ja n ua ry 2 1, 201 7

abqjournal.com/drive

DRIVE

pg 5
good deals in 2017

pg 5
third-row seating

your transportation shopping guide

AlbuquerqueJournal

adv e rt isi n g su pp le m e nt

Maintenance

2017 Outlook

diagnosing
a leaky car
a wet interior can indicate
significant problems

ery often drivers

find that the seats
or the mats below
their feet are damp or downright sopping wet. But unless
a window or sunroof was
left open during a rainstorm,
drivers may find it difficult
to decipher why their vehicles are suddenly soaked.
Unfortunately, when a
vehicles interior is wet, that
could be a sign of a significant problem, one that can
gradually worsen over time.
Wetness can cause electrical
components or metal structures in the car to rot, and a
soggy interior may eventually be overcome by mold.
It is best to find out what is
causing the leak as soon as
possible and have the problem fixed just as quickly.

tr e n d s f or
new cars , trends looking forward in new year

Identifying the cause

By steven overly, the washington post

ust how old is that hooptie in your

driveway?

The average vehicle on American

roads is nearly 12 years old, market research shows, as drivers hold on to their
old, reliable wheels for longer stretches
of time. That has held true even as more
people than ever bought new cars last
year - 17.5 million of them.
If youre not a consumer who bought
new in recent years, the showroom floor
and its wares may look different from

2017
what youve seen in the past. The most
popular vehicles today are getting bigger in size, generating reams of data and,
more and more often, pestering you to
drive better. The vehicles built for the future - those that are merely bold concepts
today - will be even more peculiar and
provocative.
Earlier this month, the CES technology
conference in Las Vegas and the North
American International Auto Show in
Detroit offered tremendous insight into
where automotive trends stand today and

where they appear to be headed in the

years to come. Below are seven trends every driver should have on his or her radar,
whether looking to make a trade-in or just
gawking at whats on the road.

Autonomous driving
Lets address the hype right here: Fully
autonomous cars wont be sold for quite
a while. How long that will be is an open
question and most expect the transition
from driver to driven will be gradual.
Nevertheless, most major automakers and

2017 continued on page 4

Finding the source of

a leak is not always easy.
Sometimes drivers can locate it themselves and then
fix the problem on their own,
while more serious problems
might need to be handled by
a professional. But it is best
to assess the situation before
booking an appointment
with your mechanic.
Cars can spring a leak for
a variety of reasons. Leaks
from systems under the
hood, as well as rainwater
or water from washing the
car, can infiltrate the interior
if seals around doors and/
or windows are broken or
gaskets are worn out. Figuring out which type of liquid
is entering your vehicle can
help you determine whats
behind the leak.

Brake fluid
A clear, slippery liquid
under the seats may be indicative of a leak in the brake
fluid reservoir. Brake fluid is
a liquid used in the braking
system to apply hydraulic
pressure from the master
cylinder to the calipers to
the pads against the wheel
drums. If you discover brake
fluid, check the master cylinder or the clutch master cylinder to see if there is a leak
or spillover of the fluid.

Rentals

Coolant

Car rental tips to save time, money

suggestions for
getting the best
rental experience

any people resolve to

enjoy life to the fullest, and that may involve
indulging in new experiences and
traveling to different locales. The
United States Travel Association
says nearly four out of five domestic trips taken are for leisure, and
1.7 billion person-trips, or travel
taken by a person away from home
overnight to places 50 miles away

or more, were logged in 2015.

Ground transportation remains
one of the most popular means
of getting around. People who
choose not to use their own vehicles for travel often find that a
rental vehicle suits their purposes
and can be quite convenient. Consumers seeking a rental car can ensure their travel plans go smoothly
with these tips.

Travel off-season
Not only might travelers save
on airline tickets, hotel accommodations and more when traveling
off-season, but they also can save
on rental cars. For example, according to the Abrams Travel Data Index, consumers can expect to pay
56 percent less in March for a rental
car than they would renting the
same vehicle in July.

rentals continued on page 2

Coolant also can leak under the dashboard and into

the footwells of a car. Coolant is a sticky, green, sweetsmelling fluid; a leak could
mean that a heater core or
hose in the cooling system
is leaking. In such instances,
hoses may need to be replaced.

