In recent months and years, U.S. automakers have rallied that American cars are now on equal or better footing than Japanese (and Korean) cars in terms of quality, reliability, and durability.
The campaigns, along with sea-change improvements in some of the products coming from Detroit, as observed by TheCarConnection.com, seem to have worked. With critically acclaimed success stories like the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford (NYSE:F) has gained significantly with U.S. shoppers; the percentage singling out Ford as the automaker producing the best quality cars doubled since 2006, from nine percent to 18 percent.
It's not surprising, given the slew of recalls that have been announced in recent months—including some that have applied to the automaker's iconic 2010 Toyota Prius flagship—Toyota took the hardest hit when poll-takers asked who produces the best quality cars. It fell from 25 down to 15 percent.
The results come from an AP-GfK Poll, taken by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media, and based on 1,002 adults 18 and older—702 by landline and 300 by cellphone—then weighted to the Current Population Survey. It was conducted March 3 and March 8 of this year, but included in the poll results were those from December 2006, when many of the same questions were asked.
Compared to 2006, a slightly higher percentage said that they would consider buying an American car (68 percent now versus 64 percent then). But there's still progress to be made on behalf of the U.S. industry; the perception remains that foreign cars are better quality, better made, and/or longer lasting.
When asked which country produces the best quality cars, 38 percent of respondents thought U.S. vehicles were tops (up from 29 percent in 2006), while Europe was down slightly (from 17 to 15 percent) and Asia was down significantly (from 46 percent in 2006 to 33 percent in March). Japan took the hardest hit, down from 44 percent to 29 percent.
In a test of image, respondents were asked to name their dream car. There, 38 percent responded with a foreign brand, with models from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus placing highest. Domestic models were chosen by 31 percent, with Chevrolet, Ford, Cadillac, and Chrysler ranked at the top (though Corvette was separated out as a separate brand).
Interestingly, vehicle ownership looks to have dropped slightly during this time according to this demographically adjusted poll, with 83 percent owning or leasing one or more vehicles in 2010, versus 89 percent in 2006. A surprising 17 percent said this year that they didn't own or lease a vehicle at all—that's way up from ten percent then.
One stereotype that hasn't changed is that those in the Western U.S.—along with those who have completed more education—are far more likely to hold their high regard for Asian-made vehicles. Older and rural residents remained more positive about American cars.
Ford Motor Company and Gary Yeomans Ford hosted the first ever "DriveOne4urSchool" Fundraiser at SeabreezeHigh School in Daytona Beach. "It was a fundraiser where parents, faculty and students over 18 were given the opportunity to test drive the New Ford Products and earn money for each and every test drive" Said Cathy Calderoni, program coordinator for Gary Yeomans Ford. Kenny Tuter, Paul Bellanca, Bill Bachmeister,Ramon Esteban,Kevin Dalton and Juan Salcedo all sales professionals at the dealership recorded an incredible 314 test drives in 7 hours. That raised a total of $6000 for SeabreezeHigh School. "The event was a total success for both the school and our dealership said Kenny Tuter, we had the opportunity to demonstrate our new and exciting line of vehicles and at the same time help a school in our community."
When the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor was first unveiled in 2008, auto enthusiasts of all stripes were stopped in their tracks by the sheer outrageousness of Ford's off-road pickup truck. There has never been a factory-offered high-performance car or truck engineered to travel at speeds up to 100 mph in places where little more than rocks and sand are the only sources of traction. After several turns behind the wheel of the 5.4-liter V-8 model, we were shocked and awed by how well the Raptor fulfilled Ford's go-fast-in-the-dirt and air-catching promises.
But suddenly, the original Raptor is a base-model truck. A new 6.2-liter V-8 Raptor has arrived with the most powerful engine available in a half-ton pickup, and we've just driven it hard in the unforgiving Mojave Desert of Southern California.
PickupTrucks.com reader Matt Davis, who hangs out with the Raptor driving crew at SVTOffRoad.com, picked up his 6.2-liter Raptor last week and was kind enough to let us borrow it for a day. Also driving alongside us, our good friend Sean Holman, tech editor at Four Wheeler Magazine (you can read Sean's initial opinion of the truck at the Four Wheeler Blog).
More Power!
For years, if there was one gripe that Ford F-150 owners collectively shared, it was the distinct lack of power (and bragging rights) that come with a large-displacement V-8. The all-new 6.2-liter is meant to answer this glaring hole in Ford's powertrain lineup.
