Auto Experts Weigh In: 2013 Automotive Highlights & Letdowns ...

We know we give you guys a lot of OUR opinions on new car models but we thought we?d change it up a little bit this week and get the opinions of a few other automotive journalists. We compiled a list of 6 questions that we thought would get some interesting insights into some of this years highlights and letdowns.

1. What Midsize car has raised the bar this year in terms of power/performance, fuel efficiency and price? Why?
2. What vehicle has been the biggest letdown in 2013? Why?
3. In your opinion, which 2013 vehicle gives you the most bang for your buck?
4. Is hybrid technology finally entering the mainstream? What brands are front-runners in clean-tech?
5. Do you think Insurance Telematic Technology, such as Ajusto, will be embraced by consumers or is it an invasion of privacy?
6. What new launch are you most excited by for 2014?

?

Stephen Elmer

News Editor of AutoGuide.com

1. Mazda6. The base engine in Mazda6 isn?t the most powerful, but it is suited to the car well. The SkyActiv-D diesel engine coming to 6 is the real big story, and is sure to deliver a solid package. Fuel efficiency in the 6 actually delivers, as my time with the car returned 7.8L-100km. The 6 even undercuts the Ford Fusion by just a little but, making it the most attractive package. Plus, it?s sexy!

2.?Ford Fusion. The gorgeous styling promises a much better package than what is delivered. While the torquey turbo motors feel good, they don?t live up to their fuel consumption ratings, usually falling very short. Also, the handling is lackluster, and my test car had some panel fitment issues, and plastic bits falling off.

3.?Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai and Kia have become known for having tons of features available for a considerable amount less than their rival, and they deliver. While driving dynamics may fall behind, interior features are plentiful.

4.?Hybrids are constantly improving, and are viable option for many consumers. It depends on what kind of driving you do, but hybrids?definitely?have advantages in certain situations. Toyota still rules the hybrid world in my book, consistently delivering?decent?Prius sales.

5.?I feel as though Ajusto it too intrusive, and may have?implications?beyond insurance in the future. The general public will take a long time to accept the program, simply because most are uneducated about it.

6.?The 2014 Toyota Tundra. Though when it was revealed we found out that the powertrains are staying the same, Toyota is known for building a solid pickup. It will be interesting to see if this Japanese Half-Ton can put up a legitimate fight for the big three.

James Davidson

Editor at WheelsOnEdge.com

1. Well this is an easy one for me. The 2014 Mazda6 in my opinion is the best looking mid-size in its class. Has great fuel numbers and you get some pretty impressive standard features for the price.

2.?I would have say the small Chevrolet products ie Spark and Sonic. They just seem to be cheaply made, have no road feel and most importantly, not very comfortable.

3.?My girlfriend was recently in the market for a new small fuel efficient car and I told her the best bet is a small Hyundai product like the Accent or Elantra. You get great fuel numbers and some impressive standard features such as heated seats and Bluetooth, two great features for living in Canada.

4.?I think people are becoming more receptive to Hybrid technology every year. They?re finding out you can still have performance while saving on gas and the technology gets better each and every year. It also helps that manufactures are using hybrid technology in their racing programs. A few years ago I would have said Toyota, but North American brands have really stepped up their game with the Focus Electric, Volt and C-max.

5.?I have no say on this topic.

6.?With diesel engines on their way back up I would have to say I?m looking forward to the Mazda diesel launch.

James Bergeron

Writer at Autos.ca

1. I feel the Ford Fusion offers consumers with everything they need in terms of performance and fuel efficiency with the multiple engine choices (2.5L/ecoboost / hybrid and plugin!) as well as a technologically advanced interior and features consumers are demanding.

2.?No contest here the outdated Chrysler 200 is most likely the worst new car buy that can be had in Canada today. ?The entire vehicle feels outdated and outclassed, the chassis is frightening to drive. ?Although the engine is powerful it is too much for the chassis causing all kinds of handling problems.

3.?Since you haven?t defined a category here I?m going to have to say the Ford Mustang GT ? it is one of the best handling cars made today, offers a powerful V8 engine and tons of features all for under 35 grand.

4.?Toyota is still king of the Hybrids, now offering a full Prius lineup from small car to family wagon. ?As well as the Highlander and Camry offerings Toyota is offering the most Hybrid selection by far. ?Is hybrid tech finally entering mainstream? ?I think so ? the number of Hybrids I see on the road in just the past two years has grown exponentially and it seems that most consumers have gotten over the initial ?batteries will break? phobia.

5.?Tough question and it really depends on the individual. ?My wife actually asked me a few weeks ago to get a quote from a company using one of these devices, because we don?t typically drive far or often and when we do we rarely exceed posted speeds etc. ?I think for those that have nothing to hide this technology can be great as long as a few?indiscretions?do not put you onto the black list. ?I have a feeling though it will take a long time for the public to embrace this technology.

