EARTHY CARS SPOTLIGHT: 09.24.2010

***UPDATE*** 09.29.2010
On Friday evening, we had a bunch of Subaru's come in. A few of them have been already sold! We still have 3 left - if you are interested, get them quick. Subaru's are popular here in Vermont because they handle well in our winters.

2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Red, Sedan, 63247 mi, $11,500 http://ow.ly/2LPHG

2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Gray, Station Wagon, 74621 mi, $10,900 http://ow.ly/2LPKR

2005 Subaru Forester 2.5x Green, SUV/Station Wagon, 83306 mi, $11,500 http://ow.ly/2LPPD

Welcome to our new feature. Every week, I will be spotlighting the vehicles on our lot, by grouping them into special categories. This week, I will focus on SUVs, mid to full size sedans, fuel efficient vehicles, low priced vehicles, low mileage vehicles, hatchbacks, and blue vehicles.

SUVs:
As I said two weeks ago, you might be in the market for an SUV if you find yourself transporting your kids and their friends to soccer/baseball/hockey practice.

2008 BMW X3 Black, SUV, 75595 mi, $21,900 http://ping.fm/FIMux

2002 Honda CR-V Blue, SUV, 141574 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2BPX8

2006 Kia Sedona White, SUV, 74555 mi, $9,900 http://ow.ly/2BnYq

2003 Saturn VUE Silver, SUV, 90978 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2BQ9i sold

Spacey sedans:
If you are looking for a vehicle with a lot of space, but don’t want a SUV, then a mid-size or full size sedan might be right for you.

2004 Honda Accord Silver, Sedan, 108914 mi, $8,900 http://ow.ly/2FYNK

2007 Honda Accord Grey, Sedan, 17510 mi, $13,900 http://ow.ly/2FZhN

2008 Honda Accord Grey, Sedan, 39243 mi, $17,900 http://ow.ly/2FZ5U

2004 Nissan Altima Pearl White, Sedan, 125085 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2J1j8

2006 Volkswagen Passat Black, Sedan, 48614 mi, $12,900 http://ow.ly/2G1ne

Most fuel efficient vehicles:
The Prius’ are tied for being the most fuel efficient vehicles on our lot. The Honda Civic Hybrids are tied for second. The Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris’, and Honda Fit are in 3rd, 4th, and 5th place, respectively.

2008 Toyota Prius Grey, Hatchback, 98500 mi, $11,900 MPG rating = 48/45 http://ow.ly/2G0JJ

2008 Toyota Prius Tan, Hatchback, 35290 mi, $15,900 MPG rating = 48/45 http://ow.ly/2G0MT

2007 Toyota Prius Beige, Hatchback, 73980 mi, $12,900 MPG rating = 48/45 http://ow.ly/2G0PI

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid Silver, Sedan, 38779 mi, $12,900 MPG rating = 40/45 http://ow.ly/2FZwM

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid Blue, Sedan, 77270 mi, $10,900 MPG rating = 40/45 http://ow.ly/2BPX8

2008 Toyota Corolla Blue, Sedan, 64875 mi, $10,500 MPG rating = 28/37 http://ow.ly/2G03i

Vehicles $6,900 and under:
Every car that we sell on the lot at Earthy Cars in of quality – even the ones that are very low priced. The following vehicles are priced low because they have a lot of mileage on them and/or are old. However, they are very well maintained.

1994 BMW 318 Red, Sedan, 129154 mi, $4,900 http://ping.fm/UIf05

2005 Ford Focus Silver, Sedan, 90598 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2FYCO

2002 Honda CR-V Blue, SUV, 141574 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2BPX8

2004 Nissan Altima Pearl White, Sedan, 125085 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2J1j8

2003 Saturn VUE Silver, SUV, 90978 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2BQ9i sold

2001 Volkswagen New Beetle Silver, Hatchback, 82260 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2IPJd
Lowest mileage:
We have six vehicles that have less than 40,000 mileage -

