The Truth About Cars » Media

The LA Auto Show Must Go On. Mustn’t It?

Adrian Imonti — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:16:39 +0000

Auto shows are intended to be recipes for excess. Take one excessively large convention hall, fill it to capacity with excessive quantities of costly chrome and metal, mix in a few brigades of excessively attractive women, and cap it off with a cadre of excessively awkward journalists (present company excepted, er, we hope) to glorify the results with excessively vapid superlatives. But that was before Carmeggedon and the Great Credit Crunch of ’08 came to town, raining on the parade with an excessively nasty vengeance. Cars are a serious business, and 2008 is looking to be about as serious as it gets.

Between the Lines: Jalopnik’s Ray Wert on GM - Chrysler Merger

Justin Berkowitz — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:58:45 +0000

Last night, the New York Times “broke” the story that General Motors and Chrysler/Cerberus were discussing a merger. The report lacked only one crucial component: facts. As RF reported in his initial blog on the subject, the story unravels by paragraph two. We learn that the entire story is based on “two people close to the process.” While anonymous attribution is common new industry practice, a story without independent corroboration is a nothing more than rumor— especially when it defies common sense. General Motors’ assertion that they routinely talk to other manufacturers about collaborative efforts doesn’t count. But it does reveal the truth of the matter. [Continued]

Book Review: Traffic: Why We Drive The Way We Do (And What It Says About Us)

Stephan Wilkinson — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:50:41 +0000

Driving well has nothing to do with how well we late-apex Oaktree Corner at VIR, how cleanly we rev-match a heel-and-toe downshift or how much we know about F-bodies and Kappa platforms. It's all about simple movement and complex congestion, intuition versus intelligence, myth versus reality. Why We Drive the Way We Do by Tom Vanderbilt is a shot across the bow of the typically clueless, not very competent, generally thoughtless, surprisingly unsafe, unjustifiably over-confident average driver. In other words, you and me.

General Motors Deathwatch 197: The Volt Lie

Paul Niedermeyer — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:24:20 +0000

The unveiling of the production version of the Volt will go down in history as one of GM’s final coffin nails. Not only does it mark the death of the Volt cult, but it also signals the end of the whole “concept/dream car” era as invented by GM’s legendary Harley Earl in the fifties. Bob Lutz has thrown his “Hail Mary pass” right into the stands. The fans are furious, heading for the exits.

What Grinds My Gears

Justin Berkowitz — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:54:39 +0000

Psychologists tell us it's important to vent, so every so often I have to clear the air and discuss what really grizzles my gristle. I can't take it anymore, and it's possible-- even likely-- that I'm not alone on this. So, without further ado, you know what really grinds my gears?

Between the Lines: Motor Trend Disses BMW. Ish.

Robert Farago — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:41:50 +0000

Source Interlink Media owns Motor Trend magazine. Both conglomerate and car mag are heading south, quickly, in a big way. Ad revenues and circulation are in free fall. Motor Trend (MT) is fighting for it survival with glossy pimpatorials for equally doomed advertisers. The August issue features a glossy "special advertising section" for Buick ("Drive Beautiful") and a slick "advertisement" for the Dodge Challenger ("Motor Trend drives the new Dodge Challenger Through Europe"). Meanwhile, the chronically undercapitalized columnist arthur st. antoine takes a whack at a premium car brand: BMW. Huh?

Scoop! Letter from Car and Driver to Nissan Leaked to TTAC

Gary Powers — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:48:10 +0000

In the July issue of Car and Driver, the BMW M3 coupe beat the Nissan GT-R in a comparison test. I couldn't understand how this happened, or even why they'd be comparing the two, until I found a copy of this letter:

Dear Nissan,

We want to apologize for not having the GT-R win our last comparison. Please don't feel bad. The GT-R really is a great car but since BMW is secretly our parent company, they demanded that their M3 win another comparison. Actually, we are contractually obligated to have a BMW win at least four comparisons a year....

