www.walkerautomotive.com

Honda Accord Concept Gets Bolder Looks, Better Drivetrains

2012-01-12T10:55:00.000-06:00

DETROIT -- Honda Motor Co. today unveiled an Accord Coupe Concept that foreshadows the styling of the production car set to arrive this year against stiffening competition.

The concept, shown at the Detroit auto show, sports a creased beltline, muscular rear fender and aggressive lower fog lights. Powertrain improvements will be a key selling point for the 2013 Accord, Honda says.

After the Accord's 17 percent drop in U.S. sales last year, Honda is counting on the next Accord to take on freshly redesigned mid-sized rivals, including the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu.

The coupe will be the same size as the current model. But the sedan will have a smaller footprint than today's version, with a shorter wheelbase and lower curb weight for better handling and enhanced fuel economy.

Interior space will stay the same, Honda pledges.

The timing of the sedan's U.S. launch hasn't been released.

The Accord's U.S. sales decline last year, to 235,625, stemmed largely from supply shortages following Japan's March 11 earthquake.

That dropped it to fourth place in the segment, behind the Camry, Fusion and Altima. The Camry held onto its No. 1 spot despite dropping 6 percent to 308,510 units, also because of supply shortages after the earthquake.

Honda needs a strong showing from the Accord after its redesigned Civic small car received a chilly reception last year for what critics said was a cheap-looking interior.

American Honda's total U.S. sales fell 7 percent in a market that increased 10 percent.

New powertrains

The Accord will feature three new drivetrains.

The first will feature the initial U.S. use of the next-generation, direct-injection engine that Honda unveiled in late November at the Tokyo Motor Show. The so-called Earth Dreams engine, a 2.4-liter, 16-valve, DOHC i-VTEC four banger, will be combined with a new continuously variable transmission.

The engine delivers 181 hp and better fuel economy than the Accord's current base powerplant, an inline four. Honda did not release fuel-economy figures but said the engine aims to achieve class-leading mileage.

The second drivetrain will consist of a re-engineered 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC i-VTEC V-6 engine paired with either a new six-speed automatic transmission or an existing six-speed manual. The automatic will achieve better fuel economy and horsepower than the outgoing model, Honda says.

The final variant is the first use of Honda's two-motor, plug-in hybrid system. In all-electric mode, the system's lithium ion battery and motor can power the car for up to 15 miles of city driving at speeds as high as 62 mph. The battery can be fully recharged in four hours using a 120-volt outlet or in 90 minutes with a 240-volt charger, Honda says.

For longer drives, the hybrid operates in gasoline-electric mode, drawing from a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, Atkinson-cycle engine combined with a CVT. For high-speed cruising, the car can run in gasoline-only mode with the engine directly powering the front wheels.

The Accord Plug-in Hybrid will go on sale in the winter of 2012, Honda says.

Honda canceled the previous Accord hybrid at the end of its 2007 model year.

Safety features

Honda says the next Accord also will sport several new safety features.

It will have Honda's first lane-departure warning system and first forward-crash warning technology. Both use cameras mounted behind the windshield to alert drivers of dangers.

It also will get Honda's first use of its LaneWatch blind spot display, which uses a camera mounted on the passenger mirror to keep tabs on that side of the car.

A multiangle rearview camera also will come standard.

Other new standard features in the next Accord:

• Bluetooth hands-free phone interface.
• Full color information display.
• An SMS texting function that reads messages aloud.
• iPhone-compatible Pandora Internet radio.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120110/OEM04/120109807#ixzz1jGPKvmZd

Dealer Sells Luxury Cars in Louisiana Truck Country

2012-01-11T10:05:00.000-06:00

W. Foster Walker III sells German luxury cars and a lot of Hondas in Louisiana’s truck country.

Premium-car business is good enough that Walker Automotive Group in Alexandria, northwest of Baton Rouge, recently opened Mercedes-Benz and BMW showrooms and a service center.

The 35,000-sq.-ft. (3,251-sq.-m) construction project totaled $6 million. It is the latest expansion for the 4-store, 7-franchise organization.

Walker, a third-generation dealer, acquired the Mercedes franchise in 1974, followed by Honda in 1975 and BMW in 1985. He says he “got lucky” after expanding to import brands to shore up his General Motors-brand representation.

“There was just this awareness I had of something new and growing, so I went after it,” Walker says of the brand additions. “We had the room to expand, and we did.”

It has turned out well for him. He notes his GMC and Buick brands also are going strong. Kia and Mitsubishi brands round out his franchise portfolio.

Following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, Walker is president of the 92-year-old dealership group bearing the family name.

“This new location and building will enable us to reach more customers with increased visibility,” he says.

For years, the dealer chain has built a reputation as a prominent Honda seller. The auto maker is the No.1 seller in the region for 23 of the past 24 years, Walker says, calling his organization central Louisiana’s largest-volume dealer group.

A regular on the WardsAuto Dealer 500, Walker Automotive ranks No. 52 on the 2011 list.

The group posted more than $131 million in revenues in 2010, with the Honda franchise accounting for $36.6 million of that. Overall sales and revenues this year are about 5% higher.

Besides the new Mercedes and BMW showrooms, Walker in the past two years has expanded the Honda service department, opened a new collision center and added 10,000 sq. ft. (929 sq. m) of GM service-department space.

Still, Walker knows about handling adversity. He’s seen plenty since joining the family business in 1970 after college and Army service.

Recent challenges include GM’s bankruptcy and this year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a natural disaster that crippled auto production in that nation. Walker went from selling 75 to 20 Hondas a month, due to slashed allocations.

Adapting to a crisis “takes constant effort, organizing and ability to manage change,” Walker says.

He takes pride in not laying off employees during the GM downsizing and overall market declines. He expanded the import lineup to cover his bases, acquiring the growing Kia franchise in 2010 to replace a Saturn dealership after GM killed that brand.

He employs 176 staffers and plans to hire more service technicians.

Mike Barbera, a 26-year veteran, is group general sales manager. Walker’s son, Foster Walker IV, oversees Honda operations, including customer relations and sales, service and parts activities. Daughter Amy Walker Searcy manages marketing, non-dealership assets and market analysis.

Sales managers Donald Ayo (Honda) and Ray Leggio (used cars) have been with the group for 24 and 20 years, respectively. Nearly 40% of employees have been with the company at least 10 years.

Future expansion is a possibility, says Lawrence Searcy, Walker’s son-in-law, who serves as operations manager and legal counsel.

“We do not have any specific parameters for opportunities, other than to say we want to make well-thought-out decisions and acquire franchises that add to the value of the corporation.”

Walker credits much of his group’s success to exceeding customer expectations. His company repeatedly has won the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for ethical practices.

“If I am going to err, I will do so in favor of the customer,” he says.

PROFILE

Company:Walker Automotive Group, Alexandria, LA
President: Foster Walker III
Employees: 176
Market: A region of more than 350,000 residents in central Louisiana.
Elected: Chairman of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Assn., representing 325 dealers.

Mission statement: “Walker is 100% committed to honesty, integrity, quality and excellence – ingredients that define lasting customer relationships.”

Full Article: http://wardsauto.com/dealerships/dealer-sells-luxury-cars-louisiana-truck-country

BMW and Mercedes-Benz Finish 1st and 2nd in Luxery Sales

2012-01-05T12:37:00.000-06:00

BMW fended off a late-year surge by rival Mercedes-Benz to win its first title as best-selling luxury brand in the United States.

BMW said today that U.S. sales rose 15 percent to 26,834 in December, for an annual total of 247,907. Mercedes said its sales last month climbed 28 percent to 25,701, pushing its tally for the year to 245,192.

The results officially end Lexus' 11-year reign atop the U.S. luxury rankings. The Toyota Motor Corp. brand reeled after the March earthquake in Japan disrupted production, finishing the year down 13 percent at 198,552. Mercedes won the title once, in 1999, before ceding the U.S. crown to Lexus.

Today's announcements also capped an unusual end to the reporting of annual auto sales. BMW of North America and Mercedes-Benz USA were the only companies that failed to release U.S. totals along with the rest of the industry on Wednesday, drawing more attention to the luxury race.

The results exclude Mercedes Sprinter vans and Smart cars as well as BMW's Mini brand, which aren't luxury vehicles.

BMW sales advanced 13 percent for the year in an overall market that rose about 10 percent. Mercedes' U.S. deliveries also climbed 13 percent, aided by a refreshed C-class sedan and redesigned M-class SUV.

Mercedes advanced after BMW ended the third quarter leading its German rival by 7,621 U.S. sales. The lead narrowed to 1,582 by the end of November.

Both automakers increased incentives in November and carried forward customer discounts into December, according to Ivan Drury, an industry analyst with Edmunds.com.

Mercedes increased incentive spending in November by 39 percent compared with a year earlier, and BMW's incentives rose 25 percent, according to Autodata Corp. Many of those discounts and incentives are on the C class and 3 series, which are the automakers' top sellers.

Rivals have noticed the discounting.

"They've been outspending us -- even with some relatively newer products," Kurt McNeil, Cadillac's vice president of sales, said in a telephone interview. BMW has offered $400 to $600 a car more than the General Motors brand, he said, and Mercedes' discounts exceeded Cadillac's by more than $1,000. "They've been bringing it from an incentive standpoint," he said.

While some automakers in the past have delayed releasing monthly results, "this is unusual," Jesse Toprak, an industry analyst with TrueCar.com, said Wednesday. "I don't really recall this happening from two automakers who are clearly going head-to-head against each other. It's too much of a coincidence."

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120105/RETAIL/120109953#ixzz1ibtXFMdd

Insurance Institute Gives 115 Vehicles Top Safety Rating.

2011-12-15T11:35:00.000-06:00

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety today releases its list of Top Safety Picks – the 2012 model-year vehicles with the best crash-test ratings. The auto-safety research group, which is funded by the insurance industry, said 115 vehicles made the list this time around.
The results reflect efforts by car makers to strengthen the roofs of their vehicles to perform well in a roof-crush test that simulates the stress put on the roof in a rollover crash. The Institute added the roof test to its crash-test program that includes front, side and rear impact collisions. To get a top overall rating a vehicle has to perform well enough to receive the group’s best grade of “good” in the crash and in the roof test.
Here is the full list of top-rated models sold by Walker Automotive:

Honda Fit, Honda Civic, Honda CR-Z, Honda Insight, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Honda Pilot, Honda Odyssey, Honda Ridgeline, Kia Forte, Kia Soul, Kia Sportage, Kia Sorento, Mitsubishi Lancer, Buick Verano, Buick LaCrosse, Buick Regal, Buick Enclave, Mercedes C-Class, Mercedes E-Class, Mercedes GLK, Mercedes M-Class, BMW 5 series, BMW X3, GMC Terrain, GMC Acadia.

Full article http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/12/15/insurance-institute-gives-115-vehicles-top-safety-rating/

Making the Difference Award

2011-12-09T10:05:00.000-06:00

This past week, John Wrubel received the Making the Difference Award from JRTC& Fort Polk on behalf of Walker Honda. We would like to congratulate John and Walker Honda and thank them for all the work they do with Fort Polk.

"Walker Automotive for you loyal dedication and unwavering commitment. Thank you for your outstanding contribution toward our goal, and for making our organization stand above the rest." - JRTC & Fort Polk

WALKER AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CHARITIES TO HELP THE NEEDY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

2011-11-30T14:56:00.000-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 14, 2011

ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: LAWRENCE S. SEARCY, JR.

WALKER AUTOMOTIVE

318-445-6421

WALKER AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CHARITIES TO HELP THE NEEDY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Walker Automotive is pleased to announce its partnership with several organizations this holiday season to provide food, clothing and toys to the needy.

FOOD BANK AND TOYS FOR TOTS

Walker is happy to support both the Food Bank of Central Louisiana and Toys for Tots this upcoming holiday season. To encourage Central Louisiana residents to make a donation of an unwrapped toy or a non-perishable food item, all five Walker Automotive service locations will offer a 10% discount on parts and service for each donation made at a participating Walker location.

“We understand that there are many people in Central Louisiana in need and are faced daily with providing for their families. Christmas is particularly difficult for the children, and we hope to put a few smiles on some kid’s faces with the items we collect. We hope that by offering the discount, customers will be encouraged to come in for service and make the donation,” Said Lawrence Searcy, Operations Manager at Walker. “This is the third year we have participated and we are thrilled each year to be able to give back to our community.

The “official drop sites” are in the service departments at Walker Buick / GMC, Walker Mercedes, Walker BMW, Walker Honda and Walker Kia. Customers are asked to bring a new and unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots program or five (5) non-perishable food items for the Food Bank. The drop boxes will be clearly marked in the service aisles in all stores.

COATS FOR KIDS AND CARS AND COATS

Walker has partnered with KLAX TV to sponsor Coats for Kids. Customers are asked to bring a new or gently used coat or other outer clothing item to any Walker Automotive location to be donated to local charities. Randall’s Cleaners will launder each item before it is donated.

Additionally, Walker Honda is sponsoring its own coats program with Cars for Coats. A new winter coat will be delivered to children and their mothers currently residing at the Hope House with a donation of $10.00 for every car sold at Walker Honda from November 14 through November 30. The coats will be delivered to the Hope House on December 1, 2011.

ABOUT WALKER AUTOMOTIVE

Walker Automotive was named the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award winner for 2010 which recognizes local businesses for outstanding ethical practices. This was the second time for Walker Automotive to win this prestigious award. Additionally Walker was recently named to the Wards Dealer Business Dealer 500 in June 2011 which ranks dealers nationally based on total revenue. Walker Automotive is currently ranked number 52 by this trade publication. .Walker has consistently made the list for the last decade.

Walker was founded in 1919 as Alexandria Auto Company, Inc. by Foster Walker Sr. Walker Oldsmobile Company and is now run by Foster Walker III. Ninety years after its inception the dealership has expanded from its meager origins to four locations, seven manufacturers, four service departments and a collision center. Walker Automotive offers new and pre-owned vehicles ranging from quality entry level models to German luxury vehicles. Walker employs more than 175 employees. Over the last 9 decades Walker has won numerous national and factory awards for all aspects of its business.

For more information on Toys for Tots, contact Linda Harris at 318-481-1686.
For more information on the Central Louisiana Food Bank contact Jayne Wright-Velez

Executive Director at 318-445-2773.
For more information about the Hope House, call Ariana 318-487-2061.

Big Lot Nov 2011

2011-11-16T09:51:00.000-06:00

Toyota Recalls 420,200 Vehicles, Including Camry, Highlander and Lexus RX 400h

2011-11-09T11:40:00.000-06:00

TORRANCE, California — Toyota is recalling 420,200 vehicles, including the 2004-'05 Camry, Highlander Sienna and Solara and the 2006 Lexus RX 400h, because of a defective crankshaft pulley on the V6 engine, the company said on Wednesday.

Other vehicles involved in the recall are the 2004 Toyota Avalon and 2006 Highlander Hybrid and the 2004-'05 Lexus ES 330 and RX 330.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet posted any information about this latest Toyota recall on its Web site.

"There is a possibility that the outer ring of the crankshaft pulley may become misaligned with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the discharge warning light," said Toyota in a statement. "If this condition is not corrected, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley and the driver may notice a sudden increase in steering effort."

Toyota said there are no reports of accidents or injuries related to the defect. The recall does not include Toyota vehicles with four-cylinder engines.

The recall is expected to begin in January.

"In the meantime, if an abnormal noise is heard coming from the engine compartment, the owner is asked to make an appointment with any Toyota or Lexus dealer to have the vehicle inspected for this condition," Toyota said.

Owners can contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.

Inside Line says: If you own one of the aforementioned Toyota or Lexus vehicles, be aware that a recall is in the works.

http://www.insideline.com/toyota/camry/toyota-recalls-420200-vehicles-including-camry-highlander-and-lexus-rx-400h.html

New Kia Rio Gets Rave Reviews

2011-11-08T10:54:00.000-06:00

Kia Rio Fun-to-Drive Premium Subcompact

By Christie Schweinsberg

WardsAuto.com, Sep 21, 2011 11:56 AM

SEOUL � Chalk up another win for Kia with the '12 Rio subcompact, one of the last models to be restyled under a product renaissance that has seen the brand transformed from cheap to chic in just 2.5 years.

Starting with the quirky Soul in 2009 through the Sorento and Sportage cross/utility vehicles in 2010 and this year's launch of the Optima midsize sedan, Kia has been on fire.

The auto maker claims the Rio leads the segment in many categories, albeit some shared with its Hyundai sister-brand's Accent, including class-leading horsepower and torque, fuel economy and interior quality.

The differences between the two subcompacts are more pronounced today than in the past, each with its own sheetmetal, interior styling and on-road demeanor.

The Rio has an uncluttered European look, reflecting the influence of chief designer Peter Schreyer, most recently with Audi/Volkswagen.

Where the Accent has vertical taillights, the Rio�s are horizontal, emphasizing the width of the vehicle. Stepping up to the Rio's SX sport grade nets buyers dual chrome exhaust tips. A spoiler is standard across all grades, including the base LX.

The new Rio sports Kia's signature tiger-nose grille, now found on all models except the aging Sedona minivan. The nose is small and thin, with the large lower grille the visual focus in front. Notched headlamps are trapezoidal quickly becoming the shape du jour for that component and contributes nicely to the styling.

The Korean auto makers appear to be taking a page from Volkswagen's old playbook by swathing all interior surfaces with soft-touch material.

The Rio is a convincing premium subcompact, with a cushioned dash cover; sturdy, airplane-cockpit-inspired switches; and thoughtfully patterned speaker grilles on the interior doors, which match well with the dot-dash-patterned seat fabric.

However, the hard-plastic pillars don't match up to the Accent's fabric-look pillars. The Accent also wins with its instrument-panel design, compared with the Rio's relatively plain IP.

The Rio proves fun to drive on the expressway en route to Seoul from the summer playground of South Korea's eastern coast. The '12 EX hatchback, riding on 15-in. low-rolling resistance tires, is impressively stable, with German sport-sedan-like composure not seen in an earlier Accent test spin.

However, the engine strains above 2,000 rpm as the small 4-cyl. struggles up the steep hills of the mountainous terrain here. A wimpy tip-in that requires flooring the hatchback's gas pedal for even mild acceleration doesn't help.

Making ample use of the 6-speed automatic's manumatic function and downshifting to fifth gear makes up for this frustrating calibration. Perhaps Kia was stung by criticism of the super-touchy gas pedal in the Forte Koup.

The auto maker says it will introduce stop/start technology on all Rio models early next year. Rios offered in Europe already have the technology, but it proves of little use here, even during Seoul's rush hour.

The few occasions where it was necessary to come to a full stop, the engine turned off as expected, but the restart came with a noticeable shudder. That's in contrast to Japanese hybrids with stop/start that transition smoothly thought the modes.

Still, for a sub-$20,000 car, it's nice to see Kia offering this technology, which should raise the Rio's fuel economy 1 mpg (0.4 km/L). Pricing still is being debated, but executives here say the system, which Kia calls Integrated Stop-Start, should add about $350-$400 to the �'2 Rio's price.

The Rio has a rigid ride thanks to the cost-conscious torsion-beam rear suspension. The front uses a MacPherson strut, with coil springs and a stabilizer bar. Smooth roads here are not so jarring. But imperfect pavement likely will make for a rough ride, especially for buyers who opt for the more athletic SX model, fitted with 17-in. wheels.

The Rio's standard electric power steering has a heavy feel at highway speeds, loosening up slightly in city driving, in keeping with the sporty character of the car.

The Rio returned 37 mpg (6.4 L/100 km) over a 116-mile (187-km) mostly highway route, with an average speed of 43 mph (69 km/h), according to the trip computer. Heavy city traffic near the end of the trip knocked back our observed high of 40 mpg (5.9 L/100 km).

The 5-door Rio is a few inches shorter than the Accent hatchback, almost 1 in. (2.4 cm) wider and a bit taller. Front passengers get a couple inches more legroom in the Rio at the expense of those seated in the second row, the opposite of the Accent.

Both cars share a 101.2-in. (257-cm) wheelbase that is longer than that of the Ford Fiesta but slightly shorter than the best-selling Nissan Versa.

The Rio 5-door goes on sale in the U.S. this month, with the sedan coming later this year, a testament to the growing popularity of hatches in the States. Kia expects the 4-door to appeal more to young women, while the hatch should attract active men.

The LX grade is relatively spartan in terms of amenities but does offer steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a 60/40 split rear seat. The EX nets buyers power windows and door locks and keyless entry, while the sporty SX grade has power-folding, heated side mirrors with turn-signal indicators.

Options for the EX include stop/start and Kia�s new UVO infotainment system. The SX offers a special package with navigation, a 7-in. (18-cm) touch screen, push-button start, heated front seats, moonroof and leather seat trim.

Thanks to its European good looks, high-quality interior, good performance and fuel economy, the '12 Rio should quickly find itself on buyers' shopping lists, much like the Optima sedan and Sorento CUV have done.

cschweinsberg@wardsauto.com

Walker Collision Center Receives two Compliments

2011-11-08T10:29:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Ms. Easterling and Mr. Horsman for these comments. Congratulations to Collision Center employees Beth Hoff and Ray Lucas.

Treats in Trunks

2011-10-26T16:08:00.000-05:00

Walker Automotive announces its Fifth Annual “Treats in Trunks” event - Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Walker Kia in Alexandria.

October 29, 2011 Walker Automotive and Walker Kia are celebrating the 5th annual “Treats in Trunks” Fundraiser benefitting Hayden’s Heroes. All donations and proceeds from the event will be donated to Hayden’s Heroes:

ABOUT HAYDEN’S HEROES

Hayden Parker is a bright, healthy, and active 12 year old boy who lives in Alexandria, Louisiana. Hayden was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, phenylketonuria, ten days after his birth. Hayden is required to have monthly blood draws, numerous genetic clinic visits, and daily medication. Hayden’s Heroes, LLC was created to raise funds for PKU research for a cure and raise awareness of this condition in the community. Eventually, the organization hopes to create a local PKU pantry which would provide low protein foods to under privileged families of Louisiana. Hopefully one day there will a cure for this condition, making Hayden and many others have a better quality of life.

ABOUT PKU

PKU is a rare condition (1 in 10,000 births) in which a baby is born without the ability to properly break down an amino acid called phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is a substance that is found in foods that contain protein. PKU is commonly included in the newborn screening panel at birth. Affected children who are detected and treated early are less likely to develop neurological problems. There is no cure for PKU at this time, but patients who are diagnosed early and maintain a strict diet can lead a normal life. The “diet for life” eliminates all of the very high protein foods since all protein contains phenylalanine. This means that the diet does not allow consumption of meat, fish, poultry, milk, eggs, cheese, ice cream, legumes, nuts, or many products containing regular flour.

Treats in Trunks will be at the following location:

10/29/2011 Walker Kia 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.

1515 Dorchester
Alexandria, La 71301
This year’s event will offer a safe alternative for children of all ages to enjoy Trick or Treating in a fun and safe environment. The event is free to the public and candy will be given out to Children 12 and under from the trunks of the vehicles. Walker employees will sponsor a Cake Walk, game booths, and other fun events. The Alexandria Fire department will be there with a fire truck as will the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the S.W.A.T. Team. All of the money raised at Treats in Trunks will go towards Hayden’s Heroes, LLC.
For more information contact Lawrence Searcy at the numbers listed above.

