Saturn Dead?

Bad news for Saturn.  Penske just announced that they are backing away, because they are concerned about vehicle availability from GM going forward.  WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125434260817353567.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection...

"Unintended Acceleration", Don't Pray, THINK

This morning on the radio, I heard the audio from a 911 distress call that a man placed while driving an out of control Lexus.  This was one of the events which precipated the massive Toyota floor mat recall.  Apparently, his accelerator pedal was stuck to the floor, and his brakes weren't working (he probably boiled them, or perhaps, the brake pedal was obstructed). He called 911 in a panic, and the operator just had time to suggest that...

NHTSA: Toyota Owners Remove Floor Mats

NHTSA has an urgent message to owners of many Toyota vehicles:2007-2010 Camry 2005-2010 Avalon2004-2009 Prius2005-2010 Tacoma2007-2010 Tundra 2007-2010 ES 3502006-2010 IS 250 and IS350Remove your driver side floor mat and do not replace it with any other mat until otherwise instructed.  For more information see NHTSA at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.f2217bee37fb302f6d7c121046108a0c/ This will probably become a massive recall...

On Paddle Shifters

More and more cars now ofter steering wheel mounted shift levers for cars that have fully automatic transmissions. These are an imitation of the semi-automated manual transmissions typically used in high performance and full-bore race cars such as the Ferrari 430.I think this is silly.Real paddle-shift transmissions are basically automated mechanical transmissions which do not have torque converters; they have replaced the clutch and stick with...

The Truth About TTAC

The Truth About Cars (TTAC) was started by Robert Farrago, an auto blogger whose calling cards were coprolalia and an obsession with predicting the death of GM. So Farrago turned out to be sort of right about GM, they did go bankrupt, though it is still very alive and kicking. However, not so much for Farrago's blogging career at TTAC. The media company that owned TTAC just about stopped paying its writers, and then sold the site to another media...

Review: 2010 Ford Taurus

I thought I would make an effort to test-drive a 2010 Ford Taurus, since it is an important product for Ford, and I am familiar with the previous incarnation. I talked my mom into buying a used Five Hundred based on the big room, excellent safety, and big depreciation.I went to my local Ford dealer and test drove a shiny metallic white Limited, the top of the line. It had the Sony sound system, navigation, SYNC, push-button start, keyless entry,...

The UAW/CAW Car List

The UAW and CAW have released a list of vehicles which they endorse, because they are assembled by unionized plants in North America.  There are some  "Big 3" vehicles which are notably missing because they are assembled in Mexico, such as the Chevrolet HHR.  Others have an * because some variants are built in Mexico while others are built in US or Canadian union plants, such as the GM pickups. There are some "foreign" cars which are...

GMC Terrain Reaction

The other day, I had a chance to take a close look at a GMC Terrain which was probably a GM employee drive-home, or perhaps a press fleet car, which I spotted around the Troy area.Photo courtesy of EdmundsI can't say I was too excited about the styling. While it is certainly not bland, it has a very brutal style to it, with the very large trapezoidal grille and exaggerated flared fenders. It was...

IIHS At 50: 1959 Bel Aire Vs. 2009 Malibu

We've come a looong way since 1959 with auto safety.This shocking video shows what happens when a 1959 Bel Aire crashes into a 2009 Malibu at 40mph, offset. The Bel Aire weighs about 400lbs more than the Malibu, but it gets seriously destroy...

Equinox Vs Escape Math

In his recent web chat, GM's Bob Lutz stated that the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox "trounces" the Ford Escape Hybrid. I'll ride to the defense of the Escape Hybrid against the onslaught of Mr. Lutz.Let's compare EPA mpg and carbon footprint calculations: Equinox FWD 2.4L 22/32 mpg (city/hwy) 7.1 tons/year CO2 Equinox AWD 2.4L 20/29 mpg 8.0 t/yr CO2 Escape Hybrid FWD 34/31mpg 5.7 t/yr CO2 Escape Hybrid AWD 30/27mpg 6.3 t/yr...

Lutz "Best Car" Chat

Bob Lutz had a web chat on the topic of the new GM "return it if you don't like it" marketing campaign, "May The Best Car Win". A few things that I noticed (my creative interpretation in red):15:00[Comment From Matteo Ronzoni ]Hi Bob! I realy liked gm latest ad w/ whitacre but I'm not sure if the May the best car win can apply to the chevy aveo...when is the replacement due?15:01Bob Lutz: You'll notice that the Chevy Aveo, sound little car that...

Aptera Wants It Both Ways

In order to be able to build and sell a super-efficient vehicle legally, Aptera takes advantage of the federal motor vehicle regulations which consider their 3 wheeled vehicle to be a type of motorcycle, rather than an automobile. This means that the Aptera does not have to meet numerous FMVSS regulations, such as front and side impact standards or bumper requirements.Now, Aptera also wants to get in on the Department of Energy loans that competitors...

People Want PHEVs, But Cheap

A fascinating survey was publshed by Pike Research (here: http://www.pikeresearch.com/newsroom/48-of-consumers-interested-in-purchasing-a-plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicle) which found that out of 1,041 respondents,  48% are interested in buying a plugin hybrid car (such as a Chevrolet Volt).  The problem is, of those, 65% would pay a premium of an average of 12% over a similar gasoline car, while 35% would not pay any premium at all. ...

Galileoscope: It Really Works!

I got my Galileoscope in the mail the other day, and I am really impressed. It has a large, heavy, real glass objective lens. The eyepiece lenses are plastic, but seem to work pretty well. It was not too hard to assemble, and is solid when together. I took it out, screwed to a camera tripod, and I was able to see Jupiter and 4 of its moons!I am not able to take a picture, but the image was similar...

Read Pete.

If you aren't reading Peter DeLorenzo, you should be. He's got a lot to say, and it is usually well said. http://www.autoextremist.com. (No, he didn't pay me for tha...

Creepy Metal Detector Guy

I went for a walk to today, and went past a local construction site where the city is re-modeling a municipal park. A metal detector guy had slipped through the construction fence, and was quietly wandering around with his detector, stopping every so often to dig into the exposed earth with a small trowel.I don't know about you, but I find these guys to be creepy. Their hobby is based on the idea of profiting by digging up stuff that other people...

"I Just Sent You An Email"

Some people at work have this annoying habit of sending you an important email, and then popping into your cube (Yes, I work in a cubicle "office") or call you on the phone to say "I just sent you an email".  Look, if it is critical information, call or show up first, and say "I need to send you some information about this...".  Or, send a text message to my phone that says "important: check your email".  And give me time to read...

Chrysler--Looking Shaky

Have you noticed the lack of positive news about Chrysler?   How Chrysler's sales numbers continue to slide year-over-year, even after Cash For Clunkers?  How Ford and GM are coming out with new product, and teasing the press with development mules running around in heavy camo, but there are no spy shots of Chrysler vehicles? For 2010MY, the only "all new" (for what that's worth) product is the Dodge Ram HD.  That and some minor...

Audi Mocks Volt

In an interview with MSN Autos, Audi of America president Johan de Nysschen mocks would be buyers of the Chevrolet Volt as "idiots" and environmental posers. (Link http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=1247701). He predicts that the Volt will flop and that Obama will have to prop up the Volt to save face.He's basically right. Even Obama's own automotive task force reported that the Volt was "too expensive to be commercially...