Ask Patty - Automotive Advice for Women

Has Your Vehicle Been Recalled?

Brandy S — Wed, 30 May 2012 05:00:00 -0700

Automotive recall alerts are familiar items in the news, but does that mean you should be alarmed if you discover that your vehicle is being recalled? In a nutshell: No. Unless your vehicle is actually exhibiting a serious safety problem, there’s no need to panic. In fact, you should feel relieved, because the dealer is going to repair your car so that it will be safer than it was before. However, if you’re considering buying a used car, you’ll want to ensure any recalls in its history have been repaired before you finalize your purchase.

According to safercar.gov, a recall is necessary when a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment including tires does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard or has a defect in the vehicle or equipment that is serious enough to cause harm to consumers. Sometimes, manufacturers may choose to undergo a voluntary recall if their own tests, inspection procedures, and information-gathering systems reveal a safety concern exists.

Once a car is identified as having a problem that requires a recall, you’re entitled to get it repaired or replaced at any dealership (it does not have to be the dealership from which the car was originally purchased). It’s as easy as that. Repairs are free as long as the vehicle is not more than 10 years old on the date the defect or noncompliance is determined, and can be initiated by any owner (not just the original buyer).

Theoretically, affected owners should be notified by first-class mail, but if you changed addresses or aren’t the original owner, you might not have received the mailing. Recalls are published at safercar.gov and reported by the news media, but it can take a month or more after any announcements for manufacturers to notify owners and to send essential parts and repair instructions to dealers. Your alert may also arrive by electronic notification if you have an online maintenance account, or via an onboard communication system in the car, if it is so equipped.

What should you do if you hear on the news that your make, model, and year of vehicle has been recalled? If your car shows signs of a dangerous problem, you may not want to wait for the recall letter. Call your dealer and ask to have the problem checked. They will help you assess how quickly your vehicle needs to be brought in.

If it is a minor repair, you may choose to wait to be notified. When the notification finally arrives, it will specify exactly what you need to do to get your vehicle repaired. It should indicate how long the repair should take, describe the safety risk caused by the defect, and explain any potential hazards. Finally, the notice should include a quality assurance number to call if any problems develop when trying to get the work done. Once you’ve received your notification, call your dealership and schedule your free repair.

Could Your Current Vehicle Have Any Recalls In Its History?

If you’re not sure of your vehicle’s history, you can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153), or research recalls and complaints about your car at safercar.gov. Each manufacturer has their own dedicated informational recall centers that can check a vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to identify whether the car is part of any recalls; they can even tell you if the car has had any recall repairs in its history.

If you’re especially concerned with auto safety, consumer expert Clark Howard suggests you sign up at safercar.gov to receive recall notifications via email for up to five specific model and year combinations.

Shopping For Your Next New Or Used Car? Be Sure To Do Your Research!

Oddly enough, recall repairs can even be required for a new car sitting in dealership stock, so it’s not a bad idea to ask the dealer to check for recalls or technical service bulletins before you drive a new car off the lot. If you’re shopping for a used car, purchasing a CARFAX report will also reveal any recall information in the history of the car.

Up-to-date safety recall information is available for all models sold since 1966 at safercar.gov. You can also research what safety and other options are available on almost every make/model of a car by visiting www.truecar.com, where you can also see what other people actually paid for that vehicle in your area in the last 30 days, where available. TrueCar.com can also connect you with a nationwide network of TrueCar Certified Dealers that offer a fast and convenient car buying experience.

Brandy Schaffels Contributor

M2W Case Study: FIAT of Austin - 63.7% of Vehicles Sold to Women

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:00:00 -0700

Marketing to Women Case Study: FIAT of Austin Lisa Copeland, General Manager

FIAT of Austin sales numbers are still steadily rising with a startling 63.7% of vehicles sold to women car buyers.

