Rising fuel cost: Consumers prefer diesel cars, cos increase

MUMBAI: Consumers have begun opting for diesel versions of popular car models in the wake of rising fuel costs, forcing carmakers to step up production of the diesel variants in recent months. The Indian car market, which grew 8% last year, comprises largely petrol-driven cars, which also bring in higher business margins.

Maruti Suzuki's fast movers Swift and Dzire are selling 65% diesel variants and others like Tata Motors, M&M, GM, Hyundai and Ford are jacking up production of the diesel models. Tata's Indica and Indigo, Mahindra's Logan, GM's Optra and Hyundai Verna and Sonata are seeing an increase in diesel model sales in recent months.

The trend towards diesel models is forcing Maruti Suzuki to launch the diesel and the petrol variant of the Splash hatchback and is understood to be jacking up production of its diesel engine plant to three lakh units from one lakh units.


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Trade Ministry weighs production of Agassi's electric car in Israel

Manufacturers note that the decisive factor in the sales of hybrid and electric cars is the rising price of gas, rather than environmental protection issues.

A number of other attempts are being made to develop yet additional alternatively powered vehicles, including using biotechnology power. Powering with bio-fuel produced from such foods as corn has garnered much criticism over the past year, and is considered one of the central factors in rising food prices and food shortages around the world.
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Salvage yards have planning board support

They say they provide an important service of recycling vehicles and offering inexpensive car parts. They say there are few industrially zoned areas in the city large enough to store hundreds of junk cars.

Councilman Keith Bates has been pushing for the demise of salvage yards since he was first elected in 2005.

"It distracts from the beauty of the city, and it detracts from the neighborhoods," he said.

John Diffin, owner of Diffin Auto Salvage on Horseshoe Road, said his operation is not an eyesore. A fence shields the property out front, and he said his business can’t been seen from nearby Yadkin Road. He doesn’t know what he would do if he had to close.

"I’m so old that I’m not ready to move," the 86-year-old said.



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High fuel prices impact travel industry

Bonnie Frost and her family got off the plane from New Jersey and found their rental car price had jumped as well.

"Yes, an extraordinary amount. Yes, much higher," says Frost.

Two hundred dollars more over five days, but at the end of a long flight what are you going to do?

"Just pay, just keep paying, know what I mean? Badda bing badda bing," says Calabresi.

Last July, Hertz stock was trading near $25 a share . Thursday it was $6.90. Is that why prices at the counter are going up? The company's public relations chief said that information wasn't available Thursday because department heads were taking a long holiday weekend.

The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau reports high prices have not yet hurt the tourist industry here.



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A Metallic Blue, MG 25

I indicate to the car behind to see if they saw what happened, say to Mel 'He just tried to hit me!' then realise I don't have his licence plate number. So I set off after him - ah don't you love urban traffic. I sit on his tail for about 30 seconds, him looking in the mirror the whole time, me ready in case he locks the wheels up, and make sure he's aware that I'm taking the time to memorise his number.

The police were great on the phone (I forgot to look up the name of the street and he waited for me to find it commenting, 'you were too busy still being alive', and his comment when I mentioned that Mel was there and saw parts of what happened was 'excellent'). Got an incident number, will be making a full statement tonight.

I know people will come on here and say that I instigated it by hitting his car, and I have to accept that to an extent - my only defence being it's not something I do as a matter of course (see above) and felt completely instinctive at the time to avoid being crushed betwixt MG and parked car.



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Restored Jeepster gives car buffs the Willys

Over time, the account grew to the point where he could afford to buy more expensive cars and the parts needed for the restoration. Today, he regularly searches online auction sites looking for parts and the next project.

"I like orphan cars that are rare, something that people wouldn't ordinarily buy to restore, but there's a market for it when it's done."

The Jeepster certainly fits into that category.

Manufactured by the Willys Overland company, which built the famous Willys Jeep for Allied forces during the Second World War, the Jeepster was designed to be a truck-like grocery-getter. It had the trademark Willys grille similar to the wartime Jeep, a removeable canvas top, a fold-down backseat area and even steps on the side for the kids to climb in.



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Auto industry takes on the SUV-less world

When the SUV owners go to a car dealership, they might expect a trade-in deal as they have done in the past. But now is not then.

Things have changed and people are often unprepared for the paltry amount being offered. The dealers want the sellers to know it’s a new SUV-less world out there, especially in southern California where distances are long and the time spent commuting can be even longer.

Tom Marmonde, general manager of Paradise Chevrolet in Ventura, said people have been coming to his dealership to buy small cars after trading in their SUVs.

"Some of the people are shocked at the trade-in value and don’t trade them in," Marmonde said.

So, how much less are people being offered by the dealership? Sellers may expect to get the Kelley Blue Book value.




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