Fall 2011 Total Sale

2011-10-21T11:37:00.000-05:00

Our Fall 2011 Total sale is now under full swing. Check out the deals available at all our locations on our youtube page http://www.youtube.com/user/TheWalkerauto?feature=mhee

FBI Warns Online Shoppers of Auto Sales Scams

2011-09-13T12:34:00.000-05:00

New York — It's another case of "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
The FBI is warning online auto shoppers to watch out for deals that offer cars at very low prices, then direct unwitting buyers to phony websites designed to separate victims from their money. The agency says more than $44.5 million was stolen through such scams from 2008 to 2010.

The scam

The agency said there are variations on the scheme, but the basic version involves a seller placing an ad on a legitimate website like Craigslist for a car at a below-market price. However, when an interested buyer responds via email, the return email often includes a story of hardship explaining why the price is so low — the seller lost his job, there's a health care emergency or even that the seller is being deployed by the military.

The email also includes a request to move the transaction to another website for security reasons, yet at the same time offers fake "buyer protection" through another company, often identified as eBay Inc. The seller may also pose as a representative of a legitimate company in a live online chat, and will send a real-looking invoice that purports to be from eBay or another major site.

The return email will also ask the consumer to wire the money to pay for the vehicle, and sometimes to fax a receipt showing when that transaction has taken place. The parties then agree on a time and place to deliver the vehicle — but it never arrives.

The red flags

The FBI lists a series of warning signs that the sale is a scam on its website, www.fbi.gov.

Car shoppers should watch out for deals with ultra-low prices, sellers who want to switch websites, claims that buyer protection is available from a website not involved in the transaction, and sellers who won't meet in person to allow the buyer to see the car ahead of time.

Also beware of hard-luck stories that seemingly explain why the car is such a good deal.

And any sale that requires funds to be wired ahead of time should be a big warning sign. Once funds are wired, there is no way to retrieve them.

A bluntly worded warning posted on the "Cars & Trucks" page on Craigslist warns consumers against having a vehicle shipped to them. "Offers to ship a vehicle are virtually 100 percent fraudulent," the site states, and adds that customers should "never use Western Union or a wire transfer to pay for goods — only a scammer will ask for this, and any funds sent will be lost."
The victims

There were nearly 14,000 complaints submitted to the FBI by consumers who have been targeted or fallen for this type of scam between 2008 and 2010.
Jack Christin, associate general counsel at eBay Inc., said the online auction company sees the scammers as "hijacking the eBay name." The company has placed an alert on the top of www.ebaymotors.com warning consumers that their vehicle purchase protection only covers transactions completed on their site. If a seller from another site promises eBay protection programs, the warning says, "Walk away. It is fraudulent."
The eBay Motors Security Center also offers tips for safe online car buying and links to report suspected fraud to the company and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is operated by the FBI and other government agencies.
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110912/AUTO01/109120397/FBI-warns-online-shoppers-of-auto-sale-scams#ixzz1Xr3oc21i

Buick Verano pricing to start at $23,470

2011-09-06T16:03:00.000-05:00

DETROIT -- The price for the upcoming Buick Verano, the brand's first compact in decades, will be $23,470, including shipping charges, General Motors said today.
The price is considerably lower than the Japanese compact sedans that GM is pitting the Verano against in the entry-luxury segment: the Acura TSX ($30,495 with shipping) and the Lexus IS 250 ($34,170 with shipping).
"Given some of the great features the car is going to have, that's about the price we expected," said Sam Slaughter, dealer principal at Sellers Buick-GMC in suburban Detroit, which was the nation's top-selling Buick store last year. "We don't want it to be the el cheapo car that's going after the beer-can market."
Still, the Verano price is "going to be a little tight" with that of the Regal mid-sized sedan, the next car up in Buick's lineup, said Lynn Thompson, a Springfield, Mo., dealer who sells Buick, GMC and Cadillac. The base Regal has a sticker price of $27,530, including shipping.
The Verano, which goes on sale by year end, will be offered in three models. The top model will have a sticker price of $26,850 including shipping. All three models will get a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine combined with a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers 180 hp.
The Verano is hitting the market at a time when more U.S. consumers are shifting to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.
GM has touted the Verano's quiet cabin and standard features not typically found on a car in its price range, such as a 7-inch color-touch radio display with IntelliLink, the infotainment system for Buick and GMC.
Higher-end Verano models will receive the same leather used in Buick's flagship LaCrosse sedan, and touches such as push-button start, a heated steering wheel and heated seats that activate automatically in colder temperatures.
The Verano "expands the brand's reach," Tony DiSalle, Buick's U.S. vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "We're inviting new customers into the Buick family, giving us the opportunity and privilege of building longtime Buick loyalty."
GM hopes to build on the success of the Chevrolet Cruze compact, which is built on the same platform as the Verano. The Cruze, which replaced the Cobalt in Chevy's lineup last fall, was the top-selling U.S. compact sedan in July and August.
The Cruze starts at $17,470, including shipping.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110906/OEM04/110909908/1490#ixzz1XCyQjjJn

Honda Recalls 2.5 million Vehicles Globally for Software Issue

2011-08-08T09:52:00.000-05:00

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Honda Motor Co. said today it will recall 2.49 million cars, small SUVs and minivans worldwide, including its popular Accord sedan, to repair a software problem that could damage the automatic transmission.

The recall includes 1.5 million vehicles in the United States, 760,000 in China and 135,142 in Canada, the automaker said in a statement.

Globally, the recall affects four-cylinder Accord sedans for the model years 2005 to 2010.

The company is also recalling vehicles in parts of Europe, the Middle East, South America, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The recall did not affect vehicles sold in Honda's home Japan market.

In the United States and Canada, the recall also includes the CR-V crossover for the model years 2007 to 2010 as well as the small SUV Element from 2005 to 2008.

In China, the recall also includes more than 160,000 Odyssey minivans from 2005 to 2009 and about 4,000 Spirior cars, which are based on the European version of the Accord, for the 2010 model year.

Without updating the software, the automatic transmission in these vehicles could be damaged if the driver quickly shifts between gears. That might cause the engine to stall or make it difficult to put the car into park.

This week, Consumer Reports said it was not recommending the 2012 Honda Civic. This has led some industry analysts to ask if that is a symptom of larger problems at the automaker, which ranks fifth in U.S. sales this year.

The company has said it disagreed with the influential U.S. consumer advocate's assessment.

Chris Martin, Honda spokesman at the company's U.S. headquarters in California, said today the recall was not a sign of deeper difficulties.

Martin said the current recall was the result of "extremely unusual circumstances. The far majority of our consumers would never really encounter this. It's software programing. It's not a weakness in the transmission per se."

No injuries or deaths have been reported from this problem, Martin said.

Honda said the problems might arise if the transmission were quickly shifted between the reverse, neutral and drive positions. A driver might do this in an attempt to dislodge a vehicle in mud or snow.

The automatic transmission secondary shaft bearing could be damaged in this scenario.

An update to transmission control module software will ease the transition between gears and reduce the possibility of damage.

Honda will begin informing U.S. consumers at the end of August. It did not disclose expected cost of the recall.

The software update will take about a half-hour, but customers may have to leave their cars at Honda dealerships for a longer period, Martin said.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110805/RETAIL05/110809880/1493#ixzz1URuUG0fU

2011-08-05T09:41:00.000-05:00

Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it will recall more than 1 million trucks to replace fuel tank straps.

The recall includes these units:
—Ford F-150 from 1997 through 2004 model years.
—Ford F-250 with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 8,500 pounds from 1997 through 1999 model years.
—Lincoln Blackwood from 2002 and 2003 model years.

NHTSA explained these vehicles were manufactured from June 20, 1995 through Aug. 4, 2004.
—Connecticut
—Delaware
—Illinois
—Indiana
—Iowa
—Kentucky
—Maine
—Maryland
—Massachusetts
—Michigan
—Minnesota
—Missouri
—New Hampshire
—New Jersey
—New York
—Ohio
—Pennsylvania
—Rhode Island
—Vermont
—West Virginia
—Wisconsin
—District of Columbia

In a note to Auto Remarketing, Ford spokesperson Wesley Sherwood said the recall that includes a total of 1.22 million units also covers models in Canadian provinces where road salt corrosion is most common.

Both NHTSA and Ford acknowledged that prolonged exposure to road de-icing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps that secure the tank to the vehicle.

“The straps can corrode after operation for extended periods of time in high corrosion areas and allow the fuel tank to drop and potentially leak, which could lead to a fire,” Sherwood stated.

“Ford is aware of three vehicle fires and one injury associated with this condition,” he continued.

“We will notify affected owners in mid-September and ask them to take their vehicles to their local dealers who will repair the vehicles at no cost to customers,” Sherwood went on to say. “Customers should work with their dealers to schedule an appointment.”

In the meantime, potentially effected owners can contact Ford at (866) 436-7332 and reference recall campaign No. 11S21

Wednesday’s announcement continues a string of recall campaigns Ford has conducted since the beginning of the year.

Back in March, the automaker revealed it wanted to bring in more than 140,000 trucks and CUVs because of possible fuel odor or leaks from a fuel line in the engine compartment. Auto Remarketing’s recap of that announcement is available here.

Then a month later, Ford ramped up a previous recall of the F-150 stemming from an airbag deployment issue. After voluntarily recalling 144,000 F-150s from the 2005 and 2006 model years in late February, Ford brought back the remaining population of F-150s built between 2003 and 2006, a total of 1.19 million units.

Sherwood reiterated Ford’s stance on any recall.

“Ford is committed to safety and responding quickly to vehicle concerns for our customers,” Sherwood stressed.

“We believe that handling recalls in an open and transparent manner is important to them and a key component of delivering top quality,” he concluded.

Please see an autohrized service center for more details.

Read more: http://www.autoremarketing.com/content/retail/ford-recalls-more-1-million-trucks-replace-fuel-tank-straps?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.autoremarketing.com%2fcontent%2fretail%2fford-recalls-more-1-million-trucks-replace-fuel-tank-straps&utm_campaign=Ford's+Newest+F-150+Recall%2c+July+Used+Sales+Spike+%26+Manheim's+Mid-Year+Report

Chrysler recalls 300,000 minivans for airbag defect

2011-08-05T09:01:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Chrysler Group LLC is recalling about 300,000 Dodge and Chrysler brand minivans in North America, citing a risk of airbags deploying when not needed and without warning.

The vehicles in this recall are the same ones involved in an earlier recall to replace a heating and cooling system drain grommet, the automaker said in a document posted today on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site.

Chrysler is recalling model-year 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Voyager minivans and Dodge Caravans, it said on the NHTSA site. Because of the earlier defect, moisture may have leaked into the air-bag controls, the company said today in a statement on its Web site.

Chrysler said it doesn't know of any accidents or injuries related to the airbag defect.

"Despite the lack of field reports, we believe it is in the best interest of our customers to replace these modules to ensure the proper functionality of the minivan's advanced safety system," David Dillon, Chrysler's head of product investigations and campaigns, said in the statement.

For more information please visit an authorized service department for detials.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20110804/RETAIL05/308049852/1492

Even Car Purists Can Appreciate New M-Class

2011-08-03T10:29:00.000-05:00

GREENOUGH, MT – Many years before the term “Carmageddon” warned of an epic traffic jam in southern California, it could have referred to a trend that was sweeping through the ranks of luxury auto makers.
Purists figured the end was near when BMW, Lexus, Audi, Lincoln, Cadillac, Volvo and later on Porsche decided their car-only portfolios needed something more in the way of utility and off-road capability.
It all started with Mercedes-Benz and the M-Class, which went on sale in September 1997 (codename W163) with great fanfare, produced in a shiny new plant outside Tuscaloosa, AL.
The market hasn’t been the same since.

Porsche, for instance, sells nearly as many Cayenne cross/utility vehicles as it sells cars – that’s 911, Cayman, Boxster and Panamera, combined. The X3 and X5 CUVs are among BMW’s four best-selling vehicles. The Cadillac SRX CUV is threatening the CTS for top-selling honors within the brand this year.
Car loyalists might consider luxury utes an affront to civilization, but CUVs and body-on-frame SUVs can be incredibly profitable (especially when produced domestically), and the suits can’t be blamed for wanting part of the action.
And Mercedes-Benz, the German giant that made it OK to capitalize on America’s emerging interest in spaciousness, versatility and a high seating position, arrives in September with an all-new M-Class destined to uphold both its legacy and place in the market.
What makes the new ML special are two new or significantly improved engines; advanced suspension controls to enhance ride and handling; upgraded interiors; and acute attention to chassis engineering.
The M-Class has never been a repository for warmed-over technology, and this latest generation carries on that tradition.
But at first glance, the ’12 ML350 and diesel ML350 BlueTEC don’t appear to be significantly different from their predecessors, based on the second-generation M-Class that arrived in 2005 (codename W164).
The new model (W166) picks up the identical design of the tapered C-pillar and applies a similar beltline that descends toward the front. The shape of the greenhouse and roofline and raking of the windshield and side windows appear to be unaltered.
Changes to the front end would be considered subtle, if not for the smoother 3-bar grille replacing three large perforated slats in the old ML. The new grille is slightly more shallow, but the tri-star emblem remains in the same location – smack in the middle.
The new “eagle-eye” headlamps also are more dramatic, narrow and angular and integrate stylish amber light bars. LED daytime running lamps are packaged within the bumper. The new wheel wells are smaller and less flared and hug the handsome standard 19-in. alloy wheels much more tightly than the previous body style.
From the back side, the ML looks completely new and much more sporty, thanks to a clever bumper design and brushed-aluminum skid plate that hide the dual exhaust. The backlight is angled more steeply, and the beltline flows neatly around the back.
The sheet metal on the liftgate is less bulbous and now is creased in just the right places to lend a clean, horizontal design that nicely frames LED taillamps that wrap tightly around the corners.
Under the hood, Mercedes offers two engines that perform admirably: an all-new 302-hp 3.5L direct-injection gasoline V-6 and 240-hp 3.0L BlueTEC turbodiesel, available in all 50 states.

No hybrid is in the plans, although the ML450 Hybrid was available previously. The potent 4.6L BiTurbo V-8 will be offered in 2012.

Both gas and diesel V-6s are more powerful and fuel-efficient than their predecessors and integrate new technology. So the question ultimately is: which is better? Whether accelerating hard on an uphill grade to pass a gravel hauler or cruising steadily along, both engines get the job done well. Both are amazingly smooth and quiet, yet responsive and emotive when pressed into service, and can sprint from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.3 seconds.
But having spent the majority of our time driving the diesel on highways and 2-lane roads that weaved through the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide, the diesel is better for four reasons:
•It clobbers the gas engine nearly 2-to-1 in available torque, which is what matters most to drivers. Its 455 lb.-ft. (617 Nm) peak arrives early, at 1,600 rpm and holds on until 2,400 rpm. Dialing up 120 mph (193 km/h) on a remote Montana highway is no problem at all.

•The new gas engine is sophisticated and all, but the bottom-line output is not all that impressive on paper, at 302 hp. Engines of similar size in less-expensive vehicles made that much, or more, several years ago.

•Combined fuel economy comes in at 22.5 mpg (10.4 L/100 km) for the diesel and 19.5 mpg (12 L/100 km) for the gas V-6. During a 181-mile (291-km) loop, we averaged 23.5 mpg (10 L/100 km) with the diesel, according to the trip computer. It’s worth noting diesel fuel is priced currently in line with premium unleaded gasoline.

•If the ML truly is being used as Mercedes intended – for road trips and adventures and hauling lots of stuff, maybe even a small trailer – the diesel will handle the load more capably. As a low-miles grocery getter, the $1,500 premium for the diesel is probably wasted money, so the gas V-6 would be better.
With either engine, an excellent 7-speed automatic transmission (carried over from the previous ML) sends power seamlessly to all four corners via 4Matic all-wheel drive, which has been standard on all three generations of M-Class.

The transmission integrates a new torque converter with an advanced lock-up clutch and improved damper de-coupling for better fuel efficiency.
Understanding the 4-wheel independent suspension offerings requires total concentration, although the basic setup carries over: double-wishbone geometry up front and 4-arm multi-link at the rear.
Upgrading to the optional Dynamic Handling Package costs $5,150 and includes AirMatic air suspension, which uses air bladders instead of coil springs, as well as air springs, to lower the vehicle at high speeds for better handling.
Off-road, the suspension can be switched to raise the vehicle about 3 ins. (7.6 cm) for more ground clearance.
The package includes an adaptive damping system that can change compression and rebound damping every 0.05 seconds in adjusting to road conditions. The driver can switch between a “sport” setting for a firm ride and “comfort” for more compliance.
Another feature of the air-suspension package is the new Active Curve System, which uses electronic sensors, an engine-driven hydraulic pump and electronically controlled hydraulic valves to reduce body lean.
The stabilizer bars with this package are “split” in the center and connected to rotary hydraulic actuators that are inactive when the vehicle is traveling in a straight line.
In curves, the actuators are pressurized to counteract lateral pitching, reducing the natural tendency for the body to lean in curves.

With so much going on within the suspension, it’s hard to tell which feature is doing what, even while paying close attention. Suffice to say the ML stayed firmly planted during our highway jaunts, but we did not experience the base suspension.
An On & Off Road Package will be available next year that uses six transmission modes to optimize driving dynamics.
The M-Class also is the latest in a long list of newly launched vehicles to use electric power steering. The electro-mechanical rack-and-pinion unit integrates speed-dependent power assist and enables fuel savings by requiring electrical power only when the wheel is turned.
The steering feel is precise, firm and comfortable, whether on the highway or in parking maneuvers.
The interior of the M-Class reflects iterative rather than wholesale changes. There’s more real-wood trim (eucalyptus or burl walnut), colors are richer and the 7-in. (17.7-cm) central display screen has been moved up in between two air vents, rather than below them in the old model.
Cupholders have been reconfigured; seats offer better bolstering; and air vents now are square or rectangular instead of round.
But the overall layout of controls, switches and gauges is virtually identical to that of the outgoing model. Fit-and-finish in the pre-production models evaluated was excellent.
Three adults fit comfortably in the back seat, which folds flat to make room for loads of cargo.
The previous interior wasn’t so bad, and Mercedes was right not to rip it up.
What’s not to like about the new ML?
The Comand human-machine interface is not very reconfigurable and can’t display both audio and navigation information simultaneously. This HMI has been in Mercedes vehicles for several years now and feels dated at a time when consumer electronics change every month.
Adaptive cruise control is not standard, neither are cooled front seats or heated rear seats. Heck, the Hyundai Elantra is a third the price and offers rear heated seats.
Which brings us to pricing. The M-Class might be priced competitively against the X5, but the SRX and Lexus RX remain better values. The cheapest model at the media event here stickered at $56,825; the most expensive was $77,115.
Value-conscious buyers, even at this level, are paying attention. Through the first six months, the RX and SRX, respectively, are the best-selling vehicles in Ward’s Middle Luxury CUV segment.
No.3 is the X5, which received a facelift last year, followed closely by the M-Class. Not bad for a vehicle at the end of a 6-year cycle.
The X5 offers an optional third row, but M-Class does not – yet. It’s in the works, Mercedes says.
Job One in Alabama for the new M-Class, which is exported worldwide, was July 20, and Mercedes marked the occasion by announcing a $2 billion investment to expand for the launch of the next-generation GL CUV, as well as the C-Class sedan, which begins assembly in 2014.
Admittedly, the level of excitement about a new M-Class is a rung or two below that generated by a new Mercedes SLK roadster or CLS 550 4-door coupe.
But the M-Class is the third best-selling vehicle in the Mercedes stable and deserves recognition.
After all, in the world of luxury CUVs and traffic jams, “Carmageddon” hasn’t been all that bad.

http://wardsauto.com/testdrive/car_purists_appreciate_110801/

WALKER AUTOMOTIVE AND BMW USA TEAM UP TO SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC TEAM

2011-07-11T09:45:00.000-05:00

On Monday, July 11, 2011 Walker BMW and BMW USA will host a special event to raise money for Team USA. This event is a test drive campaign that invites Americans to support Team USA by test driving one of several new BMW models. For every person who drives a vehicle at the event, Walker BMW will donate $10.00 to the United States Olympic Committee to fund Team USA.

As a special treat, attendees of the event will be able to meet Miguel Pate, a track and Field Olympian from St. Francisville, Louisiana. Mr. Pate participated in the 2008 Olympic Games and ended the 2008 season ranked #1 in the U.S. by Track and Field News. Mr. Pate’s biography is attached and he will be available for interviews at the event.

During the event, participants will have the option of driving several different vehicles including the BMW 328xi sedan, 535xi sedan, 750Li xDrive, X3 xDrive35i, the beautiful 650i convertible and competitive models from Mercedes and Lexus. In addition, each attendee who completes a post-event survey will receive a BMW / Olympic hat branded with the BMW Roundel and the 5-Olympic Rings.

Walker BMW is especially proud to be hosting this event at its all-new 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art building on Coliseum Boulevard. This is the first event to be held at the building and Walker welcomes anyone who may be interested in looking inside.

Walker Automotive was named the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award winner for 2010 which recognizes local businesses for outstanding ethical practices. This was the second time for Walker Automotive to win this prestigious award. Additionally Walker was recently named to the Wards Dealer Business Dealer 500 in June 2011 which ranks dealers nationally based on total revenue. Walker has consistently made the list for the last decade.

Walker was founded in 1919 as Alexandria Auto Company, Inc. by Foster Walker Sr. Walker Oldsmobile Company and is now run by Foster Walker III. Ninety years after its inception the dealership has expanded from its meager origins to four locations, 7 manufacturers, four service departments and a collision center. Walker employs more than 175 employees. Over the last 9 decades Walker has won numerous national and factory awards for all aspects of its business. Walker Automotive offers new and pre-owned vehicles ranging from quality entry level models to German luxury vehicles.

BMW: A Driving Obsession

2011-07-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

CNBC goes inside one of the most successfully managed brands and companies in the world — BMW. Its familiar blue and white logo stands as the symbol of prestigious, high-performance, luxury cars. A one-time aircraft engine manufacturer that eventually moved to motorcycles and offbeat sports sedans, BMW today commands brand recognition and respect that is the envy of the commercial world.

CNBC Correspondent Carl Quintanilla takes viewers inside BMW’s secretive Tech Center, where teams of engineers obsess over the technical and mechanical details that the company says justify its cars’ high prices. Acoustic specialists consider every sound in the car, from the exhaust note to the window motors; ergonomic engineers labor over the stunningly complex mechanical labyrinth that is a modern seat; and crash specialists deliberately wreck a parade of high-dollar vehicles to improve safety.

BMW is a company enjoying success, but also facing significant challenges. Growing environmental and political pressures are making it increasingly tough to market high-performance cars, but BMW is staking its future on its ability to build vehicles that are both sustainable and fun. BMW also faces daunting competition, not only from other German manufacturers like Audi, but also from carmakers in Japan, Korea — and soon, China.

BMW: A Driving Obsession is the fascinating story behind a once small, struggling company that transformed itself into a global luxury car powerhouse, and is now going flat out to maintain its edge.

For Video's and more information check out the link at:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/43395673?__source=vtyinsidebmw&par=vty

STUDY: 56 MPG Standard by MY2025 to Cost 220,000 jobs

2011-07-08T11:43:00.000-05:00

FENTON, MI (July 7, 2011)—A white paper from the Michigan-based Defour Group finds that a significant number of auto sector jobs would be lost if the federal government’s proposed fuel economy mandates for Model Year (MY) 2017-2025 vehicles were implemented. Federal regulators, currently meeting with automakers behind closed doors, are considering increasing the standards to as high as 56 mpg to 62 mpg over that time period.

