Monday, March 26, 2012
For Advertising Information Contact Your Local Cars.Com On-The-Move Sales Team at 599-2329
The Medford Mail Tribune, JaMie lusch/The associaTed Press
Bruce Sargent charges his electric car at the grand opening of the Electric Highway station at Chevron on March 16 in Central Point, Ore.
First big piece oF ‘electric HigHway’ gets juice
By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. — Following a trail blazed by Indians and pioneers in covered wagons, electric car drivers hit the road Friday to inaugurate the first major section of a West Coast “Electric Highway” dotted with stations where they can charge up in 20 minutes. The stretch of 160 miles of Interstate 5 served by eight stations marks the next big step in developing an infrastructure that until now has been limited primarily to chargers in homes and workplaces. The stations go from the California border north to the Oregon city of Cottage Grove and are located at gas stations, restaurants and motels just off the nation’s second-busiest interstate. One is at an inn that was
once a stage coach stop. Spaced about every 25 miles, the stations allow a Nissan Leaf with a range of about 70 miles to miss one and still make it to the next. Electric car drivers will be able to recharge in about 20 minutes on the fast-chargers. The charge is free for now. “I would say range-anxiety with these fast chargers will be nearly a non-issue for me,” said Justin Denley, who owns a Nissan Leaf and joined the caravan. Inspired by the stations, his family is planning a trip from Medford to Portland, a distance of about 280 miles. Last summer, he took the family on a 120-mile trip to the coast and had to include an overnight stop at an RV park to charge up. He expects the trip to Portland to take perhaps three hours longer than
in a gas car, because the only chargers available for the last 100 miles are slower, level 2 chargers. Level 1 car chargers use 110 volts, like a regular home outlet, and it can take an entire night to charge a vehicle. Level 2 uses 240 volts, like a home dryer or range, and can charge a car in three or four hours. But Level 3, which uses 480 volts of direct current, makes en route charging feasible by boosting a Nissan Leaf’s 45-kilowatt battery from a 20 percent charge to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes. Bruce Sargent said, when he was using a Level 1 charger at home, he barely noticed the difference in his electric bill. When he installed a Level 2 charger, it went up about $15 a See JUICE, Page 2
Page 2 / Monday, March 26, 2012
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Nissan to bring back Datsun car brand — but not in US By Jerry Hirsch Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — Nissan Motor Co. is bringing back the Datsun brand, but American drivers are unlikely to see any new vehicles adorned with the storied name. Nissan is positioning Datsun as a lower-cost brand in emerging markets. The new line will go on sale in India, Indonesia and Russia in 2014. The Datsun brand dates to 1931 as the nameplate of Japan’s DAT Motorcar Co., which was purchased by Nissan in 1933. The car was first known as a Datson, and later changed to Datsun. The marque grew to international prominence by featuring well-engineered, sporty cars such as the 240Z and Datsun 510 sedan in the United States. Much of that growth is attributed to Yutaka Katayama, the auto marketing guru who spearheaded Nissan’s launch into the American car market. Katayama, who is 102, worked in a variety of marketing jobs before being exiled by senior management in 1960 to what looked like a dead-end position in the United States because of his opposition to a company-backed union. At the time, Nissan sold barely 1,000
vehicles in the United States under the Datsun brand name through independent distributors. Katayama, known as a savvy marketer and enthusiastic gearhead, turned the company into a household name. The Japanese executive started with an ad budget of just $1,000, one engineer and an office clerk, wrote author David Halberstam, who chronicled Katayama’s story in “The Reckoning,” his 1986 book on the auto industry. The first Datsun office was in an old Mobil oil building in downtown Los Angeles. Katayama later moved to Gardena, Calif., where there was a large Japanese-American population that he believed might be more accepting than other consumers of products from their ancestral country. It turned out that they liked the American cars of the time better. Katayama was among the first Japanese auto executives to understand that foreign cars had to be customized for the American market. He understood that the initial Datsuns were underpowered and unrefined and nagged the home office for improvements such as bigger engines, better fit and finish and improved brakes. His badgering paid off in 1968, when the new Datsun 510 models arrived at
the Port of Los Angeles. The 510 was a small, durable four-door sedan that performed well and sold for a price — around $1,800 — that was within nearly everyone’s reach. Automotive buffs compared the car favorably to the BMW 1600, a German-made sedan that sold for about $5,000 at the time. The 510 powered Datsun to a sales boom, especially in import-friendly California. U.S. growth boom turned Nissan into an international automotive powerhouse. In 1981, Nissan decided to phase out the Datsun name. The company wanted to sell all its cars under the same name, no matter what the market. But that strategy lasted only a few years until Nissan launched its Infiniti luxury division in 1989. Now it makes sense to establish a third brand to sell in developing markets, said Aaron Bragman, an analyst with IHS Automotive. “What this does is safeguard the Nissan and Infiniti brands,” Bragman said. The new Datsuns will be small, inexpensive cars without the power and amenities of Nissan’s other brands. To sell such vehicles under the Nissan name could hurt the reputation of the parent brand, he said.
