Monday, June 4, 2012
For Advertising Information Contact Your Local Cars.Com On-The-Move Sales Team at 599-2329
Used car prices ease off of highs By Jerry Hirsch Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — Used car prices are starting to fall after rising steadily for much of the year. Easing gas prices in much of the nation and more tradeins coming back to dealers because new car sales have picked up are behind the decrease. Used car prices are expected to decline 2 percent in June from May, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association Used
Car Guide. Used truck prices are expected to dip 1 percent. Some cars, especially fuel-efficient autos, will see much larger drops, the association said, as falling gas prices reduce demand for the vehicles. The decline is evident in the latest prices for several of the best-selling passenger cars. The price of a 2009 Toyota Camry rose 15 percent to $13,235 from January to May, but is projected to have fallen back $675, or 5 per-
cent, to $12,560 in June. The price of a 2011 Ford Fusion is expected to drop to $15,112 in June, down 4 percent from May. The Fusion price rose 10 percent from January to May. After rising 12 percent to $21,225 from January to May, the price of a 2011 Toyota Prius is expected to fall $900, or 4 percent, to $20,325 in June. The association said it expects to continue to see prices fall sharply for small and midsize cars in July. Used auto prices remain
strong by historic standards, but the market started showing signs of softening in recent weeks, said Ricky Beggs, an analyst at Black Book, which tracks new and used car pricing for auto dealers and financial institutions. Overall, he believes prices have leveled and will start to fall over the coming months. High used car prices are an echo effect of the credit crunch and subsequent recession back in 2008 and 2009. The credit crunch slashed
the number of new auto leases, which are an important source of late-model used cars as the leases expire. Plunging new car purchases, both by consumers and rental car companies, during the recession also shrank the supply of used cars available now. This was compounded by the “cash for clunkers” economic stimulus program during the summer of 2009, which pulled another 700,000 older cars off the roads. The auto industry is on pace to sell about 14.3 million
vehicles this year, about 1.5 million more than last year, Beggs said. “About 60 percent of new cars sold will have a tradein, so we are talking about another 900,000 potential used cars coming into the marketplace that we didn’t have last year,” he said. Beggs noted that this is a two-edged sword for consumers. While they will be able to get a better deal on a used car in the coming months, they will get less for their trade-in when they purchase a new car.
Some electric-vehicle owners find savings on insurance By Nathan Bomey Detroit Free Press
DETROIT — Early adopters of electric vehicles have to dig deep into their wallets to make the purchase, but some are reaping unexpected savings on their insurance bills. Insurance premiums vary widely based on driving history and local crime and vehicle theft rates, but experts said owners of vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf can generally expect a lower insurance premium. “When you look at electric vehicle owners, you probably have a pretty careful bunch there,” said Jack Nerad, executive editorial editor and market analyst at Kelley Blue Book. “They’re probably pretty mature, and they’re not the young 20-something male who gets into the most fights and has the most car
accidents.” Although electric vehicles are likely to remain a niche segment of the auto industry for several years, insurers are starting to compete for electric-vehicle policies. Hartford Insurance announced in April that it would start offering a 5 percent discount to electric-vehicle owners throughout the U.S. by the end of the year. The company described the offer as part of its commitment to encouraging environmental sustainability. But experts said the insurer wouldn’t make the offer without believing that it is a smart financial bet. “You can count on that,” said David Cole, chairman emeritus of the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Center for Automotive Research. “Right now it’s almost too early in the game to make that judgment,
but they believe it, otherwise they wouldn’t be making that pitch.” Rick Lipinskas, an Albany, N.Y., resident who bought a Volt in March 2011, said he’s paying about $1,000 per year for “more-than-minimum coverage plus collision and uninsured driver coverage” through New York Central Mutual. “From talking with other Volt owners, we seem to be less hurried while driving,” Lipinskas said in an email. “I tend to set the cruise control at the speed limit instead of 5 mph above as I did in my previous car, a 2007 Honda CR-V.” The average insurance policy for a 2012 Volt owner who drives 15,000 miles annually is about $1,452 per year for the first five years, according to estimates from auto research website Edmunds.
