The Truth About Cars

Happy Fourth Of July From TTAC

Robert Farago — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:36:43 +0000

Photo courtesy David Holzman

YSE Car of the Week: 2005 Saab 9-5 Aero

Justin Crenshaw — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:35:46 +0000

Needless to say, YSE (Your Shitty Economy) Car of the week suffered cataclysmic depreciation, thanks to General Motors. The General bought into the Swedish brand in 1989. After spending $600 million for a half-share, the General proceeded to nickel and dime the automaker to death, mostly through a non-process we know as badge-engineering. Now, if [...]

Will this Nice Lady Kill Opel?

Bertel Schmitt — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:09:30 +0000

After a lot of arm twisting, and several deadlines set by the US court and the German government, the Opel deal finally is entering the final round—for now. After a suitor has been found, a French woman may spoil the whole wedding. Reuters has it that China’s BAIC has finally done what was expected they would [...]

E85 Boondoggle of the Day: Nebraska’s Parallel E85 Universe

Robert Farago — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:54:40 +0000

From the High Plains Journal: Nationally, gas prices have risen nearly every day for the past 42 days. Some analysts expect that a return to $100 oil–and $4 gas–isn’t far behind. But Nebraska drivers are already saving money by filling up with E10. “Nebraska drivers have already saved over $4.5 million in 2009 by buying E10,” said [...]

Oh Canada! Oh Ford!

Robert Farago — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:23:33 +0000

Commentator dinu01 sent us some Canadian sales data (data day at TTAC) courtesy TheStar.com. “Booming Hyundai Auto Canada, which bucked the market trend this year, broke into the top five for the first time in June as sales surged 25.5 per cent to 10,104. Its sales have shot up 21.4 per cent to 52,454 in the [...]

Review: Toyota Supra Single Turbo

Jack Baruth — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:45:50 +0000

Forget Kowalski’s white Challenger, forget Steve McQueen’s Porsche 917K, forget Burt Reynolds’ Trans Am. There’s one movie car that really matters to the twentysomething car enthusiast, and I’m driving a nearly perfect example at full boost up a winding road. After less than ten minutes, my passenger is tired of me rapid-firing quotes at her: “I owe you a ten-second car.” “This will dominate all.” “There’s all kinds of family, Brian, and that’s a choice you’re going to have to make.” Each time I floor the accelerator, there’s almost enough time to spit out another one of Dominic Toretto’s outstanding phrases (“I’M IN YOUR FACE!”) before the boost spools. When it does… watch out.

New Chrysler Liability Warning Label?

Robert Farago — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:36:56 +0000

Sean Kane of safetyresearch.net gave us the heads-up on a move to put warning labels on products manufactured by pre-C-11 Chrysler. WARNING! This vehicle was produced prior to the date when the Chrysler bankruptcy was approved. If you buy this vehicle and are injured or killed, even if your injuries were caused by the manufacturer, you or [...]

Piston Slap: Email Your Questions Now

Robert Farago — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:25:18 +0000

Hey. RF here. How’s it going? I’ll tell you how it’s going: it’s going well. Piston Slap has been an entertaining and informative addition to the TTAC cannon [sic]. Sajeev has proven himself a diligent and insightful advisor to the mechanically challenged amongst us. I fully expect The Divine Mr. M to syndicate Piston Slap [...]

Car of the Year Selection Process

Frank Williams — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:42:50 +0000

Data, Data, Über Alles!

Bertel Schmitt — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:46:29 +0000

TTAC’s B&B are a tough crowd. After we published that Germany, for the second month in a row, saw a sales increase of 40 percent over the same period in the prior year, a month-by-month accounting, complete with graphs was demanded. That request was fulfilled. Then, more demands. The handover of data on Germany’s auto [...]

At Least the Luggage Is OK

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:01:18 +0000

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 [...]

Hyundai Advances Clunker Cash to Dealers

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:18:11 +0000

Hyundai has been a big winner in the European cash-for-clunker sweepstakes, and they’re preparing their US dealers for another boom. Bloomberg reports that Hyundai is advancing cash to dealers to “cover new-vehicle credits for consumers until the federal government completes rules for the program later this month and begins paying dealers.” And despite NHTSA warnings [...]

Supply Chain Blues

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:49:12 +0000

Consumers have a hard enough time keeping all the brands and nameplates in the US market straight; trying to keep track of the myriad suppliers that make up the bulk of the industry is nearly impossible. Even here on TTAC, our well-informed commentariat often throws up its hands at the first sign of supplier coverage. [...]

Babe. Machine guns. Explosives. Old Car. TV Segment. Do the Math.

Robert Farago — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:43:21 +0000

How Safe Is Safe Enough?

