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.

Well the Detroit Auto Show is underway to the public now and some auto websites already have been there done that and have some opinions as well (of course!)  Autoblog.com said the auto show was smaller, like last year, than years past and less vehicles or concepts unveiled.  Autoweek.com spent a lot of time there this past week and they came up with the four best vehicles of the Detroit Auto Show, in their opinions of course!  The four categories were Best in Show, Most Significant, Most Fun, and Best Concept.  And the winners are……

Best in Show - Audi E-tron - this is actually a concept car but autoweek hopes and expects it to become a sporty two-seater that will be awesome to drive.

Most Significant - 2012 Ford Focus - this is the European Focus that many have been hoping would come to the U.S. It’s coming!

Most Fun - Mini Beachcomber - a concept that is a preview of the Mini’s new SUV.  This vehicle has huge tires, no doors, and no roof.  That makes it fun already!

Best Concept - Volkswagen New Compact Coupe - Autoweek loved the fact that this concept was “so polished, and how finished” the car looked for a concept.  It looked very ready for production.

There were many finalists in each category, but the staff at autoweek.com hashed it out and came up with these winners.  I’m sure the Detroit Auto Show doesn’t really care who wins what awards, they just want a lot of people there. The automakers want to win awards, but more than that they want there models out there and hope that the economy keeps turning around and people buy their cars. I think that will happen in 2010.  I’m an optimist.

Even though leasing is not as popular these days, there are still a great deal of leasing programs out there and some good ones at that.

Smart Fortwo are running a special through February 28 to lease their vehicles for 24, 36, or 48 months on any 2009 model.  The rates are as low as $169 a month for a 36 month lease.  Smart is hoping to jump start their sales.

I’ll give you the best lease deals for January, according to autos.aol.com in each category.

Minivan - Toyota Sienna $279-$399 mth for 36 mths with $399-$2999 due at signing

- Honda Odyssey $299 a mth for 36 mths with $2499 due at signing

-Volkswagen Routan $379 a mth for 36 mths nothing due at signing

-Mazda5 $299 mth/36 mths with $2894 due at signing

Small cars -Honda Insight $199 mth/36 mths $1799 due

-Mitsubishi Lancer $179 mth/36 mths $2728 due

-Volkswagen Golf $269 mth/36 mths zero due

-Nissan Sentra $149-$179 mth/39 mths $2449 due

Sedan - Honda Accord $199 mth/36 mths $2199 due

-Toyota Camry $169-$199 mth/36 mths $239 to $2899 due

-Subaru Legacy $209 mth/36 mths $1909 due

-Nissan Maxima $299-$329 mth/39 mths $2999 due

Crossover - Honda CR-V $249 mth/36 mths $2099 due

-Mitsubishi Outlander $239 mth/48 mths $2488 due

-Volkswagen Tiguan $339 mth/36 mths zero due

-Acura RDX $399 mth/36 mths $3599 due

SUV - Cadillac SRX $479 mth/39 mths $4054 due

-Kia Borrego $269 mth/39 mths $3364 due

-Acura MDX $499 mth/36 mths $3999 due

So you have a lot of good choices in each category if you so choose to lease this month. Hurry up half of January is already gone by! Can you believe that????

I found an article written by cars.com that gives a list of 10 vehicles that can possibly make or break the Big 3 (Ford, GM, and Chrysler) in Detroit.  In my opinion, I don’t really think that Ford especially needs any big vehicle to save it. I think it’s doing alright through this storm.  They didn’t need any buyout money and are posting positive sales recently.  GM also is surviving, and at this point in the auto industry, survival I think is just fine. Chrysler on the other hand. That’s a different story. That’s the company that might turn the Big 3 into the Big 2. Sorry Chrysler.  So anyways, this article gave some of the vehicles that will be big releases coming up.

Ford - Company Savers - Ford Fiesta, Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer - Cars.com thinks that Ford needs to redesign the Ford Escape to help the company as well.

Chrysler -   Company Savers - Jeep Grand Cherokee (the only thing I really think that can help Chrysler!)  Fiat 500, Chrysler 300. Cars.com says that Chrysler needs a successful compact car. They have tried several that have failed.  Keep trying.

