Tapscotts Behind the Wheel

Tapscotts Behind the Wheel is Moving to Examiner.com

2006-12-03T17:38:00.000-05:00

There will be a different Tapscotts Behind the Wheel tomorrow morning when the sun comes up because it will no longer be found here at the familiar web address but at a new address on Examiner.com. Better change that entry on the favorites list because the new blog will be at Examiner.com. Go to the horizontal menu at the top and click on blogs and you should see the link to the new Tapscotts Behind the Wheel

The original Tapscotts Behind the Wheel will continue to reside here as an archive. Many thanks to all of you who have posted comments, suggested stories and reviews, passed along great stories and tips and otherwise been an encouragement.

What happens to Carnival of Cars? Well, that's not clear just yet. Keep an eye out here for an announcement soon.

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, December, 1, 2006

2006-12-02T08:12:00.000-05:00

Things are hot and happennin' in LA at the auto show and that means lots of interesting, goofy and unbelievable stuff to see as we head out on the cyber-road for this week's Carnival of Cars. I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving. And we're off!

Did you know GM sells more Buicks in China than in the U.S.? You gotta take the whole ride to find out my source on this one!

So ....

Over in the Down Under part of the world, the Aussie authorities are making some significant changes to the way folks get drivers licenses. Craig Wilson at autofix.com.au, a new entry in the Carnival, is encouraged, even if it's "about time" for the changes.

And back here in the states, if you can't make it to LA for the auto show, AskPatty has a handy summary of what's on the schedule. Frankly, it looks like the LA organizers have done a bang-up job of reviving what had been a rather moribund event.

Man-Law says guys don't dig "decor," right? Well, wives, significant others, girlfriends, moms, sisters and appreciated colleagues of the female sort often do, so AskPatty's Christmas gift guide for the automotively perplexed giver should be a no-brainer.

And if you see something you want for yourself, don't worry, I won't tell anybody. :-)

Speaking of Man-Law, GM's head honcho gave a speech at the opening of the LA show and AskPatty was there. She heard some good things, some puzzling things and some things she wasn't sure about believing.

Race season is over, so Brian at Racedriven.com is doing other things, like going to the Boston Auto Show - yes, there's even a show in Beantown cauz the Yankees gotta get around those narrow, confusing streets left over from pre-Revolutionary War days.

Oh yes, Brian also has a lengthy take on what he found worthy of remembering from the just-concluded NASCAR season, starting with a quote from Darrell Waltrip about there always seeming to be something besides the race itself demanding everybody's attention before the green flag falls.

Admit it now, you really don't know much about all those auto safety tests, do you. Andrew Dillan at Car Buying Tips sorts it all out for you.

And speaking of stuff most of us have no clue about how to do, Terje Ellingsen at Car Buying Tips says you can find the right repair manual for any repair you need to do, if you know where to go on the Internet.

A certain former world driving champion has been having a rough go of it in F1 for a bunch of years but now it appears Juan Pablo won't be the only such "furrener" in NASCAR in 2007. Intriqued? Me, too. That's why I went to The Garage Blog for the details.

My take? I think Jacque is in for a shock at just how competitive motorsports can be cauz they don't do parades at Daytona except in the pre-race ceremonies. Unlike F1.

There are some smart journos at The Boston Herald. They've put Mike Mello in front of a laptop and said "blog!" He's new to the Carnival of Cars and he's got a wonderful description of his meeting former funny car racer Rodalyn Knox during a vintage drags event at New England Dragway. Keep an eye on this one. I think it's going to be a super auto blog.

And moving right along ....

Did you know Toyota's California market share is double that of GM and three times what Ford gets these days? Joe Sherlock of The View Through the Windshield says the situation is similar in his neck of the woods in the Pacific Northwest.

If you wonder about what happens to your old beater after you donate it to your favorite charity, Louis Albornoz at Top Speed explains everything. This one caught my eye because it was inspired by a fellow Marylander.

You've seen that neat television spot with the sophisticated American taking his gorgeous white-with-blue international racing stripes Shelby GT 500 to the Autobahn. Well, so has Robert Farago at The Truth About Cars. But guess what? He isn't real enthusiastic about a solid rear axle that hops all over the road at the merest hint of a bump at, oh, 50 mph.

But Robert, it's sooooo beautiful, can't I just gaze at it in my driveway?

Have you ever heard of Whyville.net? Me neither. Erin at The Driving Woman found it via a recent piece in The Wall Street Journal. It's all about automakers marketing their wares to .... kids.
I'm with you, Erin, this is not a good thing.

My first new car was a 76 Audi Fox, which I loved passionately. Haven't owned an Audi since, but Ed at Straightline has some spy shots of the upcoming A5 that make me think the time is coming when there really needs to be one sitting in the Tapscott driveway.

Looks like it's gonna get crowded in that driveway. Oh well, the neighbors all think Claudia and I are either car dealers or drug dalers, so big deal, right?

It's aluminun und shteel! It's the new Audi TT after Oettinger. Jalopnik likes it.

Bob Lutz at GM's Fastlane Blog has thoughts on the opening of the LA Auto Show, plus links to video of the Wagoner opening speech., which is definitely worth giving a listen to. People may have been underestimating this guy. Yes, including me.

That crack about Wagoner caught your eye, didn't it. Well, Peter DeLorenzo at The Auto Extremist makes the case for an even more amazing proposition, namely that Buick is anything but one step away from the grave. Sort of gives new meaning to the cliche about being Shanghai'd.

And wouldn't you know it, DeLorenzo gets the last word in this week's drive around the auto blog block because we are back home, folks. See ya next week.

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Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Tight and Tidy Santa Fe Shows Hyundai Progress

2006-11-30T12:39:00.000-05:00

If there are any remaining doubts that South Korea’s Hyundai is rapidly maturing into a world-class competitor for major automakers from Japan, the U.S. and Europe, a short drive in the 2007 Santa Fe should remove them.

Hyundai redesigned the Santa Fe for 2007 from stem to stern and the result is a serious alternative to rivals like the Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Frontier on all counts, including quality, equipment and design.

Among the key changes is the Santa Fe’s exterior styling, which has lost the previous generation’s somewhat odd look, replacing it with a smooth, carefully rounded shape that is contemporary and attractive. There are distinct hints of the Highlander, as well as hints of Subaru Outback and Acura MDX here and there.

The other more significant change is the tangible improvement in driving refinement and quality. There is a base 2.7 liter V-6 good for 185 horsepower and a much healthier 242 horsepower 3.3 liter V-6 for the higher priced SE and Limited models. My Limited tester was equipped with the standard five-speed automatic, which is also found in the Hyundai Sonata.

What is arresting about the 2007 Santa Fe is how smooth and quiet is its driveline on the road. The 3.3 liter V-6 provides excellent power in all driving situations, including passing on two-lane roads and crowded suburban parkways.

Equally arresting is the crisp handling exhibited by the new Santa Fe. The unibody platform contributes to the ride quality, which is tight and quiet on all kinds of road surfaces, but the steering feel, especially at turn-in, is what really stands out.

You expect a unibody SUV to handle better than a traditional body-on-frame based model, but the Santa Fe exceeds the typical expectation. This is not to suggest that the Santa Fe is a sports sedan killer, but it is a distinctly more fun and spirited driver than the Highlander.

Inside the Santa Fe is a passenger cabin that combines a well-integrated instrument panel that puts easy-to-read major gauges right in front of the driver and major controls for the environment and entertainment where they should be. Seating for five is comfortable and there is an available third row of seats that are suitable for small children.

The look and feel of interior appointments is of a very high quality and somebody at Hyundai deserves a fat raise for the wonderful light blue hue of the instrumentation at night. Just makes you feel all snug and secure.

auto reviews

Hyundai

Looking for Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage?

2006-11-30T12:36:00.000-05:00

Then go here, here and here.

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, Nov. 17, 2006

2006-11-18T08:08:00.000-05:00

Top executives of Detroit's Big Three automakers sat down with President Bush this week to pitch him on the federal government bailing out their companies by taking over their health care costs.

Normally Bush wouldn't be terribly enthusiastic about such action but his party just lost its congressional majority, so don't be surprised if he discovers a new interest in this issue in the near future.

As for us, we've got lots of sights to see and people to meet on this week's Carnival of Cars drive around the auto blog block, so click that cyber seat belt and let's hit the road, shall we?

Thanksgiving is next week, which means Christmas is right behind and that means it's time to start getting gifts for the auto enthusiasts on your list. Bet you didn't realize there are some females that fit that description. Ask Patty knows and that's why you'll find the first-ever Ask Patty Girls Gift Garage there.

Speaking of Christmas, Car Audio and Electronics is doing a Toys for Tots show. Check out the details here. A very worthy cause.

Brian at Racedriven.com wonders when do you say it's over. Good question and Brian has some answers.

A moment of appreciative silence, please, for Number 27, which left The Garage Blog this week to head back to Germany where it will be lovingly restoried by Alois Ruf and friends, then head out for a tour of Europe before reaching its final destination, the Ruf Porsche Museum.

Check out British Columbia via Petersen's Four-Wheel and Off-Road Blog.

Eric Sanchez at Diesel Power blog has been playing around with one of those Europe-only treats, the BMW 335d. He was impressed. You would be, too, the first time you dipped into this little Bimmer's 428 lb-ft of torque. No, that's not a typo. Yes, you should go back now and click on Diesel Power blog.

The Time Burglar strikes again! This time the victim is struck with an irresistible fascination with a 51 Superior Cadillac ambulance. Yes, JP is supposed to be about jeeps and stuff, but the Time Burglar respects no boundaries.

Auto-Mo at Mini Truckin' has come down with the long distance commuter blues and worries what it means for his old reliable.

Auto-Mo is also lecturing about those long metal things between the wheels, you know, the suspension. It's like when you hear the pegs on a motorcycle scrapping the asphalt. Ya gotta pay attention here, at Sport Truck blog.

Pete Petersen says there are "Petes" and there are "Brians" when it comes to track personalities among ATV Riders. Which are you?

You would think an F-16 Viper would fly circles around a Dodge Viper spors car and a Viper motorcycle. Think again, Bunky, cauz the two-wheeler done beat both the fly boy and the guy wearing the string-back gloves and funny hat. That's the report in Hot Rod's Bike Works blog.

NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS: I love bikes, too, and ride my Kawasaki Concours every chance I get, especially when my sweet wife Claudia can join me. But this is Carnival of Cars, so be sure there is a four-wheel angle to your suggested bike blog contributions.

Hmmm. Do we need a Carnival of Cycles?

Mike at European Cars is deep into a project involving a certain blue Bimmer. You need to know about this.

Could it be? I mean, could it actually be true? That a Honda Element could be made into a drift car? You won't believe what they had to do to make it happen, but some Honda engineers did it. Read all about at Hot Tuners Cars blog.

Have you been missing shifts lately? Tired of grinding those gears into tiny little metal shards? Had enough of people on the street pointing and laughing? Super Street has what you need, tips on shifting the right way with a close-ratio tranny.

Should Ford's Mod motor stay or go? 5.0 Mustang mag blog wants to know what you think.

Craig at Car Craft mag blog finds himself drawn to a certain 64 Poncho.

Hey, everybody's getting into this classic vehicle build thing. Grant at Classic Trucks thinks a 68 Ford F100 is just the right platform for a little friendly competition with a 72 model being done by the crew at Custom Classic Trucks.

Before you let somebody put your C5 or C6 up on a lift, better read these tips at Corvette Fever mag blog. Otherwise, your mid-life crisis cure could end up like the poor little Lotus Elise pointing the wrong way in the accompanying photo.

Be in Memphis May 12, 2007, and you could either compete in or be a spectator at Hot Rod's 2007 Pump Gas Drags.

What is the deal with the VW R36? Jason Cammisa at Automobile mag blog wants to know. I'd kinda like to know myself.

Did you know there is a Hyundai convertible in the works? Jason Aranello at Automotive.com knows.

India's Mahindra truck maker is talking about exporting vehicles to, where else, the U.S. Truck Trend has details. Does that mean you could buy a Mahindra in July and have an early Indian summer?

Remember those wonderful days of the NASCAR tire wars? Marc at Cranial Cavity does.

Would you shell out $242,000 for a Mercury? Joe Sherlock at The View Through the Windshield explains everything.

Hey, don't be telling your worn-out old steed that the time has come for it to be put out to pasture. Why? Grant at Grant's Auto Rants says the odds are good that the more likely place your retiring bucket of bolts will end up is as scrap metal. But there is such a thing as auto reincarnation, so at least some of your Old Faithful might come back to the states as a Chinese Chery.

Don't you feel better now for telling the truth? I thought so.

And in another entry from the automotive truth-telling sweepstakes this week comes AskPatty with definitions of the 15 terms dealers often use that the rest of us normal human beings probably don't really understand.

So, moving right along ...

Peter DeLorenzo is ecstatic about the announcement that Chevy is bringing back the rear-wheel-drive Impala. How significant is that news, really? Well, just ponder this graph from Peter's recollection of his experience when Chevy unveiled the front-wheel-drive Impala:

"Here I was expecting a 'milestone' Chevrolet - the car that would put Chevy back on the map. No, I wasn't looking for a "Yester-Tech" nostalgia-mobile or retro-rod, but a car that took the timeless, desirable ingredients of the '55 Chevy - great design, excellent performance and outstanding value - and translated them into a forward-looking classic for the new century. Instead, I had to pick my jaw up off of the floor as I was forced to wallow in the unbridled mediocrity of this car, a stupefying homage to everything wrong about Detroit at that moment in history - the summer of 1998. "

Go here at Auto Extremist for the rest of the recollection and thoughts on the hoped-for coming restoration of Chevy glory.

There's a lot going on these days at Saturn. GM's Bob Lutz looks at one of the reasons why at Fastlane Blog.

Michele Cimino spent some time recently at GM's Milford Proving Grounds, specifically on the Black Lake, and came away with a new appreciation for the life-saving potential of anti-lock brakes. Read all about it at GM's FYI Blog.

There's trouble in them thar Auburn Hills and MotorAlley's David Wassman is all over it.

Ford recently took a bunch of auto journalists and bloggers to a firing range for a little-James Bonding. You won't believe where they went after they finished putting lots of perfectly round little holes in a bunch of imaginary bad guys. You'll be shaken, not stirred, when The Auto Prophet reveals all.

Erin at The Driving Woman appreciates all the help we can get on backing with sonar, cameras, whatever. Me. too!

The CAFE Klatsch must end! That's Michael Martineck's view at The Truth About Cars. Is he right? Well, it is "the truth about cars" blog.

Folks, yours truly has run out of gas, and what great timing cauz we are at the end of the line for this week's Carnival of Cars. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Next week, we'll do it again.

In the meantime ....

Don't forget!

Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of cars using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

By the way, if you are wondering why this post only appeared early Saturday morning, it's because I'm in San Francisco and spent the day yesterday at the first-ever Open Data/Open Government confab, a gathering of developers, journalists and non-profit types interested in making government at all levels more transparent and accountable.

It was a very intense and rewarding day. I'm heading back to D.C. later today and will return to the D.C. newsroom of The Washington Examiner bright and early Monday morning.

Carnival of Cars will be celebrating Thanksgiving next week, so see you in a couple.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, November 10, 2006

2006-11-11T08:05:00.000-05:00

Was this the week automotive historians will some day point to as the turning point in Detroit's battle to overcome in the consumer mind the bitter fruit of decades of inferior product quality? Consumer Reports' favorable rating of the Ford Fusion suggests that possibility.

Speaking of possibilities, we have lots of those here with the Carnvial of Cars, so let's fire up the cyber buggy and head out for this week's drive around the auto blog block:

"Yellow beast" and "Volvo" are two terms not normally written in the same sentence, but Garage Blog did and with good reason.

There are Tooth Fairies aplenty in the automotive leasing field and Debt Free has a handy guide to recognizing them.

Bet you didn't know there could be good news linked to both higher gas prices and those nice folks at the IRS, but there is and Kay Bell at Don't Mess With Taxes has the details.

Subaru is doing a special edition WRX of only 300 copies of the STi Spec C Type RA-R and Autoblog's Alex Nunez suggests "rallylicious" is an appropriate moniker for the already-moniker heavy Subie.

Good to have you back in the Carnival, Alex!

Ask Joe Sherlock what he liked most about a recent sally through the Philadelphia Art Museum and he mumbles something about potato salad. But get him going on art and cars and the guy has all kinds of insights, which you can read at The View Through the Winshield.

A Scott Riggs crewman demonstrated a total lack of class and brains by shoving Kevin Harvick, his wife DeLana and an unnamed NASCAR official to the ground after an on-track incident late in the recent display of Smoke's dominating talent at Texas Motor Speedway. The crewman was suspended indefinitely and fined $10,000. Brian at Racedriven.com has more on that race and the Phoenix round in the 2006 edition of The Chase.

Speaking of classless displays, The Garage Blog has some observations regarding the "consumate Canadian good old boy" and his recent road test, on a golf course, of a golf cart as a dune buggy.

How does one know without any doubt whatsoever that a racing series has moved beyond mere popularity and into the realm of utter commercialization? When it's the setting for a Harlequin romance novel series, of course. But if you want the real thing, AskPatty has the inside scoop on an actual racetrack romance between Shawn Parker and Deborah Kenshaw.

Ohhhhh, that is sooooooooooooooooo sweet.

Yecch!

Are Bobby Labonte and Robbie Loomis on the verge of restoring some Petty Racing's lost glory? That's Racin' takes a look at this momentous question.

Felando Cotovelos loves Mustangs and old cars and he's got the photo album to prove it over at Nineteen to the Dozen. Welcome to the Carnival of Cars Felando.

And moving right along ....

Hey, we've got some real edumaketed types in the auto blog universe. I mean where else you gonna find somebody writing in one review about "epiphanies" and "Pliny the Elder" (I preferred Cato the Younger but that's just me) and the joys of dating a gorgeous woman of Scots and Viennese extraction? Just check out Johnny Lieberman at The Truth About Cars.

Where does Farago find such talent?

Most shocking story of the week? This one, as related by Joanne at The Driving Woman. OK, all together now - "Ohm my goodness, he didn't really write that, did he?"

What does it mean for the auto industry that Democrats have regained control of Congress for the first time in a dozen years? The Auto Prophet says nothing much other than higher taxes, more regulation and a slowing economy.

They're talking good sense about traffic lights at the Transport Research Laboratory in the UK, according to Straightline.

Serious Wheels has some shots from SEMA, including the Challenger Super Stock Concept. I just wish NHRA would revive the Super Stock class like it was back in the days of Hayden Profit, the Melrose Missile and Dyno Don Nicholson.

What happens when you put the SmartTwo through a safety test? Paul Tan has the video.

Austin Davis at My Honest Mechanic got his family an 06 Kia Sedona. And they love it.

Peterbilt is showing a hybrid short-haul, medium-to-heavy duty truck. Jalopnik is applauding. So is Tapscotts Behind the Wheel. Or should that be so are Tapscotts Behind the Wheel?

I never knew a 66 Pontiac Grand Prix could look so good in a corn field. If you doubt that this is even possible in the presently known universe, check out Dayvid42's photo album at GM's FYI Blog.

GM Racing Program manager Alba Colon is rethinking that ill-advised assessment of the virtues of Texas Motor Speedway. She found three good reasons for doing so and explains them at FastLane blog.

And finally, Peter DeLorenzo can tell you in detail what will be happening in the eight weeks till the Detroit Auto Show. Only at the Auto Extremist can you find such prophetic expertise.

Wow, that was a long drive, I'm exhausted. But I'll be back next week for the next edition of Carnival of Cars. Will you?

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Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Pair of Shell Ferrari 599 Fioranos Touring U.S on Road Trip From Brazil, May Be in Your Neighborhood Next

2006-11-07T17:04:00.000-05:00

Some readers may recall the days back in the early 1960s when Mercury promoted its Comet by sending a team of them driving the length of South America in an event I think was called the Pan American Rally or something along that line.

The point, of course, was to demonstrate the toughness and reliability of the cars, as well as to differentiate the Mercurys from their Ford Fairlane stablemates, which were mechanically identical. Yes, there was such a thing as badge engineering back then, too.

I mention this long-ago forgotten event because Shell and Ferrari are doing something similar to promote the Italian firm's latest Fiorano GTB. There's nothing remotely like badge engineering here, though.

Here's how a Shell release describes the project:

"The Ferrari Panamerican 20,000 road challenge will stop at Shell stations across the United States to refuel with Shell V-Power as it makes its way from Brazil to New York City in two all-new Ferrari 599 GTB Fioranos.

"The tour will cover 20,000 miles in just 85 days, including this stop in Ashburn, Va., where local car lovers can get a glimpse of Ferrari's most technologically advanced road car as both Ferraris refuel for the next leg of the adventure."

From Ashburn, the Fioranos head north towards New York City. Perhaps this Shell-Ferrari promotion heralds a revival of what used to be a staple of automotive marketing - doing something spectacular to grab attention and demonstrate virtues real or imagined.

Here's a photo of one of the gorgeous Ferraris:

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, Nov. 3, 2006

2006-11-03T09:59:00.000-05:00

Sales were up a bit year-to-year for October, so there were more smiles around some parts of the automotive universe this week, but not enough, so how about we hit the road and see if we can generate some more.

Did you catch The New York Times story that quoted AskPatty's Jody DeVere? And how about her bunch's take on a recent survey of 2,400 women on their approach to things like the importance, or lack thereof, of spiffy clean repair shops in deciding where to get maintenance?

Part Four of Carsopia's series on how to buy a used car offers a comprehensive list of questions to ask about everything from stem to stern of the vehicle being considered.

If it's time to think about replacing your vehicle's donuts, maybe you should click over to Car Buying Tips for Chuck's rundown of the highlights of his experience at Tire Rack.

Lexus has teamed up with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in raising funds to fight cancer. Automotive.com has more here.

Things are getting very deep over at the Automobile Magazine blog because they are talking about the joys of 13,000 rpm electric motors, the Big Bang Theory and the psychology of car guys when confronted with stuff like the Tesla roadster.

Fall-out from the Taurus demise continues as Todd Lassa comments at the Motor Trend blog:
"The Taurus exemplifies the mistakes that Ford makes over and over. It does not foster its most popular, most leading-edge models." Todd has much more to say and it's well worth reading, especially if you are interested in the lessons Ford - and the rest of Detroit - ought to learn from this sad milestone.

Craig at Corvette Fever is having ... shall we say, problems with convertibles. It all started with "a 1987 Mustang LX painted a fetching pastel Post-It-Note-Yellow." Now be honest - have you ever heard a car story that began with a fetching pastel?

Welcome to Car Audio and Electionics magazine''s brand new blog, which debuted this week on the Auto Blog Block with a big report on the sound doings at SEMA.

Speaking of new blogs, John Cappa and the JP magazine crew are into it now, too.

Have you ever gone Ghost Riding on the Whip? Probably not if you aren't in the Bay Area. Go to the Lowrider blog for more.

Hey, they've been flying off-road in the World Rally Championship for years, so it was probably inevitable that those winged wonders would show up at a Stadium Motocross. Eric Sanchez at Off-Road magazine's blog likes what he's seeing:

"So far, this seems to be a winning combination. The Subaru WRX STI is one of the most sought-after sport compacts, whether on or off-road, and the fast-paced action of motocross on four wheels is sure to appeal to off-road and compact enthusiasts alike."

I say bring back Group B if you want real excitement in those stadiums!

Off-Road is also predicting a wave of four-wheel-drive desert trucks because such vehicles could "take you to the desert one weekend, the sand dunes the next weekend and up skiing the next."

Uh, didn't Hummer already do that?

When was the last time you could use these words in one sentence? Chevy Silverado SS 427. It's at SEMA this week, which means it coluld be in your driveway by this time next year. Sport Truck blog has this photo and more:

We do motorcycles at Tapscotts Behind the Wheel, too, and pony_pony at Sport Rider has a great piece on America's newest World Champion, Nicky Hayden, who just wrapped his first MotoGP championship.

Which raises an interesting query: Why is it America routinely produces a Kenny Roberts, Freddie Spencer and Nicky Hayden, but only rarely do we see a Phil Hill or Mario Andretti?

What is Truckin' blog talking about?

