimated that the deal was worth about $7.5 million a year.
Ternes said the endorsement helped expand the car into an international brand, and added that Woods has said he will continue to drive some Buicks.
Steinberg said Woods had been impressed with the way Buick transformed its image, doing away with stodgier models and releasing more updated cars.
“We saw that it was going to work,” Steinberg said. “We saw what Buick wanted to do with their brand.”
G.M. has long been a major sponsor of sporting events and athletes, but has scaled back its spending on sports. It will not have a Super Bowl ad this year, and it has withdrawn its sponsorship of the Masters.
Ternes said General Motors had no plans to end its sponsorship of two PGA tournaments, the Buick Invitational and the Buick Open. Those contracts expire in 2010.
Nissan pulls out of Detroit, Chicago shows
From Automotive News
DETROIT AUTO SHOW
Lindsay Chappell
Nissan North America has canceled plans to participate in the annual Detroit and Chicago auto shows, citing depressed economic conditions.The decision puts Nissan and Infiniti brands onto a growing list of automakers that are skipping out on the major Detroit international marketing event in 2009. Also withdrawing from the January show are Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari.The Chicago auto show is scheduled for February.Both shows draw media attention to new products from all over the world, in addition to displaying the product line-ups to local consumers.Nissan corporate spokesman Alan Buddendeck said the decision reflects the current state of the industry and not the Detroit and Chicago shows themselves
DETROIT AUTO SHOW
Lindsay Chappell
Nissan North America has canceled plans to participate in the annual Detroit and Chicago auto shows, citing depressed economic conditions.The decision puts Nissan and Infiniti brands onto a growing list of automakers that are skipping out on the major Detroit international marketing event in 2009. Also withdrawing from the January show are Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari.The Chicago auto show is scheduled for February.Both shows draw media attention to new products from all over the world, in addition to displaying the product line-ups to local consumers.Nissan corporate spokesman Alan Buddendeck said the decision reflects the current state of the industry and not the Detroit and Chicago shows themselves
Review: Dodge Charger R/T
Dodge Charger R/T
By Karl W. Ritzler
There aren’t many places to pass when driving between Dahlonega and Ellijay. And when they come along, you have to be quick to use them.
Thank goodness for the spirits of the Dukes of Hazzard and their 1969 Dodge Charger, the General Lee.
The test car was the new Charger R/T (That’s Dodge-speak for Road and Track.), and you could practically hear Bo and Luke Duke whoop it up when it was time to stomp on the gas, fly by a rickety pickup and get back in the right lane before the arrival of the oncoming traffic.
The 5.7-liter, 340-horsepower V-8 Hemi under the hood didn’t hurt any, either.
The new Charger is distant cousin of the ’69 muscle car. Despite concessions to fuel-efficiency and pollution requirements, it’s a close as you can get to a good ol’ muscle car these days. Based on the popular Chrysler 300 platform, the Charger looks lower, faster and, well, more country.
It’s made the car show tours in General Lee orange. All it needs is that musical horn, and you can imagine fishtailing around the dirt roads of Hazzard County just ahead of Sheriff Coltrane and Boss Hogg.
The 2009 model is little changed from the ’08 test car.
There’s no mistaking the rumble of the Hemi. It’s the sound effects for the aggressive look to the car. The image is confident and strong – just what you’d expect for a muscle car.
Just remember that gas doesn’t cost 50 cents a gallon anymore. The Charger drinks it thirstily, 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. And the EPA doesn’t test for aggressive driving, jumping creeks or fleeing sheriffs.
A five-speed automatic transmission with Auto Stick is standard. The Charger is available in rear- or all-wheel drive. Expect to pay about $2,000 more for AWD.
Even in North Georgia, the test vehicle with the chrome word “Hemi” and Michigan tags was a ticket waiting to happen. Good thing the coast was clear when that burst of acceleration was needed.
You don’t need to divert your attention from the road to drive the Charger, either. The tachometer and speedometer are centered in front of the driver, with the compass direction, radio station and outside temperature conveniently displayed right below.
The controls are straightforward. The car doesn’t overflow with gimmicky convenience or technology goodies – you get what you need.
The seating in front is comfortable without being cushy. And the back seat is more than adequate for adults with more legroom than you find in some competitors. The low roofline, however, means headroom isn’t all that generous. There are audio plugs and climate controls in back and grab bars to help passengers get out.
Up front, the climate controls are easy to use, but the navigation screen is smaller than the ones found in many vehicles. Cupholders are just OK.
Luggage capacity is an acceptable 16.2 cubic feet, expandable by folding down the rear seats.
Base price for the ’09 is $31,860, up about $1,000 from the test car. For that, standard equipment includes leather-trimmed seats, four-wheel performance antilock brakes, traction and stability control, performance dual exhaust with chrome tips, power everything, heated front seats, and 18-inch aluminum wheels.
Options in the test vehicle were the red paint ($225); a package with upgraded audio system and illuminated cupholders ($2,100); a package with supplemental air bags and run-flat tires ($1,185); power sunroof ($950); navigation system ($890); high-intensity headlights ($695); and rear entertainment system ($1,595). With the $700 delivery charge, the test vehicle’s sticker totaled $39,095.
Buy this car if: You want a modern American muscle car.
Not for you if: You want to look and act like a grown-up.
Look at me factor: The face of a muscle car and the engine rumble to go with it.
