Recent Comments:
Chrysler's financial arm no longer offering leases {Autoblog}
Jul 25th 2008 5:34PM I recently bought a used small pickup as a work truck for my cabin in the sticks of WY. It was purchased from a mega-dealer in SoCal. During one of our conversations the sales guy offered at the moment no one wants a large car or SUV. Said he's never seen anything like it in his 15 years selling cars at this dealer (they sell most all brands, foreign and domestic).
He also noted most of the people trading in their large cars and SUVs to buy 4-cylinder vehicles still owe big money on their trade-in. Also noted a lot of folks are doing whatever it takes to get out of their lease, just to put themselves in a 4-cylinder. As bad as it might be out there, taking that kind of hit on a vehicle you own money on does not make economic sense. In most cases you're smarter just to buy the gas.
He specifically mentioned Tahoes and Surburbans, but the worst was the Ford Expedition.
Although the price of gas has gone down in the past couple of weeks. I fear this thing has a lot more down side before it gets better.
Volvo denies reported dealer cuts {Autoblog}
Jul 15th 2008 7:11PM Those reading this that are old enough may remember when Porsche tried the same thing in the late '80s, the dealers sued the company for $2B and Porsche backed off. I imagine many of the mfgrs that are considering reducing their dealers are concerned about the dealer network rising up to counter with the same tactic.
Every dealer has a BIG investment and certainly doesn't want the rug pulled out. Not to mention the employees.
I saw my first C30 this weekend. Didn't give it a walk around, but to my eye it looked very nice from the back quarter. Certainly looks like the 1800 from the back and that's a good thing. Externally small.
MPG. I've got a '08 XC90 V8 that is two and a half months old. It now has over 9,000 miles. MPG on the highway is pretty consistent at 24-25 (high tank 25.5). In mixed city/freeway it's 18. Also towed a boat (~3000#) 1,200 miles and got 16. I need the tow and load ability and can live with the MPG I am getting.
Lock & Load: CTS-V to go hunting in Europe after all {Autoblog}
Jul 14th 2008 4:10PM This is much bigger than just the CTS-V. American mfgrs have been saying they want to break into foreign markets for decades yet fail to produce a product that completely folds into the market they are attempting to break into. This isn't rocket science. When GM attempted to sell the Corvette a number of years ago in Europe they were asked if they intended to build a RHD model, only to return the question with the deer in the headlights look.
Suppose Japan had attempted to sell only RHD models in the U.S. when it began it's steamroller assult in the late '60s. One or two is a unique thing (as per the RHD Rolls noted above), but if you are serious about inroads you HAVE to produce a product for the country you want to sell.
BTW, you can get a Subi in the U.S. with RHD, built to U.S. specs. It's for rural mailmen and the like.
James Garner recovering from mild stroke {Autoblog}
May 14th 2008 10:23PM He was certainly no slouch behind the wheel. During the filming of Grand Prix a factory paid test driver was following Mr. Garner and was told to catch up for better filming. He was reported to have said he was unable to catch him.
There are lots of possibilities in that story, but it also shows Mr. Garner could hold his own in a Grand Prix car.
GM offers up to $200 million to end American Axle strike {Autoblog}
May 9th 2008 11:22AM In a sense union demands are like corporate taxes (the U.S. has the highest in the world BTW).
A company only has so much money to work with (gross income, new stock offerings). Raise one part of that company's outlay (R&D, salaries, health care, taxes, etc) and that leaves less money for other things. A company w/out any one of those outlay expenses will have a significant advantage over one that does (taxes, union forced wages, health care, etc.). Cut too much R&D for example and future products cannot compete in the market and the company goes under.
Most things are variable - except taxes. If your tax burden is too great and you can't compete with others making your product, you move off shore or go under. It's why we don't make anything anymore.
The government's job is to create an environment which will allow business to grow and prosper, benefiting and strengthening the country at large. It should not tax that business into moving or closing. This is exactly why our government officials don't seem to get that lowering taxes, raises tax revenue.
Unions have a similar affect because their costs to the company, along with taxes, make the company less able to compete. Union officials should work to make the company stronger and more able to compete. Unfortunately, that goes against many of the hallmark demands unions make, but by doing so the company would be stronger and unions jobs more secure. Forcing a company to maintain jobs will never work in the long run.
