PriceWheels Blog

Toyota has announced that it will expand the recall announced last year for a rust problem with 2000 – 2003 Toyota Tundra models. Undercarriage rust on first generation Tundras could cause the spare tire to detach from the truck. Toyota has already recalled trucks in northern states, and is now expanding the recall to all 2000 – 2003 Tundras, according to The Associated Press.

Toyota originally only recalled trucks in 20 northern states where salted roads would expedite corrosion due to rust. Now Toyota has decided to expand the recall to the other 30 states and inspect all first generation Toyota Tundras for frame rust that could possibly lead to problems. Toyota will repair any Tundra that has rust damage severe enough to cause a problem.

The spare tire on first generation Toyota Tundras are mounted under the truck`s bed, so if it were to become detached due to rust, it could possibly fall out while the truck is driving on a road or highway and cause a serious accident. Obviously an accident due to an unexpected spare tire in the road is the last thing Toyota wants right now, so the company is issuing a nationwide recall on the Tundra.

March car shoppers will find several 0% auto loan rate incentives and no money due at signing leasing offers across the foreign brands. Toyota shoppers will also see increased incentives, as the automaker struggles to turn around its image amid a massive recall crisis.

Honda – Honda has lowered its auto loan rate incentives in March. In February, the car loan rate incentives were 1.9% to 2.9%. But in March, Honda is offering buyers 0.9% to 2.9% financing on select models. The auto loan rate goes up with an increased loan length. Honda’s February lease specials feature the 2010 Pilot, Odyssey, Insight and Civic with no money due at signing. This means there is no first month’s payment, no down payment and no money due at lease signing. You’ll still have to come up with tax, title and fees.

Toyota – Toyota’s temporary loyalty cash offers ended March 1. Only the Yaris has a $1,000 cash back offer in March. Most notable for March are Toyota’s 0% auto loan rates on most of its models. On some models, the 0% car loans are for 60 months, when Toyota usually only offers 0% financing for 36 months. Toyota also has lease specials in March for several models. You’ll need about $3,000 due at lease signing and monthly payments range from $119 to $349. Toyota is also offering a complimentary two-year premium maintenance program for customers who purchase or lease a new vehicle and provide proof of a Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicle already registered in their household, with applicable conditions.

Scion, like always, is offering only lease incentives in March. The xB, tC and xD can be leased for $217 to $266 per month for 36 months. You’ll need about $900 at lease signing.

The Honda Civic can be leased in March with no money due at signing.

Nissan – Nissan is offering buyers 0% car loans in March on most of its models or cash back incentives. For example, the 2010 Altima can be purchased with 0% financing for 36 months, or buyers can choose $1,000 cash back. The Murano has the same 0% auto loan incentive for 36 months or $500 cash back. Most Nissan models also have lease specials in March, with monthly payments ranging from $149 to $459.

Hyundai – Hyundai is offering car loans with 2.9% or 3.9% financing in March on most of its models. The 2010 Sonata has a 0% auto loan offer for 60 months. Hyundai has lease specials on its 2010 Veracruz, 2010 Tucson, 2011 Sonata, 2010 Genesis and Genesis Coupe and 2010 Elantra and Elantra Touring in March, with monthly payments ranging from $159 to $399. Hyundai is also offering customer cash back of up to $2,500 on several models.

Suzuki – All remaining 2009 Suzuki models have 0% auto loans for 60 months in March. Shoppers can also receive $2,000 to $4,000 in factory customer cash on 2009 models. On Suzuki’s 2010 models, factory customer cash ranges from $1,000 to $2,000. Suzuki’s 2010 models can be purchased with 0% financing for 60 months on the Grand Vitara and Equator Extended and Crew Cab. All other 2010 models can be purchased with 1.9% auto loans for 60 months or low lease payments for 36 or 48 months. Suzuki is also offering owner loyalty, military and graduate incentives as well in March.