FIAT of Austin sales numbers are still steadily rising with a startling 63.7% of vehicles sold to women car buyers. The FIAT of Austin studio experience is currently the #1 FIAT dealer in the US and opened their doors just last year in March of 2011. Lisa Copeland is the innovative GM who heads up this success, her passion is focused on improving the dealership experience for women, and gaining market-share by focusing on the women car buyer.

Half her dealers — and half her managers — are women, in a business where women often don’t like car shopping. One is not overwhelmed with choices. There are two models: A hatchback and a convertible. They come in six trims. Copeland’s store has sold more than 850 in just over a year.

“In all my years in the car business, I’ve never been so energized,” Lisa Copeland, GM says. “The No. 1 thing people say is they like the experience. No pressure. I don’t want someone to take a FIAT out of here if they don’t love it.”

They have formally defined the FIAT of Austin culture in terms of 10 core values:

1) Deliver WOW Through Service
2) Embrace and Drive Change
3) Create Fun and Exciting environment
4) Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5) Pursue Growth and Learning
6) Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7) Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8) Do More With Less
9) Be Passionate and Determined
10) Be Humble

Successful Tactics:

1. The location looks very posh and classy, both inside and out and their "studio experience" caters to the woman car buyer.

2. The staff, including managers is 50% women, and participates in extensive ongoing training on selling , marketing and advertising to women and are AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly®.

3. Community involvement has been key in building relationships with women by partnering and supporting women's organizations like Girls Scouts USA, the Texas Women in Business Networking Event and the Stiletto Stampede for the Cure is a high heel dash (100 yards) with a mission to encourage young women and men to know and understand the risks of breast cancer and empower them to prevent the disease by utilizing overall Breast Self-Awareness through early detection, screening methods and education.

4. Running relevant "women-centric" promotions and events that resonate with women in the Austin,Texas market is one of their cornerstones of success.

Girl Scout USA Cookie Thin Mint FIAT Give-Away

Stiletto Stampede for the Cure

LezBeProud and FIAT of Austin are teaming up to KICK OFF PRIDE in Austin! RSVP to register for amazing give a ways! Join us for YAPPY HOUR and support our furry friends!

FIAT of Austin and GUCCI!

FIAT of Austin community mural on SoCo! Who can tell us Where on SoCo this awesome new wall is located???

FIAT of Austin Pink Pages Launch party

5. An effective social media presence and out-reach to women, including their blog "Buying Cars Her Way".

Two recent testimonials:

4/14/2012
The experience was unlike any other car I've ever purchased. Friendly, no pressure, relaxed, informative, and relatively quick. I also feel like I got a fair
amount for my trade, and I Love my new Fiat!
Glasses Girl Austin
Austin, TX

4/23/2012
Such a fantastic experience! From the moment we walked in the door we felt so welcomed and cared for. Brandon was super knowledgeable about all
the vehicles features and options. All the folks in the showroom were amazing with our 3 year old daughter too! This was by far the absolute best car
buying experience I have ever had. Oh, and PS - I am so in love my new Fiat 500 Pop!!!
Dana Douglas Duran
Austin, TX

Jody DeVere
CEO
AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly®
http://www.askpatty.com/getcertified/

Ford Holds an "Open House": First Drive of Four Hot Cars

Donna — Tue, 29 May 2012 05:00:00 -0700

The invitation from Ford Motor Company promised automotive journalists a rare treat: an informal opportunity to just drop in and drive some of the company's hottest new vehicles. Of course, AskPatty was there!

One of the biggest draws was a chance to drive the Ford Focus Electric, which I've had my eye on since seeing it demonstrated at last year's Detroit Auto Show.

I was especially keen to get behind the wheel of the Focus Electric, as I had just finished writing a review of another all-electric vehicle (the Mitsubishi i-MiEV) -- so that experience was still fresh.

Ford's decision to create an all-electric version of one of its best-selling models must have posed quite a challenge, as their engineers did not have the option of making the vehicle smaller to enhance its range. The exterior and interior appear no different than the Focus models I'm used to driving: only the electric powertrain and engine are virtually silent.

