The Truth About Cars » Ask the Best and Brightest

Ask the Best and Brightest: Wave Disc Engine?

Robert Farago — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:18:41 +0000

Next big future? How many times have we heard that before? [Thanks to MMH for the link]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Have the Feds Done Too Much or Too Little for Detroit?

Robert Farago — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:46:20 +0000

Diners at the Motown bailout banquet are back at their tables, their plates groaning under the weight of federal “investment.” They’re just now beginning to tuck in, spending your hard-earned money on various plans to achieve what Oliver called “that full-up feeling.” The reluctant chefs (70 percent of American opposed GM and Chrysler’s second bailout) [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Why Is the Ford Taurus Selling So Well?

Robert Farago — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:38:10 +0000

“Consumers increasingly are noticing that the Ford difference is our great products, our strong business and our leadership in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart technologies and value.” So sayeth Ken Czubay, Ford’s vice president of U.S. marketing sales and service. Am I reading too much into it, or is “strong business” a euphemism for non-teat-suckler? [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Is There Life After a ‘94 Camry?

Robert Farago — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:32:14 +0000

Back in 1994, supremebrougham helped one of his old high school teachers shop for a car. [NB: "she's really not old, she's a vibrant and elegant 50-something that hasn't changed a bit since the early 90's."] She ended-up buying a new Camry LE (not shown). And now she’s looking for another whip. She lives in [...]

Housekeeping: The Busy Week Ahead

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:00:18 +0000

As we wait for October sales to come rolling in, I’d like to take advantage of the calm before the storm to update our faithful readers on the wild week to come. Tomorrow I’ll be flying to Detroit to cover Chrysler’s five-year product and business plan. Luckily though, the trip will not be limited to [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: When Was the Last Time You Did Something Stupid In a Car?

Robert Farago — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:55:15 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: What If We Didn’t Have Federal Safety Standards?

Robert Farago — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:02:05 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: Can Mazda Catch Up on Hybrid Tech?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:56:42 +0000

It’s not an academic question: if your answer is yes, Mazda has a $1.1B share offering it wants you to participate in. Now that Ford has reduced its stake in Mazda, the Japanese automaker is finding itself short on all kinds of hybrid and EV development. In fact, Mazda’s planned offering will dilute Ford’s share [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: How Can Honda Have Its Cake And Eat It Too?

Edward Niedermeyer — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:33:33 +0000

Pity Takanobu Ito. Like many (ok, some) of us, the CEO of Honda is torn between his love for speed and the desire to be perceived as environmentally responsible. On the one hand, he lambasted Toyota for building its $375k LF-A supercar, saying that to his mind the fuel-cell FCX clarity (once described by Jonny [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: How Would You Roast Bob Lutz?

Cammy Corrigan — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:02:30 +0000

Roast chicken, roast lamb, roast pork, roast beef, roast….Lutz? That’s right. The car world’s most favorite big mouth is going to get it shut, at least for an evening. Bob Lutz is being roasted in the name of the arthritis foundation of the United States. Maximum Bob is going to check his ego in at [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Hypermiling A Variable-Displacement V8?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:30:32 +0000

Everett writes in: I know that each motor, transmission, and car combination has optimums areas of performance for mileage. All the Jetta drivers that swear by idling in 5th gear are a testament to that. With some of the newer V-8 motors, however, finding the sweet spot is a little more problematic. Take for example a [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Is Onstar Worth The Spying?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:58:43 +0000

GM’s Onstar EV Lab recently invited Autobloggreen in for a preview of some of the Volt’s unique Onstar options. The upshot is that the GM-exclusive system will reach new levels of invasiveness, monitoring battery charge and temperature levels, as well as providing charging information. But beyond these Volt-related systems, ABG also reveals that Onstar monitored [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Your Top Five Sonic Favorites Please

Robert Farago — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:48:25 +0000

Part two here.

Ask the Best and Brightest: What weighs nearly 400 pounds and destroys cars from a helicopter?

Robert Farago — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Nope. Not a bear. Although I bet this 400 lbs. bear would have liked the opportunity to take out a few cars from a chopper before Tim Lorey’s marksmanship made him take The Big Sleep (and I don’t mean hibernation). Write your answer below. THEN click here for the (an?) answer.

