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Dont Get That Toyota Fixed Too Quickly

If you are one of the owners of a Toyota subject to recall, don't rush into getting it fixed if you think it is safe to drive. Mechanics are going to be overwhelmed in the next couple of weeks and things are bound to be done in a sloppy manner because dealers are talking about being open 24 hours a day to make the repairs.

Well, that's great news for the dealers and the mechanics who will be making a boatload of money thanks to the recall of more than 4.2 million vehicles. However, it's not great news for the consumer. Do you really want your used Toyota fixed at 3 a.m.? I wouldn't. (Fortunately, we're a Dodge and Mazda family.)

Schedule your appointment for normal business hours. Tell the dealer you'll wait for your car while it's being repaired - and resist any hard sell to have additional work done on your Toyota while the recall work is being done. It's going to be good business sense for dealers to maximize their profits in the service centers with these many vehicles rolling through the service bay doors. Plus, warranty work is never as lucrative as regular service work.

Do you agree or disagree? Let me know by commenting below.

Dont Get That Toyota Fixed Too Quickly originally appeared on About.com Used Cars on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 20:05:25.

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Tweet Your Way to a Free Used Car

So, say you're in the market for a used car but money is tight. The solution might be as close as your computer keyboard. You can tweet your way to a free used car.

CarMax, the nation's largest used car dealer, is having a 'Tweet Yourself to a New Ride' contest on Twitter that runs through midnight, Feb. 28. Go to the website to get a specific phrase to tweet and be entered to win. You can enter once a day and win $25,000 towards the purchase of any used car from the nationwide CarMax inventory.

Sounds like a pretty good contest to me - and so far it doesn't seem as if a lot of people have entered. CarMax said in a release that there are 5,700 new followers in the first four weeks. Those odds seem pretty good to me. Heck, I might even enter just because I like Twitter and free stuff.

Don't know how to use Twitter? Of course, there is an article on About.com that can help you. If you are Twitter savvy, feel free to follow me @aboutusedcars.

Tweet Your Way to a Free Used Car originally appeared on About.com Used Cars on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 11:26:04.

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LaHood says: Stop Driving Recalled Toyotas! Wait, Go Ahead!

UPDATE: At about 1:15 p.m. Ray LaHood, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation backed off the statements below. According to an AP report, it was "obviously a misstatement." Nice try Mr. Secretary. Send confidence in Toyotas plummeting and then say, "Oops - you should have known I was out of my mind when I said that."

Stop driving recalled Toyotas. That's the suggestion from Ray LaHood, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation and pandering to the masses, (OK maybe that last part isn't real) in an article at the Wall Street Journal online.

But really, Secretary LaHood? People should immediately stop driving the Toyotas in the recall and bring them to their dealers? What are 4.2 million car owners going to do for transportation while waiting for their Toyotas to be fixed? It's not as if we have a great public transportation system here in the US in general.

The Department of Transportation is just grandstanding on this issue. It's reckless advice to demand that all 4.2 million cars be pulled off the road. What is this going to do to the rental car market? Where's the solution for this short-term shortage of cars, trucks and SUVs?

Now, if your Toyota has experienced any of the symptoms of the acceleration problem, you should absolutely pull it off the road and have it towed to your local Toyota dealer. Toyota's advice on sticking accelerators (see Question 9) details how you should respond if the problem occurs.

But if your car is experiencing no issues, don't panic. Make your appointment for the repair but don't panic.

LaHood says: Stop Driving Recalled Toyotas! Wait, Go Ahead! originally appeared on About.com Used Cars on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 12:50:38.

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Cash for Clunkers Urban Myth

Today the Department of Transportation announced it has expanded by 90 days the amount of time salvage yards have to harvest and reuse non-engine components. Yes, a Cash for Clunkers announcement on Feb. 2 if you can believe it.

While this announcement is not earth shattering news, it does give me a reason to dispel what can only be described as the latest in urban myths: Salvage yards are illegally stripping Cash for Clunkers Cars for profit! Film at 11!

TV stations have run pieces on the issue with spy video showing workers taking parts off of clearly marked clunkers. Guess what? It's legal. There was nothing in the law against taking non-drivetrain parts off of clunkers and selling them. That's how the salvage yards make their living. Telling them to crush nearly 700,000 clunkers without being able to strip them for parts would have put a real dent in their ability to make money.

