Top 10 Most Affordable SUVs in 2011

Top 10 Most Affordable SUVs in 2011



How many times have you heard or said – “No matter how affordable SUVs get, they’re still gas-guzzler’s!” – for the most part it’s true and continues to be a major roadblock to purchase, especially with gas edging back up over $3.50 a gallon! However, car companies are doing their very best to offer affordable SUV solutions not only from a ‘base price’ perspective but also from a fuel economy perspective – which may be ‘just enough’ for some SUV lovers like myself.

Here are the top 10 most affordable SUVs in 2011 which hopefully will be helpful for those interested in buying a new car within a set price range. Ready? Let’s rock n’ roll…

1. 2011 Jeep Patriot – $15,595

The most affordable SUV, the Patriot packs a punch for its price. The Patriot hearkens back to its off-road beginnings, while providing for on-road driving pleasure.
With twenty-three cubic feet of cargo space and seating for five, the Patriot is the perfect camping vehicle. Cargo space increases to fifty-four cubic feet when the rear seats are folded.

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2. 2011 Kia Sportage – $18,295

The Sportage is one of the most affordable SUVs, and one of the safest, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Equipped with Bluetooth technology and a USB port as standard equipment, the Sportage keeps its owners in touch even when off-road.

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3. 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport – $18,495

The Outlander Sport was named the US News and World Report’s 2011 Best Compact Crossover for the Money.
Excellent fuel economy and ample passenger and storage room are two factors in US News and World Report’s decision.

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4. 2011 Hyundai Tucson – $18,895

The Tucson boasts Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design, ensuring a beautiful exterior. Comfortable seating for the driver and passengers bring the SUV’s fluidity into the Tucson’s interior.
The Tucson’s sporty handling is an added bonus for one of the most affordable SUVs.

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5. 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara – $19,199

The Vitara comes with a standard navigational system and one of the longest warranties in its class. Its rugged exterior makes it an impressive vehicle on or off the road.
Its well-designed interior makes it a joy to drive, with automatic climate control, a tilt steering wheel with stereo controls, and keyless entry and start as standard features.

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6. 2011 Ford Escape – $21,215

The Escape provides more than thirty-one cubic feet of storage. The storage expands to sixty-eight cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
The Escape’s 2.5-litre engine comes with a five-speed manual transmission for a sporty driving experience or a six-speed automatic transmission for a more luxurious driving experience.

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7. 2011 Toyota RAV4 – $22,025

The RAV4 offers comfortable seating for seven and ample cargo room with a solid, beautiful interior that anyone can enjoy.
The SUV that launched the market for SUVs, the RAV4 ranks high for its solid and substantial feel and its versatility.

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8. 2011 Chevrolet Equinox – $22,475

This compact SUV boasts the size of a mid-sized SUV and the fuel efficiency of a sedan.
Its organizational compartments and cargo storage provide ample room for running errands. Its smooth handling ensures a quiet, comfortable ride.

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9. 2011 Volkswagon Tiguan – $23,720

Bluetooth technology and that famous German engineering combine to create an SUV that can keep up with its owner’s busy life. Combines great design, comfort and reliability expected from the VW brand.
The only German vehicle in its class, the Tiguan is truly in a class by itself.

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10. 2011 GMC Terrain – $24,250

The angular styling of the Terrain sets it apart from its rounded counterparts with a super sharp design in this new 2011 SUV!
Fuel efficient and roomy, the Terrain offers a really sweet sliding rear seat, creating extra legroom for passengers and even opening the opportunity to haul weird shaped items.

Wrapping it up…

Well, there you go guys, 10 of the most affordable 2011 SUVs on the market today. Keep in mind that these are base prices and will go up as you add on all the bells & whistles (obviously). However, if your looking to buy an SUV, there has never been a better time with all the great deals that auto dealers are offering to boost both their business and the economy. Happy hunting

P.S.  We have several beautiful 2009-2010 corporate off lease Ford Escapes (and Fusions for you sedan lovers) at great deals! They are going fast so call soon for the best selection at the best price! 800-539-2277

A little info on warranties to pass along.