Dean Drake, the paper’s author, confirmed a U.S. Energy Information Administration estimate that automakers would sell 2.4 million (approximately 14 percent) fewer new vehicles if standards are set to hit 62 mpg by 2025.

“Clearly, sales losses of this magnitude could be expected to lead to job losses in the industry,” Drake said.

Drake bases the study’s job loss numbers on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) analysis of the 2012-2016 MY CAFE standard that said that one job would be lost by the OEMs and their suppliers for every 11.3 new vehicle sales which fail to sell. The study also calculates dealerships job losses as a result of fewer new car and truck purchases.

PROPOSED TARGET (MY17-25) LOST SALES        LOST JOBS (OEM, Supplier, Dealership)

62 mpg (6% per year)                         2.4 million                 293,100
56 mpg (5% per year)                         1.9 million                 220,000

“These projected job losses will NOT be offset by the development of new technologies creating so called ‘green jobs’ as many contend,” Drake added. “The advanced technology vehicles such as electrics will only make up a small part of the new vehicle fleet. Plus there is no guarantee that these new jobs would stay in the United States.”

WALKER AUTOMOTIVE LISTED AS NUMBER 52 ON WARD’S DEALER MAGAZINE LIST OF NATION’S TOP DEALERSHIPS

2011-06-29T10:27:00.000-05:00

This year marks the 25th Annual Dealer 500 rankings published by “Wards Dealer Business” Magazine. The list is a comprehensive ranking of the 500 biggest automobile dealerships in the country. According to the magazine one constant over the last quarter century is that the dealers who make the list are “among the best in the business. They are pros who use time-tested best practices, yet are nimble enough to adapt to changing times and markets.” Walker Automotive is on the list for the fifth straight year and ranks number 52 for 2010.
The annual list ranks dealerships according to departmental revenue, sales and total dealership revenue. Only one other dealership in Louisiana was recognized and Walker was the only dealer in central Louisiana named.
“We are pleased to have made the Wards 500 list again this year”, said W. Foster Walker, President of Walker Automotive. We certainly had to adapt to changes in our business last year, but we still managed to grow our business in almost all departments.” Walker said. Overall, revenue grew 2% over last year which is great considering the turmoil that marked the industry in 2010 as several major manufacturers struggled to come back from bankruptcy. “Our most significant increase came in pre-owned vehicle sales where we saw an increase of 37% in total units over the year before. Likewise, our Service, Parts, Body Shop and Accessories increased 4% over the same period last year. New cars grew modestly, but that is not surprising considering the lack new inventory. We simply adapted to sell more quality late model or certified used vehicles. I credit a tremendous management team in all departments that figured out how to grow our business in a tough selling environment.” Walker said.
Walker was also recognized separately in the 2011 magazine as one of the 2011 Ward’s Dealer 500 new and used vehicle volume leaders. Walker delivered more than 3,000 new and pre-owned vehicles in central Louisiana. Walker has also been recognized by Ward’s as a leader in helping customers finance their vehicles and as a used vehicle leader in 2009.
“We are committed to our business, the Central Louisiana community, and our customers. Our most recent commitment to our business is the new Walker Mercedes and BMW building on Highway 28 West next to Walker Honda.” The new facility is a state of the art 30,000 square foot sales and service location for both Mercedes-Benz and BMW. “Our entire organization is extremely proud of this new facility and we expect this addition to assist us in our continued growth in Alexandria.” Walker said.
Mr. Walker also emphasized that as a fourth generation family company, Walker Automotive always tries to do what is in the best interest of its customers. “We remain committed to serving our customers, being an active community partner, executing business strategies that allow for continued growth, and delivering new and used vehicles to happy customers. "
Walker was founded in 1919 as Alexandria Auto Company, Inc. by Foster Walker Sr. Walker Oldsmobile Company and is now run by Foster Walker III. Ninety years after its inception the dealership has expanded from its meager origins to four locations, 7 manufacturers, four service departments and a collision center. Walker employees more than 175 employees. Over the last 9 decades Walker has won numerous national and factory awards for all aspects of its business. Walker Automotive offers new and pre-owned vehicles ranging from quality entry level models to German luxury vehicles.

W. FOSTER WALKER III ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE LOUISIANA AUTOMOBILE DEALERS’S ASSOCIATION

2011-06-29T10:25:00.000-05:00

W. Foster Walker III was elected Chairman of the Board of the Louisiana Automobile Dealer’s Association at its Annual Convention on June 19, 2011. Mr. Walker is President of Walker Automotive in Alexandria. Mr. Walker has previously held the positions of Chairman Elect, Treasurer, and District 16 Representative for the Association. The board of directors for the Association is governed by 19 dealers elected from 14 districts in the state. The Association represents approximately 325 automobile dealers in Louisiana and more than a hundred Associate and Subsidiary members.
“I am honored to have been elected as Chairman from my business peers. It is truly an honor to receive the support the other automobile dealer members in the state.” Walker said. “The sale of vehicles in this state greatly affects the general economy through our collection and remittance of sales taxes, corporate taxes and payroll tax. The association members employ more than 12,000 employees throughout the state with average salaries in excess of $45,000. As a member of this vital board, I hope to be able to be a part of the overall economic recovery of our industry in Louisiana.”
Founded in 1937, the LADA provides products and services to enhance the operations of its member dealers. The Association promotes the automotive trade in the state, seeks legislation to benefit the automotive trade and the public consumers of automotive products, and compiles factual data and information which may be useful and valuable to the automotive trade.
Walker Automotive was named the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award winner for 2010 which recognizes local businesses for outstanding ethical practices. This was the second time for Walker Automotive to win this prestigious award. Additionally Walker was recently named to the Wards Dealer Business Dealer 500 in June 2011 which ranks dealers nationally based on total revenue. Walker has consistently made the list for the last decade.
Walker was founded in 1919 as Alexandria Auto Company, Inc. by Foster Walker Sr. Walker Oldsmobile Company and is now run by Foster Walker III. Ninety years after its inception the dealership has expanded from its meager origins to four locations, 7 manufacturers, four service departments and a collision center. Walker employs more than 175 employees. Over the last 9 decades Walker has won numerous national and factory awards for all aspects of its business. Walker Automotive offers new and pre-owned vehicles ranging from quality entry level models to German luxury vehicles.

A Good Time to Trade in That Gently Used Car

2011-06-08T14:59:00.000-05:00

That three-year-old car sitting in the driveway may not seem so exciting anymore, but to some car dealers it could be gold.

Informed shoppers with well-maintained cars to trade in have an unusual opportunity to take advantage of what industry analysts say is a record peak in used-car prices. Resale and trade-in values for late-model vehicles in good condition have been rising all year as demand has outstripped supply, particularly for fuel-efficient models.

Among the forces driving up used-car values is a shortage of many popular Japanese models due to production slowdowns following the March earthquake. And the sales collapse during the 2008 and 2009 financial crisis means fewer two- and three-year-old cars are available.

The National Automobile Dealers Association last week raised values again on many small- and medium-size cars in its latest Used Car Guide, which is widely used by dealers when deciding what to offer for cars taken as trade-ins.

A one-year-old Honda Civic that NADA's Used Car Guide valued at $14,275 in May is now estimated to be worth $15,950. "The same car," says Jonathan Banks, NADA's executive auto analyst.

KBB.com, the Web home of the Kelley Blue Book used-vehicle-pricing franchise, says a three-year-old Toyota Prius is worth, on average, $17,750 as a trade-in, up $6,050 from the value of a three-year-old Prius a year ago.

The market isn't booming for all types of vehicles. Large sport utility vehicles, such as a Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Tahoe are down less than 1% from a year ago, according to NADA's guide. Still, they are up nearly 5% from the start of the year.

"We have seen extremely strong pricing," says Jeremy Meyer, national manager for Audi's U.S. certified pre-owned sales operation. And "consumers are willing to pay those higher prices," he says.

Manheim Consulting, an arm of the big Manheim auto-auction business, has for years published an index of used-vehicle values. In May, that index, using a scale with a baseline set at 100 for January 1995, was 127.8—a record high.

For consumers, this is now a game of arbitrage and information gathering. Prices for many new vehicles are up, but not as much as values for in-demand, late-model used cars.

"The best case scenario is that you have a trade-in that is somewhat gas efficient, and you are ready to trade for a larger vehicle," says Jesse Toprak of Truecar.com, an auto-shopping and data site.

For people who have a leased car that's close to the end of its term, now is the time to figure out whether that car is worth more than the residual value assigned in the lease contract.

For example, a 2008 BMW 3-series has an average residual value of about $17,450, but a trade-in value of close to $20,000, according to data compiled by Truecar.

NADA's Mr. Banks says anyone with a leased car that's due to be returned should investigate the car's market value—using the online NADA guide and shopping sites such as KBB.com, Edmunds.com, Cars.com or Ebay. Then be ready to bargain with the dealer to get a higher value than the one stipulated in the contract.

"Don't just hand over your keys," says Mr. Banks.

Realizing the extra value in a leased vehicle can be tricky, however. Selling a leased car to another individual could require buying it from the leasing company, then reselling it, and possibly paying sales tax.

Sergio Stiberman, chief executive of LeaseTrader.com, a site that enables the exchange of auto leases, says the easiest way is to use the difference between the purchase-option price written into the lease contract and the car's current market value as equity in a trade-in. The dealer can then work out the transaction with the leasing company and resell the car for a profit.

Dealers are stepping up efforts to snag high-quality used cars, while eyeing their inventories to make sure they don't get caught with too many vehicles at the top of the curve.

At Group One Automotive, a big Houston-based dealer chain, used-car managers are scouring Craigslist, and emailing past customers to find more of the cars that are selling best. But the company is keeping its used-car inventory at or below 30 days' supply.

"We have to have rational exuberance," says company spokesman Pete DeLongchamps.

Will used-car prices come back to earth? Most likely, though telling when is educated guess work, not science. Gasoline prices are edging down, which could cool demand for used hybrids and rejuvenate interest in second-hand SUVs.

Japanese car makers say they are ramping up production as they work out the problems getting critical parts from suppliers damaged by the earthquake. Once their factories are rolling, industry executives and analysts expect Toyota Motor Corp. and the other big Japanese brands will come out swinging with discount deals to get back the market share they've lost. The cheaper new cars get, the more likely used-car prices will moderate as well.

A longer-term factor in the current scarcity of late-model used cars is that so few cars were leased during the credit crisis and recession of 2008 and 2009. Higher sales in the past year will mean more supply for the used-vehicle market of a 2013 or 2014.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052702304474804576371314168816464-lMyQjAxMTAxMDAwNzEwNDcyWj.html

Honda expands U.S. airbag recall to include about 833,000 autos

2011-05-04T14:11:00.000-05:00

LOS ANGELES -- Honda Motor Co. said it will again expand a U.S. recall of Honda and Acura brand models to fix flawed airbag components.

The company will inspect model year 2001 to 2003 vehicles that may have had the original driver's air-bag module replaced with a flawed service part, Honda said today in an e-mailed statement.

As a result, the recall now includes an additional 833,000 vehicles, the company said. Honda "determined that a number of affected service part air bags were installed in these vehicles in the process of a collision repair or other vehicle service," according to the statement.

"Owners of all potentially affected vehicles are being notified because Honda has not been able to determine which specific vehicles received one of those parts."

The faulty airbag inflators are at risk of deploying too forcefully and causing the inflator's casing to rupture, potentially leading to injuries or fatalities for vehicle occupants, the company said.

Customer notification is to begin late this month. Vehicles covered by the action include some 2001 and 2002 Accord and Civic cars; 2002 Odyssey minivans; 2002 and 2003 CR-V sport-utility vehicles; and some 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL sedans and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL coupes, the company said.

Honda last year recalled 437,763 Honda and Acura models to inspect for faulty airbag modules at risk of deploying too forcefully.

The company has said airbag systems were supplied by Japan's Takata Corp. Honda's U.S. unit is based in Torrance, California.

If you have any questions or concerns about your Honda, please contact the Walker Honda Service Department at 318-445-6677.

Toyota recalls trucks for rear drive shaft defect

2011-04-27T16:08:00.002-05:00

Automotive News

April 26, 2011 - 1:31 pm EST

DETROIT (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp. is voluntarily recalling 51,000 Tundra pickup trucks for the model year 2011 due to a potential defect in the rear drive shaft.

The company estimates that 0.05 percent of the vehicles recalled may have a component-- a slip yoke-- that could break because of improper casting.

There has been one slip yoke failure, but no injuries or accidents linked to the problem, Toyota said in a statement.

Owners will be notified by mail as early as next week. Dealers will perform an inspection estimated to take 10 minutes. If the rear drive shaft needs to be replaced, the repair will be done at no cost to the owner, Toyota said.

Newest Toyota Recall

2011-04-21T15:55:00.000-05:00

Toyota to recall 308,000 RAV4s, Highlanders for airbag fix

Automotive News
April 21, 2011 - 1:20 pm EST

UPDATED: 4/21/11 4:17 pm ET

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Toyota Motor Corp. said today it would recall about 308,000 RAV4 and Highlander SUVs because of the risk airbags sensors could fail and cause the curtain airbags to deploy.

About 214,000 RAV4s and 94,000 Highlanders and Highlander HVs will be recalled from the 2007 and 2008 model years, according to a company statement.

The recall only affects vehicles sold in North America, Toyota said.

Toyota said owners of the vehicles would be notified of the recall by mail in May.

Toyota said that, in cases where two sensors fail at almost the same time, the side curtain airbags designed to protect passengers in a rollover accident could be inflated outside such an accident.

In cases where just one of the sensors fails, the airbags warning light will be activated, the automaker said

Honda Insight Sales Increase

2011-04-19T09:55:00.000-05:00

Honda Insight Hybrid Sparking U.S. Demand

By Christie Schweinsberg

WardsAuto.com, Apr 14, 2011 9:01 AM

WASHINGTON, – After two relatively lackluster years on the market, the second-generation Honda Insight hybrid-electric vehicle is seeing a surge in sales thanks to a perfect storm of high gas prices, increased advertising and the spring-car-buying season.

March sales, alone, spiked 62.2%, compared with year-ago, to 2,782 units, Ward’s data shows.

That’s the biggest monthly increase for the latest Insight since March 2010, when deliveries climbed 179.2% compared with March 2009, when the new model launched in the U.S.

The Insight’s sales rise last month outpaced the 52.0% increase for the Toyota Prius, although the Prius remains the hybrid heavy-hitter, with 42,779 units sold in the year’s first quarter vs. 6,058 for the Insight.

“You’ve heard this bromide before, (but) when fuel prices go up, people think of Honda,” American Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel tells Ward’s in an interview here.

“We also have a pretty strong promotion going in terms of advertising (the entire Honda lineup),” called The Really Big Thing, he says. “The dealers seem to be getting increased traffic from that. (Plus), it’s a spring market, customers are coming back (and) a 13.1 million-unit industry is nothing to sneeze at.”

After discontinuing the original 2-seat Insight in 2006, Honda announced the next-gen version in 2008, during the last gas-price spike in the U.S. that drove consumers to seek fuel-efficient vehicles as never before. In May 2008, alone, Honda sold more than 50,000 Civic compact cars.

Riding the wave, the auto maker initially called for 90,000 Insight sales in the U.S., before adjusting the figure downward numerous times as gas prices fell back and the recession caused new-car sales to plunge. Last year, Insight sales amounted to 20,962 units, just 1.9% higher than the 20,572 sold in 2009, when the hybrid went on sale in its current form.

Japan parts shortage could stall Honda Insight’s recovery.

This year’s parts shortage in Japan could slow the HEV’s upward climb.

Mendel says if a situation arises where shared parts are at a minimum, Honda likely will prioritize production of its best-selling-models: the next-gen Civic launching later this month; CR-V compact cross/utility vehicle and Odyssey minivan.

Although Mendel leaves the Insight off the list, Honda resumed building the hybrid April 11 at its plant in Suzuka, Japan, exactly one month since the magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit the island nation.

Parts shortages delayed the restart of production at Suzuka numerous times, and their scarcity is expected to continue to keep the industry in flux through the coming months.

Ford Expands F-150 Recall by 1 Million Pickups

2011-04-14T13:41:00.003-05:00

WASHINGTON -- Ford Motor Co. and U.S. safety regulators have agreed to a greatly expanded recall of the best-selling vehicle in North America, the Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The recall is for a possible short circuit that could cause airbags to deploy unexpectedly and involves nearly 1.2 million F-150s and some Lincoln Mark LT vehicles, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall covers F-150s from the 2004 to 2006 model years.

Previously, 144,000 of the pickup trucks were recalled. The expansion comes after talks between the automaker and safety regulators in Washington.

Ford, in an e-mailed statement, said its review found the airbag deployments were linked to a "wiring chafe" condition.

"If a wiring chafe occurs, the airbag warning lamp will illuminate for an extended period of time prior to any risk of deployment, alerting owners to service their vehicle," Ford said. "We urge all of our customers to seek service immediately for an airbag warning lamp that is illuminated."

See full article at:
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110414/RETAIL05/110419932/1254

Some services are unnecessary, or better left to dealers and more sophisticated repair shops

2011-04-11T16:02:00.000-05:00

by: Tom Torbjornsen
http://autos.aol.com/article/quick-lube-unneeded-services/

Have you ever gone to a quick-lube place for an oil change and, while you're waiting in the lobby for your car, the service bay/sales person informs you that a certain service(s) "must" be performed on the vehicle immediately to avert a disaster of immense proportion?

It's a high-pressure moment. You think: I can get this done now, and not have to make an appointment at the dealership. I can save money here, too. And I want to take care of my car, which I rely on.

But here is the problem: Most of us do not know much about these products or services before being confronted with the questions and offers. And we hate to come across as ignorant about our car. Many of us can relate to this scenario.

The "recommended service" they advise usually includes one or more of the following:

-High mileage oil
-Fuel system cleaning
-Brake fluid flush
-Transmission flush
-Transfer case or differential fluid change

Knowledge is power. So let's look at each service, the validity of the claim, and whether or not you should follow the advice.

Does Your Vehicle Need "High Mileage" Oil?

High mileage oils supposedly are formulated with more robust additive packages for better lubrication and rust inhibition, along with a nourishing agent to bring old, hardened oil seals back to life. Well, if that's true, why didn't the company initially give me its best formulation so that my car would get more mileage out of the engine in the first place? I consulted an expert in the industry to gather more information. Dan Watson, a Certified Lubrication Specialist (STLE) and publisher of www.lubedepot.com and www.maxxtorque.com (an E-Zine about diesel power) sent me some bullet points to consider when offered "high mileage oil."

-High mileage oils are fortified with additional additives for improving the ability of the oil to deal with byproducts of combustion (otherwise known as "crud.") and enhance engine cleanliness.

-The age of the engine has nothing to do with the protection needed to maintain the engine and prevent wear.

-The best procedure is to start out with oil that doesn't break down and leave sludge and varnish in the engine in the first place.

-Start the engine out from day-one using high quality synthetic engine oil and you will have superior protection and cleanliness from the start. You will never need a "better oil" when you get to a higher mileage.

-It is important to note all synthetic oils are not the same. Look for synthetic oils like AMSOIL or Mobil One; these oils have extremely robust additive packages designed for longer oil-change intervals. This insures you are getting maximum protection and superior cleanliness regardless of vehicle mileage.

Bottom-Line: Use high-quality synthetic oil from the start in a new car. If you are driving a used car that you purchased, start using these same sorts of synthetic oils for maximum protection. Don't pay for something the attendant is calling "high mileage" oil, which could mean any number of things.

Does Your Vehicle Need a Fuel System Cleaning?

Maybe. But I can't recommend getting it done at a quick-lube outlet.

Over time, fuel injectors get clogged with varnish deposits and dirt that's picked up in the fuel. When this happens, the injectors dribble fuel into the combustion chamber rather than deliver a fine mist of air/fuel mixture for perfect combustion.

As an automotive machinist, I have seen many cylinder heads and pistons loaded with carbon buildup from inefficient combustion that resulted in inefficient and/or damaged engines. In addition, I can tell you that fuel additives to the fuel tank alone cannot keep a fuel system clean.

Fuel systems do need to be cleaned. During the fuel delivery system cleaning process, industrial strength carbon and varnish cleaners are injected directly into the fuel delivery system while the engine is running.

The problem I have with having this service done at a quick-lube is that they "recommend" the service almost every time you stop in for an oil change. Also, I question the quality of the fuel system service they offer. In order for this service to work effectively, they must use a special machine and a specific set of tools, as well as an industrial grade carbon and varnish cleaner. Such equipment, found in high quality repair facilities or dealerships, is often not available at quick lubes.

Don't get me wrong. Quick lubes have their place in automotive service. However, I think they are out of their league in this area of service.

Bottom Line: This is not a diagnosis or service I would entrust to a quick-lube station.

Does Your Vehicle Need a Brake Fluid Flush?

Brake fluid flushing is a viable service that should be done if there is rust and sediment in the brake master cylinder. After researching several year, make, and model vehicles in the ALLDATA database, I realized that this is not a recommended service from the manufacturer.

At best, carmakers suggest an inspection of the braking system at regular intervals (every 6K miles or so) that includes inspection of the brake fluid along with the rest of the system. The hydraulic braking system is designed as a closed and sealed system. When it is exposed to the atmosphere because of a broken seal or hydraulic cup, the system will draw moisture into itself because of the hydroscopic (moisture absorbing) nature of the brake fluid.

So a simple inspection of the brake fluid is all that is required. When checking brake fluid, look for proper level, color, and smell. Brake fluid that is clear/translucent in color, at the proper level, and has no evidence of a burnt smell indicates a healthy braking system. If the color is black or rust-colored, there is a problem. Simple flushing will not repair the root cause of the condition.

A dark or black color accompanied by a burnt smell is indication that the system has overheated. There are three causes of overheating: A stuck brake caliper, a seized emergency brake, or a contaminated wheel cylinder that causes a brake shoe to stick in the applied position. A rust-colored fluid indicates that moisture has entered the system, and therefore the system should be checked for a leaking component, a compromised line, or a torn master cylinder gasket. Brake fluid flushing alone without an inspection and/or repair of the root cause of the discolored fluid is not a repair. It is like a band-aid on a compound fracture.

Bottom Line: I do not recommend regular brake fluid flushing. It is simply not necessary unless a problem with color, level, or smell of the brake fluid is observed.

Does Your Vehicle Need a Transmission Fluid Flush?

As a regular maintenance practice (every 35 – 40K miles) transmission flushing can ensure proper operation and longevity of the transmission. More often than that is overkill.

Some carmakers suggest this service every 100K miles or more. However, I don't agree with this time frame because transmission fluid is oil, and oil breaks down over time (especially when the unit is worked hard). In addition, I don't agree with just flushing the fluid without replacing the transmission filter. During the flush procedure, if the old filter is left in place, dirt and wear material will be dislodged and go back into the transmission. Dirt will then be flowing through the unit and contaminating it again. In addition, a worn, dirty filter is expected to do the job it once did when it was new! So when flushing transmission fluid, always replace the filter. Period.

On transmissions with high mileage that have a history of being neglected (have not been serviced for many thousands of miles and the fluid is dark and smells burnt -- evidence of overheating), I do not recommend a transmission flush. On a transmission that has been overheated, internal damage might have occurred. If this is the case, when the transmission is subjected to a complete bath of fresh high-detergency transmission fluid, the transmission will fail internally.

Bottom Line: If you have a high mileage vehicle and the quick lube shop has recommended a fluid flush, get a second opinion from a drivetrain expert before proceeding... or pay the consequences.

