Auto Car Magazine

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Albar CM — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:03:33 +0000

The 2010 GLK-Class is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sport-utility, available in one trim only, the GLK350…. read more

Upon introduction, the GLK-Class is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 268-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

Pros: ride quality, performance
Cons: tight back seat

first i would like to call out all those lying and stating they are getting over 27mpg on the highway with this SUV. please do not lie, you will never get near that mileage on the highway. MB is true to the advertisements usually, what the window sticker states that’s usually what you get and it’s 21mpg at best on the highway.

overall i like it, looks good, solid build, smooth ride, enjoy driving it. overpriced in the compact SUV category, but if you want a Mercedes you have to overpay

2010 Chevrolet Colorado Regular Cab 4WD

Albar CM — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:58:24 +0000

The 2010 Colorado Regular Cab 4WD is a 2-door, 3-passenger compact pickup, available in two trims, the Work… read more Truck and the LT1.

Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 2.9-liter, I4, 185-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 23-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional.

2009 Volkswagen Rabbit

Albar CM — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:38:17 +0000

Upon introduction, 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit trims are equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, I5, 170-horsepower engine that achieves 21-mpg in the city and 29-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on the 2 Door S, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on the 4 Door S PZEV.

The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit is a 2- or 4-door, 5-passenger family coupe, or family sedan, available in 4 trims, ranging… read more from the 2 Door S to the 4 Door S PZEV.

Pros:
Great value, more features than competition, strong engine, high quality
Cons:
Mileage could be better but still good, Continental tires noisy

I bought a 2007 Rabbit (after owning a 2003 BMW Z4) and after almost 3 years of driving it I have to say it’s a great little car and actually has a few features the Z4 didn’t.

I looked at many smaller cars and there were none that equalled the Rabbit in quality, form, fit and function, plus a lot of torque and more horsepower than most in its class. All in all, an outstanding car for the price and not a single problem so far. Take one for a drive and you’ll see

2010 Honda Insight

Albar CM — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:18:25 +0000

The 2010 Insight is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, available in 3 trims, ranging from the LX to the EX… read more w/ Navigation.

Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 1.3-liter, I4, 98-horsepower, hybrid engine that achieves 40-mpg in the city and 43-mpg on the highway. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard

Pros:
Top MPG, Great Resale, Honda Reliability
Cons:
Buying experience, econo car feel

Looks like only Prius owners rate reviews here. Pretty childish as there is good information here. My thoughts are just that. I purchased one and buy cars often for business so my views could be biased from owning heavier more expensive cars. I have had 5 Honda’s since 1986.

Driven modestly without any hypermiling tricks my fuel economy average runs in the low 48’s in mixed driving. That includes stops at the stores, drive ins etc. A mix of 75% highway and 25% city. I do see mid to high 50 mpg on Interstate use often nearing 60 mpg in nice weather. I was achieving these figures right from the start and at this time I do not consider the car broken in.

The radio on the EX is not so hot. Reminds me of the crummy radios on base Subaru’s over the years. Your not paying for a $1000 radio but this not good on a $14000 car. So thumbs down. It is also a reach to the controls and would be best suited to steering wheel radio controls like the Element and everything else on the road.

Road noise is not as bad as I would have thought. Clearly less than half that of a Honda Element or CRV. Wind noise on my EX is above average. At 50 mph its pretty noisy. However the car has never been back to the dealer and manipulation of the window seal reduces the noise. I’m hoping it can be reduced by the dealership given these facts.

The car is on the harsh side as far as the ride. A better word would be too taunt like a BMW or a performance car. It has that over spring European feel that is OK on short drives but tiring on long drives. The engine noise is nothing to complain about. Typical 4 cylinder ruckus but subdued and unlike domestic cars of the 80’s early 90’s. I have large hills here and I find the wind noise far worse than the engine noise.