Ask The Best And Brightest: Name Your EV “Exhaust” Tune

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:43:26 +0000

The rise of electric cars has pedestrian safety and hearing-impaired rights groups worried about the accident potential of near-silent electric cars. And so the race to aurally differentiate EVs is on. Heinrik Fisker tells the New York Times that his company’s Karma EV will sound like “a cross between a starship and a Formula One [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What Was the First Car That Blew You Away?

Robert Farago — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:13:02 +0000

That’s my lawyer’s kid, exiting a McLaren F1. I’ve not heard if young Master Gleason pronounced “How sweet it is!” whilst exiting the seminal supercar. Or if this “boy meets Big Mac” moment will inspire Hayden to follow his dad down the road to riches, singing Mack the Knife every step of the way. But [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Are Map Pockets the New Glovebox?

Robert Farago — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:23:59 +0000

Jay writes: I just came to a realization while sitting at my desk at work (slow Friday before a 3-day weekend). It’s now 2009 and everyone (except me it seems) has a GPS stuck to their windshield. I still have my Rand McNally Road Atlas from 1998 in the map pocket of my 2006 Fusion. My [...]

Ask the Best And Brightest: How Do You Sell A Ford?

Robert Farago — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:53:57 +0000

As I’ve been saying since 1846, the Ford “brand” is so amorphous that it wears a set of air quotes. In other words, Ford doesn’t stand for much of anything. It stands for everything (another way of saying nothing): innovation, excitement, great value and family product [sic]. And those are just the four selling points [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Best Economical All-Season Tires For A Saturn SL2?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:33:03 +0000

Doug writes: My girlfriend drives a 1998 SL2 with 185/65/15 tires. One of the four tires has started to dry rot enough that I have to add about 5 psi every two weeks to keep it near it’s neighbors. FWIW the sticker recommends 30psi front and 26psi back but I’ve found the car rides better if [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What’s the Quietest, Most Comfortable and Economic Long Distance Cruiser?

Robert Farago — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:45:37 +0000

TTAC commentator JollyJerry posits the following: I’m looking for some recommendations and insight on highway cruisers that would coddle me and my girlfriend on a long multi-state road trip. I’m a tall lanky guy at 6′ 4″, so the Scion xB has been a perfect car for me so far. It’s definitely the wrong car to [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Reliable V6 Utes Under $7k?

Edward Niedermeyer — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:11:40 +0000

Kelsey writes: My boyfriend recently sold his F-150, and we’ve been looking at ‘95-2000 4Runners as a replacement. He needs a V6 to tow his work trailer occasionally, and our biggest concern is reliability, then efficiency. We’re working with a $7,000 cash budget. Should we broaden our search to other makes/models?

Ask the Best and Brightest: GM and Chrysler: Gone Tomorrow?

Robert Farago — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:35:57 +0000

Chrysler, the U.S.-funded, Italian-run, formerly bankrupt American automaker is leaking its product plans, ahead of their official unveiling in November. Automotive News [sub] confirms that Sergio Marchionne’s minions have decided to spin off Ram trucks into a separate brand, removing the company’s most profitable product from underneath the Dodge umbrella. For once, AN (or at [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Are Car Buyers Well Informed?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:28:09 +0000

This pitch for a car sales seminar is based on one single assumption: car buyers today are better informed than ever before. Mr. Rodgers even raises the specter of 83-year-olds armed with information they found on the Internet, in hopes of convincing dealership sales staffs that it’s a whole new world out there. Of course [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Is Hybrid Kinetic Motors’ Powerplant Based on BMW’s KERS?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:37:41 +0000

Let’s assume for a moment that Hybrid Kinetic Motors and its planned Alabama assembly plant are not just a visa scam. Say, for example, it’s a visa scam that will actually build cars at some point. Can anyone make sense of the limited powertrain specs we have to work with? We’re told the vehicles will [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What’s Up With Hybrids, Anyway?

Robert Farago — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:35:28 +0000

MB Chris posits the following: A straight EV at this point isn’t very useful to many people because of the current technology’s limitations. And, for me, hybrids are far too expensive and complicated to consider buying. I’m an ASE certified mechanic (25 years) and work in automotive manufacturing (nobody very important). The big thing that I [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Tires and Wear Patterns?

Edward Niedermeyer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:00:50 +0000

Casey W. Raskob writes: Years ago, I would see tires with a pattern. That pattern was cut to the base of the tire, and but for tread wear indicators, the pattern of the tire did not change from new to bald. I now have a set of General UHP tires, reviewed on this site. I’ve been [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Could You Do Maximum Bob’s Job?