Does Your Vehicle Need a Transfer Case or Differential Fluid Change?

Transfer cases are very quirky units. When the differential fluid is compromised in any way from overheating or moisture contamination they can malfunction. Symptoms of a malfunction include chatter, engaging and disengaging rapidly while in gear, slowness to engage from low to high range, and a host of other strange maladies.

Different carmakers use different fluids for their respective transfer cases. Each fluid is uniquely formulated for the respective transfer case application.

Bottom Line: This is an area of service that I would never leave to a quick lube, but rather to a drivetrain specialist or a dealership.

There is simply too much room for error when it comes to filling the unit with the wrong fluid.

I hope this clarifies any concerns or questions you might have before heading out to your local quick lube.

Remember, knowledge is empowering, and in this case, can save you a lot of time and money (and that's probably why you are going to the quick lube in the first place).

'Til next time...Keep Rollin'

Dodge Pickups Under Investigation For Steering Complaints

2011-04-11T09:12:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. safety investigators have launched a new review of steering complaints in Dodge Ram pickup trucks that could result in a bigger recall of the model, government officials said in documents filed today.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last December recalled 22,274 4500- and 5500-series pickups made by Chrysler between 2008 and 2011 for misaligned steering components.

Investigators said the suspected defect in the medium-duty trucks could cause certain steering rod parts to weaken and possibly break.

NHTSA said in a defect notice that it had opened a preliminary investigation of 2500- and 3500-series Ram trucks for the same model years based on 12 new motorist complaints alleging similar problems.

The new investigation could effect as many as 160,000 vehicles.

A preliminary investigation is often the first step toward a recall. NHTSA has not yet said whether a recall will occur in this case.

Ram trucks, a signature Chrysler product, registered a 24 percent jump in sales in March compared to the same period a year ago.

A second recall of Ram trucks last year centered on potential axle problems in 56,000 vehicles.

Top Safe Cars for Teens

2011-04-08T12:52:00.000-05:00

As parents I think we can all agree that our children's safety is foremost on our mind. What parent doesn't get a bit nervous at the thought of our teenagers starting to drive. In a recent article from the Wall Street Journal they ranked the top vehicles based on safety crash-test data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as well as reliability scores from Consumer Reports. They recommend staying away from sporty vehicles as it may tempt young (as well as older) drivers to drive too fast. They have also recommended to stay away from large SUVs as well as pickups because they tend to be easier to roll, and to avoid subcompacts as there's just not enough metal between the driver and whatever obstacle they may hit. Of the safe choices Honda leads the way. The Honda Pilot scored top marks followed by the Honda CR-V in second place and the Honda Accord tied for third.

See full article at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703712504576244871890273248.html

Mercedes-Benz recalls M-Class for cruise control glitch

2011-04-05T16:13:00.000-05:00

DETROIT (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz launched a global recall older-model M-Class sport utility vehicles for issues related to cruise control that may lead to a crash, Mercedes parent Daimler AG and U.S. federal safety regulators said.

A wide majority of the vehicles being recalled are model year 2000-2002 M-Class SUVs, but there are a small number of 2000-2004 AMG performance vehicles also covered by the recall.

Some 136,751 vehicles will be recalled in the United States and about 50,000 in Germany, said Mercedes-Benz representatives in the two countries.

No crashes or injuries have resulted from the issue, Mercedes-Benz USA spokesman Rob Moran said.

Tapping the brakes to disengage cruise control may fail, increasing the chances of a crash, a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

There are other ways, including working a "cruise control stalk" on the steering wheel or applying firm consistent pressure on the brakes, that will still disengage the system in the event that tapping the brakes fails, Mercedes-Benz USA said.

Cruise control also automatically disengages at speeds of 25 miles per hour or less, Moran said.

"Since the situation is triggered by a malfunction of the brake lamp switch, Mercedes-Benz USA will replace the brake lamp switch on these models beginning in September at no cost to customers," Moran said.

He said it will take a half year before the repairs begin to "ensure an adequate replacement parts supply."

U.S. consumers will be informed of the recall in the next few weeks.

"We will also remind them to disengage the cruise control by using the stalk or by applying firm pressure on the brake pedal, and to avoid pumping the brakes," Moran said.

The recall was prompted by several complaints from consumers, NHTSA and the automaker said.

Job Market Tight, but Not at Car Dealerships

2011-04-04T13:57:00.002-05:00

By Casey Stegall

Published April 01, 2011
FoxNews.com

Here's a little fuel injection for the economy: Despite a national unemployment rate of 8.8 percent for the month of March, there is one industry that’s actually expanding: new car dealerships.

Sales figures from Ford, GM and Chrysler all show gains over last year, which is helping to translate into new job opportunities in that field.

The new jobs aren’t just limited to sales experience either. Dealerships are also looking for mechanics, car porters and employees to work the administrative side.

According to the market research firm IBISWorld USA, new car dealers around the country are projected to add about 90,000 news jobs this year. That’s a 10 percent increase since 2010.

While the numbers look promising, the picture still isn’t so rosy when you look at pre-recession levels. According to IBISWorld, more than 1.1 million people were employed by new car dealerships in 2007. Those numbers were slashed to a little more than 750,000 in 2009. This year the number looks like it will grow to around 988,000, not quite as robust as in the good old days.

However, economists say it is progress and it’ll take time for the automotive industry to fully bounce back because it was hit so hard when the economy tanked.

Other good news that surely gets motors running is that auto manufacturing revenue is projected to rise roughly 17 percent, according to the same research company. The numbers rank new car dealers third on the list of industries with the highest individual-based employment growth for 2011, behind office staffing/temp agencies and tourism jobs.

Paul Taylor, the chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association, attributes the growth to a number of things. Taylor says the credit market is loosening, consumer confidence is rising and the average car or truck on the road is more than 10 years old, so more people are in the market for a new vehicle.

He also says roughly 2,250 dealers permanently closed their doors over the last several years during the recession. Now, the existing 17,500 dealerships across America are reabsorbing some of that staff that was laid off. Lastly, Taylor says a higher demand for hybrid and fuel-alternative vehicles are responsible for the boost in sales and employment gains as well.

IBISWorld projects that new car dealership employment levels to be back above the one million mark by 2016.

Toyota to Raise Prices on Most Models

2011-04-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Free Press reports that Toyota is raising prices, effective May 1, on nearly all vehicles offered by its three brands, by up to 2.2 percent, to reflect higher raw material costs and the continuing strength of the Japanese yen.

The price hikes range from as modest as 0.4 percent, or $65, on the Scion xD hatchback – now with a suggested price of $15,910 – to a substantial 2.2 percent, or $900, increase on the Toyota Sequoia SUV. Prices on Lexus models will rise by $650 to $900.

Toyota division spokesman Greg Thome said the company decided to raise prices before the earthquake, but he acknowledged that higher material costs and the strength of the Japanese yen were factors in the increases. The yen has remained strong against the U.S. dollar before and after the earthquake. That shrinks the profits on vehicles built in Japan and sold in the U.S. because it takes more dollars to equal the same number of yen.

Separately, Honda said Thursday it will resume limited production at its crucial Sayama and Suzuka assembly plants on April 11.

See the full article at:

http://www.freep.com/article/20110401/BUSINESS01/104010345/Toyota-raise-prices-most-models

KIA Reaches Top 5 in CSI

2011-03-29T11:16:00.000-05:00

After Kia achieved the second-highest increase of any brand in 2010, many outsiders might have expected Kia to fall back, or at best, stay the same in the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction with Dealer Service Index (CSI) released earlier this month. However, thanks to the great efforts of the Kia Salesmen, Servicemen and Managers, Kia was again among the most-improved makes with a huge 28-point improvement, vaulting our brand up 8 places to another all-time high rank of 5th of 21 mass-market OEMs! Here are a few highlights:

Kia is 26 points above the mass-market average, ahead of Honda, Toyota, and Ford.
Kia has 3 consecutive years of dramatic improvement, up 78 points and 16 rank positions, by far the most in the industry over that time.
Kia now leads all non-luxury Asian brands.
For the second consecutive year, Kia improved in every index question, and especially so in the highest-weighted areas of Service Initiation (up 39 points) and Service Quality (up 29 points.)

I would also like to note that two more of Walker Automotive's brands, GMC and Buick, finished in the top 3.

Honda Tops Consumer Reports Survey

2011-02-28T16:32:00.000-06:00

Honda, Subaru remain top automakers in Consumer Reports ranking

Automotive News
February 28, 2011 - 2:00 pm EST

UPDATED: 2/28/11 4:10 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Honda and Subaru topped Consumer Reports' annual rankings of automakers for 2011, while better reliability and enhanced resale values helped Ford improve the most since last year.

Honda Motor Co. posted the best overall score of 74 out of 100 points in the Consumer Reports' ranking. Honda was followed by Subaru with 73 points and Toyota Motor Corp. with 71 points. Volvo placed fourth with 68 points, followed by Ford with 67 and Hyundai.

Chrysler Group LLC had the worst ranking among the car makers with 43 points. Mercedes-Benz, BMW and General Motors also placed near the bottom of the rankings.

The Ford Mustang was the No. 1 pick among sports cars, placing a U.S. manufacturer at the top of that list for the first time in six years. Top picks in other categories include Honda Motor Co.'s Fit for the new category of budget cars, Hyundai Motor Co.'s Elantra for small cars and Nissan Motor Co.'s Altima for family sedans for the second year.

"The (best picks) come from many different manufacturers," Consumer Reports' Director of Automotive Testing David Champion said in an interview. "At one time, it used to be dominated by Honda and Toyota."

According to the magazine, no Honda product scores less than average in reliability. Currently, Consumer Reports recommends 76 percent of the Honda vehicles it has tested. But some new Honda models have been unimpressive, the magazine said, including the new CR-Z coupe and Insight hybrids. The two hybrids didn't score well enough in tests to be recommended.

The redesigned Odyssey, the magazine's top-ranked minivan, also dropped a few points in its test score, compared with the previous year.

Subaru has the highest average road-test score -- 81 -- as measured by the magazine. And while the Japanese automaker only markets a half-a-dozen models, they all do well in Consumer Reports' road tests and nearly all are reliable. The Forester is a top-rated small SUV, and the Legacy sedan has been improved with each generation. Only one model, the sporty Impreza WRX, has below-average reliability, the magazine said.

Toyota, which last week recalled 2.17 million vehicles for floor mats that may jam accelerator pedals, claimed three of the 10 top picks, the most of any automaker. Toyota's RAV4 is the top small sport-utility vehicle, its Prius is the top environmentally friendly car for the eighth consecutive year, and its Sienna is the top family hauler.

Toyota's Prius scored the best for fuel economy at an average 44 miles per gallon. Five vehicles -- the Cadillac Escalade, the Ford Expedition EL Eddie Bauer, the Lincoln Navigator Ultimate, the Nissan Armada SV and the Nissan Titan SV -- tied for the worst with 13 mpg.

The magazine said GM's average test score for all tested models improved to 67 from 65 last year. But the automaker still markets a few lackluster models, the magazine said, including the Chevrolet Impala sedan and Colorado pickup.

Chrysler finished last in the rankings with an average test score of 50.

An automaker's overall score is based on a composite of road-test and predicted-reliability scores for all tested vehicles. The magazine's road test score is based on more than 50 tests and evaluations, covering performance, safety, fuel economy, comfort, and convenience. Reliability scores come from Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Survey, which included histories of 1.3 million vehicles.

The rankings by Consumer Reports influence car buyers and are published in the magazine's annual auto issue. Consumer Reports, published by Consumers Union, uses vehicle owner reliability surveys from 1.3 million people, government and insurance-industry crash tests and its own evaluations of how vehicles function for its ratings.

Ford F-150 Recall

2011-02-23T11:29:00.002-06:00

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Under government pressure, Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday it will recall nearly 150,000 F-150 pickup trucks to fix air bags that could deploy without warning.

The recall covers trucks from the 2005-2006 model years in the United States and Canada for what the auto company calls a "relatively low risk" of the air bag deploying inadvertently.

The recall, however, is much smaller in scope than what the government had requested. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, citing 77 injuries, told the company in a November 2010 memo that the recall should cover 1.3 million F-150 trucks from the 2004-2006 model years.

The F-150 is the flagship of Ford's popular F-Series pickup trucks, the best-selling vehicle in America. The government expanded its investigation into the air bag problems in January 2010.

A Transportation Department spokeswoman said the agency was currently reviewing Ford's response to see if the recall was adequate. If the government determines that the recall is too limited, it could lead to a rare public hearing to decide whether Ford should expand its safety action.

NHTSA said in a Nov. 24 memo that it knew of 238 cases in which the air bags improperly deployed and noted that Ford made production changes to the trucks in 2006 and 2007 to fix the air bag wiring and other issues.

Government regulators said in the memo that Ford did not believe the issue "warrants any corrective action" because the number of reports and incidents were low, owners received "adequate warning" from the air bag warning light and the "resulting injuries are minor in nature."

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said in a statement Wednesday that the recall covered trucks built at the Norfolk, Va., assembly plant from November 2004 through June 2005.

Sherwood said the majority of the complaints involved trucks built during the first shift of production at the Norfolk plant and the rates of air bags accidentally deploying were much higher in trucks built at the Virginia plant than those built at plants in Michigan and Missouri.

Ford said an air bag wire located in the steering wheel could have been improperly positioned so it would chafe, expose bare copper and create the possibility of a short circuit that would light up the airbag warning lamp.

Ford said most of the air bag issues happened within the first few seconds of the vehicle starting up and the company said it was aware of "one customer that jumped from the vehicle" after the air bag deployed while the truck was parked in a driveway.

The recall, which was first reported by the Detroit News, is expected to begin in early March. Owners will be notified and told to bring their truck to their dealer.

WHO HAS THE BEST HEAVY DUTY? WE DO!

2011-02-02T16:07:00.000-06:00

GMC Sierra Denali HD Wins Edmunds Shootout

The 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD prevailed in Edmunds Inside Line’s latest tough truck testing, vanquishing the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 and 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty to take the top prize. Each diesel-powered, four-wheel-drive crew cab pickup was subjected to tow testing on the 11.5-mile Jacumba Grade in Southern California, and a battery of track testing.
Dan Edmunds, Inside Line’s director of vehicle testing, praised the Sierra Denali HD for having “plenty of power, torque and poise.”

“The 2011 GMC Sierra Denali wins because it does the important truck things well,” Edmunds wrote on Inside Line. “It accelerates, brakes and just plain drives better in just about any situation, towing or not… On top of that, it costs significantly less to buy and it drinks less fuel.”

Toyota Recalls 1.7 Million

2011-01-26T08:29:00.000-06:00

Toyota recalls 1.7 million cars globally, including 245,000 Lexus sedans in U.S.

Hans Greimel

Automotive News
January 26, 2011 - 5:00 am EST

TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp., struggling to restore its reputation for top quality, today recalled nearly 1.7 million vehicles globally for a variety of fuel system related problems, including 245,000 Lexus IS and Lexus GS sedans in the United States.

The North American vehicles are being called back to inspect for possibly faulty installation of fuel pressure sensors. In cases where the sensor is not fastened tightly enough, fuel can leak between the gasket that connects the sensor to the fuel delivery pipes, Toyota said.

Lexus dealers in the United States will inspect vehicles for fuel leaks. If none is found, they will tighten the sensor. If leaks are confirmed, the gasket will be replaced and the sensor tightened.

The move affects the following vehicles in the United States: 2006-2007 model year Lexus GS300/350; 2006-early 2009 Lexus IS250; and 2006-early 2008 Lexus IS350.

Today's actions bring the total number of Toyota recalls since fall of 2009 to 18 million vehicles.

“After Toyota's recalls last year, the company is more sensitive to recall issues and conducting them as early as possible,” Satoru Takada, a Tokyo-based analyst at TIW Inc., told Bloomberg.

The move covering the fuel-pressure sensor covers 354,524 vehicles worldwide, including the Toyota Crown and Mark X sedans in Japan.

Also today, Toyota conducted a global recall targeting faulty fuel pipes and fuel check valves. That action affects 1.34 million vehicles, but none in North America.

Toyota said there have been no accidents related to any of the recall-related problems.

About 1.2 million of the vehicles in the second recall were sold in Japan, including the RAV4 SUV and the Voxy and Noah minivans. About 135,000 vehicles are in Europe, mostly the Avensis sedan and wagon manufactured at Toyota's plant in Britain.

A design flaw in those vehicles means that fuel pipes may develop cracks and leak. Some of the vehicles also have faulty check valves meant to prevent the reverse flow of fuel.

PRESS RELEASE: Toyota Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain 2006-2007 Lexus GS 300/350, 2006-2009 IS 250 and 2006-2008 IS 350 Vehicles to Inspect the Fuel Pressure Sensor Installation Click here for Customer FAQ for Lexus IS and GS Fuel Pressure Sensor Re

Toyota Motor Corporation announces separate recall involving certain vehicles not sold in North America

TORRANCE, Calif., January 26, 2011 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it will conduct a voluntary Safety Recall involving approximately 245,000 2006 through 2007 Lexus GS300/350, 2006 through early 2009 Lexus IS250, and 2006 through early 2008 Lexus IS350 vehicles sold in the U.S. to inspect the fuel pressure sensor installation.

Due to insufficient tightening of the fuel pressure sensor connected to certain engine fuel delivery pipes (those with Nickel Phosphorus plating), there is a possibility that the pressure sensor could loosen over time. If loosening occurs, fuel could leak past a gasket used in the connection between the sensor and the delivery pipe and through the threaded portion of the sensor.

Lexus dealers will inspect the vehicle for fuel leakage and if no leakage is found, will tighten the fuel pressure sensor with the proper torque. If a fuel leak is confirmed, the gasket between the sensor and the delivery pipe will be replaced and the sensor will be tightened with the proper torque. The inspection and possible gasket replacement will be conducted at no charge to the vehicle owner.

Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a safety recall notification by first class mail once the parts that may be needed have been obtained. Lexus will also post this information on its website. Detailed information about this recall is available through Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987 or at www.lexus.com/recall.

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced a separate recall involving 1.3 million vehicles worldwide to remedy a different condition on a different fuel delivery pipe and a high pressure fuel pump check valve. TMC's recall announcement does not involve vehicles sold in North America.

Kia to Introduce Two New Models Within Six Months

2010-12-31T10:14:00.000-06:00

Ryan Beene

Automotive News
December 20, 2010 - 12:01 am EST

MIAMI -- Kia plans to replace its slow-selling Amanti sedan this year -- close on the heels of the similarly sized, redesigned Optima sedan now being rolled out. But the exact timing of the launch is undecided.

The Amanti replacement, tentatively called the Cadenza, had been expected in April. Kia officials now say only that that car will be launched in the first half of 2011.

Bringing out the two sedans in rapid succession could create a problem, although U.S. executives say the vehicles are aimed at different customers.

The base Optima LX and midgrade Optima EX sedans have begun arriving at dealerships, and the Optima Hybrid will debut in the first quarter as the first hybrid in Kia's lineup.

The Kia Cadenza, which replaces the Amanti, is aimed at sedans such as the Toyota Avalon and Buick LaCrosse.

The Cadenza, already on sale in South Korea as the K-7, is longer and wider than the Amanti and is expected to be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The Amanti name will disappear.

Potentially, the Optima and Cadenza "could have some overlap," Orth Hedrick, director of product planning for Kia Motors America, said here at the Optima Turbo launch. "But in our mind, they're aimed at two different buyers."

Hedrick said the Optima is targeted at mainstream buyers of mid-sized sedans, while the Cadenza will go after a different group. He declined to specify the company's plans for the Cadenza, but its look and dimensions would place it in a category similar to the Toyota Avalon and Buick LaCrosse.

At 196 inches, the Cadenza is less than five inches longer than the Optima. It sits on a 112-inch wheelbase, compared with the Optima's 110 inches.

Meanwhile, Kia is also scheduled to launch a redesigned Rio subcompact next fall and give its Soul small crossover a slight freshening next summer.

"This is absolutely the fastest product cadence that I've personally been involved with, and it just keeps coming," said Hedrick, formerly a product planner at Nissan North America and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

Kia, which has launched six new or redesigned products since early 2009, has increased its market share for three straight years. It also recently spent about $1 billion on a plant in West Point, Ga., where it is hiring 1,000 employees.

So company executives say they were perplexed when the financial blog Wall Street 24/7 recently named Kia as one of 12 brands that will disappear in 2011, along with the likes of Blockbuster, Merrill Lynch and Moody's.

The blog argued that Kia sells "low rent" vehicles. Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing for Kia Motors America, called the notion "ridiculous."

Said Sprague: "Most logical people look at these kinds of lists and ignore them."

CHRYSLER AND FORD RECALL VEHICLES

2010-12-30T16:01:00.000-06:00

Automotive News

December 30, 2010 - 2:01 pm EST

CHRYSLER RECALL

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Chrysler Group LLC recalled more than 144,000 vehicles in three separate filings with federal regulators posted today.

In the largest of the three recalls reported to U.S. regulators, Chrysler said 65,180 Dodge Journey vehicles for the model year 2009 could have faulty wires within the front door wire harness.

Should those wires break, it could interrupt the circuits for the side impact sensors and de-activate the side airbag, Chrysler said in a notice to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Chrysler also recalled 56,611 Ram 1500 trucks for the model year 2011 because the rear axle bearing could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.

Additionally, the automaker recalled 22,274 model year 2008 to 2011 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 vehicles because the left ball stud could weaken and hurt the driver's ability to steer the truck.

FORD RECALL

Automotive News
December 30, 2010 - 10:00 am EST

UPDATED: 12/30/10 12:36 pm ET

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 20,000 new vehicles in North America, mainly its heavy duty pickup trucks, due to the chance that an electrical short could cause a fire, Ford and U.S. federal regulators said today.

Ford will inform owners of its F-series pickups, small sports utility vehicles Edge and Lincoln MKX of the potential problem by Jan. 10, according to a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About 15,000 of the affected vehicles were sold in the United States, and most of the rest in Canada, said Wes Sherwood, Ford spokesman.

Sherwood said the automaker is not aware of any injuries, crashes or fires resulting from the issue.

In a six-day period, a supplier not identified by Ford made body control modules that may produce an electrical short, Ford told NHTSA in a filing.

Sherwood said the suspect vehicles were built between late October and mid-November.

"If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition may occur which can result in an unattended vehicle fire," the NHTSA filing said.

Of the nearly 20,000 vehicles affected, 13,200 are Super Duty F-Series trucks, which are the F-250, the F-350 and the F-450 models.

Some 476 F-150 pickup trucks were affected. That model is the biggest selling vehicle in North America.

About 6,200 Edge and MKX models are affected, Sherwood said. Edge and MKX are also known as crossover vehicles, because they are built on a car platform rather than a truck platform as are larger SUVs.

Ford will pay for repairs performed at Ford dealerships. Sherwood said the repair time is relatively short, but he did not specify how long each repair will take or how much they will cost the automaker.

Insurance Institute Top Safety Picks

2010-12-22T15:13:00.000-06:00

(Adapted from The Associated Press, Ken Thomas, December 22, 2010)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- South Korean automaker Kia was one of the vehicles to lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, used by safety-minded consumers looking to buy a new car.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognized 66 vehicles on Wednesday with its "top safety pick award" for the 2011 model year, the most-ever awarded by the Virginia-based group. The number was more than double the 27 vehicles selected last year.

Hyundai Motor Corp. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp., and Volkswagen AG and its Audi brand received the most awards with nine, followed by eight awards apiece by General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. The awards, used in advertising to attract car buyers, bolster Hyundai and Volkswagen as they attempt to build a larger foothold in the United States.

