Ask the Best and Brightest: GM Executive Retirement?

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 earned SERP/ERP and half year’s salary in life insurance. This compares to all current retirees who lost 70% of their SERP and all of their life insurance except for $10k when GM came out of bankruptcy. The arrogance of the ‘new company’ that hasn’t made any money and is using public funds to continue in business is what we would have expected from the old company. Since this company is now owned by the government, can’t someone get at look at these numbers and see what the American taxpayer will be paying these people for the rest of their lives? I am a retiree and am grateful that we kept our retirement program at all. I am just shocked that the next retirees are not going to get similar cuts to their package.

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TTAC's Top Ten Back to School Cars
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 Hon…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: What Muscle Car Did Major Nelson Drive in "I Dream of Jeannie"?

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

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

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 and handling. I also got caught-up in the Honda Odyssey – Michelin Pax class action debacle; I shelled-out huge money for two sets of tires so stiff they’d make French soufflé makers envious. Autoweek recently reported that run-flats are in retreat, accounting for less then one percent of the U.S. market. That’s one percent too many—and not just because of the expense or compromised driving dynamics. As this email from rspaight indicates:

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

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 wants? Does the Ford brand, and its marketing mavens, have enough oomph to go the distance? Stay tuned . . .

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Ask the Best and Brightest: Is Cash for Clunkers a Rip Off?
Are consumers receiving a government “rebate” for their clunker paying LESS for their new car than they would have without the rebate? I know tha…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Is Three a Crowd?
Daimler’s mob have filed a patent with the IPO re: a three-seater smart . CNET connects the dots: “Obviously drawing inspiration from the McLa…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Wagons Under $25k?
Ask The Best And Brightest: Wagons Under $25k?
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Should GM Buy Domestic?
Fifty billion dollars. That’s how much money the United States taxpayer has plowed into General Motors. Back when this terrifying teat-sucking started,…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Have You Ever Met an Honest Car Salesman?

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 to suspecting punters. But I can honestly say that I have never met an honest car salesman face-to-face. Charming? Yes. Knowledgeable? Absolutely. But every last man Jack of them oozed obfuscation. The best of the breed, who shall remain nameless, avoids issuing outright lies with a simple yet effective technique: he ignores any question that requires a negative reply. Seriously. He says nothing. Unlike Mr. Piven, whose latest cinematic effort seems carefully designed to lower public opinion of a profession that couldn’t go any lower (both the opinion and the profession itself). But truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. Have you ever met an honest car salesman? And if you have, are you sure he wasn’t playing you for a fool?

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Ask The Best And Brightest: Who's Number One With a Bullitt?
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…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: What Articles Should Lexus Magazine Feature

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 departments and articles to entertain and amuse [both of] the marque’s non-narcoleptic owners/enthusiasts.

It is a loyalty and brand-building publication and is mailed for free to anyone who owns or leases a Lexus vehicle. The editorial covers lifestyle, the arts, fine dining and travel, as well as vehicle reviews and test drives of the newest Lexus models. Departments include:

Lexus News – The latest on Lexus’s products, services, owner benefits, and partnerships.
Lexus Sense – Information on timely products and events that will help Lexus owners indulge their senses.
Spotlight – A feature profile on Lexus owners.
LEXicon Culture Pages – A magazine-within-the-magazine dedicated to categories of interest to readers, including Travel, Active Pursuits, Design, Products for Good Living, Cuisine and Philanthropy.
Sensibility – A back-page essay highlighting a notable innovator.

