This is a new interesting car.  It is built like a Honda Accord, looks a lot like a Honda Accord, but the Honda Accord Crosstour has nearly twice the cargo space and is a little higher off the ground.  What’s it’s not is a crossover vehicle. There is no third row seating, the cargo space cannot compete, and it’s not as versatile as a crossover.  Nonetheless, Honda and many others that have reviewed it feel as though people are going to like this car. The  Crosstour fits between the Honda CR-V and the Honda Pilot.  Everything about it rides feels like the Accord. It rides like it.  What a better marketing deal for Honda?  The Accord is known for reliability, quality, etc. Why not build a new car very similar, call it something different, and have people already feel comfortable with it because it’s just like an Accord.

Each Crosstour has a 3.5-liter i-VTEC, 271 horsepower V6 engine.  It costs between $27,800-$31,900.  The gas mileage isn’t great at 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway or 17/25 if you get the all-wheel drive.  There is 51.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seats down, and 26 cubic feet with the back seats in place.

Now, it’s not the most attractive looking vehicle. Not as nice looking as the Accord, but the crossovers are not gorgeous either.  If you can get beyond the look (though it’s not awful by any stretch, just not the nicest looking car,) might be worth checking out.

Wanna win $1 million???  Well, just figure out a cause and solution to the acceleration problem with Toyota vehicles.  It’s as simple as that.  Edmunds.com is launching a competition open to the public.  You don’t need to be a mechanic to enter. Just get to the cause and then explain it to them, and you are all set and $1 million richer.  Well seriously the details are still being worked out but that’s the jist of the competition. This could seriously help Toyota, since they really can’t figure out how to fix this problem themselves!

The new Ford Focus wagon will begin production later this year, and will be sold in Europe. The U.S. will probably not be getting any of these wagons. The interest in wagons here in the U.S. is not very strong, which is probably smart on Ford’s part. It might be a waste of money.

Surprisingly, the sales of Toyotas have not been as bad as you would have thought.  According to Kelley Blue Book, Toyota’s car values are down about 2 to 3 percent and won’t go below 10 percent.  There were steep drops in January right after the recalls were announced, but there haven’t been anymore drops and the prices are staying pretty resilient right now.  Good news for Toyota, now hopefully someone can win the edmunds.com competition and fix all of Toyotas problems!

Manual (stick shifts) transmissions are dying out.  Seriously dying out.  According to Ward’s Communications, 22.4% of cars sold in the U.S. in 1985 were manual transmissions, but in 2007 that number dropped to 7.7%.  Recently, aolautos.com checked their inventory of cars that are for sale and of the 4,391,747 vehicles only 241,560 or 5.5% came with a manual transmission.

Here’s some reasons for the shift (no pun intended) in the transmissions.  Years ago, manual transmissions had much better fuel economy.  Now automatic transmissions are much better gas wise, so it pretty even for fuel economy.  Also, stop and go traffic means more work for the driver of a manual transmission.  May be a pain especially if people are trying to talk on their cell phones, use their navigation systems, or text.  Also, because there are less manual transmissions around, teens are not learning to drive manual transmissions in driving school.  Therefore, these teens aren’t interested in buying manuals.  It’s a chain reaction, and if you ask me a sad one. My first car was a manual transmission.  I’d hate to see them go, as I’m sure others will as well.

So, the Chicago Auto Show came and and it will go on Sunday, with not too much talk or excitement. Of course a few new concepts were introduced, but really quite boring I would say.  Now we are moving on to the Geneva International Auto Show which starts on March 4-14.  Maybe there will be alittle more buzz at this show, though my guess is not. We haven’t had a lot of excitement from any of the major shows so far this year.  The automakers are trying to create sparks, but it’s hard when they are so concerned to not lose more money.  There is one interesting debut to come out at the Geneva Auto Show. Ford will be unveiling the production versions of the new C-Max and Grand C-Max wagons at the Geneva Auto Show, according to autoweek.com.  Wagons are coming back.  I like it!

The C-Max is a 5 seater and the Grand C-Max is a 7 seater and they will go on sale in Europe later this year.  In late 2011, the Grand C-Max (which will be known as the C-Max) will be sold in the U.S. Confused?  The 7 seat Grand C-Max has twin sliding doors.  Both cars are part of Ford’s idea to show the medium size car.  All we ever talk about these days are the small vehicles, so it’s a nice change and something for those not looking for the small Honda Fit or others like it.  The Ford Focus is another medium sized car debuting next year.  I look forward to a slight shift and “bigger” cars being debuted!  I think we should at least check out the Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max. They look different and that can be worthwhile.

Congress and Mothers Against Drunk Driving are working very hard to put into effect national laws for devices to be put in cars if you are found guilty of DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated.)  Some states already have laws in effect and if you are found guilty not only do you have to pay for the DWI ticket, etc. you have to buy the interlock device that you have to blow into before the car will start.  I think this is a great idea. The only problem is that you only have to have the device on your car for a certain amount of time and then it’s removed. Well unfortunately for many convicted DUI and DWI people, they repeat and there is a trend that shows that after the device is removed, within weeks they are arrested again. Either way, there is no doubt that these interlocking devices are lowering the driving drunk rates for sure.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers members from Ford, GM, Toyota, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have been doing a lot of research to try to non-invasive ways to measure alcohol content through skin, perspiration, or a light off a driver’s retina.  The driver would be unaware of these measurements occuring.  The measuring could occur from the steering wheel, door handle, or brake shift where skin comes in contact.  The automakers do not want to “hassle the sober driver” and these non-invasive ways would not.

