Auto Racing

There are many things that influence our decisions on what vehicle we ought to buy. Perhaps it’s the vibrant colours and perfect lighting on automobile brochures. Maybe the slow motion special effects found in website videos that best display a new vehicle design feature.  Looking beyond marketing fluff, many consumers are drawn to the reviews by experienced automotive journalists.

Automotive Journalists are initially attractive options as they share their “expert opinions” and details about a particular vehicle in their reviews that a consumer might not know. Their reviews might help consumers determine whether that vehicle is best suited for them and their lifestyle.  Other times you might come across reviews in which the opinions and views expressed about the vehicles are based mainly on key performance numbers and how it runs on a high speed track.  An exhilarating description of pushing the car to its limits can potentially be what reviewers and journalists determine to be a great car. Unfortunately, what’s often overlooked are the basics of a great car – manufactured quality, economy and cost of living, as well as the handling and comfort of daily driving. This begs the question, what really makes a great car? 

This question can be answered in a variety of ways, but in my opinion, the first thing that should be looked at is the manufacturing quality. It’s the first thing you see and it’s the first thing that catches your eye. If you discover a flaw, it’s like an itch that won’t go away. Quality and precision are integral to getting great consumer ratings – it’s what drives people to invest in vehicles again and again. Sadly, consumers aren’t focused on these key facts, because they’re bombarded with vehicle numbers, such as how the engine is built and how fast it can go. Vehicle numbers are flashy and exciting, but manufacturers can always construct a quick car with minimal quality placed in the actual mechanics of the vehicle. Paying more money for faster, sexier looking cars at the further cost of expensive parts and maintenance are not qualities of a great car. Speed means nothing when the vehicle breaks down on a constant basis and end up costing you more in the long run.

Quality of parts and the effort put into the manufacturing of the vehicle must be the paramount focus on what makes a great car. In turn, you will receive improved reliability that will add real value if you end up selling it down the road and that’s what truly determines a great car. Many consumers pay more for automotive parts, because they’re more durable and last longer.  It’s essential to do some research and find out about parts quality and what are the best parts for your vehicle. With a little research, you can instantly possess the knowledge and insight to spot flaws in certain vehicles and be more comfortable with your decision while negotiating at the dealership. 

Another major factor that reviews and commercials often look past are the costs to sustain these powerful motors throughout the year. Consumers receive no future insight into the operating costs to maintain the vehicle and minimal information on gas prices. These operating costs end up being the real cost of a vehicle and not just the final selling price. Fuel economy and the cost of fuel per month must be researched beforehand. A great website to visit is http://torontogasprices.com/TripCalculator.aspx to calculate the cost of fuel per trip and gas mileage of your vehicle at the current gas prices across Canada and the United States. 

I should point out that there are various reasons to buying a car. The focus of this article is not towards those individuals who are looking for a sporty third car that they can play with, but towards consumers who are looking for a vehicle that’s safe, attractive, affordable to purchase, economical to operate and can last them many winters – a worthwhile purchase in the end. It’s not easy to find a vehicle with all of those attributes, but the place to start is by looking at the longevity of a vehicle. Checking reviews from previous years are vital to see whether certain parts have held up or were required to be replaced. 

Handling and comfort is also vital when test driving your potential new vehicle. A skillful test driver on a high speed track will say it handles with some understeer or oversteer through the corners going 190 km/h. Those comments pay little attention to the actual comfort and atmosphere of the cabin on your everyday commute. What you need to look for are the parts of the review off the track in an everyday life setting. The exhilarating thrill of pushing a car to its limits does not make it a great car. The handling must be smooth and not performance-based. The cabin must be comforting and soothing, not made for the rough, agile lifestyles of race car drivers who must win at all costs. The goal is to overlook the smiles and thrilling screams of the commercials and track reviews and pay close attention when test driving a vehicle. You should feel comfortable sitting upright or slouching as you would after a long day. The handling shouldn’t differ on a rainy or snowy day. Test drive the car over bumpy and gravel filled roads and see if the vehicle loses control easily or if the suspension and quick response of the handling overcomes these obstacles. A vehicle might have great handling on a flat racetrack, but when taken to the practical streets of a city – does the verdict of the vehicle differ?

Now that you’ve learned what to look for in purchasing a vehicle, you still have to deal with the automotive dealership experience that can be an intimidating and time consuming process. Here are a few tips to alleviate some stress and allow you to be a more informed consumer. First and foremost ask the salesperson what the material of the body, chassis, and brake rotors are made out of, meanwhile already knowing what is best. If the answer you hear is opposite to the research you have done, you know there’s a red flag somewhere. 

Secondly, when taking the car for a test drive, look past the numbers of power and speed, but instead listen for engine noises, suspension and body sounds. Touch every button within the cabin and feel if it’s a cheap plastic or easily breakable by the way it has been installed. The lack of quality put into these parts may be done on purpose in order for you to buy replacement parts later. Are there gaps in between the plastic and sheet metal body of the vehicle, or has it been precisely put together with no trace of a faulty fitting part? These are the basics of quality manufacturing which shouldn’t be overlooked. These basics should be at the forefront of any vehicle purchase discussion ahead of ego-driven numbers of horsepower and torque.