The single-overhead cam 6.2-liter V-8 is rated at a brawny 411 horsepower and 434 pounds-feet of torque. The fact that it's making its debut in today's frugal times is rather odd, like seeing the strongman sideshow freak turn up in a Cirque du Soleil performance. Where Ford's latest gas and diesel engines are modern marvels that feature direct injection, turbochargers, compacted graphite iron engine blocks and slick tech like twin intake variable cam timing, the 6.2-liter V-8 is a bit of a throwback. It has two valves and two spark plugs per cylinder, a cast-iron engine block and aluminum cylinder heads. It also features a cast-iron crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods and cast-aluminum pistons. "Powered by Ford" is proudly embossed on the valve covers.
In addition to the Raptor, the 6.2-liter V-8 can also be found bolted under the hood of the new 2011 F-Series Super Duty, where it's rated a bit lower at 385 hp and 405 pounds-feet of torque.
Before we made a beeline for the California outback north of Edwards Air Force Base to try out the whole truck, we paid a visit to our friends at K&N Air Filters in Riverside to borrow time on their chassis dynamometer to empirically measure the horsepower and torque curves of the 6.2-liter.
With the transmission in third gear, maximum torque was measured at 361.64 pounds-feet and horsepower peaked at 344.52 hp. Both measurements were made at the rear wheels instead of at the crank, which is what Ford uses to claim its advertised rating of 411 hp and 434 pounds-feet.
A 20 percent power loss from the crank to the rear wheels from friction and rotational parasitic forces is a fair number to use, gauging the relative difference between claimed and dynoed numbers. In that context, the power the 6.2-liter V-8 was able to put on the ground was better than we expected. It's got more horsepower and just a bit less torque at the rear wheels than the legacy 310-hp, 365 pounds-feet 5.4-liter V-8 has at the crank! And we were using 87-octane regular unleaded fuel, not the pricey premium fuel that's needed to get peak power in other competing large-displacement V-8s.
On the Road
After K&N, the freeways and backroads from Riverside to Mojave gave us plenty of seat time to see how the 6.2-liter Raptor behaved on the road. After all, you don't need to trailer this desert prerunner from home to OHV park or Baja Mexico.
A spring storm passing through Southern California threw hard rain at us at times, so we were able to drive on asphalt in wet and dry conditions. In both cases, the 6.2-liter Raptor felt very secure and solid on the road despite its tall stance, big 35-inch BF Goodrich tires and long-travel suspension. The ride seemed distinctively better than the 5.4-liter Raptor, though you could feel some chassis float when changing lanes.
Perhaps it's the extra weight from the larger mill or revised suspension tuning, but road feel was our first confirmation that the extra time Ford has taken to deliver the 6.2-liter Raptor has paid off well.
The second indicator that the 6.2-liter Raptor is an improved truck came from the noticeable lack of fussiness from the six-speed automatic transmission, which is the same gearbox paired with the 5.4-liter V-8. In past drives, we noted how the 5.4-liter V-8 tended to hunt for gears, looking for the best balance between speed and fuel economy. Our solution to that issue was to use tow/haul mode to hold gears longer before shifting. There's virtually none of that frequent cog swapping in the 6.2-liter Raptor, which shifted only as needed and used the engine's larger power band to stay in gear.
When it came time to plant the accelerator to pass slower vehicles, the Raptor responded by smoothly dropping a gear and revving up to its peak torque sweet spot that's available from 3,500-5,700 rpm. But the rush of power wasn't EcoBoost shove-you-back-in-the-seat-and-keep-shoving strong, like we've experienced in Ford's latest EB-powered vehicles. Opening the Raptor's throttle produced a confident and steady stream of power instead of urgent torque sent to the rear wheels. Its power nicely patches all the gaps the 5.4-liter has, but not excessively so.
To find out just how fast the Raptor is on the road, instead of relying on our butt dyno, we made a couple of runs with the truck at Willow Springs Raceway north of Los Angeles. During three passes in a stormy crosswind, we measured a best zero-to-60 mph time of 7.61 seconds, according to instrumented testing using the VBOX we brought along. That’s with the truck’s launch-optimized 4.10 rear axle, though that low final-drive ratio is somewhat negated by the Raptor’s very tall 35-inch tires. It's 1.2 seconds faster than what we measured in the 5.4-liter V-8 Raptor, and it's very respectable considering the Raptor 's hefty curb weight tips the scales at more than 6,000 pounds.
