Archive for the ‘Gas Issues’ Category

Electric Vehicles Promised By 2010 At LA Auto Show

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Various car companies are promising to have EVs on the road in a couple of years, but they'll still come with very limited range and long recharge times. Pricing should also be a problem as well, but they don't burn any gas if that's critical for you.

Slow Sales Make It Hard To Finance Green Vehicles

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Car companies from all around the world are rethinking their plans for greener vehicles in the light of the ongoing collapse of new vehicle sales. Without the cash from those sales, they can't afford to research and develop more fuel-efficient technology.

The Car They Always Wanted Now Seems Obnoxious

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Various changes in the world cause one couple to consider and reject the big vehicle they had planned to buy, and now they're reconsidering their entire way of life.

Americans Wrong To Overlook US Cars, SUVs, Trucks

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

A young writer who is too familiar with the misconceptions her fellow Americans have about Detroit-based cars writes to set the record straight.

Ford Shows Off New 2010 Mustang Sports Car At LA

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

The iconic brand that Ford almost killed in the 1990s is now going strong, attracting those folks who are looking to display a little spunk in their daily commute. But you know times are tough out there when the PR folks make a big deal of a Mustang's fuel economy. 

CyberSpace Car Research Shows Buyer Interest Rising

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

It's barely more than a slight uptick in consumer intent, but at least the people who start their car shopping by visiting virtual dealerships are looking around again.

Detroit Brands And Products A Lot Better Than You Think

Monday, November 17th, 2008

The purpose of this story is mostly to convince everyone that GM, Ford and Chrysler are worth saving, but by reading the truth behind the myths the smart consumer will learn that they may be giving the foreign car brands too much credit and paying too much as a result.

Bicycle-Sharing Alternative To Cars Popular In Europe

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Responding to a growing demand for ways to go green, more European cities put communal bicycles on their old streets using the newest technology.

Prius Plug-In Owners Pay A Lot To Save A Little On Gas

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

If you own a Prius and you're willing to spend a lot of cash for a battery that lets it run short distances without using gasoline but not actually save any money, there are people willing to help you.

Cross-Country Trip Shows Minivan’s Great Fuel Economy

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

A reporter for the LA Times goes from New York to The Coast in a 10-year-old Chevrolet Venture and gets a lot better fuel economy than the official statistics say he should. Plus he gets to take his wife, dog and a bunch of stuff along with him, which small ...

The Economic Case For Hybrid Vehicles Fades Again

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Hybrids have never really made much economic sense for the average buyer because it was hard to recover the cost of their extra cost by small amount you save for gasoline, but with various government incentives drying up and the cost of gasoline falling their financial value is getting worse. 

Women Most Excited About Green Cars Like Chevy Volt

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

This story reiterates the major things you've heard before about women and the car business -- they prefer green vehicles, safety's important, dealers treat them with disdain, etc. -- but it's worth repeating, and it's good to know they're particularly excited about the coming of the Volt plug-in hybrid.

Many Have Big Regrets About Buying Small Cars

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

The features that made larger vehicles more expensive and yet more attractive to buyers are quickly missed by people who downsize and downgrade to smaller vehicles. And then there's the very real question about safety.

Car Getting A Little Dirty? Then Drive The Other One

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

A man reflects on the way his wife does not respond to a dirty car or a low fuel light.

Neil Young Wants To Help You Convert Your SUV

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

The ageless rock star has a business that helps people convert gas guzzlers (like his own 1959 Lincoln Continental) to run on alternative fuels.

Ford To Stick With Small Cars, No Matter Gas Prices

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

The temptation to go back to big trucks and SUVs may be great if the price of gasoline stays down, but Ford swears its North American product line will still feature lots of small vehicles.

Aging Boomer Needs Influence Design Of Toyota Venza

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

By Alex Law The army of Baby Boomers that makes up the bulk of Toyota's customer base should be thrilled with the arrival of the five-seat Venza this winter bearing price tags from $25,975 to $29,250 when it arrives this December.

As Sales Lag, Little Cars Now Come With Big Deals

Saturday, November 1st, 2008

Car sales have dropped so much across the United States that even small, fuel-efficient cars aren't doing as well as their manufacturers want, so there are now different kinds of deals and incentives available.

