Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Ford Edsel

Car manufacturers spend millions of pounds creating their vehicles, from initial concept and design through to the marketing campaign intended to encourage millions of motorists to purchase them. At least that’s the idea.

Automotive history is littered with examples of cars that have spectacularly failed to make any sort of impact on the driving public, much to the embarrassment of the brands that were responsible for them. Read on as UK-based vehicle breakers Sell the Car list the five cars that should’ve just been scrapped.

Pontiac G3

Sold 6,233

More a result of GM’s eventual demise in 2009 rather than anything hugely wrong with the car itself, the G3 was ultimately awarded the title of shortest-lived Pontiac after the brand was necessarily discontinued. If for whatever reason (perhaps you were hit on the head?) you were keen on owning a Pontiac G3 then the Chevy Aveo is essentially its clone, and was produced beyond 2009.

Acura ZDX

Sold 5,677

People rarely buy performance vehicles for their practicality – a good job in the case of the Acura ZDX; the sloping roof rendered the back seats suitable only for children or small adults, while cargo space was also significantly reduced. However the Acura ZDX, which was essentially a second-gen MDX didn’t even out perform its older cousin in terms of handling, being equalled or bettered by it in ever performance category tested by Edmunds.com. The ZDX went on to sell fewer than 6,000 units, unsurprising given that it seemed to offer nothing innovative or greatly appealing.

Lexus IS 300 SportCross

Sold 3,078

Selling a ridiculously disappointing 3,078 units since its release in 2002, the Lexus IS 300 SportCross suffered primarily from being incredibly unremarkable, failing both in terms of providing genuine practicality that it’s estate-style rear would suggest or the exciting performance or aesthetics that you’d like to see from a ‘Sport’ version of anything. Just look at the picture of the IS300 above. We expect the overriding emotion you feel is something along the lines of ‘meh’.

Ford Edsel

Sold 2,848

This auto marquee developed by Ford was such a flop that the name ‘edsel’ is now a by-word for a product that, although perfect in theory, fails miserably in reality. Overly stylised, massively overpriced and promoted via a marketing campaign that only showed the car through a blurred lens or underneath a tarpaulin, Ford got everything wrong with the Edsel – a harsh lesson in how not to manufacture vehicles.

Studebaker Wagonaire

Sold 940

Despite being manufactured from 1963 through to 1966 the Studebaker Wagonaire only mustered up a measly 618 unit sales, with some of the issue potentially being down to an early design flaw that saw roof leaks develop near the front of the sliding section. Service letters were sent to dealerships with the aim of addressing the problem, however it may have tarnished the vehicle’s image too greatly, despite boasting an otherwise sound design.

This guest blog was written by John Rooney on behalf of Sell the Car – buyers of cars, vans and motorbikes in all shapes and sizes for scrap.

According to surveys, Australians prefer to spend more than $100,000 to drive their dream sports car. Recent figures also show that there is a 20% increase in sales of sports cars in Australia- that is, 1 sports car in every 20 new cars are sold. However, how do Australians make a choice in which sports car to buy? And what exactly do they look for in a sports car? Any people consider Australian’s to be obsessed with sports, BBQ’s and playing pokies at sites such as the Pokies Palace official site.

Australians spend much money in buying sports car. Thus, they make it a point to choose the one that meets their needs. There are various specifications that Australian people take into consideration when purchasing a sports car. Read on.

• Speed Guidelines. Australian sports car drivers choose to purchase a car because of their “need for speed”. As of April 2010, the fastest sports car is the 2002 Ferrari Enzo. It accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just a meager 2.6 seconds.

• Streamline Design. This factor does not merely affect the car’s looks, but also its speed. Features such as the car’s low body add up to the operation and help elevate the speed. Furthermore, the slickness of the styling (roundedness or curved lines) allows the driver to easily handle the car at high speeds and in tight turns as well. A lightweight sports car enables it to go faster. Hence, the streamline design is one of the things Australians take into consideration when selecting a sports car.

• Powertrain. For Australians, the powertrain is another significant aspect to take note of when choosing a sports car. This is the part of the sports car that combines an engine with its transmission. According to experts, a manual transmission is preferred because the driver feels more control. However, the car industry and manufacturers offer sports car enthusiasts with choices between automatic and sequential gearboxes. This is because there are those drivers who prefer sequential gearboxes, which require just the shifting and there’s no more clutching.

• Engine Types. This is another element for Australian sports car buyers. Souped-up engines are preferred because they give drivers excitement, although sports cars can also feature various engines, ranging from V-6 or V-8 engines. Sports car enthusiasts say the larger the volume, the more the car’s horsepower and turning force.

• Safety Features. Despite being thrill seekers, Australians want to keep themselves and their passengers safe while they’re on board. Needless to say, they choose a sports car that is equipped with safety features. Yet, recently released sports cars are already prepped with left and right anterior air bags as well as shoulder and lap belts. They are also equipped with anti-lock brakes and stability control.

• Price Points. This seems to be the biggest factor Australians do consider when buying a sports car, but this actually comes last in their checklist. They first take into consideration all those mentioned and finally, look up into the price.

