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Help Shedding Those Unwanted Pounds

- posted: 02.08.08
http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2008/07/help-shedding-those-unwanted-pounds.html This Driving Woman is always trying to lose a little weight. But as I hula hoop my way to health on the Wii Fit, I'm also thinking, "What about those folks who have to lose 1,000 pounds... or more?" People who have leased large trucks and SUVs in the last couple of years are pondering the scale more than ever, as soaring gas prices have made their buff rides look more like aging sumo wrestlers. A lot of folks are "trading down" from their voluptuous vehicles to more trim transportation when they buy a new car. But what if you're stuck in a lease and just can't afford the payments (or the gas) anymore? There could be a way out that doesn't require paying thousands to the dealer: Lease trading. Lease trading allows someone to legally take over your lease, and has gained popularity as the Internet has made such transactions easier. Sites like LeaseTrader.com and Swapalease.com, while they operate somewhat differently, will help you get out of your lease for a very reasonable fee. Despite high gas prices, there are still good reasons your weighty wheels would be appealing to someone "shopping" for a vehicle on these lease trading sites. No downpayment required Someone who doesn't put a lot of miles on their car each year, or has the dough, may not care about gas prices They may really need the cargo or hauling capacity of a truck or SUV Here's a tip: If you're hot to offload Big Bertha, you should offer a cash incentive to the person assuming the lease. This will lower their effective monthly payment, effectively sweetening the deal. We recommend thinking hard about whether it makes financial sense to try to get out from under your current lease; the old adage "haste makes waste" is especially appropriate here. But if you decide it's worth a look, all the details are in our article, Get Out of Your Lease the Cheap and Easy Way (http://www.edmunds.com/advice/leasing/articles/47011/article.html).

2009 VW Jetta Diesel Models Get $1300 IRS Tax Credit

- posted: 02.08.08
http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2008/07/2009-vw-jetta-diesel-models-get-1300-irs-tax-credit.html The IRS recently announced that 2009 VW Jetta Sedan and Sportwagen models equipped with TDI engines would be eligible for an Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit in the amount of $1300. This tax credit is similar to what buyers of hybrid vehicles receive, and it speaks volumes as to the relative "greenness" of the new clean diesel technology. Critics have expressed disappointment with the official EPA 31/41 MPG fuel economy rating, especially after VW hyped the potential for 50 MPG highway economy. As a result of this, VW commissioned a third-party certifier, AMCI, to test the Jetta TDI. AMCI found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 MPG in the city and 44 MPG on the highway. Still not 50 MPG, but noticeably better than what the EPA results showed. Such discrepancies are not unusual for diesels, or even hybrids. The EPA test cycle is optimized for testing conventional gas engines, which clearly have different characteristics than hybrids or diesels. As a consequence, the tests often report inaccurate results that are not indicative of what drivers can expect in the real world. For the consumer, the $1300 tax credit helps to off-set the price premium of the TDI engine and diesel fuel, further reinforcing the shorter payback period of diesel technology over a hybrid. Not to mention the fun of having 236 lb.-ft. of torque at your beck and call and the rush of power that Prius owners can only dream of.

Trouble in the Industry: Should You Still Consider Leasing?

- posted: 02.08.08
http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2008/07/trouble-in-the-industry-should-you-still-consider-leasing.html Last week Chrysler shook the automotive world by announcing it wouldn't be leasing vehicles through its captive finance company anymore. People can still lease Chryslers but the lease will have to be written by an independent bank. Now, Wells Fargo Finance and Chase Auto Finance have announced they are also getting out of the leasing business. An internal memo from Ford indicates there maybe lease troubles there too. And GM has just announced it will restrict leasing to only those with the best credit rating. What's going on? And what does this mean to you, the consumer? First, a quick look at why trouble has struck. Leasing is a way to pay for only the amount of the car's value that you use. If you drive a new car for its first three years, you pay that much depreciation (plus interest and sales tax). To make this work, lease companies try to predict the value of the car at the end of three years. When the lease is over the car comes back to them and they usually sell the car at an auction. But with the sudden drop in resale value, banks that wrote leases are being stuck with gas guzzling SUVs and trucks worth much less than expected. While this has automakers quaking in terror, the impact on consumers -- so far -- is minimal. Here is where things stand...and the changes that are likely to be coming soon:

