Mark Tapscott, after doing yoemans work on Carnival Of Cars (which, you may remember, was started here) has been fairly silent lately. So, with a tip of the hat to Mark, I'm going to pick up CoC sporadically for a while.
Sooooo... let's set the choke and jump on the kickstart lever...
GM's Fastlane Blog discusses the concept of "well to wheels" emissions, or Life Cycle Analysis. According to Norm Brinkman, Argonne National Labs found that "E85 using ethanol made from corn reduced CO2 by about 20 percent compared with gasoline while ethanol made from cellulosic energy crops reduced CO2 by about 75 percent."
Surprising conclusion: the Acura TL is ugly.
At TTAC, Ken Elias writes on how to save the U.S. auto industry: "Lead, follow or get out of the way. The feds should force GM to follow Ford’s example. Chrysler should get out of the way. And then, with American talent and determination, our auto industry can once again be the envy of the world."
Edmund's Daily asks, "Who's cleaner with their car--guys or gals?"". Answer may surprise.
Edmund's posts a tasty bit of retro-TV video, a montage of The Fall Guy truck jumps. Oh, and there's some girl in a bikini, too.
Steve Parker bring us an LA Times story which tells how Obama has ended the controversial (especially if you are a Teamster) policy of allowing Mexican trucks to operate inside of 25 miles of the U.S. from Mexico.
Mark Tapscott wonders if Obamanomics means the end of personal mobility, and AutoProphet responds with a hearty "not dead yet!". Hey, I can link to myself if I want to, it's my CoC!
Over at the AUTOEXTREMIST, Peter De Lorenzo lays down several pages of napalm. Don't read the rant unless you are ready to buy a new monitor. An excerpt: "I’m tired of the auto industry being treated like an old broken down piece of meat or something that should be taken out back and shot. Our so-called “leaders” in Washington - particularly certain senators and representatives who should know better - have relegated an entire industry to the dust heap. And why? So a few idiot southern senators can tout their states as the “new” center of the auto industry? Or is it because Detroit and the center of industrial America don’t quite fit into the new “Green” world that Northern Californian politicians want to shove down our collective throats?" Preach it, brother!
Trollhattan Saab has shut down, but is being reborn over at Saabs United. There, rumors are reported that a Sheikh Maktoum may be interested in investing in Saab. Rock the casbah!
At IfItsGotAnEngine, a tale of smashing a piano, followed by learning how to repair pianos, all due to sloppy Tacoma loading.
Joe Sherlock drops lots if interesting right-of-center political commentary, not much new on cars lately.
Autoblog reports that researchers have invented self healing auto paint. Impregnated with chitosan, the paint will re-connect with itself to smooth out the scratch. A note to our Jewish readers, chitosan comes from crustacean shells, so licking your car would not be kosher. Especially if it is a VW.
Jalopnik claims that unemployed UAW guys will be retrained to make fashionable hats. I'd be fact-checking this one.
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Saturday, March 14, 2009
Never Buy a Salvage Car That Has Been "Clipped"
You need a car, and you don't have much money. You find a guy on Craigslist selling a salvage-titled vehicle which has been "expertly repaired, new front clip".
You don't want it.
A "clip", as the repair guys call it, is when a car is cut through the unibody, and a major portion (like, half of the front end) is welded on. On the outside, it looks fine, but underneath the exterior panels, what you have is non-contiguous steel welded together. It may be done well, but it may not be. Chances are, it isn't as strong as the original design, and in a serious crash, it may offer much less protection than a normal car would.
Automuse has some good posts on this subject.
A better bet: buy a car that needs a new engine, and then find a local mechanic to drop in a donor motor from a junk yard. I've seen decent chassis for sale for $500-$1000, that when combined with a junkyard motor, would be a servicable car.
You don't want it.
A "clip", as the repair guys call it, is when a car is cut through the unibody, and a major portion (like, half of the front end) is welded on. On the outside, it looks fine, but underneath the exterior panels, what you have is non-contiguous steel welded together. It may be done well, but it may not be. Chances are, it isn't as strong as the original design, and in a serious crash, it may offer much less protection than a normal car would.