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:46:21 +0000

There are some seriously mixed messages coming out of the NHTSA today, which perfectly illustrate what I like to call the tyranny of safety. On the one hand, the NHTSA announced today that overall traffic fatalities dropped by nearly ten percent in 2008, hitting the lowest levels per vehicle mile traveled since 1961. Estimates for [...]

Chris’ Car Crests 100k!

Robert Farago — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:17:03 +0000

China World’s Largest Car Market in First Half of 2009

Bertel Schmitt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:24:51 +0000

The way it looks, China will severely trounce the USA as the world’s largest auto market in 2009. From January to June, Americans bought 4.8m units, a drop of 35.1 percent. China had sold more a month earlier. From January through May, Chinese had already bought nearly 5m units, up 14.29 percent from a year earlier. [...]

Daily Podcast: Converjence

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:57:39 +0000

Because it wants to, Buick is headed upmarket. Because it has to, Cadillac is headed downmarket. Who wins? Not GM. An Epsilon II, FWD/AWD Cadillac isn’t going to have the phrase “standard of the world” tripping off anyone’s tongue. And since GM exists at the pleasure of the politicians, it doesn’t seem likely that Cadillac [...]

TTAC lives @ http://twitter.com/ttac

Robert Farago — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:52:59 +0000

Just a quick reminder that TTAC is on Twitter. I’ve neglected the service for a while, but not anymore. I’m tweeting every new post with a blast of prose poetry and a shortened url, so you can wonder WTF I’m on about and click through. Of course, we’re still available as an RSS feed. Our [...]

Toyota Holds On Hard to Its Hybrid Head-Start

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:02:45 +0000

As evolutionary as the changes to Toyota’s third-generation Prius may seem on the surface, beneath the familiar sheetmetal lurks enough new technology to justify over 1,000 new patents. The Wall Street Journal reports that through three generations of the Prius, Toyota has generated over 2,000 patents on hybrid technology, half stemming from the latest generation [...]

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 [...]

Cadillac Plug-In Hybrid?

Robert Farago — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:03:08 +0000

Derm 81 sent us this report: I took this shot from the GM Tech Center the other day. I couldn’t get more than one photo because the engineer got pissed that I was snapping pictures. It is a Cadillac with right hand steering. What was odd was that it had several “ports” which looked like extra [...]

Review: 2009 Nissan Frontier 4×2 Crew Cab SE

Frank Williams — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:42:37 +0000

Once upon a time, way back in 1959, a company called Datsun imported a funny-looking pickup truck with a small bed and tiny engine, giving birth to the compact pickup market in the U.S. After a slow start, the market grew, as did the competition. The 70’s brought onslaughts from Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and even VW. After the dust settled, the small truck market in the U.S. belongs basically to the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Chevy/GMC Colorado/Canyon (for now, anyway) and Nissan Forester---the direct descendant of the Datsun that started it all. Fifty years later, what hath Nissan wrought?

Hammer Time: Gunfight at the Cheapskate Corral

Steven Lang — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:23:55 +0000

A 2008 Suzuki Forenza. After reading the owner reviews, it pained me to even think about buying the car. I found a 2008 S model on eBay for $6700 (incl. bogus fees). Only 7500 miles? What a deal! But for whom? Since this car was sub-par for a multitude of ‘too cheap for their own [...]

Powered by Abwrackprämie: Germany’s June Sales Up 40 Percent

Bertel Schmitt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:20:43 +0000

New car registrations in Germany, Europe’s biggest auto market, went stratospheric by 40 percent in June. At record numbers, Germany’s Autofahrer junked their old cars, collected €2500 and bought a new one, says Reuters. This followed a May that also saw a 40 percent rise over the same month last year. New car sales in the [...]

Piston Slap: Tom’s Rhinoplasty Edition

Sajeev Mehta — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:04:41 +0000

TTAC commentator minion444 writes, At the end of May, I bought my wife a new ’08 Mazda Miata. She was feeling left out, because I have my motorcycle and it was our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We took delivery on Sat. On Sunday, it was very overcast and saw that the nose (bumper) cover was touched up in the [...]

Automotive Traveler/TTAC Spyshot: New 2011 BMW 5-Series

Robert Farago — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:40:07 +0000

For more pics of the new 2011 BMW 5-Series caught in the desert, jump on over to automotivetraveler.com.

GM’s Toxic Assets

Bertel Schmitt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:50:59 +0000

In the market for a parking lot in Flint, Michigan? Or a nine-hole golf course in New Jersey (needs TLC)? How about some scenic acreage way upstate New York that features prominently on New York State Registry of Hazardous Waste Sites and on the federal superfund list of contaminated places? All—and more—available now to the [...]

