DaimlerChrysler has announced base price increases for 2003 Jeep, Dodge truck and Chrysler Minivan model lines. The revised pricing went into effect on November 15, 2002.

Option prices and destination charges remain unchanged.

Price protection applies to bona fide sold orders received by DaimlerChrysler prior to November 15, 2002.

November 15^th price increases do not affect Dodge or Chrysler cars (including PT Cruiser).

The increase for all Minivans is $215 MSRP (eL and eX models remain unchanged).
Jeep price-increases range from $100 - $175 MSRP.
All other Dodge trucks including: Dakota, Ram Pickup, Ram Van and Durango received base price-increases ranging from $55 - $215 MSRP

GM To Revamp Entire Mid-Size Lineup Over Next Three Years

General Motors plans to revamp its entire mid-size car portfolio over the next three years, focusing on fewer nameplates. The automaker is stepping up its efforts in this core segment, the largest in the industry, with a lineup of vehicles that will cater to more diverse customer groups.

New bodystyles, powertrains and performance packages created for each nameplate are being developed to increase volume and provide a greater range of options and pricing for the customer.

GM plans to debut at least 10 new or restyled mid-size vehicles by 2006. First will be the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac Grand Prix, two nameplates with a long history in GM's mid-size lineup.

2004 Chevy Malibu

The all-new 2004 Chevrolet Malibu builds on the GM Epsilon global vehicle architecture, which first debuted on the Opel Vectra and Saab 9-3 in Europe. Epsilon will also be the flexible foundation for the next generation Pontiac Grand Am and a future successor to the Saturn L-series.

Debuting in the fall of 2003, the new Malibu has a stiffer body structure that significantly improves handling and interior acoustics. Clean lines outline a car that's slightly smaller and more aerodynamic outside yet more spacious inside. The 2004 Malibu will be the first passenger car in the Chevrolet lineup to bear the division's next-generation family look with features such as jeweled lighting, a chrome front bar and a gold Chevy bowtie. Also in the 2004 model year, the Malibu name will expand with the Maxx, a new bodystyle that takes shape as a five-door extended sedan.

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTE

The new Pontiac Grand Prix has a muscular appearance devoid of cladding or other add-ons, with clean sides and a wedge-shaped profile. The next-generation WideTrack Handling System harmonizes suspension, steering and chassis components for improved vehicle control and a precise, on-center feel.

The new Grand Prix will be built on GM's premium architecture for larger mid-size cars, which also includes the Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, and the Buick Century and Regal.

In addition, GM's upcoming mid-size lineup will make extensive use of GM's array of global powertrains that provide excellent efficiency, power and proper balance of features.

Subaru Recalls Certain Vehicles with Automatic Transmission

Campaign Affects Legacy, Outback, Baja, Forester and Impreza Models

Subaru of America, Inc. has announced a voluntary recall for a possible defect in the automatic transmission parking rod which engages the parking pawl into the parking gear. This recall involves 163,243 automatic transmission assemblies that were installed in very late production 2001 Legacy vehicles, all 2002 Legacy, Outback, Forester and Impreza vehicles and some early production 2003 Legacy, Outback, Baja, Forester and Impreza vehicles.

When the transmission lever of affected vehicles is placed in the "Park" position, the mechanism that is intended to hold the vehicle in "Park" may not fully engage, and the vehicle could move without prior warning. Properly applying the parking brake will prevent vehicle movement even if this condition exists.

The campaign was launched as a result of out-of-specification parts found during quality assurance testing. There have been no reported injuries as a result of this condition.

Repair parts should be available in January 2003. Subaru will soon mail a letter to all registered owners and/or drivers of the affected vehicles, advising them to always use their parking brake as directed in the owner's manual. A second letter will be sent to owners when the repair parts are available early next year. Repairs will be made at an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to owners.

Mazda Announces 2003 Product Enhancements

Mazda has announced several 2003 Model Year product enhancements including an extension to the standard warranty. The Mazda Driver's Assurance Plan has been extended to 48 months/50,000 miles on all 2003 models, providing an additional 12 months of coverage. The Drivers Assurance Plan includes the 48 month/50,000 mile "Bumper to Bumper" Limited Warranty, 24-hour Emergency Roadside Assistance and the Mazda Service Transportation Solution.