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

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 as I went over it there was a horrible grinding noise that appeared to be coming from the sterring rack. Then to my horror, the car was NOT in Drive but somehow, having gone over the bump caused the vehicle to go into Neutral. When I tried to steer, the wheel did NOT have the tightness but rather was very loose! The steering would not go in the direction that I wanted it to. Immediately, I put the car in Park turned the ignition off and just sat in shock. My car is only 3 years old and it only has 18,400.00 klm on it. I thought to myself, how can this be happening? I haven’t had a problem before! The very next day, I took it in to the Honda dealership. They had it on the rack and also took it out for a test drive. The service person who took all my information looked into the computer and said I have the extended warranty for 5 years and this should be covered. It was a relieve to have the 5 years. However, the service guy told me that they can’t find anything wrong with my vehicle. I can’t believe that! I again was in shock! I know I am NOT loosing my mind! The car slipped into Neutral from Drive and a horrible loud griding noise from the sterring wheel could be heard OVER MY MUSIC! The steering wheel would not turn in the direction I wanted it too. I explained to the service guy what I had experienced from the car and that there is something terribly wrong and what I went through with this car is NOT NORMAL! The serviceman said there is nothing more that they can do for me! I asked what was done to the car. He said the mechanic looked at the brake line and all underneath the vehicle and that they went on a test drive with it and it appears to be FINE! At this point, I did’nt know what to do. In shock, frustrated and very upset, I drove home. The steering was way off! I had to oversteer just to do a basic right and left turn. Before the speed bump incident that was NOT THE CASE! I can differentiate between tight steering and a loose steering wheel. The steering wheel does not sit in center nor does it go back smoothing. Instead, it goes back in increments as if something is caught, broken, holding it. I have to bring the wheel back myself. Yet, I am NOT a MECHANIC and the mechanic and staff can’t see the problem. I can’t help but ask myself if I didn’t have the extended warranty would they be able to find the problem, fix it and how much $$$$ would I be out of pocket?

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Ask The Best and Brightest: Keep Volvo XC70 or Head for Acadia?
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…
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Ask The Best And Brightest: Hope For Suzuki Or Mitsubishi?
Ask The Best And Brightest: Hope For Suzuki Or Mitsubishi?
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Ask the Best and Brightest: TTAC Campaign for a Real American Car?

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 campaigning for a Real American Car.

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Ask the Best and Brightest: What Should John Wolfe Name His Dallas Car Talk (oops) Radio Show?
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&…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: What 2nd Car for $5K?
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 p…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Is the New LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni a Death Car?
This isn’t just me whingeing about another Italian stallion that’s inherently qualified for Wrecked Exotics’ Lamborghini section. The &ld…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Whither NUMMI?
Ask The Best And Brightest: Whither NUMMI?
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Ask the Best and Brightest: What Constitutes a "True Porsche"?
Ever since Porsche debuted the Cayenne, Porschephiles have heatedly debated where it fits into Porsche’s branding strategy—or if it should even e…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Can New GM Really Leave Its Rep Behind?
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…
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Achtung! Alle Herhren! Der Winner Ist:

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 the most deserving contestant would walk away with his very own copy of the Taschenwörterbuch der Kraftfahrzeugtechnik.

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

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 federal government into endless subsidies by re-writing recent history. (We were doing GREAT until the economy tanked!) But for a journalist to raise an important historical question and then let Detroit apologists spin it without question is, uh, enervating.

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Ask the Best and Brightest: BMW Engine Mods ASAP?
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 w…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: What's Happening in Louisiana?
Ask The Best And Brightest: What's Happening In Louisiana?
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"Vintage Promo Film Made for Detroit's 1968 Olympic Bid Reveals City's Precipitous Decline"
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…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: 2002 BMW 325Ci or a 2002 Subaru WRX Wagon?
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 day…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Re-Name Those Rolls Royce Gizmos?

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 press release below is boilerplate BMW. I mean, they didn’t even change the names, dear boy. Which makes me wonder: what should they call this stuff? Active Roll Stabilisation [English spelling, Jeff] implies, well, roll. Variable Damping Control should at least have “en” in the middle of the middle word for the car’s effect on the fairer sex. Any suggestions (bonus points for clever acronyms)?

