“Car shoppers should take the time to compare vehicles on their consideration lists to fully understand the financial implications involved with cost of ownership,” says Juan Flores, director of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book.  “While a vehicle might be less expensive up front, the cost of fuel for that model, insurance and other expenditures could make it the less appealing choice for their wallet in the long run.”

Forbes recommends doing thorough research before making a purchase.  They consulted Kelley Blue Book, which recently announced its inaugural Total Cost of Ownership Awards.  The kbb.com website focuses on these variables of cost, among others:

1. Depreciation Value: How will the car hold up over time?  kbb.com bases its predictions on historical data (how the model has performed in the past) and economic factors.
2. Fuel Economy: Gas is expected to rise going into the summer months.  Significant amounts of money can be saved by buying a more fuel efficient vehicle; estimates put savings due to fuel costs at close to $900/year.  That’s close to $4500 of savings over the standard 5-yr span.
3. Auto Insurance: Insurance is mostly based on the driver’s past experience, age, credit rating, address, etc., but it is also based on the model of the car.  Luxury brands and sports cars tend to have higher insurance costs to start, while family minivans and SUVs will have a lower starting insurance cost.

According to kbb.com, the Best Brand for 2012 in their Total Cost of Ownership Awards is none other than Kia.  Kia is sweeping the Unites States car scene off its feet with its stellar fuel economy and resale value.  The Kia Soul heads KBB’s Compact Car category because “its lowest-in-category fair purchase price matched with outstanding fuel and insurance cost figures combined to give it nearly a $1,300 advantage over the Hyundai Elantra.”

In the Mid-Sized car category Kia and its sister company Hyundai switched places; the Hyundai Sonata beat out Kia’s Optima to win the top spot.  Similarly, the Hyundai Santa Fe outpaced the Kia Sorento in the Crossover category “based on its combination of lowest fair purchase price and lowest long-term depreciation coupled with lower maintenance and insurance costs.”

The VDS measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old (2009 model year) vehicles includes 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle.  Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.  The Genesis “received 81 points, the lowest ever among any Hyundai automobile,’’ a Hyundai official said.  Hyundai has shown consistent improvement in VDS, reducing problems per 100 vehicles by 75 points over the past five years.  Hyundai finished ninth overall, ahead of Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW and Audi.

The Genesis sedan has been gathering awards left and right from prominent and influential media and automotive organizations ever since its 2009 debut.  Along with many other honors and distinctions, the model received the much-coveted North American Car of the Year Award, is a 3-time winner of Ward’s Ten Best Engines, and earned a Top Safety Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Improving every year, the Genesis combines the best of two worlds: the high-tech features and power specs customary of a luxury vehicle paired with a competitively low price and superb safety ratings.

“Our goal is to design and build cars that meet and exceed consumers’ expectations not only off the showroom floor, but through the duration of their ownership experience.  Earning Hyundai’s first-ever top 10 finish in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study demonstrates that our efforts are paying dividends,” said Erwin Raphael, director of engineering and quality, Hyundai Motor America.  ”It’s equally gratifying to see Genesis sedan, a content-rich model with all the features you expect of a premium car, outperform powerful competitors in its category.  Long-term dependability translates to a positive ownership experience and brings customers back to the Hyundai brand in the future.”

OFFICIAL RULES:

Go to http://www.gotogary.com/video/ to submit your entry.

1. Contest Dates:

The “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest begins February 1, 2012, and ends March 31, 2012.

VIDEO SUBMISSION PERIOD: February 1, 2012 – March 31, 2012

SELECTION OF BEST VIDEOS: April 1, 2012 – April 13, 2012

NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS: April 16, 2012 – April 20, 2012

2. Eligibility:

Submitting a video in this contest is open to persons who on the date of entry are legal residents of one (1) of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia, at least eighteen (18) years of age (or age of majority if greater than 18), and who are registered users of http://www.youtube.com or http://vimeo.com. Employees, officers, directors and their immediate family members of the contest entities and each of their respective parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, advertising and promotion agencies, legal and financial advisers, and any and all other companies associated with this contest are not eligible to enter. For purposes of this contest, “immediate family members” means parents, spouses, children, siblings, in-laws, grandmothers, or grandfathers.

3. Video Submission Requirements:

• Running Time: Five (5) minute maximum, including any credits. If entry is longer than five (5) minutes, the entry may be disqualified in the Administrator’s sole discretion.
• Language: English
• Video: The video should feature your pet or your child’s reaction to watching a Gary Rome Auto Group commercial.
• Age: Any child recorded in the video must be ten (10) years of age or younger.