Water
Some vehicles have water diverters on the sides of
their windshields to make

leaky continued on page 2

page 2

drive / albuquerque journal

drive
dealer/
lender
info

saturday, january 21, 2017

Rentals

CoRlEys

Lincoln Volvo
9000 Pan American Frwy. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
(505) 260-2200
corleynewmexico.com

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Auto sAlEs

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MontAno ACuRA

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Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 345-8741
montanoacura.com

thE GARAGE
Auto REpAIR

6441 Western Trail NW

Albuquerque, NM 87120
(505) 352-5152
thegaragenm.com

DRIVE
editor
lauren rolls
haneen khatib
design
byron hughey
printed by
albuquerque publishing co.
a p ro duct of the

AlbuquerqueJournal

rental: get the best experience when traveling

continued from page 1

Know what you want

Before renting, decide which

type of vehicle will best fit your
needs. If youre traveling with
children, you may need a van or
a large sedan, rather than a compact car. If travel includes certain
hobbies, such as skiing or bicycle
riding, look for a rental with a ski
or bike rack or one that can fit
such accessories. Those concerned
with the environment may want
to rent an eco-friendly model.

shop around

neW puBlICATIon dATes

Now publishes the
third saturday of
every month

Major car rental agencies are

located all over the world. However, depending on where you
travel, locally owned companies
may offer comparable service

and lower rates. Lower operating costs (think no franchise fees

or big advertising budgets) mean
these rentals typically cost 15 to
30 percent less than rentals from
mainstream agencies. Research
lesser-known rental companies
beforehand to compare prices and
read any reviews to see if these
businesses are up to the standards
of larger, better-known chains.

According to Angies List,

some rental car companies offer
unlimited miles for a rental period, while others may employ
mileage caps. Read the fine print
of the agreement, especially if
youll be using the rental for longdistance driving.

Avoid renting from an airport

Ask about membership affiliation

It may be convenient to step

off a plane and grab a rental right
there. However, rental car agencies operating at airports may
pass on airport surcharges to their
customers. Try a car rental service
away from the airport and take a

shuttle or cab to get there.

rate for employees.

understand mileage caps

Investigate insurance coverage

Inquire about discounts for

any major national organizations,
frequent flier programs and credit
card programs to which you may
belong. If youre employed by a
company that frequently rents
cars, they may have a negotiated

You may be able to decline

extra insurance coverage at the
rental desk. Some personal automotive policies will cover collision damage and personal liability for temporary use of a rental
car, according to MileCards.com,
a travel rewards card comparison
website. What is not covered by
your insurance may be covered
by secondary insurance offered
by the credit card used at booking. Rental cars are a major component of travel. Consumers can
save money and make trips even
easier by understanding some of
the basics of renting.

feBruAry 18
mArCh 18
AprIl 15
mAy 20
june 17
july 15

THANK YOU

AugusT 19
sepTemBer 16

ALBUQUERQUE

oCToBer 21
novemBer 18

deCemBer 16

VOTED #
AGAIN!
free towing

leaky: finding, fixing

problem areas
continued from page 1

for repair*

sure water flows off of the windshield when

the wipers are in use. Also, the trough where
the wipers rest should have a sealant that prevents water from entering at the base of the
windshield. Over time, both can wear out and
may need to be replaced and resealed. Try sitting in the car on a dry day and spraying a hose
on the windshield. See if any water eventually
makes it inside of the car. If it does, the windshield is likely the reason your vehicles interior
is getting wet.

THREE YEARS IN A ROW!

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WE ONLY FIX EVERYTHING!

Clogged drains

A clogged drain in a vehicles heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is one of the
more common causes of interior water damage.
If the drain is clogged, condensation from the
system cannot drain from the tube. In such instances, water backs up into the system and can
actually blow out of the car vents or elsewhere in
the vehicle, forming a pool on the floor of the car.
Leaves or debris can cause a blockage. If excess
water is left in the HVAC system, it can damage
the blower motor. Also, a faulty seal that is located between the HVAC case and the firewall
of the vehicle may cause water to leak into the
passenger compartment under the carpet.
In some cases, cleaning blocked drains in
a vehicles HVAC system may be as simple as
blowing compressed air through the vents or
using a wire to clear out leaves or dirt. Other
times it may be hard to access the leaks, and
such instances are often best left to a mechanic.
The causes of leaks in a car are not always so
easy to diagnose. But it is important to figure
out where the moisture is coming from early
on to minimize the damage to your vehicle.

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drive / albuquerque journal

saturday, january 21, 2017

page 3

page 4

drive / albuquerque journal

saturday, january 21, 2017

2017 Outlook

The distances that

electric vehicles can
travel on a single
charge has increased
substantially in just a
few years.

