Just like the scene from Office Space when Dom Portwood asks Peter if he received the memo about his TPS reports, today I ask you Truckblog fans, did you get that memo from last week about Truckblog TV and our other huge stories? If you didn't, below is a list of our top blogs from last week for you to read this Monday morning. "So if you could just remember to do that from now on, that'd be great. All right!".
In response to direct customer feedback citing the prospect of rising gas prices as a top concern, Chrysler LLC today announces its own economic stimulus package: an exclusive gas price protection policy that eliminates the risk of further spikes in fuel prices. With the U.S. purchase of eligible Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, customers can enroll in the “Let’s Refuel America” program and receive a gas card that immediately lowers their gas price to $2.99 a gallon, and keeps it there for three years. The offer is available at 3,511 U.S. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships through June 2, 2008, and is available on vehicles ranging from popular new compacts, crossovers and minivans to full-size diesel-powered pickup trucks.
Edmund's Inside Line have posted their thorough review of the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 CRD SUV. Earning an average of 19.3 miles per gallon, the new diesel powered Jeep Grand Cherokee serves as a perfect replacement for it's V8 SRT8 cousin, which only boasts a hefty 13.4 miles per gallon. Another advantage of the new 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee's diesel engine is it's price, at only $1,655 which is far cheaper than it's full size heavy duty pickup truck brothers. The bottom line of the new Cherokee is that it provides an "Affordable diesel option [that] makes the Grand Cherokee a far more practical proposition". Click here to read their review.
In an article by US News, with gas prices climbing past the $4.00 dollar per gallon mark nation wide, SUV trade in values and sales have fallen over 14 percent in March alone, compared to the same time one year ago. The SUV used car sales have been so bad, that some dealers have been forced to sell them overseas, facing expensive transportation costs and little profit. Al Johnson of AutoNation's Maroone Nissan in Pembroke, Florida said "the dealership had been exporting about one car a month" in recent years, but this year they average roughly 10".
In an article by BusinessWeek, Americans are now consuming less gasoline, resulting in less vehicles on the road due to high gasoline prices. In a study conducted in Palm Beach County, Florida, for the past 20 years, workers have been counting vehicles with special sensors to monitor their activity. Nearly every year since the study started, the number of vehicles on the road has risen at least 2 percent annually. However in 2007, traffic levels noticed a decline, and so far for 2008 are down 7.5 percent.
Andrew Posner of TreeHugger.com says that the price for a gallon of gas is selling for around $3.00 per gallon in New Jersey, a price that is lower than the nations average of $3.51. Why, you ask? Here's your answer. "New Jersey has the nation’s third-lowest gasoline tax, at 14.5 cents a gallon, and it hasn’t gone up in almost two decades".
Just in case that "PC Load Letter" error is getting you down this morning, we have composed a list of last week's top blogs to make you happy again. Especially the 2010 Ford F-150 4.4 Liter Diesel pictures! Check out the full list below.
“Go Ahead Punk… Make My Day!”… Imagine this familiar voice sounding out from under the hood of your ride; or you pull up in front of your girlfriend’s house and announce your arrival with “I Got You Babe”, or you are out on your boat and you press a button on your FX-550 and – all around you can hear the theme song from “Jaws”. With Horntones the possibilities are endless.
Check out the YouTube video inside! Install article and full review, coming soon.
Bloomberg reports that Chrysler will be cutting the Jeep Commander SUV from their model line up. Introduced in 2005, the Jeep Commander is a large scale SUV, and also the worst-selling of Chrysler's six Jeep models. The road will end next summer, mid-2009, after sales plunged over 43 percent this year alone. "The vehicle will be canceled after an unusually short life span. Mainstream models generally are allowed to make it at least through one full product cycle, or the seven or eight years between significant redesigns" said Tom Libby of J.D. Power & Associates. No further details have been released.
Chrysler LLC will introduce a wide array of new, innovative and — in most cases — industry-first technologies, all designed to enhance the customer experience, the company announced here today at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress.
