Data collected for a new study indicates that some auto insurers charge higher rates to people who don’t have college degrees. In some cases, this means less educated customers get overcharged to the tune of an extra $300 per year.
Autos
Cheap Jaguars? Luxury Volkswagens? Automakers Go High and Low to Expand Brand Appeal
It’s a topsy-turvy, muddled time in the auto business, as Volkswagen plans on selling a vehicle priced like a Jaguar—and vice versa.
Alleged Fake Online Review Spammers Get Taken to Court
Websites that rely on user reviews and ratings often use filters to screen out opinions that are likely to be fraudulent. But the filters can only do so much. This week, Edmunds.com decided to file a lawsuit to get alleged spammers to stop flooding its ratings service with fake reviews of car dealerships.
Falling Electric Car Prices Are Saving — Or Destroying — the EV Market
Ford is the latest automaker to drop prices on its electric cars, slicing $4,000 off the 2014 Focus EV. The move will undoubtedly succeed in getting more drivers to take a second look at the car. But how long can Ford—and other automakers slashing EV prices—keep on losing money with each electric car sold?
Gas Prices Forecast to Soar During Peak Summer Vacation Period
Analysts are saying that it will soon cost nearly 10% more to fill up your gas tank. And wouldn’t you know it: The predicted spike in gas prices will coincide with the vacations of millions of Americans.
Women at the Auto Repair Shop: Better at Haggling, Yet More Likely to Get Ripped Off
According to a new study, it’s good and bad to be a woman when dealing with auto mechanics: It’s bad because you’re more likely to get above-market price quotes for the job at hand, but good because you’re more likely than a man to negotiate a better price.
Supersizing Strikes Back: Homes and TVs Get Bigger, Sales of Yachts, RVs, Trucks Rise
After years of downsizing and making do, American consumers are going big once again.
Hertz Drives to Be King of Anytime, Anyplace, Any Duration Rental Cars
In the near future, when you swing by the drugstore or home improvement center, renting a car could be as easy as picking up shampoo or a new ratchet set.
Let’s Hope You’re Not Trying to Sell an Electric Car Anytime Soon
In May 2012, the average trade-in value for a 2011 Nissan Leaf was around $25,000. A year later, that same car’s value had fallen to roughly $15,000.
Wanna Test Drive a Car, But Hate Car Dealerships? That’ll Be $19
For $19, you can have the new vehicle of your choice delivered to your home, where you can kick the tires, take it for a test drive, and even see how it fits into your driveway.
Ford Smartens Up and Dumbs Cars Down
Since 2010, Ford has been aggressively pushing a touch-screen control system as a replacement to old-fashioned knobs and buttons on the dashboard. But guess what? Those knobs and buttons did the job pretty well—and drivers want them back.
All of a Sudden, There Aren’t Enough Electric Cars to Keep Up with Demand
Electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Honda Fit EV used to languish on dealership lots for months. A pricing war with aggressive incentives and cheap lease deals has changed all that.