General Motors - Company Savers - Chevy Equinox/Traverse, Chevy Cruze, Chevy Volt. Needed….a new Chevy Aveo.

Let’s see just how right, if at all, Cars.com is.  Time will tell.

So the Detroit Auto Show began this past weekend.  It is actually open to the public starting this Saturday.  Currently, the show is open to the industry only.  The Detroit Auto Show is always a big show because it’s the first one of the year, showing off all the new models for the year and hoping for good reviews as well.  Autoweek.com has their eyes set on 6 cars that they are eagerly waiting to see at this show.  The anticipation is overwhelming! Well, maybe let’s not go that far but it’s exciting nonetheless!  Autoweek says that these 6 cars have them “on the edge of their seats.”

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe - “killer caddy that we’ve all been waiting for.” It has a 556 horsepower V8 engine that goes from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds!

Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet - 3.5-liter V6 engine with 268 horsepower or the V8 5.5-liter engine with 382 horsepower.

Buick Regal GS concept - interesting one to get excited about!

Ford Mustang GT - 5.0-liter V8 with 412 horsepower

Mini Beachcomber concept - this is a “funky, offbeat” concept that is a “hint of the future.”  You need to look at this one.

BMW Concept ActiveE - a plug-in electric car that should get a 100 miles per charge.

I’m sure Autoweek and others will have more to drool over and talk about to nausea as the Detroit Auto Show truly gets under. Stay tuned….

Every year, Automobile Magazine tests, evaluates, and debates vehicles to come up with the best of the year.  According to Jean Jennings, the president and editor-in-chief of the Automobile Magazine, “the level of excellence found during this competition was at an all-time high and the competition was strong.” That’s good news since we’ve come off the worst year for the auto industry.  I’ll just list the vehicles and their prices, and you can check out the article if you want the details about these cars…..YahooAutos.

1.  Jaguar XF/XFR - $52,000-$80,000

2.  Audi S4 - $46,725 - base price

3.  Chevrolet Camaro (this car is constantly talked about!) - $23,530-$34,595

4.  BMW 335d - $44,725 - base price

5.  Dodge Ram 1500 - $21,510-$43,550

6.  Ford Flex - $29,325-$43,635

7.  BMW Z4 - $46,575 - $52,475

8.  Ford Fusion Hybrid - $28,350-base price

9.  Mazda 3 - $15,795-23,945

10.  Porsche Boxster/Cayman - $48,550-$62,450

Hopefully all of these people are right and 2010 will be a big year for the auto industry!

I’m sure you know someone (if not yourself) that has been an impulse car buyer.  It’s bad, really bad. One little mistake can cost you hundreds of extra dollars, if not thousands.  It’s stressful buying a car, new, used, whatever. It takes work and if you want to do it right, hard work.  According to U.S. News and World Report, there are 8 common mistakes when buying a car. They give the mistakes and them have to try to avoid these mistakes. I’ll give you a brief description of each.

1.  Confusing want with needs - make sure that you have a list of your needs when you go car shopping, so you don’t get excited and decide to buy a two-seater, when you need a lot more room than that on a daily basis.  Seems like any normal person wouldn’t make this mistake, but if you are in the dealership and this beautiful car is sitting in front of you, you may forget what are your needs, that’s why they will be written done.  A reminder!

2.  Test Driving the wrong trim - There are usually major interior and exterior differences between the LS and GLS, etc. Sometimes a salesperson will have you test drive the highest trim level and then try to sell you the trim level which fits in your budget, which will be much lower. Make sure that you test drive the exact trim level that you plan on buying before you sign any papers.

3.  Sacrificing Appeal for Reliability - don’t just buy a car because it’s nice looking and has fun features. Just  make sure that you do your homework. Research reliability.  Get the most reliable car, not necessarily the best looking.

4.  Not knowing what others paid - make sure you know what others are paying for the cars you are looking to buy. The internet can give you this information.  You may be offered $500 off the sticker price, but others may be getting $2000 off the sticker price.  Again, do your homework.