com. That compares with about $2,024 for a conventional-engine 2012 Cadillac CTS, for example. The Volt, which uses a battery to travel up to 35 miles on electricity before a small gasoline motor kicks in, starts at about $39,000, while the CTS starts at about $36,000. The average insurance policy for a 2012 Leaf owner is about $1,513 per year, while the average for a conventional-engine 2012 Nissan Maxima, for example, is $1,801, according to Edmunds. The pure-electric Leaf starts above $35,000, while the Maxima starts at about $32,400. To be sure, some electric vehicle owners are not reporting a discount. Phoenix-area resident Paul Cummings said his insurance premiums with State Farm rose $17 per month after he switched from a $44,000 Ford
F-150 to a Volt. Brittany Senary, a spokeswoman for insurer Progressive, said some drivers who switch to an electric vehicle might notice an uptick in their insurance premiums if the vehicle is more expensive than their previous ride. “Because newer vehicles with more expensive technology and parts generally cost more to fix than older, less-complex cars, they’re generally more expensive to insure,” Senary said in an email. “We don’t currently offer EV discounts because we cannot justify them based on our claims data.” Nerad said some insurers may be unsure how to price their policies because of the expensive battery packs that are integrated into electric vehicles. Those batteries are rarely damaged in accidents because they’re enclosed in
protective cages. “What I’ve learned about insurance through the years is a lot of times you’re not looking at how safe the vehicle is but how safe the driver is,” Nerad said. Doug Neal, executive director of the University of Michigan College of Engineering’s Center for Entrepreneurship, got a first-hand look at the electric-vehicle insurance business when he crashed his Chevy Volt a few months ago. Another driver turned in front of Neal’s Volt in downtown Ann Arbor and slammed into his front bumper, causing minor damage. “The only complexity was I couldn’t just take it to any repair shop,” he said. “I had it taken to one that knew how to work on an electric car. But they have a network of those.”
Page 2 / Monday, June 4, 2012
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Road-trip tips for family vacations By Larry Printz The Virginian-Pilot
The driving frenzy that is summer in America is almost upon us. Here are some tips to help ensure that your next road trip is one you’ll always remember, rather than one you’ll want to forget.
Is your vehicle fit?
Lift the hood. Fluids, filters, belts, hoses, cooling system, brakes and tires should be checked. Be sure all the lights and turn signals work. Windshield wiper blades shouldn’t streak or scrape. Make sure that your spare tire is usable and properly inflated. If your car’s battery is more than 3 years old, have it checked. Better yet, replace it. Make sure your air-conditioning system is fully charged. If your vehicle has a cabin air filter, have it cleaned. Speaking of cleaning, because you’ll be spending a lot of time in your ride, clean the interior.
The art of packing
Heaviest items should be placed closest to the center of the car. In SUVs, place
the heaviest items on the floor to maintain safe handling. Loose items should be secured. Remove loose items from the rear parcel shelf so they don’t hit passengers in a panic stop. As you pack the trunk, remember that you might have to unpack it to access the spare tire.
First aid kit
Consider having adhesive tape, gauze bandage, gauze pads, plastic bandage strips, disinfectant salve, small scissors, pain relievers, tweezers, hand sanitizer.
Entertainment
For the kids, bring their favorite toys and books, or consider a portable DVD player, iPad or MP3 player, such as an iPod touch. For yourself, take along your CDs, DVDs, DVD player, iPod, iPad, Nook, Kindle or audio books. Or leave it all at home and use the time for family bonding.
Worst-case scenarios
Give someone a trip itinerary so you be can located in an emergency. Don’t forget your driver’s license,
vehicle registration, and auto and medical insurance cards. Take your doctor’s phone number, along with any prescriptions. Have someone carry a spare set of vehicle keys. And, you are taking a mobile phone with car charger, right?
Be prepared
A breakdown, flat tire or other inconvenience can occur at any time. Preassembled emergency and first aid kits are available at auto parts stores, but you might want to augment them.
Emergency kit
Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers, pliers, socket wrenches, duct tape, electrical wire tape, electrical wire spray, WD- 40, flashlight with extra batteries, coolant hose repair kit, small fire extinguisher, jumper cables, tire gauge, road flares, spare fuses, foam tire sealant or a portable air compressor, jumper cables, rain gear, work gloves, roadside assistance phone number, a disposable camera (to record accident damage), spare fluids and nonperishable food.
For sale: Rare Maserati, Napoleon heir’s Bugatti By Jerry Hirsch Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — From the rides of kings to a king of rock ‘n’ roll, auction house Gooding & Co. has scored a couple of notable entries for its annual auction at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. The Santa Monica, Calif., seller of high-end collector cars will put up for auction a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio once owned by Prince
Louis Napoleon, the grandson of the nephew of Emperor Napoleon I of France and noted World War II resistance fighter. Although the prince was forbidden to live in France for much of his life because of former laws banning the top heirs of French dynasties from living in the nation, he was fond of French vehicles, especially Bugattis. Gooding & Co. said he owned dozens during his lifetime. This one was delivered
to Napoleon, who used the pseudonym Louis de Montfort to purchase the car. It is expected to sell for $1.3 million to $1.6 million. “We have known of this vehicle for a long time. It was in the United Kingdom, and we convinced the owner to let us sell it at Pebble Beach,” said David Gooding, president of Gooding & Co. The Bugatti would have sold for about $12,000 in 1938, during the depths of
the Great Depression, Gooding said. A new Ford at the time was about $500. “Bugattis are known for their performance and unique design. This car would do more than 100 miles per hour, which was fast for the 1930s,” he said. The auction house also plans to sell a 1955 Maserati A6G / 54 Frua Berlinetta from the collection of Jay Kay, lead singer for the British band Jamiroquai.
