Darin Nakakura, director of advertising for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, will be guest speaker Monday at the noon monthly auto lunch bunch at the Waikiki Yacht Club at 1599 Ala Moana Blvd. He will discuss and demonstrate Oahu Publications Inc.’s new website, HawaiiCars.com, an online auto marketplace geared toward Hawaii residents. Oahu Publications is the publisher of the Star-Advertiser.
The website provides sellers with a place to post vehicle listings for free. Shoppers can browse and compare pre-owned listings from private party sellers as well as new and used vehicle inventories from local dealerships. The website also allows users to build a new car to their specifications directly from dealerships in Hawaii.
Also at the event will be Miles Excajeda’s 2015 BMW i8 hybrid sports car, JN Exotics’ new 200 mph, 610 horsepower Lamborghini Huracan Spyder and Alan Zane’s 1996 Ferrari F-355 GTS.
To RSVP for the event, contact Ed Kemper at 225-2965 or email him at edracers@aol.com. The cost is $18, which includes lunch, iced tea, tax and tip. Only credit cards are accepted.
Ford recalls vehicles with iffy shifting
DETROIT >> Ford is recalling nearly 202,000 pickup trucks, SUVs and cars in North America because the automatic transmissions can suddenly downshift to first gear.
The company also said Wednesday that it’s recalling more than 81,000 Explorer SUVs to fix a rear suspension problem.
The transmission recall covers the 2011 and 2012 F-150 and the 2012 Expedition, Mustang and Lincoln Navigator. Ford says a software problem in a speed sensor can force the vehicles into a downshift.
Dealers will inspect the sensors. If they find no trouble codes, they’ll update software. If trouble codes are present, they’ll replace the part that houses the speed sensor.
The Explorer recall covers SUVs and Police Interceptor models in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 2014 and 2015. Ford says the suspension links could fracture due to poor welds.
Dealers will replace the left and right rear suspension toe links and align the rear suspension at no cost to owners.