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A Blog About Cars ... And More |
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Thursday February 27, 2020 AutoSketch: 1979 Lincoln Town Car - The Last Giant
Lincoln downsized the Town Car in 1980, reducing overall length by 14 inches. Cadillac downsized its full-size sedans and coupes in 1977; the last big Chrysler C-body was the 1978 model. Therefore, the '79 Town Car was truly the last of the gigantic American luxury cars, with an overall length of 233 inches. In 1970, the Town Car designation was used to denote a trim package option, including leather seating surfaces and deeper cut-pile carpeting. For 1971, a limited-edition (1,500 produced) Golden Anniversary Continental Town Car commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of Lincoln. For 1972, the Town Car was introduced as a sub-model of the Lincoln Continental model line. On nearly all examples, a vinyl top covered the rear half of the roof, with a full-length configuration optional. A raised molding over the roof incorporated coach lamps on the B-pillars. As part of the 1975 redesign of the Lincoln roofline, the Town Car adopted the oval opera windows of the Mark IV coupe. Sales rose substantially in 1977, when the Lincoln Continental Town Car was given the upright Rolls-Royce-style grille similar to the ones used on the Mark Vs. Lincoln sales grew by over 53% in the 1977 model year. Changes between 1977 and '79 were relatively minor. Town Cars of that era rode on a 127.2-inch wheelbase and weighed over 4,600 pounds. In 1979, pricing for four-door Town Cars began at ... (more >>>) Optimists On Wheels: Sales of the Lincoln brand rose over 8% in 2019. Lincoln is "claiming the strength of its crossover and SUV lineup will propel the brand to even greater heights in 2020." The division is projecting sales growth of 20%. In 2019, Lincoln sold 112,204 vehicles, mostly SUVs. Cadillac sold 156,246 during the same period; Caddy's year-over-year 2019 sales increased only 1%.
In the 1960s, VW was held up as a the pinnacle of quality. But the reality was a little different. Consider this ... (more >>>) "I Can't Smile Without You." Dave Burge weighed in on Mike Bloomberg's wanton political spending: "I mean, it's like watching Barry Manilow spend $100 million to promote a 50-date national tour of biker bars." Old Man Yells At Cloud: Presidential candidate Joe Biden said this recently to a group of primary voters, "Where I come from, you don't go very far unless you ask. My name's Joe Biden. I'm a Democratic candidate for the United States Senate. Look me over. If you like what you see, help out. If not, vote for the other Biden. Give me a look though, okay?" Huh? Headline Of The Week is from The Peoples Cube: 'Joe Biden promises lucrative board member jobs as door prizes to get people to his rallies.'
It was jam packed with great stuff: a hippie getting punched in the face, a visit to a local above-ground pool retailer, Pool Sharks (company slogan: 'Where the buyer is our chum'), Epsom salt, Peeping Tom cops, appearances by Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar, Jimmy Stuart and AFL-CIO President George Meany, Melted MASH, a puddle of The Beatles, Itchy & Scratchy in 4994 AD, murderous Flanders ("I'm a mur-diddly-urderer"), Maggie sleeping on Jello and Hans Moleman catching on fire. In 2007, I listed the Top Ten Simpsons episodes and neglected this one. It should have made the list. Sorry. Book Review: 'The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition's Evil Genius' by Bob Batchelor This is a tale about George Remus who went from a druggist's assistant to drug store owner, to flamboyant Chicago attorney to a wealthy bootlegger, to a murderer (of his wife in broad daylight in front of many witnesses), to beating the murder rap by claiming to be "momentarily insane." This should have been ... (more >>>)
His thriller novels, many featuring the character Dirk Pitt, have reached The New York Times fiction best-seller list more than 20 times. Cussler was the founder and chairman of the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), which has discovered more than 60 shipwreck sites and numerous other notable underwater wrecks. He was the sole author or lead author of more than 80 books. Many of his early novels featured classic and antique cars. Cussler actually owned the cars and they are on display at the Cussler Museum in Arvada, Colorado, where over 100 classic automobiles are on display, including the pink early-1930s Voisin from the book (and film), 'Sahara'. RIP. Small Premium: A study has shown that a "5-foot-9-inch man needs to make $30,000 more than a 5-foot-10-inch one to be as successful in the dating pool." Jeez. Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a pair of shoe lifts?