Baby Miata in the Works?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:04:38 +0000

Autoexpress claims that Mazda is working on a downsized MX-5 Miata roadster, fanning the flames of enthusiast optimism the world over. AE estimates that the mini drop-top could come with engines of 700cc to 1.6 liters, with a 160 hp turbo 1.6 four-pot topping the range. “Insider” sources say a 2012 launch is being discussed, [...]

Review: 1975 Citroen 2CV

David Holzman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:09:20 +0000

It was our first drive on the French autoroute. The highway, heretofore flat, began to climb, all but imperceptibly. Imperceptibly that is, except to the drivers of the Deux Chevaux, cars that look like old Beetles made of corrugated barn roofing. Suddenly, the Deux Chevaux were moving en mass into the far right lane, putt-putting ever more loudly as they struggled vainly to maintain momentum. “Ooooh!” exclaimed Miriam, my two and a half year old sister. “Dudebos fall out!”

Daimler and Toyota in Talks

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:42:16 +0000

You know this one is going to be good. Auto Motor und Sport says the two giants are having a little klatsch about platform and technology sharing, with typically crazy rumors flying out of the discussion. Mercedes hasn’t planned its next-generation A- and B-classes yet, and Toyota is looking to rationalize its European production capacity. [...]

Mandatory Ignition Interlock Law in the Offing?

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:59:16 +0000

According to Time magazine, a federal highway bill moving through congress would require mandatory breathalyzer ignition interlocks be placed on all cars belonging to DUI convicts. The interlocks would require the driver to pass a blood-alcohol level breath test before an equipped vehicle can be started. Currently several states require interlocks for citizens convicted of [...]

What’s Wrong With This Picture?: Number 9-5 Is Alive Edition

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:22:57 +0000

Toyota June Sales Fall 34.6 Percent

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:43:53 +0000

Toyota’s sales last month fell 34.6 percent, moving 131,654 units. Bread-and-butter Camry and Corolla sales were down 39 and 54.6 percent respectively. In contrast to calls by the media and government for greater efficiency, sales of the frugal Yaris were down 40 percent, although Prius sales increased 6 percent to nearly 13,000 units. Scion nameplates [...]

GM Sales Slide 33.6%

Robert Farago — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:41:21 +0000

“Retail improvements reflect increasing consumer confidence in GM’s long-term viability: Compared with May, 20 percent jump in cars, 13 percent boost in crossover deliveries.” Sure. I believe that. Consumers bought GM products because they thought, yup, New GM is here to stay! You know . . . when it gets here. Meanwhile, what the hell. [...]

June SAAR 9.7 Million with 75% Reported

Bertel Schmitt — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:12:29 +0000

Chrysler press release: “Overall industry figures for June 2009 are projected to come in at an estimated 9.7 million SAAR. ” Expected around 10 million . . . depending on who was doing the expecting. Automotive News: BMW Group –20.3 percent Chrysler –41.9 percent Daimler AG –26.4 percent Ford Motor Co. –10.7 percent General Motors –33.4 percent Honda [...]

Chrysler Sales Tumble 42 Percent in June

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:08:49 +0000

But, like Ford, Chrysler is talking retail. As in Chrysler increased “retail market share more than 1 percentage point compared with June 2008.” Actually retail sales declined 16 percent, and combined with a 95 percent drop in fleet sales (despite selling nearly 3k vehicles to the feds in a single go), Chrysler’s overall sales are down 42 [...]

GM: Don’t Buy and Say Goodbye

Robert Farago — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:58:14 +0000

Straight from the horse’s mouth: GM management has noticed the continuing high trading volume in GM’s common stock at prices in excess of $1. GM management continues to remind investors of its strong belief that there will be no value for the common stockholders in the bankruptcy liquidation process, even under the most optimistic of scenarios. [...]

BMW to Join Audi, Mercedes and Lexus, Offer AWD on Biggest Sedan

Justin Berkowitz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:35:48 +0000

The 7-Series, one of the last remaining holdouts in the super-luxury category to not offer AWD, will get BMW’s boringly-named xDrive all wheel drive this coming fall on the 750i and long wheelbase 750Li models. According to the press release, up to 80% of the power goes to the rear wheels, and a new computer [...]

Ford Sales Down 10.7 Percent

Robert Farago — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:07:20 +0000

Before the Friends of the Blue Oval get out their Woo-Hoos, it behooves anyone looking at any of June’s new car sales figures to remember that today’s percentages are all stated in relation to June 2008, which was a tremendously crap month for car dealers. Industry-wide, sales fell 18 percent, as gas prices rose and [...]