Automuse has some good posts on this subject.
A better bet: buy a car that needs a new engine, and then find a local mechanic to drop in a donor motor from a junk yard. I've seen decent chassis for sale for $500-$1000, that when combined with a junkyard motor, would be a servicable car.
The New Worlds Cheapest Cars
When I was 9 years old I remember my parents surprising us and driving home in what appeared to be a large metal box with 4 bicycle tires attached. We couldn't believe our eyes as they pulled up in the driveway with a $3990 sales sticker still on the window. What was even more shocking was that this large metal box wasn't a box at all it was actually a brand new car called the Yugo. At that time the Yugo was just being introduced to the United States and they were marketing it as the world's most affordable car. We immediately hopped inside to take a look at the simple interior and went for a ride around the block. I immediately compared the ride to that of a roller coaster because from start to finish it just felt very unsafe due to the poor cheap quality of the car.
All it took was one ride to realize that $3990 was actually over priced for this hunk of garbage. The Yugo became quite the phenomenon for a few months, but very soon later most people started to realize that when it comes to quality and safety with an automobile, $3,990 wasn't going to get you very far. Within a year, the seats on the car both fell out, the clutch went bad, the heating system broke, and the engine was shot. At first we thought maybe we just got a lemon, but soon realized that this was common with almost every Yugo. The Yugo only lasted for a few years after becoming more of joke than anything else, as dealerships couldn't give that car away.
Now it's the year 2009 and similar to the Yugo, India is releasing the "Tata Nano" which is being advertised as the world's cheapest new car at roughly $2500. The Tata Nano is a small, rear-engined, four-passenger car aimed primarily at the Indian market and yet to be released to the United States. Newsweek identifies the Nano as a part of a "new breed of 21st-century cars" that embody "a contrarian philosophy of smaller, lighter, cheaper" and portend a new era in inexpensive personal transportation - and potentially, "global gridlock" . The Wall Street Journal confirms a global trend toward small cars, which includes the Nano. Now I don't know if the quality of the Nano will be as poor as the Yugo, but in my opinion $2500 for a brand new car sounds a little sketchy. As a comparison, here is a breakdown of some of cheapest new cars sold in America at the moment:
1. Nissan Versa: $9,990
2. Hyundai Accent: $11,070
3. Kia Rio: $11,495
4. Chevrolet Aveo: $11,965
5. Smart fortwo: $11,990
6. Toyota Yaris: $12,205
7. Kia Spectra: $13,550
8. Suzuki Reno: $13,839
9. Hyundai Elantra: $14,120
10. Pontiac G3: $14,335
Now, I'm not sure if the Tata Nano will ever make its way to the United States or if it is a quality automobile. However just from past experience with the Yugo, I will not be one of its guinea pigs lured in by the ridiculous cheap price!
The Buick Regal 2010
The news is just coming out that Buick's Regal will be making a return to the brand's line up. Produced by GM from 1973 to 2004, the Regal was at one time one of the best selling Buicks, offered in two and/or four door body formats. The most well known iteration of the Regal was the Grand National, a stock car that won several titles in the 1980s.
GM has been considering reviving the Regal name for some time. The company is turning to its European division, Opel, to produce the Regal, a model currently sold in China. Right now the Opel Insignia is sold across much of western Europe, thus GM is expected to offer a Buick version of that car by swapping out its grill and replacing Opel badging with Buick.
2008 Introduction, Replacing the Vectra
First introduced for the 2008 model year, the Insignia has been a success for Opel. Replacing the Vectra, the Insignia is stylish, luxurious and very comfortable. Sold as a four door sedan, five door hatchback and a wagon, the Insignia seats five passengers. Only the sedan version will be sold in the US.
Like so many European vehicles, the Insignia has numerous engine choices, nine to be exact. Gas and diesel engines ranging from 1.6L I4 to a 2.8L turbo-charged V6 are available. Likely, a larger in-line four and one or two V6 powered engines will be offered with the Insignia. Unfortunately, no diesel option will be available, given the cost of meeting stringent US pollution requirements.