Kia – Kia is offering 0% auto loans for 36 months on its 2010 Soul, Forte, Forte Koup and 2011 Sorento. Kia has between $500 and $5,000 in cash back incentives in March as well. The cash back can’t be combined with the low APR offer. Shoppers can lease the 2010 Forte, Forte Koup and Soul for 36 months with about $2,000 due at lease signing and monthly payments less than $200. The 2011 Sorento can be leased for $239 a month for 36 months with $2,700 due at signing. Kia’s competitive bonus gives up to $1,500 to shoppers who buy a new Kia and trade-in one of several competitors brands’ models. Kia also has owner loyalty, college and military incentives in March.

Mazda – Mazda is offering 0% auto loans on the 2010 Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6, CX-7, CX-9 and Tribute in March. Some of the models included in the no interest loan incentive are for up to 60 months with no monthly payments for 90 days. Leasing shoppers can still take advantage of 42-month leases with no money due at signing, no first month’s payment, no security deposit and no down payment on certain models in March. Mazda also has loyalty bonus incentives in March.

Mitsubishi – Mitsubishi is giving buyers up to $3,000 in factory rebates for remaining 2009 Lancer, Eclipse and Outlander models. Every Mitsubishi vehicle has a 0% auto loan incentive in March. Although most 0% offers are only for 36 or 48 months, the 2009 Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder can be purchased with a 0% interest car loan for a whopping 72 months. Most 2010 models also have 36 or 48-month lease specials in March as well. Mitsubishi is also offering military and customer loyalty incentives in March.

Subaru – Subaru is offering buyers 2.9% financing in March on all its models. If you prefer leasing, Subaru has lease specials on all its models as well for 42 months. Monthly lease payments range from $179 to $389.

*Some incentives listed are for the Southeast region. Check the automaker’s Web site to search for incentives in your area, as they may be different depending on where you live.

GMC, apparently trying to muddy its “Professional Grade” reputation and appeal more to the Ed Hardy and flat-bill crowd, has announced that the 2011 GMC Sierra 2500 will be available in the luxury Denali trim. GMC Because you need 765 lb-ft of torque to haul Creatine and Heineken. It should come as no surprise that the 2011 Sierra 2500 HD Denali will be available with 20-inch rims.

The 2011 GMC Sierra HD will be identical to the Chevrolet Silverado ¾ and 1 ton models, and the highlight of the new models will be the diesel engine. The 2011 GM Heavy Duty pickups will be powered by an optional 6.6 liter Duramax turbo diesel, which has been reworked for more power, less noise and better gas mileage. According to Autoweek, the 2011 GMC Sierra Duramax will make 397-hp and 765 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine will be capable of towing 20,000 lbs and will get approximately 11% better gas mileage.

The GMC Denali line is best known for the Yukon Denali, which is a slightly less blinged version of the Cadillac Escalade. The Denali line is not about understated luxury though, Denali trucks come with an instantly recognizable shiny honeycomb grill, and are usually ordered with 20 inch chrome wheels.

The addition of a diesel powered Sierra 2500 Denali begs the question: Professional Grade what?

Picture via Autoweek.

Mazda has announced that starting soon all of the company`s new cars will be equipped with brake override systems. The brake override system gives the brake pedal priority over the gas if they are ever both pressed at the same time. Nissan already uses a brake override system and Toyota has also announced plans for the system, according to Automotive News, via Autoblog. The brake override system would help to prevent an unintended acceleration situation, like the ones that have been reported on Toyotas recently, from becoming uncontrollable.

Mazda says that none of its vehicles have had any incidents of unintended acceleration, so the implementation of the brake override system is simply a safety feature rather than a fix to a problem. The company has not yet announced a timetable for when the system to give the brake pedal priority will be installed on new vehicles. Mazda says the system will cost about $50 per vehicle.

The brake override system is surely a good feature for a car to have, but it would be a little more reassuring, even if it is naive, to think that a company put enough time into designing its cars that the system isn`t needed. Hopefully Mazda and Nissan won`t use their brake override systems as marketing ploys to try to scare customers away from Toyota. Not that Toyota deserves compassion right now, but fear mongering in advertisement just feels cheap. Leave that to CNN.