2007 Honda Accord Grey, Sedan, 17510 mi, $13,900 http://ow.ly/2FZhN

2009 Toyota Yaris Black, Hatchback, 28227 mi, $12,500 http://ow.ly/2G13J

2009 Toyota Yaris Red, Hatchback, 29027 mi, $12,500 http://ow.ly/2G0ZL

2008 Toyota Prius Tan, Hatchback, 35290 mi, $15,900 http://ow.ly/2G0MT

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid Silver, Sedan, 38779 mi, $12,900 http://ow.ly/2FZwM

2008 Honda Accord Grey, Sedan, 39243 mi, $17,900 http://ow.ly/2FZ5U
Hatchbacks:
Two weeks ago, I wrote about how hatchbacks are becoming more popular in the U.S. We still have many of the same hatchbacks still on our lot, and more.

2006 Chrysler P.T. Cruiser Red, Hatchback, 63148 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2FYz4

2008 Honda Fit Red, Hatchback, 63131 mi, $12,900 http://ow.ly/2FZFH

2008 Scion xD Red, Hatchback, 52365 mi, $11,900 http://ow.ly/2G1y8

2008 Toyota Matrix Silver, Hatchback, 55974 mi, $12,900 http://ow.ly/2G08X

2009 Toyota Yaris Black, Hatchback, 28227 mi, $12,500 http://ow.ly/2G13J

2009 Toyota Yaris Red, Hatchback, 29027 mi, $12,500 http://ow.ly/2G0ZL

2001 Volkswagen New Beetle Silver, Hatchback, 82260 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2IPJd

COLOR OF THE WEEK (Blue):
If blue is your preferred color for a car…

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid Blue, Sedan, 77270 mi, $10,900 http://ow.ly/2BPX8

2002 Honda CR-V Blue, SUV, 141574 mi, $6,900 http://ow.ly/2BPX8

2008 Scion xB Dark Blue, Station Wagon, 61900 mi, $10,900 http://ow.ly/2FZVm

2008 Toyota Corolla Blue, Sedan, 64875 mi, $10,500 http://ow.ly/2G03i

12 Greenest Vehicles in the U.S.

In 2008, the green advocacy organization American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy listed what they conclude are the 12 most fuel efficient cars sold in the United States: Honda Civic, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Civic GX, Toyota Corolla, Honda Fit, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Focus, Toyota Prius, Toyota Yaris, smart fortwo, Mini Cooper, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

10 out of 12 of the vehicles are currently or commonly found on the Earthy Cars lot. Over half of vehicles on our lot currently are models that are included on the list, or models that are the same fuel efficiency. Most of the cars on our lot that are included on the list are the 2008 models.

'Earthy' Cars lives up to its name. Check out our inventory at www.earthycars.com. There is quite a selection of Prius's, Yaris's, Civic's, a Focus, as well as Scion's (not on the list, but just as good as the cars listed).

MSN Autos published an article about the report:

If you want to drive the most environmentally friendly or "greenest" vehicle, you need to think small or think hybrid. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), one third of the top 12 vehicles that rank as the greenest of 2008 feature hybrid powertrains. These vehicles combine an internal-combustion engine with an electric motor for improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.

A nonprofit organization, the ACEEE is dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. Each year the ACEEE publishes the Green Book, listing the Green Scores and environmental information about vehicles available in the new model year, as well as a list of the 12 "greenest" vehicles available that year.

"Hybrids stand out, even after being taken down a notch by the new fuel economy calculations," said ACEEE vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan. "And sales rose by a whopping 40 percent last year. This interest in hybrid vehicles should shine the spotlight on other green vehicle technologies that can significantly improve fuel efficiency."

One of the mainstays of the ACEEE "Greenest Vehicles" list for the last several years — and repeating at the top of the list for the second consecutive year — is the natural-gas-powered Honda Civic GX. Scoring 57 points for 2008, the Civic GX operates on compressed natural gas (CNG). While it may not go as far on each gallon of fuel as some other entries, its combination of high efficiency and near-zero emissions makes it the highest-ranking vehicle for the environment. Note that the Civic GX is for sale to retail customers only in California and New York.

