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Epoch Times
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Epoch Times
GM Recalls 600,000 US Cadillac, Chevy and GMC Automobiles
General Motors announced it is recalling 600,000 SUVs and trucks in the United States because of defects that could lead to engine problems. GM said in an Vehicles being recalled include 2021 through 2024 model-year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with 6.2L V8 gas engines. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated an investigation in January into reports of engine breakdowns in GM vehicles with the V8 engine. Drivers were hearing knocking or banging sounds and seeing the 'check engine' light turning on. After conducting its own inquiry, GM reported 12 crashes and 12 injuries possibly related to the engine problem. GM identified 28,102 field complaints or incidents related to the engine issues, of which 14,332 allegedly lost propulsion. Related Stories 4/11/2025 3/31/2025 Some 600,000 vehicles in the United States are included in the recall, but only 3 percent have the malfunction, according to GM. Letters to owners are expected to be mailed starting June 9. 'While the recall is currently voluntary, it is critical for GM drivers with vehicles identified in the recall to have their vehicles inspected,' Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm attorney Rhyan Lindley told NTD in an email on April 29. Dealers have vowed to inspect the affected vehicles and if needed, repair or replace the engine without cost. The cost of the recall is undisclosed by GM, but will likely be high, according to German Car Depot owner Alan Gelfand. 'People should always ask about loaner vehicles when they make an appointment for recall work, and an affected GM vehicle owner should book their recall service appointment as soon as they receive their notification,' Gelfand told NTD on April 29. But vehicle owners were advised that the recall might not go smoothly. 'Those who have vehicles that are part of the recall will likely face extensive wait times for repairs and the inconvenience of being without their vehicle for a while,' auto industry expert Melanie Musson told NTD on April 29. 'The dealership may offer a loaner or a rental, but it's not guaranteed.' provides insurance and auto industry education. 'They are not replacing entire cars—only repairing or replacing engines when necessary,' EpicVIN chief marketing officer Alex Black told NTD on April 29. 'If your engine passes the test, you'll receive new oil, a new oil filter, and a new oil cap.' EpicVIN is a vehicle history reports platform. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tariffs have "a profound effect" on new car prices — but may boost value of your used car
On April 2, a month-long reprieve that U.S. automakers were given from a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports is set to expire. That means car prices are expected to rise dramatically, given that they'll also be impacted by President Trump's 25% tariff on steel and aluminum, which went into effect last week. The steel and aluminum tariffs alone are 'going to have a profound effect on the prices of vehicles,' Joe Giranda, director of sales and marketing for CFR Classic, told Salon. Combined with the tariff on Mexico and Canada — countries that provide supplies for U.S. automakers — he said he expects prices to rise by as much as $4,000 to $10,000 per vehicle. So, what does this uplifting economic news mean for you? That depends. If you were already planning on buying a car, experts agree: Buy it before Trump's tariffs take effect. 'If buying a new car was in your plans for the first half of the year, and you've been saving for a down payment and have worked the car into your budget, then you should do some car shopping,' Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with told Salon. Used car prices tend to increase alongside new car prices, Musson said. Experts also encourage consumers to make mechanical repairs to their cars before the tariffs take effect, too, since tariffs will likely raise the price of auto parts. Shoppers who already have a vehicle they can sell or trade in may find themselves in a better situation, Musson said. 'If new cars are more expensive, your used car will likely be worth more, which will help offset the cost of a new car,' she told Salon. But for anybody who wasn't planning on buying a new car, the advice from experts is clear: Don't make financial decisions from a place of fear. 'There's no need to put yourself in a position where you could be financially strapped just because you're afraid that car prices could increase,' Musson said. 