One thing that is striking about the current wave of all-electric cars is how responsive they are, and the Focus Electric is no exception. It accelerates quickly, handles easily and brakes smoothly: Just like a gasoline-powered Focus.

Fully charged, the Focus Electric has a 50-60 mile range, but driving variables can stretch it out to as much as 80 miles. For instance, the vehicle's regenerative braking system recharge the battery as you drive. However, extreme hot or cold temperatures and using power to run options like air conditioning can deplete the charge quicker.

Fortunately, you can achieve a full 220-volt Level 2 in just three to four hours. This is half the time it takes to recharge comparable all-electric vehicles like the i-MiEV and the Nissan Leaf.

2013 Ford Escape with EcoBoost Engine

The 2013 Escape has been redesigned, with a sleeker, less boxy silhouette that translates into more space for passengers and cargo. It also features a wonderful hands-free liftgate, which utilizes the same technology used in video gaming systems like the X-Box Kinect.

I drove a model with the 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine, with EPA-estimated mileage of 33 miles per gallon. This is five miles better than the previous model, as well as the Escape hybrid.

You do pay a bit of a price for that kind of fuel economy: I felt a tiny bit of a transmission delay when accelerating the Escape, but it was more of a momentary hiccup than a feeling of being underpowered. It smoothed out very quickly, and seems a small price to pay for the the savings in mileage.

In fact, out of the four cars I tested, the Escape was the one I could most see myself purchasing in the near future. It's comfortable, roomy and very easy to handle.

Ford Edge

I have always admired the look of Ford's Edge crossover vehicle, and the addition of an EcoBoost option means you don't have to give up fuel economy for space and comfort: The 2012 Edge with EcoBoost engine gets an EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

Even the V6 model I drove gets pretty good mileage: 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway. It feels more like a luxury car than an SUV.

My colleague, JoAnn Holt, already reviewed the 2013 Mustang for AskPatty here -- but I figured, why let her have all the fun? After all, I have dreamed of owning a Mustang my entire life...

... and the models available to drive that day sported a state-of-the-art 6-speed manual transmission. (And if you've tried shopping for a stick shift lately, you know they are no longer easy to find.)

That said, it's been a while since I've driven a stick, and once behind the wheel, I was afraid of going into first gear with an embarrassingly jerky motion. Thankfully, that didn't happen - but after all those electric and economy cars, it was startling to feel the rev of the Mustang's powerful 305 hp V6 engine.

The Mustang was everything I expected it to be: Powerful, fast and sexy. However, it's not the most practical automobile for a busy mom with carpool duties. I may own one someday -- after the kids are all grown up. In the meantime, I've got my eye on that little Escape.

Expert Advice AskPatty.com

Donna Schwartz Mills is a Los Angeles-based writer who also contributes to CBS Digital Local Los Angeles and her personal site,SoCal Mom.

Tips to Help Drivers Stay Safe on the Road this Memorial Day Weekend

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:00:00 -0700

As families across the country get ready to kick off the summer and honor our military heroes this Memorial Day weekend, MADD urges motorists to stay safe on the road during a time of year when drunk driving deaths typically increase. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2010, 158 people were killed in drunk driving crashes nationwide.

Here are five tips for safe driving over the holiday weekend and year-round:

Plan a safe way home. Arrange a sober ride home, or offer to be the sober designated driver.
Wear a seat belt. Seat belt usage is one of the best ways to stay safe on our roadways.
Don’t call or text. Any form of impaired driving poses a serious threat to those on the road.
Slow down. Respect all posted speed limits.
Be aware. Pay attention to other drivers on the road and avoid those driving erratically.

Law enforcement agencies across the country will be intensifying their efforts over the holiday weekend, so MADD encourages drivers to utilize these tips, which have the power to save lives and prevent injuries.

Get more information about how to spot a drunk driver and what to do, or learn more about MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®.

Where Are You Most Likely to Get a Speeding Ticket This Holiday Weekend?