Don't fall for this February ratings gimmick. The salvage yards are not breaking the law.

We now resume our regular hyped up coverage of sticky Toyota accelerators ...

Cash for Clunkers Urban Myth originally appeared on About.com Used Cars on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 17:57:51.

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eCarList.com Blog

02/01/2010 03:09 PM
eBay is changing fees… again.
eBay has just announced another fee change that will affect many of our successful dealers currently marketing on eBay Motors. The change could be positive depending on how you sell/market on eBay due to the drop in a “final value” fee. Regardless, our internal statistics show that pound for pound, eBay is still the best lead [...]

01/26/2010 06:11 PM
New eCarList Office Location
eCarList will be moving to its newly designed 10,000 square foot office facility this Thursday night. NEW ADDRESS: eCarList, LLC (@ Mockingbird Station) 5307 E. Mockingbird Ln. Suite 220 Dallas, TX 75206 Our phone and fax numbers will stay the same and your website and software will not be affected by the move. We anticipate a temporary phone outage [...]

01/20/2010 05:30 PM
Master of Your Domain$
Your domain name is important. And by important, I mean detrimental to the immediate and long-term success of your online marketing. Your domain name is one piece of intellectual property that is yours…or at least should be yours to keep as long as you own your dealership. Think of it as your dealership’s driver’s license [...]

11/18/2009 02:13 PM
At least you have your health…
eCarList has launched a brand new Health Status report as part of our growing analytics suite. The new health status report will provide measurable insight into your dealership’s key marketing initiatives in one easy to read system. Key areas of monitoring include: Operations Health of photos, pricing, descriptions, options, and videos. Distribution Instant insight into feed distribution that [...]

11/11/2009 10:09 PM
John Eagle Dealerships Launches New Websites
Dallas, Texas November 11, 2009 (reprint from official John Eagle press release) The John Eagle Dealerships are pleased to introduce an all-new, fully integrated automotive shopping website at JohnEagle.com. John Eagle, President and Chief Executive Officer of the John Eagle Dealerships said, “With more than 80% of car buyers starting their internet shopping experience online we [...]

10/22/2009 10:44 AM
Twitter, Set My Inventory Free!
FINALLY! For all you dealers fumbling around in the darkness that is Social Media integration, it seems like somebody may have found the light switch…or at least turned on a night light. Yesterday bing announced they would integrate Twitter updates in their search results. And because search engine land is more competitive than the [...]

10/06/2009 02:06 PM
eCarList and Carfax Partner to Enhance Online Listings
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Carfax and eCarList have teamed up to help dealers more effectively market their online inventory. Dealers using eCarList’s inventory management software can obtain Carfax information and make it available with their vehicles listed online. Used car shoppers get the information they need up front to make faster buying decisions. “Our intent is to create a seamless [...]

10/02/2009 10:44 AM
eCarList Help Desk has launched
Our commitment to excellence in customer service continues as we launch the new eCarList Help Desk. Two easy ways to use: 1. Simply submit a trouble/help ticket by emailing (support@ecarlist.com) and an account will be created for you. 2. Create your own account to track current, and past, ticket logs and have access to our growing eCarList resource [...]

09/22/2009 12:21 PM
Automated Incentives
We recently launched a remarkable new product that automatically keeps your website up-to-date with the latest new vehicle rebates and incentives from the manufacturer. Check out my quick video demo…. Download PDF: eCarList Automated Incentives Real-time rebate and incentive data automatically matched to your website inventory. eCarList automatically updates your website with comprehensive incentive information tied to specific vehicles [...]

09/10/2009 09:41 PM
Rene Isip Toyota of Lewisville Launches New eCarList Website
PRESS RELEASE RE-PUBLISHED FROM - TOYOTA OF LEWISVILLE Lewisville, TX - Toyota of Lewisville is excited to announce our new, redesigned website. The address will remain the same, but the look and function of the website has improved to make navigation easier and faster. We want to welcome you to the Toyota of Lewisville redesigned website [...]

