I Tried to Post an Advertisement on AutoTrader and Couldn't

Today, I tried to post an ad on AutoTrader to sell my mother's Ford Escape. This shouldn't be rocket science, right? After all, this is sort of AutoTrader's primary way of, well, making money. Think again. Here is a verbatim copy of my e-mail to AutoTrader Customer Service.

Hello,

I posted an ad on cars.com and was attempting to post a Deluxe ad on AutoTrader, but I gave up. I'd like to provide some feedback.

I started out using Google Chrome. My zipcode was incorrect and I couldn't change it. Disappointing but not a big deal. I switched to Firefox and was able to successfully input the correct zipcode.

I wrote my ad and uploaded my photos. This didn't take an inordinate amount of time, since I had already written an ad for the free Cars.com post. Immediately afterward, of course, I was barraged with a number of different upgrade options. This feels an awful lot like standing at the counter of a U-Haul; it's even got the orange color all over the place. I do not mean this as a compliment.

Once I was finished there, I submitted my payment information. I filled out the small survey on the same page, when all of a sudden - “Session Expired!” - my work was gone. I had only spent 10 or 15 minutes on this, mind you.

By this point, I was quite frustrated, so I went to the “Contact Us!” page. I typed a short note. But I received an error message.

To be quite frank: Why on earth would I pay $55 to post an ad on such a buggy, frustrating website when Cars.com offers a 30-day starter ad for the fabulous price of free?

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not have a commission agreement or any advertising situation with Cars.com.

PS: Anyone interested in a mint condition, ex-corporate 06 Ford Escape for $8,850?

Diesel Cruze: A Great Engine in the Wrong Car

2013 Cruze, photo Copyright General Motors

By Cliff Strong of "Cliff's Corner"

It has been several months since I felt sufficiently motivated to guest write for my favorite auto blog. Leave it to my former employer, General Motors to supply the motivation for my latest contribution. I hope you enjoy.

In case you missed it, GM is touting their new Cruze diesel which appeared at the Chicago Car Show. Seems GM missed the deadline to introduce the new Cruze diesel at the Detroit Car Show. Had GM been in charge of NASA, we still wouldn’t have made it to the Moon yet. GM has yet to find a deadline they couldn’t miss. I guess consistency CAN have a downside.

But, there it was in Chicago. And to give credit where credit is due, the GM propaganda machine was functioning on all cylinders, doing what it does better than any PR organization in the industry, if not, the planet. Proclaiming that the new Cruze diesel will be a tremendous hit and an instant competitor to the only other family of popularly priced diesel cars sold here in the US; the Volkswagen Golf, Beetle and Jetta. Talking endlessly how Diesels are more popular in Europe than gasoline engines (the Europeans call gasoline “Petrol”). However, what any good PR wouldn’t mention is the fact that Diesel is heavily subsidized in Europe and costs on average 40 cents a gallon LESS than Petrol. Unlike the States where Diesel fuel costs on average 65 cents per gallon MORE than gasoline. Maybe it was in the fine print and I missed it. I hear once you get over 50, your eyes start to go. Or so my children have told me.

However, being over 50 and a former GM’er, I couldn’t help hearing in the distance the echoes of GM’s PR machine proclaiming at the introduction of the now but all forgotten J-Cars back in the 80’s (i.e. Chevy Cavalier and Cadillac Cimarron) “would blow the Japanese back across the Pacific”. Or, so we were told. Only to be topped by the introduction of the Saturn Car Company that again, quoting the PR machine, “will have the Japanese car companies packing their bags for Japan”. 0 for 2.

Test Drive: Mazda CX-5 Touring AWD

By Ben Aghajanian, UpShift Contributing Editor

As loyal readers know, I’m not a huge fan of crossovers. However, there are exceptions to every rule. UpShift has previously tested a Volvo XC60 and a Ford Escape V6, and come away impressed in both instances. The Volvo provides moves that would not be out of place in a (big) sport sedan, and the Escape does a darn good impression of a small, body-on-frame SUV, when it comes to the solid ride, low NVH, and towing ability.

Mazda’s ads claim that the crossover is a “product of compromise” but that they “have the technology to save it.” Does the CX-5 measure up to these claims?

                 

I drove a CX-5 Touring AWD at Bass Mazda in Sheffield Lake, Ohio, last weekend. It was not loaded (that’s the Grand Touring model), but it was well-equipped with a power driver’s seat, sunroof, a crisp in-dash LCD touch screen, 17-inch alloy wheels, and steering wheel audio controls among the amenities.

Click "read more" after the jump to continue reading.

Ad opens in new window if clicked

Test Drive: 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4X4

By Ben Aghajanian, UpShift Contributing Editor

Syracuse, NY-

We all know Chrysler went through some tough times in the last few years. Plant closings, the divorce from Daimler, a lousy economy, a horribly mismanaged segment under Cerberus Capital Management, and a managed chapter 11 bankruptcy. Many people will agree that the partnership with Daimler yielded little for Chrysler in terms of good product, except for the 300C/Dodge Charger. And, to the surprise of some, the new-from-the-ground-up 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The new Grand Cherokee actually shares some components with the Mercedes-Benz ML-class, but the Jeep is built at Jefferson North Assembly—in the heart of Detroit, Michigan.

