Kia, Hyundai Both Named Most Economical Cars Of 2012 By Forbes, Kelly Blue Book

Initial cost is not the only thing that makes a car an economical purchase.  It's actually the long-term investment aspect that plays the biggest role.  A cheaper vehicle up-front may, in actuality, cost more to maintain over its lifespan.

“Car shoppers should take the time to compare vehicles on their consideration lists to fully understand the financial implications involved with cost of ownership,” says Juan Flores, director of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book.  “While a vehicle might be less expensive up front, the cost of fuel for that model, insurance and other expenditures could make it the less appealing choice for their wallet in the long run.”

Forbes recommends doing thorough research before making a purchase.  They consulted Kelley Blue Book, which recently announced its inaugural Total Cost of Ownership Awards.  The kbb.com website focuses on these variables of cost, among others:

1) Depreciation Value: How will the car hold up over time?  kbb.com bases its predictions on historical data (how the model has performed in the past) and economic factors.
2) Fuel Economy: Gas is expected to rise going into the summer months.  Significant amounts of money can be saved by buying a more fuel efficient vehicle; estimates put savings due to fuel costs at close to $900/year.  That's close to $4500 of savings over the standard 5-yr span.
3) Auto Insurance: Insurance is mostly based on the driver's past experience, age, credit rating, address, etc., but it is also based on the model of the car.  Luxury brands and sports cars tend to have higher insurance costs to start, while family minivans and SUVs will have a lower starting insurance cost.

According to kbb.com, the Best Brand for 2012 in their Total Cost of Ownership Awards is none other than Kia.  Kia is sweeping the Unites States car scene off its feet with its stellar fuel economy and resale value.  The Kia Soul heads KBB's Compact Car category because "its lowest-in-category fair purchase price matched with outstanding fuel and insurance cost figures combined to give it nearly a $1,300 advantage over the Hyundai Elantra."

In the Mid-Sized car category Kia and its sister company Hyundai switched places; the Hyundai Sonata beat out Kia's Optima to win the top spot.  Similarly, the Hyundai Santa Fe outpaced the Kia Sorento in the Crossover category "based on its combination of lowest fair purchase price and lowest long-term depreciation coupled with lower maintenance and insurance costs."

The Genesis Of Dependability

"Old Reliable" just got a shiny new face.  According to J.D. Power and Associates, the Hyundai Genesis ranked number one in the midsize premium car category in the 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).  The study surveys original car owners three years after initial purchase, making this year the first of eligibility for the Genesis which launched into the market in model year 2009.  The Genesis was the only category award recipient in its first year of eligibility, beating out other top brands such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series.

The VDS measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old (2009 model year) vehicles includes 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle.  Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.  The Genesis "received 81 points, the lowest ever among any Hyundai automobile,’’ a Hyundai official said.  Hyundai has shown consistent improvement in VDS, reducing problems per 100 vehicles by 75 points over the past five years.  Hyundai finished ninth overall, ahead of Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW and Audi.

The Genesis sedan has been gathering awards left and right from prominent and influential media and automotive organizations ever since its 2009 debut.  Along with many other honors and distinctions, the model received the much-coveted North American Car of the Year Award, is a 3-time winner of Ward’s Ten Best Engines, and earned a Top Safety Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Improving every year, the Genesis combines the best of two worlds: the high-tech features and power specs customary of a luxury vehicle paired with a competitively low price and superb safety ratings.

"Our goal is to design and build cars that meet and exceed consumers' expectations not only off the showroom floor, but through the duration of their ownership experience.  Earning Hyundai's first-ever top 10 finish in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study demonstrates that our efforts are paying dividends," said Erwin Raphael, director of engineering and quality, Hyundai Motor America.  "It's equally gratifying to see Genesis sedan, a content-rich model with all the features you expect of a premium car, outperform powerful competitors in its category.  Long-term dependability translates to a positive ownership experience and brings customers back to the Hyundai brand in the future."

So You Think You Know Jack?

Is your child or pet a big fan of Gary Rome Auto Group?  Catch them on video reacting to a Gary Rome Auto Group commercial and one lucky winner could be the new star of the next Gary Rome Auto Group commercial!

OFFICIAL RULES:

Go to http://www.gotogary.com/video/ to submit your entry.

1. Contest Dates:

The “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest begins February 1, 2012, and ends March 31, 2012.

VIDEO SUBMISSION PERIOD: February 1, 2012 - March 31, 2012

SELECTION OF BEST VIDEOS: April 1, 2012 - April 13, 2012

NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS: April 16, 2012 - April 20, 2012

2. Eligibility:

Submitting a video in this contest is open to persons who on the date of entry are legal residents of one (1) of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia, at least eighteen (18) years of age (or age of majority if greater than 18), and who are registered users of http://www.youtube.com or

http://vimeo.com. Employees, officers, directors and their immediate family members of the contest

entities and each of their respective parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, advertising and

promotion agencies, legal and financial advisers, and any and all other companies associated with this contest are not eligible to enter. For purposes of this contest, "immediate family members" means

parents, spouses, children, siblings, in-laws, grandmothers, or grandfathers.

3. Video Submission Requirements:

• Running Time: Five (5) minute maximum, including any credits. If entry is longer than five (5) minutes, the entry may be disqualified in the Administrator’s sole discretion.
• Language: English
• Video: The video should feature your pet or your child's reaction to watching a Gary Rome Auto Group commercial.
• Age: Any child recorded in the video must be ten (10) years of age or younger.

4. Judging to Determine the Potential Winners:

All eligible video submissions received during the video submission period will be watched and

judged.  The judges will score each eligible entrant’s video based on the following judging criteria,

each given equal weight:

• Does the video feature either a pet and/or a child (under the age of ten (10))?
• How original/creative/entertaining, to all age groups, is the video submission?
• How favorable is the Video Submission to Gary Rome Auto Group?
• For helpful examples, check out the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmqeosjjTaY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u23WgtoOJUY

Based on the above judging criteria, the winning videos will be chosen. 

5. Additional Terms:

All entrants of  the “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest must agree to the following terms and

conditions. DO NOT enter this contest if you do not agree with these terms and conditions. Your video submissions may be used for a Gary Rome Auto Group commercial but may not be copied,

sold or distributed to other persons.

We reserve the rights to change the rules and prizes without any written notice.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties and Liabilities:

The undersigned (the participant or the legal guardian, if the former is less than 18 years of age) for and in consideration of the granting of permission to Gary Rome Auto Group, agrees to refrain from suing and discharges Gary Rome Auto Group and its officers, agents and employees from all liability arising out of the participation of the contestant in the “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest. The

undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Gary Rome Auto Group for any loss or damage that the contestant may incur due to the acts or the omissions of the contestant while participating in the aforementioned event. The undersigned having read and understood agrees to comply with the rules and the safety provisions established for the contest.

7. Consent of Release:

By submitting your video you give Gary Rome Auto Group the rights to use your video in any/or all

promotional spots. As a guardian, you will be required to fill out a consent form for any contestant under the age of eighteen (18). Proof of guardianship will be required.

8. Who Won:

The winning entrants will be notified on or by April 20, 2012.

Grand prize: The lucky winner will be featured in an upcoming Gary Rome Auto Group commercial

& receive a choice of a $250 American Express gift card or a $250 Dave's Soda & Pet City gift card.

Transportation to the filming studio, in West Springfield, MA, is the responsibility of the winner.

Every valid submission will receive a stuffed Jack doll.