The Green Score is a numeric value of a vehicle's environmental friendliness, as assigned by the ACEEE. Determined by more factors than just fuel economy, the score also incorporates tailpipe and other emissions that can cause global warming. The higher the Green Score the more environmentally friendly the vehicle, based on the ACEEE evaluation.

There are a couple of newcomers to the Greenest list for 2008. Most notable is the smart fortwo, which was ranked fourth on the list. At just under nine feet long, the two-seat coupe or convertible is the smallest new car currently sold in America. Its 1.0-liter engine is also the smallest available, and while it lacks power, it does deliver 41 mpg on the highway.

Another European model added to the list for 2008 is the MINI Cooper / MINI Clubman. The fun-to-drive MINI lands in the eighth position with a Green Score of 44. And unlike last year when there were no domestic cars on the list, Ford has the sole domestic offering to make the cut. The Ford Focus takes the ninth position with its 2.0-liter PZEV 4-cylinder engine.

The second, third and sixth eco-friendliest vehicles in the U.S. are all hybrids — the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid, respectively. The only other hybrid to make it into the ACEEE's top 12 happens to be the largest car on the list — the Camry Hybrid. Coming in tenth, this midsize hybrid earns a Green Score of 44, matching the MINI Cooper, Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Honda Fit.

What Earthy Cars is doing for a clean energy future

On Tuesday (06.15.10), President Obama address to the nation regarding the BP oil spill spoke of the need for America to move towards clean energy.
Hopefully, this country will move in a direction where off-shore drilling is not necessary (therefore, no more oil spills) and there a lot of clean energy-related jobs (in America).

But, we will not move in this direction if we (America’s citizens and companies) do nothing. Earthy Cars does its part by mainly purchasing fuel efficient vehicles for our lot. Over three-fourth of the vehicles on the lot at Earthy Cars have a combined MPG (miles per gallon) rating that is 30 or above. Using less fuel is the first step in moving towards a clean energy future.

MPG rating= average miles driven per gallon of gas (city driving)/average miles driven per gallon per gas (highway driving)

* = this car is a part of Earthy Cars big sale!

Honda Accord:
MPG rating = 24/34
*2007 Honda Accord 2.4 VP_Blue Sedan_37,085 mi_$13,500

Honda Civic:
MPG rating = 25/36
2008 Honda Civic LX_Sedan Brown_30,893 mi_$13,900

Scion xB:
MPG rating = 31/34
2005 Scion xB_Sedan White_54,875 mi_$10,900
2005 Scion xB_Sedan Blue_102,108 mi_$7,900

Toyota Corolla:
MPG rating = 27/35
*2009 Toyota Corolla LE_White Sedan_18,385 mi_$12,900
MPG rating =27/35
*2009 Toyota Corolla_Beige Sedan_27,724 mi_$11,900
MPG rating = 28/37
*2008 Toyota Corolla CE_Sedan Blue_23,049 mi_$10,900
MPG rating = 28/33
*1998 Toyota Corolla VE_Tan Sedan_99,093 mi_$4,500

Toyota Yaris: MPG rating = 34/40
*2009 Toyota Yaris_Sedan Green_17,951 mi_$11,900
*2008 Toyota Yaris_Hatchback Red_24,318 mi_$9,900
*2008 Toyota Yaris_Silver Sedan_66,071 mi_$8,900
2007 Toyota Yaris_ Hatchback Blue_46,870 mi_$9,900

Toyota Prius: MPG rating = 48/45
*2008 Toyota Prius_Grey_98,500 mi_$11,900
2008 Toyota Prius_Dark Grey_40,242 mi_$15,900
2008 Toyota Prius_Dark Blue_52,008 mi_$14,900
*2005 Toyota Prius_Black_59,446 mi_$11,900
*2003 Toyota Prius_Silver_79,099_$7,900

Check out www.fueleconomy.gov for more information about the fuel efficiency of vehicles.

Best Summer Road Trip Cars

Both Kelley Blue Book and about.com have compiled a list of the top 10 cars in 2010 for summer road trips:

Top 10 Road Trip Vehicles
Summer Road Trip 2010: 10 Places to Go, 10 Cars to Take - Kelley Blue Book

About.com’s list emphasizes space and comfort, while KBB’s list seems to emphasize ‘going out in style’. KKB took it a step further and suggested a summer event (festival, etc.) to go to with each car.

