diesel

Top Twenty Safest, Most Affordable Used Cars for Teenagers

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Choosing a first car is a right of passage. While the top two criteria for most parents are safety and affordability, teenagers on the other hand, are more focused on what’s cool. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) recently published a list of safe and affordable used vehicles for teenagers and we’ve taken it up a notch.

A first car should be safe above all, but it needn’t be boring. Grandma’s cast-off Buick LaCrosse may be safe and priced right, but it lacks a certain cache. That’s why we’ve poured through the list to find the ten most affordable and most appealing of the IIHS’ picks. Our criteria focused on affordability, with all models starting under $10,000, in addition to a preference for manual transmissions and all-wheel-drive. If you’re driving a manual, you’re not holding a cell-phone.

Our top eleven list (yes, our list goes to eleven!) includes imports, domestics, sedans, wagons and SUVs, but no small cars. The IIHS does not recommend any small cars for teenagers. Big is better when it comes to safety. We’ve included links to MPG reviews and fuel economy ratings in the list.

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Volkswagen Diesel Lawsuits Ignore the Bigger Picture

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We’ve never seen anything like Volkswagen’s massive deception on NOx emissions. Automobile manufacturers can do some questionable things, but this ranks among the most puzzling. It’s a huge slap in the face for diesel advocates. The current buzz indicates that VW will “fix” the effected TDI diesel-powered vehicles that exceed federal emissions standards. Exactly how this will play out, remains to be seen. 

Meanwhile, legal firms are circling Volkswagen like vultures. There are a number of lawsuits in the works, aiming to score a settlement with Volkswagen. Is this really about TDI owners getting restitution or is it simply a big payday for the attorneys? The fix will surely lower performance and fuel efficiency. How much can Jetta, Golf, and Passat owners expect to recieve? If I owned one of these vehicles, I wouldn’t want it “fixed” … I’d want to swap it for a brand new version that delivered the performance and MPGs that I was promised.

With the spotlight on Volkswagen, the media is ignoring the larger issue. If we are serious about reducing emissions, whether it’s particulates, NOx, carbon, or other pollutants, we must move past our addiction to petroleum. The biggest problem isn’t diesel engines. It’s the fuel.

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Highest MPG Turbocharged Vehicles of 2015

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Turbocharging allows a small displacement engine to achieve significantly higher levels of horsepower (HP) and torque on demand, while delivering more miles per gallon (MPG) in light-load conditions. Once thought of purely from a performance perspective, forced induction technology has become a cornerstone of the march to higher fuel efficiency. You can have your cake and eat it too.

The top 15 list of highest combined MPG 2015 vehicles includes a mix of diesel and gasoline powered models, with the VW Jetta Hybrid taking the top spot. The Jetta Hybrid’s superior city fuel efficiency provides a significant advantage in tough traffic.

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Made Across America

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Do you know where your car, truck, or SUV was made? While many folks overlook the fine print*, the place of origin has significant implications on the American economy. The auto industry is back on track, with 16.9 million new vehicles sold in America in 2014, up from a low point of 11.5 million in 2009. This resurgence has created over 400,000 new jobs over that timespan, at automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and dealerships.

Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn EcoDiesel on Capitol Hill

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2014 BMW 328d Sport Wagon xDrive AWD Diesel Review

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MPG-o-Matic 2014 BMW 328d Sport Wagon xDrive Review Summary: The BMW 328d xDrive isn’t just the most fuel efficient all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle sold in America today, it’s a marvelously fun to drive alternative to the gas-sucking SUV. We found the 328d’s official fuel economy ratings (31/43/35) to be conservative and easily achieved highway figures in the 50 mile per gallon (MPG) range.

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