2003 Mazda Protégé5	222	2003 Mazda MPV

Protégé5 Protégé5 mid-cycle refreshment includes a 100-watt subwoofer to increase the "fun factor" along with an additional storage tray under the cargo floor. The Protégé5 roof rack will no longer be a standard item; this fulfills the requests of customers that prefer Protégé5's styling without the roof rack.		MPV The MPV offers a new All-Sport option package available beginning with January 2003 production. The package includes 17" alloy wheels, GFX, fog lamps, rear spoiler, leather steering wheel, 9-speaker 180-watt audio system with subwoofer, CD changer and auto-dimming ISRV mirror with compass and outside temperature display.
2003 Mazda Tribute		2003 Mazda Truck

Tribute The Tribute lineup remains unchanged with a DX, LX and ES model. A cargo cover is standard on the ES and optional on the LX.		Mazda Truck Mazda Truck receives a new model as part of the mid-cycle refreshment. This new model is a Base Cab Plus 2-Door B4000 4x4 with an MSRP under $20,000. It is equipped with a 4.0L engine, air conditioning, alloy wheels, cloth seats and floor mats.

As a result of the mid-cycle refreshments, the base prices have increased on most 2003 Mazda models. The weighted average MSRP increase is approximately $67.

Luxury Tax Expires on January 1, 2003

The federal luxury tax, normally imposed on high-end vehicles, is scheduled to expire on January 1, 2003. Barring any last-minute changes in the law, any vehicle purchased on or after January 1, 2003 will no longer be subject to the luxury tax.

The federal government imposes a 3% luxury tax on passenger vehicles (generally vehicles with a GVW of less than 6,000 lbs). In its final year, the luxury tax is 3 percent of the amount of the sales price over $40,000.

It is important to note that for stock purchases the date that ARI purchases the vehicle from the dealer is the date that determines if the vehicle is taxable. For factory orders, the date that the client takes delivery of the vehicle is the date that determines taxability. The vehicle's Model Year does not determine its taxability. For example, a 2003MY vehicle that is purchased in December 2002 is taxable, and a 2002MY vehicle that is purchased in January 2003 is not taxable.


2004 Buick Rainier	2004 Buick Rainier interior

Buick Motor Division will introduce a midsize sport utility vehicle named Rainier for the 2004 model year, further expanding its truck portfolio. Rainier, a five-passenger, full-frame SUV based on GM's award-winning midsize SUV architecture, will be available in September 2003.

Rainier's exterior is contemporary with bold lines set off by the clear, jewel-like headlamps; standard fog lamps; sculpted wheel flares and shoulders; and two-tone front and rear fascias. The front and rear fascias are body color over gray, with the gray carried through the rocker panel appliqués.

The interior is spacious in terms of head, shoulder and hip room and can seat up to five adults comfortably. With the split 60/40 rear seats in the down position, the rear compartment has more than 80 cubic feet of storage space.

The interior features a driver command center with readily accessible controls, refined instrument cluster, dark walnut woodgrain accents, and a user-friendly Driver Information Center.

Front bucket seats and rear seating areas are trimmed in perforated leather. Front seats are available with both memory and heat functions. The heated seats have separate controls for the seat back and seat bottom.

Other interior features include:

Standard dual-zone automatic heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and rear seat fan controls
Rear seat audio controls
Standard OnStar®
Available comprehensive personalization and memory features including auto power door locks, remote keyless entry, outside rearview mirrors, power driver seat positions, dual-zone climate control and select stereo settings
Standard Driver Information Center provides vital vehicle functions and trip computer operation at the touch of a button. The center can be personalized for two primary drivers of the vehicle.
Standard steering-wheel mounted controls for stereo system, heating/AC and trip information

The 2004 Buick Rainier will be powered by the award-winning Vortec 4200 inline six-cylinder engine. Rainier will also offer a Vortec 5300 V8 SFI engine at a later date. The 275-horsepower Vortec inline six-cylinder engine, with the 4.10 axle and four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission give Rainier a maximum towing capacity of 6,300 lbs. for two-wheel-drive models and 6,200 lbs. for all-wheel-drive models. The available Vortec 5300 V8 delivers 285 horsepower at 5200 RPM and 325 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4000 RPM. Both 3.42 and 3.73 axle ratios are available.