I love this idea. In the future, these built-in breathalyzers could become standard.  Some people think that the interlocking device or the built-in breathalyzers is an invasion of the driver’s privacy.  I disagree. Unfortunately, too many times drunk drivers kill other people, and if either device saves the life of 1 person, it’s well worth it. What do you think?  Good idea or invasion of privacy???  I’d love to hear what you guys think.

Forbesautos.com compiled a list of the world’s most expensive cars.  I know that the majority of us cannot afford 1/4 of these cars but it’s still fun to read about them and their enormous price tags!  I still would love to meet someone who buys these cars, because they probably don’t even really drive them. I’m sure they are “summer cars” or used on special occasions. These most expensive cars are REALLY expensive. I know that sounds dumb, but they are a lot of money.  By the way, the tax is not included in these prices.

Lamborghini Reventon - $1,454,400, horsepower 650, 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds, top speed of 211 mph. 20 will be made.

Pagani Zonda Cinque Coupe - $1,738,080, horsepower 678, 0 to 60 3.3 seconds, top speed of 217 mph.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 - $1,738,080, horsepower 1001, 0 to 60 mph 2.5 seconds, top speed of 249 mph.

Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster - $1,882,920, horsepower 678, 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds, top speed of 355 mph (yup 355 is what I said!) only 5 will be sold.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - $2,027,760, horsepower 1001, 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds, and top speed of 253 mph.

AND THE WINNER IS…………………………………..

Koenigsegg CCXR - $2,173,950, horsepower 1018, 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds, and top speed of 250 mph. 4 cars are currently being built.

I know that this is just mindless information really, but sometimes mindless is good.  Plus, it’s fun to see how the “other side” drive!!!!!

Of course not surprising, the women choose practical and the men choose power as their cars of choice.  Forbesautos.com has a list of the most popular cars for women and men from September 2009 through the end of January this year.  They got the numbers from data taken from new car registrations through JD Power and Associates.  Now of course just because someone registers the car doesn’t mean they drive it, but this was the best way to try to determine information for this survey.

Women

Kia Sportage

Honda CR-V

Nissan Rogue

Toyota Yaris

Toyota RAV4

Men

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Ford F-Series

GMC Sierra

Ford Ranger

Toyota Tundra

Chevrolet Camaro - most popular non-pickup truck vehicle

There doesn’t need to be much said. You see the trend. Crossovers and practical vehicles for the women and powerful trucks for the men.  Not surprised, are you??

For some of us, I might be alittle late with this blog, but at least you can buy the best vehicle for next year’s winter.  For the rest of us, we still have a good 6-8 weeks left of winter, so if you need a vehicle, I can help you.  Alright, this list is obviously just someone’s opinion, but the people at www.cargurus.com are pretty good, so I value their opinions.

Toyota 4Runner/Tacoma - can handle any weather situation.

Audi A6 Quattro

Honda CR-V

Subaru Forester

Jeep Wrangler - wouldn’t have been my first choice for the weather, but what do I know?

Volvo XC90

Suzuki SX4

Lexus RX

Porsche Cayenne

BMW 328i xDrive

Check out the cargurus website for their explanation of each if you are interested.

So if you missed this news, texting while driving buses or big rig trucks is now banned.  I’m really glad that the government put this into law, but seriously I can’t believe all of the laws that are needed in order for people to use common sense.  This law should extend to anyone that drives and that people should not text, read the newspaper, put on makeup, eat/drink, etc. What should be done while driving is driving.  I find it to be crazy that we need a law to try to prevent texting and worst yet that it probably won’t stop most from texting while driving.  Think about it. It is against the law to talk on the phone while driving.  How many people have stopped talking on the phone. As you drive down the road the next time, notice how many people are talking on their phones.  The same thing will happen with texting. It will stop some people, but not as many as it should.  Drivers just need to use their heads and pay attention to the roads in general.  It hasn’t been that long since we had to actually get out at a pay phone to make phone calls. Just sortof pretend that this is still the case and pull over.  It’s as easy as that. We’ve become just a lazy country that needs to get in touch with people immediately.  Texting is dangerous to you and others.  Use your heads and be safe while driving.

Alright I just have to quickly give you my thoughts on concepts. I’m really quite confused about them.  I know that in many cases concepts are a necessity.   They give previews of cars to come and such. I get that. What I don’t quite get is the concepts that are built (and expensive to make by the way) and then are never seen again and that’s the way the automaker wants it.  Some of these concepts are ridiculous. There is no way that these cars would ever truly be driven on the roads.  Why make them?  I guess name recognition is big and if you see a really bizarre concept car that’s worth talking about by a certain automaker, the automaker achieved what they wanted. It just seems like a lot of money is wasted when these concepts aren’t ever going to be put on the road. Though on the other side, if there were no concepts vehicles, first of all, auto shows would be quite boring and also the automakers wouldn’t be able to truly know whether there is interest in a vehicle or not until they built and starting selling them.  I don’t know. I have mixed feelings about concept vehicles, though my feelings aren’t going to stop any automaker from continuing to build these concepts and unveiling them at auto shows.  Some day I might get a better understanding of their true purpose….maybe not too.