Recent Comments:
Spy Shots: BMW 335d caught ahead of U.S. launch this fall {Autoblog}
Jul 8th 2008 1:29PM Could just be some idiot that saw an open pump and didnt bother to read what type of fuel it was dispensing.
Sales of premium fuel fall sharply {Autoblog}
Jun 19th 2008 4:55PM I actually read that consumer reports article the other day. It does not say to use regular in a car that requires premium. It says that most cars that "recommend" premium can do fine on regular. They do state that if your car "requires" premium to keep using it.
My car (Mazdaspeed6) has never seen anything lower than 93 and I dont want to try it now to save $2.60 on a fill up. In my area, Premium 93 octane is 20 cents more than regular 87. With gas prices rising, premium is actually cheaper now compared with the price of regular than it has ever been. I drive 20K miles per year, using premium over regular cost me $200/per year. A drop in the bucket, keep filling your cars with premium.
Rumormill: Ford converting North American factories to make European cars {Autoblog}
Jun 15th 2008 10:57PM Hawk1506, you cannot compare UK prices to what we will pay. First, exchange rates. A domestically produced Kuga will be less. One produced in Mexico will be even cheaper. Also, without going into European tax schemes, the VAT tax is included in the listed prices on all models if I am not mistaken. The VAT is substantial and if removed would probably lop off about 25% of the price. Maybe if we have some Euro posters here they could confirm the rate in the UK on new vehicles, but the tax scheme in Europe is heavily weighted on consumption rather than income as it is here.
Rumormill: Ford converting North American factories to make European cars {Autoblog}
Jun 15th 2008 9:15PM There are a number of models fit to bring over right now, but seems to me that the S-Max, Ka, Kuga, the Asian Market Ranger, Transit Connect. The Euro Focus would be great, but the current one is selling like gangbusters suprisingly.
Basically, anything that is B-segment, Light trucks that get reasonable economy, mini utiliites and small vehicles with large interiors like Transit Connect and SMax.
I think the compact pickup truck segment and MPVs are about to take off, all we need is some decent players. Look at Mazda5 sales, last year they couldnt give them away, now they cannot keep them in stock and are taking deposits, sales are up 50% year over year with absolutely no advertising.
Stands to reason that if they bring over the Euro Focus, that they would probably build all the variants that are currently based on that platform. I am interested to see what we can expect. Its about time.
Nissan reveals updated Xterra and Frontier for 2009 {Autoblog}
Jun 3rd 2008 12:07PM I have always liked the Xterra, but the updated version looks like Pac Man. Poor exectuion of the front end.
UAW strike halts GM's CUV production {Autoblog}
Apr 17th 2008 1:53PM It certainly is difficult to defend some executive pay, particularly those at the very top, and even more particularly at a company that has lost billions upon billions in recent years. But remember, the average hourly worker is probably bringing home more than the average salary worker at GM and the other big three. As for the exectutives, simple: Supply and demand. In the business world, that is what US executives can command particularly if they are from a successful backgroung, good schools, etc. Whereas you could literally pull any kid out of 10th grade to do the vast majority of production jobs. Certainly there are exceptions to that, particularly in the skilled trades (who are only modestly overpaid as opposed to the grossly overpaid production workers). Bottom line, if you dont like the new world order that dictates that manual labor must compete on a global scale, I suggest you go to college.
Forget who makes how much, GM is coming off a horrible March, and is probably due for a horrible summer. The American Axle strike has brought GM production to a halt at many plants. GM's only point of light is the strong sales of some of its new models. Now the UAW threatens that as well. It is as if the UAW is determined to put the automakers out of business or simply guarantee that every single US automanufacturing job gets outsourced. The appalling lack of concern for the hand that feeds you and long term prosperity is truly remarkable.
BREAKING: Ford sells Jaguar / Land Rover for $2 billion to Tata Motors {Autoblog}
Mar 25th 2008 4:42PM After dumping all of that money into the pension fund, it seems like quite a bargan. However, long term it may have been a great move even if the pair actually generated profit (due to LR) last year. LR could stand to suffer huge sales losses in the future with its SUV being locked out of European cities and possibly even entire markets due to global warming fears and resulting emissions crackdowns. Ford has dumped untold amounts of money into Jag and would be lucky to eeek out a small profit next year. I think both of these brands are money losers long term, but I hope Tata can manage to turn them around especially since Ford put them on the right path.
The real benefit for Ford is going to be the potential for partnership in other areas with Tata, the sale price is really a drop in the bucket. Tata is now on the hook for the next decade for Ford Parts, technology, etc. If the two become intertwined, Ford could benefit from Tata's capital and low cost production.
Spy Shots: Mazda6 interior snapped {Autoblog}
Mar 11th 2008 10:22AM It looks good.
What say you? Should Ford sell Fiesta hatchbacks in U.S.? {Autoblog}
Mar 5th 2008 4:31PM Definitely. It is the only body style I would consider for B segment car.
HUMMER attacks perception problems with "Purpose Built" campaign {Autoblog}
Feb 21st 2008 1:38PM I agree that there is no amount of PR that will change perceptions about the Hummer Brand. I have seen ads where they have Hummer owners helping others in natural disasters. Shameless.
Here is a suggestion for GM's marketing gurus: Drop the H2 or redesign it so it is smaller, can actually fit into a highway lane, parking spot at the mall and into garages. If it is not the biggest and most obvious billboard for global warming on the road, perhaps it wont be such a target.