Kia was recognized for the Optima midsize car, the Forte and Soul small cars, and the Sorento and Sportage SUVs.

GM's winners include the Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Equinox; Cadillac CTS and SRX; Buick LaCrosse and Regal and GMC Terrain. Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing, said the award would build on "the already strong global safety reputation of the Cruze."

The vehicles were chosen for protection in front, side and rear crash tests. To qualify for the award, the insurance industry group also requires the vehicles to have anti-rollover electronic stability control, or ESC, and receive top scores in roof strength tests.

Institute president Adrian Lund credited automakers for "quickly rising to meet the more-challenging criteria for `Top Safety Pick.'" He said several automakers have requested tests for new models coming out early next year and Lund predicted more winners would be added

New Sierra HD Concept

2010-12-20T10:06:00.000-06:00

All Terrain concept hints at GMC Sierra HD's brawny future

Mike Colias

Automotive News

December 17, 2010 - 7:14 am EST

DETROIT -- GMC is showing off an off-road, heavy-duty pickup concept that hints at bold, muscular styling for the next-generation Sierra HD.

The GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD concept, underpinned by the 2011 Sierra 2500 HD's re-engineered four-wheel-drive chassis, sports a wider track, brawny grille and an extra 3 inches of ground clearance. It was unveiled yesterday at a media preview for next month's Detroit auto show.

The concept was given the same 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine mated to an Allison 1000 six-speed transmission used in the Sierra HD. A restyle of the Sierra HD is expected in 2014 or 2015.

“You certainly could take it as a hint” of where the next-generation Sierra HD is headed, GMC design manager Carl Zipfel said.

While the massive 35-inch tires, mounted on 20-inch aluminum wheels, and Fox off-road shocks likely would be for “more of a niche or special edition” vehicle, Zipfel said many of the styling features could stick in Sierra restyle.

An all-terrain GMC pickup would compete with the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the Ram Power Wagon. It also would offer General Motors Co. an off-road vehicle to replace Hummer.

“It's [for] that premium customer who demands towing and hauling capability and off-road capability in one package,” Zipfel said.

Flared fenders and a streamlined front bumper fully expose the tires and allow for more ground clearance -- 21.1 inches. A beefed-up, forced-induction hood feeds more air to the engine.

The crew cab truck's 5-feet-8-inch bed, taken from GMC's light duty lineup, is nearly a foot shorter that the Sierra HD for better off-road handling. It includes a pair of lighted storage compartments on the sides of the bed.

Motorized, illuminated assist steps for both the cab and cargo bed offer easier access and maximize ground clearance.

GMC didn't say if or when it would green light the pickup.

Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director, said in a statement: “Although it is strictly a concept, it is a pretty realistic one.”

Toyota Reputation Takes a Hit - GMC and Kia Rise

2010-12-14T18:37:00.000-06:00

Toyota reputation drops among U.S. new-car buyers, J.D. Power says

Laurén Abdel-Razzaq

Automotive News
December 14, 2010 - 4:37 pm EST

UPDATED: 12/14/10 6:41 pm ET

DETROIT -- An increasing number of new-car shoppers are staying away from Toyota showrooms because of the company's quality and safety problems, according to a study by J.D. Power and Associates.

The market research firm's 2010 Avoider Study, which was released today, found that 19 percent of new-vehicle shoppers surveyed said they avoided Toyota because of “bad reputation of manufacturer” -- a startling increase of 17 percentage points from a year ago.

Fifteen percent of respondents cited a “bad experience with this manufacturer,” up 12 percentage points from 2009. And 15 percent said they were “concerned about the future of this vehicle brand,” up 11 points from 2009.

Respondents could cite several reasons why they did include a brand in their search.

“In terms of reliability perception, Toyota has always done well in the past,” said J.D. Power and Associates analyst Kerri Wise. “A couple of areas where Toyota really took a hit were in terms of bad reputation of the manufacturer and bad experience with the manufacturer.”

.........................................................................................................................................................
U.S., Koreans make strides

U.S. and Korean car brands have been the most successful at improving customer perceptions of reliability this year, according to the new J.D. Power study, which measures which brands and models customers choose not to consider when shopping for a new vehicle.

Among the most improved brands in terms of consumer perception of reliability this year are Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Kia and Ram. Audi, Scion and Smart also made significant strides among consumers. Each of these brands reduced customer avoidance by four or five percentage points from last year.

Wise said people who have never had firsthand experience with Toyota are more likely to have a poor perception of the company, while people who have owned or own a Toyota are likely to continue considering the automaker.

In an odd twist, only 16 percent of buyers said they avoided Toyota because they “didn't want a foreign/import vehicle,” a reduction of 16 points from 2009, when 32 percent of the buyers avoided Toyota for that reason.

Perceptions slow to change

Wise said one-fifth of customers surveyed avoided a vehicle because of reliability concerns, and these perceptions are slow to change.

“It can take three to five years to change perception and this is after brands have improved in their actual reliability,” said Wise.

The brands that have higher perceived reliability are doing a few things well. They are improving the reliability of their vehicles, using word-of-mouth references and hitting the right notes with their marketing messages, the researcher said.

Exterior styling is the most frequently cited reason for avoiding a model -- 35 percent of new-vehicle owners said it was important to them. The next most important reasons are the cost of the model (23 percent), doubts about reliability (20 percent), dislike of the interior styling (19 percent) and a unfavorable perception of a manufacturer's reputation (16 percent). Some brands produced scores above 100 percent because respondents were allowed to cite more than one factor.

Maintenance costs

For shoppers looking at premium models, concerns over maintenance costs was also an important factor, even though many of these brands come with free maintenance as part of the purchase price.

Some redesigned car models that came out in the past year were much more successful compared to the models they replaced. They include the Cadillac SRX, the Ford Taurus and the Kia Sorento, the study found. They also outshine other vehicles in their respective segments.

Wise said this indicates certain automakers have been successful in changing customer perceptions.

“While most redesigned models have higher consideration than the previous-generation models, some models are far surpassing their predecessors, and in the process, are attracting many additional customers to the brand,” she said.

J.D. Power and Associates surveyed 25,000 owners who registered a new vehicle in May 2010. The firm conducted the survey between August and October. This is the eighth consecutive year the Avoider study has been conducted.

Honda Tops in Customer Loyalty - mKia Coming on Strong

2010-12-10T08:11:00.000-06:00

Ford, Honda tops in U.S. customer retention; Kia rising fast

Brand loyalty survey finds that 'fun' is becoming more important

Laurén Abdel-Razzaq

Automotive News
December 9, 2010 - 3:42 pm EST

Ford and Honda have vaulted past Mercedes-Benz to tie for the highest customer retention rate among automotive brands in the United States this year, according to a new study.

The two mass-market brands retained 62 percent of buyers this year, J.D. Power and Associates said in its annual Customer Retention Study released today.

Ford rose five spots from 56 percent in 2009 while Honda increased one spot from 64 percent last year. Mercedes fell five spots, from 66 percent in 2009 to 59 percent in 2010, J.D. Power said.

The firm said Ford's higher retention rate was driven mostly by the Edge, F-Series and Fusion models. Honda's retention was driven by the Accord, CR-V and Pilot, the firm said.

“Ford, specifically, (is) producing products that have vehicle appeal, that have good styling and are fun to drive,” said Raffi Festekjian, director of automotive product research at J.D. Power and Associates. “For Honda, it's still more about resale value.”

Kia Motors had the largest increase in brand loyalty from last year, jumping by 21 percentage points to a 58 percent retention rate.

Overall, the average customer retention rate for the industry remained at 48 percent, even though some brands shifted in the rankings. Of the 32 brands ranked by the study, 16 improved their retention rates from last year, 14 declined and four did not change.

Fun to drive

A growing number of new-vehicle buyers consider a fun driving experience when it comes to being loyal to a certain brand, J.D. Power said.

According to the study, the desire for a fun driving experience as a reason for brand loyalty has increased in importance by 8 percentage points -- to 55 percent of respondents. In contrast, sticking with one automaker because of resale value has become less important, decreasing 11 percentage points to 45 percent.

“Last year we saw that resale value was important, consumers were a little bit more tight with their money, so that led to people staying with their brand” Festekjiansaid.. “Now we're seeing a shift in people who are interested in going back to some of the fundamentals of styling.”

Power said the top reason for remaining loyal to a brand this year was “seating arrangements,” chosen by 70 percent of the respondents -- unchanged from last year. Other top reasons were look/style, 65 percent; safety, 64 percent; deal incentive, 59 percent; and quality, 59 percent. Those results changed little from last year.

J.D. Power and Associates looked at more than 123,600 responses from new-vehicle buyers and lessees, of which more than 81,000 were replacing a vehicle they had purchased new. Power conducted the study between February and May and again between August and October. This is the eighth year J.D. Power and Associates has conducted this study.

Conquest rates

Besides customer retention, the study also looked at the rate at which auto brands capture customers from their competitors -- what J.D. Power and Associates calls “conquesting.”

Domestic brands have made strides during the past two years in grabbing customers from import brands. This year, 14 percent of domestic brand buyers previously owned an import, compared with 10 percent in 2008.

Despite the fun-to-drive factor, look and styling remain the top reasons consumers will stick with one brand, Festekjian said.

Although it is difficult to predict future trends, Festekjian said, right now customers are looking at a combination of factors in determining whether to stick with one auto brand. Brands that have good quality, good appeal and can bring people into showrooms are still important, he said.

“Consumers are shifting now to where they want it all,” Festekjian said. “They want the vehicles to be fun to drive and maybe aren't thinking of it so much as a vehicle to get me from point A to point B.”

Automotive News

2010-12-10T08:09:00.000-06:00

Automotive News

Honda Accord Wins Top Safety Award

2010-11-10T17:50:00.000-06:00

Honda Accord assigned highest rating in revised U.S. crash tests

Automotive News
November 10, 2010 - 3:29 pm EST

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co.'s Accord received the best possible safety rating among 2011 model-year passenger cars tested for crashes under new U.S. evaluation standards, edging ahead of Toyota Motor Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. sedans.

The mid-size Accord, Honda's top-selling U.S. model, got an overall five-star rating, according to results posted on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.

Of 40 models tested so far, six rated five stars overall. The Accord is the first to get five stars in each of three crash categories tested by NHTSA.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said last month that the ratings are aimed at boosting overall safety and ensuring the results more accurately reflect the crashworthiness of new cars and light trucks. Changes include the use of female crash- test dummies for the first time, along with male versions, to collect data about injuries to the chest, head, neck and legs.

The 2011 Accord sedan received five stars on side and frontal crashes and rollovers, according to NHTSA.

Hyundai's Sonata, with an overall five-star rating, scored the top score on side-crashes and rollovers and four stars in frontal crashes, NHTSA said last month. Toyota's Camry, the best-selling U.S. passenger car, rated three stars overall, earning three stars for side and frontal crashes and four stars for rollovers.

The agency continues to test 2011 model-year cars and trucks and is adding the results as they are complete. The results are available at www.safercar.gov.

Walker Recognized by Better Business Bureau

2010-11-08T09:45:00.000-06:00

The Better Business Bureau Serving Central Louisiana will recognize Walker Automotive and 11 other Central Louisiana companies at the Annual Better Business Bureau Torch Award Luncheon on Friday, November 12, 2010.

Businesses are evaluated for their commitment to customer service through exceptional standards for ethical business practices. The awards committee looks at how the company benefits customers, employees and the community.

Walker's Mission Statements exemplifies its commitment to customer service. Employees understand that Walker is committed to creating a culture of quality and service and that the primary goal is to exceed all customer expectations. Walker is committed to honesty, integrity, quality and excellence.

Walker was founded in 1919 as Alexandria Auto Company, Inc. by Foster Walker Sr. After returning from World War I, Foster Walker Sr. began selling Durant, Reo and Star automobiles from a gas station in Downtown Alexandria. That business eventually became Walker Oldsmobile Company and is now run by Foster Walker III. Ninety years after its inception the dealership has expanded from its meager origins to three locations, 8 manufacturers, three service departments and a collision center. Over the last 9 decades, Walker has won numerous national and factory awards for all aspects of its business and offers new and pre-owned vehicles ranging from quality entry level models to German luxury vehicles.

New Legislation for 2011

2010-11-03T09:51:00.000-05:00

As 2010 closes and a New Year dawns attention inevitably focuses on changes that will have to be made for the New Year that will impact business. Congress routinely makes laws and then sets implementation dates for the first day of the New Year. So it is around this time that businesses begin the adaptation process for any new legal or regulatory changes that are looming.

For 2011, the car business (and other financial institutions) will need to comply with two new significant regulatory changes that will affect how information is distributed to consumers that finance vehicles, repairs or parts. If you have purchased a vehicle lately, you realize that there is a mountain of accompanying paperwork associated with the purchase. Be assured that in most cases it is not the dealer requiring all of the paperwork. Dealers are mandated by a maze of federal and state laws and other federal and state regulations. When the ball drops on 2011 you can expect just a little more paperwork courtesy of two new federal regulations requiring compliance from car dealers who offer credit sales to customers.

Most consumers’ car purchases are made with credit. Before a bank will lend money, they will determine creditworthiness based on the customer’s credit score. The credit score, or FICO, is a three-digit number designed to gauge creditworthiness. Lenders use this number to determine if an individual is worthy of receiving credit and, if so, at what interest rate. The score ranges from 300 to 850 and is calculated using a complicated formula consisting of private information including income, credit history, debt and other factors. The credit report contains the consumer’s name, address, social security number, employment information and other personal and private information. Usually, a consumer with a lower credit score and higher risk rating will get a higher interest rate and other less favorable credit terms. The score is basically a rating of default risk attributed to a customer. A high score means low risk of default and a low score means high risk of default.

One new rule, “The Risk Based Pricing Rule”, requires any company that uses a credit score in connection with accepting or denying credit to deliver notice to a consumer whose credit application has been approved (but generally on less favorable terms) to the existence of negative information in the credit report. Basically, the report will alert consumers to negative information in their credit report that may have affected the terms of the credit. Those terms could be affected by increasing the interest rate charged, limiting the length of the loan, or requiring additional money down before accepting the credit application. The purpose of the regulation is to improve the accuracy of credit reports by giving consumers the information contained in the report and thus an opportunity to correct errors. More detailed information can be obtained at www.ftc.gov.

The second rule that will be implemented is the “Privacy Rule”. While this rule has been in place for a number of years, the notice forms have now been standardized to allow consumers an easier way to determine how companies use their personal information. It has taken the Federal Trade Commission nine years to promulgate rules for this action since implementing it in 2001. Basically, the rule requires lenders to alert their consumers how personal information such as social security numbers, addresses and other non-public information is shared with outside companies and related organizations. The new notice is easier to read and is formatted in such a way that consumers can easily determine how their information is treated. Some sections allow consumers to “opt-out” of any sharing and the new report will alert the consumer to that option. More information on this rule can also be found at www.ftc.gov/privacy.

Both rules favor the consumer and make the financial process more transparent. Consumers will now be armed with more information about their credit score and, in turn, be able to correct inaccuracies. Additionally, consumers will be able to make more informed decisions about the control of their personal information after an initial transaction. While both rules are consumer friendly, they will make the financial process just a little longer through no fault of your dealer.

BMW to Recall 198,000 Autos in U.S. for Brake Defects

2010-10-01T15:31:00.000-05:00

Neil Rowland - Automotive News Online October 1, 2010

WASHINGTON -- BMW of North America is recalling 198,000 vehicles to fix leaks that can develop in their power-braking system in the second safety setback for the company this week.
The company said in a statement today that the recall will include BMW 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series vehicles powered by V8 and V12 engines in 2002-2010 models. Also covered will be Rolls-Royce Phantom vehicles from the 2003-2010 model years.

The leaks can reduce the effectiveness of the power brakes, though no accidents or injuries have been reported, the statement said. Mechanical braking is still available to slow and stop the affected vehicles.

The BMW North America recall announced today is one of its biggest ever, company spokesman David Buchko said.

BMW's announcement follows by days a disclosure by federal regulators that they have opened an investigation of as many as 80,000 BMW 2004 and 2005 Mini Cooper models for possible loss of power-steering control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disclosed Tuesday that it has received 54 complaints and “a confidential number of field reports.”

“When the power steering assist stops working it requires increased force to steer the vehicle,” NHTSA's statement on its Web site said.

The complaints indicated that the power-steering problems may be related to a power steering pump failure, the agency said.

General Motors Recalls Crossovers

2010-08-17T13:38:00.002-05:00

WASHINGTON -- General Motors Co. said today it is recalling 243,000 crossover vehicles over concerns their second-row safety belts could be defective. GM said the recall covers 243,403 vehicles -- the 2009-2010 Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook -- "to inspect second-row safety belts for damage that in rare cases could make an occupant think the belt is properly latched when it isn't." Some vehicles may have a condition where the second-row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the seat belt buckle when the seat back is returned to a seating position after being folded flat, GM said. "Because of the potential for a false-latch condition, we want customers to return their vehicles to have the recall repair performed as soon as possible," said Jeff Boyer, GM executive director of safety. Owners will begin receiving letters this month to schedule appointments with dealership service departments. Read more from The Detroit News.

Mzda Recall

2010-08-16T13:27:00.000-05:00

MONTEREY, Calif. -- Mazda Motor Co. is recalling more than 200,000 Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles from the 2007-2009 model years because of faulty power-assist steering pumps and pipes. Mazda alerted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the recall on Thursday, Robert Davis, Mazda's senior vice president of product development and quality, told Automotive News. The recall comes after NHTSA opened an investigation in June into power steering failures in the Mazda3 from the 2007-2009 model years. NHTSA received 33 complaints of power-assist steering failures in Mazda3 vehicles from the 2007-2009 model years, and loss of steering control was reported as the cause of three crashes, according to NHTSA investigation documents. Vehicles that experience a power steering failure “will require more physical effort to steer, but at no time is the vehicle undrivable,” Mazda said on its Web site. It also posted a video explaining what drivers should do if the problem happens. Owners of the vehicles can go to dealerships to replace the power steering pump and pipes connecting it to the steering rack. Read more from Automotive News.

Are your Rearview Mirrors Adjusted Correctly

2010-08-04T10:16:00.000-05:00

Financial Literacy and Interest Rates

2010-07-29T16:12:00.000-05:00

A recent article in an automotive trade magazine preached the benefits of teaching financial literacy to younger members of society. The purpose, of course, is to enable the a younger population to handle the financial stresses that they will encounter as they get older. Quite simply, most adolescents (and many adults) have no clear idea how to balance a checkbook, develop a good credit rating, or successfully manage credit. One of the areas that many customers question is why the interest rate on a particular vehicle loan is at a certain level. Expectations of low interest rates are often quashed when customers learn how financial institution personnel and computers determine interest rate levels.

Many variables affect the interest rate a particular lender is willing give to a customer. The first and foremost consideration is the customer’s credit or “beacon” score. Credit score has been a subject of many of my previous articles and without rehashing all of the particulars, customers applying for credit need to be aware of their true credit score. A credit score is determined by multiple factors but most importantly the timeliness with which bills are paid. Pay them late and your score goes down. Don’t pay them at all and the score plummets. Pay them on time while carrying a lot of credit and the score remains marginal.

The only place to receive your true credit score is from one of the scoring agencies like Transunion or Equifax. Sites like “freecreditreport.com” use their own scoring system and often inflate scores and mislead customers to sell one of their products. Accordingly, the best thing to do is to start by getting your correct information from a reputable source.

When buying a car, the decision to buy new or used often affects the interest rate. While a customer may save money on the price of a pre-owned vehicle, interest rates are usually higher because the rates are not supported by the manufacturer’s “captive” finance companies. The only exception is with manufacturer’s “certified pre-owned” programs. These vehicles are often supported by special interest rates from the manufacturers as an incentive to attract brand loyalty. The goal is to get a buyer in the seat of one of their products and the attractant is the special interest rate and warranty coverage attached to the make and model of vehicle. To qualify for these rates, customers must possess a better than average credit score. A lower credit score usually translates into a higher interest rate.

Multiple other factors affect may affect your the interest rate. Banks and lenders like to see customers put money down on the purchase. The days of “zero down” are not gone, but are slowly becoming extinct. Down payments are attractive because the purchaser has a little of their own money in the game as a sort of “good faith” in the purchase. When a customer advances money in the form of a down payment, the chances of an early default on the loan are reduced. This makes the customer a better credit risk, and, in turn a better candidate for a lower rate.

Credit score alone is not determinative of the rate that a bank or lender will offer. Many customers have good credit scores because of consistent payment history. However, a closer look at the credit bureau will reveal the customer is barely hanging on. In some circumstances only minimum payments are made to lenders and the debt to income ratio is high. The debt to income ratio can be defined as a calculation that analyzes how much of an individual's monthly income is used for payment of debt. A lot of debt with a lot of income still makes the ratio high and the customer becomes more of a credit risk resulting in a higher interest rate. Additionally, the length a credit file has been established has a bearing on the interest rate. A person with good credit but minimal credit history will probably have a higher interest rate. This occurs because the lender cannot make an accurate assessment of risk based on the limited credit information in the file.

I was able to write down about twenty-five other factors that were considerations for interest rate levels before writing this article. Of course, most of this is determined from an algorithm in a computer database that crunches the individual factors and then returns a proposed loan amount and interest rate. Human credit analysts still assist and make individual determinations. Because of space limitations, I cannot include them all but other considerations should be noted. Some other factors that the computers and the analysts consider will be:

• Accounts being individual or joint;
• Total monthly and household income;
• Current employment status and length of time with an employer;
• Educational level;
• The length or term of the loan;
• Previous car credit and length of car credit;
• Ownership or rental of residence;
• Length of time the credit file has been established.

All of the items that are determinative of your interest rate may also affect your credit score. Educating yourself and being financially literate will assist you in paying down debt and raising your credit score. Then the next time you apply for a car loan you can be one of the people who falls into the category of “a well qualified buyer” that is always refered to in the hastily spoken disclaimer at the end of the advertisement. For more information on this and other topics visit my blog at www.walkerwill.blogspot.com.

Another Toyota Recall

2010-07-29T16:10:00.002-05:00

From Today's Wall Street Journal

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 412,000 passenger cars, mostly the Avalon model, in the U.S. for steering problems in which three accidents have been reported, the auto maker said Thursday. The 373,000 Avalons being recalled range from the 2000 model year through to 2004 and have improper casting of the steering lock bar—a component for the steering system—causing cracks to develop on the surface. In some cases, the crack can cause the lock bar to break, potentially leading to a crash if the steering wheel locks, the world's No. 1 auto maker by car sales said. The latest recall comes on top of some 8.5 million vehicles that have been recalled around the world by Toyota since October for a spate of problems, including faulty floor mats, defective gas pedals and braking software glitches.

More Toyota Trouble

2010-07-15T13:24:00.000-05:00

Toyota to fix over 735,000 cars outside recall

Wed, Jul 14 2010

* 2001-2003 RAV4 models may experience uneven shifting
* 2009-2010 Matrix, Corolla models may have steering issue
* Technical service bulletin issued for Matrix, Corolla
* Matrix, Corolla, and RAV4 issues did not lead to recalls (Recasts to include technical service campaign for 500,000 Matrix and Corolla issues; adds Toyota confirmation, comment)

By Bernie Woodall and Soyoung Kim

DETROIT, July 14 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Wednesday it will extend warranties on about 235,500 RAV4 vehicles and address steering complaints on as many as 500,000 late model Matrix and Corollas in the United States.
Toyota is taking the action to repair vehicles outside the channel for recalls tracked by U.S. regulators because it does not consider the reported problems to be safety issues.