Competitors: Ford Mustang, Ford Shelby GT500, Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac G8
What others are saying:
“This one's a keeper. Please don't paint a Confederate flag on its roof.” – Car & Driver
“Dodge Charger R/T delivers grins and giggles in equal measure for enthusiasts who appreciate driving as well as the extra utility of its four-door sedan body style.” -- Edmunds.com
“The Charger is fun to drive and enjoyable for just cruising along.” – NewCarTestDrive.com
By Karl W. Ritzler
There aren’t many places to pass when driving between Dahlonega and Ellijay. And when they come along, you have to be quick to use them.
Thank goodness for the spirits of the Dukes of Hazzard and their 1969 Dodge Charger, the General Lee.
The test car was the new Charger R/T (That’s Dodge-speak for Road and Track.), and you could practically hear Bo and Luke Duke whoop it up when it was time to stomp on the gas, fly by a rickety pickup and get back in the right lane before the arrival of the oncoming traffic.
The 5.7-liter, 340-horsepower V-8 Hemi under the hood didn’t hurt any, either.
The new Charger is distant cousin of the ’69 muscle car. Despite concessions to fuel-efficiency and pollution requirements, it’s a close as you can get to a good ol’ muscle car these days. Based on the popular Chrysler 300 platform, the Charger looks lower, faster and, well, more country.
It’s made the car show tours in General Lee orange. All it needs is that musical horn, and you can imagine fishtailing around the dirt roads of Hazzard County just ahead of Sheriff Coltrane and Boss Hogg.
The 2009 model is little changed from the ’08 test car.
There’s no mistaking the rumble of the Hemi. It’s the sound effects for the aggressive look to the car. The image is confident and strong – just what you’d expect for a muscle car.
Just remember that gas doesn’t cost 50 cents a gallon anymore. The Charger drinks it thirstily, 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. And the EPA doesn’t test for aggressive driving, jumping creeks or fleeing sheriffs.
A five-speed automatic transmission with Auto Stick is standard. The Charger is available in rear- or all-wheel drive. Expect to pay about $2,000 more for AWD.
Even in North Georgia, the test vehicle with the chrome word “Hemi” and Michigan tags was a ticket waiting to happen. Good thing the coast was clear when that burst of acceleration was needed.
You don’t need to divert your attention from the road to drive the Charger, either. The tachometer and speedometer are centered in front of the driver, with the compass direction, radio station and outside temperature conveniently displayed right below.
The controls are straightforward. The car doesn’t overflow with gimmicky convenience or technology goodies – you get what you need.
The seating in front is comfortable without being cushy. And the back seat is more than adequate for adults with more legroom than you find in some competitors. The low roofline, however, means headroom isn’t all that generous. There are audio plugs and climate controls in back and grab bars to help passengers get out.
Up front, the climate controls are easy to use, but the navigation screen is smaller than the ones found in many vehicles. Cupholders are just OK.
Luggage capacity is an acceptable 16.2 cubic feet, expandable by folding down the rear seats.
Base price for the ’09 is $31,860, up about $1,000 from the test car. For that, standard equipment includes leather-trimmed seats, four-wheel performance antilock brakes, traction and stability control, performance dual exhaust with chrome tips, power everything, heated front seats, and 18-inch aluminum wheels.
Options in the test vehicle were the red paint ($225); a package with upgraded audio system and illuminated cupholders ($2,100); a package with supplemental air bags and run-flat tires ($1,185); power sunroof ($950); navigation system ($890); high-intensity headlights ($695); and rear entertainment system ($1,595). With the $700 delivery charge, the test vehicle’s sticker totaled $39,095.
Buy this car if: You want a modern American muscle car.
Not for you if: You want to look and act like a grown-up.
Look at me factor: The face of a muscle car and the engine rumble to go with it.
Competitors: Ford Mustang, Ford Shelby GT500, Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac G8
What others are saying:
“This one's a keeper. Please don't paint a Confederate flag on its roof.” – Car & Driver
“Dodge Charger R/T delivers grins and giggles in equal measure for enthusiasts who appreciate driving as well as the extra utility of its four-door sedan body style.” -- Edmunds.com
“The Charger is fun to drive and enjoyable for just cruising along.” – NewCarTestDrive.com
Maserati sounds off
Maserati is trying a new approach to attracting attention.
Says the company: "According to a recent study by British-based luxury car insurer Hiscox, in which participants were asked to listen to the sound of a variety of cars, from exotics to economy models, the sound of a Maserati engine was shown to spark a biological response among women -- in fact, 100% of the women studied had shown higher testosterone levels after listening to the exhaust of a Maserati than any other car!"
The company even has a weblink which offers cell phone ringtone access to compete with all those annoying songs other folks have on their cellphones: http://stag.condenastdirect.com/gq/connects/lowdown_maserati.asp
Karl W. Ritzler
Says the company: "According to a recent study by British-based luxury car insurer Hiscox, in which participants were asked to listen to the sound of a variety of cars, from exotics to economy models, the sound of a Maserati engine was shown to spark a biological response among women -- in fact, 100% of the women studied had shown higher testosterone levels after listening to the exhaust of a Maserati than any other car!"
The company even has a weblink which offers cell phone ringtone access to compete with all those annoying songs other folks have on their cellphones: http://stag.condenastdirect.com/gq/connects/lowdown_maserati.asp
Karl W. Ritzler
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Los Angeles auto show
From the New York Times:
ACROSS the United States, the inventory of unsold new vehicles accumulating at dealerships and on storage lots topped three million earlier this month. More cars and trucks arrive each week by the thousands in container ships, glutting the docks at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, just 23 miles from the convention center here.
That bloated inventory — a record, said Mary Raetz, assistant managing editor for data services at Automotive News, an industry weekly — was no doubt on the minds of auto executives last week at previews of the Los Angeles auto show. Yet there were even more introductions of even more models here at the unofficial kickoff of the 2009 auto show season.
