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Click on any of the images to get high resolution versions courtesy of NetCarShow.com
Great to use as desktop backgrounds
Pricing and availabilty for Canada has not been announced yet. When it is, we’ll post it here.
Enjoy this excellent test drive review courtesy of Edmunds.com
After a long wait, Ford has released it’s 2011 Ford Explorer and it looks like it has lived up to the hype!
Canadian prices have not been announced yet, but based on the US base price of $28,190 up to the Limited version at $45,000 it should be very competitive. For fun, you can build & price a US version using this link.
As soon as Ford of Canada announces their prices, we will have the Retail and Wholesale Prices for the 2011 Ford Explorer.
To be alerted as soon as Canadian prices for the 2011 Ford Explorer are available click here (even if you are not a member of CarCostCanada)
For 2010 Ford Explorer Retail and Wholesale Prices click on this link.
Autoblog.com has had several stories out already on the 2011 Ford Explorer. Here are some links:
2011 Ford Explorer unveiled, tries crossing over on road to redemption
2011 Ford Explorer puts four-cylinder EcoBoost engine above V6 in pecking order
Confusing Car Advice
It seems like every two days there is a new opinion out there on how to purchase a new car. Don’t do this. Never say this. This is the way.
Well, here’s another opinion from the pen of Hannah Elliott found on CTV News. In her article titled: “What not to say when buying a new car”. Hannah gives some odd and contradicting advice.
Example 1: “…keeping your mouth shut (at least in the beginning) about several things, like how you plan to pay for the vehicle, or the fact that you’re not sure exactly what you need in a car, will serve you well when you finally do make a purchase.”
I’m not exactly sure how this is helpful advice? “Ya, I’m looking for a car… or an SUV. I dunno. I may lease, I may finance. I may not. I dunno…”. You can expect GREAT service after that!? The only thing that piece of advice will do is aggravate the sales person because now he/she does not have a clue what you are asking for. How can they possibly show you anything of interest if you yourself appear to have no idea what you are looking for?
A better example would be suggesting you are interested in a certain type of vehicle (IE: mid-size sedan) and are open to the options in regards to how you may purchase it. Now the salesperson will show you his mid-sized line-up and offer you several payment choices.
Example 2: “Dealers kind of prey on the fact that you’re going to be excited,” says James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Getting a new car is fun, and it’s exciting, and you can’t wait to drive home and show your neighbours. They know that.”
That’s solid advice, my man! Let’s take all the fun out of making the second biggest purchase in your life. Instead, let’s do this: Make it a complete chore and go out of your way to have ZERO fun. Go into the dealer and be really pissed-off looking. Grunt and groan about how you hate buying cars and can’t stand salespeople. Maybe bring your kids in just before dinnertime so they can be just as angry as you are.
People feed of each other’s energy. If you want to have a positive experience in a showroom, perhaps try being positive. I think these writers don’t give consumers enough credit. Just because we’re enjoying something doesn’t mean that we will leave our common sense at the door and throw our budget to the wind.
But, Hannah does try to redeem herself at the end of her article by stating “Above all, be honest, decisive and direct.” HUH?!? Don’t tell them a thing but be honest and direct. Lady, your confusing us all…
If you really want to enjoy your car buying experience, I have 3 simple steps to buying a car with no non-sense:
You won’t go wrong, when you know what the dealer paid…
2011 Lincoln MKZ
Maybe this is how Ford continues to grow!!!
“For the first time, a North American automaker plans to sell a hybrid car for the same, lower price as its gas-powered counterpart, removing at least one obstacle for drivers who want a greener ride.
At a little more than US$35,000, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ sedan won’t be cheap, but the decision by Ford to match the prices of the two styles could lead competitors to follow suit with future models.
The hybrid MKZ, debuting this fall and running on both gas and electric power, will be a bargain after factoring in savings at the pump. It gets more than double the mileage of the traditional version in city driving.
While automakers won’t reveal what they spend to install a hybrid system in a car, the final product usually costs several thousand dollars more than a gas-powered version of the same car….” – CTV News.ca
Read the full article on Ford offering a Hybrid for the same price as the Gas model on CTV News.ca
Ford Motor Co.
It’s amazing how far Ford Motor Company has come.
When others were seeking billions of dollars in Government bailout funds; Ford said ”No thanks”. When others concentrated more on big-wig staffing changes and who gets what bonuses; Ford concentrated on their model line-up. And when others fell short of goals and sales targets; Ford blew right by them!
“Want more proof that Ford is really starting to pick up some serious momentum? The Wall Street Journal is reporting that The Blue Oval will follow up its $2.1 billion first quarter profits with another $2.6 billion in black ink for the second quarter. That’s a far cry from the $424 million the automaker lost in the second quarter of last year and another big step towards sustained financial success. Ford is making money in part because of restructured costs, but also because of increased awareness in its well-reviewed new products.
