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Toyota tops Consumer Reports best, worst used car values

We often mock Toyota for building boring, soulless cars, but a new study by Consumer Reports suggests that regardless of whether that's true, the company has some of the best used cars on the market. In its report on used cars from 2004-2013, the Japanese automaker had 11 vehicles among its brands on the list - more than any other automaker.
CR breaks the list down by cost and vehicle size, and Toyota has at least one entry at every price point and in nearly every segment. To score a recommendation, a vehicle had to perform well in the magazine's initial tests and score above-average reliability results. It also tried to only suggest cars with electronic stability control. Of the 28 recommended vehicles, Honda/Acura had the second most mentions at six, and Ford, Hyundai and Subaru managed two each.
The Detroit brands also made it to the list, but not in a positive way. Consumer Reports compiled a list of 22 vehicles it wouldn't recommend because "they have multiple years of much-worse-than-average overall reliability." General Motors had the most unrecommended models on the list at six, but Chrysler and Ford weren't far behind, with five cars each from their brands not making the grade. The full list of recommendations is available on CR's website.

Auto bailout cost the US goverment $9.26B

Depending on your outlook, the US Treasury's bailout of General Motors, Chrysler (now FCA) and their financing divisions under the Troubled Asset Relief Program was either a complete boondoggle or a savvy move to secure the future of some major employers. Regardless of where you fall, the auto industry bailout has officially ended, and the numbers have been tallied. Of the $79.69 billion that the Feds invested to keep the automakers afloat, it recouped $70.43 billion – a net loss of $9.26 billion. The final nail in the coffin for the auto bailout came in December 2014 when the Feds sold its shares in Ally Financial, formerly GMAC. The deal turned out pretty good for the government too because the investment turned a 2.4 billion profit. The actual automakers have long been out of the Treasury's hands, though. The current FCA paid back its loans six years early in 2011, the Treasury sold of the last shares of GM in late 2013. According to The Detroit News, the government's books actually show an official loss on the auto bailouts of $16.56 billion. The difference is because the larger figure does not include the interest or dividends paid by the borrowers on the amount lent. While it's easy to see fault in any red ink on the Feds' massive investment, the number is less than some earlier estimates. At one time, deficits around $44 billion were thought possible, and another put things at a $20.3 billion loss. Outside of just the government losing money, the bailouts might have helped the overall economy. A study from the Center for Automotive Research last year estimated that the program saved 2.6 million jobs and about $284.4 billion in personal wealth. It also indicated that the Feds' reduction in income tax revenue alone from Chrysler and GM going under could have been around $100 billion for just 2009 and 2010, significantly more than any loss in the bailout.

Massive barn find auction with classic Lamborghinis, Porsches, Jaguars happening in France

If it's the right make and model, a single classic car found in a barn can make headlines. This discovery was much bigger. Eighty cars bigger, and now they're going up for auction in France. Brought to our attention by Road & Track, this diverse collection of 81 classic cars from the 1950s, '60s, '70s, and '80s was originally found months ago. The cars were strewn about in the weeds, as seen in the weirdly calming and nicely filmed video seen below. It's not as shockingly impressive as the French barn find from a few years back, but the variety in the lot of rare vehicles is remarkable, nonetheless. Some of the most notable cars included in the auction are a highly coveted Lamborghini Miura P400, a Porsche 356 coupe, a Series 1 Jaguar E-Type coupe, and a Citroen 2CV. Other interesting vehicles include a Chrysler Imperial C14, an Autobianchi Bianchina 110FB, a C3 Corvette T-Top, a Ford Anglia, a Rolland Pilain B22, and a Stutz Speedway Six. The collection is nearly a dictionary of different auto makes: Renault, Alfa Romeo, Cadillac, Lancia, Simca, a Delage, Panhard, Lincoln, Packard, Oldmobile, a Hotchkiss, Graham Paige, Vauxhall, Opel, Peugeot, Trabant, Volkswagen, Audi, Buick, Fiat, Talbot, Mercedes-Benz, and a random Ferrari GTO body kit. There are also some random pieces and parts of cars, including some loose engines. Some of the cars can be secretly bid on right now, but the main auction will occur Sunday, January 20. Full pictures and details can be found here. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: intrencheres, Road and Track Chrysler Jaguar Lamborghini Porsche Auctions Automotive History Classics barn find