Autorama 2012

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By DeBra BellCustom PubliCations Writer

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is the new kid on the block for the 2012 model year, and it offers power in a small shell.

I was immediately struck by its appearance when I pulled into the lot of Varney Chevrolet in Pittsfield. This cute little red sedan looked sleek, sophisticat-ed, and fun.

It also looked like the per-fect car for the younger set. After all, it was compact and ready to hit the road for adven-ture.

With an Ecotec 1.4-liter turbo-charged engine, a six-speed transmission, 10 standard air-bags, six months of OnStar, and Bluetooth capacities, this little car packs a lot into a small shell. Add to that the fact that the In-surance Institute for Highway Safety named it a 2011 top safety

pick, and the Sonic has a lot going for it.

As I got into the driver’s seat, I noticed that the seat was com-fortable, a definite plus when it comes to long drives. A large windshield and windows made it easy to view traffic and check mirrors. The Sonic was also easy to maneuver around cor-ners and when backing up.

From navigating the streets of Pittsfield to the country roads, and on the highway, the Sonic proved itself with a zippy ride. This is definitely a com-fortable car for long rides and around town.

The vehicle comes with a ste-reo system to keep you bopping to tunes while you’re driving.

And the experts at Chevrolet were thinking when it came to designing a car that coupled style with safety. The Sonic comes with hill start assist, which prevents the car from rolling back when starting on a hill, Sta-bilitrak electronic sta-bility control, traction control, and panic brake assist.

If you’re looking for a starter car or an affordable option to an existing gas hog, the Sonic will get you there and then some.

By Brian SwartzCustom PubliCations editor

Although stylistically un-changed from 2011, the 2012 Chevy Equinox is still “a perfect Maine vehicle: all-wheel drive, a good-sized vehicle with good gas mileage,” says Joe Quirk.

Seated inside his office at Quirk Chevrolet (293 Hogan Road, Bangor), we are discuss-ing the 2012 Equi-nox, which “is one of the fastest turning vehi-cles on our lot,” Quirk says. “We can’t get them fast enough.”

Chevrolet offers four Equi-noxes: LS, 1LT, 2LT, and LTZ. All four share the 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder that delivers an EPA estimated 20/29 miles per gallon. Other shared features include a six-speed automatic overdrive transmission, power door locks and windows, full instrumenta-tion, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and the StabiliTrak electronic stability control sys-tem.

And there are multiple op-tions.

“In the LT and above, you can get an optional [3.0-liter] V6,” Quirk says. “If you have anything to tow, it would be optimal to get the V6. It’s de-signed for heavy towing.” A Trailering Package with a four-wire con-nection and a re-ceiver hitch is optional on the 2LT and LTZ.

The Chrome Appearance Package that’s standard on the LTZ is optional on the 2LT, and

hydraulic power steering is op-tional on all but the Equinox LS. “All-wheel drive is optional on all models,” but “we see a lot of people wanting it so they can ‘go’ in the snow,” Quirk says.

Chevrolet has improved Equi-nox quality, and “our customers notice how superior it is to the ’08, ’09 in the quietness of the ride,” he says.

Customers are also noticing — and in many cases, expecting — the computer-based technol-ogy that ap-pears in the 2012 Equinox. “The LT and higher has a standard touch screen, a nice, clear 8-inch screen, for op-eration purposes,” Quirk points out.

The touch screen and its af-filiated controls let a driver use the optional rear-view camera (actually stan-dard on the 2LT and LTZ) and Bluetooth wire-less technology, as well as the optional XM NavTraffic sys-tem. Potential buyers “are sur-prised our [LS] base model has Bluetooth as a $250 option,” Quirk says. “Eve-ryone wants it.”

The 2012 Chevy Equinox ap-peals “to everybody, from the young to the old, from the busi-ness person to the family,” he notes. “There is not a demo-graphic that is excluded.”

Today I am driving a 2012 Equinox LS. While considered a base model, this stylish Equi-nox painted Sil-ver Ice Metallic sports OnStar RemoteLink, turn-by-turn navigation, a Multi-Flex sliding rear seat

(60/40 configuration), cruise control, a three-month subscrip-tion to XM Radio, and power exterior mirrors with smaller “blind spot” mirrors. Later, while caught in Orono traffic, I discover that these mirrors re-ally do capture the blind spots that would be missed by my truck’s mirrors.

Assembled in Ingersoll, On-tario, the 2012 Equinoxes start-ed arriving at Quirk Chevrolet in August 2011. I climb into the driver’s seat, square it away for sufficient leg room, check the controls, and depart the deal-er-

ship. I soon learn why drivers are snapping up the 2012s.

The 2.4-liter DOHC produces horsepower on demand on I-95 and runs quietly along residen-tial streets in Orono and Veazie. The instrumentation’s set high so my eyes do not “drop” far from the windshield, and all controls are well-marked and intuitive.

The Equinox responds quick-ly to steering commands as I wind through downtown Orono. The XM Ra-dio plays a channel appropriate to my age while of-fering options for all ages and

music genres. In its music selec-tion alone the Equinox definite-ly appeals to different ages and tastes.

A driver has good visibility from the front seat, and Quirk had indicated earlier that women like the Equinox be-cause of such visibility. The front seats adjust easily to per-sonal seating styles, and al-though the Equinox seems to be a large vehicle, it really isn’t.

Out on I-95, the Equinox ac-celerates quickly to merge with oncoming traffic around the Kelly Road. Lit-tle road noise

transfers to the cockpit here on the interstate or along State Street (Route 2) in Veazie, where I reflexively check the speedom-eter when a Veazie police cruis-er emerges from a side street.

No problem: The Equinox is already rolling along at the speed limit. Unlike some vehi-cles, the Equinox will slow down when a driver eases off the gas pedal.

All too soon I must return the Equinox to Quirk Chevrolet and the key to Joe Quirk. To test drive the 2012 Equinox, give him a call at the dealership.

2 BANGOR DAILY NEWS Monday February 20, 2012

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bdn Photo by brian sWartzAmong the standard features found on this 2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS are a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, a compact spare tire, a Multi-Flex sliding rear seat, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, cruise control, power door locks and win-dows, OnStar Remote Link, Blu-etooth wireless technology, and power exterior mirrors with built-in blind-spot mirrors. Painted Silver Ice Metal-lic, this fully equipped Equinox LS needs no optional equipment and is available at Quirk Chevrolet on the Hogan Road in Bangor.

2012 Chevy Equinox LS well-equipped

neWs Photo by debra bellThe 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is one of Chevy’s newest offerings and comes standard with a Ecotec 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing and 138 horsepower. This 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS painted a Crystal Red Metallic tintcoat, which can be found at Varney Chev-rolet in Pitts-field, retails for $15,890. It includes comfortable bucket seats for driver and passenger and a spacious interior for such a com-pact car. Add to that a sort three-spoke steering wheel, hill start assist, tire pressure monitor, and Stabilitrac Electronic Stability Control with traction control and panic brake assist, and this little car provides comfort and safety in one cute package.

2012 Chevolet Sonic offers something newIt was compact and

ready to hit the road for adventure.

By ara Content

More than 186 million cars are on the road in the United States, according to The Insurance Infor-mation Institute. Most states re-quire drivers to purchase auto li-ability insurance before they can legally drive a car. Often drivers don’t understand what they need in an auto insurance policy or where to purchase it. There are many options and it is important to understand your individual needs.

Your preference on how to buy insurance, who to buy it from, and what to buy are all important considerations. Most people don’t understand their liability insurance needs, whether to accept or reject un-insured motorist coverages, or how much of a deductible to as-sume on their comprehensive and collision coverages. These are important coverages and de-cisions, and it makes sense to consult with a professional — an independent agent — who can help you find the best cover-age to fit your needs.

Some people prefer to talk with an independent agent in person, some via the phone; oth-ers work via e-mail or the Inter-net. Most agents offer all these services. The benefit of dealing with an agent is the advice, vari-ety of products, and companies they represent. This gives them a leg up in their ability to shop for the best price, products, and service. The price can be less than buying on the Internet.

“We are committed to selling auto insurance through indepen-dent agents at Fireman’s Fund,” says Duke Daugherty, vice presi-dent of personal auto insurance at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Com-pany, a company of Allianz, www.ffic.com. “The advice and guid-ance they provide customers, combined with the convenience of shopping for the best products and prices, is invaluable.”

Auto owners should look for coverages that fit their specific needs. Fireman’s Fund recom-mends these considerations when shopping for your auto policy:

1. Start with required cover-ages and then flex limits, de-ductibles, and optional coverag-es around the price you’re will-ing to spend for the protection you desire.

2. Characteristics that often receive favorable pricing in-clude:

• Good driving records.• Stability, which includes con-

tinuous insurance with no lapse in coverage, greater than state required minimum limits of lia-bility insurance, years with a prior carrier, home ownership, good to superior insurance

scores, multiple policies with same carrier (home, auto, ex-cess/umbrella, collections), and having more cars than drivers.

3. Look for credit where credit is due. Things like having multi-ple policies, including homeown-ers and excess/umbrella, a new car, a good student, accident/vio-lation free, or age 55 and retired can result in a credit.

4. Options that may be impor-tant to you:

• Six-month or one-year poli-cy term.

• Coverage for personal prop-erty.

• Key coverage.• Repairs guaranteed.• Transportation expenses.• Coverage for audio tapes,

compact discs, and other media.• Upgrade to a hybrid vehicle

after a total loss.5. Premier coverages:• Choice of repair shop and

original manufacturer’s parts.• Lock in car’s value at begin-

ning of each policy term.• Worldwide liability.• Full glass replacement with

no deductible.• Comparable rental car up to

$10,000.• Roadside response included,

and a tow to your preferred me-chanic.

• Deductible waived when other party is at fault and has liability coverage.

• Trip interruption with liv-ing expenses up to $1,000.

• Pet coverage.6. Pick appropriate limits. As

you acquire more assets and make changes to your lifestyle, it is important to review these limits with your agent. It may be beneficial to pick a higher deductible, get more liability coverage, or add an excess/um-brella policy to your portfolio of products. This helps lower the cost and/or increases your pro-tection in the case of a loss.