The Truth About Newspaper Car Reviews

Frank Williams — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:08:50 +0000

With the notable exception of Dan Neil's work at the LA Times, the vast majority of newspaper car reviews are written to fill the spaces between automotive advertisements while sucking-up to the dealers and manufacturers who provide the ad revenue. When I caught sight of Tom Keane's take on the new Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid in the San Francisco Chronicle, I decided to see if the paper that fired TTAC's founder for his infamous Subaru Tribeca B9 "flying vagina" review had any teeth left in its automotive editorial coverage. In a word, no.

The 2008 Dallas Auto Show. Yes, Dallas.

William C Montgomery — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:44:50 +0000

My personal highlight of Last year’s Dallas Auto Show was watching Sajeev work his magic on GM’s regional marketing director. He’d met her at the Houston Auto Show some weeks earlier, where they’d had a productive conversation. Apparently the Powers That Be within GM didn’t think that was a good idea. She was talking gaily with other scribes when we approached her. When she turned to greet us, her face darkened the moment she recognized the dashing Mr. Mehta. Visibly agitated, she hissed, “I can’t talk to you,” spun on her heels and scurried away. After a moment of stunned silence I asked TTAC’s lonely lothario, “Do you have that effect on all women?”

VW AD Campaign is a No-Brainer. Literally.

Jyan Ferng — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:38:00 +0000

Some car companies produce TV commercials that are targeted at your left brain. They hit you with stats and prices and lots of dry information. Some TV ads cater to entirely to your right brain. They seduce you with music, action and Jill Wagner (what car does she sell again?). And some TV ads try to mix a little bit of both at the same time. And then there are Volkswagen’s ads, which are no-brainers. And I don’t mean that in a good way.

Between The Lines: MT’s Angus MacKenzie’s on GM’s Sinking Stock Price

Edward Niedermeyer — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:23:48 +0000

Angus MacKenzie did everything but call TTAC by name in his essay GM Shares Tumble. So What? Yes, the Motor Trend scribe can “almost hear the Detroit death-watchers rubbing their hands with glee” at the news of GM's stock hitting two-year lows. It's true. Every time GM's share price dips, we light giant cigars, twirl our collective mustache and laugh maniacally. That Mr. MacKenzie sees critical coverage of the auto industry as journalistic schadenfreude goes some ways towards explaining Motor Trend’s increasingly toothless car reviews. But how can MacKenzie, an experienced car hack, justify pinning Detroit’s woes on anyone other than, well, Detroit? Hey, a man’s gotta eat.

The Tragic Demise of Greek Buff Books

Alex Kambas — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:38:06 +0000

I once read that a successful PR department is one that has managed to make the press an extension of its own. As bad as this idea may sound for an independent-minded consumer, I couldn’t help thinking that it now works the other way around. With the Internet obliterating buff books’ editorial relevance, many magazines have shifted their sales focus from their readers, the traditional customers, to the PR departments of the companies whose ad bucks support their survival. In this respect Greek car magazines are hugely successful.

Billy C’s 2008 Detroit Auto Show Round-up

William C Montgomery — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:13:33 +0000

The press preview for the 2008 North American International Auto Show is finally over. TTAC’s Texas twosome--myself and Sajeev Mehta-- did our level best to catch the major reveals, grill some suits and get a feel for the temper of the times. On the plane back to the Lone Star State, I collected my thoughts on the show’s winners and losers. Were the carmakers fiddling while Rome burns, or preparing to rise Phoenix-like from the ashes ahead?

Detroit’s International Award of the Year Awards

William C Montgomery — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:52:07 +0000

I’m not big on ceremony. Throw in a couple of blowhard politicians, a bevy of self-congratulatory industry execs and a swarm of self-important journalist jackals; and meetings like the 12th Annual International Car of the Year Awards are like kryptonite to my modest superpowers. The invitation from the friendly folks at Road and Travel Magazine read, “Regrets not Required.” In my case, regret was inevitable. Still, I donned a monkey suit and took one for the team with as much enthusiasm as I approached my first doctor’s visit after my fortieth birthday. Fortunately my doctor was quick and his gentle finger was warm, so that experience was not as bad as I had grimly anticipated. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the green-themed ICOTY award pageant.

