Get Ready for Good Deals at Your BMW Dealership found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/10/get-ready-for-good-deals-at-your-bmw-dealership/

 

There was a time when owning a new BMW meant you had achieved ultimate success. The brand was the pinnacle of luxury and, in order to buy one, you had to be able to pay the asking price. Dealers didn’t need to negotiate too much because they knew a willing buyer was always around the corner.

That was the nature of BMW. It took cash, and a lot of it, to have the pleasure and the privilege of owning the exclusive ultimate driving machine.

Times are changing, though.

Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and even Lexus sell cars that can outshine a Bimmer. That’s a truth being felt at dealerships across the country, and BMW devised a plan to do something about it. It loaded up dealers with vehicles in an attempt to increase volume and become the number-one luxury nameplate in America.

That plan has backfired.

An automaker will typically liquidate inventory when a glut of unsold cars piles up on dealer lots. They’ll entice shoppers with money back or cheap leases to move metal and make room for incoming vehicles. Heavy incentives are typically the fare of non-luxury automakers that will sacrifice some brand equity for a quick sale, but the luxury automakers try to avoid such tactics to keep residual values high.

BMW, though, finds itself in the uncomfortable position of having too many unsold cars sitting at dealerships. Automotive News said,

Comments from BMW executives confirm bearish remarks made by major dealership groups that said cars such as the 3 Series were sitting on showroom lots, declining in value with each day.

We can partially blame cheap gas for the unsold inventory. Sales of BMW’s X3 and X5 SUVs are up as American consumers have driven off lots confident that fuel prices will remain low. The rest of the blame falls on BMW for chasing the sales crown.

Everyone wants to be number one in sales, but in order to do that automakers have to drive traffic into dealerships and have a wide variety of vehicles available for immediate purchase. That can backfire when the demand isn’t there and the cars wind up on the lot, slowly depreciating, for months. That’s what happened with the 3 Series, but don’t expect BMW to make that mistake again anytime soon.

BMW and its dealers will want to quickly clear out their 3 Series inventory, along with the slow-selling electric i3, to make room for more in-demand vehicles, so the environment is ripe right now for scoring a great deal on the 3 Series of your dreams.

If, that is, you’re okay with your neighbors having one, too.

Will you try to score a deal on a BMW?

Find Certified Pre-Owned Cars and Used Cars in your area at CarGurus.

-tgriffith

Used BMW 3 Series
Used BMW X3
Used BMW X5
Used BMW i3

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Quick Fix: How to Use a Walnut to Remove Scratches on Your Hardwood Floor [GIF] found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/09/quick-fix-how-to-use-a-walnut-to-remove-scratches-on-your-hardwood-floor-gif/

Let’s face it: Scratches on your hardwood floors may be unavoidable. Everyday life — especially in a house full of kids — can be bound to lead to a scratch or two (or even three!) on your once-gleaming boards. But rest assured, there’s a quick and inexpensive fix. All you’ll need is a healthy snack.

Why does this trick work? According to BobVila.com, the oils present in the walnut will layer over and help fill in the scratch.

Step 1: Grab a walnut. (Yes, a walnut!)

Make sure to use a raw walnut. It should not be candied, spiced or cooked in any way.

Step 2: Rub the walnut over the scratch.

You’ll want to rub it in the same direction as the wood grain. It should only take a few passes with the walnut to help make the scratch disappear.

Step 3: Brush your fingers over the area.

A few strokes should do the trick!

Step 4: Let the scratch area sit for five minutes.

The walnut’s natural oils need time to soak into the wood.

Step 5: Buff the area with a washcloth.

If you don’t have a washcloth handy, BobVila.com says any soft cloth, such as a dishcloth, can work.

Voilà! The scratch is gone.

Don’t try this trick if you have an allergy to walnuts. And remember, if you have dogs, you’ll want to keep them out of the area until you’re finished cleaning up the scratches. Walnuts can be poisonous to them, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says.

Have several scratches and want to get the work done faster? Get your kids involved. Tell them it’s like coloring — just make sure they don’t try to eat the walnuts afterwards!

