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Cars
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Monday, 16 March 2009 07:23 |
 I've never really owned anything close to a new car until this past year. And while my 5 year old car is nice and has lots of new performance and safety features, I still have fond memories of my very first car, a '76 Firebird.
The Pontiac Firebird, essentially the same build as a Chevy Camaro/Z28 back in '76 is being brought back to life in the form of the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. And Chevy's not alone. For the first time in 26 years, the Camaro will go head to head with new offerings from Ford and Dodge with updated, retro offerings of the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger. These are three beauties sure to turn heads this summer.
General Motors Corp. begins building the 2010 Camaro today at its Oshawa Car Assembly plant in Canada. Ford Motor Co. will start rolling out redesigned 2010 Mustangs from its assembly plant in Flat Rock later this month, and Chrysler LLC's Dodge brand will introduce new retro colors such as B-5 blue for Challengers built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario.
While 2009 is expected to be another poor year for auto sales, these cars are just too sexy not to cause a blip. The V-6 models with highway mileage expected somewhere between 25-30 MPG should be especially attractive. I know that's a lot better than the 15-18 MPG I got with my '76 bird.
 Like some folks today, my first car was a bank repossession. Essentially it was taken from the original owner when they stopped making the payments they owned. My dad picked the car up for $100. It needed a new transmission and water pump but the body was holding up and the interior only had a few holes through the floor board. I was the stereo guy in the neighborhood. So I'd help my buddies with installing electronics and they'd help me with fixing my ride. It worked out great. I owned a $100 with a $300 stereo. Nice.
The "bird" as my friends called it was like a member of the gang. We took it everywhere. Usually it was me, a couple of friends and an igloo cooler of beer. We mostly stayed out of trouble but I have a good "fireworks out the windows" story while cruising along Jefferson Ave in Gross Pointe I'll have to share some time.
 Now this is kind of funny. I listened to a lot of Earth Wind and Fire in that car, doesn't have anyting to do with the story but sets the mood. Anyway, I'm on a date with this girl Marie, nice Italian girl, we're on our way home from a party and I take a turn a little too fast. Well, the Firebird had a funky door jam and unless you slammed the passenger door nice and hard it was never really shut all the way. It was just stuck. So I take this turn and the passenger door swings open. We didn't wear seat belts back then like we do now and my date almost goes flying out the side of the car. I grabbed her and averted disaster but oh, that was a close one. I think "Love's Holiday" was playing at the time.
The 2010 Camaro is going to be at the center of fond memories for an entire new generation of car owners. The pundits may poo-poo the muscle car offerings as being poorly timed and not the ideal "Green" offering, but in many ways it's exactly what people need. These days there isn't a whole lot that makes you feel good everytime you get in it or just see it. |
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Cars
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Sunday, 08 March 2009 15:58 |
 When I was working as an analyst at Gartner Group we would often get nascent companies coming in to brief us on new business models. It helped us uncover market dynamics that were about to change and the startups benefited from our macro view as we aggregated similar information from countless firms. We got some G2 and they got some free advice. For example, Sky Dayton, founder of Earthlink, wanted feedback on his utility for getting everyday people on the Internet. Yes there was a time when fiddling with Winsock was a real party. Then there was Jerry Yang and David Filo who stopped by with a business plan for Yahoo.
Now, those are two examples of wildly successful Internet companies from the mid 90's. But for every winner there was countless losers. Pointcast anyone? Many of these companies were trying to launch products and services without any clear differentiation or value proposition. We used to joke it was like starting a venture capital meeting off by saying, "I have a great new idea for a word processor to take on Microsoft Word."
So what does any of this have to do with cars. Well, I have some friends opening a Mazda car dealership in Flagstaff, Arizona. Bad timing, right? The economy has tanked, unemployment is hovering near 10%, the foreclosure madness continues and who in their right mind would even consider buying a new car right now? Yikes!
Actually I like it. First off, it's a Mazda dealership, Peak Mazda in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mazda has one of the strongest lineups of cars and trucks that are fun to drive, fuel efficient and reliable. If you were even considering getting in the car dealership business Mazda would be at the top of my list of brands to consider. Secondly, dealerships are a unique franchise that aren't just handed out like Quiznos. The closest dealership to Peak Mazda is some 60 miles away.
