Executive Tire
A6
WEDNESDAY » JULY 10, 2013 » The Gridley Herald
Question or comments? Contact Editor Lisa Van De Hey at [email protected]
AUTOMOTIVE
did you know AAA recently said that using hands-free devices isn’t any safer than using a cellphone in the traditional manner - in fact, they’re worse. Using voice-to-text electronic devices is a greater distraction, AAA said.
Review Mazda CX-5
auto bits
Insurance tips Check out these money-saving tips. n Comparison shop. n Combine policies with one carrier. n Consider asking about higher deductibles. n If you’re an older driver, take an AARP Driver Safety course. n Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage. n Take advantage of low-mileage discounts. n Ask about carsafety discounts.
— Brandpoint
Car Q&A Q: I own a 1994 Mercedes E320. The check-engine light came on, so to the shop I went. They said the problem was carbon buildup and the cost to remove the carbon is $2,500. Is there any cleaner that I could put in the gas tank to remove the carbon? A: There are no mechanics in a can or bottle that can remove the carbon you describe. Any cleaners put in the gas tank have to be weak enough not to take the protective finish off the tank, not damage the fuel pump or clog the fuel filter. There are professional cleaners that do work, and the chemicals are introduced directly into the engine by way of the fuel rail, being careful not to let any of the cleaning chemical into the fuel tank. The use of premium gas can help clean the back side of the intake valves.
— Junior Damato, More Content Now
The other sport-ute packs pleasing punch
P
ity poor Mazda. How would you like to go up against global titans like Toyota, Honda, Ford and the Koreans — and regional powerhouses such as Subaru and Jeep — in one of the most hotly contested markets of them all, namely the compact crossover sport-ute class? Without the colossal resources of those brands, and relying heavily on a mysterious concept called “Skyactiv”? Right, me neither. Yet the CX-5 is turning out to be a smash hit for Mazda. (Relatively speaking. Last year, Honda sold more Civics than Mazda did all models combined.) And Interweb chatter indicates that CX-5 owners are a happy bunch; they seem to feel they got good value and they like the way their new vehicles drive and look. My guess is that a lot of them just didn’t want to join the vast herds of CR-V and RAV4 owners — but I’ll also bet that a lot of them wonder, What is Skyactiv, anyway? Some Zen discipline that allowed Samurai warriors to achieve nirvana in heavy traffic? At least people understood Zoom-Zoom. It’s probably better to focus on the results, namely fuel economy and driving excellence, and ignore the actual nuts and bolts. Skyactiv is, in fact, nuts and bolts: a massively complex harmonizing of engines, transmissions, chassis and even climatecontrol systems to squeeze the most efficiency out of
Silvio Calabi
them. The MX-5 Miata roadster’s Skyactiv-MT gearbox, for example, reportedly has the shortest stroke of any manual transmission in a passenger car. For the CX-5, Mazda claims that Skyactiv technology provides the “best highway mileage of any SUV in America, including hybrids.” OK, but they’re talking about the base 2-liter CX-5 Sport model with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive, which is rated for up
to 35 mpg. With just 155 horsepower, there’s nothing sporty about it. For better performance, you’ll want the Touring or Grand Touring versions of the CX-5, with the newfor-2014 184-horsepower motor and a 6-speed automatic transmission. With FWD, the highway mileage projection now drops to 32, and with all-wheel drive it edges down further yet, to 30 mpg (and 24 in city driving). At an average speed of 40 mph overall, we traveled 27.6 miles on each gallon of gas. That’s nothing to sneeze at, especially given the virtues of the overall package. The CX-5 has room and comfort for five plus the usual broad mix of standard and available toys, with crisp driving behavior tossed in as a bonus.