Editorial: The Truth About Car Awards

Edward Niedermeyer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:43:19 +0000

In the wake of JD Powers' Initial Quality Survey, several other lesser-known awards are giving OEMs a whole new reason to cobble together a press release touting their top place, improvement or mere presence in one of these meaningless satisfaction surveys. And why not? It's summer, and things (sales, in specific) are slow. And the award fandango is win-win. The awards allow OEMs to ridiculously inflate the importance of their results, while publicizing the research firms that created the awards. Case in point, the Dodge Ram.

Opel Watch: Buyback Is a Bitch

Bertel Schmitt — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:28:52 +0000

A month ago, we reported that GM offered to buy back Opel some day “when we do better after a restructuring phase.” Offered? GM downright demands the right to buy back Opel after a buyer has successfully resuscitated and restructured Opel. The rumors of such a demand have been around for a while. GM is pretty [...]

E85 Boondoggle of the Day: Blenders’ Last Stand

Robert Farago — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:25:10 +0000

The E85 industry is tanking. Despite federal mandates designed to foist the fuel on a suspecting public, and Transportation Secretary Chu’s determination to make all new vehicles Flex-Fuel capable (EPA credits for everyone!), the E85 industry is on the brink of extinction. Consumer demand (such as it wasn’t) is plummeting. Meanwhile, environmentalists threaten to expose [...]

Editorial: GM Zombie Watch 9: GM Announces “Buy and Say Goodbye” Sale

Robert Farago — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:17:13 +0000

General Motors is launching a fourth of July sale: "Buy and Say Goodbye." From July 1 to July 6, the bankrupt automaker's offering 0% financing for up to 72 months on "most" of its dead brand walking Pontiac models and "some other vehicles." More specifically, "select 2009 and 2010 vehicles in dealer stock including Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra regular, extended and crew cab light-duty pickups; Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL SUVs; Chevrolet Impala; and the Pontiac models: Vibe, G3, G5, G6 and G8." But wait! There's more! "Many other vehicles will have reduced rate financing of 0 percent for up to 60 months for well-qualified buyers. A full list of current offers, conditions, and eligible vehicles, is available at: http://www.gm.com/shop/currentoffers/." Not yet it isn't. So that's number six on our list of reasons why this sale is dumber than toast. Counting down . . .

What’s Wrong With This Picture: Fine Young Cannibals Edition

Robert Farago — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:16:02 +0000

Chrysler: No News is Good News

Robert Farago — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:52:51 +0000

Today’s the day automakers reveal their US new car sales numbers for June. For the last umpteen years, Chrysler has greeted the gloaming with a conference call with jobbing journos and anxious analysts: a spinmeisterfest wherein ChryCo would attempt to explain away their hemorrhaging bottom line with talk of The Next Big Thing (electric minivans!). [...]

Encore Maestro!

Justin Berkowitz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:40:56 +0000

Old cars never die. They go to junkyards and donate parts to keep their brethren on the road in perpetuity. They rust out in back yards and collect dust and hay in barns. Or their tooling goes somewhere else. Scores of older cars live on in lesser developed countries, most famously the VW Beetle in [...]

Prius HID Headlights: Toyota Tagged by Tall Poppy Syndrome?

Michael Karesh — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:23:15 +0000

The issue: the optional HID headlights of the circa-2006 Prius are prone to turning off at random times, usually not at the same time. When this happens, they must be turned off, then on again. To fix the problem, Toyota dealers sometimes recommend replacing the entire HID system, at a cost of $1,700. Owners are [...]

California Tightens State Speed Trap Regulations

The Newspaper — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:56:57 +0000

As of today, it will be more difficult for California cities to lower speed limits to create lucrative radar speed traps. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has issued a new policy directive that alters the method used to set speed limits, as codified in the state’s Manual on Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). California’s speed [...]

China Still Eyeing Opel And Volvo

Bertel Schmitt — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:56:27 +0000

China isn’t giving up its quest for distressed and desperate Western auto assets. On the Opel front, Magna reportedly has hit a rough patch. Reuters says that RHJ International, a former bidder for Opel, is back in the running and may be close to a deal. Financial Times says that BAIC will also hand in a [...]

Piston Slap: Justy-fied Freestylin’ over CVTs

Sajeev Mehta — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:50:59 +0000

TTAC commentator Patrickj writes: I have a 2006 Ford Freestyle with about 75,000 miles. I like it well enough, including the CVT, and it has been very reliable, but I can’t say I love it. Biggest current issue with the car is wear on the interior, especially carpets. The high depreciation is a sunk [...]

What’s Your Favorite Car-Related Music Video?

Jeff Puthuff — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:23:16 +0000

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 [...]

