back in 2008 I got the same car insurance coverage levels on the same car, by about 8 different car insurance companies, and Allstate and AAA came in very close to the same costs, and I got fed up with listening to the Geico ads, the ones that keep repeating how you "COULD" save UP TO 430 dollars by switching from your car insurance company... you've probablly heard it to, on radio, TV, internet pop ups, magazine full page ads, etc etc. All that advertising costs them so much, they charge more to their customers so the profit isn't hit.
I just got a quote from AAA for $970 every 6 months, Geico for $1030 every 6 months
And Allstate charges me $812
Now, I mentioned that AAA and Allstate charge about the same, but the above numbers are about 180 dollars apart... well, everyone seems to do one thing or another to sweeten their deal, and AAA has a dividend check, and Allstate has the customer loyalty discount, plus decreasing deductible discount, and all that stuff.
So with those factors removed, AAA and Allstate charge about the same.
the 2008 comparison is here: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/11/car-insurance-comparison.html and I don't have the time tonight to get quotes from the rest of those companies to see how they've compared after 4 years, but you'll notice the difference between Allstate and Geico has doubled.
In this month's Men's Journal (June 2012) on page 120, is a new comparison, but that isn't available online yet, so here is the results, and I followed that with the 2009 Men's Journal comparison by the same writer.
Knog Strongman $100 Hawleyusa.com Best in Class 1 minute 45 seconds with angle grinder, hacksaw couldn't beat it, boltcutters were useless against it
next best Blackburn San Quentin $90 blackburndesign.com boltcutters useless, hacksaw in 3:32 grinder in 1:18
Kryptonite New York Legend 1590 $175 kryptonitelock.com boltcutters and hacksaw useless, grinder in 2:30
Judged in 2009 by Men's Journal writer Stan Horaczek, on security, usability, and theft insurance — the maximum amount a lock company will reimburse you if its lock fails.
By Stan Horaczek-
-Our Testing Methods:
We needed a lock-picker, so we called Dave LaBarge, former world-champion safecracker. When not competing, he runs LaBarge Lock & Safe Technicians, in Watervliet, New York. We also needed muscle. We tried a two-by-four (a favorite of thieves), but since that didn’t budge any of the shackles, we resorted to power tools. We even attacked one with the Jaws of Life.
Expert’s Pick: Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-Lock Theft insurance: $4,500 New York is a playground for bike thieves, and Kryptonite invites them to try with their top-gun U-lock. Its 18mm steel shackle (2mm thicker than the Squire’s) lasted longer under the knife than all but the OnGuard, and the lock refused to be picked. Add in the second-best theft insurance and it earns our nod. [$100; kryptonitelock.com] Security: 9/10; Usability: 7/10
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Abus Granit X Plus 54 U-Lock Theft insurance: None “Looks like you should be able to drill through the case,” said LaBarge. But even after punching through two layers of steel, the lock wouldn’t budge. Next we tried the power tool. It cut through the 13mm squared-off shackle more easily than it did the Squire or Kryptonite, but it took more time and made more noise than most thieves would tolerate. [$111;abus.com] Security: 8/10; Usability: 7/10
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Masterlock 8200D Pro Street Cuff Theft insurance: $3,500 The cuff’s short link kept us from getting leverage for a prying attack or a good angle for our power tool. LaBarge eventually opened them using a locksmithing secret we can’t reveal — “not something the average bike thief is capable of.” More problematic: The cuff’s small opening wouldn’t fit around our mountain bike’s wheel. [$68; masterlockbike.com] Security:7/10; Usability: 6/10
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Squire Paramount Plus U-Lock Theft insurance: None “I bet that will pick,” said LaBarge, and five minutes later, he had it open. Our brute force attacks didn’t go so smoothly — the 16mm-diameter steel lasted 13 minutes against our power tool. And the Squire’s bike mount is the best of the bunch, so you won’t leave it behind to protect your garage floor. [$100; squireusacyclelocks.com] Security: 5/10; Usability: 8/10
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OnGuard Beast 5016L chain Theft insurance: $5,001 LaBarge needed a power tool, a chisel, and 25 minutes to break one of the chain’s links. Hell, even the local firehouse’s Jaws of Life–esque cutters made only a small dent. And unlike U-locks, chains can wrap around nearly anything. The only catch: You’ll pay for great security with a hernia, as the Beast weighs 20 pounds. [$190; onguardlock.com]Security: 10/10; Usability: 5/10
In Vegas it's $3.89 for the 87 octane, which is all I buy for my Veloster. In Primm Nevada, about 15 miles from Vegas it's $4.35 In San Diego its $4.29
There is no reason to pay for 89 or 91 unless you get someone to prove to you that the cheapest gas you can buy will damage your engine. If you have a Ferrari, congrats, and pay for the most expensive gas you can get someone to sell you. If you have a 13.5 to 1 compression racing hemi, yup, you'll need some 110 octane. For all the normal cars sold by the big 5 car makers, GM, Ford, VW, Toyota, Honda, you won't need to waste the money on 91 octane. If you know otherwise, feel free to inform me and the other readers, we would like to know how 87 will damage your engine, and 91 won't.
