Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Detroit 3 win Ben Stein's <strike>money</strike> support]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/detroit-3-win-ben-steins-strike-money-strike-support/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/detroit-3-win-ben-steins-strike-money-strike-support/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/detroit-3-win-ben-steins-strike-money-strike-support/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ben Stein is a pretty smart guy, and impressing him usually involves showing him up on Comedy Central or showing up to your high school economics class on time. Detroit's automakers may have done neither, but Stein's in their corner just the same.

In the actor/commentator's opinion, the Big 3 are part of the fabric of America, employing hard-working Americans and building cars which are, in his view, second to none. He even credits their products which "have saved [his] life many times on the freeway." Bailing out Detroit is an imperative for Stein, making the case on emotional as well as logical grounds. But the steadfast Republican who cut his teeth working in the Nixon and Ford administrations can't understand how the government of the United States can find the money to bail out a mismanaged Wall Street and finance foreign intervention - the kind he supported when it was Nixon's call - while dragging its feet on helping the Big Three "slim down, shape up, and keep making great cars and trucks". Follow the link to read his take.

[Source: Yahoo! Finance]

Detroit 3 win Ben Stein's money support originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben steinben stein big 3ben stein big threeben stein detroitben stein detroit 3BenSteinBenSteinBig3BenSteinBigThreeBenSteinDetroitBenSteinDetroit3Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Keep the receipt: Hyundai buyers can take back the car if laid off]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/keep-the-receipt-hyundai-buyers-can-take-back-the-car-if-laid-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/keep-the-receipt-hyundai-buyers-can-take-back-the-car-if-laid-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/keep-the-receipt-hyundai-buyers-can-take-back-the-car-if-laid-o/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you need a new car but your job at the First National Bank of the City Federal isn't exactly guaranteed, Hyundai has an offer just for you.

The Hyundai Assurance Program gives buyers some peace of mind that if they lose their jobs during their first year of ownership, they won't have to pay back the full amount owed on their cars. Hyundai is teaming up with Walkaway USA to provide the 12 months of protection at no extra charge to buyers.

There are plenty of catches, though. Hyundai buyers must have made at least two payments on their new cars, be current on said payments, and their reasons for unemployment must fall under a list of common causes. The plan also only covers $7,500 worth of depreciation. In other words, if you beat the hell out of your Hyundai and your car's now worth $7,500 less than what you paid for it, you gotta come up with the rest. There's also probably a clause somewhere in there somewhere that also sticks the buyer for tag, title, taxes, fees, etc. etc.

Otherwise, drive your new Genesis for 11 months, re-enact Jack's Smirking Revenge from Fight Club and take the car back.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Keep the receipt: Hyundai buyers can take back the car if laid off originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto financingAutoFinancinghyundaiunemploymentSun, 04 Jan 2009 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: More banks suing even after repossessing vehicles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/psa-more-banks-suing-even-after-repossessing-vehicles/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/psa-more-banks-suing-even-after-repossessing-vehicles/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/psa-more-banks-suing-even-after-repossessing-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Just because your car has been repossessed doesn't mean you don't still owe the bank money on it. If that vehicle gets sold at auction for less than the bank is owed on it, the difference is called the "deficiency." And as MSNBC informs, banks are increasingly suing to get that deficiency amount back, plus applicable attorney's fees.

With the increasing cost of vehicles, smaller down payments, and longer loan terms, it is easier than ever to get upside-down on your car loan. Furthermore, banks don't send a repossessed car to auction and work to get the highest price for it. They farm it out to third parties who need to move cars, not hold out for the absolute best deal. Take depressed auction prices into account as well, and it's not hard to end up with a deficiency in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Banks who win deficiency judgments can sometimes garnish wages and force the sale of property, but again, that's only in certain cases. The best ways to ward off a deficiency lawsuit are to get the shortest car loan term you can afford, which will help avoid getting upside-down in the first place. If you still can't manage, try and sell the car yourself, since you'll likely get a much better price than the bank will at auction (and you'll avoid a repo on your credit history). Failing that, bankruptcy should clear the debt as an unsecured loan.