4. Judging to Determine the Potential Winners:

All eligible video submissions received during the video submission period will be watched and judged.  The judges will score each eligible entrant’s video based on the following judging criteria, each given equal weight:

• Does the video feature either a pet and/or a child (under the age of ten (10))?
• How original/creative/entertaining, to all age groups, is the video submission?
• How favorable is the Video Submission to Gary Rome Auto Group?
• For helpful examples, check out the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmqeosjjTaY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u23WgtoOJUY

Based on the above judging criteria, the winning videos will be chosen.

5. Additional Terms:

All entrants of  the “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest must agree to the following terms and conditions. DO NOT enter this contest if you do not agree with these terms and conditions. Your video submissions may be used for a Gary Rome Auto Group commercial but may not be copied, sold or distributed to other persons.

We reserve the rights to change the rules and prizes without any written notice.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties and Liabilities:

The undersigned (the participant or the legal guardian, if the former is less than 18 years of age) for and in consideration of the granting of permission to Gary Rome Auto Group, agrees to refrain from suing and discharges Gary Rome Auto Group and its officers, agents and employees from all liability arising out of the participation of the contestant in the “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest. The undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Gary Rome Auto Group for any loss or damage that the contestant may incur due to the acts or the omissions of the contestant while participating in the aforementioned event. The undersigned having read and understood agrees to comply with the rules and the safety provisions established for the contest.

7. Consent of Release:

By submitting your video you give Gary Rome Auto Group the rights to use your video in any/or all promotional spots. As a guardian, you will be required to fill out a consent form for any contestant under the age of eighteen (18). Proof of guardianship will be required.

8. Who Won:

The winning entrants will be notified on or by April 20, 2012.

Grand prize: The lucky winner will be featured in an upcoming Gary Rome Auto Group commercial & receive a choice of a $250 American Express gift card or a $250 Dave’s Soda & Pet City gift card. Transportation to the filming studio, in West Springfield, MA, is the responsibility of the winner. Every valid submission will receive a stuffed Jack doll.

In November, the Kia Picanto won the International Forum (iF) Design award.  The three-door Picanto, only available in Europe, won the award for its “pure design quality, workmanship, innovation and eco-friendliness.”  The Picanto boasts a sporty exterior, Bluetooth voice activation, and other nifty features, as well as a low CO2 emissions rate of 95 g/km.  Along with its 7-year/100,000 mile warranty, and low price, it’s no wonder the Kia Picanto won the fourth Kia iF Design Award in three years.

Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer said: “Receiving the iF product design award for the new Kia Picanto is a great success for our design team and it is welcome recognition of our brand’s design-oriented strategy.”

A month later, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named their Top Safety Picks for 2012.  A record 115 models all made the cut for various vehicle segments.  The IIHS rating tests include:

• 40 mph frontal offset crash tests
• 31 mph side-impact tests
• A roof test requiring the vehicle to withstand a force of four times the vehicle’s weight before reaching 5 inches of crush.  (The IIHS roof test is more severe than the government’s, though a tougher federal rule takes effect for 2013 models.)
• A 20 mph rear crash that also tests the head restraint protection

The Kia Soul and Forte sedan both won Top Safety Pick awards for the small-car classification.  The Optima won for midsize moderately priced cars, the Sportage for small SUVs, and the Sorento for midsize SUVs.

Vroomgirls.com came out with their first ever Cars of the Year Awards for 2011.  Who did they choose for Best Hatchback?  The Kia Rio SX!  In their words the Rio is “fantastically roomy, agile on the road, zippy and low priced.  Honestly, what more could any driver want?”  We couldn’t put it better ourselves.  The Rio also gets great gas mileage at 30 mpg-city/40 mpg-highway.

Two weeks ago Kia scooped the What Car? Ultra Low Carbon Award for its environmentally efficient range of cars, in particular the Rio and Pecanto models.  The Rio, with CO2 emissions as low as 85 g/km, making it the cleanest non-electric car in the world.  What Car? Magazine honored the Picanto last summer at their Green Awards ceremony.

Paul Philpott, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, received the Ultra Low Carbon Award saying, ”Kia has been striving over recent years not only to deliver exciting, attractive, high-quality cars – but also to deliver real benefits to customers in the form of cleaner technologies that don’t carry a price premium. We are delighted that What Car? – one of Europe’s leading consumer magazines – has recognized our efforts.”

To learn more about buying your own amazing Kia contact Gary Rome Auto Group today!

Just a few weeks ago, 28 fancy cats, 3 hens and a rooster were removed from a backyard breeding operation in Western Massachusetts.  The owner has been selling these exotic cats for years, but she ran out of space in her 12×24 shed, leading to the intervention.  Rescued by the MSPCA, the animals were treated by veterinarians at the shelter for ringworm, ear mites, and conjunctivitis, were spayed and neutered and received other vaccinations.  They are all expected to be put up for adoption.