6.?The new 2014 Mazda3 sure looks exciting!

Marc Bouchard

Editor in Chief at AutoGo.ca

1. The Honda Accord, without a doubt. They took a good-but-boring car and turned it into a real efficient and even fun-to-drive (the coupe, not he sedan) midsize Japanese car. The Accord is now to the level of performance that you expect from a family car, with a fuel consumption lower than most of it?s competitors. Mechanically, it has evolved into a modern, small size engine that suits perfectly the personality of the car. The styling might be the only less-powerful aspect of the car, as it is still a little too quiet.

2.?The Toyota Rav4. Not that it?s a bad SUV (or is it even an SUV?) but they changed it so little. Yes, the hatch door now opens the right way and yes, the look is a lot more modern. But the RAV4 gets the same engine, the same transmission, and the same lack of inspirational driving. Not a bad SUV, but we were expecting SO much more!

3.?Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra must be the All stars in this category. They came equipped with a long list of standard stuff, some useful and some less, but nevertheless, they are a good drive for a more then reasonable price tag. Styling, engine, everything seems to be just right, at a price that is surprisingly low. A good mention also for the Mazda6, a nice looking midsize affordable sedan available with a long list of standards features.

4.?No matter what the other thinks, Toyota still is the leader in green technology, mostly with the Prius family (I can?t help hearing the wonderful jingle that goes with the Prius name whenever I talk about hybrid). They offer a wider range of model, became really fuel-efficient and mostly more and more affordable. Mainstream, maybe not yet, but at least hybrids, and plug-in hybrids, are not part of the buying list of lots of young couples who considers a new cars. The future looks also green for Ford who has shown a few promising vehicles. As for all-electric cars, they are and will continue to be niche cars. The Nissan Leaf is nice, but you need to drive it with some many compromises (not to mention the short driving range) that it will not hit the top list for years to come.

5.?It is, in my mind, invasion of privacy. So are cookies on Internet, or any other electronic transactions we make. Will consumers go for this technology? Yes, if you can prove that it will save them money without too much effort. So far, the economy is far less impressive than the impression you have that you are a lousy driver whenever you look at your results. I consider myself a regular driver, and after one month of Ajusto, I still see no rebate. Will I keep it? No, for sure. I?m willing to give away my privacy (I already do most of the time), but it has to give me some rewards!

6.?Mazda6 diesel is probably the car I look the most forward to drive. Why? Because I am a huge fan of diesel car: I love the low fuel consumption and the low-end torque that those engine provides. And since the Mazda6 is one of my favorite with the new model, it?s hard to believe that the diesel version will be a deception. A good note also for the Toyota Corolla: the car is so popular they can?t afford to change it completely, but I hope they gave it a little more spice!

Conclusion

As you can, there are some similarities as well as some distinct differences in the opinions of these automotive experts. For example, it seems that the 2014 Mazda?s are gaining a lot of attention while everyone above had a different opinion on the make and model that rose the bar this year.

What do you guys think? Agree or disagree with the opinions above?

Tagged as: auto experts, automotive news, car reviews

Source: http://www.carpages.ca/blog/2013/07/09/auto-experts-weigh-in-2013-automotive-highlights-letdowns/

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Andy Murray?s Wimbledon success applauded by St Albans tennis coach

Judy Murray and Mandy Franks during a visit to St Albans by the tennis star's mum in 2011

Debbie White Monday, July 8, 2013
12:04 PM

ANDY Murray?s success in winning his first Wimbledon title has brought applause from a St Albans tennis coach who has been friends with his famous mum, Judy, for over 25 years.

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Mandy Franks, director of tennis at Batchwood and its outreach programme, has praised the 26-year-old Scot for yesterday?s (Sunday) victory over world number one Novak Djokovic.

Mandy said: ?It is Andy?s year this year.?

She has close ties with Judy as they became friends through tennis more than two decades ago when Mandy was coaching talent from St Albans, and Judy was coaching Scottish players.

They both went on to teach people to become tennis coaches, and last year the pair were at the Federation Cup, training women coaches.

Mandy said that she spoke with Judy while they were both at Wimbledon for the men?s semi-final, where they watched Andy play, and beat, Poland?s Jerzy Janowicz.

She said that Judy was, ?calm and they [Andy?s support team] were very clear about the game plan ? they were well prepared. Judy was nervous, but they knew what they had to do and they were very positive?.

Judy has shown her support for tennis in St Albans, particularly after a blaze tore through, and destroyed, the Batchwood Golf and Tennis Centre nearly two years ago.

Mandy invited Judy to St Albans in the wake of that fire, which resulted in a visit from one of the world?s most famous mums in October 2011, to champion the push to rebuild the centre.

