Recent Comments:
Audi TT pics galore! All high rez {Autoblog}
Jun 6th 2006 11:47AM Both VW and now Audi are getting so derivative in their new designs. First the new Jetta looks like a Corolla, the new Passat like a Camry, and now the new TT looks like a 350Z. Instead of leading or at least setting a unique design course, they are following the Japanese.
Charlotte NC speed cameras could unwittingly cost city $4.6 million {Autoblog}
May 29th 2006 10:35PM I'm glad to see this ruling, and the after effects, i.e. turning off the cameras. I don't like the idea of traffic enforcement by camera, and to outsource it under a lucrative contract for the vendor is obscene.
To Ian, multiple studies have shown that red light cameras cause accidents. The problem is that people generally don't engage in a panic stop when the light is changing. If you are already committed to going, just because it changes to yellow you don't normally slam on the brakes. But in cities where the statistics have been compiled, after installing the cameras, people who would otherwise have smoothly driven on through the yellow lights are slamming on the brakes and being rear ended. These cases in Charlotte and High Point are a pretty clear indication that the cities aren't installing the cameras to increase public saftey...but to raise money.
Hillary Clinton pushes for reinstatement of national 55 mph limit {Autoblog}
May 25th 2006 2:39AM As a liberal and as a car lover, I think this is a stupid idea. And quit insulting liberals by calling Hillary one...she is not! She's just an opportunistic politician.
I do believe Washington could do something to help, but this isn't it. They can let the gas prices keep going up, and avoid the temptation to try to control them. And, they can raise the CAFE standards, for cars & light trucks as well. Gas guzzler tax on Hummers and other obscene SUV's, just like on sports/performance cars. That's about the extent of what they should do, and certainly not made decisions about what fuel should be used.
GM expects price of gas to fall, blames media for misconceptions {Autoblog}
May 4th 2006 10:18PM Rick Waggoner is an idiot if he actually believes that crap. We may see some minor fluctuations, but as China and India grow their economies, the oil demand that used to be mostly in the US is going to shift. With 5% of the world population, we have been using 25% of the oil. China and India have about 40% of the worlds population...just increasing their oil consumption to have of ours will just break the whole production/distribution system.
BP launches $16-a-gallon fuel! {Autoblog}
Apr 26th 2006 1:27AM Hey G. Snyder, a little oversimplification there. Higher octane fuel may or may not increase power, depending on the engine. On a low compression engine, using regular will produce as much HP as premium. Even on Porsches and other performance cars in the US, if they are stock there probably won't be any gain from going above premium...say 91 or 93 octane.
But, on modified cars, there can be a big difference, especially if they have electronic engine management in conjunction with turbo or supercharged intake. A tuned car running more than 10lb of boost will make several percentage points more peak HP with 98 - 100 octane fuel vs. regular pump premium. On the race track it makes a difference.
Audi of America taking baby steps to distance itself from Volkswagen {Autoblog}
Apr 26th 2006 1:13AM I don't know why the hate against VW. I've owned 5 of them over the years, the current being a 2003 Jetta GLI. Sometimes there are problems, but they drive great, good performance and reasonable fuel economy. I think the new Golf and Jetta are ugly though...and much prefer the looks of the Audis.
As for the office move...just marketing.
The ten hottest-selling cars in America {Autoblog}
Mar 18th 2006 1:24PM > If it's intentional, it shows a crude marketing and pricing ploy that played out.
No, if its intentional it shows that the manufacturer has more sense than to build too many cars and then have to resort to paying (via rebates) people to buy them...part of the reason that GM had $192 billion in revenue and lost $15 / share doing it.
Toyota buys GM and other improbables {Autoblog}
Mar 18th 2006 12:30PM #6...yeah, right.
Look at the financial picture of the two companies. Toyota is managed much better than GM. Who would be stupid enough to loan GM the money it would need to buy Toyota? For that to happen, you'd have to have outside investors with nearly $90 billion to invest just to give GM majority control. There are people who have no good business sense, but they don't typically have that kind of money to lose.
As others have said, if Toyota is interested in GM or its assets, they will just wait until the bankruptcy court proceedings and pick up the pieces that they want for pennies on the dollar...without the UAW, vendor or executive contracts. Those will get discarded by the courts.
Audi fields Dream Team of drivers for Le Mans {Autoblog}
Mar 3rd 2006 3:27PM I think this is cool. Diesel power, 650 HP and 850 ft/lb of torque. So what if the motor is heavier, if it proves the sportiness of diesel, which can be powerful and fast and still get better fuel economy...sounds great.
Have GM and Ford ignored trends that began on the coasts? {Autoblog}
Feb 24th 2006 10:54AM Steve B...you got it. With the American brands, you can have:
* Fast -- Corvette, Mustang GT, Viper, etc.
* Practical -- minivans, some sedans
* Exciting -- same group as Fast
* Inexpensive -- Cobalt, Focus
But don't ask for combinations of these, cause it doesn't exist. There isn't a US car that comes close to the combination of fast, practical, high quality materials, good handling and good fuel economy that I have in my 2003 VW GLI (with the 24v VR6 and 6 speed manual). I do think Ford probably comes closer than GM, and in fact bought Ford stock lately. It may take a few years, but I believe Ford will be OK, for some of the same reasons that you pointed out. GM on the other hand is/should be on death watch.
