Top 10

Car and Driver has released their 10 Best Cars for 2008. Here are the winners, including the number of times each vehicle has made the list:

2008 BMW 3-Series (17)
2008 Cadillac CTS (1)
2008 Chevrolet Corvette (14)
2008 Chevrolet Malibu (1)
2008 Honda Accord (22)
2008 Honda Fit (2)
2008 Mazda MX-5 (9)
2008 Mazdaspeed 3 (2)
2008 Porsche Boxster/Cayman (9)
2008 Volkswagen GTI (3)*

As a guy from Detroit, it’s sad to see only 3 domestic vehicles on the list, with General Motors as the only American manufacturer represented. It’s great to see the resurgence of GM, but it seems like Ford and Chrysler have a long way to go. Also noticeably absent from this years list is Toyota.

The full Car and Driver Article can be read here.

In the event that you are in the market for an SUV (…I am not, but I am still curious). What SUVs seem to be the most popular? In researching I found a study done by MSN autos and it turned out that the Honda CR-V came up number one.

No surprise for me! I love those Hondas. Let’s see what else MSN auto has to say about their top ten SUVs of 2007….

Seven out of the top ten vehicles are imports, with the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Explorer and the Jeep Wrangler representing the domestics.

The top ten SUVs on MSN Autos are based on visits to the site’s vehicle research pages from January through March of 2007. Here is the complete list:

1. Honda CR-V

Honda has done exceptionally well with the CR-V since its introduction for 1997, with approximately 2.5 million sold worldwide. The car-like SUV gets new styling for 2007 that includes replacing the signature spare tire on the trunk with a rear liftgate. The spare is now a mini tire tucked under the cargo floor. Also receiving a revised all-independent suspension for 2007, the CR-V provides decent handling but is not meant for tough off-road use. The 166-horsepower 2.4-liter 4 cylinder engine rates an estimated 23/30 mpg in the city and highway with front-wheel drive and 22/28 with all-wheel drive. [click to continue...]

Top Picks of 07

For a while now I have been a firm believer in buying a used vehicle over brand new one. Even if the model is just one or two years old. It can save you thousands of dollars on a low-mile reliable vehicle. But, and there is a but. You really need to do your research before you buy because there are vehicles with serious “issues”, for lack of a better word, and these vehicles usually develop problems in the first year or two and are then turned over to the used car market. So, to make sure you are not buying a lemon consumeraffairs.com has compiled a list of the worst used cars and trucks to buy in 2007.

The list may surprise you, but this data was compiled from real data (215,000 complaints) from real owners with real lemons.

1. Ford Expedition,
2. Ford F-150 and Super-Duty Trucks

Ford truck owners are usually fiercely loyal to their Blue Oval powerhouses — until one of them spits a spark plug.

The Ford Motor Co. has turned an automotive backside to almost every customer complaining of a spit spark plug, leaving them the option or repairing the truck and keeping it or dumping the vehicle on the used-truck market.

ConsumerAffairs.Com recommends that you avoid the 1998 through 2003 Ford Expedition no matter the guarantee or promise that accompanies the truck. Thousands of first and second Expedition owners have suffered a spit spark plug and paid Ford thousands of dollars to repair the defect.

Fixing the damage does not guarantee it won’t happen again. Many consumers have told us they have fixed a blown plug only to have the engine spit a second or third plug.

More and more Ford mechanics and technicians are siding with consumers, charging that the troubled automaker is fully aware of a major flaw in Ford engines that causes the power plant to spit out spark plugs at random and without warning.

The mechanics complain that Ford is covering up the defect while squeezing and short-changing technicians and mechanics tasked with repairing the problem for Ford consumers.

The trouble is, no one is listening to the warning and Ford continues to stonewall and cover up the spit spark plug hazard, according to one Ford technician.

A Master Ford Technician told ConsumerAffairs.Com that the “situation regarding these engines and the spark plugs blowing out is not unknown to Ford.”

“Quite the contrary, they are well aware of it and have been since the 5.4 liter Triton engine was released,” this Ford mechanic said. “This same concern also affects other engines in Ford’s modular engine family, such as the 4.6 liter single overhead cam V-8s and the 6.8 liter single overhead cam V-10,” he warned.

Ford dealerships routinely insist to consumers complaining about a spit spark plug that they have never heard of such a thing happening.

