As the country heads into another winter season, an SUV can be an attractive choice for versatility and all-weather traction, with plenty of utility for holiday travels. Small SUVs, in particular, can offer a good balance of size, driving dynamics, and even fuel economy, without breaking the bank. If you’re in the market, rather than pay full price for a new SUV, consider saving money buying a good used model. Expect to pay from $11,000 to over $23,000 for 2006-08 models recommended by Consumer Reports. To make it easier to find what you’re looking for, we have identified some of the best used small SUVs deals on the market. Prices on used cars have been going down since the end-of-the-summer peak and are expected to drop further in the next couple of weeks before rebounding in the New Year. If you’re looking for a new-to-you ride, this may be the perfect time to get a good deal on a used SUV. Buying a used car has other benefits. Most important is that the original owner takes the initial depreciation hit, as new cars lose much more value in the first and second years than those that follow. Also, by looking at a recent model, you can find affordable, reliable used SUVs that still have some warranty left, as well as featuring the latest safety equipment (such as curtain air bags and stability control). When shopping, look for SUVs that scored well in Consumer Reports’ tests when new, have proven reliability, and perform well in government and insurance industry crash tests. Before handing over the cash, have the vehicle inspected by a trained and trusted mechanic to make sure there are no hidden problems. Below, check out our top deals for recommended small SUVs from the 2006-2008 model years. We ranked the vehicles by the price you might be able to get when buying from the dealer. The models listed below are between 18- and 48-percent less than the retail price when new. Of course, you may do even better when buying from a private seller. In addition, all of the models have at least average reliability according to our latest subscriber survey. See our complete list of used-car deals across a variety of vehicle categories. Make & model Mileage MSRP when new Selling to dealer avg price Buying from dealer avg price Drop in...

Do you want to hear what the four-cylinder boxer in the Toyota GT 86 (or the Japanese-market Toyota 86, or its  Scion -badged counterpart, or probably even the Subaru BRZ ) sounds like wailing at full throttle? Of course you do. Do you want that sound in convenient, downloadable MP3 format so you can make it your ringtone? Well, duh. Click the links below to hear the exhaust note, and right-click to Save as… for later use on your phone, computer, or wherever kids put sound files these days. Ringtone #1 – startup and light revving Ringtone #2 – startup and revving to full-throttle Don’t thank us; thank Toyota, who put the files up on its global website. Actually,  do thank us, but also thank Toyota. You’re welcome. Read the original: Download Ringtones of the Toyota GT 86′s Boxer Four Original post: Download Ringtones of the Toyota GT 86′s Boxer Four

Drive a SLS AMG wrapped in amazingly bright purple foil and you will not only get noticed, you will likely stop traffic See the original post:  Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Wrapped in Purple Foil

Remember that time you woke up in the middle of the night with a great idea? Remember how you wrote it down, went back to sleep, and then never actually did anything about it? Consider Jason Phillips. His great idea was to build this awesome coffee table; it resembles something we once thought of in the middle of the night and then forgot about. It also may or may not resemble a trademarked logo of a certain Bavarian manufacturer when painted in certain colors. For reference, those colors are Pantone Process Blue, Pantone 268 (purple), and Pantone Warm Red. But Phillips is quick to add that you can get the table in any color you want. He would also like to point out that he’s not endorsing appropriating someone’s trademarked property. This is just a piece of art that happens to look cool when painted a certain way. No one needs to call any lawyers. Please. The table can be found here . It measures 42 x 32 x 17 and is constructed from cold-pressed steel; orders will be produced on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited to 20 examples. The finish is a powder coating—remember, your choice of colors!—which means you can probably put it in your fancy-pants garage and spill beer on it without worry while rebuilding your  S14B23 . If, you know, that’s what you’re into. If you’re interested in ordering one, contact Phillips at his website . The price is a whopping $7200—but cheap for art, really—and production takes 12 weeks from time of deposit. Incidentally, and apropos of nothing, Phillips owns a BMW X5 and got his BFA in industrial design from the University of Michigan. He wants an M3 in Estoril Blue. Our kind of dude. Read more from the original source: Meet the Munich Motorsport Coffee Table, In All Its Pantone Glory Original post:  Meet the Munich Motorsport Coffee Table, In All Its Pantone Glory

The Basics: The Volkswagen Routan minivan is something drivers don’t see very often. It’s a slow seller, for one, but it’s also a pretty pure example of badge engineering, something that’s largely gone away with the demise of Plymouth, Oldsmobile and Mercury. The Routan’s essentially identical to the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town &… Read the rest here:  2012 Volkswagen Routan

Today at High Gear Media, Toyota increases the price of the 2012 Corolla while GM builds its 100-millionth small-block V-8. There are still things we need before cars are fully connected–and we’ll tell you what they are, and tell you about our drive in the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car… More here:  2012 Toyota Corolla, Tokyo Motor Show, Connected Cars: Car News Headlines