Have you ever found yourself sitting in front of the "consultants" at work, being asked to explain what you do at work every day? Just like Peter Gibbons had to do in the comedy movie, Office Space. "What would you say...Ya do here?". Well our Monday morning recap should solidify exactly what you're not doing for them, and instead, you are catching up on the hottest news from last week, just in case you missed it all.
Truckblog's own, Michael S, came across this photo yesterday of a Jeep wrangler that crashed into a tree and, well, as you can see, leads us to one "hair" raising experience!
A hitch with the towing electrical connection built INSIDE the receiver? It's an innovation that would have others asking, "Why didn't I think of that?!" Valley, a towing industry leader for more than 60 years, did. New Integrated Trailer Wiring(tm) hitches from Valley are inventive and stylish. Advancements in manufacturing technology have allowed the towing electrical connection to be moved INSIDE the cross tube of the receiver, eliminating the need for unsightly brackets or to drape the harness outside the vehicle where it can be damaged by weather and road debris.
PX3 Xtreme Oil Booster, released by PX3 Lubricants, has dynamometer tests confirming an increase in Horsepower and Torque up to 5% or more; offers protection against heat and cold dry starts; and reduces friction and engine wear. Additionally, users have reported improved fuel efficiency resulting in significant increases in gas mileage. Dynamometer tests on the Powerblock television broadcasts confirmed PX3 Lubricant’s statements.
Mopar and the Mopar Underground team showcased their customized Jeep vehicles and Dodge trucks at Moab Jeep Safari 2008 in March. “Jeep engineering has been coming to Moab for years. Mopar is at Moab to test, evaluate and prove the authenticity of our Mopar Performance Parts for Jeep vehicles and Dodge trucks on the most grueling off-road trails in Moab,” said Simon Boag, President – Service & Parts/Mopar, Chrysler LLC.
Baja Designs new Diablo Rally light will have you seeing double by incorporating their race proven Diablo lens not once, but twice! The new Diablo Rally doubles your light output by incorporating two Baja Designs Diablo lenses stacked one on top of the other.
In an article by Bloomberg.com, Chrysler LLC president, Jim Press, stated in an interview at the New York Auto Show that the automaker "needs about half of its 11 current SUV models" and is looking to downsize its inventory. Chrysler LLC, which is the United States' third largest automaker, is trying to reduce costs after taking a $2 billion dollar loss since 2006.
SIRIUS Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has informed the companies that it has ended its investigation into the pending merger of SIRIUS and XM without taking action to block the transaction.
Leading with innovation, Chrysler LLC launches industry’s first online Customer Advisory Board to establish ongoing two-way dialogue with customers and gain their insights on product features and technologies. The online Customer Advisory Board’s closed forum leverages the leading-edge technology of Passenger, which is the leader in on-demand customer collaboration, to engage customers in active collaboration about products and business efforts.
Chrysler have announced they will be offering In-Car Internet, beginning this year. "The feature will be added to existing vehicles by dealers beginning this year and later be installed on the assembly line" stated Chrysler's Product Development Chief, Frank Klegon. Chrysler also hopes to make the radio itself a WiFi port. The technology will not be free though, and will utilize mobile phone towers for its signal, so you will need a wireless phone carrier for the system to work. The new Internet option can be added to existing models and will be worked into the future assembly line soon. Now you have an excuse to check out Truckblog even more, and become an even greater traffic hazard! What happened to safety?
In an article by The Detroit News, more and more automakers are jumping on the fuel economy bandwagon, and are beginning to convert over to diesel fueled engines as a new standard. "Although they are more costly to produce, diesel engines get about 25 percent better mileage than traditional gas-powered engines" stated Jim Hossack of AutoPacific Inc. However, "The rising cost of fuel will play a role in their growth in the U.S. market". So is converting to diesel technology really worth the money? Let us know your thoughts by using our comments system.