7. Know the basics. Auto in-surance can provide liability coverage, medical coverage, and physical damage coverage:

• Liability coverage pays for the policyholder’s legal respon-sibility to others for bodily in-jury or property damage.

• Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, re-habilitation, and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

• Physical damage coverage pays for damage to, or theft of, the car.

According to a 2008 study by Experian Automotive, the Unit-ed States is still very much in love with the automobile, with a national average of 2.28 vehicles per household. Protect your family and your car by making knowledgeable decisions on in-suring this important risk.

Tips for choosing the right insurance

By Brian SwartzCustom PubliCations Editor

AUGUSTA — Color the 2012 Honda CR-V “green” around its speedometer — and across all three models.

Redesigned for 2012, the CR-V features “new styling, [and] bet-ter gas mileage” achieved with “better aerodynamics and some engine and drivetrain modifica-tions,” says Peter Dingley, a sales rep at Charlie’s Honda at 448 Western Ave., Augusta. He soon reveals that beside a new fuselage, the CR-V also features exciting new technology, some of it cutting-edge.

Take, for example, the Eco As-sist System, epitomized by the “green” ECON button placed near the driver’s left knee. During the test drive that I will soon take in a Crystal Black CR-V EX-L, I will press that tempting button with its green plant symbol — and then watch the speedome-ter’s outer curves glow green.

Pressing the ECON button “puts the CR-V into the ECON mode,” which “reconfigures the throttle set-tings, alters the transmission settings, and re-duces the air-conditioner’s power,” Dingley says.

“This conserves energy, and that translates into a couple miles [more] per gallon,” he ex-plains. “The four-wheel-drive version is rated at 22 in the city and 30 on the highway; the ECON mode can add to that.”

Later, as we drive at different speeds through Augusta, a green glow illuminates the speedometer’s outer curves, and a green plant symbol appears on the instrument panel. Accord-ing to Dingley, the “greens” in-di-cate that the CR-V is achiev-ing efficient fuel economy, infor-mation buttressed by the mpg figures that ap-pear just above the speedometer.

So the 2012 CR-V sports “green” technology. What’s next?

“We’ve got new features,” Dingley says. “Every CR-V now comes with a back-up camera” that activates when the driver shifts the transmission into “R.”

There’s “the Bluetooth hands-free cell-phone system. With all the legislation to prevent tex-ting while driving, it (Bluetooth) is becoming a desirable fea-ture,” he says. “To me, it’s a safety feature.”

There’s Pandora Internet-based radio, available by sub-scription. There’s the SMS Text Message Func-tion: “Your vehi-cle can receive text messages and will actually ‘read’ them to you,” Dingley says. This cut-

ting-edge technology offers a driver several preprogrammed responses, but to use SMS, a driver must have a compatible smart phone.

There’s the multi-angle rear-view camera, which Dingley ex-plains to me before I back into a parking space at Charlie’s Honda. This particular camera has three angles: normal, wide, and “straight down,” as I call it. The last feature comes in handy when backing the CR-V up to a trailer hitch, Dingley says, and I find this feature useful as the CR-V’s rear bumper slides over the side-walk outside the dealership.

Built to transport five people, the 2012 CR-V comes in three models: LX, EX, and EX-L. All

three share the high-tech fea-tures, including Bluetooth Streaming Audio, as well as such features as Eco Assist, cruise control, power door locks and windows, a tilt-and-tele-scopic steering wheel, four-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution, and a four-cylinder in-line en-gine mated with a five-speed au-tomatic transmission.

Then there’s the on-board navigation system. Before we leave the dealership’s yard, Dingley demon-strates how eas-ily a driver can find even a par-ticular restaurant right here in Augusta. He taps the appropri-ate touch-screen commands to kick up a list of Chinese restau-

rants. Revealing that one “is re-ally popular with the guys here,” he taps a command, and the nav system plots the route — highlighted in light blue — from Charlie’s Honda to the res-taurant.

Then we head out onto West-ern Avenue, the Maine Turn-pike, and Civic Center Drive (also Route 27).

The CR-V handles extremely well, with the motion-adaptive electric power-assisted steering responding nimbly to steering-wheel movements. The suspen-sion system all but erases the bumps on Western Avenue and Community Drive, which ac-cesses the Augusta Civic Center.

Soon we ease into the Char-lie’s Honda lot, where Dingley demonstrates “the one-touch folding rear seat backs.” He pops the liftgate and pulls an interior lever on the driver’s side; the “60” portion of the split rear seat immediately folds flat. I pull the lever on the passenger side, and the “40” portion folds flat. Then Din-gley asks me to open the rear passenger door and tug on the floor strap that juts

from the lowered seat back.I tug, and the seat back flips

upright. I flip up the seat as Dingley flips up the “60” seat.

The lowered seats expand the CR-V interior “hauling” volume, of course. The one-touch feature makes it easier for drivers to move the seats: no climbing into the back seat and struggling with recalcitrant seat backs.

Drivers like the restyled CR-V, Dingley comments. “Nation-wide it’s a very popular vehi-cle,” he says. “It’s our No. 1 sell-ing vehicle at Charlie’s Honda. Maine, being a rural state, peo-ple travel long distances to get to work, and they want that good gas mileage.

“It’s loaded with all the safety features,” such as vehicle stabil-ity assist, a tire-pressure moni-toring system, multiple air bags, traction control, and sta-bility control, Dingley says.

The 2012 Honda CR-V “ap-peals to a wide range of people, from young couples with chil-dren to older people who drive a lot,” he says. “It’s designed gen-erally for people on the go that want a versatile vehicle that can carry people.”

BANGOR DAILY NEWS Monday February 20, 2012 3


bdn Photo by brian swartzThe redesigned 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE delivers excellent fuel mileage (EPA-estimated 40/38) with the Hybrid Synergy Drive System, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and an electronic continuously vari-able transmission. Painted Magnetic Gray Metallic, this XLE features Bluetooth wireless technology, Safety Connect (Toyota’s answer to OnStar), a back-up camera, Premium HDD Navigation with Entune, the JBL GreenEdge audio system, a power sliding moonroof, a leather package, dual-zone auto climate control, and cruise control. This fun-to-drive Camry Hybrid XLE is available at Downeast Toyota on Wilson Street in Brewer.


BREWER — Technology and environ-mental consciousness merge in the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE, available at Downeast Toyota on Wilson Street in Brewer, my hometown.

“The Camry is totally redesigned for 2012. The body style of the car is all new, but there are differences in the on-board technology,” says Ilya Askinazi, a Downeast Toyota sales rep.

“We find so much demand now for the hybrid technology, especially with the Prius doing so well,” he says.

Today I will test drive a Magnetic Gray Metallic Camry Hybrid XLE, equipped with the Hybrid Synergy Drive System, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and an electronic continuously variable trans-mission. The gas engine “kicks in when you step on the gas pedal and need the power” and when the on-board battery needs charging, Askinazi says.

He talks me through a demonstration. I “start” the Camry, with “start” being a relative term: When I de-press the gas pedal, all the instruments brighten, but the hybrid “runs” only on its electric motor. Every-thing is silent.

Then Askinazi turns on the heater. The gas engine quietly kicks in a while later, runs briefly to recharge the battery, then shuts off without my touching any control.

“You have two modes you can select” while driving the car, Askinazi says. The EV mode places the Camry Hybrid in the electric mode; in the alternative econo-my mode, “it acts almost like your gas pedal has a spring on it, it smooths out fast starts to keep your fuel mileage high,” he explains.

Askinazi discusses other on-board technology, including Toyota’s Safety Connect that performs the same func-tions as On Star. He mates my Motorola cell phone with the Camry’s Bluetooth wireless technology and explains how the steering wheel-mounted controls work.

Later I will call a few relatives to chat “hands free” for the first time in my life. Suddenly I want to install Bluetooth at least in my wife’s Corolla, because of all the new automotive technology that I’ve seen in the past few days, Bluetooth would be most useful.

While redesigning the Camry Hybrid, Toyota engineers eliminated the V-belt and installed an electric water pump. By moving the on-board battery closer to the passenger compartment, engineers created a larger trunk. Combined with the spacious cockpit, the large trunk ca-pacity makes the Camry Hybrid ideal for hauling people and luggage across the country.

Sigh: I can imagine hurtling along I-80 in Wyoming in this Camry, but for today, I will only drive it in Brewer, Bangor, and

Hampden. After studying the instrumen-tation and experimenting with the radio and the navigation system, I turn the hybrid onto Wilson Street and head out to test the car’s capabilities.

First, the 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE is incredibly quiet, on and off Interstate 395. Second, the car’s fuel ef-ficiency im-proves quickly, as indicated by the Eco Drive Level Display visible through the steering wheel. In minutes the “Average” miles-per-gallon jumps from 8.1 to 33 as the car hits a steady cruising speed.

According to Askinazi, people buy the Camry Hybrid “because of the gas mile-age” and “because of what this technol-ogy stands for” in terms of a buyer’s en-vironmental consciousness and the car’s extremely low emissions. “Forty miles per gallon in a mid-size car is unheard of.”

Third, the 2012 Camry — hybrid or not — is built with the occupants’ safety in mind. The car has 10 air bags, including knee air bags for the driver and front passenger and air bags to protect rear passengers. The two front seats are de-signed as whiplash-injury-lessening seats, which according to Toyota “yield in a con-trolled fashion in certain rear-end collisions … to reduce the risk of neck injuries.”

Of the five safety rating-categories identified by the National Highway Traf-fic Safety Administration, the 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE has received three

five-star and two four-star ratings. Those are excellent figures.

Fourth, the 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE comes fully loaded (and then some) with such options as a blind spot monitor, a rear-view camera, Safety Connect (a one-year subscription), heated front seats, leather-trimmed seats, the premium HDD navigation system with Entune, and the JBL GreenEdge audio system.

Entune provides mobile apps for such services as Pandora internet-based radio, Bing, sports updates, weather forecasts, stock reports, and traffic up-dates. A driver purchasing an Entune-capable 2012 Camry will have three years’ free access to these apps via En-tune.

Fifth, the driver enjoys excellent all-around visibility in the 2012 Camry. Par-tially widened to five lanes in the past year, Wilson Street’s not the place to lose sight of nearby vehicles; I easily keep an eye on the com-petition while approach-ing Downeast Toyota to make a tight left turn into the yard.

