L.A. Auto Show - Green Car of the Year Finalists

Yesterday, the L.A. Auto Show announced the finalists for Green Car of the Year. This year’s picks are excellent examples of the the wide range of prices, styles, and technologies car manufactures are offering.

Audi A3 TDI 
Clean and stylish, the A3 TDI sports a clean burning diesel engine that gets up to 30 mpg and energy saving extras.

Honda Insight
Not only is the Honda Insight efficient, but it’s ECON Assist system will teach you how to drive more efficiently.

Mercury Milan Hybrid
America’s most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan with EPA estimated mpg 41 city/36 hwy, the Milan Hybrid runs on electric mode up to 47 miles per hour.

Toyota Prius
The 3rd generation Prius offers some of the best fuel efficiency on the market, up to 51 mpg.

Volkswagen Golf TDI
Not only is the Volkswagen Golf TDI affordable, but it’s estimated annual fuel cost is just $1,140!

The award will be announced December 3rd, 2009.

Volkswagen GLI: Beauty Hiding Under a Bland Exterior

If you find yourself on a Volkswagen lot hunting for an exciting sports sedan, don't overlook the sedately-styled GLI. This car should not be judged by its exterior. The BuyingAdvice Team thinks once buyers climb in they will quickly see that the Volkswagen GLI is a turbocharged sports sedan that's generously equipped, plus it has sublime interior fit and finish.

The GLI's sporty ride with tight handling and communicative steering, more than make up for its generic body style. The ride is quiet and suspension is well-tuned. The GLI comes equipped with some really nice standard features like a 10 speaker audio system, full power accessories and satellite radio, plus a full set of safety features. However, safety scores could be stronger. Also reliability has been a sore spot, but it's been improving recently. It will be hard to find a sportier ride for the nice starting price around $25K.

A few challengers are the Mazda MAZDA6 iSports Sedan, but it has 40 less hp. Another option with AWD is the Subaru Legacy Limited which has a moonroof and an automatic standard, but 30 less hp.

Volkswagen Rabbit Hops Up With Its Newest Generation

Volkswagen's compact hatchback returned to its "Rabbit" name here in the US when the newest generation rolled out about three years ago. For some reason, "Golf" just never struck us here at BuyingAdvice as having all that much youth appeal, no matter how much VW explained that it was German for "Gulf Stream". For some of us, it will always be just a past-time for retired men wearing plaid pants.

Naming confusion aside, the newest generation of the Volkswagen Rabbit offers one of the nicest set of features, interior fit and finish and ride in the entry-level segment-all for a fairly reasonable price.

The Rabbit has a roomier feel inside than its slightly bland and smaller-looking exterior might lead you to believe. In fact, everything is nicer on the inside of the Rabbit, including a pleasant interior with a European blue-lit flair. The hp has moved up about 20 hp this year, and recent tuning adjustments were made to make the ride smoother, quieter and more comfortable. The starting price is reasonable for this segment, and a lot of desirable standard features are included up front. Standard features include unexpected things like outside heated mirrors, cruise control, satellite radio and a premium audio system with an auxiliary jack.

The Volkswagen Jetta - A Compact Sedan with Sophistication

The most recent generation Jetta returned mid-2005, with more room and power than before. And while not every facet of the 2008 Jetta is worth raving about, the BuyingAdvice Team believes the current Volkswagen Jetta does offer something unique in the compact segment, unmatched interior elegance for the price.

Not only is the fit and finish inside the Jetta one of the most upscale and well-built, but the ride has sophistication to offer as well. In fact, this year the Jetta has upgraded to a 2.5 liter 5 cylinder engine that has about 170 hp. The seating is comfortable and the handling is well-defined. There is also a nice amount of safety features standard. Where the refinement ends for the Jetta is a poor dependability track record that has plagued the model for some time. But thankfully, the Jetta's expected reliability recently has crept back up to average. Also, fuel economy at 21 mpg / 29 mpg doesn't stack up all that well to many competitors.

If you are looking for a sportier driving experience, the MAZDA3 is definitely worth looking at. It also costs $3,000 less, but has some trade-offs in terms of some safety features and space. Another model with its own refined drivability is the Subura Impreza 2.5i which includes AWD, but also has less cargo space.

The Not-So-New-Anymore Beetle Still Has Charm to Spare

There are not many cars as easy to distinguish on the road as the Volkswagen Beetle. When it returned in 1998, buyers lined up to purchase them. About a decade later and only a few upgrades along the way, sales have slowed. But the BuyingAdvice Team understands why there is still a niche market for the Volkswagen New Beetle and theVolkswagen New Beetle Convertible. In our opinion, it's because of two often overlooked qualities: fun and value.

Besides it curvy figure and undeniably cute road presence, Volkswagen has shrewdly added all the standard safety features a buyer could wish for. Also, the price of the Beetle, and particularly the Beetle Convertible, is surprisingly affordable. And while the engine won't win any drag races, the ride is sufficiently peppy, comfortable and enjoyable. Fuel economy could be stronger especially for the market the car appeals to. Other drawbacks are the Beetle's side-impact safety scores fall short and its platform has not been dramatically updated in awhile.

A strong competitor with its own distinctive style is the MINI Cooper which offers substantially more mpg, but lacks traction control and has 30 less hp. An alternative to the Beetle Convertible is the Mazda MX-5 Miata Touring with a sporty ride and a few more features, but it costs more.