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:00:00 -0700

(National Motorists Association press release - Waunakee, WI (NMD Newswire) May 22, 2012)

Nothing says "welcome to summer" like an undeserved traffic ticket--especially when you're traveling in another state.

But how do you know which states and cities are most likely to ruin your Memorial Day vacation by issuing you that ticket? States don't track traffic ticket data for all of their jurisdictions. And most municipalities don't want to publicize their ticket-happy ways for fear of being labeled speed traps.

The NMA to the Rescue
Luckily, the National Motorists Association (NMA)--a motorists' rights group that has been helping drivers fight traffic tickets for 30 years--has updated its traffic ticket rankings to give holiday travelers some insight into which locales are most likely to ticket them.

How We Did It
The rankings below came from analyzing ticket-related search queries such as "speeding ticket" and "traffic tickets" using Google's Insights for Search--a public tool that shows search trends across the United States. This is the same methodology we used to create the original 2010 rankings.

The Rankings
After crunching the numbers, the NMA found that Nevada is the state most likely to issue you a traffic ticket, followed by Georgia and Alabama. In 2010 Florida took the top spot and Georgia and Nevada tied for second place.

The state where you're least likely to get ticketed is Wyoming, followed closely by Montana. These two ranked at the bottom in 2010 as well.

The Top 25 states have remained remarkably consistent from two years ago: only Michigan dropped off (down to number 30), to be replaced by Virginia at number 22. This may point to a certain chronic reliance on ticketing to generate revenue for state and local coffers. Notable offenders include Maryland, Louisiana and California--all of which cracked the Top 10 for the first time.

Drivers in the Northeast will be glad to learn that New Jersey and Delaware both saw their rankings plummet: New Jersey down 13 spots to number 23 and Delaware down 13 spots to number 40.

However, if you're planning to drive through Nebraska, be on the lookout for those blue and red flashers. That's because Nebraska was the top gainer (or loser?) in 2012, jumping 10 spots to number 33.

New for 2012
This year the NMA expanded its rankings to include the top 10 metro areas for traffic tickets. Drivers will want to be especially vigilant in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami and New York City.

2012 Top 25 State Rankings (ranked from most likely to ticket drivers to least likely):

Rank State Score
1) .... Nevada 79
2) .... Georgia 70
3) .... Alabama 69
4) .... Florida 67
5) .... Maryland 65
6) .... Louisiana 63
7) .... Texas 62
8) .... District of Columbia 61
9-tie) California 59
9-tie) North Carolina 59
9-tie) Missouri 59
12) ... New York 56
13) ... Mississippi 55
14) ... South Carolina 54
15-tie) Indiana 51
15-tie) Washington 51
15-tie) Tennessee 51
18) ... Illinois 50
19-tie) Arizona 49
19-tie) Iowa 49
19-tie) Oklahoma 49
22 ... Virginia 48
23 ... New Jersey 47
24-tie) Ohio 45
24-tie) Kansas 45

2012 Top 10 Metro Area Rankings (ranked from most likely to ticket drivers to least likely):

Rank Metro Score
1) Atlanta 74
2) Los Angeles 72
3) Dallas-Fort Worth 62
4) Miami 59
5) New York 57
6) Chicago 52
7) District of Columbia 50
8) Houston 47
9) Orlando 39
10) San Diego 34

Google Insights for Search indicates the relative popularity (based on a 100 point scale) of a search term in a particular geographical area. The scores were calculated by averaging the relative popularity of numerous, related search terms for the states and cities shown.

Click here to view the rankings for all 50 states and top 10 cities, the list of search terms (along with their relative popularity) and the calculations used to compile the final scores.

Obviously, these rankings aren't perfect (search queries can be impacted by a number of different factors), but the NMA has found that the lists correspond well to its day-to-day experiences helping motorists fight traffic tickets.

BMW Girls’ Weekend

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:00:00 -0700

The Grove Park Resort and Spa located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina has been host to many U.S. presidents but during this past April it was host to a wonderful group of ladies who are passionate about their BMWs.