Falling Gas Prices Let People Do Fun Things Again

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

More people are going back to doing the things they like to do because they don't have to save money to pay for the gas to do the things they have to do.

Small Cars Usually Mean Bigger Insurance Premiums

Monday, October 27th, 2008

If you're thinking of going to a smaller car to save money on gas, you could end up paying more for insurance and that could wipe out the fuel economy gain. Most importantly, you'd be paying more for insurance because the smaller cars are likely to cost the insurance companies ...

Nine iPhone Apps For Your Car Have Various Uses

Monday, October 27th, 2008

It's hard to imagine that anyone with a car and an iPhone couldn't use at least one of these software systems.

Why The Bus Is More Romantic Than The Car

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

A discussion about how people should give up driving somewhere for dating purposes and look for love locally, all in the name of the environment.

Chrysler Axes Hybrid Versions Of Aspen And Durango

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Even with their significant improvements in fuel economy over the regular models, the two hybrid SUVs have found limited acceptance in a market that seems to have turned its back on such big vehicles. The company is promising a hybrid version of its full-size Ram pickup in 2010.

Motorcycles Aren’t Cheaper When Burial Costs Included

Friday, October 24th, 2008

While the writer of this piece is not known for his aversion to exaggeration, he is known for making hard points in an extremely entertaining fashion. Here he takes a look at the idea of people switching from cars to motorcycles in an attempt to save money on gas.

Lower Gas Prices Not Bringing Shoppers To Dealerships

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

So far, the car-buying public has been able to resist the siren call of lower gas prices and is staying away from a decision on a new vehicle.

Will Lower Fuel Prices Reduce Alternative Fuel Desire

Monday, October 20th, 2008

With gas prices hovering where they are, it's not altogether clear that the pressure to move from oil to alternative-fuel vehicles won't abate and slow down their development.

People Over-Reacting To Tire Pressure Warning Light

Sunday, October 19th, 2008

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System that your car might have is indeed helpful for keeping you safer and even getting better mileage, but it is NOT a crisis alert signal. This article gives you some idea of the situation, but read your owner's manual for exact details.

Hybrid Cars Not Always As Green As They Seem

Friday, October 17th, 2008

This story out of San Francisco makes a nice counter-balance to all the rabid boosterism for hybrids that have made them seem like a good idea for way too many people.

Get Ready For Less Powerful 4-Cylinder Cars From BMW

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

The company that likes to believe that consumers actually buy its cars for their performance abilities rather than their "status symbol" qualities is worried that the return of four-cylinder engines to the lineup will turn people off.

Detroit 3 Put Focus On Their Fuel Economy Lead

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

Contrary to popular understanding, the American car companies can be really good at building fuel-efficient vehicles (often better than Honda) and they plan to build their marketing campaigns around that fact.

Toyota EV With 10-Mile Range “Sounds Like A Flop”

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Several car companies, including Toyota and GM, are hoping that new cars that go a limited distance on battery power will open up a new audience for people looking to reduce or reject the use of gasoline. Not everyone thinks the idea's going to work.

Electric Vehicles Best Hope For Globe And Car Business?

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

A visit to the Paris auto show makes Time Magazine wonder if the auto industry doesn't have to move more quickly to electric vehicles to overcome many of the woes besetting it and the economy.

Ford Says It May Bring Hyper-Tiny Car To U.S.

Monday, October 6th, 2008

If Ford decides to export it here from Europe, the Ka would be the smallest vehicle sold by an American company in North America. This is a departure from the Dearborn firm's previous position on the car, but that's what collapsing sales and high gas prices will do.

Frugal Family Challenge Takes On Gas Costs

Monday, October 6th, 2008

A couple of big media outlets and a high-profile automotive website have created a segment for TV's Good Morning America that shows ordinary families how to cut down on their transportation costs as they relate to gasoline and driving.

Honda Tries Again To Create A Viable Hybrid Car

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

Honda showed off its fourth try at a viable hybrid model at the Paris auto show recently, with North American sales expected in the spring of 2009. No word on mileage for the second version of the Insight, but the company hopes to keep the price low. Three more Honda ...