This 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE also comes with an optional power moonroof, a nice feature that I would have loved to check out after dark as the moon turned full a few days later.

Check out the 2012 Camry XLE Hybrid at Downeast Toyota. Camry has always been a top seller for Toy-ota. As for the 2012 hybrid, “I think it’s the best Camry we have sold yet,” Askinazi says.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid benefits the environment

bdn Photo by brian swartzHonda has completely redesigned the 2012 CR-V, a stylish people hauler. Painted Crystal Black, this CR-V EX-L available at Charlie’s Honda in Augusta offers such features as the ECON mode for improved fuel ef-ficiency, a multiple-angle rear-view camera, on-board navigation, SMS Text Message Function, a 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine that produces 185 horsepower, a five-speed automatic transmission, Bluetooth wireless technology and streaming audio, and leather-trimmed seats.

Honda CR-V is cutting edge

By Metro Creative ServiCe

The average age of a personal vehicle on the road today is more than 11 years, according to recent news reports. In tough economic times, it’s natural to rein in spending. But the ex-perts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence warn that putting off routine auto maintenance or ignoring service intervals is false economy. Small issues can morph into more expensive re-pairs. For example, failure to replace worn brake pads or a faulty oxygen sensor — both relatively easy services for qual-ified auto technicians — can re-sult in expensive brake rotor service or costly replacement of the vehicle’s catalytic converter.

Frequently neglected items include oil changes, tire and brake service, wheel alignment, air and fuel filters, and trans-mission service, according to ASE-certified auto technicians.

Besides, a well-maintained vehicle gets better gasoline mileage, pollutes less, is safer to operate, and lasts longer than one that’s neglected, notes ASE.

To help consumers choose a re-pair shop that fits their needs, ASE offers the following checklist:

• Look for a neat, well-orga-nized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equip-ment in the service bays.

• Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant will-ing to answer all of your ques-tions.

• Look for policies regarding estimated repair costs, diagnos-tic fees, guarantees, and accept-able methods of payment.

• Ask if the repair facility specializes or if it usually han-dles your type of repair work.

• Look for signs of profession-alism in the customer service area, such as civic, community, or customer service awards.

• Look for evidence of quali-fied technicians: trade school diplomas, certificates of ad-vanced course work, and certifi-cation by ASE.

• Look for the ASE sign or logo; it means the shop employs nationally certified technicians.

Experts:Maintenance essential

Z4 BANGOR DAILY NEWS Monday February 20, 2012

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BANGOR DAILY NEWS Monday February 20, 2012 Z5

By Brian SwartzCustom PubliCation Editor

The name’s the same, but the looks have changed on a popu-lar 2012 Subaru.

The 2012 Impreza “is a brand new model this year, completely redesigned,” says Tim Morin, a sales-and-leasing consultant at Quirk Subaru at 295 Hogan Road, Bangor. ‘They went to a 2.0-liter engine and the [option-al] Lineartronic continuously variable transmission.

“That’s how we’re getting the better fuel economy (EPA-esti-mated at 27/36) and the smooth-er, quieter ride,” he said. “Cus-tomers tell us they’re getting up to 43 miles per gallon with symmetrical all-wheel drive. Mileage like that, you’ve got to love.”

Lineartronic CVT is option-al on all but the Limiteds, but few drivers buy an Impreza with the standard five-speed manual transaxle, according to Morin.

Subaru offers five Imprezas:• The base four- or five-door;• The Premium four- or five-

door. This trim level adds 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, body-color side mirrors, and au-tomatic climate control. Avail-able options include a naviga-tion system and an all-weather package.

• The Limited four- or five-door. This trim level adds leath-er-trimmed seats, fog lights, 17-inch alumi-num-alloy wheels, and automatic on/off head-lights.

• The Sport Premium five-door. This trim level adds black-finish roof rails, striped cloth upholstery, the all-weather package (now a standard fea-ture), and a six-speaker CD audio system with a USB port and iPod control.

• The Sport Limited five-door.“Everyone kind of leans to-

ward the Premium and the five-door Sport, which replaced the Outback sport,” Morin says.

All five models feature a new body style. “Subaru redesigned it to make more aerodynamic, give better visibility to the driv-er,” Morin points out. “All the body panels have been changed. The Impreza is lighter than the 2011 model.”

Engineers took many steps to improve the Impreza’s looks and aerodynamics; one example cited by Morin was moving the exterior mirrors onto the front doors. The restyling also pro-vided more interior space (97 cubic feet for passengers and 12 cubic feet for cargo in the four-door Impreza, 98 cubic feet for passengers and 22.5 cubic feet for cargo in the five-door) by shifting to a cabin-forward de-sign.

Safety features found on all five Impreza models include four-wheel anti-lock brakes, ve-hicle dynamic control, traction control, Subaru’s advanced frontal air-bag system, whip-lash-protection front seats, head restraints for all three rear-seat passengers, and side-curtain

airbags for the outboard occu-pants in the front and back. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Impreza its top safety pick for 2012.

I will test drive an Impreza 2.0I Premium painted a Dark Gray Metallic. This four-door sedan has a four-wheel indepen-dent suspension, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth, a USB port with iPod connectivity, and power door locks and windows. Options in-clude the all-weather package (heated front seats and exterior mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer), the alloy wheel pack-age, a power moonroof, and the Lineartronic CVT with a six-speed manual mode.

I take the Impreza for a cruise west to Bangor International

Airport, which with its criss-crossed street network is a great place to test a vehicle in rela-tively light traffic (except along Maine Avenue, of course}. The Impreza zooms along the Hogan Road ramp and merges with mid-morning traffic coming south from Orono and Old Town.

The peppy 2.0-liter Boxer en-gine speeds the Impreza over to Hammond Street, where I hook a right onto Enterprise Drive and weave a path across the air-port. The Lineartronic CVT shifts seamlessly as the Impreza slows or accelerates, and the audio system surrounds me with favorite music.

After tooling around the West Side, I return the Impreza to I-95 and zip back to the Hogan Road.

The 12-mile test drive has re-vealed how much fun the Im-preza is to drive, especially on a sunny day like today. Mainers like to buy Subarus — the Pine Tree State is a great market for Subarus of all ages and sizes — for their ability to navigate snow-covered roads. No snow falls today — there’s hardly a cloud in the sky — but the test Impreza could handle any pre-cipitation very well.

The 2012 Subaru Impreza ap-peals “to the outdoor people right down to college kids,” Morin says. “They can put stuff in it and fold the rear seats flat. They’re looking for that fuel economy, and they’re looking for that Subaru quality.”

Buyers are finding all those features in the 2012 Impreza.

6 Thursday, BANGOR DAILY NEWS Monday February 20, 2012


New 2012 Subaru Impreza offers better fuel economy

bdn Photo by brian swartzPainted Dark Gray Metallic, this 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0I Premium offers such standard features as symmetrical all-wheel drive, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth wireless technology, a USB port with iPod connectivity, and power door locks and windows. Options include an All-Weather Package with heat-ed front seats and exterior mirrors, a power moonroof, and an Alloy Wheel Package that adds 17-inch alloy wheels and a leather-trimmed shifter knob and steering wheel. This Impreza is available at Quirk Subaru on the Hogan Road in Bangor.


Selling a car is not always so easy. Vehicle owners are well aware that a new vehicle’s value is drastically diminished the moment it is driven off the deal-ership’s lot. As a result, sellers often don’t know where to begin when the time comes to sell their vehicles.

Vehicle owners typically put a car up for sale because they feel they can get more for it from a private citizen than they will get from a dealership as a trade-in. But before listing a car or truck for sale, owners should consider a few factors.

Sale priceVehicle owners typically em-

phasize sale price more than anything when they decide to sell their car. Though sale price bears considerable weight, guides such as the Kelley Blue Book, which sellers and buyers can access for free online, will likely dictate the sale price, even if the seller feels such guides undervalue their vehicle. Buyers know all about these guides, and will be reticent to pay more than what these guides suggest is the value of the car. But there is always room to negotiate. Sellers should, if the car is in pristine condition, set a sale price above the sug-gested value so, if buyers do want to bargain, the sale price ends up being closer to the sug-gested value and not substan-tially below.

Make the vehicle better buyParticularly in today’s econo-

my, buyers are looking to get more and more for their money. This actually helps sellers, as buyers are now more inclined to buy a used vehicle because it might prove a better value than a brand new car that immedi-ately diminishes in value the moment buyers sign on the dot-ted line.

That said, there are numer-ous ways sellers can increase their vehicle’s curb appeal. First and foremost, sellers should always address any me-chanical issues before putting a vehicle up for sale. For example,

if the car is having transmis-sion troubles or the brakes are wearing down, don’t put the ve-hicle up for sale until those things are taken care of. If you don’t want to fix problems, then you must disclose this informa-tion to prospective buyers, which will certainly reduce the amount of money you will get for the car.

When addressing what’s under the hood, change the oil, replace the air filter (which often improves the ride considerably), check tire pressure and inflate the tires as needed.

Aside from mechanical is-sues, another big plus to poten-tial buyers is a car that looks good. Home shoppers don’t want to buy a dilapidated shack, and car buyers don’t want to buy a car with a bad paint job and a cracked windshield. Such things suggest to prospective buyers that you didn’t care enough to maintain the vehicle, and they will certainly assume you neglected what’s under the hood as well. Get the vehicle de-tailed and wash it at least once a week until it’s sold.

In addition to addressing the exterior, clean the interior as well. Vehicle owners tend to live in their cars, and it shows. Clean coffee stains from cup holders and remove all trash from the vehicle, including any-thing that has accumulated under the seats, in the cushions and even in the trunk over the years. Remove all excess items from the trunk, as buyers are typically impressed by a spa-cious trunk.

Once stains and trash have been removed, shampoo the car-pets and seats and vacuum the car thoroughly. It’s amazing how easily a vehicle’s interior can be transformed with a little elbow grease, and buyers are al-ways impressed by a clean inte-rior. And don’t forget to hang a pleasant, but not overbearing, air freshener from the rearview mirror.