Many Ford models are also prone to catch fire while parked, so if you buy one, park it outside. And never leave children, pets or disabled people alone inside — even for a minute.

3. BMWs with Automatic Transmissions

The popular German car is easily found around prestige used-car lots because so many people lease the luxury cars, turning them back to BMW when the lease is over. The automaker then sells the used vehicle — often as a “certified” cream puff — adding to an already profitable transaction.

The people who lease the car new are the ones who got a good deal: they drove the car of their dreams for a few trouble-free years at a relatively inexpensive price.

But second and third owners are finding the automatic transmission in the German car to be unreliable and expensive to repair. Our readers report that the automatic gear box is causing no end of trouble and BMW has left them high and dry with several thousands of dollars in repair bills.

To date, the highly profitable automaker has refused to accept any responsibility for the mounting number of failures, even telling some consumers the company has never been seen the failure.

“We are unaware of any widespread concern regarding the transmission. However, the actual length of life of any given vehicle part is dependent on a number of factors including care, maintenance, use, and climate,” BMW AG wrote to the owner of a 2002 3-series sedan.

The complaints being filed with ConsumerAffairs.Com are similar and describe a transmission that hesitates or refuses to be shifted into reverse.

“Lost reverse gear on my 2001 330Ci convertible at about 53,000 miles,” wrote Don from Dayton, Ohio. “The car has an automatic transmission and repair costs at a local dealership was $4,048,” he told ConsumerAffairs.Com.

Don wrote to BMW “several times but got no resolution to the problem,” he said. “Numerous other people have complained of this problem with BMW automatic transmissions but BMW refuses to correct the problem,” he told us.

BMW owners report that the expensive transmission failures show up most often in 3 series cars as well as the X3 and X5 BMW SUVs.

Buy a second-hand BMW with automatic transmission at your own risk. Despite the hundreds of reports citing similar problems, BMW stands by its denial.

“During the life of a vehicle, it is natural to expect that some parts may have to be replaced due to mechanical failures, or normal wear and tear. For this reason, we do not have an estimated life expectancy for components or parts of a vehicle,” the company said.

That includes the transmission, according to the official BMW company line.

4. Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is proving to be a good, solid car but as the hybrid approaches 100,000 miles a number of odd problems are popping up that ought to be cause for concern among consumers shopping for a secondhand hybrid.

The Japanese automaker began selling gas-and-electric cars ten years ago and is now the acknowledged hybrid leader in the automotive industry.

But a growing number of ConsumerAffairs.Com readers are reporting that the Prius hybrid technology is not aging well. With some Prius models in the U.S. on the road now for eight years and approaching 100,000 miles, owners are beginning to encounter problems that are unique to the hybrids.

One reader reported to us that in her 2004 Prius the hybrid display began to malfunction and “did not work with the result of being unable to get gas into car.”

A California reader told us that the monitor is also failing in his Prius and said that Toyota is unwilling to provide any assistance because the monitor is no longer covered by the Toyota warranty.

“There is a technical service bulletin out on it from Toyota which tells the dealer how to repair the problem but only if the car is under factory warranty,” he said. “My car has 49,000 miles on it and is out of warranty.”

A Texas Prius owner with 91,000 miles on his hybrid said that “the dashboard lit up with multiple warning lights. The dealer picked it up and said that the transmission went out and it would cost $6,000 to fix and the Prius was out of warranty.”

Toyota allowed no coverage, not even partial help even though the transmission was part of the Hybrid Power train covered for 5 years and 100,000 miles.

A southern California Prius owner told us that his car has died on the freeway four times. The second time the dealer had the car for 53 days waiting for parts.

The growing number of complaints and problems owners of aging Prius hybrids are encountering suggest that a wary consumer ought to look long and hard before becoming the second owner of one of these hybrids.

Toyota warrants the hybrid drive system for 100,000 miles, but as Danny in San Antonio discovered, there can be some uncertainty as to which of the Prius components are considered part of the hybrid drive and which are not.

5. Ford Focus

The Ford Focus ignition switch is among the most bitter of lemons facing consumers because its ornery behavior can recur. The switch is known to break again and again … and sometimes even again. Consumers have complained for years, but Ford is standing firm with its corporate back turned on Focus owners.

Carrie in Grand Haven, Michigan “was stranded at a friend’s house until the early hours of the morning.”

