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Archive for December, 2009

Correy Putton asked:


Korean car companies have been making waves in the automotive industry, both in the aspects of design and performance. They are carving a niche for themselves in the US and global market. Kia, for example, has been increasing its foothold in the US market, figures last year shows a growth of 6.4%. In December alone, the company sold 30,000 plus units which was the best sales month in the entire existence of the oldest car manufacturer in Korea.

And with the unveiling of their new concept car, the Kia Kue, the company strengthened its name as one serious contender in the crossover SUV market. Riding on radical designs, the genius engineering of Kia parts and other components, and the design of the concept car itself, the company is showing what they can do in terms of designing new and exciting cars.

While some crossover SUVs focus on hauling capability, the Kia Kue puts much attention to the performance of the car. Although it is just a concept car, this shows the direction Kia will be taking in the near future. Providing crossover SUVs with performance enhancing features with the same hauling capacity of an SUV will no doubt impact the financial status of the company and increase its popularity in the market.

The direction in design by which Kia is taking is more probably because of their acquisition of the service of the much-praised Audi designer Peter Schreyer. This concept car is the first output of Schreyer’s California design studio. If this is the sign of things coming from Kia, any other design coming out of that studio will surely be welcomed.

Also announced is the production of the Kia Soul which was also shown during the previous Detroit Motor Show as a concept car. Does this means that we can look forward to a full scale production of the Kia Kue? We can only guess, but if ever this concept car be manufactured for the market, its high quality design and performance level will surely have a lot of buyers.

The Kia Soul, which will be available late 2008 or early 2009 as a 2009 model, was designed in California and would be built entirely on the company’s Korean assembly plant. It is a 5-seater small car aimed at young single males as its buyers. The Kia Soul carries a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine with a five speed automatic transmission. Its name refers to the capital of South Korea, Seoul and to soul music.



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Owen Walcher asked:


The Dodge brothers, John and Horace, began their careers as bicycle mechanics in their father’s shop in Michigan. Their bearings and other parts were in demand with the early automobile industry, and they helped design motor parts for early Oldsmobiles.

It wasn’t long before the two brothers were approached by Henry Ford. In 1902, impressed by their skills, Henry Ford offered them a one-tenth share in his new automobile company.

After 12 years in this partnership, the Dodge brothers left Ford’s company and started their own automobile manufacturing company. Thus, in 1914, the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle Company was established. The “Old Betsy” was their first car, built that year.

In 1925, the Dodge Brothers Company was purchased by Dillon, Read & Company, and in 1928, the Chrysler Corporation took over a much larger Dodge Brothers. It continued expanding its line of vehicles, which included the WWII Power Wagon – a vehicle that garnered enough acclaim to continue production a decade after the war.

Following Chrysler’s takeover of the British Rootes Group and Simca of France, and the resultant establishment of Chrysler Europe in the late 1960s, the Dodge brand was used on light commercial vehicles, most of which were previously branded Commer or Karrier, and on pick-up and van versions of the Simca 1100. In the 1960s and 1970s Dodge contributed to America’s fascination with high-performance “muscle cars” by manufacturing the 505 Charger Daytonas for stock-car racing and as production cars.

Dodge and Chrysler brought the domestic convertible back to the roads in the 80s in the form of the Dodge 400 and the Chrysler Lebaron. In the 90s, the eagerly anticipated Dodge Viper put the muscle back in “muscle cars.” All of which soon culminated in the new, aggressive look on the Dodge Ram Pickup, Dodge Dakota and Dodge Durango.

For the model year of 2007, Dodge, a part of Chrysler, has lined up some new and some reworked models for its fans. Let’s take a look at a few specifications of the 2007 Caliber, Charger and Nitro -

2007 Dodge Caliber

It would seem that Dodge decided a compact hatchback is a swell idea in light of America’s recent and slightly elevated interest in smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Caliber is not a hard-core fuel miser, though, and is instead a pretty normal-sized compact. It features an all-new chassis design, and is being built at DaimlerChrysler’s retooled Belvedere, Illinois, plant.

For the Caliber’s initial launch in North America, Dodge has three styles available (SE, SXT and R/T) and a hat trick of four-cylinder, twin-cam engines: a 1.8-liter, a 2.0-liter and a 2.4-liter. The goal of improved fuel economy has also played a role in the Caliber’s transmission offerings. While the 1.8-liter gets a traditional five-speed manual, the 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engines have a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

2007 Dodge Charger

The 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is the first special edition of the “Charger on Steroids” from Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology Division (SRT). Powered by the SRT-engineered 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 producing 425 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, the Dodge Charger SRT8′s powertrain represents a new level in HEMI performance, with 85 additional horsepower.

Featured on all Dodge Charger models, a five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick provides a full range of transmission performances to match a variety of driving styles, situations and road conditions. The new 2007 Dodge Charger features rear-wheel drive with near 50/50 weight distribution and advanced technologies that offer superb ride and responsive handling in all surface and traction conditions.

2007 Dodge Nitro

Dodge calls the 2007 Nitro its first midsize SUV, but it is more of a compact SUV. Dodge probably thinks “compact” sounds too feminine for an SUV geared to attract more men than women. However, the Nitro’s styling and hardware speak for itself. Although it’s built on the same platform as the Jeep Liberty, the Nitro was engineered primarily for street use.

Four-wheel drive will be an option, but there’s no low-range gearing or big off-road tires. The Nitro offers two solid V6s. Base and SLT models get a 3.7-liter with 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque, while the R/T gets a 4.0-liter six with 255 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. There are three transmissions: a six-speed manual, which comes standard in the base model, a four-speed automatic, and a five-speed automatic which only comes with the R/T’s 4.0-liter V6. At 178 inches, the Nitro is about 4 inches longer than the Jeep Liberty and 10 inches shorter than Chevrolet’s Equinox.

