Affordability and efficiency
For sales reps who are in the market for a new car, Autotrader’s expert editors say now is a great time to make a purchase, as dealerships are flush with affordable models that are fuel-efficient and thoughtfully designed. True, Autotrader is targeting recent college grads, but they appear to be on to something – namely affordability, style, safety and efficiency. The list includes:
- 2015 Buick Encore
- 2015 Chevrolet Trax
- 2015 Honda Fit
- 2015 Nissan Versa Note
- 2015 Mazda3
- 2015 Jeep Renegade
- 2015 FIAT 500
- CPO Toyota Camry
- CPO Ford Fusion
- CPO Lexus IS
Customer service still counts
Sales reps, take your lead from the auto industry. According to Enterprise Holdings, most car rental customers prefer working with an actual employee on the telephone to address their inquiries and solve their car rental problems. Email, online chatting and social media accounts simply aren’t satisfying their needs. Last year alone, Enterprise Holdings’ contact centers helped more than 6 million U.S. airport customers in the United States, and over 90 percent of them elected to speak to a company representative. Indeed, Enterprise finds that customer service continues to be a key competitive advantage for the company.
Tire safety
About 90 percent of Americans take summer road trips, according to a recent Bridgestone survey. The tire company offers the following three-step safety plan to help keep tires road-ready and summer travelers safe:
- Inflate: Tire pressure should be checked with a tire pressure gauge at least once each month, as well as before long trips or when carrying extra load. Tires can lose one psi (pounds per square inch) per month under normal conditions.
- Rotate: Regular tire rotations can help prevent irregular and premature wear. Tires should be rotated and balanced according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations found in the vehicle owner’s manual, or every 5,000 miles.
- Evaluate: Drivers should routinely look for signs of tread wear or damage, checking tread depth to make sure their tires have enough traction to grip the road. They can do so using a tread depth gauge or the penny test – inserting a penny into each tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside-down. If Lincoln’s head (including his hair), shows, it’s time to shop for a new set of tires.
Safe travels this summer
As of May, traffic deaths in the United States were reported to have increased every month for the past six months, compared with the same months in 2014. In part, this may be due to the fact that lower gas prices and lower unemployment rates mean more people can afford to drive and take longer road trips, according to the National Safety Council. Factors such as speeding and alcohol also contribute to car crashes, particularly as the weather warms up. A yearly average of 2,781 deaths in June, July and August involve speeding, and 2,846 involve alcohol.
To help stay safe on the roads this summer, the Council recommends the following:
- Buckle up, and make sure all of your passengers do the same.
- Designate an alcohol- and drug-free driver.
- Get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks on long road trips to avoid fatigue.
- Never use a cell phone behind the wheel. Even hands-free calling can lead to accidents.
- Know your vehicle’s safety systems and how to use them.
Think Honda
The 2015 Honda CR-V recently won top spot in the Cars.com/USA TODAY/MotorWeek Compact SUV Challenge (cars.com/news). The Challenge pitted seven popular compact SUVs against each other in a series of expert and consumer testing. To qualify for the competition, the cars had to be priced at less than $28,000 and offer a combined city/highway EPA fuel economy rating of at least 26 mpg. The CR-V earned praise for offering a rewarding driving experience, generous interior room and family-friendly features.
Shopping for vacations
Buying a new car this summer? Autotrader recommends consumers plan their purchase not only around daily errands, but vacations as well. While it may be unorthodox, it’s not unheard of for car shoppers to ask their salesperson if they can take the car home for the night. If the dealership obliges, Autotrader suggests loading it up with road trip essentials, such as luggage, baby seats and sporting equipment. It’s also wise to take a longer test drive to gauge the seat comfort and adjustability, airflow and ergonomics of the interior. In addition, Autotrade says it’s important to take note of any rattling, shaking or odd sounds when the car reaches higher speeds. Finally, consumers should check out such features as adaptive cruise control, heated and ventilated seats, lane-keep assist, navigation system, rear-seat entertainment system and tri-zone automatic climate control.
Watch your back…
And your car! According to LoJack Corp., law enforcement officials recovered over $83.5 million in stolen vehicles equipped with the LoJack® Stolen Vehicle Recovery System in 2014. The company’s sixth annual Vehicle Theft Recovery Report highlights the following:
- The Honda Civic ranked as the most stolen and recovered vehicle equipped with a LoJack® System in 2014.
- The average value of vehicles recovered by law enforcement is more than $10,000.
- For the sixth consecutive year, California, Texas and Florida continue to top the list as the top three states, respectively, with the most LoJack system-equipped stolen and recovered vehicles.
- Oregon, Washington D.C., Maryland, South Carolina and Oklahoma, have experienced significant increases in the number of LoJack System-equipped stolen and recovered vehicles
The 10 most stolen and recovered LoJack system-equipped vehicle models in 2014 included:
- Honda Civic
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Corolla
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Ford F250 Pickup
- Acura Integra
- BMW 3 Series
- Cadillac Escalade
- Nissan Maxima
The top 10 geographies with the highest thefts and recoveries in 2014 include:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- New York
- New Jersey
- Maryland
- Arizona
- Massachusetts
- Georgia
- Washington