It turns out that a lot of people are impressed with the horsepower measurements their car can achieve on high octane... hell, my 426 runs strictly on 100 octane low lead avgas, and the hp numbers are cool as hell, but new cars with computers will automatically adjust the timing to keep it from pinging when you use less than the highest octane sold at gas pumps. You don't get the same hp, because the timing is backed off from the most performance settings level, but who needs an extra 20 hp at the grocery store parking lot? When you are driving on the freeway at near the speedlimit? You only need the highest performance abilities from your engine when racing, so stop wasting money on 91 octane. It's your income, waste it anyway you want.
When anyone walks in and tells a salesman they are here to buy... the only thing the salesman should do is tell that customer, I'm here to get you that car, what would you like.
That isn't what happened today. I said I want a white one. The salesguy said, we don't have a white one.
THAT WAS STUPID
I said get it, I'm here to buy it, I'll be back when you get it here.
HE SAID "SIGN THIS CONTRACT FIRST"
IDIOT
I told him, I don't sign anything til I see that car I want. Then you give me the sales contract, and you get a commission, I get a car, we're both happy.
THIS IDIOT DOESN"T GET IT. I mean him, not me.
He believes that the dealership (included in this conversation was the manager) refuses to get me the car I'm in the showroom floor to buy. UNLESS I SIGN PAPERWORK.
I guess me telling him that I'm gonna go get the car from where it's at doesn't faze him.... Cause that is what I'll do.
But I'm not stupid either, I called one of the other 5 dealerships in San Diego and here's how that conversation goes... I'm telling you because you are still reading, and I figure you're a person who likes what I have to say about cars or you wouldn't be reading my blog anyway...
I called, Alan answered... "I want to buy a car from you" "What can I sell you" he replied. I said " You are the right guy, here's what I want" he told me there is only one available in the state of California. I said "Get it, I want it, I've already compared the rest of the cars, and this is the one for me." "I'll see what I can do, and call you back" he replaied.
SMART GUY
So, tomorrow we'll see if it's available and if he'll have it ready for me to pick up.
Update... Alan called me back, and hadn't been able to get ahold of the dealership that is reported to have that car. He didn't call me back the next day, when he did find out something, he let his boss call me instead, and I talked to the sales manager. Nice guy, not very sharp. After I told him I only will buy a white Hyundai Veloster, he went on to tell me about red cars, blue cars, Elantras and other Hyundais. So I repeated my decision of white, because he may have forgotten in the disappointment that he must feel at not being able to sell the colors that people do not want, and reminding him that I will buy a White Veloster.
He said that the dealership the White Veloster wouldn't part with it in a dealership trade.
I called them today. I learned the truth.
They don't have the basic car in White, they don't have any white car. They have an invoice on a computer telling them that a White optioned to the max car, that costs 3 thou more, and has options I don't want (sunroof) and won't pay for isn't there yet, but is supposed to be on it's way.