Joel in Oak Park, Illinois says he has seen it all before. “My 2000 Ford Focus ignition switch has failed and won’t turn for the second time in 80,000 miles.”

Heather in Wahiawa, Hawaii summed up her problems with her car this way: “My 2000 Focus is a piece of junk. The ignition switched has been replaced three times and is jamming again. Ford continues to insist that I pay for these replacements,” she wrote.

Helene was “stranded in a seedy part of town unable to start my car” in Colorado. Dalila and her daughter were stranded in 101-degree heat in the summer while she was pregnant.

The faulty ignition is the most nagging unresolved problem with the Focus. Many Focus consumers have even had a broken ignition repaired under the Ford warranty only to have to replace the locking mechanism themselves once the warranty has expired.

The replacement cost can exceed $500 each time the lock fails — a lot of money for something that’s supposed to be an economy car.

Our advice: When you see a Focus for sale, try to focus on something else.

6. Dodge Durango

The recall of 328,424 Durango SUVs because of the risk of overheating makes the DaimlerChrysler SUV one of the most troubled vehicles for sale in the U.S. today, according to readers of ConsumerAffairs.Com.

So it stands to reason that the SUV is no prize on the used market either.

The most recent recall covers 2004 to 2006 model year Durango SUVs, according to Chrysler.

The Durango, which has a base price of $27,055, has now faced 7 recalls in the past year while generating hundreds of complaints from ConsumerAffairs.Com readers.

The recalls include incorrect airbag restraint controllers and faulty automatic transmissions that may not be able to shift into “Park.”

Anti-lock brake software on the Durango was recalled in 2006. Some of the SUV’s rear suspension components were damaged during assembly and became part of a major recall.

The truck was recalled for defective front windshield-wiper motors, malfunctioning turn signals, and headlights as well as windshield wipers.

So far in 2007 ConsumerAffairs.Com readers have reported “sludge buildup in the motor that required replacement of $1,800 in engine parts and $400.00 in labor and shop supplies” to clean the sludge from the engine. Paul in Youngsville, Louisiana says a new engine for his Durango will cost $6,000.

In Jefferson, Maryland Eric did not mince words about his Durango. “Oil pressure shoots to zero, ruins engine, out of warranty, 4200 dollars to replace engine.”

Larry in Kremmling, Colorado reports that sludge is a problem Durango owners just have to become wary of. “I have close to 200,000 miles and have always had this sludge problem from the very first oil change,” he wrote ConsumerAffairs.Com.

Sheri paid more than $1,800 to rebuild the transmission in her Durango SUV. “Only 15 months later, the transmission has failed again. We are now out more than $2,000 in repairs and cannot afford to get a different vehicle.”

Nancy encountered the Durango transmission failure in Port Matilda, Pennsylvania. “The transmission has now gone out. Something blew apart in it. I called the Dodge Corp. and they said that there is nothing they can do.”

Nancy discovered her transmission failure is just one of many with the Dodge Durango “I have done some digging and found out that there have been thousands of these with this problem. Dodge has refused to fix it.

The Durango is not the only Dodge truck with a heavy history of recalls. The Dodge Ram Pickup with a base price of $22,170 was also recalled 7 times in the past year.

On the recall list for the Ram Pickup: faulty anti-lock brake electronic control units, defective front suspensions, airbags that could deploy with excessive force, transfer cases on four-wheel drive models that may inadvertently shift to neutral and cause parked vehicles to roll away, seatbelts that may not be able to secure certain child seats, missing pieces of exterior lighting and defective rearview mirrors.

If shopping for a second-hand SUV, keep on shopping.

7. Ford Taurus
8. Mercury Sable

The old reliable Taurus and its Mercury cousin, the Sable, turn out not to be so reliable after all. Consumers tell us every week of a spring breaking in the car, sometimes shredding a tire.

Here is a typical Taurus story:

“My 2002 Ford Taurus is in tip top shape, or so I thought. While driving in a low-speed area my front tire sounded like a gunshot then the car fell to the ground. The mechanic said they cannot believe that this could happen. I had no choice but to replace all my coil springs, because I fear for the safety of my family. There are so many issues with this car yet Ford refuses to help. What can we do?”

There may not be much the current owner can do, but if you are looking for a low-price second-hand family sedan, stay away from the Taurus or the Sable.