Gooding said this Maserati was first displayed in Paris at the 1955 Auto Show. It is expected to sell for $1.5 million to $2 million. These cars go on sale in what has become a bull market for expensive collector autos. By one measure, the value of collectible cars has surged 33 percent since the depth of the recession in 2009. The Hagerty collector car blue-chip index — a Dow-like gauge that aver-
ages the values of 25 of the most sought-after collectible automobiles of the postwar era — climbed to $1.25 million from $940,000 in September 2009. More than a dozen collector cars have sold at auction this year for $2 million or more, including a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing that went for $4.6 million in January and a 1948 Tucker Torpedo that was bought for $2.9 million.
Monday, June 4, 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
‘06 CHRYSLER PT Cruiser
‘06 MITSUBISHI Raider
‘06 MAZDA Tribute
‘07 TOYOTA Camry
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PS.
A/C, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PS.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PDL.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PDL, Cruise.
$10,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$14,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$14,995
1-888-700-0213
$15,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘09 CHEVROLET Impala
‘07 PONTIAC Torrent
‘08 BUICK Lucerne
‘10 CHEVROLET Malibu
A/C, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise, PS.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, 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.
$15,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$16,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$16,995
1-888-700-0213
$16,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘11 FORD Fusion
‘10 TOYOTA Matrix
‘08 CHEVROLET Impala
‘09 SATURN VUE Hybrid
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.
A/C, Tilt Wheel, Pwr Sunroof, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PDL, Cruise, PS.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
$16,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$16,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$17,995
1-888-700-0213
$18,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘08 JEEP Wrangler
‘09 HYUNDAI Santa Fe
‘10 MAZDA Mazda3
‘12 CHEVROLET Cruze
Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PS.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW.
$18,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$18,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$18,995
1-888-700-0213
$21,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘12 FORD Mustang
‘08 NISSAN 350Z
‘09 CADILLAC CTS
‘11 CHEVROLET Silverado 1500
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.
A/C, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise, SpdProportional Power Steering.
A/C, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise, SpdProportional Power Steering.
A/C, Tilt Wheel, AM/FM Radio, PS.
$23,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$26,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$26,995
1-888-700-0213
$29,995
Champion Chevrolet
1-888-700-0213
‘07 TOYOTA Tundra
‘10 TOYOTA Highlander
‘11 CHEVROLET Suburban
‘11 CHEVROLET Tahoe
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.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW.
$30,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$31,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
$39,995
1-888-700-0213
Champion Chevrolet
Tremendous selection of quality, certified GM vehicles to choose from!
TD-0000208390
$39,998
1-888-700-0213
www.championchevy.com • 888-700-0213
Page 4 / Monday, June 4, 2012
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Auto review: Nissan Versa a bargain buy
Dodge Durango a crossover with an SUV’s space By Emma Jayne Williams McClatchy Newspapers
By Larry Printz The Virginian-Pilot
Meet the least expensive new car sold in America: the 2012 Nissan Versa sedan with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $10,990, an ideal entry point for a Wal-Mart nation. The Versa I’m talking about is the four-door sedan, which was redesigned for 2012. The funky five-door hatchback, with its 122-horsepower engine and a $14,480 starting price, remains unchanged from 2011. While the five-door retains its funky vibe, the four-door is significantly more sober in its style. Still, being well-versed in Versa means knowing the car’s mission: providing basic, affordable transportation. So it’s little surprise that the Versa sedan’s cabin is built to a price and is filled with hard plastic surfaces. The seats are the interior’s only padded surface and they’re fairly flat, but more comfortable than you might expect. But look past that and you’ll find the Versa’s cabin is spacious for an inexpensive ride. There’s good head and leg room for four adults. Even the glove box is large; it can hold an iPad with room to spare. Trunk space is just as impressive with a 14.8 cubic-foot rating — as sizable as some luxury sedans. Once rolling, you’ll find the front-drive Versa’s ride is fairly comfortable for a small car. Bumps are suppressed with little discomfort for passengers. This comes at a price: There’s noticeable body lean in corners, while the suspension tops off over the worst bumps and expansion joints. The 109-horsepower, four-cylinder engine gives
Monday, June 4, 2012 / Page 5
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
NissaN/MCT
With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $10,990, the 2012 Nissan Versa sedan is the least expensive new car sold in America. up 13 hp to the hatchback, but the sedan weighs less. It comes with a five-speed manual in base S trim, or a continuously variable automatic transmission on S, SV and SL models. Nissan provided an SV for a weeklong test drive. Power is adequate for a grocery getter, but like many vehicles with CVT transmissions, the engine moans as the CVT reluctantly responds to requests for more power. But don’t jab the throttle hard and fast. The transmission responds in a panic, sending the suspension flopping about in response. Mileage, however, is excellent. Driving around
Virginia’s Hampton Roads region returned an average of 38.8 mpg. Around town, mileage came in around 30 mpg, so the EPA estimates are accurate. Braking is OK, with decent pedal feel. Steering is quick, although it feels somewhat vague on center. The cabin is peaceful at times. Road and tire noise are noticeable, and engine noise is pronounced when more juice is needed from under the hood. Opting for a few frills on the more lavish SV trim level nets upgraded cloth upholstery, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control,
electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, keyless entry, remote trunk release, power locks and windows, cruise control and a six-way adjustable driver’s seat. The test car’s optional “Convenience Package” adds a Bluetooth handsfree phone system, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, iPod interface, front map lights and a passenger side vanity mirror. This makes the car more livable, despite the absence of a front or rear center armrest, driver’s side vanity mirror, telescopic steering wheel or center console box. Still, there’s a lot that
makes up for the Versa’s lack of poshness, personality and handling prowess. And it’s the three things that matter most to many subcompact buyers: minimum price, maximum space and frugal fuel consumption. What you get with the Versa sedan is a useful, inexpensive transportation appliance. It isn’t high art; it’s automotive Calvinism. Given today’s economic climate, that makes the Versa perfect for many drivers. —Larry Printz is automotive editor at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. He can be reached at larry.printz@pilotonline.com.
review
2012 NiSSAN verSA eNgiNe: 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder Wheelbase: 102.4 inches Length: 175.4 inches Weight: 2,424 pounds Cargo space: 14.8 cubic feet EPA rating (city/highway): 30/38 mpg Fuel consumption: 38.8 mpg Fuel type: Regular Base price, base model: $10,990 Base price, test model: $14,980 As tested: $15,840
The 2012 Dodge Durango is a midsize crossover with interior volume equal to some larger SUVs. But this is not the same as the truck-based Durango it replaced last year, although it is still muscular-looking and powerful. It shares its basic architecture with the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, but has room for seven instead of the Jeep’s five passengers. The Durango was completely new for 2011, moving to a unibody structure from its previous body-on-frame design. The 2012 model has only a few trim and powertrain updates. Seven trim levels are available, starting with the rearwheel-drive SXT for $28,995 and ending with the Citadel all-wheel-drive for $42,995, before options. Models are designed for specific lifestyle needs and also include Express, Crew and R/T version. My Durango was the R/T rear-drive model, which lists for $35,795 before options. The R/T, or road-and-track, model comes with the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine, rather than the base 3.5-liter V-6. The body-color grille made it instantly recognizable as a Dodge, and the subtle sculpting on the body side, hood, fenders, wheel wells and rear window pillars suggested strength without being muscle-bound. My tester was actually quite comfortable, even in the third row, with lots of flexible space for hauling stuff. Even the front passenger seat folded flat to make room for extralong objects. In the third row, the 50/50 split-folding bench seat folded flat, using a handle located on the seat back, to increase the cargo area from 17.2 cubic feet to 47.7 cubic feet. With the 60/40-split second row folded, the cargo area increased to a whopping 85 cubic feet. Maximum payload was listed as 1,340 pounds.
DoDge/MCT
Unlike the truck-based Durango it replaced last year, the 2012 Dodge Durango shares its basic architecture with the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, but has room for seven instead of the Jeep’s five passengers. The front passenger and driver had 40.3 inches of legroom and 39.9 inches of headroom, while the second row had 38.6 inches of legroom and 39.8 inches of headroom. No data was available for the third row. Both bench seats were a little firm, especially the middle position in the second row crowded by the floor hump, but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The third row was accessed by folding and tumbling the passenger-side seat on the second row, using a lever and a strap. I managed to climb in, but I wouldn’t want to do it on a regular basis — it’s best left to younger, more nimble individuals. Passengers in the third row
rEviEW
2012 DODGE DUrANGO Base priCe: $28,995 as testeD: $38,610
have their own air vents on the ceiling, along with reading lamps, cupholders and two of the nine speakers located at head level on the rearmost side pillars. Second-row passengers had full climate controls with vents on the console and the ceiling. They also had reading lamps, cupholders on the center armrest, speakers, bottle holders and map pockets on the doors, and heated seats. The assist handles were
conveniently located on the pillars between the front and rear doors, which helped when I climbed into the third row. Second-row passengers also had access to a 115-volt AC outlet, bag hooks on the seatback pockets, and usable garment hooks above the doors. My tester had black leather front bucket seats, part of an option package, with contrasting red stitching and embroidered R/T badges. My driving position was pleasant thanks to the eightway driver’s seat with memory for radio, seat and mirrors. The “easy-exit” feature moves the driver’s seat down and back when engine is stopped and door is opened. There also was a powertilting and telescopic leath-
er-wrapped steering wheel with chrome Dodge crosshair badge. The passenger seat adjusted six ways, and both seats had four-way power lumbar support and heat. Large, multifunction manually folding mirrors were also included in the package. Durango comes with a remote-start system, pushbutton keyless start, cruise control, hill-start assist, sport suspension, performance steering, security alarm and trailer sway damping. My R/T’s Hemi engine cranked out 360 horsepower, and was connected to a six-speed automatic transmission. This combination gives the Durango a towing capacity of 7,400 pounds. The V-8 engine has fuel-
saving technology that cuts out four of the cylinders during level highway cruising. EPA ratings are 14 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway for the model I tested. Electronic stability control and electronic roll mitigation help keep body sway to a minimum on hard turns and during extreme driving conditions on or off road. My around-town driving has a few sharp turns (no hills or extreme conditions) and the Durango performed more like a car than a truck, mostly because of the carlike unibody construction. —Emma Jayne Williams’ auto reviews appear in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She can be reached at emmajayne@1948gmail.com.
