by david vera CRUISING
Confessions
When you flip through an automotive magazine, do you think, “oooh, cute and shiny,” rather than hungering
for horsepower? is hanging out at the auto parts store more of your dad’s kind of thing? are the whereabouts
on the
of your car’s owner manual an age-old mystery? Well you’d better start paying attention because the “big
three” domestic automakers are in trouble and they’re relying on impulse-consumers to blindly jump on the
DashboarD
first fuel-saving invention they rush to the dealerships. Let’s buckle up and toss the image of the naïve little gay
consumer out the window.
What is M.P.G.?
Car-enthusiasts use this abbreviation as the average number of miles traveled per
gallon of gasoline consumed. the higher the number, the less often you’ll have to
make a sacrifice to the petrol gods. another pretty consistent rule is: the smaller the
car, the better the gas mileage. Unfortunately, a car’s M.P.G. drops sharply whenever
you give in to the urge to reenact a high-speed chase from ChiPs. to maximize the
potential of your “homobile’s” petrol supply, remember to do three things: replace
your car’s air filter every 15-to-20,000 miles, change your oil every 3,500 miles and
maintain the nominal pressure on your tires. the less physical resistance your engine
encounters, the less fuel it will require to do its job.
What do American car companies bring to the table?
on domestic assembly lines, Chrysler has been a poor performer in crash safety
tests but it does offer an impressive lifetime powertrain warrantee that covers most
engine/transmission repairs to the majority of the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep fleet. GM
proudly showcases the famed onstar navigation/collision assistance system but
its many “varied brand divisions” have often produced identical cars only rebadged.
ford, despite its subdued designs and modest engines, shows the greatest potential
for saving itself in this consumer crisis and subsequently providing us with excep-
tional automotive technology. While american automakers may have skimped in
past decades with interior materials and reliability, the view of their looming demise
has made them quick to adapt to growing need for a sturdy product with tangible
refinement. Case in point: the “hybrid-ization” of the midsize sedan.
But aren’t hybrids for hippies and activist-movie stars?
Maybe in the past, but current hybrids are definitely not the quirky turtle shells you
remember from a decade ago. every car manufacturer that plans to stick around is
in the process of designing hybrid versions of their best-selling midsizers. as of late,
it’s a pretty close race among each company’s rendering of a stunning, high-tech
wonder on wheels. the newest entry in the “gasolectric” segment is the 2010 ford
fusion hybrid. More luxurious offerings are available from higher-end brands, but
it’s unlikely that the fusion’s bang-for-your-buck will be matched. redefining the
cutting edge is ford’s futuristic smartGauge instrument panel which feeds the driver
descriptive realtime readouts of fuel economy, battery charge level, accessory power
consumption, battery output and the amount of power being put to the wheels! is it
crazy to hope we can program it to display the daily horoscope!?
How can I make sure I won’t get swindled at a car dealership?
Car salesmen generally aren’t looking to rip you off, but they are trained to con-
vince you that you need everything they have to sell—especially now that their jobs
heavily depend on it. it’s advisible to have a set of core needs in mind (or on paper)
when sizing up a car. Luckily we can research a brand online with no pressure from
a sales rep. study every product’s purpose before the dealer bombards you with
extra suggestions! Whichever model you pursue, your standing as a smart, selective
consumer will ensure that you roll away with an impressive balance of utility, taste
and equipment—and a cute, shiny car would be nice too!
MARCH 2009 | RAGE monthly 73
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