Car and Driver Road Test Flow Chart

Frank Williams — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:20:16 +0000

Arizona Group Forces Red Light Ticket Refund

The Newspaper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:29:10 +0000

A group campaigning to eliminate photo enforcement in Arizona has forced Paradise Valley to admit that it has been shortchanging drivers. A volunteer with the group Camerafraud.com discovered the city used illegally short yellows at the intersection of Tatum Boulevard and McDonald Drive. The motorist was mailed a red light camera ticket for allegedly entering the [...]

Quote of the Day: The Wizard of GM Edition

Robert Farago — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:22:09 +0000

I know I’m bit of a dog with a bone on this one. But the President Himself has assured bailout-weary taxpayers, both satirically and earnestly, that he doesn’t want to be GM’s CEO. His Presidential Task Force on Automobiles (PTFOA) has repeated the “hands-off GM” meme ad nauseam—even as they tighten their stranglehold on the [...]

Rental Car Rates Soar

Edward Niedermeyer — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:52:23 +0000

The NYT dug through Abrams Consulting Group data on car rental prices, and it seems the cost of part-time wheels has gone up considerably in the last year. By how much? In May, the average rate for a weekly airport rental of a compact car booked seven days in advance was $345.99, up a whopping 73 [...]

EPA: CA Can Set Its Own Automotive CO2 Standards

Robert Farago — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:44:52 +0000

The LA Times reports that The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted California the right to set its own, independent CO2 standards for car and truck emissions. The controversial waiver comes with a proviso: they can’t toughen the tailpipe regs—de facto mpg requirements—until 2017. Which is no big deal, ’cause the feds have adopted California’s [...]

Hammer Time: The Clunker Cabal

Steven Lang — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:26:29 +0000

What demographics will win in the recent “Cash for Clunkers” legislation? Well let’s take a gander. In the cars section, all but the last two primarily appeal to folks that are north of the double nickel. Traditional Caddies, laid back Lincolns. Throw in some nasty old British hardware, a couple of misguided pseudo-imports (LS and Aurora), [...]

Hyundai Offers $1.49/gallon Gas Guarantee

Edward Niedermeyer — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:27:32 +0000

Fresh off its widely-copied “Assurance Program,” Hyundai is reaching into its bag of tricks for a new gimmick. And found inspiration in Chrysler’s 2008 gas-price guarantee promotion. Automotive News [sub] reports that Hyundai will offer customers who buy or lease a new Hyundai between July 1 and August 31 the opportunity to lock in a [...]

Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Jack Baruth — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:17:56 +0000

Not everything needs to come with a warning label. A bag of peanuts shouldn’t have “Warning: contains nuts” on it. You know what I’m talking about here. But when I shyly asked the infamous “Agent 001” of Autospies to be my co-driver for the next day’s 2010 Taurus SHO twisty-road press preview, perhaps I should have had excerpts from my “Maximum Street Speed” editorials stapled to the functional sleeves of my Gulf-blue Kiton linen jacket. Kind of a warning label, you see. It would have saved him more than a little worry the next day . . . To say nothing of the dry heaves. But don’t worry: Ford’s latest SHOmobile isn’t nausea-inducing. Unless, that is, you are sensitive to the odor of disc brakes when their pads catch on fire.

Curbside Classic: 1971 Small Cars Comparison: Number 6—AMC Gremlin

Paul Niedermeyer — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:59:06 +0000

Curbside Classics takes you back to 1971 for a virtual comparison test of six small cars, based on (and partly borrowed) from a C/D test. Please don't spoil the outcome, if you know it (the suspense has been building for over 30 years). Was a car ever born with the odds so stacked against it? Its name is defined as "a small gnome held to be responsible for malfunction of equipment". Its design was penned on an air-sickness bag during a (bumpy?) flight. It carries almost 60% of its weight over the front wheels despite being RWD. Its steering has six turns lock to lock. And it looks exactly like what it is: a perfectly normal-looking sedan that had its rear end amputated by a cleaver. The Gremlin would have had to create a pretty major malfunction in my PC (and C/D's typewriters) for it not to end dead last.

Payback’s a Bitch: New GM Stock Must Hit $68 Billion

Robert Farago — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:36:32 +0000

The Washington Post reminds us that Uncle Sam’s chance of recouping taxpayers’ $50 billion “investment” in New GM shares are somewhere between slim and none. To recover the money poured down the GM rathole so far, not including “extraneous” bailouts to lender cum banks, suppliers, dealers and car buyers, the automaker’s stock must rise to [...]

Is Toyota HIDing from Prius Headlight Problem?