[Source: MSNBC]

PSA: More banks suing even after repossessing vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionauto auctionAutoAuctionbankscarsumer advocacyCarsumerAdvocacylawsuitlenderslifestyleloan termloan termsLoanTermLoanTermspsareporeposessrepossessionMon, 29 Dec 2008 17:26:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: More tow truck mischief when city drags car on rotors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/video-more-tow-truck-mischief-when-city-drags-car-on-rotors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/video-more-tow-truck-mischief-when-city-drags-car-on-rotors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/video-more-tow-truck-mischief-when-city-drags-car-on-rotors/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to watch video over at WJLA

Wednesday we showed you a clip of the Shanghai Lady exacting revenge on a tow truck driver taking her beloved crossover. Even though the video was quite possibly staged, it gives us a tiny thrill to see the roles reversed like that. Today, it's another story, but unfortunately this one doesn't end so well for the driver or her poor Audi.

After finding her Audi sitting on cinder blocks on Thanksgiving morning, Chris Thompson called police and her insurance agency to report the theft. While waiting for replacement wheels and tires, the car sat on the street, still up on the blocks. Meanwhile, a neighbor who thought the car might have been stolen and dropped on their street called police to report it. A $250 ticket was placed on the Audi even though the full police report of the wheel theft was clearly visible in the windshield.

What happened next seems almost sacrilegious. The city towed her car with no wheels on it. They just winched it onto a flatbed by dragging it on its rotors. They didn't even remove the cinder blocks beforehand. As you can imagine, the owner is quite upset and the poor Audi faces a long time in the shop and tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. Click over to WJLA to watch the video, but be forewarned: It is a bit wonky. You may have to watch Regis and Kelly or an Acura ad several times before it plays. Just be patient and keep clicking. Thanks for the tip, Seminole!

[Source: WJLA]

Continue reading VIDEO: More tow truck mischief when city drags car on rotors

VIDEO: More tow truck mischief when city drags car on rotors originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi s4AudiS4tow trucktow truck damageTowTruckTowTruckDamageFri, 12 Dec 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA["Expired car warranty" calls have several states pissed, too]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/09/expired-car-warranty-calls-have-several-states-pissed-too/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/09/expired-car-warranty-calls-have-several-states-pissed-too/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/09/expired-car-warranty-calls-have-several-states-pissed-too/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you haven't gotten the automated phone call frantically saying that you desperately need to speak to someone about your car's warranty, consider yourself lucky. If you gave in and actually bought an expired warranty from these spineless telemarketers, good luck getting reimbursed for car repairs.

At least that's what several state attorneys general are saying. Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal says his office has received a "huge number" of complaints about the highly annoying and possibly illegal sales calls. Illegal because many of them blatantly violate the Federal Do Not Call Registry. Annoying because not only do they waste people's time, the extended warranties the companies are selling are almost always impossible to use, according to one attorney general. Connecticut, New Jersey and Iowa have teamed up to look into the sales pitches.

Unfortunately, the calls are almost impossible to trace since the numbers are spoofed. One number being used was traced to a disconnected phone in Nebraska that had belonged to an illegal immigrant who had been deported after a meat-packing plant raid.

If you've gotten calls from these people, you've probably already learned it's about impossible to get anything specific from them like a call back number, a manager's name or even the actual name of the business. We hope the investigation brings these alleged scam artists down. Hard.