2017: automotive market sees innovation, reinvention

continued from page 1
newcomers, too, are trying to imagine
the future. Googles self-driving spinoff, Waymo, announced at the auto
show that it has built sensors for selfdriving and will put minivans with the
technology on the road this month. At
CES, Ford revealed the latest iteration
of a self-driving vehicle that it hopes
will be ready for the road come 2021.
That doesnt mean a vehicle you
buy this year wont assist you with
the driving. Whats here today are a
litany of driver-assist technologies
that could put you one step closer to
a hands-free future. There are sensors that activate when you drive too
close to the line or if theres a car in
your blind spot. Adaptive cruise control technology automatically adjusts
your speed based on the distance
of the car in front of you. Rear-view
cameras are joined by side-view and
aerial-view cameras. Some of these
technologies have existed in various
states, but theyre growing more sophisticated, said Richard Wallace of
the Center for Automotive Research.

Crossovers
If it looks like an SUV, but drives
like a car, then its probably a crossover. Thats the name given to vehicles
built on a car frame with the design
features and functionality commonly
associated with sport-utility vehicles
- think the Honda CR-V and Toyota
RAV4. Theyre more popular than
ever. Americans bought 5.6 million
of them last year, which translates to
nearly a third of all new car sales.
If the auto show is any indication,
youll soon see even more models
in dealerships. Nissan debuted the
Rogue Sport, the slimmer sibling to its
top-selling Rogue. Mazda displayed
the all-new CX-5 and Ford the EcoSport, both of which were first seen
at the L.A. Auto Show in November.
Before the show even officially started,
GMC lifted the cover on a smaller version of the Terrain.
Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst
at industry research firm Autotrader,
attributes the popularity of crossovers to their versatility. Sure, they
are more fuel efficient than larger
SUVs and trucks, and drivers certainly care how much they pay at
the pump. Ultimately, though, many
car-buying decision comes down
to lifestyle, Krebs said. Young families need a place for every tot. Baby
boomers can more easily get in and
out of higher seats. Shoppers who
buy in bulk want more cargo space.
Of course, if you want something
even bigger, automakers have that
covered, too. Volkswagen has the
forthcoming seven-seater Atlas, and
Subaru showed off the Viziv-7 concept. Ford also has some big cars on
the way, but more on that in a minute.

a ut on omo us dr iv in g
e le ctr ic car s
c r oss ov er s
mo de l co mebacks
data & pe r f o rm anc e t rac kin g
ba rga ini ng
mil le n ia l s

Big data in the car

Your car and your smartphone
are starting to have a lot in common,
though only one can be used to take a
selfie - at least for now. Automobiles
increasingly come with Internet connections, and in a few years that technology will almost certainly be ubiquitous. As it stands, the Department of
Transportation proposed rules requiring that all new cars on the road must
be able to talk to one another digitally by 2020. Regulators and automakers
see the potential for such technology
to reduce accidents and deaths.
But the wired car also opens the
door to more data about drivers being
collected and shared than ever before.
Ford, Toyota and other automakers
joined together to launch a common
infotainment system that connects to
Apple iOS and Google Android. That
means app developers can adapt their
creations for the car more easily, and
customers on the platform could have
more ways to integrate their car with
the other devices that power their
lives. Ford, for example, announced
some of its cars will use Amazon Echo
and the virtual assistant Alexa, so you
will be able to command your car to do
things using just your voice.
The arrival of big data in the automobile has reason to give consumers
pause. For one, there are privacy and
security concerns that require vigilance - car hacking has the potential
to become a problem if automakers
do not effectively safeguard against it.
Whats more, automakers have plans
to turn that data into revenue, though
many agree that data belongs to the
customer, who should determine how
it is used.

Whats old is new

For all the innovative proposals
that automakers put forward, there are
certain mainstays that customers simply wont shake. And some of the big
announcements at the show here were
revamped versions of vehicles that are
already popular. Toyota made a splash
with the all-new 2018 Camry, its most
modern take on Americas best-selling
car for 15 years straight. Ford released
a new version of its iconic F-150 pickup truck, the best-selling vehicle in the
country for more than 30 years. Both
come with streamlined designs and incar technology, among other features,
but theyre likely to feel familiar.
In 2020, Ford plans to bring back
its cult-favorite Bronco, which has not
been made since 1996. The Ford Ranger, the second-most popular pickup
outside of North America, will join its
U.S. fleet in 2019. More futuristically,
VW unveiled a concept version of its
iconic, 70s-era microbus that is selfdriving and electric. Called I.D. Buzz,
a vehicle similar to the concept on display here could hit the market in 2022,
VW said.

