Chevy Tahoe Accessories

Since most makes and models are built according to the same basic structure and utilize the same materials, these dent removal techniques can be used across the board.

However, there are some structural differences that can complicate SUV dent removal if it’s done by those who prefer a more do-it-yourself approach to body repairs. In most cases, paintless dent repair is limited in that damages located too close to the edge of a door, fender, hood, quarter panel, trunk, or roof might not be able to be repaired using paintless dent removal techniques. This is because these parts of the vehicle have a double, reinforced metal.

SUV Dent Removal Requirements

SUVs tend to have more unique access options like the double metal than other types of vehicles. Their doors and quarter panels are constructed differently, and some of them even boast different types of materials for the hood. The techniques you might be able to get away with on a sedan don’t always work here, especially when it comes to accomplishing that same, nearly perfect finish.

SUVs also have larger panels, in general. For example, the back panel on a Chevy Tahoe extends much further off the ground and covers more surface area than that of a Dodge Neon. This means that it can be difficult to not only reach the dent, but that the way in which the panel is bent might require specialty tools designed for use with a larger SUV. When you go with a traditional auto body repair shop, you might be asked to pay substantially more for work that doesn’t have the same results. Choosing a paintless dent removal company that works regularly with SUVs can go a long way in ensuring that your work is done well – and at a price comparable to what you expect to pay for smaller cars.

Choosing the Right Dent Repair Company

No matter what you drive, a mobile dent repair provider is your best bet for quick and flawless results for your vehicle’s exterior. Remember, though, that SUVs also tend to undergo a little more “hard labor” than other types of cars, making them more susceptible to the dents that occur from adventurous driving experiences. It’s best to have a paintless dent removal company that you trust on hand.

When consumers shop for a car, they don’t usually consider if the type of car they buy will affect their insurance rates. The type of car you buy actually plays a part in whether you pay a high or low premium. If you are looking to acquire a reasonably priced insurance policy with your new car, it is important to know what cars have the best rates.
The nonprofit public service organization, The Highway Loss Data Institute, (HLDI) is a group that assesses vehicles for the insurance industry to find out which cars are a high risk. By high risk, they mean cars that are most likely to be stolen, involved in an accident as the result of a collision, and have a high number of injury claims filed. When assessing the risk of theft, the organization will look at such as aspects as the number of doors a car has as well as the color of the car.
The HLDI has found that “four door cars have a 93% less chance of having a claim related to theft than 2-door cars of the same make and model.” As well, a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) found that “cars that have the least claims filed for theft include the Buick LeSabre, Volvo V70 Station Wagon, and the Mercury Grand Marquis.”
According to HLDI, the lowest injury claims filed are large vehicles such as large cars, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Many car retailers report that the following cars are the least expensive to insure:
- Chrysler PT Cruiser 4dr Wagon
- Jeep Liberty Sport 4WD 4dr SUV
- Saturn L300 1 4dr Sedan
- Volvo S40 4dr Sedan
- Saab 38600 Linear 2.3t 4dr SportWagon
- Buick Century Special Edition 4dr Sedan
- GMC Safari SLE AWD 3dr Minivan
- Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan
- Saturn ION 1 4dr Sedan
- Pontiac Sunfire 2dr Coupe
Vehicles that are among the least expensive for collision claims include:
- GMC Safari 4-wheel drive
- GMC Yukon XL 1500 4-wheel drive
- Ford Excursion 2-wheel drive
- GMC 2500
Vehicle Models with some of the least expensive injury claims include:
- GMC Sierra 2500 2-wheel and 4 wheel drives
- Chevrolet Silverado
- GMC Yukon XL 1500 4-wheel
- Chevy Tahoe 2-wheel
A few of the ‘ Top 2009 Safety Pick Cars’ as published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety include:
- Large Cars: Acura RL, Audi A6, Cadillac CTS, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Genesis
- 4-door models built after 11/08, Lincoln MKS, Mercury Sable, Toyota Avalon, Volvo S80
- Midsize Cars: Acura TL, Acura TSX, Audi A3, Audi A4, BMW 3 series 4-door models, Ford Fusion 2009-10 models with ESC (optional in 2009, standard in 2010)
- Honda Accord 4-door models, Lincoln MKZ 2010 models, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen CC
- Small Cars: Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional ESC, Mitsubishi Lancer with optional ESC, Scion xB, – Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla with optional ESC, Volkswagen Rabbit 4-door models, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat
When determining insurance premiums, insurance companies will look at a car’s make, model, safety record, and rate of theft. Knowing these statistics will help you choose the best car with the best insurance rate.

