I’m as pro-environmental as the next person, but when I start thinking about these electric cars and do just a little research, I begin to get a little suspicious. To begin with, allow me to give a short history lesson. Here in the U.S, we used to generate our electrical power using an abundant and one of the cleanest burning fossil fuels known to mankind. Our electric generation plants were fueled by natural gas. During the Carter (Jimmy) administration all of that changed. The electrical generation plants were mandated to change from natural gas to COAL fired operation. This use of coal has so many negative impacts that it just boggles the mind. To mine the coal, defaces our EARTH and to burn this coal, destroys our ATMOSPHERE!  No political or environmental group has ever once said, “let’s change back to natural gas for electrical generation and save our planet.” One 12 hour period of coal burning power generation produces more atmospheric pollutants than the operation of every vehicle in the U.S. for 7 days! Do I need to repeat that statement?

 Now the “experts” say we have to go to electrical vehicles to SAVE OUR PLANET! This is an absolute misconception! First, the electric vehicles are more expensive to manufacture and  purchase and that’s just the beginning! At the moment, the batteries being used in today’s electric cars are definitely NOT environmentally friendly. I might be stupid, but I view these batteries to the same degree as nuclear waste. Go ahead laugh! Now, think about it! What is done with these batteries at the end of their life span? How will they be properly disposed of and what will this disposal cost each of us in the long run? What is their pollution factor, now and in the future!?

 Remember our COAL fired generation plants? Let’s take a city the size of Houston, Texas. Let’s say half of the vehicles are electrically powered and need to be recharged each day. When everyone plugs their cars in at the end of a day, the power plants need to at the very least, triple power generation to cover the grid use! In one hour of increased power production with coal, the byproduct has polluted the atmosphere 4 times more than what was saved with one days use of those same electric vehicles!

 Does this make perfect sense to you? Ask yourself! Where does the money go and what does money BUY! We unfortunately have bought into the experts! I hope this article will make you think for just a minute! When the bell goes off, DO something about it. Speak up and be heard!!! The big push for electrical cars is the typical knee jerk reaction of our government and our experts! All it takes is just a few minutes of informed thought to see this is not the environmental fix that we need! Electric vehicles are not the great cure all for our environment! In fact they may cause more harm than good and in more ways than one.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Nissan Motor Co said on Thursday it would recall 2.14 million March/Micra, Cube and about a dozen other models in its third-biggest recall, to fix a faulty ignition relay that could cause engine problems.

No accident was reported from the defect, Nissan spokesman Toshitake Inoshita said.

Nissan said problems in the ignition relay could cause the engine to stall or fail to restart. The recalls are mostly in Japan, with 835,000 units, and the United States and Canada with a combined 762,000 units.

The faulty vehicles were built in Japan, the United States, Britain, Spain, China and Taiwan between August 2003 and July 2006.

Nissan does not disclose cost estimates on vehicle recalls or any impact on its earnings. But the fix is likely to be relatively cheap, with Nissan estimating less than 25 minutes for the repair, which involves replacing the ignition relay.

Recalls exceeding 1 million vehicles have become more common at big automakers as they use common components across multiple models to save design and production costs.

Last week, Toyota Motor Corp announced a recall of 1.66 million vehicles globally for defects involving the brake master cylinder and fuel pump wiring. That brought the total number of vehicles recalled worldwide at Toyota in the past year to about 14 million.

 I’m writing this article on the heels of Mazda recalling 215,000 vehicles. Bless their hearts, as we see, no auto builder is immune to the RECALL syndrome. Toyota can write reams about vehicle recalls and they continue to build a great vehicle! When you have a passion for vehicles as I do, you take nothing lightly. For several weeks, I have been doing a little undercover research on one particular vehicle. Before you laugh or think I’m crazy; do the research that I have. I’m just going to say it! My pick for 2011 model vehicle is Hyundai. There, I said it!

 Before you call me crazy, go and check any of their models out. They are quietly catching up to the BIG BOY’S. I actually foresee in the next couple of years a competition induced recall to try and slow their progress. The only thing that is holding these guys back is the fact that they have not received the acclaim of resale value. I actually see this fixing to change in the future.

 Every model has something to offer even the pickiest of car enthusiast. The factory warranty is fantastic and it’s just a good solid ride. Remember the Yugo? When Hyundai first hit the scene, they were actually compared by some people to the ill-fated Yugo. Hyundai has had a hard row to hoe and they have stuck in there, until they are now producing a quality machine. The great thing is the fact that they are priced for us average Joe’s. Quality with an affordable price tag, equals the best of both worlds to me.

