Tag: study

Study: Average new-car fuel economy figures continue record pace

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Electric

Manufacturers are making more efficient cars and trucks; we’ve known that to be true for some time. Nearly every new car has some sort of trick to eke a few extra miles out of every gallon of fuel. Whether that be turbocharging, active aerodynamics or hybrid technology/electrified powertrains, the fact is that our vehicles are more efficient than ever before.

Thanks to a recent study by TrueCar, we’ve got fresh quantitative data to support the above statements. For the fourth month in a row, we’ve seen an improvement in national fleet fuel economy. We Americans are 0.7 miles per gallon more efficient than we were last month, and our cars are 1.6-mpg better than at this time last year. That said, we’re still down on 2013’s high, which was set back in January at 24.5 mpg.

Not only does this reflect the improved technologies in our vehicles, but it demonstrates a changing mindset among consumers, who are purchasing more efficient vehicles despite the relative stabilization of fuel prices. Every fuel-efficient model sold drives its manufacturers fleet average up.

The top three brands among mainstream manufacturers aren’t a huge surprise. Hyundai, which offers 10 models with four-cylinder engines (including the excellent Elantra range) took the top spot, while the diesel and turbocharged models from Volkswagen finished just 0.8 mpg behind Hyundai’s 27-mpg average. Honda is further back in third, thanks to its remarkably efficient four-cylinder engines. American makes didn’t fare as well, with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler all finishing below the 23.7-mpg industry average. This isn’t a huge surprise, though, as the Detroit Three are responsible for the vast majority of eight-cylinder pickups and muscle cars sold in the US.

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Average new-car fuel economy figures continue record pace originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Jul 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Lack of new midsize pickup models driving strong resale values for older models

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota

2012 Nissan Frontier

According to a new study by Black Book, the fact that there are fewer mid-sized pickup truck options on the market is driving up the retail cost of used models. During the month of June, used vehicles from model years 2007-2011 depreciated an average of 1.3 percent across the board, but midsize pickups of the same year saw their value decrease by just 0.7 percent on average. Look across the past year, and the market as a whole saw those cars depreciate by 13.7 percent while midsize pickups saw their value decline by a mere 5.1 percent.

Ricky Beggs, senior vice president and Managing Editor with Black Book, says midsize pickups are holding their value better than other products on the market due to the fact that there are so few brand-new options available. Currently, only Chevrolet, Nissan and Toyota offer midsize pickup trucks. Honda has a player in the game in the form of the Ridgeline, which is a sort of cross between a traditional pickup and a crossover, and the discontinued Ford Ranger falls into a smaller size class that no longer exists in the US.

What’s all this mean to you? If you happen to have a set of keys to midsize pickup in your pocket, you’ve made a good investment. Don’t expect to see the machine depreciate as quickly as other vehicles on the road. Conversely, if you’re in the market, expect to pay a bit more than you might have expected for a non-fullsize pickup truck. Scroll down for the press release from Black Book.

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Lack of new midsize pickup models driving strong resale values for older models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Ford F-150 bumps Camry from top of Cars.com American Made Index

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota

2013 Ford F-150 XLT

With July 4th just around the corner, what better time could there be for Cars.com to announce that the Ford F-150 is the Most American car of 2013? This may be especially true since it was the Toyota Camry, a car produced by a company based in Japan, that had held the top spot from 2009 to 2012.

Cars.com compiles its Most American list by considering the amount of parts each vehicle uses that come from America, where it’s final assembly takes place and how many units per year are sold. “While the assembly point and domestic parts content of the F-150 didn’t change from 2012-2013, vehicle sales are responsible for bumping the F-150 to the top spot,” according to Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief of Cars.com.

As far as automakers go (as opposed to individual models), Toyota retains the top spot it held in 2012, with General Motors, Chrysler, Ford and Honda (in that order) rounding out the list. The motivation behind this list each year, according to Olsen, is “to help car shoppers understand that ‘American-Made’ extends beyond just the Detroit three” and because “a study we conducted in 2012 indicated that 25 percent of shoppers surveyed preferred to buy American.”