Cammy Corrigan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:48:27 +0000

Let’s imagine that Bob Lutz has quit his job (”New GM? It’s a crock of shit!”) and you applied for the job and got it. What would you do? How would you change “New GM’s” marketing? Would you change some of GM’s brands’ slogans (”The New Class in World Class”)? Would you redefine some of [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Do You Need a Full Paper Owners’ Manual?

Robert Farago — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:49:36 +0000

For those of you unfamiliar with the secret language of telephone-based customer service representatives, RTFM means “Read the F-ing Manual.” Only now, for Chrysler, it’s PTF-DVD: “Play the F-ing DVD.” Automotive News [sub] reports that “Chrysler Group is replacing its traditional owner’s manuals with DVDs and an abridged printed guide in an effort to reduce [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: When Was the Last Time You Heard “The Cadillac of . . .?”

Robert Farago — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:14:53 +0000

This morning’s New York Times had a jarring headline: “A Proposed Tax on the Cadillac Health Insurance Plans May Also Hit the Chevys.” I swear I thought they meant The Gray Lady was referring to a tax on Cadillac workers’ health care plan. To these admittedly jaundiced eyes (ew), “Hit the Chevys” sounds like something [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: When Could GM Have Turned It Around?

Robert Farago — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:09:55 +0000

The bile triggered by news of my departure (last day November 12) brought back old memories of rancorous accusations of anti-American bias. At the beginning of the GM Death Watch, I had to delete several hundred obscene, hate-filled comments and ban dozens of persistent posters of TTAC Must Die TOO comments. Now, after the fact [...]

This Is the Bel Air the IIHS Destroyed

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:59:52 +0000

We had a brief word with the IIHS’s Russ Raider, who was quite cagey on the origins and condition of the 1959 Bel Air that was destroyed for the Institute’s 50th birthday. What we were able to get out of him was that the ‘59 Bel Air was in “good” condition, with only a little [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Triumph or Tragedy?

Robert Farago — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:53:02 +0000

Jonny Lieberman, your carbon fiber-clad chariot awaits!

Ask the Best and Brightest: Fuel Injector Cleaner?

Robert Farago — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:35:11 +0000

TTAC commentator greenblood has a question for the group: Since our first child was born, we don’t have time for everything we used to do. So my wife has been taking her ‘09 Escape to a Valvoline instant oil change location nearby. They have been pushing fuel injector cleaner every 3,000 miles. Although we aren’t dumb [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Who Says Branding Isn’t Everything?

Robert Farago — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:27:13 +0000

That’s Porsche-sha. And how hard is it to say VW? Jeez.

Ask the Best and Brightest: In What Car Would You Beat Bob Lutz?

Edward Niedermeyer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:24:58 +0000

GM’s “May The Best Car Win” campaign is beginning to take shape, and it’s turning out to be every bit as gimmicky as you might guess. In a conference call with the motoring press, GM’s Bob Lutz challenged all comers to beat him around the Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca. Lutz will be driving a [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Would a Fit Hybrid Rescue Honda’s Insight Fail?

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:32:09 +0000

To put it simply, Honda’s Insight sold 4,226 units last month while the Prius sold 18,886. Through August, Toyota sold 93,810 Priora while the Insight motivated only 14,045 buyers. Honda has tacitly admitted that the Insight is not up to snuff. But upgrades could take years. Honda could just as easily have the long-rumored Fit [...]

What Do the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid Have in Common?

Robert Farago — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:31:48 +0000

Other than the fact that they’re all hybrids, obviously. UPDATE: Answer after the jump. All three vehicles are previous winners of the GCOTY or Green Car of the Year Award, presented at the LA Auto Show by GreenCar.com (pedants not welcome). You want to talk about methodology? They want to talk about methodology. Only they’re description [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Car Chase Scenes: Is McQueen Number One with a Bullitt?

Robert Farago — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:06:42 +0000

[Click here and then click on HQ under the viewing window to see the scene in hi-res]

Ask the Brightest: Rolls Royce Drophead Coupe?

Robert Farago — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:31:01 +0000

I’m not so sure if I’d add this humongous Anglo-German two-door to my fantasy garage. It’s just not . . . something enough. And a little too . . . you know. More to the point, a nice 1935 Auburn Boattail Special can be had for roughly the same money. I know, I know: at that level it’s not either [...]

Ask the Best and Brighest: Do You Discharge Your Static Electricity Before Fueling?

