American Editorial: Huzzah! First Single-Digit Drop In 17 Months!
By Bertel SchmittOctober 25, 2009 Prepare yourself for an increasing number of „good news“ along the following lines: „October U.S. auto sales should be down about 6 percent from a year ago, marking the first single-digit monthly decline since May 2008, industry forecasting firm J.D. Power and Associates said on Friday.” Glad tidings, brought to you by Reuters. Times must be really [...]
American Editorial: Huzzah! First Single-Digit Drop In 17 Months! editorial continued »
Posted in By The Numbers | Editorials | 19 comments 
The Carless Generation
By Jim SutherlandOctober 24, 2009 There is always going to be a generation gap. The term “generation gap” was coined in the 60s when it became evident that Baby Boomers had developed a whole new set of rules for themselves that put a significant chasm between them and their parents in terms of interests and values. Generation gaps will always [...]
The Carless Generation editorial continued »
Posted in Editorials | Nostalgia | Sales and Marketing | 101 comments
Gordon G. Chang: China’s Car Sales Are a Fraud
By Bertel SchmittOctober 23, 2009 If right-wingnut Glenn Beck needs a China hater on the tube, he usually calls Gordon G. Chang. Chang is always good for talking bad about China. In 2001, Gordon Chang published a book titled. “The Coming Collapse of China.” In it, he predicted that China would implode by 2006, if not earlier, due to the [...]
Gordon G. Chang: China’s Car Sales Are a Fraud editorial continued »
Posted in China | Editorials | 41 comments
Curbside Classic: 1980 Datsun 210 Sunny
By Paul NiedermeyerOctober 22, 2009 With what words shall I express my overpowering feelings toward this tin can wrapped in vinyl wood appliqué? Jeremy Clarkson once called the Sunny “the worst car in the world ever” (probably not for the first or last time). To show he meant it, he hurled one to its death from [...]
Curbside Classic: 1980 Datsun 210 Sunny editorial continued »
Posted in Curbside Classics | Editorials | 60 comments
General Motors Zombie Watch 19: You Get What You Don’t Pay For
By Robert FaragoOctober 22, 2009
OK, so, GM is a nationalized automaker. I know, I know: nationalization is for third world dictators. But there it is. Thanks to outgoing president George Bush, the feds used $50 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Fund to bail out General Motors, in exchange for majority ownership. So no matter what W's political successor says about his administration's "hands off" non-management of Government Motors, he who owns the gold makes the rules. And when it comes to running a federal-funded organization, Uncle Sam plays by different rules than, say, any private enterprise extent. The bottom line is that there is no bottom line. Amtrak, the U.S. Postal Service, Medicaid---they're all run at a tremendous, ongoing loss. Which means there's zero sense of accountability. Which means they will never, ever be able to fully and fairly compete with privately held corporations. Why should GM by any different? Answer: it isn't.
General Motors Zombie Watch 19: You Get What You Don’t Pay For editorial continued »
Posted in Editorials | General Motors Zombie Watch | 58 comments
Curbside Classic: 1951 Packard 200
By Paul NiedermeyerOctober 20, 2009 You would be forgiven for mistaking this modest-looking sedan as a low-end Dodge, Pontiac or Mercury. A Packard? The very name conjures images of exclusive cars from the classic era, like this illustrious coach-built V12, or perhaps its last gasp luxo-boat, the 1956 Caribbean. But finding this lowly [...]
Curbside Classic: 1951 Packard 200 editorial continued »
Posted in Curbside Classics | Editorials | 46 comments
Editorial: Where’s The Yellow Peril?
By Bertel SchmittOctober 18, 2009
Editorial: Where’s The Yellow Peril? editorial continued »
Posted in China | Editorials | 32 comments
General Motors Zombie Watch 18: Hire Buickman
By Robert FaragoOctober 18, 2009
Back in the day, GM really pissed me off. As the American automaker continued its inexorable slide into bankruptcy, executives, analysts, journalists, loyalists and camp followers scoffed at the prospect of disaster. Their scorn fueled my anger or, as Angus Mackenzie would have it, pompous indignation. When the feds bailed-out and then nationalized GM, the company's refusal to overhaul (keelhaul?) its executive "talent" kept my ire alive. A few months and $50b-plus dollars later and I'm rapidly approaching the point where I couldn't give a NSFW. How many times can you sing the chorus of "Where have all the flowers gone?" without saying FTS and cranking-up the MC5? Before I abandon this pursuit entirely, one last gasp . .
General Motors Zombie Watch 18: Hire Buickman editorial continued »
Posted in Editorials | General Motors Zombie Watch | 38 comments
Curbside Classic: 1960 Comet
By Paul NiedermeyerOctober 15, 2009 If this goofy-assed little car showed up at your premium brand’s doorstep and told you it was an unwanted orphan, would you let it in? And keep it as a foster child, or adopt it as your own? That’s the scenario Mercury found itself in with the Comet. And true to [...]
Curbside Classic: 1960 Comet editorial continued »
Posted in Curbside Classics | Editorials | 42 comments
Curbside Classic: 1978 Ford Fiesta
By Paul NiedermeyerOctober 13, 2009 In the depths of the gloomy automotive winter of the late seventies, the Fiesta made a brief appearance that brought a ray of sunshine into our deprived existence. She was like that cute, skinny little German exchange student who appeared one day at High School, and dazzled us with her algebra, physics, gymnastics and fencing. [...]
Curbside Classic: 1978 Ford Fiesta editorial continued »
Posted in Curbside Classics | Editorials | 62 comments
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