These are some of the specifications Australians look into when planning to purchase a sports car. Knowing that cars are sold at a higher cost in Australia, these people make it a point to choose the best sports car that would fit their needs, so that they won’t regret their purchase in the end.

TOTAL just unveiled its new Robot Quartz Campaign that promotes its TOTAL Quartz range of products. Total first used its iconic robot in 2010, but we can now see it perform in real, urban and natural places. The new campaign makes us discover how the robot took life in the first place and acquired its strengths, all thanks to Total Quartz lubricants, thus conveying the message that Total Quartz does more than just protect or clear engines: it brings out the engine’s full potential and improves its performance and yield.

Total is using the Total Robot to continue building consumer awareness in emerging countries in Asia, Middle East, South American and Eastern Europe. In fact, Total Quartz is offered by a joint venture between TOTAL Middle East FZE and Zahid Group Holding Company Ltd for manufacturing and marketing lubricants & specialty products within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This way, Saudi TOTAL marks the entry of TOTAL in the largest lubricants market in the Arabian Peninsula.

Saudi TOTAL Lubricants offer products such as Engine oils, Hydraulic oils, Gear oils, Transmission Fluids, Turbine oils and Specialty oils. The “Quartz” range is Total’s flagship brand for passenger cars. The TOTAL QUARTZ ranges of engine lubricants are designed based on the wide technical expertise and the most developed technology used in racing to provide your engine with optimal lubrication and to ensure that it stays in good condition and operates smoothly, all while:

• Protecting it against all the causes of wear by reducing friction and corrosion
• Preventing your engine from overheating
• Ensuring good cylinder compression and maximum engine efficiency
• Ensuring that your engine is clean by preventing the deposit of various impurities.

Some lubricants in the total quartz range go further than this, helping you to save on fuel consumption and protect the post-treatment systems fitted to the most recent engine systems. Saudi Total has a large lubricants mixing and filling plant at the Industrial Valley in King Abdullah Economic City, which was built on an area of 65 thousand square meters with an annual capacity of 25 thousand metric tons of highly stranded products.

Within the TOTAL QUARTZ range, the TOTAL QUARTZ 9000 and TOTAL QUARTZ INEO products are the most modern, innovative and high performance oils available. They are formulated using new-generation synthetic components. Using synthetic technology oils is the right choice for your engine based on the following reasons:

1. The highest level of protection for engines: TOTAL QUARTZ synthetic technology oils provide 60% more protection than semi-synthetic or mineral oils
2. Provide a maximum engine compression ratio, thus delivering optimum power
3. Generate fuel saving by reducing the amount of friction inside the engine. Fuel consumption decreases without users having to change their driving habits!
4. Make engine starts easier, even in extreme weather conditions.
5. The only engine oils capable of simultaneously protection engines and pollution control systems against wear and deposits, while eliminating the need to prematurely replace expensive components.

The general consensus of imposing mandatory car insurance has many benefits when it comes to motoring; unbiased examination and legislation of accidents, responsibility and payments etc. In recent years, the need for protection against the unexpected problems of the road has become more and more necessary but having insurance doesn’t always mean you are covered – if only legislation was that clear-cut.

Because of this, one may find that the day insurance is needed, you may not actually be covered and it is therefore essential to get the right balance between getting the right amount of cover for when something does go wrong and making sure you don’t pay too much. No one wants to be in a position of paying more than they should but nobody wants a policy which doesn’t cover their vehicle for the majority of accidents.

In short, there’s a lot to think about.

Protecting others

The main reason behind making some types of insurance compulsory is to ensure that even if it is too expensive to pay outright, every driver on the road can produce the basic financial ability to pay for any damages or injuries caused towards others.

Vehicle repair and health costs can prove critical to the wallet at best but what becomes more apparent is the fact that this would greatly outweigh the costs of insurance if you were liable. The only problem with a cover such as third party is that one person’s welfare is not included here – yours.

Protecting yourself

With a more comprehensive cover you could ensure everyone affected by an incident is covered if one was to occur. The option to include more requirements in your cover such as vehicle repairs, medical expenses, property damage just goes to show anything can happen, to anyone, at any time. Remember the saying, ‘failure to prepare is preparation to fail?’

So don’t wait for something to go wrong, use cheap car insurance from More Than and tailor a policy that is right for in order to guarantee peace of mind!

Toyota Prius

Car dealerships often come up with innovative marketing campaigns in order to attract local customers who are interested in buying or leasing new vehicles. Creating special promotions during the holidays has been a traditional advertising practice in the auto industry for decades. However, some car dealers extend such marketing practices to include relatively unknown celebrations and special events. For example, there are some days in the United States that are dedicated towards raising awareness about the environment and the earth.

It makes perfect to sense to promote fuel efficient cars on days that celebrate the earth and inform consumers about environmental issues. Car dealers can create promotional sales events that have “green” themes. For instance, detailed brochures can be printed on 100 percent recycled paper and then given out to customers who are interested in exploring the benefits of hybrid or electric car models. Similarly, small gift bags could also be given out as promotional items at a car dealership. The bags should ideally be made of recycled plastic materials. Ultimately, the focus of such simple marketing campaigns is to get customers to test drive fuel efficient cars.