Robert Farago — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:51:35 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: Who’s Going to Buy Old GM’s Plants?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:47:20 +0000

Old GM Liquidator-in-chief Al Koch tells Detroit News that there exists some unknown level of interest in The General’s cast-off assets. But he’s only saying that the level is greater than zero. “It’s not possible, until the process unfolds for a little bit, to tell the shoppers from the buyers,” Koch enthuses. “These are very, [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: NewChrysler’s New Ad Slogan?

Frank Williams — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:05:49 +0000

Omnicom Group Inc.’s BBDO is Chrysler’s ad agency. At least for now. The Wall Street Journal reports the ailing automaker “has grown dissatisfied with the agency’s creative output.” The semi-nationalized automaker’s looking elsewhere for someone who wants to take on the sisyphean task of convincing Americans they need to buy cars from a bankrupt automaker [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour. Hot or Not?

Robert Farago — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:01:09 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: Who Is the Best/Worst Cinematic Car Salesman

Robert Farago — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:57:05 +0000

Caution: The sycophancy and silicone in this paint-by-numbers preview may make you want to hurl. Note to Mr. Piven: those who went before salute you, albeit with a single digit. Yes, the silver screen (or flat panel HDTV) has a long history of amoral, blood-sucking, lying, cheating, scumbag car salesman. As Slate’s Matthew DeBord points out, [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Is Lexus “Buick In Training”?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:20:30 +0000

The “Toyota is the new GM” meme is a provocative one. After all, prior to GM’s decades-long unraveling its dominance of the industry put Toyota’s tentative top-dog status to shame. GM’s decline proved once and for all that no make, model or brand can coast on being “number one” alone. Which is why I want [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Why Ford? Why Lincoln? Why Mercury?

Robert Farago — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:32:00 +0000

Why a duck? Why no chicken? Hey, Ford asked the question. And by God, Ford’s answered it. On nationwide TV, the most compelling rational for sending your hard-earned money in Dearborn’s direction proffered is: “Why not?” [NB: "most compelling" does not necessarily equal "compelling".] On the Why website, the Glass House Gang has another go. Why Ford. [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: 15k Mile Scheduled Maintenance?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:14:40 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: Fun-to-drive, newish sedan under $15,000?

Robert Farago — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:35:35 +0000

Commentator kobo1d writes: My wife and I are in the market for a slightly used car. I would like to ask the Best and Brightest: what cars should we take a look at in the under $15,000 (out the door) almost new category? Is there anything decent in this range? We want a sedan/wagon/hatch still under factory [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Überholprestige?

Edward Niedermeyer — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:11:21 +0000

I was driving down the freeway in the left lane just the other day when a quick peek in the rearview mirror told me that another car was approaching me from behind. It was still a ways off, and its silver-gray color barely stood out from the unseasonably gray skies. As it drew nearer at [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Bringing Home a Cobra?

Edward Niedermeyer — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:22:35 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: GM Executive Retirement?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:28:11 +0000

An anonymous GM retiree writes in: Does anyone know that New GM is in the process of retiring about 25% or more of their executives with a fairly ‘normal’ retirement package? This means these execs who were at the healm leading into bankruptcy will be be getting almost a full retirement program including 90% of their [...]

TTAC’s Top Ten Back to School Cars

Robert Farago — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:40:23 +0000

KBB is ever-so-sensible. Here’s their “top ten back to school cars:” 2010 Kia Soul, 2010 Mazda3, 2009 Ford Focus, 2007 Suzuki SX4, 2006 Honda Civic, 2005 Chevrolet Silverado. Wait! That’s only six! I’ve got to click from the press release to the website to get the last four? The suspense is killing me/you/no one . . . [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What Muscle Car did Major Nelson Drive in “I Dream of Jeannie”?

Charles Dagastino — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:07:30 +0000

Easy (Warm-Up for TTAC’s Best and Brightest) 1. Major Anthony Nelson on I Dream of Jeannie drove a convertible of what 1960s muscle car? A. Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 B. Buick Skylark GTX C. Pontiac G.T.O. D. Oldsmobile 442 2. Starsky and Hutch patrolled the streets in Starsky’s? A. 1974 Ford Grand Torino B. 1975 Ford Grand Torino C. 1969 Mercury Cyclone D. 1975 Ford Thunderbird 3. [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Die Run-Flats, Die?