Prove maintenance recordSellers who have diligently

kept records of their vehicle’s maintenance should present

these records to prospective buyers. This will indicate you were a responsible owner and give buyers a feeling of security about the purchase. If you did not keep records but strictly ad-hered to a maintenance sched-

ule, contact the auto body shop where work was performed to see if they have any records. Most records are stored in a computer system, so this isn’t necessarily a long shot, espe-cially if maintenance was per-

formed at a dealership.Selling a car won’t necessari-

ly be easy in the current eco-nomic climate, but sellers can employ a host of strategies to make their vehicle more appeal-ing to prospective buyers

Cleaning a vehicle’s interior is one way sellers can make their car more attractive to prospective buyers.

Tips to get the most when selling car


Third-row seating has be-come a priority for many people purchasing new vehicles. Many consumers actively seek out a car or SUVwith a third-row seat so they’ll have plenty of room for passengers during com-mutes or school carpools. There are many advantages to a third row of seating, but there are also some disadvantages. Weigh-ing the pros and cons before purchase will help shoppers de-termine if a third-row seat is really what they need.

advantagesThe primary reason for pur-

chasing a vehicle with a third-row seat is to increase passenger capacity. Most standard cars and mid-size SUVs can seat 5 passen-gers comfortably. However, a third-row seat can add a spot for an additional 2 to 3 passengers.

The need for a third row of seats stems primarily from the increased prevalence of booster and other child safety seats, which tend to take up a lot of space. This enables more chil-dren to be seated safely, a boon to parents who carpool.

Third-row seats are also advan-tageous to commuters who car-pool. Several adults can sit com-fortably and ride into work togeth-er, splitting the cost of gas and tolls. Many vehicles with third-row seats offer good gas mileage, making carpooling an even greener meth-od of getting to work.

The third-row seat can often be folded down and allow for more cargo room when not need-ed. In some models, a third-row seat can be removed entirely.

DisadvantagesWhile the third-row seat offers

more passenger room, it cuts down on storage space. Many vehicles that offer the extra row of seating do so at the expense of trunk or cargo space. There may be little more than a few feet of room to store groceries or luggage.

Vehicles with a third-row seat tend to be more expensive than comparable cars and SUV’s without one. Some minivans are more expensive than simarly sized SUVs. If money is a factor, a third-row seat may not be an asset. In addition, insurance companies might charge more for a larger car.

Size might also be a disadvantage to some drivers. Larger vehicles might be difficult to park in urban areas and may require special park-ing spots in parking garages.

Third-row seats can be very advantageous for people who frequently transport several people. But they may not be the best option for individuals look-ing for a lower priced car or one with maximum cargo space.

Pros and cons to third-row seating

Many consumers actively seek out a car or SUVwith a third-row seat so

they’ll have plenty of room for passen-

gers during com-mutes or school

carpools.


To those who feel a vacation isn’t complete unless the family pet comes along, you’re not alone. The U.S. Travel Associa-tion says that 49 percent of Americans feel the pet is just another member of the family and 18 percent of U.S. travelers plan to take their pets along the next time they travel. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States have softened laws regarding international travel with a companion ani-mal. With the Pet Passport Scheme, or PETS, individuals may travel freely with their pets to member countries on ap-proved carriers. Some proce-dures include certification of rabies vaccination and the ani-mal’s microchip or tattoo num-ber.

Car trips are common forms of travel with a companion ani-mal in tow. While many pets are easygoing, there are some that are unaccustomed to traveling with their owners and may even balk at riding along. Acclimat-ing and protecting your pet for travel will require a little pa-tience and some pointers.

Secure the petJust as you would buckle up

when entering the car, so should you buckle up a pet. It is impor-tant to ensure the animal is not a moving target around the car should an accident occur. Not only could you risk injury to the pet, but you also risk injury to yourself if the animal becomes a projectile.

Even if an accident does not occur, a jittery pet, or one who is content to jump from back seat into the front, could prove a dis-traction while driving. He or she could also bump into the gearshift or get stuck under the gas or brake pedal. It is much better to keep the pet secured.

Pets may travel in a well-ven-tilated carrier. Larger dogs may need to be belted into the car with a special dog harness. There are also barrier screens and gates that can be installed, typically in SUVs, to restrict the pet.

AcclimationSome pets just do not enjoy

being placed in a carrier or rid-ing in a car. They may need some coaxing and practice to become comfortable if a trip is planned. The ASPCA suggests getting the pet used to a longer trip by taking a series of short trips first over the course of a few days or weeks. With each trip, gradually increase time spent in the car.

It may help to bring along a pet toy or blanket that is sooth-ing to the animal, so he or she associates the car with a safe place, just like home.

Even after several attempts to acclimate your pet to the idea of a car trip, the animal may still not be happy about the idea. Talk to a veterinarian about other strategies or whether a mild sedative could make the travel easier.

Safety tipsAlthough many pet owners

are aware of certain dos and

don’ts when it comes to travel-ing with a pet, many still engage in behavior that could be dan-gerous to the animal.

One of the common offenses is letting the pet ride with his or her head outside of the window. While this may seem like heav-en to the dog or cat, this puts the pet at risk of being injured by flying objects, including debris in the eyes. It can also increase the risk of the animal falling out of the moving vehicle.

Another mistake many peo-ple make is leaving the pet in-side of a car — even for a short duration of time. The ASPCA warns that even with the win-dows open, a parked car can rapidly heat up and heatstroke can occur. A similar thing takes place in the winter with the car getting much too cold. If you anticipate having to make stops,

be sure to go where you can take the pet out and along with you.

Comfort and careAn animal out of his or her

environment or element could become skittish. Try to keep a pet’s feeding schedule as close to normal as possible. This will minimize the chances of dis-comfort or even digestive aggra-vation. Bring along bottled water or tap water from home because drinking water from an unfamiliar area could result in unwanted digestive distress, which could prove uncomfort-able for pet and owner alike.

As an added precaution, you may want to invest in rubber-ized floor liners and waterproof seat covers, says the ASPCA. This helps if the animal gets carsick or has an accident. Re-movable seat covers can also prove advantageous for collect-

ing fur and keeping the interior of the car less messy than need be.

IdentificationIt is important to always

carry proper identification for your pet, as well as documenta-tion of vaccinations. For those who have not yet microchipped their companion animal, now may be the time to do so. The microchip is a very small device implanted under the skin of the pet, usually by the scruff of the neck. It will transmit contact information when a specialized transmitter is waved over the microchip.

There’s also the old-fashioned method of having your dog or cat collared with an ID tag. Using this in conjunction with a leash and harness will help re-duce the chances of losing your pet while on the road.

By DaviD M. FitzpatriCkCustom PubliCations Writer

Last year, I test-drove a 2011 Mazda3, and it was quite a treat. This year, I got to test the 2012 Mazda3, and it was even better. As far as feel, handling, and ride, it was pretty much the same excellent test drive as last year. But this year’s major dif-ference is the integration of Mazda’s groundbreaking Sky-Activ technology that has im-pressively increased the gas mileage. We’ll get to that in a moment.

The Mazda3 is a sporty com-pact car — not sporty like the Mazda Miata is sporty, but Mazda definitely engineered plenty of class and style into the design. And “compact” doesn’t mean “cramped”; the car is roomy and comfortable. Besides the instrument cluster straight ahead, there’s a second digital readout that features in-formation such as fuel econo-my, temperature, time, average speed, etc. The dashboard slopes down towards the center console, giving piles of controls well within an arm’s reach without having to lean in or over. The steering wheel is loaded with convenient buttons for things like cruise control and the audio system.

The first thing you’ll likely notice is the braking efficiency. Unlike many cars in its class,

the Mazda3 features four-wheel disc brakes — not drums on the rear, as is typical. Particularly with a lightweight, not-too-big car like this, they afford robust stopping power. It takes some getting used to; you’re likely to find the braking far more re-sponsive than you’d expect.

The steering and handling re-ally stand out. The slightest nudge of the wheel has the car responding in a flash. In city traffic, a little back-and-forth wiggle has the car easily weav-ing. At highway speeds, it doesn’t take much to change lanes or negotiate a curve. It’s great to have that kind of spot-on response in steering but, like the brakes, it takes a bit of get-ting used to. Once you get the feel, it’s the most natural thing in the world. And the handling is superb; take a sharp curve in the city, and there’s not a hint of tire squawk or drift.

The Mazda3 accelerates quickly and smoothly; when you gas it, it takes off like a rocket. The caveat it that it’s easy to speed in this car; it feels like you’re doing 35 when you realize it’s more like 50. And the ride is smooth as silk, bringing to mind the phrase “purrs like a kitten.” The car even handles marvelously on a typical Maine rural road replete with over-blown crowns, sharp curves, blind hills, cracked pavement, and potholes.

The automatic transmission is smooth as silk; you can feel the car shift into second, but beyond that it’s hardly percep-tible. The car features a manual mode to the automatic tranny as well, enabling you to easily shift gears without a clutch to think about.

Now let’s talk about SkyActiv, and the incredible mileage on this car. SkyActiv was devel-oped to increase fuel efficiency

and engine output. A SkyActiv gas engine has better fuel econ-omy, thanks to features like di-rect injection and diesel-engine-like compression ratios. A Sky-Activ transmission combines a dual clutch with the transmis-sion’s torque converter.

The 2012 Mazda3 features the SkyActiv-G 2-liter I4 engine. In conjunction with the SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic trans-mission, and the new light-

weight body design, the car’s mileage has spiked compared to the 2011 model, from 23 to 28 mpg in town and from 33 to 40 mpg on the highway.

The Mazda3 comes in various trims and flavors. Regardless of which one you choose, for a compact car, the Mazda3 is a powerful competitor to its peers in performance, quality, and price. If you line it up with the comparably priced Hyundai El-

antra, the Toyota Corolla, and the Honda Civic, you’d be hard pressed not to pick the Mazda3 as the winner.

The Mazda3 is fantastic from top to bottom. It handles like a sports car, rides like a dream, shifts smooth as silk, and accel-erates like a demon. I could defi-nitely see myself in a Mazda3. But don’t take my word for it; a spin around the block will be enough to convince you.



bDn PHoto bY DaViD m. FitZPatriCKThe 2012 Mazda3 incorporates Mazda’s new and very innovative SkyActiv technology. This includes the SkyActiv-G gas engine, SkyActiv-Drive transmission, and SkyActiv lightweight body design which has resulted in an improvement over last year’s mileage, from 23 to 28 mpg city and 33 to 40 mpg highway. The model pictured, loaded with plenty of standard equipment, costs $19,300 at Varney Mazda in Bangor.