The true essence of a great car should be based on the quality of how it feels on your local road and in your hands. Furthermore, it should be based on the cost of maintaining the vehicle on a daily basis and not the need to get the best lap time in tight fitting racing seats, impractical for an average lifestyle. In order to find the car for you read current and past reviews, and watch videos with a cautious eye. Once you’ve done your homework, head to the dealership for a test drive. Take away all the excitement and fluff, break down what parts are in the vehicle with all your newly added information and that will provide you with all you need to land a great car. 

DETROIT, MI - Mitsubishi is recalling 14,700 of its i-MiEV electric cars worldwide, including a number in Canada, because a brake pump can fail.

The automaker said Tuesday that the recall affects 2012 models made from Dec. 2, 2011 through Sept. 7, 2012.

Mitsubishi has sold just over 200 across Canada since the Dec. 2011 launch, but the precise number involved in the recalled was still being determined.

"We've notified Transport Canada that certain 2012 i-MiEV models may be affected by this issue," John Arnone, Mitsubishi Canada manager of public relations, said in an email.

"... A customer letter is in the works and will be issued as soon as our replacement parts allotment is completed."

About 1,400 vehicles in the United States, including some still on dealer lots, covered by the recall.

Mitsubishi said in documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a defective vacuum pump can stop working. That can reduce braking power, increase stopping distances and raise the risk of a crash.

Mitsubishi said no crashes or injuries have been reported.

The problem was discovered when the company got a complaint from a customer in Japan.

Mitsubishi will notify owners and replace the pumps free of charge. The company has not yet announced a schedule for the notification or repairs.

TORONTO - Toyota Canada said Wednesday it is recalling more than 157,000 vehicles to fix airbags and window wipers.

They include more than 140,000 Corolla and Matrix cars from 2003 and 2004 and almost 17,000 Lexus IS models from 2006 through 2012.

The Corolla and Matrix cars are being recalled because of concerns their airbags could be deployed inadvertently due to a possible short circuit in the control module.

The automaker also said the wiper arms of the Lexus vehicles may not be sufficiently tight and may stop working if their movement is restricted, by a buildup of snow for example.

Owners of the vehicles covered by these voluntary recalls will receive a letter via mail starting next month, it said.

It is part of a global recall of more than 1.3 million vehicles, including 752,000 in the United States.

Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman Naoto Fuse said two crashes were reported in the U.S. related to the air bag problem, but Toyota had not been able to confirm them. Fuse said it was unclear whether anyone had been injured in the two crashes. Toyota has confirmed 18 cases in the U.S. of abrasion-type injuries from the air bag problem, he said.

Initially, the Japanese automaker had said there were no accidents related to either problem. In total, it received 46 reports of problems involving the air bags from North America, and one from Japan, and 25 reports of problems related to the windshield wipers.

Toyota's reputation for top quality was undermined in the past few years by massive recalls for a spate of problems, including bad brakes, gas pedals and floor mats, mostly in the United States.

Executives have repeatedly promised to beef up quality controls and be quicker with recalls to repair Toyota's image.

Toyota's production was hit by the quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan in 2011, where key suppliers were located, but it has since recovered, seeing sales grow not only in the U.S. but also in Asia.

Earlier this week, Toyota released its tally for global vehicle sales last year at a record 9.75 million vehicles, regaining its spot as the world's No. 1 automaker from U.S. rival General Motors Co.

Toyota has announced some recalls in recent months, but they have been relatively minor, such as floor mats, and generally affect vehicles manufactured before its latest efforts to regain sterling quality.

Last month, Toyota agreed to pay more than $1 billion in the U.S. to settle lawsuits where vehicle owners said the value of their cars and SUVs plummeted after the company recalled millions of vehicles because of sudden-acceleration issues.

Executives say they are not admitting fault. But they acknowledge the company is eager to put the recall crisis behind it, and move ahead with sales growth in Asia as well as in the U.S.

IRVINE, CA - For generations, inquisitive young minds have asked the burning question that all parents dread.  A question that leaves many moms and dads stumbling to find the right words to carefully, and sometimes creatively, navigate the most delicate of situations.  On February 3, with more than 100 million people watching, Kia Motors America (KMA) will tell the story that hasn't been told as a flustered father shares an epic tale with his curious young son from behind the wheel of the new 2014 Sorento CUV.  Scheduled to air in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVII and directed by Jake Scott, "Space Babies" reveals the existence of a faraway planet known as "Babylandia" and follows infant boys, girls, dogs, pandas and more on their journey to Earth to join their new families.  After taking it all in, the curious child begins to offer an alternative theory passed on by a friend but his quick-thinking father calls upon UVO's voice-activated jukebox feature to hurriedly change the subject and survive another day in the adventures of parenthood.  

"As the marketing event of the year, the Super Bowl is a high-profile platform that Kia has used very successfully in each of the last three years to launch new vehicles and raise consumer awareness and perception for the brand," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.  "Every day is an adventure in parenting, and 'Space Babies' is an entertaining look at life's challenges and the many ways the Sorento's long list of technologies and amenities can make getting through the day just a little bit easier."

Created by David&Goliath, KMA's advertising agency of record, a special expanded version of "Space Babies" will be viewable here leading up to the big game.  As one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. over the last five years[1], Kia returns as a Super Bowl advertiser for the fourth straight time.  After becoming the first advertiser to debut a Super Bowl commercial in movie theaters before the big game last year, "Space Babies" will air on more than 33,000 screens nationwide beginning on February 1 as part of ScreenVision and National CineMedia's FirstLook.  "It has an answer for everything™" is a fully integrated marketing campaign incorporating TV, cinema, digital, print, social media and in-dealership components.