Harley-Davidson Softail Slim a stripped-down throwback By Susan Carpenter Los Angeles Times
Motorcycles represent a lot of things: freedom, power, fearlessness. With Harley-Davidson’s new Softail Slim, unveiled Wednesday, “exposure” would also be appropriate. The Milwaukee manufacturer has stripped its classic Softail to its skivvies with a retro bobber that highlights the brute force of the machine. Starting at $15,499, the newfor-2012 Softail Slim represents a sort of Harley-style spring cleaning, for which every bit of bling was removed to showcase the bike’s essentials.
The chassis, in a sense, is merely a black-and-chrome accessory to the star of the show: the engine, which is the same guttural and counterbalanced 103 cubic inch V-twin Harley rolled out for the 2012 model year and is standard equipment on all Softail and Touring models. Designer Casey Ketterhagen intentionally left a peekaboo gap between the tip of the seat and the tail of the tank, so riders can see from the saddle the mule that’s making them move. And he left the fender struts uncovered to expose the steel and fasteners underneath and more distinctly draw the line between this modern-day
production custom and its postWorld War II inspiration. The Softail Slim marks the return of Harley’s so-called Hollywood handlebar — a cross-braced accessory to Springer-fork Harleys that used the extra slab of metal to mount lights and bags. The “cat’s eye” console on top of the five-gallon tank is also a nod to the past, though its vintage-looking face is given away by its modern electronic speedo. The Slim is, of course, a modern motorcycle, hard as it tries to look retro with its bobbed front and rear fenders and lack of overt glitz. In terms of suspension, that’s a
distinct positive. Although the Slim’s suspension is designed to mimic the look of a vintage hardtail, and the engine is rigid-mounted within the frame, the coilover-shock absorbers are invisible to the rider because they’re mounted within the frame rails. Like the Seventy-Two Harley-Davidson also introduced Wednesday, the Softail Slim is going for more shimmer than Harley’s embraced in recent years. The powertrain is finished in a black powder coat, but the engine covers are polished, and the air cleaner cover, headlamp and oil tank are all gloss black.
The MedFord Mail Tribune, JaMie lusch/The associaTed Press
An electric car fast-charging statioin stands ready off Interstate 5 in Central Point, Ore. The Oregon Department of Transportation opened the first 160-mile section of an Electric Highway that will ultimately allow electric cars to travel from Canada to Mexico along the nation’s second-busiest interstate.
