Well that didn’t take long. From stupid-ass dealer mark-ups to employee pricing discounts and/or zero percent financing in just over a year. Those fire-sale prices include the Dodge Challenger SRT8, despite the website’s fine print. In fact, the word on the street says you can get $4k off said top-of-the-line pavement smoker without much haggling. More if you’ve got a hard nose and cold cash (preferably financing, but beggars can be choosers these days). If you were waiting for the Challenger SRT8 to get some much-needed handling updates (e.g., a real limited slip diff), let it go. Saying that, who gives a NSFW about corners? I want me one of them 1000 NHRA Drag Race package Challengers, with added lightness, a shortened wheelbase and, uh, stuff. The livery’s not the worst I’ve ever seen. Okay, it is. But. I mean. Well. Anyway, it’s time for those TIWWRS (this is what we’ll really sell) six-cylinder Challengers to see if they can play Hertz. Only, the Challenger makes a lousy rental car with its challenged packaging and not-so-hot fuel economy. Oh, and the reason I’m blogging this now? A friend tried to sell me an immaculate a 10k mile Challenger SRT8 for $25 grand. Ouch. Quick aside. Is it me, or do all these guy vs. guy, middle-of-the-night drag race ads have a homosexual subtext?

Trying to eke out the best mileage whilst in a major city proves difficult. Trying to get the best mileage possible while on the Strip in Las Vegas proves downright impossible. No matter, as my car has Oklahoma plates and I’m in the biggest tourist destination in Nevada. So I consign myself to appear confused and lost as I trundle down to the Mandalay Bay for their awesome buffet.

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“While I have no statistical data to support my theory that Lexus drivers collectively exhibit the worst roadside manners in the U.S.,” The Detroit News‘ Scott Burgess writes, “I have plenty of anecdotal evidence: The Lexus driver on her cell phone in California who nearly ran me off the road in Westwood. The South Florida Lexus driver on his cell phone using the emergency lane to bypass traffic. Other Lexus drivers cutting me off, tailgating me or the never even seeing me. Somehow, Lexus can take a nice guy and transform him into Mad Max.” Whoa! Lexus? Mad Max?

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Automotive News [sub] reports that Ford has reduced its global warranty costs by a not inconsequential $1.2b during the past two years. My initial thought: fewer sales, fewer warranties to honor. But the per-vehicle warranty repair rate has dropped by 50 percent for U.S. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles since 2004. “Ford’s biggest quality gains have been on newly launched vehicles compared with the vehicles they replaced,” pronounceth Curt Yun, Ford’s director of global warranty. ”The last 24 months have revealed some of our best quality results.” Yes, BUT while the results may have been revealed in the last two years, the headline numbers don’t strictly apply to cars built in the last two years. Ford made its largest reliability gains in the 2005 and (especially) the 2006 model years. Recently the rate of improvement has slowed: savings in 2008 only account for $100m of the $1.2b total. Why didn’t FoMoCo save more in ‘08? This suggests that the low-hanging fruit has been picked. Of course, the factory warranty is only three years on Fords and four on Lincolns. How will these new models hold up after the warranty expires, as has recently been the case for the 2005s? 

[To view Ford's performance in TrueDelta's Car Reliability Survey, click here] 

My step-daughter Sasha and I had a little chin-wag this morning. After debating my potential car “needs” with her in private, it struck me that TTAC’s Best and Brightest might want to hear an 11-year-old’s perspective on high end automobiles. As egghead pistonheads, we often forget the basic appeal of our wheels, and how people outside the autoblogosphere view the apples of our collective eye. So I present my interview with Sash, and invite you to share your progeny’s thoughts about cars in general, your cars in particular and dream machines. [NB: I know the Estoque doesn't have scissor doors. More's the pity.]

Ford sits on the “Edge” of disaster. Despite the assurances from its CEO and chief cheerleader to the contrary, Alan Mulally knows that the day of reckoning could soon appear at his doorstep. Without an increase in sales volume, and soon, there will be no way to stop the cash burn. We’re not going to malign anything Mr. Mulally has done so far. In fact, he’s done more right than any other head honcho from Detroit in decades. But it’s time to pull out all the stops and break with tradition of never wishing ill on a competitor. It’s time for Chrysler to die.

GM’s luxury brand just can’t buy a break. Maybe I should rephrase that… [hat tip to Nick for the link]