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? Driving the 2007 Jetta Wolfsburg

I'm enjoying my trip today in a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta. The particular model I am driving is the Wolfsburg edition, named after the town where Volkswagen was founded and still operates.  The good folks at Volkswagen of Chattanooga loaned me this Wolfsburg, which is powered by a 2.5L 5 cylinder engine that produces 150 hp. The engine is mated to a sweet 6-speed Tiptronic engine, which allows the car to be driven in automatic mode or manually shifted through the gears, sans the clutch. While a bit buzzy at lower speeds, on the freeway and opened up the engine is smooth and silky, with a good amount of power. The car feels solid and handles very well, easily negotiating crowded parking lots and freeway on ramps with well-behaved manners.

Compared with other cars in the same class the 2007 Jetta is a steal. For example, a loaded Jetta with the above features plus much more (it has a cooled glove box!) is actually less expensive than the 2007 Honda Civic with a 4 cylinder engine, cloth interior, and 15" steel wheels with plastic covers. The Jetta is also a very safe car, offering a staggering number of safety features such as 8 standard airbags, side-impact protection beams in the doors, and 5 stars from the NHTSA for side impact collision. The list of standard safety features is long, and it's great that VW is focusing so much on this aspect of their automobiles.

First impressions of the car are very good.  This car has handsome lines, and finishes nicely in the rear with solid red taillights that give the car a sporty yet sophisticated look.  The European-style antenna is mounted in the middle of the roof just above the rear window.  Inside, materials feel expensive and are finished in a variety of textures, from the matte finish on the plastics to the pebble-grain texture of the dash and leatherette.  It also provides a more durable surface at a fraction of the cost.  At dusk, flip the dash lights on and you are greeted by blue and red instrumentation, and everything in the car that has a function is lit with a soft red back light, including window switches, door locks, and headliner mounted controls.  Volkswagen took a cue from Audi on this one and it works brilliantly.

So how much will all this safety and luxury cost you? My Wolfsburg topped out at $21,175 plus tax, out the door with a handshake and a smile. Almost every other car in this class will cost between $22k and $25k, and some don't offer half the features of the Jetta. Be aware the Wolfsburg only comes around once every 4 years, but the safety features are standard on any Volkswagen that you buy.

In my opinion the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta offers more for your money. While there are lots of great cars in this class and price range, I can't think of any that offer a better value for your hard-earned dollar. I definitely recommend that you give this car a test drive before you spend $20k on your next vehicle.

Diesels Are Reappearing in the U.S.

In this age of high-priced gasoline, diesel engine cars are looking pretty good.  That is why automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagon and Jeep have all included them in their line-ups.  Not only do the diesel engines get better gas mileage, the diesel gasoline costs less too.

These diesels are not the same ones you remember, loud, foul-smelling and polluting the air, the new diesel engines are designed to not only meet strict federal clean air requirements but also to be as quiet and odor-free as gasoline engines, increase fuel economy by 25 to 40 percent and provide enough torque to please even the fussiest American drivers.

In 2010, GM is planning diesel passenger cars for their Cadillac and Saturn line-ups.  GM will be joining diesel front-runners such as DaimlerChrysler AG, Volkswagen AG, as well as diesel creator, Mercedes-Benz.  Audi is also in the game with the world's first twelve-cylinder diesel engine which gains the title of being the most powerful diesel engine for a production series.  This engine, which sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds, is available on the 2007 Audi Q7 V12 TDi.  If gas mileage is important to you, consider going diesel!

Summer Is the Time For the Best Lease Deals on Convertibles!

Face it, it's hot out there! Wouldn't it be nice to take a drive with the wind blowing in your hair and the sun shining on your face... sounds good to me!  Auto manufacturers are hoping you feel the same way.

There are some of the best lease deals on convertibles this summer. The 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata offers fun-in-the-sun driving along with a fast-revving engine and is available with a retractable hardtop. Better yet, the MX-5 Miata is in the middle of one of their best lease deals.  Mazda has announced that for the months of June and July they have waived the security deposit on all leases on the convertible thru Mazda American Credit.  If looking to buy, it has an affordable price tag of $20,585 and great fuel economy.  Other lease deals on convertibles include the Volkswagon EOS, which has a city/hwy mpg 23/32 and a lease deal of $399  per month, or the New Beatle Convertible, which was a fuel economy leader in 2006 and can be leased for only $229 per month. Take advantage of some of the best lease deals on convertibles this summer!

Volkswagen R32 Coming to America

Volkswagen has announced that it is once again bringing its sporty hatchback, the R32, to American shores.

The R32 was released in limited supply in 2004, and quickly sold out.  Expect a similar response when the 2008 R32 debuts in August.  Only 5,000 total will be released in America -- 3,000 in 2007 and the rest in 2008.

Volkswagen says the R32 will start at $32,990, but with such a limited supply, expect high dealer markups -- that is, if you can find one.  Volkswagen recommends preordering the R32 on its website, as opposed to waiting for them to appear on dealer lots.

Read more in "2008 Volkswagen R32 - Auto Shows."

Volkswagen of America Helps College Grads Get Behind The Wheel

If you've recently graduated from college or are about to, then Volkswagen wants to help you buy or lease a new car.

Under Volkswagen's College Graduate Program, the first month's payment and security deposit will be waived for any new, near-new, or certified pre-owned leased or financed though Volkswagen Credit.

To be eligible, you must be within four months of graduation, or have graduated in the past two years from an accredited 2 or 4-year school. You must also be employed, or have a written guarantee of employment. Also required are three personal references, credit approval, and a prospective car payment not exceeding 25% of your monthly income.

That's a lot of requirements, and it's always a good idea to shop around for auto financing. But if you're a grad interested in a Volkswagen, then this might be worth looking into.

Read more in "Volkswagen Assists College Grads with Purchasing or Leasing a VW."