Autoblog Podcast #127
by Dan Roth on May 14th 2009 at 4:15PM 
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Chris, Sam, and Dan kick it for Episode #127 of the Autoblog Podcast. Of course, there are the usual tangents around the topics, which this week include BMW's new Z4, a poll about Hybrids, Chrysler's bankruptcy, Toyota's losses, Opel's new Astra and the possibility of General Motors building US-market cars in China, and we make time for some questions at the end. It's an hour show this week, and a chock-full one at that. Next week, it's a reader-question edition, so get your emails rolling in to podcast at autoblog dot com and we'll see you next week! Thanks for listening!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David 4:44PM (5/14/2009)
Good bye America!
Harley-Davidson weighing moving production plant (China)
General Motors building US-market cars in (China)
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SilverAero 5:44PM (5/14/2009)
Guys
Fritz was quoted with that statement regarding his fear of losing the new 9-5 because it's so good was released to help put more confidence in Saab's bidders.
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XGM 6:11PM (5/14/2009)
Id be ready to have a car with the bare bone basics. Thinking about it, it just needs to be a cheaper Lotus.
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Art 6:25PM (5/14/2009)
JUST wanna point out. John, I think, called like 30% of the reader base morons.
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SilverAero 7:22PM (5/14/2009)
I'd say that there is some legitimacy to that statement.
Art 7:23PM (5/14/2009)
ofcourse there is, it's just not necessarily all that wise
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CMDR 9:00PM (5/14/2009)
Much more enthusiastic! Bravo, Dan. (really)
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CMDR 9:04PM (5/14/2009)
This pessimism about the auto industry is such a downer, its good to see you guys didn't dwell on it for too long this week.
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Idiot 10:42AM (5/15/2009)
Not even 10 minutes in to this show, we learned that:
"People are idiots."
These would be people like me, who would like a low-cost hybrid. The remark earned appreciative giggles.
"They do more research when they're buying a dishwasher or refrigerator than when they're buying a car."
I thought that was why I was listening to this show. My mistake, I guess. I promise you it won't happen again.
Obviously, your stupid listeners don't measure up.
Basically I'm fed up with all the name-calling. I'll check back in a few months and see if you can get through a show without calling people morons, idiots and liars.
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dan.roth 10:29AM (5/15/2009)
Aw, c'mon - painting with a broad brush. People *ARE* uninformed, and we *DO* talk about lower-cost hybrids. The cheapest Hybrid you're likely to find right now is the Insight, or a used Prius, which have remarkable performance longevity.
Don't take everything so personally!
-D
Chris Shunk 11:13AM (5/15/2009)
I think we made valid points regarding hybrids. The public at large just doesn't get it. In the Prius, for example, I'd bet that the battery costs are higher than the cost of the raw materials used to make the automobile. Plug-in hybrid batteries that use Lithium will cost more than the materials and labor combined.
Expecting "cheap" hybrids is one thing. Wanting that hybrid to cost less than a comparable gasoline-only vehicle is idiotic and unreasonable. And I think tax breaks for small-scale hybrid production is fine, but once we get to real volume, that will go away. Once hybrid tech goes mainstream, the government should take a hands-off approach, and let the free market take over.
And hybrid tech will ALWAYS be more expensive than the gasoline-only equiv, even with economies of scale. With hybrids, you'll always need both an engine and a battery/e-motor combo.
And I agree with Dan in saying that you shouldn't take things so personally. We try to keep it real on the podcast, and while we don't want to openly offend anyone, sometimes our comments are heated. At least you know where we stand. We love that people listen and we REALLY love getting the comments. We read every one, and discuss most of them on the show.
Idiot 11:28AM (5/15/2009)
OK, now you guys are walking back the snark and sounding more reasonable/adultish.
There's a difference between saying "people are uninformed" and spitting out vitriol like "people are idiots!"
Calling people idiots is kind of personal, no? But if we object, we're "taking it personally." Clearly idiots like me will never cut it with the Cool Kids.
If it matters, you might want to go back and listen to that statement's angry delivery, and the appreciative snickers. It That's been happening a lot lately.
I've never paid much attention to the names or titles of this podcast's participants, but I did enjoy the thorough car discussions and reviews. Then, a while back, it seems like the personnel changed and the show came down with Car & Driver syndrome – car talk interspersed with conservative politics.
I suppose that it's a lucrative demographic, and that you know what you're doing. I'll only posit that there are listeners who'd like the good car info and opinion without the snotty attitude and put-downs.
Dan Roth 11:51AM (5/15/2009)
Making a bombastic statement that "people are idiots" is clearly not directed at any one person, so no, I don't think you should take it personally. Reading the report about hybrids, and what the responses were to the poll, was aggravating. Everyone is convinced of things that they have *ZERO* understanding about.
Do you listen to the podcast regularly? We tend to talk at length and in depth about things. I'd also highly contest your opinion that we're conservative politically. I most certainly am not, and I don't get the impression that Sam or Chris are right-leaning, either.
So, yes, if you aren't an idiot, and you know it, then you're taking it too personally, and a show devoid of any personality or opinion is tedious to listen to.
Idiot 12:24PM (5/15/2009)
Thanks Dan. Throw a straw man at me.
"a show devoid of any personality or opinion is tedious to listen to."
Obviously I agree and never advocated that you sterilize the show. It used to have loads of personality and a lot less political anger.
"Making a bombastic statement that "people are idiots" is clearly not directed at any one person"
No, it's directed at thousands of people, some of whom might be your listeners.
In recent shows I've leaned that the President is a "liar" and that those of us who'd like to buy a low-cost hybrid vehicle are "idiots." All delivered with something approaching Michael Savage-like rage. But you aren't conservative.
It's just that if I want that kind of comment with no countervailing viewpoint aired, I'll go listen to my local AM radio ranter. As it is, I'm on edge these days listening to Autoblog, waiting for the inevitable snarky political jab.
I don't wish to get into a tit-for-tat spiral here. I'm just a listener offering criticism with citations. The blowback is in character with the way the show has evolved – personal put downs about "taking it personally" (ironic) and straw men about wanting to suppress personality and opinion. Whatever, guys. It's your show.
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CMDR 2:39PM (5/15/2009)
C'mon now "idiot" the content of the show isn't going to change just for you. There are many other automotive podcasts out there and maybe even room for you to start your own. You could call it "idiot forum" or maybe "automotive special ed"
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