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Official: Edmunds settles with marketing firm accused of faking dealer reviews

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

Back in July, Edmunds sued a Texas company named Humankind Design Ltd. for fraud and breach of contract. Among other services, Humankind Design claims to be an online reputation management company, but the lawsuit says that the site created 2,200 fake accounts in order to post positive dealerships reviews on Edmunds.com.

Now, Edmunds says that the case has been settled requiring Humankind Design to agree not to register users or submit reviews on Edmunds as well as providing information about the accounts and reviews it fraudulently created; Humankind Design also has to pay Edmunds an undisclosed monetary settlement for legal fees. Edmunds added that it is working with other identified sites – including Google+, Yelp and Foursquare – which Humankind Design may have also created fake reviews for in the past. The press release for the settlement is posted below as is the original release announcing the lawsuit in July.

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Edmunds settles with marketing firm accused of faking dealer reviews originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Forget kicking tires, VW dealer shows off GTI durability with enthusiasm

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Videos, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Humor

Dealer abusing a Volkswagen Golf GTI

Larry Roesch Volkswagen puts a GTI through its paces – Click above to watch video after the jump

Buying a used vehicle can be a scary experience. You just never know what kind of abuse the car has been subjected to by the hands of a previous owner, which is why plenty of people knowingly take the depreciation hit and buy new. After all, what kind of harm can a vehicle endure from the time it leaves the production facility until you sign on the dotted line? Quite a bit, according to the video after the jump. One very overzealous Volkswagen dealer set about taking to the YouTubes to demonstrate the sturdiness of his wares.

An innocent GTI was subjected to a few full-force door slams. That’s cringe-worthy enough in our book, but the wayward salesman wasn’t quite done. He then proceeded to use the full force of his body weight to jump up and down on the open driver’s door. While we appreciate a dealer’s desire to prove how well the vehicles he sells are built, we wouldn’t want that done to our own cars… and we’d hate to see what these guys do to the vehicles when the camera isn’t rolling.

Hit the jump to see the mayhem for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Mateusz!

Continue reading Forget kicking tires, VW dealer shows off GTI durability with enthusiasm

Forget kicking tires, VW dealer shows off GTI durability with enthusiasm originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia Soul Hamstar edition rolling onto dealer lots this spring

Filed under: Car Buying, Kia

Kia Soul Hamstar

SEMA 2010: Kia Soul Hamstar Edition Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Kia Soul and special editions go together like hip-hop and hamsters. That is to say, some people love them and other folks might have heard enough of this, and heard enough of that. Regardless, the Soul is getting another special edition, and this time around it’s the Hamstars that are getting the attention.

We saw the concept version of the Kia Soul Hamstar Edition at the 2010 SEMA show. Now, we’ve received confirmation from Kia that this stars and stripes-wearing Soul is coming to dealer lots in time for the 2011 spring season. Stripes run up the doors and on to the fenders while a star Hamstar logo sits on the hood and rear hatch. The Soul Hamstar will get a unique wheel package, and the inside will feature more Hamstar logos throughout. No word yet on pricing… but it’s safe to assume it will cost you a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. Sorry.

Kia Soul Hamstar edition rolling onto dealer lots this spring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pennsylvania dealer loves Vanishing Point, creates Kowalski Edition Dodge Challenger

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Chrysler, Dodge

kowalski edition dodge challenger

As if you needed any reminder, in the 1971 film Vanishing Point, a character by the name of Kowalski is tasked with making it from Colorado to San Francisco in a 1970 Dodge Challenger. Kowalski bets a friend that he can make the run in just 15 hours, but – Spoiler Alert – he doesn’t make it… and neither does the muscle-bound coupe. The flick has been a cult favorite for years, and one of its fans, Bob Frederick of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, got some help from Chrysler to create 10 2011 Kowalski Edition Dodge Challengers.

Starting life as a traditional 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, these white coupes have had their stripes removed and a handful of options added on. Inside, a pistol-grip shifter sits at attention and a numbered dash plaque is mounted nearby. On the outside, the Kowalski Edition Challengers sport Mopar quad exhaust tips, Scat Pack Bee decals in the rear quarter windows and a tasteful Kowalski Edition decal on the rear spoiler.

All 10 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Kowalski Edition cars have been spoken for, so if any owners are reading this and want their car delivered quickly, we can help set that up. We promise to avoid bulldozers and the fuzz.

[Source: Hemmings]

Pennsylvania dealer loves Vanishing Point, creates Kowalski Edition Dodge Challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pagani Huayra U.S. dealer network announced, both located in California

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, MISC

pagani huayra

Pagani Huayra – Click above for high-res image gallery

This is a brief announcement for the wealthy-elite amongst us. Pagani has announced that there will be two locations in the United States where the purchase of a Huayra will be possible. Should you be interested in procuring such a vehicle, we hope you like California.

The Auto Gallery of Beverly Hills and British Motor Cars of San Francisco have been selected as Pagani’s official jumping-off point here in the U.S. Both locations will sell the Huayra, yet neither location will keep a vehicle in stock. A demo car will be stateside but it will be relegated to press events – you have our contact information, Pagani – and select client viewings.

Pagani will examine a need for the addition of more dealers to its U.S. distribution network. In the meantime, Huayra deliveries coordinated through the two California locations will begin arriving towards the beginning of 2012. No word yet on the Huayra’s official price tag but bring quite a bit extra to cover the 9.75 percent sales tax in Beverly Hills or 9.50 percent sales tax in San Francisco.

Gallery: Pagani Huayra: Geneva 2011

[Source: Pagani]

Continue reading Pagani Huayra U.S. dealer network announced, both located in California

Pagani Huayra U.S. dealer network announced, both located in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW dealer network to undergo “radical change” as brand ramps up

Filed under: Volkswagen, Diesel

Dealers across the U.S. have been in shrink mode for years, as auto sales have dropped to the point where many stores could no longer remain open. That trend should reverse itself by 2014, though, at least for Volkswagen, as that brand looks to improve its sales volume here in the States.

Wards Automotive reports that VW’s drive to hit 800,000 U.S. sales per year by 2018 will result in an expanded dealer-base. In the near term, VW is looking at evolutionary changes to its 588 U.S. dealers to handle increased volume, but VW CEO Jonathan Browning said “radical change” will be in order as sales really start to take off.

How many dealers represents “radical change?” Browning isn’t interested in forecasting based on the fact that he doesn’t know how healthy the U.S. auto industry will be in seven years. But Browning did talk about new products and technology during an interview at the Passat launch in Chattanooga, TN, and the chief executive sees a seven-passenger vehicle in our future. One option could be a new Microbus based off the Bulli concept from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. He also claims that 20 percent of Volkswagen’s overall volume in the U.S. will pack clean diesel tech. The oil-burning engines won’t be featured across the entire model lineup, but could make up significant volume for vehicles like the Jetta and Golf.

[Source: Wards Automotive]

VW dealer network to undergo “radical change” as brand ramps up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Angry Chinese driver tows Range Rover back to dealer with donkeys

Filed under: SUV, China, Etc., Land Rover, Luxury

Range Rover towed by Donkeys

A man in Shenyang, China was reportedly so frustrated with his 2010 Land Rover Range Rover breaking down that he towed it back to the dealer and asked for a full refund. To add a little insult to his heady request, the spurned owner towed the stricken SUV with a pair of donkeys.

Apparently the guy paid ¥2 million (about $304,000) for the English SUV in 2010. Since the purchase, the car reportedly broke down six times and eventually needed a new engine. When it died a seventh time, the owner was apparently at wit’s end. The stunt managed to hammer the point home in a much less destructive manner than a certain Lamborghini owner recently chose. According to Asian auto news outlet TheTycho, the doubtlessly dumbfounded dealer refused to give the customer a refund.

[Source: TheTycho]

Report: Angry Chinese driver tows Range Rover back to dealer with donkeys originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chrysler puts the kybosh on Jeep dealer’s ‘Imported from Toledo’ schtick

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Jeep, Off-Road

Imported from Toledo t-shirt Chrysler has reportedly brought the hammer down on a group of Ohio Jeep dealers who cooked up their own version of the company’s “Imported from Detroit” slogan for the brand’s 70th anniversary. According to the Toledo Blade, Jeep dealers in the Buckeye State are being told the riff will weaken the impact of Chrysler’s most popular ad slogan in decades.

Chrysler has also made known that it is also not okay with word of a Wrangler with the slogan emblazoned on its doors driving on to the ice at Toledo Walleyes minor league hockey games. The slogan reportedly originated from Monroe Dodge Superstore in Monroe, Michigan (a short drive from Toledo), when owner Ralph Mahalak Jr., had 600 of the shirts printed up as part of a celebration to introduce Chrysler’s 16 new or redesigned 2011 models.

The shirts were selling for $19.41 a piece as a tribute to Jeep’s birth year, and were emblazoned with the “imported from Toledo” slogan and “Jeep 70th Anniversary.” To stave off a trademark battle, Mahalak has apparently agreed to give the shirts away to anyone who test drives a Jeep, and then kill the slogan.

[Source: Toledo Blade via Jalopnik]

Report: Chrysler puts the kybosh on Jeep dealer’s ‘Imported from Toledo’ schtick originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FTC to probe auto dealer practices

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

The Federal Trade Commission will hold a series of roundtable discussions about car dealers’ business practices next month. The talks will be held across the country in an effort by the FTC to get a feel for how car dealers are conducting themselves and whether their practices are fair to the consumer.

The discussions kick off on April 12 at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit and are free and open to the public. The main topic will be dealer financing, which is almost always a confusing, complicated process that can wind up costing car buyers more money than they originally intended.

The FTC is in the process of identifying experts in the field to attend the talks, including auto industry representatives and consumer advocates. More meeting times and discussion schedules will be posted to the FTC website as they’re made public.

[Source: FTC via The Truth About Cars]

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FTC to probe auto dealer practices originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadian BMW dealer holding contest to find ultimate blogger, $65K job up for grabs

2011 BMW 335is – Click above for high-res image gallery

Endras BMW in Ajax, Ontario has a sweet blogging gig open. The winner of the dealership’s Ultimate Blogger contest gets a free condo for a year, a new Bimmer every six months and a $65K a year starting salary.

Endras is looking for someone to represent it online, a job that includes attending press events, junkets and auto shows, as well as handling the outfit’s social media efforts.

To enter, write and submit a 200-word blog post on anything BMW-related. After Endras BMW management weeds out the entries that fail to impress, 20 semifinalists be asked to produce a video proving their obsession with performance.

In the last round of eliminations, the 10 finalists will get face-to-face interviews at Endras. After that, someone’s got a new job. If you want a shot at it, hop over to EndrasBMW.com and fire up your writing skills.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 BMW 335is

[Source: EndrasBMW]

Canadian BMW dealer holding contest to find ultimate blogger, $65K job up for grabs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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