Juice From Page 1
month, still far below what he was spending on gas. “For drivers to build confidence in driving hundreds of miles like they do in gas cars, they need an infrastructure,” said Wahid Nawabi, senior vice president of AeroVironment, Inc., the Monrovia, Calif., company that makes the stations. Interstate 5 stretches 1,350 miles from British Columbia to Baja, Calif. The section from Ashland to the Willamette Valley follows an ancient Indian trail that was expanded by pioneers who blazed a southern branch of the Oregon Trail in the 1840s. The governors of Oregon, California and Washington signed an agreement to turn I-5 into an “Electric Highway” in 2009. Oregon made a deal with Nissan in 2010 to start aggressively installing charging stations if the company focused sales of electric cars in the state, said Art James, project leader for the state transportation department. The latest addition is
financed by $915,000 in federal stimulus grants. “That’s why Oregon is a leader,” with about 1,100 plug-in electric vehicles in the state, James said. By the end of this year, DC fast-chargers will be installed along I-5 from Canada to the California border, a distance of about 550 miles. Another 22 are being installed in locations as far away as 120 miles from Portland, Oregon’s largest city. The eight new charging stations each have a level 3 charger, and a level 2 charger for backup. Drivers equipped with an electronic key fob can drive up and plug in around the clock. They get the fob when they sign up with AeroVironment’s charging program. Stations can be located with smartphones and software on the cars. The Interstate 5 stretch is not the first electric highway corridor in the country. That honor goes to Tennessee, where Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants installed a network of charging stations last year along interstates connecting Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga, a total of 425 miles.
Monday, March 26, 2012 / Page 3
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
SuperCenter 3127 W. Tennessee St. | Tallahassee, FL
Champion Chevrolet
Champion Chevrolet
Champion Chevrolet
Champion Chevrolet
Champion Chevrolet
Champion Chevrolet
‘03 CHRYSLER PT Cruiser
‘07 CHEVROLET Uplander
‘07 MAZDA CX-7
‘10 HYUNDAI Elantra
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, Pwr Sunroof, CD Player, AM/ FM Radio, PW.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PS.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, PW.
$7,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$13,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$14,878
1-888-700-0213
$15,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘07 MITSUBISHI Outlander
‘04 DODGE Ram 1500
‘06 NISSAN Murano
‘06 JEEP Liberty
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
A/C, Tilt Wheel, AM/FM Radio, PS.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise, PS.
$15,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$16,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$17,982
1-888-700-0213
$17,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘09 CHEVROLET Malibu
‘06 HONDA Odyssey
‘08 BUICK Lucerne
‘11 CHEVROLET Malibu
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, Pwr Moonroof, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW.
A/C, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Leather Upholstery, Cruise, PS.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
$17,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$18,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$19,995
1-888-700-0213
$21,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘11 DODGE Grand Caravan
‘10 FORD Mustang
‘07 BMW Other
‘10 GMC Sierra 1500
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise, PS.
A/C, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise, PS.
A/C, Tilt Wheel, Pwr Moonroof, CD Player, AM/ FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise, PS.
$22,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$22,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$23,995
1-888-700-0213
$26,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘11 FORD F-150
‘10 ACURA TSX
‘10 LINCOLN MKX
‘10 TOYOTA 4Runner
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, AM/FM Radio.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, Pwr Moonroof, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Leather Upholstery.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
$26,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$26,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$29,900
1-888-700-0213
$29,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘05 CHEVROLET Corvette
‘07 HUMMER H2
‘10 TOYOTA Highlander
‘10 TOYOTA Tundra
A/C, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Leather Upholstery, Cruise.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, Pwr Moonroof, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Leather Upholstery.
$31,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$34,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$36,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
Tremendous selection of quality, certified GM vehicles to choose from!
TD-0000202562
$37,995
1-888-700-0213
www.championchevy.com • 888-700-0213
Page 4 / Monday, March 26, 2012
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Infiniti EX35 one stylish family hauler
Four ways to get around while dodging gas prices By Greg Dawson
Infiniti From Page 4
2012 INFINITI EX35
McClatchy Newspapers
n The package: Compact, pre-
Review
Guy SpanGenberG/InfInItI/MCt
The 2012 infiniti eX35 is the only vehicle in its segment with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. the same engine as the FX35, the V-6 model. Starting price is about $7,000 less, however. The EX does not offer a V-8 engine, though, as the FX50 model does. Standard on the EX are leather seats; a rearview camera; automatic climate control with rear vents; cruise control, 18-inch aluminumalloy wheels; power windows, mirrors and door locks; remote keyless entry with keyless push-button start; polished aluminum roof rails; heated outside mirrors; automatic headlights; and a USB port for iPods.