Unfortunately, things like this happen all too often, as we at Gary Rome Auto Group know all too well.  Several years ago, a 7-week old pit-bull puppy was thrown from a 3rd story window.  An employee here found  “Smitty,” as the puppy is known, and brought him to the MSPCA.  The diagnosis was a fractured skull and broken leg.

Since pit-bulls tend to have thicker skulls than most other breeds of dog, the main concern was the broken front leg.  Being only a puppy, the broken leg may have an effect on the bone’s development.  An orthopedic surgeon and neurologist examined the dog and said surgery was not seem necessary.  They prescribed 6 weeks of rest after which they examined him again.

This time, the police were able apprehend the man responsible, 19-year old Jacque Coleman.  He pled guilty to assaulting a woman and throwing the puppy through a 3rd floor window.  Judge Phillip A. Beattie sentenced him to a year in the Hampden County Correctional Center on each charge, to be served concurrently.

Christine Allenberg, a law enforcement officer for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said, “I talked about the injuries the puppy had suffered and about the link between cruelty to animals and violence towards people.  There are numerous studies that show when someone is willing to abuse an animal, the next step is a person.”

She said then that the sentencing shows that the court is taking animal cruelty seriously, and that people understand it needs to be nipped in the bud, especially with the knowledge that it can foreshadow violent crimes against people.

Officer Allenberg was also on the MSPCA Law Enforcement Officer on duty in the case of those cats and farm birds.  “We’re glad to have gotten to this property when we did because all of these animals were living under deplorable conditions…The owner’s cooperation meant that we were able to very quickly transport the animals to Boston to receive the veterinary care they urgently need,” she stated.

The MSPCA-Angell has established a donation page for any members of the public who wish to donate toward the care of the animals, and others like them.  To learn more about donating or adopting, visit www.mspca.org or call 617-522-5055.

“We don’t usually see that much movement in only a year,” Eric Lyman, director of residual solutions for ALG said. “That’s a huge improvement.”

This should mean more leasing opportunities for Hyundai in the long run.  A higher residual value implies lower monthly payments. In leasing, the customer in effect borrows the difference between the upfront cost of a vehicle and its predicted residual value at the end of the lease.

Hyundai averaged 17 percent lease penetration for 2011, up from 12 percent in 2010, Hyundai spokesman Dan Lienert said.  According to the Power Information Network, the industry average for lease penetration was 19 percent in the third quarter.

The Hyundai Elantra won ALG’s compact car segment for the highest residual value.  The Elantra was also named North American Car of the Year this month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  Separately, the Elantra also won a 2012 Polk Automotive Loyalty Award with a customer-retention rate of 27 percent.

Hyundai wants to capitalize on this rise in customer awareness and loyalty.  In just a few short years, Hyundai has positioned itself effectively as a company known for manufacturing cars of excellent quality, above-average warranties, and state-of-the-art amenities at very affordable prices.  Now, however, the Hyundai corporation wants to take their branding one step further.  Coining the term “modern premium,” Hyundai eschews the supposition that “premium” means “high priced.”  On the contrary, says Chung Eui-sun, “Today, customers do not believe that expensive cars with unnecessary technology are premium. Instead, they want their core needs fulfilled at an accessible price and with a car that exceeds their expectations; a car that reflects their values and the times in which they live.

“Hyundai is not just a company that makes cars. Hyundai is a company that creates new possibilities. Our goal is not to become the biggest car company. Our goal is to become the most-loved car company and a trusted lifetime partner of our owners,” Chung continues.

John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said the brand is quickly shedding its image as a purveyor of cheaper new cars and becoming a major player in the global industry.  Hyundai has raised transaction prices 14 percent since 2009, all the while maintaining a strong reputation for value.  Hyundai has also cut vehicle rebates to just 18 percent of its incentive spending in 2011, down significantly from just three years ago.

“The orthodoxy inside the company just three or four years ago was, seriously, ‘We can’t sell a car without a rebate on the hood,’” Krafick said.

Hyundai boosted U.S. sales 20 percent to 645,691 vehicles in 2011, which included a 41 percent gain in Elantra sales and a 15 percent gain in Sonata sales.  On the whole, the American market rose 10 percent

From Coca-Cola to Budweiser, GoDaddy to E-Trade, there have been many memorable Super Bowl ads.  Car commercials, however, have tended to be on the dull side.  In the last couple of years, automobile companies have been trying to rid themselves of the formulaic “driving on a winding road” scene.   The 2010 Kia Sorento commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuSfLoXq22w) is a prime example of that effort.  And this year, Kia is pulling out all the stops to continue that trend.  To promote its Optima family sedan, they have recruited supermodel Adriana Lima, the band Motley Crue, and martial arts fighter Chuck Liddel.  Just prior to its Super Bowl broadcast, the ad will be screened in movie theaters.

