Letters to the Editors
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Subject: Certified?
From: Stew
I went into a VW dealership and negotiated a price on a Passat. When I first arrived, the car had a sticker on the window saying that it was certified. After negotiating a price that we both agreed on, another salesman came in and made mention that the car was mislabeled and that it wasn't certified. He said that because of their mistake, they could offer me a platinum, extended warranty that included either 70,000 miles/7 years ($1,500) or 100,000 miles/7 years ($2,500) at a discounted price (usually upward of $3,000 on new cars). I'm wondering if the dealer used this to trick me into spending more money. The remainder of the existing warranty is two years of the original four, and 17,000 of the original 50,000 miles. Hope you can give me your thoughts and advice on the matter.

Yes, we have heard of this type of thing happening before and it is very annoying. The certification process simplifies the used-car buying process because it wraps everything into one transaction. If you did purchase the extended warranty separately, you might consider looking into whether there is a cancellation clause. You can show your disapproval by canceling the policy and looking into a less expensive option elsewhere. — Ed.

Subject: Documentation Fees and TMV
From: Chris
I went to a local Nissan dealer with a TMV in hand for a basic ("S" version) Nissan Murano.

The dealer indicated he could do this pricing, but he insisted that Edmunds' TMV^® price does not include the dealer's "doc fee" (in this case, $599). I said that yes, it absolutely does; it just does not include tax, tag and registration.

Who is correct?

Unfortunately, he is correct that we do not include the doc fee in our TMV pricing because it is assumed to be a reasonable amount, most often under $100. In this case $599 is obviously a way to secure profit in an underhanded way. Had you known about this inflated fee (which is the biggest doc fee we've heard of) you could have pushed for a lower purchase price. — Ed.

Subject: Lease and Divorce
From: Aleida
I am currently leasing a car. I am going through a very difficult divorce and my income is going from two to now one. What are your thoughts on trying to get out of my lease due to financial hardship? Is this a possibility?

The finance company will not recognize financial hardship as a reason to let you out of your lease. You could purchase the leased car and then sell it to a private party. Or you could post your lease on Swapalease.com and try to get someone else to assume the financial responsibility. The lack of flexibility is one of the drawbacks to leasing. Once you sign the contract they will make sure they get all their payments. — Ed.

Subject: "Top 10 Best Car Movies"
From: Sue
If ever there was a movie about a car, it was National Lampoon's Vacation: a tale about a Family Truckster and its passengers' quest to cross the arid landscape of the Western U.S. in search of a moose.

Classics like American Graffiti and Gone in 60 Seconds don't hold a candle to this statement of our automotive cinematic past.

"You think you hate it now. Wait'll you drive it!"

Nice job, guys.

Subject: "Carmudgeon: Annelie and the Ford GT"
From: Larry
Your wife and mine are cut from the same cloth.

Since I came this close to taking the "long dirt nap" as a result of a two-story fall onto concrete and steel grate about six years ago, I have been saying, "Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one at any age...and now, on top of that, we have more years behind us than we can reasonably expect to have ahead of us." (I'm now 62. She's 61.) So, keeping that in mind, we've been doing pretty much whatever the heck we want to do for the past few years (while we're still able).

Long story short: When, completely out of the blue, I was presented with the opportunity to buy my new midnight blue GT this past July, we discussed the purchase just like you two did. I told her I wouldn't buy it unless she was reasonably comfortable with the money outlay. And, exactly like your wife, my wife went along with it for basically the same reasons — and made similar comments to boot! (Her "Annelie" is really three different people, but their situations are the same.)

The very next morning, we left the hotel and drove over to Bill Pierre Ford on Lake City Way in North Seattle and I wrote out the check! They delivered the GT to our door in an enclosed transport a few days later. We haven't regretted that decision for even a moment since.

You and I are indeed a couple of very fortunate dudes, sir.

And, speaking for my own darn self, I thank God for that every doggone day.