"Beautiful vehicles will dominate the Convention Center, and thousands of pictures and write-ups will hit the internet and print. Deals will be sealed, connections made, networks conceived - it's all happening right now! Big companies will try to get bigger; small companies will try to get noticed. It's the big deal, the main event, THE trade show of the year."

TopSpeed has a comprehensive assessment of the ins and outs of donating a used car to a charity. It's a lot more complicated than you might think.

THERE'S MORE TO COME!

Don't forget!

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Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Demise of the Ford Taurus and the Maryland Attorney General Race

2006-10-31T18:22:00.000-05:00

Bet you didn't know - n0, wait, I am absolutely certain you had no freakin' idea - that the there is any link whatsoever between the official end of production for the Ford Taurus and the campaign to be the next Maryland Attorney General.

But there is and Tapscotts Behind the Wheel is glad to link its faithful readers to this post by Pillage Idiot, which explains everything. You simply must read this.

An Excellent Question and a Modest Proposal ...

2006-10-30T06:40:00.000-05:00

...from Just-Auto.com's Dave Leggett, who wonders who ought to get more attention from policy-makers, the guy who only occasionally drives his big gas hog SUV or the fella in the little import who commutes daily and never takes public transportation.

As for the modest proposal part of the headline, Leggett wants somebody to convene a panel of genuine experts to look at the options - a five-percent E85 mix, more diesels, etc. - figure out the most reasonable and then let the rest of us know the results. No politicians allowed on the panel, either.

I say here-here to that!

FAST FORWARD: Luvin' the RX-8 Despite Trying Not To

2006-10-27T16:57:00.000-04:00

OVERVIEW:

Have you ever found yourself liking a car despite your best intentions to hate it? Perhaps hate it too strong a word. The poor RX-8 has a number of major strikes against it. First, I’ve never been a big fan of its body styling.

Second, I don’t like the way a rotary motor sounds. Finally, my wife and every other woman I’ve talked to described it as “cute”. Cute? As a man’s man, I cannot enjoy something described as cute. Still, the more time I spent behind the wheel of the Mazda, the more impressed with it I became.

PERFORMANCE:

As I said before, I’ve never been a fan of the rotary motor. It sounds like a blender on wheels. Compared with a small block V-8 screaming at wide-open throttle, the rotary motor just doesn’t compare.

That being said, the little rotary makes an impressive amount of power above 6,000 rpm. It redlines at 9000 rpm. Making 232 horsepower, the little 1.3-liter is remarkably efficient. While there is quite a bit of powerband to cover before the oomph really kicks in, the six-speed manual transmission makes it relatively easy to keep the car in its wheelhouse.

HANDLING:

This is undoubtedly the area where I was most impressed. The RX-8 is a superbly handling car. It is so neutral and manageable under heavy cornering, it really inspires confidence. Further, I had the opportunity to drive in the rain. One has to have a terminal case of “the stupids” to get this car out of control. I will go as far as to say this is one of the best handling rear-wheel-drive cars I’ve ever driven in the rain.

STYLING:

Love it or hate it. That is the most apt description of the RX-8’s styling inside and out. To be fair, my tester had the optional two-tone red and black leather interior. So, that is largely responsible for the interior getting this description. Like so much of the styling on this car, I began to like it the more time I spent behind the wheel. Further, it had surprising appeal with friends and family at a wedding I attended during my week with the RX-8.

JUDGEMENT:

This is an affordable and enjoyable sports car. It would be great if it had more low-end grunt. Perhaps something in the way of turbos like those of the now-extinct RX-7, would be nice. -- Marcus MacFarland

Awesome is the Right Word for the Muscled-Up Mercedes Benz E550

2006-10-27T16:37:00.000-04:00

Take Mercedes Benz’ sterling E-class lineup of luxury sedans, drop the 5.5 liter DOHC 382 horsepower V-8 from the S-class under the E’s hood and the result is quite simply an awesome automobile.

All of the E-class models get a thorough revision for 2007 with new front and rear end looks, lots of safety, performance and engineering improvements under the skin and the upgraded engine that bumps last year’s E500 to the E550 designation.

But way more than mere designations get bumped up in the process. The E-550 weighs two tons and is thus no lightweight, but with all those ponies, plus the 391 pound-feet of torque that accompany them, you get the kind of acceleration that is normally associated only with explicitly high performance models.

Think of 0-60 mph in 5.37 seconds and you’re into Corvette/Pontiac GTO/Mustang Cobra territory, right? That’s the time my silver E-550 Sport turned in over and over again. And with a seven-speed automatic transmission to boot! I kept looking in the trunk, behind the rear seats and under the floor mats for the AMG signs that some Benz flak obviously removed just before delivering my tester!

Tragically, I didn’t get to spend any time in the E-550 at the race track to sample its triple-digit velocity capabilities but the neck-stiffening surge from 55 mph to 100+ was more than sufficient to convince me this Benz would have no trouble pacing all but the swiftest of the Autobahn’s swift.

What can you do with such a vehicle if you have to drive it every day? Well, you could be delighted beyond any sane serious driver’s most exotic automotive dreams for one thing because the E-550 is extraordinarily fast and comfortable at the same time. Ride quality in around-town driving is never bothersome and the passenger cabin combines an unexpectedly plush atmosphere with the usual Teutonic emphasis on efficiency and complexity.

Five full-size adults can be transported in bountiful accommodations by the E-550 and they will all be cosseted by such niceties as heated and cooled seats. The four-spoke steering wheel and chromed shift knob may look familiar to some because they are borrowed from the SL550 (which curiously didn’t seem as stupendously fast as the sedan).

Being a Benz, the E-550 doesn’t come cheap. Expect to go well beyond the $59,000 base price.

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, October 27, 2006

2006-10-27T10:53:00.000-04:00

Geez, can things get any worse for Detroit? GM lost $115 million for the third quarter, but would have made a profit if you subtract costs associated with downsizing. Chrysler's losses hit the $1.5 billion mark for the third quarter, down 37 percent. And Ford slumped to a $5.8 billion quarterly loss.

Maybe the market is trying to tell Detroit something?

While they try to figure it out, let's hit the road for this week's Carnival of Cars drive around the auto blogs block where there isn't a loser to be found, right?

WELCOME INSTAPUNDIT VISITORS! We also do car reviews. Like this. And this. And we do car news and analysis, too. Like this. And this. Hope you make Tapscotts Behind the Wheel a regular stop.

Remember the way it was with Route 66? If not, Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars is in the Wayback Machine to a trip he and his wife took years ago in their little red Mustang from Illinois to Sunny Caleeforneeyah. He's even singing about with his trio. How can you resist?

Four Wheeler has news of the next must-have tool for off-roaders, Warn's Powerplant. Amazing how they pulled that one off.

Could Toyota's Prius be the "secretaries car" of the early 21st century? That's not how AskPatty's Jody DeVere describes the greenest Toyota, but she does note a bunch of ways in which women exhibit a distinct preference for the Prius.

James Raia at Car Buying Tips thinks Mitsubishi's Eclipse rag top has a lot going for it. And Chuck at the same site can tell you all about a Certified Unit used car program.

You think America's expanding waistline is only reflected in people? Wrong! Edward Sanchez at The Car Blog makes the point that American cars are also getting fat. Bet you hadn't seen the connection there before, right?

Wouldn't you love to have your very own seat belt? One that you could take with anywhere, including on to the bus or subway? Automotive.com says it's a cinch to appear on the market soon from Charles and Anne Schewe, with much assistance from a bunch of University of Massachusetts students.

Thinking about going road racing? You can make a small fortune in racing .... if you start out with a big one. Preston Lerner at Automobile mag's blog knows all about it, including the unfortunate fact that every hour of seat time requires maybe a dozen in prep time. Lots of wisdom here.

Lynn St. James and Janet Guthrie will be among the special guests Nov. 2-5 at the Hilton Head Concours D'Elegance and Motoring Festival, according to the Motor Trend online folks. One of my favorite memories is of St. James showing me the very fast way around Road Atlanta. She was absolutely phenomenal down the hill heading to turn five. With the right equipment, she would have been Indy's first female drinking the milk.

Could the silly season be any sillier already? A.J. is headed to NASCAR and Buddy is going to Champ Car? Brian at Racedriven.com wasn't expecting that turn of events, but you know he's got something to say about it.

Are there better days ahead for Petty Racing? That's Racin' links to a Mike Harris/AP piece that makes the case and the blog also offers a gallery of recent images of the Cheerios car in action.

The Garage Blog is really pleased with a new video on the Canadian Rally and not just because it includes significant screen time for a certain favorite Suzuki.

And moving right along ...

Isn't torque wonderful! Rene Noel at Top Speed is simply enthralled with the Jaguar S-Type R and the abundance of twisting power is among the main reasons why.

Speaking of the S-Type, The Car Connection has spy photos of the 08 model. Haven't we seen that front end somewhere before? Like on an Aston Martin?

Joe Sherlock at The View Through the Windshield leaves legions of fans waiting as he takes a Halloween sojourn away from the blogging business. Say it ain't so, Joe!

The polls are open at The Truth About Cars as readers from around the world and right in your very neighborhood choose The 10 Worst Cars Ever. Where else do you get to vote for the "Creme de la Crap" of the automotive universe?

Over at The Driving Woman, Joanne is rather impressed with the thoroughness and usefulness of Carnival of Cars regular contributor Kay Bell's recent contribution to BankRate.com - an explanation of the complexities of federal tax credits for recognized hybrids.

Kay blogs at Don't Mess With Taxes and if you click on over, you'll get the scoop on a telephone that has a huge bill before you make your first call.

Which reminds me! Those Longhorns did indeed pound on the Oklahoma "Best Team of Texans Money Can Buy" Sooners, 28-10. Sorry, Kay, when the 'Horns play my OSU Pokes, it'll be the only game of the year that you won't hear me yellin' "Hook'em Horns!"

Hey, folks gotta drive to those football games, right? So it does have something, vaguely, to do with the topic of this blog. Besides, it's my blog and I can write about what I want, OK?

Back to business.

Ed Welburn at GM's Fastlane Blog says the General is listening. And hearing. And changing.

And finally, it's MT Car of the Year award time and you know what that means! Peter DeLorenzo at Auto Extremist is all over it and the new Chevy Silverado spots. Just keep scrolling, as Glenn Reynolds would say.

And on that happy note, we seem to have reached the end of this week's spin around the auto blog block. Back next week. And remember, slow in/fast out is always faster.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, October 20, 2006

2006-10-21T15:51:00.000-04:00

You know it's a strange week in the auto world when the Pope takes delivery of a brand new special-built VW Phaeton, the Ford Taurus bites the dust forever and Kia announces it will be exporting vehicles from the U.S.

But lots of interesting stuff for the Carnival of Cars came in over the transom this week, too, so let's hit the road, shall we?

And then there was part three. Part Three of Carsopia's five-parter on how to buy a used car, that is. This week's installment covers the all-important telephone interview with the seller.

Got a teen daughter? Listen up cauz AskPatty interviewed Stephanie Esterline. And she is, you ask? She's one sharp 17-year-old who has written a book for other teen females on taking care of a vehicle.

AskPatty's contributors drive a diverse bunch of vehicles, ranging from an 88 Toyota pickup with more than two trips around the odometer, a couple of Acuras, some Audis, a Hummer and a 98 Benz SUV. Oh yes, Jody DeVere, the energizer bunny behind AskPatty, rides a Harley. Shouting Thomas, are you listening?

You can listen to Shouting Thomas and see him, too, as he's done his first videolog post at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars.

Me? Claudia has a VW Cabriolet with a lot of miles on it, I have a 96 Dakota that serves as the family's backup vehicle and we have an 01 Dodge Grand Caravan. Also an 06 Kawasaki Concours that Claudia and I use for weekend rides.

And you?

Schumacher is running his last F1 race this weekend, so Preston Lerner at the Automobile Magazine blog decided it's time he started rooting for the retiring multi-time World Champion. I still think Jimmy Clark was better. Foyt in his prime, too.

Speaking of parts, Automotive.com has more on the Orange County Auto Show. And here.

Down Under they call it the Holden Thunder Ute. Bring it here, says Sport Truck's Ed Sanchez, it would make a fine retro El Camino SS. check it out below.

Truckin's Auto-Mo says don't get too bent out of shape if the police stop you when your custom truck's mods appear to be gang-related, or exudes some other potentially unsavory characteristics.

Brian at Racedriven.com has thoughts at the half-way point of the Nextel Cup Chase and more thoughts on the approaching debut of NASCAR's COT. That's "Car of Tomorrow," as in the ultimate silhouette racer, not a crude sleeping device.

Tell me this isn't true, Mr. Duntov! Gary at The Garage Blog is hearing persistent rumors that a V-6 Corvette coupe is in the offing at GM. If true, the operative term is "offing," cauz such a Vette makes no more sense than did a Probe-based Mustang.

Gas prices are plummeting and Edmunds' Karl Brauer wonders what that might mean for all those Prius waiting lists. Lots of common sense in this observation from Karl, too:

"Bottom line: we've once again confirmed the obvious - the price of gasoline is quite volatile. While extremely 'low' and extremely 'high' prices can and will occur, it's unlikely either end of the price spectrum will sustain itself for more than a year."

Smart guy, that Brauer!

This is a big problem for the corn lobby. The Auto Prophet explains why.

Unexpected things can happen on the way to Halloween parties. Just ask AskPatty's Breanne Boyle.

And moving right along ....

Say a prayer for Peter DeLorenzo and his family. They lost Jo, his mother, last week. Then go to Auto Extremist and read Peter's recollection of growing up with Tony and Jo DeLorenzo. It was indeed a different time, a different era. It's not merely the passage of time that makes that era look better and better, Peter.

Have you checked out BlogNetBiz.com/Autos yet? Better get clickin'!

What's a Lambo doing at a police chiefs convention? Car Pundit explains. Speaking of police chiefs, what are they doing in Beantown? Car Pundit explains that, too.

Got an extra $20K just lying around? VW will swap that for a V-10 diesel Toureg. Cars! Cars! Cars! wonders why anybody would do that.

Those who haven't yet seen the Casino Royale promo that includes a bunch of shots of the 07 Ford Mondeo need only click here to be taken to CARSCOOP.

Who said this:

"These new propulsion technologies, in turn, are driving the need for new and better electrical and electronic systems, controls, and connected vehicle technologies, which together will revolutionize how our vehicles operate, how we interact with them, and how they communicate with each other and the outside world."

It's GM's Larry Burns. Read the rest at FastLane Blog .

They've made movies about talking cars, but a HumanCar? Jalopnik has a video clip and more.

Joanne at The Driving Woman says some more doors are being opened to women in Detroit and elsewhere in the auto industry. This is good news.

And finally Frank Williams at The Truth About Cars offers a lengthy post concerning The Ten Worst Automobiles Today award nominees, including these observations:

"TTAC's list of 10 most nominated TWATs seems to have reached an equilibrium point. Keeping up with the number of nominations and the vehicles nominated has been a challenge and privilege (in a perverse sort of way). However, it'll soon be time to put those numbers away and begin the second round of the process. "

Next week we should know more about the outcome. See ya then.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, October 13, 2006

2006-10-13T08:39:00.000-04:00

It's Friday the 13th! But we aren't driving a Yugo for this week's cruise around the autoblog block, so expect no nightmares on this ride. In fact, since we're starting with a blonde babe, it looks like this could one of the best drives ever, so let's hit the road.

The blonde babe is Barbie and Ask Patty has a neat mediation on all things Barbie this week. Did you know, for example, that Barbie has at various times owned an RV, a VW van and a limo? There was even a Formula Vee racer adorned in Barbie-esque livery a couple of years back.

And if you want to find out for real how good a parallel parker you are, check out the link AskPatty found to a Peugot game that will test even the best parkers among us. It's a blast just seeing how many fenders you can crumple in 60 seconds!

Juan Montoya finished third in his first roundy-round fender banger race last week. How'd I miss that interesting piece of news? Brian at Racedriven.com didn't miss it and he's got a comprehensive roundup of the status of who and what for the silly season, including RCR's new sponsorship deal (see the shot below of Kevin Harvick et. al.) and the inside dope on Mark Martin's departure from Roush Racing.

All the silliness makes me wonder if maybe Mark Martin knows something about Ford's future that the rest of us don't?

New Carnival of Cars entrant Marc at Full Throttle found a disturbing observation in Awesome Bill's new book. It's not likely to win Beeall any fans in NASCAR's corporate headquarters. Welcome to the carnival, Marc. That's a great looking blog you've got there!

If anybody in Detroit has any doubt that fleet sales should be banished from the joint, Karl Brauer at Edmonds' Inside Line makes the case about as precisely as it can be made. Just think about the economic incentive fleet sales injects into the design process. Amen, Karl!

Normally, culinary topics would have no place on this blog - it being about wheels and all - but I have this thing about great tamales, you see, and AskPatty went looking for tips on tailgating and found this incredible tamale pie recipe.

I can't believe I just included that item in the Carnival of Cars but then I'd drive a thousand miles for a great tamale ...

Southern California is where car culture was born, right? So the doings at the recent Orange County Auto Show should be of interest and Automotive.com's Joel Arellano has lots of shots and some thoughts, too. Welcome to the Carnival of Cars, Joel!

The American Inventor folks had some eyes at the OC show, too, and spotted the Suzuki Hip Hop Grand Vitara.

Welcome to the auto blogs, Brandy! Motor Trend's Brandy Schaffels took the plunge recently and is editing MT's blog. Says she got the journalism bug with her high school newspaper. Me, too, Brandy. And welcome to the Carnival of Cars as well.

Automobile Magazine has a blog, too, and Jason Cammisa takes a look at the long-running VW vs Honda rivalry. Frankly, I am impressed by any two-liter four cylinder that gets you 200+ horses, but VW and Honda are always schweeeet.

Then there's Street Rodders Blog. How'd I miss that one, Joel? But thanks for pointing it out, man! Joel Arellano is one helpful dude.

And the Sport Truck blog. And the Truckin' blog, which asks the all-important question of how big is too big.

Amazing, there's Four-Wheeler blog and it tells me the transfer case is a dying breed.

I don't believe it, there's even a Diesel Power blog. Unbelievable. It's like I've discovered a whole new corner of the galaxy!

Tapscott, get a grip ... OK, I feel better now.

Well, this post from Joe Kissel Interesting Thing of the Day just blows me away, so to speak.

Who said this? "Hype and BS cannot compete with competence, product quality, manufacturing flexibility and the forward march of technology."

Joe Sherlock at The View Through the Windshield and you should definitely read the rest of a seriously perceptive post.

As promised some years ago, Mazda has now delivered a hydrogen powered car, an RX-8, and The Garage Blog is on top of it.

And on that high note, we've reached the end of this week's Carnival of Cars.

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FOR SALE: Brand New 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe

2006-10-10T11:45:00.000-04:00

Such a classified may well appear sometime next year after officials in Tulsa, Oklahoma, unnearth the Plymouth their predecessors buried on the city courthouse lawn June 15, 1957. My Buddy Dale Baker at Okie on the Lam has the details and a link to the Tulsarama video of the original event.

Check out the Tulsarama web site, too, because it has lots of shots like the one at left of 57 Plymouths, as well as a list of the items that were buried with the Belvedere. I was only seven years old in 1957 but even then the car bug had bitten real hard and I was very much aware of the high-finned Belvedere.

Since we were a Chevy family, however, I didn't like the Plymouth, even though in retrospect, I have to say it epitomized in some respects the 50s' obsession with fins and rocketry in styling at least as much as the 59 Caddy that is more frequently cited. Chrysler's chief stylist Virgil Exner must have thoroughly enjoyed himself doing the 57 Plymouth.

Thanks to Dale for the tip on this.

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, October 6, 2006

2006-10-06T08:15:00.000-04:00

Did this week see another sign of approaching Armagaddeon in that the venerable London Taxi may soon be built in China or is that wholly unexpected announcement merely another indication of the emergence of a more rational world economy? Take your pick on that question, but in the meantime we've got a bunch of sights to see on this week's drive around the auto blog block. Let's hit the road!

Joe Sherlock at The View Through the Windshield is a man of his own mind. Here's what he says about buying a car based entirely on advertising: "I don't care how good the ad or television commercial is, if the car is a piece of dreck, I won't be motivated in the least to add
it to my shopping list."

And there are those car ads are so cheesy or stupid they make you want to ... VW, are you listening?

They must have some great marketing classes at the University of Maine. Or maybe Heather Conary's superb post at AskPatty on car-buying tips for women is just proof that she is one smart lass. Check it out, regardless of which side of the gender universe you occupy.

And in the same vein, Carsopia has posted part two of its five-parter on buying used, er, previously owned vehicles.

More on the Piaggi MP3 at the American Inventor Spot. Don't know what the MP3 is? Well, here's a couple of the three-wheelers in action:

Chuck at CarBuyingTips says now is the time to refinance your car and save some money. I don't know about this, but he invites people who try it to come back and post comments on their experience. Will be interesting to see if anybody does so.

Chuck is also pushing a product that claims to make your vehicle's license plate invisible to traffic cameras. I am skeptical of such claims. Anybody out there know the full skinny on these claims?

Chuck isn't just peddling stuff this week, though. He's also got some interesting info on how much car sales folks make in commissions.

Also at CarBuyingTips, Matt Keegan really likes the Nissan Maxima. Matt also opines at his own blog, The Auto Writer. He's not surprised that Rick and Carlos aren't sharing a ride to automotive glory.

This seems like an open-and-shut case - Garage Doors is a new Carnival of Cars contributor and thinks you ought to take a serious look at Classica 3000 garage doors because, among other things, they provide superb energy efficiency. Anybody have any experience with Classica, good or bad?

Dorrington Williams of If It's Got An Engine ... was at Road Atlanta for last weekend's season-ending Petit LeMans and was struck by the unexpected quiet of the Audi diesels. The R10 TDI won the Petit LeMans, as well as the 24 Hour in France.

Ever heard of the "Standard Presumptive Value" of a used car? Neither had anybody else until the Texas state legislature decided the Lone Star State's tax collectors were being cheated by private party used car sales that undervalue the transaction. Kay Bell at Don't Mess With Taxes has the details. Let's hope this doesn't spread to other states.

There they were luxuriating in the silence of the forest when Mad Kane and her husband Mark were suddenly assaulted by the shrill shreik of a car alarm. Go here to read the rest.

Brian at Racedriven.com is meditating on the question of which championship race is more exciting, Nextel Cup's The Chase, the Michael and Fernando show in F1 or the NHRA Funny Car contest. Seems to me NASCAR isn't getting the play out of The Chase this year that it received last time around.

The Garage Blog has posted the third installment in its five-part series on buying used.

So, moving right along ...

Eric Peters of CarConnection.com says the four-door sportscar is out, luxury is in with the 07 Maxima.

If you doubt Peters, check out the photo above of the center console of the new Maxima.

Frank Williams spent some time recently in a vehicle some consider the automotive penalty box - the Kia Rio - and offered this observation among many in a review at The Truth About Cars:

"The zero to sixty amble takes forever. The handling is… what are you nuts? It doesn’t fall over, and anyone who manages to generate enough speed to make the Rio’s tires squeal gets what they deserve. OK? Let’s stay focused here."

Yes, let's.

Paris always a good idea, they say, and Eric Riches of The Driving Woman was there last week for the Paris Auto Show. Among other things, she noted the Europeans approach seating in a minivan differently than we do here in the The Land of the Free.

Over at The Auto Prophet, folks are reading license tags. Must be slow these days.

The Pentagon wants a better Humvee and Bob at Straightline has the specs. You think GM will bid on this one? Wagoner certainly knows something about combat now. Maybe jut not the right kind.

If you follow the Beeb's Top Gear, you know Richard Hammond nearly died in a recent crash. Now Left Lane News says the Beeb is thinking of doing a documentary in which Hammond provides commentary. Strange.

Bob Lutz found things a little less than exciting in Paris last week. His thoughts are on Fastlane Blog, as always.

There may yet be life stirring at TVR, according to Autoblog.com.

That's the TVR at left. What is about the Brits that they somehow nurture these eccentric marques? I just wish the Jensen-Healey had somehow managed to survive.

The BS Detectors are on Full Strength at the Auto Extremist because Peter DeLorenzo is translating auto industryese - you know, stuff like "we listened to our customers and they told us to build an oval-obsessive Taurus." This is essential reading for anybody who takes seriously anything said by the marketing poobahs at any of the automakers, regardless of the continent on which they are located.