There are heated front seats on the all-wheel-drive models. It’s powered by the same engine used in the earlier G35 sedans, a 297-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. EPA ratings are 17 mpg city/24 highway with either rear- or all-wheel drive. Last year, a new seven-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous five-speed. Also added then were the 18-inch wheels and more available high-tech equipment. Dual-zone automatic climate control became standard last year
ORLANDO — With the cost of gas seemingly stuck in the stratosphere, a growing number of motorists are becoming more and more frustrated when they fill up at the pump. But what’s an outraged motorist to do? These four don’t fret; they just use other modes of transportation.
Moreover, the anecdotal evidence argues against owning and driving a car. “It seems there are a lot of car wrecks,” she said. “A lot of high-school and college kids get killed.” Kelly thinks she is in good company. “I’ve noticed all the vegetarians and celebrities — none of them seem to own a car. It’s better for the Earth.”
Scooter
Bicycle
The Orlando Sentinel
By G. Chambers Williams III The popular Infiniti EX35 compact luxury crossover is back for 2012, now with a starting price of $35,800 for the base rear-wheeldrive model, and $37,200 for that model with all-wheel drive. Or igi na l ly rolled out for the 2008 model year, the five-passenger EX35 is Infiniti’s entry-level crossover, and also is one of the brand’s best-selling models. The EX offers sporty performance in a car-based crossover chassis that has SUV-style seating and cargo-carrying capability. We tested the up-level Journey model with rear-wheel drive, which has a base price of $38,100. The Journey with all-wheel drive, the top of the line, begins at $39,500. Added as standard equipment for 2012 Journey models is a universal garage/gate opener, which previously was available only as part of the Deluxe Touring Package. Above it in the Infiniti crossover lineup are the five-passenger midsize FX35 and FX50, and the allnew, U.S.-built seven-passenger JX, which went on sale this month. Infiniti also offers the eight-passenger, full-size QX56 sport utility. Built on the same architecture as the Infiniti G sedan, the EX35 competes in a crowded class of vehicles that includes the Acura RDX, BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Cadillac SRX, Land Rover LR2 and Audi Q5, among others. It also goes up against sedans in the entry-premium segment. This is essentially a smaller version of the FX, and has essentially
Monday, March 26, 2012 / Page 5
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
as well, and there is now an option for 19-inch wheels and tires. Unlike many of its competitors, the EX has standard rear-wheel that helps give it a sporty driving experience. It’s also the only vehicle in its segment with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. Unlike many family crossovers, the EX is quite fun to drive, and feels a lot like an Infiniti sedan. When you’re on twisty roads, it’s easy to forget you’re in what’s essenSee INFINITI, Page 5
mium, five-door, five-passenger, V-6 powered, rear- or all-wheeldrive crossover utility vehicle. n Highlights: This is Infiniti’s compact crossover, and is aimed at women, young families and empty nesters. With impressive V-6 power and a seven-speed automatic transmission, it’s great fun to drive. It also has a long list of impressive high-tech options. n Negatives: Back seat is a bit cramped for adults. n Engine: 3.5-liter V-6. n Transmission: Seven-speed automatic. n Power/torque: 297 HP/253 foot-pounds. n Length: 182.3 inches. n Curb weight: 3,753-3,980 pounds. n Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock. n Cargo volume: 18.6 cubic feet. n Side air bags: Front seatmounted; roof-mounted sidecurtain for both rows, standard. n Electronic stability control: Standard. n Fuel capacity/type: 20 gallons/ unleaded premium recommended (but not required). n EPA fuel economy: 17 city/24 highway (all models). n Base price: $35,600 plus $950 freight. n Price as tested: $43,295, including freight and options (2WD Journey model). n Rating: 9.3 out of 10
tially a station wagon. The intelligent all-wheeldrive system is useful in snow and rain, but also helps guide the car through curves on dry pavement. But it’s not intended for serious off-road driving, and the car has a fairly low ground clearance — just over five inches — which won’t allow it to clear rocks and other off-road obstacles. The EX35 earned the “Top Safety Pick” designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, getting the top score, “Good,” in separate front-, rear- and side-impact and roof-strength tests. Among the standard safety features are electronic stability control with traction control, dual-stage/dual-threshold front air bags with seatbelt and occupant-classification sensors, roof-mounted sidecurtain air bags for both rows of seats, front seat-mounted driver and passenger sideimpact air bags, and frontseat active head restraints. The EX also comes with rear child-seat anchors and tethers, tire-pressure monitoring, and four-wheel antilock disc brakes. There is a long list of optional safety equipment as well, although the Top Safety Pick designation was not based on any of these extracost features. Those include the Infiniti lane-departureprevention system, intelligent cruise control, distancecontrol assist and intelligent brake assist with forward collision warning. Another option is a blindspot warning system, which