Even more electric vehicles

Automakers are producing more allelectric and hybrid vehicle models than
ever, with more slated to come down
the pike. Ford announced plans recently to produce 13 electrified models by
2020. Mercedes will make 10 by 2025.
Volkswagen, which is out to prove its
environmental fortitude after the diesel
emissions scandal, has 30 of them in the

Americans bought 5.6

million crossovers last
year, which translates
to nearly a third of all
car sales.

last year brought

automakers their
unprecedented eighth
consecutive year of
sales growth.
works. The Chevy Bolt EV was named
the North American Car of the Year.
Heres the wrinkle: People arent
really buying them. About 170,000 hybrid and plug-in vehicles were sold in
2016, a 25.2 percent decline from the
year before, according to Kelley Blue
Book. Even fewer electric vehicles
were sold last year - about 50,000, a 1.6
percent increase from 2015.
But there is reason to believe the
market will ripen. The distances that
electric vehicles can travel on a single
charge has increased substantially in
just a few years. Also, the Obama administration and automakers have
announced plans to install thousands
of charging stations along major thoroughfares. That should ease concerns
about what happens if your car starts
to run out of juice.
Ultimately, however, a big incentive
to buy electric is high gasoline prices and right now they are well off their
peak. Still, automakers need to make
them sell. The industry has spent a
lot of money on research and development and, at least for now, must
work toward fuel efficiency and environmental goals established under the
Obama administration.

Lets make a deal

Last year brought automakers
their unprecedented eighth consecutive year of sales growth. One of the
big reasons for that: They offered serious financial perks to close deals.
Those included discounts on sticker
prices and rebates, as well as longer
payback terms and competitive interest rates. The average incentive
in 2016 was $3,341, compared with
$2,912 for the year before, according
to Kelley Blue Book.
Whether that continues this year
may depend on how much dealers
have to hustle to win customers. On
the one hand, sellers may be motivated because demand is expected to
decline. Some analysts suspect that
consumers who were holding off on

big purchases during the recession

may have already turned the key. The
Federal Reserve is also expected to
increase interest rates, which could
mean less attractive financing terms.
(That may not happen, however, if automakers try to stay competitive, analysts note.) There are other factors at
play as well. Job growth and the stock
market have been strong, which automakers hope will give consumers the
confidence to spend.

Send in the millennials

Theyre at it again. The supposedly narcissistic, entitled generation
that everyone loves to hate is shaking
up the car industry as much as anything else. Automakers are starting to
develop their own ride-hailing and
sharing services because some young
urbanites dont want to own cars. Ford
will expand its minibus ride-sharing
program, called Chariot, to eight cities
by the end of the year.
But millennials are actually buying cars. A J.D. Power survey from last
year found they made up 28 percent
of the new car market - and that share
will probably grow as the generation
born in the 1980s and 90s comes of
age. Companies have begun tailoring
vehicles to their tastes. Fiat Chrysler
introduced a concept minivan, called
Portal, which could come to market
within the next few years. It aims to
be the millennials minivan. Among
its features: the ability for multiple occupants to plug in their devices and
share music, video, pictures and other
content. It will also use face and voice
recognition to identify passengers and
remember their personal preferences.
Millennials are seeking practical
and functional products that provide
capability and a sense of personal
style, Fiat Chrysler said. As a result,
they want a vehicle that can be upgraded as their lives change, and they
expect seamless integration of technology in and out of the vehicle, including
to home and other devices.

drive / albuquerque journal

saturday, january 21, 2017

page 5

Consumer Options

Forecast / Buying

Pros and cons to

third-row seating
consider tradeoffs before purchasing larger vehicle

hird-row seating has become a priority for many

people purchasing new vehicles. Many consumers actively
seek out a car or SUV with a thirdrow seat so theyll have plenty of
room for passengers during commutes or school carpools. There are
many advantages to a third row
of seating, but there are also some
disadvantages. Weighing the pros
and cons before purchase will help
shoppers determine if a third-row
seat is really what they need.

