USAA offers members online car-buying service

USAA insurance, a Fortune 150 financial services company that caters to the military and their families and has about 1,000 employees in Colorado Springs, has launched an online auto loan and car-buying service for members.

The new services allow members to handle all the steps of car buying -- from selecting a vehicle to financing and obtaining insurance -- electronically and without having to leave home.

The program is being done in partnership with Zag.com, which established a network of participating dealerships in 70 cities across 28 states.

To get started, members can go to www.usa.com/auto.

Four local dealerships participate in Chrysler's $2.99 a gallon gas promotion

Four local dealerships have joined Chrysler's "Let's Refuel America" promotion: Lithia Colorado Springs Jeep-Chrysler, Perkins Motor Co., The Faricy Boys and Colorado Springs Dodge.

Here's how it works: With the purchase of an eligible new Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicles, buyers can receive a gas card that immediately lowers the price of gas to $2.99 a gallon -- and keeps it at that price for three years.

The offer is good through June 2 and is available on a wide range of vehicles, including new compacts, crossovers, minivans and pickup trucks. The cards work at eligible gas stations, up to 87 regular octane, E85 or diesel fuel.

CarMax draws hundreds of applicants

CarMaxThe Auto Superstore will open its Colorado Springs store June 5 at 4011 Tutt Blvd., near Security Service Field.
This will be the 96th store in the CarMax Inc. chain and the first in Colorado for the 15-year-old publicly traded company.
“This is a growing community — it’s the right size for us — and with this addition we’ll be continuous from coast to coast,” said Craig Meeks, general manager of the new store, who most recently ran a CarMax in Albuquerque, N.M.
A six-week job recruiting session to fill 85 openings drew 900 applicants, he said, adding that many were attracted to CarMax’s listing on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

CarMax hiring: No automotive experience necessary

CarMax Inc., known for hiring outside the auto industry, is looking for 85 part- and full-time people to work at its store in Colorado Springs, which will open June 5 at 4011 Tutt Blvd.

The nation's largest retailer of used cars, CarMax typically hires people who have worked for other national retailers, such as Target, Lowe's, Home Dept, Wal-Mart, Macy's and The Gap. Employees also have come from the food and beverage industry, insurance sales and education, according to CarMax officials.

For its local super store, the first CarMax in Colorado, the company will hire sales, buyers, business office workers, customer service reps, service technicans and inventory workers, with no automotive experience necessary.

Job seekers can apply online at www.carmax.com, or call 597-0098 to schedule an appointment.

CarMax is headquartered in Richmond, Va and operates 91 used car super stores in 41 markets. It is known for its hassle-free sales approach, low prices and a wide selection of vehicles.

Carol Sturman to receive leadership award

Carol Sturman, founder and president of Sturman Industries in Woodland Park, has been named the recipient of SAE International's J. Cordell Breed Award for Women Leaders. She will be honored April 15 in Detroit, during the SAE 2008 World Congress.

Established in 1999, the annual award recognizes a woman who has significantly contributed to the mobility engineering industry through her service, leadership, innovation, technical skills and involvement in SAE International.

Sturman and her husband, Eddie, founded the company in 1989, as a research and development firm specializing in the application of high-tech digital valve controls technology in mechanical systems. Sturman has had a significant role in leading her company's corporate culture, which emphasizes teamwork, innovation, respect and excellence.

Sturman initiated in 2006 a seminar series focused on innovation, corporate responsibility and digital technology. She works with local colleges and universities, environmental groups and businesses interested in building creative leadership, innovation and cross-cultural understanding.

Budget opens new vehicle rental facility

Budget Rent A Car System Inc. has opened a new rental location at 384 Garden of the Gods Road. The expansion is part of a nationwide effort to move into neighborhoods.

The facility offers free pickup and drop-off services within a five-mile radius, unlimited mileage, free roadside assistance and a selection of vehicles to rent, including minivans, sport-utility vehicles and 12-passenger vans.

The store is open Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The phone number is 598-3344.

Budget Rent a Car System Inc. has 1,800 car rental locations. The company also operates Budget Truck Rental and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avis Budget Group.

Final months of winter take toll on vehicles

More motorists need roadside assistance in February than any other month of the winter season, according to AAA Colorado, the state's largest roadside assistance provider.

The top four reasons for roadside assistance requests to AAA Colorado are:

• Tow truck service



• Locksmith for motorists locked out of their vehicles



• Battery jump starts



• Tire changes

To avoid trouble on the road, AAA Colorado recommends motorists check the car battery, tire inflation and windshield wipers and fluid. Motorists also should prepare for an emergency with a cell phone, jumper cables, phone numbers for assistance, tire chains, a blanket, non-clumping kitty litter for traction, flares or reflective triangles, a flashlight with extra batteries, water, non-perishable food, ice scraper, shovel and window washer fluid.