[Source: The New York Times]

"Expired car warranty" calls have several states pissed, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car warrantyCarWarrantyexpired warrantyExpiredWarrantyextended car warrantyextended warrantyExtendedCarWarrantyExtendedWarrantyscamspam phone callsSpamPhoneCallsSun, 09 Nov 2008 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Fiat owner gets revenge for unreliable van]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/fiat-owner-gets-revenge-for-unreliable-van/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/fiat-owner-gets-revenge-for-unreliable-van/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/fiat-owner-gets-revenge-for-unreliable-van/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Ben Terrett, a graphic designer in London saw this FIAT Doblo and snapped a photo. We thank him for his expert eye and quick reflexes. While at first glance this might seem to be a commercial van covered with advertising for the driver's company, it is in fact a van covered with angst. The sides and rear spell out a laundry list of complaints the owner has with it: "This FIAT is very unreliable, 2 new clutches, 2 new flywheels, 2 new master cylinders, 2 new servos, Since new, Nothing but aggro." Apparently this guy isn't too happy with his little FIAT and hasn't gotten any satisfaction from his dealer. As Terrett points out, it looks like a pretty effective way to take revenge. Thanks for the tip, James!

[Source: Noisy Decent Graphics]

Fiat owner gets revenge for unreliable van originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiat dobloFiat vanFiatDobloFiatVanTue, 14 Oct 2008 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Carsumer Advocacy? Nissan refuses to replace GT-R owner's busted transmission]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/carsumer-advocacy-nissan-refuses-to-replace-gt-r-owners-busted/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/carsumer-advocacy-nissan-refuses-to-replace-gt-r-owners-busted/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/carsumer-advocacy-nissan-refuses-to-replace-gt-r-owners-busted/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Nissan GT-R

A member of the North American GT-R Owner's Club forums started a thread recently in which he tells about dropping off his Nissan GT-R at the dealership when he began hearing loud noises coming from the rear of the car. The dealership told him that his transmission was toast as a direct result of him turning off the car's VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) too much, which you have to do in order to use the Launch Control function. The cost to repair the tranny is $20,000 and Nissan won't cover it under warranty since the GT-R owner's manual states that damage to the transmission is not covered if it is proven to be the result of using Launch Control with the VDC turned off. In fact, the manual states that the only reason you should turn off VDC is for when you're rocking the vehicle because it's stuck in mud or snow. That's kind of like Nissan saying you should never use the Launch Control function despite the fact it's there.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Nissan GT-R

Continue reading Carsumer Advocacy? Nissan refuses to replace GT-R owner's busted transmission

Carsumer Advocacy? Nissan refuses to replace GT-R owner's busted transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gt-rgt-r launch controlgt-r transmissiongt-r vdcgt-r warrantyGt-rLaunchControlGt-rTransmissionGt-rVdcGt-rWarrantynissan gt-rNissanGt-rMon, 13 Oct 2008 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Mechanic arrested for not giving up vehicle to angry customer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/mechanic-arrested-for-not-giving-up-vehicle-to-angry-customer/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/mechanic-arrested-for-not-giving-up-vehicle-to-angry-customer/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/mechanic-arrested-for-not-giving-up-vehicle-to-angry-customer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Remember last week when we told you about a tuner shop in Florida that got stuck holding a $16,000 bill after customizing some broke guy's Toyota Celica? That shop is resolving its dispute through the courts and will likely end up selling the car to make its money back, but a mechanic in the U.K. named Darren Tandy recently found himself in a similar situation with a very different outcome. A customer came to pick up his Land Rover recently and refused to pay the agreed upon price of £1127 for the service work that Darren had done. At first the owner offered £950, then £850, and when Darren still refused to release his vehicle, the Rover owner called the local constabulary. Shockingly, the policeman who arrived on the scene actually told Darren he had to lower the price, and when he refused to accept £550 for the job, which didn't even cover the parts, he was arrested and thrown in jail. He spent three hours behind bars and promptly filed a complaint against the Northumbria Police, who performed a full investigation and found themselves free of any wrongdoing. Convenient, eh?