Subject: "Top 10 Editors' Tips to Prevent a Car Accident"
From: Lee
Your article on the 10 tips to prevent a car accident is outstanding. Common sense on the roads these days seems to have blown out the window. I drive in Southern New Hampshire everyday and see a lack of courtesy and disregard for others as being the biggest problem. I follow the speed limit and road rules, but notice that there seems to be a general disregard for such things; it is apparent when I am being tailgated and pushed 5-10 mph over the limit. If this "me first" attitude on the road is any indication of the current condition of our society, we are screwed.

Could you write an article on "driving etiquette"? Maybe you could entitle it "How not to terrorize your fellow motorists on the roadways."

Driving etiquette seems to be fading quickly, like etiquette in restaurants, concerts, and public transportation. (When was the last time someone offered you a seat on a crowded bus?) But if the rudeness of American drivers is scary, don't try your hand behind the wheel in places like Cairo or in India, where rules seem made to be broken or ignored. In the meantime, you'll get a kick and some good advice from our articles, "Attention Discourteous Drivers" and "Top 10 Tips To Prevent Road Rage." Also look for a new article coming soon: "Top 10 Exasperating Driver Types in Southern California." — Ed.

Subject: "Top 10 Editors' Tips to Prevent a Car Accident"
From: Dennis
You didn't mention the most important one of all — driving defensively. You hinted at it in the very last paragraph of the article when you said we can only control our own actions behind the wheel, not the other guy's.

Driving defensively doesn't mean driving timidly. It doesn't mean going slower than everyone else or giving up the right of way when it's really yours. Instead, it's an attitude in which you never expect the other guy to do the right thing. You always assume that a driver may not stop for the stop sign, or that he or she may change lanes without looking.

You keep yourself out of harm's way by expecting the unexpected and knowing where you'll escape to if the other guy tries to disprove that law of physics — you know, the one that says two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

I also disagree with your advice about driving in the center lane. It's too easy to get boxed in with no place to go. The right lane, yes. But the center lane, never. Stay away from "the pack" on the freeway and you'll be in lots less danger from other vehicles.

Subject: "Top 10 Editors' Tips to Prevent a Car Accident"
From: Gloria
Your driving tips were great but you forgot one vital one for safety. DON'T TAILGATE!!!

I see so many people on expressways that ride the tail of the car in front, afraid someone will pull in front of them. So what! If the car in front of you has to stop suddenly for some reason and you are too close, you wind up in their trunk.

Also, when slowing down (especially for toll gates) and you see in the rearview mirror the car/truck behind you is not paying attention and slowing down, it gives you time to assess, move out of harm's way and escape a bad accident and possibly death.

Subject: "Top 10 Editors' Tips to Prevent a Car Accident"
From: Irene
The most important tip to avoid a car accident was overlooked.

When stopped for a red light at a four-way intersection, make sure that when the lights change you look both ways before proceeding. Most accidents occur when drivers continue to go through red lights in order to avoid the light change.

Subject: Diesohol
From: Greg
You guys have devoted some coverage to developments in diesel. Are you aware of diesohol? Is there any merit to this product, and is anyone at Edmunds tracking it?

There is some merit to the technique of blending alcohol and diesel (usually ethanol) into what is then referred to as "diesohol." Diesohol is geared primarily toward emissions reduction, and generally diesohol has the biggest effect on reducing particulate emissions. It has little impact on NOx and the jury's out on whether it increases or reduces CO and HC emissions.

Diesohol is typically composed of 15-percent ethanol, which itself requires an emulsifier in order for the ethanol to blend with diesel. The emulsifier is a key component to the success or failure of diesohol.

There are a few issues associated with the use of diesohol in diesel engines, the most significant being that there is no regulation of diesohol fuel quality anywhere.

Some diesohol producers claim that the fuel offers increased power. We're skeptical of these claims, considering ethanol's lower energy content compared to diesel and the large cetane reduction of alcohol fuels (ethanol, methanol). — Ed.