OnStar Will Start To Share Data Collected;
OnStar has changed some of their policies, according to the latest privacy statement. OnStar will start to share the data or information they collect from the vehicles but only on certain conditions. OnStar knows that there will be some resistance from their customers and wanted to get this out before they start sharing the data. They want the customers to know exactly what will happen with their information. Already, many Americans are leery and feel that some of this data is personal. If you have any questions contact your local Chevrolet Dealer Sarasota. OnStar does provide services that consumers feel they cannot live without and they do give back to their customers.
One might ask, why is OnStar doing this? They say that they are looking at future services that might introduce, according to the public relations official with Onstar, Vijay Iyer. He also made note of “We want to make sure we get our vehicles and hardware ready now and be as transparent with our customers as possible before that.”
OnStar already collects data and provides that to the highway authorities. It is not specific to what vehicle but it is to how many in a certain time frames. Iyer said “It’s on an anonymized basis. We wouldn’t include any type of personal information, just bulk information.”
With the new policy, General Motor’s says they collect location data for any purpose but is anonymized, it can even collect the information on the fuel to the odometer readings. The company says that they can use this data and relate to roadside assistance if necessary, to the emergency personnel. OnStar can also share information with law enforcement, data management, credit card processors and any marketing endeavor they contract with.
You, as the consumer/customer have the right to opt out. You specifically have to call OnStar and cancel the data collection connection. Once you do confirm you do not want to have OnStar activated in your vehicle, you must convey that to any other driver of your vehicle or passenger. They might think they are safe with the service not knowing they cannot use it. Some customers are upset, saying “My vehicle’s location is my life, it’s where I go on a daily basis. It’s private. It’s mine,” it is one way people feel violated because they do not know exactly what is shared and when. Skeptical, maybe if OnStar let the customers know exactly what they were sharing when, might ease customers’ minds a little. One thing to, would be answering the question of what information do you need to give to credit card processors?
Either if you are in a General Motors vehicle or if you will be purchasing one, if you do not want to be a part of this, you have to opt out. But then it takes away one of the reasons why you purchased the vehicle from Florida Chevrolet Dealer in the first place.
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Just Passed; Florida Senate Limits Law Suits!
The new bill the chamber passed ensures that third parties have it more difficult to be awarded monies on product liability cases in Florida. The auto makers and manufacturers have one up on the board with this one. This is a bill that undos another bill from 2001. The bill passed in 2001 stated that in lawsuits alleging product defectiveness cannot hear the primary evidence of the case due to the fact of the product producing more harm and injury. The bill that was just passed, allows for the jury to hear the full story and not just the evidence stacked up in the case. So if you go and have your brakes checked out at Bradenton Mazda brakes, and there was a defect that caused an accident, they would be liable.
One Republican voted against it and one Democrat voted for it. Other Democrats was leary due to the shift in medical costs they say. That it would be passed on to the taxpayers, in the end. The Democrats want the manufacturers to be held liable in the end and pay their due share for their mistakes. Look at Toyota and Fall River Toyota, they have lawsuits against them due to the gas pedal safety issue.
On the case that had such a profound effect on all this was the Karen D’Amario case. She filed a lawsuit reflecting a bad relay switch on a fuel pump. Her son, Clifford Harris, 15 at the time was the passenger in a fatal automobile accident. The driver was his friend, Stanley Liveronois, was the driver who was intoxicated. Her son, Cliff, suffered fire to his body and lost three limbs. Stanley did not make it through the accident, he passed that night. Karen stated that the primary reasons to her son’s injuries were caused by the explosion of the fuel pump that had a defective relay switch.
From the evidence, the jury sided with Ford stating that it was caused by the collision that ruptured the oil pan in the car. That started the fire that caused so much damage and injuries to her son. In that case the Justices said that the jury was confused with hearing all of the evidence. The jury heard the driver was drunk and speeding instead of focusing on the product liability case. The jury’s verdict was overturned and further cases would exclude evidence that would allege enhanced injuries.
Republican Senator David Simmons from Maitland said that it is a bill that is a compromise. The Senate accepted an amendment to permit judges to exclude evidence if it is irrelevant or prejudicial such as a fact of the driver was drunk. The difference is the judge would make that decision on a case by case basis, not like the broad exclusion that was ordered by the Supreme Court. This bill keeps the hands of Used Car Dealer St. Petersburg FL clear of certain frivolous lawsuits against them.
