Best Cars for Black Friday Shopping

A successful Black Friday shopping trip is all in the planning. Bargain hunters study store ads and websites as though they're cramming for a test, and now they have less time to do so as several major chains — Target, Best Buy, Macy's and Kohl's — will open their doors at midnight instead of 4 or 5 a.m. the Friday after Thanksgiving.

There's one thing that Black Friday shoppers can plan for before the deal-laden store circulars arrive: which car to take.

Black Friday shoppers might think bigger is better — big SUVs, minivans — when it comes to picking a car for hauling all their bargains. They're not wrong, especially if they're hoping to bag a gigantic flat-screen TV at a low price. But nimble small cars in busy parking lots shouldn't be left out of the Black Friday fun. Here are our top picks for Black Friday haulers:

2012 Volvo Lineup: Ch-Ch-Changes

For the 2012 model year, Volvo has discontinued the S40 and V50, which reported in an earlier post. The Swedish automaker is also no longer offering any V-8s across its lineup after the company axed its sole V-8 engine in the XC90 for 2012. V-8s were once offered in the S80 and XC90.

Overall, most models get more standard features and new trim offerings while maintaining similar prices to last year’s models.

2012 Volvo XC70, S80: Ch-Ch-Changes

For the 2012 model year, the Volvo XC70 and S80 gain new safety and convenience features and some appearance upgrades.

Both vehicles now have a Pedestrian Detection system as an available option. This system first debuted on the S60. It uses radar and a camera to detect people in the car's path and trigger alerts or, if necessary, applies full braking. Volvo’s City Safety system is now standard on both vehicles: The system can lessen or avoid low-speed rear-end collisions automatically, up to 19 mph. We found both systems to be disappointing when we tested them in the Volvo S60; hopefully, Volvo has made some changes.

Recall Alert: 2011 Volvo S80, S60, XC70 and XC60

Volvo is recalling 6,046 vehicles from the 2011 model year due to potential engine stalling, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On the 2011 Volvo S80, S60, XC70 and XC60, the engine software that controls fuel cutoff function has been programmed to be too sensitive. In affected vehicles, the engine idle speed may drop, resulting in a sudden engine stall when braking or coasting in stop-and-go traffic. This could increase the risk of a crash.

All recalled vehicles will get updated software from Volvo to correct the problem free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on Dec. 10, and Volvo will send recall notices to affected owners.

For more info, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 474 Volvo Vehicles Over Airbags, Navigation Defects

Volvo is recalling the 2010 XC60 over airbag concerns and Volvo models equipped with an aftermarket Garmin navigation unit, which was previously recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Just 58 XC60s are being recalled for side curtain airbags that may have been misassembled. The error may cause the airbags not to deploy correctly or possibly not at all, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash. The recall is expected to begin this month. Affected customers will be notified by Volvo, and their vehicles will be inspected and fixed, if necessary, free of charge by a Volvo dealer. For more info, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 9,746 Volvo Vehicles

Volvo is recalling 9,746 2010-11 S80, XC70, V70 and 2011 XC60 vehicles over faulty airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The driver’s airbag may not be wired correctly. In the recalled vehicles, the “SRS” lamp will be lit on the gauge cluster with the message “Airbag System Service Required” displayed on the Driver’s Information Module.

If the driver gets in an accident when the SRS lamp is lit, the airbag may not deploy as intended or deploy at all.

The recalled models were built between Nov. 19, 2009, and June 22, 2010. You can check your vehicle’s build date on the sticker affixed to the driver-side doorjamb. All of the vehicles in this recall are affected and need to be fixed. Volvo has already received 142 reports of the condition worldwide.

Owners will receive a letter about the recall from Volvo. Volvo dealers will install a small metal shim in the driver’s airbag clockspring wiring connector free of charge.

For additional information, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA's hot line at 888-327-4236.

Ready for Labor Day Car Shopping? Ten Impressive 2010 Deals

Summer is one of the best times of the year to shop for a great deal on a new car, and that window usually lasts until Labor Day. Most manufacturers are trying to offload their previous model-year inventory in preparation for the next model-year units that are headed to dealer lots. And unlike autumn, when inventory levels of 2010 models may be low, many 2010s are still available. 

To help you sort through the best deals, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best remaining cash and loan incentives. 

When we refer to cash-back incentives, these are manufacturer incentives, which are a form of regularly advertised offers. Dealer incentives are bit more tricky to understand: Known as factory-to-dealer incentives, this is a type of stimulus given directly to dealers to move vehicles. These incentives typically aren’t advertised to the consumer, and dealerships aren’t obligated to share the incentive with the car buyer, so that’s why it’s important to do your research. 

Some models on this list, such as the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee, have been recently redesigned or received significant upgrades for 2011. Other models are just poor sellers in general, such as the 2010 Chevy HHR and 2010 Infiniti FX35. 

Not all automakers switch to a new model year at the same time. For example, the Toyota Camry made the switch to 2011 in March. 

Continue reading for the complete list.  

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2011 Volvo Lineup

For 2011, Volvo’s lineup gets a little more streamlined, losing and simplifying its wagon options and dropping some base trims, engines and drivetrains. As you can see below, these changes mostly increase the value of each Volvo model and trim. 

Interesting notes: While Volvo has discontinued the slow-selling V70 wagon for 2011, it has drastically changed the pricing and packaging of the more popular XC70, making the model several thousand dollars cheaper; the high-end S80 is now a less-expensive entry than the all-new S60, which is odd considering the S80 is supposedly the flagship. You can learn more about the all-new S60 here. For more information about the lineup, continue reading after the jump.

Recall Alert: 2008-2010 Volvo XC70

Volvo has issued a recall for 679 XC70 vehicles from the 2008-2010 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects vehicles manufactured from Dec. 5, 2006, through Oct. 1, 2009, and involves incorrect information on maximum tire pressure. The listed maximum tire pressure is incorrect on the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard label, the tire and loading information label and a page in the owner’s manual.

This means these few vehicles don’t comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, but it’s also important to note that inflating tires to the incorrect volume can lead to blowouts or potentially cause accidents.

Dealers will update the XC70s with new FMVSS labels, tire and loading information labels and tire pressure-monitoring software. They will also stick a label into the owner’s manual with the correct number. All of this will be done free of charge.

Owners may contact Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 136,100 Volvo Cars, SUVs

Volvo is recalling 136,100 vehicles from the 2001 to 2005 model years, including almost every vehicle in its lineup from those years. The issue stems from a fuel pump that can develop cracks when you mix fuel types and live in a hot climate or one that sees rapid changes in temperature.

Affected models include:

• 2001-2004 Volvo S60
• 2002-2005 Volvo S80
• 2001-2004 Volvo V70
• 2001-2004 Volvo XC70
• 2003-2005 Volvo XC90

The states included in the recall are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

Dealers will inspect the vehicle and if a defective pump is present, the specific part named in the recall will be replaced for free starting in January 2010. You can contact Volvo for more information at 800-458-1552.