signals the driver with a light if another vehicle is detected in the blind-spot area on either side of the car. If the driver activates the turn signal with another vehicle in the blind spot, the indicator flashes and a warning tone sounds, as well. The blind-spot warning system is included in the Technology Package ($2,750), which also brings the lanedeparture warning and prevention system, intelligent cruise control with distancecontrol assist, and intelligent brake assist with forwardcollision warning. With this package, though, you’re also required to have the P remium Package ($2,900) and Deluxe Touring Package ($2,400). All three were included on our Journey tester. The Premium Package adds a navigation system and Bose audio system. The navigation system comes with a seven-inch LCD screen, and includes a 9.3-gigabyte hard drive for music storage and playback. Versions with the Bose premium audio system but without the navigation system have a 2-gigabyte hard drive for music storage. Total sticker for our tester was $47,100, including freight and options. It’s really not necessary to pay that much for an EX35, if you can live without all the high-priced, high-tech gadgetry and other extras. Without them, you’d still have a great premium crossover for under $37,000, including leather interior. —G. Chambers Williams III has been an automotive columnist for the Fort Worth StarTelegram since 1994. He can be reached at chambers@startelegram.com.
Quintin Worcester, a 28-year-old disabled Iraq war vet, found the daily commute to culinary school in his Chrysler Concorde was eating a hole in his bank account. It wasn’t just the 20-mile round trip from his Orlando apartment to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. It was getting up every morning at 6:30 to take his girlfriend, Toni Cloutier, to her job, then schlepping back home before leaving at 10 for school. The four-door, V-6 Concorde gets about 20 mpg. “It was costing me way too much in gas,” Worcester said. “It pretty much caused me to get a scooter.” Worcester and Cloutier, 23, ended up with hisand-hers scooters that get 70 mpg. The scooters cost $1,674 each. They require top-grade “super” gas, but even so, Worcester figures he is saving at least $230 a month by parking the Concorde. The couple use their scooters for every transportation need — “unless we have a major groceryshopping list,” he said. Worcester and Cloutier are not alone in their brainstorm. Sales at Wild Hogs Scooters in Winter Park, Fla., where they bought the scooters, are up 30 percent from last year, said own-
thinkstockphotos.com
er J.J. Rupp. “Most people say they’re tired of paying for gas.”
Afoot
Tyger Danger, 23, learned to hate the car commute in Washington, where the University of Florida graduate worked as a magazine editor. “It was about eight miles from where I lived to work — almost an hour in traffic,” she said, her voice weary with the memory. “A large majority of my paycheck was spent on gas.” After spinning her wheels for a year in D.C., Danger moved to Orlando and found a job at a downtown publicrelations company — and a home in Thornton Park, Fla., a mile and a half away. At first she tried driving to work, but parking downtown was costly and tiresome. “I had to run down and feed the meter three times a day,” she said. After a month of that fire drill, Danger hit on a pedestrian solution: She could walk to work. She loves her 20-minute stroll to work as much as she detested the soul- and budget-draining commute in D.C.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “I see Lake Eola every morning. It’s always an interesting scene. It gives me a chance to mentally prepare for the day — and it saves me a bunch of money.”
Bus
Tori Kelly, 33, has never owned a car — “by some strange freak of nature, call it an act of God,” she said. She is content to take the bus to and from her job at the University of Central Florida, where she works in the financial-aid office, as well as to her part-time job at the Orlando’s Amway Center arena. She continues to take the bus even though a recent move from her home near UCF has increased her commute temporarily from five minutes to two hours. Kelly hopes to find another home soon near UCF. Buying a car instead is not an option — not at today’s gas prices. And aversion to cars just seems to run in the family. “My mother never drove,” said Kelly, who doubts she has the hand-eye coordination to be a good driver.
