Fuel Efficiency Tops Car Buyers’ List of Concerns

Gone are the days when the number one priority for car buyers was style and dependability. These days, everyone’s main concern is fuel efficiency, and with the increasing cost of gas this comes as no surprise. This top concern for car buyers around the world is likely to increase demand for hybrid and electric cars. It should also push auto manufacturers to design more fuel efficient cars, trucks, SUVs and vans.

However, according to many top executives in the auto industry, the ability for consumers to afford electric and hybrid vehicles is low. Many consumers will not be able to do so without some sort of government subsidy. Despite this trend, the executives still say that their investment in this type of technology is very important. It will become necessary some day to have vehicles that are extremely fuel friendly.

Working together to develop new fuel technologies is the best way for these auto manufacturers to increase their share of hybrid and electric vehicles. Of all major auto companies, 68% have joined alliances and taken on joint ventures to research and develop new technology that will increase the fuel economy of vehicles.

Around the world, an increase in fuel efficiency is a concern that is not being ignored. Automakers are taking on this challenge in many different ways, but they are all looking to find better technology that will make all cars more fuel-friendly, including conventional vehicles. The U.S. government has also taken action by passing a law that states that by 2016, all fleets in the United States must get an EPA estimated 37.8 miles per gallon.

Toyota Offers 0% Financing on Select Models

February is a month for sweethearts, and Toyota is offering up their own sweet deal. For the whole month of February Toyota is offering 0% interest rate loans for up to 60 months on select vehicles as well as no money down lease incentives.

The 2011 Toyota Camry and 2011 Tundra can both be purchased with no interest financing for 60-months. A purchase of the Toyota Camry also includes $500 cash back. A 39-month lease can be signed with no down payment and $249 monthly payments. The lease incentive also comes with $500 cash back.

The 2011 Toyota Prius, 2011 Toyota Corolla and 2011 Highlander are all available for lease incentives with a 39-month lease. The Prius offers $189 monthly payments with $2,188 due at signing. The 2011 Corolla is a $149 monthly payment with $2,148 due at signing and the Toyota Highlander requires a $2,278 down payment for $279 monthly payments. These three models are also available for purchase with 0% financing for 39 months.

Find your new Toyota at CarLocate.com and you could be driving off the lot with a pretty sweet deal.

Why There Won’t Be As Many 5-Star Vehicles This Year

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been performing their New Car Assessment Program, perhaps better known as the Five-Star Safety Rating System, since 1978. This year, however, they have decided to shake things up and have drastically revised the system. Due to the major changes, the 2011 models cannot be compared to previous years, and the ratings are not likely to be shown on new vehicles for at least a few more weeks, if not longer.

One major change to the test is the addition of a small female dummy. In years past, a medium-sized male dummy was used in all tests to represent all drivers. However, the NHTSA realized that this did not properly represent the American population. The new dummy is being used to represent smaller women and children, and injuries sustained to the smaller dummy will be compared to those of the larger. Other new features of the test include a side pole test, used to represent a vehicle’s collision with narrow stationary objects, such as trees or telephone poles, and the disclosure of whether or not vehicles come with crash-avoidance technology.

The NHTSA made the decision to update the test because they feel that after several years of being tested in the same way, automakers have figured out the protocol, and know exactly what they need to do to earn a top rating. Last year, almost every vehicle tested earned 4- or 5-star ratings, so the NHTSA decided it was time to raise the standards. This year, new models will also be awarded an overall score for the first time, based on their scores on each category. Each category will weigh in differently, and the new overall scores will make it easier for consumers to compare vehicles.

Simple Steps to Buying a New Car

The previous post gave 10 easy steps to making the process of buying a used car a little easier. But buying a new vehicle can be just as challenging. Cars are an expensive purchase, so you want to make sure you are buying the right car for your needs, but also not overpaying. While the amount of vehicles available ensures that you should be able to find your perfect car, the number of automakers, models, and trims make this a daunting task.

Since it can be difficult to know where to even begin, here are 10 steps to get started and guarantee that you make the right purchase:

1. Calculate how much you can afford
2. Narrow down your shopping list, based on which automakers and models you like, and what you can afford
3. Research the vehicles online
4. Know what the right price is. Research the MSRPs, compare dealerships’ pricing, and look into incentives and rebates
5. Decide whether you will lease or buy the vehicle. If you are buying, look into different financing options. It is also a good idea to look into insurance costs and warranties
6. Test drive
7. Decide exactly which vehicle you want. Choose the make, model, trim, color, and options
8. Sell or trade your current vehicle, if you are planning to do so
9. Negotiate. The MSRP is the suggested retail price, so you should be able to talk the dealer down. If you are looking at more than one dealership, use that to your advantage to get the best deal
10. Close the deal and drive away with your new vehicle