Social media has taught me many things. Like how most #blackouts in Australia are caused by #zombies. Or that sometimes it’s more amusing to watch a reaction to a clip instead of the clip itself. But more importantly it has taught me that no matter how technologically evolved we become, some things never change. Here are 4 truths that I believe social media has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Sex might sell but don’t be fooled – most customers are looking for more than a one night stand. We’ve spent years introducing technology to cut out the middle man only to find that the customer still wants to talk about their feelings. Businesses who choose to nurture an ongoing relationship reap the benefits with higher $$ sales, repeat business and free advertising in the form of word of mouth. Too many businesses are content with just playing the numbers game, safe in the knowledge that their flashy and slick approach will still dazzle enough customers to keep them warm through winter. Those customers quickly move on once they realise they’re not much more than a statistic, worthy only of bland, generic marketing campaigns with little thought to their actual wants or needs.

Who’s doing it right: Kudos to the Bigpond team on Twitter (@bigpondteam ). They know you’ve been screwed over in the past and they just want you to know that they are listening.

Who’s doing it wrong: Companies AND individuals who have an account in every social media port and use the same tired, old lines on all of them. Broadcasting the same message through such a diverse range of applications does not a strategy make.

Despite the fact that many aspects of our lives continue to be made inexplicably easier with each passing year, there will always be a special group of people looking for a shortcut. 10,000 followers on Twitter in 3 days; a popular blog with scrapings of everyone else’s brilliant content; instant You Tube fame complete with sponsor interest and meme infamy. It alienates those willing to invest time and effort and irritates almost everyone who has to put up with the result. And yet it continues because unfortunately it works. Those who succeed (and even those who don’t) then get to take it to a new level – selling the secret shortcuts to finding the shortcuts.

Who’s doing it right: Stephen Fry deserves his resurgence in popularity for all the effort he is investing in his personal and professional brand. He blogs, he tweets, he’s available on iTunes. While consistent, his interaction is intermittent enough to be genuine. And all of this in between filming prime time television and celebrity hob nobbing.

Who’s doing it wrong: You’ve got 10 examples sitting in your inbox right now.

Those hippies were on to something! By loosening the grip on their brand, some companies have been able to experience something out of this world. Whether it is the integration of user generated content into a campaign or refusing to censor the dissedent voice in forums, brands have been communicated in the voice of the customer in a bold new way. Unfortunately sometimes the experience can be a disaster, sure to cause painful flashbacks for decades to come. You can play it safe and minimise the risk, you just need to know what you’re getting into, do it with people you trust and, of course, everything in moderation.

Who’s doing it right: I love this example of SUNY New Paltz and left it strategically under the noses of my previous employer’s management team. It’s a great reminder that if you’re doing things right you have no need to fear the odd negative comment.

Who’s doing it wrong: Nothing sticks out more than the Chevrolet Chevy Tahoe campaign which turned into an anti-SUV broadcast faster than you can say “Canyonero”. It shouldn’t be a deterrant to UGC though, merely a mistake to learn from and improve on.

As I’ve posted previously, I get frustrated at the way red cards go flying up whenever someone doesn’t conform to the rules of play of social media. For such a collaborative, scalable, unique, innovative concept it sure has a lot of rules and penalties. The world wide web should be big enough for all of us to play nice and if it isn’t then at least show a little appreciation for the diversity of the game. It’s a bit like that new AFL ad, where they show you all the decent sports you could be watching instead of AFL.

Who’s doing it right: In its simplest form, I think the blogging community is getting this right. It amazes me how a few widgets and a different perspective can create such a unique user experience. Even the stock standard templates allow anyone’s personality to shine through if they choose.

Who’s doing it wrong: Me. The fact that I have just listed 4 examples of who’s doing it right and wrong by my opinion clearly demonstrates that I don’t practise what I preach. So piss off.

Two Injuries – One Solution:MaryAnn was driving home from the grocery store, when a car ran a stop sign, forcing her Chevy Tahoe to careen at 50 miles an hour into the passenger side of the vehicle.  

Airlifted to a local emergency room, MaryAnn suffered numerous neck and back injuries. A variety of doctors gave her differing opinions on what movements would aggravate her injuries.

“Don’t bend forward” one said. “Don’t bend backwards” another doctor prescribed.

Under doctors orders not to exert herself, MaryAnn started to gain weight…and became depressed. Her physical therapist happened to mention yoga. Desperate, MaryAnn went to a local yoga studio…and fell in love. Within a few weeks, she was seeing improvement. By the end of the month, she noticed some of the pain subsiding.

