Some cars just keep on going..................
Scott Vruggink
Affordable Automotive
Elhart
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.elhart.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com
Contact Me 
Saturday, February 27, 2010
DRIVING SATURN VUE WITH 302,000 MILES
Scott Vruggink
Affordable Automotive
Elhart
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.elhart.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com
Friday, February 19, 2010
ELHART'S HAPPY TOWN USA rated #2 By "USA Today"
| Boulder, CO | 293,161 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 10 |
 | |||||||
| Holland-Grand Haven, MI | 260,364 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 1 | 50 | 1 |
"Most of our highest-scoring cities are found out West and most of our lowest-scoring cities are in the South," says research director Dan Witters. Wealthier communities typically score higher.
Residents of large cities — those with a population of 1 million or more — generally report higher levels of well-being and more optimism about the future than those in small or medium-sized cities. In small cities, at 250,000 or less, people are more likely to feel safe walking alone at night and have enough money for housing.
The study provides a city-by-city portrait of the nation's mood and a potential tool for policymakers.
Nine of the 10 cities that fare best on "life evaluation," assessments of life now and expectations in five years, boast a major university, a big military installation or a state Capitol — institutions that presumably provide some insulation from recession.
Overall, the top 10 cities include four in California, two in Utah and one each in Colorado and Hawaii. Of them, only the Holland, Mich., and Washington, D.C., metro areas are located in the Eastern or Central time zones.
Many of the bottom 10 are in economically embattled regions. Three are in the Alleghenies and three in the Rust Belt. Only Shreveport, La., and Modesto, Calif., are west of the Mississippi.
Boulder's setting, including a greenbelt of public lands around the city, may help explain its top ranking, Mayor Susan Osborne says. "We tend to have lots of opportunities for being outside," she says. The jobless rate is 5.7%, below the nation's 9.7%.
In his annual "state of the city" address Saturday, Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe said budget cuts and layoffs were needed for his city to deal with the economic downturn. The city's jobless rate is 7.8%.
There are some places where people seem naturally upbeat. Baton Rouge is 44th overall, but in "life evaluation," the Mississippi River city is first.Scott Vruggink
Affordable Automotive
Elhart
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.elhart.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com
Contact Me
ELHART'S HAPPY TOWN USA
Holland Michigan VOTED 2nd best in well-being index. IT'S HAPPY TOWN
Scott Vruggink
Affordable Automotive
Elhart
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.elhart.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com
Contact Me
Thursday, February 18, 2010
TOYOTA COROLLA RECALL NEXT???
WASHINGTON — First it was gas pedals, then brakes. Now Toyota and the government are looking into complaints that the popular Corolla is difficult to steer straight, raising a new safety concern ahead of next week's congressional hearing about the automakers recalls.
But how worried should drivers be? Or is this an example of how any problem at the Japanese company now gets intense scrutiny?
The executive in charge of quality control said the company is reviewing fewer than 100 complaints about power steering in the Corolla. Toyota sold nearly 1.3 million Corollas worldwide last year, including nearly 300,000 in the United States, where it trailed only Camry as Toyota's most popular model.
The executive, Shinichi Sasaki, said drivers may feel as though they are losing control over the steering, but it was unclear why. He mentioned problems with the braking system or tires as possible underlying causes. U.S. officials are also investigating.
He stressed that the company was prepared to fix any defects it finds and that executives were considering a recall as an option, although no decision had been made.
Scott Vruggink
Affordable Automotive
Elhart
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.elhart.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com
Contact Me
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The 10 best discontinued cars
By Rick Newman, U.S. News & World Report
1. Toyota Matrix
Starting price: about $17,000.Discontinuation date: unconfirmed.
Five-year residual value: 35%.
This cute and practical wagon isn't as trendy as the Honda Fit or as spacious as the Toyota RAV4. But it's comfortable and affordable, with a strong reliability record and gas mileage close to 30 mpg. Because it has been a popular car for years, the Matrix should remain appealing for a long time.
It's worth noting that the Pontiac Vibe is nearly identical to the Matrix; the two models are built on the same assembly line as part of a joint venture. And the Vibe is being discontinued as part of the Pontiac wind-down. But the Vibe's residual value -- 27% -- is lower than that of the Matrix because Pontiac has a weaker brand image than Toyota.
2. Toyota FJ Cruiser
Starting price: about $25,000.Discontinuation date: unconfirmed.
Five-year residual value: 33%.
Toyota's answer to the Jeep Wrangler has been a hit with off-roaders and beach bums, but the FJ Cruiser has never garnered the mainstream appeal Toyota sought. Still, this retro rambler boasts strong safety and reliability ratings, and its rugged looks have a kind of timeless appeal.
3. Honda S2000
Starting price: about $35,000.Discontinuation date: 2009.
Five-year residual value: 32%.
If you can find one of these roadsters, grab it. Honda stopped building the S2000 in mid-2009, and dealers would probably be completely sold out if not for the miserable economy. Those cars that are left will be labeled as 2009 models, because there is no 2010.