After signing the lease on their condo, Joey McCoy and his fiancee, Amy, had a rude awakening: Homeowner-association rules did not allow McCoy to park his company work van, with its logo, on the premises, so he had to leave it at work. McCoy, 31, couldn’t take the couple’s car to work because they have a 14-month-old son. “I can’t leave her without a vehicle,” he said. “If there is an emergency, it needs to be there.” The couple tried a routine that proved exhausting for all involved. “To get to work, I had to wake everybody up, put the baby in the car; my fiancee had to drive me there and back — two round trips a day.” After nine months, McCoy decided there had to be a better way that involved less crying. He now bikes 5 ½ miles each way to Ferran Services, an electrical contractor, near downtown — a piece of cake for a selfdescribed “fitness nut.” A nd the switch cost almost nothing. “I was going to buy a bike, but my cousin had one sitting in his garage and gave it to me,” he said. “All it’s cost me so far is two new inner tubes.”
Page 6 / Monday, March 26, 2012
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Peer-to-peer car sharing aims to Murky trouble code earn owners cash points to ignition coil Under the hood
By Naomi Nix Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — Three years ago Jackie Capozzoli purchased her dream car, a silver 2006 Jeep Wrangler. But her graphic design job at Groupon and her side business making and selling jewelry keeps her so busy she rarely drives it. Now the 23-year-old Chicago resident has a shot at making money with her unused car. The latest twist in the carsharing market has companies helping owners of private vehicles rent them for short periods to people in their neighborhoods. Last month San Francisco-based RelayRides entered the Chicago market as part of a national rollout, and Capozzoli signed on. RelayRides lets car owners set their own rental pricing but suggests they charge about $5 an hour, or $40 a day, for a full-size sedan; specialty vehicles might command higher rental prices. Renters are responsible for returning vehicles in the same condition they were in when picked up, with the same amount of gas in the tank. Under the RelayRides banner, the owner of the vehicle receives 60 percent of the rental proceeds and grosses an average of $250 a month, said Shelby Clark, who founded the company in 2010 and is a 2004 graduate of Northwestern University. For years, car-sharing enterprises Zipcar and I-Go have appealed to city dwellers looking to save money. They rent their vehicles for short periods; the vehicles
are available at parking lots or stations across the city. Making the argument that using a car-sharing service works for the occasional driver isn’t hard. The average cost of owning and driving a sedan 10,000 miles a year is $7,632, according to a 2011 study from AAA, a nonprofit drivers group. Still, renting out a personal car and thereby not having it ready for use at any time is a huge psychological barrier for some people. “Old habits die hard. Transportation habits in particular die hard,” said Dave Brook, a car-sharing consultant with Team Red U.S., who has worked with RelayRides in the past. “(People) just sort of automatically go for the keys.” Peer-to-peer car sharing faces other hurdles as well: Car owners have to accept that if their vehicle is trashed or crashed that damages will be covered. RelayRides, which advertises its service online, said that its car owners are covered by a $1 million insurance policy and that it checks that each renter has a valid driver’s license that matches his or her credit card. A renter who gets into a fender bender is responsible for the first $500 in repairs. The company said it charges the renters and reimburses car owners for minor damages such as stains from spilled coffee or pets. Inconsiderate renters are often rated unsatisfactory by fellow users and can be kicked out of the program, RelayRides said. Still, car owners worry. Before Capozzoli listed her Jeep on RelayRides, she was nervous the car might get
scratched. “I love my car, and I take care of my car,” she said. At the same time, money from renting her Jeep will offset the $500 to $600 a month the vehicle costs her. “I think the benefits outweigh the risks,” she said. Some people who have signed up to rent their cars like the idea of helping neighbors. Kevin PattonHock, 52, who said he has been involved with RelayRides in Somerville, Mass., since 2010, said he earns $200 to $300 a month renting his 2009 Hybrid Ford Escape. “Initially it’s sort of been about getting some extra cash,” said Patton-Hock. “(Now) it’s just sort of a nice thing to do in your neighborhood.” In January the reputation of peer-to-peer car sharing took a blow when HiGear, which focuses on luxury vehicles, made headlines after thieves using stolen identities drove off with four of its users’ cars. Last month HiGear was acquired by Rent2Buy, a luxury car rent-to-own business. Rent2Buy said it has retained most of HiGear’s car owners and was beefing up security, though a spokesman declined to be specific. Clark got the idea for RelayRides as a student at Harvard Business School. One wintry day he couldn’t locate a Zipcar to drive to a Thanksgiving family gathering. “I’m slugging through the sleet and the snow, very unhappy that I’m biking in the snow ... (wondering), ‘Why am I passing all these cars to get to a car?’ ” said Clark.