Drivers of 2001 to 2003 model year RAV4s equipped with automatic transaxles may experience a "harsh shift" or have a dashboard light turn on indicating a malfunction, Toyota said in a notice to U.S. dealers.

Meanwhile, drivers of about a half million U.S. Matrix and Corolla vehicles from model years 2009 and 2010 may experience steering drift, the company said.

U.S. Toyota dealers will fix the steering for owners who complain, said Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons. He said the matter was not a safety issue but one of customer satisfaction.

In February, when the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had opened a preliminary investigation into complaints over steering issues on the Corolla and Matrix.

At the time, NHTSA had received 168 consumer complaints about the steering issue linked to eight crashes and 11 injuries.

Toyota has said Corollas made in Japan and Europe had different parts for steering than the affected models sold in North America.

Lyons did not provide an estimate of how much the repairs would cost Toyota.

The automaker estimated that fixing the steering would take about four hours representing a labor bill of about $350 per fix based on average dealer costs.

RAV4 SHIFTING ISSUES

Meanwhile, owners of RAV4s covered by the extended warranty will be sent a letter this month advising them to bring their vehicle to a dealer to be examined if they have experienced a problem with shifting.

Toyota will pay for repairs and extend warranties of the affected RAV4s, the note sent to dealers said.

The notice of the vehicle repair campaign was sent to Toyota's U.S. dealers on Monday. A copy of the Toyota "Customer Support Program" was obtained by Reuters.

Major automakers often extend warranty terms or notify dealers that they will pay for repairs that they judge to be unrelated to the kinds of safety issues covered by recalls.

Toyota's RAV4 warranty campaign comes after a series of high-profile recalls that have damaged the automaker's reputation for quality. More than 10 million Toyota and Lexus models have been recalled since last fall worldwide.

Toyota said that solder in one of the circuits on the RAV4's engine control module is at risk for peeling over time.

In most cases, dealers would be able to fix any vehicle problems by replacing the engine control module, an onboard computer, Toyota said.

In some cases, dealers will also have to replace the automatic transaxle on affected RAV4s, Toyota said.

Hundreds of U.S. consumer complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about transmission-related problems with the RAV4.

In some cases, drivers have complained of repair bills of several thousand dollars or sluggish acceleration that put them in dangerous situations.

One driver of a 2002 RAV4 told U.S. regulators that in March 2007 he was involved in a minor accident after the "automatic transmission went crazy and (the) car started lunging forward and then not going when it should."

"We have not felt safe enough to even keep the car on the road," the consumer told NHTSA.

No other Toyota, Lexus or Scion models are impacted by the issue, Toyota said in its notice to dealers.

RAV4 owners who have already paid for repairs can apply to be reimbursed, Toyota said. New repairs must be made at Toyota dealerships. (Reporting by Bernie Woodall and Soyoung Kim; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz and Richard Chang)

The New LaCrosse

2010-06-16T10:23:00.000-05:00

LaCrosse: The Buick we finally would rather have
USA Today Drive On Blog
June 15, 2010
By Chris Woodyard

A big comfortable sedan with ample power and nimble handling, a blow-away great interior and a price tag that seems about $8,000 less than you'd expect to pay.

That's the Buick LaCrosse, which Drive On finally took for a spin even though it's been out for months. Why haven't we paid much attention before? Because it's a Buick.

LaCrosse seems impressive because it comes from a brand that makes you think of your father, or your father's father. But it is getting discovered. LaCrosse sales were up 212% last month from a year ago on the strength of the new model. For Buick executives, the challenge is just to get potential customers in the car.

"The product is the great proof point," says Roger McCormick, Buick's chief marketing guy, adding, "once people spend time in the car."

One victory: the percentage of customers coming to the brand are arriving from trade-ins from other brands, including imports he says. It's used to be 22%; now it's closer to 50%.

Though the starting price of a LaCrosse is around $26,000, McCormick says the average price of the LaCrosse leaving showrooms is around $32,000, an increase over the model it replaces. The one that Drive On tested was $37,280, and it had about every modern convenience and gee-whiz feature that you could pack into a car.

Buick is about to shift its marketing focus to the smaller Regal, but if you really want to see what's going to happen to this brand, keep your eyes on LaCrosse.

Chrysler is Now Recalling Cars for Pedal Issues

2010-06-04T17:44:00.000-05:00

From Automotive News Online Today.

Chrysler recalls more than 25,000 vehicles with CTS pedals

Automotive News
June 4, 2010 - 2:46 pm EST

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Chrysler Group is recalling more than 25,000 Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass vehicles to address the risk that accelerator pedals could become stuck and cause unintended acceleration, the automaker said today.

The recall comes five weeks after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into potentially sticky accelerator pedals in Chrysler vehicles, based on five consumer complaints.

Chrysler said in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that some of its 2007 model-year Caliber and Compass vehicles, manufactured between March and May of 2006, might have been equipped with faulty accelerator pedals.

CTS Corp. made the pedals involved in the recall. Elkhart, Ind.-based CTS is also the supplier of pedals involved in Toyota Motor Corp.'s January recall of more than 2 million vehicles.

Chrysler said the accelerator pedal for the Caliber and Compass vehicles is a "completely different" design and manufactured with different tooling than the pedals involved in Toyota's recall.

Chrysler also said its recalled vehicles are equipped with a brake override system, which allows the engine controller to reduce power and stop the car when both the brake and the accelerator are depressed.

Regal Wins High Praise from Wall Street Journal

2010-05-31T11:30:00.000-05:00

An article form the Wall Street Journal.

SEAT MAY 29, 2010 Confession: The Regal's a Pretty Great Car

Love the bailout or hate it, GM has a success in its Europe-derived Buick sedan; an automotive Zelig

By DAN NEIL

It gives me no joy to write this. I know it will upset a lot of readers, and that's never pleasant. So I might as well come right out and say it: The new Buick Regal is a really nice car.

If you regard the federal government's taking a majority stake in General Motors in 2009 as an unforgivable overreach by the Socialist in Chief Obama, a political payoff to the United Auto Workers, a fleecing of the taxpayer, etc., nothing would conform to that narrative better than a ugly, spastic Buick Regal. After all, the government can't do anything right, can it?

Unfortunately for you—and fortunately for the rest of us, who want the company to succeed and in so succeeding make taxpayers whole on their investment—the post-bankruptcy, fed-owned GM is gaining altitude. The company posted a healthy Q1 profit; global sales are rebounding; GM is a fraction of its former, overgrown self; the board and most of the executive management has been replaced; the UAW has been given a pretty good haircut; the electric Chevy Volt is on track to be released on time, as promised. Hundreds of thousands of auto-industry jobs were preserved in the past year. If GM had gone into liquidation—remember, there was no financing available for a conventional Chapter 11 bankruptcy—GM's collapse would have acted like a black hole, further destabilizing the economy and obliterating the value of car companies and suppliers around it.

I'm not saying it was pretty. So little of summer '09 was. And I'm not predicting that taxpayers will absolutely break even. I am saying the alternative would have been far worse.

Why, Martha, can't this guy keep politics out of car reviews? Because car building, and car buying, is inherently political. I've received dozens of purple-faced emails in the past year declaring "I'll never by another GM because of [circle one] a) the bailout, b) Obama, c) the UAW...." That's perfectly legitimate. Consumers vote with their dollars, and as much as we'd like the universe of commerce to operate outside the gravity of ideology, it doesn't.

So while I understand this is a season of deep discontent with big-G government, with respect I invite you to consider the possibility that Government Motors will actually build some fine cars.

The Regal has been a kind of automotive Zelig, everywhere you look in the GM bailout. Development of this global, midsize, front-drive platform (Epsilon II) was begun at GM's Opel operations in Russelsheim, Germany, in 2004. It was intended to be the next-generation Saturn Aura for North America but when the money-losing Saturn division went away in the reorganization plan of 2009, GM quickly rebadged the car—known as the Opel Insignia in Europe—as a Buick. It's also built and sold as a Buick in China, where it's been a huge success (Buick's ascendance in the Chinese market is the main reason GM kept the division and dumped, say, Pontiac).

Meanwhile, as GM was lurching toward bankruptcy in the spring 2009, it put Opel up for sale, which would have been a monstrous mistake, given the division's role in global product development. But by November, the board of the new GM—made up mostly of Obama Administration appointees—wisely decided to hang on to Opel.

All of which led to the Opel Insignia/Buick Regal's arriving on our shores this month. How is it? Well, it's kind of terrific. Thick-shouldered, wide, with a graceful canopy (and a Hofmeister kink positively stolen from BMW) and about as nice a front end as can be managed with Buick's fussy waterfall grille, the Regal's look is competent and substantial, with the kind of sporty visual amplitude you'd expect of a Autobahn-bred car. I really like the hockey-stick-shaped accent line in the fuselage. This car nicely bottles pride of ownership.

The base model, the CXL, is powered by a direct-injection, 2.4-liter, 182-hp four cylinder and six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode. Amenities include heated leather seats, OnStar and Bluetooth. Price: $26,995. For $2,500 more ($29,495) Buick will throw in its 2.0-liter, 220-hp turbocharged Ecotec four cylinder, 19-inch wheels and what GM calls Interactive Drive Control, which includes Sport and Touring modes for suspension, throttle response, steering, etc. The highway fuel economy for the nonturbo is 30 mpg, while the turbo returns 29 mpg.

The Buick Regal is a nut-and-bolt clone of the Opel Insignia, which was Europe's Car of the Year in 2009. A half-foot shorter than the LaCrosse (also Insignia-based) the Regal feels like it should be pounding around the Périphérique instead of muddling through California freeway traffic. Taut and torquey, with bankable style and features, the Buick hands it to its intended competitor, the Acura TSX.

The Benefits of Bailout

Prebankruptcy GM's list of problems was long and stubborn. High pension and health-insurance liabilities, a vastly overgrown, insupportable corporate structure, and then the crisis in auto sales, which plunged them below their inflated break-even sales volume. But its biggest problem, many would argue, was a self-inflicted wound called product. The company is still a long way from healthy, but only the most ideologically driven naysayer could drive the Regal and conclude the company's products aren't coming back.

Buick execs have confirmed a yet-hotter edition of the car, the Regal GS—dredging up the old Gran Sport name—will hit the market next year. That car will have a high-output turbo engine (255 hp), six-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive, limited-slip differential, knotty Brembo brakes, the whole smash.

I spent most of a day this week thumping a well-equipped turbo model (about $35,000) through the hills east of San Diego and came away deeply impressed, if not quite panting with desire. For starters, the interior is excellent, easily the equal of the Hyundai Sonata or Acura TSX, which bracket the Buick in price. The Regal's central console, with flush-faced, soft-touch buttons arranged in intuitive geometry, is impeccable. Between the seats of my tester was a multifunction rotary control, a la BMW's iDrive, that worked beautifully. The seats are comfortable, supportive and well contoured. The sight lines are right. The wind management and soundproofing have been sweated over, to good effect.

And, best of all, the car handles like a European sport sedan. Think, not BMW, but perhaps Peugeot or Renault. With the adaptive suspension switched to Sport mode, the Regal's ride is firm but compliant, with a nice evenness while cornering. Lift off the throttle, hit the brakes and take a big chop and the wheel and the car turns in confidently. Pitch and body roll is well modulated. The 19-inch tires serve up loads of lateral grip. This is actually a pretty amusing car to abuse.

My only complaint—and, I gather, it was a common one—was that the speed-sensitive steering felt a little spooky. The steering had a deep self-centering inclination and tended to waver a bit as steering angles increased. It didn't really inspire a lot of go-fast confidence. Buick's engineering staff promised the steering calibration would be tweaked to correct.

Also, deep under the hood, there was a little bit of off-throttle chuff, a rather rude sound caused by back pressure in the turbo. Again, the Buick lab-coats said they were on it.

It's no secret that Buick is chasing younger buyers (voters?) and—the product guys having delivered—it's now up to the marketing guys to reach the very elusive, brand-agnostic Gen Y. I've got no insight on that question. But I do think that Regal is the just sort of product people hoped GM would produce post-bankruptcy. And here it is. Bit by bit, GM is pulling itself together. Politics aside, that's good for all of us.

Summer Gas Savings Tips

2010-05-27T15:54:00.000-05:00

SUMMER GAS SAVINGS TIPS

BY: Lawrence S. Searcy, Jr.

The summer driving season is upon us and so are the related costs associated with taking the family across the country for vacation. One way to save a little money along the way is to insure that your vehicle is getting the best mileage possible under prevailing conditions. While the savings on a particular trip may not be tremendous, the savings could substantial over time.

Fortunately, most modern vehicles take some of the guesswork out of the variables that affect gas mileage. For instance, on-board vehicle computers automatically compute tire pressure in all four tires making a physical pressure reading unnecessary. Additionally, the computers calculate instant gas mileage as the vehicle is being driven so no complicated math of gallons divided by miles driven is necessary. While the following tips may not make you rich, they will put a little extra change in your pocket in a time when gas prices are on the rise. These suggestions will result in small but significant fuel savings.

1. Make Sure the Engine is Properly Tuned

A properly tuned engine can account for as much as a 4.1 percent increase in gas mileage according to government studies. The most common tuning problem is a faulty oxygen sensor. Gasoline engines work by creating a combustible spark caused by the ignition of the gas in the cylinder. A proper amount of oxygen is required for the spark. The oxygen sensor in the vehicle regulates the amount of gas and oxygen necessary for optimal performance and reduction in pollution. If the Oxygen sensor is malfunctioning it can decrease efficiency by up to forty percent. If the check engine light or oxygen sensor light illuminates, take the vehicle to the dealer for repair and you might just see a significant increase in miles per gallon.

2. Keep Tires Properly Inflated

Underinflated tires create unnecessary friction between the vehicle and the road, which reduces efficiency. Because the underinflated tires have more tire area contacting the road, friction is increased and the engine has to work harder to get the vehicle in motion. It is the same as when you were a kid and the tires on a bicycle were a little flat. The bike was harder to pedal and more energy was required to get the bike in motion. The vehicle’s onboard computer will alert the driver of significant pressure reduction and also give an accurate reading of tire pressure for each tire. If the vehicle does not have this function, use a manual pressure gage to check inflation. The proper inflation will be listed on the inside door jamb of the vehicle and in the owners manual. Properly inflating tires can improve miles per gallon by up to 3.3 percent

3. Use a Clean Air Filter and Change Oil as Recommended

An engine requires the proper amount of oxygen and gasoline to mix together to create a combustible spark for the engine to work properly. One of the items that regulate the oxygen/fuel mix is the air filter. If the filter is dirty, less oxygen will get into the system and the vehicle will run poorly and use more gas than necessary. A clogged air filter will reduce fuel economy by as much as 22 cents per gallon according to the Department of Energy. Likewise, motor oil should be changed as directed by the vehicle manufacturer. The proper viscosity should be used in conjunction with regular oil and filter changes. Like the air filter, dirty oil can reduce the efficiency of fuel consumption. Changing both the air filter and the oil will save a few cents per gallon.

In all, simple maintenance can add up over the long summer driving season. While the amount saved will not necessarily pay for the admission to Disney, it might pay for a snack or two while you are in the park. For more information on driving and maintenance tips visit www.walkerwill.blogspot.com.

Toyota Suspends Sales of Lexus Vehicles

2010-05-25T18:38:00.000-05:00

From Automotive News this Afternoon....Problems at the troubled automaker continue to mount.

Toyota suspends sales of some Lexus LS sedans after recall

Automotive News
May 25, 2010 - 12:01 am EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Toyota Motor Corp. said it had temporarily suspended sales of certain Lexus LS sedans following a steering-related recall.

The decision announced on Monday marks the third time in recent months that Toyota has told dealers to stop selling vehicles in the wake of a recall.

The voluntary recall of about 3,800 late model 2009 and some 2010 model year LS 460 and LS600h vehicles in the United States was finalized on Friday.

In certain scenarios, Toyota said the steering wheel in recalled models may not return to a centered position after a tight turn.

Toyota recalled up to 11,500 vehicles worldwide to correct the problem.

Sales are expected to resume gradually in mid-June, beginning with models that arrive in showrooms with the required fix.

Existing inventory and vehicles already on the road will require a computer system changeout that will be completed as dealers receive parts.

E-Class Wins Top Safety Pick

2010-05-17T10:39:00.000-05:00

The redesigned 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class luxury vehicle earned the 2010 Top Safety Pick awards from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. The Top Safety Pick award recognizes vehicles that earn a "good" rating -- the highest available -- for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection. The award is only given to vehicles that also have electronic stability control, which comes standard on the E-Class. Design changes and improvements to the front and rear doors for better protection on side-impact crashes enabled the E-Class to capture this years rating. This is the first time the E class has earned the Institute's top safety designation. For more information contact Walker Mercedes at http://www.walkerautomotive.com/ or 318-445-6421.

Walker Automotive Voted "Best of Cenla" For 2010

2010-05-10T16:33:00.000-05:00

The votes have been cast and Walker Automotive has again won top honors from The Cenla Focus Best of Cenla Readers Choice Awards. The awards are given annually by the Cenla Focus Community Journal and recognize "excellence in our community for great service...outstanding leadership...and much more." The awards are given based on the number of ballots received by the Focus each year. Thank you to all of the voters this year who selected Walker Automotive as best automotive dealership.

E-Mail Fraud and Phishing

2010-05-07T13:32:00.000-05:00

BMW Email Fraud Warning

Earlier this week I received an email from BMW North America's Legal News and Information department warning of an email scam that I thought should be passed on to the general public. Apparently a series of emails are being sent to email recipients claiming to be from the "BMW Security Department" or the "BMW Lottery Department" located in Great Britain or the Netherlands. The email look official with BMW logos or trademarks and tell the recipient that they have won a prize. While the email may look authentic, BMW is warning that the emails are a scam.

BMW has been investigating the emails for more than a year and have determined that the majority are originating in Nigeria. For more information, the general public can access the bmwusa.com consumer website at www.bmwusa.com/standard,content/contactus/fraudwarning.aspx.

Infinity Recall

2010-05-04T17:30:00.000-05:00

FROM AUTOMOTIVE NEWS ONLINE MAY 4, 2010
Nissan recalls 134,000 Infiniti G35s for airbag fix

Automotive News
May 4, 2010 - 8:00 am EST

(Reuters) -- Nissan Motor Co. recalled Infiniti G35 sedans and coupes because of faulty airbags that may not deploy during a crash, U.S. regulators said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said as many as 134,215 G35 sedans from model years 2005-2006 and G35 coupes from model years 2005-2007 are subject to the recall.

The recall is for vehicles sold both in and outside of the United States, a Nissan official said.

Nissan has yet to inform federal officials how the problem will be fixed, the agency said. Nissan informed U.S. safety regulators of the potential problem two weeks ago, NHTSA reports show.

NHTSA said a wire harness for the airbags may wear down to the point that it could interrupt a signal to deploy the airbags in the event of a crash.

The report mentioned no crashes or injuries related to the problem.

Dodge Investigating Sticky Gas Pedal

2010-05-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

The following is a story first published by Automotive News. The pedal involved in the Dodge vehicle is made by the same compnay that supplied pedals to Toyota.

Dodge Caliber being probed for sticky pedal issue, U.S. says

Neil Roland

Automotive News
May 3, 2010 - 10:00 am EST

UPDATED: 5/3/10 1:20 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON -- Chrysler Group's 2007 Dodge Caliber cars are under federal investigation for unintended acceleration caused by a sticky pedal -- the same type of problem that led to a large Toyota recall this year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is investigating as many as 161,000 Calibers for an accelerator pedal that “can stick or bind and not return to the idle position when it is released.”

The safety agency has received five customer complaints but no reports of deaths, injuries or crashes.

Chrysler's own investigation has narrowed the population of suspect vehicles to 10,000 that were made during five weeks in March and April 2006, a company spokesman said.

Supplier issue?

The problem appears to be a mechanical one caused by parts made by CTS Corp., of Elkhart, Ind., Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa said.

A NHTSA official said the automaker had been cooperative.

"The manufacturer is responsible for the performance of the car, and that's who we're investigating,” a NHTSA official said. “Chrysler has been cooperative.”

CTS also was blamed by Toyota Motor Corp. for its sticky gas pedals, which led to a January recall of 2.1 million vehicles.

The supplier denied the Toyota charge, noting that the automaker has recalled millions of other vehicles for unintended acceleration that were not equipped with CTS pedals.

CTS did not immediately respond today to a request for comment.

Electronic defects probed

In the wake of Toyota's worldwide recall of 9 million vehicles for unintended acceleration, NHTSA has been investigating the possible role played by electronic defects in triggering speed control problems across the auto industry.

Toyota's problems have been far more extensive -- and far more severe, with reports of dozens of deaths and injuries -- than the possible defects under investigation at Chrysler.

Chrysler said today that the sticky-pedal problem “is mechanical in nature and not a design or electronic issue.”

Cappa said Chrysler was able to narrow the problem population to 10,000 vehicles after being alerted to customer complaints by NHTSA on April 23 and then comparing complaints to warranty data.

On April 29, NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation, the first stage of a formal investigation, the agency said on its Web site. This review can lead to an engineering analysis and, ultimately, a recall.

Four of the five complainants reported that they had found bushings -- bearings made of brass to allow the pedal to pivot -- on the driver's side floor, NHTSA said.

Without the bushings, the pedal arm “can become misaligned” and be prevented from returning to the idle position, the agency said.

Dodge vs. Toyota

The CTS pedals used in the Dodge Calibers are different from those used in the recalled Toyotas, a NHTSA official said.

Chrysler said that since 2003, the Caliber has been equipped with a brake override system that reduces power when both the brake and the gas pedal are depressed.

Most Toyota vehicles have not had a brake override system, which would be mandated under legislation to be discussed at a congressional committee hearing Thursday.

But some consumer complaints to NHTSA raise questions about the effectiveness of the Chrysler brake override system.

One complainant reported that while traveling at 65 mph, the Dodge Caliber accelerated suddenly to over 90 mph, a report on NHTSA's site said. Neither the brakes nor emergency brake could stop the car. It slowed only when the car was put in neutral, the driver said.

Another complainant said that while driving his Caliber at 15 mph, it “abnormally accelerated” to 75 mph. The driver reached over and lifted the pedal with his hand, he said.

One complainant expressed frustration with Chrysler's response to his reports and appealed to NHTSA to investigate.

“I am not getting any satisfaction from Chrysler; they continue to blow me off,” he said. “Please respond; no one else does.”

Acura Recalls TSX Models

2010-04-30T16:28:00.000-05:00

Honda recalls 167,255 Acura TSX cars in the U.S.

Automotive News
April 30, 2010 - 9:01 am EST

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Honda Motor Co. today said it would recall 167,255 Acura TSX sedans sold in the U.S. market to address the risk that power steering fluid could leak and cause an under-the-hood fire.

The recall, covering 2004-2008 model year Acura TSX vehicles with 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engines, comes after one fire was reported due to leaking fluid.

Honda and U.S. safety regulators said that over time power steering hoses may crack and leak.

U.S. safety regulators in a statement issued today said power steering fluid "leaking onto a hot exhaust pipe will generate smoke and a burning smell, and could potentially result in an under hood fire."

Honda will notify U.S. Acura TSX owners and its dealers will repair the Acuras for free, beginning on May 28, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a report.

The repair, Honda said, involves installation of a new power steering hose, O-ring gasket and fluid.