And on that jaunty note, it appears we have reached the end of this week's journey.

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Is Lucerne Good Enough to Save Buick?

2006-10-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

These are tough times to be in the car business, especially if you work for a company with a highly problematic image like Buick – once known as just a step below Cadillac but in recent years more often associated with age and fade.

Now along comes the Lucerne, a thoroughly contemporary full-size near-luxury sedan that shares its basic platform and powerplant with none other than Cadillac. Contemporary the Lucerne is but is it sufficiently compelling to restore luster to Buick’s position in the automotive universe?

Initial sales look promising, with nearly 68,000 Lucernes sold during the first eight months of 2006, its first year on the market. That’s more than either the Toyota Avalon or Lexus GS series, two rivals Buick marketers suggest are Lucerne targets, but substantially less than Chrysler’s 300 and only a couple thousand more than the Ford Five Hundred.

Still, the front-wheel-drive Lucerne is a vast improvement over the LeSabre and Park Avenue models it replaced. The platform, which is shared with Caddy’s DTS, is stiff and tight, which contributes greatly to the Lucerne’s unexpectedly agile dynamics.

The steering provides good feedback, the brakes are powerful and the stiffened suspension in my top-of-the-lineup CSX tester kept things mostly flat and properly pointed when the driving got frisky.

The Lucerne’s most attractive features are its locomotive-like 4.6 liter Northstar V-8, which is good for 275 horsepower, and a rather pleasant passenger cabin. The Northstar propels the Lucerne to sub-seven second 0-60 mph times, while keeping fuel economy within a reasonable range so long as one doesn’t get overly aggressive with the gas pedal.

Inside the Lucerne, everything is in the right place, looks sharp and not at all plasticky. The seats are quite comfortable and Buick makes it possible to load a Lucerne with more than enough features like Onstar and satellite navigation to make you forget you aren’t behind the wheel of a Caddy.

The exterior styling is less successful, at least in my view. The ventiports are a Buick icon but I doubt anybody not in a retirement home cares anymore. The overall look is clean and fresh, but not overly striking.

Competent, comfortable and contemporary the Lucerne certainly is, but will it attract a new generation of loyalists to the Buick standard? Count me unconvinced. But open to persuasion.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, September 29, 2006

2006-09-28T16:19:00.000-04:00

Kirk Kerkorian is threatening to buy even more GM stock. That's probably not the best headline Rick Wagoner has read this week, but there was a lot of other news and interesting/odd/puzzling incidents for those who know where to look, so let's hit the road, shall we?

Have you seen Cadillac's old job/new job spot for the DTS? Never says the word "Cadillac," but you get the message. If the cool guitar hasn't completely distracted you. Check it out here.

Just in case you are thinking about buying a new car or truck in the near future, you should bookmark If It's Got An Engine ...where they have conveniently collected links to the various manufacturers' web site listings of incentives.

And if it's a used car you are interested in, Garage Blog has the second in a five-part series on the topic of buying a previously owned masterpiece.

Ever heard of Jon Fischer? You know, the Jon Fischer who lives in Lunenberg, Massachusetts. He's 18 and he has - you aren't gonna believe this - come up with Speed Demon, an electronic tracking device that tells parents when, where and how much their teens were speeding in the family buggy. Read all about it at American Inventor Spot.

Let's see, now Jon is 18 and he has invented a device that means trouble for millions of his fellow adolescents. Jon, you might want to look into the Witness Protection Program.

Next time you have a bad day driving, come back to this post by Jennefer at Three Sons and a Princess.

Hillary Will has it in abundance. The will to win, that is. FastMachines has a great piece on a fascinating driver who is a Wheaton graduate in economics who spent a bunch of years as a financial analyst before going racing as a professional. You can also read her blog here.

In fact, here's Hillary:

OK, moving right along ...

I absolutely love reading Peter DeLorenzo at The Auto Extremist. He cuts to the chase about Carlos Ghosn's bid for a Renault-Nissan-GM alliance by noting that some of those fabled synergies of such deals might actually result, but:

"Any realistic, cohesive, effective partnership would take years to develop - if ever. And when I say years, I'm not talking Dieter Zetsche's concept of time - when everything magically works itself out in just a couple of quarters - but years, as in more than a decade."

While we're on the topic of GM's future, Straightline has the scoop on Kerkorian's plan to increase his share of the General's stock. Short of divine intervention, I don't think this guy is going away any time soon.

Now head over to my other favorite auto scribe, Robert Farago at The Truth About Cars, for his slicing and dicing of the Chrysler Aspen's driving personality:

"Good thing the seats offer no lateral support, the rack and pinion steering provides no useful feedback, the A-pillars cut off any practical view through a bend and the Aspen’s anchors are powerful and easily modulated."

I can't wait to read Robert's assessment of the new Sebring's exterior design.

Carscoop has a comprehensive, and I do mean comprehensive, list of links to everything being said at the Paris Auto Show this week. Somebody is on the ball over there!

Also in the mood for comprehensiveness is Kay Bell at Don't Mess With Taxes, who, in addition to being a car gal and a tax and finances expert, is also a birder. What has this previously unmentioned tidbit about Kay got to do with autos? Well, she was tooling along the other day out there in that part of Texas where all they have is miles and miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles and miles when she spied something she'd never seen before ....

I can't tell you the whole story, you gotta go on over to Don't Mess With Taxes. I promise it is as majestic as the Swainson's hawk soaring below.

See, you never know for sure what you you'll read next at the Carnival of Cars!

You might even see something about a moon shot. In fact, GM's Bob Lutz talks about the auto industry's moon shot - developing, producing and selling fuel cell vehicles - in this post at Fastlane. Interesting that miniaturization of computer electronics took roughly 30 years. Where on that timeline are we on miniaturization of fuel cell power production?

How did I miss this? FosFor Wheels has the Ferrari P 4/5. LeftLane News has the second look. Too bad it's not a Maranello product. I always thought the P3 was the most attractive of the 60s Ferrari prototypes.

Gear6 says it's time to send Mr. Chavez down in Venenzuela a message. The Auto Prophet also has a message for Hughie, which which I absolutely agree. Joining the chorus is Joe at MyFordDreams2. That Joe is a character and he has such excellent tastes in the blogs to which he links!

Buickman at General Watch and Automotive News' Ed Lapham are contemplating nicknames for various auto industry poobahs.

If we were looking for songs to associate with auto industry poo-bahs, would Bill Ford's be "Yesterday" by the Beatles?

GM FYI Blog guest blogger Jillian Beaumont left Big D yesterday at the start of the Chevy Silverado Drive for Farm Aid. They were at the Texas State Fairgrounds.

Leave it to Grant's Auto Rants to speculate about the menu at the first dinner of the prospective GM-Renault-Nissan or Ford-Renault-Nissan alliance. I think there will be a dinner but it will feature crow and it won't be to commemorate a new alliance.

Say a prayer today for Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars. It's two years today since Myrna departed this world and it's still so tough. That's the kind of love the Lord is talking about with that stuff on the two becoming one.

Here's the lovely Myrna:

Xenon has a new body kit for the Dodge Charger. Definitely improves a look that I still just don't get. HotWheels Blog has the details. On the body kit. Not my not getting it.

They're doin' the morning shift over at Jalopnik.

David at MotorAlley takes a look at that hydrogen gaseous Seven-Series Bimmer.

Austin Davis at My Honest Mechanic gives an honest answer about intake manifold spacers and performance.

Paul Tan has a report on the latest Yaris from the Paris Auto Show.

Brian at Racedriven.com posts his first blog video, a look at a new custom mini-truck. He's also got some thoughts about the NASCAR point system.

You get the impression I'm kind of hurrying? It's just that there's soooooo much great stuff out there in the auto blogs, how am I ever gonna get through it all?????

Great stuff like Serious Wheels' gallery of Audi R8 shots.

PC takes a well-deserved hit over at The Auto Prophet. It was a goofy ad but it's time more of us told the PC cops to take a hike.

Yes, that was The Auto Prophet's second appearance in this week's Carnival of Cars.

The new Jag S-Type has Edward Sanchez at The Car Blog talkin' mojo.

Hey, you want more cars on the road that exceed the feds' CAFE standards by 25 percent or more? Go check out The Driving Woman. Joanne understands the way the world works. Unlike, for instance, that Hugo fellow down in South America.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

Joe Sherlock at The View Through the Windshield had a tail-gater in Portland, which naturally led to his rather enlightening post today on self-driving cars. Hey, anything to get the goofballs off the road.

And with that, we are at the end of this week's drive around the auto blog block.

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7-11 Drops Citgo, Cites Chavez Comments About Bush, America in Ending 20-Year Deal

2006-09-27T14:19:00.000-04:00

Displaying more intestinal fortitude than many have come to expect of a Fortune 500 corporation based in America, 7-Eleven announced today in Dallas that it is not renewing its 20-year-old agreement to sell Citgo gasoline. The decision directly affects approximately 2,100 of the familiar convenience store chain's 5,600+ outlets in the U.S.

A company spokesman said Chavez' recent comments were at the heart of the decision, noting that "regardless of politics, we sympathize with many Americans' concern over derogatory comments about our country and its leadership recently made by Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez."

The spokesman discouraged talk of a boycott of Citgo, however, saying such action would hurt approximately 4,000 employees of the 7-11 stores currently selling the Venenzuelan petroleum company's gasoline.

UPDATE: 7-Eleven backpedalling

It took a day before 7-Eleven officials started backing off the idea their decision to drop Citgo as a gasoline supplier was connected to recent statements at the UN by Venenzuela's Hugh Chavez.

Reuters reports the same company spokesman who yesterday indicated the link is today denying it.

Hugo Chavez
Politics
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7-Eleven
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Auto News

BlogNetNews Launches Auto Edition for Bloggers

2006-09-27T06:49:00.000-04:00

If you've ever dreamed of a site that brings together in one place all of the latest news, comment and analysis from across the auto blogs, there is something new on the Internet today that you need to know about, the BlogNetBiz auto edition. You can see BlogNetBiz's political news sites at http://www.blognetnews.co m.

BlogNetBiz auto edition pulls together in one place feeds from across the auto blogosphere "to create new content and information that will organize your slice of the Internet to make it work better for your readers."

Take a few minutes to check out the beta site and you will quickly notice some of the top features of a site that I think is going to grow like crazy in coming months. There is an auto news aggregator, an auto blogs search engine, an index of the most actively linked-to auto blogs, hot auto blogs comments and an index of the most widely read auto blogs. And that's just the beta version!

Here's how BlogNetBiz's Dave Mastio explains it:

"In one place, in one minute, you'll get an update on what's going on across the blogosphere. And your readers will be able to find the best car-related content - not based on random voters or some editor's choices - but based on the real actions of auto bloggers and their readers.

"Our theory is simple: We think our tools will help new blog readers find the best content fast. A good experience means they'll come back - to you and to us. We also think a quick grasp of what's going on in the blogosphere will help you get more out of the time you spend blogging."

Dave cautions the site is new and the programming is still in the late development phase - kind of like the white pre-production vehicles manufacturers use to get the last bugs out of an assembly line before going to full production. Check it out and let Dave know what you think at editor@blognetnews.com.

By the way, I am not an investor in BlogNetBiz, they aren't paying me to say this stuff and I don't receive "a cut" on the profit they make, which I hope is big. I do know Dave from his years as a USA Today columnist and I recognize a great product when I see it. Like I said, I think this is going to be growing big-time.

Carnival of Cars
Cars
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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, Sept. 22, 2006

2006-09-22T13:52:00.000-04:00

Boy, we have some catching up to do, so let's get started, shall we!

Is it possible that the real key to the success of Toyota and Honda in challenging Detroit is the fact the two Japanese automakers designed their products to appeal to women? The Car Blog thinks so. My wife told me I could say I don't know.

If you are thinking about buying a used vehicle, Mike Willis of Carsopia, a new entry in the Carnival of Cars, has some tips for you. Here's Part 1. Welcome to the Carnival of Cars, Mike!

Another new entry is from GolbGuru, a "twentysomething grad student," who offers some interesting observations about the relationship between safety and value in used vehicles, including this:

"I have deliberately avoided the use of the words 'cheap car.' Once you go through the ratings, you will realize that expensive is not necessarily safe and cheap is not necessarily unsafe."

Hmmm.

Ah, the glories of a thumper! Dorrington Williams at If it's got an engine ... loves his Suzuki 650 Savage and wonders if the same powerplant configuration could be applied to larger vehicles:

"What I propose is a hybrid single-cylinder engine. Couple a large single-cylinder engine up to an electric motor/generator. The electronics controlling the motor/generator would have to be fast enough to switch from motoring to generating every other engine revolution."

Another Hmmm.

From across the pond, comes All Tips and Tricks with advice on how to get the most out of your tyres. Don't forget the one in the boot. Welcome to the Carnival of Cars, All Tips and Tricks.

My goodness, the carnival is stuffed with advice this week! Jeff Neilan at Car Buying Tips explains the mysteries behind that dreaded icon of the auto biz, the dealer invoice.

Bet you didn't ever expect to see a reference in the Carnival of Cars to the need to join the Ferret Fanciers Club. Mad Kane's Humor Club combines useful advice on how to plan for a really good weekend getaway with tips on how to maintain your sanity when nothing goes as planned.

Big doin's north of the border as CASCAR becomes the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. The Garage Blog assesses the assessables.

And while we're at the The Garage Blog, find out which GM "high-end production facility is predetermined to produce crap."

Perhaps it was a bad day at the garage.

Chuck at Car Buying Tips notes that there is a certain fragrance in the air, something having to do with "New Car Model Selling Season." You will know what to do.

They're coming out of the woodworks over there at Car Buying Tips! James Raia does the Weekly Driver review and he likes the Passat as an alternative to the usual Camry or Accord purchase. James is also rather taken by the Honda Fit.

Kevin, Denny, both Jeffs, Matt, Tony, Dale, Mark, Jimmie and Kyle might as well give up now cauz when all the rubber and oil has cleared, it's gonna be Kasey Kahne sittin' purty in the Nextel Cup Season Championship. Hey, Brian at Racedriven.com said it, so it must be true!

Joe Sherlock peers at The View Through the Windshield and can't stop asking if the world really needs Mercury:

"Today's Mercury is the poster child for 'Badge Engineering' and is an almost-clone of its Ford-badged sibling. Mercury is a virtually unknown brand outside of North America; Ford stopped selling it in

Canada

a couple of years ago. "

It's a tough question and Joe has some solid thoughts on it. No, that's not Joe in the photo above, but it is the Mercury Milan Voga concept in the background. Wonder what she'll do if Mercury goes under?

Gas is headed back towards the $2 per gallon neighborhood, at least for now, but it's still important to get the most mileage possible out of your vehicle. Unless, that is, your last name states with a G and ends with an S and you happen to have started a very successful computer business in the garage. Ann Mattinatt at Ask Patty has gas-saving tips for those of us who didn't.

Speaking of Asking Patty, Jody DeVere is scheduled to speak at a Six Apart affair in Deetroit come Oct. 30, along with the folks from GM Fast Lane Blog. Makes me wish I could hop a 737 and head west that day.

How do you know when a friend has completely gone bonkers? When they start talking about getting a job in the auto industry! If you can't persuade them to do something a little saner - like being a safety inspector in a dynamite plant or doing live-ammo tests of bullet-proof vests - The Garage Blog has some suggestions to pass along to your unforunate acquaintance.

And in the continuing fall-out from El Presidente's hilarious stand-up routine at Turtle Bay, The Auto Prophet suggests an anatomically difficult exercise for the Venenzuelan chief executive. Remarkably similar to the sage advice being offered over at Tapscott's Copy Desk, I might add.

Yes, please feel free to steal the above photo and post it everywhere!

Finally, That'sRacin' has the scoop on allegations of cheating in the engine room at RCR. This has Ugly written all over it.

And on a personal note:

Don't miss the Fast Forward reviews of Marcus MacFarland now being posted regularly on Tapscotts behind the Wheel. The first two are here and here. MM is, of course, my son and I dare say he is a natural-born auto writer.

He attended his first manufacturers' ride and drive yesterday - the GMer for Saturn and Chevy in Virginia - and came away with loads of valuable information and interesting insights about the industry, its people and processes. Not bad for a rookie, huh!

Yes, I am proud of him! See ya next week.

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FAST FORWARD: Passat is Not Your Typical Station Wagon

2006-09-20T22:51:00.000-04:00

Maybe its just me, but when I think of a station wagon, the images that come to mind are straight out of movies like Vacation or Better off Dead. You know, the tank green Ford LTD Country Squire with that God-awful fake wood trim and someone’s dead Grandma strapped to the top. Too far? Perhaps.

These Grizwold-mobiles were the bane of all car guys existence. They were ugly, had the handling of a pregnant cow, and took a Sunday afternoon to make 60 mph. Frankly, I’m not sure there was a single redeeming quality in 70’s and 80’s station wagons.

With the recent resurgence of the station wagon, it’s good that the Volkswagen folks have an appreciation for the importance of the driving experience. I peered out the window this week praying that I wouldn’t be catapulted back to the bad ol’ days of four-wheel-suburbanite hell. Fortunately, what lay before me was anything but an eye sore. This wagon, like many of the new breed, is sporty, sleek, and doesn’t have the bench seat akin to a Lazyboy sectional.

PERFORMANCE

My tester was equipped with a 2.0 liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder powerplant making a respectable 200 horsepower. This is the same motor that comes standard in the GLI. The fact that it is about 200 pounds heavier than the GLI is noticeable. However, with a 0-60 mph time under eight seconds, it’s no slouch, either.

HANDLING

Unlike the more expensive and more powerful 3.6 VR6 and VR6 4 Motion, the 2.0T is only available in front-wheel drive. Despite it’s lack of AWD, the 2.0 liter car was relatively neutrally handling. Of course, it has a tendency to understeer at speed, but satisfactory nevertheless.

STYLING

Despite its wagon handicap, the Passat is easy on the eyes. Typically German, it has an elegant demeanor inside and out. Further, it has more interior cargo space (35.8 cu.ft) than the Saab 9-3 2.0T, Volvo V-50 2.4I, or BMW 325xit. Instrumentation is precisely where it should be, and never difficult to operate. I was particularly impressed with the Dynaudio sound system. I had no trouble equalizing to accommodate my taste.

JUDGEMENT

Still a wagon, yet much cooler than those of yesteryear. I enjoyed the Passat Wagon. As much as it pains me to admit it, I did. It has reasonable performance and good cargo space. No Grizwoldmobile here! --- Marcus MacFarland

FAST FORWARD: Toyota Gets Off Beaten Path With FJ Cruiser

2006-09-20T22:43:00.000-04:00

OVERVIEW

For those of you who’s hearts yearn for long weekends away from the city, camping deep in the wilderness, and the kind of freedom that can only be delivered by vehicles who’s competence lies beyond the beaten path, Toyota has something to show you.

Meet the FJ Cruiser. New for 2007, this no frills off-road wanderer features a stylistic blending of old and new. It bears a likeness to the original FJ40, especially in the front end. The new FJ targets young people who prefer off-road prowess to street driveability. FJ feels big, tall, and does not have creature comforts in mind.

PERFORMANCE

This rugged, trail-blazing truck is endowed with a 4.0 liter V-6 generating a respectable 239 horsepower. More importantly, the V-6 makes 278 lbs.-ft or torque, which is a necessity in off-road exploration. On the street, the engine feels powerful. FJ also has one of the easiest and smoothest clutches I’ve driven. You truly can get in and feel as though you’ve driven the FJ before. On the other hand, the shifter is sloppy and imprecise. Also, you could fit a blue whale in the blind spot generated by the huge c-pillar.

HANDLING

It doesn’t take long behind the wheel of this full-time 4X4 to understand where Toyota’s priorities are with this truck. It handles like a 4WD truck. Don’t expect the FJ to corner. That is not its purpose. However, given the fact that most of these trucks will spend the lion’s share of their time on asphalt, it is important to say that the ride quality wasn’t bad. In fact, it was smoother over rough roads than I anticipated.

STYLING

Like so many new cars coming out, the FJ takes the styling from the original FJ40 and ads a modern flair. I’m a big fan of the blending of old and new, when it’s done right. My hat’s off to Toyota inside and out. There is no doubt this truck isn’t for everyone. In fact, with its mammoth instrumentation, rubber floor mats, and spray-washable seats, the FJ is singular in its purpose. If you don’t get it, you’ll hate it.

JUDGEMENT

Cheap off-road enjoyment. The FJ fills the void left by the Jeep Cherokee. It has more room than a Jeep Wrangler and is far cheaper than a Hummer. Late 20-somethings who have graduated from their lifted Jeeps to young children and mortgages should take a good hard look at FJ. --- Marcus MacFarland

No Surprise in GM-Ford Merger Talks With Boeing Man at the Helm in Dearborn

2006-09-19T10:47:00.000-04:00

That Automotive News story out this morning about a possible GM-Ford merger should come as a surprise to nobody. Why? Look at the guy who is running Ford, a former head honcho at Boeing. GM-Ford is analogous in many respects to Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas.

Seattle-based Boeing, of course, first became famous for its bombers, including the B-17 and B-29 in World War II and the B-47 and B-52 during the Cold War. But Boeing really grew when it became a success in the commercial jet market, beginning with the 707 and carrying through the 727, 737, etc.

Throughout its life, Boeing's chief rival for both defense and commercial business was often St. Louis-based McDonnell-Douglas, which focused on fighter aircraft like the F-4 Phantom and F-15 Strike Eagle. McDonnell-Douglas first became famous for its DC-3 but was perenially number two to Boeing in commercial jets, with its DC-8, DC-9 and DC-10 aircraft.

When the Cold War was won and the Soviet Union ceased being America's greatest threat, reaping the "peace dividend" meant far fewer defense contracts and programs. A tremendous consolidation ensued in which Boeing merged with McDonnell-Douglas in 1997.

Now along comes new Ford head Allan Mullaly and word spreads that GM and Ford have been talking about some sort of alliance apparently since the day after Carlos Ghosyn of Renault-Nissan fame approached GM about an alliance.

The Wall Street Journal reports the two Detroit giants talked but nothing came of the discussion. The Journal notes that Bill Ford Jr. insists that Mullaly was not brought over simply to enginner a merger.

We will see.

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, September 8, 2006

2006-09-08T05:29:00.000-04:00

Some week, huh. Bill Ford throws in the towel and installs an airplane guy as Dearborn's new boss man, GM extends its powertrain warranty and UAW president suggests a very dark place where Daimler-Chrysler should shove its request for health care relief. Hey, this car stuff is serious business, no?

So, time to fire up the old cyber buggy and head on down the road for this week's Carnival of Cars!

Don't go shopping in Boston for a mid-70s Eldorado rag top. Carpundit has photos of one whose owner left the top down during a monsoon that dumped at least an inch of rainfall on Beantown. Notes Carpundit: "If this thing ever comes up for sale, give it a pass. Unless you like permanent mildew."

Joe Kissel is getting all steamed up over at Interesting Thing of the Day. Literally. Very interesting retrospective on the Doble steam cars produced by the Doble Brothers' General Engineering Company. Don't assume we've heard the last about steam and autos, though, because Joe reports BMW is working on a "turbosteamer."

Over at CarBuyingTips, Chuck Russell says it really is possible to have negative credit information removed from your credit record. Hmmmm. Any comments on this one, folks?

Egon spent a recent day at Rev It Up! and rather enjoyed himself. A full report is at Automoblog .

Ever heard of Dipstick Fast Lube? You have to go to Easley, South Carolina, to find it but Jodey DeVere at Ask Patty has an interview with Lori Miller, owner of the first and only all-female lube shop.

First-time Carnival of Cars entrant All Tips and Tricks has 10 tips for rental car customers. Strange, I thought at first that it was a blog about creative rules applications - aka "cheatin'" - by the good ole boys back in NASCAR's southern fried golden era.

And another first-time Carnival of Cars entrant is Automotive.com, which is rather taken by a Brandweek piece arguing that women are the decisive marketing influence in the auto industry.

Welcome to both of you! Be sure and add All Tips and Tricks and Automotive.com to your regular blog reading list.

