CAR WARRIORS: CHEVROLET COLORADO IS BACK BETTER EVER

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

CHEVROLET COLORADO IS BACK BETTER EVER

General Motors has returned to the midsize pickup segment for the new 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and its stablemate, the 2015 GMC Canyon. Although the automaker initially dropped both trucks after the 2012 model year, they're back and better than ever, redign totally new styling, new interiors, new powertrains and a overhaul improved driving trucks experience's.

The result is that these two trucks run circles around the Toyota Tacoma and Frontier toyota ,their biggest competitors. But we're also interested to see whether truck shoppers will forego larger pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series, given the impressive capabilities and lower price tags of GM's new Colorado and Canyon.

The Colorado is completely new for the 2015 model year.Excellent interior for a midsize truck; great engine performance; lots of features; better ride than other midsize trucks

Ride still isn't perfect; front seat comfort not great for long drives; priced too similarly to the Silver.

The Colorado offers two engines. In base models, there's a 200-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 191 lb-ft of torque. Two transmissions are offered: a 6-speed manual, available only with rear-wheel drive, that gets 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, or a 6-speed automatic offered in rear- or 4-wheel drive guise. Automatic Colorado models return 20 mpg city/26 mpg hwy in rear-wheel drive, or 19 mpg city/25 mpg hwy with 4-wheel drive.

If you're looking for more power, the Colorado also offers a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. That engine returns 18 mpg city/26 mpg hwy with rear-wheel drive, or 17 mpg city/24 mpg hwy with 4-wheel drive.

The Colorado is offered in four trim levels: a base model called simply Colorado, a slightly more upscale WT (Work Truck) model, a mid-level LT and an off-road-oriented Z71.

The base-level Colorado ($21,100), which is only offered with rear-wheel drive, a 6-speed manual transmission and no rear seats,Customize your driving experience by arranging the icons and features on the available Chevrolet MyLink† 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen. Choose the information or options you use most and place them on your home screen. The interface allows you to touch and swipe on the screen just like you do on your smartphone. There’s even a USB† to charge your phone or other electronic devices while storing them.

Step up to the Colorado WT $22,500 and you'll add rear seats along with several new options: a 3.6-liter V6, an available 6-speed automatic transmission and available 4-wheel drive.

Next in line is the Colorado LT ($26,100), which features a standard automatic transmission, GM's 4G Wi-Fi hot spot, 17-inch alloy wheels,Colorado is the first small truck to combine design features such as inlaid, triple-sealed doors, thick windshield and side glass, and liquid-applied sound deadener to help reduce wind noise inside the cab and keep the road noise out. So you’ll be able to crank up the music on the available Bose® sound system while Colorado turns down the world outside,a leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering wheel audio controls.

The all-new 2015 Colorado small truck offers a Z71 Off-Road Package with precisely tuned suspension that provides an incredibly stable and comfortable ride for off-road performance. The truck’s skid plate helps protect crucial underbody components like the transfer case when navigating rough terrain. The Z71 package also includes an automatic locking rear differential, which sends power to one of the rear wheels when the other one loses traction to help you stay in control when pulling your boat out of the water or when you're getting dirty off-road.

Options include the pickup's 3.6-liter V6 engine along with high-tech safety features such as a lane departure warning system and a forward collision alert.

All 2015 Chevrolet Colorado models come standard with dual front airbags and side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants. The Colorado also includes a standard backup camera and traction control. Options include forward collision alert and a lane departure warning system. As of this writing, the Colorado had not yet been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Colorado is simply a major step up over all of its small pickup competitors. One reason is the truck's ride, which is much smoother than what you'll find in other pickups. The interior is also nicer. The Colorado and Canyon also oast more gadgets and features than the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. To us, the Colorado and the Canyon look more modern on the outside, too.

While the base-level Colorado's 4-cylinder isn't a major workhorse, it's certainly acceptable for many situations, and it gets strong fuel economy for a pickup truck. But we're especially impressed with the pickup's V6, which is the powerplant we recommend. It boasts excellent acceleration and a surprisingly brawny 7,000-lb towing capacity, along with a smooth standard automatic transmission.

We have only two complaints with the Colorado: Its ride, while great for a small pickup, could still be a little better. And we're not sold on the front seats, which could use a little extra support.

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KNOWING ABOUT YOUR POWER-TRAIN WARRANITY

A powertrain warranty is a form of assurance offered by the manufacturer of an automobile. When a consumer purchases a vehicle, at the time of sale, he or she will be given a powertrain warranty, which will cover all or part of the powertrain of the underlying automobile. When a mechanical problem occurs to the powertrain the costs associated with repair or replacement are covered in the powertrain warranty—the manufacturer or dealer whole sold the automobile will pay to have the car fixed. That being said, what parts are covered and the extent of the repayment associated with fixing the car will vary greatly based on the powertrain warranty offered.

Depending on the manufacturer, a powertrain warranty will provide different forms of coverage based on interpretative differences; for example, one manufacturer’s definition of an engine can be referred to as a ‘long block’, meaning the engine, as well as everything attached to it cannot be removed. Another definition of an engine can be a “short block” meaning only part of the engine—typically the piece below cylinder head—cannot be removed. As a result, the coverage abilities will vary between these two warranties if the engine proved to be faulty.

In addition to the engine, the type of automobile will necessitate different variables within the powertrain warranty. For example, if you purchased a manual transmission vehicle, the warranty may exclude repairs or replacements for important pieces, such as the clutch—an extended warranty for a manual transmission will typically only provide coverage for the driveshaft and the axles.

