You know what a car is, what a truck is and what an SUV is, right? Well, lately we’ve been hearing about crossover vehicles. The Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Flex, Toyota Venza and Infiniti FX50 are examples of crossovers. What the heck does that mean? Continue reading »
Do you want to be the first on your block to have the latest environmentally friendly car? The all new Nissan Leaf will be available in select cities in December 2010. There’s been talk about reducing or eliminating our dependence on gasoline, but is the technology really there? Is it going to be practical? Continue reading »
A brand new automobile is a beautiful thing. It’s perfect inside and out – no dings, no spots where the paint was patched up, it even smells new. Is a pre-owned car a better deal, or should you indulge yourself and spend your money on a car brand new from the dealership showroom? Each option has pros and cons. Continue reading »
People have always tried to guess how things would be different in the future. The future of the automobile has been a much loved topic of TV shows and cartoons for years. How did you imagine we would travel in the year 2010? The self-driven taxi from Total Recall? Hovering craft like in Star Wars? The sky was the limit, literally, for what cars would look like. Continue reading »
It was 40 years ago that the original Shelby GT350 went out of production. A mint version of one of these cars is pretty much priceless today. Well let’s say they are out of our range for sure. The GT350 began its life back in 1964 when Ford Motor Company approached Carroll Shelby with a proposition. Mr. Shelby was to create a Mustang that could win races and sell like hot cakes to the car buying public. And he did just that as the GT350 won a ton of races and sold a lot of cars. Ford now had a true muscle car that would strike fear into the hearts of Dodge and Chevrolet owners everywhere. Continue reading »
You can keep your Porsche, Corvette or BMW Roadster. The hottest sports car in decades comes from the Pontiac lineage. The 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP is perhaps the most alluring turbo roadster to fly across American pavement in a long time. The Solstice was smoking hot when it was introduced in 2002 and has only improved over the years. Continue reading »
The Ford Fiesta made its debut in the U
S and abroad in 1976. In those days the Fiesta was just another economy car that simply underwhelmed American drivers. Although the Fiesta remains popular in Europe it never returned to American shores. This will change next year when the 2011 Ford Fiesta makes its encore appearance here in the states. Continue reading »
When thinking about the word “diesel” and “diesel car”, we usually get the idea of an outsized truck with black exhaust coming out of the tail pipe and a constant loud humming from the engine. But the new 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI gives us a whole new idea of what diesel really means. Continue reading »
Scion has sent adolescents into a frenzy recently with the announcement of the xB Release Series 6.0! Dubbed Absolutely Red due to the body color, this Scion features a couple of tasteful modifications that young people will identify with. But with only 2500 being made the xB RS 6.0 will most definitely fly off the dealer lots. Continue reading »
The Cash for Clunkers program is available now, and it’s a great deal for those in a position to take advantage of it. If you would like to get a new car, but don’t have the money yet, you should probably look into this deal. It just might change everything.
First, doo you have a car to trade in? Does it get 18 miles per gallon or less? If not, sorry – this plan is not for you. You can’t go to the nearest junkyard and buy a gas guzzler to trade in for the rebate. This has to be a car that you have owned for at least a year, including insuring it and having it registered. There are other requirements intended to make sure that the money goes toward taking gas guzzlers off the road. In order to qualify, your trade-in must:
• Get 18 MPG or less (according to their chart, not your actual mileage or what the manufacturer said when you bought it)
• Be in drivable condition
• Have been owned, registered and insured by you for the last year
• Be less than 25 years old
• Must be owned free and clear (the dealership can probably help you pay off your loan as part of the purchase of the new car)
Next, you need to find an eligible new car. You can find a list at cashforclunkersresource.com. It needs to get at least 4 miles per gallon more than your old car for the $3,500 rebate or 10 mpg better for the $4,500 rebate. The rules are slightly different from trucks and SUVs.
If your trade-in and your purchase qualify for the Cash for Clunkers rebate, it is in addition to other government incentives and manufacturer’s rebates. So research the prices and incentives on the new vehicles you are considering. Also look into other government incentives like the hybrid vehicle credit. If you can combine government incentives and dealership offers, you could get a really spectacular price on a new car. You must buy the new car or lease it for 5 years or more to be eligible.
The NHTSA is in the process of certifying new car dealerships to administer this program, but that’s taking time. Don’t wait, though. Go ahead and contact your local dealership now. They may be willing to process the rebate to you, knowing that they will be certified and can submit for reimbursement then.
Get your paperwork in order. You will need:
• Proof that you have had the car insured for at least a year. Bring this year’s insurance certificate and last year’s.
• Proof that you have had the car registered for at least a year. Bring a copy of this year’s registration and last year’s.
• The pink slip. (If the car is not yet paid off, bring information about the current loan and lienholder.)
• Financial information to apply for a new loan or lease.
Now you’re ready to go buy a brand-new fuel efficient car or truck!