So, no White Veloster. Hyundai has 3 problems, salesmen that aren't honest, sales managers that aren't honest, a lack of cars in the available color I want, and me... a guy who decided to buy the basic car they make, in a basic color, but isn't going to be getting the car that Hyundai advertises that they make. They don't make enough to sell me one.
So why did Alan the salesguy not call me back? Why did his salesmanager not tell me that a car matching my requirements was in another city and that the dealership that had it wouldn't trade it between dealerships?
Honda Civic, 18,6 thou, gets 39mpg with a automatic. 2dr, 15" wheels 195-65R15's with hubcaps , 6 airbags, great looks. 65 % US parts, 20% Japanese, 3-36 warranty. Auto tensioning seatbelts. No maintenance package. Assembled in Alliston, Ontario Canada But you can't get the stick shift in the upscale models. You'd have to pay 1800 for the upscale model with rims, bluetooth, and sunroof. But this model (LX?) has no factory subwoofer, No XM, No rims. Not in the 18,600 dollar model on the dealership lot, and though it's likely the best looking, it's the least well equipped.
Fiat, 18,5 thou, 38mpg, 2drs, 7 airbags,5 speed stick, new to the US after decades not in the US market, 3 models with 2 optional packages... the Gucci http://www.coolpicturegallery.us/2011/08/fiat-500-by-gucci-goes-topless-priced.html and the Arbarth. The engine isn't resting on the engine mounts... it's under them. If a front end collision happens, the engine goes under the passenger compartment, instead of into it. That is damn good engineering design. It has a download feature, that you can get info from the car computer, and look at it on your computer... even plan how to reroute for better gas mileage.
Above... Sport model with foglights and sunroof, below... the lounge or pop... I don't know which, but it's a cabrio convertible, with the other rims
Interior has the dash panel in the same color as the exterior.. and that is a very cool thing. You don't notice that your car interior is drab until you see a dash with paint on it like the good old days
No center console for storage... but 2 cupholders up front in good reach, and two for beack seater types if you ever have any. I don't.
the doorlocks are integral to the door handles, when you select drive and get up to 8mph, they lock automatically
The front overhang above, the rear below.
two versions of the rims. The ones in back are great.
Rims nice, Best stereo with a Bose and subwoofer, XM, 4-50 warranty, and 3-36 bumper to bumper warranty. Fiat has a Studio, not a dealership. They aren't dealing, they are displaying for sale. I like that. Suspension in two packages, sport and normal. I test drove the sport, and you'd have a ball at the track, but not in the daily commute on lousy California freeways. Tires are Continentals on the Sport model 195 45 16s.. and Firestone Firehawk 185 55 15s I test drove the ordinary, and it's comfortible. Side mirrors have a convex - normal split, and the convex is necessary as well as safe, because you can't look over your shoulder to see what is in the lane you're trying to merge into. 3 year, 36 thou free maintenance, and that means clutch and brakes in addition to oil changes. Wow. Best maintenance deal going so far. Fiat even has a ownership club. That is cool. Assembled in Toluca Mexico, 59% Mexican parts... and they are looking to make a plant in Illinois. Fiat has been making cars since 1895, and are standing behind the car to a unheard of extant, if it becomes inoperable and you are more than a 100 miles from home, you get a 1000 dollar reimbursement for lodging, meals, adn car rental expenses if the problem is covered by the warranty in the first 4 years (mileage not relevant) they call it "Trip Interruption Coverage" Fiat was reviewed by Motortrend, here is it http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/1101_2012_fiat_500/viewall.html
Hyundai Velaster 18,3 thou, 40mpg, rims nice, tires 215-45 17, 3 dr hatch, no 2 door. Ouch. 6 spd stick, optional subwoofer, great cupholders, armrests, comfortable seats, and deep center storage, cool door handles, 6 airbags, LoJack and a demobilization security system, best warranty at 10 year 100thou and 5 yr 60k bumper to bumper. Best radio display, XM, touchscreen, bass boost makes up for the lack of subwoofer, nice transmission shifting and clutch. Made in Korea
Front looks fine
Little busy around the bumper,
Great door handles above... innovative. Solid too.
