balthazar

I hate the fact that this car is coming.

The core divisions NEED presidents with power & authority, then they need their own Engineering departments & budgets. What does anyone expect when all divisions generate product from a handful of pitri dishes?? Other statements are misleading and innacurate. 'how many G6 & Solstice versions can they do?' There's 2 of each. For many years there were 4 or 5 different Firebirds. Point?? But the general jist is on track. Admirable for Duhlorenzo. Even if he offers absolutely zero suggestion for 'fixing' the problem.

CR filters surveys of 810,000 vehicles over 8 years. That's 101,000 vehicles per year... in a circa 16,500,000 unit year. That's a statistical sampling of 0.6%. Undobtedly, some vehicles are not reported on as plentifully as others. CR published reliabilty scores on --for example-- the infiniti q45. That car sells in the neightborhood of 450 units per year. 0.6% of 450 is less than 3 cars. Why doesn't CR publish the number of vehicles their 'results' are based on? Popular Mechanics used to publish the number of owner-driven miles in their long-term reviews of vehciles in the 1960s. Can there be any other reason than because it would devalue their 'findings' due to insignificantly low samplings??? Add to that the fact that CR has never and will never reveal the formulas for how these surveys are tabulated into half-black or half-red circles, among a number of other cryptic proceedures, and you are left with NOT an "influential and respected" publication but a great case study for self-promotion and public manipulation. At least the talks & open allegations of bias are spreading to the point that unrelated press conferances by CR are now prompted to address this very issue. Hopefully either full disclosure or outright reputation damnation will follow. The consumer is growing too smart/well informed for CR's charade to continue much longer.

The Aspen/Volares of the late '70s were not bad cars at all. I agree: most consumers (whom are not "true car fans") will not remember the Dodge/Plymouth versions at all.

You couldn't get any closer:

Available

NOS: why would I be doubtful that GM founded anything in the 1800s? Think about it... Sixty8: No... but it's ironic you should mention porsche...

In looking at a wide variety of automotive personalites, it surprised me that I only came across 1 marker that had a visual reference to the deceased's fame. In other words: What automotive pioneer has a likeness of one of his vehicles on his stone?

Gdammit; you're right, ocn! I am such a maroon! Waitaminnit... you're not referencing a recent board question, are you :?:

With due respect CARBIZ- in studying post-war Pontiacs dealers, the -vast majority built up in the '50s & '60s had changed locations/ names and/or owners by the close of the '80s. This was revealed via a compilation of dealer codes, which will change when any of those 3 change (possibly exception: short-distance location change). You are right tho- 'handed-down' dealerships can stagnate over time, tho they also occasionally elevate customer service to a higher level...

Likely it's immaterial: it was pronounced 'cray-po'.

Ahh, the ol' pop-culture favorite... with a twist: David Dunbar Buick, 9/17/1854 - 3/5/1929. Founder: Buick Auto-Vim & Power Company, 1899. Buried: Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit MI. Henry Martin Leland, 2/16/1843 - 3/26/1932. Founder: Cadillac Automobile Company, 1902. Buried: Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit MI. Louis Chevrolet, 12/25/1878 - 6/6/1941. Founder: Chevrolet Motor Company, 1911. Buried: Holy Cross & St Joseph Cemetery, Indianapolis IN. Ransom Eli Olds, 6/3/1854 - 7/26/1950. Founder: Olds Gas Engine Works, 1890. Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Lansing MI. William Crapo Durant, 12/8/1861 - 3/18/1947. Founder, General Motors, 1908. Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx NY. Edward M Murphy, unknown - 1909. Founder: Oakland Motor Car Company, 1907. Buried: unknown. No image available.

Winton

Quadray

Nadig

The 'luxury sport' coupe buyers must not be well informed at all if they think an introduced-in-'04 nameplate has absolutely anything to do with a previously produced version from the 1960s.

2-hp, variable speed, professional grade, nice router.

Agreed. It's subjective, but it should be fact-based opinion, not wild, inaccurate opinion. Variance gave a tidy overview of a solid approach. But just like I said: watch the 'best choice compared to others' segment. No one vehicle is an absolute class leader and here is where many 'journalists' go overboard by glossing over what's unimportant to them and unduly weighing what is. Right then they proclaim 'its the best' meanwhile omitting any reference to the tiny phrase "for me"... and the article is wrapped up as 'case closed'. Most journalists today fall into this trap.

word that! Vehemently avoid using stereotypes and cliche's; not so much in general but automotively-speaking. Also avoid making constant comparisons to other cars: saying 'the radio power knob takes more effort to turn than a _____' tells us nothing- there is no comparison vehicle that is a universal common ground (I've never even been inside a camry). Other than that- have at it. I would be more than happy to copyproof it (spelling/grammar) for you, if you'd like. (Not saying there's anything wrong with your skills, TC- but it's usually beneficial to have a 2nd pair of eyes on it and you clearly want to present a piece of quality).

Well here we go- another forced mandate coming down the pike like a loaded tri-axle Peterbilt with no brakes. I can hear the rumble and rush- can you? Repeatedly- 'not based on any research' is quoted, yet watch it become an inspection & ticketable offense by 2016. Tire degredation is a result of UV exposure, chemical exposure, proper inflation, useage, material composition and time. And undoubtedly a few other factors. This only seeks to address the time factor. Unilaterally. It's baseless. In protest, I may merely replace the tubes on my 1960s Atlas PlyCord 10-ply 7.00x20s on my COE and drive it.

I've seen a few of these commercials and they are rather dumb. Wife agrees. "My Fast likes to drive with the windows down" is of course grammatically incorrrect, which makes one who may be aware of such trivialties even casually ponder it. Can work both ways. The little plastic creature is cool looking- if you're 12, but it's not imagined; it's really sitting there in the back seat. I know I'm being too literal but it's still pretty weird. The other with the dominatrix and the babbling 'scientist' where they destroy a riced honda is also weird, as it spends more camera time with the honda & the characters than the VW it is supposed to be advertising. VW has had some very leading edge and iconic advertising in the past, but 'Driver's Wanted' is one of the worst taglines of all time- it's a hand-written 'help wanted' sign in the front door of a pizza parlour. Awful.

Powell

Egads! that's gruesome!! After seeing pics of JDM vehicles over the years and being convinced they were much too hideous to ever be imported here... here they come. It's like a nightmare you cannot wake up from. Makes the echo look like an enzo (wait- that doesn't work since the enzo is also horrific...)

Menominee

I don't think "failed" is warranted in the least. Never heard that term applied to the NSX and they sell less than 200 per year. And no- that's no intentional; if the demand was more honda would screw more together. Followed a sweet medium blue Goat today- the car continues to grow on me. Someone rip over here in theirs and give me a ride, willya?