Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Despite Hurdles with Recalls, GM Releases a Silent Monster.

CHEVROLET has released a silent monster from their gates and he's started to feed. 


At first glance, the new Chevy SS looks like your average moms` grocery getter.  A four door sedan with large trunk space and spacious seating.  But Chevrolet has done something sneaky here, they have given it a massive heart transplant and juiced it up with roids.  The last thing your average driver would expect is a 6.2L LS3 V8 under that hood.


The new SS racks up 415hp, 415lb-ft torque  and guarantees low speed pulling power.  TAPshift paddles are mounted to the steering wheel for sport shifting and Chevrolet threw on some giant 14-inch Brembo's with MacPherson struts and a multilink independent back end.  The car has already adopted the nickname "Stealth Tire Shredder" and is balanced on a 50/50 weight distribution and new electronic steering.




"Our goal was to create a car that delivers incredible grip and handling while cornering, while still being comfortable to drive on the road," said David Leone, executive chief engineer of GM global programs.


The SS comes with all the bells and whistles of comfort and modern tech as well.  LED daytime running lights and HID headlamps are equipped for excellent visibility. Leather is standard along with 10-way power-adjustable buckets seats and a 220 watt, 9-speaker Bose, surround system, leaving the car luxurious yet sporty all at the same time.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Are Your New Tires Actually Old?


Your tires may be new... but are they new?



Major Automotive manufacturers recommend replacing your cars tires after 6 yrs and DOT (Dept. of Transportation) recommends replacement after 10 years max.

Even when your car is brand new, the tires may still have some age to them. Tires are made and stored in a warehouse until they are ordered.  Everyone should know how old their tires are before purchasing them new.   Every tire has a certain code printed on the side.  The main numbers to watch is near the end of the code. These two numbers represent the age of your tires.  Some tire manufacturers are different, putting the week first instead of a month, and others put a month first instead of a numbered week.  This is known as the "Born-on date". This also proves that the tire meets the DOT's  tire requirements.




  Sometimes the code will end in either three numerals (pre-2000) or four (post 2000) and correspond to the two-digit week followed by the one- or two-digit year. If anyone has 3 numerals right now, you are at risk, we strongly advise changing tires.  Let's look at our example above.  For instance, the tire seen above has a code of DOT PJLH L6HV 4708, which would indicate a tire manufactured in the 47th week of 2008.  . If you find your "new" tires are more than two years old, it is best to  request a newer manufacture date or a discount from the merchant. These tires have been sitting, aging in storage for over two years.

How to read your tire:




Thursday, May 15, 2014

Utah's Newest Cellphone Law


Utah's new updated cell phone law.

Utah has a new cell phone law in effect this week, which prohibits playing games, checking social media, emails, calls and texting while behind the wheel.  This is all while the car is in motion.  I suggest refraining from these actions during a red light as well, Utah traffic is bad enough when your stuck in a ring of traffic lights; please don't be THAT person who is fiddling around when the light turns green.



The list itself is peculiar. One can't help but ask why anyone would be playing a game while driving in traffic?  "I'm sorry officer, I wasn't texting, I was playing Candy Crush!"  As if this used to be OK?


There is one exception to the usage of your smart phone.  GPS is allowed!  So let's break this down plain and simple... 

While behind the wheel, abstain from your phone unless you are using GPS.  There will be no reading, writing, dialing, recording, internet browsing, email checking, game playing or texting while the vehicle is in motion.



If one is caught violating these new rules they will be found guilty of a primary offense and fined a solid $100 bucks.


 I have also included several life threatening scenario pictures in this post to help show what could happen to people while on their phone while driving.  There may or may not be some hidden sarcasm here, but with all respect, please do not use your phone while driving. This is serious and lives can be destroyed from something so small...



Friday, May 9, 2014

More Recalls: Ford, General Motors

Ford and General Motors Have Issued Recalls


FORD has a recall out for 692,500 2013-2014 Ford Escapes including the new C-max Hybrid; for a software glitch that involves the "airbag not deploying" in a timely manner during rollovers.


The 2nd Ford recall involves 692,700 2013-2014 Ford Escape's door handles open during vehicle operation.


How to get it fixed if you own one:
Simply call your local ford dealer and make an appointment to have the ECU reprogrammed and to have your door handles adjusted.  Remember, they will most likely be flooded with appointments, keep this in mind.