 

They certainly nailed the appearance on this new Jeep—it looks worthy of its “Grand” moniker. Even in base Laredo trim, it’s not covered in unpainted plastic, nor is the interior filled with dummy buttons. The exterior design looks like it could be a direct evolution from the “WJ” (1999-2004) model, and this is a good thing. The 2005-2010 model was a much less attractive design, inside and out.

Click "read more" after the jump to continue reading.

Test Drive: 2012 Ford Escape Limited 4x4

By Ben Aghajanian, UpShift Contributing Editor

            
They say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” ‘They’ could be talking about the outgoing Ford Escape, which  was replaced this year by an all-new model.

In 2008, Ford did a heavy refresh on the already strong-selling Escape. The exterior was restyled and the interior was redone, as well. In 2009, it received comprehensive engine, transmission, and suspension updates. Out went the 4-speed automatic, swapped for a new 6-speed Aisin unit. The 2.3-liter and 3.0-liter engines were replaced by a 2.5L inline four with 175hp, and a substantially revised 3.0L Duratec V6, with reworked plumbing good for a 40-horse jump to 240hp.

One of my favorite things about the Escape is the styling. While many SUVS have cut down on the greenhouse size considerably, the Escape kept its upright appearance, large windows, and consequently excellent sightlines. Additionally, it has not packed on the pounds like many other vehicles, weighing in near 3,550lbs, which aids in handling and fuel economy.

Click "read more" after the jump to continue reading.

Quick Spin: 2012 Volvo XC60

Photo courtesy Volvo Cars North America

By Ben Aghajanian, UpShift Contributing Editor

Cape Cod, Massachusetts-Crossovers. They are all the rage. As enthusiasts, many of us prefer wagons, which seem to only come out of Germany these days, with an occasional upstart from Detroit, or Japan.

Volvo, the purveyor of popular kid-schlepping wagons for as long as we care to remember, is no exception to the trend, and they’ve brought to market the XC60 to slot in below the XC90 in their lineup. In fact, a wagon, in the strictest of terms, can no longer be found in their U.S. lineup. The XC70, or Volvo Cross Country as some versions are known, is technically a wagon, but it has a raised suspension and a more rugged look, like the Subaru Outback. Both are popular among outdoorsy types—and if you’re like a friend of mine, you buy one of each!

I spent some time driving an XC60 T6 this past week, equipped with all-wheel drive. Other than knowing that it had a turbocharged inline six engine, I hadn’t done a lot of research on them. But, the East Coast loves their Volvos, and all of their XC models were parading around the Cape. So, I was curious. 

I was quite impressed. The very first thing I noticed, which I was both surprised and pleased by, was how good outward visibility is from the driver’s seat. Too many new cars have huge blind spots and large roof pillars, which combine to make driving them vague and not especially safe, as the driver tends to guess while dicing through traffic, or driving in a parking lot. The XC60 has a lower hood than many other cars, which gives you a better view of the road ahead, and smaller A-pillars (bordering the front cockpit, by the hood).  Likewise, the view out the back surprised me. I could see so much more than in other new cars I’ve driven—the rear hatch glass is much larger than the maybe 1.5 feet of vertical window in many crossovers. Despite the sporty exterior appearance, the designers have managed to maintain an airy cockpit and safe sightlines. Well done, Volvo.

Click "read more" after the jump to continue reading.

Using Excel to Shrink the Pool of Potential Vehicles

Summary:

I could use Excel as primarily an input/output tool to steer people toward groups of cars that would suit their needs extremely well.  Since there are so many cars on the market today, this would help reduce the number of models to be considered by each person into a manageable number that could be dealt with case-by-case.

Question-Answer system to supplement Excel

For example, we all know gas prices in recent years have gone up considerably. The green movement is also quite popular, especially with younger people that also tend to use social media to communicate.  In addition to Excel, I could set up a question-answer system online that allows customers to ask specific questions about the suggested cars that are generated through the Excel charts. This would give the service a more specified direction and allow personal tastes and preferences to supplement the concrete guidelines that are generated by Excel.

Unrefined diesels? Think again

A common misconception in the United States is that diesel automobiles are smelly, loud, and slow. This seems to be based on the recollection of people who had the experience of driving diesels produced in the 1980s, and diesel technology has, subjectively speaking, probably progressed as much as computer technology since then. Additionally, as many drivers are unhappy that the newest gasoline cars on the road often fall short of their Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gas mileage estimates, this has not been a problem with diesels. Diesels sell like hotcakes in Europe because they are powerful and very fuel efficient. The algorithms for the Excel suggestions and the personal advice dispensed through the Q & A section can reflect the advantages of this to the public.

Used car forum

Another way to possibly benefit customers is to introduce a used-car forum alongside the new car search feature.  A person can easily save thousands of dollars off of depreciation by buying a car that is several years old and gently used vs. buying a brand new one. I did this myself, and so far, it has proven to be a wise decision.  It may be easier to run this through a separate Excel worksheet since it introduces a number of different possibilities to the fold.