Frank Williams — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:09:33 +0000

First, engine sludge in the Camry. Then, rusty frame rails on the Tacoma. Advertising Age (of all people) reveals the latest problem to tarnish Toyota’s solid gold quality image: the Prius’ HID headlights. A number of owners of Toyota’s green machine weren’t well pleased happy their high intensity headlights died after a few years. No surprise [...]

Toyota: Lights Off at NUMMI? GM Synergy Drive?

Frank Williams — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:58:02 +0000

Will they or won’t they? First, the factory. GM’s announced they’re bailing on NUMMI. Bloomberg says Toyota may be considering the same thing. Once GM turns its door keys over to Toyota, the Fremont, California, plant becomes Toyota’s highest-cost factory and the only one manned by UAW workers. With other US plants’ excess capacity (including a [...]

Buff Books Buffeted by Bailout

Robert Farago — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:52:04 +0000

MediaWeek reports that Detroit’s “troubles” have put the hurt on Car and Driver and Road & Track ad bucks. “With auto advertising down 47.5 percent in print in Q1, per Publishers Information Bureau, the car books could use help. Through July, Car and Driver’s ad pages fell 20.7 percent to 451, per the Mediaweek Monitor (rival [...]

Opel Watch: Magna’s Bidder Enemies?

Bertel Schmitt — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:35:54 +0000

A few days ago, RHJ International, the Belgium-based industrial holding company interested in Opel, was moping. They said, apparently, they were not wanted anymore, were “kicked out of the bidding process.” GM and Germany were only talking Magna and maybe China’s BAIC. Guess who’s back in the game? You guessed it. Financial Times says that GM [...]

Piston Slap: Bad Information, Badder Boxsters

Sajeev Mehta — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:55:07 +0000

TTAC commentator Detroit-Iron writes: I am in the process of buying a new car (despite Steven Lang’s admonitions). I would like to get a 2009 after the 2010’s come out, maybe a Legacy or Ralliart. My problem is that there is zero information on the specific month that a given manufacturer is going to release the 10s. I can [...]

The Sheik Wants Porsche and Volkswagen

Bertel Schmitt — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:40:09 +0000

Porsche finally has a written offer from the Sheik of Qatar, if the Frankfurter Allgmeine’s sources are not mistaken. It sounds pretty official: “We have a written offer of the Qatar Investment Authority which details their engagement in the Porsche Holding SE and their purchase of our options for Volkswagen stock,” said a Porsche spokesperson [...]

What’s Wrong With This Picture: Das Kindermädchen Edition

Robert Farago — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:38:10 +0000

Editorial: The Importance of Being Stranded

Jim Sutherland — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:32:27 +0000

In general, today's cars don't put us in mortal peril (by themselves) or strand us miles from home. They don't require any special driving or mechanical skills. As always, progress has come at a cost: it's eliminated the character-building experiences that helped guys of my g-g-g-generation become "car guys." Yup, I come from a time without cell phones, G.P.S. navigation, OnStar, and vehicles that can breeze through 100,000 miles with little to no fear of meltdown. A time when cars offered a shorter shelf but more human - machine interaction. When car guys could look under the hood, see a problem and correct it. On the spot. I'm not bragging, so don't put me down. Not yet, anyway.

PTFOA: “Faster, Harder, Etc.”

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:37:05 +0000

“A rapid emergence from bankruptcy creates the highest probability of avoiding the catastrophic and expensive meltdown in GM auto sales that virtually all industry observers predicted,” Harry Wilson of the Presidential Task Force on Autos tells Automotive News [sub]. Note the use of “auto sales.” Because bankrupt automakers don’t sell cars, right? Let’s see . . [...]

Credit Suisse: Truck Sales Protecting D3’s Market Share (Such as It Is)

Robert Farago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:48:32 +0000

À l’impossible nul n’est tenu. The “impossible” that ain’t likely to happen: domestic car makers recapturing the lion’s share of the American new car market. According to Credit Suisse, when the sales figures for June drop, New Chrysler, current Ford and Old GM combined are likely to account for around 45 percent of new car [...]

GM Asks Saturn to Downplay Penske Deal

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:40:09 +0000

Saturn dealers ignore the plea. Or, so reports the Wall Street Journal. Word is that GM has asked Saturn to keep the Pesnke-fuelled optimism to a minimum “lest it overshadow the Saturn brand name.” After all, the deal isn’t expected to wrap up until Q3 of this year. But The General might as well be [...]

Curbside Classic Clue

Paul Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:52:39 +0000

CARS Program to Launch July 23rd

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:24:07 +0000

Automotive News [sub] reports that finals rules for America’s own scrappage scheme will be released on or around July 23rd. The notice comes with a warning to dealers that they are legally responsible for any trade-ins they structure prior to that date. Violators of the program’s rules could face a $15K fine per illegal transaction. [...]