Robert Farago — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:25:00 +0000

I’ve never hid my contempt for run-flat tires. And for good reason. When testing a BMW 5-Series equipped with the technology, the driving experience was so bad I returned it to the dealer to try a car without the tough-as-nails (and then some), tram-lining donuts. Sure enough, the “normal” tires delivered infinitely superior, brand-faithful ride [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Will Ford’s Lineup Be Enough?

Robert Farago — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:25:52 +0000

Barron’s [sub] lobs Ford CEO Alan Mulally enough underhand pitches to sink the Yankees, and then offers this strangely incomplete and mislabeled guide to future FoMoCo products. The most convincing part of Big Al’s spiel: cutting costs. Before reading this excerpt [after the jump] from the Q&A, ask yourself this: are these the cars that America [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Has the Camaro’s Day Passed? Again?

Robert Farago — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:57:36 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: Is Cash for Clunkers a Rip Off?

Robert Farago — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:40:27 +0000

Are consumers receiving a government “rebate” for their clunker paying LESS for their new car than they would have without the rebate? I know that seems like a no-brainer, but never underestimate the perfidy of car dealers. Or, to quote Shakespeare, there’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip. Equally salient (if less [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Is Three a Crowd?

Robert Farago — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:04:43 +0000

Daimler’s mob have filed a patent with the IPO re: a three-seater smart [download German language pdf here]. CNET connects the [dipping] dots: “Obviously drawing inspiration from the McLaren F1 supercar, the rumored Smart will feature a 1+2 layout with a centrally positioned driver’s seat flanked by two passenger seats mounted slightly behind. To facilitate easy [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Yes, but . . . Is This Dyno Test of the Switzer 997TT L5 800 Package the World’s Most Boring Video?

Robert Farago — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:14:05 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: Wagons Under $25k?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:06:09 +0000

Reader chris (who apparently missed Farago’s declaration of the end of wagons in today’s podcast) writes: Hi, I’m looking to purchase a used wagon for under $25K. It should have good reliability/quality, be full size, meaning good back seat room. I don’t like SUVs for their poor handling ang gas consumption. I’ve looked at volvo V70 [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Is the New Saab 9-5 Ugly or What?

Robert Farago — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:53:20 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: Should GM Buy Domestic?

Robert Farago — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:24:40 +0000

Fifty billion dollars. That’s how much money the United States taxpayer has plowed into General Motors. Back when this terrifying teat-sucking started, Michigan Representative Debbie Stabenow told the country that the bridge loans (as they were called at the time) were about “jobs, jobs, jobs.” To say the rhetoric justifying/sustaining GM’s giga-suckle has shifted would [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Have You Ever Met an Honest Car Salesman?

Robert Farago — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:27:06 +0000

I’m working on a piece entitled “Five Reasons Why Car Buyers Will Avoid the Cash for Clunkers Program Like the Plague.” Sneak peak: people trust car dealers about as far as they can throw an M1 Abrams tank. I know that several of our Best and Brightest are living la vida locomota by selling cars [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Who’s Number One with a Bullitt?

Edward Niedermeyer — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:31:02 +0000

joemoc1 writes: Should Hollywood decide to remake of Bullitt, who would play Frank Bullitt, and should they still still use a Mustang? A Bullitt Mustang? And would the bad guys still drive a black Dodge Charger?

Ask the Best and Brightest: What Articles Should Lexus Magazine Feature

Robert Farago — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:51:47 +0000

Our good friends at Wooden Horse (a magazine writers’ website) tell us that Lexus is launching a lifestyle magazine called . . . Lexus. Below is the official description of the new buff book. Knowing TTAC’s Best and Brightest as I do, I’m sure you can provide Lexus’ editors with a more appropriate list of [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What’s in YOUR Inbox?

Robert Farago — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:26:56 +0000

I just had to put the page break in there, somewhere. I purchased a 2006 Honda Civic and loved the vehicle right up until I went over a speed bump now the car is NOT the same and I am so frustrated and heartbroken. I went over a speed bump this month and as soon [...]

Ask The Best and Brightest: Keep Volvo XC70 or Head for Acadia?

Robert Farago — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:04:06 +0000

TTAC commentator cc-rider needs some help with his sister’s choice of whips: Two-and-a-half years ago, my sister bought a 2003 Certified Pre-Owned Volvo XC 70 wagon for $22K, with 55,000 miles on the clock. She now owns the car, out of warranty, knocking on the big rollover (100k). The XC’s dash lights in the gauges and half [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Hope For Suzuki Or Mitsubishi?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:23:37 +0000

Bloomberg has a piece that is chock full of analysts imploring Mitsu and Suzy to pack it up and leave the American market. Both firms rage, rage against the dying of the light, but the numbers are not pretty. Mitsubishi sales are down over 50 percent in the first half-year, continuing a slump that has [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: TTAC Campaign for a Real American Car?

