7 Things To Remember When Your Car Breaks Down
America is in the midst of graduation season, which can only mean one thing: high school graduates across the country are motoring around in their very first cars, taking their first road trips, and buying their first (and last) air-fresheners disguised as fuzzy pairs of dice.
But along with those joys comes another, less pleasant first: the very first breakdown. How will your teen driver perform in the face of adversity? The folks at AutoMD put together a quick checklist to help them through the rough patch, and we're going to share it with you, along with a suggestion of two of our own.
(Note: this list is directed at novices, but it really applies to drivers at every level of experience. Have a look. You might learn something.)
1. First things first: get your car off the road. Even when things go seriously wrong, moving vehicles don't usually stop working entirely, so hopefully, you'll have some time and momentum to get your car to the side of the road. (If not, turn on your hazard lights and skip to step 2; don't get out of the car while it's stranded in traffic, especially if you're stuck on a busy highway.) When you reach the side of the road, put the car in park, engage the emergency brake, and spin your steering wheel away from the road. That way, your car won't accidentally roll out into oncoming traffic. Turn on your hazard lights, too.
2. Call for help. According to the Pew Research Center, about 77% of American teens have cell phones, so odds are good that this won't be a problem. (For the remaining 23% of teens, parents might consider stowing a limited-function feature phone in the glove box, just for emergencies. Or you could purchase a roadside assistance device like OnStar FMV, which is now on sale for $99.)
3. Let other drivers know that you're in trouble. Hazard lights are a start, but they don't necessarily shout to the world that you're having car problems. (For example, you might've pulled over to take a call.) If you can get out of the car safely and if you have road flares available, place a couple of them about 50 feet behind your car. Raising the hood isn't a bad idea, either.
4. Stay with the car. For at least two reasons, it's usually best if you stay with your vehicle. First, if you've called AAA or another roadside service, they typically can't do anything to a vehicle without the driver present. And second, as we mentioned above, roadways are dangerous places for people on foot -- in fact, about 4,000 pedestrians are killed each year in the U.S. The situation is far more deadly when cars are flying by at 60 or 70 miles per hour.
5. Now probably isn't the time to take a blind stab at auto repair. If you've got some tinkering experience, you might be able to identify a loose battery cable, but if your problem is a flat tire and you've never changed one before, leave it be unless the situation becomes desperate. Changing tires can be tricky, even under ideal conditions -- and frankly, perched on the shoulder of a highway isn't what we'd call "ideal". If you do know how to change a tire, proceed with caution. In the best of all possible worlds, you'd wait until a police officer shows up, just to help slow down traffic.
6. Use common sense. Every breakdown is different, depending on where you are, what you're driving, the time of day, the underlying problem, and so on. For example, if you're on a quiet stretch of road and you know what's wrong -- say, for example, you ran out of gas and you're certain there's a gas station nearby -- it's probably okay to ignore item #4 and hoof it. Just exercise caution, and don't exit the car on the same side as traffic is flowing.
7. Be wary of strangers. Your parents probably told you that a thousand times when you were young, but it bears repeating. There are plenty of good Samaritans out there, eager to help folks in trouble. However, there are also a handful of bad eggs that can really spell trouble. If a stranger pulls over and offers help, it's probably best to remain in the car with the doors locked. Roll down the window a bit and tell them that help is on the way. Call the police if need be. Sorry if it seems that we've lost all faith in humanity, but if you've ever been to a cutthroat garage sale, your views are probably a little jaundiced, too.
Got any other tips for folks experiencing their first breakdown? Drop us a line, or leave a note in the comments below.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
On Tour: AT&T Driving Simulator Helps Teens See Texting Danger
By now, most teens know that texting and handheld cellphone use while driving is dangerous. Yet they continue to do so; a Consumer Reports survey reported just last week that eight in 10 young drivers admit to texting and driving.
Laws are getting tougher on this type of distracted-driving behavior. Thirty-eight states, Washington, D.C. and Guam now have laws banning all texting by drivers, and 31 states and D.C. ban cell phone use by novice drivers. But how do we get teens to keep both hands on the wheel?
AT&T, a major wireless carrier, commissioned a new study of teen drivers as part of its “It Can Wait” campaign. The results are not surprising, but nonetheless deeply disturbing. There’s a profound disconnect between what teens consider as “dangerous” or “very dangerous” behavior and what they actually do.- The survey found that 97 percent of teens know texting while behind the wheel is dangerous, 43 percent admit to sending a text while driving, and 75 percent say the practice is common among their friends.
- Stopping at a red light and texting? Seventy percent thought that was dangerous, but, again, 60 percent said they do it anyway during a red light stop.
- Eighty-nine percent of teens (almost nine in 10) expect a reply to a text or email message within five minutes.
- Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of teens surveyed own a smartphone and 54 percent report owning a traditional cell phone.
- When asked how many messages they send and receive on an average day, nearly half (46 percent) said they send and receive between 21 and 100 text messages a day. An additional 17 percent said they send over 100 text messages daily.
See the complete AT&T Teen Driver Survey results here (PDF).
Making it real with the use of a driving simulator
Trying to change teen behavior, once entrenched, may seem like a difficult challenge. But it is one that AT&T as well as safety advocacy organizations are tackling. Case in point is the wireless carrier’s 30-market road tour to U.S. high schools of the texting-while-driving simulator, offered by The Peers Foundation.
The simulator is a computerized car that permits users to virtually text and drive – the only instance in which such behavior can be conducted safely. Check out the video below to see how the simulator works and how teens are reacting to the experience.
The tour, which runs from May 8 through June 2, is making stops in Portland and Eugene, Oregon; six cities in California (Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco); Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Omaha, Nebraska; Little Rock, Arkansas; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Brentwood and Knoxville, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; and five cities in Florida (Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Wellington).
Bottom line: Teens come away from the simulator with a better appreciation of the risks of texting and driving. And, as 89 percent of teens in the AT&T survey agreed, a phone app that prevents texting and driving would help them stop this form of distracted driving.
A number of such phone apps are available, including the AT&T Drive Mode, T-Mobile DriveSmart, and Sprint Drive First.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Putting Regular In Your Premium Car? Think Twice; Here’s Why
As we get closer to Memorial Day weekend, there’s closer focus on gas prices for the heavily-traveled holiday period. For the moment at least, fuel flows about 25 cents cheaper per gallon than this time in 2011, according to AAA. That’s also about the current price gap between regular and premium, give or take.
Some drivers are doubling-down their savings. They’ve stopped running higher-grade gas in favor of the lower-octane option. Though as the Los Angeles Times cautions, saving a little now could come back to haunt motorists down the road.
Engine knock, characterized by a metallic pinging sound, can occur when an engine is under load and things get out of sync in the combustion chamber, with misfiring low-grade gas often the catalyst, so to speak. It’s not a beautiful noise, and it’s not at all good for an engine’s health.
Cars today are equipped with knock sensors to prevent or least minimize this through dynamic engine timing. So when an engine designed to benefit from premium fuel runs on regular, the immediate driver’s seat translation can be less responsive acceleration and slightly lower gas mileage. Some drivers, having done the math, find they still come out ahead and are willing to sacrifice some horsepower in the process.
Long-term effects are less certain. Knock sensors, however well they function new, may not perform to the same level after tens of thousands of miles. Less effective engine management could open the door to internal damage.
Perfect opportunity for a large-scale experiment? Possibly. But as Harold Schock, director of the Engines and Automotive Research Labs at Michigan State University told the Times, don’t expect it to happen. Even the EPA isn’t about to test how a couple hundred cars fare on different types of gas, short-term and long-term.
There’s nothing stopping consumers from trying it on their own cars, though. The consensus is to check the owner’s manual first. There, Schock says, you’ll find “the best set of practices for...the longest life and the best performance."
If the manual suggests premium fuel is recommended, you can probably segue to the cheaper stuff without any drama. If it reveals premium is required, you probably shouldn’t tempt matters.
If it’s any consolation--especially to the latter crowd--the interviewed engineers agree there’s more to be saved through proper maintenance and sensible driving than cheaper gas can deliver. Besides, a 25-cent per gallon difference on a 15-gallon fill-up only amounts to $3.75. Something to ponder over that $6 cup of coffee.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, 2012 Hyundai Azera Earn Top Safety Ratings
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, and the 2012 Hyundai Azera—both recently redesigned family-size sedans—have earned top crash-test ratings across the board from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Also taking into consideration their standard safety equipment, they've been named among the list of IIHS Top Safety Picks.
The 2012 Hyundai Azera, which went on sale earlier this year—and is quite highly rated here at The Car Connection, especially due to its standout design and luxurious, full-featured interior—already has an impressive set of standard safety features. There are a total of nine standard airbags, including a driver's knee airbag and rear side-impact bags, and the front seat design is one that's impact-reducing in itself. Also, the Azera includes a rearview camera system in each of its trims. And in new IIHS tests, it completely swept the ratings matrix, with top 'good' scores in all the subcategories of frontal and side-impact testing.
The new Malibu Eco almost swept the board, with top ratings in all of the IIHS's subcategories; the sole exception was an 'acceptable' score for driver torso injury. In the relatively new roof strength test—a measure that correlates to the likelihood of injury in a rollover accident—the Malibu Eco was able to withstand 5.22 times its body weight in a particular test area of the roof.
Withstanding 4.76 times its weight, the Azera also earned a 'good' rating. In any case, that was a substantial improvement over the previous (2011) Azera, which had earned 'acceptable' ratings for rear and side impact.
The Malibu, on the other hand, has been a top performer for several model years. Although we should caution that these results don't extend to the rest of the (non-Eco) 2013 Chevy Malibu lineup, which hasn't yet gone on sale.
Neither of these models has yet been rated by the federal government, as part of its new-car assessment program (NCAP) crash tests, but we'll update our review pages as soon as they're available. In the meantime, if safety is one of your top priorities, both of these roomy sedans deserve to be on your shopping list.
And go here to see the full list of 2012 Top Safety Picks.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Eight In 10 Young Drivers Admit Texting, Driving: Survey
Young drivers believe it's dangerous to talk and to text on smartphones while they're driving, but they're doing it anyway, according to a new study from Consumer Reports.
The magazine's latest issue found that, of those young drivers surveyed, almost all said they considered texting, accessing the Internet, or using smartphone apps while driving to be dangerous, with 80 percent saying it was “very dangerous.”Some 63 percent said talking on a handheld phone behind the wheel was dangerous.
Yet their self-reported behavior revealed that almost half of them talked on a cellphone while driving during the past month, nearly 30 percent texted, 8 percent operated smartphone apps and 7 percent used social media or email.
Why such a discrepancy between what young drivers admit is dangerous or very dangerous and their actions? The answer, not surprisingly, is peer behavior. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed said they’d seen other young drivers talking on a handheld phone, 70 percent saw texting, and nearly one-third saw their peers using social media, email or apps.
But bad (or good behavior) begins at home. Forty-eight percent of young drivers surveyed said they’d seen one of their parents talking on a handheld and 15 percent witnessed them texting in the past month.
There is some good news coming out of the survey. Parental and peer influence to stop such behavior, including peers in the car asking the driver to put down the handheld or stop texting, seems to be working, according to the survey.
Almost 50 percent of those surveyed said they’d be less likely to text or talk on a cell phone while driving if peers were with them. Consumer Reports suggests that this cessation of behavior may be due to peers speaking up, since almost half of respondents said they’d asked a driver to put down the phone for safety reasons.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2012′s Best Small Cars For Less Than $20,000
If you're shopping for a new car, it's likely to be smaller than the vehicle it will replace. SUVs are still popular, no doubt--but high gas prices and new entries like the Focus, Elantra, and Cruze alike are changing the makeup of America's new-car fleet.
Size isn't the only factor changing hearts and minds. So is price. The average sale price of a new car may have held steady for the past few years, but the economic malaise of the past four years has shifted many buyers down into the economy class. That means the $20,000 price point is as relevant as ever--maybe more so.
Good thing, then, that the choices among $20,000 small cars have never been better. Whether it's a compact or a subcompact they have in mind, budget-minded consumers have never found safer, sportier, or more feature-rich new cars on the showroom floor.
The best of these? The following compact and subcompact cars score best in TheCarConnection's overall vehicle ratings, and sport a base price of less than $20,000.
Subcompacts
2012 Honda Fit – 8.0
Peppy and fun to drive, with a space-efficient seating arrangement thanks to the second-row fold-flat Magic Seat, and massive 20.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, the 2012 Honda Fit is well-configured, affordable transportation that also comes with a pretty generous list of features. The base Fit includes air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control, keyless entry, a USB input, and an MP3-compatible CD sound system. The small, tall hatchback is priced from $16,125 with five-speed automatic and $17,060 for the Fit Sport with five-speed manual. Fuel economy is EPA-rated at 28 mpg city/35 mpg highway (base Fit automatic) and 27/33 mpg for Fit Sport (manual and automatic).
2012 Chevrolet Sonic – 8.0
A completely new global small car, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is also an extremely safe car, garnering Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Our review finds the Sonic “supremely roomy, comfortable, refined, tight, and quiet for a small car.” Along with 10 standard airbags, there are other surprise standard features on all models, including alloy wheels, remote keyless entry and air conditioning. For around $15,000, you can get a pretty well-equipped Sonic that delivers 35 mpg highway fuel economy with the base 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Step up to the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the highway fuel economy increases to 40 mpg.
2012 Ford Fiesta – 7.6
Available in sedan and hatchback models, the 2012 Ford Fiesta offers buyers great styling, responsive and nicely weighted steering, and a nimble, maneuverable feel. Hatchback models provide added versatility. The base Fiesta S sedan starts at just $13,995 and includes a split-folding back seat, rear heater ducts, air conditioning, power locks, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, a decent sound system with auxiliary input, and even a driver’s knee airbag. The Fiesta SE hatchback begins a $16,465. Fuel economy is rated at 28/38 mpg across the board.
2012 Kia Rio – 7.6
With its Euro-inspired looks, nicely-finished interior and smooth drivetrain, the 2012 Kia Rio is “an exceptional value,” say TCC editors, “considering the amount of standard equipment offered in the base LX versions.” The Rio five-door hatchback is also the first non-hybrid, non-luxury vehicle to offer idle stop and go technology that helps reduce fuel consumption by shutting off the engine when the vehicle is not in motion, and automatically restarts it when the driver releases the brake pedal--though the feature has been delayed until the 2013 model year. All base 2012 Rio sedans and hatchbacks carry a less-than-$15,000 price tag, including $750 destination charge. Bluetooth, cruise control and tilt/telescopic steering wheel are standard on all but LX models. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 30/40 mpg across the lineup.
2012 Hyundai Accent – 7.4
The appeal of the 2012 Hyundai Accent is quite simple: a vast interior, great styling in the five-door hatchback, stellar 30/40-mpg fuel economy, and affordable price. The base $15,355 five-door Accent GS has standard air conditioning, a 172-watt stereo, CD player, XM Satellite Radio, USB port, and a rear defroster. Cruise control is standard when GS is ordered with automatic transmission. The Accent SE hatchback adds standard Bluetooth, cruise control, steering-wheel audio controls, a sliding armrest and 16-inch wheels. This is the most expensive Accent you can buy, topping out at $17,555.
(more...)Teen Drivers More At Risk With Other Teens In The Car
Already a high-risk population, teen drivers face even greater risks when they have other young passengers in the car with them, according to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released in conjunction with National Youth Traffic Safety Month.
The report, “Teen Driver Risk in Relation to Age and Number of Passengers,” shows that the likelihood of a 16- or 17-year-old driver dying in a crash when multiple other young passengers are in the vehicle increases with each additional passenger.
The statistics are sobering. For example, compared to the 16- or 17-year-old teen driver with no passengers, the driver’s fatality rate:
- Increases 44 percent – when carrying a single passenger under 21 and no other passengers.
- Doubles – with two or more passengers under age 21 and no other passengers are in the vehicle.
- Quadruples – when three or more passengers under 21 and no other passengers are in the vehicle.
Parents and other adults provide a protective influence
Accenting the importance of the protective influence of parents and other adults in the car with the teen driver, the study found that the teen driver’s fatality risk dropped by 62 percent when at least one adult aged 35 or older was in the car. In addition, the risk of involvement in any police-reported crash was cut by 46 percent.
The results showed that although the number of teen driver fatalities has substantially decreased over the past few years, carrying multiple young passengers is still a major risk factor for young drivers.
“These findings should send a clear message to families that parents can make their teens safer immediately by refusing to allow them to get in the car with other young people, whether they’re behind the wheel or in the passenger seat,” said Peter Kissinger, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety president and CEO.
“Parents and teens together can reduce this risk today,” Kissinger added, offering families the following tips.
- Know the graduated driver licensing system (GDL) laws in your state. Keep in mind that even if the law doesn’t set a passenger limit, parents can and should.
- Sign a parent-teen driving agreement that stipulates that teens will not ride as passengers of other teen drivers without advance permission from the parent.
- Make it a point to spend time in the car when your teen is driving. Being there and providing guidance will help your teen become a safer driver.
- Communicate with parents of your teen’s friends so that they will know your teen’s driving rules and will help enforce them.
Also check out other resources for parents and teens at TeenDriving.AAA.com.
View the full report here in PDF format.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Would You Want Hello Kitty On Your Car–Forever?
The tribal tattoos and tramp stamps that were no-brainer decisions in college proved just that for some bearers in the years since. Will mass personalization on new cars leave fewer scars of regret? Could it hurt resale value? Some Toyota owners may find out.
