Today Ellen Degeneres talked about her recent car buying experience where she bought TWO cars, one for herself and one for a friend. She jokes about how great her experience was, as far as the actual purchase, and how she was so happy with her sales person that she even contemplated offering up her kidney!

Hmm, kidneys might a bit too far. She related her attempt to trade in the same vehicle a few weeks later and tells how she was offered half of what she originally paid. As part of Ellen’s monologue on her show today, May 31st, 2007, she talked about how she feels like car sales people rip off consumers.  Now, we know a lot of people say that, but that’s just because they haven’t met one of our Female Friendly car dealers! Check out Ellen’s monologue on her Warner Bros. site. Click on today’s date for the full rant.

Ask Patty has two things to say in response:
1)    Ellen needs to go to one of our Female Friendly dealerships in Los Angeles (and we have plenty!)
2)    Ellen needs to bring us on to her show to tell her audience how not to get “ripped off” by car dealers and how to be prepared before you go in to buy a car!

Check out her video and let us know your thoughts!

A young teen in California started a non-profit organization that gathers thank you notes from all over the country and sends them to our overseas troops. The program is called “A Million Thanks” and so far they have well surpassed one million letters and cards.

And now dealerships are getting in on the deed. Spearheaded by Julie Kellogg-Cook of Kellogg Motors, Pontiac Buick GMC dealers across the nation are collecting letters and cards for our troops and sending them overseas. There will be a collection box in the dealership, along with one larger card for people to sign.

Head out to your local Pontiac Buick GMC dealer today and add a personal note to the collection. Hurry because today is the last day you can do it!

Support our troops!

We are suckers for car shows. Most of us at Ask Patty grew up loving cars and hot rods. Even today we are enthusiasts. To prove our car enthusiasm, we have all owned a vintage or fun sports car at one point or another. Our CEO, Peter Martin, owns an old Porsche. Jody, Ask Patty President, even owns a Harley motorcycle! Breanne, eMarketing Manager and most fabulous employee ever (guess who is writing this post?) owned a 1979 Super Beetle convertible as her first car. Contributing Editor, Brandy, at one time hung on to an old 1980s Rabbit convertible as well! Even our VP of Customer Support, Roger, drives around a Z06 ‘Vette.

As you can see we are fans. None of us had Fords, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love car shows full of them! As covered by AutoMatters.net, Knott’s Berry Farm had a day for all those Ford lovers still driving around. There were patriotic cars there (appropriate because of the Memorial Day timing), as well as past winners.

The cars came out in style, as they have been for the past 22 years for the very same show. This year was the 40th anniversary of the Mercury Cougar and there were plenty of them there to celebrate. According to our friend at AutoMatters.net, “Ford has a rich history. Models included Galaxie, Fairlane, Edsel, Thunderbird, Cougar, Meteor, Lincoln, Falcon, Ranchero, Pinto (and Bobcat), Maverick, Bronco, Comet, F-Series trucks, Cobra, Capri (European and domestic), SVO, SHO, Pantera, Merkur, various race cars (including the GT40), Econoline vans, Probe, Cortina, Focus and, of course, Mustang.”

All we can say is we can’t wait for next year!

Ask Patty often interviews great women in the automotive industry, and Maura Schreier-Fleming is no exception. With her background in Mobil Oil as the first female lube engineer, she made a great interviewee. In fact, we even wrangled her to be on our expert panel!

Ask Patty: I heard a little rumor that you were one of the first female lube engineer with Mobil Oil. Can you tell us about that job and what it entailed?
Maura Schreier-Fleming: Yes, I was their first female Lube engineer in the US.  I was part of the commercial division.  It  was one of the best jobs I had. I worked with sales engineers delivering the technical support for their accounts.  I provided the engineering work  that was related to the lubricants these accounts purchased. I had accounts like Northeast Utilities, Stanley Works, and Pittney-Bowes.  I worked primarily with plant engineers and taught the maintenance staff about lubricants and their correct application. I looked for ways to extend oil life and reduce maintenance costs. I enjoyed working with the diverse type of equipment and the really interesting maintenance and engineering staff. 

AP: How did you get your certification or learn how to be a lube engineer? Did you go to school to learn?
MSF: Mobil did a great job of providing training. I went to Mobil's ongoing training programs after the initial 6 weeks of training on lubricants.  I did have an understanding of machine elements as I did take classes in auto mechanics from Dekalb Tech in Atlanta at night. I took a semester of engine tune up and a semester of hydraulic brakes.  I also worked on my own car doing tune-ups, oil changes, valve adjustments and repacking wheel bearings.

Ah, road trips; the bastion of family squabbles and the phrase “stop touching me!” I remember those days. My brother and I would share the back seat of a 1989 Jeep Cherokee Laredo and stack a bag of toys or books in the middle of the seat in order to draw our imaginary line which delineated who had how much air and seat space. It was important. Should he reach his toys or fingers into my space, I would holler from the back seat, “He’s on my side! Make him stay on his side!!” And vice versa.

