Selasa, 21 Agustus 2012

Top 10 list of most-stolen vehicles filled with foreign sedans, American pickups

As it has for several years, the 1994 Honda Accord retained its title in 2011 as the nation's most-stolen vehicle in the National Insurance Crime Bureau rankings. The rest of the top 10 looked familiar as well, with crooks maintaining their preference for imported sedans, Detroit pickups and the occasional minivan. Yet this year's list comes with a warning: After a decade of losing targets to electronic deterrents, thieves are getting smarter.
2011 Ranking Model 2010
1. 1994 Honda Accord 1
2. 1998 Honda Civic 2
3. 2006 Ford F-150 5
4. 1991 Toyota Camry 3
5. 2000 Dodge Caravan 7
6. 1994 Acura Integra 8
7. 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 4
8. 2004 Dodge Ram 6
9. 2002 Ford Explorer 9
10. 1994 Nissan Sentra NR

The major trends in the annual NICB report remain as they have for years, with declining car thefts focused on older models with fewer anti-theft devices whose parts are in high demand. NICB also produces a state-by-state breakdown of the most-stolen models; in Kentucky, the full-size pickups lead the list, while only in Vermont do three models of Subarus crack the top ten.

Overall, car thefts have declined to 737,141 in 2011 as tallied by the FBI -- a 3.3 percent drop from a year earlier, and the lowest level of theft since 1967. Thank a combination of technologies -- including keys with embedded chips that require a matching code from the vehicle and tracking technologies like OnStar and LoJack. Even iPhones left in stolen cars have led to arrests after their owners used the "Find My Phone" feature to locate their stolen swag.

But the NICB says a small segment of savvier larcenists have begun to crack those codes, like the ring busted in New York earlier this year that used a source at a dealership to make coded keys on the curb and drive away. The NICB says it has reports of about 300 such thefts from the first three months of this year, and in Europe thieves have targeted hundreds of new BMWs by reprogramming the car through its data access port -- sharing their secrets for doing so on YouTube. Automakers have made great strides in securing their vehicles over the past decade. Now they will have to think of ways to make their software as hard to break into.

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Top 8 new car lease and finance deals for 2012

If you’re in the market to buy a new car this summer, we suggest you shop the current manufacturer incentives to see if a particular offer makes sense for you. Manufacturers typically offer financing deals in the form of cash back (that can well placed toward a down payment) or low financing rates for a defined term; while leasing deals usually offer a defined monthly payment for specific term with a defined down payment. These offers can open your eyes to new models and help you get into a new car with less money down or lower monthly payments.

Top Finance Deals on New Cars – June 2012



2012 Chevrolet Volt


0% financing for 72 months
Expires: 7/2/12

Coming off its second-highest sales month with 1,680 units, since launching in December 2010, the Chevrolet Volt left its competitors in the dust in May outselling both the Toyota Prius Plug-in (1,068 units) and Nissan’s all-electric Leaf (510 units). The best month for the Volt so far was in March 2012, the same month the Volt became eligible for HOV lanes in California, where according to the Washington Post, one in four Volts was registered in the first quarter of 2012. A combination of high gas prices and sweet financing deals like this one should keep Volt sales strong in California and growing in other states.



2012 Hyundai Sonata

$1,000 cash back or 0% financing for 36 months, 0.9% financing for 48 months, or 1.9% for 60 months
Expires: 7/2/12

If an affordable family sedan is what you seek then the 2012 Hyundai Sonata is a great option. A full redesign in 2012 transformed the Sonata into a top-level contender and there’s no looking back for Hyundai if they keep the momentum. The Sonata features sleek styling, copious interior space to minimize the backseat complaints and the “are we there yet” cries, great fuel economy (24 mpg city /35 mpg hwy), respectable output of 198 horsepower from a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, and generous standard options such as 16-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, heated mirrors, 60/40 split rear back seat, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system.



2012 Honda Pilot

0.9% financing for 24 to 36 months or 1.9% for 37 to 60 months
Expires: 7/9/12

Practical and reasonable are good words to describe the 2012 Honda Pilot. The Pilot is a midsize crossover SUV that features family-friendly third-row seating and is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 that boasts 250 horsepower and 253-lb.-ft. of torque while maintaining respectable fuel economy for a V-6 (18 mpg city/25 mpg hwy). The Pilot is offered in four trim levels, LX, EX, EX-L and Touring and comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, trailer hitch, 60/40 split second and third rows and seven-speaker audio system.