It should be noted, however, that Cars.com isn’t the only group with an American-made study, and not everyone agrees on the methodology used. In fact, a highly detailed study earlier this year by American University’s Kogod School of Business found that the Lambda CUV triplets from GM are the most American-made nameplates, and there isn’t a single vehicle from a Japanese automaker anywhere near its top ten.

Feel free to browse the press release below to see how the full top-10 list breaks down.

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Ford F-150 bumps Camry from top of Cars.com American Made Index originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: East Coast states pay more for Check Engine light repairs

Filed under: Etc., Earnings/Financials

CarMD repair costs

Has it seemed like the cost to keep your older car on the road has gone up? Well, we have good news (you’re not going crazy) and bad news (repair costs are indeed going up all across the country). According to an annual study by CarMD, average repair costs have increased by 10 percent in 2012, with drivers in New Jersey paying the highest prices and those in Vermont paying the lowest.

Interestingly, states on the East Coast are paying more on average for common repairs, including diagnostic services when the dreaded Check Engine light comes on. Our nation’s capital saw the largest year-over-year increase at an alarming 20 percent, while Wyoming saw repair prices drop an average of 17 percent.

CarMD analyzed more than 160,000 individual repairs, targeting those that began with a Check Engine light. A full listing of the most- and least-expensive states can be found below, along with additional commentary from CarMD.

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East Coast states pay more for Check Engine light repairs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: New J.D. Power Initial Quality Study puts Porsche, GM in spotlight

Filed under: Car Buying, GM, Porsche

Porsche Emblem

J.D. Power and Associates has released its annual Initial Quality Study, and this year, Porsche and General Motors took the spotlight. The study, which asks new car owners to report problems experienced during the first 90 days of ownership, found that overall, the industry averages 113 problems per 100 vehicles.

Porsche managed a score of just 80 problems per 100 vehicles, while GMC took the second spot on the podium with 90. Lexus filled out the top three with 94 problems per 100 vehicles, followed by Infiniti at 95 and Chevrolet at 97. The study also looks at specific models, and found the Lexus LS to enjoy the best initial quality at 59 problems per 100 vehicles.

Interestingly enough, the report found that around two-thirds of most owner problems experienced in the first 90 days are attributable to vehicle design instead of mechanical failure. Specifically – echoing a refrain we’ve been hearing for the last few years – owners are having a hard time figuring out how to use the technology present in their new vehicles. Head over to the J.D. Power site for more information, or scroll down below for the company’s related press release.

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New J.D. Power Initial Quality Study puts Porsche, GM in spotlight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: GMAC Insurance test suggests one-in-five drivers would fail driver’s test

Filed under: Etc., Safety

driving fail

Our roadways are filled with crappy drivers. It’s an unfortunate fact that we take our lives into our hands every time we strap on a seatbelt and head out on the open road. But at least we all have passed the most basic test of driving skill, right?

Sadly, according to a recent test carried out by GMAC Insurance, a driver’s license may not mean what we think it means. Apparently, one-in-five drivers would fail their driver’s test if they had to retake it today. Such simple rules about what to do when approaching a yellow light and how much distance to leave in between the car ahead were answered incorrectly by a shocking three out of four drivers.

After three consecutive years at the bottom of the list, New York drivers managed to move up to 45th, leaving the District of Columbia to earn their spot as the worst drivers in America. Kansas drivers scored the highest. In other us-versus-them news, men managed to score a significant six-percent better than women, and drivers between the ages of 60 and 65 scored the highest.

Check out the complete press release after the break for more interesting tidbits, and feel free to take a simple test yourself at the GMAC Insurance website.

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GMAC Insurance test suggests one-in-five drivers would fail driver’s test originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Consumer Reports: Car buyers will pay for higher fuel economy, won’t compromise safety

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Safety

Toyota Prius models at a dealership

According to a survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, new car buyers are factoring fuel economy as a larger concern in their purchases. That’s no real surprise given that prices at the pump remain high, but the study also revealed that those same consumers are unwilling to sacrifice safety just to net a few additional miles per gallon.

The research revealed that 62 percent of buyers say they are planning to buy a vehicle with much better or significantly better fuel economy than their current ride. On average, that translates to fuel economy of 29 mpg or better. Surprisingly enough, 10 percent of those questioned said that they expected 40 mpg or better from their next purchase. That means that buyers will need to be willing to make all sorts of concessions, including making compromises on purchase price, vehicle size and the number of options.