Buying used
Mazda seems to have applied the sweat-the-details Skyactiv approach to parts of the car that we can see and touch, too. Our loaded $32,000 CX-5 Grand Touring AWD came with two columns of standard features ranging from 19-inch wheels and front and rear stabilizer bars to rain-sensing wipers, seat heaters and blind-spot monitors. It also had the optional Tech Package. Accessories aside, taken literally, “Grand Touring” would be a huge misnomer — certain very expensive German, British and Italian cars are laughing - but calling it the CX-5 Better Than Average would be a marketing gaffe of epic proportion. That’s what this CX-5 is, though: a competent and flaw-free jack-of-all-trades vehicle
Doing the
Tips for the smart used-car shopper a lemon. Cars are lasting longer than they used to, according to Alec Gutierrez, senior Is a new-to-you vehicle on your shop- market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. A ping list? Don’t get caught overpaying for few years ago, a vehicle had an average road life of nine years. Now, it’s 11. “The average consumer tends to hold onto their vehicle for six to seven years,” he said. Then, another owner does the same. From mileage to options to accident history, used vehicles each have their own story. But with research, buyers can still get a good car at a good price.
By Erika Enigk
GateHouse News Service
Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at calabi.silvio@ gmail.com.
52
g Since 19
Right Thin
1742 HIGHWAY 99 GRIDLEY
846-2553
Tires z Brakes
z
Wheels z Shocks z Batteries z Alignment
Buy from dealer Selling a used vehicle to a private party versus trading it in could get a better price. But buying from a private party, while it may save a little money, probably won’t be worth it, Gutierrez said. Generally, only those who are looking for a special vehicle, such as certain hard-to-find sports cars, would want to buy from a private party. Those who do choose the private party route should be sure to meet in a public place for safety. A dealership will perform basic reconditioning of a vehicle, so buyers know they’ll get a road-worthy car. And with newer vehicles, buyers can shop for certified pre-owned models that often come with warranties and other benefits, he said.
struggling to grab our attention in a sea of betterknown competitors. Like Saab, Mazda has always found its own path and appealed to a certain sort of stand-apart buyer. The CX-5 is light-years more mainstream than Mazda’s 1980s rotary-engine cars or even the “fivestroke” late-’90s Millennia luxury sedan, but it still exemplifies the company’s hardware-first approach to car making.
We buy, sell & trade tires & wheels
That’s Just How We Roll. Premium Auto, SUV & Truck Tires. Unbeatable prices. Top-notch service.
No appointment necessary! We carry a huge selection of new and used passenger tires, SUV tires, light truck tires and much more. With over forty years of industry experience, it’s no wonder our customers have come to trust our service, quality, and knowledge.
Executive Tire
1610 Montgomery St, Oroville
$
530-533-2951
49.95
photos by Stock.Xchng
Consider pricing Kelley Blue Book’s website, KBB.com, has a tool that allows buyers and sellers to estimate what a used vehicle is worth. It’s useful information when going into a negotiation, Gutierrez said. While many people may say their car is in “excellent” condition, that classification is reserved for vehicles that are almost like new, which few actually.
History report Carfax is the best-known vehicle history report service, but there are others as
well. If a vehicle has been in an accident or had issues, that information should be in the report. This is an especially important step for people who live in areas hit by flooding recently, Gutierrez said. If a vehicle sustained flood damage, a buyer should know.
Have a mechanic take a look Even with a clean history report, it’s important to give a used vehicle a once-over, and to have a trusted, independent mechanic do the same.
Local Courtesy Shuttle
We Service All Makes & Models
Wiser Auto & Farm Repair z
Lube, Oil* & Filter *up to 5 Quarts
Top off all fluids z 45 PT. vehicle inspection z Vehicle Road Test z Consultation z
Oiiill Change Chan Ch hang gee Oil O Cha
Special! $39.99
415 Virginia St., Gridley 846-4449
This Coupon is Good for:
• One Lube, Oil and Filter Change • A Multi-Point inspection • Tire Rotation and CAR WASH! Offer includes up to 5 quarts Motor oil and a Motocraft oil filter. Diesels, synthetic oil and some imports are extra.
