Vehicles That Will Be Discontinued

2009 will be a difficult year for the auto industry. Many automakers are trimming their lineups due to financial difficulties. Several are canceling the production of certain models during or after the 2009 model year. Which 2009 cars will be discontinued?...

Chrysler
The regular version of the PT Cruiser will be discontinued after the 2009 model year. Production will end this summer. This will be the seventh model to be canceled since 2007.

Dodge
The legendary Viper may be discontinued. There hasn't been an official announcement of the vehicle's cancellation, but Dodge has halted production of the Viper. They have also publicly tried to sell the design rights to other automakers.

Honda
For Hondas 50th anniversary, they produced the S2000 , a two-seat convertible. It's an attractive, high performance vehicle aimed at club racers. Honda has announced that the S2000 will be discontinued after 2009.

Hummer
In 2008, Hummer experienced a huge drop in sales. GM promised to sell or cancel the brand when the company asked for federal aid last year, but by that time, they had already spent months looking for a buyer. Consequently, Hummer will probably be eliminated in 2009.

Isuzu
Isuzu has announced that as of January 31, 2009, it will discontinue new passenger vehicles in North America. This means there will be no 2009 Ascender, i-290 or i-370. Although Isuzu will cease supplying passenger vehicles in North America, it will continue to stand behind its customers and dealers here. They will honor all product warranties and roadside assistance programs.

Saturn
The Saturn Sky is going to be discontinued in 2009, and possibly the entire Saturn line. In its application for federal bailout funds, GM promised to sell or close this underperforming brand.

Car Buying Tips for Short and Tall Drivers

Tall people need to make sure that they have enough head room and leg room, and that they can see clearly out of all windows.

Short people need to make sure that they can reach the pedals and steering wheel comfortably. It's especially important to make sure you are not sitting too close to the steering wheel if there is an airbag . You should be at lease 10 inches or more away form the airbag for it to be able to deploy safely.

Best vehicles for tall drivers:

• Acura TL
• Honda Accord
• Honda Pilot
• Infiniti M35
• Lexus LS460 L
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Mercedes-Benz M-Class
• Mercedes-Benz S550
• Volvo S80
• Volvo XC70

Best vehicles for short drivers:

• Ford Taurus X
• Honda Accord
• Honda Odyssey
• Honda Pilot
• Hyundai Azera
• Lexus ES350
• Lexus LS460 L
• Lexus RX
• Mercedes-Benz S550
• Toyota Avalon

Worst vehicles for tall drivers:

• Chrysler Crossfire
• Dodge Viper
• Honda S2000
• Jeep Liberty
• Lotus Elise
• Mini Cooper Convertible
• Mitsubishi Eclipse
• Pontiac Solstice
• Porsche Boxster
• Saturn Sky

Worst vehicles for short drivers:

• Dodge Ram 1500
• Dodge Viper
• Honda S2000
• Lotus Elise
• Mazda MX-5 Miata
• Mitsubishi Eclipse,
• Nissan Titan
• Pontiac Solstice
• Saturn Sky
• Toyota FJ Cruiser

Families with different sized drivers sharing the same vehicle might consider the Toyota Highlander, Honda Accord, or the Honda Pilot.

How to Maintain Your Tires

Don't underestimate the importance of maintaining your automobile tires. Whether your vehicle is new or used , you should check the tires at least once a month. It will extend the life of the tires and increase the overall safety of your vehicle. We have put together a checklist for proper tire maintenance:

• Check your tire pressure monthly. You can improve your gas mileage by keeping your tires properly inflated.
• Rotate your tires every 5,000 miles. Follow the correct rotation patterns listed below.
• Routinely look for signs of tread wear and damage.
• Check your tread depth with a gauge.
• Check the tire pressure regularly with a pocket gauge.
• Check your air pressure with a gauge while tires are cold. Driving heats up tires and can make the reading incorrect.
• To check the accuracy of your tire gauge, visit a tire dealer.

Tire Rotation Patterns:

• If your vehicle is front wheel drive, rotate the tires in forward cross pattern. This means moving the drive tires straight to the rear then crossing the rear tires and mount on the front.
• If your vehicle is rear wheel or four wheel drive, rotate the tires in a rearward cross pattern. This means moving the drive tires straight to the front then cross the front tires and mount on the rear.
• The spare tire is strictly for emergency use. It must never be included in a tire rotation or placed on your car for everyday use.

Modifying Your Cars Engine

Modifying the engine in your car can increase its power and performance. Here are some of the best ways to modify your engine:

• Custom Ignition System: A custom ignition system can benefit your engine. Performance spark plugs and spark plug wires can add horsepower because they provide more spark, which is what ignites fuel and drives the pistons in your engine. When combined with a cold air intake, a custom ignition system provides considerable performance enhancements.
• Cold Air Intake: OEM intakes absorb warm air from around the engine, which detracts from the performance capabilities. By supplying a steady stream of cold, dense air, a cold air intake can give you better combustion, providing more power per stroke.
• Superchargers and Turbos:Superchargers and turbochargers can ramp up your engine performance to a much higher degree. Each system offers different benefits, so you will need to decide on the right one for your needs. A supercharger provides performance enhancements across a wide range of the power band. A turbo offers greater performance at higher RPM ranges.
• High Performance Radiators: A high performance engine produces more power, and thus more heat. A high performance radiator should be used keep it cool. These radiators are designed to deal with higher temperatures and pressure ranges. It will help keep your performance engine safe from overheating.

Do some research on your car first to determine what upgrades are possible on your vehicle and how much they may cost.

