The last few days have been rife with rumors that General Motors will buy the Chrysler Group from DCX. Most people commenting on this potential deal wonder why GM would want Chrysler. Their product lines overlap, GM has enough work on its hands streamlining the organization it already has, and Chrysler has few winning products at the moment. But what… More →
Month: February 2007
Auto Viagra: sometimes you need a little fake wood
When I first sat in the new Mazda CX-9, I was impressed by the upscale ambiance of the interior. Then I test drove one, and it didn’t measure up to my expectations. The difference, in a word, was trim. I sat in the CX-9 Grand Touring at the Detroit show. Then I drove the CX-9 Sport.
ISO the perfect door pull
Since I recently wrote about “The Feel of Quality, I was pleasantly surprised to see an article in BusinessWeek about GM’s drive to upgrade its interiors. While I agree that the upcoming 2008 CTS has a wonderful interior in terms of both design and materials, I also sat in the 2008 Malibu at the Detroit show, and despite what the… More →
The view from where I sit
Every time I send out an email, a few people unsubscribe. When you have nearly 9,000 members, I suppose it’s bound to happen. But I don’t have to like it. But what I really don’t like is the rare nasty email from a panel member. Such as the one I received yesterday. The subject line read simply, “Stop sending me… More →
Fresh data
TrueDelta will soon post repair rates for the year ending December 31, 2006. The data are at the analyst, and the results will go up as soon as he gets them to me. Once the panel is larger, perhaps as early as next year, TrueDelta will provide initial results for new models introduced in October as early as this February… More →
Timing chains vs. timing belts
Every car engine currently available uses either a chain or a belt to connect the crankshaft to the camshafts, and thus keep the valves in sync with the pistons. Belts might be cheaper to manufacture, and they definitely produce less noise. But they also require replacement every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. While the cost of the part isn’t high, swapping… More →
The end of aftermarket leather?
Manufacturers often only offer leather in a model with a bunch of other features, such as a sunroof. Or vehicles with leather are in short supply. Or leather simply isn’t offered in a model. The usual solution: aftermarket leather. But Automotive News reports today that GM has had to buy back 800 cars because they were re-sold with aftermarket leather.… More →
Chicago: in retrospect
I’m back from Chicago now, and totally exhausted. In the end, it was a good event for meeting other members of the press, but the amount of news was lacking.
Chicago: Pontiac G8 revisited
Here’s how the new car intros work. They give a presentation, then invite the press up on to the stage to ask questions and look at the car. At that point it’s usually possible to sit inside the new car. After the intro, the car is moved to a revolving raised platform or is moved to the floor but cordoned… More →
2008 Scion xB: will current owners go for it?
My initial response to the fully redesigned, larger, more powerful, and more stylish Scion xB was that Toyota had improved the car in just about every way, and that it should sell well. But on my way out of the show I stopped by the Scion area and sat in the current xB, as it’s been a while since I… More →