Although most of the spots during the show are just 30 seconds long, automakers prefer to air 60 second spots in order to attract more attention.  It seems to be working for Chrysler and Volkswagen, who both saw sales growths of 25% and increases in market share after their ads in last year’s telecast.  Kia, one of the best performing brands in the American auto market last year, hopes to sink its fingers into that post-Super Bowl buzz.  It doesn’t hurt that American auto sales are also expected to continue their slow recovery from the recession, with a predicted 14 million units to be sold in the coming year.

No matter how big a fan of football you may be, let’s be honest; the Super Bowl is all about the ads.  I for one, can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this year.

A jury of 50 independent North American automotive journalists evaluated each of the new cars introduced last year and chose the 2012 Hyundai Elantra as the winner.

The award was announced at a news conference at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which marks Hyundai’s second win. The Hyundai Genesis was named North American Car of the Year in 2009.

“Elantra speaks to the success of our recipe of bold design and great fuel economy,” said John Krafcik, president and chief executive officer, Hyundai Motor America. “In a year with some truly breakthrough competitors, we are honored that the jury recognizes Elantra’s far-reaching impact on the industry.”

The jurors considered more than 50 new vehicles, before selecting the top three cars and top three trucks. The Volkswagen Passat and Ford Focus were the other car finalists.

This is the 19th year of the awards, which were inspired by the prestigious European “Car of the Year.” The jury is administered by an organizing committee and funded exclusively with dues paid by the jurors.

Jurors judge the cars on a number of factors including innovation, impact on the industry, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

Elantra exemplifies Hyundai’s emotional “Fluidic Sculpture” design principles. “Fluidic Sculpture” considers the interplay of wind with rigid surfaces to create the illusion of constant motion. Elantra is an evolution of the design qualities found in Sonata.

Along Elantra’s sides are Sonata’s flowing lines, with the addition of a strong undercut feature line starting at the front door.

These lines, along with muscular wheel arches and a sleek roofline, create a memorable and spacious package. Flowing lines also lead to an aerodynamic body.

The drag coefficient for the Elantra is an exceptionally low 0.28 that compares favorably to the Chevrolet Volt (0.29).

Hyundai’s signature hexagonal front grille and detailed swept-back headlights give Elantra a compact athletic face.

The assertive stance is complimented by 15-, 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels and athletic proportions. Available fog lights and side repeater mirrors complete the distinct design. Elantra was designed at Hyundai’s North American Design Center in Irvine, Calif.

Elantra’s standard fuel economy is EPA-rated at 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, amd 33 mpg combined, with the six-speed automatic transmission or manual transmission.

These figures give Elantra a highway-only driving range of up to 500 miles. Elantra’s strong EPA ratings are backed up by the highest owner satisfaction with real-world fuel economy in the compact class, according to data from J.D. Power and Associates.

Under the hood, the Elantra is powered by an all-new 1.8-liter Nu four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque (145 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque for Elantra PZEV).

Thanks to advanced clean engine technology, most Elantras sold in California, Oregon and several Northeast states are certified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) by the EPA. The PZEV Elantra is as clean as many hybrid electric vehicles.

The PZEV Elantra helps Hyundai meet its environmental commitments. Outside of these “green” states, the Elantra is available as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV).

Most importantly, Elantra is driving traffic to Hyundai showrooms. Elantra’s record 186,361 sales helped Hyundai achieve its record sales of 645,691 units in the U.S. in 2011. Hyundai Motor America posted a 20 percent increase over 2011 total sales.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America.

The Veloster’s interior includes a plethora of high-tech features to keep everyone safe, entertained, informed and connected.  A Bluetooth hands-free system with voice recognition and phonebook transfer and Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, the equivalent to GM’s OnStar, come standard in the Veloster.  A navigation system and XM Satellite Radio help you stay on course and up-to-date on the latest traffic, weather and news.  The 7-inch multimedia touchscreen is the largest screen in this class, and doubles as an entertainment system where you can watch movies or play XBox 360.

Safety is of the utmost importance to all Hyundai cars.  The Veloster boasts a Vehicle Stability Management System, an Electronic Stability Control System, Anti-Lock brakes, six airbags and other safety features all standard in ensuring a protected and secure ride.

Powering the Veloster is a 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that, paired with new six-speed manual or six-speed Dual Clutch automatic transmissions, with respective EPA ratings of 38 mpg and 40 mpg highway.

The Veloster is safe and sensible, but at the same time combines a hip urban design, a sporty driving feel, reasonable comfort and enough features to satisfy and entertain a crowd that’s always connected.  The stiff suspension can be a little rough around town, but that long wheelbase makes the Veloster feel happy and at home on the highway.

Gary Rome Auto Group values its customers’ opinions and wants to know what you think about the new 2012 Hyundai Veloster.  Leave a comment and let us know!