This may have seemed like a no-brainer: The cheapest cars to own are the ones with the best gas mileage. Right? Not exactly. Edmunds five year audit of the cost of ownership takes in to account many factors including intial cost of vehicle, depreciation, financing (based on a 60 month loan), taxes, fees, insurance, maintenance, repairs and yes, gas mileage; averaging 15,000 miles a year. Hoping for a Mustang or Jeep to make the list was maybe a pipe dream. But what about a Mini? It gets great gas mileage. But, as you may have guessed, the top 10 is mostly populated by a yawn inducing collection of cars.
The other day Jalopnik, inspired by our list of the “10 Cars That Are Guaranteed To Get You Laid,” good naturedly [we choose to assume] generated their own list, “5 Cars ‘Guaranteed’ To Not Get You Laid.” The list itself was spot-on and scored considerable bonus points with us for including the Toyota Prius, but a few of the site’s commenters shared some slightly-less-than-glowing appraisals of our list. Admittedly, our [read: my] first instinct was to politely instruct the naysayers to lick our figurative balls - but at least one of them had stopped engaging in same-sex relations long enough to suggest a pretty decent idea: what about a list of cars that will get the common man laid? I mean sure, it’s a given the Bugatti Veyron will score you some tail, but what normal guy can afford one? So we decided to create a new list of cars [and two trucks] ranked by price from least [20k] to greatest [60k] that are guaranteed to get the Average Joe laid.
1. Dodge Ram 1500 ST
Prior to 1994, driving a Dodge Ram pick-up truck would’ve earned you an appreciative nod at Home Depot and not much else. After undergoing some significant cosmetic revision, however, the Dodge Ram emerged from the factory as a half-ton, big rig-inspired, “macho man” [here's to you, Randy Savage] pick-up truck. The unique chrome grill was a new accessory too, and made the new Dodge Ram 1500 immediately distinguishable from its other pick-up truck brethren. To break it down mathematically: ”muscle” plus “bling” is [greater than or] equal to “road head.”
Initially introduced to the mass public back in February in the form of two commercials that actually managed to be snarkier then those of their luxury brand competitors, the Hyundai Genesis was touted as the working man’s luxury sedan. True to the projected Summer-2008 release date, the Genesis has been released to the public. Surprisingly, it turns out that upon closer inspection, Hyundai might have actually had a reason to be a little bit supercilious.
Hyundai is adapting its business model as more and more Americans are buying small more fuel efficient vehicles. This is not suprising as we are seeing more and more auto companies having to shift their business models in the wake of the recession and rising gas prices.
Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday the world’s No. 6 auto maker plans to produce small sedans at a U.S. plant being built by subsidiary Kia Motors Corp, as record-breaking oil prices spur more demand for such cars.
Hyundai Motor Co, the group’s main automaking subsidiary, produces the Sonata mid-sized sedan and the Santa Fe sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the United States at its Alabama factory.
The buzz of anticipation is over as the Hyundai Genesis Coupe production model gets to spin its tires at its own New York Auto Show unveiling. Swirling past the crowd of clicking photographers the Genesis Coupe pranced about, one in silver and one in red, to an old stand-by of a Van Halen classic pumped out by a cover band while narrowly missing the barriers that sealed off the staging area.
Hyundai has been discussing their production intentions for the Genesis Coupe for some time, but now the numbers have been pegged down and are official. With a 2.0 liter turbo-charged four-cylinder model you are looking at 212-hp to get you moving. However, if you are the type that needs a bit more the DOHC 3.8 liter all-aluminum V6 will provide you with 306-hp.
The production version of the Hyundai does not carry the same aggression and flare of the Genesis Coupe shown at the LA Auto Show, but that was to be somewhat expected. With a starting price starting around $21,000 and the 306-hp V6 starting around $25,000 you are sure to have a little coin left over for what is sure to be a plethora of aftermarket accessories to choose from.