What’s Wrong With This Video?: Just Slap a Volt in There Edition

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:55:12 +0000

Hat Tip: GM re:tardation

GM: Fitter, Happier, More Productive?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:50:46 +0000

Automotive News [sub] indulges in the optimism that dare not speak its name, courtesy of the omnipresent Center for Automotive Research. “A happier GM? Billions in costs disappear,” runs AN’s headline. And then comes the equivocation [emphasis added]: During its reorganization, General Motors should be able to shed about $12.5 billion in annual costs — paving [...]

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. [...]

GM Prius Rumors Won’t Die. Or Not?

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:09:16 +0000

Bloomberg is reporting that GM CEO Fritz Henderson will meet with Toyota President Akio Toyoda this August, and that a GM rebadge of the Prius could be on the agenda. “Two people familiar with the plan” confirm the Prius angle, and with the death of the Pontiac Vibe, GM certainly has to figure out what [...]

How Orion Township Won Chevy Viva Production

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:32:20 +0000

Er, bought. According to the Freep, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority put together the $779 million tax credit package which secured Orion Assembly’s future as the home of the Chevy Aveo’s replacement. A 25-year, 100 percent tax abatement from the municipality of Orion Township (worth some $100 million) didn’t hurt either. Nor did Oakland County’s [...]

Bailout Watch 566: DOE Seeks $25 Billion More for Retooling, EVs

Robert Farago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:01:58 +0000

We keep racking and stacking the Bailout Watches and Uncle Sam keeps the federal funds flowing. As Eddy reported before the weekend, Congress is looking to send another $25 billion to the Department of Energy to bless upon car companies re-tooling old factories to build more fuel-efficient products. In the form of loans, of course. [...]

Ford Builds CARS

John Horner — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:36:11 +0000

Ford is jumping on the recently-signed Car Allowance Rebate System (a.k.a. Cash for Clunkers) to lure customers into the showroom. Ford’s home page includes a highlighted link to the “Recycle Your Ride” program. A prospective Ford buyer can enter details about their current vehicle into a drop-down menu system and quickly see if it qualifies [...]

Fiat 500: Abarth, Cabrio, Wagon Planned for US

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:05:13 +0000

The FIat 500 may be the only Fiat-branded vehicle to be sold in the new Fiatsler empire, but according to Automotive News [sub] the model will be offered in four, possibly five body styles. “Hatchback, convertible, station wagon and sporty hatchback,” models will roll out of Chrysler’s Toluca, Mexico, plant starting in 2011. Or not? [...]

GM Kicks HUMMER, Saturn, Saab to the Curb; Can’t Spell

Robert Farago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:30:36 +0000

Date: 06/29/2009 Ref. number: Marketing / Programs and Promotions / G_0000032412 Subject: Miltary, College and Credit Union Member Discount Program Change Beginning Monday July 1, 2009, Saturn, Hummer and Saab vehicles will no longer be eligible for the GM Military, College, or Credit Union Member Discount programs. Dealers will still be able to get approvals for any Saturn, Hummer or Saab vehicles delivered [...]

Piston Slap: Choke that Maxima Edition

Sajeev Mehta — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:18:37 +0000

TTAC commentator Aren Cambre writes: I have a question about my 2002 Nissan Maxima. A while back, I had the battery disconnected for a few hours. After reconnecting, the car forgot how to maintain idle right after starting: if I don’t nudge the gas pedal for several seconds after starting, RPMs fall to 0. Internet research [...]

Ask the Best and Brightest: Bugatti Veyron or a McLaren F1

Robert Farago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:08:24 +0000

All this talk about the Porsche Panamera over the weekend (review to follow, eventually) had me thinking about automotive desirability. I reckon when you get to a certain price point, all rational considerations disappear in a cloud of Franklins. Anyone who buys a car for over $100,000 or so owns at least another two or five [...]

Volt Birth Watch 149: Jean Jennings Loves Her some Volt

Robert Farago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:45:13 +0000

In fact, Jean Jennings loves her some, well, anything—as long as the company providing the four-wheeled thing butters her bread either directly or indirectly (via advertising). Way back in March 2008, TTAC took the president and editor-in-chief of Automobile magazine to task for pimping for Jeep. Now, even as Old GM becomes Old GM II [...]

UAW Socialists Stumped

Robert Farago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:52:04 +0000

We haven’t said much about the United Auto Workers (UAW) lately. That’s because the union has kept a low profile. And why wouldn’t they? At the expense of nothing very much, their members continue to either draw the same paycheck (on the government’s dime) or cash-out (on the government’s dime). They also get billions in [...]

Editorial: GM Chapter 7?