Inside the car looks futuristic and is very attractive. However Honda does not seem to offer darker fabrics which I prefer. Not supplying the $104 floor mats is typical Honda. Not appreciated either. The front seats are comfortable for this over 6 foot 300 pounder. I can put the front seat back so far I can not reach the peddles. Of course no one but a child can sit behind me. To be fair in my large cars they can not either.

Would love to see power seats as standard. The rear is tight but I actually can sit in the back for short trips as long as the front seat occupant is no taller than 5″8″ or so. Entry exit for the front seats is really easy to negotiate thanks to the tilt-telescoping wheel.

I do have an issue with the tilt wheel. Where I need it to be (high) it interferes with the digital speedometer. So I have to alter the seat and wheel and compromise. I do prefer a basic speedometer and it to be put in the normal place. I also find all of the Eco data to be disconcerting and fear its like a person on a cell phone and not all your attention is focused on driving. I turn it all off. Its cute for the first few drives and then bothersome.

I purchased the car to screw over big oil. I did not compare it to Toyota because Toyota is not just 5 minutes from my house and as a third car I was also not willing to go over the low $20,000 range.

I am addicted to the Honda resale potential as I had done well with them over the years. I however do not understand why they retain more value as many domestics are just as well built and reliable. I am disgusted by the Honda buying experience. No floor mats, less features at higher pricing. No auto headlights when GM had them for 20 years or so. The attitude that they charge full retail and to come off a $100 brings on a crying spree from all who work there. If they want to be Saturn, then they need to inform people its one price for all. Its the sticker, take it or leave it.

In the end, its a nice car. My question I ponder is, A Hyundai Elantra is just as nice, better warranty and I know their reliability as I had several go well over 200K with no issues. Priced at $15K if your informed and deal and 33mpg. Less wind and road noise too?

2010 Ford Taurus SHO AWD

Albar CM — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:56:19 +0000

I drove a SHO from the assembly plant and this car can fly. For a large sedan that cranks out high 13’s in the 1/4 conbined with the sleek exterior and interior makes this sports sedan a great buy. The Taurus is LOADED with some of the best technology out there….emergency braking, this car has sensors if your not paying attention your brakes will apply, automatic parallel parking, cruse control sensors, car will slow down for you when needed, SYNC, blind spot sensors, steering wheel manual shifters and more.

Pros:
Great power and torque, beautiful design, all-wheel drive, equipment
Cons:
Average gas milage, price overall, lack of leather interior options

I knew I would love this car from the minute is saw pictures of it. It took me to just see it in person to buy it. So much power and pep and so many options. Everything is within your reach, though the dials for the navigation system are situated in a bad spot. And I really was hoping for the money, I would see lots of leather. None on the wheel or dash or doors to speak of. But overall, it is now my favorite car. Love this car. I got the black on black. The display screen is easy to get to know and the quietness is great. Ford is right on track with this car. Now I can garage my older Ford Taurus SHO AWD.

When I get the cash together, I plan to buy another one! In particular the SHO model. Not only for it’s good lokks, but for it’s performance. My last Taurus was also an SHO, and I loved it! But it got too many miles on it, and was costing me more money to keep it on the road than the car was worth. At the time I sold it I had over 300,000 miles on it though so I did get my moneys worth out of it, so don’t get me wrong. I would buy another one again!

2010 Honda Insight

What is in the pipeline for reform of health care?

Albar CM — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:54:33 +0000

If the hospitals cannot collect any money from their uninsured patients, the costs for all the insured must rise. Businesses are now passing on these increased costs to the members of their health plans. In effect, this is a pay cut. That is why this Administration wants to see a more bright system with affordable health insurance for everyone.

According to the latest searches, it is estimated that out of a population of about 305 million, some 45 million people in the US do not have health care cover. They are entirely dependent on the emergency rooms and the public hospital system subsidized by local, state and federal bodies. Why are so many people without insurance? The answer is, as everyone is all too painfully aware, that the premiums have been rising faster than inflation for the last five years and more. Now that unemployment is increasing at a fast rate, more people will be unable to get the instalment payments. The Administration’s own estimate is that someone is driven into bankruptcy every thirty seconds. If fewer people pay their health plan premiums, the premiums must rise for everyone else. Treatments remain expensive and have to be paid for.