In the quarter-mile, we hit 89.04 mph in 15.86 seconds.
All of the runs were performed in two-wheel drive with off-road mode on and stability control off, so throttle interference from electronic nannies wouldn't be a problem, though that apparently introduced rear axle wrap and some wheel hop when we went wide-open throttle from a brake-torqued standing start. That's not surprising, since we've experienced similar behavior before in a standard 5.4-liter F-150.
After leaving Willow Springs, we pointed the Raptor toward the wide-open high desert near Johannesburg, Calif. It's where we recently tested a 5.4-liter V-8 Raptor, so we could put the 6.2-liter Raptor on some of the same trails but still try some new ground.
In the Dirt
We turned off the main road into Last Chance Canyon for a quick excursion up a wash that was freshly covered in spots with large rocks that fell from cliffs during the recent rains. Where possible, we squirted up open sandy sections and dodged boulders, getting a feel for the 6.2-liter V-8's power on loose surfaces. As hoped and expected, the strong engine enabled the Raptor to hunch down in the dirt for traction without feeling or becoming bogged down in excessively silty sections. That same power also allowed us make precise course corrections during rapid turns around water-formed bends in the dry riverbed, which wouldn't have been possible with the slower and lower power response with the 5.4-liter V-8. Deft punches of the right pedal could be used for maneuvering instead of being power-limited and having to brake around an obstacle, risking getting bogged down.
We followed several power line roads and dirt bike trails looking for just the right place to jump the Raptor — you are supposed to jump the truck, after all — but we didn't have much luck this time finding the right rise. We didn't want to break the truck, either.
What we did find were some great straightaways with odd and random mixes of hard-packed dirt, old crumbling asphalt and small to moderately sized whoops that proved to be an excellent refresher of how well the Raptor's specialized front and rear Fox shocks handle rapidly changing terrain conditions at speeds up to 50 to 60 mph. The 2.5-inch diameter maintenance-free dampers deliver over 11-inches of front and more than 13-inches of aft wheel travel. Three oil gates inside their barrels control the dampening rate as the shock responds to every surface condition the truck encounters, from pothole to mudhole.
The 6.2-liter V-8 excelled in these trail situations as well. Faced with the on-the-spot decision to immediately brake and crawl at low speeds or, instead, quickly speed up to leverage the suspension to rapidly cross changing surfaces — like washboards that gave way to wider-spaced dips or whoops that grew deeper troughs — the extra power rapidly pushed the speedometer to the right so we didn't bounce too hard over stuff that would be tough on the truck and passengers at lower speeds.
What also works well with the 6.2-liter V-8 is the Raptor's specialized off-road mode. Enabled with the push of a button, off-road mode changes the engine’s throttle map to give the Raptor linear throttle response, like a race truck, instead of high power at the beginning and tapered at the end, like a street truck. Off-road mode also changes the transmission’s shift points to hold its gear and not upshift after letting off the throttle at high speeds. It also locks out the sixth-gear overdrive at the top of the transmission to keep the rpm high.
We also spent some time just running the Raptor hard in a wide open desert expanse, drifting and power sliding on the dirt to get further familiar with the 6.2-liter V-8's power band without risk of hitting rocks, bushes or an unexpected deep rut. Flatland isn't part of the Raptor's native hilly and rutted trail-running habitat but it sure is fun throwing the rig around a field.
Adding It All Up
But there's more to the Raptor we tested than just go-fast antics. In addition to the $3,000 upgrade to the 6.2-liter V-8 over the 5.4-liter Raptor's $38,020 starting price, this Raptor also came with the Luxury Package ($1,950) with 10-way power leather heated front seats, power adjustable pedals and a Sony audio system; a moonroof ($995); Ford's Sync entertainment and navigation system ($2,430); a bed extender ($250); tailgate step ($375); and a rearview camera that's a lifesaver backing up off-road ($450). The grand total was $48,445, including a $975 destination charge. Not included: the $1,075 "digital mud" exterior graphics option, so we could decorate the truck with the real stuff.
Are those luxuries worth it? Maybe not the moonroof, but all of the others make sense if this is your ultimate fantasy pickup that can be used for work and play.
One disappointing thing we noticed about the 6.2-liter Raptor was its lack of external differentiation from the 5.4-liter version. Both have the same twin exhaust tips and wheels. In the Ford Racing Raptor XT that was shown at SEMA, there was a cool 6.2-liter V-8 badge that clearly identified the powerplant residing in the truck's engine bay, but on this truck there was nothing. It's an issue that deserves a fix, even one as simple as a small badge.