Sajeev Mehta — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:36:54 +0000

If you didn’t get the memo, this website gets a lot of grief for its negative outlook on American cars. We cannot change the harsh reality of the situation, but we will lead a (bankrupt) horse to water. And make it take that all important first sip. That’s the plan: TTAC is [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What Should John Wolfe Name His Dallas Car Talk (oops) Radio Show?

Robert Farago — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:49:59 +0000

Although there’s nothing routine about him, John Wolfe is a stand up guy. A regular here at TTAC. A shining example of our Best and Brightest. While I’m trying to keep the word “fire” as far away from this sentence as possible, I think we can all admit that even the most insightful commentator hereabouts [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What 2nd Car for $5K?

Robert Farago — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:48:36 +0000

Sent to us by ivyinvestor: My wife and I currently have a 2006 Acura TSX, auto. We need another car, but our budget is $5000, tops, as we don’t want a payment. We’ve never considered a used car for any purchase, and although I know the various means we could use to go about checking it [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Is the New LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni a Death Car?

Robert Farago — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:29:12 +0000

This isn’t just me whingeing [Ed.: That's "whining" for our non-Brit English speakers] about another Italian stallion that’s inherently qualified for Wrecked Exotics’ Lamborghini section. The “normal” Gallardo is a fairly benign beast. This one . . . maybe not so much. What say you? Meanwhile, here’s a “methinks they doth protest too much” spot-the-euphemisms [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Whither NUMMI?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:07:03 +0000

So, GM is walking away from its half-share in the Fremont, CA, NUMMI plant. That much is clear. But what happens next? The Prius rebadge rumor lives on, but the signs are beginning to point towards a Tacoma rebadge. After all, GM has announced its intention to shut down its Shreveport, LA, plants by 2012. [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What Constitutes a “True Porsche”?

Frank Williams — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:11:59 +0000

Ever since Porsche debuted the Cayenne, Porschephiles have heatedly debated where it fits into Porsche's branding strategy---or if it should even exist. When SPEEDtv.com Editor in Chief Tom Jensen reviewed the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, he declared that the four-wheel-drive trucklet is a "true Porsche." He states that "the Cayenne Turbo is absolutely faithful to Porsche's core values of performance, quality and competency" and is therefore worthy of Porsche-hood. Despite its ungainly exterior, early reviews of the heavyweight four-door Porsche Panamera make the same claim. (Autoblog: "Not only is it painstakingly engineered and truly enjoyable to drive... most importantly, the all-new Panamera has earned the right to wear the Porsche badge.") So what say you? What makes a Porsche a Porsche? With the "independent" sports car maker on the brink of losing its independence, has the fabled Porsche brand finally lost the plot?

Ask the Best and Brightest: Can New GM Really Leave Its Rep Behind?

Robert Farago — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:03:06 +0000

Sent to us by a reader: Trying to find somewhere to voice my opinion about the fact that gm lost the lawsuit we had about our 07 Equinox. They are supposed to give us a replacement or 25,000 dollars but they know that they can get out of it with their bankruptcy. They want to try [...]

Achtung! Alle Herhören! Der Winner Ist:

Bertel Schmitt — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:33:00 +0000

Als der Sauerkrautfresser der TTAC Mannschaft (der ausgerechnet in Peking wohnt) wurde ich gebeten, den Gewinner des Wasistdasverteufeltstedeutscheautowort-Wettbewerbs zu wählen. Ach, Entschuldigung, die Macht der Gewohnheit. Nun denn . . . As the resident Kraut at TTAC (who resides in Beijing) I was asked to pick the winner of the German phrase contest, in which [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What Would Henry Ford Think of the Motown Meltdown

Robert Farago — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:51:44 +0000

Over the years, I’ve become inured to the mainstream automotive press’s mindless Motown cheerleading and irrational optimism. But every now and then, they really get my goat. The Detroit News ran a feature today by Bryce J. Hoffman clunkily entitled “How would Henry Ford react to today’s automakers?” It’s bad enough that Detroit’s zombies have suckered the [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: BMW Engine Mods ASAP?