Say it ain't so, Louis! Sadly, Louis Albornoz says on Top Speed there is no way NASCAR is coming to Staten Island. So this artist conception of the masses of Yankee humanity crowding into the rumored raceway is just a dream. Or is it?

Do you know what "STP" actually stands for? No, it isn't "spend that profit." Go to How Products Were Named for the answer.

Uh, could somebody please explain to me the true nature of such sites. They seem to be proliferating like rabbits.

You knew it was coming, right? NASCAR has The Chase for the Nextel Cup. Now the NHRA comes up with The Countdown to the Championship. Brian at Racedriven.com reports some "mixed" reactions at the U.S. Nationals.

Next thing you know, Roller Derby will proclaim "The Skate to Bailey's Comets." Never heard of it? Go here. It even featured a $1 million payoff.

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GM Extends Warranty to 100,000 Miles: Will Ford Now Offer Frequent Fueler Programs?

2006-09-06T14:56:00.000-04:00

General Motors announced today that it is extending its standard powertrain warranty to five years and 100,000 miles for all its nameplates, beginning with the 2007 model year in the U.S. and Canada.

The roadside assistance and courtesy vehicle programs are also expanding. GM Chairman Rick Wagoner is expected to make the formal announcement later today.

In the meantime, Bob Lutz is touting the decision on GM's Fastlane blog, noting that:

"When you take the new powertrain warranty, the courtesy transportation and roadside assistance, the safety and security of technologies like OnStar and StabiliTrak, and the trained GM Goodwrench technicians working at the largest dealer network in the industry, it all adds up to the best consumer confidence package anywhere. As Rick says, we believe in the quality and value of our cars and trucks, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is. Because we can."

Go here for the full GM statement.

UPDATE: Ford looking at Frequent Fueler program?

No word yet on whether Ford will begin offering Frequent Fueler credits for its least efficient birds, uh, models. No word, either, on whether Ford's model nomenclature will change in the wake of former Boeing executive Allan Mulally replacing outgoing chairman and CEO bill Ford.

Some automotive industry wags are suggesting Ford's biggest seller, the F150 full-size pickup, will see a name change to 999, both to honor Henry Ford's most successful race car and to align Ford and Boeing in the 707-727-737-757-767 model designation approach.

UPDATE II: It's "landing gear" now, not suspension!

Ford engineering departments may also be wondering if they will see changes in long-standing automotive terms. For example, will "horsepower" now be changed to "thrust" in engine specifications?

GM
General Motors
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Ford Names Top Exec From Defense Contractor Boeing; Why This is a Bad Day for the Blue Oval

2006-09-05T22:32:00.000-04:00

Bill Ford is turning over the reigns of the car company bearing his family name to a senior executive from one of the nation's biggest defense contractors, Boeing. Allan Mulally replaces Ford as CEO after serving 37 years at Boeing, most recently as President and CEO of the company's commercial division and executive vice president of the corporate parent.

Ford's decision is certainly raising eyebrows and generating headlines but the obvious question for analysts and automotive critics is whether such a move what Ford Motor Co. needs? Frankly, it doesn't make much sense to this observer.

Here's why. Ford is one of the world's largest mass-market companies and it's in deep trouble because of its recent inability to sustain sufficient mass sales to maintain profitability. Ford has an aging loyal customer base and is failing to secure new buyers among younger demongraphics that feed long-term auto industry success.

So the solution is to hire a guy from a company that admittedly is nearly as storied as Ford (just mention the B-17, B-29 and B-52 and you get the idea), but which is virtually the opposite of a mass-market firm?

Boeing has two customer bases - the Pentagon and the world's commerical airlines. Neither of these markets bear even the remotest resemblance to the extraordinarily competitive world automotive market with its millions of individual consumers.

Unless Mulally has virtues that only Bill Ford knows about, this move looks very much like the long-shot Hail Mary of a desperate guy who's failed at saving a car company that could become a has-been much sooner than anyone previously thought possible.

Ford survived the tenure of a defense industry star once before - Robert McNamara in the 1950s and early 1960s with the Edsel debacle and the Falcon - but the company simply isn't as strong today as it was back then, if only because then Ford had three competitors, all in Detroit. Today there are legions of competitors from around the world and their ranks are growing.

This is a very bad day for the blue oval.

There is a case to be made for Mulally, but it's thin, as noted by Robert Farago at The Truth About Cars:

"There's also no question about Mulally's leadership abilities. His 'team-building skills' within and without Boeing are legendary. In a March '06 article for Design News, Boeing's Chief Engineer of the 777's interior design sang Mulally's praises.

"'Alan exhibits every quality that you would want to see in a good leader -vision, trust, integrity, and, above all, an overwhelming enthusiasm.' George Brody also said, 'He's just dynamic when it comes to getting people to pull together.' Of course, a big part of Mulally's confidence comes from his technical know-how. One wonders how long it will take Ford's new CEO to get up to speed on the intricacies of car building.

"Or if Mulally can readjust his internal clock to the car industry's three year product cycles. For 37 years, the Boeing man was attuned to a two decade gap between a new product's conception and customer deliveries. (You can count the number of planes he's worked on with one hand.)

"And that's on top of strategic thinking that extends out 40 years or more (a modern aircraft can stay in service 60 years). Ford has eight brands and dozens of models, each of which require some form of design, engineering and marketing right now - in addition to the models on the drawing boards or in development."

Go here for Farago's complete post.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, Sept. 1, 2006

2006-09-02T07:22:00.000-04:00

Okay, what are we bid for Jaguar and Aston Martin? Do we hear two billion? One billion? Just think, British quality, history and prestige can all be yours. Do we hear .... Perhaps we can interest you in a long-term lease?

Things haven't quite gotten to that point just yet but Ford confirmed this week that it is trying to unload its two profit-sapping luxury marques. Any bets on how much Ford will get for either or both? There's more interesting news out there, too, so let's fire this thing up and hit the auto blog road, shall we!

It's been a rough week for Kay Bell at Don't Mess With Taxes. Some difficulties with the family Cavalier made for a post called "Run over by auto repairs." You get the drift with that title real quick. Cyber sympathy cards, letters and links are appropriate.

Kay also updates her previous posts on the soon-to-be-expiring federal tax credit for purchasing a hybrid like the Toyota Prius. There's more time for hybrids from other marques, but Kay says don't tarry if you must have a Prius.

Madeleine at Mad Kane's Humor Blog is thinking of getting a frequent user deal from her local tow company. Seems hubby Mark is, shall we say, somewhat forgetful about stuff like turning off their car's lights.

Oh yeah, speaking of hybrids, Chuck at Car Buying Tips has a guest piece this week from Kadence Buchanan on hybrids. Chuck also takes an extended look at the state of play at GM visavis fuel economy.

BTW, my test vehicle this week was the Lexus 450H. I was quite impressed. More to come on that topic later when my review appears on Tapscotts Behind the Wheel. Marcus MacFarland of Fast Forward will have something to say here on that score, too.

The Garage Blog crew has put more than 9,000 miles on a couple of Mazda6 wagons in recent months and they report in detail on their impressions. I think Mazda will like this one because it whispers "buy, buy."

Brian at Racedriven.com notes a passing conversation between Scott Riggs and Jeff Gordon during last week's Cup race at Bristol. Somehow, I don't think Cale and Donnie and Junior would have conducted the same sort of discussion.

Watching the odometer turn over the 100,000 mile mark is GolbGuru at Money, Matters and More Musings. From the sound of it, his Mustang is going to just keep on keepin' on galloping. Long-term relationships are the best, don't you think?

And moving right along ...

Want the low-down on the industry as the dog days of summer come to an end? As always, Peter DeLorenzo at AutoExtremist.com is the place to find "the players, the schemers, the smoke-and-mirror-dreamers" of the car biz. I confess I am always a sucker for alliterative headlines, phrases, book titles and place names.

E.L. Eversman is nearing completion of a total redesign of Auto Muse. Stay tuned cauz it's gonna be good, I promise.

Who said this?

"Let's mull over some numbers. 2.0 liters. 200 horsepower. 302 lb-ft. 7.4 seconds. 6 speeds. 47.9 miles per gallon* combined."

That's right, Autoblog's Alex Nunez, doing the calculations for the Alpina D3 edition Bimmer.

No, I don't think that's Alex behind the wheel in the shot to the right of the Alpina D3. Bet he wishes it was, though.

Cars! Cars! Cars! says they spent some time sitting in the new Ford Edge and came away thinking Ford has lost it, at least in terms of the interior. Not an auspicious outlook for Dearborn.

Citreon unveils its hybrid-diesel C4 concept at the Paris Auto Show. Carscoop has the details.

Kenny Bernstein, Tom Hammonds and Jeg Coughlin, Jr. announced at the Summer Nationals that they are returning to the quarter mile wars in 07. Fastmachines has mixed feelings about it all.

For Labor Day, Bob Lutz is talking at Fastlane Blog about styling being the last great differentiator among marques.

Now for an opposing view .... the dealers are getting the wrong end of GM's value pricing deal, again, according to Jim Dollinger at Generalwatch. He's not real high on Mark LaNeve, either.

And finally, over at GM's FYI Blog, the powers-that-be are encouraging readers to check Tara Strickstein's various renderings, including a very nice take on a 76 Caddy. Lots of albums like Tara's over there.

Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars has a new CD out called "Innocence" and he's created a site to check it out.

Things must be slipping over Jalopnik way because they're talking up Drifting. I'm tellin' ya, man, it ain't racin'.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The preceding comment about drifting was not meant to devalue Jalopnik. Sometimes, my tongue-in-cheekisms aren't clearly enough tongue-in-cheek. See comments below.

Just-Auto's Dave Leggett is talking PAG sales and serving Aston Moet. Speaking of PAG, just below here is the guy who did it:

Jacque Nasser. MyFordDreams2 points out that Ford is still trying to recover from the Nasser era, which is why PAG is on the auction block.

Wondering when to change your vehicle's serpentine belt. My Honest Mechanic's Austin Davis has some thoughts on that topic but he won't take you round and round.

Volvo is not typically the tuner crowd's first choice but the S40 is making some progress in that field for the Ford-owned Swedish concern. Paul Tan has an interesting piece on the Heico HS4 Odin Concept .

Try saying that five times fast.

And if you can, try this five times fast: Bright Blue Brabham.

There is a redesigned Honda CRV for 07, but Straightline has photos and details and links now.

And The Auto Prophet is distinctly unimpressed with the new CRV's exterior styling, observing:

"Honda has great technology, and excellent engines. But their design for the U.S. market is weak, in fact, it is the chink in their armor. I mean, what is this thing supposed to be? It has BMW X5/Mercedes ques along the sides, and a rear quarter that reminds me of a Chrysler product. The front end has a small nose with an apparent overhang and a strange mustache underneath. The front bumper appears to jut forward like a cow-catcher."

Harsh, but TAP won't be alone in such evaluations.

The Driving Woman has some inside info on Honda's marketing expectations for the new CRV.

Could 500 horsepower under a Mustang's hood ever be too little too late? The Truth About Cars' Bob Elton explains why the answer is yes with the newest Shelby edition of the classic pony car.

Joe Sherlock peers out The View Through the Windshield and sees reports of gas returning to $2 per gallon, but still thinks U.S. consumers have got to learn new habits about fuel consumption and he's got some serious proposals for doing just that.

Have you looked at Top Speed lately? Well, you should because there are some really interesting things going on over there.

And with that note, we have arrived at the end of this week's Carnival of Cars.

Don't forget!

Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of cars using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

UPDATE: MSNBC's Will Femia links to Carnival of Cars!

Very cool, thanks Will. Hope you come back every week. And welcome to all you "Clicked" folks visiting Carnival of Cars for the first time.

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Azera is Hyundai's Best Effort Yet

2006-08-27T08:32:00.000-04:00

Speed is a relative term. Indy cars turn laps at an average of just under 230 mph. Funny cars exceed 300 mph in the quarter mile. Fast, yes, but nothing compared to the Mach 2+ capability of the F22 Raptor.

Then there is South Korean automaker Hyundai, which has gone from joke to Azera about as quickly as it is possible to do in the auto industry. Remember those bargain-basement Excels? The only thing the Azera shares with those cars is the Hyundai label.

To put it most succinctly, the Azera is a handsome mid-size near-luxury sedan that combines outstanding performance, a roomy, comfortable interior and an abundance of standard comfort, safety and convenience packages at an extremely affordable price. Hyundai ought to sell every Azera it can build.

Here’s why: First, take the performance produced by the 3.8 liter, 263 horsepower version of Hyundai’s familiar Lambda V-6. This responsive, smooth-revving powerplant is mated with a manumatic five-speed automatic transmission. Punch the go pedal and the Azera will scoot from zero to 60 mph in 6.39 seconds.

More important, the engine eagerly flings the Azera forward in mainly mid-range romps, yet provides quiet and economical power for around-town driving and daily commuting. Assuming it proves to be reliable over the long-term, this V-6 could rival those from Nissan and Honda for top-ranking.

The Azera’s passenger cabin is generous in providing room for five adults. There is perhaps not quite as much headroom as taller occupants would likely seek, but space in other directions is excellent. The instrument panel is simple and straight-forward, with electro-luminescent gauges that could be taken straight out of a Lexus.

The climate and entertainment controls are in the center of the instrument panel and are located high enough to be easily seen and reached. The standard stereo is a 315 watt unit that produces high-quality sound.

Speaking of sound, the Azera sounds and feels extremely tight on the road and suggests the same kind of quiet, confident quality one encounters in much more expensive vehicles. On the intangible “feel” scale, this Hyundai tops the chart.

The standard safety equipment list is lengthy, including eight air bags, traction control, electronic stability control, active head restraints and anti-lock brakes. And there is that 100,000 mile Hyundai powertrain warranty. All for $28,415.Toyota, Honda – you’ve been warned.

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Honda Fits the Times With New Sub-Compact

2006-08-27T08:01:00.000-04:00

Most of us have known the guy or gal who always seemed to be the lucky one. You know the type - always in the right place at the right time to get the promotion, the best deal on a new car and free tickets on the 50-yard-line for the Skins-Cowboys game.

There are car companies like that, too. If you doubt me, just take a look at the 2007 Honda Fit, which the Japanese automaker introduced just a few months before gas zoomed to its current $3+ price. In the auto business, having the right car at the right time is always a good thing.

And the Honda Fit is a good thing. Other than exterior styling that constantly reminded me of the Suzuki Swift, the Fit is instantly recognizable as a Honda product.

Take the interior, which features a typical Honda instrument panel that looks great and makes ergonomic sense. The materials seem high quality and everything falls readily to hand.

Even better, that Swift-like exterior on the Fit hatchback allows for maximum cargo and lots of room for four or sometimes five passengers, helped along by Honda’s ingenious seating design.

Fold the rear seat cushions up and you get 50 inches of space between the floor and the ceiling. Need a completely flat cargo area behind the front seats? That’s no problem, either, and the Fit provides a space nearly eight feet in length in which to haul stuff.

On the road, the Fit is clearly a Honda product as well. You get the light feel and nimble handling, plus the revvy little motor and a slick-shifting five-speed stick shift. The 1.9 liter SOHC four-cylinder is good for 105 horsepower and flings the Fit from 0-60 mph in 9.25 seconds.

The Fit exacts no fuel economy penalty in return for the driving fun. The EPA says 33 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the road. My silver tester showed a 35 mpg average for a week of commutes that included lots of stop-and-go misery and a fair share of freeway cruising.

The Fit competes with the Scion and Yaris lines from Toyota, Chevy’s Aveo version of the latter, and the Versa coming from Nissan. High gas prices are here to stay and other automakers are scrambling to get their entries in this new segment.

Only the xC coupe of the Scion line really impressed me and the Yaris sedan is an attractive entry. I haven’t driven the Aveo or Versa as yet. For now, the Fit looks to me like the best fit in the market.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, August 25, 2006

2006-08-25T10:34:00.000-04:00

Carnival of Cars is back! Repairs have been completed on the old Cyber Buggy and we are ready to roar on down the road, so let's get this show moving, shall we!

By the way, I kept all submissions received after the last Carnival on July 21 and am including here all that still seem sufficiently timely or otherwise of interest.

From the July submissions:

Brian at Racedriven.com looks at the Busch Series and sees "Cup Lites." That's not good for either the Busch Series or the Nextel Cup, according to Brian, who explains why in detail.

From across the pond comes new Carnival of Cars entrant David at AutoFuture. David is perplexed at the recent success of the Ford Focus II in displacing the VW Golf as Europe's top-selling compact. David, I am sure there are some folks over here who agree with you on that score. And welcome to the Carnival of Cars!

OK, Porsche gearheads (is there such a thing?), the 911 was introduced in 1964, right? Well didja know there was actually a 1963 model as well? Or that Porsche only made 82 of them and actually registered them as 901s? Want to know more? Check out Garageblog for the full report. It's a nice family deal, too, which makes it even better.

If you are a New York City rapper, you know all about the elaborate paint schemes many of your fellow, uh, artists are applying to their SUVs. Good buddy Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Guitars and Girls ran into an Expedition the other day that you won't believe. Actually, you probably will but ....

Low interest or rebate? Rebate or low interest? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Chuck at Car Buying Tips has the low-down on making that decision. Looks like you might be doing Chuck a little financial favor by clicking on the Capital One ad, too.

Folks have been predicting the oil would run out literally almost since the day after that Col Drake fellow got a modest little gusher up in Pennsylvania. More recently, the theory takes the form of the Peak Oil concept. Joe Kissel at Interesting Thing of the Day lays out the theory in sufficiently plain english that even a journalist like me can understand it.

Jody DeVere of AskPatty was in San Jose for BlogHer06 and the Champcar weekend. Sounds like she had a rather good time, thanks in great part to GM, which sponsored BlogHer06 and did a solid job of taking advantage of the marketing opportunities created thereby.

August submissions to date:

Is George Soros putting the screws to the UAW by investing $200 million in the Chinese Chery export operation? Here's what they have to say about that at DebtBlog:

"They plan to thank the UAW for all their Democratic votes throughout the years by ensuring the U.S. auto companies have to contend with yet another foreign competitor. To make it just that much more challenging, this time the competition's cars will be built in state-sponsored factories, with infinitesimal labor costs."

That pretty much says it all.

If you are really, REALLY into yard sales, you already know about "The World's Longest Yard Sale." It covers three states and was started 19 years ago. For the rest of us out here in the real world who usually drive to much shorter yard sales, Kay Bell with Don't Mess With Taxes offers lots of useful insight and advice.

Kay, by the way, is an absolute jewel of a woman. I know, without ever having met her in person, because she offered to help with Carnival of Cars during the recent unplanned "vacation." There's just something about Texas folks that make them special, you know!

The Auto Prophet was just driving along minding his own business a few weeks back when he happened upon both a Lincoln Navigator and a Cadillac Escalade. Being a true car guy, he of course had to start comparing them. You might be surprised by his conclusion. Remember, he's an engineer in Detroit.

And no, I don't know which car company he works for! But I like the way he thinks.

9D Blog of Development says the secret of Honda's success is the Japanese firm's superior powerplant engineering. I agree. Hey, that's why James Garner won the F1 championship!

You think John-Pierre Sarti knew he was going to buy it at Monza? For sure, Scott Stoddard bore an uncanny resemblance to Jimmy Clark.

Chuck is pretty impressed with RoadLoans. It's worth a click over to Car Buying Tips. He isn't so enthusiastic about the new Pontiac G5, which is another typical GM knockoff Chevy with the Indian's labels. And if you are thinking about buying a used vehicle, Chuck has 10 tips for you.

I love Lyn St. James. She would have won Indy if she had ever gotten in a Penske car. But that's a debate for another day. For now, The Driving Woman offers a full report from the recent annual banquet of the Lyn St. James Foundation's Women in the Winners' Circle gathering.

And moving right along the women in cars meme, AskPatty is getting a flood of questions from women with problems with their cars. She's high on a women's mechanics seminar being offered once a month by Motor City Sales in Dee-troit.

Another new Carnival of Cars entry from across the pond is that of Sally at Odd Thoughts and Other Matters. Sally is focused on the new shopping trolleys from Vauxhall. There's a photo of such a vehicle on Sally's blog, but even with that shot I am not sure exactly what a shopping trolley is.

Even so, welcome to Carnival of Cars, Sally!

Westpundit's Kevin Connors turned on his boob tube recently, eagerly anticipating a drag racing history lesson from "The Alcohol Years (2000)" on the Sundance Channel. Boy, he wuz wrong!

Kevin (see above) is an road racer, so NASCAR's turn-left-only ovals never did much for him. But he took in the NASCAR event at Watkins Glen and was fairly impressed. Having raced on the Glen's grand prix course, I can attest to the fun the NASCAR guys miss by running that dinky little thing they carve out of the Blue Tube.

That Happy Meal with a Hummer promo a couple weeks back? It was one big, evil part of Corporate Amerika helping out another ailing chunk of the Greed Brigade, at least according to a startling biased piece in The New York Times. Alex Nunez at Auto Blog takes it apart in fine fashion.

And by the way, I'm definitely not a "What's good for GM is good for America" type and I still don't understand why GM bought Hummer in the first place. I just don't care for environmental extremism being dressed up as real journalism. Alex, "agenda-driven killjoys" is exactly right.

Are we there yet? No, and if you ask that one more time, I'm gonna ....

Uh, Mad Kane has a problem with red cars. Really, she does. Come on, go check it out, it'll give you a chuckle.

Occidentality is another new Carnival of Cars entrant and right off the bat offers yet another reason why Detroit needs to get out of the fleet sales business ASAP.

Love that word. Welcome to the Carnival of Cars, anonymous person behind Occidentality!

And finally, Shouting Thomas tells you all about Dottie, who dropped dead a year or so ago, Pete, her software engineer hubby of many years, and the Vixen in the back yard. No, this does not refer to an "ill-tempered or quarrelsome woman," but to a four-wheel vehicle powered by a a Bimmer turbodiesel straight six. I promise, it's a post worth reading.

And now that we are back home, it's great to be back on schedule with the Carnival of Cars.

Don't forget!

Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of cars using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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What's Up With Carnival of Cars?

2006-08-09T10:33:00.000-04:00

Some folks have emailed wondering if I fell off the face of the earth, had my probation revoked or just simply decided to skip town. The truth is much more prosaic. A family member needed help last week, so Claudia and I were out of town Thursday through late Monday.

Now I'm trying to dig my way out of 300+ emails and a newspaper editorial section that must be fed, so Carnival of Cars has had to take a temporary back seat. A long-scheduled and much needed motorcycle weekend starts this Friday, so it will be next week before I get the Carnival going again.

In the meantime, keep the submissions coming, your efforts will not be for naught. And thanks for the expressions of concern and promises of prayers. All are most appreciated.

Oh and one more thing - the "probation revoked" remark was a joke. No, really, it was! :-)

Is This Your Next Honda?

2006-07-27T17:11:00.000-04:00

Kevin at Westpundit says this is "the Honda Civic of the air." I don't know about that, but Connors has more details and a link to HondaJet specs. Go here. Or should I say "fly here" instead?

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, July 21, 2006

2006-07-22T09:45:00.000-04:00

Quick, who said this?

"I will go on record right now by saying that the resurrection of the MG brand by the Nanjing Automotive Group will be the new quintessential definition of notgonnahappen.com. And I'll throw a "not now" and a "not ever" in for good measure just to be clear."

Speaking as a native Okie, I can assure the Chinese that only two things really count in Oklahoma - beating OU if you are an OSU graduate and beating UT if you are an OU graduate. Not much room in there for MG. (There used to be a third - awl - but that's pretty much pumped out).

The Chinese might want to have a quiet conversation with GM about the reliability of promises by the Oklahoma legislature when the decision was made to build the Oklahoma City plant. The state has long voted GOP nationally but the Dems still pretty much run things at the state and local level.

Oh, right. It was, of course, Peter DeLorenzo, ranting about how the auto industry has just gone stark raving bonkers this past week. Go here at Auto Extremist.

And we have much more to talk about, so let's put this thang in gear and git'er goin'!

Erica thought she wanted a Prius. Then she encountered the Acura TSX. AskPatty has the rest of this story, which also has a moral.

And if you are in a situation like Erica was - i.e. getting a new vehicle - Chuck at Car Buying Tips says make the time to do it right. It will save money and mental energy. Chuck has other things to worry about, too, like how to explain the $3,000 price difference between the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia when they are sitting on the same dealer lot.

