Author: Staff (Page 132 of 202)

2011 Nissan JUKE Sport Cross Review

September 5, 2010 / Staff

The staff at Bullz-Eye.com recently had the opportunity to review the 2011 Nissan JUKE Sport Cross and had some great commentary on the ride. Read what they had to say below!

If you’re looking for a new car that will get you noticed but you don’t want to break the bank, you ought to test drive the new Nissan JUKE. Nissan’s bold new entry in the sport crossover market has head-turning styling and an engine with a nice kick. The car immediately grabs your attention with a front end that turns conventional styling on its head. The turn signals are integrated into the front fenders in a spot where you might expect to find the headlights, but with a closer look you’ll see the round headlights below the turn signals. It won’t appeal to everyone, but we suspect it will be a big hit with a large number of guys in their 20s.

If you do decide to take a test drive, you’ll find out quickly that the JUKE is fun to drive. The JUKE sports a standard 188-horsepower 1.6-liter Direct Injection Gasoline turbo 4-cylinder engine, and it offers an advanced torque vectoring all-wheel drive (AWD) system as an optional upgrade over the front-wheel drive version. We were very impressed with the performance as we drove a JUKE with the AWD option around the beautiful scenery surrounding Vancouver. The handling on the JUKE is excellent with the AWD system and you’ll enjoy zipping around tight turns.

Read the entire article here.

Car Reviews, New Cars, Nissan, SUV

Saving Money with Hybrid Cars

September 3, 2010 / Staff

Hybrid cars offer a ‘green peace of mind’ if you care about the environment and that may be enough to convince many to trade in their SUV’s. But, eco-conscience aside, there has been some criticism that most hybrid cars have no payback when gas prices are low. Some skeptics say the extra money on the sticker price doesn’t come back to the consumer in the form of fuel savings.

Lucky for the industry (and the planet), there is one hybrid car that just might win over the naysayers because it actually costs less than the full gasoline version of the same model. In a recent study, researchers looked at the estimated fuel costs of 16 hybrid cars over their sticker price and any applicable financing fees, and were surprised to find one car that pays the owner back and then some: the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S 400 Hybrid.

It’s a hybrid version of its gas-powered counterpart, and costs around $5,000 less over a five year period. In the U.S., it is the most inexpensive S-class Mercedes available, and currently the only one in its class with a V-6, instead of the typical V-8 engine. It’s every bit as luxurious, despite its cost-saving characteristics.

The car gets 27 miles per gallon, which is great for its class. Mercedes has embraced hybrid technology in recent years, and is considering making its S-class of cars available in the U.S. as hybrids only within the next couple of years.

While buying a hybrid isn’t all about the payback, consumers might be more motivated if they know they’ll be doing a good thing for the planet, and that their investment will pay off. Saving a few dollars for favorite pastimes and hobbies such as movies, music, and playing online casino games might be enough of an incentive to win over a larger share of the market.

News

online casino

Chrysler bucking the trend in sales

September 2, 2010 / Staff

Despite sales drops for most major automakers, Chrysler bucks the trend by posting a year over year increase for August of 7%. Jeep posted big numbers with the Patriot jumping 57% and the Liberty climbing 56%. The most glaring number was the Dodge Challenger muscle car shooting up a whopping 190%. For most companies it would be a solid month but for the rebuilding Fiat/Chrysler it bodes exceptionally well for their prospects once the new models hit showrooms in 2011.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Chrysler defied the industry trend with a 7% increase in new vehicle sales in August from a year earlier when Cash for Clunkers inflated most of its competitors’ sales.

Once again, the Jeep brand led the way with a 17% year-over-year jump, helped by a 57% sales improvement for the Patriot and 56% increase for the Liberty.

But Chrysler’s year-over-year comparison benefited from the fact that it did not capitalize on last summer’s Cash for Clunker incentives because it had very little inventory of its smaller models.

“We will continue to build in this momentum as we begin production on a stream of new product through the end of this year,” said Fred Diaz, Chrysler lead executive for U.S. sales.

Read the full article here.

Chevrolet, News

Dodge Challenger Liberty major automakers muscle car new models Patriot showrooms

Carpooling Will Reduce Your Auto Costs

September 1, 2010 / Staff

Carpooling is one of the best ways to transport yourself and a co-worker to the office. Pooling your regular transport habits saves precious natural resources. Both you and your carpooling pal will individually save on gas, oil changes, tire purchases, brakes, and other repair jobs such as mufflers. Consequently, while your other co-workers are struggling to keep up with their car repair bills as they drive to work on New York’s roads, you can get a step ahead in the money saving game. Your repair bills might not be reduced in sum total, but they will be spread out over a much greater number of years, reducing your annual costs substantially. That’ll pay for a few meals at a nice restaurant! Plus, in the event that your car needs a few days in the shop while a repair job is completed, it’s handy to have a regular transportation alternative already set up.

Another way that carpooling can save you money is by reducing the total number of miles you drive each year. Since insurance is calculated based on numerous variables, including mileage driven per week, it is possible to drop your rate by making a call to your agent and informing them that you now drive half as many work miles as you used to drive. Get in touch with your preferred auto insurance Albany agent and see what policy reductions they can offer you for your environmentally and pocketbook-friendly choice.

So go ahead, start carpooling as soon as you can find a suitably located work buddy, and be sure to call your insurance agent. If they can’t save you money for the fewer miles traveled, you will at least have the original savings in your pocket in the form of reduced auto repair bills. And that’s something anyone can enjoy, whether they’re driving to work regularly or commuting to a friend’s house in Syracuse.

News

Chevrolet Orlando set to go on sale in Europe

August 29, 2010 / Staff

Soon the Chevrolet Orlando will go on sale in Europe but not in the U.S. as reported again by our friends at CarandDriver.com. We posted on this vehicle a few months back hoping the folks making the calls at GM would wisely reconsider selling the 3 row and hyper fuel efficient Orlando in the U.S., Canada and anywhere they can ship this vehicle. The Orlando is exactly the type of vehicle that GM should be designing for all the North American market regardless of what other current offering they have. Nothing, I repeat nothing in their stable is a direct competitor with this product. The Traverse offers 3 rows but is much larger and consumes way more fuel than the Orlando and the Equinox only offers 2 rows. A current design with 3 rows and great fuel economy is what many consumers are looking for in this market.

Precisely two years after its debut at the 2008 Paris show in concept form, the production-ready Chevrolet Orlando will bow at this year’s Paris auto show. It will go on sale across Europe early next year. Despite earlier confirmation that the Orlando was destined for the U.S., GM has since decided the Orlando will not be sold here.

The Orlando is a seven-seat mini-minivan based on an elongated version of the Chevrolet Cruze’s platform. It’s easy to see similarities to the Cruze in the bold front grille with massive Chevy bowtie, although the rest of the vehicle diverges, especially the upswept beltline and subtly sloped roof. Wheel sizes will range from 16 to 18 inches.

It will be sold with a choice of three engines: a 141-hp, 1.8-liter gasoline four-cylinder; a 131-hp, 2.0-liter diesel; and a 163-hp, 2.0-liter diesel. Standard equipment includes stability control, six airbags, air conditioning, power mirrors, and a USB audio input.

Read the full article here.

Car Reviews, Chevrolet, News

Chevrolet Orlando Equinox fuel efficient Orlando North American market on sale in Europe Traverse