SPOILER ALERT: Crashes aplenty at the Spanish Grand Prix {Autoblog}
Apr 28th 2008 11:14AM From the onboard camera did anyone else notice Heikki's hands when he knew nothing he could do was going to change that straight in shot at the tire barrier. It appeared he took his hands off the wheel placing them in his lap thereby preventing hand/arm injuries? Not saying that was his intent, but if so, well, what a great presence of mind.
Scott Speed goes truckin' with Red Bull wings {Autoblog}
Apr 3rd 2008 10:58AM I, too, agree with the C&D article, but I do remember the very first interview I saw of Scott in F1. His entire approach was one of today's American youth - Yo Dude, complete with appropriate hand signals.
Although that sort of thing is not looked down on too much in the U.S. anymore, in F1 you've got to be a lot more mature than that. Just witness any interview with any driver, and remember these guys are very young. No way would I have been able to give that mature an interview at that age.
We're talking very big money here and teams and sponsors, understandably, do not want the Yo Dude image projected.
Scott changed his approach as time went on, showing much more maturity, but you only get one chance to make a first impression and his getting off on the wrong foot certainly didn't further his standing and interaction with the team principals.
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy {Autoblog}
Mar 14th 2008 9:06PM First off, oil never loses it ability to lubricate. It's the additive package that's consumed.
Some time ago I monitored a Ford Explorer forum where the "when to change" argument loomed large. A fellow with an older Explorer ('93, 67K miles) offered up his vehicle for a test of synthetic oil if someone would pay for the spec lab analysis. Someone did. He first did a baseline spec lab test which ensured everything was okay - it was. He then changed the oil to Mobil One and a Fram filter. At 5K miles he changed the filter and again did a spec analysis. He did it again at 10K and again at 15K. Spec analysis indicated that at each 5K interval another 1/3 of the additive package had been consumed, but there were no other negative indications. So at 15K the additive package was used up and it was time for a change.
Another story. Good college friend owned a Jeep Cherokee 4cyl, 5spd. Lives at 6,500' so given the altitude-density he had to drive the crap out of it to maintain speed. Used off-the-shelf dino oil, changed every 5K. Engine lasted to 275K and did not use oil. His wife drove it five miles with the temp light on - no water. He junked it because the body was shot which is exactly why changing at 3K doesn't make sense - saving the engine for the next guy.
I change with Mobile One every 10K in my current Explorer which now has 200K. Runs fine, compression is good an it doesn't use oil between changes.
It's an old article for sure, but in July '96 Consumer Reports did a write up on oil changes. They used NYC taxis and during engine rebuilds checked all the internals then changed oil 6K using dino oil, and 12K using synthetic. At the end of the two year test there was no wear difference between the two, nor were there any failures that could be pointed at oil. They did not feel the synthetic test was valid because two of the three cars had failures not related to oil and they didn't feel one vehicle was a good enough test.
For the most part we change too often, chalking it up to cheap insurance and I admit it's a big mental jump to move from 3K to 10, but it works for me. It's a small part but I feel better knowing I don't recycle nearly as much oil as I used to and my vehicles don't seem to know the difference. When I was a kid it was normal to overhaul (or "top end job") at 65-75K. The mfgrs would have a class action suit if that happened today.
P. Diddy to help drunk celebs get home safe {Autoblog}
Mar 14th 2008 12:40PM O'Boy is there ever a joke in there waiting to get out.
Irony: Red light cameras a safety impediment {Autoblog}
Mar 14th 2008 12:31PM I'm not in favor of ANY toll roads. It's called a "public road system" for a reason. Feel the same way about our National Parks. A $20 entrance fee for a National Park! Are you serious. And I've got an MS in Natural Resources.
It's difficult to address this issue without getting political. It's always about "raising taxes" never about cutting spending. If ever anything in government is reduced the cry is "we can't afford it" by our elected officials. No one ever has asked me if I can afford the tax increases they keep heaping on to pay for ever increasing government - not to mention earmarks. I won't comment further because this is a real hot button with me and I have to watch myself or next thing I know I'll just "go off" on it.