MaryAnn is now the picture of health and wellness, all thanks to yoga.

Jerry is a best-selling author and world-renown entrepreneur. At the tender age of 25, he suffered a stroke from a brain aneurysm and was forced to have a shunt installed in the back of his skull. The doctors suggested modified yoga positions within a few months after the surgery (nothing inverted, of course) to assist in the healing process.

How can people like these use yoga to stun the docs and heal faster and rebound better than they were before?

The Secret is Just Under Your SkinLymph fluid. You never even knew it was there!

According to a UK Cancer Research facility, there are lymph vessels which circulate just under your skin and contain white blood cells and plasma, which help to produce antibodies. These are assisted by macrophages which ‘swallow up’ and kill any germs or foreign particles.

In plain English, lymph fluid keeps you healthy.  Lymph fluid is partly responsible for creating a healthy immune system!

You see, unlike the heart, which pumps the blood and keeps it moving throughout your body, there is no ‘lymphatic pump’ that keeps your lymph from becoming stagnant. Your body relies on other means to move the lymphatic fluid.

There is absolutely NO OTHER METHOD which moves lymphatic fluid better than yoga.

Think about it – have you ever noticed that sedentary people get sick more often? If lymphatic fluid produces antibodies…and you don’t keep that fluid fresh and moving around…doesn’t it stand to reason that your immune system weakens without these antibodies and you get sick more often as a result?

In fact, in his article, “The Lymph”, Roger Jahnke, OMD explains that movement and breathing (2 major components of yoga) increase the amount of lymphatic fluid (or interstitial fluid) produced each day as well as its movement throughout the body.

Rather than the jarring action of running, or the muscle building affects of lifting – who knew that simply entering and remaining in one pose at a time for approximately 30-60 seconds could do so much for your health?

Working Out with an InjurySo what’dya do when you’ve blown out your knee in a soccer game? What happens when you’re carpal tunnel is flaring up from too much time in the cubicle at work? How do you still stay active when that ol’ football injury flares up again?

Yoga.

For starters, with any knee injury (and assuming you’ve check with your doctor first), there are plenty of movements one can use in order to strengthen other, healthier muscles and make recovering from the injury more…bearable.

For example, the Downward Facing Dog puts more emphasis on the hamstrings, giving more support to your ailing knees and enabling you to concentrate more on walking and healing.

When doing a pose which emphasizes the knee, like any of the Warrior poses, check your knee’s alignment with your ankle. You can also use blankets or other such props when doing the Child’s pose to keep from going as deep into the movement.

And of course, there are many upper body poses you can concentrate your efforts on if the lower body injury is severe enough to limit activity altogether. The Cobra pose, Plank pose, and especially the Corpse pose are all possible, depending on the extent of the knee injury.

Keep in mind that no one is competing with you to do these poses. They are merely a catalyst to speed you towards optimum health and wellness.

The Bottom LineThe future of your health and welfare depends on knowing how to best take care of your body. Moving your lymphatic fluid on a regular basis is one of the best (if not only) ways to ensure true health.

Yoga, when combined with proper eating habits, can dramatically cut down on injuries, decrease the sick days you take from work, and promote a longer life and a healthier you!

No? You are not happy about our gas prices? Well, honestly I’m not either, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to believe that perhaps our soaring gas prices and dependence on foreign oil has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

It seems as though the most effective way to reach consumers is through our pocketbook. Once more we are outraged at high fuel prices and demanding something be done about it.

The auto industry has the technology to build fuel efficient cars, it has had much of this technology for decades, but it has not developed this technology into cost effective mass marketed vehicles. Why? Because the consumer has not demanded it. No matter what, the auto industry is and always will be consumer driven.

As long as the consumer continues to purchase what the industry is putting out, they will keep building what they are building. Granted, because of emission controls and higher mileage standards over the years we now have less harmful emissions and better mileage than we did twenty years ago. While this has been a great start we cannot let that become a stopping point.

Let’s take realistic look at where we are today and how we, as consumers, can help insure a more cost efficient and healthier future for ourselves, our children and generations to come. We now have hybrid cars that provide much better fuel efficiency and less pollutants, and fuel cell vehicles that use no gasoline and produce no harmful emissions, their only by-product is vapor.

Here are some of the hybrids available now and scheduled for the near future

DaimlerChrysler – Diesel-electric Dodge Ram pickup with 15 percent mileage boost.

