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The 10 car brands most expensive to maintain over 10 years

Car maintenance has got to be one of the least fun things you can do with your free time, right behind going to the dentist and filing your taxes. However, depending on the brand you buy, your time spent at the shop could be much more than you bargained for. Consumer Reports’ new study on the most- and least-expensive-to-maintain car brands found that European car companies are most likely to break your wallet with costs nearly five times that of the automakers at the other end of the spectrum. Land Rover had the highest ten-year maintenance costs, at an average of $19,250. Porsche was second worst with $14,090 in costs. 10 car brands most expensive to maintain over 10 years: Land Rover: $19,250 Porsche: $14,090 Mercedes-Benz: $10,525 Audi: $9,890 BMW: $9,500 Volvo: $9,285 Infiniti: $8,500 Acura: $7,800 Mini: $7,625 Subaru: $7,200 The Euro brands at the “top” of this list arenÂ’t all that surprising. Land Rover has consistently landed as one of the most expensive vehicle brands to maintain for years now, though Porsche is generally viewed as being one of the more solid performance brands. That could suggest that some models donÂ’t always require more repairs, but the fixes they do need are significantly more expensive. Tesla, Buick, and Toyota were the three cheapest to maintain car brands, with 10-year maintenance costs of $4,035, $4,900, and $4,900, respectively. Consumer Reports noted that these numbers could be slightly skewed due to the fact that some automakers offer free maintenance for the first few years of ownership, and all companies cover their new vehicles for at least a few years after the purchase. Routine maintenance is a great way to avoid costly repairs over time, as itÂ’s much cheaper to catch a problem before it starts causing other issues. Check your oil, rotate your tires, and avoid driving like a wild person, and youÂ’ll likely fare much better than others, even if you own one of the scarier-to-maintain brands.

Jaguar Land Rover calling in 100k vehicles in three separate campaigns

Jaguar Land Rover is recalling an estimated 104,114 vehicles in three separate campaigns in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The largest of them affects Range Rovers made between April 15, 2005, and September 4, 2012, covering 74,648 units in America from the 2006 to 2012 model years. In those affected vehicles, the front brake hose could rupture, leaking brake fluid and decreasing the capability of the brakes to, you know... stop the vehicle. In a similar but separate recall, subsequent Range Rovers from the 2013 and 2014 model years (manufactured between August 16, 2012, and January 8, 2014) are also being recalled for a brake issue – this time due to the incorrect routing of the brake vacuum hose. The issue could wear down the hose and disable the power assist, again impeding the brakes from properly functioning. This second recall also affects the 2014 Range Rover Sport (specifically those manufactured between May 7, 2013, and January 8, 2014), affecting 24,679 units between both models across the United States. A third smaller recall concerns the 2012-2015 Jaguar XK – namely those built between March 4, 2011, and March 20, 2014. This campaign involves the front side parking lamps, which might switch off after about five minutes, in contravention of federal standards. As such, an estimated 4,787 units are being called in. In all three cases, owners of the affected vehicles can expect to hear from their local dealer to arrange to bring in their wayward British luxury vehicles to have the relevant issue fixed. RECALL Subject : Front Brake Hose(s) may Rupture Report Receipt Date: JAN 27, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V039000 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Potential Number of Units Affected: 74,648 Manufacturer: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC SUMMARY: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles manufactured April 15, 2005, to September 4, 2012. One or both of the flexible front brake hoses may rupture causing loss of brake fluid. CONSEQUENCE: If one or both of the flexible brake hoses fails, the vehicle may require a longer distance to stop, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front brake hoses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 13, 2015. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837.

California adapts ZEV mandate with PHEVs for smaller automakers

California is the nation's largest market for zero-emissions vehicles with over 100,000 of them estimated to be on the roads there. The state's goal is to keep that number growing every year. To that end, the California Air Resources Board is now tweaking its rules in a way that might not boost ZEVs but could mean more plug-in hybrids for the Golden State. Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Volvo asked for an exemption to the state's zero-emissions vehicle mandate last year due to their relatively small development budgets compared to larger automakers. CARB denied their request but did craft a compromise, according to Automotive News. Rather than being required to offer a ZEV in the state, companies with an annual global revenue of less than $40 billion, like those in this group, may instead sell plug-in hybrids to earn ZEV credits. The companies aren't completely off the hook, though. If these plug-in hybrids don't earn enough credits, the corporations must buy them on the market to make up the difference. Automakers with popular electric models like Nissan and Tesla have made a big business through this trading system by selling their surplus to rivals. Tesla alone pocketed $51 million in the first quarter from this part of its business, according to Automotive News. The changes to the regulations also aren't set in stone, yet. CARB is meeting in 2016 and could adjust things further at that time. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req. via Hybrid CarsImage Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Government/Legal Green Jaguar Land Rover Mazda Mitsubishi Subaru Volvo Emissions Electric Hybrid California zev credits zero emissions vehicle