The best used trucks have come a long way from the days of basic bench seats and vinyl upholstery. Modern trucks are more powerful and more capable than ever, but they are also more comfortable, as automakers have responded to the changing demands of truck owners.
[Read more…] about Buying a Used Truck? These 5 Rule the WorksiteToyota
U.S. Automakers Respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic
In the course of just a few short weeks, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a devastating effect on daily life in America, as well as each of the automakers that builds cars here. Tens of thousands have been infected, hundreds have died, many are unemployed or furloughed, and most of us have been advised to stay at home except for occasional runs for essentials like groceries and medications.
[Read more…] about U.S. Automakers Respond to the Coronavirus PandemicToyota Ups Performance with Gazoo
If you needed a car for reliable transportation and practical usability, and you didn’t care much for driving dynamics or performance, which brand would you choose?
One of the first to come to mind might be Toyota.
The automaker’s reputation for quality and reliability is legendary. Its design, however, has leaned toward the bland, while performance has been perfectly calibrated to handle any speed limit America could throw at it. Practical, but not exhilarating.
That could change with the introduction of the Gazoo Racing Series. Continue reading >>>
GM and Toyota Dive Deeper Into Car Sharing
How would you like to rent a car in less than a second?
The idea of instant access to a vehicle could be appealing, especially for people who don’t own a car and live in a big city. General Motors and Toyota are the latest major automakers to get on board the car-sharing trend and could help turn it into a new normal for urban-dwelling commuters.
The idea of a car company venturing into the by-the-hour car rental business might seem to fly in the face of their desire to sell cars meant for individual ownership, but the younger generation seems to be demanding a change in how they transport themselves.
They don’t want to own cars, but they want convenient, inexpensive access to them.
Cue Maven.
Are There Any Bad Cars Left? Kia tops J.D. Power Initial Quality Study
If there’s one piece of advice I find myself sanctimoniously preaching to prospective car shoppers, it’s this: There’s no such thing as a bad car anymore.
Long, long ago, in the early 1990s, Kia Motors expanded to the United States, bringing with it little economical runabouts like the Sephia sedan and the Sportage crossover. There was just one problem: These cars weren’t exactly what we’d describe as “good.” Sub-100-hp engines, crude transmissions, and interiors featuring more plastics than Mean Girls. The little Sephia couldn’t even deliver great fuel economy, barely eking out 27 mpg highway with its automatic transmission. A ‘94 Ford Escort could manage 5 mpg better with nearly identical power specs.
But oh, how times have changed. Despite a poor first impression, Kia has emerged as a shining example of the fact that there really are no more “bad” cars. Every year, J.D. Power conducts its Initial Quality Study, wherein car owners are surveyed to determine which vehicles deliver the best experience within the first 90 days. By placing first on J.D. Power’s 2016 U.S. Initial Quality Study, Kia earned the honor of being the first non-premium brand in 27 years to take home Gold.