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The post Quick Fix: How to Use a Walnut to Remove Scratches on Your Hardwood Floor [GIF] appeared first on The Allstate Blog.

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Mitsubishi’s Fuel-Economy Issues Haven’t Hurt U.S. Sales found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/09/mitsubishis-fuel-economy-issues-havent-hurt-u-s-sales/

Mitsubishi doesn’t sell a lot of cars in the United States.

The Japanese automaker has teetered for years on the brink of pulling out of the market, but has managed to sustain itself within a tiny niche of affordable entry-level vehicles. There was a time when the company offered a full stable of vehicles, including the Endeavor SUV, Eclipse coupe, Galant sedan, and, of course, the cult-favorite Evolution.

Today’s lineup includes variations of the Outlander small SUV and a couple of miniature cars, the Lancer and Mirage.

Mitsubishi has certainly flown under the radar in recent years, which could be why a new scandal involving deceptive fuel-economy claims has gone largely unnoticed in the U.S.

Regarding Mitsubishi, the New York Times said,

Last month, it acknowledged cheating for the last 25 years on gas-mileage tests for cars in Japan, embarrassing top executives and tarnishing a name that has been dented by scandal before. Since then, its stock price has plunged, and it has had to halt production of the tiny models at the center of the scandal.

Not only has a quarter century of cheating in Japan not hurt Mitsubishi sales in the U.S., the company seems to be on the verge of thriving here. I use the term lightly, of course, but U.S. Mitsubishi sales are up almost 9 percent over last year to nearly 35,000 cars so far this year. That’s not too bad. In fact, it’s more than Lincoln, Porsche, Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo have managed to sell through April.

The NYT article says that Mitsubishi is finding success because it’s addressing a market other automakers largely ignore: people looking for an entry-level car on a tight budget. A buyer can spend about $15,000 on a used car, or get into a new Mitsubishi for about the same price.

Mitsubishi’s quality and reliability rankings continue to be below average, but the value proposition and real-world fuel economy have combined to secure the company’s place at the bottom of the U.S. market, regardless of scandals in other parts of the world.

Would you rather buy a used car or a new Mitsubishi?

-tgriffith

Find Certified Pre-Owned Cars and Used Cars in your area at CarGurus.

Used Mitsubishi Endeavor
Used Mitsubishi Eclipse
Used Mitsubishi Galant
Used Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Used Mitsubishi Outlander
Used Mitsubishi Lancer
Used Mitsubishi Mirage

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Six Cars Worthy of CarGurus Moms found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/six-cars-worthy-of-cargurus-moms/

Sitting in the back seat of a Chrysler Town & Country on the way to the pool, eating Pepperidge Farm Goldfish and listening to the Evita soundtrack—her unfortunate obsession with Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals aside, some of our most prominent childhood memories include driving around with Mom. Mom drove us to school, to soccer practice, to church. Mom drove us to the grocery store, she picked us up from our friends’ houses. To put it simply, Mom is the best. Not only did Mom operate extremely valuable (but hardly lucrative) livery services for her children, but she managed to do so while also meeting the demands of a professional career.

CarGurus is lucky to have more than a handful of fantastic moms as part of our incredible company. With Mother’s Day this Sunday, we decided to interview some of our great Guru mothers and find out a little bit about their first cars, what they drive now, and what they’re hoping to drive in the future.

Amy Mueller | Public Relations Manager

Amy Mueller, CarGurus’ Public Relations Manager, got more than she and her husband, Greg, bargained for when they had their first child. Two more, in fact, since they ended up having triplets. Maddy, Olivia, and Abby gave Amy and Greg a heaping helping of the joys of parenthood but also presented practical puzzles, like how to find a vehicle that could safely fit not only Amy and her three daughters, but also the triple jogging stroller she used to cart the girls around before they could walk. Amy wanted a vehicle that could fit all three girls in the second row in their child seats so she could reach them all, and since this was pre-CarGurus, finding one was a lot more difficult than she expected. Amy and Greg considered, and rejected, just about every midsize and compact SUV, finally settling on a 2001 Toyota Sequoia (once owned by Bill Belichick, for you Pats fans!). That vehicle worked, but was bigger than Amy liked, so she recently downsized to a 2010 Honda Pilot, bought new. She “love[s] the flexible third-row seating, comfortable second row (for all three kids), and ample cargo storage.” Amy looks forward to being able to drive a smaller German car at some point and finds the Audi A5 tempting.

