Welcome Back, American Muscle!

My main blog sponsor, American Muscle, has kindly agreed to renew for another year. American Muscle sells all kinds of Mustang parts. I'm not sure if they even sell anything besides Mustang parts. If you want to take a look, just click on the banner up top.They recently sponsored a hilarious and disgusting contest called "Live in it to win it", where one of several contestants who could last the longest living in a red 2009 Mustang would win it....

Why CARS (Cash For Clunkers) Won't Come Back

Mark Tapscott, over at the Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-12977-Cars-Examiner~y2009m7d31-How-long-before-CashforClunkers-becomes-a-permanent-federal-entitlement) , predicts that the cash-for-clunkers program (CARS) will be extended indefinitely because it is popular, and gives the Obama administration another way to spend money. I disagree.  I think that if Congress extends CARS (doubtful), it will be a one-time shot.  The...

Video: Cash For Clunkers Engine Death

Here is a video from a CARS program engine disablement (sodium silicate solution instead of oil) of a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The engine fights long and hard, but dies in the end.This Volvo S80 looks like a nice car, I'm amazed it qualified. Maybe it had major issues, like a bad transmission, or something. Still, what a waste. The engine sounds almost like it is sad to go.This Oldsmobile looks more like a heap. The engine starts out sounding throaty,...

Video: Kid Freaks Out (A Little)

A rich kid gets a surprise birthday present--a beat up pickup truck. He gets mad because he'll look like a "poor kid" if he drives it. He gets a baseball bat...Now, I don't think he's 100% serious, because if you notice, he doesn't damage the glass or the front end. He just beats up on the bed side a litt...

Mahindra Planning A CUV For U.S.?

I was looking at Mahindra's North America web site (http://www.mahindrana.com/indian-cars-and-trucks.html) , which advertises its two door and four door diesel pickups (planned for fall of 2009), and its SUV, promised for 2010.  If you click on "future vehicle", you see an artsy picture of what looks like a minivan, or perhaps a crossover, called the MUC.   I suspect this is a version of the Xylo (see http://www.lnkr.net/archives/prem/technology/mahindra-xylo-more-images/2011...

CARS: Watch The "Doc Fee" Trick!

Joe over at MyFordDreams2 was talking to a Mercury salesman about the CARS (aka cash for clunkers) program, and the guy tried to tell him that there was $50 documentation fee.As I posted previously, (see here) and I'll do it again as a public service:Dealers are not allowed to charge fees to customers to participate in the CARS program. If you dealer tries to do so, above and beyond their standard fees, they are trying to cheat you.The proof is...

Why NUMMI Is Probably Closing

With GM out, Toyota has to decide if it wants to keep NUMMI going.  Here are a few reasons why they won't.NUMMI is the most expensive, labor-wise, of any of Toyota's plants in NA (Detroit Free Press) The Corolla is also built in Canada, at the TMMC plantThe Tacoma is also built in Mexico, in Tijuana....

Cash For Clunkers Details

In addition to the already released rules, some additional details have been posted by NHTSA at the www.cars.gov web site:Only one voucher per customer.  You can't trade in 2 cars for 2 vouchers for 1 new car.  Leases may be purchased with the voucher, however, the least must be for at least 5 years.Dealers can not charge extra fees such as administrative fees for the CARS program.Customers may have to pay sales taxes on the voucher amount,...

Cash For Clunkers: Engine Death

The NHTSA has released instructions for dealers on how they must destroy the trade-in car's engine.  Dealers are to replace the engine oil with about 2 quarts of sodium silicate solution, and run until the engine siezes. The sodium silicate in the oil path will heat up, and form a glass-like structure. For some reason, the thought of thousands of engines running until they die is sort of sad to me.  It's like... euthanasia. Appendix B...

G8 Dead Again

After studying the issue, Bob Lutz says on GM Fastlane Blog that there isn't a business case for the G8 after all, sorry to get your hopes up.That’s all still true. But I have to say that, with my new “marketing” hat on, upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today’s market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be.What was interesting to me was the hint...

Maximum Bob Rides Again

I love Bob Lutz.From the recent web chat on GM's Fastlane Blog. Italics are my, er, interpretation.2:13 [Comment From Guest ]What is your number one priority in your new role and please be as specific as possible? 2:14 Bob Lutz: Until I know more about the job I won't be as specific as possible because i might have to recant next month when i know what i'm doing. My top priority now is to enhance...

Tragic Stupidity: Five Die In Canton, MI

Yesterday, a 19 year old idiot with a suspended drivers license tried to beat an Amtrak train, and lost big. His Ford Fusion was struck in the side as he tried to race through the crossing. The barriers were down, and the lights were flashing, and the train was moving at around 60mph. He had 4 others in the car with him, ranging from 14 to 21. Apparently dissatisfied with waiting for the train...

UPDATED "Cash For Clunkers": Check If Your Car Qualifies

Updated: I re-did the table with the new data from Edmunds, after NHTSA updated some of their mileage numbers.Use my handy applet below to look up your car to see if it might qualify for the CARS "cash for clunkers" voucher from the Uncle Sam. This is a list of cars from Edmunds that gets 18 MPG or less and has an expected fair market value of less than about $4,500. Edmunds was kind enough to post the raw data (here) and I massaged it a little...