This Automotive Podcast Is Very Loyal to The Prevailing Brand

We're talking about brand loyalty this episode:

Ford is pulling in all kinds of new drivers in California, displacing brands like Honda and Toyota, after their decades of dominance.

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Ford is far away from these days.

Also, owners are getting more loyal to auto brands.

Toyota may still be the largest auto maker in the world, but Ford is the best brand in the U.S. -- not just among cars, but among all brands.

Finally, Mini missed with its Clubvan (which we didn't know existed) and it's pulling it from the U.S. market after selling just 50.

This Automotive Podcast Is Sucking Up the Great Cars at The New York Auto Show

The automotive world has converged on New York this week for the auto show and we go through some of the interesting and surprising new models and refreshes. David's pick is for a vehicle that totally sucks, far more than this minivan.

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Some of those new models will engender loyalty, but right now Ford is garnering the greatest loyalty from existing owners. That kind of loyalty may be pushing people to finance their new-car purchases for as long as 72-months, a once unheard of loan length.

Cadillac's striking CTS from the
 NY Auto Show via Autoblog 

More than 85% of Americans rely on their cars to commute to work and the AAA offers their picks for the best commuter cars.

Honda has a brilliant app idea to get drivers to pay attention to their style of driving so that they don't cause congestion. The NHTSA has a far less inspired app.

Speaking of inspiration, a British inventor has created an air car, that is one that runs on air. But not very far.

Finally, moving to air travel, soon you may be allowed to use electronic devices to distract yourself from those stressful moments during takeoff and landing.

This Automotive Podcast Registers With Brand Loyal Drivers

Loyalty is a quality that auto makers love because it makes it easier and cheaper to sell you a car. But what do they do to inspire loyalty.

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But when it comes to that initial purchase fuel economy is number one consideration for shoppers, followed closely by styling

Dodge is having a surprisingly hard time selling the new Dart, but a clever new purchasing registry might help drive some demand.

Don't you want me?

Perhaps the Dart will become a classic and end up getting sold at auction to a collector.

Auto racing has lost some momentum in recent years and now IndyCar and Nascar are taking steps to make the racing better and more watchable on television.

Two disturbing trends for U.S. drivers: More cars were recalled last year than we sold new and fatter people are more likely to be injured or die in a car crash.

Finally, Peugeot has developed a hybrid gasoline-air drivetrain that we don't understand.

This Automotive Podcast Is Not Just a Cute Concept

It's time for the Detroit auto show where car makers unveil their next new models, inspiring designs and  radical concepts. We run through some of the most significant and sexy vehicles in the show, including the Chevrolet C7 Corvette, VW CrossBlue, Hyundai HCD-14, among many others.

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While Autoblog does a great job of obsessively covering the show, our old friend Joe White does a great job of asking Build It or Bag It?

Ford, which didn't have a bunch of big reveals at the show, is doing a great job of keeping its customers loyal to the brand.

There has been an increase in the debate about moving from a gas tax to a mileage tax and David makes an impassioned argument that it's too soon and there are too many infrastructure improvements and repairs needed to make that change.

Some day in the future there will be enough electric and alternative vehicles, especially if the prices drop like they did for the Nissan Leaf this year. But that day is probably still many years away.

Finally, a judge ruled that corporations aren't people enough to qualify for the HOV lane.

Loyally Raising the Podcast Standards

Loyalty is vital to auto makers success and Hyundai, which as we have discussed, continues to roll, with the highest retention rate for its owners.

Owners have also been more loyal to their vehicles, driving up the average age of cars and trucks on the road to a record 10.8 years old.

Get away from Prius camper.

One reason that could be so high is that people are driving less due to the stumbling economy and perhaps higher gas prices.

But higher gas prices and and the increase in CAFE standards coming in 13 years will probably cost drivers more, at least initially, but could save money in the longer run. Dealers are very concerned. Are you?

Speaking of concerned, Detroit is a place where you need to be concerned about the safety of your car, but police aren't increasing the patrols, they are just banning parking on the street.

Finally, need to get away. How about a Prius camper? It's hideous.

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