Page 6 / Monday, June 4, 2012
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Vintage VWs get custom restorations By Thane Grauel The (Westchester) Journal News
CONGERS, N.Y. — Two were sitting under a tree in New Jersey. Another languished partially restored in a garage in Minneapolis. One was hibernating in a barn outside Charlotte, N.C. Many have come from Arizona, New Mexico and California, where dry air and salt-free roads have been kind to vintage Volkswagen Beetles. All have found their way to a restoration shop here, and like the dusty Bug that Woody Allen found in a cave in “Sleeper,” all will see new life long after their original glory years. ClassicVWbugs.com is a two-bay workshop off an outof-the-way industrial road near a rock quarry not far from the Hudson River. The space holds cars in various states of rebirth and is more laboratory than garage -- noticeably absent are pools of gear oil, piles of grimy old parts and grease-smeared centerfolds. It is decorated, but with pinups of classic Bugs, banners, vintage ads and trophies. “I don’t do the grease-monkey thing,” said the shop’s owner, Chris Vallone, 35, who studied filmmaking, cartooning and computer animation. He doesn’t do hot rods, either. No body-chopping here. Photos in magazines of early split-window Bugs being cut down or hacked up to house monster engines and showy exhaust pipes make him wince. “We cater to the collector, not the person who wants to pimp them out,” Vallone said. He focuses on his specialty -- Bugs. No Karmann Ghias or buses. The business began five years ago as a hobby in his home garage. Vallone would buy promising Bugs, fix them up and flip them. Then he and his father opened the shop about three years ago. The business is almost all Inter-
net, from parts procurement to sales. Its website puts Vallone’s visual education to good use. It’s a popular destination for VW fans and offers videos, encouragement and advice for do-it-yourselfers. Once a month, usually the first Sunday, VW fans gather at the garage to hang out. They take their cars on a few cruises up the Hudson Valley each year. Vallone spends two hours each morning and two more at night answering emails. The shop phone rings in the wee hours with calls from places such as Germany and Australia. Vallone has resisted buying a smartphone, so he can disconnect and get some sleep. He’s not complaining. He’s one of those lucky people who has turned a passion into a viable business. And business is good. Custom restorations, which come with rebuilt engines and odometers set at 00000, cost $25,000 to $50,000. He has a wait time of up to 2-1/2 years. “Some of them look like Swiss cheese, and when he’s done with them they look like they rolled off the showroom floor,” said Larry Calore of Congers, N.Y., a former mechanic for a VW dealer whom Vallone helped with restoration. “He’s a true craftsman, him and his dad.” eBay is a prime market for finding the old cars. They’re hauled to New York on flatbed trucks, which can run up to $1,000. Once at the shop, they’re disassembled down to the chassis. Vallone works with other shops in the area for welding, body work and paint jobs. He and his dad reassemble the cars with new bumpers, upholstery and little-known dealer options, like venetian blinds for the rear window or clocks at the center of the steering wheel. Calore takes his ‘67 Volkswagen blue Bug out once a week. “Everybody’s got a story
“Some of them look like Swiss cheese, and when he’s done with them they look like they rolled off the showroom floor. He’s a true craftsman, him and his dad.” Larry CaLore Former mechanic for a VW dealer and ClassicVWbugs.com client
Photos by tania savayan/the (Westchester, n.y.) Journal neWs
Chris Vallone, 35, cleans his 1955 Volkswagen Ragtop show Beetle on May 22 in his garage in Congers, N.Y., where he restores Volkswagen Beetles. Vallone’s business began as a hobby and now is Internet driven. At ClassicVWBugs.com, he restores only Bugs, and most of them are the early, more valuable years. He has a 2 to 2-1/2-year wait time and charges up to $50,000 a Bug. At top, old Volkswagen Beetles awaiting restoration sit behind Vallone’s garage. about a VW,” he said of the people who stop and talk. “They had one, they had two, they had three, they went to Woodstock.” His wife’s ‘68 Delta green Bug gets her to work every day, and it’s good for selfesteem. “They get a lot of beeps,” Calore said. Vallone’s prized possession is his 1955 oval window ragtop. He said it’s the only Bug ever allowed entry to the Concours d’Elegance car show in Con-
necticut. He’s gone to “bugins” with customer-friends whose cars came through his shop, and they’ve placed first, second and third. Beetles hold a special place in many people’s hearts. The curvy body, friendly horns, airtight construction (remember slamming the door with the windows up?) and vinyl seats just got under people’s skin. They even had a distinctive smell on hot days from horse hair-stuffed seats, and that cheerful tail-