Potential new ad campaign: Zoom Zoom, But Only When You Want It, And Not When The Brake Pedal Is Pressed.

A car powered completely by coffee grounds named Carpuccino has been built for the British TV show Bang Goes The Theory. According to The Daily Mail, the car, a 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco, was chosen because it looks like the DeLorean from the movie Back To The Future. With the added hardware necessary for using coffee as fuel, the similarities between the Carpuccino and the DeLorean are actually pretty strong.

The coffee grounds are heated to about 1300 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point they break down into hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The separated gases are then cooled, filtered, and then finally burned for fuel in the car`s engine. The coffee powered Scirocco has a top speed of about 60 miles per hour. The drivers will need to refill the car`s pot every half hour and clean the filter every 60 miles.

The coffee powered car is more of a scientific exercise than a real alternative to petroleum fuel. The Carpuccino will use about £1,820 ($2,740 U.S.) worth of coffee on its 210 mile trip. A standard Scirocco would only use about £36 of gasoline for that same trip. While using coffee isn`t economically viable, the technology used in the Carpuccino could also burn garbage to power cars. While garbage is definitely cheaper than coffee, the difference in aromas would mean the difference between the driver being a local celebrity and a pariah.

Picture via The Daily Mail.

Saab has been saved from the scrapheap of the GM bankruptcy thanks to Spyker.  That means the company can finally get back to doing what car companies need to do to make money and add new vehicles to its lineup. The first of Saab`s post-GM cars will be the new 9-3X, a lifted wagon (now called a crossover by marketing departments desperate to convince people it`s a new idea) that will compete primarily with the Audi Allroad and Volvo XC70. The 2010 Saab 9-3X will have a starting MSRP of $37,800, according to Autoblog.

The 2010 Saab 9-3X will be the first new model from Saab since it was bought by the supercar company Spyker in a last minute deal. If Spyker hadn`t stepped in to save the company, Saab would have been closed down by GM as part of its bankruptcy agreement with the U.S. government when the deal with Koenigsegg fell through.

While the Saab 9-3X is based on the 9-3, it`s strange for the company to associate the new crossover SUV with its smallest car. The trend lately has been towards distancing crossovers from their on-road-only counterparts, as evidenced by the Toyota Venza, which doesn`t use the venerable Camry name despite the close relation between the two cars. Apparently Saab thinks the 9-3 name will carry enough weight with potential buyers that giving the new crossover a unique name isn`t worth it.

Picture via Autoblog.

Volvo has no interest car loans for up to 72 months on the XC70 and S80, as well as low interest rates on other models. All new Volvos also come with the Safe & Sound coverage plan, which gives you no cost scheduled maintenance, wear and tear warranty, powertain warranty and roadside assistance for the entire length of your loan, up to five years.

Audi is offering special deals on leases on several of it’s all-weather capable all-wheel drive models for the month of March. A lease on the Audi A4 quattro is just $399 per month. The A5 quattro coupe is available for just $479 a month. The Q5 SUV is only $599 a month, and the luxurious A6 can be leased for $599 per month.

The best BMW deals for the month of March are on the 1 and 3-Series cars. All 3-Series cars except for the diesel-powered 335d are available with 0.9% financing and a $2,500 Spring Drive Credit. The 335d comes with the same low interest car loan, but has a $4,500 Eco credit. All 1-Series cars come with 0.9% APR and $1,500 back thanks to the Spring Drive Credit.

Jaguar and Land Rover are both offering special lease early termination assistance to anyone with a current lease who wants to lease one of their cars. The Jaguar XF is available this month for $699 per month on a 36-month lease. If you’d rather buy, the Land Rover LR2 and LR4 are both on sale this month with available 0.9% financing for 36 months.

Mercedes-Benz is offering 1.9% car loans for either 24 or 36-months to customers who buy a new C300 Luxury Sedan, ML350 BlueTEC, E350, E550, GL350 BlueTEC or GL550.

All MINI Cooper, Cooper convertible and Clubman models are available during march with 1.9% financing for up to 60-months.