While here, Judy visited London Colney and Harpenden to share her expertise with budding tennis players.

Judy urged St Albans district council to resurrect the tennis centre after it was razed by fire in August 2011.

She credited Andy?s use of a public indoor sports arena, similar to Batchwood, for helping to set her son on the path to success.

Mandy said that Judy continues to follow the progress of Batchwood?s rebuild. Planning permission has already been given for the replacement centre, with construction likely to begin shortly.

Tennis continues to be a prominent sport in the district, with Mandy recently visiting schools throughout St Albans in a bid to find the next Andy Murray or Laura Robson.

Eighty pupils were selected from about 2,000 youngsters for free coaching at Harpenden, St Albans and London Colney, through a sponsored programme.

Mandy said: ?Judy thought it was a great idea, and hopefully we can find the next Andy or Laura.?

Source: http://www.hertsad.co.uk/andy_murray_s_wimbledon_success_applauded_by_st_albans_tennis_coach_1_2269055

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Microsoft Dumps Xbox Live Arcade Points

Microsoft Dumps Xbox Live Arcade Points

A time-worn(out) Microsoft tradition is about to come to an end. The practice of purchasing Microsoft Points is being phased out for Xbox 360 and Xbox One with the upcoming update. The disposition of remaining points in gamer?s accounts and the exact date for the completion of the phaseout will be announced by Microsoft at a later date. It's probably a good bet there will be no tears shed over this move by Microsoft.

Previously, gamers wanting to purchase anything on XBLA had to first purchase a batch of Microsoft points ? say, 1,600 points for $19.99 ? with which they could then actually buy a game.

Comments

Posted by Al 11:00 AM (DST)??

Source: http://www.hardocp.com/news/2013/07/07/microsoft_dumps_xbox_live_arcade_points/

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Mexico Volcano Ash Grounds US Flights

Frustrated passengers stood in long lines at Mexico City's airport as US airlines canceled flights for a second day after the Popocatepetl volcano spewed a new column of ash.

United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines and AirTran voluntarily scrapped 15 flights Friday as a precaution, but the airport did not restrict travel as it did not consider the ash a risk, airport spokesman Jorge Andres Gomez told AFP.

On Thursday, six US airlines had canceled some 60 flights, stranding 600 passengers, with many of them still looking for a way out of the Mexican capital Friday afternoon.

"They can't even give us chairs," Mexican traveler Gabriela Garcia said as she stood in a long line at a Delta counter with some 200 other people. "Nobody knows anything, nobody says anything, we've been standing for six hours."

Another Mexican traveler, Eusebio Pacheco, said that he had also been waiting in line for six hours with his wife, hoping to finally take off to the Canadian province of Quebec.

"We don't know anything, they don't tell us anything, we're desperate," he said, adding that two flights were canceled. They hoped to fly out on Saturday.

A Slovenian couple who were heading to Paris with Delta said they were advised to book a hotel and return in two days, with the airline saying it wouldn't pay for food or lodging since it was a weather event.

The airport spokesman said operations were getting back to normal later in the day and that flights from Europe and other regions had been landing all day.

The National Disaster Prevention Center had reported early Friday the 5,452-meter (17,887-feet) high volcano had blown a 1.5 kilometer (one mile) high column of ash that was heading west-northwest and produced low-intensity tremors in the last 24 hours.

In an evening bulletin, the agency said the volcano had spewed more gas, steam and ash which had dispersed as it blew west. Authorities flew over the crater and saw molten rocks that were blown one kilometer into the air before falling on the mountain's slopes, it added.

Volcanic activity at the snow-capped Popocatepetl, located 65 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of the capital, has intensified since May, prompting authorities to raise the alert level to "yellow phase 3" for 27 days, just short of evacuation orders.

The disaster prevention center advised people living around the volcano to wear long sleeves and use masks or cover their mouths and noses with a cloth.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoveryNews-Earth-News/~3/YORQ2DTJTLs/mexico-volcano-ash-grounds-us-flights-130706.htm

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One Woman Sarcastically Says "Hail Satan," Entire Right Wing Goes Into Crazy Freak-Out Mode (Little green footballs)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/316974374?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Tips To Help You Survive Personal Bankruptcy | Best Finance ...

Bankruptcy effects a myriad of people each with different financial situations. When life throws you lemons, sometimes you have no choice but to try and make lemonade out of them. If this has happened to you, then use the advice in this article to move forward with your life.

One critical element for anyone filing a petition for bankruptcy is to be honest in everything you do. Don?t hide income or assets from your lawyer or the bankruptcy trustee or you may find yourself in legal trouble.

Although you can find many bankruptcy attorneys listed in your local Yellow Pages or online, it?s best if you can find one through the personal recommendation of a friend, family member or acquaintance. There are many companies who take advantage of financial desperation; that is why it is important that you get someone that is trustworthy.