There are plenty of dull, dependable cars out there. Why settle for something that’s dull and undependable?

9. Toyota Engine Sludge

Many older Toyotas have a chronic problem with engine sludge which can cost an unwary second owner thousands of dollars at the hands of a seller unwilling to disclose the sludge problem.

“We bought a 2004 Toyota Corolla S new in 2004,” a consumer wrote us. “I did the oil changes in it up to date, I did not keep the receipts from the oil and oil filter purchase. I recently took it to the dealer because of oil consumption,” he said.

“I then received a call stating that the engine was full of the jelled oil because I did the oil changes myself.”

The Toyota owner can replace the engine which will cost thousands of dollars or attempt to sell the car.

Summary: Be very careful buying a used Toyota. Have the engine examined and the oil tested.

10. General Motors and Dex-Cool

Secondhand General Motors products deserve attention here because ten years after GM began using Dex-Cool as an antifreeze in most of its cars and light trucks, GM car and truck owners continue to complain that the coolant corrodes and clogs radiators and radiator caps, erodes water pumps, rots radiator hoses, causes chronic overheating and engine damage while leading to leaky engine gaskets.

Patricia in Barberton, Ohio, feels cheated by the automaker. “I have had 2 intake gaskets replaced on my 1997 Pontiac Grand Am. The gaskets cost me close to $1,000 and they told me there is no guarantee it won’t happen again,” she wrote in a complaint to ConsumerAffairs.Com.

“I just recently saw about the Dex-Cool problems and that is what I have been using in my vehicle since that is the kind that is required from the automakers,” Patricia said.

Dex-Cool is now used in almost 40 million vehicles sold by GM since 1996. On its web site, GM claims Dex-Cool will last 5 years or 150,000 miles but a steady stream of consumers insist the product is defective and has damaged their vehicles.

That did not work for Rob in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. “My 2001 Malibu with 35,000 miles needs a intake manifold gasket replacement. In addition, my 2001 Olds Aurora with 52,000 miles also has leaking gaskets GM should be responsible for these repairs since they are all Dex-Cool related,” he said.

Consumers looking at used General Motors vehicles should pay additional attention to the engine and have an trusted mechanic examine the cooling systems and engine gaskets.

Good Hunting
While this list is far from exhaustive, it hits the trouble spots we’ve heard most about. Of course, all used cars are potential trouble. If you can swing it, it’s better to buy a new model, even if you get one that’s stripped down. With gas prices higher than ever, most of us would be better off with a small four-cylinder sedan, preferably with a manual transmission.

One last word of caution: While the Internet is a valuable place to research cars, it’s a terrible place to buy them. You should only buy a car you have examined in person. Ideally, you should take it to an experienced mechanic for a complete inspection. Whatever you do, never buy a car sight unseen on the Web. You’re likely to get a flood car, or something even worse.

Not too many of us wake up one morning and say, “Honey, I am going to go buy the most expensive car possible. I mean - I gotta at least spend a mil.” Come to think of it… it might actually be a serious challenge to wake up and find a dealership with a Bugatti Veyron, or a Ferrari Enzo in their showroom. I’m not sure? But, when I go out to buy one I will let you know.

Automotoportal.com brings us a list of the 10 most expensive cars in the world and hands down the most beautiful.

Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a proven top speed of over 400 km/h (407 km/h or 253 mph). It reached full production in September 2005. The car is built by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS and is sold under the legendary Bugatti marque. It is named after racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti firm. The Veyron features a W16 engine—16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders.

According to Volkswagen, the final production Veyron engine produces between 1020 and 1040 metric hp (1006 to 1026 SAE net hp), so the car will be advertised as producing “1001 horsepower” in both the US and European markets. This easily makes it the most powerful production road-car engine in history.

Ferrari Enzo $1,000,000

The Enzo Ferrari, sometimes referred to as the the Ferrari Enzo and also F60 is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company’s founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds (775 kg) is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

Pagani Zonda C12 F $741,000

The Zonda C12 F debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is the most extensive reengineering of the Pagani car yet, though it shares much with its predecessors including the 7.3 L V12. Power is increased to 602 PS (443 kW/594 hp) with a special clubsport model producing 650 PS (478 kW/641 hp). The company promises a 3.2 second sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h, a top speed over 374 km/h (225 mph) and it will be the queen in braking from 300 km/h to 0 (186 mph to 0). The Zonda F clubsport has a power to weight ratio of 521 bhp/ton (384 W/kg) . Compare, for example, the Enzo Ferrari which has a power to weight ratio of 483 bhp/ton (356 W/kg).