I think the designer had too much to drink the day they worked up the look of the profile. The quarter panels to the back of the front doors... ugly is not too strong a word.
Center exhaust... good looking.
Smart, 16-19k. 40mpg, only 70 horsepower, hate the transmission shifting... even the cool paddle shifter couldn't change my mind about the shift... feels like someone hits the brakes lightly every time it shifts. EVERYTIME! You do the head and upper body bob. Not fun. Ouch. Optional subwoofer and XM, but you doens't sound right with the factory setting of front to rear balance. It's too much front. You can't adjust that, Ouch. 8 airbags, 4 yr 50 thou warranty, no stick shift, just horrible automated 5 spd. Yuck. Nice rims, 2 dr that ought to have been a 2 seater. No way the back seats are useful, and I don't want a 4 seater. No kids, no passengers, just get me to work and back comfortably is all I want. Part of the Mercedes Benz network/dealership, it has the nicest studio, and the most incredible drive it in for service you'll ever experience. Stunning. Too bad I hate the transmission. Love the tires being this close to the corners of the car, you'll never scrape going into or out of the parking lots off the streets... that is very annoying that there is so much overhang in so many cars. Not the smart... I bet curbs or offroad would be a snap too.
Above, front tires, below - back tires
Mini coupe, 31 thou, only gets 35 mpg, stick, rims, only 4 airbags, factory subwoofer, XM, 2 dr, nice rims, good looks, assembled in Oxford England, 4-50 warranty. The mini doesn't have salesmen, it has motoring advisors. I like that, but when I went into the San Diego Mini dealership, 100th in America, I was ignored, then found that the one sales person was offensive. Best maintenance package I think (can't recall the years and miles limits) but they take the oil, clutch, brakes, rotors, wiper blades, spark plugs and o2 sensor. Wow. Too bad it's 33% overpriced by the competition.
Ford Fiesta 17,6 thou and Focus 21 thou, both have 40mpg, only have 4 drs in hatch or sedan, look fine, Sony stereo with XM and Subwoofer, 3-36, stick or auto, rotten 4.9% apr, 5 or 7 airbags. But no stick on the high dollar optioned out model. Was offered a coke by a random salesguy. Wow. Only time that happened in a dozen different manufacturers dealerships. Salesman didn't know the Fiesta or Focus. Not good to have to look up every thing I ask about. Seriously, know the cars you are selling, especially the new models. http://www.ford.com/?EmailID=ford_hxxa_fusf_on&cks=10181782821 for a comparison website from Ford to check out the Fiesta and Focus.
Kia Rio, 17thou, no stick, 40mpg, hub caps... yuck. Ok looks, 6 airbags, XM, optional subwoofer, steering wheel controls for stereo are optional, Ties for best warranty at 10 yr 100k, Made in Korea. Salesperson wasn't interested in telling me about the car, kept asking "Where is this going?" reply, "I'm comparing cars with better than (you know the rest) and the dealerships to see where I'll buy my new car this month, plus I'm posting this on my website" and I was brushed off onto another salesman. Yeah, too busy to try to sell me on a Kia. And Kia owns the dealership.
Toyota Yaris, 16,8 thou, uggg hupcaps, 2 dr stick, 9 airbags, XM with FM HD (only one I found) but no subwoofer, No armrests! WTF? 3-36 warranty, 2 yr 25 thou free maintenance of oil changes and that ordinary stuff. Front and back sunroof, that is new to me... cool too. But, Toyota give college students twice the discount they give military. Another WTF, and a post telling you I hate that http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/toyotascion-what-fuck-college-grad-gets.html , and boycott Toyota till that changes to equal or better
VW Golf tdi is a diesel, 25thou, 42 mpg, stick, 2dr, 17" rims, 8 airbags, no subwoofer, XM, 3-36 bumper to bumper, 4-50k powertrain, and 3 year 35 month maintenance of oil changes and the normal. Great seats, big hatchback opening, full size spare, no coke machine, Ouch. Glove box gets an AC vent to keep sodas chilled while you drive with AC. Heater does that smae glove box when using the heater. Most unusual, and unique feature.