Besides that colorful description, I have great memories. On that old Jeep we put a sticker from every state, national park, monument, or weird place we stayed. It had the back window filled before I hit high school, when I was given the Jeep to drive every day. I became recognized by the Jeep with the window stickers on it. High school is so unpleasant sometimes. I digress. A lot.

On those very same trips, my family would play any number of mindless and sometimes not-so-mindless car games, including but not limited to Slug Bug, Cow Counting (pass that graveyard and yours die!), and I Spy. What we didn’t play—and wish we had—was Road Sign Rally. Hagerty’s Road Sign Rally is in full force again my friends. The idea: take pictures of those utterly ridiculous signs you see on your trips that you would otherwise ignore. Then send them to their site for a chance to win an iPod Nano, fancy camera (natch), or a gas card (hot dang!).

Even if you don’t submit a photo, check out the gallery of submissions. It is so worth wasting time at work… you’re doing it anyway.

Happy Road Trippin'!

by Breanne Boyle
AskPatty.com

Ask Patty wants to introduce you to some of our expert women! These special gals are all a part of a dealership in some way or another. Some of these women own dealerships and some work there (and they are Female Friendly to boot!). Either way, they are a great asset to Ask Patty and to you! They faithfully answer questions from all of our women readers!

Shelly Irwin LoCascio - Dealer Principal Irwin Lincoln Mercury Mazda
Shelly is the Dealer Principal of Irwin Lincoln Mercury Mazda in Freehold, NJ. Irwin is a family owned business that has been serving Central Jersey for 47 Years!! Her philosophy of always having the welcome mat out is a driving force at the dealership as well as Irwin’s Mission Statement: We strive to exceed our customer’s expectations.
This year Shelly’s team of professionals is boasting Mazda’s Gold Cup & Lincoln Mercury’s Presidents Award for Customer Satisfaction. This comes as no surprise since Shelly has strict rules requiring all customers (whether sales or service) be treated honestly, fairly & with great respect.

Kim Borcherding - President Borcherding Pontiac Buick GMC
The Borcherding Family Name has been a recognized automobile brand in the Cincinnati market for the past forty years. In her 6th year as President, Kim Borcherding, is the third generation leadership. We continue to outperform our same make competitors because of the great value we add to our products with exceptional customer service given by one of the most professional and dedicated teams of leaders in the marketplace.
For over 25 years, I have had my roots planted in the automobile industry both for General Motors and my late father who owned a dealership. I returned to Cincinnati where my late husband, who was also my mentor, continued to build the culture known as “The Borcherding Thing”.

Jenny Trostel - President and Owner Saab of Baltimore
Jenny Trostel grew up in Delaware. She graduated from Claymont High School and Goldey Beacom College with a B.A. in Accounting. When she was learning to drive, her father said “if you are going to drive them, you need to know how to fix them.” Jenny spent a summer working on cars and working in the family business. After college, Jenny worked in banking for many years.
In May, 1999, Jenny opened Hunt Valley Saab with 2 business partners. In October, 2004, Jenny purchased the ownership from her 2 partners with the help of General Motors’ Women’s Retail Initiative and Motors Holding. In March 2006, the business changed its name to Saab of Baltimore. Jenny is the Principal Owner of Saab of Baltimore.

Elizabeth Daniels - Owner and General Manager Daniels Chevyland
Elizabeth is a fourth-generation owner of Daniels Chevyland. She did not inherit the dealership, but rather earned her place in it. She began her career in the automotive business in 1985 as a service cashier and worked her way through the various departments, including finance. She eventually became the marketing director and later worked alongside her father as general manager. As Owner and General Manager since 1999, Elizabeth has served her dealership with leadership and guidance. Elizabeth holds numerous affiliations within the community and the industry at large. Her wealth of experience and unique insight as a woman business owner has afforded her the opportunity to serve in various capacities.

Ask Patty is a big supporter of Kids and Cars and Reverse Guard (creator of backup sensors for vehicles in order to alert drivers to objects behind them). Today, Good Morning America is featuring this particular safety issue. Be sure to tune in this morning to Good Morning America.  They will be airing a segment about the dangers children face when they cannot be seen in the blind zone behind all vehicles.  Be sure to watch their segment and learn how to best protect your children.

We hope this issue is finally turning the corner as far as awareness, but people are shocked when they learn that at least 50 children are backed over every week and at least 2 children die because they could not be seen in the blind zone behind all vehicles.  The best way to protect your children and family from these devastating tragedies is to know that this can happen to anyone and it only takes an instant.  Make sure your children are always being properly supervised anytime you are going to move your vehicle.

Before you turn the key........make sure you can see.
 

Welcome to Ask Patty’s blog carnival! We are at it again with the most up-to-date articles and topics from around the auto world. This week we are focusing on gas prices, fuel economy and hybrid technology! It seems to be the topic du jour!