Some good information on warranties that may be helpful in negotiating your car purchase.

Warranties
Warranties are a written promise that your vehicle will perform just as it did when it left the car lot, for a designated period of coverage time. Warranty stipulations vary by manufacturer, but here are the basics:

• “Bumper to Bumper” warranty
  This is the standard warranty that comes with most new vehicles, and spans usually 3 years or 36,000 miles. This package covers nearly everything on the vehicle not affected by normal wear and tear, and may even include some other perks like roadside assistance, periodic maintenance, towing services, car rental reimbursement and some electronic equipment coverage. In most cases rust, emission control equipment, tires, brakes, hoses, belts, bulbs, wipers, drums or rotors are not covered.
• Powertrain warranty
  This option is an extended warranty that is available as an upgrade when you purchase the vehicle. This coverage spans on average 60 months or 60,000 miles. This will provide additional coverage on the engine, transmission, drive axle and water pump. Rental car benefits and towing services are usually included. Powertrain warranties are also transferable to the new owner, should you sell your car.
  
  When purchasing your extended Powertrain warranty from the dealer, don’t be afraid to ask for discounts. Dealers may mark up the price over 100%, so be sure to negotiate. You can also check online to see if you can find an independent warranty company offering a better deal.
• Corrosion/Rust warranty
  Body panels in new cars are often pre-treated in the factory with agents to protect against rusting and corrosion. This warranty is usually included in your purchase of the vehicle and protects rusting through on the sheet metal of the car, not on surface rust. Perhaps this is something you would want to consider if it is not included and you live in an area where the vehicle will be subject to inclement weather. However, by just keeping your car clean, there should not be a big problem with rust. During the winter, ensure that your undercarriage is clean and free of road salt.
• Emissions Equipment warranty
  This coverage is required by law for all vehicles covering smog pollution reduction equipment for a minimum of 5 years or 50,000 miles.
• Used Car warranty
  These are usually very limited on coverage options, but may span up to 30 days. Some cars are sold as-is, with no coverage available.

Make sure when shopping for a warranty of your own, you know the following:

• How long will your vehicle’s coverage last?
• What does it cover?
• Who is allowed to service your car, and is the labor cost included?
• What are the Terms & Conditions?
• Are there any limitations?

Rebate vs. Special Dealer Financing
Once you’ve narrowed your choices down, it’s time to start really getting down to the nitty-gritty on pricing. First, take the invoice price of the model, and instead of obtaining the package price the dealer provides for the options you’d like in your car, check online at a buyer’s guide site like www.kbb.com to find the prices of each option listed separately. Add those amounts to your invoice price, and you have a base figure to work with.

From here, apply any sales or rebates that you have gathered. These change weekly, so be careful when factoring in this number. You may think this is your baseline number, but alas – hold back for the holdbacks! The manufacturers sell the car to the dealer, but place a certain percentage (usually 2 - 5%) in a savings for that dealer. At the end of each quarter, the manufacturer issues a check to the dealer, and this guarantees that the dealer has profited that particular quarter. You can find the holdback rates within the same buyer’s guides where you will obtain the option pricing, and you can subtract the appropriate percentage from your figure, resulting in your new number – the number close to what you will be paying for that vehicle! (Hey, there’s still some overhead.) But remember that trade-in? Yep...that figure comes out of your number, too.

Keeping Track Of Your Fuel Economy to save some $$$

 

The average household will spend at least $500 more on gasoline this year then they did last year. We all want to get the most miles per gallon out of our cars. Few people know how to do this though.

The first step is to keep track of your miles per gallon.  The key to keeping track of this data is being organized. People report that they see an improvement in their fuel economy just by keeping track of it and being aware of what it is.

FuelClinic.com allows you to be organized. It’s free to sign up and it will calculate your miles per gallon. You can read more about how it works here.

http://www.fuelclinic.com/how-it-works/

The real cost of Auto Repair...a little FYI

A lot of owners right now make an effort to effectively maintain their vehicles in order to steer clear of automotive repair shops. Some may possibly even go as far as arming themselves with as a lot understanding as probable so that they can manage performing diagnoses and repairs them selves to prevent the paying fees for automotive repairs. However, one can only go so far as their knowledge and expertise permits them to and unless you truly do this for a living, seeing automotive mechanics will eventually turn out to be unavoidable as your vehicle’s parts begin to wear down and its complicated systems begin to malfunction.
The thought of having to take their vehicles to an automotive repair shop is rarely a pleasant one among vehicle owners. The number one reason for this is that they pretty much have an idea of how high the overall price can get. This is surely a excellent reason for thinking this way and one that deserves some clarification.

Typical automotive repair shops post their hourly rates in a visible location that can be seen as you bring your vehicle in. It may well indeed be fairly expensive but it would also be greatest to think about the truth that fixing up technical issues with vehicles can get pretty complex that some may well even describe the job as nerve-wreaking. It’s not simple to do what they do which usually demands specialized training and intensive encounter. You should also keep in mind that these automotive technicians have to invest enormous amounts of cash to gain access to advanced tools and sophisticated equipment in order to do their jobs effectively. Furthermore, they typically have to invest a lot more to cope up with the numerous advances in the automotive business. Guess where a massive component of that upkeep price goes? That’s right, it is reflected on that hourly rate appropriate there. You only need to have automotive repair manuals.
It would also be very best to point out that automotive repair shops won’t give you a dollar quote right away once you ask them how significantly the overall price would be right after dropping your vehicle off for repairs. They’ll nearly often offer to offer you with an estimate instead. This is due to the obvious truth that each and every vehicle was built and manufactured differently. For instance, a repair job that requires replacing a catalytic converter on a Cadillac could demand a longer or shorter quantity of time to do in a Honda Civic.
Automotive repair shops generally supply a list of flat rates pertaining to a particular repair work. The estimates that they might offer you are made employing the flat rates as a baseline. Truth be told, automotive technicians will rely on their knowledge to assess if a specific repair could take longer than what was indicated on the list and thus charge you the price of the estimate. Nevertheless, if the repair work demands a shorter quantity of time than what was listed in the flat rate list, you will still be charged the flat rate price.
Automotive repair shops may well also charge additional fees for conducting specific tests and diagnosis in order to make up for the quantity of time spent setting up and working the essential equipment.
Lastly, the price for replacing necessary components is also one thing that contributes to the overall cost. They generally raise the retail price to a minimum of 25 percent. You can attempt steering clear from this cost by acquiring the parts yourself and making use of haynes repair manuals. Nevertheless, numerous automotive technicians may well just refuse installing them for you.
Having mentioned all of the points mentioned above, you may possibly be wondering how all of these info can be of any help? Well for one thing, knowing how automotive repair shops actually work, you can ask them about their flat rates for a distinct repair you require to have done and have them confirm the quantity of time required to complete the repairs. That way, you won’t be left blind with the cost and know how to set the appropriate expectations in terms of overall price.

Fleet Street Autos-June 15, 2011

Fleet Street Autos-June 15, 2011--- Check it out!!

Rust Breakouts on your car in the spring.

As a 30 year (+) mid-western resident an car owner, I was always under the impression that the harsh effects of the northern winters with all the salt and snow was the major contributor to rust damage on my vehicle. I'm sure that is true because I faithfully spent good money to wash my car every week to remove all that ugly residue. I have since moved to the sunny, beautiful, tropical (and by that I mean very humid) paradise in Florida. It was pointed out by one of my co-workers this morning as I pulled into the parking lot, that I would soon see the damaging results of the humidity in the form of rust on the front of my car. He pointed out all the little bubbles on my hood and told me I would soon see a major rust breakout. I thought I left all that behind in Ohio but alas....not so much! Found some info on this to share, and thanks for the good news John....more car maintenence for me:)

http://news.carjunky.com/car_maintenance/Auto_Care_Tips_Beware_Of_Rust_Breakouts_This_Spring_gas073.shtml

Great Car Website for Women!

I came across this website a while back and just wanted to share it for all the women out there who want OR need to know a little more about their vehicles.

Hope you enjoy the content!

http://www.women-drivers.com/engine/terms.aspx