So if you're considering a new car and live in the Flagstaff area, you've got to check out Peak Mazada. They got a nice selection of both new and used cars. Ask for John Gitre and tell him the folks at funkyfresh sent you.
Visit Peak Mazda for more information or stop by today. |
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Cars
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Friday, 27 June 2008 04:57 |
 One of the best cars I've ever owned was a Mazda 626. I put 215K on that sucker and it was still running great. The air conditioning died and the passenger window didn't work anymore but it ran like a champ. Sold it to a friend for $1500 and he was still driving it 2 years later.
I've owned a variety of cars but I have to say the Mazda was one of my favorites. For release this fall the Mazda lineup is looking pretty good. Good bang for buck and fun to drive. Google "2009 Mazda 6" and you will see a sharp looking ride. Especially the 5 door hatchback. I know it's not cool to drive a hatch back here in the states but I love them.
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Cars
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Wednesday, 03 August 2005 00:00 |
 For a couple of years now, I have been following the car industry closely. A few years ago, I asked myself (and obviously some people in Detroit did as well) 'What would happen if U.S. car companies put as much effort into building great cars as they have done with their wildly successful S.U.V.s''
Well, we're starting to see that answer, thanks to rising gas prices and what seems like a general preference for a return to automobiles. And that's good news, because I have felt that for a long time, people would be more than willing to buy a U.S. automobile, providing it was a well-made car.
Confession time. I grew up loving BMW's. Ever since the early '80's when the beloved 3-series gained prominence, I have been fascinated by this company's ability to combine sports car performance with luxury driving. I still believe nobody does that better, but the Big Three have made some very credible strides.
Let's start with Ford. Quite simply, they did a great job on the Mustang redesign. It really captures the essence of the great American muscle car. And that's no small achievement. Look, time was, America flat-out made some kick-ass cars. And for any further discussion on the subject, I refer anyone to the 1968 Steve McQueen classic 'Bullitt'. Ford, in a brilliant marketing campaign, brought McQueen back to life to launch the new Mustang. For anyone who has seen the movie, they know how awesome it is to watch McQueen, in a forest-green 1968 Mustang, chase some bad guys up and down San Francisco hills in an equally bad-ass 1968 black Dodge Charger. The Charger was a beautiful car in its own right, and I think Dodge may have done its fans a disservice by not re-launching its latest version of the Charger in a coupe.
As for Chrysler, they have perhaps made the biggest splash of all. The 300C won Motor Trend's Car of the Year in 2004, and deservedly so. It's breathtaking design turned many heads, and let's face it, it doesn't hurt to have an endorsement from the gangsta community. Next come the NBA a'playas' and the next thing you know, it's a three- month waiting list to get one. Nonetheless, with a respectable interior and some good old-fashioned American power, this car is a very attractive option for those who don't want to pay high premiums for German or Japanese imports.
However, it's worth noting one trend I've seen in past few years. In an effort to get people into showrooms, and younger buyers in particular, I've noticed American makers (Chrysler and GM, more specifically) are more willing to 'stretch' design concepts to generate buzz. The 300C, for example, has a rather large front grille, some even mistake it for a Bentley. And for this, they deserve some credit. However, I'm left wondering something. If U.S. car makers weren't so eager to gain back market share, would their designs be more mainstream'
Specifically, I'm thinking of the Cadillac CTS. This was the 1st car in Cadillac's Art + Science design philosophy, and it has been very successful in luring younger buyers who would perhaps otherwise be interested in Mercedes or BMW into their showrooms. The CTS looks to be a fine car, and again, with GM offering employee discounts to everyone, the price is more than right. However, I feel like the style may be a bit too edgy, and I wish the car looked more like the STS in stature. However, Cadillac has to be pleased with this car and how it has helped put Cadillac on the map, especially with its V-series, aimed specifically at challenging BMW's M-series racers and Mercedes' AMG series of cars.
Speaking of the STS, I find this to be the U.S. most attractive offering so far. It certainly isn't your granddaddy's Caddy, and it certainly doesn't belong to Uncle Guido, either. In looks and performance, it presents a viable alternative to its pricier German counterparts.
