Recent Comments:
Chrysler kills rebadge of Dodge Journey to work on small car {Autoblog}
May 13th 2008 2:48PM And in other news, large herds of pigs were seen flying over several major metropolitan areas this afternoon ...
Spy Shots: 2009 Mercedes-Benz E63 {Autoblog}
May 12th 2008 5:23PM I could be wrong, but I think Mercedes pioneered this trend in the 80s--the idea of having a small, medium, and large version of the same basic design. Look at the W201 190E, W124 300E, and the W140 flagship sedans and coupes of the late 80s/early 90s, for example.
Maximum Bob talks about Invicta and how not to rebadge cars {Autoblog}
May 1st 2008 1:59PM I see--sorry, I completely misunderstood your tone (darned Internets ... more smileys, people! No, please, not really).
Maximum Bob talks about Invicta and how not to rebadge cars {Autoblog}
May 1st 2008 1:41PM Funny, I don't remember knocking GM or praising Toyota. You must have me confused with someone else, or maybe you didn't see a comment a while back where I referred to the Lexus ES as a badge-engineered Camry. Either way, sarcasm falls flat when the accusation is just plain wrong.
I also said that the 9-3/G6 was an example of platform sharing, not badge engineering. I used it as an example of reuse done right, a compliment to GM.
Try reading my earlier comment again.
Maximum Bob talks about Invicta and how not to rebadge cars {Autoblog}
May 1st 2008 1:14PM Pluton, there's a big difference between platform sharing and badge engineering. Would you say the Volvo S40 is a badge-engineered Mazda3?
Platform sharing is good. It saves money that can be spent on better exterior design, future R&D, safety, etc. Badge engineering is where merely a different nose and badge = "different" car.
Platform sharing = Pontiac G6 / Saab 9-3
Badge engineering = Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5.
Let's hope Maxium Bob keeps his word.
Sorry, your SUV is now worthless {Autoblog}
Apr 30th 2008 10:56AM What's moronic about trying to turn a profit? For a good while there, it worked. Anyone could flip a house for profit. I don't think anyone expected, though, to turn their SUVs or any other cars around for profit, though.
That wasn't my point anyway. My point was that a lot of people who kept up with the Joneses by buying giant houses and cars they couldn't afford are getting screwed both ways now by the market. I have no sympathy.
And now more twits are going to buy them used on the market because they're cheap (see some of the comments below). Just like people justify buying crap from Wal-Mart because it's cheap. Who cares how it got to the store, right? Or what damage those houses or trucks or toys do to the environment, just as long as you can have whatever's bigger or better than your neighbor, right?
That kind of mentality is what led us into the economic mess we're in, why the US is going to become a manufacturing country for the up-and-coming super powers.
I don't doubt that some people need trucks for their business. But what percentage of truck and SUV sales have been practical purchases, comapred to the percentage of sales that have been for vanity or a false sense of safety? Face it: if we don't change, we're no better than the dinosaurs.
Sorry, your SUV is now worthless {Autoblog}
Apr 30th 2008 9:35AM That's a fantastic comment. All the big automakers need to use this situation to their advantage and get more efficient cars/tech on the road ...
I would add, too, that wagons still make an excellent choice for those who need the space!
Sorry, your SUV is now worthless {Autoblog}
Apr 30th 2008 9:32AM This must sting for the folks who have both McSUVs and McMansions they can't sell.
VW Passat R36 goes on sale in UK {Autoblog}
Apr 29th 2008 4:57PM But you can't haul your dog, several cases of beer, and camping gear in the M Roadster.
Would you like some apples with your oranges?
Spy Shots: Cadillac CTS Wagon! {Autoblog}
Apr 25th 2008 4:33PM I'd love to see this on the roads. It beats the 9-3 knockoff BLS any day. That said, I'd like to see an eventual comparo among this, the 3-series xi wagon, A4 Avant, and Saab Turbo X. Maybe at my place ... yeah, that would be a good place to hold it.