Quote Of The Day is from Shlomo Dror, an Israeli air security expert, on air travel in the U.S.: "The United States does not have a security system; it has a system for bothering people." Tuesday February 25, 2020 At The Movies: A 1939 Plymouth business coupe is parked outside the Mission Theatre in Vancouver, WA in this period photograph which was probably taken in 1939 or 1940.
Located in the Hough neighborhood at 2300 Main Street (now an artsy area known as 'Uptown Vancouver'), the Mission Theatre opened ... (more >>>)
"Tesla was also the top U.S. brand on the overall list, finishing in 11th place between Mini and Toyota. Lincoln was the next best finisher at 13. ... Fiat came in dead last at No. 33. It was preceded by Mitsubishi, Jeep, Land Rover, Cadillac, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo and GMC. Those brands comprised the bottom eight on the 2019 list as well." Only one domestic model, the Tesla Model 3, was named tops in its price category in the CR top picks list, and no U.S. brands made the top 20. The magazine said in naming the Tesla Model 3 EV as a top pick in the $45,000-$55,000 price range that the Silicon Valley automaker's sedan "offers a thrilling driving experience with a high-tech vibe." "The only top-pick winner in the under-$25,000 price category was the Toyota Corolla (small car). The $25,000-$35,000 category had three top picks: the Subaru Forester (small SUV); Subaru Legacy (midsize sedan); Toyota Prius/Prius Prime (hybrid/plug-in hybrid)." Corona Effect: People in China are spending their money on face masks, food and toilet paper, not automobiles. "The China Passenger Car Association now says the country of 1.45 billion saw new vehicle sales plunge 92 percent in the first half of February. In the first week of the month, sales were off 96%. That's 811 daily sales in a country with a population topping that of Europe and the United States combined." Meanwhile, organizers of the Beijing Motor Show announced they are postponing their event, originally scheduled for April 21-30, due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. China commerce has come to a screeching halt. Products and components are not being manufactured. Many factories have been forcibly shut down. Others claim to be open for business, but employees are failing to show up. It all adds up to a major threat to global supply chains.
Jaguar and Land-Rover claimed that they will soon shut down their assembly lines because they can't get critical components made in China. Reportedly, some GM models ... (more >>>) Eat Big! Today is Fat Tuesday. The Gospel According To Elton: In a magazine interview, Elton John said he thought that Jesus Christ was a homosexual: "I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems." Perhaps he also thinks that, when the Lord threw the money changers out of the Temple, it was some kind of hissy fit. Hey, Elton, are you giving up snorting cocaine for Lent? What Were They Sacrificing … Broccoli? A British woman was answering the call of nature at a vegan cafe when she stumbled upon members of a "satanic cult."
It must have been a big restroom because she found "20 people dressed in black robes and carrying ceremonial daggers." Headline Of The Day is from The Washington Free Beacon: 'Dem Megadonor, Gun-Control Activist Harvey Weinstein Convicted on Rape Charges'. Kinda says it all, doesn't it? "Once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers, Weinstein, 67, was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013. He faces up to 25 years in prison on the sexual assault conviction." Thought For Today: Money cannot buy happiness - but it's far more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes S-Class than on a bicycle. Friday February 21, 2020
The Genesis brand received the top score of 90 problems per 100 vehicles, beating perennial survey winner Lexus. The brands just below Genesis were Lexus at 100, Buick (103) and Porsche, scoring 104. Several luxury brands did very poorly. Mercedes-Benz ranked 22nd with a score of 152. Infiniti ranked 24th with a score of 155. Lincoln scored 119; Cadillac was 131. BMW came in at 123. Volvo (185) scored below Jeep (159) and Fiat (160). Land Rover ranked 32nd with a score of 220 and was the lowest-scoring brand. Jaguar was 30th with a score of 186 - dismal showings. Minivan Market On Life Support: Minivan sales now account for only 2% of the U.S. vehicle market. "The 408,982 sales produced by the Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, and Toyota Sienna in calendar year 2019 were a far cry from the 1.1 million sales produced by the sector in 2005, or even the 553,506 sold three years ago. But after hovering just below or above 3% of the market for half a dozen years, and after overall volume showed signs of recuperation through the middle half of the last decade, the segment's 2019 collapse suggests we haven't reached bottom yet." Tim Cain wrote, "Based on the downward trend we've seen over the last 15 years and ignoring any other market force (EVs, fuel prices, a sudden acceptance of truly mini vans), minivan sales will number fewer than 300,000 by 2021, and fewer than 200,000 by 2024."