Brian at Racedriven.com headed north to Loudoun last Saturday and hoped to see a great modified race that evening. It was a great race till the very end when the yellow came out unexpectedly. Is it just my imagination or does this kind of thing seem to be happening more often in racing these days?

Speaking of Loudoun, over at 8racingfan.com blog at Fox Sports, folks wonder why they were directed to parking spaces by a raft of track workers before the race, but not one track worker was to be found directing traffic after the race.

It's time for a new car and TG Tran at 9Development is thinking Mazda Miata - ok, MX-5 - with a hard top. As for me, I wonder what the MX-6 would be like now if it had been kept in production and development.

Before making a final decision, Tran, you might want to check out The Garage Blog's review of a rather special RX-8, with lots of Mazdaspeed stuff. I didn't care for the RX-8's looks but when I drove the thing for a week, I rather liked the way it moves.

Is Forbes.com just beating up on the U.S. auto industry or do the editors there have a point about the worst products from Detroit? Autoblog would like to know. Go here.

Carpundit explains the catch behind one of Chrysler's latest marketing incentives . Dr. Z should be ashamed.

Cripes! Did you know you get worse mileage on ethanol than with gasoline? Cars! Cars! Cars! has the criping facts.

What do you say about a 640 horsepower Mini? Besides "how'd they do that?" Carscoop lays it out here. Here's a hint: It's got four motors. Bet you had no idea there was so much room in a Mini!

The District of Columbia and 13 states have variations on the tax-free weekend that politicians in those jurisdictions have used to make themselves look good with gullible tax-payers. Don't Mess With Taxes explains everything there is to know about these holidays. It's not immediately evident but there is a car connection in this story.

If you are going to be in Indy around Aug. 4., they have a fender-banger race there that weekend that might interest you. Fast Machines provides some interesting background on the Chevy Day at IMS in connection with the Brickyard 400.

There were 2,200 journalists from 37 nations covering LeMans this year. I'm not sure that qualifies the 24 Hour as THE big one of road racing - F1 probably gets the nod - but Ed Peper, Chevrolet's General Manager is justifiably proud of Corvette's fifth GT1 class win at LeMans. GM's Fastlane blog has Peper's view on the Detroit celebration of the win.

General Watch is not impressed with the combining of brands in single dealerships as is increasingly being done by GM and Chrysler. Here's why:

"You have a store that sells 1,000 Chryslers. Another sells 1,000 Dodges. A third sells 500 Jeeps. You put them together. What's the volume potential? Maybe 2,000 unit sales total. There is a limit to how many customers and vehicles one showroom can handle. Maybe this is the only way to save or promote these six lines at GM and Chrysler. But it seems like they are giving up on themselves. Every truly successful brand fights to get exclusive showrooms."

Responses?

Have you done your RIU yet? It stands for "Rev It Up!" and is Chevy's travelling road show pitting drivers of varying skill levels in an autocross-type competition. Yes, it's a little hokey but it's probably a lot of fun and GM's FYI Blog says somebody will win a Cobalt SS when all the brake dust has blown away.

It's blurry and grainy but Jalopnik has a spy shot of the 08 Ford Focus tooling around Dearborn. Looks like a Pixar cop car.

David Leggett says "electric and fun" sounds exactly right. Go here to Just-Auto.com to find out why.

It's a Tiguan. From VW. It's coming in 08. Left Lane News explains. Actually, I don't there is any way to explain giving a car a name that sounds like something you'd find under a rock in the desert.

Rick and Carlos aren't the only rumored new couple in the auto industry. Joe at MyFordDreams has some thoughts on Bill Jr. and Fill. You know, Fill-in-the-Blank.

The "Check Engine" light has been coming on for a month but your mechanic says it's nothing to worry about. My Honest Mechanic says maybe a new mechanic isn't all you need.

Hmmm. Paul Tan gives me reason to perhaps re-think my lack of enthusiasm for a car name that sounds like something you'd find under a rock in the desert.

Remember the Firestone-Explorer tire debacle? It's back as people who replaced their Firestones have problems and discover they forgot to also replace the spare. Straightline has more.

"Zero Shift" isn't an automatic tranny but it does eliminate a lot of tranny pieces. The Auto Prophet thinks it's cool.

Driving a truck or SUV is not a hopeless endeavour in an era of $3 per gallon gas. Joel at The Car Blog has nine suggestions for making the gallon go further.

Joanne at The Driving Woman says there are always recalls in force and it's always a good idea to check the listing to see if your vehicle is involved.

Mark Hasty separates the facts from the political obfuscation about E85 in an important post at The Truth About Cars. Farago's back, too.

Apparently it's true, Hyundai really does want to take Jaguar off Ford's hands. Makes sense, considering Dearborn hasn't been able to make any money on the marque in the 15 years since the purchase. Joe Sherlock sees a good deal for Hyundai at the right price. He also sees lots of important details in Jag's woes. Go here for The View Through the Windshield.

And that's the last word for this week.

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Three Bucks a Gallon and a Hyundai Accent Looks Pretty Good

2006-07-16T22:33:00.000-04:00

What can be said about an automobile that has about as much personality as a can opener? With petrol selling for three bucks a gallon, quite a bit, actually. So what about the Hyundai Accent?

By the normal standards of automotive criticism, the Accent is just another faceless, boring little econocar sought only by first-time buyers on a tight budget who view their daily driver as nothing more than a way to get from point A to point B.

But the normal standards don’t always apply, especially when you are dealing with the most expensive per-gallon fuel costs of the modern era, so the Accent bears special attention.

So let’s get the negatives out of the way first, beginning with the fact the Accent is not a performer. Its 1.6 liter 110 horsepower four cylinder just doesn’t have sufficient torque to make things happen except in a deliberate manner, particularly when it is hooked to the four-speed automatic transmission, as was my Dark Sapphire Blue tester.

The 12.40 second 0-60 mph time reflects the lack of power. Thus, driving the automatic transmissioned Accent requires being comfortable with life in the slow lane. Getting up significant grades always means a downshift or two and lots of noise as the little four does its best to keep things moving.

But there are a lot of good things here. The exterior styling is not exactly inspiring but it’s decent enough. And the interior is spacious for the econocar class and tastefully outfitted with an appealing two-tone color scheme. Instrumentation is straight forward and easy to use. An unexpected plus is the driver’s armrest – ala minivan practice – that comes in handy if your daily commute includes lots of bumper-to-bumper crawl.

Where the Accent shines is on the value side of the equation, thanks to the standard equipment list that includes six air bags, anti-lock brakes, tilt steering and rear-seat armrests. My loaded GLS tester came in at $14,870, which under prices a similarly equipped Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.

On the fuel economy side, my tester compiled a 27.5 mpg overall figure during its week in the test fleet. Considering the official EPA figures are 28 city and 36 highway, the 27.5 figure might seem like a let-down. But it’s not uncommon for actual mileage to vary by a noticeable amount from the official government figures, mainly due to the unrealistic driving cycle used by the EPA.

In any case, the Accent is pleasant enough, offers lots of room and versatility and never feels like a penalty box on wheels. It’s still an automotive appliance, but let’s not sneer at efficiency and value. At least not until the price of gas comes down.

Hyundai

Lexus Redefines IS With 250 AWD

2006-07-16T22:28:00.000-04:00

There has been talk around Lexus about challenging BMW for years but the product has been mostly oriented to luxury. Things are clearly changing with the redesign of the Toyota luxury channel’s IS series of sedans.

The IS series is the second portion of the Lexus lineup to be redesigned with much more emphasis on performance, with the GS series having been redone last year. The resulting vehicle is harder edged and distinctly more likely to appeal to the serious driver in search of a sports sedan deserving of the label.

My Mystic Gold Metallic tester was equipped with all-wheel-drive and Lexus’ six-speed paddle-shifting automatic hooked to the 2.5 liter V-6 behind the IS250 designation. The engine produces 204 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque.

Acceleration is good, but not stunning, showing a 7.07 second 0-60 mph time. The transmission does its thing with typical Toyota/Lexus efficiency, moving up and down the shift range smoothly and without drama.

By the way, no matter how hard I try, I still dislike paddle shifters. Yes, yes, they’re “just like F1,” they simply aren’t as enjoyable to use as a traditional manual shift with properly placed pedals.

Moving right along, the IS250’s full-time all-wheel-drive is essentially transparent in every respect except the added weight it brings, which is reflected somewhat in the straight-line performance.

Wet-road grip is superb, of course, and dry pavement cornering is crisp and utterly predictable, with soft understeer following quick turn-in. If you are getting the impression that the redesigned IS is much more rewarding to move down a twisting piece of macadam, you are absolutely right.

The interior is marked by highly legible gauging that is set-off with illuminated rings. There is also a flowing instrument panel that gives the IS250’s passenger cabin a bit of a modernistic atmosphere. The seating is quite comfortable but grips in the right places, at least on my average-sized frame.

Notable among the safety features of the new IS are what Lexus calls “Twin Chamber” advanced air bags that create an indentation in the middle that the automaker claims eases the shock of impact with the body.

Overall, the IS250 is a definite move up from the previous generation. Is it something to go Bimmer hunting with yet? Not the IS250, but I have a hunch the more powerful IS350 might be just the thing.

Lexus

Would This New Holden Commodore Sell in the States?

2006-07-16T22:21:00.000-04:00

I think so, but then there is the depressing experience of Pontiac in bringing over a Holden from Down Under as the basis of the soon-to-be-no-more GTO. Autoblog's John Neff has loads of details and a bunch of official photos of the redesigned Commodore.

Toyota Looking at Proposal to Link With GM

2006-07-15T18:53:00.000-04:00

That's the word this afternoon from Business Week, via Automotive News. Details are sketchy but predictable. When word spread through the world automotive industry that a Renault-Nissan-GM alliance might be in the works on some basis, wheels started turning in a bunch of executives' heads, including those at mighty Toyota.

An unnamed Toyota executive is quoted saying "Toyota has no interest in seeing an alliance like this [involving Renault, Nissan and GM] take place."

Makes sense because Toyota has its hands full with existing competition, so why sit idly by while the wily Carlos Ghosyn, who has already recusitated Nissan and created lots of headaches for Toyota in the process, gets a deal with GM?

Prediction: This is the opening round in a very high stakes bidding war that may or may not result in the salvation of the once-mighty GM. And it won't be long before similar bidding breaks out for a deal with Ford.

You heard it here first, friends and neighbors.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around The Auto Blog Block for Friday, July 14, 2006

2006-07-15T10:21:00.000-04:00

So Rick, Kirk and Carlos are going to give it a 90-day trial study to see if an alliance will work. Didn't Renault try to sell an Alliance to the U.S. once before? For three years? Should Rick Wagoner and the GM board remember this fact?

Well, whatever .... let's jump in our cyber rag top and head down the road for our weekly drive around the Auto Blog Block and see what we see, shall we?

Can you imagine life without owning a car? Probably not if you are a regular reader of this blog. Me neither, but Joe Kissell at Interesting Thing of the Day describes how he went from owning a vehicle and living in San Francisco to living there and depending upon a car sharing program. But what would he think if all the vehicles in the fleet were Renault Alliances?

Tony Stewart has a hearse. Not just any old hearse, though. Looks like it might have about 500 horses under the hood. You know, just in case Smoke is in a hurry to get planted. Oh, and don't miss the Chrysler SRT8 rag top that Brian at Racedriven.com also found.

Somehow, it puzzles me that a race car driver would want to be anywhere near a hearse ....

Chuck at Car Buying Tips explains it all, including the latest Chrysler promos here, donating your car to a good cause for a tax credit here, how to avoid swirls in your dark colored car's paint here and the agony of cartradeitis, a condition that can wreak havoc with your credit rating if you aren't careful here. Betcha didn't know that, did you?

Uh oh, AskPatty was interviewed by Robert Farago, who apparently started the conversation by explaining why he doesn't believe there is such a thing as a female automotive perspective. I don't know about that, but I guarantee you they drive totally different kinds of cars on Mars and Venus!

The IRS giveth to its own employees, and the IRS taketh away from its own employees, too! Don't Mess With Taxes has the scoop on how the Tax Man treateth his own serfs, er, employees who take advantage of the cash incentive to buy a hybrd.

The Tax Man better watch it, that kind of stuff could spark a real green revolution!

Want to see the ultimate chick car? 9D's TG will show ya here. You can see TG's chick car there, too. Hint: It's got a roll bar.

Man, I hope Danica doesn't try to go NASCAR racin' cauz open wheelers need her and Marco. Course, it would help if she could win a race real soon. You know Marco will, probably before the season is over, too.

OK, I'll shut up on that angle, but it's 9D's fault for getting me started.

You say you've never heard of the Hyanide Snow Bike? The Garage Blog will tell you all about it. Hey, it's an investment opportunity. Don't these Germans have real day jobs?

Now, moving right along ....

Lots of shots from the Nurburing 24 Hour at Top Speed.

The Car Connection has everything you can possibly know - for now - about the all-new GMC Acadia cross-over. Is it just me or does the Acadia really look like a cross of a Ford Freestyle and a Chevy Tahoe?

Am I not supposed to ask things like that?

Joe Sherlock takes apart Autoweek's Kevin Wilson on the "unintended consequences" of creation of the interstates - a PC paean about the decline of rail and public transit passenger traffic - in this week's best installment of The View Through the Windshield. Way to go, Joe!

We don't need no stinkin' ----------------. Johnny Lieberman at The Truth About Cars wants to know how you would fill in that blank. Send the Mad Man - Farago - a get-well note, too.

Lots of interesting details at The Driving Woman about Ford's new program to develop a winning female driver for NASCAR.

Joel at The Car Blog explains why he finds peace of mind in extended warranties. It's a demographic/sociological sort of thing.

That is one incredible artillery shot at The Auto Prophet.

Time will tell if it's good news or just another bad Italian joke but Straight Line reports authoritatively that Alfa will be selling three models in the U.S. in 2009.

Those who are into frequently changing wall paper and the latest body styling exercise for Mercedes Benz should head straight over to Serious Wheels. I'll bet "AMG" translates to English as "Vee haf show und go."

Maybe I'm not supposed to say things like that! Bet Farago would!! He's like Mikey, he'll say anything!!!

Would somebody please get me back on the topic?

Thanks.

Sounds like another Fish carb to me, but Qt Auto News says it is possible to make your car pay you. It's from Auto News.

Could this be Rick Wagoner's secret strategy to counter Carlos Ghosyn? Paul Tan reports on some corporate sneaky-sneak involving DRB-HICOM. I know, you've never heard of it, but that's the whole point.

Austin Davis at My Honest Mechanic lays out the case for the Ford Escape Hybrid in four succinct paragraphs. I'll bet Billy Ford himself couldn't do that!

MyFordDreams2 points out some, uh, problems with Bloomberg.com reporting on Ford's current ills and its need for outside help. What's even more interesting about this post, however, is the lengthy case Big Ford Fan makes for salvation being just around the corner, if only American consumers will give Ford of Europe products a serious look.

So who made this pithy observation?

"Anyone watching Kerkorian buy GM shares had to know that he wasn't investing because he wanted a discount on his next Cadillac."

Why, none other than Motor Alley's David Wassmann. He has more to say on the topic, too.

Looks like its curtains for the Lexus LX, according to Left Lane News.

Just-Auto.com's David Leggett remembers that British Leyland actually did fairly well here in the states with the MGB until they goofed it up by raising ride height to satisfy U.S. bumper requirements. So can MG make a comback here now? Leggett explains it all here.

If Jalopnik is right that Wagoner took Ghosyn to dinner at the only place the market-share strapped GM head could afford - the RenCen Food Court - things really are bad at the General. Jalopnik offers thoughts about other possibilities, however. On where the two ate, that is. An interesting new angle on the story, I'd say.

Hot Wheels Blog is talking Chickasaws, MGs and Okies. Bet you never thought you'd see those three words in the same sentence!

Just pointin' and shootin' is how Shouting Thomas spends his morning commute up in Joizey. You gotta check out his site, Harleys, Cars , Girls and Guitars. It's very .... eeekleckteeec, as Ron "Tater Salad" White would say.

Take a minute at the GM FYI Blog and check out the Photo of the Day post. Look for the powerline shot. Is that awesome or what?! Oh yeah, who knows the make and model of the car? I'd say about a 47 Pontiac, but not real confident of that answer.

General Watch likes this on the Kirk and Rick and Carlos Show.

Things may start getting much more interesting at the Peoples' Car company, according to Gear6. Dr. Porsche is no doubt grinning from ear to ear as he looks on from auto heaven. If there is such a place, that is.

Lutz has some candid comments for long-time GM loyalist Dan Cadigan. If Fastlane Blog featured more such candor from Lutz and other GM executives, I'll bet lots of good things would follow. How about you?

You knew this was coming the instant Juan Pablo uttered the word "NASCAR." Fast Machines reports reaction of McLaren's Ron Dennis to the fender racing future being planned by the Columbian.

Carscoop has the full text of the joint statement from Rick and Carlos.

Those who want to know what is really going on inside Ford these days will immediately go to Cars! Cars! Cars! for this scoop.

What do over-priced popcorn and pretzel bites have to do with selling Dodge Calibers? John Neff at Autoblog offers some thoughts.

The bloom may be off the rose for alternative fuel vehicles and hybrids, at least according to the first installment of Auto Extremist's milestone survey of 1,200 industry types and enthusiasts. This is important, folks.

Alternative Fuel Universe links to Sen. Joe Lieberman's New York Post piece on energy issues and offers a lengthy rant of his own on the topic.

Freedom of Speech is wonderful, isn't it! That's it for this week, folks, we have arrived back home. See ya next week.

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Speed Limits Up, Highway Carnage Down, Hillary Says Restore 55 MPH to Save Fuel

2006-07-08T09:10:00.000-04:00

Remember the Double Nickel? Remember how the highways and byways of America would become red rivers of blood if ever the speed limits were raised? So what happened? The Wall Street Journal offers a history lesson:

"This may seem non-controversial now, but at the time the debate was shrill and filled with predictions of doom. Ralph Nader claimed that 'history will never forgive Congress for this assault on the sanctity of human life.' Judith Stone, president of the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, predicted to Katie Couric on NBC's 'Today Show' that there would be '6,400 added highway fatalities a year and millions of more injuries.' Federico Pena, the Clinton Administration's Secretary of Transportation, declared: 'Allowing speed limits to rise above 55 simply means that more Americans will die and be injured on our highways.'"

So what really occurred when Congress repealed the Double Nickel?

"We now have 10 years of evidence proving that the only 'assault' was on the sanctity of the truth. The nearby table shows that the death, injury and crash rates have fallen sharply since 1995. Per mile traveled, there were about 5,000 fewer deaths and almost one million fewer injuries in 2005 than in the mid-1990s. This is all the more remarkable given that a dozen years ago Americans lacked today's distraction of driving while also talking on their cell phones.

"Of the 31 states that have raised their speed limits to more than 70 mph, 29 saw a decline in the death and injury rate and only two - the Dakotas - have seen fatalities increase. Two studies, by the National Motorists Association and by the Cato Institute, have compared crash data in states that raised their speed limits with those that didn't and found no increase in deaths in the higher speed states."

But, being ever so resistant to facts, the Nanny Staters have already changed tactics and called for restoring the Double Nickel as a "fuel-saving measure." They never give up, folks.

HT: Instapundit

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, July 7, 2006

2006-07-07T07:19:00.000-04:00

Is Kirk or Carlos the man of the week in the automotive world this week? I dunno, but let's hit the road and see if we can find out on our weekly tour of the automotive blogs:

Lots of car insurance advertising in the media these days, but there actually a number of ways to save on this expense. Don't Mess With Taxes has a first installment of what is promised to be a useful collection of such tips. And speaking of auto insurance, Chuck at Car Buying Tips has a list of the 10 cheapest models to insure.

Did you know Toyota is raising prices on its U.S. products in an effort to sell fewer cars and trucks and thereby help GM and Ford? The Business of America is Business has some challenging thoughts on this little-noticed development in international and corporate diplomacy.

Automatic trannies for bicycles? Believe it or not, there is such a thing. Interesting Thing of the Day has the rest of the story.

In case you are wondering how much you could be saving on a particular Chrysler product as a result of the latest employee pricing promotion, Kicking Tires has done the heavy work for you and has a list for each model.

The Garage Blog is starting a new series on how to get good service for you car.

Is Smoke gonna smoke'em all this summer? Brian at Racedriven.com wants to know.

Do you want a Jeep? I Want a Jeep did and now the deal is done.

Frankly, I don't and never have because - compared to, oh, racing an open-wheeler in the rain at 150 mph - off-roading strikes me as one of the all-time most boring activities under the automotive sun. But whatever floats your boat, as they say.

Chuck at Car Buying Tips rather likes the prototype Honda Civic, but he wishes GM had taken a more retro approach to the soon-to-be-no-more GTO, like Chrysler did with the new Challenger.

Now, moving right along ...

Can you guess who said this?

"Make no mistake - this isn't about creating a new global automotive powerhouse well-equipped to do battle deep into this century, one that will keep Toyota from taking over the world. And this certainly isn't about doing what's best for General Motors and the people who have so much invested in the fortunes of the company.

"And this in no way, shape or form has anything to do with solidifying America's manufacturing base or shoring up the economy. No, this is about flat-out greed, pure and simple. "

If you said Peter DeLorenzo at Auto Extremist, you are exactly right. Go read the rest of his pungent observations about Kerkorian, GM, Ghosyn, et. al.

Autoblog has some fresh evidence of a Lacrosse Super headed to market.

Can you name that car? Carpundit has the answer.

Cars! Cars! Cars! thinks maybe it's time for Mr. Ford to admit he got it wrong on hybrids.

Looking for a very fast internship? Fast Machines notes that Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianpolis have agreed with the IRL's Panther Racing to accept interns for work with the team's Infiniti Pro Series entry in 2007.

GM's FastLane Blog has a link to a superb video documenting the Corvette team's successful campaign to win the LeMans 24 Hour GT1 class this year. Mr. Duntov would love it, I am certain.

They're killing snakes over at General Watch.

OK, what year Olds is that in the Yell Ow photo album featured at GM's FYI Blog? I think it's a 56, but ....

How much does Grant's Auto Rants like the Lotus Elise? Well, judge for yourself:

"The Lotus is so successful and narrow-minded in its task that many amenities are deemed superfluous and left out of the equation altogether."

Actually, Grant had much, much more to say and it's worth reading.

Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars is serving "rolling cheesecake." Definitely the wildest Gold Wing I've ever seen.

You are there! At Lime Rock for the ALMS race!! Well, actually, Jalopnik was there.

Can it be true that GM's board is actually going to consider Tracinda's suggestion? Left Lane News says it is.

MyFordDreams2 links to Auto Express's review of a diesel edition of the Mazda3 and wonders why the UK pub says the Ford Focus sold over there is a sharper handler than the Zoom-Zoom smoker.

My Honest Mechanic - the inimitable Austin Davis - has some excellent tips on car wax and polish.

There's going to be a new Lexus sports car bowing for 2009, says Straightline, which offers details and an artist sketch.

They are walking the walk, literally, over at The Driving Women. Makes me tired just reading about it. Why can't we just jump in a big ol SUV and drive?

Folks, I've been writing automotive reviews since 1985, but I've yet to pen a graph like this:

"If you’ve never sampled a Cayman S (or a Boxster S), here’s what happens. You start off thinking it’s far too easy to drive for a “real” sports car. The suspension is good enough for government work. All the controls are weighted for delicacy and precision, rather than heft. The helm turns a tad too quickly. Clutch action is lighter than a pedal-operated trash can, while the biting point is stubbornly elusive (it works like a slide trombone rather than a trumpet). Taken as a whole, the Cayman S feels like an adrenalin-crazed hunting dog, bouncing on its toes, waiting for that blissful moment when it can live up to its genetic imperative."

Regular readers (and seekers) of The Truth About Cars instantly recognized that as the work of Robert Farago. Words are things of beauty in the hands of a master. Kind of like the perfect double-clutched heel-and-toe.

Hyundai sales are outpacing Mazda for the first six months of 2006. That's according to calculations by Joe Sherlock at The View Through the Windshield who applied a bit of the statistical analysis expertise he employed in a different industry. Hyundai outselling Mazda isn't the only thing he found that might interest you.