02/08/2010 03:59 PM
Today's News From the Cars.com Family

Buttons

A reader is interested in replacing a 2005 Honda Accord, and Ask.cars.com names a few similar options. Then, PickupTrucks.com reports on the 7 millionth Ford Ranger to roll off the assembly line. Finally, MotherProof.com has an exciting new Twitter project: Chief mom, Kristen Varela, will be driving the Mitsubishi Sportback and tweeting about it in a long-form review.

What Should I Buy to Replace My 2005 Honda Accord Coupe? (Ask.cars.com)
7 Millionth Ford Ranger Rolls Off the Assembly Line (PickupTrucks.com)
Mitsu Sportback Test Drive: Family to Put Car Through Ringer (MotherProof.com)

02/08/2010 03:38 PM
Cars.com Podcast: 2010 Jaguar XFR Versus 2010 VW GTI

OK, we’re kidding. Editors Mike Hanley and Kelsey Mays didn’t actually pit these two high-performance trims against each other — they just talk about the pros and cons in this week’s podcast. Especially interesting is the fact that both the Jaguar XFR and VW GTI could be serviceable daily drivers.

Download the latest podcast via iTunes here.

02/08/2010 02:34 PM
Documentary of GM Plant Closure Nabs Oscar Nod

“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant,” which follows several workers in the Moraine, Ohio, assembly plant during its last months of operation, has earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Short Film.

The 40-minute film is part of HBO’s 2009 Documentary Films Series and is the brainchild of filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, who hail from Yellow Springs, Ohio. The documentary follows an electrician, a toolmaker and a forklift operator among others, as GM prepares to shut down the facility. The interviews cover not only the individual lives of the factory’s employees but also delve into the United States’ decaying manufacturing base and the changes that have wrought on the nation’s blue-collar middle class. Sounds interesting to us.

Bognar and Reichert have received accolades for their previous work, including a Primetime Emmy and several screenings at the Sundance film festival. “The Last Truck” is scheduled to air on HBO’s East Coast feed at 8:45 a.m. Feb. 18 (5:45 a.m. on the West feed). The Oscars air March 7.

02/08/2010 02:05 PM
Toyota Recall Update: Pontiac Vibe Gets Fix

2009 Pontiac Vibe

Worried owners of 2009 and 2010 Pontiac Vibes should now be somewhat relieved that GM dealers are getting the parts they need to fix that vehicle, which was included in the recent Toyota recall of 2.3 million vehicles for sticky accelerator pedals.

Parts are being shipped this week, and letters will be sent to owners Feb. 16. Owners are being instructed in that mailing to contact their dealers after Feb. 22 to schedule an appointment.

Other news surrounding Toyota’s recent recall issues:

An official announcement from Toyota regarding the 2010 Prius and reported braking problems is expected this week, some say as soon as Tuesday.
NPR says a Lexus hybrid may also be included but doesn’t say which one.Other reports mention the new HS 250h.
Toyota’s assembly plants that were shut down last week will start back up as early as today.
Idled assembly workers spent their downtime on, among other things, improving quality control.
Toyota dealers in the Southeast have pulled their advertising from ABC over the network's "excessive" reporting on the recalls.

02/08/2010 12:04 PM
2011 Ford Shelby GT500 at 2010 Chicago Auto Show

Competes with: Dodge Challenger SRT8, Chevrolet Corvette
Looks like: A souped-up Mustang, like last year’s GT500
Drivetrain: 550-hp, supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 with six-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Spring

Like its lesser V-6 and V-8 siblings, the Mustang’s rip-snorting Shelby GT500 variant received its own tweaks for 2011. They’re relatively slight, compared to the vastly upgraded drivetrains on the V-6 and V-8 ’Stangs. The biggest news is gas mileage: Thanks mostly to new aluminum engine construction, which saves some 100 pounds versus the 2010 GT500’s iron-block supercharged V-8, Ford expects the Shelby to earn an EPA rating of 15/23 mpg city/highway. That’s up from last year’s 14/22 mpg, and it keeps the car from incurring last year’s $1,000 gas-guzzler tax.

Improved exhaust flow adds 10 horsepower for a total of 550 hp at 6,200 rpm. Torque remains the same, with 510 pounds-feet on tap at 4,500 rpm. Disregarding the old days of gross horsepower ratings, this ties the Ford GT for the most horsepower any factory car from Dearborn has ever produced.

Other changes include new electric power steering, which Ford says delivers improved driving dynamics and steering feel over last year’s hydraulic steering. It also helps with fuel efficiency, as there’s no more hydraulic steering pump dragging on the engine. Additional insulation reduces road noise some 20 percent versus the outgoing Shelby, according to Ford. Nineteen-inch wheels and xenon headlights were previously optional; both are now standard. Ford’s MyKey system, which allows parents to place driving limits on their teen drivers, is also included. (MyKey or not, though, we should add that teenagers and GT500s seem like a dubious combination.)

Available as a coupe or convertible, the Shelby GT500 will go on sale in the spring. Prices have yet to be announced, but we’d expect the car to start somewhere near the 2010 model’s $46,725 base sticker.

More photos below.

2011 Ford Shelby GT500

02/08/2010 10:49 AM
Tested: WeatherTech DigitalFit Floormats

By now you’ve likely seen a commercial or two for WeatherTech’s custom-fit all-weather floormat s. You know the ones. They promise the clumsy dad spilling coffee all over the floor that he’ll be saved the shame of ruining his car’s resale value. And that the soccer team can wear their muddy cleats in the minivan.

The commercials seemed too good to be true. So we went out and ordered a set to see if the WeatherTech promise of all-weather protection supremacy is really true.

The first problem we had was just getting the mats. In November I wanted to order a set for our 2005 Passat Wagon as winter approached. No luck. WeatherTech doesn’t make its DigitalFit mats for that model. After my wife and I got our new Subaru Outback on New Year’s Eve, I checked again, and WeatherTech did have mats available for it, so I ordered a set right away, on Jan. 4. A good four weeks later, they finally arrived … or about 16 inches of snow later.

At first glance, spending $159 for front and rear mats plus tax and $18 shipping (which took four weeks) seems high. But a total of $190.69 is still less than all-weather mats from the manufacturer, which typically cost $200.

But how well did they fit?

Weathertech gaps

I was really happy more with the material itself than the fit of the mats in front. There were small gaps on the sides where the commercial promises a perfect fit. Luckily, the biggest gap was on the less-often-used passenger side, and the driver’s mat was tighter. However, the high-wall design will keep small pebbles and salt from getting stuck underneath, despite the imperfect fit towards the seat, which in the photo above is slid all the way back.

The one-piece rear mat, however, was really well done, and I couldn’t find any noticeable gaps back there. And if you have two young kids, that’s where you want added protection.

The nice thing about the mats is that they’re not super thick yet still feel really durable. The underside is a sticky rubber to help with traction, and the top is hard rubber to help with cleaning.

Our old Outback’s all-weather mats were bulky and had a series of large rubber ruts that made them hard to clean. The WeatherTech mats can be wiped inside the vehicle. Actually, taking them out might be the biggest deficiency. The rubber is pretty rigid, so when you take it out to dump the dirt off, you have to be really careful or it might dump the dirt right back into the car if not handled properly.

After $190 and a month’s wait, do the WeatherTech mats live up to the commercials’ claims? Yes. Are they going to make you less clumsy or more likely to let muddy kids in your car? No.

02/08/2010 09:50 AM
The Top Ten Super Bowl Commercials, About Cars

The big game is over, and everyone outside of New Orleans is back at work talking about the commercials. Here at Cars.com, we had our own entry in the big game, but we also wanted to weigh in on the other spots that focused on cars. Our top 10 is below; let us know what you thought in the comments.

1. Audi: Green Police
The whole premise of overanxious greenies policing our bad environmental habits was exceptionally well done. Showing off the Audi A3 TDI at the end seemed like an afterthought, though, and it didn’t even list the car’s mileage. It’s 30/42 mpg city/highway in case you’re wondering.

Why is it our top ad? It’s the only one we heard people pointing to as a standout for the entire night’s commercial lineup.

2. Hyundai: 10 Years Strong
In probably his best acting role since “There’s Something About Mary,” Brett Favre from 10 years in the future really resonated with football fans and was a unique way to illustrate Hyundai’s 10-year warranty.

3. Kia: Childhood Friends
It’s likely only parents will recognize some of the characters in Kia’s Sorento spot, but overall the concept still worked for everyone, and it showed off the crossover at the same time. Who would have thought, show the car for more than the last two seconds.

4. VW: PunchDub
The setup of the classic punch bug game, now punch dub, wasn’t established right away, but even we have to admit the final punchline – pun intended – with Stevie Wonder and Tracy Morgan was pretty funny.

5. Dodge Charger: Man's Last Stand
There’s no doubt that men are likely the target market for the Dodge Charger, especially the Hemi-powered R/T in this ad. But we didn’t know these manly men had been completely emasculated at home. This followed a slightly more sophisticated ad by Dove in somewhat the same vein. But the end of the Dodge ad had more impact, and at least one female staffer thought it was a terrific ad. Another wondered, “Does that mean all Dodge Charger owners overcompensating?”

6. Hyundai: Painted Sonata
Yes, this ad was pretty boring. Yes, associating the name Sonata with classical music is kind of lame. But the red Sonata is a good-looking sedan, and the rest of our choices were pretty forgettable.

7. Bridgestone: Whale of a Tale
Watching the trio of men racing with a killer whale sticking out the back of the truck was funny, and showing how much good tires matter was done well. The line about the bachelor party fell pretty flat, though.

8. Hyundai: Body Pass
How many Hyundai ads were there? A lot. This one tried to highlight the improved quality of the brand’s cars, but was all around a dud.

9. Bridgestone: Your Tires or Your Life
While some ads tried to paint men as inadequate in some ways, this Bridgestone ad was aimed at men who clearly find it OK to devalue their better halves. And even if you come from that mind-set, it still wasn’t funny.

10. Honda Crosstour: Pixalated Squirrel
The graphics and concept were pretty slick, but we had to ask around the office for a 10th car commercial to round out this list, and no one remembered the Crosstour was even highlighted.

02/08/2010 09:51 AM
2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 Video

With 600 horsepower under the hood, the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 has power to spare. Unfortunately, as Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek reports, there aren’t that many actual Vipers themselves to spare. Dodge built only 500 of these, but at a cool $90,000, they make for an expensive present to yourself. At the very least, you can watch the Viper in action in this Cars.com video.

02/08/2010 10:53 AM
Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Continuing its utter domination in the Most-Read Reviews tally, the Hyundai Tucson certainly seems to have piqued our readers’ interest, as it remains way ahead of the pack. Vaulting to third place in its first week, the Volkswagen GTI may find even more appeal in the coming weeks. In the lower half of the list, the Ford Fusion manages to crack the top 10. But our question is which vehicle will be the one to displace the Tucson?

1. 2010 Hyundai Tucson
2. 2010 Subaru Outback
3. 2010 Volkswagen GTI
4. 2010 Subaru Forester
5. 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
6. 2010 GMC Terrain
7. 2010 Subaru Impreza
8. 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
9. 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
10. 2010 Ford Fusion

02/06/2010 01:28 PM
Toyota Dealers Told to Expect Prius Fix

Toyota’s group vice president Bob Carter sent a message Friday night to U.S. dealers: a brake fix for the 2010 Prius is coming.

Carter told dealers that the automaker is working a plan and will disclose details early next week. The fix is meant to eliminate the lag that may occur when the car switches from its regenerative brakes to its hydraulic brakes when the antilock braking system is also activated. Toyota has said it has fixed the software problem on the production line, and all new Priuses built since late January have the corrected software. The fix could affect up to 100,000 2010 Priuses sold in the U.S., and up to 270,000 of the model worldwide. The U.S. government says the problem is suspected in four crashes and two minor injuries.

According to the Associated Press, public awareness of the problem "has prompted considerable customer concern, speculation, and media attention due to the significance of the Prius image," Carter said in the e-mail. "We want to assure our dealers that we are moving rapidly to provide a solution for your existing customers."

Late this week, it was reported that Toyota would seek a recall for the Prius model under scrutiny, but none has emerged, either in the U.S. or in Japan. The problem isn't related to separate recalls involving millions of Toyotas with defective gas pedals and floor mats that could cause unintended acceleration.

Toyota preparing to announce Prius fix (Associated Press, via Detroit News)

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