This means a halfway house. The current Administration would probably prefer to move to a single payer system of health insurance immediately, but there is too much invested in the current private insurance market. So the government is proposing a state-based system for all those without private insurance, allowing those with insurance policies to change over if they wish. Health care coverage for children is already here. The budget has $634 billion earmarked for preventative medicine and the provision of more affordable services. This is going to put a lot of pressure on private health insurance companies to respond with their own cost-cutting measures. Failure to stay competitive with a growing efficiency in public provision could lead down the slippery slope into a single payer system. That this is the standard model in most of the rest of the world, does not make it right for the US. Or does it? We can only wait and see what happens.

Finding Health Insurance

Albar CM — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:30:51 +0000

But since we are talking about your health, there are other things to consider. Since jobs are at risk, now is the time to think about what would happen to your health plans if unemployment comes.

Health insurance is not something you should leave to the last minute. Planning now saves time and money later on. Although insurance companies can change the detail of their policies, what you research and agree now will stand up for months to come. be recession-proof, stay ahead of the game and keep your family safe. Indeed, health insurance should be the one New Year’s resolution you make and keep the longest.

Could you afford to pay for the COBRA cover? The reason for asking is that a recent survey found most families could not. So, if you cannot start a savings plan to provide enough cash, what would you do? Well, now is the time to do some research. There are a number of private medical plans available. Spending time online can identify some good cover at affordable prices. One of the starting points is the company currently supplying auto or home insurance. If you bundle policies together, you can get reasonable discounts for personalized solutions. You should also talk with local agents. Although they are driven by the commission, you can often get good ideas about how to save money with higher deductibles and more limited coverage. Then it’s for you to decide, making plans with a clear head now rather than when under pressure when the job is lost.

A Recommended Place to Get Cheap Domain Names

Albar CM — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:46:24 +0000

When we have a company and would like to find a better way to promote our business then promoting online in the internet can be the best option since it’s a cheap way to promote our business to all customers around the world.

If you’re interested to promote your business in the internet then you should visit Uk-cheapest.co.uk to learn more about Domains. This website represents an online company that offers you many types of Cheap Domains that might fit to your affordability.

You’re also invited to find choices of Cheap hosting plans in this website. For further information please visit this website.

Few tips to locate cheap insurance deals

Getting thrifty car rentals

Albar CM — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:37:31 +0000

Convenience is always a must whenever a person travels, this is pretty much while a lot of people opt to avail of thrifty car rentals, aside from having the convenience of being able to go whichever place they want without the hassle of hopping from one kind of mass transportation to another, they still get good value for their money.

When planning to travel to other countries or even just to a different state, car rental has always been a must especially for traveling business men who need to go to one place to another. However, is spite of whatever “status” they may have, business men as well as ordinary travelers still opt to find and avail of the most thrifty car rentals that they could find. Thrifty car rentals usually abound, whether it be on directories, the internet or wherever it is that you can find service advertisements. It really just a matter of choosing the best thrifty car rental for you and your needs.

A good example of a reputable thrifty car rental service company in the country is the Alamo car rental company. A lot of people actually recommend availing its thrifty car rental service, because of aside from being practical, they provide good and efficient service to their customers. From providing their customers with a wide range of vehicles to choose from, cars, RVs, basically just whatever type of vehicle that you may need for you travels. They also have various travel programs that you can choose from, this thrifty car rental has actually created various customer programs to suit each and every one’s needs and demands. From corporate programs to government contractor programs, thrifty car rentals surely is their line of expertise.