Mercedes-Benz is responding to customers’ calls for a zero-emission refrigerator vehicle with the Vito E-CELL Here is the original post: Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Proves Perfect for Special Needs

If you’re planning to buy a new Toyota or Lexus in the near future, pay attention. The automaker just announced pricing on a range of vehicles, and several popular models — including the 2012 Toyota Corolla, Highlander, and Tundra — are due for a price increase. Others, like the 2012 Matrix, will drop. And the 2012 Venza is a little bit of both… View original post here:  New Toyota & Lexus Pricing: 2012 Corolla Goes Up, 2012 Venza Down

“Aveo is a four-letter word,” quipped a General Motors engineer to us. GM is happy to move beyond their bottom-feeder Aveo subcompact, giving their new car a new name in this market. The Sonic works hard to erase bad memories from Aveos of rentals past. As we said in our First Look video , the Sonic feels much more substantial and refined. It better, because the Sonic doesn’t come cheap. Our Sonic LT sedan has a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic. We opted for the “Connectivity Plus Cruise” package that adds Bluetooth, a USB port, remote start, and cruise control. The sticker: $17,290. That’s $700 more than the Ford Fiesta SE we tested and $1,200 more than our tested Hyundai Accent GLS sedan. True, the Sonic has alloy wheels–which both of these cars lacked–and our otherwise-decently-equipped Accent didn’t come with keyless entry. All of these cars feel a lot more substantial than the much cheaper, barebones $15,490 Nissan Versa SV . We’ll see how the Sonic stacks up in this newly competitive class. Read more:  Just in: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT sedan

ALPINA expanded its model range with the all-new ALPINA B6 BiTurbo Coupe. The Buchloe-based company just took the wraps off their latest B6 model which receives the usual ALPINA treatment and significant power upgrade. The B6 BiTurbo Coupe now produces 540 horsepower from the standard 507 hp and uses a revised 4.4 liter V8 twin-turbo engine. The torque sent to the rear wheels accounts for 700 Nm. The engine is mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission that takes the B6 Coupe from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and has a maximum speed of 320 km/h. The convertible runs the same distance in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 317 km/h. The coupe also comes equipped with the Akrapovic exhaust system that provides increased acoustics. To cater to all type of customers, the B6 Coupe uses the Adaptive Drive system from BMW that with a push of a button changes the suspension settings and throttle response. ALPINA B6 Coupe sits on 20-inch wheels and uses 255 millimeters wide tires at the front axle and 285 mm wide a the rear. Pricing has yet to be revealed. [Source: ALPINA via BimmerToday ] The rest is here:  World Premiere: ALPINA B6 Coupe – 540 horsepower

ALPINA expanded its model range with the all-new ALPINA B6 BiTurbo Coupe. The Buchloe-based company just took the wraps off their latest B6 model which receives the usual ALPINA treatment and significant power upgrade. The B6 BiTurbo Coupe now produces 540 horsepower from the standard 507 hp and uses a revised 4.4 liter V8 twin-turbo engine. The torque sent to the rear wheels accounts for 700 Nm. The engine is mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission that takes the B6 Coupe from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and has a maximum speed of 320 km/h. The convertible runs the same distance in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 317 km/h. The coupe also comes equipped with the Akrapovic exhaust system that provides increased acoustics. To cater to all type of customers, the B6 Coupe uses the Adaptive Drive system from BMW that with a push of a button changes the suspension settings and throttle response. ALPINA B6 Coupe sits on 20-inch wheels and uses 255 millimeters wide tires at the front axle and 285 mm wide a the rear. Pricing has yet to be revealed. [Source: ALPINA via BimmerToday ] Go here to read the rest:  World Premiere: ALPINA B6 Coupe – 540 horsepower

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW revealed an X6 M model equipped with BMW M Performance Parts. The aggressive and sporty looking Sports Activity Coupe now makes its way into the 2011 Essen Motor Show, the largest tuning and aftermarket show in Europe. While the model introduced in Frankfurt was painted in a Melbourne Red color , the X6 M present in Essen features the beautiful and classy Alpine White paint, along with the famous M racing stripes. The BMW X6 M sports M Performance 21 inch alloy wheels double spoke 310 M, rear spoiler in carbon (525 euro), front grille in black (120 euros), carbon fiber bumper (1500 euros), M Performance side gills (750 euro) and tail fins (100 euros). Inside, the X6 M comes equipped with Silverstone leather, black carbon fiber and M Performance steering wheel in Alcantara. All these options add about 21,000 euros to the already pricey X6 M. A similar equipped model sells in Europe for around 130,000 euros. [Photos: BimmerToday ] Read more from the original source:  2011 Essen Motor Show: BMW X6 M with M Performance Parts