As explained on Boston.com, the automaker has developed an advanced metal-stamping technique capable of producing sharper lines in body panels. An upcoming limited-edition of the iQ (known in North America as the 2012 Scion iQ) will mark the debut of the process.
Journalists allowed rare access (though sadly, no photography) in this section of the Motomachi factory in Japan were shown samples of doors, demonstrating the minute detailing made possible by this process.
They were “stamped with Toyota President Akio Toyoda’s autograph, as well as cartoon creatures,” the article reports. Made-to-order paintwork and panel stampings are future options the manufacturer wants to offer consumers, though it stopped short of confirming when you could have Hello Kitty on your Camry.
Bespoke appointment isn’t a new concept. Bentley and Rolls-Royce have famously offered it to their clientele for decades. Custom bodywork predates that even further. Personalized stamping on panels is altogether different. And if you think Toyota has bigger fish to fry at the moment, Toyoda himself would agree.
After 2008’s extensive recalls, 2011’s Japanese earthquake disrupting production and years of tightened competition, Toyota’s president is personally involved in efforts to right the ship.
Rebuilding its reputation for quality is a given, but the company also aims for more distinctive design while improving efficiency and flexibility on the assembly line. That way, when regulations change or demand varies, the factory can respond in less time.
Toyota showing how intricate body panels can be stamped could be more an example of what’s possible than what’s to come. But since the automaker hasn’t taken the custom-order idea off the table, you can still hope to spec a really boss flame job and the raised contours of Pikachu on your Prius.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Buying A Car, College Grad? Don’t Forget The Rebates
You’ve worked hard to get your college degree. If you’re not swamped in student loan debt and are considering buying a car to help you navigate your new place in the world, there’s some help available.
The good news is that most major automakers offer some form of college graduate discount. The bad news is that some are regional offers, and many are somewhat confusing in their terms.
But you got through college exams, right? So, sifting through the fine print should be a talent you’ve developed by now.
Here’s a sampling of some of the special discounts available from automakers to college grads this June.
Ford College Student Purchase Program
Ford is covering all its bases with a discount program available to full-time and part-time college students (freshmen through seniors), graduate students, trade school students, and recent college grads. It only applies to residents of the United States and to vehicles sold in the U.S.
All you need to do is to sign up for the Ford College Student Purchase Program and then purchase or lease a new 2011, 2012 or 2013 Ford or Lincoln vehicle to receive your $500 student bonus. This is on top of any applicable national Ford incentives available at the time.
General Motors Best in Class Alumni & Student Discount
The program is a little different at General Motors, where the discount isn’t a fixed amount but a Preferred Price that’s less than MSRP. The General Motors Best in Class Alumni & Student Discount program is available on many new and unused 2011, 2012 and 2013 model year Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicles and can be combined with current incentives.
Eligible participants for the GM college discount program include college students from any two- or four-year school, recent graduates who have graduated no more than two years ago, and current nursing school and graduate students.
To get the discount, you apply for an authorization number through the Best in Class Alumni & Student Discount website, print it out and bring it to a participating Chevrolet, Buick or GMC dealer. Be sure to mention that you’ll be using the Best in Class Alumni & Student Discount in your first contact with the dealer. You’ll also need to bring proof of eligibility: evidence of enrollment or your diploma.
Honda Graduate Program
Honda gives graduates a head start by offering flexible, competitive financing through Honda Financial Services on the purchase or lease of a new or Certified Used Honda vehicle. On traditional financing, college grads can also benefit from a deferred first-payment option for 90 days, with 60 days interest-free.
The Honda Graduate Program has a few minimum eligibility requirements, including five percent minimum down payment; no adverse credit history; verifiable proof of employment or a firm job offer commitment with a start date no more than 120 days from the date of the finance contract.
The program is open to graduates with a master’s, bachelor’s or associate degree from a U.S.-accredited two- or four-year college or registered nursing school. Eligible participants must have graduated during the past two years or will graduate in the next four months from the date of the finance contract.
Credit and document requirements must be presented to the Honda dealer at the time of purchase or lease. Certain current offers are also available with the Honda Graduate Program.
Hyundai College Grad Program
The Hyundai College Grad Program offers eligible graduates the opportunity to buy any new 2011, 2012 or 2013 model year Hyundai vehicle with no down payment, an additional $400 on top of current Hyundai rebates and 90 days until the first month’s payment (not available in Connecticut and Pennsylvania).