In the late fall of that year, we were looking for an additional company car for my wife. Based on magazine research, we had narrowed our choices down to the Ford Taurus, Nissan Maxima, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. After looking at the Maxima and Taurus, we crossed them off the list. I don't remember why. Then we looked at the Accord and were impressed. Visiting the local Toyota dealer, we were told that no '87 Camrys had yet arrived but some were expected "real soon." I asked the salesman to call when the new cars arrived. Two or three weeks later, I phoned and left a message asking for a return phone call. Nada. So, we bought a new 1987 Honda Accord LXi sedan, kept it for 90,000 very satisfactory miles and sold it to a friend who ran it up to 135,000 miles before trading it on something newer. The Toyota dealer lost a very possible sale because his representative failed to keep a simple promise and chose to ignore a legitimate prospective customer. This has happened to me over and over in life - not just at car dealers. I'm always amazed at the number of salespeople who are too lazy to do their jobs properly. In those days, I heard (and experienced) loads of horror stories from friends about Corvallis auto dealers. Most involved the words "rude" and "disinterested." During the 11 years I lived in the area, my plastics firm purchased eight new vehicles. Only one - the Accord - was bought from a Corvallis/Albany OR metro area dealer. (I should point out that the Corvallis Honda dealership was pretty new and owned by a couple of Texas transplants unfamiliar with the ways of doing business in the manner of the local yokels.) Our other seven vehicles came from out of town (Salem, Portland, Eugene), where the people really wanted to do business with us.
I also had a chest-to-pelvis CT scan, which showed no activity or change. Also good news. I met with my oncologist on a cold, sunny Tuesday morning to review the results. That afternoon, I took a celebratory drive in my 1939 Plymouth business coupe, my Therapy Car during the dark days of surgery, chemo and radiation. It was still a bit chilly (49 degrees at 1:30 pm) but the skies were bright blue and I had clear views of snow-covered mountains - Mt. St. Helens to the north and the Cascades to the east. Traffic was light and I had a great old car drive. The Plymouth ran perfectly. My next blood test will be sometime in May 2020. (permalink)
Sperling sold the fake hair business to a group of investors in 2000 for $45 million. RIP. Rattan Death March: Retailer Pier 1 Imports has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. I guess the wicker chair, rattan side table, artsy candle and scented oil markets aren't what they used to be in, say, 1972. Pier 1 plans to close up to 450 stores, including one in Oregon and five in Washington state. Bad Pun of the Day: A man wanted to learn how to make ice-cream, so he started attending sundae school. Wednesday February 19, 2020 Strange Retro Space-Age Car: I saw this weird machine when I visited the Martin Auto Museum in 2013.
The custom, six-wheeled custom bubble-top car was a mixture of 1950 Studebaker at the front and 1960 Cadillac at the rear. The one-off auto, identified as X58 Ice Princess, was built in 1987 by Richard Fletcher, at first as a sedan, later as this 6-wheeled, 20-foot-long Jetsons-mobile. Reportedly the car was powered by a 500 cubic-inch Cadillac V8 engine. In 2018, it was sold at Russo & Steele's auction in Scottsdale, AZ, for $38,500. A tip of the hat to Jesse at Just A Car Guy for supplying additional information on this creation. G-Bye, Mate: General Motors is killing off its iconic Australian Holden brand.
1948 215 (FX) - Holden's first all-Australian automobile "Parent of the Holden brand since 1931, GM said production would cease by the end of 2020, spelling the end of a marque that once fielded the powerful rear-drive Commodore sedan and Ute - the ANZAC version of the El Camino. The automaker cited the needless expense of creating right-hand drive vehicles for the relatively small market as the reason for the brand's death. The last domestically-produced Holden rolled off an Australian assembly line in 2017; all Holden-badged vehicles now hail from elsewhere. GM, currently in the midst of a global streamlining effort, said it failed to find a solution that would keep the brand alive in a market that generates less than 1% of the world's sales volume."
