The base price for a new Tesla Model S with all-wheel-drive will run you about $70,000. While that price tag isn’t for the faint of heart, its doesn’t quite represent how much the electric vehicle maker is putting into its products, as a new report shows the company is losing more than $4,000 on each car it sells. [More]
vehicles
Fiat Chrysler Offers Software Patch For Some Internet-Connected Vehicles After Hackers Hijack Jeep
By 7.23.15
After a journalist’s report of being inside a 2014 Jeep Cherokee while hackers miles away took over his car as part of an experiment, Fiat Chrysler has announced it’s offering a software patch for some of its internet-connected vehicles. That being said, the company didn’t directly acknowledge the hacking event itself. [More]
Watch Out For Flood-Damaged Cars Coming Out Of Texas
By 6.11.15
Last month, flooding in Texas killed at least 23 people: there isn’t a final tally yet because some people are still missing. That’s all very sad, but what if you live thousands of miles away and don’t know anyone in Texas? This natural disaster could still affect you directly…if you’re in the market for a used car, since rebuilt vehicles destroyed in a flood could be hitting the market in coming months. [More]
Google Issues First Monthly Report On Traffic Incidents Involving Its Self-Driving Cars
By 6.5.15
Before Google’s self-driving cars become an everyday reality for consumers, the company not only needs to test the vehicles extensively, but it also has to make sure the public isn’t put off over concerns that the technology is unsafe. Amid recent reports that they’ve already been in minor accidents, Google has now started releasing public reports detailing traffic incidents involving its driverless cars. [More]
Costco Sold Nearly 400,000 Cars Last Year Just To Keep Members Happy
By 6.4.15
Toilet paper, giant jars of mayonnaise, enough shampoo to last a year: These are all items one might imagine being on a list for a quick trip to Costco. One thing we generally don’t expect: a new car. But that’s exactly what consumers are picking up at the warehouse store. [More]
Segway Bought By Company It Accused Of Copying Its Two-Wheeled People Movers
By 4.15.15
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but when that doesn’t work, another way to go about it is just to buy the company you’re trying to copy. While just seven months ago Segway was accusing a Chinese company of copying its two-wheeled vehicles, what was once a tense relationship has bloomed into something more harmonious after that company turned around and bought Segway. [More]
Mercedes-Benz Planning To Launch Its First Pickup Truck By 2020
By 3.27.15
When you think of a Mercedes-Benz, scenes of rugged vehicles hauling heavy loads across rough terrain probably don’t come to mind… yet. That might change with the launch of Daimler’s first Mercedes-Benz pickup truck, which the company is planning to launch by 2020. [More]
RECALL Act Would Require Consumers Fix Vehicle Safety Issues Before Registration Renewal
By 3.3.15
During 2014’s recallapoalooza federal regulators revealed that the average completion rate for a vehicle recall was just 75%. While some consumers might not be aware their car has a safety issue, others simply put off the needed repairs. A new bill introduced in the Senate Monday aims to make sure potentially dangerous vehicles aren’t on the road, by requiring fixes be completed before registration renewals are granted. [More]
Rolls-Royce Announces It’s Working On Its First Foray Into The SUV Market
By 2.18.15
Because there just aren’t enough luxury cars out there already that we can’t possibly ever dream of affording, Rolls-Royce has decided to throw its expensive hat in the ring, announcing plans for the automaker’s first sport utility vehicle. Just don’t call it an SUV. [More]
HOA Sues Homeowner For Parking Pickup Truck In His Driveway
By 1.19.15
What is a passenger vehicle? Is an extended-cab pickup truck a commercial vehicle, or a passenger vehicle? A man and his homeowners association in upstate New York disagree on this point, with the HOA suing the truck owner in county court, seeking an injunction to force him to stop parking his truck in his own driveway. [More]
Who Should Foot The Bill For Millions Of Repairs Because Of Defective Takata Airbags?
By 12.19.14
So far this year, 10 automakers have recalled more than 19 million vehicles for potentially defective Takata airbags. While there’s no doubt that those vehicles must be repaired, a raging debate is beginning to form regarding just who should foot the bill for the millions of replacement airbags and loaner cars provided to affected customers. [More]
Your Car From 1999 Or After Doesn’t Need A Tune-Up
By 9.30.14
Most people who drive learn the essentials of driving, traffic, car maintenance, and road rage skills from their parents. That’s what parents are for: to pass on their wisdom as well as their bad habits. We also pick up bad or outdated information along the way, like the requirement to change our oil every 3,000 miles. Or the belief that cars need frequent tune-ups. [More]
Does The World Really Need An Adult-Sized Big Wheel?
By 8.14.13
The adult-sized tricycle, that makes sense to us. Not everyone who wants to pedal around using their own power has a good sense of balance. What doesn’t make sense to us is this adult-sized Big Wheel, intended for people who want to recapture their childhoods and weigh up to 275 pounds. [More]
OnStar Can’t Open Your Deactivated Car If You’re Locked Out
By 3.28.13
On Tuesday, we posted about a blogger who locked her daughter and keys in her vehicle, then contacted OnStar to see whether the service could remotely open the doors for her. We spoke to an OnStar representative, who explained to us that when a car owner chooses not to join or renew OnStar, the cellular device inside the car gets deactivated. [More]
Ask Tax Dad: Employer Gas Cards, Student Loan Interest, And Escape From New York
By 3.5.13 — Updated: 3.6.13
Usually, our staff Certified Tax Cat handles questions about taxes, but he’s recovering from carpal tunnel paw surgery. Filling in for him is Laura’s dad, a retired accountant and real live independent tax preparer. Exclusively on Consumerist this spring, Tax Dad answers your questions. [More]
NHTSA Investigates Engine Fire Reports In Pair Of Vehicles
By 4.2.12
Having a car that looks hot is one thing, but one that feels hot because its engine is on fire is another. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is looking into reports that the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2010 Jeep Wrangler are suffering engine fires. The investigations could possibly lead to recalls, but there’s no action on that front as of yet. Both Chevy and Jeep say there have been no reports of injuries or deaths due to possible defects. [More]
Blame The North Sea For Rising Gas Prices
By 2.13.12
Experts continue to point their fingers at Europe for rising gas prices. Last month the continent’s credit crunch was the culprit, and this month it’s rising prices of Brent crude oil in the North Sea that’s guilty of pushing gas prices up to an average of $3.51 per gallon as of the end of last week. [More]
Gas Prices Rose Almost 6 Cents A Gallon In Last Two Weeks
By 9.12.11
Gas prices are expected to rise during holiday weekends, but this year’s Labor Day price bump reportedly turned into a ramp. In the past two weeks ending Friday, the national average regular gas price crept up 5.76 cents to $3.667 per gallon. The increase echoes the rise in the cost of crude oil, and an ethanol price rise also was a factor. [More]