[Source: The Sun]

Mechanic arrested for not giving up vehicle to angry customer originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrested mechanicArrestedMechanicTue, 19 Aug 2008 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Carsumer Advocacy: 20-year-old tries to bilk shop out of $16k job]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/carsumer-advocacy-16-year-old-tries-to-bilk-shop-out-of-16k-jo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/carsumer-advocacy-16-year-old-tries-to-bilk-shop-out-of-16k-jo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/carsumer-advocacy-16-year-old-tries-to-bilk-shop-out-of-16k-jo/#commentsFiled under:

It's time once again to wield the hammer of Carsumer Advocacy. In today's episode, however, it's not the consumer being oppressed by the big, bad corporation, but rather the small business owner defending himself against a customer. We take you to our scene set in sunny Ocala, Florida where a tuning shop called JapWorks is under siege by a 16 20-year-old kid. The shop owners are Aaron and Brandon, and the kid in question is Joe D who commissioned JapWorks to build out his Celica to the tune of $16,000. When the job was finished, Joe D denied ever agreeing to that much work despite having conversations with the owners in which he insisted that the bulk of the charges be paid upon delivery of the vehicle. Joe sent his mom and even his girlfriend to pick up the car, the latter even offering $60 and asking if her boyfriend could set up a payment plan.

What has ensued is one epic thread on the TampaRacing.com forums in which Aaron and Brandon have continually kept the community up to date on Joe's attempt to retrieve his Celica, which, by the way, was only recently financed by his mother who was told by her son that "sponsors" were paying for the car's customization. Aaron and Brandon also discovered that Joe has scammed people before after a number of victims came forward in the thread to identify shady dealings with him. The police and State Attorney's Office are now involved, and the car is tucked away in a secret location. Aaron tells us that wheels are in motion with state authorities to bring this dispute to a close, which will likely result in he and his partner taking possession of the car and selling it get their money back.

We highly suggest hitting up the forum thread below and following this madness across some 120 pages of posts. It gets especially interesting when Joe shows up to defend himself. Also, if your heart goes out to Aaron and Brandon who are bearing the weight of this financial burden, you can donate to help pay for the shop's legal fees here. Good luck guys!

UPDATE: We don't have the space to tell the whole story here, but Joe did put some money down and provided many parts and materials at the beginning of the project, though the shop owners realize the rest of their good faith was taken advantage of. And yes, Joe is 20 years old, not 16.

Gallery: JapWorks' Celica


[Source: TampaRacing.com, JapWorks.com]

Carsumer Advocacy: 20-year-old tries to bilk shop out of $16k job originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jap worksjap works celicaJapWorksJapWorksCelicajoe donoJoeDonoocala floridaOcalaFloridatamparacing.comThu, 14 Aug 2008 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[The fate of a Range Rover is in your hands, people]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/the-fate-of-a-range-rover-is-in-your-hands-people/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/the-fate-of-a-range-rover-is-in-your-hands-people/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/the-fate-of-a-range-rover-is-in-your-hands-people/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to watch Ryan's call to action

Ryan Mickle, seen above and apparently afraid of no ghosts, has had a change of heart since purchasing his Range Rover Sport new in 2006. Since then, gas prices have shot through the roof and fighting climate change has become a favorite global pastime. Seeing that his SUV gets about 13 mpg, Ryan doesn't want to drive it, doesn't want to sell it and doesn't want anyone else to get behind the wheel -- ever. Trouble is, he's not quite sure how to go about it just yet. So, he wants you to help him decide the fate of his SUV. A few initial ideas: catapult it into the Pacific Ocean, blow it up or convert it to a run on either electrons or biodiesel.

We're hoping that common sense wins out here and the vehicle is somehow saved from such an inauspicious fate as being merely blown to shreds -- after all, that's not very eco-friendly either. While a biodiesel conversion might be fun, we'll put our official vote on the EV idea. Yank the engine, drop in a nice electric motor and some decent batteries in the rear cargo area... presto-chango, problem solved. Well, maybe it's a bit more complicated than that. Watch Ryan's video after the break. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: One Fewer]

The fate of a Range Rover is in your hands, people originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>one fewerOneFeweronefewer.comrange roverrange rover sportRangeRoverRangeRoverSportryan mickleRyanMicklesuvsuvsFri, 25 Jul 2008 19:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes lists top 10 family cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/05/forbes-lists-top-10-family-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/05/forbes-lists-top-10-family-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/05/forbes-lists-top-10-family-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



As the self-appointed family car reviewer for Autoblog, I have some opinions on the topic. If money were no object, my nomination for the ultimate family car would be split between the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and the BMW 5 Series wagon. But the R-Class entry price is $42k, and the Bimmer's is close to $50k -- not exactly family-friendly.