2012 Mazda3 with SkyActiv technology is enjoyable to drive

bDn PHoto bY Debra bellDrivers should take extra care when securing a pet in the car.

Safe ways to take pets on the road


Despite what the holiday commercials will have you believe, very few people can afford to wrap up a car with a big bow, park it in the driveway and wait for the surprised recipient to “ooh and ahh” over the gift. While this type of auto gift-ing is rare, people do give cars on a regu-lar basis. Usually it is an older car that they are donating or giving to a friend or family member.

There are certain things you need to know when giving a car away. These things include potential tax-related is-sues and the proper way to go about sign-ing over the car to another person, which could vary depending on where you live. A trip to the motor vehicle department could shed some light on where you need to begin.

The first step often begins with a bill of sale. A bill of sale is usually required for any transfer of your car that is not to a direct family member. In this instance, a hand-written “sales” note may be ade-quate. In other cases a more formal bill of sale is generally needed, which will also require some other things:

• A recent appraisal of the vehicle to

determine its value.

• The original title of the car.

• The price you would be asking for the car that is being waived.

• An indication of the mileage.

• Any other requirements as spelled out by motor vehicles where you live.

The same process applies for donating a car to a charity, and a copy of the bill of sale can be used to deduct the gift prop-erly when it comes time to file your taxes.

When filling out the bill of sale, ex-pressly indicate that the car is granted as a gift. Keep in mind that the car “buyer,” the person to whom you are do-

nating the vehicle, also may still have to pay sales tax on the car. The sales tax varies by state or province, or the DMV may exclude the tax or charge a straight tax based on the Kelly Blue Book value of the car.

While a bill of sale is usually re-quired, it’s also likely that, when donat-ing a car to charity, you need to sign the back of the title and give that title to a representative of the charity. Again, this is something that is best verified by the DMV to ensure you are doing it cor-rectly.

Though not a donation or gift, assum-ing the payments on another person’s car also comes with some guidelines. Assuming payments often occurs be-cause the existing owner can no longer afford the vehicle payments or are look-ing for a new car and simply want to

help out another person in the process. There are situations where people take over the payments of a car from anoth-er, assuming the lease or loan. While not a gift in the traditional sense, it is a way to help a person out who may not be able to afford a new car in another man-ner.

Before beginning, the person who will be assuming the payments will need to contact the financing company to find out if they will agree to this scenario. A down payment may be necessary. A cred-it check and verification of a credit score is usually on the list of things that will be verified.

As with a regular loan, the financing company may require an approval peri-od, which could take some time. If the recipient is approved, the existing owner will have to sign paperwork that trans-fers the car lien into the recipient’s name.

Giving the gift of a car to another person or as a charitable donation re-quires navigating the proper channels of paperwork and procedure. The best resource is to speak to someone who works at the Depart-ment of Motor Ve-hicles directly to guide you through the process.

By SpM Wire

When figuring out what kind of car or truck to buy, it pays to dig deeper than a car’s features, price tags and safety ratings.

New car and truck buyers looking for the best deal for their dollar should consider new vehicles with high resale values, say the experts at Car-Soup, one of the leading on-line new and used car sales companies in the country.

One of the best determi-nants of a quality car or truck is its resale value, be-cause it lets the buyer know the future worth of the vehi-cle as well as how much the vehicle will cost over its life-time. Resale value, or residu-al value, is helpful for new vehicle buyers because it lets them know how much they can expect to receive when they decide to sell it.

“We strongly urge buyers to do their research before buying a vehicle,” said Larry Cuneo, CarSoup president and CEO.

The benefits of a high re-sale car or truck are two-fold. First, the higher the re-sale value of the vehicle, the higher quality it is and the more it is valued by its owner. Second, when it’s fi-nally time to sell a used car or truck, a high resale value will help the seller get a much better price on a used vehicle.

The resale values of cars are determined every year by the American Lease Guide (ALG), which considers dif-ferent factors including price trends in the wholesale vehi-cle market, brand popularity and performance.

According to the ALG and CarSoup, the top 10 vehicles with the highest resale value are:

• Acura TL;• Honda Accord;• Honda Odyssey;• Land Rover Ranger Rover

Sport;• Mercedes-Benz CL-Class;• Mini Cooper;• Porsche 911 Carrera;• Toyota Avalon;• Toyota Sequoia;• Toyota Tundra.While resale value is a good

forecast of future worth, a car or truck’s actual resale value can change over time as market conditions change and depending on the condi-tion of the vehicle.

To find out how much your vehicle is worth, or for more information about cars and trucks in your area, visit Car-Soup at www.carsoup.com.

How to give a car as a gift or charitable donationWhile this type of auto gifting is rare, people do give

cars on a regular basis. Usually it is an older car that they are donating or giving to a friend

or family member.

Resale value an important component of buying car



DOWNEAST TOYOTA IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PRICE OR DESCRIPTION INFORMATION PRINTED IN THIS AD

Bangor Daily News Monday, February 20, 2012 9



AUGUSTA — Turning left onto Western Avenue really isn’t advisable when leaving Charlie’s Kia with a 2012 Kia Optima Turbo SX. Equipped with a GDI I4 that produces 274 horsepower, this $30,000 four-door sedan could probably zoom safely across west-bound traffic and head left toward the Maine Turnpike, but why take the chance?

The SX Turbo is too pretty a car to endanger on Western Ave.

Why not drive quieter Augus-ta streets like the Old Winthrop Road and the Leighton Road and eliminate the Western Avenue traffic altogether?

Located at 419 Western Ave., Charlie’s Kia lays within the triangle formed by the Old Win-throp Road and Western Ave-nue. Traffic pounds all day long past the dealership (where Kia sales were excellent in 2011), and just an hour earlier, a late-model pickup had buried its ra-diator into someone else’s rear bumper where west-bound Western Avenue narrows from two lanes to one nearby.

On this particular weekday, Charlie’s sales rep Tim Osgood suggests we turn left onto the short connec-tor between West-ern Ave and Old Winthrop. After we had settled onto the SX Tur-bo’s leather-trimmed seats, he explained the sedan’s various features; now I’m ready to spin this Titanium Silver turbo through the local byways and highways.

Kia produces five Optimas: LX, EX, EX Turbo, SX Turbo, and Hybrid. The two Turbos share a 2.0-liter, gasoline-di-rect-injection four-cylinder en-

gine — and all Optimas feature the six-speed Sportmatic trans-mission, controlled through the shift knob or the steering wheel-mounted paddle shift-ers.

Describing the 2012 Optima as “probably one of the roomi-est five-passenger vehicles on the highway now,” Osgood points out how much room we have above our heads. He’s got a few inches on my height, yet there’s plenty of space above him. I like the legroom, too.

This particular Optima SX Turbo features the optional Pre-mium Touring Package, which adds heated front-and-rear seats, air-cooled front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a rear cam-era, an Infinity eight-speaker audio system, and the UVO In-Vehicle Infotainment System. Standard features include Blue-tooth, USB and auxiliary input jacks, and a smart-key push-button start.

We turn left out of Charlie’s Kia, bear right on the Old Win-throp Road, momentarily halt at the first stop sign, and then turn left onto the Leighton Road, which ultimately con-

nects with Route 27. Tightly built and equipped with excel-lent sound-dampening, the SX Turbo rolls quietly along the pavement.

“Most of the people coming in here, the turbo is what they’re looking for,” Osgood says. “Peo-ple love that extra horsepower,” which still delivers an EPA-esti-mated 22/34 mpg.

The 2012 Optimas appeal to “people in the 35-45-year range,” he says. “It’s the styling, the gas mileage, the roominess of it. People really like it.

“The Optima has a very com-fortable ride,” Osgood says, con-firming what the test drive throughout Augusta reveals. Equipped with four-wheel anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and traction con-trol, the SX Turbo would handle snow-covered roads very well, but today’s momentary “Janu-ary thaw” has already cleared any remaining ice and snow from the pavement.

Popping south bound onto the turnpike at Exit 112, I hit the pedal and let those 274 horses kick hard. The stylish SX Turbo zooms onto the highway and

zips at regulatory speed toward Exit 109A.

With its roomy cockpit, crea-ture comforts (dual-zone tem-perature control, the sunroof, and those heated seats), and large trunk, the SX Turbo is a great car for cruising cross country — or at least across Maine. Equipped with cruise control, power windows and locks, heated power exterior mirrors, and access to just about every type of music broadcast over the airwaves, the Optima SX Turbo transports people in comfort.

“It’s a very unique style. It has some pizzazz to it,” Osgood says. He’s correct: The 2012 Op-tima — all of them, not just the SX Turbo — sport sleek Euro-styled aerodynamics. The car places Kia in competition with such Asian-badged manufactur-ers as Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota.

Exiting the turnpike at West-ern Avenue, I ease into the west-bound traffic, crest the hill, and turn right and then immediate-ly left into Charlie’s Kia. Now I can test the back-up camera.

Osgood explains the distanc-

es delineated by the camera’s colored lines. As the SX Turbo eases rearward, I habitually ex-amine the side mirrors and try to match their visual informa-tion with the camera’s. Finally I decide we’re “close enough,” al-though the camera indicates we have a few feet to spare.

Just like emerging onto high-speed Western Avenue traffic, better to be safe than sorry when backing up a 2012 Kia Op-tima SX Turbo. The car’s just too pretty to look at and too much fun fun to drive to take a chance on scratching it.

Inside Charlie’s Kia, Osgood talks about Kia’s commitment to American manufacturing. The company built a massive assembly plant at West Point, Ga. to produce the Sorento, then added capacity to produce the Optima. Next up for assembly in Georgia is the 2013 Soul.

Including its engine and Sportmatic transmission, “the Optima is an American-made car,” Osgood says. “People love it.”

Like all Kias, the 2012 Opti-mas feature a 10-year/100,000 powertrain warranty.


