Here are a two top 10 lists you will definitely want to pay attention to:

The Ten Most Traded-In Vehicles (vehicle’s EPA mileage)
1. 1998 Ford Explorer (14-17 mpg)
2. 1997 Ford Explorer (14-18 mpg)
3. 1996 Ford Explorer (14-18 mpg)
4. 1999 Ford Explorer (14-18 mpg)
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee
6. Jeep Cherokee
7. 1995 Ford Explorer (15-18 mpg)
8. 1994 Ford Explorer (15-18 mpg)
9. 1997 Ford Windstar (18 mpg)
10. 1999 Dodge Caravan (16-18 mpg)

The Ten Most Purchased Vehicles (vehicle’s EPA mileage)
1. Ford Focus (27-28 mpg)
2. Honda Civic (24-42 mpg)
3. Toyota Corolla (25-30 mpg)
4. Toyota Prius (46 mpg)
5. Ford Escape (20-32 mpg)
6. Toyota Camry (23-34 mpg)
7. Dodge Caliber (22-27 mpg)
8. Hyundai Elantra (26-28 mpg)
9. Honda Fit (29-31 mpg)
10. Chevy Cobalt (25-30 mpg)

(via Jalopnik)

We’re hoping that you’ll find quick peer car reviews at least somewhat helpful as you shop online for cars.   That’s why we’re adding them to our site when we launch the redesign very soon.  What will be even cooler is that  you’ll be able to connect with these peers on Facebook, Twitter and our own community section to continue the discussion as you decide if the car is right for you.  Before we can make this Car Shopping Utopia a reality we need to collect these quick car reviews from YOU.  If you have a second please submit your quick car review here.

Thanks a ton!  We really appreciate your time.  If you car to share your thoughts on professional vs peer car reviews we’d love to hear what you have to say in the comments…

There is a small change of direction with this blog. Instead of focusing on consumers with new car news, we will now be focusing on speaking to dealers and car sellers with this blog. If you are interested in checking out our team’s new car news, please feel free to subscribe to our other blog New Car Scoop.

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to make this service as useful as possible for private sellers and dealers that have sent their inventory to our website. With our most recent change to omit the registration requirement before sending email leads, we expect to see a huge surge of email leads for every one of the dealers that have inventory on our website. If we can do anything to improve the format of these leads to make it more useful or actionable for you, please let us know.

One of the things we have noticed while combing through our data is that a number of dealers do not provide accurate information or complete information to their inventory management software. Unfortunately what this means on our end when we receive the data from them is that some of the data will have missing zip codes, emails and phone numbers. While we still try to make these vehicles available on our system for search, ultimately if the contact information is missing, it means missed opportunities for the sellers. If you see your inventory on our website but would like to change or update your contact information, you can update it in your current software or claim your account with us and update it manually. If your account did not have an email, you will have to contact us to manually claim your account.

More to come…

With all this said, we have many things to be thankful for. We at EasyAutoSales are thankful that so many of you chose us every day to shop for your next car online. We are also thankful for all the great cars that are for sale today. No matter what you do or what your needs are, there’s car or for you! So, with that said, here’s my “What Cars I’m Thankful For” in honor of Thanksgiving 2008:

1. The Audi Coupe GT – This was the car I learned how to drive and my first real car I drove in high school. It was a super sweet ride that came over as a grey market car in 1986. I believe there were something like 500 of them brought over to the states. With an inline-5 engine and a slick 5-speed (and some awesome quality leather), this was a super rare and stylish ride at the time. Though the car was originally supposed to be giving to my brother when he graduated college, it got caught on some black ice while I was driving and ended up t-boning a Lincoln. RIP Audi.

2. The BMW E30 3-Series – This was my first car ever that I bought myself. I’ve had 3 of them thus far, including a 1991 318is that’s sitting in my garage. In my spare time, I’ve been taking it apart with plans to restore the car and get it out autocrossing. The car is super light, super cheap, efficient and a significant portion of the cars were build before the fall of the Berlin Wall, so they were built like a German tank. There will always be a special place in my heart for these cars.

3. The BMW 850CSi – This was my first “dream” car. While other kids had Lamborghinis and Ferraris on their wall, I remember watching a MotorWeek on TV back in the early 90s and recall the review of the ultra-exclusive BMW 850CSi. With a supurb 5.6L 12-cylinder engine (later derivatives of the V12 from this BMW were dropped into the McLaren F1), the 850CSi was the peak of german GT performance in the 90s.

4. The McLaren F1 – This was my first “dream” super-car. This was it. This was the car that embodied everything I wanted in a car. Speed. Handling. The look and a it had been the fastest production car for an incredibly long period of time. Even by today’s standards, there’s only a few cars that can match the F1’s performance. I’ll take mine in LeMans Orange. Now, all I need is the $4 million these cars are going for these days.

5. “New” Mini Cooper – It’s one of the most fun, efficient and safe cars I’ve ever had the chance to drive. In terms of pure performance, it’s not the fastest car in the world. However, it runs like it’s on rails, it’s got tons of low end torque and it just gives you the feeling of being in a much faster and more expensive car. They are just an all around great car! Though the new turbocharged Coopers are fantastic, there’s something really sweet looking about the previous generation’s GP edition. Just make sure and get yours without run-flat tires. Just no good…

6. Ford F-150 – Used to have a 1997 Ford F-150 and like the Mini Cooper, there’s something fun about driving it. You get a king-of-the-road type feeling, super hauling power and the great sound of a rumbling American V8. Due to some “lemon” issues with the car, I had to return it to the party I bought it from, but it’s on my list of cars that will tow my eventual race cars. The F-150 has/had been the best selling car for many years in a row and it’s no wonder. Though the older cars interior is pretty shady by modern standards, that’s not why you get a pickup truck.

7. Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder – In my opinion, one of the most beautiful cars made today. The overt and absurd styling of Lamborghinis crossed with the sex appeal of a drop-top (and reliability of an Audi) make this car exactly what I want to drive along the A1-A on a sunny day with my wife by my side. A car like this is also an investment, as quality Lamborghinis like the Gallardo are sure to keep their value in years to come. Though the Murcielago is the “big brother,” many have described it as a powerful, 4WD Elise due to its compact size. I love small cars and this one acts much larger with it’s 5.0L V10.

8. Lotus Elise – Proof you can have a car that has super-car performance and get well over 30MPG. Not much to say about this car, as it’s legend in its own right.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to an auto body shop to get something fixed on my car without having a clue of what I should be paying.  I blame myself for not doing the research, but I have a feeling I’m not the only one.  Why should getting a fair price on a car part be any more difficult than figuring out how much I should be paying to rent a limo or hire some movers?  Well, I have hopes that the new site LocalPrice.com may be bringing to the average consumer the kind of pricing transparency that we see in other industries to the area of auto repair.  They’re not quite there, but they are off to a great start in Atlanta, Georgia, offering online price comparisons of services offered by local companies.  Atlanta limousines are just one of many services they offer a detailed comparison of.  LocalPrice.com, launched in 2008 is intended to do the following:

• Provide consumers researching services an expedient means of determining a fair price for services provided in their area
• Help consumers understand how prices for services are structured
• Give consumers a means to weigh the price of service versus the other attributes of the service provider, e.g. experience, location, specific offering, etc.
• Provide businesses offering customers competitive prices an additional means of reaching out to consumers in their area

So if you’re in search of Atlanta limousines than check out LocalPrice.com.  If you’re in search of a fair price on replacing your car’s radiator, than hopefully LocalPrice is reading this post and they’ll help us out.  If not, I smell a new startup.  AutoRepairPrice.com…any takers?

The above are pictures take at the scene by a fireman with a camera phone. Below is an account of the incident:

These pictures were taken by one of the firemen who were called to the scene, with his camera phone. The officials who responded to the accident could not believe that the Mini (and I) sustained so little damage. The other vehicle involved is a Chevy Tahoe. I was driving south on a one-way street and the other driver was driving west, also on a one-way street. The other driver ran a red light (that had been red for a long time) and appeared in the intersection just in front of me as I came through. I didn’t even see them. I hit the passenger’s side of Tahoe head-on, and the Tahoe rolled. In one of the pictures, you can see the Mini-shaped dent in the vehicle that is on its side. The driver of the Tahoe was unhurt and did get a ticket. She was also insured.

It’s great to see everyone was ok, but there’s a certain part of you that has to say, “Ha! That’s for acting like you own the road.” Such a huge portion of the SUV drivers out there act as though they own the road, ignoring other cars while merging, not using turn signals and, as above, running red lights.

Source: Jalopnik

Enter the new Z-car from Nissan, aesthetically pleasing and a heritage of performance and pure driving pleasure. The Z is an immovable object and an unstoppable force, at the same time.

Nissan has always kept some passion in the Z brand, and the new model
ignites something inside, demands attention.
This vehicle clearly states, before even being started, that it will not
be like any other “blast-from-the-past” remake of a classic.

Some will mock the design techniques, and ask for “this” or “that” until
the car looks the exact same as the previous model.
What would be the point?  When should there be designs for cars of the future?
So ensue arguments over such new designs.

The car is sharp, clean, and beautiful. First impressions? Now that’s a Z car.
I like this design, and would enjoy more forward thinking like this from all car manufacturing companies.
And I’ll bet if you sat behind the wheel for 5 minutes,
you’d forget about those “silly” headlights.

-J

Source: TMZ

Coming to you from the trashy gossip file, according to TMZ, Sylvester Stalone has recently been plotting to bring the grizzled Vietnam veteran John Rambo back for a fifth installment of the action movie franchise.

Rambo returned in 2008 to battle the Burmese army, 26 years after he took his big screen bow in 1982’s First Blood. However, the question in our minds is going to be whether he’ll be rocking this black Volkswagon Pheaton sporting red trim molding (ala GTI) and blacked out wheels. Just think about how much ammo and guns that beast could motor along the autobahn. Whether or not he’ll be rocking out with the VW on screen, it’s a car we can all agree rocks in real life. The 62-year-old ends the brief interlude with TMZ.com, “Rambo hopefully will be back. We’ve just got to give you guys a story that’s worthwhile.”

Source: TMZ

Flash of Genius is a great movie for guys who like gadgets. It’s a movie for engineers and everything they devote their passion to. For those of us who love to create things, Flash of Genius brings an intriguing real life story to the screen and lets ‘car guys’ into a part of the car we all take for granted. I highly recommend Flash of Genius to anyone looking for an intellectual and inspirational drama. Greg Kennear reflects the character of Robert Kearns well and I would expect he would be proud of this movie and it’s depiction of his story.