The 2010 Volkswagen Routan and Passat are both available with 0.9% car loans for up to 72-months. The Jetta, CC, Tiguan, Golf and GTI all can be had with 1.9% financing for up to 60-months.

For March, Ford, GM and Chrysler are all offering long-term, no interest car loans on many 2010 models. If you qualify for 0% financing on your auto loan, you could save thousands of dollars that would have gone to interest, especially on a long-term 60 or 72-month loan.

The best deal available this month is a 72-month 0% interest loan, which is available on the Ford Explorer, Explorer Sport Trac, Ranger and Mercury Mountaineer.

Ford is also offering 60-month no interest financing on the Ford Focus, Fusion, Mustang and Edge.

GM is matching that five-year no interest car loan on the Chevy Cobalt, HHR, Impala, Malibu, Avalanche, Silverado and Traverse, as well as the GMC Acadia and Sierra.

The Lincoln MKZ and MKS are both available for low monthly payments on short-term leases. A 24-month lease on a 2010 MKZ is just $399 per month. The same two-year lease on an MKS is $499 a month.

All Buick models are available this month with 1.9% APR financing for up to 60 months or $1,500 cash back.

The Cadillac CTS, DTS, Escalade and STS are all available with 1.9% financing for up to 36 months.

Chrysler is also financing several of its 2010 models with 0% APR for up to 60 months. The Chrysler 300, Sebring, Sebring (including convertible models) and Town & Country are all on sale this month with no interest car loans. The Dodge Avenger, Charger, Dakota, Grand Caravan and Nitro are all also included in the 0% incentive. If you’d rather go offroading, the Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee and Liberty are all available with 0% financing during March.

Kia unveiled the new 2011 Sportage this week at the Geneva Auto Show. For 2011, Kia will add some much needed funk to the Sportage in the form of a more stylish exterior and sportier driving experience. According to Autoweek, the 2011 Sportage will be longer, lower and wider than the previous generation.

The Sportage has always looked like it`s desperately trying to blend in to the background. This was fine when people wanted to hide the fact that they drove a Kia. Now that the brand has developed a reputation for building quality cars, Kia can stop building wallflowers and start adding some style to its cars.

The new 2011 Kia Sportage is the first that a woman may actually want to get into the back seat of.

The 2011 Sportage is certainly more stylish than the outgoing version, and thankfully Kia didn`t follow the terrible “flame surfacing” trend that makes one out of every three new cars look like a toy car that your jerk sister microwaved after you pulled her Barbie`s head off, even though the head goes right back on and now your car is ruined and will look melted forever.

In addition to a new-found style, the 2011 Sportage will be more fun to drive than the current model, thanks to better aerodynamics, lighter weight (which makes it handle and accelerate better) and a lower steering ratio. The new Sportage will also have more interior room than the outgoing one, which is good because you`ll finally be able to convince people to ride with you.

Picture via Autoweek.

Ford has announced that it will combine the American and European high-performance divisions it currently has into one. Rather than working simultaneously on different high-performance versions of Ford cars, the talents of both divisions can be combined to bring better cars onto the market faster. This seems like a real no-brainer, until you realize that Ford has sold completely different cars in Europe and America over the past few years. Ford is changing that, and according to Autoblog, the first Ford car in a years to be built for the entire world, the Focus, will also be the first target of Ford`s new high-performance division.

Ford recently unveiled the next generation of the Focus, which will be a “global car” that is basically the same all over the world. A global Focus will save Ford a ton of money that would otherwise have been spent designing, engineering and manufacturing a different Focus for each different market. Ford caught a lot of flack from automotive journalists and car enthusiasts for the decision to develop a new Focus for Europe and not renew the American version.

No details have been released about the hotrod Focus, but Autoblog is pretty sure that it will be a hatchback. The souped up Focus will probably use Ford`s new EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. It`s a good bet that Ford will try to beat the Mazdaspeed 3`s horsepower, which would put the new Focus near 300-hp. The name of the high-performance Focus also remains to be seen. SVT, RS and ST have all been used recently.

Picture via Autoblog.