Forbes Magazine, however, is a bit more realistic in its quest for the perfect family car, and considers price a deciding factor, like the majority of families. I agree with its Compact Car pick. The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit is a good deal for your $16k entry price (though Forbes says $19k). On paper, its 15 cu. ft. of cargo space doesn't sound like much, but in reality, it's bigger than it sounds. The Rabbit also averages about 25 mpg, and these days, that's a big deal.

Still, there are some Forbes picks I just don't agree with. For example, the mag selects the Saab 9-3 Sport Combi as best wagon. Really? I admit I've never driven one, but I'm just wondering where the new Jetta Sportwagen placed. (I just stepped out of reviewing one for a week.) Forbes cites the Saab's maximum 72.3 cu. ft of cargo space as a big factor. But it only bests the VeeDub's by 5.4 cu. ft. And while the VW gives up 110 horses to the Saab's 280, but the VW gets, on average, 24 mpg to the Saab's 18. Oh, and the Saab requires premium fuel. I guess the question is this: Do you want to drag race your wagon or save money? My family will take the cash, please.

Continue reading Forbes lists top 10 family cars

Forbes lists top 10 family cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best family carBestFamilyCarcrossover suvCrossoverSuvfamily carFamilyCarminivanssports utility vehicleSportsUtilityVehiclestation wagonsStationWagonssuvSat, 05 Jul 2008 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Backup assist, blind spot detection hot; clean diesel not]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/24/report-backup-assist-blind-spot-detection-hot-clean-diesel-no/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/24/report-backup-assist-blind-spot-detection-hot-clean-diesel-no/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/24/report-backup-assist-blind-spot-detection-hot-clean-diesel-no/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



J.D. Power and Associates asked 19,000 potential car buyers what they want and what they're willing to pay for. Safety is apparently on the minds of many, with blind spot detection and backup assist taking the top two spots. But once consumers were told blind spot detectors would cost as much as $500, the device fell to No. 4 on the list, while a $300 backup assist jumped to No. 1. And a majority (73%) put in-dash navigation as No. 3 in popularity, but when told they'd have to pay an estimated $1,800 for it, it falls way down to No. 18. Hear that OEMs? Cheap nav is on a bunch of people's wish list.

With gas prices at record highs, 72% of the respondents said they were "probably interested" in a hybrid powertrain and 23% were "definitely interested." When told the system would add $5,000 to the cost of their ride, though, hybrids fall from fifth place to No. 8. Disappointingly, clean diesel technology comes in at the very bottom of the list with only 37% saying they would probably be interested.

We spoke with Mike Marshall, Director of Automotive Emerging Technology at JD Power, who said he was disappointed in the clean diesel interest but not really surprised. "We knew it wouldn't do that well," Marshall said. "One of the biggest things working against diesel is where people are coming from."

Hit the jump to read the rest of our interview and to view the full press release by J.D. Power and Associates.

UPDATE: We spoke to Mike Marshall, not Chris, and the survey queried 19,000 people, not 1,900. We've updated the post to reflect the corrections.

[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading Report: Backup assist, blind spot detection hot; clean diesel not

Report: Backup assist, blind spot detection hot; clean diesel not originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive gpsautomotive navigationautomotive safeteyautomotive technologyAutomotiveGpsAutomotiveNavigationAutomotiveSafeteyAutomotiveTechnologyblind spotBlindSpotcar technologyCarTechnologylane-change detectionLane-changeDetectiontechnologyTue, 24 Jun 2008 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Das Boot: One man's crusade against injustice]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/das-boot-one-mans-crusade-against-injustice/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/das-boot-one-mans-crusade-against-injustice/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/20/das-boot-one-mans-crusade-against-injustice/#commentsFiled under:



It's time for another installment of Carsumer Advocacy. We won't go into the nitty gritty details of this one, as it's spread across a 61-page forum post on VW Vortex. The basic gist is that a guy moved into a house in a nice neighborhood. Said neighborhood then started a Home Owners Association with an annual fee of over $1,500. The new HOA then hired an outside contractor to police parking inside the neighborhood. Parking passes were then required that had to be displayed within the vehicle at all times, even when parking in your own driveway (!). If the loose passes (they weren't stickers) weren't displayed, a homeowner would get a $140 ticket and a couple of boots slapped on his or her wheels until the ticket was paid.

One day, forum member The A1 and A2 German forgot to hang his parking pass on the rearview mirror of his mildly tuned Audi A4. The boots came, but rather than acquiesce, he got some rolling jacks and wheeled his car, boots and all, back into his garage. It's the principal of the thing, as this guy apparently always used his parking pass and, despite the rent-a-cops knowing his vehicle, they ticketed him and gave his car the boot anyway. Then the standoff began. This guy was smart and called the police to make sure he wasn't doing anything illegal like stealing the contractor's boots, and when the HOA contractor's eventually found out where their they were hiding, he was happy to let them come and retrieve their property. The contractor now his boots back, but the man's parking pass has been revoked and apparently his neighbors are now being terrorized by these boot police who are hell bent on revenge. Click the source below to read the whole story, or hit up the second source to view just those forum posts by the man in question.

[Source: VW Vortex, GT Planet]

Das Boot: One man's crusade against injustice originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi bootAudiBootboothoa bootHoaBootFri, 20 Jun 2008 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Oh snap! Consumer Reports rips Aveo a new one]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/oh-snap-consumer-reports-rips-aveo-a-new-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/oh-snap-consumer-reports-rips-aveo-a-new-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/oh-snap-consumer-reports-rips-aveo-a-new-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Chevy Aveo

Consumer Reports isn't known for completely trashing cars in its reviews. In fact, the publication is more often criticized for going too easy on them and finding something to like in everything that passes through the CR garage. But dang if they didn't just tear apart the 2008 Chevy Aveo sedan, going so far as to say its big-bro Cobalt is an all-around better car and better deal for bargain shoppers. They cite Cobalt's comparable fuel economy, better handling, quieter more refined interior and, after discounts, better price.

The magazine calls the Aveo a "miserable little car" and, since they couldn't find the name "Aveo" anywhere in the car's interior, thinks GM might think so, too. CR says its readers certainly thought the Aveo was miserable, rating the hatchback and sedan variants at the very bottom of their classes.

Worse than the Cobalt? Ouch. We tested the 2007 model and gave it a resounding score of "eh." Any Aveo owners out there who want to defend their little Korean cars' reputation? Anyone?

Gallery: Autoblog Garage - 2007 Chevy Aveo


[Source: Consumer Reports]

Oh snap! Consumer Reports rips Aveo a new one originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aveochevrolet aveoChevroletAveochevrolete cobaltChevroleteCobaltchevy aveochevy cobaltChevyAveoChevyCobaltcobaltconsumer reportsconsumer reports aveoConsumerReportsConsumerReportsAveoWed, 18 Jun 2008 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota gets attacked for worker rights abuses]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/toyota-gets-attacked-for-worker-rights-abuses/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/toyota-gets-attacked-for-worker-rights-abuses/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/toyota-gets-attacked-for-worker-rights-abuses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The top is a tough place to be. Just ask Toyota, which is now facing charges of worker right abuses, including the use of sweat shops and human trafficking. As we've reported before, Japan even has a word for being overworked to death: karoshi. Toyota plants are not immune to this stress-related disease, as workers at its plants have indeed suffered death due to working too hard. These facts have caught the attention of The National Labor Committee, which has an entire report worked up that alleges Toyota over-works and under-pays its Japanese employees and has ties to various unsavory Dictators. It's also been well established that Toyota does not want its American workforce unionized.