Most bankruptcy lawyers offer a free consultation, so meet with several before you decide on one. It is important to meet with the actual lawyer, because paralegals or assistants cannot give you legal advice. Comparing different lawyers makes it possible to find one with whom you work well.

Consider Chapter 13 bankruptcy, if you chose to file. With a consistent income source and less than $250k in debt, try filing for Chapter 13. This type of bankruptcy protects your assets from seizure and lets you repay your credits over the course of a few years. Such plans generally take between 3 and 5 years to complete, at which point. a discharge will be granted. Remember that if you even miss one payment that?s due under this plan, the court could dismiss the whole case.

Filing for bankruptcy is not the best choice if your monthly income is enough to cover your bills. Although you may see bankruptcy as a free pass to eliminate your debt, if you can slowly whittle away at your debt with your income, it will be much better than killing your credit score with a bankruptcy filing.

Take some time after filing for bankruptcy to enjoy life. Filing for personal bankruptcy can be very stressful for the debtor. Don?t let the process control you in a negative way. You will get through it, and you should make an effort to remember that. Life is going to get better once you get through this.

If you are concerned about keeping your car, check with your attorney about lowering the monthly payment. In many cases, Chapter 7 bankruptcy can lower your payments. Your car must have been purchased more than 910 days prior to filing, be a high interest loan, and you must have had a steady work history for this to work.

Be certain to have a good understanding of bankruptcy regulations prior to filing a petition. For instance, a filer cannot transfer assets to someone else for at least a year before filing. In addition, it?s unlawful for a filer to acquire more debt on their credit cards before they file.

Make a comprehensive list of all of your financial information before you file for bankruptcy. Forgetting anything can cause a delay, or even a dismissal. Even if it?s a small sum, make sure it is listed. This can include side jobs, any vehicles to be counted as assets, and any loans you may currently have.

There are a lot of things to consider prior to filing for bankruptcy. Credit counseling is an important option for you to pursue. There are various non-profit companies that may be able to help you. They can speak with your creditor about getting your payments and interest reduced. You make payments to them and they pay your creditors.

If you are facing bankruptcy, it is important to get expert advice to address your situation and take the necessary actions to resolve it. When you are properly informed, you make the whole process easier for yourself. The above article has provided a lot of this knowledge so that you?re able to deal with your finances with less stress.

Learning what you need to know about stock investment advice is kind of hard if you?re not exactly sure where to begin. It is vital that you are armed with the right information to be successful. Make use of the great advice you?ve just read in order to be successful in stock investment advice.

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Source: http://www.bestfinanceinvestment.com/2013/07/02/tips-to-help-you-survive-personal-bankruptcy/

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Survival of the Galapagos sea lion

June 29, 2013 ? Immune systems of endangered Galapagos sea lions are in overdrive because of harmful activity by people, reveal scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

The study shows that Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) are more prone to starvation because of exposure to human influences like pets and pollution. These can impair the level of their immunity, making them less able to hunt and more likely to go hungry when food is scarce.

This research is published June 28 in the journal PLOS ONE.

Conservationists spent more than eighteen months on the Islands of San Cristobal, which is inhabited by humans, and Santa Fe, where there are no humans, dogs, cats, mice or rats. They tagged 60 Galapagos sea lions from each island and monitored their behaviour and physiology.

ZSL's Institute of Zoology Director, Professor Tim Blackburn says: "We are increasingly aware of the threats of infectious diseases to wildlife around the world, from amphibians in the tropics to the birds in British gardens. It is worrying that we are now potentially seeing such threats to sea lions in the supposedly pristine wilderness of the Galapagos Islands."

ZSL's Dr. Paddy Brock, author on the paper, says: "A tell-tale sign of an unhealthy sea lion is a thinner than normal layer of blubber, which is what we saw in the sea lions on San Cristobal. This was all the more notable as we didn't notice these patterns in sea lions on Santa Fe, where they live without the presence of people or pets.

""The immune systems of San Cristobel sea lions were more active, perhaps indicating a threat of infectious disease, which could mean human activity is increasing the chance of potentially dangerous diseases emerging in the Galapagos sea lion," Dr Brock added.

Despite laws designed to protect the unique wildlife found on the Galapagos, pets are regularly imported to the islands, which increases the risk of new diseases arriving and spreading to local species. In addition, dumping of sewage into the bay on San Cristobal where the sea lions live may be increasing their exposure to germs and bacteria associated with humans.

ZSL, together with collaborators, will continue to address the threats faced by the Galapagos sea lion by carrying out further research into the methods driving the described patterns, such as the role that genetics plays in shaping them.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/UgP0hAd2l9E/130629164735.htm

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