What the US Model May Look Like
Though US specifications for the new Regal have yet to be announced, we know that the same six-speed manual and automatic transmissions offered in Europe will be paired with the engines sold in cars in the United States. Furthermore, given that Buick is an upscale brand, leather seating surfaces, navigational controls, wood and aluminum inlays and dual zone air conditioning will either be standard features or packaged optionally.
GM has been looking at separating Opel from its operations, possibly selling off the brand or at least a share of it. That may not affect the Regal as whatever agreement is reached would likely include a long lasting supply chain for Buick's operation. Moreover, the car is sold in Brazil as the Chevrolet Vectra in the UK as the Vauxhall Insignia and will soon be sold in Australia as a Holden model.
Clearly, the Regal is coming back. Perhaps as early as this fall in the form of a 2010 model.
Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including Buick rims and BMW wheels.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan
Friday, March 13, 2009
Fuel-less Jeep?
I saw a Google text ad for Jeep on this blog today, which says:
Jeep hybrid vehicleLearn More About the New Jeep Fuel-less Vehicles Today.
If you follow the link, you'll see a page about Chrysler's ENVI program, which includes a plug-in hybrid Jeep--which has a gasoline "range extender".
It's not a "fuel-less" Jeep.
It is also important to note that only one ENVI vehicle has been confirmed for production, and the rest are, as far as we know, just demonstration prototypes or concepts.
I don't understand why Chrysler is spending money advertising vaporware.
It's not a "fuel-less" Jeep.
It is also important to note that only one ENVI vehicle has been confirmed for production, and the rest are, as far as we know, just demonstration prototypes or concepts.
I don't understand why Chrysler is spending money advertising vaporware.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
European Child Seat Testing Video
A fellow from Poland (I think) sent me a link to his YouTube page, which features various videos relating to child seat safety. This one is fascinating, it is a collection of European car seat tests. Note how the tests are done on a sled, using an actual car body (not just a moving platform like the NHTSA test). Midway, one of the seats fails, sending the little dummy spinning heels over head.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis
Lexus and BMW should be seriously scared! The new 2009 Hyundai Genesis is turning heads and making quite an impression. If you're looking for a luxury car but not the high expenses that come with it, you might want to take the 2009 Hyundai Genesis into consideration. The new Hyundai Genesis is a luxury sport sedan that closely resembles the Benz S-Class exterior. It has chrome exterior accents and with all emblems removed the car could be mistaken for a flashy Lexus or even a Mercedes. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis has 18-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories: power and heated front seats with driver memory settings, dual zone automatic climate control, an updated seven speaker Lexicon audio system, a six disc CD player, satellite radio, iPod auxiliary input jacks, and an adjustable power steering wheel. It also includes rain sensing wipers, antilock disc brakes, leather interior seating with the matching leather/wood steering wheel and trim, traction and stability control, automatic dimming rearview mirrors, front head restraints, rear power sunshade, and front/rear seat side airbags.
In addition to all these luxury features, the new Hyundai Genesis has many other optional features. You can choose between a 3.8L V6 or a 4.6L V8 engine. The V6 has 290 horsepower with 264lb.-ft. of torque and an estimated EPA fuel economy of 18-27mpg. The V6 engine may have better fuel economy but the V8 is definitely faster. The V8 engine has 375 horsepower and 333lb.-ft. torque and also does 0 to 60 in just 5.9 seconds. In both models, the six speed automatic with manual shift capability gives ultimate power to the rear wheels. Optional for both engines is a Technology Package. This package includes a computer, front/rear park assist, Logic-7 surround sound audio, navigation system with "real-time" traffic patrol, xenon headlights, a rearview camera, and Bluetooth capabilities.
The new Hyundai Genesis is a sport sedan all its own. It has a premium luxury element, extensive convenient features, and more horsepower with better fuel economy than its rivaling competitors. Best of all, this Hyundai looks and feels like a top of the line Lexus but is cheaper! The going retail price for this striking Hyundai is around $30,000 to $40,000.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Rosquin
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