pipe chirp was as much a part of the soundtrack of the ‘60s as any psychedelic band. Beetles began production in Germany in 1938, and the last one rolled off a Mexican assembly line in 2003. By that time, 21.5 million had been made. “It was the single-mostproduced model at that point,” said Frank Cardone of Westchester Sports Car Club in New York. He said the cars were popular for many reasons, including their small size compared to U.S. cars of
the time. “The noise of the air-cooled engine is just something different,” he said. “And the size, the four-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent suspension.” Classic VW Bugs will find a car and restore it to a customer’s specifications, or restore a Bug someone owns. Vallone says 1967 and earlier make financial sense, depending on condition. Later models generally don’t pay off. “There’s sort of a MasonDixon Line,” Vallone said of calling a restoration an investment. He said many people he talks out of restorations are grateful later. But he does make exceptions. “If it’s in the family, they don’t care what it costs,” he said. Case in point, an orange 1974 Super Beetle that’s on deck for full restoration. Vallone prides himself on restoring Beetles to their authentic specifications, but he’s made at least one exception there, too: He installed a leather interior in a job for a Texas oil man. Dealers never offered that option. Vallone and his dad, Chris Vallone Sr., hope one day to get their hands on the Holy Grail of Bugs -- a Hebmuller. It’s a two-seat convertible, and only a few thousand were made. “That would be awesome,” he said. “There’s one now online, it’s over two hundred grand.”
Monday, June 4, 2012 / Page 7
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
Motoring Q&A: Struts should outlast their plates By Paul Brand Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
QUESTION: I purchased a 2008 Buick Lucerne new, and it now has 68,000 miles. For the past 10,000 miles or so, a rattle or clunk noise has been coming from the front when it’s driven over any kind of bump. It sounds like something is loose in the front end. I find the noises and squeaks really annoying. Upon inspection, the dealer found that the strut plates are worn, causing the problem. The struts are fine, but they want to replace the plates and struts for about $1,200. An independent shop said they could replace the plates only for $500. How can I be assured that this is the
problem before making the investment of changing the plates? Is there any reason to replace the struts at the same time if they are just fine now? ANSWER: The McPherson strut mounting plates at the top of the strut are fitted with bearings to allow the strut to rotate as you steer the vehicle. Wear in the strut bearings could certainly cause the type of noise you describe. But so could worn stabilizer bar or link bushings, loose brake pads or worn lower ball joints. Get a second opinion by having a tire or independent shop inspect the front suspension components. If the strut plates are worn, they can be replaced individually. Back in the day, at 70,000
miles I would have suggested the struts be replaced at the same time. But today’s shocks and struts are far better quality and last much longer, so unless there’s evidence of a leak or a problem with the ride, I wouldn’t replace the struts themselves. Q: I have a 2009 Prius with about 22,000 miles. In local driving, when I slow to 15 to 20 miles per hour and then apply the brakes lightly with the wheel turned an eighth-turn to the right, I hear a ticking or ratcheting noise coming from the front. I have twice taken it to the dealer, but the noise is absent after I get there. The service tech suspected a CV joint problem but found no evidence of malfunction. I think the noise originates
Chrysler to discontinue Town & Country minivan By Brent Snavely Detroit Free Press
DETROIT — Chrysler Group LLC, the inventor of the minivan, plans to discontinue the Chrysler Town & Country minivan and keep the Dodge Caravan as its only minivan in 2014 and also plans to discontinue production of the Jeep Compass. The news about the minivan plans was first reported by Automobile Magazine in the July issue now hitting newsstands and was confirmed by a person familiar with Chrysler’s plans. Chrysler and Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne has previously said the company would offer just one minivan in the future, but most expected that the Town & Country would survive. Now, Marchionne has revealed that the Caravan
will remain and the Town & Country will be replaced by a new crossover. It is unclear if the Town & Country name will continue. The new Dodge Caravan will be “sportier, more emotional and less utilitarian,” according to Automobile. Marchionne decided that Dodge should retain the minivan because the minivan was first introduced as a Dodge Caravan in 1983 by then-Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca. By having two minivans, Chrysler has been able to cover a wide price range for consumers. The Caravan sells for about $20,000 to $30,000 while the more upscale Town & Country sells for $30,000 to $40,000. With both models, Chrysler captured 50 percent of U.S. minivan sales in 2011 and 75 percent of Canadian minivan sales.
