New York 2008: NYC oddities and side splitters
We were extremely busy while trying to cover the snot out of the New York Auto Show this past week at the Jacob Javits Center. Even when we were running across the show floor to make a press conference and get a good seat, we still had our fingers on the trigger of our many DSLR cameras. At times we caught some interesting and downright funny things that just didn't fit into any other gallery except one devote to the odd and slightly hilarious. Check them out in the gallery below, complete with captions that add some context and extra chuckles.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hike15 8:19PM (3/21/2008)
couldn't GM spend a bit more for a better radio antenna on the solstice?
hopefully the model we can buy will fix it
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ik 9:50PM (3/21/2008)
GM could spend money to improve a lot of things.
but as long as they have a loyal customer base who 'support' them, why should they? So many people consider 'big3' or 'gm made' to be a prerequisite for their purchase candidates. GM has no incentive to improve the product if the equilibrium point rests where product quality is at right now.
if people want to see better american cars, they should vote with their dollars. eliminate brand loyalty -> buy the best product regardless of company or origin.
Pokey 10:12PM (3/21/2008)
GM could spend money to improve a lot of things.
but as long as they have a loyal customer base who 'support' them, why should they? So many people consider 'big3' or 'gm made' to be a prerequisite for their purchase candidates. GM has no incentive to improve the product if the equilibrium point rests where product quality is at right now.
if people want to see better american cars, they should vote with their dollars. eliminate brand loyalty -> buy the best product regardless of company or origin.
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That's the most nonsensicle comment I've seen on here in a while!
Have you ever stopped to consider that people are loyal to GM because they actually LIKE their vehicles? Same could be said for Toyota.
Toyota has stolen alot of customers from GM, and GM has definetly noticed. That's why GMs quality has improved considerably in the past couple years, because people HAVE been voting with their wallets for quite some time now. I think the General is finally starting to catch on as to why this is happening. Meanwhile, Toyota's quality has gone down the crapper, all because of this "brand loyalty" that you speak of.
If brand loyalty has ruined any company, it is Toyota.
3seriesisking 11:57PM (3/21/2008)
Pokey,
I was in agreement with you until you said
"GM has no incentive to improve the product if the equilibrium point rests where product quality is at right now."
The consumer is constantly demanding higher product quality. People who bought a GM vehicle 5-10 years ago may be loyal to their brand but will still demand a higher quality vehicle as compared to what they currently have. GM has done a lot to improve product quality already, just look where the Malibu, Cadillacs, etc. are now in quality and competitiveness in the market as compared to 5 years ago.
HotRodzNKustoms 9:38PM (3/21/2008)
Yeah that radio antenna placement has me a bit concerned... but it is completely absent in the press shots.
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Blake 9:50PM (3/21/2008)
Is a "DLSR" kinda like a DSLR?
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3seriesisking 9:58PM (3/21/2008)
Has to be a typo.
Blake 9:59PM (3/21/2008)
No worries. My dyslexia read that perfectly.
iQuack 10:27PM (3/21/2008)
The Malibu floor mats on the Saturn remind me of a friend's then new 1963 Plymouth Valiant that had a Dodge Dart's logo in its steering wheel center--or maybe it was the Valiant's steering wheel logo on his wife's Dart convertible of the same year.
Those were excellent cars despite some superficial sloppiness.
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Daniel 1:29AM (3/22/2008)
haha impressive memory
TORR 9:20AM (3/22/2008)
Having worked in the car business, it is not uncommon to see mistakes like the Malibu floormat in the Saturn. I once went to get in a Dodge Caravan on the drivers side and once in the seat noticed it had a plymouth steering wheel cover. I got out and went to the passenger side and everything said plymouth even the wheel covers! On the driver's side it was dodge. Same thing a couple years later with a Toyota Corolla, one side said Geo Prizm! Or the half silverado, half sierra!
Dolemite 10:52PM (3/21/2008)
Damn, the ZR1 looks amazing...
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3seriesisking 11:59PM (3/21/2008)
My apologies, my former comment was addressed to Ik, not Pokey.
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Luis 12:34AM (3/22/2008)
It's nice to see you guys have a sense of humor...keep up the great work.
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iQuack 1:37AM (3/22/2008)
Funny how I remember things like that but forget where I put the keys to my Accord which is 41 years newer than the '63 Valiant;-).
Mobius_1 7:05AM (3/22/2008)
That Ferrari looks even better on its own, and as for that "Jesus" guy, lol!
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mr.ed 9:59AM (3/22/2008)
My mother had a '58 PHYMOUTH. My dad's '68 Dodge wagon had a Plymouth badge on the glovebox door, and a repainted tailgate a shade lighter than the original, evidently a leftover from another year. Nothing new from Dee-troit.
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Ben K. 11:00AM (3/22/2008)
The same GM plant in KC builds the Saturn Aura and Chevy Malibu. Once in a while parts get installed on the wrong car. Some parts aren't interchangeable, but floor mats are! An oversight one someone's job. The two cars are very much alike, which is why it is hard to understand why the Malibu is selling so much better with no incentives. While the Aura was introduced last year and routinely has $1,500 - $2,000 rebates. Regardless they are both much improved, alot of quality is perception to begin with.
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dpb! 2:33PM (3/22/2008)
Great post Damon. I hope to see a post like this after every auto show, highly entertaining!
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