Mopar, Chrysler LLC’s original equipment parts manufacturer and supplier, announced it has introduced a new 3-year/100,000-mile warranty on its remanufactured powertrain assemblies for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. Mopar’s new comprehensive warranty on the reman powertrain assemblies covers the costs of all parts and labor. It includes a $75 towing allowance and is transferable. There is also no deductible required.
The IntelliStick is a compact dipstick replacement device which electronically monitors multiple conditions of engine oil and continuously scans for water/coolant and fuel intrusions.
Can you believe it's already Monday again? What happened to the weekend? Well, one thing is for sure, at least this week we get to look forward to more exciting news about our economy. Starting off with the price of oil tipping $110 per barrel, $3.29 dollar average gasoline prices (don't forget the diesel guys at well over $4.00 already!), continued market share decline for domestic automakers, Union employees not agreeing yet on contracts, and more vehicle recalls. However, on a happier note, here's a list of our top stories from last week that you may have missed in the midst of all the action last week.
Woo hoo Jeep lovers! Jeep Performance, which is a division of Mopar, are working on a 2.8 liter diesel engine swap kit for your Jeep. Everything needed will be included in the kits, "including a stand-alone wiring harness and non-EGR motor!". Apparently the Jeep Liberty diesel engines had problems with their exhaust gas recirculation systems, so Jeep has responded with a kit that will replace the Liberty diesel engine, as well as a drop in kit for all other Jeep platforms. Further details are to be released. As posted by 4Wheel Drive & Sport Utility Magazine.
4wdworld.com sells a product called the EEzy Wheel, which is an inflatable device that lifts your truck tire and wheel onto the hub of your pickup for you, effortlessly. The unit operates from air pressure in your spare tire, eliminating the need for an air compressor (although you can use one if you'd like). The EEzy Wheel Lift supports up to 175 pounds, and is compact and can be easily stored away.
Chrysler has issued a recall for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander SUV's, due to a problem with the vehicle stalling while driving. “The front control module may have been incorrectly manufactured. This could cause the engine to stall while driving or nor to start", stated The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Let's Go Aero (LGA), manufacturer of innovative Gear Management Solutions, now offers the LittleGiant Trailer Xpand (LGT Xpand) - a fully-enclosed trailer offering all the cargo space of a Chevrolet S-10 or Ford Ranger pickup bed.
Improving the fuel efficiency of vehicles is a key topic in the minds of consumers and manufacturers. While auto companies make progress in technology, there are quite a number of tips that any driver can employ to achieve world-class fuel economy.
John and Helen Taylor, fuel economy enthusiasts, drove a Jeep Compass and a Jeep Patriot, both standard production vehicles equipped with 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines and carrying two people and their luggage, from London to Berlin on less than a single tank of fuel each – an unmatched achievement among SUVs.
The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee S Limited debuts at the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva. This package combines the high-performance appearance of the SRT8 model with the efficiency of the 3.0-litre V-6 CRD engine or the recently revised 4.7-litre V-8 petrol engine. All Jeep Grand Cherokee models received styling refinements just a few months ago, and the new S Limited further broadens customer appeal.
AutoWeek have posted their not-so-good review of the Jeep Compass Sport 4x4, slamming the SUV for its features and stating "We can't think of a better candidate to disappear".
In an article by USA Today, the 2009 Nissan Murano performed the best out of 9 SUV's, in new crash tests of mid-size SUV's, released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
If you have a "case of the Mondays", just like Peter Gibbons did from the 1999 comedy, Office Space (a Truckblog favorite), then we've got some TPS Reports...I mean, blogs, for you! Here's a wrap up of our best blogs from last week.
Mopar is now making it easier for Jeep customers to modify their future vehicle, using their computerized ordering system called EASy, which stands for Electronic Accessory System.
K&N Engineering is now offering cold air intake kits for the 2007 Jeep Wrangler 3.8-liter V6. Made of a rotationally molded polyethylene tube, the intake kit uses a conical shaped oil filter and heat shield for maximum performance.