The Truth About The Truth About Cars’ Bias

Chris Hofflin — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:20:19 +0000

My name is Chris. I’m a car review addict. I spend an inordinate amount of my time and energy reading car reviews. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of online and print dealers dedicated to the not-so-obscure art of describing an automobile. With such a superabundance of automotive editorial, why do I have such a hard time reconciling professional reviews with my own test driving experience? Are car reviewers— TTAC’s included—blinded by bias?

The Truth About The Green Car of the Year

Adrian Imonti — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:59:26 +0000

There’s something deliciously ironic about slogging through one of LA’s infamous rush hours to attend a “green” cars award ceremony. The multi-lane Harbor Freeway plays host to a long slow dance of cars and semis, tailpipes steadily churning out brownish plumes into a blue sky. The dominant hue is not green but red: the omnipresent brake lights mocking California’s long-abandoned promises of fast, efficient personal travel. It’s almost enough to persuade a driver to ride the bus. Like me, most just crank on caffeine and escape boredom via the stereo, instead.

Why NYT Scribe Tom Friedman is Wrong. Again.

Robert Farago — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:12:28 +0000

Once again, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman has addressed automotive issues. This time, Friedman weighs-in on the ultra-cheap car being posited for the rapidly-growing Indian market. The gist of Friedman’s proposal: tax the stuffing out of the cheap car and put the money into mass-transit. Like most of Friedman’s auto-related rants, this one combines a handful of valid points, a couple of keen observations, a soupcon of knee-jerk utopianism and enough muddled thinking to make it impossible to support his views.

Car and Driver RIP

P.J. McCombs — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:39:02 +0000

When I first picked up Car and Driver’s (C&D) fateful December 2006 issue, I was convinced that the splashy, graphics-heavy revamp sounded the death knell for my favorite buff book. But the resulting reader backlash was so loud I felt sure Ann Arbor’s finest would be scared straight. A plaintive apology followed the editor’s arrogant dismissal of the reader revolt. C&D seemed poised for a revival. Nope. The October 2007 issue isn’t just the lowest point in the mag’s inexorable descent; it’s a dive below the limits of acceptability.

The Truth About the Press’ Anti-Car Global Warming Jihad

William C Montgomery — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:47:53 +0000

The political right likes to claim that the mainstream press has a liberal bias. These self-appointed media watchdogs see a cadre of left-leaning fascists looking to manipulate popular opinion, to infringe on individual freedom by stripping law-abiding citizens of their God given right to own guns, smoke, pray in public, eat supersized fatty foods and drive gas-guzzling CO2--belching behemoths. In truth, the American press isn’t red, blue, pink or green. It’s yellow.

Car And Driver, Road & Track, Motor Trend, Automobile: America’s Buff Books Laid Low

Robert Farago — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:04:46 +0000

Whenever a new medium appears, it frees the old one to reinvent itself. When TV arrived, radio dropped soap operas, fragmented its audience and developed new formats (e.g. talk radio). Now that the internet’s here, magazines are free to evolve. Only someone forgot to tell the magazines. Take Car and Driver (C&D) and Road & Track (R&T). Someone should. With sinking circulation and disappearing ad dollars, the car mags (and their buff book brethren) are up against the wall. Rather than pursue creative reinvention, their owners have embarked on a by-now-familiar strategy: whoring themselves.

Fear and Libations at the NAIAS (Press Day 2): Jerry Frenchie Rules!

Lyn Vogel — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:04:43 +0000

I don’t mean to be [too] snarky, but why is it that whenever Bill Gates deigns to bless the little people with his e-presence, all I can do is stare at his hair? Does he cut it himself? Or is that what happens when you start racking up the billions: you let your looks go to seed and no one dares tell you your hair looks like something an amphetamine crazed Cuts 2000 trainee literally whipped-up on a bad day? I suppose there’s a no degree of separation thing here, as Bill appeared at the NAIAS (IPPI) to tell Alan (who works for Billy) that his Ford products are great and will soon be even greater with Microsoft’s electronics on board. MS WORD! These guys are denial.