BANGOR — Midafternoon traffic hums along Interstate-95 as I take the hard left from Hogan Road onto the south-bound on-ramp. “Classes must be getting out at UMaine,” I fig-ure while steering a Cyclone Gray 2012 Hyundai Accent SE down the ramp and into traffic.

The 1.6-liter GDI four-cylin-der engine speeds the five-door SE onto the highway and west to a test drive on bumpy Bangor streets and Hampden roads.

I immediately notice the Ac-cent’s agility and speed. There’s a reason for the latter.

Hyundai has restyled the 2012 Accent, available as a GS, SE, and GLS. “The Accent had a 110-horsepower engine and now has a 138-horsepower engine,” explains Scott Mullins, a sales-and-leasing consultant at Quirk Hyundai, located at 162 Haskell Road in Bangor between Sam’s Club and what’s becoming the East Side’s “Motel Row.”

As the entry-level Hyundai, the 2012 Accent offers an attrac-tive price point to buyers. The Accent SE that I’m driving, for example, includes four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability control with traction control, a six-speed automatic transmission, Bluetooth wire-less technology, and a six-speak-er audio system. Toss in the leather-wrapped steering wheel, the tinted window glass and win-dow shade band, and the three inexpensive options (cargo mat, mud guards, and floor mats), and this SE is fully loaded, all for the price of $18,000.

Then there’s Hyundai’s Ac-tive Eco System that “can in-crease fuel efficiency by 7 per-cent,” Mullins says. “It smooths out your starts. At interstate speeds it tries to keep you at one speed rather than have the en-gine shifting.

“They’ve really stepped it up as far as creature comforts,” he says. “Bluetooth is standard on the SE and optional on the GLS. Then they’ve put a USB port and iPod connectivity into the GS and SE as standard and as op-tional in the GLS.

“I don’t think you can buy a Honda or a Toyota or a Mazda for the same amount of money with all the same features,” Mullins says. “The Accent ap-peals to a first-time buyer who’s comparing it to a more rec-og-nized brand,” especially when such a buyer compares prices between new Accents and simi-larly equipped used vehicles.

“Accent from a price point certainly does very well. It (SE) is the only car in its class with standard anti-lock brakes and stability control,” he says.

“The five-door has been at-tractive,” Mullins says. “The sportback style has been popu-lar in that segment. People can carry a lot of stuff.”

He mentions the EPA-esti-mated 30/40 gas mileage, “very attractive with fuel prices on the rise. Anyone who puts on a lot of miles likes the Accent. Salespeople have been big on that gas mileage. And if you need to haul product on your sales calls, the five-door gives you a lot of room.

“Hyundai has also focused on removing some owner-based

maintenance,” Mullins says. For example, Hyundai engi-neers replaced the Accent’s tim-ing belt with a timing chain, with the latter “covered by our 10-year/100,000-mile warranty [powertrain] warranty,” he says.

The fully enclosed automatic transmission does not need to be flushed, he points out.

During the test drive, I blend highway and intown routes to see how well the Accent handles

both sce-narios. The car zips here and zooms there at the ap-propriate speeds and takes all turns tightly. The power steer-ing nimbly turns the steering wheel, and I come away satisfied with the car’s performance.

All three Accent models have independent front suspensions (coil springs, MacPherson struts) and rear torsion-axle suspensions with monotube shock absorbers. I intentionally

run the Accent SE over some winter-battered streets in Ban-gor and roads in Hampden to see how the suspension does.

It smooths out the bumps and hardly translates them to the steering wheel. I would expect such bump-dampening quality in a larger car; Hyundai engi-neers definitely paid attention to moving the Accent effec-tive-ly through the worst of Ameri-can roads.

Mullins points out that all three Accents share such fea-tures as a manual six-way ad-justable driver’s seat, power door locks, a rear defroster, a six-air bag safety system, a chrome-accented grille, a two-speed inter-mittent wiper, and a tilt steering wheel. Because so many features are built into every Accent, the list of op-tions is not as expansive as in some other cars.



bdn Photo by brian swartzPainted Cyclone Gray, this 2012 Hyundai Accent SE mates a Shiftronic six-speed automatic transaxle with a 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cyl-inder engine. The 2012 Accent features the Active Eco System, power door locks and windows, a rear defroster, a six-air bag safety system, Bluetooth wireless technology, a chrome-accented grille, a two-speed intermittent wiper, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a leather-wrapped tilt steer-ing wheel. Immediately responsive to the driver’s touch and able to deliver at least the EPA-estimated 30/40 mile-per-gallon mileage, this 2012 Hyundai Accent SE is available at Quirk Hyundai on the Haskell Road in Bangor.

New engine gives Hyundai Accent horsepower boost

bdn Photo by brian swartzPainted Titanium Silver, this 2012 Kia Optima Turbo SX delivered a smooth ride along Augusta’s bumpy side roads and on the Maine Turnpike. The 2.0-liter GDL Turbo produces 274 horsepower that, when mated with the Sportmatic Transmission, makes the four-door sedan a delight to drive. Other on-board features include Bluetooth wireless technology, leather seat surfaces, traction control, electronic stability control, and the Premium Touring Package. This adds HD radio technology, a panoramic sunroof, power folding exterior mirrors, a back-up camera, heated front and rear seats, and cooled front seats. This 2012 Kia Optima Turbo SX is available at Charlie’s Kia on Western Avenue in Augusta.

2012 Kia Optima Turbo SX really zooms

Space is often at a premium when transporting children in a car. Safety seats tend to be cumbersome and take up a lot of the seat room in a vehicle. In most areas, law mandates some sort of safety seat is necessary until a child is eight or nine years old and meets a certain

weight maximum. That can mean many years of squeezing the kids into the car, or missing out on carpool opportunities due to safety seats. But a new category of inflatable safety seats could change the way many drivers view car and booster seats.

Products like GoBooster and BubbleBum were the invention of innovators in Europe who have now brought their cre-ations to North America. There are also many other brands still being produced in Europe, including the Luf-tikid. Inflatable booster seats

are lightweight and durable. They often weigh less than two pounds. Plus, they inflate and deflate quickly, making these seats the ultimate in portable options.

There’s no need to worry about safety, either. In ordered to be sold in the United States

and Canada, any type of child safety seat must be rigorously crash tested to comply with strict vehicle safety stan-dards. With a smaller profile, these seats can also save room in a vehicle, preventing the need to upsize to a larger truck or van.

Inflatable children’s seats may free up room without risking safety

By naPSi

They lurk on rural highways and city streets, ready to cost you time, trouble and money. They’re potholes, and they occur when water permeates the pavement — usually through a crack from wear and tear of traffic — and softens the soil beneath it, creating a depres-sion in the surface of the street.

While most drivers know im-mediately when they hit a pot-hole, what they often don’t know is if their vehicle has been dam-aged in the process. To help de-termine if hitting a pothole has hurt your vehicle, watch for the following warning signs:

• Loss of control, swaying when making routine turns, bottoming out on city streets or bouncing excessively on rough roads. These are indicators that the steering and suspension may have been damaged. The steering and suspension are key safety-related systems. Togeth-er, they largely determine your car’s ride and handling. Key components are shocks and struts, the steering knuckle, ball joints, the steering rack and box, bearings, seals and hub units, and tie rod ends.

• Pulling in one direction, in-stead of maintaining a straight path, and uneven tire wear. These symptoms mean there’s an alignment problem. Proper wheel alignment is important for the life span of tires and helps ensure safe handling.

• Low tire pressure, bulges or blisters on the sidewalls or dents in the rim. These prob-lems will be visible and should be checked out as soon as possi-ble as tires are the critical con-nection between your car and the road in all sorts of driving conditions.

“Hitting a pothole can cause plenty of problems — damag-ing tires, wheels, steering and suspension, wheel alignment and more. If you’ve hit a pot-hole,” said Rich White, execu-tive director, Car Care Council, “it’s worth having a profession-al technician check out the car and make the necessary repairs to ensure safety and reliabili-ty.”

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

For a free copy of the coun-cil’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org or call (240) 333-1088.

Potholes pose plenty of problems

By DeBra BellCustom PubliCations Writer

The new 2012 Ford Explorer is anything but normal. In fact, with its 3.5-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission — enabling Ford’s premiere SUV to get 17 city and 23 highway miles per gallon — the Explorer is a magnificent piece of automotive engineering.

As it came around the corner of Varney Ford, lo-cated at 237 Moosehead Trail in Newport, the Ford Ex-plorer XLT I test drove is a sturdy beast capable of meeting myriad needs while also looking good.

The 2012 Explorer is available with a 2.0-liter I-4 EcoBoost engine in the vehicle’s front-wheel-drive version.

With easy-to-adjust seats capable of transport-

ing any size person or load, the 2012 Explorer can grow with your household. For homeowners like myself, having a vehicle capable of carrying large amounts of cargo is important. And the Explorer meets that challenge by providing up to 80.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows of seating folded down. Even better, Ford makes folding down the seats as easy as pushing a button.

In fact, Ford really likes it when you push the Explorer’s buttons. The Explorer comes with an available power liftgate. That means that pushing a button on the vehicle’s key fob, on the instru-ment panel, or on the bottom of the tailgate will trigger the liftgate to raise automatically. Want something even fancier? The owner can program

By Brian SwartzCustom PubliCations editor

WINTHROP — Route 202’s a great place to test a 2012 Nissan Versa SL this sunny February morning. Coming west from Au-gusta, the road alternates from one to two lanes, snags traffic at the two lights in Manchester, and opens to higher speeds from there to Winthrop.

Out here the Versa SL can experience “intown” and high-way traffic and demonstrate just how well the redesigned sedan can perform.

“It’s a brand new vehicle for 2012, completely redesigned,” says Andy Dupont, vice presi-dent of sales at Charlie’s Motor Mall in Augusta. Today I’ve caught up with him at Charlie’s Nissan, where the restyled Versa has been a hit since arriv-ing in late August 2011.

“Nissan builds it on a world car platform,” Dupont says, add-ing that there are three models: S, SV, and SL. Prices range from approximately $11,000 for a stick-shift, entry-level S to just over $17,000 for the Red Brick SL that I will test drive.