1709 Highway 99 Gridley, CA 95948
846-4724 OFFER EXPIRES June 15, 2013
COUPON
WEDNESDAY » JULY 10, 2013 » The Gridley Herald
Question or comments? Contact Editor Lisa Van De Hey at [email protected]
AUTOMOTIVE
did you know AAA recently said that using hands-free devices isn’t any safer than using a cellphone in the traditional manner - in fact, they’re worse. Using voice-to-text electronic devices is a greater distraction, AAA said.
Review Mazda CX-5
auto bits
Insurance tips Check out these money-saving tips. n Comparison shop. n Combine policies with one carrier. n Consider asking about higher deductibles. n If you’re an older driver, take an AARP Driver Safety course. n Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage. n Take advantage of low-mileage discounts. n Ask about carsafety discounts.
— Brandpoint
Car Q&A Q: I own a 1994 Mercedes E320. The check-engine light came on, so to the shop I went. They said the problem was carbon buildup and the cost to remove the carbon is $2,500. Is there any cleaner that I could put in the gas tank to remove the carbon? A: There are no mechanics in a can or bottle that can remove the carbon you describe. Any cleaners put in the gas tank have to be weak enough not to take the protective finish off the tank, not damage the fuel pump or clog the fuel filter. There are professional cleaners that do work, and the chemicals are introduced directly into the engine by way of the fuel rail, being careful not to let any of the cleaning chemical into the fuel tank. The use of premium gas can help clean the back side of the intake valves.
— Junior Damato, More Content Now
The other sport-ute packs pleasing punch
P
ity poor Mazda. How would you like to go up against global titans like Toyota, Honda, Ford and the Koreans — and regional powerhouses such as Subaru and Jeep — in one of the most hotly contested markets of them all, namely the compact crossover sport-ute class? Without the colossal resources of those brands, and relying heavily on a mysterious concept called “Skyactiv”? Right, me neither. Yet the CX-5 is turning out to be a smash hit for Mazda. (Relatively speaking. Last year, Honda sold more Civics than Mazda did all models combined.) And Interweb chatter indicates that CX-5 owners are a happy bunch; they seem to feel they got good value and they like the way their new vehicles drive and look. My guess is that a lot of them just didn’t want to join the vast herds of CR-V and RAV4 owners — but I’ll also bet that a lot of them wonder, What is Skyactiv, anyway? Some Zen discipline that allowed Samurai warriors to achieve nirvana in heavy traffic? At least people understood Zoom-Zoom. It’s probably better to focus on the results, namely fuel economy and driving excellence, and ignore the actual nuts and bolts. Skyactiv is, in fact, nuts and bolts: a massively complex harmonizing of engines, transmissions, chassis and even climatecontrol systems to squeeze the most efficiency out of
Silvio Calabi
them. The MX-5 Miata roadster’s Skyactiv-MT gearbox, for example, reportedly has the shortest stroke of any manual transmission in a passenger car. For the CX-5, Mazda claims that Skyactiv technology provides the “best highway mileage of any SUV in America, including hybrids.” OK, but they’re talking about the base 2-liter CX-5 Sport model with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive, which is rated for up
to 35 mpg. With just 155 horsepower, there’s nothing sporty about it. For better performance, you’ll want the Touring or Grand Touring versions of the CX-5, with the newfor-2014 184-horsepower motor and a 6-speed automatic transmission. With FWD, the highway mileage projection now drops to 32, and with all-wheel drive it edges down further yet, to 30 mpg (and 24 in city driving). At an average speed of 40 mph overall, we traveled 27.6 miles on each gallon of gas. That’s nothing to sneeze at, especially given the virtues of the overall package. The CX-5 has room and comfort for five plus the usual broad mix of standard and available toys, with crisp driving behavior tossed in as a bonus.