Full story: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/automobiles/autoshow/23SHOW.html?8dpc
ACROSS the United States, the inventory of unsold new vehicles accumulating at dealerships and on storage lots topped three million earlier this month. More cars and trucks arrive each week by the thousands in container ships, glutting the docks at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, just 23 miles from the convention center here.
That bloated inventory — a record, said Mary Raetz, assistant managing editor for data services at Automotive News, an industry weekly — was no doubt on the minds of auto executives last week at previews of the Los Angeles auto show. Yet there were even more introductions of even more models here at the unofficial kickoff of the 2009 auto show season.
Full story: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/automobiles/autoshow/23SHOW.html?8dpc
Update: Congress delays bailout action
From Automotive News:
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Harry Stoffer
WASHINGTON -- Democratic leaders of Congress today rejected a proposed bipartisan compromise that would have provided $25 billion in emergency federal aid to the Detroit 3.Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both Michigan Democrats, announced this afternoon that they were signing onto a Republican proposal to redirect $25 billion in loans aimed at helping automakers build more fuel-efficient vehicles. Instead, those funds would provide bridge loans to the Detroit 3 to help them address fiscal crises.But before a news conference announcing that compromise, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and seven other Democratic leaders entered the room in which the event was to be held. They said they did not support the proposal.
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Harry Stoffer
WASHINGTON -- Democratic leaders of Congress today rejected a proposed bipartisan compromise that would have provided $25 billion in emergency federal aid to the Detroit 3.Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both Michigan Democrats, announced this afternoon that they were signing onto a Republican proposal to redirect $25 billion in loans aimed at helping automakers build more fuel-efficient vehicles. Instead, those funds would provide bridge loans to the Detroit 3 to help them address fiscal crises.But before a news conference announcing that compromise, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and seven other Democratic leaders entered the room in which the event was to be held. They said they did not support the proposal.
Senate reaches compromise on auto industry bailout
From Automotive News:
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Compromise reached in Senate on auto bailout
David Barkholz and David Kushma
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.
Key members of the U.S. Senate have reached a bipartisan deal to fund a rescue package for the Detroit 3, according to a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin.It remains unclear whether the senators have enough votes or when the matter will be taken up. It's also unclear if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has signed on to the compromise.A draft of the compromise was being worked on by Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., among others.Bond and Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, with White House support, on Wednesday introduced legislation that would redirect $25 billion in loans to the auto industry as bridge loans to the Detroit 3 automakers.
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Compromise reached in Senate on auto bailout
David Barkholz and David Kushma
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.
Key members of the U.S. Senate have reached a bipartisan deal to fund a rescue package for the Detroit 3, according to a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin.It remains unclear whether the senators have enough votes or when the matter will be taken up. It's also unclear if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has signed on to the compromise.A draft of the compromise was being worked on by Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., among others.Bond and Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, with White House support, on Wednesday introduced legislation that would redirect $25 billion in loans to the auto industry as bridge loans to the Detroit 3 automakers.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Play it safe
If you want the safest vehicle out there today, join the Army. An Abrams tank won’t tip over even if you’re fording a river, and it can take a hit from car as well as a missile.
But they get really lousy gas mileage – worse than a Hummer – they won’t fit in a parking space, and the driver can’t reach the drive-thru window at Starbucks.
Safety means tradeoffs. Generally, larger vehicles are safer than smaller ones. But large cars and trucks also tend to cost more and burn more gas than subcompacts.
So if a tank isn’t on your car-shopping list, try a large car or minivan to maximize safety, says Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, one of the agencies that runs crash tests.
“Typically, large cars and minivans are the cars that have the lowest death rates in real-world crashes,” he said. “They have the benefits of size and weight – which protects people in a crash – and are less likely to roll over than SUVs or pickup trucks.”
Of course, one of the best ways to survive and accident is not to get in one. That’s where traction and stability control systems can help. The insurance institute and the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the folks who give out the stars in crash tests, think so highly of the systems that they recommend electronic stability controls (ESC) be standard equipment in every car sold in America, saying it could save 10,000 lives a year.
On a curve or slippery road, it’s easy to lose control of a vehicle. With ESC, a computer matches your car’s path with where you intended to go by monitoring steering, throttle and brakes. When needed, it can apply the brakes to individual wheels and cut the engine power to avoid skids and rollovers -- and give the driver the ability to maneuver out of trouble.
While ESC now is found mostly on high-end vehicles, the most affordable and widely available options – and often standard equipment -- are antilock brakes and side air bags.
No matter how your vehicle is equipped, who you are and how you drive is just as important to safety.
Insurance statistics show young men, charged with testosterone and beer, are more likely to be involved in more and worse accidents than mature drivers with families, no matter what vehicle they are driving. In fact, data from the insurance institute show that despite being well-equipped for safety, large pickup trucks have higher-than-expected fatality rates. The reason? They tend to be driven by younger men.
And a driver yakking on a cell phone, not paying attention to the road, is more likely to be in an accident. That’s why several state and local governments have banned or restricted cell phone use by drivers.
There are things to look for in a vehicle that can give you a safety edge.
First is size – bigger is better. Big vehicles tend to be heavier, so they’ll take a hit better than a small car. “We can’t repeal the laws of physics,” says the insurance institute’s Rader.
But vehicles can get too big. Rollover accidents are especially dangerous for passengers, and vehicles with a high center of gravity, like pickups and sport utility vehicles, are more prone to tipping.