Today, Dodge is a part of the Daimler Chrysler AG and is based out of Stuttgart, Germany. The Dodge brand has become famous primarily for its trucks. This is a reputation that the company is now trying to change by introducing the new Dodge Charger and the Dodge Challenger. So, that’s more to look forward to from Dodge!



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Used Cars For Sale asked:


Cars for Sale, Cheap Cars for Sale:

Who in their right mind would not like to buy a good used car for a very low price? Not many of us, that’s for sure. Most people love getting good deals and there are few products that many seem more obsessed about getting good deals on than cars.

While it’s possible to get a good deal on a new car, it is in the arena of pre-owned or used cars where it is possible to get some really good deals on cheap cars. And there are several ways to buy a cheap used car.

One can look through the local newspaper in order to find cheap cars for sale within the area where you live. While the selection of cheap used cars for sale listed in local newspapers is often very limited, great deals can sometimes be found, especially if you find a seller who is either lazy or does not know the value of the car they are selling.

A second way of buying a cheap car is through a used car dealership. Often used car dealerships have limited selection in the way of cars you can buy from them. Also, used car dealerships may sell the cars they have for sale at higher prices than what you could find if you buy a car from a private seller who advertises in the newspaper. However, many used car lots and used car dealerships do thoroughly examine the cars they sell. Now here is an opportunity for you to buy good condition cars at extremely low prices. Join now and get great deals on Cars for Sale / Cheap Cars for Sale.



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The Internet Car Guy asked:


You are already making a wise decision by deciding to buy a pre owned vehicle, the problem is, you just don’t know how to buy a pre owned car and save thousands of dollars on your car purchase. Here are some sure fire ways to save you money on your next pre owned car:



Before shopping for a pre owned car, think about your driving habits, your needs, and your budget

Learn about car models, options, and prices by reading newspaper ads, both display and classified

If you finance the cost of the car, consider how much you can put down, your monthly payment, the length of the loan, and the annual percentage rate. Make sure you understand all aspects of the loan agreement before you sign any documents, including the exact price; the amount you’re financing; the finance charge; and the total sales price

The Federal Trade Commission requires dealers to post a Buyers Guide in every pre owned car they offer for sale. Private sellers don’t have to use the Buyers Guide. The Guide tells you: whether the vehicle is sold “as is” or with a warranty; percentage of the repair costs a dealer will pay under the warranty; that spoken promises are difficult to enforce; to get all promises in writing; to keep the Buyers Guide for reference after the sale; the major mechanical and electrical systems on the car, including some of the major problems you should look out for; and to ask to have the car inspected by an independent mechanic before you buy

Examine the car using an inspection checklist. You can find these on Internet sites that deal with used cars

Test drive the car under varied road conditions-on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic

Ask for the car ‘s maintenance record from the owner, dealer, or repair shop

Hire a mechanic to inspect the car for mechanical soundness as well as safety

Talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar with the car’s history.



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Frank Gaston asked:


Kia has quickly grown as a reliable and affordable provider of quality vehicles, and the numbers are spiking to prove the Korean manufacturer’s significance in a highly volatile economy. Truly, Kia represents a stalwart reminder that the automotive industry can deliver a quality product for an affordable price, and the US market is stepping up to give the manufacturer a reason to continue on in a heavily affected automotive climate.

Kia just recently announced its global September sales figures, and they are quite impressive. Kia passenger cars (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants), recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles have logged a sales increase of more than 40 percent in comparison to last year’s figures. This isn’t exactly news for Waukegan Kia dealerships, who have been seeing some of the boosted sales numbers firsthand. The total units sold for September 2009 numbers 155,223.

Every Kia sales region saw a year-on-year increase, with Chinese sales posting a 130.3 percent increase, Korean numbers logging a 60.4 percent increase, European sales reaching 27.6 percent above last year, and North American figures boasting a 23.6 percent increase. The North American figures are especially appealing for Chicago Kia Soul dealerships, who have benefited from the massive attention Kia has received in the US.

The Korean manufacturer is continuing a trend of growth over 2009, posting an 11.8 percent sales jump in year-to-year comparisons. Over the first nine months of this year, Kia has sold 1,187,795 units—a staggering number to grasp in the midst of falling sales for nearly every other manufacturer across the spectrum of the automotive industry. The average Chicago Kia Soul driver would take comfort in the safety of these sales numbers.

In the general 2009 numbers, China again posted the highest sales increase for Kia with a 48.3 percent increase that represents 166,869 units to date. These numbers might be less significant to Waukegan Kia Sportage drivers, but they represent a much better brand awareness for the young manufacturer across global markets.

Kia Forte drivers have purchased Kia’s best selling vehicle in 2009. Called the “Spectra” or “Cerato” in some markets, the C-segment vehicle has logged 208,627 units sold over the course of the year. The Sportage and Rio models followed closely behind with 127,342 and 125,092 units sold respectively. While these sales numbers heavily favor the Forte, even Waukegan Kia dealerships don’t know what the manufacturer has up its sleeves for next year’s lineup.

These sales numbers not only represent a triumph for Kia, but also for the automotive industry as a whole and drivers who value more for less. Kia has shaken the automotive world to its core by offering the ability to purchase a quality vehicle at a low price. With sales numbers like these, there is no doubt that Kia will be sailing into the next phase of the car industry at the front of the pack. And Waukegan Kia Sportage drivers will gain a newfound respect from drivers everywhere. Stop by a Kia dealer today.



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