Ford is looking better on many fronts, including models with more competitive pricing, higher residual values, improved quality and sales increases that are outpacing most of its rivals. Ford now has a competitive small and midsize car lineup for the first time in decades, but the big money is still coming from larger vehicles. F-150 sales, for example, are up 25 percent for the quarter, while Super Duty sales are reportedly up 55 percent. In terms of average transaction prices, another success has been the revamped Taurus, which is fetching a whopping $6,300 more than the outgoing model and $850 more than the average Toyota Avalon. “ - Chris Shunk – Autoblog.com
In the last 2yrs Honda’s sales have dropped significantly and Hyundai sales have increased significantly.
Has Honda lost its touch? . . . Is Hyundai the new Honda?
It couldn’t be the styling could it?
2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
Jan-May-2008 – total Honda sales – 68,673 and 9.5% market share of total industry sales of 723,478
Jan-May-2010 – total Honda sales – 47,773 (down 20,700) and 7.6% market share of total industry sales of 631,195 (down 92,283)
By comparison, look at Hyundai’s stats:
Jan-May-2008 – total Hyundai sales – 35,149 and 4.9% market share of total industry sales of 723,478
Jan-May-2010 – total Hyundai sales – 50,713 (up 15,564) and 8.0% market share of total industry sales of 631,195
Then again, maybe it could be the styling?
2011 Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai’s other brand Kia also gained 5,753 respectively during this time period. Combined they grabbed 21,317 customers where Honda lost 20,700… Coincidence?
Therefore the total industry has lost 92,283 sales from 2008 to 2010 and Honda lost 20,700 of them. So Honda alone accounts for 22.4% of all lost sales. Yikes!
Is Honda still living off their reputation from the 90’s, just like GM 10 years ago was still living off their reputation from the 70’s.
It took GM a long time to get over their “Illusion of grandeur”. Has the same cancer now infected Honda?
Sales results courtesy of Desrosiers.ca
Sales results for all Canadian car companies 2008
2011 Honda CR-Z
The new 2011 Honda CR-Z is set to go on sale (in the U.S.) on August 24, 2010 starting at $19,200 plus D&D (freight) of $750 US for a total of $19,950.
In Canada the MSRP prices will start at $23,490 + $1,395 for a total of $24,885. Mind you the Canadian “base” car is equivalent to the upgraded “EX” model in the US which will be priced at $20,760 + $750 = $21,510.
Considering the exchange rate is currently around 5% and Canada’s 6.1% duty on imported cars, the difference of 15.6% ($24,885/$21,510=15.6%) isn’t too bad.
The prices are not live in our system yet, but will be soon. Don’t expect a deal any time soon. The difference between the retail and wholesale dealer invoice price is just a touch over $1,000, plus the Ontario govenment just cut out the $2,000 PST rebate so its not as cheap as it could have been in June if it had been available.
Official launch date is August 10, 2010.
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
It only takes one good experience to change an opinion. Enter the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.
I’ll admit, at first, I wasn’t too excited to be driving around in a Hybrid. A week of typically lacklustre performance and a dull interior was not what the Dr. ordered for my 150 km rush hour commute. But I knew after the first 10 minutes in the Fusion that this was not your normal Hybrid. This is what all Hybrids should be like!
Getting right to the point; the Fusion can run at speeds of up to 75 km/h solely on its electric system or HV system as they call it. That’s not a typo! Hit the cruise control at 75 km/h on a relatively flat stretch of road and listen to the engine, well… not purr. Not a fan of cruise control? The Fusions integrated and easy to read dashboard displays a well-arranged group of information needed to show you how to maximize your fuel-economy. The best of the gauges is the Ecogauge, which shows you the ’sweet spot’ for the electric motor. Feather the gas just right to stay within the sweet spot and your running on fumes!
And that’s what the Fusion Hybrid does better than anyone else. It’s almost like other manufacturers are scared to use the full potential of the battery’s power. They turn the Hybrid system on and off at the slightest touch. Off at a stop light, but then immediately on after releasing the brake. Off in very slow (5km/h or less) traffic and then back on when you dare try to catch up to the car ahead. Aren’t Hybrids designed for inner-city stop and go traffic? Read the rest of this entry »
Jeremy Cato - The Globe and Mail
In the latest Deals of the Week from Jeremy Cato, he talks about what’s becoming the age old question: Cash purchase or low rate financing?
Jeremy hits the nail on the head with his great and simple scenario that explains it quick and dirty.
“But for buyers who must finance, the question is whether it’s better to take the cash rebate and then negotiate a separate car loan, or simply stick with the 0.0 per cent factory deal.”
Also featured are 4 new vehicles that you wouldn’t think would end up on the Deals of the Week; the BMW 528i, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot and Nissan 370Z.