Jehovah Johnson — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:49:32 +0000

The most definitive difference between Chrysler’s swift conversion from Old to New Chrysler and the General’s "reinvention": the element of surprise. Or lack thereof. The General's list of creditors on GM’s court filing (dealers, parts manufactures, advertising media, bondholders, et al.) are all painfully aware of what happens when "The Fix" is in. They now know what it means when The President of the United States promises the public that “we will get this done in a swift and expeditious manner." Forewarned is forearmed. And there's another crucial difference between Fiatsler's transformation and the plans for Government Motors: the GM dealer body is a wealthier, more connected group of businessmen than the Chrysler dealer body. In other words, "Old" GM may not go so quietly into that good night.

Say It Isn’t So, Mr. Bond!

Frank Williams — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:20:57 +0000

Aston Martin is thinking small. In what has to be the ne plus ultra in brand dilution, they will offer the “Cygnet” in 2010. And what, you ask, is a Cygnet? It’s a rebadged Toyota iQ. No, I really didn’t make that up. According to Bloomberg, James Bond’s favorite autobuilder will sell a “luxury commuter” [...]

Louisiana Legislature Shanghais Speed Trap Revenue

Robert Farago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:52:31 +0000

The Louisiana State Legislature last week sent Governor Bobby Jindal (R) a bill that will stop small towns from padding their budgets by issuing minor speeding tickets on interstate highways. In adopting the measure, state lawmakers put themselves on the record for the first time in clear support of red light cameras and speed cameras. State [...]

Review: 2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDI

John Holt — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:58:45 +0000

On paper, the Audi A3 TDI is an exercise in futility. The model shares platform bits with a Golf Rabbit. It's smaller than a Jetta Sportwagen. It carries a lofty price premium; the diesel-powered A3 “boasts” the same engine that can be had across the street at the Vee-Dub for thousands less. It's not as fast, sporty or capacious as the rear wheel-drive BMW 335d. By any rational measure, the A3 TDI is an answer to a question that few Americans even thought about asking. Which is why it's better to judge the A3 TDI "in the flesh."

Volkswagen Denies Ultimatum, Suzuki Denies Deal

Bertel Schmitt — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:04:49 +0000

Over the weekend, Porsche complained loudly about a Monday ultimatum to accept Volkswagen’s merger proposal—or else. The answer from Wolfsburg: “Ultimatum? What ultimatum?” “There is no ultimatum,” a VW spokesman told Reuters. He would not comment further. Parallel worlds? Porsche Chairman Wolfgang Porsche and his deputy on the supervisory board, Uwe Hueck, said in a statement on [...]

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?

Bertel Schmitt — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:08:55 +0000

You know what I loved most about car advertising? There was never a shortage of money to play with. I'm no longer tracking these things, but in 2007, GM spent $3 billion on what we call "measured media" alone. Measured media is defined as television, print, and outdoor advertising. The unmeasured expenses, what's called "below the line," in the vernacular, are usually just as huge, maybe bigger. Above and below the line, GM must have spent the GDP of Mongolia on advertising. Volkswagen's budget resembled the GDP of a much smaller country, but I thoroughly enjoyed helping them to put it to good use. Sometimes, the money was thoroughly wasted. This was one of these times . . .

GM (a.k.a. Obama Administration) Cave on Old to New Product Liability. Ish.

Robert Farago — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:06:39 +0000

Facing mounting political pressure, GM’s new masters have agreed to allow new liability cases against products made by old (pre- and intra-bankruptcy) GM to proceed against New (post-pre-bankruptcy). According to the New York Times, the deal went down in federal bankruptcy court on Friday. “G.M. and the administration’s [hands-off] auto task force have been negotiating with more [...]

Editorial: Volkswagen’s Piech Blackmails Porsche’s Wiedeking: Deal by Monday or Die

Bertel Schmitt — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:37:17 +0000

A week ago, we predicted that Volkswagen, buoyed by stellar numbers, would soon swat nuisance Wiedeking once and for all. It didn't take long. Ferdinand Piech, chairman of the supervisory board of Volkswagen and co-owner of Porsche, pulled out a big gun and put it to the head of Wendelin Wiedeking, CEO of Porsche (and theoretically Piech's employee). Piech said (we are paraphrasing in the interest of brevity): "Say uncle by Monday. Or you're dead." Nice family.

What’s Wrong With This Picture: Paradise by the Dashboard Light Edition

Robert Farago — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:52:34 +0000

Check out the site: 2010lacrosse.com. Does Buick know that the song they’re planning to use to launch the new LaCrosse ends: So now I’m praying for the end of time To hurry up and arrive Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you I don’t think that I can really survive I’ll never break my promise or forget my vow But [...]