Some say that the old bill kept auto makers out of the state of Florida. That the businesses just want a fair playing field. No longer will the legalities of the state impede on future businesses coming to relocate there in Florida. Either way you see it, it is fair. It should be that you hear every part of the case. You can take any part of a story and make it into something its not when the WHOLE truth is not told. I can see in the case with Karen D’Amario where the jury sided with Ford. If it was not for the passenger that was intoxicated driving the accident would of never happened nor would the fire started. Now if the fire started because they were just driving or whatever, then yes, Ford is responsible for all and any damages. Not when an accident started the domino effect.
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Luxury Cars: Loads of Features, Lacking Dependability
Lucky for Boston Nissan Dealers that none of their vehicles are on the list of unreliable vehicles you are about to read. Drivers across the country turn to Consumer Reports for their unbiased opinions on the performance of vehicles from Fairfield Nissan Dealership. One of their most widely popular reports is the 2010 Dependability Survey, and we are sad to say that the five at the bottom of the list are luxury cars with large price tags. It seems that if you are choosing to shop at a luxury brand such as BMW over Master Automotive Dealer that you should not have to worry about the quality or dependability of your vehicle.
The 2010 MINI Cooper Convertible comes in with a rating of 100% below the average expectation for dependability. There have been reports of issues with the cooling system as well as the fuel systems for this cute little car. Drivers complain about road noise and paint flaws, but that doesn’t have anything to do with the dependability. Also in this low ranking is the 2010 BMW 135i, which also came in 100% below expectations. The main issue with this shiny little coupe is their fuel system, and several drivers report more than one repair even while under the warranty period. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe isn’t winning any awards that they would like to brag about. There have been tons of service mandates ranging from the intricate fuel system to the in-your-face power accessories.
Coming in at 142% below the dependability average is the Audi A6 3.0T. Audi vehicles are already quite expensive to repair, but if you factor in the problems that this particular model has had with their engine-cooling process, the luxury car starts to seem like a luxury money pit. The biggest loser is quite surprising to consumers, and the Jaguar XF scores 143% below expectations. The transmission is nothing to write home about, there have been reports of electrical problems, and for the small target audience it already has, Jaguar should have made sure that owners were satisfied with their financial investment.
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New Car Smell Causes Accident!
Tons of shoppers from places like Pennsylvania Lincoln Dealers are likely to agree that one of the best things about buying a new car is the “new car smell” that comes along with the deal. Sure, you have probably heard reports that your favorite scent is actually toxic and causes cancer because of the chemicals that emit the smell; then again, what does not cause cancer? Even if you buy a used vehicle from Los Angeles Lincoln Dealers, you can purchase “new car smell” car air fresheners to make your used purchase feel newer. Recent news reports that a driver is blaming the toxic effects of “new car smell” for their hit-and-run accident, and the vehicle involved did not come from Ford Dealership New York, although all new vehicles have a similar smell.
Back in July of 2010, Martin Joel Erzinger was involved in a hit-and-run accident with a bicyclist. Erzinger was driving a new Mercedes-Benz that was barely a month old. The reports indicate that he must have dozed off while behind the wheel, and his lawyers are attempting to blame the sleeping episode on the noxious new car smell and fumes being emitted. It was also reported that Erzinger suffers from sleep apnea. The bicyclist sustained injuries and has a long recovery ahead of him.
It really does seem like the things we love most in life are truly bad for us. It has yet to be determined if blaming the “new car smell” will work as a viable defense in the courtrooms, but they might have a point. Research has shown that the organic compounds that are emitted from the new upholstery, vinyl, and plastics inside a vehicle can cause a wide array of problems for people, including cancer. The fumes that are emitted are even stronger on a hot day when the windows are up. According to reports, Mercedes-Benz refused to comment about the entire ordeal, and it is hard to find fault in their decision. Consumers want new vehicles, even if that new car comes with cancer causing volatile organic compounds oozing from the plush seats!
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Wind In Your Hair or Hearing Aids?
We all love driving convertibles and sure do miss the cute little Del Sol that Pensacola Honda Dealers used to produce. There have been some recent reports, though, that driving with the top down on the highway can have permanent damaging effects on your hearing. It might be a blessing in disguise that the closest thing you’ll come to a convertible from Honda Dealership Colorado is a moonroof! Despite the annoyance that driving with the top down can have on your hair, people still love driving in the sunshine but you might want to be more concerned with the damage to your hearing. Another option is to buy a solid car from Honda Middletown and enjoy the great fuel economy!
