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Do We Have Quality Vehicles Still?

The notion that auto manufacturers of today only produce vehicles just for the sake of coming up with new ones is a hoax. Though the competition among all auto makers is indeed getting tougher, auto companies do not engage in this kind of battle. That is supported by the results of J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study.

  

This study measured the quality of new vehicles during 90 days of ownership. It looked into the problems that were experienced by the owners in terms of quality of design and defects or malfunctions. The group found out that the overall quality of new vehicles improved by six percent this year as compared to last year. This result connotes that many auto manufacturers today are making much effort to provide quality improvements in their vehicles.

  

To attest to this, some Honda models have gotten three segment awards in this year’s study. These Honda vehicles are the Civic, CR-V, and Fit. Also, Chevrolet, Dodge, Infiniti, Lexus, and Mercedes Benz got to take home two segment awards each. Included are the Malibu and Silverado LD of Chevrolet; Dakota and Durango of Dodge; EX-Series and M-Series of Infiniti; LS and RX of Lexus, and; CLK-Class and E-Class of Mercedes Benz.

Porsche 911

The Porsche 911

 

At the bottom line of the survey, the Porsche 911 has the fewest seen quality problems in all the new vehicles of the entire automotive industry. It only has 67 problems as per 100 vehicles. Other awardees for quality are the Ford E-Series, Lincoln Navigator, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Pontiac Grand Prix Sedan, and Toyota Sequoia.

  

posted by drivemecrazy on Jun 14, 2008 4:45 AM | 0 comments | 0 trackbacks | Trackback URL
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Porsche 911

Porsche 911

Taken on Jun 14, 2008 4:42:33 AM
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What Makes A Vehicle Kid-friendly?

When you plan to purchase a vehicle, of course, you should analyze first your needs so as to find one that is perfectly functional for your day-to-day activities. One thing that would make it difficult for you to decide which one to get is when you have kids to consider as passengers. You should find a vehicle that would entertain them during most of their rides and would be a safe place for them during travels. Plus, how much more would it be difficult if you are on a tight budget?

  

With three things in mind (entertaining, safe, and affordable), it won’t be difficult for you anymore.  This is because auto manufacturers have made so much effort in upgrading the entertainment capability and safety of their vehicles for children. They are also making such without being much of a burden on the pockets of auto buyers.

  

Talking about the affordability of child-friendly vehicles, all the luxury and non-luxury vehicles of 2008 that are priced $20,000 to $45,000 have passed the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety crash test rating for front, side, and rear impact collisions. Two of the most kid-friendly vehicles are the Honda CR-V compact SUV and the Toyota RAV4 midsize SUV. These two vehicles are said to offer different kinds of comfort that give kids the feeling of being at home even when they are on the road. In fact, the CR-V is equipped with a retractable center tray table that allows kids to comfortably eat snacks or even play games. The RAV4, on the other hand, has a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

  

posted by drivemecrazy on Jun 14, 2008 4:11 AM | 0 comments | 0 trackbacks | Trackback URL
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SUVs Are Not Bad Ideas After All (2)

  

As I was saying in my previous post, you can now consider having SUVs even if your budget is tight for fuel maintenance. If you are not yet convinced of the SUVs GM is offering, then better check this out.

  

The system used in these vehicles (Yukon and Tahoe) includes a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery, two variable transmissions - each having a 60 kilowatt electric motor, and a six liter 332-horsepower v-8 engine. The engineers had modified the engine for better fuel economy. It is controlled by a computer that regularly calculates the most efficient way to give power from the cylinders and variable transmissions.

  

Both the Tahoe and Yukon have a fuel-saving feature. When they are driven at low speeds or with light loads, the battery alone could be used to run it or an infinite combination of gear ratios coming from one of the variable transmissions. On the other hand, when driven with heavy loads, the second transmission chooses the most inexpensive fixed ratio to be used. Not only that, half of the engine’s cylinder could be shut down during this kind of drive.

  

Also, what make these hybrid vans to take so little fuel are the different batteries installed in it. These vehicles have a 300-volt battery that operates the air conditioning system so that it does not need anymore the power of the engine to work; a 420-volt battery that runs the power steering and the engine oil pump, and; a 12-volt battery that runs the other systems in the vehicle. It also has an additional feature that when the brake pedals are stepped on, the energy is recaptured and is sent to the 300-volt battery. With the presence of these batteries, only a small amount of fuel is indeed needed by these huge vehicles.

  

Other than those complicated systems in the electrical and mechanical component of the vehicle, the exterior is also redesigned to achieve the high mileage. The style of the front air dam, running boards, and a special rear-end design are changed to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

  

With all these sophisticated changes in the Tahoe and Yukon, GM asserts that these vans have better overall mileage compared to other gasoline-powered SUVs. Also, it says that their hybrid vans can save the most gallons of gasoline, as well as money.

  

posted by drivemecrazy on May 8, 2008 8:10 AM | 0 comments | 0 trackbacks | Trackback URL
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SUVs Are Not Bad Ideas After All (1)

  

The issue of the unstoppable oil price hike nowadays is very much alarming. People are making ways so as to escape from the nightmare it could bring them. Many are converting their vehicles into cheaper fuel-powered units. Some choose electric ones. Others choose to limit their driving so as not to consume more fuel. Those are the common cases for people who already own a vehicle. But when it comes to people who are still planning to buy one, they tend to choose the small cars more. Because of that, the makers of SUVs are the ones greatly affected. People see this kind of vehicle as fuel-thirsty creatures that would not help them save a dollar.

  

That very reason led the way to General Motors (GM) to innovate their SUVs so that it could be lined up to those current hybrid vehicles. Just this year, it made two of its large sport utilities—the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon—into hybrid vehicles and the company is planning still to convert the Cadillac Escalade and other full-size pick-up trucks.

  

The company’s engineers used the two-mode hybrid system that offers two types of operation—one for driving in the highway and another one for city driving. They made the Yukon and Tahoe greener without changing much their heavy-duty characteristics. These two vans could still tow a big boat or a trailer and accommodate nine passengers at most.

  

With this huge and heavy-duty van, why suffer the consequences of the limited capacity of your vehicle, which is the small car? GM had made a way for these giants to have a diet of their favorite fuel. So if what you really need is a large one, you would not worry anymore about the amount of money you will need to feed it.

 

posted by drivemecrazy on May 8, 2008 8:08 AM | 0 comments | 0 trackbacks | Trackback URL
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