Big vehicles also tend to have big blind spots, especially to the rear. Increasingly common are rear cameras or sensors that detect if there is someone or something behind you. That’s especially helpful when you’re trying to back up in a crowded parking lot.
Another thing to look for is a car that can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under 10 or 11 seconds, says Emunds.com, an auto-information Web site. We’re not talking sports car speed here, but it is enough to merge quickly in high-traffic areas.
Underinflated tires also contribute to a loss of control, but they aren’t always obvious even to those who look each time they get gas. Tire-pressure monitors will flash a dashboard warning light to indicate low pressure. Don’t ignore it; get air in that tire now.
If the worst should happen and you do get hit, advanced frontal air bags are better than the single-stage air bags that have been required for years. Advanced air bags instantly sense occupant size, seat position and crash severity to determine how powerfully to inflate. That can eliminate the problem in older cars, where the force of the air bags’ inflation sometimes was as dangerous as the crash.
Side curtain air bags add another level of head protection for rear-seat occupants, and side-impact air bags protect front-seat occupants in a side crash.
And, finally, consider an emergency crash notification system. General Motors’ OnStar is the most common, but other automakers have their own systems as well. The system can tell when you’ve been in a crash and contacts emergency assistance, even pinpointing your location. These systems also can be used to summon help for a flat tire, breakdown or even unlocking your car if you left the keys inside.
But even the simplest step – and one that the law requires – can do wonders. Buckle your seat belt. It might be a bumpy ride.
By Karl W. Ritzler
Originally posted on divinecaroline.com
But they get really lousy gas mileage – worse than a Hummer – they won’t fit in a parking space, and the driver can’t reach the drive-thru window at Starbucks.
Safety means tradeoffs. Generally, larger vehicles are safer than smaller ones. But large cars and trucks also tend to cost more and burn more gas than subcompacts.
So if a tank isn’t on your car-shopping list, try a large car or minivan to maximize safety, says Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, one of the agencies that runs crash tests.
“Typically, large cars and minivans are the cars that have the lowest death rates in real-world crashes,” he said. “They have the benefits of size and weight – which protects people in a crash – and are less likely to roll over than SUVs or pickup trucks.”
Of course, one of the best ways to survive and accident is not to get in one. That’s where traction and stability control systems can help. The insurance institute and the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the folks who give out the stars in crash tests, think so highly of the systems that they recommend electronic stability controls (ESC) be standard equipment in every car sold in America, saying it could save 10,000 lives a year.
On a curve or slippery road, it’s easy to lose control of a vehicle. With ESC, a computer matches your car’s path with where you intended to go by monitoring steering, throttle and brakes. When needed, it can apply the brakes to individual wheels and cut the engine power to avoid skids and rollovers -- and give the driver the ability to maneuver out of trouble.
While ESC now is found mostly on high-end vehicles, the most affordable and widely available options – and often standard equipment -- are antilock brakes and side air bags.
No matter how your vehicle is equipped, who you are and how you drive is just as important to safety.
Insurance statistics show young men, charged with testosterone and beer, are more likely to be involved in more and worse accidents than mature drivers with families, no matter what vehicle they are driving. In fact, data from the insurance institute show that despite being well-equipped for safety, large pickup trucks have higher-than-expected fatality rates. The reason? They tend to be driven by younger men.
And a driver yakking on a cell phone, not paying attention to the road, is more likely to be in an accident. That’s why several state and local governments have banned or restricted cell phone use by drivers.
There are things to look for in a vehicle that can give you a safety edge.
First is size – bigger is better. Big vehicles tend to be heavier, so they’ll take a hit better than a small car. “We can’t repeal the laws of physics,” says the insurance institute’s Rader.
But vehicles can get too big. Rollover accidents are especially dangerous for passengers, and vehicles with a high center of gravity, like pickups and sport utility vehicles, are more prone to tipping.
Big vehicles also tend to have big blind spots, especially to the rear. Increasingly common are rear cameras or sensors that detect if there is someone or something behind you. That’s especially helpful when you’re trying to back up in a crowded parking lot.
Another thing to look for is a car that can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under 10 or 11 seconds, says Emunds.com, an auto-information Web site. We’re not talking sports car speed here, but it is enough to merge quickly in high-traffic areas.
Underinflated tires also contribute to a loss of control, but they aren’t always obvious even to those who look each time they get gas. Tire-pressure monitors will flash a dashboard warning light to indicate low pressure. Don’t ignore it; get air in that tire now.
If the worst should happen and you do get hit, advanced frontal air bags are better than the single-stage air bags that have been required for years. Advanced air bags instantly sense occupant size, seat position and crash severity to determine how powerfully to inflate. That can eliminate the problem in older cars, where the force of the air bags’ inflation sometimes was as dangerous as the crash.
Side curtain air bags add another level of head protection for rear-seat occupants, and side-impact air bags protect front-seat occupants in a side crash.
And, finally, consider an emergency crash notification system. General Motors’ OnStar is the most common, but other automakers have their own systems as well. The system can tell when you’ve been in a crash and contacts emergency assistance, even pinpointing your location. These systems also can be used to summon help for a flat tire, breakdown or even unlocking your car if you left the keys inside.
But even the simplest step – and one that the law requires – can do wonders. Buckle your seat belt. It might be a bumpy ride.
By Karl W. Ritzler
Originally posted on divinecaroline.com
New shoes for the car
When the time comes to buy the car a new set of shoes, style doesn’t matter very much.
Instead of looking for something in just the right color or the perfect heel, when you buy tires, you are looking for something that will perform like a sleek pair of running shoes and have the strength of a solid pair of hiking boots.