Early 2008: Dodge Durango SUV, no details available.

Ford – Escape Hybrid: SUV rated at 36 in city driving with two-wheel-drive model, nearly double that of the gas-only Escape. Highway driving rated at 31 mpg.

October 2005: Mercury Mariner SUV, 33 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway.

2007: Mazda Tribute SUV, no mileage data yet.

2008: Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans, no mileage data yet.

General Motors – GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups increase fuel economy 10-12 percent.

2006: Saturn Vue SUV, with 15 percent mpg increase.

2007: Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, up to 35 percent mpg boost. Chevrolet Malibu, 15 percent increase.

2008: Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups that get up to 35 percent mpg increase.

Honda – Insight: two-door rated at 56 mpg on highway and in city.

Civic Hybrid: four-door rated at 48 mpg on highway and in city.

Accord Hybrid: rated at 37 mpg on the highway, 29 mpg in the city.

Nissan – 2006: Hybrid version of midsize Altima, no details on estimated mileage.

Toyota – Prius: four-door rated at 60 mph in city, 51 mpg on highway.

Lexus RX 400h: SUV rated at 31 mpg in city driving, two thirds more than its gas-only RX 330 sibling.

Highlander Hybrid: SUV is rated at 33/28 mpg in city/highway driving based on two-wheel-drive model.

Spring 2006: Lexus GS 450h sports sedan, mileage in the high twenties and 300-plus horsepower.

Late 2006: Camry, no details on estimated mileage.

Both hybrid and fuel cell vehicles are currently being used in mass transit systems in many selected U.S.cities as well as in Canada and Germany that include city transit buses, taxis, and delivery vehicles such as UPS.

Military vehicles – In April, the U.S. Army took delivery of the modified fuel cell Chevrolet Silverado that is capable of generating 188 kW and 317 foot-pounds of torque, or roughly the motor torque generated by GM’s 5.3 liter V-8 engine. This is the first time the vehicle has been driven in California. It will be delivered to the Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., later this year for demonstration and evaluation.

“This vehicle has spent the last few months performing civilian-type duty at Ft. Belvoir, Va. where Army soldiers have been evaluating its performance and learning first-hand about hydrogen and fuel cells,” said Dr. McClelland, director Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) of the U.S. Army.

World’s First Individual Fuel Cell Vehicle Customer

California Hydrogen Highway – The Spallino family, living in the Los Angeles area, will be among the first individuals to begin utilizing the first of California’s Hydrogen Highway refueling stations, a statewide infrastructure build out underway to offer hydrogen refueling station access to private individuals. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the state’s commitment to a Hydrogen Highway in April of this year, creating a public and private partnership to build California’s Hydrogen Highway by 2010

In the Chino project, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage SUVs, powered by fuel cells manufactured by UTC Fuel Cells, will operate throughout Southern California and refuel at the ChevronTexaco hydrogen station. Of particular importance is the on-site production of hydrogen from natural gas. Natural gas, with an existing distribution infrastructure, is critical to the eventual transition to the hydrogen economy. This station will also have the future capability to convert other renewable fuel sources, such as ethanol, into hydrogen for refueling fuel cell vehicles.

Hydrogen Fueling Station – The EPA has commissioned a hydrogen fueling station at its National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The station provides compressed hydrogen gas for hydrogen vehicles in Southeast Michigan.

The lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan is the first federal facility to install such a vehicle fueling station. This state-of-the art station serves as a real world example for others of the safe installation and operation of a hydrogen fueling station. In addition to supporting the Fuel Cell Delivery Vehicle Testing Program, this station will also be used for the fueling of hydrogen fueled vehicles deployed in the future in Michigan.

So perhaps our future is looking brighter with less dependence on foreign oil and a good beginning for achieving cleaner air and a healthier environment for everyone. But it rests in our hands, each of us, the consumers, and what choices we make that will determine our future.

England may not have the most flavorful foods, but it sure can make spicy sports cars. Jaguars, Lotuses and MGs are just a few of the big time thoroughbreds in the UK’s stable, but what really gets their motors running is a Superchips programmer. You see, stock engine computer settings prevent your motor from functioning at peak performance. The Superchips power programmer resets your vehicle’s brain/computer to unleash maximum horsepower, torque and efficiency.

Of course, it takes plenty of experience and know-how to get all the engine settings working in perfect unison for optimal performance, and Superchips has just that. Since their founding in 1983, Superchips has been tinkering with computer-controlled vehicles. Over the years, Superchips has learned the intricate ins and outs of properly proportioning airflow, timing and other settings. In fact, racecars tuned by Superchips have captured the checkered flag at countless international races.

