Recent Comments:
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy {Autoblog}
Jun 6th 2009 11:19AM You're correct, but at the same time the hyperfocus on driving share prices and meeting quarterly numbers is a HUGE part of the reason the country is where it is right now. And it's not just automakers. It's AIG and Washington Mutual and Home Depot and Starbucks.
The focus on short-term gain versus long-term value is the problem. Technically, both benefit the shareholders, but the thing is short-term gain cannot be sustained forever, and when it gets artificially inflated it tends to pop with disastrous results. It's not smart growth. It hollows out a company in so many ways.
Redefining "shareholder value" as, say, providing consistent growth over the long term, or not wiping out your 401k or your kids' college funds in the span of a few months, is where we need to go. And the best way to run a company for that kind of growth is to surprise and delight the end-user (in this case the carbuyer) with compelling products and experiences. The two are in no way incompatible.
REPORT: Independent Hummer sees alt-fuel model within five years, still looking at H4 {Autoblog}
Jun 4th 2009 3:00PM Dude, your points are all over the map.
First, there was a time when the ORIGINAL Hummer was cool, back in the day when Arnold had one converted for civilian use and the like. And some set of Americans were definitely won over by the H2, but a lot saw it as either tacky, an all-looks marketing gimmick, or both.
Second I'm guessing is some screed about not buying domestic? Uh, it's not as though Hummers were the only U.S.-built SUVs. Aside from Ford, GM, and Chrysler, let's not forget that BMW and Mercedes build their SUVs here (yeah, including the diesel versions). So do Honda, Nissan, Toyota...
Third, U.S. emission standards (particularly in California, which accounts for like 25% of all car sales in the country) are particularly harsh on particulate emissions, which are diesel's achilles heel. But more and more manufacturers are meeting and beating them. And the problem usually comes into play with 6 and 8-cylinders, which need urea treatment and all that that entails. 4-cylinders can and have passed without the need for such complicated aftertreatment equipment (see Jetta TDI).
REPORT: Independent Hummer sees alt-fuel model within five years, still looking at H4 {Autoblog}
Jun 4th 2009 12:49PM Wrong. AM General still produces the milspec HMMWV.
The Hummer brand being dumped by GM consists of the H2 and H3.
REPORT: Independent Hummer sees alt-fuel model within five years, still looking at H4 {Autoblog}
Jun 4th 2009 11:03AM Hummer would do well to basically ignore the H2 and all that baggage and focus on smaller, less luxo-flashy, go anywhere vehicles. In other words, go after the Wrangler.
And alternative powertrains make sense. He's right about that. A diesel or diesel-electric hybrid Hummer that pulls down 30+ MPG would change a lot of people's minds. And diesels and electric motors provide a lot of low-down torque, which is exactly what a competent offroader needs.
And a fully electric Hummer would be amazing. Offroading in near-silence, without the sound of the engine snarling in low gear. I honestly can't imagine what that would be like.
U.S. Air Force builds two crazy custom pony cars for recruiting {Autoblog}
Jun 3rd 2009 3:59PM 1) This is Trig Palin levels of retarded.
2) The X-1 should have been painted bright orange just like the original sound-barrier-breaking Bell X-1.
Rendered Speculation: Jaguar C-Type draws its claws {Autoblog}
Jun 3rd 2009 2:42PM Jaguar has needed this car forever. Looks like they're revisiting the F-Type idea from early this decade. About friggin' time.
Man Suspects Burglars Were Tipped Off by Out-of-Town Tweets {Switched.com}
Jun 1st 2009 5:10PM Read about this the other day and sorry, don't buy it. Statistics 101 teaches that correlation =/= causation. Unless someone was close enough to this guy to know where he lived, down to the street number, how would reading a status update on Twitter/Facebook lead to a break-in? And yeah, the robbery sucks, but who guys crying to ABC News over something like that?
And the last thing this world needs is another panic attack about how yet another thing isn't safe because the thieves/pirates/libruls/cannibals/swine flu will get ahold of it and then you'll be sorry.
Rumormill: 2012 Honda Civic details circulate {Autoblog}
May 22nd 2009 10:27AM Dear Honda - U.S. consumers no longer run screaming from hatchbacks. The success of the Mini, Mazda3, the new WRX, and YOUR OWN FIT have proven that in spades over the last 5-ish years.
Bring a sharp-looking five-door Civic over here and I promise it will sell. Hell, I'm probably going to be in the market around 2012/13, and I'd put one pretty high on my list. Sedan? No thanks. Owned one once. Never again.
100 Hyundai Equus sedans coming to U.S. dealers {Autoblog}
May 7th 2009 10:09PM I think the Equus would be a modest success if it came to the U.S. for around $50-55K, but honestly, I think they'd do better to set their sights somewhere else. The full-size luxo sedan market is a niche, and probably the most brand-conscious niche in the entire industry.
Personally, I'd prefer to see them go the other direction from the Genesis, and create a compact RWD luxury platform they can field against the 3-Series, A4, C-Class, etc. There's a lot more volume there and probably a lot more customers they can conquest.
NewCo? Will the Chrysler name remain after the Fiat alliance? [w/POLL] {Autoblog}
May 1st 2009 10:21PM @twallace
"If it wasnt for chrysler do you think that any type of retro car would even exist. The viper wouldnt exist and the most dominant car in all of drag racing history. Not to mention the Daytona 500 until they both legislated those cars right out because they were to dominant. What about the Hemi. You can say chrysler doesnt stand for anything good but they were visionaries that actually brought out cars with some style and a difference."
*******************************
Two things. First and most importantly, all those innovations occur WAY IN THE PAST. Pontiac's done some great stuff, too. So has Polaroid. But when you stop innovating and drift and get complacent (or miss the target) over and over again for decades, you squander whatever position that gave you.
Second, I never said they've never stood for anything good. But present-tense Chrysler (the brand...I still think there's some good left in Dodge and Jeep) is crap pure and simple.
*****************************
"Oh by the way ever seen a minivan driving down the road. Actually how many did you see? If it wasnt for chrysler they wouldnt even exist and how many families would be pissed about that. Just about all of them."
*****************************
So? The minivan was popular IN THE EIGHTIES. It's not a growth market. It's just not. Chrysler may have "invented" the market, but those days are way in the past. Again, you don't get a pass for that.
*****************************
"So maybe pull your head out of your you know what and start looking at things a little differently. Maybe after you get out of your toyota or whatever piece of crap you drive."
Rationally, you mean? Look, a homer attitude is well and good and all (I've rooted for years for the domestics to step up...Ford's the only one that seems to be making a decentish go of it)...but sooner or later these companies have to innovate and adapt, or die. Chrysler (again the brand) has no more relevance any more. The 300 was a flash in the pan and then they went and make that hideous new Sebring.
I'll take my piece of crap Mini over any Chrysler, any day.
