Ford Takes A Dive In C.R. Reliability Survey

By Cornelius Nunev

Ford dropped to near the bottom of the just-released 2012 Consumer Reports reliability study. Until recently, it was ranked the most dependable American vehicle manufacturer. Toyota, however, excelled, claiming the three leading spots. Some auto specialists, however, think the survey is of little consequence.

Consumer Reports dependability study

Apparently Japan makes the very best vehicles according to the Consumer Reports reliability study where the top seven spots all went to Japanese car makers. The top three visited Lexus, Toyota, and Toyota's Scion.

Jim Lentz is the chief executive at Toyota Motor Sales USA. He explained that car dealerships such as Michael's Toyota of Bellevue, Washington are happy about the news. He said:

"We're pleased with the findings, which reflect actual customer experience, not just reviewer opinion."

Scion, Toyota and Lexus were at the top followed by Mazda Motors, Subaru, Honda, Acura, Audi, Infiniti and Kia.

The rest

Cadillac, GMC, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, BMW, Hyundai and Volkswagen ranked 11 through 18. The bottom 10 was Jeep, Volvo, Buick, Mini, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Lincoln, Ford and Jaguar.

Not enough from Ford

Jaguar traditionally earns the bottom spot. But for Ford, it is quite another matter. Two years back, it was rated by Consumer Reports as the most reliable U.S. car maker. Its fall from grace was attributed to connectivity problems with its MyFord/MyLincoln Touch electronic entertainment system.

The system did much better after the software upgrade that Ford did, but evidently that was not enough for Ford to be redeemed in the public's eyes.

According to Ford spokesperson Mark Schirmer:

"Consumer Reports is hugely important to Ford; you can't dismiss Consumer Reports in any way. We offered a major improvement to MyFord Touch in the spring and began offering new transmission calibrations this summer. Unfortunately, there are still some bugs in the system that we are working through."

A couple of years to determine ranking

The Consumer Report dependability survey should not be confused with its vehicle testing. It represents the outcomes of a study among its vehicle-owning readership. The ranking is decided from the last three years of data on any model, unless it was redesigned in that time.

Splitting hairs?

Most people do not look at the report before deciding what car to buy. In fact, cars are much safer than they used to be, so it does not matter than much. According to Edmunds.com vice chairman Jeremy Anwyl:

"The reality today is that cars are very reliable compared to what they were in the past. It is not something people should be really worrying about."

About the Author:

Within Scion Atlanta GA you will definitely get the top automotive purchasing experience achievable. So explore Sandy Springs Scion.

How To Find The Best Memory Foam RV Mattress

By Toni Vang

You have probably heard of memory spumes which will appear not only in mattresses but also in bath mats sofa cushions and even the inner soles of shoes. It is a dense spume that sinks when you depress it with your hand and quickly fills in around your fingers, then will be back to its original form when pulling your hand away.

Foam mattresses are actually a variation on the standard mattresses. Chemicals are added y making this as the visco elastic. It only means that it can respond to the pressure that will return to its original condition when pressure can be removed. Most of these chemicals make the memory foam denser and heavier than the regular ones. And since memory foam RV mattress becomes more popular these days, it can also be considered as carrier of this mattress.

RV mattresses are everything from custom shapes, dense foam mattress to oddball sizes are available from long lists of companies. You also need to know what size of RV fits within your allotted space. To measure the RV space, you have to measure the width, length and height. The width must be measured from the inside of one size of the space t the inside of the other side where the mattress will be placed.

Most of these foam mattresses are fast growing solutions to the inner side of the mattresses because they may offer or contour excellent comfort, convenience and support. Knowing what you want and need is the main key to find the right one that is suitable for your needs. Before purchasing one, consider several things.

Actually, tests are rarely performed on imported components and there is no other way to know what chemicals are used in the composition. Most of these foams have become a growing segment in the industry. Keep in mind that not all memory foams are equal.

They also differ in softness, quality, longevity and hardness. It can also respond to durability and temperatures. When buying this product, do not just look at the technical specs, you have to try the overall comfort that it offers. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the qualities and why people are more focusing on the products and how comfortable they are.

And because foams are not created equal, some offer different levels and looking at the results and not only the specs you get to feel comfortable. While specific types of foams may differ in terms of comfort level, it is important to know certain ways to make comfortable spumed for bedding.