Visit your Hyundai dealer and bring a copy of your diploma or letter from the registrar’s office stating you graduated or will graduate, along with proof of employment or an offer letter from a prospective employer. Hyundai Motor Finance must deem your salary adequate to cover living expenses and car payments.
Graduates of a four-year university, accredited two-year college or nursing school are eligible. Graduation must be within the past two years or the next six months. Offer includes graduates and graduate candidates attending accredited master’s or doctorate programs. Hyundai vehicle must be purchased between April 3, 2012 and July 2, 2012.
Nissan SignatureGRADUATE Program
Nissan offers recent college graduates a customized finance choice through the company’s SignatureGRADUATE Program. The program includes $500 cash back on 2011/2012 Nissan Rogue, Xterra, Cube, Altima sedan and coupe, Versa hatchback, and Juke, and 2012 Versa sedan, Sentra and Frontier. Ninety days deferred payment option is available on loans up to 60 months.
To qualify, provide proof of graduation within the next six months or the past two years from an accredited U.S. two- or four-year college or university, graduate school or nursing school. Students currently enrolled in graduate school are also eligible. Other requirements are proof of current employment or employment beginning within 90 days of financing approval, sufficient income to cover normal living expenses and car payments, auto insurance and approved credit.
Southeast Toyota College Grad Rebate Program
If you live in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North or South Carolina, are a recent college graduate or will soon graduate, are employed or have proof of employment beginning within 120 days of credit approval, you may be eligible for the Southeast Toyota College Grad Rebate Program.
Qualifying applicants get a $1,000 rebate on the purchase or lease of a new Toyota Camry (gasoline model only), Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, Tacoma, Yaris, or any Scion model. The College Grad Rebate Program may be combined with some other offers. Offer expires January 2, 2013.
Volkswagen College Graduate Program
With the Volkswagen College Graduate Program, eligible participants who buy or lease a new or certified pre-owned Volkswagen through Volkswagen Credit will have their first month’s payment (up to $800) paid by VW. If you lease, there’s no security deposit required. In addition, there’s no credit history required, but if you do have existing credit, it must be in good standing. VW promises great rates even if you don’t have credit, and there’s no co-signer needed.
Getting started is easy. Visit your Volkswagen dealer and bring proof you graduated in the past 24 months or will graduate in the next six months, have a full-time job or written commitment from a future employer. You’ll also need three personal references and be approved by Volkswagen Credit.
Other college grad offers
There are other special college grad offers to check out. See your local dealer for details on the following:
- Acura – Special financing, leasing, and purchase-plan packages; deferred first-payment option for 90 days, with 60 days interest-free.
- Audi – Special leasing offers.
- Infiniti – Special financing and leasing offers, delayed first payment.
- Lexus – No down payment when financing; 90-day deferred first payment, and complimentary roadside assistance for one year.
- Mazda – Special leasing and financing options.
- MINI – Special financing offers.
- Subaru – Special leasing and financing options.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2011-2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger: Recall Alert
Chrysler is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2011 and 2012 model year Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger mid-size sedans over concerns about a loss of anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) due to overheating.
A notice in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website lists the number of potential affected units at 119,072. Documentation from Chrysler (PDF) indicates that the affected vehicles were manufactured as follows:
- 2011 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger – built from May 6, 2011 through July 26, 2011
- 2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger - built from February 9, 2011 through December 20, 2011
The problem
Chrysler says that some vehicles may experience a loss of ABS/ESC as a result of an overheated fuse in the power distribution center bus bar (PDC). Failure of ABS/ESC could lead to loss of vehicle control, which increases crash risk.
This thermal contraction and expansion first surfaced in a Michigan State Police training vehicle and later led to a recall of certain Dodge Charger police vehicles. The condition was believed at the time to be unique to the police vehicle fleet.
Subsequent monitoring of field data on similar vehicles in the retail fleet showed an increasing trend of field reports that may be related to the PDC bus bar terminal condition. On April 24, 2012, Chrysler decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall of certain 2011 and 2012 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans.
The automaker said it is not aware of any crashes, injuries or fires related to the overheated PDC.
What Chrysler will do
Chrysler will notify owners of affected vehicles and dealers will change and relocate the ABS/ESC fuse at no charge. The Chrysler safety recall is expected to begin during May 2012.
In the meantime, owners of 2011 and 2012 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans with any questions or concerns may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Refer to the Chrysler safety recall campaign number M10.
Alternatively, owners of vehicles involved in the campaign may contact the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to http://www.safercar.gov. Reference the NHTSA campaign ID No. 12V197000.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