Ashley Karr | Marketing Manager

If you’re shopping for a car, and you just happen to have a newborn infant, then there’s a lot to consider before making the purchase. Ashley Karr, a Marketing Manager here at CarGurus, recently bought a used Volvo XC60 T6. We have recently praised the XC60 for being one of the safest SUV/crossovers on the market, but safety isn’t the only thing Ashley considered when purchasing the the XC60. “Since we had an infant, I knew I didn’t want a new car because it was going to get wrecked with sticky fingers soon enough!” – a reasonable sentiment to have when considering value. But still, the used XC60 is fun to drive and offers some great features like comfortable seats, Bluetooth, a backup camera, and a large cargo area “so we could easily toss all their stuff in the trunk.” Though Ashley thoroughly enjoys her XC60, she still has dreams of owning a Jeep Wrangler – a vehicle she realizes is “completely impractical for my life now (snow + babies does not equal an open-roof vehicle…).”

Nicole Schena | Dealer Account Specialist

Though she has a practical everyday ride with her Toyota RAV4 Limited, Nicole Schena, a Dealer Account Specialist, drives a 2011 Chevy Camaro SS because “this mom likes to have a little fun!” It is true that a Camaro SS is not a great car for your kids, but, since Nicole’s kids are currently driving themselves, it’s safe to say they aren’t a necessary consideration in what Nicole wants to drive. They weren’t a huge factor when choosing her RAV4 either; in fact, the backseats are a bit of a tight fit for her tall kids. But the RAV4 does offer the great gas mileage and low maintenance that she was wanted. And, of course, she needed a ride that was good in the snow. Living in Boston certainly makes that a necessity. Nicole definitely likes her Chevrolet sports coupes: her first car was a 1980 Chevy Monza – white with red interior – and she has dreams of owning a 1967 Camaro SS.

Mihaela Bujoreanu | Software Developer

Contrary to popular belief, not all CarGurus are car enthusiasts. Mihaela Bujoreanu, a software developer and one of the company’s first employees, drives a dark blue 2012 Subaru Tribeca (mercifully not the homely B9 iteration), and openly admits, “really, cars are not my thing” and says that her dream car might as well be the Batmobile. Her first car was a silver Toyota Corolla but, as a mother of two, Mihaela needed a car large enough to fit 2 child seats without using up all available passenger space, and safety was a primary concern. Like nearly every Subaru, the Tribeca scores very well in safety tests and offers all-wheel drive, but Miheala also appreciates the backup camera and leather upholstery. We think she’d enjoy the new 2017 Impreza when shopping for her next car, because she wishes the Tribeca weren’t quite so big and tall.

Renel Fredriksen | Senior Controller

Renel Fredriksen, CarGurus’ Senior Controller, describes herself as a cautious driver interested in safe, efficient cars. At 5 feet, 3 inches tall, she also hates having to re-position everything in the cabin after her tall husband drives her car. She started with a manual-transmission 1963 Dodge Dart with over 100,000 miles and no seatbelts that she named Brunhilda, and she now drives a nameless 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid. She “wish[es] it wasn’t black, but I got a good deal on it (thanks, CarGurus!) so can’t complain.” Renel had two children in the ‘80s, and she’s very proud of the fact that she successfully passed along her concerns about car efficiency and safety, as her daughter Amanda lives in California and proudly commutes by bicycle (which is healthy and cool, but safe?), and her son Travis and his wife each drive a Subaru, Travis an Outback and his wife an Impreza.

