Recent Comments:
First Aussie hoon to lose his car for life {Autoblog}
Apr 5th 2007 9:52PM Bash Toyota all you want, maybe he should have been driving a Pontiac GTO, you know the ones GM imports from Austrailia of all places and then sells to people thinking they're buying American. Or, has this terrific vehicle been discontinued there already as they have here. Like I've said before, take a tour of the world, but before you do get used to seeing Toyotas!
Lutz says Bush fuel standards will raise car prices by $5k {Autoblog}
Apr 4th 2007 11:40PM Boo hoo for US automakers. Are they they only ones that will be obliged to adhere to these new mandates? The way they always cry so much you'd sure think so. As for Ethanol-this is a myth. Vehicles run on ethanol get lower milage. Check out the lobbying the corn growers have done. Our aquifiers are running dry just trying to grow food to feed cows for our addiction to flesh foods and will never stand up to the enormous amounts needed to produce ethanol. But what better way to make the rest of the world hate us even more-instead of feeding the millions starving (women and children), we'll use our land, water, and alot of energy, to grow plants to fuel our gas guzzling vehicles. Whatever the supply of this world's oil supply may be, large or small, most scientists agree our most pressing issue is how much more the atmosphere can absorb. Maybe US auto manufacturers would be better off cash wise if they didn't spend so much lobbying to keep MPG requirements low. You reap what you sow.
Mulally makes some friends, sells some cars at Dearborn dealership {Autoblog}
Mar 27th 2007 10:16PM far jr, yes I am 100% correcty about the origins of the Fusion and the most discusting thing about these facts is that Ford dealerships DO NOT make this crystal clear to potential customers, and some as with our local dealership actually advertise them as American made. And while some Camrys may be imported from Japan, the VAST majority of those I've looked at from dealerships to supermarket parking lots all start their VIN # with a 1 which means USA. Why didn't you mention anything about the resale values which I am 100% correct on as well? In as far as Scion goes, it's impressive to see at least one company, that being Toyota,which still has vehicles that are 100% made in one country, that being Japan. Find ONE domestically labeled vehicle that can make the claim of 100% anywhere. The Chevy Aveo comes closest at 99%, but that being Korean sure isn't going to be broadcast by GM.
GM Daewoo investing another $3.2 billion {Autoblog}
Mar 27th 2007 9:34PM If GM can invest 3.2 BILLION in a Korean company that employs Koreans, then, as the saying goes "What's good for GM is good for America", I'll invest my tiny sum of 35 to 40 grand in a foriegn company as well. This country could sure use all the money GM has and is investing in China as well.
Mulally makes some friends, sells some cars at Dearborn dealership {Autoblog}
Mar 27th 2007 9:01PM Hey Ralphie, thanks for the comment. With Ford in such dire straights it's amazing to think their CEO has time to give from keeping this sinking ship afloat to stand in a Dearborn area dealership selling a few cars. And congratulations for selling that Ford Fusion to Nancy Miner Alan! Did you present it as an "American" made vehicle the way they do it at our local dealership? Let's see, This car is made in Mexico, Japanese transmission, and a paltry 30% US/Canadian parts content. The Camry on the other hand, made in US, American made engine, and 75% US/Canadian parts content. I wonder if Alan had told her the truth about this car in that it's production had little to do with anyone in the Michigan area aside from the Fatcats at the corporate office if she'd of still bought it. Just looked in the Kelly Blue Book-Nancy sure isn't going to enjoy the same resale value the Camry gives over the Fusion either. Now is this the car Ford's going to rename the Maverick, or Pinto, or Festiva (can you speak rebadged Kia) as they will be doing with the floundering 500 going back to being called a Tauris? Alan better get back to the drawing board and off the sales floor. And Alan-you ARE going to miss your Lexus! 2006 Lexus LS430 sells new for $57,175. One year later it still brings back to it's proud owner $50,800, or a most impressive 88.8% of it's original cost. On the other hand, a 2006 Lincoln Town Car Signature L sold for $51,345. And only 1 year later limps in at a total return of $35,500. That's only 69.1% of what I would describe as a total ripoff. And now Lincolns are imports from Mexico as well!
Spy Shots: Corvette SS "Blue Devil" - will it debut in New York? {Autoblog}
Mar 26th 2007 8:33PM The last new Corvettes I looked at were made up of a whopping 80% US AND Canadian parts content. So "No NameDenton", considering I doubt very highly there are no Canadian parts on this car, making the Vette less than 80% American, maybe before you label this a "Premier" AMERICAN car you ought to go find out where the remaining mystery of parts come from (you are going to be very surprised) on this car and then title it as a mongrel, which is the truth!
Rendered Speculation: 2009 Toyota Land Cruiser {Autoblog}
Mar 26th 2007 7:51PM Nobody tells Bill Gates what to do, and even if you don't like Toyota, (considering GM, Ford, or any other car manufacturer for that matter would die for their spead sheet) STOP LIVING IN DENIAL! The Landcruiser is a living legend. Check out Ebay and see what these 1970's vehicles are fetching compared to Jeep. Travel throughout the backroads of third world nations where repair shops are nonexistant and money to pay for parts is even in shorter supply. Where AAA and towtrucks are dreams. What you'll see are Toyotas getting it done. And when you get back, go take a look at Kelly Blue Book or better yet, ask ANY used car dealership what brand stands out in highest resale value. A freind who sells used cars told me it's almost impossible to obtain a used Toyota to make a profit on because they bring such a high return most folks opt to just buy new. Toyotas have treated me beyond anything any of my freinds have experienced and now ironically enough, most of them have switched too. When our family outgrew our Previa, we were forced to buy a 15 passenger Ford van. I thought at least I was buying American but when making closer looks, the thing was loaded with Canadian and Mexican parts-that was easy to take. I'm still crying about the beating I took getting back just over half of what I spent in resale value just under 3 years later.
2008 Ford Crown Victoria to be fleet-only, new features offered for police version {Autoblog}
Mar 25th 2007 9:57PM Who on earth could actually be interested in a Crown Vic with all the other offerings out there? Ford is on the way out and they can bury this ark along with all their mini vans-which they've given up on as well. If Ford, being the genious company so many on this blog believe to be, loves a Japanese company (Mazda) so much to not only invest so heavily in but also build so many of their vehicles on Mazda platforms, then I guess I'll follow their lead and visit the local Mazda dealership.
Why are all these Hondas being recalled? {Autoblog}
Mar 23rd 2007 6:45PM Nice job Jason. What I don't understand is why all these idiots blast Honda, which has had FAR less recalls percentage wise for what they've built compared to GM or Ford or Chrysler for that matter, but never say a word about GM using Honda engines in the Saturn Vue! I've been around long enough to remember quite vividly when Saturn was started and GM's own words in regards to this company were that they were "Going to "out-Japanese the Japanese". Considering they have fallen well short of accomplishing this goal, the very idea of buying other than US company built equipment especially in regards to something as the "heart" of an automobile is about as bad as it can get. If Honda is as bad as these dedicated "domestic" (that's a lie) fans claim, GM is even worse. Where's GM and Ford at the Grandest Race of All, the Indy 500? Blown out by Honda, that's where. Honda powers every car that even enters now, something niether GM or Ford could ever accomplish. All these guys are probably still think Harley, complete with Japanese parts on every new bike they sell, is so far superior to Honda motorcycles. Well, Honda showed up at Daytona way back in 69, won that race and many, many more since then. Harley's record since then? NOT ONE WIN! OR TOP 3 finish! Blast Honda all you want. They'll still be here long after the only GM products will be coming from China!
One badge to rule them all: Chevy to unify model names globally {Autoblog}
Mar 22nd 2007 10:47PM A NEW NAME FOR GM considering:
1. Aveo, 99% Korean, built by Daewoo
2. Metro, compliments of Suzuki
3. Prism, essentially a California-built Toyota Corolla
4. Tracker, another gift from Suzuki
5. Chevy Luv? Hello Isuzu
6. Seniors Avalanche & HHR, greetings from Mexico
7. Equinox, good for delivering Chinese food
8. Monte Carlo & Impala, OH CANADA!
9. Caddys with French cuisine, LA TRANSMISSION
10. Corvette, 20% of it is not even US or Canadian
11. GTO, shrimp on the barbi from Austrailia
12. Vibe, did I mean Matrix?
13. Vue, with a heart from Honda
Sounds like the Walmart of the Automotive World!
How does one put a name to a mongrel??????????