At the heart of the Rolls-Royce Ghost’s magic carpet ride will be a state-of-the-art chassis which uses an intelligent four corner air suspension system and multi link aluminium front and rear axles. Designed to be fully integrated, each of the cars dynamic handling and safety systems has been engineered to work together in harmony. Systems such as Active Roll Stabilisation, four corner air springs and Variable Damping Control operate as one, imperceptibly to the driver and passengers to provide the best possible comfort for occupants and to ensure that the tyres maintain optimum contact with the road, even on rough surfaces for driving safety.

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

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.]

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

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 be brought into this country,” Penske tells Edmunds Inside Line. The “World Market” approach seems to do away with much of the industry’s basic understanding of branding, but Penske insists that aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, safety and styling will continue to be the defining characteristics for new Saturn products.

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Ask the Best and Brightest: Were Tuner Cars Better Back in the Day?
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 Spo…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: "Could U.S.-shaped GM Board Impede Automaker's Recovery?"
The question/headline comes to us straight from Automotive News . Is there ANYONE who DOESN’T see this as a possibility? Probability? Certainty? Done…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Miata, MINI or Civic Si?
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 ov…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: How to Sell the New GM?

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 shares in General Motors stock. Then GM shareholders become people who are motivated to make both better products and a better company.” Seriously. As if the cure for GM’s woes were for marketing to wag the entire bankrupt dog. Anyway, check out the whole thing for a wild assortment of interesting ideas and pure, unadulterated crazy. Then riddle me this: how does GM take advantage of its new structure and piles of tax money while minimizing bailout backlash? Or does it? Can a government-owned firm be popular with the public under any circumstances?

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TTAC's Top Ten Trunk Hinges – Your Submissions Please
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 excell…
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Ask The Best And Brightest: Lexus?
Ask the Best and Brightest: Acura RSX?
“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 o…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Dual Clutch or Stick?
Ask The Best And Brightest: Dual Clutch Or Stick?
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Pontiac G8 GT Now or Later?

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 car was making my day. There are very few Bimmers with manuals (unless I wanted a stripped black sedan—price leaders for the dealers) and the Infiniti simply lacks soul.

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Ask the Best and Brightest: BMW 328i Coupe or Infiniti G37 Journey?
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…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: "Maximum" Bob Lutz?
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…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: New Cadillac CTS-V or Used BMW M5?

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 Six Packs up there in Lansing and at all the parts companies across the country. I’m not a jingoist, but I’ve asked that Detroit build a car that’s competitive—and they have. And in a tie, I’m cheering for my fellow Americans.
2. The absolute best new car value for money in the over $50,000 category with respect to performance.
3. New car smell and complete control over the hoonage that I’d inflict on my car.

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

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 people without any political consciousness driving “arrest me” supercars that are 50 or more miles per hour faster than the original participants’ wheels (which included a converted ambulance)? Answer: easily enough, given the large number of magic feather missiles owned and occasionally operated by the rich and famous. I know: we’re giving these idiots the oxygen of publicity by even mentioning their pursuit of attention. But it’s time for TTAC Best and Brightest to rag or rave over this clear and present danger to public safety and auto enthusiasts’ image. If supercar owners want to do this sort of thing, they should either take it on the track or enter “ open road racing” events. Ironically, sensibly, open road competitions consist of time trials on closed-off public highways: a safe place for over-testosteroned drivers to compete for something that benefits us all: a Darwin award.

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Ask the Best and Brightest: New Mazda RX8 or Used Porsche Cayman?
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…
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Ask the Best And Brightest: What's Up With the Lincoln Town Car?

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.

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Ask the Best and Brightest Follow-Up: A Tale of Two Carreras
You may recall that TTAC commentator stephada asked TTAC’s Best and Brightest whether he should buy a Porsche Carrera S or 4S. Decisions. Decisions. He…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: What's the World's Best Sounding Passenger Car Engine?

