Autoblog

• 2009 Honda Civic Coupe revealed in brochure
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Honda

  
  Click above for gallery of the 2009 Civic Coupe
  
  Just last week we revealed official images and specifications for the updated 2009 Honda Civic in sedan and hybrid body styles. Lest you coupe fans feel left out, we've finally found information on Honda's newish two-door in DX, LX, EX/EX-L and Si levels from a PDF brochure and the brand's U.S. website. As with the sedan, the front and rear of the Civic Coupe see the most change, though it'll take a trained eye to spot the differences out back. The front grille, though, looks more aggressive and sports a new...
  



• Russia Report: GM retailer deals with increased demand, limited supply
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, GM

  
  
  The Genser General Motors dealership in Moscow is in an enviable - if not frustrating - position. The outlet moves between 600 and 900 vehicles each month. But if supply could keep up with demand, the dealer's director of sales, Nataliya Ignatova, insists they could sell around 1,200 vehicles per month during the busiest sales season.

  Continue reading Russia Report: GM retailer deals with increased demand, limited supply

   

  Permalink | Email...
  




• Ford to meet with dealers about future products, try to close stores
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

  
  
  2008 has been a historically woeful year for the auto market, but Ford dealers have been in the crosshairs of a sales decline for over a decade. That brutal reality, along with financial incentives of up to $700,000 or more from the Blue Oval, has lead to the closure of over 500 dealers since mid-2006, and over 150 so far in 2008. To close still more dealers while giving remaining stores a heads-up of future happenings, Ford is embarking on a series of meetings with Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers. Among the topics of discussion will be future...
  



• Cheap, stylish ride: Oxymoron or attainable dream?
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Economy, Humor

  
  
  Is it possible to buy a car that's both inexpensive and ultra cool? Can a $22,000 Toyota Prius really get you the same respect from the valet as a $70,000 BMW? That's what "Wired Magazine" wants to know, and they're asking readers to decide which of five relatively cheap cars they would feel coolest driving.
  
  So far, the most expensive of the bunch, the Prius, is in third place with only 18% of the vote. Behind it with 11% is an early-'90s Volvo and a 25-year-old Mercedes 300 SDL. In first place, with a big lead over a used Ford...
  



• BMW makes 2.1% price increase official
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Euro, BMW

  

  BMW made it official today, after we told you about it "unofficially" last week. As expected, the German automaker is raising prices across its model range an average of 2.1 percent for the 2009 model year due to "...significant structural and economic changes in the marketplace." Regardless, the direct price increase of vehicle MSRP doesn't tell the whole story. BMW has also increased pricing on popular options (the Sport Package is up $450 on the 335i sedan and coupe) and removed some standard features (the premium Logic 7 audio system is no longer standard on the 335i -- now it's an $875 option) driving...
  




• eBay Find of the Day: Texas dealer's replica BMW 135 tii
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Concept Cars, Tuners, Auction Action, BMW

  
  Click above for photo gallery
  
  Now that BMW's 1-series has a solid presence on dealer lots, enthusiasts of the Roundel can start with lusty customizations that pay homage to the great BMWs of the past. In the case of this 135, we can say that BMW started it with its Concept tii that made the rounds in late 2007. Classic BMW in Texas plucked a 135i out of its stock for Projekt 1. Many of the "upgrades" that have been applied to the car are largely unneeded cosmetic geegaws like mirror covers and bodykit...
  



• BMW bumps its prices for 2009
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, BMW

  
  
  High commodities prices and the unflattering value gap between the Euro and U.S. Dollar are forcing a lot of European automakers to bump their prices here in the States. We told you a few weeks ago that BMW was planning on raising the sticker price on many of its products, and now we're starting to see the extent of the damage. The price changes range from an increase of $600 on a 128i to $1,400 on an M6. The 335i received several MSRP increases, with the sedan going up by $800, the coupe by $1,200, and a raise of $1,300 for the convertible....
  



• Deal of the Day: Employee Pricing means $10,000 off on 2008 Corvette Z06
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, HUMMER, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn

  
  
  Wow, there are some great deals to be had at the moment from General Motors. Not the least of which is on the Corvette, specifically the Z06 model, which we've had nothing but good things to say about, even at its $72K asking price. Now that GM is offering all of its models at employee prices, that cost drops by about ten grand! A Z06 for $62,653? Yes please... if only our meager blogging budgets would allow it. Similarly, a Caddy XLR-V can be...
  



• All-new 2009 Honda Fit priced from $14,550
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Economy, Hatchbacks, Honda

  
  Click above for our high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Fit Sport

  Honda has announced that its all-new 2009 Fit, which we just drove for the first time, will go on sale next week with a MSRP starting at $14,550 (plus $670 destination), while the more premium Honda Fit Sport will start at $16,060 (plus destination). The standard powerplant will be a 1.5-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder rated at 117 hp mated to either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic (with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Fit Sport). The five-passenger Fit also earned EPA fuel economy ratings of 28/35 (city/highway) with the automatic...
  




• GM adds 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on certified used vehicles
  

  Filed under: Car Buying, Maintenance, GM

  Now that leasing seems to be going through a slow phase-out, shoppers looking for a good deal on a newish vehicle may take a harder gander at certified pre-owned models. GM realizes this and has responded by ambushing customers increasing the warranty coverage on the CPO models for all of its brands, minus Cadillac which has its own program. The new warranty stands at 12-months or 12,000 miles and begins when the CPO purchase is made -- an increase of up to nine-months over the previous guarantee. Being a "bumper-to-bumper" warranty, everything excluding wear items like tires and brakes are...