Buying used
Mazda seems to have applied the sweat-the-details Skyactiv approach to parts of the car that we can see and touch, too. Our loaded $32,000 CX-5 Grand Touring AWD came with two columns of standard features ranging from 19-inch wheels and front and rear stabilizer bars to rain-sensing wipers, seat heaters and blind-spot monitors. It also had the optional Tech Package. Accessories aside, taken literally, “Grand Touring” would be a huge misnomer — certain very expensive German, British and Italian cars are laughing - but calling it the CX-5 Better Than Average would be a marketing gaffe of epic proportion. That’s what this CX-5 is, though: a competent and flaw-free jack-of-all-trades vehicle
Doing the
Tips for the smart used-car shopper a lemon. Cars are lasting longer than they used to, according to Alec Gutierrez, senior Is a new-to-you vehicle on your shop- market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. A ping list? Don’t get caught overpaying for few years ago, a vehicle had an average road life of nine years. Now, it’s 11. “The average consumer tends to hold onto their vehicle for six to seven years,” he said. Then, another owner does the same. From mileage to options to accident history, used vehicles each have their own story. But with research, buyers can still get a good car at a good price.
By Erika Enigk
GateHouse News Service
Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at calabi.silvio@ gmail.com.
52
g Since 19
Right Thin
1742 HIGHWAY 99 GRIDLEY
846-2553
Tires z Brakes
z
Wheels z Shocks z Batteries z Alignment
Buy from dealer Selling a used vehicle to a private party versus trading it in could get a better price. But buying from a private party, while it may save a little money, probably won’t be worth it, Gutierrez said. Generally, only those who are looking for a special vehicle, such as certain hard-to-find sports cars, would want to buy from a private party. Those who do choose the private party route should be sure to meet in a public place for safety. A dealership will perform basic reconditioning of a vehicle, so buyers know they’ll get a road-worthy car. And with newer vehicles, buyers can shop for certified pre-owned models that often come with warranties and other benefits, he said.
struggling to grab our attention in a sea of betterknown competitors. Like Saab, Mazda has always found its own path and appealed to a certain sort of stand-apart buyer. The CX-5 is light-years more mainstream than Mazda’s 1980s rotary-engine cars or even the “fivestroke” late-’90s Millennia luxury sedan, but it still exemplifies the company’s hardware-first approach to car making.
We buy, sell & trade tires & wheels
That’s Just How We Roll. Premium Auto, SUV & Truck Tires. Unbeatable prices. Top-notch service.
No appointment necessary! We carry a huge selection of new and used passenger tires, SUV tires, light truck tires and much more. With over forty years of industry experience, it’s no wonder our customers have come to trust our service, quality, and knowledge.
Executive Tire
1610 Montgomery St, Oroville
$
530-533-2951
49.95
photos by Stock.Xchng
Consider pricing Kelley Blue Book’s website, KBB.com, has a tool that allows buyers and sellers to estimate what a used vehicle is worth. It’s useful information when going into a negotiation, Gutierrez said. While many people may say their car is in “excellent” condition, that classification is reserved for vehicles that are almost like new, which few actually.
History report Carfax is the best-known vehicle history report service, but there are others as
well. If a vehicle has been in an accident or had issues, that information should be in the report. This is an especially important step for people who live in areas hit by flooding recently, Gutierrez said. If a vehicle sustained flood damage, a buyer should know.
Have a mechanic take a look Even with a clean history report, it’s important to give a used vehicle a once-over, and to have a trusted, independent mechanic do the same.
Local Courtesy Shuttle
We Service All Makes & Models
Wiser Auto & Farm Repair z
Lube, Oil* & Filter *up to 5 Quarts
Top off all fluids z 45 PT. vehicle inspection z Vehicle Road Test z Consultation z
Oiiill Change Chan Ch hang gee Oil O Cha
Special! $39.99
415 Virginia St., Gridley 846-4449
This Coupon is Good for:
• One Lube, Oil and Filter Change • A Multi-Point inspection • Tire Rotation and CAR WASH! Offer includes up to 5 quarts Motor oil and a Motocraft oil filter. Diesels, synthetic oil and some imports are extra.
1709 Highway 99 Gridley, CA 95948
846-4724 OFFER EXPIRES June 15, 2013
COUPON