Now, this track-tested technology is available for your vehicle. Best of all, you can pick up your Superchips programmer for less when buying from online parts and accessories stores.

Below are some Superchips product and brand reviews that I was able to find searching online:

“The Superchips gave me more power. I feel it when I am going up hill or when I am passing an other vehicle. The response when I hit the accelerator is really quick. When you install the chip you will notice the difference from stock. Try it for your self.”

“2006 300C 5.7 hemi, I never bought a tuner before, i read a lot of great reviews and bad reviews about this one. there is not alot of control with this tuner mostly turn items off or on. on 87 octane you see only shifter changes nothing on engine performance but at 91 octane it does wake up the performance of the 5.7 hemi and i think the engine does run smoother with 91 v 87 they say to run in owners manual. Overall it’s a little pricey but i think it’s worth it.”

“i have a hypertech, kept reading about Superchip, took a chance got it, better than the hypertech, changed shift points hypertech doesn’t do, felt bigger difference in power, woth every penny”

“I purchased a Superchip for an 06′ Chevy Tahoe Z71 4×4. I never did like the start 1-2nd gear, doggy. The chip made a bid difference, I can get up and go and not have to look back…”

“This is the second Flashpaq I have bought and used within the last year. The first was used on a 2005 Ford F250 pickup with a 5.4 gas engine. The reason I purchased this Flashpaq was I was towing a 29 ft. trailer (RV) and the vehicle simpley was not powerfull enough to pull the trailer without shifting into passing gear (3500 rpm) going up small hills and at times just keeping up with traffic. I purchased the tuner hoping that I could tow without the truck screaming half the time I was towing. While the tuner did help somewhat it really came down that the engine was not large enough to pull the trailer. Soooooo out with the Ford gas engine and we purchased a 2006 Chevy Silverado 6.6 diesel engine. This vehicle had more power than I would ever need but I felt I could improve the miles per gallon since I was paying up to .30 cents per gallon over gasoline and although the gas engine could not be helped powerwise I did like the diffrence in shifting and smoothness while excelerating. I purchased the Flashpaq for the diesel through AutoAnything (where I bought the first tuner, they’re price was just the lowest I could find on both occasions.) After reprogramming the diesel I was amazed at the power and smoothness of the engine, it seemed effortless in acceleration from a stop or while passing. I also picked up a shade over 2 mph in town. When towing, the truck had no problem on hills, passing or starting out from a stop, what a world of difference. In short if you have a vehicle that is capable of towing and you want more power, better running and improved miles per gallon buy the Flashpaq.”

Ford Motor Co.’s F-Series pickup, dubbed the bread-and-butter vehicle of the automaker, has inked and is still expected to leave remarkable prints in the auto industry. The truck has been sold for five decades now.

Ford F-150, the most popular variant of the F-Series, has been the best-selling truck in America for 23 years. Worldwide, the F-150 is the best-selling truck for three decades now. But along its popularity and prestige is a sad fact. The truck is also the most-stolen vehicle in Texas, a trucker state.

“The number one pickup in Texas is also the most-stolen pickup” stressed Seguin Ford Vice President and General Manager Scott Brown. “They’re so good even the thieves want them!”

The Texas Auto Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority has released its list of the most-stolen vehicles in the state over 2007. The top three vehicles were Ford F-Series, Chevy and Dodge. They are followed by Honda Accord and Civic, Chevy Tahoe SUV and the GMC pickup. To complete the top ten were Ford Taurus, Toyota Camry and Ford Mustang.

The ABTPA, a division of the Texas Department of Transportation works with local, state and national law enforcement agencies to reduce auto theft, and its annual report is a compilation of monthly vehicle theft reports filed with the Texas Department of Public Safety by all of the state’s law enforcement agencies, according to The Gazette-Enterprise.

In Seguin, Police Detective Lt. Johnny San Miguel said that local authorities had recently seen a spike in thefts and break-ins involving Ford trucks and SUVs. “I don’t know whether it’s only that they’re popular,” he said. “Some people who steal them seem to be defeating the security interlock.”

Bobby Bailey, Guadalupe County sheriff’s investigator, is detailed to the Combined Sheriff’s Auto Theft Task Force, a unit composed of deputies who patrol 17 south central Texas counties. On the average, Bailey estimated that four or five motor vehicles, not including RVs, ATVs or utility trailers, are stolen on average each month in unincorporated areas of his territory. However, the figure can be as dismal as one or two or as vigorous as up to 15 during any given month.