The report is being directly targeted at Prius-driving celebrities who see Toyota as the shining green beacon in a world of pollution-spewing car companies. Whether or not this report has all its facts straight, if famous Toyota supporters in Hollywood react to these allegations, Toyota could indeed have a public relations disaster on its hands.

[Source: The National Labor Committee via World Car Fans]

Toyota gets attacked for worker rights abuses originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>sweat shopsweat shopssweatshopsweatshopstoyotaworker rightsWorkerRightsworkers rightsworkers unionsWorkersRightsWorkersUnionsWed, 18 Jun 2008 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Dealer selling Dodge Chargers branded "SRT-6"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/28/dealer-selling-dodge-chargers-branded-srt-6/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/28/dealer-selling-dodge-chargers-branded-srt-6/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/28/dealer-selling-dodge-chargers-branded-srt-6/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above more more images of the Dodge Charger "SRT-6"

When is a Chrysler product branded as an SRT-6 not really an SRT-6? When it comes from Scott McCorkle's Liberty Dodge in Charlotte, NC. The dealership has created what it is referring to as a Dodge Charger SRT-6, though its fitted with just the standard 2.7 liter V6 engine and no performance mods. Also absent are the normal SRT-spec suspension, braking or interior refinements. So, what exactly is it that makes this vehicle qualify as an SRT? Umm, nothing; besides some cosmetic tweaks that range from new wheels to some leftover Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 badges, there is nothing at all with which to distinguish this model from a run-of-the-mill base model Charger. Sheesh, way to dilute the SRT brand, guys.

We would never suggest that making modifications to a stock vehicle is a bad thing. Far from it, in fact. We do, however, feel a bit bad for all the SRT engineers at Dodge who do an admirable job of taking a normal car and making it much, much better. When pressed, the dealership admits that what it's done amounts to nothing more than simple cosmetics, but we feel that they shouldn't have messed with the SRT badge in the process. Thanks for the tip, Bill!

Gallery: Dodge Charger "SRT-6"


[Source: Dodge Charger Forums]

Dealer selling Dodge Chargers branded "SRT-6" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 May 2008 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charger srt-6charger srt-8charger-srt-6charger-srt-8ChargerSrt-6ChargerSrt-8dodge chargerdodge charger srt-6dodge charger srt8DodgeChargerDodgeChargerSrt-6DodgeChargerSrt8Scott McCorkles Liberty DodgeScottMccorklesLibertyDodgeWed, 28 May 2008 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[You know what they say: Court orders Volvo to pay man with big feet]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/07/you-know-what-they-say-court-orders-volvo-to-pay-ma-with-big-fe/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/07/you-know-what-they-say-court-orders-volvo-to-pay-ma-with-big-fe/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/07/you-know-what-they-say-court-orders-volvo-to-pay-ma-with-big-fe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Hey, Stompy, you wanna take a test drive?

Nein, I'll just take the one in black, please."

So goes the imagined conversation between Michael Herzog, he of size 12 (UK) feet, and the Volvo dealer from whom he purchased a C70. Herzog says his feet are too large for the pedal box in his Volvo, precluding use of that most essential pedal, the accelerator. The issue went to court in Wiesloch, Germany, where a judge ruled that size 12 is not freakishly large, so Volvo should have designed a car to accommodate that size foot. Size 12 on UK size charts is about the same as a U.S. size 12, so it's not an incomprehensibly large foot. The dealer has been directed to refund five percent of the purchase price, a total of £1,350, to pay for a custom pair of shoes that allow the owner to drive his new car, as well as compensate him for time lost to shoe-changes. And we thought the U.S. was litigious.

[Source: am-online, Photo: BBC]

You know what they say: Court orders Volvo to pay man with big feet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 May 2008 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big feetBigFeetvolvo big footvolvo c70volvo feetvolvo lawsuitVolvoBigFootVolvoC70VolvoFeetVolvoLawsuitWed, 07 May 2008 16:43:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. Transportation Secretary drives new blog]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/30/u-s-transportation-secretary-drives-new-blog/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/30/u-s-transportation-secretary-drives-new-blog/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/30/u-s-transportation-secretary-drives-new-blog/#commentsFiled under: ,

There's a new blog in cyberspace, and it's hosted by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mary E. Peters. According to Secretary Peters, she's pushing twenty-first century proposals, so she decided that she'd better communicate in a twenty-first century way. The all-new site is called Fast Lane, and at first glance, it is an interesting approach (for a government job, that is).