From the article: "According to Pericak, Ford hasn't really decided exactly how this theory will manifest in future products. It sounds like he's trying to soften the blow as displacement sizes continue to shrink in adherence with rigorous environmental standards. Appearance packages marketed as performance upgrades may also become more prevalent." Performance models used to be the thing that brought customers into showrooms and lifted a brand's image. If that goes away at Ford, people will still buy vehicles, they just won't be Fords. With this kind of thinking, is there any wonder why Ford Motor Company is in trouble? Filthy Cars: I don't think our cars have been washed since early December and they really needed a good exterior cleaning. After I looked at the five-day weather forecast on Monday, we took our Lexus LS and Toyota Avalon to the local car wash and ran them through.
Both cars looked much improved. As we arrived home and pulled into our respective garages, it started to rain. Good timing. Sad Situation: The Boy Scouts of America has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to keep operating while thousands of claims of sexual abuse by former members against the national youth group are litigated. The group has $1.4 billion in assets, according to its 2018 tax filing, and would also have to publicize the bankruptcy to reach as many victims as possible. In recent years, the Boy Scouts have struggled with declining membership and rising costs. Once upon a time, the Scouts did such great things, and provided solid training for millions of young boys, including yours truly. Book Review: 'Homewreckers: How a Gang of Wall Street Kingpins, Hedge Fund Magnates, Crooked Banks, and Vulture Capitalists Suckered Millions Out of Their Homes and Demolished the American Dream' by Aaron Glantz This is an angry book written by an angry man. Early on, the author excoriates Donald Trump for remarking that after the housing meltdown of 2007, that it was a good idea to pick up some good property cheaply. That's reasonable advice and Mr. Trump was a private citizen at the time. No matter. Author Aaron Glantz is angry because … well … Trump. Despite the fact that Mr. Glantz did a little of his own vulture capitalism, picking up a foreclosed fixer-upper for himself. Self-interest, greed, irresponsibility and corruption should not be encouraged. Especially with the government and Congress sprinkling their own self-serving fragrances in the mix. Let's not forget that ... (more >>>) Quote Of The Day is from Larry the Cable Guy: "Change is inevitable, except from vending machines." Monday February 17, 2020 If You Live On The West Coast, You May Have Never Heard Of This: Back East, toll roads and bridges are in abundance. Many bridges used to cost 25¢ to cross and, before the 1980s, the entire Garden State Parkway in New Jersey had 25¢ toll booths every five miles or so. The Toll Gun allowed drivers to ... (more >>>)
Much of the profit decline can be traced to charges the company took due to diesel-related investigations and the legal costs associated with it. Additionally, the company spent heavily on its move toward electric vehicles. Ola Källenius, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, who took over for Dieter Zetsche - his popular predecessor, knew the company was facing some tough sledding and immediately began efforts to save money. The company slashed its dividend by 72%. He also instituted a variety of cost cutting measures - including staff reductions - hoping to blunt the impact of the charges. "Shareholders were given a warning about the tough earnings results, providing a warning when preliminary earnings figures were released January 22nd. Despite his changes, he suggested continued efforts would be necessary in 2020." Charging ahead with its zero-emissions strategy while returning Daimler to the level of profitability that shareholders and analysts are accustomed to is a tall order that some believe may not be possible for a few years.
Hired in 1959, he worked his way up to art director by the early 1970s. Bill's sketches, cartoons, and fine art automotive renderings are well-known to readers of R&T from that era. He earned a bachelor's degree in advertising illustration from the Art Center College of Design, graduating in 1957. Bill was "one of the original members of the Automotive Fine Arts Society, a prestigious group that celebrates and promotes the automobile as a subject worthy of the highest forms of painting and sculpture, regardless of media. He held the post of AFAS vice president for many years." If, like me, you have the large book, '50 Years of Road & Track: The Art of the Automobile', you'll be able to enjoy his talent for years to come. RIP. This Could Hurt His 2020 Presidential Chances: Creepy porn lawyer Michael Avenatti has been found guilty of trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike and is facing up to 42 years in prison. Thought For Today: Alcohol does not solve any problems - but then, neither does milk. Thursday February 13, 2020