Bailey said that trucks have long been a major target of auto thieves. A few years ago, the popular notion was that vehicles were often stolen here and taken to Mexico to be parted out, Bailey noted. In Texas, the pickup is a famed transportation, he added. What’s more, there is a booming used parts business connected with all vehicles.

The best thing to do to avoid becoming a crime statistic, Bailey said, is to practice basic security techniques because a large percentage of auto thieves are criminals of opportunity, and if roadblocks are thrown into their paths, they will often look for a softer target.

          Gas prices continue to soar, your SUV gets 16 mpg, and your paycheck isn’t increasing.  Consumers feeling their pockets getting empty are starting to ask questions.  Could the high gas prices just be temporary? If not, then I guess it’s time to trade the SUV in and get a fuel efficient vehicle, right?  Actually that might not be the smartest idea.  In order to answer these questions we need to understand the current SUV situation and determine what this means financially.     

            Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV’s) have become the norm for a vehicle purchase over the last 10-15 years.  As many cars became smaller over this timeframe compared to the cars in the 1970’s, people became interested in sport utility vehicles and why wouldn’t they?  These vehicles have plenty of leg room, a large storage area, four-wheel drive, feel very safe due to their size, and are powerful.  One of the biggest selling features is they provide a higher seating position allowing the driver to view more of the road and surroundings. 

Not only did consumers have a desire for SUV’s, but they wanted larger SUV’s.  The big three U.S. vehicle manufacturers, Chrysler, Ford, and GM, were making extremely large profits on these vehicles.  The Ford Excursion, Chevy Suburban, Hummer, GMC Yukon, and Chevy Tahoe are the largest SUV’s on the market.  These vehicles were being bought by families, shuttle drivers, and small business owners.  Due to a tax break many small business owners and mostly anyone who could write off the vehicle as a work related expense became consumers for these enormous vehicles.  They were able to write off almost the entire cost.  This encouraged lawyers, doctors, accountants, and real estate agents to buy these SUV’s, when they really have no use for this type of vehicle.

            The U.S. vehicle manufacturers and consumers were both happy until the one major flaw of SUV’s was magnified.  These vehicles were gas hogs.  Hurricane Katrina started to reveal this flaw in 2005 when this hurricane caused disruption to refineries.  Gas prices soared above $3 a gallon.  Prices would start to come down as the refineries got back into full production, but not down to where they were before the hurricane.  This was due to the price of a barrel of crude oil rising to over $50.  In 2004 the average price of a barrel of crude oil was $37.  This brings us to July 4th, 2008 as the price of a barrel of crude oil is now over $145 and the price of a gallon of gas is over $4. 

            This has caused U.S. vehicles manufacturers to slow down and terminate some SUV lines which have been their most profitable over the last decade.  Consumers are now buying small fuel efficient cars and hybrid vehicles.  The problem for many consumers is they are looking to trade in or sell their SUV’s to purchase a fuel efficient vehicle, but there are not many takers for at least what the consumer feels is fair value.  Typical supply and demand has caused very fuel efficient cars and hybrid vehicles to sell for the ticket price or above.  SUV’s are selling way below ticket price since there are a lot more sellers than buyers.  Vehicle manufacturers are overloaded with SUV’s and the dealerships can’t sell the ones they already have on the lot.            

            Just this data makes it seem foolish to trade or sell a SUV at this time, but the financial numbers is what will really influence the decision.  There are many different situations a consumer might be in.  A consumer who is not able to afford fueling their SUV might need to trade their SUV in.  Perhaps there is no loan against it and the value of the SUV is high enough to get them an equally or lower priced car.  This means they directly cut down their gas expense and haven’t changed their monthly budget. 

            Some examples using numbers can probably give everyone a general idea to help with their decision making.  $30,000 is close to an average cost of a SUV.  To set-up this example we will say John purchased a $30,000 SUV four years ago.  With zero down and a 6% interest rate his payments are $580 a month and he has a current loan balance of $6000.  Let’s also examine Joan who purchased the same year and model SUV for the same amount but her loan is paid off.  Currently, a dealership is offering $9,000 for the SUV.  Therefore each consumer has sunk costs of $21,000.  Also this means John will have to use $6000 of the $9,000 trade in to pay his existing loan.  His balance of $3000 will go towards his new purchase and all of Joan’s $9,000 will be put towards her new purchase.  We will take a look at these situations in two different ways.    

