Top 20 Least Expensive Cars to Insure of 2014

I love lists like this one, that's why I always include them. Well, insure.com finally released their famous list of the top 20 least expensive cars to insure of this current year. It's the most useful list (aside from the safety rating one) because who really wants to spend a couple of thousand dollars in insurance... unless the vehicle is a luxury, exotic, or collectible one.

Insure.com had the hardest task of all. What they did was compare rates for every make, model and trim level of a car from the top 6 insurance carriers- Farmers, Geico, Progressive, Nationwide, State Farm, and my personal favorite, Allstate. Exotic cars were excluded, but more than 850 vehicles were researched. The averages were based on the following: full coverage for a single, 40 year old male, that drives 12 miles to work each day with the policy limits of 100/300/50 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries, and $50,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. This driver also has a clean record and good credit and the rate also includes uninsured motorist coverage. This sounds like the driver is from Wyoming and lives in a town that has a higher population of animals than people. If you're a female that's over a decade younger than the hypothetical driver, that drives more than 12 miles to work each day, and doesn't have a clean record- just multiply the average rate by 2. Sorry, but I learned how to drive in New York, my driving record will NEVER be clean.

20. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon MSRP: $32,000 and $1,209 for insurance.

19. Honda Accord Sport MSRP: $24,500 and $1,209 for insurance.

18. Hyundai Santa Fe Sport MSRP: $25,000 and $1,194 for insurance.

17. Toyota Sienna LE MSRP: $27,000 and $1,190 for insurance.

16. Chevrolet Traverse LS MSRP: $30,800 and $1,188 for insurance.

15. GMC Acadia SLE-2 MSRP: $34,200 and $1,185 for insurance.

14. Jeep Wrangler Sahara  MSRP: $33,000 and $1,172 for insurance

13. Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo MSRP: $29,195 and $1,171 for insurance.

12. Ford Escape S MSRP: $23,100 and $1,170 for insurance.

11. Jeep Patriot Latitude MSRP: $17,700 and $1,161 for insurance.

10. Dodge Grand Caravan SE MSRP: $23,600 and $1,158 for insurance.

9. Honda Odyssey EX MSRP: $ 32,100 and $1,149 for insurance.

8. Dodge Journey SE MSRP: $ 20,000 and $1,149 for insurance.

7. Subaru Outback 2.5i MSRP: $29,000 and $1,144 for insurance.

6. Chrysler Town & Country Touring MSRP: $30,800 and $1,140 for insurance.

5. Jeep Compass Sport MSRP: $21,000 and $1,140 for insurance

4. Honda CR-V LX MSRP: $22,900 and $1,115 for insurance.

3. Jeep Patriot Sport MSRP: $16,000 and $1,104 for insurance.

2. Honda Odyssey LX MSRP: $28,800 and $1,103 for insurance.

1. Jeep Wrangler Sport MSRP: $22,400 and $1,080 for insurance.


Part II of this post, the top 20 most expensive cars to insure of 2014 will be up shortly.

Bernie's Test Drive: 2010 GMC Acadia SLE

At the AJC International Car Show, they always have test drives. General Motors had theirs and I wanted to see what GMC replaced the Envoy with.

And I drove it around downtown Atlanta. It wasn't bad... at all. Let's talk specs.

Width: 78.2 in.
Height: 72.8 in.
Length: 200.7 in.
Wheel base: 118.9 in.
18 x 7.5 in. wheels
Base engine size: 3.6 L
Cylinders: V6
Horsepower: 288 hp @ 6300 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed shiftable automatic
EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 17/24 mpg

As great as the handling was and as smooth as the ride was, I like it, but not that much to add to my radar. I don't like the third row of seats, it kind of ruins the trunk space, just like the Envoy XL. It has about the same amount of horsepower as an Envoy, it's slightly better on gas. I love the shape of it, but if I were to get an Acadia, I would burn that third row.

On Star Relaunches Its Brand With Focus on Responsible Connection

From the greatest city in the world: New York - OnStar is launching new services, capabilities and technology for its nearly 6 million subscribers as part of a top-to-bottom realignment of the company’s long-term strategy built around ‘responsible connectivity.’

OnStar plans to pilot major innovations that significantly increase drivers’ in-car connection to the world, while extending its safety leadership in the automotive industry.

“These initiatives are all about OnStar’s role in keeping drivers and passengers connected and safe,” said OnStar President Chris Preuss. “Building on the rock-solid foundation of OnStar’s safety and security platform, we were given a clear directive to develop OnStar as one of the chief pillars in defining General Motors’ business going forward.”

And here's the highlights along with my colorful commentary.

New Technology Testing:

OnStar subscribers and technology insiders got a first look at OnStar’s new technologies that are enabled through the ninth generation hardware:

Audio Facebook Updates: OnStar showcased in-car social media interactions that are being tested. If implemented, Audio Facebook Updates would allow OnStar subscribers to verbally update their Facebook status message through audio recordings and/or listen to their most recent news feed messages through the OnStar Virtual Advisor service.

Voice Texting: OnStar revealed beta tests for voice-based SMS (short message service). This feature would enable customers to have their text messages read to them using Bluetooth.
The Bluetooth technology allows users to connect their mobile device to their vehicle and receive automated text messages. With one button press, on the steering wheel, users can reply to a text by verbally selecting a preset response.

OnStar MyLink:

OnStar announced the OnStar MyLink sub-brand for mobile phone applications. Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac mobile apps powered by OnStar will allow owners to remotely activate all functions available on a traditional key fob, including remote start, horn and lights and door locks and unlocks securely from select smartphones. Versions have already been shown for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range capability and the all-new Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan.

Redesigned IT Infrastructure:

OnStar revealed its Advanced Telematics Operations Management System (ATOMS) computing platform, one of the most powerful and comprehensive machine-to-machine telematics systems in the world. ATOMS allows for advanced geo-boxing and voice-texting engines, including Audio Facebook Updates. OnStar services are rigorously tested to ensure they are consistent with GM’s safe driver principles and help reduce distracted driving.

9th Generation of Hardware:

OnStar also unveiled its ninth generation hardware that improves the user experience with new natural voice recognition, Bluetooth phonebook, improved navigation, the ability to work with advanced traffic management and severe weather alert services, also known as geo-boxed notification services.

Here's my thing with automated voice communication: What if you speak with an accent or do not use the King's English? Let's be honest, I have a hard enough time tawking -- I mean-- talking (I type how I speak) to those who are from other parts of the US and them not understanding me. I say "Coffee" like how I was taught to say it, and how others said it around me. What if you have a British accent like Naomi Campbell, or a Southern accent like Clifford Harris? If On Star had a specific accent download, I would activate On Star in my Ray of Sunshine so fast...

I won't even explore the whole ebonics thing. So many questions, but I want to try it...

Bernie's Favorite: Bernie's Baby, Her Ray of Sunshine.

(Very good, Consumer Report)This isn't him, but it's his twin. He's the same exact color: Silver Green Metallic (GMC's version of Olive Green). Ain't he cute...

I consider my 2003 GMC Envoy SLT my baby. Sounds weird, but I can trust my truck more easily than I can with most people.

Other than the mere fact that when I get gas and if I don’t put the gas cap on super tight, the check engine light comes on, I don’t have any problems with him.

Let’s go over my Ray of Sunshine’s (ROS) Specs, shall we:

He is 191.6 inches long, 74.7 inches wide and he’s 6 feet tall (You know I like 'em tall). His wheelbase is only 113 inches, so I could put 24s on him, but I wouldn’t because it would be tight and by tight, I don’t mean hot. Plus with the way I move, it's best to go with 22s, even better would be 21s.

His engine is a 4.2L V6 that gives me 275 hp @ 6000 rpm, but he’s RWD. Fuel wise, forget it. He can take 22 gallons of gas, but his EPA claims to be 16 mpg City and 22 mpg highway. However when I take ROS on the road, I’ve gotten 12.5 city and 22.5 highway.



I lucked out and got the SLT one. Within the 2003 line, there’s only two: the base model which is the SLE, and then the more top of the line one, the SLT. The Denalis weren’t out yet, but that’s okay. So my interior has leather seats with the memory setting, woodgrain, Bose sound system, dual temperature settings, CD/Cassette player (Moms is mad that I still have a cassette player and she doesn’t, so she can’t play her “Best of Al Jerreau” Cassette). Oooh and he has On Star, but I never activated it, and the seats are uber comfy, especially on a road trip.



I thought about it but I wouldn’t trade him. He’s taken me all over the place. He helped me leave that god-awful Chatham County, He took me to New York to Florida, back and forth from Atlanta to Savannah, even up to Memphis and Louisville. I went to car shows, events, and video shoots, he even has a cameo a Plies video. And yes, he's been to Yankee Stadium. You already forgot who's SUV this is???)

But he can’t stay stock forever. I really need to get some tint on my front windows (not to be cool, but for SECURITY REASONS), since some guys are crazy. I would have to get the leather restored, but that's down the line. I want to upgrade the wheels: Maybe the Asanti AF 143 with some color matching going on. And I would love to keep his same unique color because he’s not a common color, but I want to enhance it with some candy coating, and replace the grill so that it’s not the black, hard plastic one. His body has normal wear and tear, but unfortunately when I took him to Strokers, one of the dancers took her keys to his passenger door. And I was heated when I first saw it. Why are girls jealous? Believe me, I don't want your job or your "clientele"...

I have some other things in mind for him, but you’ll have to stay tuned for that. But I will promise that he'll never have a body kit or altezza lights.

And he'll never look like this either. The right side of the vehicle in this photo didn't look much better either...