'No one knows for sure what will happen, and this is not a time to panic.' Nearly 92% of American households have at least one car, according to Forbes Advisor; a fifth of U.S. households have three. Much of this is because America is built for car ownership: Urban walkable areas account for just 1.2% of the nation's land mass, and the average American now lives 27 miles away from their job — a figure that may be distorted by remote workers living further away from their workplaces than regular commuters. For most American workers, it's not a practical option to live without a car if you can afford one. Unless you're living in a handful of mostly expensive, East Coast cities with robust public transit, you're often left to rely on an underfunded, unreliable and disparately connected patchwork of a transit system, one that might turn a 15-minute commute into one that takes an hour or more. 'North America really is unique in the world in the lack of good public transit,' the author Jake Berman told The Guardian. So if you can afford to own a car, it makes sense that the attitudes around car ownership in the U.S. dictate that you should own a car (and, to please the ever-present Joneses, as nice a car as possible). We don't have an inherent need for cars, though, anymore than we have an inherent need for airplanes. Cars give us access to the thing we need: transportation to and from the places we frequent, as well as the places we want — or need — to get to quickly. Our vehicles, like all of our most expensive purchases, should enhance our lives, or at least add more to our lives than the financial stress removes. And while the benefits of car ownership are often enormous, the downsides — maintenance costs, filling and refilling the tank, the perpetual risk of emergency repairs — can be significant, and likely to intensify in the coming months. Depending on what type of city or town you're in, the question 'Could you live without a car?' might feel impossible under any circumstances (for most Americans, it's probably the latter). But if it feels possible — if, say, you live in an urban area, have a regular routine that'd be bikeable, own multiple cars in your family or are simply considering a lifestyle shift away from certain polluters — it's worth crunching the numbers on at least one alternative to permanent car ownership: day-to-day car rentals. The gig economy's answer to Hertz and Enterprise is a slew of apps that allow individuals to rent out their cars in the way Airbnb allows folks to rent out their houses. The mobile app Turo is perhaps the most popular option (or at least the one I encounter the most). Day rates for most car rental companies tend to range from $50 to $100, while Turo charges around $49 per day to rent a car in Los Angeles. So, for the purposes of this exercise, let's say it costs $80 per day to rent a car, adding a little cushion for gas and unforeseen costs. If you own a car, you're paying for a few things: gas, monthly insurance and potentially a car payment. The average American driver spends around $200 a month on gas and around $220 for full-coverage car insurance. That's $420 a month right there. New car owners with a monthly car note pay an average of $742, per month, while used cars owners have an average monthly payment of $525, according to Experian data. So, let's average out that monthly car note to $600. Combined with gas and insurance, it costs American car owners around $1,000 a month for the gift of said ownership. And at $80 per day, a consumer could afford to rent a car for 12 days a month and still save $40. Of course, that's a crude analysis. And it also feels worth mentioning that my last car payment, for a 2019 Kia Optima, was around $425 a month — well below the figure we used here. Still, at the very least, perhaps this exercise is a nudge to consider what ideas might be calcified in your consumer psyche as hard and fast truths about our spending lives — what you need to have, how you need to live — that may not be serving you, your wallet or your overall well-being. I'll also confess that I write this all as a car owner living in Brooklyn, New York, where it's more of a headache to own a car than to go without (we traded in the Optima for an old SUV). We've lived here for around two years with this car, and I tell myself that when our two senior pups decide to 'move to Santorini,' we'll sell it. But then I think about how frequently I use it to drive to estate sales and was able to haul home a vintage chair for pennies on the dollar, or pop into Manhattan to pick up a designer bookcase some rich, disassociated banker is selling for $20. Never mind the parking tickets I get each month, or the speeding tickets I can't seem to escape as a driver raised on Houston's infamous Interstate 45, or the fact that walks and subway rides leave me feeling far more connected to humanity than a trip in my cramped metal box. Suffice it to say, some engrained consumer habits can fester for years if left unaddressed — long beyond the point that they're serving you.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