Through April, the Auburn Hills, Mich., automaker has sold 45,865 Dodge Caravans and 38,507 Chrysler Town & Country minivans. Both minivans are produced at Chrysler’s Windsor (Ontario) Assembly Plant. Both the Compass and Jeep Patriot are made at Chrysler’s Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant from the same platform. Marchionne told reporters in Belvidere last week that the Compass would be phased out. The same plant will be the home of the Dodge Dart, an all-new compact car. Marchionne also said at least one new car or crossover will be built at the plant. Marchionne has been working to eliminate models that compete with each other. Last year, Chrysler discontinued the Dodge Nitro, which looked similar to the Jeep Liberty.
higher than that, possibly toward the bulkhead behind the engine, but he said he had no other ideas without hearing the noise. A: I would not suspect a CV joint to make noise under light braking. I would first focus on the front brakes. If one of the brake pads is loose, it may click as it moves back and forth within the caliper. Check for play in the front hub/wheel bearing assemblies, and don’t overlook possibilities such as an inboard wheel weight hitting the caliper, or, if the vehicle is equipped with wheel covers, a loose spring clip rattling against the wheel. Q: I have a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer that binds up on corners at slow speeds. It does not have rear clutch
packs, and the CV joints are good. The only thing I can think of is that the transfer case is not free-wheeling when I turn. I’m going to pull the front drive shaft and try it, but please save me. Do you think it is the chain or clutch in transfer case? A: Before you do anything else, swap the front tires onto the rear and see if the binding still occurs. One tire more than 1 or 2 percent larger or smaller than the others may be the problem. According to my Alldata automotive database, your vehicle could feature an all-wheel drive system or a selectable four-wheel drive system. So it could be fitted with a limited-slip rear differential. If so, make sure it is filled with the proper 75w-140
limited-slip lubricant. Are noises associated with the binding? If so, and the noise is there no matter what gear the transmission is in, the problem may be the input gear or front output shaft gear in the transfer case. —Paul Brand, author of “How to Repair Your Car,” is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55488 or via email at paulbrand@startribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number. Because of the volume of mail, we cannot provide personal replies.
Emissions issue after car sale smells fishy By Brad Bergholdt McClatchy-Tribune News Service
QUESTION: I recently purchased a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. Three miles from the dealership, the “check engine” light came on. After pulling codes it was determined it was the electronic brake and traction control module, a part of the antilock braking system and traction control system. It also pulled codes for the steering sensor. The dealer says the vehicle was sold “as is” with a 30-day drivetrain warranty. The part is no longer supplied by GM, and after seven hours on the Internet and the phone, I learned there is not a part anywhere available in the United States. I say this was a fraudulent sale, considering that the vehicle was sold with a new sticker on the windshield and it was obvious the dealer knew about the trouble. Is this a safety issue? What would you suggest? —David Yetman, Temple, N.H.
ANSWER: This is a lousy deal that the dealer needs to take care of. From what I could find regarding the New Hampshire safety testing program, light-duty vehicles such as the Corvette require an on-board diagnostics check and safety inspection in order to be registered at time of sale and annually. An illuminated “check engine” light is grounds for an emissions test failure. It’s tricky to say if inhibited ABS and traction-control systems are considered a safety defect. The vehicle will be as safe to drive as an older non-ABS or traction-controlled vehicle, but the added safety afforded by these systems would be unavailable with the internal control unit and steering sensor failures listed. It seems odd to me — and perhaps it might also to a safety enforcement officer or small-claims court judge — that the dealer could be unaware of the problem at the time of sale. Diagnostic trouble
codes can be cleared, and the “check engine” light may remain off for a short period of time. Since it took just three miles of driving to trigger three codes, the codes must have just been cleared. It’s also odd that to pass the plug-in emissions check, which doesn’t sample exhaust gasses, all of the on-board diagnostic system’s readiness monitors would need to have been completed, which takes quite a bit of driving. One could make the argument that the car was fine at the time of inspection and these three issues just jumped out during the three miles you drove the car. I’m a car guy, not a lawyer. Talk this over with your Department of Motor Vehicles and see if their investigative unit wants to play ball. If they’re like the DMV in my state, their sharp teeth get respect and results. Resolving the repair issue could be quite costly, as the replacement parts needed are pricey and scarce.