Birdie Jaworski talks about the gas prices rising in her state of New Mexico. She is seeing the prices rise as the temperature does as well: “I've been riding my bike and walking for nearly every errand I have to run. Since I live in town, it's fairly pain-free to keep out of the car. Not everyone has this luxury, though, and the blog rolls are rife with anxiety and practical advice.” Check out everyone’s thoughts on BlogHer.

To offset the issues we are hearing, Ford Parts Information is offering 10 Fuel Saving Tips on their blog. Some of the tips include: slow down and watch your speed, accelerate and brake smoothly, no idling, check your tires, travel light, and minimize your use of the heater and air conditioning units. There are many more where those came from! We would add: "Don't buy a really huge SUV."

So how does the EPA determine fuel economy anyway? We were wondering as well. On HowStuffWorks.com we found a great answer! Here is part of it: “Manufacturers are required by law to post their vehicles' fuel-economy ratings, as certified by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on the window stickers of most every new vehicle sold in the U.S. -- vehicles that have gross-vehicle-weight ratings over 8,500 pounds are the exception.” Read the full article to learn more.

Have you ever thought of owning a diesel? Well, start thinking. According to the AutoBlog, hybrids are all the rage among drivers who want to be more green in what they drive, but it may not stay that way for much longer. New research by Ricardo and UBS is projecting that total sales of hybrid and diesel vehicles will hit 2.7 million annually by 2012, and that oil burners will account for 1.5 million of those sales. The report is claiming that within five years, diesels will outsell hybrids in the U.S. Read the rest at the AutoBlog.

Honda’s Insight was the edge of a new frontier (at that time anyhow) in alternative fuels. Well, leave it to the innovative automaker to start creating what a lot of consumers are asking for: hybrids with cheaper price tags that work for a younger crowd. According to EcoGeek, Honda is also producing a small, cheap, full hybrid model in 2009. And that car is definitely not the Fit. So, while some executives at Honda have been talking up the Fit hybrid, its future seems unclear.

And what about Volkswagen? The venerable people’s car stands out as the perfect company to revolutionize the hybrid industry… or at least make a stinkin’ hybrid car. Just one, is all we’re asking! At Memex, we learned that Volkswagen is planning to offer a hybrid version for every model starting in about two years, according to Germany’s Auto Bild newspaper. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn in recent interviews confirmed that the company was working on a small VW hybrid that could be launched ‘fairly quickly’ onto the market. Wahoo!

A lot of people know about the tax credit that comes from buying a hybrid vehicle, but the IRS is cutting the list of qualifying vehicles short. According to the News Blaze, the Internal Revenue Service announced that purchasers of qualified Ford Motor Company vehicles may continue to claim the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit. The announcement comes after the IRS concluded its quarterly review of the number of hybrid vehicles sold. You can see a full list of vehicles at the News Blaze site.

If you are the Connecticut governor, you tend to take things into your own hands. According to Make Blue Red, Governor M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut said today that an online gas price petition posted on her website www.ct.gov/governorrell has received more than 11,350 responses from frustrated and angry state residents in recent days. Wow! If only we could get that response on some child safety laws!

Okay and now for the rub. Financial Blogs has an article on the real truth about hybrid cars… which includes some research into cost of ownership and whether or not the impact on the environment is truly lessened by consumers purchasing a hybrid vehicle versus a traditional one. Check it out.

That’s it for this week! Thank you for all of your submissions! Make sure to submit next week! Please remember to submit your article using the online form or by emailing Breanne at Breanne@askpatty.com.

A friend gave me a heads-up to an article at msn.com's money section that identifies the 10 most expensive cars to insure, as well as the 10 least expensive cars to insure. Presented at moneycentral.msn.com by Dana Dratch and Bankrate.com, the informative article explains "Along with your own driving record, your ZIP code and the demographics of the drivers in your household, the make and model of your vehicle can have a big effect on your insurance bill."

"The choice of the car itself is going to affect, in particular, what you will spend for comprehensive and collision," says Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president of public affairs for the Insurance Information Institute. Most important, such factors as collision-damage costs, how attractive the vehicle is to thieves, and how much horsepower the engine produces are strong influences on insurance rates.

According to the article, the 10 cars with the most expensive collision losses (starting with the most expensive) are*: 
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Mercedes CL-Class
Dodge SRT-4
Subaru Impreza WRX
Jaguar XK (convertible)
Lexus IS 300
Honda S2000
Acura RSX
Nissan 350Z
Jaguar XJ

Ford Motor Company's leading role in developing an abdominal insert for pediatric crash dummies continues to receive positive recognition from engineers and experts within the field of biomechanics.

This week, Ford's innovative research in this area was part of a technical presentation at the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan's Annual Congress in Yokohama, Japan. Each year, the spring gathering attracts hundreds of engineers from around the world and provides an opportunity for them to share their latest research and achievements related to automotive and secondary technologies.

Ford's prototype pediatric abdominal insert is a collaborative effort with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Wayne State University in Detroit; the University of Virginia; Dearborn-based STR Systems, a safety technology and research firm; and Takata Corporation, a global manufacturer of automotive safety systems.