The Ear Institute of Texas did some research and tested five different convertibles to get a reading on how high the noise level was. They tested the vehicles with the top up as well as with the top down and going at three different speed levels; 55, 65, and 75 mph. They tested a 2001 Porsche 911 Carerra, a 2004 Nissan 350Z, a 2005 Ford Mustang GT, a 2005 Saab Aero Convertible, and finally a 2009 Saturn Sky 2.0 Turbo. Noise is measured in decibels (dB) and anything above 85 dB is considered excessive by the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA as many of us are familiar with.
The results were surprising; with the top up, the Saab Convertible was the quietest reaching only 71.2 dB while traveling at 65 mph. Again with the top up, the Porsche was the loudest, registering 77.8 dB while going 75 mph. However, if you put the tops down, you can easily reach 104 dB in most convertibles. To put it in perspective, 125 dB causes pain and your typical rock concert blasts 120 dB. OSHA has limits set for workers of being around 100 dB for a maximum of two hours per day or three hours at 97 dB. While going 75 mph with the top down, the Saturn Sky registered 98.7 dB while the Nissan 350Z had a measurement of 95.3 dB. All of these studies were done with the radio and air conditioner off, so think about how loud you have to turn the radio up so that you can hear it over the deafening wind?
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Car Complaints Really Add Up
Despite how reputable the vehicles at places like Boston Toyota Dealership who carry Toyota vehicles, 16% of consumers still had something to complain about regarding their current Toyota vehicle. It might still have something to do with the hefty amount of recalls in the recent years, but on the other hand, the vehicles over at Kentucky Toyota Dealers are still selling quickly enough for most of the brand’s dealerships to keep their doors open. However, Dodge Dealers Alexandria need to be on their toes because Chrysler LLC took home the award for the most complaints by brand, with 4.1 complaints per 100,000 vehicles sold.
These statistics were tabulated by the expert analysts over at Edmunds who noticed that while the NHTSA does a great job of issuing recalls to keep drivers safe, a lot of the complaints that drivers notice on a daily basis seem to fall through the cracks. If you have a complaint about your vehicle, you can fill out an online form or there is even a hotline you can call. The NHTSA works closely with the ODI (Office of Defects Investigation) with regards to the complaints being made. However, most of us have filled out these online generated forms and what one person might claim to be a billing issue someone else might classify as a service issue. Because the filters aren’t foolproof, Edmunds has taken upon themselves the task of sorting through all the complaints to get a true sense of what is going on out there.
Because there are just far too many complaints to read all of them, Edmunds has begun their research as of complaints that were filed after January 1, 2005 and is only paying attention to complaints being made about vehicles made from 2005 and newer. Consumers complain about a wide range of topics, all the way from powertrain complaints, seatbelts, headlights, and everything in between. We are happy to report that November 2010 has had the lowest amount of complaints and represents an 18% decrease compared to September and a 6% decrease compared to October.
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Paying for Options You Don’t Want?
The car buying process is hard enough and it does not matter if you are buying a car from Orlando Chevrolet or anywhere else for that matter. The process is time consuming, frustrating, confusing, and down right expensive. One of the biggest complaints that car shoppers make about their experience at places like Connecticut Acura is about the optional feature packages. Many of us are on fairly tight budgets right now, but at the same time you have to understand the value of having a new car that is reliable. So when shoppers visit Honda CT and find their perfect car, it can be even more confusing and frustrating to learn that you really can not have everything you want.
After you have been driving for a few years and have driven a few vehicles, you get a sense of the features you absolutely must have, the features you would love to have but can not afford, and the features you could care less about! Many car dealerships have resorted to “value meal” type of package menus; you pick a package and get everything that is listed. There are no more individual “side dishes” that you can tack on to your vehicle purchase. Not all brands have resorted to this method of packaging out their optional features, but some buyers are beyond frustrated with the practice.
Sometimes it can be convenient to bundle some items. Many brands offer a “power package” which will include your power locks, windows, automatic transmission, and power mirrors. Those items are fairly standard and many consumers have come to expect that to already be included with the base model. Other packages might be called “Technology” or “Entertainment.” These will bundle your convenience features like dual-zone climate control, sun roof, auto life gate, power seats, in-dash navigation, and back seat entertainment. The dilemma and frustration comes into play when you want three out of the five options listed, but are stuck paying for features you really don’t want.