The sedan-like ride and handling characteristics of the 2004 Rainier are made possible by a number of advances in the chassis and frame:

Rainier's body provides optimal isolation from road vibrations and noise.
The refined suspension system makes the ride smooth on practically any road surface with any cargo load. The standard system consists of an independent front suspension, five-link, solid-axle rear suspension and standard electronically controlled rear air springs.
Steering is precise and responsive from the hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion system.
Four-wheel vented disc brakes provide improved performance, wear resistance and noise reduction. Four-wheel anti-lock braking (ABS) is standard.
Traction control is standard on two-wheel drive models.
The longer wheelbase, wider track, Bilstein shocks, 17-inch wheels and premium Michelin tires are other important contributors to the stability and road command characteristics.

Ford Motor Company recently announced that beginning in 2004, the Ford F-150 pickup truck will be built at the new Dearborn Truck Plant now under construction at the Ford Rouge Center in Dearborn, Mich.

"Just as the Ford F-150 clearly established its sales leadership, our new assembly plant firmly establishes Ford's manufacturing leadership and vision," said Anne Stevens, vice president, North America Vehicle Operations. "As the new flagship of Ford's lean and flexible assembly plants, it will have the capability of interchanging three vehicle architectures and producing up to nine different models, if needed."

The new assembly plant construction is the centerpiece of one of the nation's largest industrial redevelopment projects. For more than 85 years, the Ford Rouge Center represented a key element of Henry Ford's vision of vertical integration – a self-contained manufacturing complex, where most vehicle components were made from raw materials and assembled into a finished product.

Ford F-150 also will continue to be built at Norfolk Assembly and Kansas City Assembly Plants.

Construction of the new plant is scheduled to be completed by late 2003, with assembly operations beginning in 2004.

Big trucks could mean big danger. More than 5,000 people died and another 131,000 were injured in 2001 after being involved in collisions with large trucks, which are defined as having a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more. Collisions with these trucks accounted for approximately 12 percent of all traffic fatalities and a total of 429,000 crashes, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It's no wonder that the thought of driving close to a large truck is distressing for many drivers. The best way to reduce your chances of an accident is to drive smart and cautiously. GM offers the following tips:

Don't cut them off. Fully loaded trucks can weigh up to 27 times more than the average automobile. That means a much longer stopping distance - up to twice the time and room compared to a car. Forcing them to stop quickly may cause a serious accident.
Beware of blind spots. Often called "no-zones," they're around the front, back and sides of trucks. Move out of these areas because truck drivers may lose sight of you. A good rule of thumb - if you can't see the truck driver in the truck's mirror, they can't see you.
Leave a "cushion." When following a truck, stay about 20-25 car lengths behind. This will better allow you to see the road ahead. This also leaves more room for braking. A safe driving distance in front of a truck is at least four car lengths. Make sure you can see the truck's headlights in your inside rear-view mirror.
Pass quickly and on the left. Avoid passing on the right, where the truck driver's blind spot encompasses the entire trailer and expands to multiple lanes. Proceed in the left lane. Do so quickly, moving through the blind spot and avoiding being "trapped" next to the truck. Merge to the right once you see the front of the truck in your inside rear-view mirror.
Watch for wide turns. Don't get stuck between the truck and the curb - which may result in a serious accident. In order to safely make a right turn, the truck driver is likely to swing wide left first. This is especially true in the city. With left turns, trucks need plenty of room to clear your vehicle. Help them out by stopping before the white line.
Signals are key. Pay close attention to a truck's signals - allowing adequate room for it to maneuver. And make sure to use your signals. Truck drivers need to know your intended actions.

GM also recommends visiting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's website, www.nozone.org, to find out about their Share the Road Safely Campaign. The objective of this program is to reduce truck-related fatalities by 50 percent by 2010.

CARS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Dr	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Chrysler	6	Concorde LX Sedan	4	Little Rock, AR	$20,878	02020

TRUCKS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Chevrolet	8	3500 HD Chassis Cab	Grand Island, NE	$25,686	Multiple
03	Ford	6	Ranger 4x4 Super Cab	Smyrna, GA	$18,421	21285
03	Ford	8	F-250 Chassis Cab 4x2	Norwalk, CA	$19,182	Multiple
When a "stock purchase" is desired, you may consider using a vehicle from the ARI "pool" to save money and time. Call your ARI representative for details!

Feature News

Pool Vehicles

Issue 223– November 25, 2002

Subaru Recalls Certain Vehicles with Automatic Transmission

Mazda Announces 2003 Product Enhancements

Buick Adds Rainier SUV to Product Line

Pool Vehicle Inventory

Call your ARI representative for details!