Recent Comments:
Ford investing $75M to switch Michigan Truck plant from trucks to cars {Autoblog}
Aug 26th 2008 5:07PM Here's to hoping that they aren't going to produce the outdated Focus there for a few more years to 'recoup costs'.....
Ford has an amazing opportunity to haul over a bunch of diesels and take a lead in the domestic automaker market, but I sense they'll let more opportunities slide away.
Volvo C30 diesel anyone?
A stroll through the MVNO graveyard {Engadget Mobile}
Aug 26th 2008 2:41PM The mistake of the FCC or whoever that setup the cell networks was this: No standard spectrum is not a good thing for competition. Sure, there are basically two, with two carriers each, but...no standard network means you can't shop for networks with one phone, meaning wasted devices all over the place.
After 9/11, Homeland Security missed an opportunity to standardize all wireless networks in the name of national security when it comes to communications networks. One standard network would be available to all companies to use. Think the internet and isps instead of old school ma bell. Yes, it was 2003 or 4 before portability made people think this way, but it's not too late to make things right.
Outside of the big brother aspect of this, I think it's where the US needs to be with wireless networks. We need to have one standard for all wireless providers, will cell towers maintained by uncle sam. Big brother would ensure that communication is viable all the time in case of emergency (less land lines). Then any provider can offer service and will more or less be held accountable, since you'll be able to hop providers with the same equipments. We'd also see a larger offering of phones (at higher unlocked prices), and companies would be forced to stop handling us the table scraps of crappy cameras and crippled tech features.
Smart recalls ForTwo for bad paint, which could lead to loss of windshield or roof {Autoblog}
Aug 24th 2008 8:57AM Did anyone actually read whole linked article, including you Jeremy?
It says 43 cars affected, not 43% or 4300.
From the original article there are more sensible quotes like:
'handful of 2008 ForTwos' and 'The recall only affects 43 units'.
While I'm not a ForTwo fan, either go with the intent of the story (interesting construction methods), or try to make a joke about that being half of the units sold or something. Outside of that, it's just an excuse to see what the trolls have to say. ;)
HTC Touch Diamond launching on Sprint in September for $299.99? {Engadget Mobile}
Aug 19th 2008 5:43PM *Yawn*
Where's the Touch Pro at? ;)
I get where they're coming from wanting an iPhone competitor, which this will do well at, but not releasing the touch pro alongside it will mean another game of catch-up when AT&T and the others release their touch pro and the x1, etc.
Chrysler expanding Detroit plant for car-based Grand Cherokee {Autoblog}
Aug 13th 2008 3:45PM Make it a WAGON, more like the dead magnum but with less of a sloped tail. Could be a pretty sweet ride, more so than the slightly oversized Flex
Subaru holds the line on WRX pricing {Autoblog}
Aug 8th 2008 4:27PM While everyone is sitting around debating how much the 08 owners got screwed over...shouldn't we be asking ourselves a more sensible question?
That being:
Why do most car companies wait entirely too long to make needed changes to their cars to make them sell more/fix know issues?
It's outstanding that at least one company will change so drastically after the first year in response to the market.
Subie only recently changed its ways with the B9, while Chrysler has yet to deliver its promises for radical changes to the underwhelming stratus/sebring/caliber/you name it.
Cadillac prices Escalade Hybrid from $71,685 {Autoblog}
Aug 8th 2008 4:20PM 'MSRP of $71,685 (a mere $3,600 premium over a comparably-equipped Escalade, GM boasts)'
Except that the current Escalade, like all other SUVs, is probably selling for at least 25% less than MSRP right now.
If that were so, then it would be ridiculously long before the technology would pay for itself.
Hopefully they're more ready than Chrysler to put this technology into the small SUVs instead of trying to keep living the ca$h hog overpriced giant SUV dream. Sorry, but that domain belongs to Land Cruisers and Land Rovers and the like again.
Industry in trouble when Toyota writes down leases {Autoblog}
Aug 7th 2008 10:13AM Not really a Toyota fan, but this isn't anything more than stating the obvious: People aren't buying as many cars, but they're still buying more Toyotas than Chryslers.
So...they're setting aside reserves ahead of time instead of waiting for the bad news? Not so sure what that means.
Regardless, I think the overall number of years between new car purchases/leases will increase, which is a factor that you can be sure the big 3 aren't accounting for.
Mercedes-Benz to add BlueTec diesels to GLK and C-Class by 2010 {Autoblog Green}
Aug 1st 2008 3:56PM I'm guessing C means C300 area more than the C200.
It would be nice (though very un-benz) to offer a diesel on the low end model without all the bells/whistles/etc.
Asking for it on the upcoming B class then would be just silly. Not that 167 hp thing, but something diesel may make me get my first benz.
ABG First Drive: 2009 Chrysler Aspen/Dodge Durango 2-Mode hybrids {Autoblog Green}
Aug 1st 2008 9:30AM While I don't doubt the fuel savings over the conventional gas setup, this is the symbol of the arrogance of car companies thinking that they can just keep chugging away with the overpriced SUV model.
You would've thought that they learned their lesson with the ill-timed Jeep Commander introduction. That would've been the perfect time to reevaluate the hybrid application and adapt it for the Nitro/Liberty.
Instead, Chrysler chose to try and keep the SUV cash cow dream alive. This isn't a rant as much as an expression of disappointment that Chrysler let themselves be caught with their pants down when it comes to fuel efficient cars.
They desperately need to hit up VW for their new diesel engine to slap into the caliber/compass/patriot platform. You'd think they could get at least something from the minivan deal....but perhaps not. They couldn't even get a proper diesel from MB for their small cars, outsourcing VW diesels for the caliber in Europe.