As the site is in its infancy, a tour only takes about five minutes. There are a dozen or so links to other DOT agencies, a who's-who list of notable contributors, and an e-mail link directly to the Secretary's inbox (yeah, right). It appears that much of their content will be from "guest" bloggers (aka other politicians). Today's guest was the the Mayor of Chicago announcing a new Bus Rapid Transit system.

While we don't see the new site competing with our own (we looked everywhere, and didn't find any reference to the Nissan GT-R or Dodge Challenger SRT8), the innovation of the site appears to be the speed at which information will make it to the public, and the interaction (via comments) that the public is welcome to partake. Don't expect to use the site to vent your frustrations towards the agency - as a dot.gov site, you can expect that all submitted comments on Fast Lane will be moderator approved.

[Source: Detroit News]

U.S. Transportation Secretary drives new blog originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlogFast laneFastLaneMary PetersMaryPetersSecretary of TransportationSecretaryOfTransportationWed, 30 Apr 2008 07:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Carsumer Advocacy: Circuit City does right by damaged Civic Si owner]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/carsumer-advocacy-circuit-city-does-right-by-damaged-civic-si-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/carsumer-advocacy-circuit-city-does-right-by-damaged-civic-si-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/carsumer-advocacy-circuit-city-does-right-by-damaged-civic-si-o/#commentsFiled under:

You may recall a Carsumer Advocacy post we published a couple weeks ago about an 8thcivic.com forum member whose new Honda Civic Si suffered $12,199.64 worth of damage after Circuit City employees botched the install of a $3,000+ stereo in his car. At the time, Circuit City had decided to only refund the cost of the stereo. The owner, who goes by the handle VTECnical, took his cause to the internet and once again, the internet came through. VTECnical has posted on 8thcivic.com that Circuit City has stepped up and will take care of the car. He told Autoblog in an email that he wasn't at liberty to discuss the matter further, but we've been in contact with some people repping Circuit City who told us that the consumer electronics store's third-party insurance provider covered $10,158.45 of the repair cost and the store itself paid for the rest out of its own pocket. On top of that, Circuit City gave VTECnical a brand new Pioneer AVIC Z2 valued at over $2,000. Congrats to VTECnical and props to Circuit City for doing the right thing.

[Source: 8thcivic.com]

Carsumer Advocacy: Circuit City does right by damaged Civic Si owner originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit city civic sicircuit city damagecircuit city installCircuitCityCivicSiCircuitCityDamageCircuitCityInstallVTECnicalTue, 15 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Prosecutors opt not to prosecute Unique Performance execs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/14/prosecutors-opt-not-to-prosecute-unique-performance-execs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/14/prosecutors-opt-not-to-prosecute-unique-performance-execs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/14/prosecutors-opt-not-to-prosecute-unique-performance-execs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click on the image to see VIN tampering evidence

After finding out that the Unique Performance asset auction didn't make nearly enough money to pay the lost wages of the company's former employees, at least those disenfranchised workers held out hope that their ex-bosses would face some major legal ramifications. Or not. Apparently, the the U.S. Attorney in Dallas has informed the Secret Service in writing that it will not pursue the case, despite the fact that company executives had faced 25 felony charges.

Some sort of hope still exists for the ex-employees and customers that justice will be served, as the Dallas County District Attorney's office has investigations underway regarding criminal allegations that Unique Performance had destroyed or removed the vehicle identification numbers of at least 61 vehicles.

Gallery: Very Unique VIN plates


[Source: CBS 11 via 67 Mustang Blog]

Prosecutors opt not to prosecute Unique Performance execs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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