Is the racing success gene heritable? Louis Albornoz at Top Speed offers some thoughts, some of which are, shall we say, gingerly put.

Can it be, we have reached the end of the road for this week? There's always next week.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, June 30, 2006

2006-06-30T23:20:00.000-04:00

Are they throwing snow balls in Hades yet? Surely they must be because The General's board of directors is apparently meeting as this is being written to consider a proposal to join forces with Renault/Nissan. Unbelievable.

Well, let's go see what else has happened around the auto blog block this week, shall we?

Oh yes, Marcus the Perfect Son and Morgan his Perfect Wife took me to Richmond last weekend for the IRL race and it was a great night, despite the constant threat of rain. The heavens held off - answered prayer, that! Hornish drove away from the field until my man Vitor Meira almost caught him at the end. Darn yellow flag!

Okay, as I was saying ...

Bulging profits are good. Bulging circulation is good. Bulging tires on a Three Series Bimmer aren't good. That's the problem Inside Line encountered with its long-term 330i. A 30-minute pit stop at Strokes Tire Pros did the trick but I wonder if it left a negative bulge in the editorial budget.

Tissues are supposed to be disposable. So are soda cans. Chevy Cobalts are not. Erin at The Driving Woman just can't past the feeling she got from the long-term Cobalt she drove this week:

"The driver seat creaks like a 50-year-old armchair. The sunroof has fallen out of its track and, until we visit the dealer, can't be closed (good thing it's the dry season here in California). The rear door seals are bad so there's a ton of wind noise from the back when you take it on the highway..."

There was more, but you get the drift.

It wasn't all bad news for the Bow Tie Boys in the Edmunds galaxy this week, however, as Karl on Cars was rather impressed with the 07 Avalanche: "It drives like a much smaller vehicle (something I've been praising about Toyota's and Honda's SUVs for years)."

Do you become cautious or suspicious and slow down when approaching an intersection with stop signs or any other official indicators? The folks who like the idea of "Living Streets" think you will, at least according to Interesting Thing of the Day.

Count me among the skeptics.

You may have to go see the 1976 cinema classic "Baby Blue Marine" to really grasp what he's saying, but Jack Yoest has seven rules for effective military recruiting. No, it really doesn't have much to do with cars, but he's got a shot of a real Hummer in it so we'll let it slide this time. Besides, he's right on with the seven rules.

Did you know OnStar has a 92 percent renewal rate? That's according to Car Buying Tips' Chuck Russell. Chuck also recommends in the strongest possible terms putting as much cash down on your next new car purchase as possible. And Chuck says check your credit every six months so you will know what interest rate you are likely to pay. I'll bet somebody out there will disagree with that last suggestion.

Then there's the Scuderi Group's Split Cycle Engine. They say they just got a bunch of patents for it in a lengthy list of big countries, including the states.

I'm feeling skeptical here ...

It's not too late for Ford buyers to take full advantage of the new federal tax credit for buying an alternative fuel vehicle. Don't Mess With Taxes says there is a penalty for success, however, noting that the clock is already ticking for Toyota. Why? Because "once a manufacturer sells 60,000 of its credit-eligible vehicles, a phase-out clock starts ticking. That means that popular hybrid models will likely be less tax beneficial."

Leave it the Washington politicians and bureaucrats to find a way to discourage the very thing they are trying to encourage.

If, like me, you couldn't make it north of the border to take in the Canadian Grand Prix, Carpundit was there with a camera and has some great shots. Speaking of F1, Brian at Racedriven.com is getting saddled up for the USGP. Oh, there's a highlight reel from last weekend's racing action, too.

A Lancia Lament from 9Development.

Must be real slow over at The Garage Blog because they're talkin' about borin' stuff. You know like the Top 10 European Cars in which to engage intimately with a special individual. How about somethin' really neat like the Top 10 Racin' Movies Ever Made About Dale.

I'm not sure what to say about this from Ask Patty. Can somebody give me a hand here, please?

Alex at Autoblog says they're getting "frisky" over in the engineering department at Nissan UK. They've got a special 350Z GT-S. Very fast. Very, very fast. I like it already.

Okay, that's it for this week. Let's go find out what the GM board decided to tell Carlos Ghosyn!

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, June 23, 2006

2006-06-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

There are murmurs in Detroit this week about what the Big Three will do if President Bush won't go along with dmeands for more federal subsidies for the industry. But what about the products, you know, the cars? That's the question that opens this week's Carnival of Cars so why don't we head out on the cyber road, shall we!

BTW, before we get too far, my perfect son Marcus gave me tickets to the IRL's SunTrust Indy Challenge Presented by XM SAtellite Radio race at Richmond tomorrow night, but now the weather forecast is not looking good. Pray for sun and clear skies, please! And thanks!!

Oh, and one more thing: Iowahawk normally spins some of the world's funniest political satire, but something got into him recently and he has posted this wonderful meditation on the beauty and enduring historical significance of the 32 Ford. It's called "Vive Le Deuce" and it is well worth reading.

Okay, off we go ...

The Auto Prophet took a look at the new Chrysler Sebring and came away wondering if somebody hit the Chrysler design studio with an ugly stick.

Remember the old TV show "Route 66" and its automotive star, the Corvette? Jack Yoest does and he explains the connection with the new Disney movie, "Cars."

Interesting Thing of the Day has a look at Personal Flying Machines.

Corndog's Flex-Fuel Chevy wonders about the wisdom of the government subsidizing Amtrak passenger rail service at the same time it approves measures designed to make rail's chief competitor, the private passenger car, even cheaper and more efficient.

Debt Free has lots of important information needed to make a wise decision about whether to donate an old car to a charity.

Chuck at Car Buying Tips says you have to look beyond the numbers in order to really now if you are being offered a good deal for you or for the dealer. And Chuck explains trade-in allowances here.

Audi dominated the LeMans 24 Hour with its turbo diesel-powered R10 last week, so is it time for all race sanctioning bodies to start converting their series' to alternative fuels? Brian at Racedriven.com says yes.

Over at The Garage, GAry says it's "just unfreakin' believeable" that former F1 world champion and Indy 500 winner Jacque Villeneuve has recorded a single on Myspace.

Now, moving right along ....

MORE TO COME LATER TODAY

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, June 16, 2006

2006-06-17T05:41:00.000-04:00

Now this was an interesting week! Not least because George Soros - billionaire investor and financier of multiple forms of left-wing political activism - is dickering with Malcolm Bricklin over a $200 million investment in a joint venture to bring China's Chery vehicles to the U.S. Think of the cheesy advertising slogans made possible by this development if Soros does an Iaccoca and appears in Chery ads himself!

Anyway, let's head out and see what else we find in our weekly drive around the auto blogs, shall we?

A first-time entry this week from 9D, which has a shot of the fresh-air Scion C that Toyota should waste no time in offering. Wouldn't surprise me a bit to see such a C on the streets soon.

Chuck at Car Buying Tips has a graph on how to know when it's time to buy new tires. Mr. Lincoln makes the expected appearance in this one. Chuck also has a shot of the new Silverado, which looks rather cool in dark red.

You know that Denny Hamlin got his first NASCAR Nextel win last weekend at Pocono, but did you also know that he spent a lot of time on a virtual Pocono beforehand? Brian at Racedriven.com has the details. Looks like "seat-time" is about to get a whole new meaning!

Gary at The Garage has photos and commentary on the opening of the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame. Lots of fascinating stuff there, including a Frisbee Can-Am car (I wonder if it ever flew?), Scott Goodyear's mount in the closest-ever finish at Indy (with "Little Al" Unser) and much else.

And, moving right along ...

Peter DeLorenzo at Auto Extremist offers some thoughts on the emerging crisis in Auburn Hills and notes that:

"Chrysler has been living on borrowed time ever since Dieter Zetsche's departure to run the whole shebang back at headquarters in Germany. Up until that point, Chrysler was the 'darling' of the media, the Detroit-based automaker that loved to tout that it was smarter than their cross-town rivals - too smart to get caught up in the downward spiral that was paralyzing the fortunes of Ford and GM.

"And they loved to flaunt their smug swagger every chance they got, too, reveling in the fact that their 'That thing gotta Hemi?' campaign had become part of the country's lexicon and that their 300C was the poster child of why they were better than the folks down at 'The Tubes' and over in Dearborn. My, how things have changed."

Indeed they have. What will DCX do now that too many of those thangs with Hemis are sitting unsold on dealer lots? Firing some of the managers isn't likely to get at the real problems, according to DeLorenzo. Peter isn't optimistic that DCX will figure it out, either.

Over at Auto Muse, E.L. Eversman takes a look at a suit that has been filed on the Left Coast alleging that Drive Time has been giving an insurance company privilege info about customers in order to help sell insurance. Keep an eye on this one as it just might be the tip of an ugly iceberg.

Auto Spectator has Alfa's news release and a bunch of photos of the new Spyder.

Autoblog's newest contributor is Carnival of Cars contributor Alex Nunz and he's got the scoop on Peugeot's WMD for the Goodwood Festival. Congratulations, Alex!

Carpundit explains why the death of State Trooper Paul Barry was a scandal and how you can help his wife and seven kids, all under the age of 11, now that he is gone.

They've got a new way of looking at the Big Blue Oval at Cars! Cars! Cars!. Somehow, I doubt that Billy is gonna like this.

Did you know Honda makes a stretched version of the Civic? CARSCOOP has the details on this Japan-only product.

Consumers Hero says Rocketsports is adding veteran German driver Klaus Graf to its Jaguar Trans-Am team. Anybody else out there remember Klaus Ludwig?

Sunday is Father's Day and Don't Mess With Taxes has a delightful meditation on different kinds of dads. No, it's not about wheels, but it is a wonderful read nevertheless and you will be glad you did.

My Dad passed away a dozen years ago and I still miss him because one of the things he gave me was a love for cars and racing. He loved Indy, which was kind of unusual since he grew up in East Texas during the Depression and there wasn't a whole lot of racin' there in those days. From some of the stories he told of how his Dad reacted when he saw the side skuffs on the family's old Ford, I am sure Dad was doing his best to make up for the paucity of competition! Happy Father's Day.

Speaking of Dads and sons, Friday was my birthday and guess what my Marcus gave me - tickets to the Indy car race at Richmond next weekend! He is the perfect son!!

More on Dad's Day at GM's FYI Blog, including an interesting shot with a 55 Chevy Bel Air in the background. My Dad's first new car was a black-and-white 55 with the 265 V-8 and a three-speed overdrive tranny. We put nearly 250,000 miles on that wonderful car over the years. To this day, it remains my favorite.

More on Indy cars at Fast Machines, which takes a look at the emerging "middle class" of the IRL, including my favorite dark horse, Vitor Meira.

GM's Steven Harris lands another haymaker to Tom Friedman's glass jaw (i.e. the facts). The GM Fastlane post also links to a great Josh Hendrickson piece at Tech Central Station that points out a bunch of stuff The New York Times columnist somehow forgot to mention in his latest anti-General tirade.

Gear6 wonders about those continued reports of a return of the Z8.

And Jim Dollinger at General Watch says the clock is still ticking away for Rick Wagoner at you-know-where.

Grant's Auto Rants has the best thing I've seen anywhere on the world's cabs, starting with those Holmesian monuments produced by LT1 Vehicles in Coventry, which is now in the cab export business. Does your town have one yet?

Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars says he will put on the suit and tie one more time. I hear ya, buddy!

There's a new Mini coming for 2007 and Jalopnik is on the story.

Dave Leggett of Just-Auto.com explains that diesels just aren't that big in Japan.

More GM travails at Left Lane News - this time it's a report about production plans, or the lack thereof, for the new Tahoe/Envoy.

Smart man, that David Wassman. He explains why it wasn't W, it wasn't the car companies and it wasn't Big Oil that "killed" the electric car. Go to MotorAlley to find out who was the real villain.

MyFordDreams2 sees reason for optimism for Lincoln in a Chicago business publication, while over at the opposite end of the automotive spectrum (to say nothing of being on the other side of the globe!), Paul Tan is looking at the new Proton Satria Neo.

No, Carver One is not a new steak knife. It's the world's first tilting three-wheeler, at least according to Serious Wheels. Why do people make these things????

You just think your Hemi puts all its power on the asphault. Straightline straightens you out on that one.

The Auto Prophet has a great Mazda spot from the other side of the Pond. See if you can figure out how she does it before watching the spot.

Joel at The Car Blog is just a little teed off with some of the media commentary on Ford's travails.

Is your vehicle "ideal," as in the AutoPacific ratings? The Driving Woman offers some observations and information about the winners and losers.

The Truth About Cars' Bryan Myrkle has some great memories of a long day spent on a cold garage floor trying to get a Jetta back together. Amazing what a little shut-eye can do for the ole mechanical grey matter!

If you can tear your eyeballs off the opening shot of the car wash, Joe Sherlock at The View Through the Windshield will tell you what he thought of Cars!.

Doesn't look like much is changing for 2007 with Honda's Element, at least according to the shots in The Car Connection.

And finally, Top Speed addresses the heartbreak of Driving Phobia.

That's it for this week's drive around the auto blog block folks. See you next week.

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Can Ford's Fusion Compete with Accord, Camry?

2006-06-14T18:46:00.000-04:00

Make no mistake about it - Ford’s future quite likely depends to a great extent upon the success or failure of the Fusion, Dearborn’s latest entry in the mid-size family car contest that Honda and Toyota have dominated for a decade. Can the Fusion beat the Japanese?

Well, let’s end the suspense on that question right off the bat. On the sales side, there is no contest. Ford sold just fewer than 30,000 Fusions during the first quarter of 2006, compared to nearly 77,000 Accords and almost 94,000 Camrys. Even Hyundai sold more of its reconfigured Sonata at nearly 43,000 for the quarter.

But the sales numbers don’t begin to tell the whole story here. The Camry and Accord have been the top dogs for so long; they have legions of repeat buyers. Yes, like Ford and Chevy used to have. By contrast, the Fusion is the new kid on the block, so lots of prospective buyers haven’t yet taken a look.

Here’s my take: The Fusion is very, very competitive and could be the new top dog with some refinement under the hood and improved visible assembly and finish quality. Two things could keep that from happening – lack of refinement under the hood and the need for more visible, tangible quality feel.

Exterior styling is crisp and attractive, especially in the black that Ford thinks best shows off the Fusion’s lines. The new Ford trademark front grille may not wear so well five years down the road, but there is a distinctly Euro element in the Fusion’s appearance that should help it.

Ride and handling are more responsive and communicative than one expects in a family sedan, but again it’s more of a European tautness than an Accord-like friskiness. The difference here is probably a product of the too weak powerplant under the hood. Mazda6 owners driving the Fusion will quickly recognize a familiar mount because the two share platforms.

The optional 3.0 liter 221 horsepower V-6 is adequate, especially coupled with Ford’s six-speed automatic transmission. But the 8.18 second 0-60 mph time for the Fusion pales in comparison to the Accord V-6’s sub-seven second time. The Camry V-6 is quicker as well.

The Fusion’s interior is impressively simple and soft for the most part, with a very European tone. But there are some kinks, including oddly located environmental controls and a turn signal stalk that looked like it had been misplaced.

Give the Fusion more power and tighten up the fit and finish. Keep the Euro looks and handling and the high-value pricing that put my loaded tester at $25,650. The Fusion can be a Ford home run, but it’s not guaranteed.

Auto News
Automotive
Cars
Ford
Toyota
HONDA
Camry
Accord
Fusion

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, June 9, 2006

2006-06-08T23:18:00.000-04:00

It was the week the world first learned of IED - no, not "Improvised Explosive Device" but "Intermittent Explosive Disorder." Better known as Road Rage. What a coincidence - the PC shrinks come up with a new label that makes Left Lane Bandits victims of automotive terrorism. You think one of our Carnival of Cars entries this week might have something to say about that? Let's find out, shall we?

Is there more to those "free gas" incentives from Ford and GM than meets the pocketbook? Karl on Cars thinks there may indeed be more- well, actually less - and it isn't the buyer getting the benefit.

Jack Yoest has some pretty tall claims about his previous employment and driving record.

Need some tips on buying car insurance. Chuck at Car Buying Tips has some links.

Ask Patty is "a safe place for women to get advice on car purchases, maintenance and other automotive-related topics."

"If I could, would you?" is a good question to remember next time you are in the market for a new vehicle, according to Debt-Free.

Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars ran into T-Rex over Joissey. At least it's got a roll bar, "so it's not entirely a suicide machine," he says.

Toyota redesigned its RAV4 this year, so you know a new CR-V can't be far behind and sure enough Straight Line has some spy shots.

Karl on Cars just spent some time driving the 2006.5 Kia Optima and came away thinking Honda Accord: "There's a weightiness to the dials/switches and a richness to the textures and surfaces that some other car companies (cough-GM-cough) could learn from." Sounds like an impressive impression to me!

How can driving a Bimmer be akin to stepping into a quiet coffee shop or reading a great book? Inside Line has the answer. If it's a Bimmer, though, the book is probably "Modern Times" by Paul Johnson.

The Driving Woman sees a new trend in compact SUV powerplants.

Over at Strategies for Smart Car Buyers, the tax status of hybrids gets the once-over, including some interesting quarterly stats: "The Quarterly Report of Qualified Vehicles for the AMVC for the quarter ending March 31, 2006, shows that Toyota (which owns Lexus) sold 41,779 qualifying vehicles to retail dealers, and Ford (which owns Mercury) sold 6,192 qualifying vehicles to retail dealers."

The Garage guys went to the Toronto premiere of "Cars" and was relieved to find lots of security, which was a relief because it meant "no misguided open wheel racing fan is going to blow up the screening of the biggest oval racing flick this side of Days of Dunder." Speaking as a former Formula Ford racer and lifetime F1/Indy car fan, I resemble that!

Chuck says don't be scared of the l-word.

There is a special run of 20-only deep, deep blue Ferrari Scagletti 612s. Alex at NoonzWheels has the details on a Japan-only deal.

Starling Hunter at The Business of America is Business is shall we say a bit skeptical of the ethanol buzz these days.

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Carnival of Cars
Cars
Automotive
Automobiles
Auto News

MORE TO COME!

What if a Car Review is Too Harsh? Or Uses the V-Word?

2006-06-04T15:58:00.000-04:00

Robert Farago of The Truth About Cars is having a little dispute with BMW over a Lexus review that was judged overly harsh and a Subaru review that observed a certain likeness in the Tribeca B9's grille and a woman's vagina.

BMW has opted to withdraw TTAC's access to BMW test cars. You can read the reaction among some automotive critics here.

Whatever one thinks of the propriety of comparing a vehicle's front end to a part of a woman's anatomy, the truth is the Tribeca's front end is strange looking, regardless how you choose to describe it. The first time I saw it, I was reminded of the Edsel's grille, which was also compared by folks in the industry if not in the 50s media to another female anatomical feature in the same region.

The fact BMW was willing to withdraw a reviewer's access to its test fleet because of an objection to a review as too harsh is more serious. It's not a First Amendment issue because the Constitution doesn't guarantee any of us in the car review business access to the manufacturers' test fleets.

But BMW's PR executives have created an entirely unnecessary credibility problem for themselves. Making access to test fleet vehicles dependent in some degree to the favorability of a reviewer's published comments suggests the company's PR types fear that without leverage of this kind somebody somewhere might say something negative about their products.

Not smart, not smart. Makes about as much sense as GM's decision last year to withdraw advertising from The Los Angeles Times to protest reviewer Dan Neil's comments about the Pontiac G6. All that decision accomplished was subjecting GM to a couple of weeks of withering criticism that invariably included analyses of the troubled giant's product deficiencies.

BMW is not GM, to be sure, but in an age in which the Internet puts everybody in contact with everybody in real time, there is no place for a defensive pr strategy that seeks to control or otherwise limit commentary about the product. It's an exercise in futility.

Especially when the critic involved is among the most talented writers in the automotive journalism galaxy and who is surely sufficiently resourceful to find alternative methods of accessing your firm's vehicles.

BMW
Auto News
Cars
Automobiles

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, June 2, 2006

2006-06-02T10:18:00.000-04:00

Wow! What a week it's been, as The New York Times' Thomas Friedman compares GM to a crack dealer and GM Fastlane responds with a devastating critique. Plus, Carnival of Cars received a raft of submissions for today, so let's lay some cyber rubber, shall we?

Jack Yoest wisely uses a recent mishap involving the family SUV to teach his son - aka "the Dude" - a useful skill and the satisfaction that comes with being able to fix something. Way to go, Jack!

Rude Awakening might be an apt title for Richtofen's description at Blind Chick Racing of his attempt to buy a new pickup (tow truck for a race car, maybe?) and what he discovered about the reasons for the paucity of F-150s, Silverados and Tundras with V-8s and sticks. The Nanny State is everywhere.

Whither the benighted GTO? Thus wonders Chuck Russell at Car Buying Tips. No, this one, not this one.

A pox on the return of the Double Nickel, proclaims Steve Faber's Opportunityaplenty's Debt blog.

Corndog's goin' all arty on us over at Corndog's Flex-Fuel Chevy News. Got a neat full-color diagrahm of how enthanol is produced, plus a detailed explanation of each step. Come on, you know you were just dying to get your hands on such a diagrahm!

Corndog also has something to say about Hillary's recently unveilled new national energy policy. It involves bananas.

Auto-Future cheers the prospect of Infiniti entering the European market, but worries about the future of PSA.

The Garage wants to know when street racing becomes a crime. It's an important question up in Ontario because the politicians and gendarmes are moving to make racing on the streets a criminal offense. Or I should say offence since its Canada. Sounds aboot right.

The Taxman Cometh .... with good news, according to Don't Mess With Taxes. The IRS now says the Honda Civic Hybrid gets the federal tax credit. DMWT has the breakdown of the numbers.

NoonzWheels likes that a European Focus ST was seen recently in Mexico, but cautions that such sightings don't always mean the spotted vehicle is coming to this market.

Is that anything like a spotted owl?

Was that a hoot of a pun or what?

Pleeze, somebody ... anybody .... stop me.

Speaking of neat hardware available overseas, Alex at NoonzWheels has word that Mitsubishi just dropped a Raliart edition of its Colt micro into the Japanese market.

Great news just arrived! Thermal depolymerization is right around the corner!! Read all about it at Interesting Thing of the Day. Trust me, it does have something to do with autos.

Now, moving right along ....

Top Speed has a great spread of photos of the new Three Series Bimmer, plus some astute commentary.

Those contemplating organizing a car show for any reason should read Joe Sherlock's suggestions for how to do it right at The View Through the Windshield.

Do you suffer from Excessive Horsepower Disorder? There is no cure, but there is hope for sufferers. The Truth About Cars' Sajeev Mehta has everything you need to know.

Gotta buy used this time? The Driving Woman has a new list of Best Bets.

Joel at The Car Blog explains why people will spend $100,000 or more for wheels. Funny, I thought it was because they lasted longer ...

An I-5 I can see, but a V-5? Sure, it's been done in motorcycling, but in cars? Straightline says China is preparing to export a Chery with a V-5. I think they are a piston short of a full load.

Paul Tan reports that Hyundai Getz Cross. It's a "soft-roader."

Want to know the 100 highest quality cars in Europe? MyFordDreams has the list from the U.K.

David Wassman at Motor Alley says Nissan "Gets It," but do you know the single dumbest measure of effective automotive ad buying? He does and he'll tell you if you call him on the number in his post.

Anybody else remember I think it was one of the Granatelli brothers talking about his bone-stock-looking Chevy Caprice with the mega-mega horsepower twin turbo big block under the hood and how much fun it was blowing off Testarossas? I didn't think so, but Jalopnik has the beans on a guy who did the same sort of thing but to a 91 Cressida.

My buddy Dale from Hot Wheels Blog spent some time in a rental Malibu back home in Oklahoma and reports on his impressions of this reborn Chevy classic. Maybe it should have stayed on Memory Lane, right, Dale?

Hummer manager Nick Richards tells all about Rod Hall and the Baja 1000 at GM's FYI Blog. I don't "get" off-road racing, but Hall sure does.

Did I menton something at the outset about The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman's ill-informed column about GM and a scathing rejoinder by Bob Lutz? Actually, if you go to Fastlane blog, you will find the scathing rejoinder by GM's Steven Harris. It is well worth a careful read, as is Friedman's column. Maybe now people like Harris have a better understanding of what those on the Right have been saying about the mainstream media for a long time.