But if style is important – if raised white letters or a racy red stripe are gotta-haves – look for them after you have chosen a tire with the right tread and size for your vehicle.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration points out that good, well-maintained tires improve vehicle handling, protect you from breakdowns and avoidable accidents, and improve fuel economy.
Just like your shoes, the most important determinant of comfort and safety is size. Buy tires that are the same size as the ones that came on the vehicle when it was new. Unless you have changed the wheel size, your car was designed to wear specific tires.
Check the tire placard, usually located inside the edge or post of the driver’s door, the glovebox door or trunk lid, or your owner’s manual.
The tire size is a combination of letters and numbers, like P215/65R15. The “P” means it’s for passenger vehicles, the next three digits are width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. (The larger the number, the wider the tire.) The number after the slash is the aspect ratio, or the relationship of the height to the width. (A number of 70 or smaller indicates a tire with a short sidewall best suited for sharp handling on dry pavement.) The “R” means radial, which almost all tires are these days. The last two digits are the rim diameter in inches, or how big around your wheels are.
The other numbers that may or may not be on the side show the tire’s load index, or how much weight each tire can carry, maximum speed rating and whether the tire is rated for mud and snow use.
Also pay attention to the tread. Good tread keeps your tires from slipping on wet roads. It’s easy to spot a bald tire, but it’s much safer to change them before you get to that spot. Generally speaking, you should replace your tires when there’s just 1/16th of an inch of tread left.
One way to check is look for the tires’ tread-wear indicators. They are raised sections of rubber spaced in the grooves of the tread. When you see what looks like a stripe across the width of the tire, even with the outside of the tread, it’s time to change the tire.
Another way to check is with a penny. Hold the penny with Lincoln’s head upside down in the groove. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.
And don’t be cheap. It’s usually best to replace all four tires at once. They all probably started wearing at once, and if you’ve taken good care of them, they probably are wearing down at the same rate. With a new set, you can be sure all your tires are the same quality and condition.
However, if the budget is too tight or you are replacing a newer tire that has gone flat, at least replace two tires. Have the tire store or garage put the new ones where they’re needed most – in front. Because you steer with the front wheels, they usually get the most wear. In addition, front-wheel-drive vehicles add all the force of traction up front. Take the two best remaining tires and put them on the back. And start saving now for replacing those tires. You’ll need to do it sooner then you think.
You can stretch the use you get out of a set of tires by practicing good tire maintenance.
The single most important thing you can do is keep your tires properly inflated. NHTSA says underinflated tires and overloaded vehicles are the primary causes of tire failure. That can mean more trouble than just a flat. A blowout at street speed can cause an accident or sent your vehicle into a roll.
You can find the information for both the correct inflation pressure and maximum load on the placard or in your owner’s manual. The tire pressure number printed on the side of the tire is NOT the one you should use. That’s the maximum pressure the tire can take. Pressure is measured in sounds per square inch, or psi.
Load is the lesser worry. Unless you regularly haul a trunkload of stones or pull a heavy trailer, you are most likely well within the load limits.
Inflation, however, is something you need to check regularly. Buy an inexpensive tire gauge at an auto parts or discount store and keep it in the car.
NHTSA says all tires can lose air over time, and with radial tires, it’s impossible to tell if the tire is underinflated just by looking at it.
Check your tires at least once a month, after the car has been sitting for at least three hours. When you drive, the friction between the tire and the road heats up the air inside, giving you a false, higher pressure reading.
Check the pressure with your gauge at the valve stem, the little nozzle toward the inside of the tire. Unscrew the cap and put the head of the gauge over the nozzle until you hear a short “pfft” sound. The gauge will show you how much pressure is in the tire.
If there’s too much, let a little air out of the tire with the help of your gauge. There’s usually a small knob on the head. Press it down on the small pin in the center of the nozzle. That releases some air. Recheck the pressure with your gauge.
Underinflation is more common than overinflation. If the tire doesn’t have enough pressure, go to the air pump at a nearby service station and add air.
Put the head of the pump on your capless nozzle and push until you hear a “pfft.” Many pumps automatically start pumping, while others may have a handle you have to squeeze. Check you pressure again with your gauge until the tire is about 1 psi over the recommended amount. (Remember, warm tires show higher pressure, and you had to drive to the service station.) Check the tires again when they are cold to see if you need to add more air.
While watching your tires’ pressure is important, it’s not the only care your tires need.
They also need to be rotated to maintain even wear. This is something best left to your service garage or tire store.
Check your owner’s manual for how frequently they should be rotated and the pattern of rotation. Usually, tires should be rotated about every 5,000 miles.
You also need to be sure your tires are properly aligned and balanced. Usually, this is checked when you take the car in for its periodic checkups, but if you feel vibration of shaking, get it in for an alignment and balance check.
Balancing wheels involves taking them off the car and placing them on a balancing wheel. If they are out of balance, a small lead weight is snapped on the rim to offset the heavy spot.
Alignment requires special machinery that can check the angle of the wheels on the vehicle’s frame and adjust it if it’s out of whack.
It usually takes some event to knock a wheel out of balance or alignment. Losing a lead weight will unbalance a wheel, and something as simple as driving hard over a curb or hitting a pothole can affect alignment.
If you do get a flat tire, it might be possible to repair it.
A hole in the tread from a nail, for example, can be plugged and patched. That involves taking the tire off the rim, inserting a plug in the hole and patching it on the inside.
If you get a hole in the sidewall, however, it’s time for a new tire. And remember, all tires wear down over time, so replace them in pairs. You wouldn’t wear one new shoe with one that’s been in your closet for a couple of seasons.
