Quick Cash Auto Blog

Automakers across the country are frantically making plans to change their truck models in order to satisfy new regulations regarding fuel economy on all types of pickups. The new mandates that were passed by congress recently are another effort to reduce the United States crippling reliance on fossil fuels as well as to reduce overall pollution.

The new fuel economy regulations do not go into effect until 2016; however, automobile producers will have just one complete design rotation to make drastic changes to the overall weight and composition of their trucks. The new regulations have strict guidelines for trucks regarding fuel economy, with the average fleet fuel economy required to be 35.5 miles per gallon by the 2016 deadline. Light duty trucks will be required to boast a rating of at least 30 mpg. The fuel economy standard for light trucks is just under 25 miles per gallon.

Some companies like GM and Ford may attempt to reduce the overall weight of their full size pickups by more than 500 pounds by 2016. One way to shed weight from new vehicles is to use lighter metals and metal composites than what is currently used. Steel is a commonly used metal in pickup trucks of today but it is extremely heavy so automakers may decide to use lighter metal alloys and composite metals. While this may seem like a simple solution, these lighter metals are much more expensive than steel.

Some people have already voiced other concerns regarding what metals are used, saying that lighter metal composites may be unsafe when compared to standard steel. In addition, some consumers may be concerned that lighter trucks will not have the appropriate payload and towing capacity because of the lightweight materials that will be used.

Many auto producers are making the best of the new regulations by making it seem as if the new standards are their idea in many new television, print, and radio commercials. With this new advertising scheme, trucks will no longer just be known as rough and tumble blue collar workers of the automobile world, but also as money conscious and eco-friendly. While some automakers and consumers may not be completely on board with the new standards that will be implemented, the overall goal is an admirable one that will help reduce America’s reliance on non-renewable resources.

Safety in motor vehicles is a growing concern among lawmakers, auto companies, and consumers, so when less than 30 models received the top safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety last year, all involved were disappointed. Many automakers made it a top priority to increase safety in their new car models while consumers and lawmakers called for more focus on overall safety of cars sold in the United States. While it is relatively simple for consumers, auto producers, and legislation officials to voice their concern regarding the safety of motor vehicles, it is much more difficult to accomplish a goal of having more safe cars in the marketplace. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently released its top safety picks for the 2011 model year and there has been a surprising increase in safe cars since last year.

The IIHS reported last week that 66 total cars have received the distinction of being a “top safety pick” for 2011. This number is staggering considering that a mere 27 vehicles received this distinction for the 2010 model year. Experts say that one reason so few automobiles made the list last year was because of new safety standards regarding overall roof strength and their inability to pass the “roof strength test”. These new safety regulations were implemented because of the high volume of rollover accidents that have occurred in recent years. All major automakers have at least one vehicle that has been named a top safety pick, while some companies have multiple cars that made the exclusive list.

Some of the car companies with the most car models on the list are Hyundai, Kia, Audi, Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford-Lincoln, Toyota-Scion, Lexus, and Subaru. The IIHS puts vehicles through rigorous crash tests with a special focus on commonly occurring crash types such as side impacts and rollovers. The institute also tests the cars for other factors such as Electronic Stability Control, overall responsiveness, as well as likeliness to protect passengers in a crash.

Safety should be a top concern for consumers and it is vital that automobile producers strive for safety in everything on the market so that consumers have plenty of choices. With such a tremendous increase of safe vehicles in just one year, expectations will be high for the 2012 model year which is great motivation for automakers to constantly improve. The full list of vehicles that were chosen as a top safety pick can be found on the IIHS website at www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx.

The holiday season is upon us. Let’s be honest, the holiday season is so close that we are getting smothered by the mere thought of the looming shopping deadline. Forget about how bad you have procrastinated to this point, that’s something you can work on for a New Year’s resolution. Instead, your focus should be on what you are going to get for those still left on our shopping list. For those of you with friends, loved ones, or co-workers that are both car enthusiasts and part of your last minute shopping list, take a moment out of your hectic holiday schedule to read about some cool gift ideas that are still within reach.

Sometimes it can be difficult to shop for auto enthusiasts because their desires can be very technical or specific. People may be driving club members, amateur racers, or even mechanics so there are very specific needs and expectations for many car lovers, which is why a gift certificate to a catalog store or auto parts specialty store can be just the right gift.

For those “Sunday Drivers” on your list that simply enjoy a ride on the open road on their motorcycle or in their sports car jackets, helmets, bumper stickers, or other merchandise with insignia from their favorite automaker may be the perfect gift. Anything that can let a car enthusiast show off what brand or team they support is always a great idea because auto hobbyists enjoy showing outward symbols of the pride they have for automobiles.

Another great gift idea for car lovers are passes or tickets to their favorite race, auction, car show, or other event involving cars, horsepower, or speed. Sometimes these last minute gifts are easy to come by because they can easily be purchased on the internet and you can avoid long lines during the peak of holiday shopping. In addition, these events are usually scheduled several weeks or months after Christmas so it is a gift that will give your loved one something to look forward to. Tickets to automobile related events are also a good way for you to bond with the car lover on your list if you purchase a ticket for yourself.

Other gift ideas for people with a passion for vehicles include anything from expensive specialty tools, do-it-yourself kits, fuel cards, and automobile magazine subscriptions. Since all of these gifts are cool, it doesn’t really matter which one you decide to get for the car lover in your life but with only a couple of days left to buy a gift, it does matter how fast you buy something!

Buying a car twenty years ago was much different than it is today; in fact there have been many changes in the automobile industry in the last five years. Electric cars, federal bailouts, and astronomical fuel prices are some of the changes that have affected the automobile industry in the last several years but the exponential growth of the internet and its users have influenced the car buying business the most.

Buying and selling cars has become much more convenient with the use of the internet and other digital technology. In the past, consumers searching for a car to buy had to physically go to each car dealership or individual seller to look at a vehicle before a purchase. In contrast, the digital age allows consumers to easily view thousands of vehicles all over the country just by using the Internet. Since the Internet has become more pervasive, many car dealerships have adopted new policies specifically regarding car buying and selling on the internet. Even more dealerships now have employees whose jobs focus solely on internet sales.

Many cars in the United States are sold without the buyer and seller ever meeting in person and without the buyer test driving the car. While it may seem crazy for consumers to purchase a car without a test drive, many cars sold today can be returned more easily if the buyer decides after receiving the car that it is not suitable. Websites often auction cars online and others allow individual sellers to post information, photos, and buying terms in an easily accessible online format.

The digital age has also given rise to a new phenomenon in the automobile industry that uses social networking to drive sales. Automakers and car dealerships have found a new way to connect with their customers by being a member on social media websites Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Consumers can become “fans” of the dealership or car brand as well as “follow” their profiles for information regarding discounts, promotions, relevant news, and other important information. Buyers often feel more connected with dealerships with the use of social media, which can produce financial gain for sellers as well as a sense of security for buyers.

Advances in technology have completely transformed the entire automobile industry, especially how vehicles are bought and sold. The internet and social media have created new business opportunities for consumers and sellers, increased overall convenience, and decreased operation and advertising costs for the industry. While these changes are mostly positive, it is important to understand that face to face interaction and relationship building cannot truly be substituted with the Internet and technology should be used as a supplemental tool for buying and selling cars.