Honda officials in Canada said that cars in Canada were not subject to the recall.

Walker Automotive Blog Recognized in National Magazine

2010-04-29T18:41:00.000-05:00

The May 2010 edition of Auto Dealer Monthly magazine has recognized Walker Automotive's Blog as one of the "Great Dealer Blogs." In an article about internet marketing techniques, the magazine singled out several automobile dealers across the country for their social media effectiveness. For instance, dealers were recognized as having great fan pages on Facebook, or for the number of followers on Twitter. When it came to blogs, Walker's blog at http://walkerwill.blogspot.com was named in the top six blogs in the country. Congratulations to all of the employees of Walker Automotive who contribute to the blog on a regular basis. For more information about products, services, parts or accessories offered at Walker automotive visit the web site at www.walkerautomotive.com.

Another Toyota Recall

2010-04-28T17:24:00.000-05:00

Toyota to recall Sequoia SUVs to repair stability control units

Automotive News
April 28, 2010 - 11:41 am EST

UPDATED: 4/28/10 4:51 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., which recalled Lexus GX sport-utility vehicles this month because stability controls failed to engage fast enough, is recalling Sequoia SUVs to adjust a control system that drivers say is too aggressive.

Toyota, the world's largest carmaker, told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today 50,000 of the 2003 Sequoias are covered in the recall. The agency has been investigating the defect since 2008. About half those vehicles had the control unit adjusted after a technical service bulletin was sent to dealers, said John Hanson, a Toyota spokesman.

“We have customer complaints dating back to 2003” that vehicle stability control “kicked in at times it shouldn't have, maybe too early,” said Hanson, based at Toyota's U.S. sales unit in Torrance, Calif.

Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide in the past year for defects that may cause unintended acceleration in its cars and trucks. The company on April 19 said it would recall the Lexus GX 460 SUV after Consumer Reports magazine rated it a “safety risk” because the model can roll over in certain driving conditions.

“Toyota is cooperating with NHTSA's request to issue a safety recall of the 2003 Sequoia,” said Julia Piscitelli, an agency spokeswoman. “NHTSA has been investigating electronic stability control malfunctions which have turned up 163 safety- related failure incidents” reported to the agency or Toyota.

The VSC system can help control a loss of traction in turns as a result of front or rear tire slippage during cornering. In vehicles without the upgrade, the VSC system could, in limited situations, activate at low speed (approximately 9 mph) for a few seconds after acceleration from a stopped position and, as a result, the vehicle may not accelerate as quickly as the driver expects. There have been no reported injuries or accidents as a result of this condition.

Toyota instituted a running production change during the 2003 model year and published a Technical Service Bulletin to address this issue when it was first identified in fall 2003. Since that time, Toyota has been responding to individual owner concerns by replacing the Skid Control Engine Control Unit (ECU) in Sequoias impacted by this condition. Of the approximately 50,000 vehicles included in this recall, approximately half have already been serviced under warranty.

Starting in late May, Toyota will begin mailing letters to all 2003 Model-Year Sequoia owners included in this recall, including owners of vehicles that have been previously serviced. If a customer has previously paid to replace the Skid Control ECU for this specific condition prior to receiving a letter, the customer should mail a copy of their repair order, to the following address for reimbursement consideration: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Toyota Customer Experience, WC 10, 19001 South Western Avenue, Torrance, CA 90509.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Honda Has Best Used Cars According to Consumer Reports

2010-04-23T14:32:00.000-05:00

Many people are aware that a new car depreciates the minute it is driven off of the lot. In fact, the average new car loses almost half of its value in the first three years of ownership. For many purchasers, the choice is to buy a quality pre-owned vehicle to avoid taking the hit on depreciation. The problem, though, is finding one that is considered reliable. There are many tools to help consumers find the most reliable used vehicle but the authority on the matter is probably Consumer Reports.

Each year Consumer Report Magazine ranks the most reliable models. Each winner in a category indicates that owners of those vehicles have experienced relatively few problems over time with the winning make and model. This year, Honda models dominated the winners circle. Toyota suffered several losses on the list because of their continued troubles with recalled models. In all, Honda won the top spot in six out of the nine categories. Here is how the list shaped up:

Category: Small Cars
Winner: Honda Civic

Consumer Reports says: “The Civic is reliable, economical, and fun to drive. In 2003 the Hybrid model arrived, and 2006 brought standard antilock brakes and curtain air bags. But electronic stability control is available only on later high-end models. The Honda Fit hatchback is smaller than the Civic. “

Category: Family Cars
Winner: Honda Accord

Consumer Reports says: “The Accord is a very reliable choice and is enjoyable to drive. It's a quiet, agile car that received a standard antilock brake system with the 2003 redesign. In 2006 the V6 models received standard ESC, which was added to all models with the 2008 redesign.”

Category: Small SUV
Winner: Honda CR-V

Consumer Reports says “The comfortable, carlike CR-V has a smooth, spirited four-cylinder engine and gets good fuel economy. Look for models from 2005 on, when ESC and curtain air bags became standard. Reliability has been better than average each year.”

Category: Large SUV
Winner: Honda Pilot

Consumer Reports says: “The Pilot is a roomy, refined, and fuel-efficient SUV. It has flexible seating for eight passengers, and crash-test results are impressive.”

Category: Minivans
Winner: Honda Odyssey

Consumer Reports says: “The Odyssey is a spacious and comfortable minivan that has always had a good ride and handling. A 2005 redesign improved interior flexibility. Look for models built after 2003.”

Category: Pickup Trucks
Winner: Honda Ridgeline

Consumer Reports says: “The Ridgeline combines the handling of a car with the utility of a pickup truck. The cabin is easy to access, and the engine is smooth and responsive.”

Contact Walker Honda at http://www.walkerhonda.com/ or 318-445-6677 for information on a new or pre-owned Honda.

Further Toyota Recalls

2010-04-19T08:37:00.000-05:00

Toyota to recall 870,000 Sienna minivans for rusty spare-tire cables

Automotive News
April 16, 2010 - 5:53 pm EST

UPDATED: 4/16/2010 7:45 p.m. ET

(Reuters) -- Toyota Motor Corp said it would recall 870,000 Sienna minivans sold in the United States and Canada since the 1998 model year because of a risk that the spare tire could drop onto the road.

The recalls cover minivans sold in 20 cold-weather U.S. states and Canada due to potential corrosion from long-term exposure to road salt that could in the worst case cause the spare tire to separate from the vehicle, Toyota said.

All told, the recalls cover some 600,000 two-wheel-drive Sienna minivans from the 1998 to 2010 model years sold or registered in the United States and 270,000 of the same vehicles in Canada.

Friday's action pushes the number of Toyota vehicles recalled since late last year to more than 9.3 million. Most address the risk of unintended acceleration tied to faulty gas pedals and floor mats that can interfere with pedals. The Prius and other hybrids have also been recalled for brake problems.

On Tuesday, Toyota halted sales of its Lexus GX 460 SUV after Consumer Reports said its handling in certain curves posed a "safety risk."

The automaker has not yet decided whether it would have to recall the GX 460, but has said its engineers duplicated the results of Consumer Reports' tests.

For the Sienna recall, Toyota said prolonged exposure to high use of road salt could cause excessive corrosion in the cable. Owners will receive a letter urging them to bring their minivans to a dealership for inspection while Toyota develops a remedy.

The recall covers vehicles sold or registered in the District of Columbia as well as Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Owners in other states also can choose to have their vehicles inspected, Toyota said.

Toyota Halts Sales of Lexus

2010-04-13T18:30:00.002-05:00

Toyota temporarily halts sales of Lexus GX 460

Automotive News
April 13, 2010 - 6:56 pm EST

Toyota has temporarily halted sales of its Lexus GX 460 after a safety warning was issued by Consumer Reports magazine.

The magazine said the 7-passenger SUV was at risk for a roll over accident during certain types of turns. The Japanese automaker said it would suspend sales until it had conducted its own testing.

On its Web site, the automaker said, "for any customer who has purchased a 2010 GX 460 and is concerned about driving their vehicle, we will provide a loaner car until a remedy is available."

Lexus Deemed Unsafe By Cnsumer Reports

2010-04-13T08:58:00.000-05:00

Toyota's Lexus GX SUV called ‘safety risk'

Bloomberg News
Automotive News
April 13, 2010 - 7:12 am EST

LOS ANGELES (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s new Lexus GX SUV was labeled a “safety risk” by a magazine, complicating efforts by the world's largest automaker to repair its image after record recalls.

The 2010 GX 460 received the designation because of handling in emergency driving tests, Consumer Reports said today in a statement. The magazine, published by Yonkers, New York-based Consumers Union, said it hadn't deemed any vehicle a potential safety risk since 2001.

The GX's rear end “slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control” at a Connecticut test track, the magazine said. “In real-world driving, that situation could lead to a rollover accident, which could cause serious injury or death.”

Toyota's recalls of more than 8 million vehicles worldwide for defects linked to unintended acceleration and brakes have hurt its reputation and led to U.S. congressional hearings and a rebuke by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The U.S. assessed a $16.4 million penalty against Toyota for delaying its recall of sticky accelerator pedals and said there may be more fines.

“We're concerned with the results of Consumer Reports testing on the Lexus GX 460 and their suggested buyer recommendation,” Bill Kwong, a Lexus spokesman, said in an e-mail. While the model meets or exceeds U.S. safety rules, Toyota will try to duplicate the test results, Kwong said.

The company “appreciates Consumer Reports bringing it to our attention,” he said.

The GX has a starting price of about $52,000, according to Lexus's Web site. The Japan-based company has its U.S. sales headquarters in Torrance, California.

Consumer Reports checked the initial findings in the “lift-off oversteer” test of the GX by repeating it on a second vehicle, said Douglas Love, a spokesman for the magazine. The publication said it shared the results with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The magazine said it is unaware of reports of accidents resulting from what it found in the GX tests.

GMC Announces Prices of HD Trucks

2010-04-09T17:05:00.000-05:00

By: Chrissie Thompson, Automotive News online April 9, 2010

DETROIT -- General Motors Co.'s 2011 heavy-duty pickups will start at $28,960, including delivery, undercutting the Ford Super Duty's starting price by $35.

Both automakers are releasing re-engineered heavy-duty pickups this year. The Super Duty goes on sale this month, while the heavy-duty GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado will arrive at dealerships in June.

The GM pickup prices, released today, underscore the truck battle brewing between the automakers. As the economy improves, automakers are also hoping new home construction will show signs of a recovery to boost new truck sales, as builders invest in pickups to carry supplies.

The automakers' truck battle starts with optional diesel engines. Upgrading to a diesel on the Sierra and Silverado costs $8,395, while Ford's diesel engine costs $7,835. The GM diesels offer 397 hp and 765 pounds-feet of torque, while the Super Duty gives 735 pounds-feet and 390 hp. Neither automaker has released fuel-economy ratings, but Ford has promised “class-leading” fuel efficiency for its diesel.

The Sierra and Silverado can pull up to 20,000 pounds and carry 6,335 pounds, GM says.

GM increased the base-model price of heavy duties from the 2010 models by $500, while Ford upped its starting price $600.

U.S. Fidelis Files for Bankruptcy

2010-04-05T15:33:00.002-05:00

Several months ago I wrote an article in the Cenla Focus about the automobile warranty companies that advertise on television on on satellite radio. Essentially, the article warned customers about these aftermarket companies that are not supported by the local franchised dealer network. Many of the companies had failing Better Business Bureau grades and others were being investigated by certain state's attorneys general.

Well, the shoe has dropped on at least one of the companies that I warned against. U.S. Fidelis, based in St. Louis, filed for bankruptcy protection in March citing more than $25 million in debt. The company is supposed to be issuing refunds to customers for cancelled contracts and claims that all warranty obligations are insured. In news articles published in Automotive News in March, reports show that the two brothers who owned U.S. Fidelis borrowed more than $49 million from the company to spend on themselves and their families.

When shopping for a vehicle or related products remember to shop locally and with people you know.

GM Recalls Vans

2010-03-29T08:43:00.000-05:00

GM recalls 5,000 vans for potential engine fires

Sales halted; owners advised to stop driving until fix is found

Chrissie Thompson

Automotive News
March 27, 2010 - 10:51 am EST

DETROIT -- General Motors Co. is recalling about 5,000 heavy-duty vans and stopping production and sales because of alternators that could cause engine fires.

The recall, announced just before midnight Friday, affects some 2010 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana 2500, 3500 and 4500 Series built in February or March. Light-duty versions use a different alternator.

GM says that until it has a fix for the alternators, customers should stop driving the vans; park them outside, away from buildings or other vehicles; and disconnect both battery cables if possible.

Few of the vans are owned by retail customers.

“It's in the teens,” GM spokesman Alan Adler said. “We're calling the customers we know who have them.”

About 1,300 of the vans are in fleets, and GM's stop-sale order prevents people from renting them. Many vans are still on dealer lots or are awaiting export.

GM builds the vans in Wentzville, Mo., where 60 percent of the production is typically devoted to heavy-duty models.

Honda Gets Aggressive With Pricing

2010-03-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

Honda enters price war with Toyota

The automaker moves to preserve its market share amid aggressive sales incentives offered by its rival.

By Jerry Hirsch - LA Times

March 25, 2010

The auto price war is escalating with American Honda Motor Co. offering its biggest lease deal ever, a move analysts said was designed to offset aggressive sales incentives by rival Toyota Motor Corp.

What's unusual about this price war is that it is being fought the hardest by Japanese automakers, which historically have resisted using large incentives to sell vehicles.

Toyota fired the first volley when it announced a variety of discount financing and special lease deals this month in a move to regain market share in the U.S. after a series of embarrassing recalls.

"There is an irony in the fact that you have a price war launched by Toyota, which has never been reactionary before," said James Bell, an analyst with auto information company Kelley Blue Book. "They are playing the game other brands previously had to play to keep up with Toyota."

American automakers, by comparison, are showing restraint, if for no other reason that they don't have a lot of cash to burn on incentives, said Aaron Bragman, auto industry analyst at IHS Global Insight.

The discounting comes in the wake of a turbulent period of plunging sales for the automakers and bankruptcy restructurings for General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group last year. The industry has been working to wean itself from stimulating sales with large profit-trimming incentives.

"Any type of price competition hurts everybody's profits," said Shelly Lombard of Gimme Credit, a corporate credit research firm.

But moves by manufacturers to close factories and reduce expenses last year should make the companies less vulnerable to the current round of incentives because they have learned to make money on a lower sales volume, she said.

Honda has to act because it has the most shoppers who also consider buying Toyota vehicles and faces the "most competitive pressure," Lombard said. GM also is vulnerable because it has been supplanted by Ford Motor Co. as the biggest auto seller nationally and is still working to gain sales momentum after its bankruptcy reorganization. Ford, which "is on a roll," would be less vulnerable because it has fewer cross shoppers with Toyota, Lombard said.

Honda is offering lease promotions across all of its models -- the first time the automaker has had such a large incentive program. These include no down payment or security deposit, no money due for a month and waiving of any fees when the agreement is signed, spokesman Kurt Antonius said. The program runs until May 3, about a month longer than the current Toyota promotion.

"It just shows how slow the car business is," Antonius said.

Analysts said Honda had lost the most sales to Toyota.

"Honda needed to match [Toyota] to maintain its market share," Bell of Kelley Blue Book said.

Through mid-March, the Toyota incentives had allowed the company to build back market share lost to a continued recall and controversies over unintended acceleration in its vehicles, according to TrueCar.com, an auto pricing information company. Sales were running at about 15.5% of the market, the slice it held at this time last year.

Prior to offering its own incentives, Honda saw its share drop this month almost a full percentage point to 9.4%, TrueCar.com said.

Toyota's incentives may haunt it in future months, Bell said. The company has seen sales soar as bargain hunters and loyal customers stream into showrooms to take advantage of the deals, he said. But once that traffic runs out, Toyota faces the daunting task of selling to "people who are not loyal or who are skeptical of the brand," Bell said.

Parts Availability for recalled Honda Models

2010-03-18T18:18:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week Honda issued a recall for 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey minivans and Element SUVs. The recall has to do with extended travel of the brake pedal. In essence the pedal can feel mushy. Parts should become available for the fix by mid-April 2010. For specific information on certain models or to determine if a vehicle is affected, contact Walker Honda at 318-445-6677. Honda is mailing all customers later this week.

TOYOTA CONSIDERS ADDITIONAL RECALLS

2010-03-18T16:53:00.000-05:00

Toyota Motor Corp. has told U.S. safety regulators it is considering how to fix nearly 1.2 million Corolla and Matrix models that risk stalling because of flaws in an electronic system.

In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Toyota said it wanted to meet U.S. officials to discuss an early-stage investigation of the stalling problem.

"Toyota does not believe that the alleged defect creates an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety," Toyota's regulatory affairs manager Chris Santucci said in the letter, which was dated March 2 and available on the NHTSA Web site on Wednesday.

The discussion of the engine stalling problem comes at a time when Toyota's safety record is under intense scrutiny. The automaker has recalled some 8.5 million vehicles globally this year, mostly for accelerator-related problems.

U.S. safety regulators and members of three congressional panels have criticized the Japanese automaker for moving too slowly to address consumer complaints of unintended acceleration and other safety concerns.

NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation of Corolla stalling complaints in November.

Engine control module issues

The agency said then that it had received 26 complaints of engines stalling in Toyota Corolla and Matrix models because of failures in the engine control modules.

U.S. safety regulators said drivers reported the stalls happened "randomly" and some had occurred in highway driving or when drivers were passing through intersections.

Toyota said it did not believe drivers would have any "prior warning" that the engine was about to stall because of a glitch with the engine's electronic control unit, or ECU.

But Santucci said Toyota had concluded it would be better for the engine to stall than "become damaged or dangerous," putting it at risk of "catastrophic failures" or "fire."

"Toyota would like to meet with the agency to discuss this issue," Santucci said in the letter.

Toyota said it believed the ECU could malfunction because of a crack in soldered joints in the unit or because of an electrical short. Both conditions could cause the engine to shut down without warning or fail to start, it said.

The stalling problem affects 1.19 million Corolla and Matrix models from the 2005, 2006 and 2007 model years, Toyota said.

GM checking Vibes

The Matrix is sister vehicles with General Motors Co.'s Pontiac Vibe. The automakers built the Vibe at their former joint-venture NUMMI plant in Fremont, Calif. The Vibe also was part of Toyota's floor mat and accelerator pedal recalls that included the Matrix, which is built at Toyota's plant in Cambridge, Ontario.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said GM is assessing the engine-stalling situation.

Honda Recalls Odyssey Vans and Element SUV

2010-03-16T17:05:00.000-05:00

From Automotive News Online MArch 16, 2010

Honda Motor Co will recall about 412,000 vehicles in the United States to address the risk that brake pedals may feel soft and slip closer to the floor over time.

The recall covers about 344,000 Odyssey minivans and 68,000 Element SUVs for the 2007 and 2008 model years and follows customer complaints over the issue, Honda said in a statement.

On some of the vehicles, air could enter the unit that controls braking and stability system, which may result in the "soft brake pedal" or "low brake pedal" after months or years, the company said.

Honda spokesman Chris Martin said several crashes and three minor injuries have been reported to the U.S. Transportation Highway Safety Administration regarding the problem.

"Although not all vehicles being recalled are affected by this issue, we are recalling all possible units to assure all customers that their vehicles will perform correctly," Honda said.

The recall comes at a time of public and regulatory scrutiny over vehicle safety issues in the wake of damaging safety problems involving Toyota Motor Corp vehicles.

For more information or to set up an appointment to get your vehicle repaired, Contact Walker Honda at 318-445-6677

Nissan Recalling 598,000 Trucks

2010-03-09T15:46:00.000-06:00

Nissan is recalling about 598,000 trucks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Nissans are being recalled for two problems, which in a few cases means two repairs on the same vehicle. The first recall involves about 179,000 vehicles because the brake pedal could become “partially disengaged” from its bracket. The recalled vehicles are the 2008–10 Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56 and the 2008–9 Quest minivan. The second recall covers almost 419,000 vehicles on which the fuel gauge could show there is a quarter tank of fuel when the tank is, in fact, empty, the automaker told the safety agency. The vehicles affected in this second recall are the 2005–8 Titan, Armada and QX56, as well as some 2006 and 2008 Frontiers, Pathfinders and Xterras. For more information contact your local dealer or check the NHTSA web page.

Continued Complaints of Sudden Acceleration By Toyota Owners

2010-03-05T09:51:00.000-06:00

Reproduction of Articel From Automotive News.

Neil Roland

Automotive News
March 4, 2010 - 12:01 am EST

WASHINGTON -- U.S. regulators are investigating 10 recent cases in which owners of recalled Toyota vehicles say they brought their cars in for repair and yet still experienced unintended acceleration.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has started contacting consumers about these complaints “to make sure Toyota is doing everything possible to make its vehicles safe,” agency chief David Strickland said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday.

A recurrence of unintended acceleration, even after sticky gas pedals and obtrusive floor mats have been addressed by dealers, would suggest there may be other causes of the loss of speed control in Toyota vehicles.

“We are confident that Toyota vehicles are safe, and we're doing everything we can to ensure that our customers are satisfied with the repairs we are making,” Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said in an e-mail.

Lyons said Toyota has asked NHTSA for the information needed to contact customers with post-repair complaints.

Toyota's top executives have repeatedly denied that electronic throttle-control systems may interfere with acceleration, most recently at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Tuesday. The company has hired the Exponent consulting firm to look into the matter further.

Since October, Toyota has recalled more than six million U.S. vehicles for unintended acceleration. The causes were attributed either to sticky gas pedals or to floor mats that entrap pedals.

The Safety Research & Strategies consulting firm reported this week that four Toyota customers complained to NHTSA last month of recurring unintended acceleration, even after their vehicles were recalled and repaired.

In one case, the owner of a 2008 Toyota Avalon reported Feb. 25 that a few days after a recall, the driver had the car in reverse and was slowly backing out of a residential carport when it accelerated on its own, the Safety Research report said.

“The car did about three loops around the garage area of the home, causing damage to the car, benches, tree, bushes, lamp post, etc.” the report said.

The owner of a 2010 Camry reported that within a week of its Feb. 12 acceleration fix, the car sped up as the driver was entering a parking space.

“I was pressing the brake,” the complainant said, according to Safety Research. “I jammed both feet into the brake. After three seconds, as my car was climbing up a snow bank, it stopped.”

The complainant added: “The fix done by Toyota is not the fix for the acceleration problem.”

Said Toyota's Lyons: “We have rigorously tested the solutions that Toyota engineers have developed, and are aggressively investigating any complaints.”

Nissan Recalls 539,000 Vehicles

2010-03-03T17:43:00.000-06:00

Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s third- largest automaker, will recall 539,864 vehicles to check and fix potentially faulty parts in models sold mainly in the U.S. Nissan will inspect and fix brake-pedal pins in 2008-2010 model year Titan pickup trucks, Quest minivans and Armada and Infiniti QX56 sport-utility vehicles, the company said in an e- mailed statement. The Yokohama-based carmaker will also check and fix fuel gauges in 2005-2008 model year Titans, Armadas and QX56s, as well as Frontier pickups and Pathfinder and Xterra SUVs produced from January to March 2006 and October 2007 to January 2008. From Bloomberg News

0% on GMC Vehicles

2010-03-02T16:31:00.000-06:00

GMC is offering a 0 percent/60-month financing program on most of its 2010 model vehicles, its head of sales said today.
GM reported a 12 percent U.S. sales gain for February in a market that rose 13 percent.