AAA has more than 500,000 members in Colorado and 51 million members nationwide.

Local motorcycle titles decrease in 2007

While the number of local car titles showed a 2.3 percent increase in 2007 over 2006, motorcycle titles in El Paso County fell by 6.2 percent last year, according to figures released by the El Paso County Department of Motor Vehicles.

There were 2,155 new motorcycles registered in the county last year, compared with 2,298 in 2006. Honda and Kawasaki brands saw gains last year. Harley-Davidson, the most popular brand titled here, fell by 81 bikes last year over the previous year.

Harley-Davidson Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit tumble of 26.3 percent, with U.S. sales for the year down 6.2 percent.

Audi returns to Super Bowl

Audi of America Inc. will air its first Super Bowl ad in 20 years with a 60-second spot on its R8, the brand's first mid-engine sports car. The ad was inspired by "The Godfather" movie and will only run twice on television, during the Super Bowl and the following day.

The automaker's return to the Super Bowl was preceded by a year of record sales in the U.S -- it sold 93,506 vehicles in the U.S. last year, a 3.8 percent increase over 2006.

Audi of America sponsors ski competitions

Audi of America has been selected as the official automotive sponsor of the U.S. Ski Team, supplying vehicles to the U.S. Ski Team in the United States and Europe for all its teams. Those include alpine, cross country, freestyle, nordic combined and ski jumping.

Audi also will be the title sponsor of the women's World Cup in Aspen, Dec. 7-9, and the automaker will be associate sponsor of the men's World Cup races in Beaver Creek, Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

The U.S. Ski Team said it chose Audi because its vehicles with a permanent all-wheel-drive system are reliable and safe.

Car dealer wants to go high tech

Although plans are still in the works for a new Liberty Toyota store in Powers Auto Park (see article in the Nov. 13 Business section), general manager Ray Reilly envisions a high-tech heaven for customers.

"I'm looking at getting the newest, most advanced technology to improve customer satisfaction and eliminate the time people spend at the dealership," he said, "because I believe the No. 1 issue people have with car dealers is the amount of time it takes to buy or service a car."

Imagine a chip being implanted in each new Toyota that would have the buyer's information on it, so that when the owner returns for service on the vehicle, employees would automatically greet the owner by name, immediately know the reason for the appointment and be familar with the history of the car.

Imagine a plasma screen behind the service counter, displaying information about your car while you're being waited on, such as when it was last serviced, its maintenance schedule, repairs that have been made and other details, so customers could quickly decide what services they wanted and know the estimated costs.

These, Reilly envisions, in addition to what he knows the new dealership will feature: wireless connection so customers can work while they wait, a free car wash every time a customer has a car serviced or buys a car from the dealership, a quick lube lane, a themed children's corral and indoor space large enough so customers can pick up and drop off their cars inside the building, not outside.

Local Mercedes-Benz dealer supports women's cancer research

Phil Long Mercedes-Benz pf Colorado Springs is one of many dealerships in the nation participating in the manufacturer's contributions to women's cancer research.

Mercedes-Benz has designed a special edition C350 sedan and after 1,000 are sold will donate $1 million to "Saks 5th Avenue Key to the Cure," which supports The Women's Cancer Research Fund. The fund supports research, education and outreach in early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of women cancers.

The local Mercedes-Benz dealer also will donate, in the name of each buyer, an additional $250 for each special edition C350 it sells.

The new sport sedan features a 268-horsepower V-6 engine with advanced technology, including drive-based navigation, digital surround sound and voice control.

Auto advice on repairs, hybrids and other earth-friendly vehicles

Who doesn't need a little automotive advice? Here's how to get it.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Auto Repair ($19.95) was just released, offering everything from the tires up, for teens to seasoned drivers. "Ideal resource for making basic repairs" the publicity material says. Routine maintenance, troubleshooting and system overviews are included in the 50-page self-diagnosis guide, penned by a knowledgeable female mechanic, Vyvyan Lynn.

Also released in August, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hybrid and Alternative Fuel Vehicles ($14.95). Besides being chic and hip, the author says there are many incentives to switching to hybrid and outlines the growing lineup of green vehicles. It's written by Kelley Blue Book Executive Editor Jack Nerad in what he calls "clear, jargon-free and nonpolitical language."

If you prefer online resources, check out http://www.earthcars.com/. The new Web site launched by http://www.dealer.com/, a Burlington, Vt.-based company that helps auto dealers with online marketing, gives all kinds of info about envrionmentally friendly vehicles. You can also search inventories of dealerships around the nation to find the car you're looking for.