Advantages
The primary reason for purchasing a vehicle with a third-row seat is
to increase passenger capacity. Most
standard cars and mid-size SUVs
can seat 5 passengers comfortably.
However, a third-row seat can add
a spot for an additional 2 to 3 passengers. The need for a third row
of seats stems primarily from the
increased prevalence of booster and
other child safety seats, which tend
to take up a lot of space. This enables
more children to be seated safely, a
boon to parents who carpool.
Third-row seats are also advantageous to commuters who carpool.
Several adults can sit comfortably
and ride into work together, splitting the cost of gas and tolls. Many
vehicles with third-row seats offer

Year of the buyer

shoppers will find good deals this year
By dee-ann durbin, AP auto writer

.S. car shoppers will find

plentiful deals, relatively
low interest rates and lots of
high-tech choices in the market this
year. Its a good time to buy a car now,
and it should be for the rest of the year,
says Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with
the car-shopping site Edmunds.com
New-vehicle sales hit a record of
17.55 million in the U.S. last year. While
theyre not expected to top that this
year, demand is still strong. Many of
the factors that fueled sales last year are
still in place, like solid consumer confidence and low gas prices. New technology like Apple CarPlay and automatic
emergency braking is luring buyers.
And many people still need to replace
aging cars. The average age of a vehicle
on U.S. roads is climbed to 11.6 years in
2016. Here are some things to watch in
the car market this year:

Prices
The average price people pay for
a new car rose to $32,000 in December, a monthly record, according to
the consulting firm LMC Automotive.
Analysts say new-vehicle prices will
continue to rise in 2017. There are two
main reasons: more customers are buying SUVs which are pricier than cars
and theyre loading them up with features, like the premium audio and automatic liftgate package that adds $940 to
the cost of a Toyota RAV4 SUV.
As a result, more buyers are leasing,
which helps lower the monthly payment. The average monthly lease payment for a new car is currently $405;
the average monthly loan payment is
$495, according to Experian Automotive. Buyers are also lengthening the
terms of their car loans to lower their
payments. The average new-vehicle
loan term is now 68 months, up from
62 months in 2009. About 1 percent of
loans stretch out 85 months or more.

Incentives
Prices may be at record levels, but
luckily for consumers deals are,
too. Automakers were offering around
$4,000 per vehicle in incentives at the
end of 2016, and that could inch up
even further this year, says Jesse Toprak, CEO of the car-shopping site CarHub.com. Deals are coming in the form
of bonus cash like a current $1,000 offer from Chevrolet and low-interest fi-

detroit
nancing, such as Subarus zero-percent
financing offer on the Outback and Forester SUVs. Look for some of the highest incentives on slow-selling small and
midsize cars, like the Toyota Camry
and Chevrolet Sonic, as well as hybrids
like the Ford C-Max.
Analysts say automakers are trying
to be smarter with incentives, having
been burned in the past. Deals are targeted at specific vehicles, regions and
even individual dealerships. Incentives could also taper off a bit if automakers cut car production to match
the lower demand.

Used cars
A big supply of vehicles leased
two or three years ago is returning to
the market. Prices for used SUVs and
trucks, which are in high demand, will
likely stay stable this year, but used car
prices will fall, says Michelle Krebs, a
senior analyst with AutoTrader.com.
Krebs says buyers will have to do their
homework to see if they should buy a
new or a nearly-new car.
New cars might have the latest technology, but a certified-pre-owned car
might offer perks like free maintenance
or a few months of OnStar or satellite
radio. The current average monthly
payment on a used car is $362, Experian
says, up only slightly from a year ago.
One downside for consumers: falling
used-car values mean theyll get less
for vehicles that theyre trading in, says
Patrick Min, a senior industry analyst
at the car-buying site TrueCar.com.

the average monthly lease

payment for a new car is currently
$405; the average monthly loan
payment is $495, according to
experian automotive.

While the third-row seat offers

more passenger room, it simultaneously cuts down on storage space.
Many vehicles that offer the extra
row of seating do so at the expense
of trunk or cargo space. There may
be little more than a few feet of room
to store groceries or luggage. Vehicles
with a third-row seat tend to be more
expensive than comparable cars and
SUVs without one. Some minivans
are more expensive than SUVs of
similar size. If money is a factor, a
third-row seat may not be an asset. In
addition, insurance companies might
charge more for a larger car.
Size might also be a disadvantage to some drivers. Larger vehicles
might be difficult to park in urban
areas and may require special parking spots in parking garages. Thirdrow seats can be very advantageous
for people who frequently transport
several people. But they may not be
the best option for individuals looking for a lower priced car or one with
maximum cargo space.

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Interest rates
The Federal Reserve boosted its
benchmark rate by a quarter-point last
month, to a still-low range of 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent. The rate has been
near zero since the recession. Toprak
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about $50 more per month to a car payment, he says. Thats not going to stop
people, he says.

Disadvantages

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Gas prices
Low gas prices have fueled the U.S.
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ExpirEs january 23, 2017

page 6

drive / albuquerque journal

saturday, january 21, 2017