Buying a used car? EricTheCarGuy is here to help!

April 23rd, 2013 by Dan Tole

Just about all of us have had to buy a used car at some point. A car purchase is fun and exciting. Out with the old and in with the new as some would say. Unfortunately used cars often come with gremlins from previous owners. There is nothing worse than finding hidden surprises in your new ride. This applies to cars from private sellers and dealerships. Not all dealerships are created equal and they can often overlook problems on trade ins and auction cars. Luckily there is some excellent information out there to help you make an educated buy. EricTheCarGuy on youtube has posted a 4 part series that shows exactly what to look for on a used car. This could save you thousands! Check out his videos below before making your next car purchase.

 

2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition with Cosmetic Updated Released

April 14th, 2013 by Angela

Ford‘s vision of a sports truck is entering a new model year with the 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition that keeps the mechanicals intact, simply adding some unique to this version cosmetic touches.

2014 Ford F-150

These cosmetic touches include a Ruby Red Metallic exterior color or optionally, Tuxedo Black Metallic, and boxside graphics on the outside, and ‘Brick Red’ seat bolsters with black inserts and cloth honeycomb highlights, console top finish panel and center stack and door panel applique accents, on the inside.

Aside from that, it is still the same Ford F-150 SVT Rapor we know powerede by a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 411 horsepower and o434 lb.-ft. of toruqe, mated to an electronic six-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD system featuring electronic shift-on-the-fly capability for the transfer case.

Red Bull Racing Pit Crew Breaks World Record by Changing Four Tires in Just Over 2 Seconds

April 13th, 2013 by Angela

red bull team changing tire

Over the years, the time taken to change a set of tires during a racing event has been going down from a few minutes at the dawn of racing, to less than three seconds in modern times. Recently, during the Malaysian Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing F1 pit crew changed the tired on one of their cars in a telemetry-confirmed 2.05 seconds.

This beat an older F1 world record that stood at 2.28 seconds. Apparently, the record was beaten no fewer than five times during the aforementioned race, and now the former record is not second in the hierarchy, but it is actually sixth.

Set last year by Jenson Button’s team, the previous record was a documented 2.31 seconds time, while he made a stop during the German Grand Prix. It is worth nothing that these record-breaking stops do not include filling the tank with fuel, and only the tires are changed. Nevertheless, you can’t argue with the very high level of coordination and teamwork it takes to achieve something like this, and do it consistently throughout an entire racing season.

Viper GTS Accounts for Almost 90% of SRT Orders

April 12th, 2013 by Angela

SRT only expected that it would only get a handful of orders for the more expensive Viper GTS model when it was first revealed, but it turns out that they were a bit on the pessimistic side.

2013 SRT Viper GTS Launch EditionDemanding a $23,000 premium over the standard Viper model, the GTS is packed with more luxurious interior amenities and modern technology, aiming to be more of an upscale model inside to match the beauty of the outside. With Graham Henckel stating that almost 90 percent of all Viper orders are for the GTS model, it is needless to say that SRT executives have been overwhelmed by the demand of the GTS model.

Instead of the base model manual ones, GTS owners are treated with power seats from Sabelt. They come standard with high-performance cloth in bright red, however buys can also opt for Nappa premium leather seats in black, red, or caramel.

“The GTS responds to a lot of those inputs from people who say, ‘I’ve had a basic Viper and that’s cool, and I really want one that’s more like a Ferrari inside,’” Henckel said in an interview with WardsAuto. “‘It’s rich and has modern electronics, and I can take it to a local car show and park it next to a Lamborghini and not be embarrassed by the materials in the car.”

Polk Says the Ford Focus Was the World’s Best-Selling Car in 2012

April 11th, 2013 by Angela

ford focus 2013According to Polk’s global new vehicle registration data for the full-year of 2012, the Ford Focus ranks as the best-selling vehicle nameplate in the world. Automotive data and trends forecasting supplier show that sales of the compact car totaled 1,020,410 cars worldwide.

With China registration up 51 percent last year, Ford‘s “global car” recorded market gains in China as well as the United States. To better understand, this means more than 1 in 4 Ford Focus vehicles sold worldwide went to China; meanwhile sales in the U.S. were up 40 percent in 2012.

The Fiesta, another global Ford,with 723,130 registrations last year,  earned the tops spot as the best-selling subcompact car globally. Ford’s registrations of small cars – Fiesta and Focus – totaled 1,743,540 units in 2012, according to Polk.

“Focus and Fiesta represent the culmination of our One Ford global product strategy,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service. “Since its launch in China in late March of last year, Focus sales continue to strengthen, with the car now ranking as the best-selling passenger car in China in 2012 for the first time ever,” Farley added.

 

Former Employees of Fisker Sue Company Because of Layoffs

April 10th, 2013 by Angela

fisker logoRecently, Fisker announced that they were letting go of about 160 of their employees, and now those workers are fighting back with a lawsuit. The law firm of Outtan & Golden claims that Fisker did not provide the 60 days written notice that is required when undertaking mass lay offs or firings. To rectify this, the law firm is going after Fisker for 60 days worth of wages and benefits for the ousted employees. The suit was filed on behalf of a former Fisker employee named Sven Etzelsberger, however it is seeking class action status.

Fisker told the affected worker that it could  not afford to give them severance pay. About 50 Fisker executives were kept on to help find perspective buyers for the company’s remaining assets, although if the lawsuit is a success, those assets may be needed. So it seems as though it is only a matter of time until the company files for chapter 11 bankruptcy.