Sturman to present new engine technology

Eddie Sturman, co-founder of Sturman Industries in Woodland Park, presented his company's advances in cleaner-burning diesel engine technology Aug. 16 at the 2007 Diesel Engine-Efficiency and Emissions Research Conference in Detroit.

Digital valve technology integrated into both the fuel injection system and the hydraulic valve acutators reduces fuel consumption and improves power output. Plus, the system is designed to run on both conventional diesel fuel and B99 biodiesel.

Sturman has 28 customers worldwide using various parts of its digital technology. Read about reaction to Sturman's first presentation on the product in North America this month in The Gazette's Business section.

Broadmoor to host vintage autos Labor Day weekend

What would you expect to find at a classy, old-world hotel such as The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs? How about classy, old-world automobiles? The Broadmoor will play host to the inaugural Rocky Mountain Concours d'Elegance, a two-day exhibition of some of the world's rarest, vintage vehicles to take place Sept. 1-2, Labor Day weekend. "Pristinely restored and held in private collections, these automotive works of art are expected to draw more than 5,000 visitors," according to event organizers. They also say that 15, officially-recognized Concours d'Elegance events take place across the country each year, and they hope The Broadmoor's lure will help the local event rank as one of the top such shows when it comes to attendance. More information and to purchase tickets: www.rmconcours.com or 314-1400.

BBB offers tips for auto body repair

The National Council of Better Business Bureaus and the National Auto Body Council have compiled advice for consumers about collision repair shops. Many of the 6 million car crashes that happen each year result in business for the nation's 35,000 collision centers. The average repair bill is $2,200 to $2,300, and 80 to 92 percent of the work involves auto insurance claims, according to the BBB.

"Wiser Drivers Wise Up" is a tip sheet available on www.wiserdrivers.com. Included is information on how to choose a trustworthy repair shop, arrange a replacement rental car and protect yourself, such as getting everything in writing up front.

Diesel car and truck drivers faring better in price spike

The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has broken a record each day since May 7, but the price of diesel isn't anywhere near record prices. Why? Industry experts say the supply of diesel is not as short as the supply of gasoline -- and the current price hikes are primarily due to demand outpacing supply.

The average price of diesel per gallon in Colorado Springs was $3.17 last week, 11 cents lower than the record high of $3.28 a gallon, set Oct. 24, 2005.

Regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.22 in Colorado Springs, $3.26 statewide and $3.10 nationwide. All were record high prices.

Diesel-powered cars and trucks also get better mileage than those with gas-powered engines, so money spent on diesel fuel goes even further.

Nissan land deal final

The sale of 13.5 acres of land to South Colorado Springs Nissan was finalized Tuesday, giving a green light for the dealership to build a new store on Academy Park Loop, near Fountain and South Academy boulevards.

The dealer purchased the land from General Dynamics Corp. for an undisclosed price, said Candace Seaton, a broker with Grubb & Ellis/Quantum Commercial Group in Colorado Springs.

“It’s a great location – there are other car dealerships in the area, and a new dealership will be a good economic boost for South Academy Boulevard,” Seaton said. A development plan has been completed, and construction should begin soon. The dealership will relocate from its current location at 175 N. Academy Blvd.

Colorado Springs Auto Show

This weekend (April 13,14,15), the Colorado Springs Auto Show will feature more than 200 new cars, trucks, vans, hybrids, sport utility vehicles and crossovers from 31 auto manufacturers and 38 local dealerships.
Held at the Expo Center at Chapel Hills, 1515 Auto Mall Loop, the show is open to the public 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets, available at the door, cost $5 for adults. There is no charge for children 12 and under and active duty military with identification. Proceeds benefit a local charity, Operation School Bell, which clothes needy children.

Shoppers select best/worst vehicle names

Do you think Toyota's Yaris is the worst name for a vehicle?

The majority of the 700 car shoppers that participated in a naming poll conducted on Autobytel's consumer website, http://www.autobytel.com/ did.

By the way, Yaris is a combination of the German affirmative "ya" and the Greek goddess Charis.

Close contenders in the "worst name" category were the Subaru B9 Tribeca (named for the lower Manhattan neighborhood associated with trendy loft living) and the Volkswagen Touareg (named after Berber tribesmen).

What's the best? Ford's Mustang rated as the current best car name. Shoppers selected the Chevrolet Corvette (a type of warship) as the best domestic vehicle name from the past. Their favorite import name from the past was the Volkswagen Beetle.

According to the Autobytel poll, there's something in a name -- 72 percent of respondents said an unappealing or silly name has made them less likely to purchase the vehicle and half said a bad name can make even a great car less desirable. Remember the AMC Gremlin and the Ford Probe?