BMW Car Club of America offers this trip to its female members for a multi day event which includes a day of driving at the BMW Performance center in Greenville, SC, two nights at the Grove Park, lunch at the Biltmore Estate and then a drive back to Greenville through the twisty Blue Ridge Parkway while cruising in the latest luxury and performance BMW has to offer.

A close friend of mine who has participated in this girls trip several years in a row called me last minute and asked if I could join them at the Grove Park, since they had fewer ladies sign up than they did in past years. They have had as many as 72 women in previous years. I jumped at the opportunity. I always enjoy meeting other woman who share the same passion I do for automobiles.

That Saturday morning, I made the two hour trek from my home in Charlotte in my BMW x5. It made me feel good to drive the appropriate car for the occasion. (although I was a little disappointed the valet didn’t park my car out front with all the new BMWs) and as I neared the resort my friend called to inform me to head directly to the spa for an 80 minute massage. Well okay.. if you insist! These girls know how to travel!

After the massages we all met up in the spa restaurant for a late lunch and I got to meet the whole group. I truly enjoyed meeting the other five ladies and the gentleman who is in charge of the entire event. They were all down to earth and very accepting of me barging in last minute on their weekend festivities. I got to spend the afternoon catching up with my friend, visiting some art galleries and a quaint car museum. We all gathered back together in the evening to take a bus into town for dinner. We ate at a great little bistro in downtown Asheville.

Our dinner conversations switched between fashion interests to car control, favorite wines to favorite road courses. It was like the “perfect storm” for me. Finding a group of women who I could discuss the four story shoe store in Ashville with and in the next sentence talk about the incredible carbon-ceramic brakes on the new M6 

In the morning, the group invited me to join them for the day at the Biltmore and if I had planned properly, I would have in a heartbeat. Next year, I am signing up for the whole shebang!

I was very appreciative of opportunity to join this group. The more I explore the automotive world outside of just my racing experiences; it amazes me to see so many other ladies so passionate about cars and it is so great to connect with them.

For those ladies reading this that may interested in learning more about this trip and other awesome benefits the BMW Car Club of America have to offer visit their website at www.bmwcca.org.

Erin Evernham Contributor

How the World Views Teen Drivers

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 -0700

A driver’s license is a big moment in a teen’s life. But it can be a tumultuous time for teen drivers too: lobbying parents for the keys to the family car, managing the distractions that come from sometimes-boisterous passengers and trying to earn respect from every other driver on the road. It certainly takes time and practice to learn how to be a good driver – and teens sometimes suffer from bad stereotypes. Here’s a fun take on how the world views them.

Pamela Reyhan is the manager of digital content strategy at Allstate Insurance Company. She loves all thingsdigital, is the mother of twin girls and is a former Diet Coke addict.

Mitsubishi's i-MiEV: Living Life Electric

Donna — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 -0700

My teenage daughter was not impressed when I pulled up to her school in the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

"It's kind of funny looking," she sniffed.

I agreed - but in a good way. The i's rounded snout, high domed top and tiny wheels give it a cartoon-y appearance -- but also translate into a comfortable, practical interior with plenty of headroom and cargo space.

But my daughter wasn't convinced. "The door is really light," she added. Of course, the all-electric vehicle weighs about 1,000 pounds less than our family Volvo -- it's been designed to squeeze more range out of a single charge.

All About Range

Just hours before, Mitsubishi delivered the test vehicle to my home in a truck, which allowed me to begin driving with a full charge. The fleet driver showed me where to find the charging kit and how it works. He also demonstrated how to monitor my range, which was indicated on the dashboard display as 52 miles.

However, that figure was just an estimate. The car's actual range can be affected by driving habits: like which of its three modes you are using, whether or not you're running the air conditioning, radio, USB devices -- or even the outside temperature. Also, Mitsubishi equipped the i-MiEV with a regenerative braking system, which converts motion energy from deceleration into power -- thereby extending the range of the vehicle.