Top-3 Teaser: MPG Mumbo-Jumbo

- posted: 02.08.08
http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2008/08/top-3-teaser-mpg-mumbo-jumbo.html With the sudden increase in gas prices, automakers are scrambling for ways to pitch old products with timely new claims about fuel-efficiency. Are they being honest about it? Are you kidding?! They're doing what companies do -- trying to make their wares look as attractive as possible for the buying public, reality notwithstanding. Tune in later today for our Weekly Top 3, in which we'll highlight three sneaky tactics designed to impress consumers with MPGs while keeping some uncomfortable facts under wraps. Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com

Weekly Top 3: MPG Marketing Tricks

- posted: 02.08.08
http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2008/08/weekly-top-3-mpg-marketing-tricks.html As noted in my teaser post, automakers currently find themselves in an awkward transitional period. Consumers suddenly want maximal fuel-efficiency, yet most manufacturers are saddled with gas-guzzling fleets that offer only a few efficient alternatives. So what are they doing about it? Calling Madison Avenue, of course. This week we'll highlight three ways in which marketing mavens are trying to pull the wool over your eyes with misleading MPG claims.

Green Car Center

- posted: 20.07.08
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Green-Car-Center/

Our Green Car Center is your comprehensive guide to the growing world of environmentally-friendly and gas-saving vehicles. Dive in for expert advice on some of today's most talked-about issues, including everything from luxury hybrids to tips on saving money at the pump without buying a hybrid. Feature Articles and SlideshowsIs Going Green Worth It?Does it really make financial sense to buy a high-priced hybrid instead of its gasoline-only counterpart? Read ...

Read more of this story at U.S. News Rankings and Reviews

Protecting Yourself from Gas Thieves Gets Harder

- posted: 20.07.08
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/080528-Protecting-Yourself-from-Gas-Thieves-Gets-Harder/

Not long ago, we advised readers to consider a locking gas cap due to a minor gas theft epidemic.  It seems that gas thieves have gotten creative -- and sometimes catastrophically stupid -- in getting around the $5 devices. The Honolulu Advertiser reports, "Earlier this month, thieves climbed the fence at the Lanakila Meals on Wheels parking lot in Liliha and stole gasoline from its vans for a third time.  ...

Read more of this story at U.S. News Rankings and Reviews

How to Make Your Old Car Last Over 200,000 Miles

- posted: 20.07.08
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/080530-How-to-Make-Your-Old-Car-Last-Over-200-000-Miles/

The price of gas is going up.  A new, more fuel efficient car might make sense -- but the prices of cars are going up as well.  Soon, your existing car might not look like such a bad idea.  Maybe you've paid it off, or you're close to doing so, and the cost of repairs and maintenance is usually less than the cost of a new car payment.  How can ...

Read more of this story at U.S. News Rankings and Reviews

KBB: Don't Sell Your SUV Now

- posted: 20.07.08
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/080602-KBB-Don-t-Sell-Your-SUV-Now/

The trade-in value of SUVs has crashed as gas prices have risen.  With the big gas-guzzlers worth less than ever, thousands of Americans have tried to get rid of their large vehicles, and a glut of SUVs now sites unsold on used car lots.  The Wall Street Journal reports, " A three-year-old large SUV today is worth about $2,000 to $3,000 less at trade-in than a three-year-old large SUV would ...

Read more of this story at U.S. News Rankings and Reviews

400 New Reports of Toyota Tacoma Sudden Acceleration Since February

- posted: 20.07.08
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/080611-400-New-Reports-of-Toyota-Tacoma-Sudden-Acceleration-Since-February/

The Detroit Free Press reports, "Some 431 customers from around the country have reported unintended or sudden acceleration in their Toyota Tacoma pickups, resulting in 51 crashes and 12 injuries, but the automaker said there are no flaws in the trucks and that many reports were 'inspired by publicity.'" When we last reported on this issue in February, government investigators had received only about 30 complaints. The National Highway Traffic ...