Question of the Day « AndyRupert.com

Category Archives: Question of the Day

QOTD #20 : What brings you back to your car dealership?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Andy Rupert

As we have been considering our marketing strategy for the future, this is the question that comes up. What brings you back to your car dealership? Any ideas would be appreciated.

When Shaker SAAB was still in Shaker Heights, I kept going back for a number of reasons: (1) the parts guy was very knowledgeable, (2) the service writer listened and seemed trustworthy, and (3) they had old collector SAABs parked in the service area (I’m a SAAB nut). The dealership had some negatives though. It was located in a poor neighborhood, the building was old and unimpressive, the lot next to the dealership was gravel, and they didn’t have free Cappuccinos or donuts. But something kept me returning to that dealership. I actually wanted my car to have a problem so I could visit as often as possible. They got me to drive from Painesville to Shaker Heights for repairs. I think that says something about their rapport with customers.

P.S. Another related question: What keeps you from returning to a car dealership?

Categories: Question of the Day, SAAB

QOTD #18: How can I get rid of my car’s blind spot?

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Andy Rupert

No Comments

Volvo’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) is a popular upgrade for our customers at Leikin Motor Companies. One of my customers recently said it was a non-negotiable option that had to be installed on his next car. But if you can’t afford the $700 option, you might do well to read this article from Car & Driver.

How To: Adjust Your Mirrors to Avoid Blind Spots by Car & Driver

The basic idea is that most people don’t use their outside mirrors to their advantage. According to the article, the rearview mirror inside the car should be used to see what’s directly behind you, while the outside mirrors should be used to view vehicles far to the side of the car. It’s an interesting idea that might take a while to get used to. And after almost running a VW off the road a couple of years ago, I’m thinking it might be worth a try!

H/T Richard Nofsinger via Facebook

Categories: Question of the Day, Volvo

QOTD #17 : Why don’t you recommend Asurion Roadside Assistance?

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Andy Rupert

Comments off

Our AT&T mobile phone family plan comes with a $2.99/mo per individual option for roadside assistance. Asurion, the company that provides the service, describes itself as “the largest global provider of wireless handset insurance and wireless roadside assistance programs.” Sounds good, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, Asurion’s service in our area has been rather poor. My wife and I have called for service three times and have not had very good results.

Mentor, Ohio — When our Chrysler minivan’s brake line broke, we called Asurion and a tow truck arrived within one hour. That was good.

Painesville, Ohio — When the Chrysler minivan’s transmission finally died, I waited over two hours and was reminded several times that it would be only 30 more minutes. The truck never arrived and I eventually pushed the van myself for a mile! Thanks alot! That was very bad.

Painesville, Ohio — When our SAAB wagon got a flat tire today, my wife waited over two hours and the truck never arrived. She was repeatedly told that the truck would arrive in “another” 15 minutes. I was working at the time and eventually called a friend to change the tire. Thanks alot! That was very bad.

When asked about the problem, the Asurion rep told me that they contract with only certain local companies. During the second incident, they called a company in Kirtland, Ohio which is nine miles away from where I was located. I know of several local towing companies in Painesville, but Asurion doesn’t seem to have a contract with any of them. In any event, it was very inconvenient to wait over two hours both times.

I know what you are thinking. “What do you expect for $2.99/mo?” I expect the company to keep it’s end of the bargain no matter what the cost is. And if you think things through, Asurion’s coverage plan is not as cheap as you think because both Sharon and I are charged $2.99/mo. The total annual premium is $71.76. That’s about the same price as a dual membership with AAA would be. In any event, my experience with Asurion in the Painesville area has been very poor. If you are considering adding Asurion to your phone bill, you may want to reconsider unless you have more than two hours available when bad things happen … in a bad neighborhood … during a snow storm … or at night far from home.

I do not recommend Asurion’s Roadside Assistance plan.

Categories: Maintenance, Question of the Day

QOTD #16

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Andy Rupert

Comments off

Q: Why does a chicken coop have only two doors?

A: Because … if it had four doors, it would be called a chicken sedan.

— Jefferson Rupert

Categories: Humor, Question of the Day

QOTD 15 : Why only 18 psi in Corvair front tires?

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Andy Rupert

Comments off

Rear engine vehicles usually have a larger portion of their weight over the rear wheels. That provides an exciting driving experience if handled correctly. But it also gives the engineers something to be concerned about. How do you design the car to handle well despite the difference between front and rear?

With the Corvair, Chevy’s engineers used differing tire pressures to handle the “problem.” While we’re used to 32 lbs front and rear, the manual calls for 18 lbs front and 30 lbs rear. That just doesn’t seem right to me. When I checked the air in my tires a few weeks ago, I just couldn’t do it. I put 22 in the front and 30 in the back. But after reading an explanation by Brent Covey, I’m beginning to think I should let some air out of the front tires.

In a car with a lot of weight at one end you have some options for reducing the slip angle of the tires on the ‘heavy’ end: larger tires and/or higher tire pressure and/or reducing roll stiffness. … The early Corvair has tremendous rear roll stiffness and swing axles don’t let you reduce it much, even with softer springs and considerably increased front roll stiffness, so tire pressures were pretty nearly the only tool that would really make a difference on earlies – the lates have very weak rear roll stiffness and this is mostly why they are inherently better handling cars. Most efforts to tame the Corvair are focused on increasing front roll stiffness to transfer cornering loads onto the front wheels to minimize the possibility the rear will generate larger slip angles than the front.

The rest of the article gives technical explanations for things like tire slip and how GM handled the problem with the Pontiac Fiero, wagons, and most trucks. If you would like to get a better understanding of how suspensions, steering, and tire pressure go together, this is a good article to read.

Categories: Corvair, Question of the Day

QOTD #14 : What four door car has over 400 hp and still gets 26 mpg?

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Andy Rupert

Comments off

We just received our first 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 at the dealership. As I was looking it over, the first thing I noticed was the “blue efficiency” badge. That sounds an awful lot like the BlueTEC diesel engine. However, the window sticker gave non-diesel like numbers: 402 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with a 7-speed automatic the engine is good for 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and 26 mpg on the highway. High performance and good gas mileage are a rare combination. How did they accomplish that?

The efficiency is not the result of a high performance BlueTEC engine. Mercedes-Benz just decided to use the term “Blue Efficiency” to describe the incredibly efficient twin-turbo, direct-injection, 4.6L V8. According to Edmunds Inside Line, “some of the efficiency improvement is due to a stop/start engine function that won’t initially be available in stateside CLSs, as compliance of the system with U.S. emissions isn’t finalized.” Another review gives more detail.

In the CLS63 AMG, an Eco-mode allows for auto stop/start functions, which occur when the driver puts his foot on the brake, when stopped. As soon as the brake is released, and the accelerator is depressed, the engine re-fires and is ready to go. Multi-spark and multi-squirt technologies help to deliver more powerful and energy-saving efficiencies under the hood.

At the time of writing, little information has been made available to me about this new technology. But if ECO-mode ends up in the CLS550, I’m sure nobody will complain about a 402 hp sedan that gets better than 26 mpg.

More information:

Categories: Mercedes, Question of the Day

QOTD #13 : Who really designed the Volvo P1800?

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Andy Rupert

Comments off

The Volvo P1800 turns 50 this year. It is a car that has caught the attention of car enthusiasts of all ages. But who is responsible for the iconic design?

“Design proposals were ordered from Italy. … Eventually, however, the truth behind the winning design proposal emerged. The choleric Engellau blew his top, felt he had been hoodwinked and promised that __________ would never be acknowledged as the car’s designer. Many years went by before the truth was made known and __________ received the credit he was due for penning one of the world’s most attractive sports coupes.”

Read the rest of A True Cosmopolitan Turns 50 – Volvo P1800 1961-2011 to find out.

Categories: Question of the Day, Volvo

QOTD #12 : What is the most powerful AMG sedan ever produced?

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Andy Rupert

Comments off

If you were to guess the answer to this question right now, which model would you choose? For MY2011, Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division produces only five sedans in the United States: C63, CLS63, E63, S63, and S65. The lightweight C63 (451 hp) is very quick, but it’s not the most powerful. The CLS63 (507 hp), E63 (518 hp), and S63 AMG (536 hp) are powerful cars, but Mercedes-Benz has reserved the top spot for the S65 AMG. Its twin-turbocharged 6.0L V12 produces 621 hp and leaps from 0 to 60 in a mere 4.2 seconds. This car must be phenomenal to drive. And it can be yours for a starting MSRP of only $209,000. What a deal!

Categories: Mercedes, Question of the Day

QOTD #11 : What is the cheapest car to insure?

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Andy Rupert

Comments off

As my twelve year old gets closer to driving age, I’m beginning to think about the future. In four short years, he will be wanting to get behind the wheel of a car and we’ll be looking for a deal on car insurance. The problem is that young male drivers are known for driving fast and having accidents. So, their insurance premiums are going to be expensive. However, I learned today that the premium doesn’t have to be outrageous—especially if you choose the right car. According to 4AutoInsuranceQuote.org, the Volvo XC90 is the least expensive vehicle to insure in the United States.

You are always hearing about how safe Volvos are, and they definitely live up to the hype. The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) gave this SUV perfect marks in all categories of testing. This isn’t uncommon for many cars but the XC90 has received perfect ratings dating all the way back to 2003.

When considering a car for a new driver, you might first consider something small and economical. That would make sense if your only concern is saving money at the gas pump. That cute little convertible might be easy on gas, but what if your monthly insurance premiums are as much as the monthly car payment? Yikes! Another thing to consider is the safety of the occupants. When you are trapped between two semis on the highway, which would you rather be driving, an SUV or a sub-compact?

Driving a Volvo XC90 is a win-win situation not only because it saves you money; it could also save your life!

H/T PRWeb

Categories: Question of the Day, Volvo

QOTD #10 : What is an OPOC Engine?

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Andy Rupert

Comments off

With today’s gas prices, anything that sounds like OPEC isn’t very popular. However, the Opposed Piston Opposed Cylinder (OPOC) engine is one company’s proposed means of reducing our reliance on petroleum. Now that I have your attention, let’s examine how it compares to conventional engines. Most passenger cars are powered by a conventional internal combustion engine which have a piston in a cylinder which compresses its air/fuel mixture against the engine head every time the engine goes through its cycle. Not so with the OPOC engine. Instead, two pistons face each other in a single cylinder and compress against each other without the use of a head.

According to Wikipedia, the idea of an opposed piston engine is not new. “The first opposed-piston diesel engines were developed in the beginning of the 20th century. In 1907, Raymond Koreyvo, the engineer of Kolomna Works, built an opposed-piston two-stroke diesel with two crankshafts connected by gearing.” Over the years, Opposed Piston engines have been used in airplanes, locomotives, ships and even automobiles. The latest rendition is the OPOC engine which has been designed by ECO Motors of Allen Park, Michigan. The company claims that their four-piston/two-cylinder unit produces 300 horsepower and is more efficient than a conventional diesel engine. For more information about the OPOC engine, watch the following video from Engineering TV.

Categories: Question of the Day

Subscribe to AndyRupert.com via Email

Categories