One factor those surveyed evidently won’t give up on, however, is safety. Only 11 percent of the total respondents said they would be willing to compromise safety for greater fuel economy. Read the complete summary over at Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports: Car buyers will pay for higher fuel economy, won’t compromise safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Are gas prices changing home buying habits?

Filed under: Etc., Earnings/Financials

gas station

Rising gas prices have an affect over many aspects of our lives. Besides increasing the cost of operating automobiles, more expensive fuel leads to an increase in the cost of shipped goods, food and airline tickets. Can gas prices also create changing attitudes amongst home shoppers?

Coldwell Bankers Real Estate recently conducted a survey of real estate professionals, and it found that 75 percent reported clients reevaluating where they search for homes. Home shoppers are looking to reduce commuting distance in order to reduce fuel consumption. The survey found that 77 percent of real estate professionals saw an increase in the number of folks looking for home offices and 68 percent of that pool believe the surge is attributable to rising fuel costs.

The folks at Nielsen have a different take on the matter, however, and believe U.S. consumers have adjusted to a new “spending reality.” Folks are adjusting their spending habits to conserve where possible, but Nielsen doesn’t believe it’s on the level of the 2008 economic freakout.

So now we’re going to turn to you, dear Autoblog reader. If you’re in the market for a house, have rising gas prices shaped your search in any way? Sound off in Comments.

Are gas prices changing home buying habits? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Toyota still tops in supplier relations, but only just

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota

toyota emblem logo

When it comes to manufacturing and selling a complicated product like an automobile, a company’s relationship with its suppliers is of huge importance. A good working partnership can translate into higher levels of reliability and lower cost as well as early access to cutting-edge tech. According to a new study conducted by Detroit-based consulting firm Planning Perspectives, Toyota has one of the best relationships with its suppliers among all of the world’s automakers. The Detroit Bureau reports that this is the first time in three years that the Japanese automaker has held the top slot.

Honda came in just behind Toyota in the study, but Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have made serious strides toward improving their supplier relationship. In the past, the domestic automakers have continuously pressed their suppliers to produce parts with a lower price tag, which generated conflict. That seems to be changing, however. The Planning Perspectives study says that Ford may even overtake Honda and Toyota in coming years.

Meanwhile, Japanese automakers have seen their supplier relationships degrade over repeated recalls and other quality issues.

Toyota still tops in supplier relations, but only just originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study says 7.4% of Lamborghini models purchased by women, and other gender curiosities

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Performance, Truck, Luxury

2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera – Click above for high-res image gallery

A study released by TrueCar.com revealed that 7.4 percent of Lamborghini buyers in 2010 were women, a 2.2-percent rise over the previous year. Rolls-Royce and Ferrari also saw an increase in purchases by females, with Rolls climbing from eight percent to 9.3 percent and Ferrari going from 5.1 percent to 6.4 percent.

Those increases take the number of ladies who buy exotics from next-to-nothing to very small, but an increase is an increase. TrueCar doesn’t offer an explanation as to what may have caused the uptick. Got any ideas? Leave ’em in the ‘Comments’ below.

Overall, the survey showed that females are far more likely to buy an inexpensive and practical car than males, who are much more likely to opt for big, brawny cars. According to the study, the top 10 cars that sold more than 50 percent of the time to women were the Volkswagen New Beetle, Kia Spectra, Nissan Rogue, Volkswagen Eos, Hyundai Entourage, Volvo S40, Jeep Compass, Honda CR-V, Nissan Sentra and the Hyundai Tucson. Surely you saw some of those coming…

Conversely, the list for men was far less practical (excepting pickup trucks, of course) and far faster. It included the Porsche 911, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-Series, BMW M3, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tundra, Dodge Ram and the Audi S5. Well done, men – that’s not a bad lookin’ list right there. Check out more details and commentary in the press release after the break.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

[Source: TrueCar]

Continue reading Study says 7.4% of Lamborghini models purchased by women, and other gender curiosities

Study says 7.4% of Lamborghini models purchased by women, and other gender curiosities originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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