            First we will look at the situations by monthly budget.  Since car payments are monthly payments we need to determine how much money is spent on gas each month.  We will use the current average U.S. gasoline price of $4 a gallon.  Joan’s roundtrip to her full-time job each day is 30 miles.  On the weekend she drives on an average 100 miles.  Therefore, Joan drives 1,000 miles a month.  At 16 miles per gallon she pays $250 a month.  Currently she doesn’t have a monthly car payment so her monthly total for gas and car payment is $250 a month.  Joan is looking to purchase a car which is the same model year as her SUV.  The car costs $15,000, but gets 27 miles per gallon.  After her $9000 SUV trade-in her monthly car payment will be $116 (using 6% interest rate).  Her monthly gas expense will be $150.  This equates to $266 a month for gas and car payment.  Her monthly expense for a car payment and gas is actually higher now which is mainly due to her only getting $9,000 for her SUV. 

John’s roundtrip to his full-time job each day is 60 miles.  On the weekend he drives 100 miles.  Therefore, John drives 1,600 miles a month.  John pays $400 a month in gas.  If John purchases this same car, then his monthly gas expense is $237.  After the $3000 John will be able to put towards his purchase, his car payment is $232.  His total expense for gas and car payment will now be $469.  John will actually save over $100 a month.  However he was in the last year of his SUV payments and now his car payments will continue for five years.   

            The second way we will look at these situations is to determine the break even point.  We can determine how many miles it will take in order to make up for the loss on the SUV.  The loss on the SUV is not the $21,000 sunk cost, but the difference in trade-in value from the time before gas prices skyrocketed to the present time.  The sunk cost has to do with trading in a vehicle for another one.  We won’t use the $21,000 since we are strictly looking at if the SUV is worth trading in just to get better fuel efficiency.  Before there was a large increase in gas prices, a typical SUV like John’s and Joan’s would have a trade-in value around $14,000.  Now the trade-in value is $9,000 which equates to a $5,000 difference.  In using cost accounting we need to determine the sale per mile and the variable cost per mile.  The $4 per gallon gas price needs to be converted to a cost per mile since we need to get the break even point in miles.  The sale per mile is just the SUV’s fuel cost per mile.  This is $4 a gallon divided by 16 miles per gallon which equates to a cost of 25 cents a mile.  The variable cost per mile is the car’s fuel cost per mile.  This is $4 a gallon divided by 27 miles per gallon which equates to a cost of 15 cents a mile.  Next we determine our contribution margin per mile which is the sale per mile of 25 cents minus the variable cost per mile of 15 cents which results in a 10 cents per mile contribution margin.  Finally we use the $5,000 loss and divide by the contribution margin per mile of 10 cents which provides the answer of 50,000 miles.  The break even point of 50,000 miles is the amount of miles that need to be driven in the car to recover the $5,000 loss on the SUV.   To simplify the problem we simply converting both vehicles’ cost of gas per mile and took the difference.  Then we divided the loss on the SUV by this difference.  It will take Joan over 4 years of driving the car to recover the SUV loss at her current usage and it will take John over 2.5 years. 

          The future of the gas prices is unknown which makes the future value of the SUV unknown also.  However, we know the value of an SUV has dropped significantly.  If we could have predicted this drop, then trading in the SUV before this occurrence would have avoided the $5,000 decline in value.  The problem is most SUV owners couldn’t make this prediction so they are presented with the situations we have examined.  In these examples we only looked at the financial numbers which alone didn’t strongly favor trading the SUV in for a car.  Also, like in the stock market, it doesn’t make sense to sell low and buy high which is currently happening when SUV’s are traded in for fuel efficient cars.  When we consider the advantages of a SUV which have led them to their popularity over the years it doesn’t make much sense to give these advantages up.  Perhaps the next time a consumer is ready to buy a new vehicle they won’t purchase a gas guzzling SUV, but for current SUV owners it makes sense to continue to enjoy the great features of these vehicles. 