This SL “is pretty much fully loaded, [with] GPS, Bluetooth, power windows and doors, trac-tion control, all for $17,100,” Du-pont says. He invites me to slide into the rear seat, where I dis-cover ample head and leg room, amenities a driver might not expect in the Versa.

All three models share a 109-horsepower, 1.6-liter DOHC four-cylinder mated with an Xtronic continu-ously variable transmission (a five-speed man-ual is available on the Versa S); the Nissan Direct Ignition Sys-tem, which delays the first tune-up until 105,000 miles; four-wheel anti-lock brakes; an elec-tronic drive-by-wire throttle; a

rear window defroster; and a 12-volt power outlet.

All Versas are equipped with front-and-rear stabilizer bars and a drive chain, not a drive belt that could wear out too soon.

Made in Aguas, Mexico, Ver-sas deliver an EPA-estimated 30/38 miles per gallon, with 31/45 mpg possi-ble depending on the driver. The Versa appeals “to everybody,” from “somebody who wants a third car” to “some-body who wants a first car,” Du-pont says.

“You can’t buy anything on the road today that’s compara-ble for the price,” he says.

So after strapping myself into the SL, I ease it from Char-lie’s Nissan and turn right at the traffic light. Western Ave-nue’s already busy at this early hour, and I take no chances with the approaching traffic: Let ’em stop before the Versa moves.

Then it’s over Pelton Hill and west to Manchester, where con-venience stores/gas stations and other busi-nesses cluster along 202 near the Route 17 in-tersection. Forty years ago, I could sail through here while en route to Lewiston, but the 202 traffic count has increased sub-stantially since then.

Past Cobbosseecontee Lake and across the Winthrop bound-ary as Route 202 climbs hill and descends dale toward Win-throp. Western Kennebec Coun-ty actually is hilly, as any bicy-clist who has ever tackled the approaches to the Augusta State Airport can attest. The speed limit along 202 varies from 45 to 55 miles per hour, and the Versa’s CVT smoothly shifts without protest.

On-board creature comforts include:

• Air conditioning;

• Cruise control;• Bluetooth — in a $17,000 car?

Amazing!;• Front fog lamps;• Steering wheel-mounted

audio controls;• A carpeted floor (along with

trunk mats, a $170 option);• Upgraded cloth.Usually road noise can be a

good indicator of a vehicle’s construction quality. I turn on the radio and “capture” a local station unavailable in Bangor.

Unlike in my truck, I don’t need to “pump up” the volume to hear the announcer, who’s hyp-ing some upcoming show. And if so desired, I could plug in my iPod and control it through the wheel-mounted audio controls.

I take the Versa as far as Win-throp before turning around and heading for Augusta. The car’s suspension system — front-and-rear stabilizer bars, independent strut up front, tor-sion beam axle in the rear —

eases the sensation across the occasional pothole, and the 15-inch tires make no noise that intrudes into the cockpit.

According to Dupont, the 2012 Versa’s fuel economy, overall quality, and price are luring buyers to Charlie’s Nissan. “With gas nearing $4 a gallon, a lot of people know they can save money on gas,” he says. “Do you know how many trucks we’ve taken in on these?”

No, I don’t, but I understand

why a driver would trade any-thing for a 2012 Nissan Versa. It’s a cost-effective car built with Nissan quality, it’s fun to drive, and it could, if I owned one, get me from home to Au-gusta and back again on four gallons of gas.

My truck would burn at least 10 gallons round trip, and that’s a $22 difference between the truck and a Versa. That would be $22 in my pocket, not in the Saudi king’s.



bdn Photo by brian sWartz

Painted Red Brick, this 2012 Nissan Versa SL features a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, the Xtronic con-tinuously variable transmission, Blue-tooth wireless technology, power door locks and windows, traction control, 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, cruise control, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, and splash guards. With an EPA-estimated 30/38 fuel mileage, this Versa is avail-able at Charlie’s Nissan on Western Avenue in Augusta.

2012 Nissan Versa delivers performance and good gas mileage

By Dale McGarriGleCustom PubliCations Writer

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic proves that beginning car buy-ers don’t have to settle.

Joe Quirk, sales and leasing professional at Quirk Chevolet Cadillac of Bangor, described the Sonic as an entry-level com-pact car. The Sonic is in its first year as a replacement for the Aveo.

Quirk explained that the Sonic has another distinction, “It’s the first small car made in the U.S. for Chevy. Before it was cheaper to build them overseas.”

According to Quirk, the Sonic “is affordable at a base price of $14,500. It gets great gas mileage (40 mph highway) and a great war-ranty (36,000 miles or three years’ complete coverage and a 100,000-mile/five-year transferable power-train limited warranty).”

As for the interior, Quirk de-scribed it as “spacious.”

While taking a black Sonic hatchback for a test drive, I found that to be true. I’m used to the roominess of a mini-van, yet the inside of the Sonic didn’t feel cramped. I could just stretch out my 6-foot-frame comfortably and focus on the ride.

The motorcycle-inspired in-strument cluster lays out all the essential information to make it easy to digest for the driver. All the instrumentation is simple to absorb, so you can just drive.

The Sonic offers many fea-tures to make driving simpler. These start with six months of free OnStar serv-ices, including Directions & Connections, hands-free calling, and vehicle diagnostics. This can be supple-mented with such personal en-tertainment items as Bluetooth wireless technology, USB and auxiliary in-puts, and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

The four-cylinder engine, which

has the most torque in its class, of-fered quick acceleration when rac-ing down the highway. But the Sonic made even the stop-and-go of in-town traffic pleasurable.

While the Sonic is fun and nimble in motion, it’s also im-pressive when parked. A 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick, it’s the first and only car in its class with 10 standard air bags and has a StabiliTrak electronic sta-bility control system with trac-tion control, anti-lock brakes, and electronic brake force dis-tribution. It has a cabin rein-forced with high-strength steel and front and rear “crush zones,” which are designed to compress in a controlled man-ner, helping to absorb and chan-nel energy away from the cabin.Also, for its size, the Sonic has an admirable amount of stor-age. A 60/40 split-folding rear seat contributes to a maximum 30.7 cubic feet.

Sonics have been popular

since they began arriving on the Quirk Chevrolet lot about three to four months ago, Quirk

said.“They’ve been selling as fast

as they trickle in,” he said.

“We’re just now staring to push it, just now starting to get some selection.”

bdn Photo by dale mCgarriglePainted black, this 2012 Sonic LT hatchback features an ECOTEC 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing and 138 horsepower, a six-speed automatic transmission, 10 standard air bags, four-wheel anti-lock braking system, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with traction control and panic brake assist, power windows and door locks, XM Radio and AM/FM stereo CD player.

Chevrolet unveils 2012 Sonic as nimble, affordable compact

bdn Photo by debra bellThe 2012 Ford Explorer Limited continues a proud tradition of a SUV that offers the best in technology and cargo while also looking good. This vehicle is available at Varney Ford, located at 237 Moosehead Trail in Newport. Painted a silver metallic hue with black trim and a charcoal interior, the 2012 Ford Ex-plorer features a 3.5-liter V6, a six-speed automatic transmission, and Ford’s MyFord computer system.

2012 Ford Explorer Limited gets attention on the road

See Explorer, Page 13

How to maximize vehicle lifeBy newSUSa

During the winter months, cold weather gives way to the warm, fuzzy feelings brought on by the presence of that certain special someone. But it’s not just your significant other that deserves attention -- your hard-working vehicle needs some extra TLC as well. Tires Plus offers a few tips to keep your vehicle running strong:

• Listen to each other. Keep your engine properly tuned. A vehicle that has a serious main-tenance problem, such as a

faulty oxygen sensor, can de-crease gas mileage by as much as 40 percent. A single misfiring spark plug can cut fuel economy by up to 4 percent.

• Keep your vehicle refreshed. Change the engine oil. Use the recommended grade of motor oil for your vehicle, and change it according to your vehicle owner’s manual, which usually says every three months or 3,000 miles. Pro-longed driving without an oil change may cause severe engine damage. Regularly check your ve-hicle’s fluid levels, including transmission, power steering,

windshield washer and coolant.• Keep in constant contact.

Maintain your tires. Check in-flation pressure monthly, and make sure your tires are prop-erly balanced. Don’t forget to rotate your tires according to the maintenance schedule and have the alignment checked at least once a year.

• Be considerate. Use good driving habits. Accelerating quickly and stopping abruptly can prematurely wear your ve-hicle’s engine, transmission, tires and brakes. Aggressive driving also wastes gas.

By NewsUsA

Road trips can provide a great source of tunes, good con-versation and relaxation throughout any travel season. However, long hours on the road can often result in body aches, poor nutrition and other challenges for drivers stuck be-hind the wheel.

To avoid such pitfalls and make the experience a bit less taxing on the body, champion Porsche race car driver Patrick Long has developed a set of guidelines for drivers every-where. Long, an American Le Mans Series race car driver who can be in his car for up to 12 hours at a time, recommends these tips for any kind of dis-tance driving:

• Fuel-Up: If you pack a small cooler with water bottles and healthy snacks like fruits and veggies, this can deter the temp-tation to reach for non-healthy

items on the road.• Stability: Stability should be

your number-one concern when taking a long road trip. Many people stick pillows behind their backs for lumbar support, but the main goal is to always have your spine straight. Sit with the seat fully contacting your back; allow the structure of the seat to do its job in sup-porting your spine.

• Body Positioning: Maintain proper posture by not leaning one way or the other in the seat. According to the National High-way and Traffic Safety Authori-ty, a driver’s hands should both be placed on the outside of the steering wheel on opposite sides. Long recommends the “9 and 3” hand position. Having proper position in the car is also relative to the pedals — if you’re too close you’re cramped. If you’re too far away, you’ll end up slouching down to reach them. Sit close enough to the

wheel so there’s a slight bend at your elbows and keep your arms relaxed.

• Take Frequent Pit Stops: For longer-distance road adven-

tures, take frequent pit stops in order to stretch your legs and improve the blood flow in your body. To prevent a sore lower back experienced after driving,

focus on core stability and strength exercises. Long sug-gests planks, leg lifts and crunches on an exercise ball to strengthen your core.



in the extension height of the liftgate — perfect for owners with low ceilings.

