Recent Comments:
Bentley laptop takes brand whoring to new level {Autoblog}
Jul 22nd 2008 6:10PM Looks like a leather covered toilet seat.
Leaked slides preview GM's future {Autoblog}
Jul 18th 2008 11:06AM shethj
Judging from what I see in the NorthEast, people are moving away from SUVs (and crossovers) to sedans. This trend could account for the Camry stat you mentioned.
At $6.00/gallon those same people will move from larger sedans to compact cars. It's strictly a matter of finances.
I'd hardly call the Corolla a large car. Sure, it's bigger than the Yaris, but it is still a small sedan.
As for all those new crossovers you mentioned. I don't see as many of them as I saw just a couple of years ago. Maybe someone is buying them, but I'm seeing more new sedans than crossovers on the roads here. If crossovers aren't selling the North East where it snows, who is buying them?
MINI is capturing the "premium - compact" market and is a large contributor to BMW's record setting year. The "premium-compact" market barely existed until MINI. It will become a large market for those with cash, and wanting to "feel better" about the vehicle they drive.
GM should be building "premium" compact cars. Small, fun to drive, fuel-efficient cars with leather, NAV, soft-touch plastics, high-end audio, bluetooth and heated seats. These types of high-end small cars will become popular - it's only a matter of time.
GM isn't even thinking about that market, and again, GM will be caught flat-footed when the market, once again, bites them in the ass.
Leaked slides preview GM's future {Autoblog}
Jul 18th 2008 10:09AM Too many people here are defending these designs as the "right size" and more fuel efficient than their predecessors.
This is the thinking that got GM where it is today.
GM needs to start designing cars as if gas prices are at $6.00/gallon. That is where gas prices will be when these new models arrive.
The cruze is the only thing that looks like it might be small enough - maybe.
I see people here justifying 26-28 MPG. That's a joke. My mother's (large) Toyota Avalon got 28 MPG 4 years ago when she bought it.
GM needs to accept that the "American sized" car is going away. Cars the size of the MINI and Yaris will be the new norm. GM should be targeting OVER 30 MPG for every new design...small, powerful engines, small size, and LOW WEIGHT.
Volkswagen Golf Mk VI not U.S.-bound? {Autoblog}
Jun 16th 2008 2:00PM After owning two miserable Jettas and Golfs I can say this to VW:
Keep your cars. With your quality and dealership problems, you won't have many repeat customers anyway.
Yeah, I'm bitter.
-ted
Iacocca FTW! Chrysler to honor former exec with rally {Autoblog}
Jun 10th 2008 8:39PM Iacocca FTW?
Am I reading Digg?
Rumormill? Infiniti G37 sedan coming in 2009 {Autoblog}
Jun 2nd 2008 1:20PM I just got out of my car today (07 G35X) and thought an extra gear (or two) would be nice on the highway. 3100 RPM at around 80 MPH is a little high. The torque characteristics of the VQ series engine could easily allow around 2500 RPM for highway cruising and maybe push the mileage up into the high 20's instead of the mid 20's.
Mileage has been my only complaint about this car - it didn't really need more power, but hey - the more the merrier!
-ted
Wörthersee 2008: VW Golf GTI Performance study on display {Autoblog}
May 22nd 2008 4:58PM I think I threw up a bit of my lunch.
-ted
Hiroshi Tamura gives us closer look at 2009 Nissan Maxima {Autoblog}
May 21st 2008 4:17PM Why would anyone buy this over a G35? The G35 is only slightly more, it's rear drive, and is serviced by Infiniti dealers not Nissan dealers.
Even after the redesign, this car has very little reason to exist.
-ted
Volkswagen to offer three-years of free maintenance on 2009 models {Autoblog}
May 12th 2008 7:47PM My wife had a MKIV Jetta with the 2.0L motor, and I had a MKIV Golf with the 1.8T. We were at the dealer every 3 months during our ownership of the vehicles mostly for check engine lights and interior parts breaking constantly.
(My personal favorite was the PLASTIC water pump impeller that would shatter at highway speeds around 50,000 miles. Aftermarket engineers were smart enough to use a brass impeller.)
The final kick in the balls was that each car eventually had SERIOUS problems. The 2.0L motor evidently had bad rings and burned 3-4 quarts of oil between changes (before 60,000 miles on the motor). VW said if it failed the oil consumption test, they would "re-ring" the motor.
My 1.8t had a "maintenance free" transmission. A peach of a unit that is totally sealed, and cannot be serviced. By 80,000 miles the damn thing did not shift correctly. The dealer said "that's what they do". What do you expect from tranny fluid that was NEVER changed? By 120,000 miles the dealer said the trans was beyond hope and needed to be replaced.
We kicked both cars to the curb before the major engine and transmission repairs.
People's car? Not so much.
-ted
Audi to offer electric vehicles within ten years {Autoblog}
May 5th 2008 8:43AM geo.stewart, you are correct - carbon is carbon regardless of the source.
With viable electric vehicles, and an upgraded electrical transmission infrastructure, the source of the electricity can be made green with a little effort.
Wind, hydro, solar, and even (gasp!) nuclear can be drop in replacements for coal fired electricity - where appropriate.
Our current thirst for oil can not be easily replaced thanks to the gasoline powered vehicles on the market. Widespread availability of electric vehicles makes the transition to alternative energy sources much easier.
-ted