"Vehicle sales have not been Ford's only problem. The sales slump has occurred at the same time it has struggled to move into the wildly competitive autonomous (self-driving) and electric vehicle (EV) segments. Hackett, former head of Ford Smart Mobility, promised an $11 billion restructuring shortly after he took over in 2017. The plan has triggered layoffs, which includes 10% of its global white-collar workforce. However, it has not delivered on future EV and autonomous initiatives." Last week, Ford president Joe Hinrichs was 'retired at age 53 by hapless Hackett, supposedly as punishment for the company's dismal fourth quarter financial performance. Hinrichs was well-liked and considered to be a stellar manager by those who worked with him. But as the queen said in 'Alice In Wonderland', "Off with his head!" Ford Motor Co. stock is down 38% in the past five years. The stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, is up 58% over the same period. The stock price of GM has risen 4% in that time. Ford's business strategy is as incomprehensible as a Max Ernst painting. Books Versus Film: According to a Gallup Poll, visiting a library is twice as popular as going to the movies. "On average, American adults visit a library 10.5 times a year, nearly twice as often as their 5.3 trips to the movies. At an average ticket price of over $9 a ticket, those trips to the movies cost about $50 annually, while visiting a library is free." Maybe the price difference has something to do with it?" "Women visit a library nearly twice as often as men do, 13.4 trips a year compared to 7.5. By race, white Americans make 10.6 visits a year, compared to 10.4 for non-whites. College graduates go to a library an average of 14.4 times a year, compared to an average of 6.6 times for those who have a high school diploma or less." Headline Of The Week is from The People's Cube: 'Democrats now worried they might even lose the illegal alien vote'. Book Review: 'Invested - Changing Forever The Way Americans Invest' by Charles Schwab This book is basically an autobiography and it includes much detail about Charles Schwab - the pioneer discount brokerage firm and more recently, investment advisor firm. Schwab is somewhat forthcoming about his successes and missteps although ... (more >>>) Quote Of The Day is from Daniel P. Moynihan: "Somehow liberals have been unable to acquire from life what conservatives seem to be endowed with at birth: namely, a healthy skepticism of the powers of government agencies to do good." Tuesday February 11, 2020
U.S. light-vehicle sales dropped 1% in January, with higher fleet shipments offsetting lower retail volume, as severe cold blasted the Midwest and dampened consumer demand. The seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of sales for January came in at 16.9 million, down from 17.22 million in January 2019 and December's 17.72 million rate, and marked the first month the pace of sales has dropped below 17 million since August. Cars remain a weak spot across the industry, falling 4%last month, while light-truck deliveries rose only fractionally. Ford, Honda and FCA US chalked up sales increases during the month while Toyota and Nissan tumbled. Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) posted a 3% rise, aided by big boosts in incentive spending and fleet shipments. Deliveries rose 24% at Ram but slipped 2% at Jeep. Ford Motor Co. ended a four-month sales skid with a 7% sales increase. Sales at Toyota Motor North America, meanwhile, dropped for the eighth time in the last 10 months, down 7%. Toyota brand volume fell 7% and 3% at Lexus. Car sales dropped 6% while truck deliveries, a Toyota bright spot for months, declined over 7%. Nissan Group slid 19% amid an ongoing effort to cut back on fleet sales. Nissan car sales dropped 25% and light-truck volume fell 13%. Overall, sales were down 20% at the Nissan division and 3% at Infiniti, even as the company's incentives last month continued to rise. American Honda, behind record January light-truck deliveries, saw volume edge up just under 1% at the Honda brand and 10% at Acura. American Honda said its light-truck sales rose 4%, while car demand slipped 2%. Subaru extended its streak of year-over-year monthly gains to 86 with a 4% increase in January sales. Volume dropped 7% at the Volkswagen brand and 20% at Mazda but rose 3% at Mitsubishi. Among luxury brands, volume dropped 14% at Mercedes-Benz, 5% at BMW, 2% at Audi and 24% at Genesis but jumped 13% at Porsche, 5% at Volvo, 18% at Jaguar and 15% at Land Rover.
What does this mean for car manufacturers? Ford expects to have 40 electrified vehicles by 2020. It is part of an $11 billion investment to transform the company. Volkswagen is expecting to launch almost 70 electric vehicles by 2028. GM's CEO Mary Barra anticipates her company to sell a million electric vehicles worldwide. GM is expected to have 23 electric cars by 2023. If the head of Subaru is right, the overcapacity to build electric cars will become frighteningly high. Much of the industry could face a fiscal reckoning. Production of gas-powered cars, if demand stays high, would be constrained. Manufacturing, product development and marketing would all be upended. Who wants electric cars in the United States? Aside from Tesla buyers, perhaps no one." This reminds me of Wankel Fever in the 1970s. Except electrics are a much larger fad. I would also point out that BEV (battery electric vehicles) sales represent about 1% of total vehicle sales.
