Recent Comments:
National Motorists Association ranks states most hostile to drivers {Autoblog}
May 22nd 2009 8:56AM One of the nice things about most motorship clubs (like AAA) is that they give you bail bond certificates that allow you to surrender your membership card instead of your license.
I'm not sure if it works in every state, but I've heard of people getting pulled for speeding in Iowa using it (despite the officer being whiney about it) because they were seeing friends and didn't want to lose their state-ID because they were going clubbing/drinking.
Ford counting on the "B" word to score conquest sales {Autoblog}
Apr 19th 2009 1:39PM Also, Adam...
"um the Malibu doesn't have better mileage then the 2010 fusion?"
Check again: http://twitpic.com/3ls47
2010 Ford Fusion 4 cylinder gets official EPA numbers, 23/34 mpg! {Autoblog Green}
Apr 19th 2009 1:39PM Um, you might want to recheck those numbers ABG... We just got a 2010 fusion SEL with 4-cyl/6-speed... and the mileage on the sticker is 22/31
Photo evidence: http://twitpic.com/3ls47
Ford counting on the "B" word to score conquest sales {Autoblog}
Apr 17th 2009 1:08PM *shrug* The Fusion is cheaper than the Malibu. When test driving the two, it's not hard to find out why.
The "I don't like the interior that much on the Malibu" thing is rather subjective, and things like the "I don't like the way the turn signal stalk/radio buttons in the malibu feels" is scraping the /top/ of the complaint barrel. (Besides. the cheap door locking mechanism and buttons on the Fusion undermine any complaints of Malibu cheap tackiness ;)
I respectfully maintain my position that the Malibu is a better car. Not an "OMG, this thing blows the fusion out of the water!!11" better car, but more of a "I'd be a bit more comfortable taking myself and two friends on a 50 mile trip" car (and I live in Atlanta, where that happens frequently). To me, it's just a smoother, quieter car. Thus, if they were offering both for the same price, I'd opt for the Malibu. Other people might not, and that's their choice and I doubt I'd find any issue with it.
Ford counting on the "B" word to score conquest sales {Autoblog}
Apr 17th 2009 11:21AM I don't think it will be that simple. Chrysler will definitely lose a lot of market share on their cars, but I think GM will be more a problem for Ford, because GM is I think turning out some of the highest quality stuff I've seen in a long time, nicer than Fords stuff, and it's all going on fire-sale.
Thus, people in the mood for an American car will probably see if they can get a deal on a Malibu/Cobalt/Equinox/Traverse and will only move on to a Fusion/Focus/Edge/Explorer if they can't get the Chevy dealers to budge.
I say this because my partner has been car shopping and this is exactly his plan. The Malibu is nicer than the 2010 Fusion (better gas mileage, better interior quality, more room, smoother, quieter, nicer speakers (although the ford definitely has the nicer head unit)) and he's gonna try for a 4-cyl LTZ for cheap with the 4-cyl fusion SEL as a backup.
It's actually kind of sad. GM is, I feel, cranking out nicer stuff than a lot of other manufacturers and slapping money on the hood. It's just that a lot of people have gotten burned by GM in the past and don't even feel like looking at them anymore and now they are in dire straights.
Either way, good luck to all of 'em.
First Drive: 2010 Mazda3 - More grins, inside and out {Autoblog}
Apr 13th 2009 1:31PM I was severely disappointed by the lack of rear /headroom/ in both the civic coupe/sedan and the tC. So I'm surprised to see complaint about legroom, something that can be changed with the movement of a front seat, when the cars people are lauding have fixed headliners (or worse, rear glass) that can't be adjusted. And no, the tCs wonky reclining backrest things didn't help because of the way the glass was raked.
And you know what else sucks in rear leg room? The C30/S40/V50, The lexus IS, the Caddilac CTS, and the BMW 3 series. It was comfier in the back of a Yaris, xD and kia soul than it was in the buttery smooth leather coffins of the smallish luxury sportymobiles.
They're compacts. The front driver is gonna have to scoot up a bit to allow the 6'something friend to wiggle their knees behind them. If you want more space, get the 6/camry/accord/malibuick/cuv/minivan. Then you can complain about the handling effects of the longer wheelbase.
Wassership Down: VW seen euthanizing the Rabbit. Again. {Autoblog}
Mar 25th 2009 4:35PM VW USA tried to go for cheap/fun/reliable but couldn't wager out the fact that German parts (especially the Bosche crap on VW/Audi/Porsche) tends to be more expensive without being any more reliable.
Thus, the people looking for something a bit spicier/nicer than a Toyota out of college 5 years ago got a VW and then got rid of it in disgust three years later when VW USA weaseled out of warranties on these costly parts and maintenance fees on what was supposed to be a 'cheap' car.
The only thing that could get VW into my esteem would be a Hyundai warranty.
Hyund-"eh" Genesis wins Canadian Car of the Year Award {Autoblog}
Feb 16th 2009 7:28AM Congratulations Hyundai!
An Jonathan: Ow!
It is too early in the morning for such puns.
Screw the economy, Audi orders up another Super Bowl commercial {Autoblog}
Dec 11th 2008 8:57AM "It used to be, that if you were a cock, you drove a BMW... but now, if you are a cock you drive an Audi... so now normal people with a penchant for RWD performance can start driving BMWs again without fear of a nasty reputation"
Mazda set to expand range {Autoblog}
Oct 16th 2008 3:33PM I am still holding out for the Kabura/MX4 to show up sometime. I thought it was gorgeous and I loved the idea of 3+1 seating.
It seems perfect for the cheap FR market that Hyundai is re-opening and Nissan/Toyota seems to be gearing-up-for.