 The main thing I found in my research is Hyundai dealerships and their sales people are genuinely eager to do business. I felt like I was appreciated as a customer and never felt like I was being taken advantage of. It’s a great feeling to know you can still buy a good quality, dependable vehicle for around $13,000.00. Plus, a vehicle that should laugh at 100,000 miles ( hell, it’s covered in thefactory warranty) and then  look forward to the next 100,000.

 Before you call me crazy, go and test drive the Hyundai of your choice. I think this will make you a believer. Also, check out their lease terms. If I’m not mistaken, I recently saw a lease commercial for a very affordable monthly rate and it was for 24 months, not the new bullshit 39 months that several other manufactures are doing right now.

 SERIOUS! Check them out. Afterwards come back here and leave your comments!!!! Hey, write me your own review and I will post it right here for others to read. Send your review to jim@askthecarbuyguy.com

 Ok, when they first came out in the U.S., of course we all kind of smirked. I’m talking about the Hyundai and the Kia models. Well, I believe their time has come and it has definitely been a hard row to hoe. Come on, 2 Japanese auto makers competing with the likes of Honda and Toyota?

 Well, I believe they have done it and are producing some outstanding models for this and the coming year. Face it, their power train warranties can’t be beat by either of the top dogs. In my estimation, that in itself is a major consideration.

 I believe the new Kia Soul will be some heavy competition for the Fit and the Versa. Have you seen it yet or better yet driven one? It’s a must see and do. Although every time I pulled up to a light I found my head nodding to the beat of the music, just like the vermin in the commercial.

 The Hyundai’s and Kia’s are taking MPG to the next level. They actually have their foot in the door and deserve some consideration.

 Let’s face it! The price for each gallon of gasoline is not getting any cheaper. I don’t believe we will ever see it below $2.00 per gallon again. Governments all over the world are scrambling to pass laws mandating higher MPG for future vehicles.

 Ford Motor Company realized that customers want smaller vehicles, but still require upscale vehicle amenities. Their new 2011 Fiesta is a perfect example of this new trend. The new Fiesta will be going head to head with the Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris. Because of such stiff competition, Ford has pulled out all the stops.

 The Fiesta has been selling in Europe for a couple of years and is the top selling car on the continent. With the Fiesta, you get the full-Euro experience from a car that works equally well here as it does there.

 The Fiesta with its aero dynamic styling exterior, offers generous interior space and styling. Ford is also offering a leather interior option, which is unheard of in vehicles of this class. The interior is quiet even at highway speeds and it comes standard with stability / traction control, along with a beefed up frame for safety. Speaking of safety, it comes standard with 7 air bags including driver’s knee air bag.

 The Fiesta comes with a 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engine and Ford is planning on producing a 200 horsepower EcoBoost turbocharged version in the near future. The 5 speed manual transmission is standard and a 6 speed autoshifting manual is optional. The EPA numbers are 30 mpg city and 40 highway, which is also class leading.

 The Fiesta is offered with the latest version of SYNC, which is Ford’s technology package. It includes a voice command audio system that will even read your text and email messages hands free. Ford went all out with the new audio sound system producing crisp sound with zero distortion, even when cranked up.

 The Fiesta is full of surprises, all pleasant ones. It basically redefines what a small car can and should be. The best part is the starting price of just $13,900 for the base model. It’s worth taking a look at and also a test drive.

 Your fixing to take that big step and go to a dealership to look at or maybe even purchase your next car. One of the best kept secrets in the industry is DealerRater. DealerRater is an information page kicked off approximately mid 2009. I was introduced to this incredible information source while working for a dealership that believed in the resource.

 What is DealerRater you ask? It is where people just like you or I can go and rate a particular dealership’s performance. It is very easy to use and I provided a direct LINK to the page (Best Kept Secret). Click on the link and follow the easy steps to preview each dealership in your area. See what recent customers have to say about their experience at the dealership.

 I realize the site is only as good as the input contained, but it does provide a great insight to each dealerships way of doing business. I also know you can’t please all the people all the time, but when you read 10 negative posts to only 2 positive ratings; well you get the picture.

 Of course it doesn’t list all dealerships in the U.S. yet, but as DealerRater grows so will the information base. Check it out, you may decide to go to another dealership instead of the one you were planning on going to. Plus, your input is always appreciated by dealerrater and the general public. If you have had a good experience or a bad experience with a recent car purchase, share it with others who are researching to buy.