The last item we measured was fuel economy. We tallied it at two points during the trip. The first part combined freeway and country road driving with off-road driving, and it came out to a lowly 10.4 mpg. The second part only examined highway miles, which were better at 14 mpg but certainly nothing to brag about.
Those familiar with the telenovela development history of the 6.2-liter V-8 powertrain — which is too long to get into in this story — know that this engine has been in development since the early part of the last decade. What might have been considered efficient or satisfactory had it arrived around 2006 isn't necessarily the case today. Yes, it has gobs of power, but even a six-speed transmission isn't enough bring mileage up to where it should be. That's the biggest challenge Ford SVT has in front of it with the Raptor because the rest is brilliant.
Compared with the 5.4-liter truck, the 6.2-liter V-8 Raptor is a better balanced package of power and refinement on and off the pavement. There's no doubt that the 6.2-liter V-8 gives the Raptor the extra capability it's been demanding. It's an incredibly good deal for only an extra $3,000.
Louisiana has the highest average auto-insurance rates in the U.S.
With an average annual premium of about $2,511, the bayou state beats second-place Michigan by more than $400 annually, according to a new Insure.com study.
Blame Hurricane Katrina, at least in part. According to insurance experts, the answer resides in the state's sketchy court system as well as the estimated 125,000 vehicles that were scrapped after the 2005 storm. A poor road system in Louisiana also contributes to higher-than-average bodily injury and lawsuit rates.
Second-place Michigan has high insurance rates for a completely different reason. The state is the only one to have such an extensive personal injury protection (PIP) system, extending unlimited medical benefits to all accident victims for life, and requiring the insurer to cover the first $460,000; a statewide pool kicks in after that. Also, Michigan's high rate of unemployment translates to a high rate of uninsured drivers—a burden that inflates the amount for responsible drivers who do manage to pay their premiums.
Oklahoma and Montana were two other states with surprisingly high insurance costs, ranking third and fourth, respectively, with California having the fifth most expensive policies.
New York and New Jersey drivers—particularly those in the New York City area—are so often griping about the high costs of insurance in their respective states. But surprisingly, those states aren't even in the top ten.
Maine is the state with the least expensive premiums, which Insure.com attributes to a good network of highways that aren't that busy, relatively low commute distances, and plenty of competition among insurers. Maine residents are also less likely to sue than those in other states.
Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services for the study, which included calculations for more than 2,400 model-year 2010 vehicles—all based on a 40-year-old single male driver with a 12-mile daily commute. Averages were based on ten different zip codes. The sample policy included $100,000 limits for injury liability, $300,000 for all injuries, and $50,000 for property damage, plus a $500 deductible for collision and comprehensive claims.
Here's a summary of states with the most and least expensive insurance premiums, but go to Insure.com for the full list.
Five States With The Most Expensive Insurance Premiums:
1. Louisiana – $2,510.87
2. Michigan – $2,098.29
3. Oklahoma – $1,869.39
4. Montana – $1,857.96
5. California – $1,774.41
Five States With The Least Expensive Insurance Premiums:
1. Maine – $902.85
2. Vermont – $968.58
3. Ohio – $999.86
4, Wisconsin – $1,010.93
5. New Hampshire – $1,011.23
In case you missed it the first time around, the Ford “Swap Your Ride” sales event is back. If this is the first time you’re hearing about it, allow us to retort: As long as you drive a non-Ford vehicle, you can trade it in and get 0.0% APR financing plus $1,000 cash back on a brand new Ford, including the 2010 Ford Mustang and 2010 Ford Fusion. This is in addition to the value of your trade-in, of course.
With only a few exclusions (Taurus SE, Edge SE AWD, Shelby GT500, F-150 Raptor and all hybrid models), this offer applies to most of Ford’s 2010 vehicle lineup. So if you’ve been waiting for a chance to pick up a brand-new Ford, this is an opportune time to do so.
You should hurry though, as you only have until May 1, 2010 to swap your ride.
One of the smartest people I ever met in the car business once told me, "the smartest people I meet in the car business are dealers." Being that the guy speaking wasn't a dealer himself (in fact, he was a longtime Ford engineer with multiple patents under his belt and more than a few zeros in his bank account), I always took his words to heart. Sure, the carmakers have the tough job of making the vehicle, but the dealers have an even tougher job in selling it against the competition and still making a profit.