Most of the cars found on these lists are not currently found on the lot at Earthy Cars. But, that doesn’t mean that we don’t have cars that are not ideal for road trips. We have cars that have plenty of room for a pack of friends or family with a loaded itinerary while driving from one part of North America to another. We also have cars that make you ‘look good’ while going out on the road all day.

Even if your ideal road trip car isn’t currently on the lot, Earthy Cars may be able to get it for you personally. Mind you, we take requests - we can purchase a specific car model just for you if we can find it at auction! Take a look through Kelley Blue Book and about.com’s lists, or do your own research.

Meanwhile, here’s a list of 6 vehicles currently found at Earthy Cars (as of 06/03/2010) that are g8r for road trips:

Lots of Room, but Great Fuel Economy
Scion xB: Scion xB’s boxed-shaped design maximizes comfort and space. There is plenty of leg room, and it has a huge compartment in the back need you bring a lot of stuff with you. Even with its size, the Scion xB gets an over 30 MPG rating – 35 MPG on the highway, and 31 MPG in the city. Not bad. There are currently two 2005 Scion xB’s on our lot:
2005 Scion xB Sedan White $10,900
2005 Scion xB Sedan Blue $7,900

2007-2008 Toyota Prius (2nd generation): We currently have three second generation Prius’s on the lot. The Prius is the most fuel efficient vehicle on the road (51 MPG city rating), yet it is also a very spacious car, with 36 in. legroom for those sitting in the rear, 53-55 in. shoulder room for each passenger and 51-52 in. of hip room for each passenger (whether they are sitting in the front or rear.
2008 Dark Grey $15,900_40,242 mi
2008 Dark Blue $14,900_52,008 mi
2007 Light Blue $14,900_46,472 mi

Ridin' With the Top Down
2003 Saab 9-3: This is currently the only convertible that is on our lot. This car is a *pleasure* to drive during a late summer evening with the top down, whether on the back roads or city. It is ideal for a couple of friends looking to hit the city for some fun!

Lots of Extra Room
2007 VW Jetta 2.5 (5th generation): The Jetta is the biggest sedan that VW currently produces. Its interior space in similar to that of the Prius, yet it has a cooler leather interior. Its reliability rating on autos.msn.com is perfect: 2007 Volkswagen Jetta Reliability - MSN Autos. As an added bonus, the stereo system has MP3 capacity, so you won’t be bored during a road trip!

Subaru Tribeca: If you need lots of room (for humans), because you’re a mom and dad carrying 3 kids, plus their grandfather, then look no further than the Subaru Tribeca.

See my previous blog post about the Tribeca: Subaru Tribeca Hearts Soccer Moms

For the Rugged
2000 Jeep Wrangler: Okay, perhaps this vehicle is more perfect for an OFF-road trip. This vehicle is suitable if you are planning to take a trip among more rural settings, rather than from city to city. With a 4.0 liter in-line 6-cylinder engine, the Wrangler can withstand steep terrain and rocky roadways. It is ideal for those going on a weekend camping trip away from home.

Hope that all of you have a nice summer :) I will be making more summer road trip car recommendations during the summer. Chao.

Is the Honda Fit better than the Toyota Prius?

Edmunds magazine thinks so. In the following video, the costs, features and gasoline mileage of the 2008 Fit and Prius are compared:



At Earthy Cars, we currently have a 2007 Black Honda Fit $10,900_79,390 mi

We currently have four 2nd generation Toyota Prius's:

2008 Dark Grey $15,900_40,242 mi
2008 Dark Blue $16,900_30,429 mi
2008 Dark Blue $14,900_52,008 mi
2007 Light Blue $14,900_46,472 mi

Come down to Earthy Cars to check out these cars for yourself !

Feature about Earthy Cars

This is a feature story about Earthy Cars put together by Isa Bufano, advertising & social media intern @ Earthy Cars (& editor of this blog)