By Karl W. Ritzler
Originally posted on divinecaroline.com
Instead of looking for something in just the right color or the perfect heel, when you buy tires, you are looking for something that will perform like a sleek pair of running shoes and have the strength of a solid pair of hiking boots.
But if style is important – if raised white letters or a racy red stripe are gotta-haves – look for them after you have chosen a tire with the right tread and size for your vehicle.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration points out that good, well-maintained tires improve vehicle handling, protect you from breakdowns and avoidable accidents, and improve fuel economy.
Just like your shoes, the most important determinant of comfort and safety is size. Buy tires that are the same size as the ones that came on the vehicle when it was new. Unless you have changed the wheel size, your car was designed to wear specific tires.
Check the tire placard, usually located inside the edge or post of the driver’s door, the glovebox door or trunk lid, or your owner’s manual.
The tire size is a combination of letters and numbers, like P215/65R15. The “P” means it’s for passenger vehicles, the next three digits are width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. (The larger the number, the wider the tire.) The number after the slash is the aspect ratio, or the relationship of the height to the width. (A number of 70 or smaller indicates a tire with a short sidewall best suited for sharp handling on dry pavement.) The “R” means radial, which almost all tires are these days. The last two digits are the rim diameter in inches, or how big around your wheels are.
The other numbers that may or may not be on the side show the tire’s load index, or how much weight each tire can carry, maximum speed rating and whether the tire is rated for mud and snow use.
Also pay attention to the tread. Good tread keeps your tires from slipping on wet roads. It’s easy to spot a bald tire, but it’s much safer to change them before you get to that spot. Generally speaking, you should replace your tires when there’s just 1/16th of an inch of tread left.
One way to check is look for the tires’ tread-wear indicators. They are raised sections of rubber spaced in the grooves of the tread. When you see what looks like a stripe across the width of the tire, even with the outside of the tread, it’s time to change the tire.
Another way to check is with a penny. Hold the penny with Lincoln’s head upside down in the groove. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.
And don’t be cheap. It’s usually best to replace all four tires at once. They all probably started wearing at once, and if you’ve taken good care of them, they probably are wearing down at the same rate. With a new set, you can be sure all your tires are the same quality and condition.
However, if the budget is too tight or you are replacing a newer tire that has gone flat, at least replace two tires. Have the tire store or garage put the new ones where they’re needed most – in front. Because you steer with the front wheels, they usually get the most wear. In addition, front-wheel-drive vehicles add all the force of traction up front. Take the two best remaining tires and put them on the back. And start saving now for replacing those tires. You’ll need to do it sooner then you think.
You can stretch the use you get out of a set of tires by practicing good tire maintenance.
The single most important thing you can do is keep your tires properly inflated. NHTSA says underinflated tires and overloaded vehicles are the primary causes of tire failure. That can mean more trouble than just a flat. A blowout at street speed can cause an accident or sent your vehicle into a roll.
You can find the information for both the correct inflation pressure and maximum load on the placard or in your owner’s manual. The tire pressure number printed on the side of the tire is NOT the one you should use. That’s the maximum pressure the tire can take. Pressure is measured in sounds per square inch, or psi.
Load is the lesser worry. Unless you regularly haul a trunkload of stones or pull a heavy trailer, you are most likely well within the load limits.
Inflation, however, is something you need to check regularly. Buy an inexpensive tire gauge at an auto parts or discount store and keep it in the car.
NHTSA says all tires can lose air over time, and with radial tires, it’s impossible to tell if the tire is underinflated just by looking at it.
Check your tires at least once a month, after the car has been sitting for at least three hours. When you drive, the friction between the tire and the road heats up the air inside, giving you a false, higher pressure reading.
Check the pressure with your gauge at the valve stem, the little nozzle toward the inside of the tire. Unscrew the cap and put the head of the gauge over the nozzle until you hear a short “pfft” sound. The gauge will show you how much pressure is in the tire.
If there’s too much, let a little air out of the tire with the help of your gauge. There’s usually a small knob on the head. Press it down on the small pin in the center of the nozzle. That releases some air. Recheck the pressure with your gauge.
Underinflation is more common than overinflation. If the tire doesn’t have enough pressure, go to the air pump at a nearby service station and add air.
Put the head of the pump on your capless nozzle and push until you hear a “pfft.” Many pumps automatically start pumping, while others may have a handle you have to squeeze. Check you pressure again with your gauge until the tire is about 1 psi over the recommended amount. (Remember, warm tires show higher pressure, and you had to drive to the service station.) Check the tires again when they are cold to see if you need to add more air.
While watching your tires’ pressure is important, it’s not the only care your tires need.
They also need to be rotated to maintain even wear. This is something best left to your service garage or tire store.
Check your owner’s manual for how frequently they should be rotated and the pattern of rotation. Usually, tires should be rotated about every 5,000 miles.
You also need to be sure your tires are properly aligned and balanced. Usually, this is checked when you take the car in for its periodic checkups, but if you feel vibration of shaking, get it in for an alignment and balance check.
Balancing wheels involves taking them off the car and placing them on a balancing wheel. If they are out of balance, a small lead weight is snapped on the rim to offset the heavy spot.
Alignment requires special machinery that can check the angle of the wheels on the vehicle’s frame and adjust it if it’s out of whack.
It usually takes some event to knock a wheel out of balance or alignment. Losing a lead weight will unbalance a wheel, and something as simple as driving hard over a curb or hitting a pothole can affect alignment.
If you do get a flat tire, it might be possible to repair it.