Sheila Carlson | Senior International Account Executive

If you’re shopping for a car with 7- and 9-year old kids, space might not be an immediate concern. When Sheila bought her 2012 Mini Cooper Clubman S, named Freida, she was mostly looking for a fun commuter car with good fuel economy. Well, Freida delivered; it returns 35 mpg on the highway, and Sheila loves the little runabout’s acceleration. Now that her kids are 11 and 13, however, the rear seat is getting a little tight, but her dog Jules doesn’t mind it at all (she usually sits in the front, anyway). Sheila’s MINI isn’t the prototypical mom-mobile, but its barn-door style trunk makes loading and unloading easy, and, compared to her first car (a 1974 Chevrolet Nova), parallel parking is rarely a tight squeeze. Freida will probably be sticking around, as Sheila’s oldest, Gavin, already sees the MINI as an excellent option for when he earns his license in a few years. Of course, that doesn’t stop Sheila from window-shopping for her dream car: the 2017 Jaguar F-PACE. In her words, “Happy Mother’s Day to moi!”

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone! What do you think is the perfect car for a driving Mom?

Used Honda Pilot
Used Volvo XC60
Used Toyota RAV4
Used Subaru Tribeca
Used Honda Civic
Used MINI Cooper Clubman

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Your Favorite Car: Modern or Vintage? found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/your-favorite-car-modern-or-vintage/

Cars have gotten so good in recent years that a new base model can be better than an older top-of-the-line performance model. Engineers have managed to coax much more horsepower out of smaller, more efficient engines while also increasing vehicle size and improving ride and handling.

Comparing new cars to vintage cars isn’t really feasible for buyers looking for the latest in safety and technology features. For buyers who want fun performance without the frills, though, it might be worth going back a few years (or decades) to find a model that was once considered the best an automaker had to offer.

A great example of this is comparing an older BMW M5 to a new 3 Series. Yahoo News posted a great article on the topic and said,

With the refreshed 3 Series and a new 340i model, we now have a regular 3 Series that has more power than the Porsche-beating M5 of the ‘90s.

And it inevitably raised the question: is a regular 3 Series better than an older M car with similar power and weight? There are fewer differences than you think—they’re nearly the same size, with the 340i being a couple inches wider and taller, but four inches shorter.

The general consensus is that the new 3 Series is better than an older M5 in terms of power, transmission, and handling. The older car, though, is praised for its steering feel, which the new electronic systems can’t duplicate.

It could be argued that the vintage cars excel in high style while the new ones have the market cornered for high tech. Old cars capture the soul and passion of automobiles while new cars lack the emotional bond between man and machine. That’s probably because the bond has been replaced by computers that make most of the driving decisions. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL illustrates that pretty well when compared against a modern SLS AMG.

What about a Mustang? The base 2016 Mustang V6 is probably better than a 4.6-liter V8 GT from a decade ago. Both offer about 300 hp, but the new car has better handling and improved fuel economy. The V6, though, won’t come close to the auditory experience provided by the V8.

Should people turn up their noses at old cars? Of course not. People who prefer the raw engineering and simplicity of vintage cars will keep them from going obsolete, while the modern technology of new cars will continue to redefine what a driver’s car should be.

What’s your favorite car, and do you prefer the modern version or a vintage model? 

-tgriffith

Find Certified Pre-Owned Cars and Used Cars in your area at CarGurus.

Used BMW M5
Used BMW 3 Series
Used Mercedes-Benz SLS-Class
Used Ford Mustang

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Manufacturers’ Glut Is Good for Buyers found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/05/manufacturers-glut-is-good-for-buyers/

This is a great time to be both a new-car buyer and a used-car shopper. Market conditions are perfect for great deals.

The Old Gray Lady (or as non-journalists call it, The New York Times) did an article recently on how the current record-breaking sales figures for automobiles are bad news for the manufacturers. However, here at CarGurus we know those numbers are good for consumers, and here are three reasons why.

Strong Supply
As reported by Business Insider, car sales have hit record numbers. Right now manufacturers are on pace to sell 17.4 million vehicles in 2016. But the problem is it’s not necessarily the right mix of cars.

Carmakers are increasing fleet sales, which isn’t a bad thing for consumers. It means the equivalent used cars sell for less, because fleet sales hurt resale value.