And finally, Peter DeLorenzo and the Auto Extremist crew look back over seven delightfully demented years.

Don't forget!

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, May 26, 2006

2006-05-26T12:09:00.000-04:00

It's been 1975 all over again this week as Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, calls for a return of the hated 55 mph national speed limit - one of the all-time most stupid measures taken during the first energy crisis. Saved about a teacup of petrol but cost people billions of dollars in lost time and added travel frustration.

So, let's hit the road for this week's drive around the auto blog block and enjoy the open cyber road while we still can before our power-happy public servants in Washington, D.C. do more mischief.

Debtblog promises to try out all those gas-saving devices starting to appear on the late night cable tv commercials, thanks to $3 a gallon petrol. They aren't enthusiastic about hybrids, either.

Speaking of hybrids, I Want a Jeep discusses the choice between a hybrid version or a diesel and concludes the latter is easily the way to go, if only because it could conceivably run on french fry grease.

Not sure I believe it but The Garage Blog says its great to be young and Amish in Buffalo.

Sure, it looks like a Bimmer, but Straightline knows better - it's a mule of the coming Porsche Panamera testing at the Ring in Germany. Expect it as a 2009 model.

Some guys get to have all the fun, guys like Karl Brauer of Inside Line. He reports on his recent cross-country trek in an M6, which started at this great sausage stand in Wisconsin that happens also to have a race track attached to it.

Stay tuned to Inside Line because they just dropped off a Jeep for service and promise a full report when the vehicle is returned.

"But honey, this is a car that gets better gas mileage compared to our old Altima." Confused? Check out The Driving Woman. It's a new edition of the Cayman that has a nifty EPA rating. Anybody remember those "Sun Porsche" television sports for the 2.0 liter 914?

Over at Strategies for Smart Car Buyers, editor Philip May got to practice what he's been preaching for six years, with a result that a new Honda Fit sits in his driveway. And his wife likes it, too!

Now Honda claims to have invented Bio-Fabric. NoonzWheels has details. This will give new meaning to the phrase: "Nah, I didn't like it much when I first bought it but it's been growing on me."

Okay, that's the bad pun for this week. Aren't you glad I got it over so quickly!

Do you remember the significance of Dinoco to the story line of the original Toy Story? NoonzWheels has that one, too. And photos. Those pixars good ones, too!

Did I say that?

Nick at Punny Money has 10 reasons you should buy a Mini with your money.

Now, moving right along ...

At Auto Extremist, Ethanol Boy previews the Penske v Ganassi battle royal aka The Greatest Spectacle in Racing on this Memorial Day Weekend. My pick to win is Vitor Meira, who EB tabs as a strong dark horse. My second pick is Scott Dixon who, like Meira is due.

Here's another desirable scenario: Michael wins it and we all get to stop hearing about the family curse at the Brickyard.

Autoblog's Eric Bryant has four easy ways to make your buggy handle the turns better.

There's a note about a popcorn Saab for sale over at Carpundit.

Cars! Cars! Cars! says Ford ought to grow up, get rid of the "war rooms" and start making "kick-ass cars and trucks." Sounds about right to me, good buddy.

Betcha didn't know Toyota sells an Avensis in the UK. Carscoop has pictures and more from the official uveiling of a vehicle that looks a lot like an Avalon. Strictly coincidental, I'm sure.

Finally, the war is over! The Spanish-American War, that is. You just thought Teddy ended it with that epic charge of his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. We've been paying for that war ever since via a three percent federal telephone excise tax. Don't Mess With Taxes reports Uncle Sam has finally decided to stop collecting the tax and will even refund whatever we've paid for the past three years. We get to apply for the refund when we file our 2006 tax returns.

Right, the item above has nothing to do with cars. I just figured you could use some good news.

Allen Brewer at Fast Machines says the new tv trio of Scott Goodyear (who taught me how to threshold brake long, long ago at Summit Point), Rusty Wallace and Marty Reid brings back memories of the first guys on Monday Night Football.

There is another illustrious race right around the corner in June at that fancy-schmancy place A.J. won at once. Fastlane blog has a podcast up that explains how the Corvette team is ready to take another 24 Hour victory for the Bow Tie Brigade.

It won't be on the market for a while but you can see a great artist rendering of the upcoming Audi Q3 at Left Lane News.

The Rooskis get to build Beetles when VW finishes the plant Gear6 reports is now planned to open in late 2007.

The incomparable Robert Farago wonders why GM is paying a bankruptcy expert not to provide his bankruptcy expertise. Find out more at GM Death Watch. Here's just a sample:

"... The General has launched a guerilla war to stop people like us telling people like you that people like Wagoner are running the company into the ground. As revealed by The Detroit News, GM's so-called 'Arlington project' will deploy some 50 GM flacklings throughout 16 U.S. cities. It's part of what the News called 'attempts to secure favorable news coverage.'"

Robert is not impressed.

For those who wonder what life must be like for a "launch manager," Sonya Moore tells all at GM's FYI Blog.

Jalopnik says "I am Indy: Paddle Me Austin!" Interesting, very interesting.

Dave Leggett notes that the main guy behind Hyundai's rather remarkable surge in recent years is facing a long jail term. Go to Just-auto.com for more. One thing about the South Koreans - they play politics for higher stakes than we do here in the states.

Dave Wassmann says think again about those internet ads telling you dealers have too many of Toyota's high-demand Prius on their lots and you, too, can get a great deal. Remember what your daddy told you - if it's too good to be true, then odds are it isn't. See it all MotorAlley.

Jerry Flint is talking about Ford again, so naturally Joe at MyFordDreams2 can't resist the urge to respond.

If your 05 Kia Sedona makes funny noises when you hit a bump or make a right turn, Austin Davis at My Honest Mechanic has some info that will be of interest to you.

Brian at Racedriven.com has a solid roundup of previews of the major races this weekend, including Monaco. Can you believe they still run F1 there? I still think of Jim Garner's busted suspension in "Grand Prix" and the sight of the faux Jim Clark's vehicle hurtling into the marina every time somebody mentions Monaco.

Want to know what it's like to almost high-side at the Ring? Sure you do and The Auto Prophet has the clip. Note to the producers: It would be so much better w/o the crappy music that drowns out the real music indicated on the tach.

Joel at The Car Blog is snorting coffee again, thanks to the new Mercedes.

They're still making Lincoln LS V-8 Sports and The Truth About Cars has Sajeev Mehta's thoughts on that fact.

I don't know why either but ya gotta read The View Through the Windshield.

And finally, Julie from Harrisburg wants to know what is "drifting." Louis calls it "a specialized driving technique." Mark from Sykesville calls it "a waste of time and tires."

There I go having the last word again!

Don't forget! Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of cars using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Carnival of Cars
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Hillary Clinton Calls for Return of Double Nickel

2006-05-25T11:29:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe but true. The New York Post has the details. Note the backpeddling even within the graph announcing her new view. Expect more backpeddling to begin soon.

Poltics
Auto News
Hillary Clinton

Toyota Aims Yaris at U.S. Gas Crisis

2006-05-23T06:49:00.000-04:00

You ever get the feeling the Japanese automakers are really running the world? Decisions like introducing a vehicle to a new market require lead-time. Now Toyota unveils its previously Europe-only Yaris for the U.S. just as gas hits $3 a gallon.

Coincidence? Sure.

Originally introduced in Europe in 1999 and based on the same platform as the now discontinued Echo (which by the say proved that not even Toyota is perfect, thanks to its comic book styling), the second generation Yaris is a smartly styled little sedan that can also be had as a two-door hatchback.

The S sedan has a sophisticated look on the outside and combines it with a fairly spacious and attractive interior. The tires are way out at the corners and the integrated headlights and bumpers are complimented by neat little corner spoilers up front.

There are rocker panels on the sides, too. The greenhouse has an arched look to it and, thanks to the longest wheelbase among econocar entries, the Yaris S sedan actually looks a little bigger than it really is.

The interior continues the other Echo feature I disliked, the center-mounted instrument pod. This is not a good idea, Toyota. Other reviewers call it a distraction. I call it a dumb idea that probably sounded good when first proposed. It takes your eyes off the road too long, even after you’ve grown accustomed to its location.

Otherwise, there are comfortable seats front and back for four adults and the usual tight as a drum feeling one gets in a Toyota. Some of the interior materials remind you that the Yaris is priced as a bargain-basement entry, but even so, the passenger cabin is a pleasant place to be, not at all an econocar penalty box.

Performance is decent, thanks to the 106 horsepower 1.5 liter four cylinder under the hood. The Yaris can be had with either a five-speed stick or an optional four-speed automatic. My automatic tester showed a 9.0 second 0-60 mph time and a fuel economy rating of 34 mpg city and 39 mpg highway.

Toyota is determined to price the Yaris as competitively as possible in order to attract young buyers who will become lifetime customers (that’s the theory anyway). My loaded tester came in at $17,340, which seems a bit stiff. Expect most Yaris customers to be in the $15,000+ range.

Toyota
Hybrid
Yaris

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, May 19, 2006

2006-05-19T05:49:00.000-04:00

How does one know if one is living in an automotive golden age? This query has baffled experts for decades but what may well be the definitive answer has been found, which you will find here on the Autoblog site.

And with that important question answered, how about we fire up the cyber muscle car and head out for this week's Carnival of Cars drive around the auto blog block!

First, there is OK, I'm Not Really a Cowboy's comprehensive treatment of the alternative fuels alternatives. Ethanol and new-generation diesels get thumbs up, fuel cells and hydrogen don't. An excellent read all the way through.

Corndog's Flex Fuel Chevy News provides an illustration of free market consistency in rejecting import duties on ethanol produced outside the U.S. I admire consistency - Keynes was as wrong about that as he was about everything else.

I know you've been kept up at night wondering about the true weight of that flat-6 in your Corvair, but West Pundit has what you need - a complete list of the weights of engine-transmission combinations. It's so good, it's even got the figure for that V-12 Pierce-Arrow you've got hidden out behind the barn!

Here's the question: Buy a 2007 now or wait for the 2008? Jeep Guy at I Want a Jeep really wants to know! You don't think this blog could actually be ole Deiter's way of letting his inner Jeep free, do you?

Can you believe the nerve of those Canadian Lotus dealers, charging more for an Elise than their Texas colleagues??? Gary at The Garage Blog has the numbers for all the pocket rockets and finds a few more suprises.

Speaking of advanced diesels - yes, that's one of the topics up at OK, So I'm Not Really a Cowboy - Alex at NoonzWheels has the scoop on Audi's intro of a Piezo-enhanced 2.0 liter TDI. Geez, sounds like some kind of new wrinkle cream for women.

And from our For Your Wallet Only files, NoonzWheels also notes the prospective sale of a certain Lotus driven by Roger Moore in a Bond flick. Frankly, I've never understood the allure of owning a car once driven by a movie star in a movie, but, as Jack Kemp always says, whatever floats your boat.

If you are going to the British International Motor Show, don't make the mistake of thinking there are nothing but Bimmers on display. NoonzWheels also has the details on the massive exhibit being planned by Bavarians.

Now, moving right along ....

And you thought Top Speed only dealt with questions about the proper line through the Nurburing's Flugpatz. Here he addresses the important issue of the true efficacy of certain car care products.

OK, they got to drive it before me. No wonder GM is so friggin' screwed up! Get Lutz on the phone now!!

Where would we get an additional million barrels of oil per day for the TAPS pipeline? Joe Sherlock at The View Through the Windshield knows.

Jay Shoemaker at The Truth About Cars spent some time in the latest hybrid Civic and thinks somebody in the Interior Design Department at Honda set the Way Back machine to 1973.

Women still find buying a new car a hassle, according to a survey Joanne May describes at The Driving Woman. My guess is that so do most men.

Joel at The Car Blog has been watching Suze Orman again. Saving money, too.

Now this is going too far! I mean microprocessors, wife and LEDs in your wheels, come on. I fear The Auto Prophet has been seduced by the dread techno-bling complex.

GM has 19 - count'em, 19 - new powertrain combos next year. Straightline has the details.

What's next for Darlington? Racedriven.com has thoughts.

I think I want one of these Naza Bestari Sportivos that Paul Tan spotlights. Sounds like an Alfa on steroids.

If your car just stops while you are driving but then restarts and runs fine after a short wait, My Honest Mechanic has the answer. It's a shame folks like the owner of the Buick Park Avenue that occasioned this query to Austin Davis have to go through such nonsense from dealers to get a straight answer.

Have you changed your driving habits since gas prices skyrocketed? Joe at MyFordDreams2 has and so have folks he knows. He wonders why the mainstream media keeps saying people aren't adjusting.

Not sure what to make of this post at Left Lane News.

Is there really a car for champagne greens? Yes and Just-Auto.com's Dave Leggett can tell you all about it.

Can you imagine a bunch of Toyota execs in cowboy hats and boots, drainin' brewskis with Hank Jr. and arguing about whether Brett Favre is the NFL's version of Dale Earnhardt? No, me neither but Jalopnik has evidence to the contrary. The world is gettin' weirder and weirder, my friends!

Dorri at If It's Got an Engine explains the recent absence and assures that posting will return in a couple of weeks.

Check out the Lambo wall art at Hot Wheels Blog. We're not just talking artzy pitchers here, either.

There's an automotive angle on the immigration debate and Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars has details.

Grant's Rants has everything Hummer H1.

You knew "Engine Charlie" Wilson was misquoted but did you know that he said what he actually said before the Senate Armed Services Committee and that he also said he thought GM was too big? Brian Akre at GM's FYI Blog explains everything.

General Watch has the complete text of the report security did not allow to be distributed during the recent GM shareholders meeting.

And the (carbon fiber) wheels go round and round and round .... Mosler is the first and Gear6 has a neat photo.

Larry Burns at GM Fastlane explains that it simply isn't true to say there is no hydrogen distribution network now. Hmmm, maybe this hydrogen deal isn't just a lot of hot air after all. No, I didn't really say that, did I? Maybe it's time for me to back away from the lap top ....

It was Penske Perfect again at the Brickyard during Pole Day qualifying. Fast Machines' Allen Brewer covers the field.

Carscoop says there will be a new high performance Lotus in 2008.

Doing 126 mph on the George Washington Parkway is not a good way to start your legal career, according to Carpundit.

Autoblog says its curtains for Stratus and Sebring.

Ethanol Boy at Auto Extremist was in Houston for the CART, uh excuse me, the Champ Car weekend with the ALMSers at Reliant Stadium and wasn't impressed. You didn't ask for my opinion on this one, but I'm gonna tell you anyway that I think street circuits here in the states are a joke.

I guess that means I got the last word for this week's edition of Carnival of Cars. Sorry, it won't happen again.

Don't forget! Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of cars using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Cars
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Google Pontiac! Is This the Start of Something Big in Auto Ads?

2006-05-15T13:34:00.000-04:00

Jeff Jarvis at The Buzz Machine rarely if ever deals with auto-related topics, but he caught something of great interest on the boob tube recently - a Pontiac spot in which the words "Google Pontiac" appeared briefly on the screen. Go here for Jeff's interesting analysis of the ad from the perspective of an Internet/Blogosphere guru.

Pontiac
Blogging
Blogs
advertising
Marketing
PR
Google

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog for Friday, May 12, 2006

2006-05-12T14:06:00.000-04:00

Well, well. W started hanging around the CAFE last week and this week a bunch of state legislators were clamoring for reducing their gas tax takes. Must be an election year, right? How 'bout let's put the cyber key in the ignition and get moving before the politicians catch us?

Kevin Connors of Westpundit announced this week his serious desire to help field an entry in the DARPA Urban Grand Challenge for autonomous vehicles. This will be the third such contest and DARPA assures that it has nothing to do with data mining the speed data held in the black boxes of millions of Americanss cars.

Professor Bainbridge talks at length about an insurance company's recent survey of the Top 10 Driving Peeves. Personally I would have swapped the positions of the first two in the list but that's okay. I'm just happy to see more attention being given to this issue.

NoonzWheels thinks Citreon's Le Surf is "surprisingly cool." Who knew Bruce Manx had moved to France? NoonzWheels is also rather enthusiastic about BMW's "gloriously retro" Millie Miglia.

Over at The Garage folks want to know whatever happened to the pocket rocket in America. Somehow I don't think EPA is too worried about that kind of endangered species.

Speaking of the rain forests (is there somebody else in this post I'm not aware of?), Westpundit has a second installment in a series on alternative fuels. Kevin has to rain on the ethanol parade by noting such inconvenient factos as a major reason Brazil is chopping down the rain forest faster than a U.S. senator spends pork barrel maoney is to grow sugar cain for ethanol processing. Go here for the first installment in the series.

The Auto Prophet says be wary, be very wary, of American Petroleum Promotions and its promise of $200 gas cards for $150. Not unlike a Ponzi scheme, according to the Prophet.

Now, moving right along ....

Ethanol Boy at The Auto Extremist goes off on the ALMS Series' latest effort to equalize competition in the GT1 class that has been utterly dominated by Corvette for half a decade. Don't miss the great shot of Mario Vintage 2006 buckling up for a ride around the Speedway in his pole-winning Dean Van Lines Special Vintage 1967. Great overhead shot of the Brawner Hawk in the pits, too, which displays the "bundle of snakes" exhaust on the dual overhead cam Indy Ford V-8 that made the most wonderful sound ever made by any race engine anywhere, better even than the Ferrari V-12 at full song.

Just in case you wondered about the results of that May 11 Ford shareholders vote, The Auto Spectator has the complete result.

Looks like $19 million is the latest going rate to rent a ride in the F1 series, according to The Autoblog. I wonder what Christian Klein thinks about Red Bull Racing now?

Carpundit found a classic beater in Bean Town. And a Theocrat (though not of the automotive sort).

Cars! Cars! Cars! links to a CNN report on SUV Moms and their brewskis. Did I miss something sociologically important somewhere?

Inquiring minds want to know! Will Hyundai ever actually produce and sell the Getz featured at CARSCOOP? First caller with the right answer Getz a prize!

Buddy Rice had a slight accident during Indy practice but Fast Machines reports the Speedway doctor has now cleared him for competition.

Remember J. Edgar Opel? Bob Lutz has thoughts at GM Fastlane on the opening of GM's new design center in Germany.

FosFor Wheels wonders if VW's GX3 is short one wheel or suffering from one too many? What puzzles me is why VW wants to go the Morgan route.

Things were not all goofy at VW this week, however, as Gear6 provides the details of the dual-charged International Engine of the Year,.

GM FYI Blog has Sue Mead's latest report from her mission to the Gulf Coast to help out with recovery efforts there. My sweet wife Claudia, our wonderful daughter Ginny and Claudia's sister Linda "Night Crawler" Randall are headed to Mississippi in a couple of weeks on a similar mission. Sue is with a dozen folks from her church in Massachusetts. Claudia, Ginny and Linda are going with a group from our church, Covenant Baptist in Columbia, Maryland. I would be going, too, but it's difficult to swing a hammer or lift a frame-in wall with a torn tendon.

They've got some great review links over at Hot Wheels Blog!

Want to know how to get a job at DCX hauling old Neons to the dump? Jalopnik has the unfortunate details of how a Dodge Nitro driver may have done something along those lines. Guess we could say his career blew up behind the wheel of that Nitro. No, maybe we better not say that ...

Just-Auto.com's Dave Leggett has Ben Franklin's advice for dealing with the gas crisis. Here's a sample:

"And beware of false prophets. Green and friendly-sounding bio-diesel is only 5% derived from plants; the other 95% is bog-standard diesel."

Hey, it's all right there in "Poor Richard's Almanack."

Jason Vines has had it with "empty flag waving." Left Lane News provides him with a soapbox to elaborate the point. Interesting piece, yes, but I remember Jason's side-splitting stand-up routines at WAPA meetings.

Dave Wassmann at Motor Alley says to keep an eye out for great Jeep Commander lease deals and incentives:

"Although Jeep has needed a three-row seat vehicle for years now, it's unfortunate that they waited to launch the vehicle in the face of new GM product and $3/gallon gasoline. As noted in one of our previous columns, this vehicle was at least 10 years overdue..."

MyFordDreams2 assures us that his recent paucity of posts is not a result of his being held in the county lockup courtesy of the taxpayers. And thanks for the timely CofC plug, buddy!

Things are getting serious when your 89 LeBaron is leaking oil out the valve cover cap where you put in new Texas T. My Honest Mechanic has some sage advice for the owner.

Paul Tan takes a shot at photoshopping what the new Naza NX-02 will look like. Nice work, Paul.

If you are a biker, you know the value of having eyes in the back of your head. Now there's a way to get them in the back of your helmet, according to Qt Auto News. Now if we can just figure out how to be constantly conspicuous ...

Speaking of bikes, I love my Suzuki 600S Bandit and expect to do the same with my brand new Kawasaki Concours (when this torn tenden heals and I get to ride it!), so choppers don't do much for me. I have to admit, though, Chip Foose has a way with two-wheelers. Check it out at RaceDriven.com. Kind of a two-wheel Chezoom.

Then there's this, uh, Cayenne over at Serious Wheels. This is more proof that Barnum was right about one being born every minute. Or was it Mencken who said that? Guess I'm just a sucker for a good quote.

Boy, you in a heap a trouble if you get stopped by this cop car edition of the Hummer reported by Straightline.

Joel at The Car Blog didn't expect to like the 07 Jaguar XK when he saw it in concept form. Now that it's here in the real-live-world, he's singing a different tune about tradition ad class and all that classic veddy British stuff, you know.

Over at The Truth About Cars, the ever-shy-about-expressing-his-real-opinions Robert Farrago doesn't find much at bold about Ford's most recent product offerings, despite the new slogan.

Drop what you are doing and go to The View Through the Windshield. Scroll to the bottom of the Friday post and take in the bad pun of the day. It will leave you udderly speechless. Me? I could read puns till the cows come home. It's Deja Two when you recall a couple of good ones ...somebody ... please, anybody ... stop me before I pun again!

Judging by The Car Connection's spy shot of the upcoming Dodge Caravan, it looks like Chrysler is getting ready to ruin a good thing.

And that is the last word for this week's edition of Carnival of Cars.

Don't forget! Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of cars using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Commander Puts Jeep in Third Row Ranks

2006-05-06T15:54:00.000-04:00

Here we have the 2006 Commander, which looks an awful lot like the rough-and-ready Jeep your granddaddy drove back in the days long before fast food became America’s favorite way to spread clogged arteries.

In fact, this all-new Jeep is a whole lot more like the old one than that favorite cheeseburger and fries are like real food. The seven-slot grille and faux exposed-head screws around the fender wells provide the appropriate design cues.

You wouldn’t know it gazing at the Commander’s severely blocky exterior shape that it shares the same platform as Jeep’s perennial favorite, the Grand Cherokee. The two vehicles share lots of mechanicals, but the Commander has a longer wheelbase, which makes it possible to stuff a third row of seats out back. Grand Cherokees only come with two rows of seats.

There are three engine choices, including 235 horsepower 4.7 liter V-8 powering my Deep Beryl Green Pearl/Khaki Graystone tester, a big mountain motor Hemi and a base V-6. A five-speed automatic is the only available transmission, but there are three four-wheel-drive choices.

Inside the Commander are generous accommodations for the first two rows of seats, but that third row is hard to get to and not particularly comfortable. The third row of a Dodge Grand Caravan is far more inviting and useful.

The instrument panel is much like the exterior in featuring lots of straight lines and absolutely upright surfaces. The front seats are nicely padded and there is a pleasantly secure feel to the cabin. I loved the saddle brown leather as it made me want to find a campfire and start telling stories of the Ole West. Well, for a few seconds, it did.

Anyway, on the road, Commander has rather numb steering and a bit of ponderousness to its around-town moves. The 4.7 liter V-8 provides adequate power and typical – i.e. rotten – fuel economy.

That said, however, on the interstate, the Commander is a smooth, quiet operator. The tall greenhouse and stadium seating make the Commander ideal for taking friends and family on a scenic tour of, say, the mountains of far western Maryland at the height of the fall leaf season.

My Commander Limited 4X4 tester was liberally equipped, with just about every option available short of the Hemi. At $41,530, the high-line Commander is a bit pricey, but Jeep fans tend to be extremely loyal. I think they’re gong to like this one.