Solar Powered Cars

Although solar powered vehicles are not yet commercially available, they almost certainly will be in the near future. Currently, the best solar car design would be an electric car with solar panels on the roof. This would allow the battery to be recharged anytime the vehicle is exposed to the sun. The panels would take energy from the sun and convert it into electrical power.

The technology is already being used in several different industries such as the aerospace, bicycle and car racing industries. There are also several companies that are currently working to develop solar cars:

The Venturi Astrolab is considered the first commercial electro-solar hybrid and is due for release early this year. However, the price tag of $115,811 may make it a hard sell.

Hymotion , a Canadian company, converted a Toyota Prius to run on solar cells. It can generate up to 240 watts of electrical power in full sunshine.

The Swiss have taken another approach. They have built a solar car with a trailer carrying a 6 m² sized solar array. This vehicle has Zebra batteries. These allow a range of 400 km without needing to be recharged. It can go 90km/h. The vehicle would cost around 6,000 Euros or around $9,300 dollars if produced commercially.

In Michigan, an inventor has produced a street legal solar charged electric scooter. Fold-out solar panels charge the batteries while the scooter is parked.

Hyundai's New Return Policy

New car dealers have been advertising a number of new deals in order to try to boost sales. In an attempt to increase new car sales, Hyundai is offering a new return policy. The new policy allows buyers to return their car for free if they lose their job or lose their driver's license due to medical reasons.

The program is available for 1 year on all remaining 2008 and 2009 models. It's available on all new Hyundai models sold by Butler Hyundai and comes with no pre-qualifying restrictions of age, health or employment history. The program is effective for the first 12 months of ownership and there is no cost to the buyer. Customers must have made at least two payments on the vehicle already. The program also covers up to $7500.00 in negative equity which may exist early on in a financed purchase.

The program only applies to customers stricken by misfortune outside of their control. That could include loss of their job, becoming disabled, personal bankruptcy, getting transferred overseas or losing their driver's license for medical reasons. If they get fired, they don't qualify. Customer will also walk away with no negative marks on their credit report.

Washington May Ban Smoking in Cars with Children

Washington is the most recent state to consider legislation to outlaw smoking in cars when children are inside. Anti-smoking groups are gathering sponsors for legislation that would make smoking in cars with children a secondary offense. Drivers could be ticketed if they are pulled over for another offense, such as speeding.

Four other states have made similar bans: California, Arkansas, Louisiana and Maine.

California has banned smoking in all vehicles containing children under 18 years old. First offenders are subject to a $100 fine. Police officers are not allowed to stop vehicles solely to issue this citation. Tickets for breaking this law can only be issued if the vehicle was stopped for another reason.

Arkansas introduced its car ban at the same time as it outlawed smoking in all indoor public places. A motorist caught smoking while in a car with a child younger than 6 will be given a fine of $25. The fine can be waived if the person agrees to enroll in a smoking cessation program.

The ban became law in Louisiana in 2006, prohibiting drivers from smoking if they have a child as a passenger. Violators can be fined up to $150 or would be required to complete at least 24 hours of community service.

The state of Maine passed the law in 2008, in an effort to curb children's exposure to secondhand smoke.  Police can stop drivers who are smoking in a vehicle where passengers younger than 16 are present. For the first year, the penalty is a warning, but after that, smokers with children in the car can face a $50 fine.

Using a Co-Signer

Many first time car buyers do not have the credit history needed to secure a loan on their own, or they may even have bad credit. In these situations, lenders may require that a co-signer guarantee the payback of the loan. This means that a third party must sign the contract in addition to the borrower.

This third party is usually someone close, such a relative, friend, or spouse. If the primary borrower defaults on the loan, the co-signer then becomes responsible for the debt just as if they were the person who borrowed the money in the first place.

Seeing as there is no real benefit to being a co-signer, it can be difficult to convince someone to co-sign on a loan. The lender can pursue the co-signer in the same ways as the primary borrower should the debt not be paid back as agreed. This means it is possible for the co-signer to be sued, have their wages garnished, or be subject to collection.

Don't ask someone to co-sign for unless you are very confident that you will be able to pay back the loan yourself, so that they do not get stuck with the bill. If you are considering being a co-signer for someone else, make sure that you can afford to pay off the loan if they default on it.

What is Employee Pricing?

Out of the many deals being advertised on new car prices , one of the most intriguing is employee pricing. Chrysler, Ford, and GM have been running ads for employee pricing on the many of their 2008 and 2009 vehicles, offering the same prices that company employee’s pay for vehicles to everyone. Employees usually pay 2-3% less than the dealer’s invoice price for a new car and can apply any applicable rebates or dealer incentives to that price as well.

Employee pricing sets a fixed, no-haggle price tag on a vehicle that is below the dealer’s invoice price. In exchange for setting such a low price on the vehicles, Chrysler, Ford and GM have reduced the size of the rebates and incentives available on most models, and have boosted the dealer holdback a couple of percentage points to help the dealership recover the lost profits. The end result is that employee pricing is a great marketing strategy, but the actual transaction price of the vehicle isn’t that much different from before. Smart negotiators could get a similar deal. By setting a low fixed price below dealer invoice and making available rebate values known to the customer, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors have transformed their dealerships into no-haggle car lots.

The advantage to the consumer is in getting that price without having to spend time negotiating with different dealerships. The price of the vehicle is the same no matter what dealership you choose. All you need to do is get a good price on your trade-in, sign on the dotted line, and drive your new car home.