By Brad Bergholdt McClatchy-Tribune News Service
QUESTION: I’m having motor problems with my Chrysler PT Cruiser. Awhile ago, my check engine light kept coming on so I had a mechanic put it on a computer. It named the No. 2 spark plug as the problem. I had the mechanic install all new spark plugs and wires, and still the engine light was on. We even tried just switching them around to see what it would say — and again, No. 2 spark plug. Then he thought that it might be the coil, so we replaced that and still no results. If anything, now the car rides worse. When I come to a red light or stop sign, it shudders as if it wants to stall, and the check engine light dings and flashes. What’s going on? What else would alert us to a No. 2 spark plug? Are PT Cruisers known for this trouble? I hate doing this trial-and-error stuff — besides the cost, the car seems worse every day. —Walter Bartlebaugh
ANSWER: Walter, I’m a little fuzzy on the exact diagnostic trouble code your technician has retrieved. Could this be P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire detected) or P2303 (ignition coil No. 2, secondary circuit, insufficient ionization)? Here’s the difference: P0302 means cylinder 2 is misfiring more than 1 percent of the time during two consecutive vehicle trips or more severely
This is an intriguing problem. If you weren’t 2,700 miles away, I’d be tempted to drive to your house to check this out. during a single trip. The cause could be a mechanical, fuel, or ignition fault. Mechanical faults include leaky valves, valve train faults and, in rare cases, piston or piston ring problems. Fuel faults peculiar to cylinder 2 include a dirty or erratic fuel injector, a vacuum leak, and injector circuit faults — that is, engine computer or wiring. In addition to a likely misfire code, an ignition fault may also set code P2303, which means the No. 2 ignition coil’s spark burn time, or duration, is incorrect or not present. I think this may be the code you are referring to. If so, the onboard diagnostic system has done a great job narrowing the search area for you. P2303 could be caused by a faulty spark plug, spark plug wire, ignition coil, or coil circuit fault — again, engine computer or wiring. Irregular spark burn time could also be caused by a cylinder mechanical or fuel problem. Your PT Cruiser employs a waste spark ignition system. This means two ignition coils, both contained within a single assembly, provide spark for the four cylinders. Coil No. 1 fires cylinders 1 and 4, and Coil No. 2 fires cylinders 2 and 3. Since the No. 2 coil fires two cylinders,
the problem could reside within either of the two cylinders, or with the coil or coil control circuit, causing misfiring in both cylinders. I’d begin by doublechecking the diagnostic trouble code. Is there a cylinder-specific misfire code? Next is a cylinder balance test, which determines power contribution of each cylinder; a compression test, which looks for mechanical faults; an injector balance test to check injector flow rates; and careful observation of the No. 2 coil control circuit, using an oscilloscope or graphing multimeter to verify correct and consistent electrical signals sent by the engine computer to the coil. I’d also take a close look at the fuel injector circuit commands for cylinders 2 and 3. This is an intriguing problem. If you weren’t 2,700 miles away, I’d be tempted to drive to your house to check this out. Try to get this fixed as soon as possible, as misfiring causes massive exhaust emissions and will damage your catalytic converter. —Brad Bergholdt is an automotive technology instructor at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, Calif. Readers may send him email at under-the-hood@ earthlink.net; he cannot make personal replies.