Nissan Versa, 13,7 stripped without even power windows, 17,2 normal. 38 mpg, 4dr Ouch. No stick, just auto, 6 airbags, XM is optional, no subwoofer, NO ARMRESTS, Ouch. 3-36 warranty, Looks only ok. Salesman was impressively knowledgeable and nice.
Chevy Cruze ECO 20 thou, not in a 2 dr, looks very good, and has the coolest interior. If they made a 2 dr, I'd buy it. They don't. First time in Chevy history that they don't make a 2 dr? I think so. Even the Pontiac Soltice, and Saturn Ion were roadster 2 doors... I call them Chevy anyhow, but they were killed off, and now Chevy doesn't make a 2 dr econo car. If you want a Vette, hell yes you get a 2 dr. For about 60 thou to start. anyway, 3-36 warranty, great lighweight rims, and other lightweight stuff like body panels of plastic are many of the engineered to get the best gas mileage in the 2012 cars comparison, and it's the best selling new car in the US. XM, no Subwoofer, poor armrests that I don't like, cupholders that you find are under your elbow in front of the drivers armrest barely, very comfortable car. 10 airbags
Anyone have any insight into anything I missed? Let me know. I'll post it here to share with everyone.
In summary, most impressive car was the Fiat, Ford and Chevy are idiots for not selling a 2 dr stick with a factory subwoofer and at least 40mpg,
Mini salesperson pissed me off. No shit.
Buick, Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Scion, and MINI don't make a better than 35 mpg car.
There are way too many cars competing for the 2 dr better than 35 mpg for mediocre impressions when a buyer walks in... but that doesn't phase the dozen dealerships I went to here in San Diego. I wonder if anyone rates or compares them with other from the same manufacturer, or the competition.
Though I asked at all dealerships about the cost of a coke, only one took the hint and offered me a free coke. Geez, is a dollar to impress a new customer too much to get them to buy a 20 thousand dollar car? Stupid dealerships.
Kia should try harder to sell cars, they've got a decent package, but their sales people aren't up to the challenge.
Nissan Leaf? 5 thousand dollar dealership markup. On a 35,600 dollar car. So you ain't getting it for less tha 40 thou.
The most impressive dealership ambience and looks? The Mercedes (and Smart Center) at the 163 and Baboa, Marvin Brown Cadillac, MINI of San Diego, Bob Baker Fiat in Carlsbad.. the Fiat place has Italian American salesguys... it may be corny, but I thinks it is cool as hell to have a guy with an Italian accent talk to me about Fiat. I'll say the same about any ethnically related car maker... British selling MG's, Rolls, etc... Japanese selling Hondas, Koreans selling Hyundais, French selling Citreons, you get the point. It's cool to have someone with the cultural fundamentals telling you why cars from their country are superior to the others. I have respect for that.
but that Poway Nissan showroom has the sales manager desk manned front and center. That is very cool. No side office off the side and out of sight and sound from the customers and salespeople, the manager was smack in the center of it all, and walked over to say "What can I help you with?"
a 20,000 dollar car is about 420 a month for 60 months
LoJack costs about 800 bucks
It's not important how many airbags the car has, you are only sitting in the drivers seat, so learn how many are protecting you. No, I don't have passengers 99% of the time. They can take their chances, or buy their own car with 3 airbags around them . Backseat passengers get 2 at most anyway.
Buying a car with a 3 36 warranty, and then having to pay 1500 for a extended warranty doesn't make sense when you can buy a car with a 5 or 6 year warranty. Even better, get the 10 year 100000 mile warranty Insurance costs The Hyundai will cost me $480, the Fiat: $522 every six months
Marc commented that the Sonic might be in this comparison... but it's not a 2 door.. and it's ugly. Yeah, I know that the Hyundai Velaster is also an ugly 3 door hatchback.. but it's got a hell of a lot more going for it. Buy the Cruze Eco instead of the ugly Sonic if you want an awesome 42 mpg car, but don't mind 4 doors. The CarGal bought one... and loves the hell out of it.