Another good reason for choosing the Alamo car rental service as your thrifty car rental option, is their strict adherence to quality of service, they’ve really made a name fro themselves by making sure that their customers needs are always kept and they’ve made it a point to keep their good customer feedback by assuring their customers (as well as those who are just browsing) that they provide quality, yet thrifty car rentals.

Thrifty car rentals should never really be a hassle to your traveling needs (or demands), it is pretty easy to land on a huge list of companies that are able to provide quality yet thrifty car rentals. Just be sure to keep a keen eye on the companies that you are choosing from, unfortunately, is spite of a lot of thrifty car rentals who really do try to make an honest living by providing good, quality service to its customers, some sleazy thrifty car rentals still circulate in the market. Be sure to be cautious still when choosing, some may offer really low rates but their cars may be not of real good quality, simply put, the reason why they’re offering thrifty car rentals may be because of their defective cars.

Look out for “signs” when you’re choosing. Ask around, from your family, friends, colleagues and especially your travel agent in which of these thrifty car rentals would they actually recommend. Weigh out your options based on your needs, wants and most importantly, you budget. Of course, having a limited budget shouldn’t really just force you to end up settling with just any thrifty car rental service, shelling out a little more may not really hurt you. In the end, when it comes to looking for thrifty car rentals, it really is more of the quality of service that they provide which should matter to you.

National Car Rental, Quality Through the Years

Albar CM — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:35:23 +0000

National Car rental was also the first car rental company to computerize its reservation operations. With the introduction of “Telemax” computers to their system, reservation process ahs improved moving to a faster and more hassle free renting.

The National Car Rental is one of the oldest and the pioneer in the car rental business. In 56 years of business, the National Car Rental has pioneered amongst its most famous, the one way rental feature, for those people who’d want to rent a car in one town and leave it in another, which makes it more convenient for the renter.

And since the airline industry deregulation in 1976, causing increase in airline travel costs, national car rental gave flat rates for car renters, who chose renting cars rather than flying.

National car rentals is also one of the earliest companies to start corporate account business back in the 70’s. Through this program, National has focused on the corporate traveler more so than any other company. It was also the first in the rental industry to start a frequent renter program. It was also the first to use paperless car rentals and use computers to make dealings faster; they called this the “Emerald Club” and the “Paperless Express Rental Agreement”. The “Emerald Aisle” program enables customers to select the cars that they want, with paperless ease, bypassing the rental counter, and getting them on their way faster and more efficiently. The “Choice Rental Process” in addition enabled customers to choose the exact car that they want, and “QuickRent” that gives non Emerald Club members to skip the rental counter when they complete the deal online.

National car rental is now affiliated with many different companies, all to improve the customers renting experience. These companies include, Air Canada, Air Miles, Air France, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, America West airlines, American Airlines, ATA airlines, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia airlines, Midwest airlines, Lanchile, United Airlines and Northwest airlines all having frequent flyer and miles/kilometer programs that can be applied to car rentals as well, some of these airlines even consider national car rental miles, for air miles.

Other affiliates include Coast Hotels and Resorts, which give lower rates for national customers that stay in their Hotels, Hilton Family of Hotels, which let you ear 250 HHonors form their Hilton Honors Points and miles, for every rent from national car rental, as well as American Express who lets you earn points when you’ve enrolled for their program for national car rental.

Aside from all the discounts a features that you will acquire through their affiliates, National Car rentals offer a wide range of vehicles for you to choose from, the classes of cars that you could possibly rent form national cars are endless, the types of vehicles that you’ll be able to rent are classified as subcompact, compact, intermediate, full-size, premium, luxury, sports utility, Mini van and convertible.

National Car rentals also have special offers for their customers, one of which is the “Last minute specials to go” which offers different specials every week at different locations. The other special, the “Great internet rates – Book ahead special’ gives discounts fro those that reserve their cars early in the internet. The weekend value Rates – Book ahead special offers lower weekend rates. National car also offers internet only discounts also a book ahead special, which applies to mini vans and SUVs.