2012 Volkswagen Touareg

0% financing for 72 months
Expires: 7/2/12

Fans of Volkswagen and German engineering don’t necessarily need to jump to Audi if they’re looking for luxury. The Volkswagen Touareg SUV, now in its second generation, is truly a luxury SUV, and a great option for SUV buyers who want luxury on the inside and a blend of sporty and smooth driving dynamics. Available in three trim levels (Sport, Lux, and Executive) the 2012 Volkswagen Touraeg features premium interior quality, the option of a gas-powered engine (3.6-liter, six-cylinder  engine), a TDI diesel (3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6) or a Hybrid (supercharged, direct-injection 3.0-liter V-6  gasoline engine paired with a an electric motor) and comes well-equipped with 18-inch wheels,  bi-xenon headlights, power liftgate, eight-way power/heated front seats, eight speaker sound system  with touchscreen and rearview camera. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive  are also standard on every 2012 Volkswagen Touraeg.



Top Lease Deals on New Cars – June 2012

2012 Kia Optima

$189/month for 36 months with $2,499 down
Expires: 7/5/12

For under $200/month, you may not get a better offer than the Kia Optima if you’re looking to lease a midsize sedan. Family sedan buyers don’t have to settle for bland styling either with the 2012 Kia Optima which features distinctive and modern exterior design. The Optima also features comfortable ride quality, three engine choices; a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that can produce 200-horsepower and achieves an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city/34 mpg hwy, a turbocharged 2.0-liter that produces 274-horsepower and achieves an EPA-estimated 22/mpg city/34 mpg hwy and a hybrid that’s powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine paired with an electric motor and achieves an EPA-estimated 35 mpg city/40 mpg hwy.



2012 Acura TL

$349/month for 36 months with $2,699 down or $420/month for 36 months with $0 down and no first month’s payment
Expires: 7/9/12

The mid-cycle refresh for the 2012 Acura TL softened the aggressive styling of its predecessor and scaled to a still stylized vehicle that is more appealing to the masses. The 2012 Acura TL is a midsize sedan that will accommodate drivers who appreciate luxury ride quality and features, but  would also value the option to turn it up a notch for a more spirited athletic and sporty drive. The 2012 Acura TL is available in two trims; the base comes standard with a 3.5-liter, six-cylinder engine, that achieves an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city/29 mpg/hwy, while the SH, all-wheel-drive trim features a 3.7-liter, six-cylinder engine that achieves an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city/26 mpg hwy. The base TL comes standard with 17-inch wheels, xenon-headlamps, heated eight-way power front seats with driver lumbar and memory functions, eight-speaker sound system and Bluetooth connectivity.



2012 Cadillac SRX

$399/month for 36 months with $3,449 down
Expires: 7/2/12

Now in its third year, the Cadillac SRX’s most notable change for the 2012 model year is the standard  3.6-liter engine that takes the place of both the 2.8-liter and the 3.0-liter engines previously offered. The new 3.6-liter engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and can generate up to 308-horsepower and 265-lb.-ft. of torque. The compact luxury SUV appeals to SUV drivers who want a smaller vehicle, with a smooth yet powerful ride, and a plethora of luxury and comfort features. The 2012 Cadillac SRX is available in four trims levels. Standard features on the 2012 Cadillac SRX include 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, keyless entry, remote engine start, eight-way power driver seat, OnStar, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker Bose stereo.



2012 Honda CR-V

$320/month for 36 months with $0 down
Expires: 7/9/12

The popular Honda CR-V was redesigned for the 2012 model year and now features more standard equipment (Pandora Internet Radio, text messaging function, Bluetooth and rearview camera), a quieter cabin, and smoother ride quality, all of which help to maintain the CR-V’s legacy as a best-selling compact SUV. The fourth-generation Honda CR-V is available in three trim levels, all of  which come standard with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission that generates 185-horsepower and 163-lb.-ft. of torque. Honda helps move metal with this lease offer that lets consumers get into a CR-V with no money down and a monthly payment starting at $320 a month.

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