"Planning is key with this vehicle," he said. "Know your route and where you can go if you need a charge."

Obviously, those who switch to electric power are going to have to put a lot more planning into their driving routine. All-electric vehicles like the i-MiEV are not meant for everyone.

Like that of my husband, who was incredulous that the i's range on a single charge is only about 50-60 miles. "That's absolutely useless for me," he scoffed.

This is true. The i is not designed for someone like my husband, who must drive to job sites throughout Southern California.

But it's not an unreasonable choice for someone like me, who typically drives just 30-40 miles per day (to and from school, running local errands, etc.) I still end up using about a tank of gas per week, which at current California prices runs me about $200 per month. The EPA estimates that the annual energy cost of the Mitsubishi i is just $550 - which in my case, would translate to $1850 per year in fuel savings. Not too shabby.

The initial cost of the car might be a larger hurdle to ownership. The base MSRP is $29,125 -- which is roughly twice the price of a comparable fuel-efficient economy car like Hyundai's Accent or the Nissan Versa. However, there's an available $7,500 Federal tax credit that applies to the purchase of the i-MiEV (which phases out after 200,000 are sold), and several states offer additional credits and rebates which can bring the cost down considerably.

And of course, electric vehicle owners get the satisfaction of knowing they are helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Driving the Mitsubishi i

The first thing I noticed when I got the key to the i was that it was an actual key. There's No Prius-type button to push: You start the car the traditional way, by putting the key into the ignition and turning it.

However, you'll have to look at the dashboard display to confirm that the electric engine is on, because it is so unnervingly quiet. That silent engine is something I would have to get used to.

On the other hand, the vehicle's key fob is a technological wonder, which allows you to monitor the battery charging and even to pre-heat or cool the vehicle 30 minutes before you use it.

I found the Mitsubishi-i exceedingly fun to drive. It's responsive and handles well. It may be small, but the electric motor provides powerful torque that translates into quick acceleration for passing larger, slower vehicles or just getting onto the freeway. Its top speed is only 81 mph -- but that's more than I need for the kind of driving I do.

The model I tested came fully loaded with a rear-view camera, navigation system, bluetooth, and USB port.

But the car was not at all luxurious on the inside. When designing the i, Mitsubishi had to balance between functionality and power usage -- so it's low on features that might affect battery range or add to vehicle weight. There's no option for leather seats, although the higher priced SE trim will get you a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a driver's side seat heater.

The "i" also features just one cupholder in the entire vehicle, which could be an issue if you're driving around with kids.

Charging Issues

Mitsubishi lent me the i-MiEV for three days, and I neglected to carve out a spot for it in my garage prior to its delivery. So I never got a chance to try charging it at home.

There are different levels of electric charging for the i-MiEV. Had I allowed the battery to drain, a full (level 1) charge using a standard 120 volt electrical outlet would have taken approximately 22 hours. However, if you drive just 20 or 30 miles in a day, you won't need as much time to top off the battery power. And Mitsubishi assures customers that frequent charging doesn't affect the performance of the i-MiEV's advanced lithium ion battery.

EV buyers may want to consider installing a 240-volt (level 2) home charging station that manufacturers recommend - this gets the re-charge time down to about 7 hours.

The vehicle I drove included a third ultra-efficient Level 3 option for delivering an 80% charge in just 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the infrastructure for this CHAdeMO protocol is still being built, and there are no such public charging stations in my area.

In fact, the public station at my local mall turned out to have an old type of charger that is incompatible with new EV's (which thankfully, are now using a standard protocol).

I ended up taking the "i" on just two separate 20-mile drives (including a stretch on the freeway), with both the A/C and the radio on. The vehicle's display still showed an estimated 30-miles left on that initial charge.

I think I could do very well with an EV lifestyle. As long as I remember to clean out the garage.

Donna Schwartz Mills is a Los Angeles-based writer who also contributes to CBS Digital Local Los Angeles and her personal site,SoCal Mom.

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