The S2000's design barely changed for 10 years, yet this finely engineered, rear-drive sports car continually wowed critics with its precise handling and thrilling acceleration. And the S2000's curves should wear as well as some of the classics.
4. Chevrolet Colorado
Starting price: about $18,000.Discontinuation date: unconfirmed.
Five-year residual value: 30%.
This compact pickup never really found its niche, with less towing capacity than competitors and a cabin that wasn't quite as refined. When outfitted with a few options, it came close in price to its big brother, the Chevrolet Silverado, a much more rugged truck.
But the Colorado is still a serviceable pickup that's great for light hauling. Its nearly identical cousin, the GMC Canyon, will be retired around the same time as the Colorado and has the same residual value.
5. Lexus SC 430
Starting price: about $65,000.Discontinuation date: unconfirmed.
Five-year residual value: 30%.
The power retractable hardtop was a marvel when this high-priced sports car debuted in 2002, and the SC 430 has always impressed critics with its plush, precise interior. Reliability is superb. The styling hasn't changed much since the 2002 debut, but this will remain a classy ride years into the future.
6. Volkswagen GLI
Starting price: about $25,000.Discontinuation date: 2009.
Five-year residual value: 28%.
Technically speaking, this lively sedan hasn't been discontinued. It's merely sitting out the 2010 model year as Volkswagen winds down its current production plan and focuses on a redesigned GLI that will debut for 2011.
The asterisk doesn't change the fact that this Jetta-GTI hybrid is a barnburner that blends grin-inducing performance with the space and respectability of a four-door vehicle.
7. Hyundai Veracruz
Starting price: about $28,000.Discontinuation date: 2012.
Five-year residual value: 28%.
For the price, this seven-passenger SUV offers a generous set of standard features, such as a full set of air bags and safety equipment, rear-seat climate control and a backup warning system. And the cabin earns high marks for its luxury feel and quiet ride. Competitors such as the Mazda CX-9 and Chevrolet Traverse have a sportier ride or better packaging, but the Veracruz offers a lot of transportation for a fair price.
8. Pontiac G8
Starting price: about $28,000.Discontinuation date: 2009.
Five-year residual value: 26%.
For all of its empty promises, parent company
GM truly did build excitement when it created the G8, which hits nearly every base required of a premium sports sedan: It offers muscle-car acceleration, crisp handling, good looks and a spacious rear seat. The upgraded GXP model even compares favorably with the BMW 5 Series, which costs $20,000 more. That explains why the G8 ranks highest among the discontinued GM products on our list.
will continue to honor warranties and provide service. That's a good thing, because some enthusiasts predict the G8 may even become a collector car9. Pontiac Solstice
Starting price: about $27,000.Discontinuation date: 2009.
Five-year residual value: 26%.
It's tiny and impractical, but this two-seat roadster sure is fun. And it's relatively cheap for a vehicle with real sports car performance. Critics ding the Solstice for a subpar interior, but you might be so delighted by the ride that you don't notice. The Saturn Sky, incidentally, is nearly identical, with some refinements that raise the price by a couple of thousand dollars. Yet the Sky's residual value is 4 percentage points lower than the Solstice's.
10. Mercury Sable
Starting price: about $25,000.Discontinuation date: 2009.
Five-year residual value: 24%.
The Sable's twin, the Ford Taurus, was completely redesigned for 2010, but the Sable was put out to pasture. So remaining models are built on a dated platform. Still, the Sable has earned praise as a spacious and comfortable family car and is one of U.S. News' Best Cars for the Money. It's got more cargo space than a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry and a high seating position that will let buyers cruise into the future in confidence.
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Thursday, February 11, 2010
What you may be driving in 6 Years (2016) YOUR car is about to get a GREEN makeover. ELECTRIC
For years, the auto industry had successfully fought off attempts to impose tougher gas mileage standards. But when the big automakers came to Washington last year asking for handouts, the help came at a price: tough new national standards. The rules — previously proposed as state limits by California — will require each car company selling in the U.S. to deliver an average fuel economy of 35.5 miles per gallon for its cars, SUVs, vans, and pickups sold here.
That’s about 40 percent higher than the current average. And to get there by the 2016 deadline, the auto companies will need to roll out a mix of technological innovations.
Some automakers are fielding new plug-in electric cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, both of which go on sale late this year. The mix on Auto Row will also include improved gas-electric hybrids and cleaner diesels. We may even see engines that run on natural gas or hydrogen making a dent in the market.
Gasoline engines with high-tech improvements will remain dominant this decade for a simple reason: Incremental technology changes are the most efficient way for automakers to deliver low-cost higher mileage. Gasoline engines, which now account for about 90 percent of car sales, will still have a 73 percent U.S. market share by 2016 and just below 70 percent by 2020, according to forecasts by research firm J.D. Power and Associates.
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