Which brings me to Mercedes and BMW. I have a few issues to raise here. The first one is pricing, and this isn't the fault of either car company. It seems to me, that with the money everyone made in the nineties, that these cars became too popular. I mean, let's face it, people are crazy for these cars, and rightly so. By most counts, these two car companies still represent the best in the business, whether you prefer luxury (Benz) or driving exhilaration (BMW). But, to get good 8-cylinder power, you're paying at least $60,000 dollars for one of these (either the 5-series with an 8, or an E-class with an 8). That's a bit obscene, and frankly, that's where either the Cadillac STS or a Chrysler 300C, both thousands of dollars cheaper, become more attractive.
Another complaint, and this one ss for BMW, what have you done with my car company' The one I fell in love with back in the eighties made beautiful cars, but they were also rooted in simplicity, as in, simple designs and simple to operate. Now, you've got to take a three-day course on how to operate the 5-series, and the popularity of these cars has led to some ridiculous pricing, $45,000 for a loaded 3-series' Please.
Regardless, if I had to make a recommendation right now, I would be inclined to say hold off on the domestic purchase for another three years. The reason is I still have my druthers about quality control issues with GM and others, so it may be wise to hold off and make sure all of the kinks are worked out. And besides, as much as I like the new Caddy's, it still seems to go better with a slightly older demographic. But, as always, it comes down to personal preference. As for the Chrysler 300, let's face it, I just don't have enough bling to make that one work.
But don't be surprised if 3-4 years from now, people are raving about Lincoln and Cadillac. It wouldn't be the first time. As hard as it is to believe now, back in the 1950's and 60's, people thought as highly of Lincoln and Cadillac as they do of Mercedes and BMW today. Heck, when Elvis died, he had like 50 Cadillacs and Lincolns. And one thing remains for sure. When America sets out to do something, it succeeds. So who knows, what's old may indeed be new again.
DJ Chris
Catch DJ Chris on 670 "The Score" Sunday nights live from Chicago from 8 to midnight Central time. He broadcasts as the "Bagboy with Jimmy Greenfield." |
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Wednesday, 09 June 2004 00:00 |
 When VW rolled out the hip new Jetta in the late 90s they had an advertising campaign to match that nailed its target market spot on. Remember the VW ad that featured the couple in the black Jetta cruising down the street while everything around them was happening in synch with the music' At the end of the street they glance at each other and the guy says, 'That was interesting.'
That's when the Jetta was hip, young and cool. VW still have some great ads featuring young people driving their cars listening to cool music while fighting the power. But what the hell happened to the product'
Volkswagen has lost its way big time the last couple of years. In fact, with sales down 15% from last year the company now sells fewer cars in the US than Kia. That's right, Kia. So you can understand why the company has been in a panic to roll out its new line of cars, in particular the new Jetta, which accounts for roughly 40% of VWs total sales in the United States.
The problem is, they didn't make a new Jetta. They made a Corolla. Have you seen this nondescript bubble car' Who snuck into the Toyota design center to steal the cad drawings of this ugly beast' The tag lines for the new ads should be, 'The New Jetta is all Grown Up'and Ugly.'
Only hybrids or Japanese economy cars are supposed to look this ugly. Perhaps VW thought consumers were buying Toyotas because they're, as Zoolander would say, really, really, good looking. No, sorry, wrong. The reason someone buys a toyota is because they want one of the the most reliable cars built in the world.
Toyotas are bullet proof. VWs are not. VWs have been known to suffer from electrical and other problems. Just recently the company had issues with faulty ignition coils forcing them to recall 2001, 2002 and 2003 Jettas, Beetles, Golfs and Passats, as well as Audi A4s and TTs. VW can only get by on sexy good looks and advertising for so long. After a while people catch on.
Consumers have been willing to overlook the quality issues of the VW line because the products offer some of the sharpest looking cars with killer interiors and ergonomics that are second to none. But if VW loses even part of that equation in it's effort to boost US sales it will surely be crushed by the likes of Toyota and other car companies that make perfectly fine, plain vanilla bubble cars. |
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Monday, 01 June 1998 00:00 |
I first test drove the EV1, from General Motors in 1998. It was only available in the Bay Area for about two years. I only saw a handful on the road. For most of us who spend a lot of time on the road, it's just not practical. I would hate to run out of juice on the Sunol Grade, ouch! For those of you not familiar with the Sunol Grade, just imagine your worst traffic nightmare and multiply that experience by ten.