5 Best SUVs for Camping in 2025: How Much Do They Cost?
Camping requires a lot of gear. Therefore, having an SUV that can fit everything you need — and get you safely to your campsite — is a must. And you don't want to break the budget to find one to fit your needs. Some SUVs simply aren't large enough to hold a sufficient amount of camping equipment. Others might not be the best choice to drive in potentially rugged terrain. Read Next: Check Out: Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with shared her top five picks for the best 2025 SUVs to take camping. Keep reading to find out which ones made the list — and how much they cost. Also see five SUVs the middle class should consider buying in 2025. 2025 starting price: $62,000 'A four-wheel-drive suburban is tough,' she said. 'It will get you down just about any road, and it has room to pack about anything you can think of for a camping trip.' No matter what your camping style, she said this SUV can deliver. 'If you're tenting, you have room to pack your gear,' she said. 'If you'd rather have a camper, the Suburban can pull a variety of small to midsize campers.' Be Aware: 2025 starting price: $40,200 'The Pilot is an excellent choice for camping because it gets good mileage for its size,' she said. 'It has ample interior space for packing and people.' For reference, according to Car and Driver, the 2025 Honda Pilot gets 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. 2025 starting price: $29,010 Whether you're camping solo or bringing your small family along, Musson said the Subaru Outback is an excellent choice. 'It has high ground clearance, making it possible to get to backroads campsites,' she said. 'It has decent cargo space for packing a cooler, tent and other gear.' 2025 starting price: $32,690 'The Wrangler doesn't have a ton of room, but for one or two people, it can get you way into the back country and away from the crowds,' she said. 'There's enough cargo space to pack a tent, cooler and chairs.' Plus, if you need to climb a steep incline or traverse up to 34 inches of water, the Jeep Wrangler has you covered. 2025 starting price: $59,000 'The Tahoe offers similar benefits as the Suburban, but it's a bit smaller, so it's a better fit for an average-size family,' she said. 'With the four-wheel-drive option, you can get into hard-to-reach campsites.' A 2025 Tahoe with a standard 5.3-liter V8 engine can also tow up to 8,400 pounds, with the correct packages and drivetrain, per Heritage Chevrolet. Therefore, Musson said you could even use it to pull a small camper or use a rooftop camper if tent camping isn't your thing. More From GOBankingRates 5 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying 3 Changes That Could Be Coming to Social Security Now That Congress Is Republican This article originally appeared on 5 Best SUVs for Camping in 2025: How Much Do They Cost?
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
5 Best Japanese Cars for Budget-Conscious Drivers
Japanese cars have earned a reputation for their reliability, longevity and affordability. Some of the top Japanese car brands are favorites among budget-conscious drivers thanks to their low starting prices, low maintenance costs and gas mileage. Check Out: Read Next: For those who are in the market for a new car, here are the best expert-recommended Japanese cars for those on a budget. Starting MSRP: $24,250 'The Civic is one of the most reliable vehicles on the market,' Melanie Musson, auto industry expert with wrote in an email. 'It's an excellent vehicle for someone on a budget because it doesn't require a lot of upkeep.' Regular oil changes, brake service and fluid flushes will keep it on the road longer and help owners avoid expensive repairs. 'Civics depreciate slower than most other vehicles, so when you buy one, it retains its value,' Musson said. Alex Black, chief marketing officer of EpicVIN and an auto industry expert with over 15 years of experience, also pointed out that the Civic has excellent gas mileage and it's easy to work on. 'And the older models can easily be purchased for affordable prices when in good condition,' Black explained. Be Aware: Starting MSRP: $23,950 The Mazda3, available as both a sedan and a hatchback, has quick acceleration with a turbocharged engine for a low cost. It also uses higher-quality materials than you'd expect. '[They're] fun to drive, great gas mileage and overall less costly than a Civic or Corolla,' Black said. 'Mazda's Skyactiv engines are durable, and the maintenance is cheap.' Starting MSRP: $22,325 'The Corolla is dependable. It's not finicky, and it will often serve owners for over 200,000 miles,' Musson explained. 'Insurance premiums are also affordable with the Corolla thanks to the budget-friendly MSRP and loaded safety features.' Black also highly recommended the Toyota Corolla due to its cheap parts, good gas mileage and durability. 'These cars will run forever if you keep them regularly maintained,' Black said. 'Excellent choice if you need something that will not aggravate you.' Starting MSRP: $25,810 Another Japanese car that retains its value and rarely has mechanical problems if maintained is the Subaru Crosstrek, an all-wheel drive compact SUV. 