A hole in the tread from a nail, for example, can be plugged and patched. That involves taking the tire off the rim, inserting a plug in the hole and patching it on the inside.
If you get a hole in the sidewall, however, it’s time for a new tire. And remember, all tires wear down over time, so replace them in pairs. You wouldn’t wear one new shoe with one that’s been in your closet for a couple of seasons.
By Karl W. Ritzler
Originally posted on divinecaroline.com
Crazy for hybrids
Cameron Diaz drives one. So does Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio and Michele Foust.
Foust, a journalist from Marietta, Georgia, just loves her Toyota Prius – just like the Hollywood stars who are showing their environmental stripes.
“I really appreciate the fuel economy but also appreciate the fact that it’s a comfortable car for driving and how much I can haul in it,” she said.
The Prius is the best-selling car among a growing number of hybrid vehicles, which have both gasoline and electric motors. They boast the best mileage in government tests as well as lower levels of greenhouse-gas emissions.
But there’s a price to pay. Hybrid versions of vehicles like the Honda Civic or Ford Escape, for example, cost roughly $2,000 to $3,000 more than the gasoline-only engine versions.
That means it takes a lot of driving to save enough money to make up the difference.
If gasoline costs $2.50 a gallon, it would take 11 years of driving 12,000 miles a year to break even between conventional and hybrid Civics.
Additionally, hybrid owners have expressed some dissatisfaction with their gas mileage. It isn’t as great as advertised.
Part of the problem is the mileage ratings themselves. Real-world drivers know the mileage figures on the sticker are, to say the least, generous. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency routinely overstates mileage in its tightly controlled and optimum test conditions.
“We estimate it’s off by 14 percent,” said Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com, an automotive information Web site. Because hybrids get such good mileage, being off by 14 percent “appears to be a serious discrepancy,” he said.
The Prius is far and away the most efficient vehicle on the road at 60 mpg city and 51 highway, according to the EPA. Foust said she gets close to 50 mpg on the highway but a little less in the city.
As hybrid technology becomes more widespread, the cost is likely to come down.
Already, Toyota has added hybrid power plants to its Camry family-size sedan, Lexus GS 450h luxury sedan, and Toyota Highlander and Lexus 400h sport utility vehicles. Honda has a hybrid Accord, another family-size sedan. Besides the Escape, Ford has a hybrid version of its sibling SUV, the Mercury Mariner, and General Motors just introduced a hybrid in its Saturn Vue SUV in addition to limited hybrid systems in its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks.
And while hybrid cars have been around for a few years, their lifetime operating costs are still unknown. So far, routine maintenance and oil changes have been comparable to conventional cars, according to Edmunds.com. Manufacturers say the battery packs should last the life of the car.
In the meantime, there are plenty of fuel-efficient vehicles already on the market that can rival a hybrid’s efficiency.
According to the EPA, other gasoline-powered cars with exceptionally good economy include the Toyota Yaris subcompact car at 34 city/39 highway, and the Honda Fit, a new, small station wagon, at 33 city/38 highway.
And there will be more options in the near future as cleaner, more efficient diesel-powered vehicles re-enter the U.S. market.
Long popular in Europe, diesels have overcome their bad reputation for belching black, smelly smoke and performing like a car with engine trouble.
New diesel technologies have improved performance on a par with gasoline engines, and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is being introduced in the U.S. Sometimes, when gasoline prices get really high, diesel fuel is actually less expensive.
Driving a hybrid vehicle takes a little getting used to. For one thing, the gasoline motor shuts off when you’re stopped at a traffic light. It sounds like the engine went dead – which it did. A computer knows you’re not going anywhere, so it turns off the gasoline engine.
When the light turns green, the electric motor gets you started, and the gasoline engine kicks in as you accelerate. There’s no wasting gas while you’re idling.
That computer is darn smart, too. When you don’t need a lot of power, like at slow speeds and when you’re coasting down a hill, the computer can turn off the engine to save gas. But when you need it to go up the other side of the hill, gasoline and electric motors work together to give you some extra oomph.
Often included as standard equipment on hybrids, or available as an option, is an in-dash screen that shows when the gasoline and electric motors are working, as well as fuel consumption.
The car’s batteries – yes, the electric motor runs on batteries, but you don’t have to plug it in – are recharged when you hit the brakes. It’s called regenerative braking, which converts the energy during coasting into juice for the batteries.
By Karl W. Ritzler
Originally posted on divinecaroline.com
A comparison
Honda Civic Hybrid
Vehicle: four-door sedan
Base MSRP: $22,600
Drivetrain: 1.4-liter four-cylinder with electric motor and continuously variable transmission
Mileage: 49 mpg city/ 51 mpg highway
Honda Civic EX (comparably equipped, gasoline only)
Vehicle: four-door sedan
Base MSRP: $19,510
Drivetrain: 1.8-liter four-cylinder with automatic transmission
Mileage: 30 mpg city/ 40 mpg highway
Ford Escape Hybrid
Vehicle: four-door, front-wheel drive small sport utility vehicle
Base MSRP: $25,665
Drivetrain: 2.3-liter four-cylinder with electric motor and continuously variable transmission
Mileage: 36 mpg city/31 mpg highway
Ford Escape XLT (comparably equipped gasoline only*)
Vehicle: four-door, front-wheel drive small sport utility vehicle
Base MSRP: $22,280 (four-cylinder engine) or $23,130 (six-cylinder engine)
Drivetrain: 2.3-liter four-cylinder or 3.0-liter six cylinder, both with automatic transmission
Mileage: Four-cylinder, 23 mpg city/26 mph highway; six-cylinder, 23 mpg city/26 mph highway
*Because Ford and Toyota hybrids use only the electric motors at low speeds, mileage in stop-and-go city traffic tends to be higher than highway mileage.