BMWBLOG is attending an international media event where we will spend some time behind the wheel of the all-new 2012 BMW 3 Series. Our own Shawn Molnar will bring you first impressions of the F30 3 Series, both on track and on back roads. In the mean time, respectable UK magazine EVO delivers their own test drive review of the 3 Series. What’s it like to drive? Very impressive. Despite being a bigger car it doesn’t feel it, thanks to that 40kg weight loss over than the outgoing model. It retains the same balance and handling qualities from before, only now it also rides better. Improvements to run-flat tyre technology allied to damping developments and a stiffer chassis have combined to make this 3-series more composed than ever before. Sport mode can be used all the time, and Sport+ won’t rattle your fillings out. How does it compare? Positively. It steps the game on from the previous generation and is destined to build on the success that has seen some 12.5 million 3-series sold since 1975. Chief rivals – the Audi A4 (261bhp/214g/km) and Mercedes C-class (201bhp/161g/km) – can’t match the BMW’s 245bhp/149g/km performance and economy balance, and it’s more fun to drive, too. Anything else I need to know? Inside the cockpit remains as driver focused as before – to the extent that front passenger space feels a little impinged. There are three main trim levels – Modern, Luxury and Sport – although we won’t get the Sport here in the UK, as M Sport will arrive in March.” Full review at EVO View post:  EVO: 2012 BMW 3 Series Test Drive

We knew it was only be a matter of time when an automotive safety alarm bell would sound over an electric vehicle. One of the heaviest promoted vehicles unleashed on the North American marketplace in the past few years, the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt represented a new way that automobile producers and customers could view roads in the near future. A high-profile vehicle, the brand-new Chevy Volt is now facing a publicly visible probe into a potentially dangerous defect that appeared during the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program. Following a standard side impact pole test in May of 2011 where a Chevrolet Volt was awarded a five-star rating (thanks in part to side curtain airbags), the major drama for the American-built plug-in hybrid car did not develop until three weeks after the crash. In June, a fire that engulfed the crashed car as well as three other vehicles was linked to the Volt‘s electrical propulsion system. Revealed in paperwork filed on the 25th of November, the resulting incident was traced to a failure of the Chevrolet Volt’s lithium-ion battery pack. Like most modern battery-powered vehicles sold or about to be sold in North America, the Volt’s electrical storage is temperature-controlled. Through the initial crash test, the NHTSA team discovered the coolant line damaged following the side impact, which is believed to be connected to excessive heat from an injured lithium-ion battery pack causing the vehicle fire.     Since the June fire, an investigation started by the NHTSA has included an attempt to replicate the condition that created the fire. In early November, three Chevrolet Volts were subjected to identical side impact pole crash test intent in recreating the potential cause of the fire five months earlier. Though those tests did not result in fires of the lithium-ion battery, the retest of the vital Chevrolet Volt component was recorded to have spark and smoke accompanied by an elevation in temperatures that reached up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. While attempting to notify the public of their investigation on the Chevy Volt’s primary energy storage pack, the NHTSA cautions that there are no real-world incidents yet to result in a side impact causing the kind of...

Our favorite type of review just went live at Car and Driver . The U.S. magazine once again puts head-to-head the BMW M3 Coupe and the new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe. As they point out, the M3 Coupe has won all of the previous five comparisons and “its success annoys some people.” Will the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe can take the reign? Let’s see an excerpt from the great review. “The C63’s foremost attribute is its 6.2-liter V-8. Hand-built at AMG in Affalterbach, Germany, this V-8 is more than 50 percent larger than the M3’s 4.0-liter. One consequence is 50 percent more torque—443 pound-feet versus the M3’s 295—so the C63 doesn’t need to work hard to scare a passenger or to get the attention of a cop. On public roads, the Benz’s engine is more insistent and shoves harder than the M3’s. Its vitality is ever-present. The exhaust reports a firestorm of combustion, and it’s seriously loud. Engines this big will have you describing to people in Chevy Camaros the displacement in cubic inches. “It’s got a 379,” you’ll say while picking your teeth. In the M3, the driver needs to work harder, downshift frequently, and spin the BMW V-8 to find its power and voice. The C63 driver just needs to make sure his engine is running. — It’s a wash if we add up the “Vehicle” categories. The Mercedes scores a point each on ergonomics and interior styling. Benz’s controls are slightly easier to use than BMW’s, and the C-class’s refreshed interior is modern and elegant. The BMW is all business, but it’s starting to look a little old—no surprise there, since an all-new 3-series arrives next year.” — And it seems like the BMW M3 remains the top dog in its segment. “The M3 didn’t win solely based on our subjective assessment, though. Our Competition-package–equipped M3 also scored major points for its superior skidpad grip, 70-to-0 braking performance, and slalom speed. Those points, along with the subjective handling victory, gave it the tiniest of edges over the Benz.” Full review at Car and Driver See the original post here: Car & Driver: 2012 BMW M3 Coupe vs. 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe