Recent Comments:
Detroit 2008: Toyota Venza crossover to challenge Edge, Murano {Autoblog}
Jan 14th 2008 11:47AM Did anyone tell the new Highlander about this...
Mitsubishi releases "official" details on Lancer Ralliart {Autoblog}
Dec 19th 2007 2:58PM I have a hard time buying this; it sounds much too similar to the Evo and, consequently, much too expensive. There's a big gap between the $15k 150hp base model and the $35k 300hp Evo and this level of equipment doesn't seem feasible for a $25k WRX competitor.
SEMA 2007: Cobalt SS Turbo in the clear {Autoblog}
Oct 30th 2007 2:25PM Slightly off-topic, I know, but this really makes Saab's 2.0T look lametastic. How did this not also make it in the 9-3? With 260 hp and 260 lb-ft, it even gives the 2.8 V-6 turbo in the Aero a run for its money.
On topic, I really, really like this car, in large part because it's the perceived underdog of the sport compact car class. Plus, I actually dig the subdued styling, especially the lower rear spoiler, because it gives it a bit of a sleeper look that is generally lacking in this category.
Big Three market share steadily running toward empty {Autoblog}
Oct 23rd 2007 6:47PM Notice the 'other' category increasing substantially over the same time period? I'd guess a lot of that is Hyundai/Kia, and despite all of the press Toyota gets for taking sales away from the big 3, I think the Korean twins are even more responsible for the decline.
I think the domestic companies largely adopted a strategy that effectively ceded most of the upper-medium part of the market to the imports who generally charged a higher price anyway. By playing the value card, they could get away with not having to compete directly with the Japanese on quality and keep volumes up. However, the Koreans show up and quickly become the value leader. Now Joe Average Customer is faced with three choices:
1) Buy Japanese and pay a little more for quality, or
2) Buy Korean and get the most bang for the buck, or
3) Buy American because you or your parents always used to
Obviously there are exceptions to this scenario, and things are quickly changing with GMs resurgence, Toyota's recent CR ratings, and Hyundai producing $30k+ vehicles, but I think the Koreans don't get enough credit for delivering a severe if not knockout blow to the domestic manufacturers.
2008 Honda Accord priced at $20,360 {Autoblog}
Sep 11th 2007 3:25PM And in other news, Steve Jobs has been consulting Honda on pricing strategies... no confirmation yet on the size of the rebate checks to be delivered to early adopters in December '07.
Future Classic: 1991-94 Nissan Sentra SE-R {Autoblog}
Apr 26th 2007 11:46AM Though I wasn't a subscriber when I was twelve, I bought a 2nd hand '92 SE-R in 1999 as my first car. Even with 92k miles on it and a variety of other minor issues, the car was an absolute blast to drive. I really, really wish I still had it.
One thing that the article doesn't mention is the fact that the 2.0 liter produces considerably more torque than the smaller displacement Civic Si's of the '90s (In fact, hp/torque output was quite similar to the current base Civic engine, a testiment to how advanced this powerplant really was in the early '90s) This, compared with the fact that it didn't look much different from a garden variety Sentra SE coupe (save for the wheels & foglights), made the SE-R quite a sleeper. You could surprise quite a few drivers at stoplight drag races with the SE-R.
Shanghai Auto Show: Geely Mybo II concept {Autoblog}
Apr 20th 2007 2:09PM Baby's got (Saturn Sky) back.
Chicago Auto Show: Maserati officially launches Trident Discoveries CPO program {Autoblog}
Feb 8th 2007 1:51PM "...and have not logged more than 90,000 miles".
"We are not an exotic."
Indeed.
Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet's Malibu gets a makeover {Autoblog}
Jan 9th 2007 12:40PM Re: Something is wrong with this platform...
If you take a closer look at the specs between the two you'll see that the backseat accomodations with respect to head & especially leg room are larger on the GM platform. Moreover, with the fullsize spare, the Altima's trunk shrinks from 15.3 to 13.1 cubic feet, smaller than the Aura's 14.9. There's nothing wrong here, you're just seeing different design/engineering priorities.
You may have something with the muffler arrangement, though I would strongly suspect that the GM cars are configured this way for cost reasons (production & ownership), not for lack of space.
Bush meets with Big Three, has open ear but no commitments {Autoblog}
Nov 14th 2006 4:10PM As I see it, the likely net effect of the combination of higher material & labor costs is that the domestic auto companies will continue to move production elsewhere (Re: Ford's Mexico plants, the Daewoo Aveo). Perhaps that's not that much different from what other US companies have been doing over the years, but it's hardly desirable. At least there IS a way to respond to these ever increasing challenges, however detrimental to the US those responses may be.
But what really makes me mad is the currency manipulation. How can that possibly be justified? For what reasons would any sovereign nation give foreigners a $3-9k subsidy to have the pleasure of reaping the benefits from their economy? It's insane, disabling, and something absolutely needs to be done about it. Wait until the Chinese start importing, they'll really show the US how to manipulate currency.
