Latest News From Bumper Radio

Audi, Subaru, Lexus, Porsche, BMW lead the pack

YONKERS, NY— Consumers don’t always have to spend top dollar to get a great car. The Consumer Reports 2016 Brand Report Card reveals mainstream brands like Subaruand Mazda can often deliver as much quality as more opulent luxury brands.

The highest overall brand scores in Consumer Reports’ annual indicator of which brands make the best cars went to Audi (80) and Subaru (78). Consumer Reports currently Recommends 100 percent of each brand's models that it has tested. Luxury brands Lexus (76), Porsche (76), and BMW (76) rounded out the top five in CR’s rankings.

Mazda finished just outside the lead pack in sixth place, with GM’s premium brand Buick in seventh place. Consumer Reports is currently Recommending 100 percent of the Mazda models and 80 percent of the Buick models it has tested.

Both wholesale vehicle auction prices and used vehicle price index slightly underperformed first month of 2016

MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In their most recent report on the U.S. vehicle market, analysts at NADA Used Car Guide, a division of J.D. Power and Associates, concluded the used vehicle market slightly underperformed in January 2016 compared to December 2015. According to the free report, wholesale prices of vehicles up to eight years in age were down 0.1 percent in January versus December. January's used vehicle price index followed a slightly greater decline of 0.3 percent compared to December, bringing the index to 122.2.
  
Jonathan Banks, executive analyst for NADA Used Car Guide said, "Bouncing back after the holiday season slowdown, auction sales volume of models up to eight years old grew by 38 percent over the four week period ending January 25, reaching 322,200 units."

According to AAA, potholes cost American drivers almost $3 million a year. How can you avoid these expensive mishaps? Lauren Fix, The Car Coach discusses simple tips to prevent pothole damage!

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 25, 2016) – About 87 percent of drivers engaged in at least one risky behavior while behind the wheel within the past month, according to latest research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. These unsafe behaviors include driving while distracted, impaired, drowsy, speeding, running red lights or not wearing a seat belt. These disturbing results come as nearly 33,000 Americans died in car crashes in 2014, and preliminary estimates project a nine percent increase in deaths for 2015.

“There is a culture of indifference for far too many drivers when it comes to road safety,” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “The vast majority of motorists believe they are more careful than others on the road, though most of them are not making safe decisions while behind the wheel. We’re asking every driver to make responsible decisions to make the roads safer for everyone.”

The report finds that 1 in 3 drivers have had a friend or relative seriously injured or killed in a crash, and 1 in 5 have been involved in a crash that was serious enough for someone to go to the hospital. Common unsafe behaviors include:

More and more people are keeping their vehicles longer as the average age of a car on the road today is more than 11 years. Considering the cost of a new car is about $31,000 on average, deciding to keep your car rather than buying a new one makes financial sense, says the non-profit Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council offers sensible steps to help motorists maintain their vehicles for safety, dependability and value.

Keep it Clean

Washing and waxing your vehicle on a regular basis protects it from the natural elements that may harm the finish.

A good cleaning of the inside and outside of the vehicle prevents the buildup of damaging chemicals and dirt, reduces the potential for rust from road salt and ensures proper visibility needed for safe driving.

(Washington, January 25, 2016) Gas prices have spent 25 consecutive days below $2 per gallon and could head lower still as reduced seasonal demand and falling crude oil costs combine to send pump prices to the lowest mark in six years. Today’s average price of $1.83 per gallon is the cheapest price since January 2009, and retail averages have fallen for 69 of the past 80 days for a total savings of 40 cents per gallon over this span. Crude oil supply continues to outpace demand, which has helped push gas prices down by seven cents on the week, 18 cents on the month and 21 cents on the year.

We are proud and humbled to be riding with Bill Kann on November 12, 2015 at Phoenix International Raceway. Thanks to Bill’s father and Bumper to Bumper Radio member, Billy Kann of Interstate Batteries, we are riding along right on the hood tomorrow with Bill!

If you get a chance to come out and support Bill, the race is at 5pm and Matt and Dave will be out to support!

(Washington, February 1, 2016) Drivers are saving more than $1 per gallon ($1.01) from the 2015 peak price reached this past June, and the national average has spent 32 consecutive days below the $2 per gallon benchmark. Today’s average price of $1.80 per gallon is the lowest price for gasoline since January 2009. Gas prices have fallen for 24 of the past 26 days, and the combination of seasonal reductions in gasoline demand and the relatively lower price for crude oil are likely to help keep prices low in the near term.  Retail averages are discounted by three cents per gallon on the week, 20 cents per gallon on the month and 26 cents per gallon on the year.

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- America's #1 Car Website for Women ChickDriven.com launches today, dedicated singularly to helping women navigate the often confusing and overwhelming purpose of buying a car. ChickDriven is driven by founder Ruby Davis, whose own experience as a first-time car buyer left her feeling like she got taken for a ride.

  
"I purchased a car with all the glitz and glamour, thought I had an amazing deal package but was delivered with the basic package paying premium price. I think that car salesmen—MEN—see a woman and they assume it'll be easy to take advantage of her," says Davis. "Chick Driven empowers women like me to make informed decisions about what car to buy and how much they should pay for it." 

NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost two in three Americans don't have enough savings to pay for a $500 car repair or a $1,000 emergency room bill, according to a new Bankrate.com (NYSE: RATE) report. Click here for more information.
  
Only 37% of U.S. adults have enough savings to pay for these unexpected expenses. 23% would reduce their spending on other things to make ends meet, 15% would use credit cards and another 15% would borrow from family or friends.