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Chrysler
Auto news
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New car reviews

Tendon Update: Everything Healing Nicely

2006-05-06T08:35:00.000-04:00

Some folks have inquired about the tendon surgery from last week. I appreciate very much the concern and especially the prayers!

Everything seems fine so far. I had a solid cast for the first week but for the past week and for the next five weeks I have a hinged brace that allows me to type with both hands. The physical therapy will continue for a month or two thereafter, depending on how quickly the tendon heals.

It's an inconvenience to be sure, but I can take the brace off to shower (a relief to my long-suffering family!) and, since I can't get a dress shirt over it or tie a tie, I still get to wear polo shirts to the newsroom It's gonna be so hard going back to the braces and tie thing!

Anyway, thanks again for the inquiries and prayers.

Didn't Gary Bettenhausen drive Indy cars for several years after a crash left his right arm essentially useless?

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, May 5, 2006

2006-05-05T05:02:00.000-04:00

This has been a prime week for people who have a passion for beautiful, fast cars, especially those that are red, are designed and built in Italy and have a racing heritage that pre-dates even that of Ferrari. Yes, I'm talkin' bout Alfa Romeo, which said it's returning to the U.S. market. But that's just the start, so let's hit the road, shall we?

Would you be interested in a diesel Lexus that gets 38 mpg and definitely is not a slow lane penalty box? NoonzWheels will tell you more about the vehicle unveiled in the U.K. this week.

When was the last time you got to use "pimptastic" and Cadillac launch in the same sentence? NoonzWheels explains that one, too.

If you think there isn't magic in a legendary sports car marque, check out Jack Yoest's explanation of why Chinese automakers use a '58 Vette to promote an auto show.

What's the proper location for the "Oh S--t!" handle in the modern automobile? Silflay Hraka has thoughts on that burning question, as well as the case for Ford coming up with a reality show of its own that allows contestants to design cars. I can see it now: "Oh, John, I'm so sorry but America voted has you and your Retro Edsel off the show. Don't let the door hit your tail on your way out."

Would there be a consolation prize for getting the boot from that show?

Anyway ...

It may have lots of "issues," but 20 minutes behind the wheel of a buddy's 79 Austin Mini put a grin on the face of the proprietor of The Garage.

Okay, that "Bond, James Bond" guy is back and so is his Aston Martin. More from NoonzWheels.

Oh yeah, NoonzWheels also has the scoop on the 500 horsepower King Cobra.

Let's see, that makes five CofC submissions in one week from Mr. Noon. Would somebody please hire this guy to do road tests!?

Now, moving right along ...

Louis Albornoz is the pro racer behind Top Speed and he has some sensible things to say about the younger drivers he often "sees driving like crazy idiots." Must be racing Formula Fords.

The Car Connection has a pre-meeting briefing on the upcoming meeting of auto execs with the Chief Executive in the White House.

Joe Sherlock gazes at The View Through the Windshield at news of Rep. Patrick Kennedy's 3:00 a.m. encounter with a concrete wall and asks these reasonable questions:

"'The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From...' Dept.: Why does the headline Kennedy Car Accident seem so hauntingly familiar? And how come didn't he have to take a Breathalyzer test like the rest of us?"

On average, a Buick dealer sells only eight cars a month. Eight. Not Eighty. Eight. The Truth About Cars' Bob Elton explains why. You know you've lost it when people are openly comparing your product - once famous the world over as the last step before a Cadillac - to Hyundai.

Listen up, guys. Michelle has some tips on how to improve your gas mileage over at The Driving Woman. Hey, she saw a 10% improvement. Can you say the same as you pump that three-bucks-a-gallon refined Texas Tea?

Joel at The Car Blog wonders why reviewers aren't more discriminating when comparing vehicles that share common platforsm, such as the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan/Lincoln Zephyr trio.

No, no, it's the return of the Double Nickel! The Auto Prophet isn't worried.

Straightline says hybrid registrations doubled last year. I'm not surprised. Are you surprised? I'll tell you who is surprised - all those hybrid buyers who thought they would get better mileage than they're getting, that's who!

Did you know there are German tuners who actually work on something other than Mercs and Bimmers? Serious Wheels has three of them who do Vettes.

What's your take on NASCAR's restrictor plates? RaceDriven.com wants to know.

I say if it doesn't come that way from the factory, it ain't stock. But that's just my reactionary Stone Age gut reaction to the France Family Money Machine.

I'll shut up now ...

Paul Tan says Toyota says the recent decline in Prius sales reflects production problems, not customer problems.

Austin Davis at My Honest Mechanic has some tips to help figure out if your high insurance rates are because of the company .... or because of the way you drive, you Moron!

Sorry, that wasn't very nice and I apologize to all ...

He may have bought a Mazda3, but MyFordDreams2 absolutely insists that wasn't an act of betrayal because that Zoom-Zoom mobile is really a Blue Oval product.

David Wassman at Motor Alley is a former ad guy and now he's a car guy, so naturally the brewing controversy over the latest round of VW spots caught his eye. His basic point is that great ads don't save sinking ships. Just ask the people who were running American Motors back in the mid-60s.

Got your deposit ready for the return of the Gullwing from Mercedes? Left Lane News has details.

JustAuto's Dave Leggett saw some German nutters in action this week over on the other side of the pond.

Jalopnik is cautiously, very cautiously, optimistic that DCX's Tom LaSorda's speech to the Renewable Fuels Association portends a significant shift in Motown thinking about cars, energy and related issues.

Think your Chrysler 300 is a tad boring to look at the way it came from the factory? Hot Wheels Blog can put you in touch with some aftermarket types who may have exactly what you're looking for in the way of a design pick-me-up.

Now that's just ducky, says Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars. He's not real happy with the Cubs offense this week, either.

GM FYI Blog hands the mike to GM's Gustav Hoffman, who promptly announces that he's mad as hell and he's not going to take it any more. Well, Gustav, old buddy, let's talk about Buick.

Gear6 reports that VW isn't sure about the future of the GX3. Hey, I'm not even sure what the GX3 is, much less what it's future ought to be!

Lutz thinks GM has turned a corner and word is getting around that the new products are much, much better. It's a detailed post at GM Fastlane and yes, a lot of it sounds like the usual spin, but there are some hard numbers to back it up. Defintely worth reading.

Fast Machines covered it but why didn't we hear more about this in the MSM?

They're makin' sausage again up on Capitol Hill. Don't Mess With Taxes isn't buying it.

A Chrysler/Chery hookup? Check out CARSCOOP.

They're reading tea leaves from CNN about Lutz and GM over at Cars! Cars! Cars! Drinking coffee out of square mugs and eating Biscotti at the Buick stall, too. My favorite, though, is the shot of Hell Frozen Over, thanks to the Lienerts and the Detroit News.

Peter DeLorenzo at Auto Extremist points to what will save GM in the final analysis:

"No, GM's future lies with its True Believers, the men and women who actually go to work each and every day with one mission in mind - to design, build and produce the best vehicle they can possibly muster."

There are more of those TBs in GM than a lot of critics realize.

And that is the last word for this week's edition of Carnival of Cars.

Don't forget! Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of cars using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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WAnt to Talk to a Lexus Executive?

2006-05-04T15:20:00.000-04:00

Ever been seized with the need to pick up the telephone and call one of the high poo-bahs in Detroit, Tokyo or Stuttgart? Well, it's not the telephone but Edmunds.com has a way to achieve the same thing. It's a live chat with a senior Lexus executive tonight. To join the conversation, go here.

The Glenn and Helen Show Interviews Jim Meigs of Popular Mechanics on Alternative Fuels

2006-05-03T04:25:00.000-04:00

Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit fame and his wife Helen have recently begun blogcasting their own show featuring segments on a variety of topics of interest to public policy wonks, political activists, think tank operators and even car fanatics like yours truly.

The great thing about the show is that the Reynolds consistently produce quality material and that fact is nowhere better illustrated than the most recent production's interview with Popular Mechanics editor Jim Meigs for a segment on alternative fuels.

BTW, Glenn drives a Mazda RX8 and is quite knowledegable about many aspects of the automotive industry and its issues. Meigs hits all the major issues during the interview and provides some worthwhile analysis of why the political system has such difficulty dealing with alternative fuels.

Go here for the full Glenn and Helen Show (you don't even have to have an iPOD!). Also. you won't want to miss the Popular Mechanics feature on alternative fuels that inspired the Meigs interview. This is one of the most comprehensive and readable pieces I've read anywhere on the topic.

There is Another, Maybe Not So Great, Side to Ethanol; Is GM Misleading Consumers on E85?

2006-04-30T18:20:00.000-04:00

That is the case presented by Ed Wallace in Business Week Online. This is a very disturbing article. I've recently expressed enthusiasm for E85 but this article claims:

* Ethanol requires more energy to produce per gallon than is released when that gallon is combusted.

* Ethanol increases VOC emissions and would thus likely lead to more smog in the cities during the summer driving season.

* Ethanol lowers fuel efficiency by as much as 25-40 percent and thus will significantly increase the cost of driving.

If these claims are true, E85 is not a good deal. But I am sure ethanol advocates have answers to these criticisms and I want to hear them. I'd alsolike to hear GM's response.

UPDATE: Corndog Has His Say

As I suspected, Corndog over in Virginny wasted no time responding to the Ed Wallace article. Here's his post. Read it carefully and then post your reaction here in the comment section.

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e85
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General Motors

CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, April 28, 2006

2006-04-28T07:16:00.000-04:00

Hey, a veritable tsunami of Carnival of Cars submissions came in this week, so let's get this hoopy on the road, shall we?

Shouting Thomas at Harleys, Cars, Girls and Guitars was out on his regular reconaissance run and came across Willow Automotive Service in tiny Willow, New York. Lots of interesting restoration jobs there, including a 1940 Rolls, a 55 T-Bird and a "Wal-Mart" chopper.

Ever wonder how being a law professor stacks up on commuting time compared to other professions? Well, me neither, but then I am a journo, not a briefs geek, but the folks at Workplace Prof Blog did and the results may surprise you. Or not.

Speaking of profs, the good Dr. Stephen Bainbridge wonders if your typical Crunchy Con buys a Prius.

If $3 a gallon gas has you wondering about the tax implications of buying a hybrid, Don't Mess With Taxes has an excellent rundown of what's what and why.

Do you know about Lightning McQueen? No, it has nothing to do with Bullit or barb-wire jumping motorcycles to make the great escape. The Garage Blog tells all about ... well, just go read about a trip to the mall.

Corndog says GM's long involvement in drag racing has played a role in the General's gaining an ethanol edge. It has to do with measuring alcohol content and Corndog's Flexfuel Chevy News has the story.

Brian at Racedriven partook of the racing nightlife at Phoenix and survived to file a report.

Inside Line took a Jeep Commander loaded with stuff for a long day of off-roading and came away mildly impressed.

The Driving Woman has everything you ever wanted to know about "chick cars" and "guy cars." Does this have anything to do with that Metrosexual stuff Bainbridge is talking about?

Cruise control - It actually saves gas. Hey , it's in Strategies for Smart Car Buyers, so it must be true. And who doesn't want to be a smart buyer?

Edmunds editor Karl Brauer reminds in Karl on Cars that it's time for you to cast your ballot for Consumers Most Wanted Cars. BTW, thanks, Karl, for a bunch of great auto blogs - Edmunds is doing it right.

If your 2007 Camry tranny is doing, uh, odd things in second and sixth gears, you need to read this tidbit from Straightline.

Now, moving right along ...

Is NASCAR nation one big honking fraud on the motorsports fan? They actually talk about such heresies without pulling the shades down at The Auto Extremist and their Road Kill columnist, Dr. Bud Bryan, has a lot to say about what he thinks Detroit should tell the France family conglomerate.

GM, DCX and BMW claim lots of progress in their joint hybrid powertrain development venture. The Auto Spectator has the news release with the details and the spin.

If you ever wondered how a BMW Z4 is made, Autoblog links to a TGIF feature just for you.

Do you know who Reed Hillman is? Car Pundit does and also why the guy may well be the most honest man in Massachusetts politics. He knows writing lots of speeding tickets doesn't do diddly for traffic safety. That's almost enough to make this barely reconstructed Rebel move to Yankeeland just vote for the guy!

The folks at Cars! Cars! Cars! are not, shall we say, impressed with the performance of certain of our congressional leaders this week.

There is a new 355 horsepower 4.2 lier V-8 lurking around the Audi stable now. CARSCOOP can tell you all about it.

Maybe the Prancing Horse boys are back on form. Fast Machines takes a look at Michael's return to the top of the F1 podium at San Marino.

Lots of other fabled automakers have done it in various ways in years past, so why not Maserati? Check it out at Gear6.

Melisa Tezanos at GM FYI Blog is calling all Silverado owners who have turned over the odometer twice or more. Bet you can guess what's next on this one.

Over at Grant's Auto Rants, they are ... ranting, of course, and this time around they want to know whatever happened to Joe Isuzu. I always thought he bought it on a lightning bolt after telling one too many fibs.

Somethin' new up at Hot Wheels Blog.

Toyota is spreading around some serious money in NASCAR. That's putting some grins on lots of crew members with non-Toyota teams, too, according to Jalopnik.

Just-Auto's Dave Leggett is suffering through a JD Power conference in Europe. Oh, the humanity!

An "entry level" Ferrari? Riiiiight! And then there will be the Rolls Econolux hatchback. And the Yugo Presidential Limosine. Check it out at Left Lane News.

So this guy's battery cable melts, you see, and next thing he knows the in-car clock won't even run! Austin Davis at My Honest Mechanic has the rest of this 94 Cougar nightmare.

Paul Tan says Proton and Lotus have a new low-end design in the works.

Your search for Aston Martin DB9 wallpaper is over, thanks to Serious Wheels.

True, it's about The Auto Prophet's review of the Dell DJ Ditty, which is not available at your local auto parts collective, but the conversation with the techie dude in India is priceless.

Joel at the Car Blog has been bitten by the bike bug. Guess who is none too happy about that!?! I know exactly what you mean, buddy.

The Truth About Cars' Jonny Lieberman thinks Honda's new Fit is a good fit for the times.

Joe Sherlock describes Santa Cruz as "a town full of burnt-out hippies, assorted wackos and Princess Moonbeams. But the place has a great roller coaster." Check out The View Through the Windshield to find out why Joe is also not real hep on Hamas, Gov. Christine Gregoire's state trooper protection unit and Hassan Abassi's geo-political speculations.

Why does New York have so many bad drivers? Top Speed explains it all.

And that ladies and gentlemen is the last stop on this week's Carnival of Cars Drive Around the Auto Blogs Block. See ya next week!

By the way, I'm doing some housecleaning on the blogroll later today, so if you notice some blogs missing, it will be because they've not been updated in a long time.

By the way II: This entire drive was produced using only my left hand in the "hunt'n peck" typing technique. It's not by my choice, believe me!

Don't forget! Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of cars using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Behind the Wheel Review: BMW 760Li

2006-04-27T09:38:00.000-04:00

If you’ve got a spare $127,590 lying around and it’s time to update the machinery in the space marked “Ultimate Luxury Sedans Only” in your garage, you should check out the 2006 BMW 760Li.

This is a, if not the, leading candidate for such a renowned title, even with the explosion of new models at Mercedes Benz, the latest offerings of Lexus and Infiniti, and renewed energy in places like Bentley.

Long-time readers may be a bit puzzled by that last statement, as I have not been kind to the big Bimmer in recent years, thanks almost entirely to the iDrive computer nonsense in the passenger cabin and Chris Bangle styling on the outside, especially at the back end with its pronounced “bustle.”

I was far from being alone in my disenchantment with BMW over these matters, and we see with the 2006 model some healthy changes that almost certainly are the direct result of the widespread criticism.

Most notable in this regard are the revised exterior panels, beginning up front where the Seven Series gets a more sharply sloped hood and a new fascia that looks both more aggressive and simpler.

The mid-section of the Seven Series seems ever so slightly longer, thanks to revised rocker panels, and that makes the whole car look less bulky from several angles. The mid-section appearance is also aided somewhat by the more sharply creased-inward angle of the rear fenders behind the wheels.

There are changes to the tail as well, with the tail lamps being wider and now stretching across into the trunk lid. That bustle butt is still there at the rear end, however, the changes make for a less pronounced Banglization.

My Kalahari Beige Metallic 760Li was powered by the ultimate Bimmer motor, the 6.0 liter DOHC V-12 that produces a rousing 438 horsepower and flings the big sedan from zero to 60 mph in a touch over five seconds.

Inside the Bimmer is a passenger cabin that could easily be mistaken for a super-exclusive English club, thanks to the lavish appointments and the incredible quietness, even on the road.

I still think the iDrive is a plague on western civilization and ought to be tossed out in the middle of the North Sea, but the rest of the Seven Series cabin is simply, unquestionably, totally wonderful.

Dynamically, it’s all here, too, as BMW endows its biggest sedan with every possible technological feature aimed at keeping you safe, swift and serene. Yes, yes, it is awfully expensive, but if I had that kind of money, I’d think it over about two nanoseconds before signing on the dotted line.

After all, don’t want to keep that parking space vacant too long, right!

auto news
Automotive
Automobiles
Cars
Tapscott Behind the Wheel
BMW

GM Adds New FYI Blog to Cyber Stable

2006-04-25T10:27:00.000-04:00

One thing appears certain about the General, the folks there seem to understand blogs better than any other automaker. First it was the Fastlane Blog. Now its GM FYI Blog. GM Communications New Media Director Michael Wiley and the GM executives giving him freedom to develop these blogs deserve plaudits for moving forward.

Here's what they promise with the new effort:

"The FYI Blog will highlight the positive developments that occur at GM on a daily basis, though we won't shy away from controversy. Things that most of us would otherwise never hear about.

"Whereas the FastLane Blog usually gets new entries once or twice a week, the FYI blog aspires to be much more active. Expect to see at least a daily post, written by people throughout the organization.

"Here are the categories of information that the blog will feature:

* Cool Stuff - Stories about innovations; product, technology, facilities and manufacturing
* Our People - Profiles of GM employees and their unique jobs, careers, etc.
* News - Good News stories, including items that you may otherwise never hear about
* Opinions - GM op/ed pieces intended to shed light on issues in the news
* Guest Voices - Blog entries written by third parties who are not GM employees"

Sounds like a more venturesome effort. Go here for the GM FYI blog.

If 8 of 10 Accidents Involve Distracted Drivers, Not Speeding Drivers ....Why Keep the Speed Traps?

2006-04-25T09:42:00.000-04:00

Auto bloggers and everybody else who drives should give careful thought to the implications of that joint traffic safety research project between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virignia Tech Transportation Institute announced last week.

Why? Consider the lead sentence of NHTSA's official release on the study:
"Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes."

Wait a minute, what about speed? Haven't we been told for decades that speed is the biggest cause of traffic accidents? Law enforcement and elected officials, insurance industry executives and traffic safety ideologues like Joan Claybrook have been drilling into the public consciousness for decades that "speed kills."

So now we find out it's distracted drivers, not speeding drivers, who are the leading factor in traffic accidents? Can it really be that somebody in government is actually looking at the real world on the road and seeing through the conventional wisdom about speed?

Apparently so.

"This important research illustrates the potentially dire consequences that can occur while driving distracted or drowsy. It's crucial that drivers always be alert when on the road," said Jacqueline Glassman, acting administrator of NHTSA.

NHTSA said the 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study tracked the behavior of the drivers of 100 vehicles equipped with video and sensor devices for more than one year. During that time, the vehicles were driven nearly 2,000,000 miles, yielding 42,300 hours of data. The 241 drivers of the vehicles were involved in 82 crashes, 761 near crashes, and 8,295 critical incidents.

"The huge database developed through this breakthrough study is enormously valuable in helping us to understand - and prevent - motor vehicle crashes," said Dr. Tom Dingus, director of VTTI.

Among the key findings of the NHTSA/VTTI study were these:

* Drowsiness is a significant problem that increases a driver’s risk of a crash or near-crash by at least a factor of four. But drowsy driving may be significantly under-reported in police crash investigations.

* The most common distraction for drivers is the use of cell phones. However, the number of crashes and near-crashes attributable to dialing is nearly identical to the number associated with talking or listening. Dialing is more dangerous but occurs less often than talking or listening.

* Reaching for a moving object increased the risk of a crash or near-crash by 9 times; looking at an external object by 3.7 times; reading by 3 times; applying makeup by 3 times; dialing a hand-held device (typically a cell phone) by almost 3 times; and talking or listening on a hand-held device by 1.3 times.

* Drivers who engage frequently in distracting activities are more likely to be involved in an inattention-related crash or near-crash. However, drivers are often unable to predict when it is safe to look away from the road to multi-task because the situation can change abruptly leaving the driver no time to react even when looking away from the forward roadway for only a brief time.

This is big news, folks! Now it's time for a thorough and fearless re-examination of the basic priorities that govern traffic safety and law enforcement, the kind of driving behaviors rewarded and penalized by the insurance industry and, perhaps most important, the way automakers design interiors and driving controls.

Go here for the NHTSA/VTTI study details.

And go here for an editorial in The Washington Examiner that opens the discussion about the needed changes called for by the study in law enforcement, insurance and auto design.

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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Friday, April 21, 2006

2006-04-21T06:17:00.000-04:00

This week may prove to be the week that was in the automotive world, thanks to release of that new study that demonstrates distracted drivers - NOT SPEED - are the main cause of traffic accidents. Now if we can just get that message to the gendarmes sitting beside roads everywhere just waiting to extract a contribution from your wallet to the local treasury!

But anyway, it's time to fire up the old cyber buggy and head out for this week's drive around the auto blog block and see what we see, so shall we? BTW, instead of a radar detector, we use a BS detector on this road trip.

Want to see the Camaro Concept in action? NoonzWheels has lots of photos and a video clip of the coming Chevy musclecar in action at the New York Auto Show. Alex likes the look and the sound of it.

And speaking of the NYAS, Brian from Racedriven has some additional thoughts and observations on what he saw at the Javits Center.

Now, moving right along ...

Audi is developing a compact SUV that, judging from the spy shots in TheCarConnection, looks an awful lot like a Dodge Calibre. Or is it just my imagination?

When Joe Sherlock scans The View Through the Windshield, among other things he sees in the newest Honda Civic the 21st Century's pop auto culture icon, just like the 66 Mustang was for the 20th Century. I'm not sure I agree that the Civic will reach that status, but it's an interestng topic of discussion.

Any other suggestions? Ford Explorer maybe? Toyota Prius? The last car GM makes before bankruptcy?

Ohhhkay, moving right along ...

Agree or disagree with him, you have to admit there are few word merchants as lucid or expressive as The Truth About Cars' Robert Farago. He's got Rick Wagoner in his sights this week and it's not pretty. Superbly written, but not pretty.

Michelle at The Driving Woman fell victim to three Chips hiding amongst parked cars on the Pacific Coast Highway. She was doing 64 mph at a point where the speed limit drops from 55 mph to 45 mph. Can you believe that! I mean how could she!!! Think of the threat to public safety Michelle represented at that moment!!!! No matter that the guy she passed as he was weaving around talking on his cell phone represented a greater danger, but .... oh, don't get me started again.

Joel at The Car Blog isn't happy with some of the recommendations he finds for teen cars.

Got indigestion from those high gas prices? The Auto Prophet links to a solid piece of reporting on what's really behind the high-velocity vertical climb of the price-per-barrel.

Straightline has the bad vibes for the Pontiac Vibe AWD and GT. Frankly, I never understood the rationale for a Pontiac Toyota - or Toyota Pontiac - in the first place.

Qt Auto News has a milestone for Insurance.com. Anybody out there familiar with that web site or had dealings with it?

No, the Naza NX-01 isn't for sale here in the states, but you should know what Paul Tan has to say about its launch "over there" in Malaysia anyway because you never know - when gas hits $4 a gallon here, we may all be looking for Nazas.

Joe at My Ford Dreams has an excellent look at the goofy approach Ford too often takes on where it sells its' best products from international platforms. I agree - why isn't that aggressive Focus three-door sold here?

Left Lane News says Hamann is "pimping" the M5, again.

Kevin Connors at Westpundit thinks the world has, finally, outgrown the China Syndrome syndrome. That could be good news for energy consumers, if true.

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