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9 Cars That Could Be Safer
For as much money as you spend Mercedes Deals Washington, you would expect that it would be a safe choice for you and your passengers. However, it has just been brought to our attention that there are still nine vehicles that are being produced for 2011 without electronic stability control (ESC). Luckily, none of the cars from Concord Mitsubishi Dealers are on this hot list. There were quite a few vehicles back in 2010 that did not offer the safety technology as a standard feature, but laws that go into effect in 2012 will require that all vehicles come standard with ESC. Until then, your next Chevrolet Aveo Columbus purchase will not come with ESC.
What makes the fact that nine cars are lagging in the safety department even more frustrating is that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just implemented new and improved crash test ratings because so many vehicles were receiving perfect scores, so they had to make the process more stringent to encourage further safety technology developments. There are safety regulations that go into effect in 2012 that will require ESC be a standard feature, so why are so many auto makers waiting until the last minute to include the technology?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety compiled results that for 2010 approximately 85% of vehicles came standard with ESC. It was impressive that 100% of SUVs have the technology, but only 88% of cars include it. Cars are especially vulnerable in the event of a multiple car collision because they weigh considerably less than SUVs and trucks. The NHTSA estimates that it will cost consumers around $111 more to have the safety feature on cars, but that by making it mandatory, approximately 10,000 lives will be saved annually. The nine offenders for 2011 that do not offer ESC as a standard feature (and some don’t even offer it at all) include: Chevrolet Aveo, Dodge Caliber, Honda Civic, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mazda RX-8, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Versa, and Suzuki SX4.
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Texting Caught On Camera!
Despite the fact that our economy is slowly recovering, plenty of Americans still find themselves using a Concord Bad Credit Auto Loan when they need to buy a new car. This is a great option to have but the interest rate associated with having poor credit can be quite high. And what about those red-light cameras that many states have already installed to help catch violators? It doesn’t matter if you are driving a Huntington Mercedes-Benz vehicle or a family friendly minivan; if you run a red light then the cameras will spot you and you will receive a ticket in the mail. In Europe, a company has developed technology that mails out tickets for other driving offenses.
We are all well aware of the fact that driving laws and cameras are in place to help us avoid going to Boston Dealer Nissan because we got in a motor vehicle accident. But some of these laws and monitoring devices seem to be in place solely to help lawmakers and cities collect money. The red light cameras are a great local example. While many states and cities have installed them, several have removed them after only a year or so. This is because drivers became aware of where the cameras were located and made sure to be extra cautious when they were being watched. The cameras then became too expensive to operate because they were no longer bringing in enough revenue.
The system over in Europe that is in place involves 12 different countries and government partnerships to form ASSETT (Advanced Safety and Driver Support for Essential Road Transport). The system works be having a stationary trailer on the side of the road that is full of sensors and cameras. The cameras are continually rolling so that there is proper viewing before and after a violation has occurred. The system is programmed for the applicable driving laws in the area it is stationed and will issue tickets for speeding, not wearing a seat belt, or tailgating. The software developers are currently trying to improve it to monitor if people are talking or texting on a cell phone.
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Halloween Safety Tips
It is quickly approaching Halloween and there is something that all parents and adults need to do to ensure that we all have a safe holiday rather than spend time fixing our cars at Collision Repair Renton. Halloween is a dark outdoor activity with tons of little kids running around. Parents frequently go to adult parties after the trick-or-treat festivities have ended, and then we end up with fatal drunk driving accidents. No one wants to ruin that new car they just bought from Certified Chevrolet Atlanta, so the main message here is to be safe.
A lot of businesses like Renton Kia offer some sort of safe trick-or-treat activities. Parents are urged to check out their local shopping malls to see if there are any indoor activities offered; you can’t get run over by a car if you are inside! This year, Halloween is on a Sunday and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the highway fatalities increase by 30% when the festive day falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Sadly, we don’t even have to look back that far to verify these statistics. Last year, Halloween 2009 fell on a Saturday and there were 73 fatalities, 48% of which involved alcohol. In 2008, Halloween was on a Friday and there were 125 fatalities and this time 60% of the accidents involved a drunk driver. In 2007, there were only 60 fatalities and Halloween was on a Wednesday. Some parents might think Sunday is safer because people have to work the next day so they are unlikely to be out partying and drinking, but many employers might Monday off or people will just move their Halloween to Saturday instead.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has teamed up with a couple organizations on their website. They are providing a lot of resources that communities are encouraged to produce and pass out in their neighborhoods. People need to be proactive and remind each other that you can have fun and be safe at the same time. The motto this year is “Don’t let Halloween turn into a nightmare.” This is a simple and powerful statement that should remind you to be extra careful; there are children involved.