Video presentations about the latest hybrid and electric technology can be shown in the main lobby of a car dealership that offers special deals during days that raise environmental awareness. Customers should have access to comfortable seats and some refreshments while enjoying brief multimedia shows about the advantages of driving hybrid or electric vehicles.

During a test drive in a hybrid or electric car , customers actually get the chance to confirm the excellent fuel economy. An extra long trip could be taken to show customers how far the test vehicle goes off a single gallon of fuel or an equivalent electrical charge of a built in battery pack. A car such as Prius C and other hybrid vehicles are examples of affordable automobiles that offer excellent fuel economy. To confirm all claims made by auto dealers, customers can explore official fuel economy data that is generated by the EPA, which conducts rigorous testing on all vehicles in the North American auto market.

Land Rover has always striven to thrive on the road and the trail. Recent design changes see Land Rover focusing even more on the latter. Their Legacy and the Road campaign accompanies changes made even to their smaller line offerings like the Range Rover Sport. The 2014 Rangie has had its old steel body swapped out for an aluminum frame – a loss of 800 pounds. This, and the sleeker design will surely please customers interested in both efficiency/performance and style.

Other design changes across the whole Land Rover line help the company continue to lay claim to the kind of road adventures it helped pioneer over the decades. Land Rover enables the driver to access rarely traveled roads. Land Rover can make a highway out of any wilderness, and an explorer out of any driver.

The 2014 GMC Acadia sports a freshened up exterior and interior design, and offers enhanced safety features this year to boost its reputation as a jack-of-all-trades, full size crossover SUV. Always a faithful companion since the 2007 model year, the Acadia has evolved into what is now a plush, comfortable SUV with seating for up to eight in three rows of seats and enough cargo space to carry just about whatever your family needs to be carried. Let’s take a look at what the Acadia offers.

Innovative Safety Features The latest Acadia has a remarkable new safety item pioneered by General Motors and available only on GM vehicles—the front center airbag. This airbag deploys from the driver’s seat as a secondary airbag between the front seats to cushion impact between the driver and passenger in side collisions.

Also new to the Acadia for 2014 are a forward collision alert system and a lane departure warning system. These advancements helped the Acadia to receive a five-star overall safety rating, the highest rating given, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Powerful Powertrain All Acadias have a 3.6-liter, V6 engine producing 288 horsepower coupled to a six-speed Hydra-Matic 6T75 transmission. Front wheel drive comes standard, with four-wheel drive as an option. The high tech engine has direct fuel injection, dual overhead camshafts, and variable valve timing to maximize fuel efficiency.

Spacious Luxury Interior The updated interior takes the luxury factor up a notch or two for 2014 with impressive build quality, an attractive layout and with most of the surfaces covered with soft, nice-to-the-touch materials. The standard seating holds up to eight people, but with the second row bench seat swapped out for two captain’s chairs, the seating is reduced to seven. Fold-flat second and third row seats give easy access to the cargo area. Speaking of the cargo area, there is 24.1 cu. ft. behind the third row of seats, 70.1 cu. ft. behind the second row, and a cavernous 116.1 cu. ft. behind the first row with the other rows folded flat

SUV Heritage The Acadia is a direct descendant of the original SUV created by General Motors in 1935 with the Chevrolet Suburban Carryall. GMC joined the party in 1937 with its own Carryall featuring an all-metal body, three rows of seats for eight people, and doors at the rear to provide easy access to the cargo storage area. GMC improved the Carryall over the years to include an automatic transmission, a V8 engine and four-wheel drive, eventually evolving it into to today’s SUVs.

Coolness Factor If you’re one of the many who would rather wear a paper bag over your head than be seen driving a minivan, the Acadia is for you. It will transport everything you could put in a minivan and you’ll be cool enough to actually roll down the windows and wave to all of your friends.

Bruce Troxell

I don’t know about you but even though I have been driving for the best part of two decades I always get a tiny bit nervous in heavy rain conditions. Aqua-planning is not a great experience and there is nothing worse than not trusting its car’s behaviour when driving under the rain. But it all comes to tires in the end, not so much the car itself. Michelin has been at the forefront of tyre technologies for decades and their latest invention could have the potential to make me feel much better about driving under heavy rain.

Unlike conventional tires, the Michelin Premier A/S tire uses a new design combined with a unique set of features to prolong wet traction even as the tire becomes worn. 3 main elements provide this traction over time: high-traction rubber compound, expanding rain grooves and emerging grooves. What does it all mean I hear you ask.

Well the technology behind long-term wet traction is actually rather interesting. The high-traction rubber compound is a proprietary rubber compound with extreme amounts of silica and sunflower oil. The silica provides the bonding strength and adherence to keep the treads on the road for high traction in wet conditions. The sunflower oil allows the tire to grip on wet roads at lower temperatures. The new tire also has rain grooves with a specific geometric shape that gets wider as the tread wears, helping maintain the amount of water that the tire can channel away. Finally this tire has another set of grooves that are initially hidden when new but then emerge to maintain wet traction in the long run.