General Motors issued a Recall for CHEVROLET Malibu's and BUICK Lacrosse for a brake rotor mishap.  8,208 cars were recalled because of "possible reduced braking performance". Basically, somehow rear brake rotors were installed on the front of the vehicle. Rear rotor specs are different from the front rotors and this could create reduced braking which equals possible crashing.
8,200 were recalled and only 1,700 have been sold or are on the road right now.

GM has issued a STOP sale on these cars and has grounded them at the dealers.

 The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Assoc.) has not confirmed these recalls on their website yet.  Sources: Detroit News, Autoblog.

You also be interested in 2014 Automotive Recall list.

www.facebook.com/utahcarcents.com

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

2015 Subaru WRX & STI Earn Top Safety Pick

2015 Subaru WRX & STI  Earns Top Safety Pick


The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) released new crash test data for the new 2015 Subaru WRX and Subaru WRX STI and it has made the IIHS Top Safety Pick.






The new WRX and STI received top ratings for all 5 aspects of crash test testing.
  • Small overlap front
    G
  • Moderate overlap front
    G
  • Side
    G
  • Roof strength
    G
  • Head restraints & seats
    G






Release from Subaru:
"2015 SUBARU WRX AND WRX STI EARN IIHS 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK
May 5, 2014, Cherry Hill, N.J, Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2015 Subaru WRX and WRX STI the IIHS 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK award for good performance in each of the Institute’s crashworthiness evaluations, including the small overlap front test. This is the first time IIHS has rated the WRX and WRX STI, which were both completely redesigned for 2015.
With the addition to the 2015 WRX, Subaru now has six models that have earned 2014 safety awards
from IIHS – three with TOP SAFETY PICK and three with TOP SAFETY PICK+ including its Legacy sedan and Outback models with optional EyeSight. Subaru has more 2014 IIHS Top Safety Picks than any other brand.
The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Subaru WRX is one of the brand’s performance models and comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder 268 horsepower engine, mated to a six-speed manual transmission, and is priced at $26,295. The higher-performance WRX STI model is priced at $34,495 and features a turbocharged, 2.5-liter boxer four cylinder engine that produces 305 hp.
In addition to the standard model, the WRX STI is offered in Launch Edition. Limited to just 1,000 units over the first three months of production, and offered exclusively in WR Blue with gold BBS® alloy wheels and blue trim throughout the interior. All WRX STI models feature Alcantara seating surfaces and standard LED exterior lighting, and the Limited trim adds leather, a power driver's seat, a moonroof and a premium Harman/Kardon audio system. Navigation and higher-end audio are optional on other models. "Safety is one of our brand tenets and so we are extremely proud to have earned a TSP rating for our performance models" said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “we are committed to providing engaging driving together with safety and this award is testament to that commitment.”
About IIHS
The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of a moderate overlap frontal and small overlap crash test. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.
Building on its long-running vehicle ratings program for consumer information, IIHS introduced the small overlap test in 2012 to further improve occupant protection in frontal crashes. Most automakers design their vehicles for good performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal test and the federal
government’s full-width frontal test, but many haven’t addressed the problem of small overlap crashes. In a 2009 IIHS study of vehicles with good ratings for frontal crash protection, small overlap crashes accounted for nearly a quarter of the frontal crashes involving serious or fatal injury to front seat occupants.
The small overlap test is a demanding crash that replicates what happens when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle or an object like a tree or utility pole. In the test, 25 percent of a car’s front end on the driver side strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a
barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2-instrumented SID-IIs dummies representing a small (5th percentile) woman, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.

Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are
measurements of head restraint geometry -- the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind
the back of the head of an average size man. Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can't be positioned to protect many people.
In the roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a
good rating for rollover protection, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is rated poor.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan.
Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit media.subaru.com"

Monday, May 5, 2014

Lamborghini Huracan Prototype Driver Gets Road Rage





Have You Seen This?

A Lamborghini Huracan Prototype Driver lets this Subaru Driver have it for pictures... The vocal disruption starts around 4:30 in time.



The New Huracan's Specs...

Engine: 5.2L V10
Power: 610 bhp / 413lb-ft /torque 
Transmission: 7-speed DCT 
Base Price: $237,250