But lets break down life with the electric car. First, you have to have a special charger installed at your house. It's 220, the same type of juice that an electric dryer requires. It needs to run on it's own circuit, so you or an electrician will have to run some conduit and install the special plug for the charger. Other than that, the only thing you have to worry about is keeping the car plugged in. I cruised around with my friends and had a great time. Everywhere we went we were making friends and people were asking about the car. How fast can it go' How often do you have to charge it' How much' I haven't gotten this much attention in a car since I was back in Detroit and one of my buddy's dads let us drive around in a bright yellow comfortable IROC Z-28 fresh off the production line. Looking back we are lucky we did not hit any retaining walls at a high rate of speed on our way to Canada. Yikes! As odd as it may sound the EV1 and the IROC have a few things in common. Both are extremely fast off the line. It's a kick to see the look on someone's face as you accelerate in the EV1. Most folks think the electric car would be slow. And just like the IROC which was a real head turner when it first debuted, the EV1 looks like a space car. The lights on the dash, the aerodynamic body, the funny sounds it makes when you back up or toot the horn. It's just a lot of fun to drive around in. Unfortunately, the IROC and the EV1 also share a major downside. You can almost see the fuel gauge edge towards empty as you drive along. The EV1's mileage will vary depending on how you drive. But who wants to putt-putt along when you can really get up and go. I found myself constantly looking at the fuel gauge while driving the car. This is a major downside. GM says you can get about 60 miles or so to the charge. I found with my driving habits, 40 miles was more like it. I went back and forth to work and ran a few errands. I wasn't comfortable venturing too far away from home for fear that I would not be able to find a charging station. Some BART stations, malls, Fry's electronics of course, and a few Costco outlets have installed the chargers and more are on the way. But charging an electric car can take several hours. Edison is working on a charger that will "fill-er-up" in about 15 minutes which will be nice. Speeding up the charging process is the first step and the next will be increasing the distance you can travel on a single charge. Other car companies such as Honda are offering cars with nickel metal hydride batteries which are an improvement over the lead acid batteries used in the EV1. And eventually we'll probably see vehicles with the industrial equivalent of the lithium ion batteries found in today's laptop computers. Or perhaps something even better. You think computer batteries are expensive, Yikes! Getting a new battery for you car may have a whole new meaning twenty years from now. During my trial of the EV1, I must have taken about 40 people for a test drive. After getting over the initial excitement people start asking the practical questions I mentioned above. From my unscientific survey I think it boils down to this: People are into being energy conscious but they don't like worrying about how much charge is in the tank. Increasing the charge capacity is absolutely critical to the success of the electric car market. Also, most folks are used to the sounds, squeaks and rattles of internal combustion engines. The sound and feedback electric cars provide will be critical to drivers and the people around them. The EV1 sounds a bit like a Lear jet on the inside. I liked it but a majority of people I took for a ride found it distracting. And lastly, the EV1 and other electric cars need to provide the same cargo room and amenities that can be found in today's gas guzzlers. That's a pretty tall order because batteries take up a lot of space and air conditioning sucks the juice. Most of the time I can get away without AC here in northern California but I want the cabin of my vehicle suitable for penguins during the heat waves. I can't imagine you will find many electric cars on the roads in Texas these days. So what's the verdict' Well It really doesn't matter because this first car is more of an experiment than anything else. It's not a practical replacement for today's gas powered hogs, unless you have Honda Civic with a gas leak. The good news is these cars are only going to get better. Already there are hybrid cars that are using clever designs that combine the best of today's' cars with the fuel efficiency of electric cars. Eventually you'll have several options when you go to fill your tank. Your car of tomorrow will run on a little bit of everything. I would like something similar to the Delorean from Back to the Future or maybe an SUV that ran on donut boxes, In-N-Out burger wrappers, and empty beer bottles. someday...someday...For now, hang onto that civic .... |
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Ford has brought the Explorer back to life in grand fashion. When the first Explorer rolled off the line in 1990 the Spin Doctors and Divinyls were road trip favorites and you could enjoy either on CD or Cassette. 
Look at this interior. Are you kidding me? This vehicle gets better gas mileage, has all the important bells and whistles and is priced $1k less than the previous model. We expect the 2011 Ford Explorer to do very, very well and we couldn’t be happier for the good people of Michigan and the great Midwest.