Page 8 / Monday, March 26, 2012
Gem Mazda
Gem Mazda
Gem Mazda
Gem Mazda
Gem Mazda
Gem Mazda TD-0000202564
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
‘07 MAZDA Speed 3 Sport
‘99 MAZDA Protege LX
‘00 MAZDA MX-5 Miata LS
‘01 TOYOTA RAV4 L
Stock #2722A. 64,269 Miles. 5 DR. Turbocharged Disi 16V I-4. 6-Speed Manual.
Stock #P844A. 172,272 Miles. 4 DR. DOHC In-Line4. 4-Speed Automatic.
Convertible. Stock #P828A. 2 Door. 52,450 Miles. 5-Speed Manual. DOHC In-Line 4.
Stock #P855A. 145,507 Miles. 5 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC 4Cylinder.
Call
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$4,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$8,495
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$8,495
1-888-432-2914
‘03 HONDA CR-V EX
‘03 MAZDA MX-5 Miata LS
‘04 TOYOTA Highlander Base
‘05 MAZDA MX-5 Miata Base
Stock #2451A. 105,075 Miles. 5 DR. I-VTEC DOHC 4-Cylinder. 5Speed Manual.
Convertible. Stock #P890. 117,514 Miles. 2 Door. 5-Speed Manual. DOHC Inline 4-Cylinder.
Stock #2605A. 93,810 Miles. 5 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC VVT-I I-4.
Convertible. Stock #P887. 10,033 Miles. 2 Door. 5Speed Manual. DOHC 16 Valve I-4.
$8,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$8,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$9,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$9,995
1-888-432-2914
‘09 CHRYSLER Sebring Touring
‘04 MAZDA RX-8 Grand Touring
‘04 FORD Ranger XLT
‘08 DODGE Ram 1500
Stock #2586A. 79,251 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC VVT 16V I-4.
Stock #2691A. 70,141 Miles; 4 DR. 4-Speed Automatic; Renesis Rotary.
Stock #P878. 2 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. OHV 12-Valve V6.
Stock #P883. 27,641 Miles. 2 DR. 4-Speed Automatic. Magnum SOHC 12V V6.
$10,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$11,495
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$11,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$13,995
1-888-432-2914
‘06 MERCEDESBENZ C230 Sport
‘06 MITSUBISHI Eclipse GT
‘08 MAZDA Tribute S Touring
‘10 MAZDA 3 I Touring
Stock #P854A. 65,214 Miles. 4 DR. 7-Speed Automatic. DOHC VVT 24V V6.
Stock #P886. 54,083 Miles. 2 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. SOHC 24Valve V6.
Stock #P889. 41,400 Miles. 5 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V V6.
Stock #2690B. 16,053 Miles. 4 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC VVT 16V I-4.
$14,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$14,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$15,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$16,995
1-888-432-2914
‘08 SUBARU Legacy
‘06 FORD F-150 Lariat X Cab
‘07 MAZDA CX-9 Grand Touring
‘08 JEEP Wrangler X
Stock #2614A. 23,297 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. SOHC 16V H-4.
Stock #P885. 52,422 Miles. 2 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. SOHC Triton V8.
Stock #2710A. 5 Door. 6Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V V6.
Stock #2696A. 47,468 Miles. 2 DR. OHV 12V V6. 6-Speed Manual.
$17,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$17,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$18,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$19,495
1-888-432-2914
‘08 MAZDA CX-7 Grand Touring
‘10 MAZDA MX-5 Miata Sport
‘09 MAZDA CX-9 Sport
‘09 DODGE Ram 1500 STL
Stock #P879. 36,400 Miles. 5 DR. Turbo Disi 16V I-4. 6-Speed Automatic.
Convertible. Stock #P876; 9,353 Miles; 4 DR. 5Speed Manual; DOHC VVT 16V I-4.
Stock #P891. 46,980 Miles. 5 Door. 6-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V V6.
Stock #2661A. 12,738 Miles. 2 Door. Automatic. 4.7L V8 16V MPFL SOHC Flexible Fuel.
$19,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$21,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$399 Dealer Fee, Tax, Tag, Title
$23,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$25,995
1-888-432-2914