Robert Farago — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:14:49 +0000

TTAC commentator carguy can’t leave well enough alone as he prepares to boldly go where no factory warranty will go with him: I have a question that I would like some feedback on from the TTAC best and brightest. I am about to take delivery of a BMW 335i and am contemplating some mods for the [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Is the New Astra’s Interior Ugly or What?

Robert Farago — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:31:12 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: What’s Happening in Louisiana?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:57:39 +0000

Automotive News [sub] reports that a 1,400 employee auto assembly operation is moving into the former Guide Corp. plant in Monroe, LA. No word on the identity of the new tenant. Until tomorrow, anyway. So how’s about a little game of “tomorrow’s headlines today?” Here’s some grist for the mill. Financing for the deal comes [...]

“Vintage promo film made for Detroit’s 1968 Olympic bid reveals city’s precipitous decline”

Robert Farago — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:28:13 +0000

Am I the only one who misread this Autoblog headline? Yes, I read “porno” instead of “promo.” So, yes, my mind is in the gutter. But so is Detroit. Autoblog’s wistful nostalgia does absolutely nothing to convey the horror of modern-day Motown. For that, you need to turn to the Wall Street Journal. Their article [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: 2002 BMW 325Ci or a 2002 Subaru WRX Wagon?

Matthew Neundorf — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:17:31 +0000

I am turning to the B & B for some new (used) car advice. My current bad weather bomber is a 2004 Jeep Liberty (I ride a bike on any and all good weather days). While it’s served me well, the commute is becoming Novocain for my soul. That and summer trends for higher prices [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Re-Name Those Rolls Royce Gizmos?

Robert Farago — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:12:05 +0000

Did you know that BMW owns Rolls-Royce? Of course you did; you’re the Best and Brightest. Which means you also know that the new Ghost is not going to be a very expensive, modified 7-Series with bespoke bodywork and cabin. (Of course not.) But you’ll also recognize that the chassis technology trumpeted in today’s RR [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: What’s Wrong With This 2010 GM Product List?

Robert Farago — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:15:12 +0000

Buick: Enclave, LaCrosse, Lucerne Cadillac: CTS/CTS-V, CTS Sport Wagon, DTS/DTS Platinum, Escalade/ESV/EXT/Platinum, Escalade Hybrid/Platinum Hybrid, SRX, STS Chevrolet Cars: Aveo Sedan/Aveo5, Camaro/Camaro SS, Cobalt/Cobalt SS, Corvette/Corvette Z06, Corvette Grand Sport, Corvette ZR1, Impala, Malibu Chevrolet Trucks: Avalanche, Colorado, Equinox, Express, HHR/Panel/SS, Silverado 1500, Silverado HD, Silverado Hybrid, Suburban, Tahoe, Tahoe Hybrid, Traverse GMC: Acadia, Canyon, Savana, Sierra 1500/Denali, Sierra HD, Sierra Hybrid, Terrain, Yukon & Yukon Denali/Yukon XL & Yukon XL Denali, Yukon Hybrid/Denali Hybrid Pontiac: Vibe NB: The Chevrolet Volt is currently scheduled for “late 2010″ as a 2011 model year vehicle. [thanks to JT for the heads up.]

Ask the Best and Brightest: International House Of Penske Lineup?

Edward Niedermeyer — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:05:24 +0000

Roger Penske has got to be a busy guy these days. His purchase of Saturn is a characteristically audacious move that is simultaneously compelling and terrifying. Penske’s Saturn dealers will sell current GM products until they reach the end of their lifetimes. “Concurrent with that, we’ll go around the world to see what products could [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Were Tuner Cars Better Back in the Day?

Robert Farago — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:49:36 +0000

ABT Sportsline press release: “For many years ago people used to wear their hair, even in Kempten, in styles which seem strange to us nowadays. ABT Sportsline, however, already knew how to properly “style” cars from the VW group 50 years ago. Since then the motto ‘cooler, faster, wider’ has lost none of its fascination.” [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: “Could U.S.-shaped GM board impede automaker’s recovery?”

Robert Farago — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:27:39 +0000

The question/headline comes to us straight from Automotive News [AN, sub]. Is there ANYONE who DOESN’T see this as a possibility? Probability? Certainty? Done deal? Meanwhile, I love this riff from AN’s unnamed writer: “Two decades ago, Texas tycoon Ross Perot dubbed his fellow GM directors ‘pet rocks’ who sat silently beside then-CEO Roger Smith. [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Miata, MINI or Civic Si?