Koenigsegg CCX $600,910

The Koenigsegg CCX is the latest supercar from Koenigsegg. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X. The X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the U.S. market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations. The CCX is powered by a Koenigsegg designed and assembled, all aluminium, 4700 cm³ DOHC 32-valve V8 based on the Ford Modular engine architecture enhanced with twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with response system, 1.2 bar boost pressure and an 8.2:1 compression ratio. The engine produces 806 hp (601 kW) and 678 lbf.ft (920 Nm) on 91 octane (U.S. rating) gasoline, 850 hp (634 kW) on 96 octane (Euro rating) gasoline and 900 hp (671 kW) on biofuel.

Porsche Carrera GT $484,000

The Porsche Carrera GT is a supercar, manufactured by Porsche of Germany. The Carrera GT is powered by an all-new 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 SAE horsepower (450 kW). Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (206 mph), although road tests indicated that in actuality the car could accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and to 0-100 in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 335-340km/h (209-212.5mph).

Mercedes SLR McLaren $455,500

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a sports car and supercar automobile co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Cars. It is assembled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. Most people presume “SLR” to stand for “Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport” (German for “Sport; Light; Racing”). The car’s base price is £300,000 or $455,500. The SLR has a supercharged 5.5 (5439cc) litre dry sumped 90 degree V8. It produces 466.8 kW at 6500rpm (626 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf) torque at 3250 - 5000 rpm.

Maybach 62 $385,250

The Maybach 57 and 62 were the first automobile models of the Maybach brand since the brand’s revival by DaimlerChrysler. They are derived from the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept car presented at the 1997 Tokyo Motorshow (which was based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan). DaimlerChrysler attempted to buy the Rolls-Royce/Bentley marque when Vickers offered the company up for sale. When this attempt failed (they were outbid by BMW and Volkswagen respectively) they introduced the Maybach as a direct challenger in 2002. Both models are variants of the same ultra-luxurious automobile. The model numbers reflect the respective lengths of the automobiles in decimetres; the 57 is more likely to be owner-driven while the longer 62 is designed with a chauffeur in mind. The engine is a Mercedes-sourced 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, generating 550 hp.

Rolls-Royce Phantom $320,000

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a luxury saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a BMW subsidiary. It was launched in 2003 and is the first Rolls-Royce model made under the ownership of BMW. It has a 6.8 L, 48-valve, V12 engine that produces 453 hp (338 kW) and 531 ft·lbf (720 N·m) of torque. The engine is derived from BMW’s existing V12 powerplant. It is 1.63 m (63 in) tall, 1.99 m (74.8 in) wide, 5.83 m (228 in) long, and weighs 2485 kg (5478 lb). The body of the car is built on an aluminium spaceframe and the Phantom can accelerate to 60 mph (100 km/h) in 5.7 s.

Lamborghini Murcielago $279,900

The Lamborghini Murciélago is a GT and supercar automobile made by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. and designed by Luc Donckerwolke. It was introduced in 2002 as the successor to the Diablo. The body style is a two door, two seat coupé. The LP640 version was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 2006. It features a 6.5 L engine, now producing 640 bhp, improving performance substantially. There were also a few minor external changes, primarily to the low air intakes.

Aston Martin Vanquish $255,000

The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is a supercar manufactured by Aston Martin since 2001. It rose to fame after being featured as the official James Bond car in Die Another Day, the twentieth James Bond film. In the film, the Vanquish has the usual Bond film embellishments, including active camouflage which rendered the vehicle virtually invisible. The Vanquish is powered by a 5.9 L (5935 cc) 48-valve 60° V12 engine, which produces 343 kW (460 hp) and 542 N·m (400 ft·lbf) of torque. It is controlled by a fly-by-wire throttle and a 6 speed ‘paddle shift’ or semi-automatic transmission. A special V12 Vanquish S debuted at the 2004 Paris Auto Show with the power upped to 388 kW (520 hp) and 577 N·m (426 ft·lbf).