'The Crosstrek is perfect for drivers looking for something that has AWD and performs well in adverse road conditions,' Musson said. Starting MSRP: $17,190 'If you need something extremely affordable, the Versa is one of the cheapest cars you can buy new,' according to Black. 'Great gas mileage and simple to maintain.' Even the pricier SR trim is only about $22,000. But no matter which trim you choose, automotive resource website Edmunds claims that you can still expect a good amount of features for an affordable price tag. Editor's note: All starting MSRP figures were sourced from Edmunds. More From GOBankingRates10 Home Features That Have Decreased the Most in Popularity (And How Much Homes with Them Cost)7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth This article originally appeared on 5 Best Japanese Cars for Budget-Conscious Drivers
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
4 Crossovers That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Early 2025
Crossover vehicles have exploded in popularity over the last few years. They have all the qualities of a traditional car, but they also have the space and ease of an SUV. This makes crossover cars popular for people of all ages, including families and young professionals. Unfortunately, some vehicles experience price drops over time due to new model releases, depreciation or even a market trend change. When this happens, it's important to take advantage of these price drops to get the best money-saving deal on your next vehicle. Below are four crossovers that will have massive price drops in early 2025. Also here are six crossovers to avoid purchasing. Discover More: Read Next: With such a high supply and growing competition in the subcompact crossover market, the demand for the Hyundai Venue will likely decrease its price in 2025. Hyundai's commitment to updating upcoming models will make this model less desirable. The Hyundai Venue is compact, fuel-efficient and budget-friendly, making it great for small families or even first-time buyers. 'Hyundai entered the auto manufacturing world as a low-end budget option,' said Melanie Musson, auto industry expert with 'In the years since then, they've built a reputation for making cars that compete with mainstream vehicles. Still, the Venue is priced a little higher than what people want to pay for a crossover made by Hyundai.' Consider This: The Tesla Model X is a favorite due to its advanced technology and sleek design. It's a great vehicle for long-distance driving, offering a large interior and unique Falcon Wing doors. However, with more EV options in the luxury crossover space and the increased availability of newer models, including the refreshed Model X, this will likely cause a price drop this year. 'Tesla is notorious for changing prices on vehicles,' Musson said. 'It's one of the reasons they depreciate so quickly. So, don't be surprised if the Model X has a significant price drop in 2025, especially following the slower market during the winter months.' The Ford Escape is an excellent choice for commuters and families seeking an efficient vehicle that offers great value. It features an outstanding infotainment system, high safety ratings and a comfortable ride. There appears to be a general depreciation of internal combustion engine vehicles in a market flooded with EVs and hybrids and considering the absence of significant upgrades in recent years, it makes sense to wait until early 2025 for a great deal on the Ford Escape. 'Ford has recently re-engineered the Escape and the earlier ones are starting to stack up on dealerships,' said Alex Black, chief marketing officer at EpicVIN. 'Hybrids and EVs are also picking up and hence demand for gasoline compact SUVs like this is moderating. With more trade-ins, there's more supply and dealers reduce their prices in order to sell them.' Many of the older Chevrolet Equinox models are facing depreciation due to competition and the high availability of this vehicle on the used car market. However, the car itself is great for anyone who needs dependable transportation without breaking the bank, especially with its roomy interior, smooth ride and cargo space. GM has been heavily discounting on Equinox vehicles and this depresses the second-hand prices. To this, fleets of the renting companies are being cleared and this has saturated the markets. Surplus in addition to discounts on freshly made ones, means the other ones become cheap very quickly. Keep an eye out for these four crossovers in early 2025, as they will all likely experience significant price drops. Take advantage of these opportunities to snag a great deal on your next car purchase, whether looking for something compact and budget-approved or a more luxurious option. More From GOBankingRates10 Home Features That Have Decreased the Most in Popularity (And How Much Homes with Them Cost)7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth This article originally appeared on 4 Crossovers That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Early 2025