Robert Farago — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:07:05 +0000

A TTAC reader writes: So I’m down to considering three cars for my next purchase. As my soon-to-be commute is something like 7 minutes, I’m not overly concerned with putting an ape-load of miles on whatever I buy. My heart is focusing in on three cars: 1) pre-2006 Mazda Miata, 2) 2005 or so MINI (although [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: How to Sell the New GM?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:04:13 +0000

Advertising Age asked the same question of a brace of marketing experts, with predictably hilarious results. Early on, one Mad Man suggests revamping GM by introducing “a promotion that would transform General Motors into America’s first truly owner-owned company: The government issues anyone who purchases a new GM vehicle in the next 12 months 1,000 [...]

TTAC’s Top Ten Trunk Hinges – Your Submissions Please

Robert Farago — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:17:57 +0000

Now that we’ve nailed that whole cupholder thing, it’s time to tackle the important stuff: trunk hinges. I reckon trunk lid hardware is an excellent indication of a given model’s overall build quality. Bad hinges, bad car. Great hinges, great car. There’s a range of important factors here: materials quality, appearance, reliability, longevity and action. To [...]

Ask The Best And Brightest: Lexus?

Robert Farago — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:09:07 +0000

Ask the Best and Brightest: Acura RSX?

Robert Farago — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:04:28 +0000

“Dear thetruthaboutcars.com, I am asking your advice on what type of car would suit me best. I am a high school student who is the not-so-proud owner of a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire. I recently took a ride in my neighbor’s Acura RSX and was impressed with the overall quality of the car, especially the interior [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Dual Clutch or Stick?

Edward Niedermeyer — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:06:37 +0000

Ruwen Hess writes in: What’s been going through my head is 2 trade-offs: Cayman S with or without PDK (with Chrono Plus either way) and BMW M3 Coupe with or without DKG. Beyond the obvious (cost but better 0-60 for PDK/DKG vs. more driving experience on a stick…), what are folks taking into consideration when making [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Pontiac G8 GT Now or Later?

Ken Elias — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:33:44 +0000

If you’ve been following my travails on a new car, you already know that GM won’t extend my lease or sell me my Saab anywhere near a realistic market price. That ticked me off. So I was forced to seek out a new car. Looked at the BMW 328i Coupe and the Infiniti G37. Neither [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: BMW 328i Coupe or Infiniti G37 Journey?

Robert Farago — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:19:15 +0000

Our own Ken Elias (who predicts a May 29 filing for The General) is torn between two motors, feeling like a fool. Loving a BMW is breaking all his rules. The man puts about 12k on the odo per year, and claims he only drives fast on rare occasions [when it is safe to do [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: “Maximum” Bob Lutz?

Robert Farago — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:58:15 +0000

Commentator David Dennis asks… I hope I’m not changing the subject too much, but there’s one thing that’s really bugged me about TTAC: your dislike of “Maximum Bob” Lutz. I may have read too many buff books, but I’ve always instinctively liked the guy. I can’t help but notice that Chrysler had a pretty good car lineup [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: New Cadillac CTS-V or Used BMW M5?

Robert Farago — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:19:25 +0000

More Janus-like indecision from a member of our Best and Brightest who’s torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool. “Jack” wants to buy American (whatever love is). And like many of us, he suffers from some sort of right brain/left brain; head/heart deal. So, he made a list: Pros for the CTS-V 1. Helping out Joe [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Are the Gumballers Idiots or What?

Robert Farago — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:41:18 +0000

The point of the original Gumball Rally: cross the country in the fastest possible time without getting caught. While, at the same time, not killing anyone. It was a non-PC salute to Richard Nixon’s double-nickel speed limit. A political statement, of sorts. How in the world can you “recreate” this event with sponsorship, blogs, YouTube posting, and [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: New Mazda RX8 or Used Porsche Cayman?

Robert Farago — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:09:49 +0000

A longtime member of our Best and Brightest is shopping for a new/used car. Yes, I know: shocking. But there you go. But ccd1 doesn’t know which way to jump. His query: I am beginning to shop around for a car and have gotten the search down to two cars: RX-8 and a used Cayman. The top [...]

Ask the Best And Brightest: What’s Up With the Lincoln Town Car?

Robert Farago — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:50:20 +0000

One of our commentators recently asked why the Lincoln Town Car got so much love. It’s an ancient body-on-frame machine that floats like a hippo and stings like a slug. I’m not sure this video answers that question, but I bet some of our Best and Brightest can.