Last winter I test drove the 2011 Explorer Limited. As I ex-pected, the 2012 Explorer is a delight to drive and has a lot to offer. It’s an elegant SUV capa-ble of carting around a large family or the kids and their friends.

That’s because Ford has con-tinued its legacy with the 2012 Explorer by continuing to offer features like the MyFord and MyFord Touch systems. The systems are tech-savvy and inte-grate navigation, climate con-trol, entertainment, and phone settings into one panel as well as on the steering wheel. Blue-tooth integra-tion allow the driver or passenger to pair a cell phone with the vehicle, thus providing hands-free calling and other safety features that keep the driver plugged in while also enhancing safety.

Couple the powerful engine with a class-exclusive Intelli-gent four-wheel-drive terrain-management sys-tem, located on the center console, and you have a vehicle meant for power while also intensifying safety.

The terrain management sys-tem allows the driver to help the vehicle adapt to normal, mud, sand, and grass/gravel/or snow settings and provides the vehi-cle with extra info for a safer ride.

On the road, the Explorer commands attention. Off the road, the Explorer commands attention. And inside the vehi-cle, attention has been given to driver and passenger comfort.

And if what you’re looking for is a vehicle that is commanding, capable of carrying lots of people or cargo, and that offers the best in technology, look no further than the 2012 Ford Explorer Lim-ited.

ExplorerContinued from

By NAPsI

One American auto company is taking the green movement to a new level—building more-effi-cient green products, such as an engine that saves fuel. Here’s how:Giving Gasoline Injection a Shot

A key contributor to the en-gine’s fuel efficiency is something called direct injection of gasoline. This system precisely delivers a fine mist of fuel directly into each cylinder for optimal performance, economy and emissions. Unlike port-fuel-injection engines that spray fuel in the intake system,

the direct-injection system puts the fuel exactly where it needs to be for combustion.

The result is an unmatched combination of responsive power with responsible fuel efficiency.Where to Find It

Called the EcoBoost engine, it’s in Ford F-150 pickups where its 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque provide best-in-class towing capability of 11,300 lbs combined with up to 20 percent fuel economy savings. The 2011 F-150 EcoBoost carries an EPA rating of 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, making it the best combination of capa-bility and efficiency among light-duty full-sized pickups.

In addition, the first North American four-cylinder Eco-Boost engine, a 237-horsepower 2.0-liter, is in the Explorer SUV and Edge CUV, while the stylish Ford Flex has an EcoBoost and the new Taurus full-size sedan is available with an advanced 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine expected to deliver best-in-class highway fuel efficiency of at least 31 mpg.

Responsive performance is as-sured, as the direct injection plus a turbocharger enable this engine to deliver a projected 237 horse-power across a broad rpm range.

EcoBoost engines are funda-mental to the Ford strategy of providing technologically ad-vanced, high-output, smaller-dis-placement power trains that deliv-er exceptional fuel economy and uncompromised performance.

New engine gives resources a big boost

This system precisely delivers a

fine mist of fuel directly into each

cylinder for optimal performance.

2012 GMC Terrain a crossover SUV with loads of optionsBy DAvID M. FItzPAtrIckCustom PubliCations Writer

A midsize crossover SUV just might be the answer for a family seeking the convenience of a minivan but the flexibility — and perhaps the style — of a sport-utility vehicle. In previous years, families went for sta-tion wagons, minivans, or roomy hatchbacks to accommodate lots of kids and plenty of gear, but crossover SUVs are the answer these days. And the 2012 GMC Terrain just might be the CUV to own.

The Terrain has a notable pedigree. The 2010 model was introduced in 2009 to raised eye-brows, and in 2011 was Insur-ance Institute for Highway Safe-ty’s “Top Safety Pick.” That model also earned a Consumers Digest Best Buy for all the same reasons you’ll want the 2012 model: 360 degrees of safety (six airbags, in-cluding thorax and side-impact as well as antilock brakes), a 100,000-mile, five-year powertrain warranty, and 32 mpg on the highway being on top of the list. Add a multi-flex seats along with a standard rear cam-era and standard USB port, offer a chrome package, and add an available programmable power lift gate and outside heat-ed power/folding mirrors, and you can see the value.

I tested the basic SLE model, which comes standard with 17-inch aluminum wheels. With its four-wheel, fully independent suspension, the Terrain is a sturdy ride, but you won’t feel like you’re driving a tank. If you’re looking for racetrack performance — well, no CUV is going to drive like a Formula One racer, so look elsewhere. But if you want rugged reliabil-ity, plenty of room for the fami-ly, and ample cargo room — with a back seat that quickly folds down to afford more room — the Terrain fits the bill.

And there’s no loss of com-fort. Get comfortable in the driv-er’s seat, which has manual for-ward/back and motorized ev-erything else in the SLE, and adjust the steering wheel not up,

down, forward, and backward. You’ll know right away you’re in for a cozy ride whether it’s to the mall or down to Portland or on a sum-mer road trip to Flori-da.

Still need to feel young and hip with a tricked-out ride? Relax, you’re covered. They Ter-rain is stylish, from a laid-back windshield to a sleek design that makes it feel more like your “ride” than just your car — an athletic design GMC aptly de-scribes as “[standing] apart in a crowded small SUV market … And it starts with its unapolo-getic design. When most cross-overs look like cars on big wheels the Terrain’s chiseled features embrace its truck roots.”

Turn up the tunes with the Pioneer Premium Audio Sys-tem, which features “ad-vanced acoustics” through tight construction to mini-mize air leaks and exterior sound, triple door seals, and acoustic-laminated wind-shield and front side glass. The four-cylinder model even uses “Active Noise Cancella-tion,” which uses sound waves to reduce cabin noise.

I really loved the crystal-clear, attractive, 7-inch color touch-screen — it was almost like hav-ing a dash-mounted tablet com-puter. There are plenty of avail-able features that use the dis-play, depending on your pack-age. Select your radio station,

XM band, CD player, or through 10 GB available hard-drive stor-age of your favorite music with the touch of a finger; tap through map views and other navigation features; and even get real-time updates from NavTraffic or SiriusXM5 traffic and weather. You’ll lose the dis-play when you go into reverse, however, when the super-crisp backup-camera image will ap-pear for unparalleled backup safety. And if you need to keep the kids entertained in the back seat, you can add the dual 8-inch flip-up LCD screens in back, so the kids can hook up gaming systems.

There are many more impres-sive options: forward collision

alert on the SLT-2, which pro-vides audiovis-ual signals if an impact is imminent; lane-depar-ture warning if you stray from a lane without signaling; ul-tra-sonic rear-park assist, which senses objects you might not see; OnStar, which comes free for a 6-month trial on every Ter-rain; automatic grade braking, which uses the transmission to assist in downhill decelera-tion; hill-start assist; and scads more goodies.

The 2012 GMC Terrain is something any prospective CUV buyer should consider. It’s avail-able for your own test drive, in various models and packages, at Varney GMC on the Hogan Road in Bangor.

bDn Photo by DaviD m. FitzPatriCkThe 2012 GMC Terrain comes in a variety of styles with loads of available options. The 2011 model was named the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” and a Consumers Digest “Best Buy” for all the same reasons you’ll want the 2012 model: 360 degrees of safety (six airbags, including thorax and side-impact as well as antilock brakes); a 100,000-mile, five-year powertrain warranty; and 32 mpg on the highway being on top of the list. The base unit starts at $28,040.

Endurance racer Patrick Long recommends tips for staying comfortable on road trips.

Planning for comfort during long road trips

Buying a car? Consumers should avoid these wrong turnsBy ArA coNteNt

Buying a car can be fraught with per-ils and wrong turns.

Fortunately, a few simple steps can help ensure your car buying experience is a great adventure that doesn’t turn into a detour to financial disaster. Here are some common wrong turns and how to avoid them:

1. Failing to check your credit before going to the dealership.

Unless you’re paying cash — some-thing many people cannot afford to do — you’ll be financing your vehicle pur-chase. You need to know what’s on your credit report and how strong your cred-it score is before you apply for financ-ing. This will give you an idea of what loan terms you might qualify for. Web-sites like www.creditreport.com can help you understand your credit. A membership to CreditReport.com in-cludes daily monitoring of your credit report to help you manage your credit, know your score, and catch potential fraud quickly.

2. Not having financing lined up be-fore you shop.

Once you have a handle on your cred-it, it’s important to explore your financ-ing options before you ever set foot on a car lot. Yes, virtually every dealer can help you with financing, but there’s no guarantee they will be able to offer you the best terms. You may be able to quali-fy for a lower interest rate through your bank. Having checked a couple financing options before you shop ensures you

know exactly how much you can spend, and gives you more bargaining power at the dealership.

3. Not knowing what the actual price of the car should be.

There’s the price the dealer puts on the car — the sticker price — and then there’s the price you should actually pay. Most automotive experts agree, you should start your negotiations based on

the invoice price, which is what the dealer paid for the vehicle, and pay only a few percentage points over that price. Fortunately, online resources like Ed-munds.com and KBB.com can help pro-vide an idea of what you can expect to pay for any vehicle you’re thinking of purchasing.

4. Looking at the monthly payment, rather than the actual price.

When you’re car shopping, it’s easy to take the wrong turn and focus on how the monthly payment fits into your bud-get. But that doesn’t give you an accu-rate picture of the true price of the car you’re financing. You may think you’re getting a good deal on the sale price, but if you’re paying thousands in interest over the life of the loan, that deal may not be as good as you think. For exam-ple, if you finance a $25,000 vehicle with no money down and no trade at 7.5 per-cent interest over six years, you’ll pay nearly $6,200 in interest, according to onlinecalculator.org. That means you haven’t bought a $25,000 car, you’ve bought one that actually costs you more than $31,500.

5. Buying costly add-ons or features that you don’t need.

Add-ons may be items you really don’t need. For example, if you’re buy-ing a new car, do you really need the extended warranty plan? In most cases, the manufacturer’s warranty should be sufficient. Be sure to read all the fine print on your sales contract before sign-ing anything.

Photo Courtesy ara ContentReputable dealers will help the buyer avoid car-buying pitfalls. But smart consumers will know some tricks to ensure that they have a stress-free buying experience.

There’s the price the dealer puts on the car — the sticker price — and then there’s the

price you should actually pay.

Autorama 2012

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