Actually, there are many reasons why these items are unique and different. Once you choose a bedding, any salesperson will try and sell you on some covers, extended warranties, bed frames and other accessories that you need.

With luck, most of these tips will also help you walk into the store informed and ready to test and purchase the right bedding for you. Do not forget to test various stores and have sleep tests you can take to determine how firm or soft the bedding should be.

About the Author:

Read more about How To Choose The Right Memory Foam RV Mattress.

Silent Cars Might Be Required To Make Loud Noises

By Cornelius Nunev

Though it is not the main selling point of electric cars, their quiet operation has often been cited as a fantastic side benefit. Electric and hybrid cars are the target of some new legislation. The legislation would require these quiet automobiles to make more noise. There is already after-market technology available to add the roar of a motor to hybrid cars.

The issues with silent vehicles

At low speeds, many hybrids and electric automobiles make very little noise. The sound is less than a gas car would make even when over 20 miles per hour. That is as the sound is only from air resistance. Everyone that needs automobile sound won't like this, although it will help noise pollution. Those who need the sound include cyclist, the blind and pedestrians. They use the noise to determine how close or far away car is which is harder when the noise changed. A hybrid or electric auto is two times more likely to hit a pedestrian. This is mostly only when it is going at very slow speeds.

How car manufacturers act

Some car corporations, such as Nissan Motors, are already working to address the issue of vehicle sound. In the future, the Nissan Leaf will make a noise. It was described as a "futuristic buzzing noise" at one point. Many businesses have developed kits to put into hybrid automobiles that make sound. One of these businesses is Lotus Engineering. It is easy to change a Prius with the kits. You can sound like a race auto sometimes. Whenever people choose to add sound to their hybrids, some have the possibility of making it sound like an 8- or 12-cylinder automobile.

International standards to create

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering creating requirements for electric car noise. Regulation like this is being considered in the European Union. Car makers have been asking if it is possible to do natural noises. Most blind-advocacy groups are against this though. In order to ease the transition and prevent any troubles with electronic sound on freeways, the Society of Automotive Engineers is hoping to create worldwide standards.

About the Author:

Have you been in the market to sell or buy a new or used car? If this describes you, learn more on our websites at Gus Johnson dealership Spokane! Want to know find out more about Gus Johnson Ford? Just click here.

What You Get From BMW Repair Along With Service

By Hunter Trolley

A car needs to be treated properly in order for it to last, but of course there are those that always have a better name than others.



BMW parts are more expensive than most, but they are built to last and they are made to be solid, so one can be confident that they will be safe on the road. From time to time, they need to be changed and repaired, but with wear and time and the mileage on the road, one can expect that there should be a time when this must happen.

A BMW mechanic is trained and experienced in this particular field because it is very specific. One needs to know about how the parts are designed and how they fit together. This car is not like any other local car on the market. Everything is imported, so a general mechanic can't be employed for a job like this. They will need specific training.

After you take your car for a service, they will be able to tell you the condition it is in, or whether it needs any parts to be replaced. Although BMW parts are more expensive than the average car, they do last and they are made that way.

Some people are a little bit wary about buying a car of this standard second hand, but you will be surprised what you can get from a BMW dealer. There are a lot of cars in the showroom that have almost no mileage to show, and this is because a lot of the cars were used as demos or they were hardly touched. This makes a good buy.

The tires are something that stand out when you drive one of these vehicles, but you have to know when to change them. You should regularly be checking the tread, because one person may just be using the car to run errands with, and another may be using it for long trips. BMW repairing is very important in this regard because it adds to your safety.

Things like tires are also something to consider, and one must look at this in terms of safety as well as general maintenance. Nobody can tell you when to change them because this depends on the mileage you do. You can probably check with your garage to find out how you are doing and whether you need to head towards precision BMW repair.

You will find that your tires will give way after some time and it is important to keep an eye on this for safety sake. There is no time frame on this, because it depends on the type of mileage that you do on the road. A center, such as BMW repair York does a good job at replacing tires when you need them to keep you safe and to keep your vehicle in good condition.

About the Author:

To schedule for BMW repair York vehicle owners can refer to the following auto center. Get the service you need today from this respected dealer at http://www.youtube.com/user/MyLivingLocal.