For being Hyundai’s first attempt at a rear-wheel drive sports coupe the Genesis Coupe is far from a disappointment. Those who are complaining about plastics on the interior are more then welcomed to spend much more money on other cars… that is why we have so many alternatives. Take a look at the videos provided by AutoBlog of the official unveiling of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe on the next page, and following that will be Hyundai’s official Press Release.
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is following closely behind its fraternal twin the Hyundai Genesis Sedan that was released this year. The Coupe version, that shares none of the design cues of the larger 4-door sedan, will have its own unveiling party at the New York Auto Show that begins on March 21 and runs through the 30th. Hyundai appears to have been working hard to bring this challenger to the Mustangs solo grip on the Pony car market (Camaro is still not out yet, either). While the final version of the Genesis Coupe may not have the aggression of one of its own concept show pieces it still shows plenty of signs of being a strong competitor.
The buzz over the Hyundai Genesis Coupe has been pretty strong the last 6-8 months and although the official numbers and specs of the car are yet to be released there has been plenty of speculation. The two engine variants that seem certain for the Coupe are a 2.0 liter turbo-charged 4 cylinder and a 3.6 liter V6. The larger V6 has the necessary target of 300-hp; which is what it will require to stand at the same start marker as a Mustang GT.
There is also the hope of some that a special high performance version of the Genesis Coupe will have its turn with Hyundai’s new Tau V8 engine that is in the big Genesis Sedan. Speculation would be that the Tau would be tuned to around 380-hp. However, Hyundai has denied any inclination to house the Tau V8 inside the narrower hood of the Genesis Coupe, so until we see it there is no point in building up the hope.
…Two Photo Galleries after the Leap…
Hyundai unleashed their first marketing videos for their new Genesis Sedan in two 30 second spots during the Super Bowl Sunday night. Emphasising its ambitious position as an affordable luxury sedan by highlighting its comparable size to the BMW 7 Series and its 375-hp V8 power, Hyundai is sliding onto the scene with both sublty and elegance. The Genesis will be Hyundai’s first legitimate shot of stepping outside of the economy market segment of cars and into a new realm for the Korean car builder. We shall see quite soon how their efforts effect those in the market for a new sedan.
But enough with the hype. Check out the videos below and see for yourself how the Hyundai Genesis steps into its leading role with the grace and class of a premium luxury sedan that comes with an approachable price tag.
So what are your thoughts on the Hyundai Genesis? Hyundai seems to be gambling on the luxury market and are trying to make a move with the Genesis. When I say “gambling” I mean it: look at how many spots they bought in the Super Bowl.
Does Hyundai really have a BMW beater? Or is this just hype?
Just like the housing market in the US the Auto Industry is not only dealing with their reorganizations from their gluttonous years but also with the economic situation that has gripped this country. As could be expected each auto maker has its own approach to handling such shifts, and it is there strategic efforts that will determine their future. Focusing for a moment on how the foreign auto makers are handling the American economic situation some are adding new plants and assembly factories, some are re-imagining themselves and others may be doing Pres. Bush’s least favorite thing… the cut and run.
To combat a slumping US dollar and to protect themselves from a loss of profit Volkswagen is looking to expand more into North America. While American companies still out-source their jobs over seas to nations with cheaper labor, the Germans are starting to look at America the same way… sorta speak. They can save money and salvage greater profits by moving some more manufacturing and assembly plants into the US.
It seems impossible to fathom that I am the only perpetual car shopper who is always looking for that next fun auto. While there may be many who do not consider themselves perpetual car shoppers many may believe themselves to be car aficionados or appreciators of fine autos. For those of you who, like myself, have put off the purchase of that next fun ride, as well as for those of you who appreciate the promise of the next cool auto, I have compile MY list of the Most Lustable New Cars for 2008. If you have put off buying that new car for a while these are the cars that I feel will make all the waiting worth the while. Some of these cars are still coming from their concept stage and have yet to be road tested by people outside of the manufacturers engineers, so for some their ranking is based on the Promise of what the car will be.