A lot of these fleet sales end up in rental-car fleets, too. Those cars get driven lots of miles in a couple of years and then get sold. That affects the used-car market by increasing supply. Also, with almost one-third of new vehicles being sold as leases, there is a steady stream of relatively low-mileage used cars hitting dealership lots.

Strong supply makes it a buyers’ market for both new and used cars.

Great Loan Terms
A company called Black Book did a survey among auto lenders, and it shared some of the highlights with CarGurus. Two-thirds of lenders expect interest rates to remain at their current low levels. Also—and this is great news for those with less-than-stellar credit—lenders will expand their credit eligibility criteria.

Something else they will do is start financing older vehicles. That means less-expensive used cars, typically the bailiwick of buy-here, pay-here dealers that charge high interest rates.

What does it mean for you as a consumer? You should not have much trouble getting a loan. However, resist the temptation to stretch out those monthly payments. A full quarter of car loans are now more than 72 months, or about 6 years, with some up to 7 years.

That makes for low monthly payments, but it also puts you at risk. According to one study, a $31,000 car will be worth about $11,000 after 5 years. That means it will have lost 65 percent of its value through depreciation, with about a third of that drop coming after the first year. By year 6, it will probably lose another 8 percent, and it could be worth a lot less than the balance of your loan if something happens.

A good rule of thumb is if you can’t pay off a new car in 5 years, you can’t afford it. With used cars you shouldn’t have more than a 4-year loan.

Small Cars
In the market for a small car? It’s definitely a buyer’s market. According to a list compiled by 24/7.com, the 2015 Cadillac ELR and the Honda Insight take an average of over 200 days to sell. The Dodge Avenger is pretty close at 194 days, and the 2015 Fiat 500L and 2015 Cadillac ATS each approach the 150-day mark.

What vehicles are going to be tough to get a deal on? 24/7.com says these are the five fastest selling vehicles and how long they sit on dealer lots: 2016 Subaru Outback, 16 days; 2016 Honda HR-V, 17 days; 2016 Toyota Highlander, 18 days; 2016 Mercedes-Benz GT vehicles, 18 days; and, 2016 BMW i8, 19 days.

-Keith Griffin

Find Certified Pre-Owned Cars and Used Cars in your area at CarGurus.

Shopping for a new or new-to-you vehicle this weekend?
Bring along CarGurus’ mobile app to help check prices, find good deals, and research cars on your smartphone.

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Little Known Facts about Safes found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/05/little-known-facts-about-safes/

For an item as ubiquitous and universal as safes, very few people know about their history, or the technical aspects of their construction. Here’s our primer on little known facts about safes.

The higher the price, the more quality the safe

While this equation isn’t always true with every kind of product, with safes it definitely is. The more expensive the safe is, the stronger it’s doors and body are, the thicker the metal is, and these safes contain materials that can blunt drills, cutting tools, and even disperse heat. Cheap safes, on the other hand, can be opened with the strike of a skilled hand – think about cost as a measure of how expensive the materials are, and with how much care they are constructed.

 

Safes should be Hidden

Make sure to conceal safes; by hiding it, any burglar will have to find it before even being able to attempt to enter it – making it even less likely that they will be able to steal from you. An even greater security tactic is to hide the safe in the floor or within a wall – this will cover up it’s weaker sides, and allow you to hide it in a way that most people wouldn’t be able to see.

 

The more inaccessible the safe is, the better it’s hidden

The most secure safes are the one’s that are hardest to access – any safes that are made invisible, or even inaccessible, requiring some kind of advanced exhumation are completely protected from the average thief. This is the best possible way of hiding a safe – however if it’s a safe you want regular access to, this strategy might prove inconvenient, if superiorly secure.

 

Safes can be cut

This is why adding additional layers of concealment is such a good strategy. Although a quality safe will be protected from the average criminal, if you’re handling something truly priceless, you may be dealing with a more advanced level of burglar. It’s worth it to bear in mind that even Diamonds and Steel can be cut with the right tools – so it’s important to keep your investments secure by not only investing in the highest quality safe, but by making it as hard to access as possible.

 

How Criminals can Break into Safes

We are all familiar with the cinematic trope of the burglar cracking the safe by using a stethoscope to listen for the clicks – this isn’t really that common. Most criminals aren’t lockpicking experts – they are mostly concerned with getting out of there as quickly as possible. The majority of thieves will steal the entire safe; the common approach to mitigate this risk is to bolt the safe directly to the floor. This should never be done,a s then the thief can use the floor’s leverage to pry open the door of the safe with a crowbar. Expensive safes made of strong material can be broken into using angle grinders or torches – advanced and uncommon equipment, but equipment that is surely out there in the world. Whether you have a safe in your hallway closet or in a bank, they are not completely impervious – making the importance of concealment and deterrents an even more pressing issue.

 

 

The post Little Known Facts about Safes appeared first on Top Locksmith Blog.

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Ready or Not, Here Comes the Porsche Wagon found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/05/ready-or-not-here-comes-the-porsche-wagon/

News coming out of Stuttgart, Germany this week is being met with emotions ranging from pure exhilaration to downright depression.

My first reaction ranged from sadness to disappointment, but has now eased into acceptance of the new world in which we live.

The auto industry is in a constant state of evolution and this latest development is merely a reflection of the sacrifices that must be made in order to carry on certain traditions. One of those traditions is the purest form of automotive enjoyment: the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car.

I think we have to admit that some sports cars are still in existence because other, less awesome, vehicles foot the bill for their survival. Such is the case with the Porsche 911 and the new *gulp* Porsche Panamera wagon.

I found out about the news when my local Porsche dealer posted a link on their Facebook page accompanied by nauseating joy and exuberance. Words like, “dream car,” and “Thank God!” filled the post, which linked to an article overflowing with more rejoicing.

Why are people so excited? The Panamera is a well-built and comfortable luxury sedan, but it looks like a beached beluga whale. It’s a nice car to drive, but Porsche shouldn’t be in the business of building cars that are nice to drive. That’s the realm of Lexus, and it should stay there. Porsche builds (or used to build) cars that are fun to drive and invoke a quickened pulse while instilling just enough fear to keep the pedal from being pushed all the way to the floor.

I guess I qualify as a Porsche purist because I believe that a Porsche interior should smell a little like oil and that the roar of the engine should come from behind the seats. A Porsche should not be well-civilized, it should be a little unpredictable and wild.

I do understand, however, that times have changed and that an automaker must conform to the market if it wants to survive. Unfortunately for purists, the market demands front-engine luxury vehicles with a lot of space, which is what led Porsche to develop the Cayenne, Panamera, and Macan.

Those are the vehicles, though, that keep Porsche funded well enough to continue production of the 911.

I’ve learned to accept the SUVs and the big sedan, but a Porsche hatchback wagon will be harder to swallow. Even the CEO of Porsche Cars North America seems cautiously optimistic. Here’s what Automotive News said,

“We have to have some patience for [the wagon] to arrive in the U.S.,” said [Klaus] Zellmer, CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “But we are confident that this car will be well received here, despite the fact that this country doesn’t really like hatchbacks or wagons.”

I do hope the Panamera wagon finds success here, even if just to fund the development of real sports cars. Expect it sometime in 2017.

Do you think Porsche should bring the Panamera wagon to the United States?

-tgriffith

Find Certified Pre-Owned Cars and Used Cars in your area at CarGurus.

Used Porsche 911
Used Porsche Panamera
Used Porsche Cayenne
Used Porsche Macan

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Honda to Offer Electric, Hybrid, and Hydrogen Versions of Clarity found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/04/honda-to-offer-electric-hybrid-and-hydrogen-versions-of-clarity/

With its hydrogen-powered Clarity, Honda promises to deliver an alternative fuel source that it hopes will prove as viable as electricity.

Honda figured out how to package the vehicle as a standard five-seat midsize sedan with all the room and versatility buyers in the segment expect. Plus, it can carry enough hydrogen to propel it for over 430 miles and needs only three minutes to fill at a refueling station.

Previous efforts at creating hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles were limited by large tanks that infringed on passenger space, took too long to refuel, and didn’t provide nearly as much range. The Clarity, despite its odd proportions in the rear, is a design marvel that could bring hydrogen power into the mainstream.

Except that Honda will also create electric and plug-in versions of the Clarity. Why?

Here’s what Car and Driver said of the upcoming car,

Other than the assertion that the Clarity Electric will be a battery-powered five-seat hatchback, the only details Honda has shared so far are that it will come standard with the Honda Sensing suite of active-safety technologies and offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities as options. Info on the battery pack, driving range, and price are anybody’s guess.

That still doesn’t explain why Honda would take a car that was designed to accommodate fuel cells and electrify it. The only reasons that make sense are that Honda wants to spread the costs of development to a wider audience while developing Clarity into an eco-friendly brand, much like the Prius family of cars. As an EV, or even a plug-in hybrid, the dimensions of the Clarity stop making sense, but maybe the extra space for hydrogen tanks will be filled with batteries.

The hydrogen Clarity will be a California-only affair and come priced at $60,000 but carry a lease price of about $500 per month. Electric and plug-in versions will be less expensive and become available throughout the U.S. by the end of 2017.

Which version of the Honda Clarity would you drive home: hydrogen, electric, or hybrid? 

-tgriffith

Find Certified Pre-Owned Cars and Used Cars in your area at CarGurus.

Used Toyota Prius

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100 Years of Motorcycle Advancements found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/100-years-of-motorcycle-advancements/

For many motorcycle riders, the classic bikes will always be the best — there’s even a Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, celebrating some of history’s most iconic motorcycles. But innovation in motorcycle design has not stood still, and today’s motorcycles consistently deploy improvements in technology and performance. Here’s a brief look back at some of the major advancements of the past 100 years, plus a glimpse of what might be coming next.

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Past Advancements (1916-1980s)

While motorcycles of various types have been around since the late 1800s, many of the important safety and performance features were added within the past 100 years. Things like lines painted on the roads and stop signs helped make roads safer in the 1910s, but it was the 1920s that saw a major advancement in the technology of stopping.

Front Brakes: In the early 1900s, motorcycles had brakes on the rear wheel only, which worked just fine on the bikes of the time. But in the mid- to late-1920s as motorcycles got faster and more powerful, additional stopping power became more of a priority. According to the National Highway Transport Safety Association (NHTSA), Harley-Davidson was the first motorcycle manufacturer to add front-wheel brakes in 1928. The company’s Model JH boasted a front brake operated by a hand lever to provide riders “double safety” and “smooth and velvety” stopping, according to Harley-Davidson.com.

Standardized Controls: Before the 1970s, there were no federally mandated standards for motorcycle controls, according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). Manufacturers designed motorcycles with the clutch, brakes, turn signals and other controls that could be positioned in various places. Since 1972, Federal regulation has set out where motorcycle controls must be placed, helping to make it easier and safer to switch from one motorcycle to another.

Fuel Injection Systems: American cars began to feature fuel injection systems in the 1950s, according to the Petersen Automotive Museum. It took much longer for electronic fuel injection technology to be deployed in motorcycles, which continued to rely on traditional carburetors. In the early 1980s, the prospect of tighter emissions regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency caused motorcycle manufacturers to turn to fuel injection systems, which use sensors to help ensure fuel is burned more efficiently, according to RideApart.com.

Antilock Braking Systems (ABS): The NHTSA explains that Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) automatically control motorcycle brakes to help prevent the wheels from locking up during sudden braking. RideApart.com says that ABS technology was applied to bikes in the late 1980s — not long after it was developed in cars. A more recent development in motorcycle technology is “cornering ABS,” a type of ABS that BMW made available on production bikes in 2014 that helps prevent wheels from locking even when brakes are applied quickly on corners, says MotorbikeWriter.com. 

 

Recent Advancements (1990s-2016)

Dual Compound Tires: Motorcycle tires can wear unevenly, according to Rider Magazine. Because most bikes spend more time traveling straight, the center of the tire typically wears faster than the shoulders. Harder tires generally last longer, but may not give as good a grip when turning.

Developed in 1994 by Michelin for use on its racing motorcycles, dual-compound tires combine harder rubber in the center of the tire, improving durability and tire life, with softer rubber on the shoulders that typically grips better on corners, according to goodbikers.net.

Airbags: The introduction of airbags to cars was a major safety advancement. However, creating an airbag for a motorcycle presents some obvious challenges. MotorbikeWriter.com explains motorcycles airbags are being developed, but the technology hasn’t spread widely. Other motorcycle and safety equipment manufacturers are working on vests, worn by the rider, that use sensors to deploy a wearable personal airbag in the event of a collision. But, as of 2016, these technologies have not yet been widely adopted.

Traction Control: Traction control is another relatively recent safety innovation for motorcycles, which can provide some additional protection against skidding, according to AutoEvolution.com. In 2008, Ducati was the first motorcycle manufacturer to introduce traction control in a production motorcycle, says motorcycle.com. Traction control uses the sensors in a motorcycle’s ABS to measure the speed at which the two wheels are spinning. If the two wheels are running at significantly different speeds, traction control reduces power to the rear wheel (which is most likely to lose traction because it’s powered by the engine), helping to improve stability for the rider.

Dynamic Brake Lights: Dynamic brake lights are meant to help indicate how hard a motorcycle is braking by utilizing a two-stage brake light system, according to the British Motorcyclists Federation. In many dynamic brake light systems, one set of lights is engaged during ordinary braking, while another set is turned on when the bike gets closer to a standstill. This provides an additional warning to trailing vehicles that the motorcycle is decelerating very quickly and/or coming to a complete stop. In 2015, BMW introduced dynamic brake lights for six of its 2016 models.

 

The Future (2016 and Beyond)

Hubless Wheels: Missing the spokes we normally associate with motorcycle wheels, hubless wheels look futuristic. Jalopnik.com explains that instead of spokes, hubless wheels have a rigid inner ring attached to the rotating part of the wheel. It’s not all for show, either — the advantages of hubless wheels include reduced stress on the motorcycle’s structure, improved steering accuracy and less vibration, so they may catch on more widely, according to Jalopnik.com.

The bottom line is that motorcycle are constantly evolving, just as they have for the past century. New technologies and creative engineering have helped improve both the safety and performance of motorcycles, and will continue to do so in the future. What will be the next big thing? We can’t wait to find out.

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Jeff Ward is SH Rallycross’s New GRC Driver found on https://robertnmaker.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/jeff-ward-is-sh-rallycrosss-new-grc-driver/

With the Bull Global Rallycross season opener fast approaching May 21-22 in Phoenix, Arizona, silly season has become serious. Today Jeff Ward and SH Rallycross announced that he will be driving the #07 Ford Fiesta ST in eight races in 2016. In previous GRC seasons, the #07 car was piloted by Nelson Piquet Jr. While at publication time we haven’t heard anything official from Piquet, the natural assumption is that he will be concentrating his efforts in the nascent Formula e series as he is gone from the Red Bull GRC website roster. However, Ward brings a formidable competitive edge to rallycross, including seven AMA motocross championship wins and an Indycar win in 2002 at Texas Motor Speedway. He competed at the Daytona double header and Washington DC  in 2015, filling in for Brian Deegan.

Jeff Ward

Patrik Sandell has signed on for a second year with Bryan Herta Rallysport. Also piloting a Ford Fiesta ST, this will be the Swede’s fourth year competing in GRC. He had one win in Detroit in 2015 and four podium finishes.

Detroit 2015

Sandell, Washington DC 2015

There are a few more newcomers to Lites:

• 15 year-old Cole Keatts will compete on the OMSE team with a background in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and the JR2 Kart championship
• Cabot Bigham joined Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, coming to GRC from FCC Pro Formula Mazda
• Travis Pecoy and Christian Brooks join AF Racing
• Jackie Heinricher is noticeably off the roster, concentrating on the Super Trofeo series – leaving Collete Davis the sole female competitor.

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