Page 8 / Monday, June 4, 2012
Gem Mazda
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
‘01 FORD Focus SE Sport
‘03 DODGE Durango SLT Plus
‘04 MAZDA 6 S Luxury
Stock #P886A. 90,363 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. ZETEC DOHC 16V I-4.
Stock #2579A. 131,648 Miles. 5 Door. SOHC 16-Valve V8. 5-Speed Automatic.
Stock #2589A. 112,543 Miles. 4 Door. 5-Speed Manual. DOHC 16-Valve V6.
$5,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
‘05 JEEP Liberty Renegade
Gem Mazda
$9,995
1-888-432-2914
Stock #2618A. 76,225 Miles. 4 Door. 5-Speed Manual. Turbo DOHC I-4.
Gem Mazda
Gem Mazda TD-0000208391
Gem Mazda
Gem Mazda
$8,995
1-888-432-2914
‘03 LEXUS ES 300 Base
‘05 TOYOTA Sienna LE Van
Stock #2621A. 134,720 Miles. 4 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24Valve V6.
Stock #2696B. 99,481 Miles. 4 DR. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V VVT-I V6.
$10,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$12,995
1-888-432-2914
‘06 CADILLAC CTS 3.6L Base
‘09 MAZDA 5 Grand Touring
‘09 DODGE Journey SXt
Stock #P900. 42,878 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V SMPI V6.
Stock #2537A. 81,821 Miles. 4 Door. DOHC 24-Valve V6. 5-Speed Automatic.
Stock #P895. 66,088 Miles. 5 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC VVT 16V I-4.
Stock #P897. 50,139 Miles. 5 Door. 6-Speed Automatic. SOHC 24V SMPI V6.
$13,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$15,995
1-888-432-2914
$14,995
1-888-432-2914
Stock #2722A. 64,269 Miles. 5 Door. 6-Speed Manual. TURBOCHARGED DISI 16V I-4.
Gem Mazda
$15,995
1-888-432-2914
‘07 NISSAN Xterra SE
‘11 HONDA Civic LX
Stock #P899. 35,904 Miles. 5 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V V6.
Stock #P905. 30,970 Miles. 4 DR. 5-Speed Automatic. SOHC I-VTEC 16V I-4.
$17,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
‘07 MAZDA 3 MazdaSpeed3 Sport
Stock #P908. 31,005 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. SOHV MIVEC I-4.
Gem Mazda
$10,995
1-888-432-2914
$7,995
1-888-432-2914
Stock #2764A. 110,337 Miles. 4 Door. 5-Speed Manual. SOHC 12 Valve V6.
‘11 NISSAN Versa 1.8 Power Plus
‘11 MITSUBISHI Galant FE
Gem Mazda
Gem Mazda
‘03 MAZDA Protege MazdaSpeed
Stock #2507A. 99,038 Miles. 5 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. SOHC Power Tech 12V V6.
Gem Mazda
$6,995
1-888-432-2914
‘01 NISSAN Frontier SE V6 Crew
Gem Mazda
$17,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$15,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
‘05 JEEP Wrangler Sport
‘08 MAZDA Tribute S Touring
Stock #2350A. 59,187 Miles. 2 Door. OHV Power Tech 12V I-6. 6-Speed Manual.
Stock #2819A. 46,600 Miles. 5 DR. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V V6.
$16,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
‘07 NISSAN Murano SL Premium
$18,995
1-888-432-2914
$16,995
1-888-432-2914 ‘09 MAZDA CX-7 Grand Touring
Stock #2656A. 74,530 Miles. 5 Door. CVT Automatic. DOHC 24V V6.
Gem Mazda
$15,995
1-888-432-2914
Stock #P909. 32,007 Miles. 5 DR. 6-Speed Automatic. TURBO CHARGED DISI 16V I-4.
Gem Mazda
$21,495
1-888-432-2914
‘07 MAZDA CX-9 Grand Touring
‘09 MAZDA RX-8 Grand Touring
‘09 HYUNDAI Santa Fe Limited
‘10 JEEP Wrangler Rubicon
Stock #2643A. 72,239 Miles. 5 Door. 6-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V V6.
Stock #P912. 43,844 Miles. 5 DR. 6-Speed Automatic. Renesis 2Rotor.
Stock #P911. 40,019 Miles. 5 DR. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24V V6.
Stock #P902. 35,994 Miles. 2 Door. 3.8L. 6Speed Manual. 4x4.
$21,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$21,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$399 Dealer Fee, Tax, Tag, Title
$22,995
1-888-432-2914
Gem Mazda
$29,995
1-888-432-2914