Fear and Luncheon at the NAIAS (Press Day 1): I’ll Bet You Dollars to Donuts I’ll Make it to Tuesday

Lyn Vogel — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:22:55 +0000

Greetings sports fans and all ships at sea! It’s time once again for a frolic amid The Land of New Car Introductions at the North American International Auto Show’s Press Preview Days. Or, as it’s more commonly known to us professional journalists: Free Food, Booze, and Press Kits You Can Unload on eBay Day. Yes, I’m excited to return to the city of Detroit (motto: When Hell Freezes Over) to take part in this three-day extravaganza of extravagance. Hacks from all over the world are joining me to witness the world's largest automakers' blitz of glitz, where the car’s the star and they've got whozits and whatzits galore. I’ll have an Amstel Light, please.

COTY Ugly

Frank Williams — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:25:04 +0000

Pop quiz. “What do a Chrysler Cirrus, Chevrolet Blazer, Plymouth Acclaim and Ford Expedition have in common?” Did you say “none of them would ever tempt a pistonhead?” True enough, but not correct. “None of them ever dented the US sales charts”? Another good guess, but still incorrect. And the answer is: all of these vehicles have received the “North American Car (or Truck) of the Year” award. Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time for the automotive media to prove that indiscretion is the worst part of valor.

TTAC: Ad dendum

Frank Williams — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 13:22:49 +0000

After more than two years of free content, The Truth About Cars is about to accept advertising-- despite the publisher’s apprehension about advertising’s corrosive effect on editorial independence. It’s an understandable concern. Browse the auto "reviews" in your local daily newspaper. In the main, they consist of regurgitated press releases juxtaposed with stock photos, buried amongst dealer ads. The monthly automotive “buff books” claim they’re above such compromise. They maintain that they provide objective assessments of their test subjects. At the risk of throwing stones from a house about to add a greenhouse, can any publication that features more advertisements than content be objective?

Ask Patty. Go on, you know you want to…

Robert Farago — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 23:54:51 +0000

I’m not a big fan of segregation. Obviously, US car culture splits into distinct niches: hot rodders, low-riders, urban gangstas, tuners, etc. Equally obvious, these niches attract adherents from specific ethnic groups. But just as communities throughout my home state meet down at the markets as they root around for fresh ingredients for their ethnic cuisine, there is an element of respect and inter-mingling between these petrol-powered fraternities. Anyway, I don’t get the male - female automotive divide. I seriously doubt that there’s a female automotive perspective-- even when it comes to child safety and minivanning. So when I saw a press release about a new female-oriented automotive website, I decided to do what it said on the tin: ask Patty. Turns out “Patty” is a male invention and the company producing the website makes its money sensitizing dealers to “women’s needs.” I quizzed Jody Devere, President of www.askpatty.com, about the statistical justification for the segregation.

Our Reporter Reports on Consumer Reports

Michael Karesh — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 16:40:27 +0000

For decades, Consumer Reports has been the American automobile buyer’s primary source for vehicle reliability information. Tens of millions of highly-educated, independent-minded people have made their car purchase based on a brace of red dots. While I don’t care for the dots-- they’re a blunt instrument that can hide as much information as they convey-- I’ve always assumed that Consumer Reports’ (CR) underlying data was solid. And then I took their survey…

The Truth About Car Advertising

Frank Williams — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 01:09:40 +0000

Remember Joe Isuzu? In the late 80’s, the brand’s spokesman was an actor (David Leisure) playing a pathological liar who’d say anything to sell an Isuzu. He claimed the Trooper could carry “a symphony orchestra” or “hold every book in the Library of Congress.” The Impulse was “faster than a [catches a speeding bullet in his teeth]… well, you know.” While Joe’s commercials-– and for that matter, the Isuzu brand-- are busy fading from the American automotive landscape, his spirit lives on. The main difference between Joe and no-Joe car ads: today's disclaimers are smaller. You have my word on it.

