Recent Comments:
Subaru's diesel boxer {Autoblog}
Sep 30th 2006 5:31PM #3, your generalization is unfair. I've have a couple of legacys now over 200k, and subaru's 2.2L EJ22 is considered one of the most durable engines ever engineered. The 2.5L have had head gasket problems, which have since been resolved.
The problem that you're noticing is not with the engine, but with the owners. People who purchased Imprezza turbos beat the living snot out of their cars; i've yet to meet an owner who didn't drive one like a maniac.
The second hand market for those is like a killing field.
Too Fast, Too Furious... Too 2004? {Autoblog}
Apr 29th 2006 6:00AM #3, for most people (ie, the majority, middle class people, who average $35k a year) the economy is much worse than it was even 5 years ago.
Jobs creation has been lower than any time since the 1940s. Real purchasing power has declined -- gas is $3 a gallon, which makes a real dent in discretionary spending at these income levels.
Tarted-up rice racers are pretty much the domain of the younger set, not the folks who have been the beneficiary of large tax breaks. So it is no surprise that under these conditions the market would recede a bit.
I agree that the civic generation is over -- too expensive, bloated and associated with "old".
Perhaps the Fit and Versa will do a bit better with this crowd -- they're cheap, easy on the gas, and apparently handle well.
Video: Would you buy a vehicle from the 'King of Cars'? {Autoblog}
Apr 26th 2006 3:01PM one fascinating point that my wife made is that there isn't even one woman working in that entire dealership... it looks like a frightening work environment, and I cannot imagine in my wildest nightmares buying a car there. Even if i got a "good deal", i'd feel like i somehow got screwed.
Oil tops $75/bbl to conclude week of record prices {Autoblog}
Apr 23rd 2006 9:25PM iQuack, you're obviously partisan to the core, and are blind to the issues being discussed here, so i'm not sure why i'm even bothering to respond.
70% of the people in the country believe that bush is failing. These are not "radicals" or "communists" or whatever epithet you'd likely use, just regular people who are trying to commute to work every day.
The facts are simple. Most oil comes from the middle east. The middle east is in serious turmoil. Much of which in the past 5 years is a direct result of the Bush administration's policies and their misguided war of choice.
It should be no surprise to anyone that oil prices are both volitile and high -- how could they not be?
The area has always been volitile, but other presidents (including bush the elder) have been able to keep a lid on it, in order to minimize pain to most americans.
Bush's failure sucks for all of us, but it's time that we think creatively about how to resolve the situation, not deny that it exists and that everything is OK.
Subaru planning diesel models for 2007 {Autoblog}
Mar 29th 2006 8:39PM
it would be nice to see some real innovation from subaru, their trip "upscale" while exciting has started to alienate their traditional fan base
Here in vermont every 3rd car is a subaru, though you see comparatively fewer late-models, as they are getting pricy and are extremely thirsty.
A diesel would be a hit, provided it was clean and was easy to start at arctic temperatures.
a diesel hybrid would be an even bigger smash.
Loud pipes beware - photo enforcement now targeting noise violators {Autoblog}
Mar 19th 2006 2:12PM This is a good thing, as long as its evenly enforced. Anyone with "da boomin' system" cranking out deafening tunes should be ticketed as well, yes?
In fact, i'd gather that stereo violations are going to be much more common than exhaust.
Toyota buys GM and other improbables {Autoblog}
Mar 18th 2006 9:08AM Toyota would gain nothing from the purchase. GM is circling the drain; Toyota would be far better off letting GM go chapter 11, and just pick up some of their assets if that's what they are after. Get all of the good stuff, none of the bad.
Pontiac Torrent awash in criticism from USA Today {Autoblog}
Feb 20th 2006 2:12PM We need more reviews like this one. This harkens back to the golden age of automotive journalism, when writers weren't afraid to call it as they see it.
I suspect he won't be invited back to a GM press junket anytime soon. But he did his job -- saving consumers from needless pain.
"Saving scouring" on Saab {Autoblog}
Feb 13th 2006 9:04PM i just had the pleasure of renting a hyundai sonata, and GM really should be sweating. It was a $16k car that had an interior that was -- at the very least -- the equal of the Saab in the review.
Who on earth is in charge at Saab these days?!
Flint on GM bankruptcy rumors: Enough! {Autoblog}
Feb 5th 2006 5:19PM Two things,
First, if they have such deep cash reserves, they should immediately start offering 10-year warranties across the board. Offering up such a warranty would be reassuring for multiple reasons, as it speaks to the quality of the car, and GM's health. If their product is that good, it won't dent their massive reserves, right?
Second, as you read a couple of stories down, GM just embarked on the biggest IT project in history. Outsourced, no less. Flint didn't mention this interesting use of capital in his piece.
Most IT projects fail. Particularly the grandiose ones. GM has been a dysfunctional organization for as long as I've been buying cars, what are the odds of this actually succeeding? And if it doesn't, won't it accelerate their slide into bankruptcy?