A powertrain warranty will last for a certain number of years or for a maximum number of miles. In most instances, the powertrain warranty will last longer than a typical car warranty; the basic powertrain warranty is offered as a 10 year or 100,000 mile warranty, or whichever comes first.

Other Warranites Usually available to car buyers:

Basic: Also known as "bumper-to-bumper" coverage, this is the general coverage that would pay to repair defects in factory-installed parts. Tires are not typically included because they're usually covered under a separate tire manufacturer warranty.

Corrosion: Covers rust that causes holes in sheet metal in parts such as the doors or side panels.

Roadside assistance: Provides help with towing and tire-changing if the car breaks down while traveling.

It's best to check with dealers for specifics, but here is a list of seven top auto companies that offer among the best car warranties, despite the fact that many are rated safe cars by independent research firms.

Car Insurance Tips

Find out what’s covered and what isn’t. Get your quote in writing and confirm the accuracy of each vehicle and driver you are insuring, as well as the coverages you requested. Ask about free, value-added features, such as emergency roadside assistance. Check to see if repairs are guaranteed for as long as you own your car, and find out what kind of payment options are available.

To see if you’re getting credit where credit is due, it's a good idea to find out all the discounts available to you. Some simple ways to save money on your auto insurance include maintaining a clean driving record, being a good student and the inclusion of certain safety features when buying a new car can save you money on your policy.

Your state sets forth the minimum liability coverage you must maintain, as mentioned above. But these are just the legal minimums and might not give you the coverage you need. You'll have to decide what you want to buy beyond these minimums. Keep in mind that you are looking to find the balance between having adequate coverage and overpaying.

According to Consumer Reports, a general guideline for adequate bodily injury liability limits is $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, plus $100,000 for property damage. These amounts are what your insurer will pay to someone you are in an accident with. For uninsured motorist coverage, you should get the same amount as for bodily injury liability, as this covers your medical costs when someone who is not insured hits you.

Auto insurance tip #1
Understand why you need auto insurance
In short, you need car insurance to protect your car, yourself and your passengers. You also protect any assets, like your home and savings, as well as comply with state law.

Auto insurance tip #2
Know your current coverages-but be willing to adjust
Use your current coverages and limits as a starting point; you can refer to your declarations page for this information. Then, adjust your coverages as necessary to match your lifestyle-which might be different than it was when you first bought the policy.

For example, if your teenager starts driving next month, you might consider adding him or her to your policy now. Or, if you just bought a new car, you might choose loan/lease payoff coverage, so that if your car is stolen or declared a total loss, you'll have help paying off your loan or lease.

Auto insurance tip #3
Decide what you want to protect, then choose your coverages

Auto insurance tip #4
Use deductibles to your advantage
Your deductible is what you agree to pay out of pocket when you use your car insurance. In general, the higher you set your deductible, the less you'll pay for your policy. And conversely, if you set your deductible low, you'll pay more for your policy, but less when you have a claim.

Auto insurance tip #5
Know that certain things affect your rate
Insurance companies evaluate a variety of things when they calculate your rate, from your driving record to where you live and how many miles you drive on average. Keep this in mind when you see your rate.

More alternatives:

Raise your comprehensive and collision deductibles to at least $1,000, which lowers your premiums and prevents you from filing small claims that could jeopardize a claims-free discount. Add some more money to your emergency fund so you’ll have the cash to pay the deductible if anyone in your family does have an accident.

Drop collision and comprehensive coverage entirely on older cars that are worth little more than the deductible. You may be paying more in premiums than you could ever get back from the insurer, even if the car is totaled.

Tell your insurer if your child goes away to college. If your child goes to school more than 100 miles away and does not use the car, you can usually get a big break on your premiums but still have coverage when he or she comes home for vacation.

Ask about other discounts for teenage drivers. Some insurers offer discounts for driver-safety programs, cutting costs if the kids take a special class, watch a DVD, or read a driver-safety book and take a test. Ask your insurer what your kid needs to do to qualify.

Make the most of multi-policy discounts. You’ll usually get a break on your auto insurance and your homeowners insurance if you keep both policies with the same company. You may get an additional discount if you include an umbrella policy, which provides extra liability coverage beyond your auto-insurance limits and can be particularly valuable when you have a teenage driver.

Some insurers offer much better deals than others for teenage drivers, so it’s important to compare costs. The insurance company that offered the best rate for you and your spouse may have some of the highest rates when you add a teenage boy to the policy - and it’s almost always better to add the child to your policy rather than have him get his own policy.

You can get price quotes from several online insurance companies like Progressive or AllState or get personalized service from an independent insurance agent who works with many companies. You may not want to switch from a longtime insurer just to save a few dollars, however, because your current company may be less likely to raise your rate or drop you if your child has an accident. If you stay with the insurance company you currently have there more room for forgiveness and benefits of such various programs. Also keep in mind that if you have been getting a multi-policy discount, your homeowners-insurance rate might rise if you take your auto-insurance business elsewhere.

One thing you don’t want to do in an attempt to reduce your premiums is skimp on liability coverage. recommends liability limits of at least $250,000 per person, $500,000 per accident and $100,000 for property damage or a policy with a “combined single limit” of $500,000, when available, which does not limit the coverage to $250,000 per person involved in the accident. Young drivers are more likely to have accidents, and lowering your liability limits could leave you on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in expenses if your child does hit another car or injure someone.

CAR WARRIORS

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

CHEVROLET COLORADO IS BACK BETTER EVER

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