5.  Underestimating the value of your trade-in - You need to know exactly what a fair price is for your trade-in. Use Kelley Blue Book to find out the value. Then when you negotiate a price, make sure that you don’t talk about your trade-in until the very end. You will end up with a better price because once you are giving a price for the vehicle, your trade-in value will be taken off the final price.  Also you can negotiate the price of your trade-in.  If you aren’t given the price you think you should, leave and go to a dealership that will give you the money you deserve.

6.  Buying options you don’t need - don’t do it. There are some really great options available to you, but expensive. You can get bluetooth and gps options that will cost you $1000s when you can get a bluetooth and portable gps for $200 or so.

7.  Not Cross-Shopping Car Deals - Make sure you look around especially to competing vehicles. For instance, if you are interested in a Honda Accord, make sure you check out the Toyota Camry as well. You may think that you are getting the best deal, but you need to check out the others anyways. You never know!

8.  Only thinking in terms of monthly payments - you may think it’s better to have a monthly payment of $350 over $450, but in order to get the lowest price you usually have to take out a longer loan, which in the end costs more in interest and fees.

Hopefully you don’t make these mistakes when buying your next car.

So I just read today that auto analysts see signs of rebound in auto sales.  Great news!  So with that said, maybe you are considering a new car.  Here’s one for you.  The new Mercedez-Benz C300 may be considered less of a car than it’s sibling the Mercedez-Benz E-Class, but according to Larry Printz of The Virginian-Pilot that is not the case at all.  Consider the Mercedez-Benz C300 “the same vehicle but more concisely rendered.”  The nice thing about the C300 is the price. I mean in the big picture it is still a really expensive vehicle, but it is nicely priced for a Mercedez-Benz.  There are two models to choose from in the C Class. You have the sporty model or the luxury sedan model.  All models come with a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.  You also have a choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission.  This is a fast vehicle.  The gas mileage is good as well at 22.5 miles per gallon overall.

You have so many choices on what to get. There is the base C300 that has a 228-horsepower 3-liter V6 or a C350 that has a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6.  Too many choices for me already!  These choices are before the options and extra packages too!  Yikes!  There is a “Multimedia Package” and a “Premium 1 Package” which costs $2300 that includes a garage door opener, heated front seats, satellite radio, auto-dimming mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, 10-way power driver’s seat with three-position memory and a power adjustable steering column.  You get a lot for $2300.  So, if you want to buy a really nice car, check out the Mercedez-Benz C300. Oops, I forgot to give you the price…..just a minor detail.  The base price is $33,600, but let’s be realistic it’s probably more like $43,000 after you get the model you want and the options.

Ford has been given the honors of receiving the Detroit Free Press 2010 Car and Truck of the Year.  The Ford Fusion and Ford Transit Connect are the lucky winners of the 2010 Car and Truck of the Year awards.  Great news for Ford.

The Car of the Year - Ford Fusion - this is a front or all-wheel drive midsize sedan with a base price of $19,620.

The 2 runner ups of this award was the Chevrolet Camaro and the Buick Lacrosse.

The Truck of the Year -   Ford Transit Connect - front-wheel drive compact van with a base price of $20,780.  It has a 136 horsepower 2.0-liter engine.  It will get 22 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway.

The 3 runner ups (2nd place was a tie) of the Truck of the Year were the Chevrolet Equinox, Lincoln MKT, Cadillac SRX.

Maybe I’m a loser (I am!) but I am really excited about these new vehicles. I think that Big 3 in Detroit are coming back!  I think Ford is the leader of the pack for sure and do to all of their awards are clearly making a better name for themselves these days.

According to Larry Printz of The Virginian-Pilot, you can be a sound like a car maven if you just know some of the terms used by car designers in styling studios around the world.  I’m just going to give you a few of these “fancy” car terms so that the next time you are talking to your friends, you can show them that you know your car stuff!

Mohican line - The strips that run where the body-side meets the roof panel.

Shut line - The gap between two body panels or interior trim panels.  The tighter fit usually suggests better craftsmanship.

Wheel arch - The circular shape that frames the road wheels.

Beltline - The line underneath the side windows of the car.

Character line - A line or crease that adds definition and personality to the car’s design.

There are more terms to learn, but I thought it would be too much. If you really want to learn all of them, check out the article written by Printz.  I personally think that these terms are hard enough to grasp, but more power to you and you will REALLY impress your friends!