Latest News From Bumper Radio

New AutoMD.com survey on how consumers view the repair shop/service center experience shows vast majority still feel overcharged, want pricing transparency, 'apples-to-apples' comparative job quotes and, most of all, a good mechanic -- and most are checking reviews and pricing online first.   

CARSON, Calif., June 10, 2014 -- Most consumers (83%) continue to 'feel' overcharged in the auto repair process and rank the experience of going to the repair shop/dealership to get their car repaired on a par with going to the dentist (with women preferring the dentist), according to a new consumer survey from AutoMD.com.

BETHESDA, Md., May 20, 2014 -- If your summer vacation plans include a road trip, the last thing you want is to have unexpected car trouble to leave you stranded at the side of the road, ruining all the fun. A pre-trip vehicle check is the best way to be car care aware and ensure that your car is ready to get you to your destination, says the non-profit Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council recommends the following pre-trip checklist before hitting the road this summer:

WORCESTER, MA, May 16, 2014 -- Do you know if your car has any open manufacturer issued safety recalls?  Amazingly one-third of all vehicles recalled by automakers are never brought to dealers. The reasons people don't take advantage of these repairs range from not being aware of the recall to not having the time to give up the car to make a repair. 

If your car seems to be running smoothly, a safety recall may seem to be an inconvenience but there are good reasons to get a defective part fixed as soon as you can.  First and foremost is safety, for you and your family. Recent research from the Highway Loss Data Institute found that repairing recalled vehicles reduces "dangerous incidents" for drivers.  The study looked at non-crash fire claims and found fewer insurance claims for those who made a recall required repair.

The Goodguys 16^th Southwest Nationals is a giant vintage automotive festival featuring over 3,000 hot rods, customs, classics, street rods, muscle cars, & trick trucks through 1972 vintage. In addition to the car show, the event will include manufacturer and vendor exhibits, a bountiful swap meet and cars-for-sale area, special “themed” parking areas, Goodguys Autocross (to test vehicle agility and performance), Goodguys “Top 12” Champions Arena, model car show, kids face painting and lots of fun for the entire family!

On Sunday, November 17, the event will feature the All American Sunday, open to all years American made and powered vehicles. Registration for the All American Sunday will be held at WestWorld and will open at 7 am on the 17^th.

Video and photos from a Bumper to Bumper Radio live remote radio broadcast at Tri-City Transmission in Tempe, Arizona. This event was held on October 26, 2013.

After much anticipation, Better Business Bureau serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona (BBB) revealed the 2015 BBB Business Ethics Awards winners last night during its 14th annual dinner sponsored by Wells Fargo. For the first time, BBB also presented an award recognizing an individual's commitment to ethics.

Curt’s Auto Repair, a Bumper to Bumper Radio preferred shop, was included as a winner of the ethic award in the category of businesses with under ten employees.

“We are proud to have this year’s winners join over 60 local companies celebrated for their ethical business practices,” said Matthew Fehling, BBB President/CEO. “These companies understand the impact ethics can have not only on their bottom line, but also their products, services, operations and, most importantly, their people.”

Why is National Car Care Month important? This car infographic displays what free car care inspections around the country found in 2014.

Do you know how healthy your car is?

Top problem areas included dirty or low engine oil, dirty or restricted air filters and low or leaking coolant. Many safety components, such as lights, wipers and tire tread were found inadequate in over 1 in 10 cars. A quick visual inspection can help determine if these safety components need attention on your vehicle.

Looking for ways to become more environmentally friendly with your car? Motorists can help protect the environment by following four simple steps from the non-profit Car Care Council.

WASHINGTON, D.C., (April 16, 2015) – On average, Americans drive 29.2 miles per day, making two trips with an average total duration of 46 minutes. This and other revealing data are the result of a ground-breaking study currently underway by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Urban Institute.

The Foundation’s new American Driving Survey offers the most up-to-date, comprehensive look at how much Americans drive on a daily and yearly basis.  First-year data, collected May 2013 through May 2014, is available now from the ongoing study, which will set the benchmark for future data and ultimately reveal trends in Americans’ driving habits.

“This is the first ongoing study that provides a look at when and how much Americans are driving,” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Existing federal data with this level of detail was last released in 2009, eight years after the previous release. This substantially limits the extent to which we can use existing data to draw conclusions about Americans’ current driving habits.”

ORLANDO, Fla., (April 20, 2015) – The 2015 Tesla Model S P85D earned the top score in the 2015 AAA Green Car Guide, the motor club announced today. The Palo Alto-based automaker’s car is featured with more than 80 other green vehicles in the 2015 AAA Green Car Guide. The best green car value award went to the 2014 Nissan Versa SV.