And, despite the occasional bait-and-switch story about someone getting a raw deal from an unscrupulous dealer, most of the time you'll find car dealers are just that: smart guys who know they have to work really hard to make their business run. You know what else? Because they're sales guys, they're generally a whole lot more fun, too.
That hard work and joie de vivre often manifests itself in interesting ways: take, for example, the notion of a car dealer doing a TV commercial. The local dealer has only X amount of dollars each month to bring prospective buyers into the showroom and TV has been a favorite for years, simultaneously stroking the boss's ego while offering the ability to present bold images and sound. But not just any ad will suffice: if it doesn't cut through the clutter, it's wasted cash. Big, bold and shocking tend to come to mind. If it gets noticed — even if fails to win an Oscar — it has at least achieved part of its goal.
Perhaps hilariously, this leaves us with a trail of car dealer commercials so outrageous, so good and so bad that we consider them classics. And as much as a car dealer might take one on the chin for appearing on our list, one thing is certain: we're still talking about them. Maybe they're having the last laugh, after all.
Bad Acting: Is It Endearing Or Just Bad?
Maybe the acting isn't what we love so much about this commercial from A&L Motors. Maybe it's the inherent sense of discomfort. Max Talbot (one of the four Pittsburgh Penguins appearing here) delivers 8 of the most awkward seconds we've ever seen on film.
What Doesn't This Ad Have?
Okay, so we've got: loud voiceover, a girl dressed in something less than professional, pugilism, bells, bad acting, and a crushing offer! I'm sold!
The Trunk Monkey
An idea that's become so successful its ad agency licenses it to 50 different markets, the trunk monkey doesn't so much as sell cars as it gives buyers a good reason to laugh. The trunk monkey is a dealer-installed accessory that does, well, just about everything.
Rap? Yeah, We Do That
Was this made by the service guy on his webcam? We don't care: the homemade rap, blurry video montage and indelible lines like "inventory out the woodwork" just do it for us. We're headed down to Route 1 in Virginia today.
The Badger
The Johnson Automotive people (in the Raleigh, North Carolina area) simply know their audience. They've managed to perfectly encapsulate the preconceived notions many people still have about dealers and roll them up into a walking, talking, pelvis-girating 2-foot-tall badger. Their message is clear: we're not like this little guy.
The Kid
Cute kid + adult voiceover might work for the latest E*Trade ads, but do they work for Florence & White Ford?
Is He Crazy? Or Just Annoying
"Crazy Tracy" might call himself crazy, but we think he's just obnoxious. Something of a celebrity in Chandler, Arizona for his outlandish TV ads and questionable use of full-figured mannequins at his dealership, we find this ad certifiable local dealer gold.
$300 Is All You Need!
Don't pay attention to Kim. Or Sheri. Or Bruce. Or Annie. Or Yvonne. Or Marie. Just watch Mack, the bulldog on his hind legs. He's the thing that pulls this 31 seconds of hot mess together.
The Doctor Will See You Now
Florida Auto Exchange sure seems like a stand up place, doesn't it? The mad doctor (he's the one with the labcoat and snorkeling mask, in case you missed him) cures ills of all kinds. Bring in your Dodge Avenger and he'll turn it into a Saab 9-3 in no time.
Just…Speechless
Be honest: Did you expect Eagle Man would save the day? Then again, what is he really saving?
Ford Lincoln Mercury closed the month of March strong delivering a +43% increase in sales versus prior year,and a +30% increase over February 2010. Ford brand sales were up +46%, Lincoln was up +19% and Mercurywas up +26%. Cars had the best year over year performance up +53%, while utilities were up +46%, and trucks were up +33%.
Preliminary industry estimates show the total retail SAAR to be 9.4 million in March, the healthiest retailindustry since September 2008 (excluding the Cash for Clunkers months). With the strong sales performancethis month, March marks the 17th time in the last 18 months that Ford Motor Company gained retail marketshare. Total FLM U.S. market share is estimated to be in the 16.1% range, which would be up 1.8 percentage points from a year ago.
In recent months and years, U.S. automakers have rallied that American cars are now on equal or better footing than Japanese (and Korean) cars in terms of quality, reliability, and durability.
Louisiana has the highest average auto-insurance rates in the U.S.
Five States With The Most Expensive Insurance Premiums:
