Automobile Club of Southern California chief executive retires
Thomas V. McKernan, chief executive of the Vehicle Club of Southern California, has retired after ration 46 years with the organization, including 21 in the top post. He was succeeded by Robert Bouttier, who previously was the club’s president and chief in commission officer.
McKernan started out as a customer service representative in the Pasadena branch in 1966 and worked his way up the corporate ladder, ration as a computer programmer and chief fiscal officer before his appointment as CEO in 1991.
McKernan spearheaded additional room of the club. Since 1991, connection in Southern California has grown by nearly 70% to 6.2 million. McKernan also went the organization into other states by acquiring AAA clubs in Texas, New Mexico and Hawaii in 1996. It now operates in 21 states and has 14 million members representing 30% of all AAA members in the people.
Bouttier, the new CEO, started his career as an insurance claims representative at a branch office 37 years ago.
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Article source: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-aaa-20120515,0,7589401.story
Car Finance Experts Car Loan 4U Comments on the New Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet
The UK’s leading car finance website Car Loan 4U comments on the new Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet, which is available to order now.
Macclesfield, UK (PRWEB UK) 14 May 2012
The latest Golf from Volkswagen is now available to order in the UK. Prices for the well loved GTI model start from just over £29,000* and car finance experts Car Loan 4U could help potential owners to secure Volkswagen car finance.
The convertible Golf GTI Cabriolet is available in both manual and dual clutch versions.
Featuring the latest technology yet staying right to the classic design, the new Golf GTI Cabriolet could be an ideal summer vehicle.
The exterior has an elegant radiator grille with red edging and the classic GTI badge across the front. Powerful 18-inch alloy wheels combined with a 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol engine make the new Volkswagen tempting for those looking for a new car.
Reaching top speeds of 147 mph in the dual clutch version, the new Golf is a promising vehicle for motorists.
Car Loan 4U Co-Director Ryan Dignan comments;
“The GTI series has stood the test of time as Volkswagen has continued to build on the highly successful range over six generations.
“The new rear door Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet is the perfect summer car for 2012 with a convertible roof that can be folded in under 10 seconds**
“Drivers looking to feel the wind in their hair might opt for a vehicle with convertible options. The new Volkswagen is available to order now and motorists can expect deliveries just in time for the British sun to start bright in July.
For motorists who can’t wait that long or want to explore their options, Car Loan 4U could help. They have rates starting from just 7.9% APR.
For your car finance needs visit: http://www.carloan4u.co.uk.
Twitter: @carloan4u
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carloans4u
Notes to editors
*£29,310 RRP OTR for the manual version
** The hood can be folded in 9.5 seconds
Ryan Dignan
Carloan4U.co.uk
01625 619 944 Ext. 7800
Email Information
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/car-finance-experts-car-loan-4u-comments-volkswagen-071045859.html
Automobiles & Parts
Three years ago when he started covering the automobiles and parts sector, Shin Chung-Kwan, a senior analyst at KB Investment Securities Co., expected Hyundai Motor Group’s design makeover and Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp.’s massive recall to offer a long-term upside momentum for the sector in South Korea.
“Vehicle sales in the U.S. and emerging markets have continued to rise since 2010 and Hyundai (Motor Group) has absorbed some of the demand on the back of its stuck-up feature and brand image,” said …
Article source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304746604577381222128562672.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
How to avoid car loan packing
Buying a car and taking out a car loan at a dealership can be a tough business for the consumer, but car salesmen defend their tactics by saying its their job to fit patrons and make a profit for themselves and for the dealer. They can’t earn anything if they are promotion every car at the manufacturer’s invoice price, right?
According to a recent report by the Center for Reliable Lending titled, “Under the Hood: Auto Loan Interest Rate Hikes Inflate Consumer Costs and Loan Losses,” patrons generally reckon they are being paid the best deal they can. But interest rate markups, purchasing loan add-ons (called “loan packing”), yo-yo sales and rolling in unenthusiastic equity all can inflate a deal’s total cost in a way patrons don’t generally know will cost them more money.
Carroll Lachnit, facial appearance editor for Edmunds.com, says she experienced loan packing firsthand when shopping for a new car recently. She researched the invoice price and Right Market Value (an Edmunds.com tool that allows you to see what people are currently paying for the same make and model in your region), sold her own trade-in, and shopped her own financing so she was informed about every aspect of her deal. Upon signing her final papers, the Finance Insurance, or F I, manager worked his magic on her with a litany of extras to add on to her loan. When he mentioned a three-year wheel and tire warranty for the run-flat tires she’d heard terrible things about, she chose to add it on.
“They beyond doubt got an extra $2,000 out of me, but I don’t feel like I got sold because I had done the investigate. I feel like I got a lot of peace of mind out of it,” says Lachnit.
Lachnit’s take-away:
- Watch out for excessive pre-loaded “front-end” extras such as rust-proofing, clear coat and mudflaps that simply inflate the price of the car, but add no extra value to the car. To save money, you can simply question for (and wait for, if necessary) delivery of a vehicle that has none of these extras.
- Investigate purchasing “back-end” add-ons such as a custom accessory, a warranty or gap insurance elsewhere so you know the actual prices, generally marked way up when sold from the dealer and packed into your loan.
- Remember that any time something is added to your loan, you are paying interest to buy it. You can likely buy it cheaper elsewhere for cash.
The sales representative will say you are protecting your investment, so be informed whether loan add-ons are necessary or not.
Have you ever experienced car loan packing or bought more car than you intended?
Article source: http://www.bankrate.com/financing/saving-money/how-to-avoid-car-loan-packing/
2011 Nissan Juke SV FWD M/T – Visiting the Big Apple
Will nonexistence make our hearts grow fonder of the Four Seasons Nissan Juke? The Ann Arbor-based Vehicle Magazine staff members will find out, because the quirky rear door just left for a stay on the East Coast with senior editor Joe Lorio, who had a lot to say about the car even before he left Michigan:
“I picked up the Juke on a rainy night in Ann Arbor before my drive home to New York. Cruising the Ann Arbor environs, I had a few early impressions, the first being: the Juke’s footing control is utterly worthless. Launching from a stop, I got tons of wheel spin and axle hop. What gives?
“The thought of skipping all-wheel drive in order to get the manual transmission would be a better one if the Juke’s footing control were at all effective. But it’s not. Anyone who often drives in slippery conditions probably should get all-wheel drive and suffer with the CVT. (Of course, a better solution would be for Nissan to offer AWD in conjunction with the manual transmission. Unfortunately, Nissan is stingy with the manual in this car, but that situation is common with other manufacturers, too.)
“My other early depression is that ride feature is pretty terrible. Impacts are very harsh. I reckon the Juke may challenge the Mini Countryman as the worst-riding vehicle of our current Four Seasons cars.”
Lorio’s comments turned more clear once he set off for New York:
“I was able to get a large, framed movie poster in the back of the Juke along with some other stuff. Bluetooth hook-up was simple. Seat comfort is OK. The seats position would be better if the steering wheel weren’t so far away (the column tilts but doesn’t telescope). The missing center armrest is a particularly irksome bit of cost cutting. On the other hand, the cloth upholstery is far nicer than the norm. Also, Nissan has done a fantastic job of making hard plastic in the cabin look square. The graining on the dash and door panels doesn’t scream cheap — same with the center console. The smooth silver bits are cool. At night, the view over the hood — a design aspect more vital than is generally recognized — is really clean, with the orange in succession/signal lights visible at the corners.
“The tiny turbo engine is really quite well matched to this car, and acceleration is sprightly. This is a far more lovely engine than the larger, naturally aspirated four-cylinder in the Cube. Part of that responsiveness, but, is due to the fact that the Juke’s gearing keeps the engine pretty busy. At 70 mph it’s rotary 3000 rpm, which may clarify the disappointing highway gas mileage: 28 mpg (indicated). That’s really not excellent for a car this small, particularly given that this one is front-wheel drive, not all-wheel drive.
“In contrast to the severity exhibited around Ann Arbor, the highway ride I found to be not terrible. The cruise control was fantastic at maintaining speed in hilly western Pennsylvania. I had a couple eye-widening moments of hydroplaning on these sporty substitution tires, though. That will jolt you out of the long-distance-pouring zone.”
Back home in the Empire State, he observed an indicated urban fuel mileage of 21 mpg; the car is rated at 25 mpg in the city (and 31 mpg on the highway). Even though the observed fuel mileage has been disappointing, Lorio praised the powertrain.
“During lots of starts, shifting, and accelerating, the clutch modulation and shift action are quite excellent,” he noted. “Despite this being a tiny four-cylinder, the turbo is well integrated, and throttle response is pretty linear. All this makes the Juke an suitable urban runabout. Even the ride feature — which seemed so harsh in Michigan — isn’t at all bothersome in New York, even though our roads are far from perfect.
“The footing control, but, continues to be worthless. And the torque spectacle is gimmicky. I’m also not seeing much value in having three powertrain modes — I’m mostly leaving it in Normal, because that’s the default every time you start the engine. Sport purports to firm up the steering a bit, but the standard level of help isn’t bothering me the way it did at first.
“The sloping, rounded rump really crimps the cargo hold. With the rear seats up, the luggage area is smaller than the trunk in many subcompact sedans, such as a Kia Rio or a Hyundai Accent. Even with the rear seats folded, it wasn’t huge enough to bring home our new grill.
“I reckon the frog-shaped Juke, following as it does the equally weird Cube, beyond doubt earns Nissan the title for most adventuresome styling of any major — or minor — auto manufacturer,” he concluded. “Be it for better or worse.”
The Lorios have a family excursion intended for Memorial Day weekend, and the Juke isn’t going to cut it as the vacation vehicle for his family of three and their gear, so they’ll drive something larger, perhaps his wife’s station wagon. The Juke won’t be sitting idle, but: New York bureau chief Jamie Kitman will get it next. Even though Kitman owns more than two dozen vintage cars, we’re certain he’ll find some time to drive the small Nissan. Check this space in June…
Article source: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1205_2011_nissan_juke_sv_fwd_mt_may_update/
Car finance experts Car Loan 4U explores the future of cars today
The UK’s leading car finance website Car Loan 4U looks at revolutionary cars, both ancient and new.
Macclesfield, UK (PRWEB UK) 10 May 2012
The concept of revolutionary cars is not new; they have been a common figure in science fiction films, comics and cartoons throughout the last century. Car Loan 4U looks at what the future cars of today could be.
As science and technology have continued to develop over the years, researchers have tried to turn fiction into reality. Whether this is developed into the thought of Knight Rider’s K.I.T.T car or James Bond’s well-known underwater car, these thoughts are now being place into practice.
The recent Beijing Motor show, which attracted over 2,000 companies from 36 different countries, showcased the very latest in revolutionary cars.
Some of which included vehicles that have a similar shape to a sofa but on larger automated wheels. Other vehicles featured interactive body shells.
The Toyota Fun-Vii* was one vehicle seen at the show, which the carmaker deemed as a smartphone on wheels. The revolutionary Fun-Vii claims to be the ultimate in vehicle personalization as the body shell panels can be changed to spectacle content and images you choose. The image or message, which can be downloaded through an app, can appear both in the interior and exterior of the vehicle.
Car Loan 4U Co-Director Ryan Dignan said;
“Concept cars can make motoring extremely fun; who wouldn’t want a vehicle that could glide or run under voice recognition?
“Whilst we can all dream of owning ultra modern high-tech vehicles, they will come with extremely high prices.
“The 2008 prototype vehicle, ‘sQuba**’, which can be submerged up to 30 feet in water costs more than $1.5 million to make. This is significantly more than what most motorists are set to splash out on a new car.
“If you’re looking for a new car, perhaps one that doesn’t swim, then Car Loan 4U could help.”
A car finance loan from leading car finance experts could start from just 7.9 APR.
For your car finance needs visit: http://www.carloan4u.co.uk.
Twitter: @carloan4u
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carloans4u
Notes to editors
*Toyota Fun-Vii http://www.newspress.co.uk/ViewPressRelease.aspx?pr=33169
** sQuba vehicle designed by Swiss car manufacturers Rinspeed cost more than $1.5 million to make. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-02-15-squba-car_N.htm
Ryan Dignan
Carloan4U.co.uk
01625 619 944 Ext. 7800
Email Information
Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/car-finance-experts-car-loan-4u-explores-future-072215696.html
South Korean IAEA Inspector Dies in Iranian Automobile Accident
Bloomberg
May 9, 2012 04:00 AM
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Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/05/09/bloomberg_articlesM3PDP66S972I01-M3QYG.DTL