General Motors Co. has become one of the top motor vehicle companies in the alternative fuel industry. GMC has made a stand to promote cleaner, more efficient and greener vehicles. Their motto promotes this endeavor: “Thing green, go yellow.”
GMC is promoting its E85 vehicles very heavily. E85 stands for 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The E85 is made from corn (get the yellow part now) or other biodegradable waste (even garbage). It burns cleaner than regular gasoline. It is also cheaper to make as the corn is grown in the Unites States, thus limiting the dependency on foreign countries. Just these reasons alone show why GMC is setting the standard with alternative vehicles. You also can’t watch a television show without seeing a commercial promoting the new greener GMC.
However, a lot of it has to do with the environment. With the global warming crisis becoming a head-on problem, companies such as GMC are trying to help out. Cars aren’t going to go away just because the earth’s average temperature is rising. GMC isn’t going to stop making vehicles either. That’s why the company offers alternative fuel vehicles, which GMC is committed to.
GMC’s website offers a ton of information on its alternative fuel vehicles such as fueling stations around the country, specs on cars and specific state requirements. Those looking for more information on the alternative fuel vehicles GMC has to offer can download brochures on each car from its website.
Let’s look at some of the specific contributions GMC has made to the alternative fuel industry.
- GMC is producing 12 E85 FlexFuel vehicles for 2008. The company plans making half of its manufactured cars E85 or biodiesel by the year 2012.
- The GMC offers many different classes of vehicles, not just tiny commuter cars. The Chevy Tahoe, Suburban are just two of the 12 cars offered. These are two large-sized SUVs.
- GMC has partnered with SmartWay to create over 1,400 fueling stations (early 2008) and only plan on creating more and more as people demand more fueling stations.
- GMC offers companies the option of buying a fleet of cars to help reduce gas emissions.
GMC is committed to helping the environment by creating less greenhouse gas emissions. It does offer other alternative options such as its Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell. The car is run on a hydrogen fuel cell and its only waste product is water, making it a truly remarkable improvement. That means no emissions, no greenhouse gases, only water.

As the winter season draws nearer, car owners will be facing the hazards and inconveniences that the season brings. NADAguides.com recently offered a helping hand to consumers looking for a new car to buy ahead of the winter season. The company provides auto information on the Web and recently named new vehicles which are suited for the coming season.

NADAguides.com named trucks, SUVs, cars and crossovers which “make the grade in a variety of inclement driving situations”, according to theautochannel.com. One of the cars named by the company is the 2008 Audi A4 sedan. The said sedan is offered with an optional cold weather package. This adds heated rear and front seats, removable ski sack, retractable headlight washers, and the patented Quattro all-wheel drive system. The A4 sedan has good traction on a variety of road conditions.

Another vehicle named by the company is the 2008 Cadillac STS. The said luxury vehicle is offered with an optional all-wheel drive system. The said system gives the STS good traction on any road condition. With the power transmitted to all four wheels of the vehicle, it can tackle slippery roads. The STS also comes with an all-speed traction control and a stability control system. Other features that will come in handy during the winter season are its window defroster, heated exterior rearview mirror, and a remote starter system.

The 2008 Chevy Tahoe is also recommended by NADAguides. Heated exterior mirrors, halogen fog lamps and a remote starting system make it a shoo-in for the list provided by NADAguides. The powerful engine of the Tahoe is complemented by the SUV’s AutoTrac system. The AutoTrac allows the vehicle to adapt to changing road conditions by maintaining traction on all wheels.

The 2008 Ford F-150 is also recommended by NADAguides. The truck has always had the reputation of being a tough vehicle – as durable as Rancho shocks. It is offered with an optional snow plow prep package. Other features include rear window defroster, heated exterior mirrors, fog lamps, and a rack-and-pinion steering. As usual, towing is no problem with the F-150. Its powerful V8 engine with a four-wheel drive configuration can tow up to 11,000 pounds.

NADAguides also recommends the 2008 Hummer H2. This vehicle has been under fire from environmentalists for its gas-guzzling attribute. But when it comes to traversing treacherous roads, the H2 is a friend to any car owner. Its V8 engine provides 325 horsepower. With a four-wheel drive configuration, traction is not a problem. Aside from that powerful engine, the H2 is also equipped with other features making it suitable for cold weather driving. Traction control, dual-zone heating, triple sealed doors, heated exterior mirrors and all terrain wheels are features that comes in handy when winter comes.

The 2008 Jeep Wrangler is also recommended with its remote staring system, stability control, and an all-speed traction control. Other vehicles equipped with cold weather driving-friendly features are the 2008 Land Rover LR3, Subaru Outback, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and the 2008 Volvo XC90.

Don Christy, the president and CEO of NADAguides, said: “One of the most important things people can do to prepare for bad weather is to equip their vehicle with proper tires. In fact, if you own a rear wheel drive vehicle, a good set of snow tires may be all you need for improved performance. However, if your vehicle comes equipped with every safety feature on the planet, there’s no substitute for safe driving. When it gets right down to it, careful driving is the most important safety feature of all.”