This is a video a customer’s daughter made after she says Brad Benson Mistubishi of NJ tried to scam her mother with a classic “spot delivery” scam.
cars
KEELOQ Maker Says Remote Car Entry Devices Not Hacked, Rebutting Researchers
By 9.4.07
Last week, researchers announced they had devised a way to steal cars by breaking the encryption used to encode the signals sent by keyless remote car entry devices using KEELOQ technology.
California Moves To Ban Teen Driver Cellphone Use
By 8.31.07
A bill banning drivers under 18 from using cellphones passed the California Assembly today. It doesn’t even allow hands-free device use. The Highway Patrol asked for, and got, the offense classified as a secondary infraction, which means you can’t get pulled over simply for breaking this law.
Now Actually Is A Good Time To Buy A New Car
By 8.29.07
You never really see any car commercials that say “Now is a crappy time to buy a new car. You’re not going to save any money at all. Ha, ha, ha.” The reason for this is obvious, but leaves us wondering… When exactly is a good time to buy a new car?
Researchers Hack Remote Keyless Car Entry Devices
By 8.28.07
Researchers have figured out a way to hack remote keyless car entry devices. The threat to the consumer is minimal, it takes several hours to crack the code, but it does give one pause, especially considering that if the Keeloq’s manufacturer added a few simple measures they could render the exploit nearly useless.
Progressive Insurance Lies Its Way Into Church Support Group To Dig Up Lawsuit Dirt
By 8.24.07
Just when you thought insurance companies couldn’t get any sleazier, Progressive Insurance got caught sending private eyes to infiltrate and secretly record an Atlanta area church support group in hopes of digging up dirt to discredit a church couple involved in a car accident lawsuit, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
By 8.23.07
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Britax Decathlon child safety seat (belt adjuster popping out of position).
By 8.21.07
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Consumers promote boycott of Conoco and BP stations along I-80 that post low prices on their signs but then charge 25-50 cents higher on most of the actual pumps. Under state law, the practice is legal. [Lincoln Journal Star]
How To Kick A Scammy Car Dealer In The Nuts
By 8.20.07
While we spend a lot of time on this site talking about the importance of writing a good complaint letter, of finding the executive contact info, and cc’ing letters to appropriate regulatory bodies, sometimes the best way to win is to stop playing Mr. Nice Guy and start playing hardball. Demonstrate, in no uncertain terms, just how much more costly it would be for the business to ignore your complaint than to resolve it. That’s the lesson learned from, Unscrewed: The Consumer’s Guide To Getting What You Paid For.
By 8.17.07
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Parking in New York is such a hassle that NYPD cops have no choice but to park in front of hydrants when they patronize Victoria’s Secret and get sandwiches from the bodega. [The Red Tape Chronicles]
MetLife "Accidentally" Drops Insurance Right Before Car Accident
By 8.16.07
“My girlfriend Lindsey recently purchased a brand-spanking new Toyota Yaris, which she affectionately refers to as “Yar-i.” This car was a much needed sigh of relief after a string of terrible lemon cars for her. This thing was her pride and joy. Along with buying the car, she signed up for MetLife car insurance for $900 to cover herself for about 9 months.
Ideas For Living Without Credit Or Debt
By 8.15.07
Leo at Zen Habits has listed 10 ideas for living without a credit card or any debt.
Chinese Car Fails Frontal Crash Test In Spectacular Fashion
By 8.13.07
Last month Chrysler struck a deal with the manufacturer of the Chery Amulet, shown in the above crash test video. In accordance with the deal, Chery would manufacture small cars for import into the US.
How Far Will Different Cars Go On One Tank Of Gas?
By 8.13.07
Bankrate has an oddly fun interactive tool that easily calculates how far different types of cars will go on a single tank of gas. The tool also lets you imput the price of gas in your area, so you can easily see how much you’ll be paying when its time to fill up.
GM Says It Will Release Electric Car in 2010
By 8.12.07
This week, GM announced it plans to begin testing its plug-in, rechargeable car, the Chevrolet Volt, in the spring of next year. Says GM bigwig Bob Lutz, “We’ll have some on the road for testing next spring, and we should have the Volt in production by the end of 2010.” The secret ingredient to the Volt’s claim of 40-miles-per-charge is its “next-generation” lithium-ion battery, which is designed to last for 10 years, and which Lutz says will be ready by this October. Can we get one for our laptops?
By 8.10.07
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Is “paint sealant” worth it when buying a new car? No. [Cars]
"Disgraced" Former Home Depot CEO Robert "Big Bob" Nardelli Named CEO Of Chrysler
By 8.6.07
You can’t keep a good CEO down! Or something. Robert “Big Bob” Nardelli, the CEO who famously ran Home Depot into the ground by deemphasizing customer service in favor of the “business supply” division and then ran away with over $200 million in severance pay and other bonuses, has been named CEO of the Chrysler Group.
Buying a New Car? Check eBay Before Buying Optional Equipment From the Dealer
By 7.31.07
“They always get you on the floormats.” Pricing out a car online before visiting a dealership, and seeing the range of options available, is a no-brainer. But before you drop the coin on options like floormats, mudflaps, trunk nets, or whatever other easy-installation options strike your fancy, check eBay. Auto dealerships’ parts departments are actually selling the same items on eBay, at a discount to the marked-up rates they charge new-car buyers.