A Love Letter From Edmunds

Robert Farago — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 15:56:35 +0000

The text after the jump appeared on Karl Brauer's blog "Karl on Cars" on Edmund's Inside Line. I asked Mr. Brauer for permission to publish it here, without editing or commentary. Nothing. (The same response I received when I asked Karl to email me Edmunds' policy on press junkets and public disclosure thereof.) So, under the "fair use" principle, I'm publishing it anyway. If Edmunds takes TTAC to court, I'll counter-sue for libel and send a note to the IRS asking about the tax implications of junketeering. If Edmunds sends an email asking TTAC to remove this excerpt, I'll take this post down and publish the email. Anyway, Edmunds may have a million visitors [multiplied exponentially], but at least we have transparency, integrity and a spell-checker.

The Truth About J.D. Power’s IQS

Michael Karesh — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:05:28 +0000

Another year, another J.D. Power survey. Since the non-profit Consumer Reports organization prohibits carmakers from using its ratings in their ads, “ranked highest in initial quality by J.D. Power and Associates” should start flooding the airwaves and Internet any minute now, with print sure to follow. But does all of this noise signify anything? Should those seeking trouble-free wheels be sure to buy one of J.D.’s winners? Hardly.

The NY Auto Show: Hell No, We Won’t Go

Robert Farago — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 +0000

I'll never forget the billboard looming over London's Hammersmith flyover. At the exact point where drivers suddenly confront the endless congestion ahead, a teleconferencing company asked 'Is this journey really necessary?' I'd like to put the same question to the harried hacks covering The New York International Automobile Show-- at the exact moment they hear the stilted cadences of The VP of Marketing for Generic Sedans enter the twenty-third minute of his presentation. And what say you show goers, as those circulation-constricting swag bags help transform your "visit" into a Bataan Death March? Is your Odyssean journey really essential?

Happy New Year!

Robert Farago — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks in part to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, mankind believes everything's gradually getting better. It's a pretty strange kind of optimism, what with killer uptopians like Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin hanging-out in our collective past. But this faith in the eternal sunshine of the spotless future fits in nicely with the whole New Year's thing. As does The Detroit News (DTN) January 1 feature "The Road Ahead." Given the black cloud of bankruptcy hanging over Detroit, writer Bill Vlassic's desire to spread a little holiday cheer with a bit of automotive boosterism is entirely understandable. But there's a big difference between lightening-up and enlightenment.

Yankee Come Home

Robert Farago — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 00:00:00 +0000

I read somewhere that less than two percent of Americans own a passport. As someone who spent 18 years abroad, I can fully understand the average citizen's reluctance to experience the joys of surly service, high prices, questionable hygiene and murderous Muslims. Still, as a journalist covering a multi-national industry, I do my best to keep an open mind about other lands, other cultures-- or at least ignore them as best I can.

Embargo This!

Robert Farago — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 00:00:00 +0000

Before you read this editorial, you must first agree not to show it to anyone until next Tuesday. Yeah, right. And yet carmakers routinely provide new product news and photographs to the press subject to a mutually agreed release date. The industry calls the practice a "news embargo". It's the dirty little secret that lies at the heart of the relationship between automakers and the press.

Spin Doctors and Lap Dogs

Robert Farago — Fri, 23 Aug 2002 00:00:00 +0000

OK, so GM's Vice Chairman, Bob Lutz, takes a tour of his fiefdom. His entourage sweeps into the top-secret room where the design department has hidden GM's future models from prying eyes. The Car Czar takes a look at a sleek machine. "What's that?" he demands. "It's the new Corvette," a minion reveals. "No it's not," Lutz snaps. At a stroke, the former Marine fighter pilot has served notice to his new troops: must do better. A legend is born. Nice story. Not true.

Car of the Year

Robert Farago — Fri, 01 Feb 2002 00:00:00 +0000

The new Range Rover is Top Gear's magazine's Car of the Year. Car? I'm sorry, but my definition of a 'car' doesn't include vehicles taller than six feet that weigh nearly two and a half tons. The Range Rover is, according to US environmental and safety regulations, a truck. Truck by name, truck by nature. No amount of ABS, traction control and terrain sensing suspension can alter The Laws of Physics: mountainous mass X V8 acceleration + slippery surface = endless understeer oblivion. As Top Gear's own writer put it, the Range Rover's quest for soft-road world domination will ultimately end 'in a ditch'.