Source: Edmunds.com
Foust, a journalist from Marietta, Georgia, just loves her Toyota Prius – just like the Hollywood stars who are showing their environmental stripes.
“I really appreciate the fuel economy but also appreciate the fact that it’s a comfortable car for driving and how much I can haul in it,” she said.
The Prius is the best-selling car among a growing number of hybrid vehicles, which have both gasoline and electric motors. They boast the best mileage in government tests as well as lower levels of greenhouse-gas emissions.
But there’s a price to pay. Hybrid versions of vehicles like the Honda Civic or Ford Escape, for example, cost roughly $2,000 to $3,000 more than the gasoline-only engine versions.
That means it takes a lot of driving to save enough money to make up the difference.
If gasoline costs $2.50 a gallon, it would take 11 years of driving 12,000 miles a year to break even between conventional and hybrid Civics.
Additionally, hybrid owners have expressed some dissatisfaction with their gas mileage. It isn’t as great as advertised.
Part of the problem is the mileage ratings themselves. Real-world drivers know the mileage figures on the sticker are, to say the least, generous. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency routinely overstates mileage in its tightly controlled and optimum test conditions.
“We estimate it’s off by 14 percent,” said Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com, an automotive information Web site. Because hybrids get such good mileage, being off by 14 percent “appears to be a serious discrepancy,” he said.
The Prius is far and away the most efficient vehicle on the road at 60 mpg city and 51 highway, according to the EPA. Foust said she gets close to 50 mpg on the highway but a little less in the city.
As hybrid technology becomes more widespread, the cost is likely to come down.
Already, Toyota has added hybrid power plants to its Camry family-size sedan, Lexus GS 450h luxury sedan, and Toyota Highlander and Lexus 400h sport utility vehicles. Honda has a hybrid Accord, another family-size sedan. Besides the Escape, Ford has a hybrid version of its sibling SUV, the Mercury Mariner, and General Motors just introduced a hybrid in its Saturn Vue SUV in addition to limited hybrid systems in its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks.
And while hybrid cars have been around for a few years, their lifetime operating costs are still unknown. So far, routine maintenance and oil changes have been comparable to conventional cars, according to Edmunds.com. Manufacturers say the battery packs should last the life of the car.
In the meantime, there are plenty of fuel-efficient vehicles already on the market that can rival a hybrid’s efficiency.
According to the EPA, other gasoline-powered cars with exceptionally good economy include the Toyota Yaris subcompact car at 34 city/39 highway, and the Honda Fit, a new, small station wagon, at 33 city/38 highway.
And there will be more options in the near future as cleaner, more efficient diesel-powered vehicles re-enter the U.S. market.
Long popular in Europe, diesels have overcome their bad reputation for belching black, smelly smoke and performing like a car with engine trouble.
New diesel technologies have improved performance on a par with gasoline engines, and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is being introduced in the U.S. Sometimes, when gasoline prices get really high, diesel fuel is actually less expensive.
Driving a hybrid vehicle takes a little getting used to. For one thing, the gasoline motor shuts off when you’re stopped at a traffic light. It sounds like the engine went dead – which it did. A computer knows you’re not going anywhere, so it turns off the gasoline engine.
When the light turns green, the electric motor gets you started, and the gasoline engine kicks in as you accelerate. There’s no wasting gas while you’re idling.
That computer is darn smart, too. When you don’t need a lot of power, like at slow speeds and when you’re coasting down a hill, the computer can turn off the engine to save gas. But when you need it to go up the other side of the hill, gasoline and electric motors work together to give you some extra oomph.
Often included as standard equipment on hybrids, or available as an option, is an in-dash screen that shows when the gasoline and electric motors are working, as well as fuel consumption.
The car’s batteries – yes, the electric motor runs on batteries, but you don’t have to plug it in – are recharged when you hit the brakes. It’s called regenerative braking, which converts the energy during coasting into juice for the batteries.
By Karl W. Ritzler
Originally posted on divinecaroline.com
A comparison
Honda Civic Hybrid
Vehicle: four-door sedan
Base MSRP: $22,600
Drivetrain: 1.4-liter four-cylinder with electric motor and continuously variable transmission
Mileage: 49 mpg city/ 51 mpg highway
Honda Civic EX (comparably equipped, gasoline only)
Vehicle: four-door sedan
Base MSRP: $19,510
Drivetrain: 1.8-liter four-cylinder with automatic transmission
Mileage: 30 mpg city/ 40 mpg highway
Ford Escape Hybrid
Vehicle: four-door, front-wheel drive small sport utility vehicle
Base MSRP: $25,665
Drivetrain: 2.3-liter four-cylinder with electric motor and continuously variable transmission
Mileage: 36 mpg city/31 mpg highway
Ford Escape XLT (comparably equipped gasoline only*)
Vehicle: four-door, front-wheel drive small sport utility vehicle
Base MSRP: $22,280 (four-cylinder engine) or $23,130 (six-cylinder engine)
Drivetrain: 2.3-liter four-cylinder or 3.0-liter six cylinder, both with automatic transmission
Mileage: Four-cylinder, 23 mpg city/26 mph highway; six-cylinder, 23 mpg city/26 mph highway
*Because Ford and Toyota hybrids use only the electric motors at low speeds, mileage in stop-and-go city traffic tends to be higher than highway mileage.
Source: Edmunds.com
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