The program will cover GMc Trucks and the Acadia. about This is an opportunity to launch GMC Truck Month which has traditionally been in March each year. The incentives also give APR's as low as 1.9 and 2.9% on some Buick models.
The plan also includes 0 percent/72-month financing for remaining 2009 model inventory which covers about 97 percent of GM's 2009 models. Contact Walker Automotive at http://www.walkerautomotive.com/ or 318-445-6421 for more information on low financing rates and other programs that may apply.

GM Recalling Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G-5

2010-03-02T09:21:00.000-06:00

From: Automotive News

March 2, 2010 - 1:46 am EST

DETROIT (Reuters) – General Motors Co. is recalling 1.3 million compact cars in North America to address a power steering problem that has been linked to 14 crashes and one injury, the company said on Tuesday.

U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation on Jan. 27 into approximately 905,000 Cobalt models in the United States after receiving more than 1,100 complaints of power steering failures. The complaints included 14 crashes and one injury.

The recall covers the 2005-2010 model year Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 in the United States; 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada, and the 2005-2006 Pontiac G4 sold in Mexico, GM said in a statement.

GM said it told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the voluntary recall on Monday after concluding its own investigation that began in 2009.

GM said the affected vehicles can be still be "safely controlled" but it may require greater steering effort under 15 mph (24 kph). Drivers will see a warning light and hear a chime if the power steering fails.

"After our in-depth investigation, we found that this is a condition that takes time to develop. It tends to occur in older models out of warranty," GM Vice President of Quality Jamie Hresko said in the statement.

"Recalling these vehicles is the right thing to do for our customers' peace of mind," he said.

GM said it is currently developing a remedy to fix the problem and will notify customers when the plan is finalized.

Chrysler to Replace Airbag Sensors in 355,000 vehicles

2010-02-26T17:11:00.000-06:00

Chrysler to replace airbag sensors in 355,000 minivans

Automotive News
February 24, 2010 - 3:00 pm EST

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Chrysler Group LLC said it will replace a front airbag sensor in more than 355,500 minivans, starting in June.

The automaker's "safety improvement campaign" covers 355,562 of its 2005-2006 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, including 259,437 in the United States and 72,035 in Canada.

The move comes after Chrysler found one of the front airbag crash sensors could crack under some environmental conditions and allow water to enter the sensor, potentially causing the sensor to become inoperative.

The company, which is controlled by Fiat S.p.A., said it is not aware of any complaints, injuries or property damage related to this issue.

Chrysler said the campaign is different from a recall because should problems occur, the vehicles would still meet crash standards outlined by U.S. safety regulators.

"If the front crash sensors become inoperative, the driver is immediately alerted by illumination of the airbag warning light," Chrysler said in a document sent last week to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to notify the agency of its decision.

"Until the vehicle is repaired, the airbags may not provide the enhanced protection in the event of a crash," Chrysler said.

The voluntary safety action comes at a time when Toyota Motor Corp. faces heightened scrutiny over its handling of a series of safety problems that rocked its reputation and results.

Hyundai Motor Co. said on Tuesday it will recall 47,000 of its new Sonata sedans to fix faulty door latches.

2011 Hyundai Sonata Recalled

2010-02-24T17:49:00.000-06:00

Hyundai to recall 2011 Sonata because of door glitch

Dealers informed of sales halt

Lindsay Chappell
Automotive News
February 24, 2010 - 12:01 am EST

UPDATED: 2/24/10 1:08 p.m. ET

Hyundai Motor America Inc. late Tuesday told regulators that front door-lock modules on some 2011 Sonatas can stick under some circumstances.

The Korean automaker planned to notify customers of a recall.

“Anything to do with door latches warrants a recall,” said Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson in Fountain Valley, Calif.

Earlier Tuesday, Hyundai ordered a halt to sales of the 2011 Sonata after notifying dealers of the problem.

The recall will affect about 1,300 of the 2011 Sonata sedans built through Feb. 16 at Hyundai's plant in Alabama and sold to customers, plus 46,000 Sonata units produced through Dec. 6 in South Korea. The new model started to be sold from September 2009 in South Korea and this month in the United States.

It will notify South Korea's transport ministry and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week of the decision to recall the cars in March.

The company said it received complaints from customers but no reports of accidents or injuries related to the model.

Quick resolution

With intense scrutiny bearing down on rival Toyota Motor Corp., Hyundai hopes to quickly resolve the product glitch on the recently released sedan.

The Sonata is Hyundai's biggest-volume vehicle, with 2009 sales of 120,028 cars. The 2011 model went on sale only two weeks ago. There are currently only about 5,000 cars in U.S. inventory, and about 1,300 have been sold, Johnson said .

It is unclear how many of those have the faulty locks.

Johnson said the malfunction occurs only in situations where front-seat passengers try to open their doors from the inside while simultaneously holding down the lock button. In that circumstance, the interior door handle will not return to its normal position, and passengers cannot fully close the door.

If they press the lock button again, the handle will correct itself and allow the door to function correctly.

Heightened sensitivity

He acknowledged that there is heightened sensitivity to product issues at the moment because of the headlines and congressional hearings surrounding Toyota's global recalls of 8.5 million vehicles over safety concerns since late last year.

The Sonata repair will consist of replacing the front door-lock mechanism. Johnson said the replacement parts will begin reaching dealerships tomorrow, and the stop-sale will be lifted as soon as repairs are made.

He said communications to NHTSA and to vehicle owners will begin this week.

Reuters contributed to this report.

GMC President's Day Sale extended until end of February

2010-02-23T11:35:00.002-06:00

Toyota Has Problems With Corolla

2010-02-18T14:07:00.000-06:00

FROM THE NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DELAERS ASSOCIATION

Toyota Probes Corolla Steering, Considers Recall

Toyota is considering a recall of its hot-selling Corolla subcompact after complaints about power steering problems — another blow to the world's largest automaker already reeling from a string of recalls for safety troubles. ... in an alarming disclosure that could widen Toyota's recall crisis, the executive in charge of quality controls, Shinichi Sasaki, said Toyota was taking seriously the complaints about power-steering problems in the Corolla, the world's best-selling car. He said it was still uncertain if a Corolla recall would be necessary, but it is an option the automaker is considering. He didn't disclose model years or regions that could be affected and said there have been fewer than 100 complaints. Toyota sold nearly 1.3 million Corolla cars worldwide last year.

Toyota recalls another 8,000 trucks - From Automotive News 2/12/2010

2010-02-16T14:26:00.000-06:00

From Automotive News Article February 12, 2010

Toyota Motor Corp. will recall 8,000 Tacoma pickups due to possible cracks in a common drive shaft component that Ford Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. said posed no safety risk to their vehicles.

Toyota's decision to call back the 2010 model year trucks in the United States, which it announced on Friday, was the latest in a series of recalls that have hurt the automaker's sales and its reputation for quality.

The recall followed supplier Dana Holding Corp.'s report to U.S. safety regulators that 34,000 drive shaft parts it supplied to Toyota, Ford and Nissan could have cracks.

Dana said it was investigating the cause of the problem, and remedies would be specific to each vehicle on which the parts are used. It believed less than 2 percent of the parts shipped to the automakers had cracks.

Toyota dealers will get instructions on how to perform a 10-minute inspection to locate identification numbers, the automaker said in a statement. In some cases, the part may need to be replaced. Owners will begin receiving notices in mid-March.

Dana spokesman Chuck Hartlage said the issue was detected quickly. The supplier believes only a small percentage of affected vehicles have been sold.

The vehicles "will not experience a loss of control or present a safety risk even in the unlikely event the part should fail," Nissan spokesman Colin Price said in a statement.

Toyota said in a document obtained by Reuters that the all-wheel drive version of the 2010 Tacoma trucks may have a component containing cracks in the joint portion of the drive shaft due to an "improper manufacturing process control."

The cracks eventually could cause the drive shaft to separate and strike the road surface, potentially causing drivers to lose control of the vehicle, the document showed.

Toyota said in the document the pickups were built from mid-December to early February. It told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of its planned recall on Thursday and was not aware of any accidents caused by the defect.

Dana said it has told the agency about a crack in some ''yolks'' that transfer torque between the drive shaft tube and universal joint.

Toyota's latest move follows a string of recalls in recent months that cover more than 8.5 million vehicles globally due to the risk that a loose floor mat or a sticky accelerator pedal may lead to unintended acceleration, and to resolve a problem with regenerative braking on its Prius hybrid car.

The 2005-10 model year Tacomas were also involved in a safety recall last September for the risk of unintended acceleration, which Toyota said was linked to floor mats that can become lodged under the acceleration pedal.

Toyota sold about 112,000 Tacomas in the United States last year, down from nearly 145,000 in 2008.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100212/RETAIL05/100219948#ixzz0fjTecySi

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100212/RETAIL05/100219948#ixzz0fjTTXT93

GM Announces Pricing on New Regal

2010-02-16T10:34:00.000-06:00

BUICK ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR 2011 REGAL

Detroit – Buick announced pricing for the all-new 2011 Regal. Prices start at $26,995 for the premium CXL model, including a $750 destination charge. Regal’s CXL turbo model will start at $29,495, including a $750 destination charge.

Regal will initially be offered in premium CXL trim only, with additional trim levels to be offered in the 2012 model year. The well-equipped Regal CXL includes the following as standard or available equipment:

• Standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected engine rated at an estimated 182 horsepower (136 kW)

• Available 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged and direct injected engine rated at an estimated 220 horsepower (164 kW) – available late-summer 2010

• Both engines have six-speed automatic transmission standard with Driver Shift Control (DSC)

• Estimated 30 mpg on the highway with the 2.4L and 29 mpg highway with the 2.0L turbo engine

• MacPherson strut front suspension and four-link independent rear suspension

• Class-exclusive Interactive Drive Control System is available with the 2.0L turbo, offering enhanced vehicle stability and greater driving safety, while also adapting the driving characteristics of the car to the driver’s preferences. The driver selects among three operating modes that adjust suspension, steering, throttle, transmission, and stability systems to personalize the driving experience.

• Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel anti-lock braking system, brake assist and electronic parking brake

• Standard StabiliTrak stability control system and full-function traction control

• Standard dual-stage frontal air bags, side-curtain air bags and pedal-release system; and available rear-seat thorax air bags

• Available navigation system, Harman Kardon sound system, and internal flash drive (1GB)

• Standard 18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch aluminum wheels come with available Interactive Drive Control on the 2.0L turbo)

• Standard 12-way power, leather and heated driver seat; leather and heated passenger front seat; Bluetooth for phone capability; i-Pod auxiliary jack and USB port; XM Satellite Radio and OnStar

“The Regal is the next chapter in Buick’s transformation and we’re excited to bring this Buick sport sedan to market,” said Craig Bierley, Buick Marketing Director. “The dynamic driving experience and intuitive, personal technologies offer customers a premium sport sedan for great value.” 2011 Regal pricing compares to the 2010 LaCrosse as follows:

Buick Trim Level 2011 Buick Regal 2010 Buick LaCrosse

(CX) Available 2012MY $26,995

(CXL) $26,995 $30,395

(CXL) with turbo $29,495 N/A

CXS N/A $33,765

Regal production for sale in the U.S. and Canada begins late Q1 2010 in Russelsheim, Germany, with vehicles expected to start arriving at dealerships in Q2 2010. North American production will begin at the Oshawa Car Assembly plant beginning in Q1 2011.

About Buick

Buick is in the midst of a transformation that started with the Enclave luxury crossover and continues with the completely redesigned LaCrosse luxury sedan and Regal sport sedan. Buick is emerging as a modern, premium brand with vehicles characterized by sculpted designs, personal technologies, luxurious interiors and responsive performance. Future new sedans and crossovers are planned and will continue to expand Buick's portfolio both in North America and China. More information can be found at www.buick.com

Alexandria Attorney files suit against Toyota on Behalf of Dealers and Auction Companies

2010-02-15T11:20:00.000-06:00

Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Auto Dealers and Auction Companies by Neblett, Beard & Arsenault and Davis, Bethune & Jones

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Auto dealers and auction companies are bearing the financial brunt of Toyota’s recent recalls and Stop Sales Order and deserve to be compensated for the extra costs they are incurring, according to a class action lawsuit (2:10-cv-04025-NKL ) filed in Missouri federal court on Friday.

“Class actions allow small businesses to come together and take on a corporate Goliath like Toyota”

The lawsuit, filed by Shawn Foster of Davis, Bethune and Jones in Kansas City, Missouri and J.R. Whaley of Neblett Beard and Arsenault in Louisiana, details the financial pain that holding excess and unsellable inventory causes automotive dealers generally. The lawsuit then specifies the financial strain that the recent recalls and Stop Sales Order have caused the automotive sales industry.

The lawsuit also claims that Toyota knew over a year before the recent Stop Sales Order that its gas pedals were defective. The lawsuit claims that Toyota hid that information from the automotive sales industry and instead blamed bulky floor mats for the sudden acceleration problems plaguing the auto maker. That delay, according to the lawsuit, caused automotive dealers and auction companies to buy vehicles they cannot now sell and forces those businesses to carry costs to hold this currently unsellable inventory.

“Most used car dealerships are small businesses that really cannot afford to hold excess inventory, particularly in these tough economic times. This lawsuit seeks some reimbursement for the costs these dealers are incurring because of Toyota’s actions,” said Shawn Foster. The lawsuit seeks class action status on behalf of all automotive dealers and auction companies but specifically excludes licensed Toyota dealers. “Class actions allow small businesses to come together and take on a corporate Goliath like Toyota,” J. R. Whaley explained. “Class actions are oftentimes the most affordable way to prosecute claims like this.”

The lawsuit is pending in the federal court in Jefferson City, Missouri and is entitled Jerry Baker Auto Sales, LLC v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. et al. The docket number is 2:10-cv-04025-NKL.

Follow us on Twitter

2010-02-15T11:05:00.002-06:00

You can now follow us on Twitter. Follow at walkerauto.

Honda Recall cars - Article From Automotive News

2010-02-01T09:29:00.000-06:00

AS A PUBLIC SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, RECALL NOTICES WILL BE PRINTED ON THIS BLOG. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A PARTICULAR RECALL OR TO DETERMINE IF YOUR VEHICLE IS AFFECTED, CONTACT A LOCAL DEALER.

BELOW IS AN ARTICLE FROM AUTOMOTIVE NEWS ABOUT A HONDA RECALL.

Automotive News

January 29, 2010 - 6:01 am EST

UPDATED: 1/29/10 4:45 p.m. ET

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Honda Motor Co. recalled 646,000 of its Fit/Jazz and City automobiles globally over a faulty window switch after a child died when fire broke out in a car last year.

The recall includes 141,084 vehicles in the United States and covers the models sold in North America, South America, Europe, South Africa and Asia, but not Japan, a spokeswoman said. The Fit is Honda's best-selling model in Japan. The U.S. recall covers Fits from model years 2007 and 2008, Honda spokeswoman Christina Ra said.

Earlier this week, Toyota Motor Corp. announced it would extend to Europe and China a recall of millions of vehicles due to faulty accelerator pedals and floor mats. Honda said the recall was to fix a defective master switch, which could cause water to enter the power window switch and in some cases cause a fire.

There were three reported cases of fires due to the defect, two in the United States and one in South Africa, the spokeswoman said. A spokesman for Honda in Britain said the company had recalled all 2002-2008 year model Jazz units in South Africa and will recall 172,000 units in Britain after a fire broke out in one last year, killing a toddler. Honda said on its Web site it would "inspect and modify driver door power-window switches that may, in some cases, short circuit as a result of water intrusion".

"There has been a recall to do with a window switch and 172,000 cars will be affected by the recall in the UK," a Honda UK spokesman told Reuters today. "The recall will start towards the end of February. Now we will start talking to customers and dealers as to how we set up that recall." Honda UK said that water was entering the drivers' window of its Jazz model and reaching a master power switch, potentially causing the switch to over heat and "potentially cause fire".

"At the recall a waterproof skirt will be fitted to the window to avoid any damage," the spokesman added.
Honda's Jazz was its best-selling brand in South Africa in December, selling 352 units during the month.

Toyota Troubles

2010-01-27T09:56:00.000-06:00

Toyota suspends sales of 8 models in recall -

FROM: AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

Kathy Jackson

Automotive News
January 26, 2010 - 6:27 pm EST

LOS ANGELES – Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. is suspending the sales of the eight vehicles that it recalled last week for sticking accelerator pedals.

Toyota last week recalled 2.3 million vehicles, citing a problem caused by a pedal mechanism. Pedals jammed by floormats were the focus in the 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that Toyota recalled last fall for unintended acceleration.

“Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company,” Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter said in a statement. “This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized.”

Production will be halted for the week of Feb. 1 at plants that make the eight models involved in the recall. Two are in Indiana, with one each in Texas, Kentucky and Canada.

The affected vehicles are the 2009-10 RAV4, Corolla and Matrix; 2005-10 Avalon; 2007-10 Camry; 2010 Highlander, 2007-10 Tundra and 2008-10 Sequoia.

Reuters contributed to this report.

PLan For Success in 2010

2010-01-25T16:03:00.000-06:00

By: Lawrence S. Searcy, Jr.

I had the pleasure recently of listening to Rapides Parish Sheriff Chuck Wagner give a speech to a group of sales professionals about his first two years in office. He emphasized his business background and how his training in business planning helped him transition into his leadership role at the Sheriff’s department. When Sheriff Wagner was elected, the sheriff’s office did not have a written business plan. One of his first tasks was to assess the department’s needs and then write a business plan to address those needs. He used his professional sales experience to set measurable goals for his department. He then measured his successes and failures throughout the year according to the benchmarks that he set. Finally, at the end of the year, he reviewed the plan for the past year and proposed a new one for the coming year.

Every business, regardless of whether it is a governmental agency, private enterprise or non-profit organization, needs to follow the fundamental rule that Sheriff Wagner adopted. Make a plan. Follow the plan. Measure the success and failure according to the plan, and modify the plan as needed.

Make a plan:

Write your plan down. An unwritten plan is no plan at all.

When I was practicing law, I was measured by the number of billable hours that I billed to clients each month and for the year. In the car business, we measure monthly vehicle sales, repair orders written for service and parts sales. Regardless of what is being measured, the fundamentals are the same. You must know what measurements are critical to your success and how you plan to achieve the goals. The only way to do this is to write it down as a constant reminder.

By now, your 2010 business plan should already be in place. If not, it is not too late to start. Begin by looking at the past year, examining the past and current economic environment and setting realistic goals for success based on those observations. While the goal should be achievable, it should not be easy. Objectives should be set for short and long measurement. Start first with weekly and monthly benchmarks. Compare these at the end of each month to determine if you are on track for yearly goals. If not, then modify the plan as needed to reach new and achievable goals.

Follow the Plan:

Your plan is a long-term projection measured in short-term segments. While it can be modified, the fundamentals should be followed throughout the year. Think of your strategic plan like a roadmap. While you may use different roads to get to a final destination, the result is always the same – you arrive at the destination. When analyzing your plan throughout the year, it is ok to modify the way you get to the final result but the original outcome should remain the same. The final outcome should only be changed when it is clear that the original forecast is impossible to achieve. When that becomes necessary, amend the plan by re-forecasting for the remainder of the year. Do the same thing you did in the beginning of the year by setting realistic estimates you can achieve by the end of the year.

Measure success, failure and modify:

A business plan means nothing if the results are not measured. Again, like a roadmap, you cannot know where you are going without knowing where you are during the journey. Every day, week, and month, all measurements need to be reviewed to determine if the plan is on target. In many cases the plan may need to be modified because the goals are either too easy or unrealistic. If success comes too easily, then the original goals were not challenging enough and they need to be strengthened. If your numbers fall short, then the original expectation may not have been based on realistic economic conditions and should be scaled back.

Forecast for success and write a plan to meet your goals. Do this and 2010 will be a successful and profitable year.

Walker BMW Specials January 2010

2010-01-18T16:50:00.000-06:00

Proper Alignment

2010-01-18T13:58:00.000-06:00

By: Tim Nortier
Service Manager, Walker Automotive

As part of our continuous efforts to improve our service, Walker Automotive has recently invested in a significant upgrade to our alignment equipment. This new HUNTER WinAlignment equipment and software exceeds the requirements of all major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Mitsubishi and General Motors vehicles. Further, as an authorized dealer for Mercedes-Benz and BMW, only Walker Automotive has access to the customized software required for proper wheel alignment of all BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Out of alignment conditions occur when vehicle suspension and steering systems are not operating at their desired angles. On an older vehicle this condition is most often caused by wear of suspension components (shocks, struts, springs, ball joints, etc.) Out of alignment can also be the result of impact with a pothole or curb, or a change in vehicle ride height (lowered or raised) on any vehicle, regardless of age.

Reduced Tire Wear:

Incorrect alignment settings will usually result in more rapid tire wear. Alignment should be checked whenever new tires or suspension components are installed, anytime unusual tire wear patterns appear and after the vehicle has encountered a major road hazard or curb impact. Over the years, a properly aligned vehicle can add thousands of miles to tire life.

Think of it this way - Research indicates the average vehicle is driven about 12,000 miles per year. A vehicle with toe alignment just 0.34 degrees (or just 0.17 inches) out of specification has dragged its tires sideways for more than 68 miles by the end of the year!

Better Gas Mileage:

Gas mileage increases as rolling resistance decreases. Proper alignment sets all four wheels parallel to the road surface, which, along with proper tire inflation, reduces rolling resistance.

Improved Handling:

Does your vehicle pull to one side? Does the steering wheel vibrate? Do you constantly have to move the steering wheel to keep your vehicle traveling straight ahead? Many handling problems can be corrected by an alignment. With all the system components aligned correctly, road shock is more evenly distributed for a smoother ride.

Safer Driving:

A suspension system inspection is part of our alignment procedure. This allows us to spot worn parts before they cause costly problems. Remember, maintenance is always less expensive than repair.

How often should I have my vehicle aligned?

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation as noted in your owner’s manual, but as a general rule, have your vehicle’s tires rotated at least every 10,000 miles and alignment checked at least once per year.

Walker Supports Susan G. Komen For The Cure in Alexandria

2010-01-13T11:55:00.000-06:00

By: Lawrence S. Searcy, Jr.

Walker Automotive is excited to be a part of the newest expansion chapter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization. The Northeast-Central Louisiana Chapter of Susan G. Komen For The Cure® announced recently its expansion into the Central Louisiana community. The affiliate expansion will add the parishes of Vernon, Rapides, Grant, Avoyelles, LaSalle, Catahoula, and Concordia parishes. The expansion was officially announced at a celebration on January 5, 2010, at the River Oaks Arts Center in Downtown Alexandria.

More than twenty-five years ago, Susan G. Komen for the Cure started the breast cancer movement. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the global leader in the fight against breast cancer through the funding of innovative research and community-based health programs. Collectively, the local Komen affiliates are dedicated to ending breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find cures.

As part of the local expansion, Alexandria will host Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® event September 18, 2010. The race series helps raise money for local communities to put back into finding a cure and helping breast cancer patients locally. This year, CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the race.

Around the world local races raise money for local communities’ initiatives to help fight and cure breast cancer. Participants can run or walk the 5K route or even Sleep In for the Cure®. There is also a special race and activities for kids 12 and under.

Up to 75 percent of the money raised by the Alexandria Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure stays in the Central Louisiana area to fund screening, treatment and education programs. The remaining dollars support the national Komen initiatives. For more information or to volunteer, contact Lawrence S. Searcy, Jr. at 318-445-6421.