Don’t forget idle. Whether Bimmers, Audis or Lambos, V10s sound like the Four Hoarse Men of the Opera-calypse at full chat. But I’ve yet to hear one that sounded even vaguely stimulating at idle. (Remember the SRT-10 pickup?) On the other hand, the E39 BMW M5 V8. Or . . . what?

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Ask the Best and Brightest: What's The Best Six Passenger Sedan?
The Internet is a funny place both in the ha-ha and peculiar senses of the word. I’m always on the prowl for coffe-snorting PR irony: the discrepancy b…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Will Uncle Sam Write-Off GM's $22.8 Billion "Loans"?
OK, it’s pretty clear how this is going down . . . On June 1, GM will file for Chapter 11. The Presidential Task Force on Automobiles will help the com…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: What Would You Have the MSM Ask the Auto Industry's Best and Brightest?
I listened with some outrage and frustration to an NPR interview with Chrysler’s “president” at the NY Auto Show this AM. It was a farrago…
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Ask the Best & Brightest: Squeak, Rattle & Roll Edition

My friend, DrDeco, just got rid of traded his ’06 300C SRT8 for an ’08 Mazdaspeed3. (Who says we have no influence?) He loves it for the most part but is being

driven batty by numerous squeaks that seem to come from the dash down near the pedals and up around the defrost vent. Do any of you who have a Speed3 suffer from this problem or have suggestions as to what he can do to lessen the noise? Perhaps there is a TSB out that you know of that addresses this?

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Ask The Best And Brightest: Is the New Grand Cherokee a "Real" Jeep? Does It Matter?
Checking in with Jalopnik, the just-released specs for the new Jeep Grand Cherokee boast that its Quadra Lift air suspension can elevate the Jeep’s bod…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: Why (and When) Do Cars Explode?
We know that Hollywood scriptwriters and their stuntmen enablers rely on the “fact” that cars explode. But do they? The NY Daily News reports tha…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: What's the Greatest Misfit Toy?
As a kid, I was conflicted by The Land of the Misfit Toys. Sure, I could empathize with the discarded playthings’ emotional scarring. And I had a pre-C…
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Ask The Best and Brightest: What Do You Sing in the Car?

You know . . . when it’s moving.

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Ask the Best and Brightest: Who Is Kent Kresa?
Yesterday, GM’s new boss (president Barack Obama) announced he was firing The General’s CEO and six members of GM’s Board of Bystanders. Th…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: When Do You Let Your Wife Drive; What's THAT Like?

Wow, how sexist is that? “Let,” as in “a man is naturally in control of conveyances”? No, of course not. “Let” as in “my wife always lets me drive.” Or, to be less British about it, “I always drive, for whatever reason.” If so, there comes a time in every driver’s life when they have to let their significant other take the wheel. Outside of alcohol-related designated driverdom, I’ve faced this, uh, transition twice. First, when my UK license was suspended. Second, on Friday, when a nature walk turned into knee destruction. And now I know why the minivan’s stoppers are shot; hurry-up and brake is not the best way to ensure pad life. It’s not that Sam’s a lousy driver; it’s just that I’m a horrendous passenger. So the answer to the above question is “only when I have to” and “hell.” You?

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Ask the Best and Brightest: How Do I Make My Home EV Ready?
Yes, it’s EV Day here at TTAC. Well, morning. And despite last night’s harangue, one of our Best and Brightest is ready to rock and roll in plug-…
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Ask the Best and Brightest: New Altima Coupe or CPO G35?

boredlawstudent writes:

OK best and Brightest, I really need your help! My car was totaled last week by a DUI driver and I’m in need of a car. I’m trying to decide which car to buy. A NEW Altima Coupe or a 2007-2008 CPO [Certified Pre-Owned] G35. My top concerns are reliability and material quality (and comfort). I’ve see a number of 2007 CPO G35’s with low miles (17K) on dealer sites requesting $24-26K. I’ve seen some 2008 CPO’s for $25K, but they seem to be off rental which I obviously don’t want. Some questions…

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  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?