The Plymouth ran well and I had a swell old car drive. Chicago Auto Show Sum-Up: I liked the looks of the 2020 Kia Cadenza, the 2021 Jaguar F-Type (which carries a lower sticker price on some models) and the 2021 Genesis GV80 big SUV. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica isn't bad-looking for a minivan. Otherwise … meh. Where's The Hat? Johnny Carson's 'Carnac the Magnificent' turban is now in a television history museum in Chicago. Sanctimonious, Flatulent Flâneur: Actor James Woods opined about Mitt Romney and his vote to impeach: "This is the guy who passes a silent stinker in the elevator and then proceeds to lecture everybody about intestinal management. You'll never come back from this one, Mittens. Even your magic pants won't save you." Biden Moment: On Sunday evening, I was cooking steaks on the outdoor grill. The temperature was in the low 40s. I mumbled, "Mighty cold to a warm, warm heart." Then I realized the phrase came from a song. But I couldn't figure out whether the mindless lyrics were from some poorly-written Elvis song from one of his unfortunate 1960s movies or a Fabian song - most of which were badly-written. And badly-sung. I fired up the Google machine and found that 'Mighty Cold To A Warm, Warm Heart' was a Fabian song released in May 1959 as the B-side of 'Like A Tiger'. The Tiger song eventually rose to Number 3 on the Billboard chart. And that was pretty much the pinnacle of Fabian's career. It's easy to not remember or mis-remember stuff when you're as old as me. Or Joe Biden. But, unlike Joe, I've never called anyone "a lyin' dog-faced pony soldier." Steampunk Joe: Biden wants to eliminate all plastics. In Hudson, NH yesterday, Joe Biden told a young boy that "we should eliminate and transition away from the use of plastics." Good luck with making all those various life-saving medical devices out of cast iron. Geezer Joke: Two elderly men were sitting on a bench. One turns to the other and says: "Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?" Slim replies, "I feel just like a newborn baby." "Really!? Like a new born baby!?" "Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants." Thought For Today is from Tom McMahon: "Liberace never was in the Army, but he **was** highly decorated!" Friday February 7, 2020
We were surprised to see the new showroom filled with sales cubicles, a huge display of custom wheels and two vehicles - 1967 Corona four-door sedan and a 1965 Stout pickup truck. Both were decently restored, although the Stout rode on oversized tires/wheels. All of the new vehicles for sale were parked outside. Some were under the large overhang; others were sitting in the rain. If you want to see a new car, you need to grab a salesperson from the cube farm, and go outside. The day we visited it was cold, dark and pouring rain. I guess this is how vehicles are sold these days. The Bloom Is Off The Rose: The Wrangler-based Jeep Gladiator pickup, a hot ticket when it was introduced one year ago, is now selling at significant discounts - up to $9,000 off the sticker price. At one time, there was a waiting list and impatient buyers paid a significant Dealer Gouge to get one. It's not a very practical pickup truck - small bed, noisy, rough-riding and has the usual Jeep quality issues.
But Tesla gets away with building cars designed to encourage drivers to become passengers; to take their hands off the wheel – and their eyes off the road – and then blames the driver when the car drives itself into something. Or someone." May I digress for a moment to opine that Tesla's stock price has now reached Full Insanity levels. A vehicle is only autonomous if it can transport me in the back seat from hospital to home following a "don't you dare drive afterwards" outpatient procedure. Or transport me in the back seat from brewpub to home after a serious bout of drinking.
The automaker teased the GMC Hummer EV during the Super Bowl with a series of commercials touting the truck's performance. "In addition to the model's 1,000 horsepower, GMC claims the Hummer EV will make 11,500 lb-ft of torque. That should be good for a 0-60 mph time of around 3 seconds." Sales are expected to begin in Fall 2021. Latecomer: After a long absence (since 2004), Chrysler is bringing back all-wheel-drive to minivans with its 2021 Pacifica. I think everyone who wanted an AWD minivan in the past 16 years has already purchased a Toyota Sienna. Toyota sold over 73,000 Siennas last year. Aren't You Glad You Don't Own This Mutual Fund? David Snowball wrote, "The ridiculously expensive Sirius S&P Strategic Large-Cap Allocation Fund (SSPLX) has returned just over 1% a year for the past five years; the fund's board of trustees has decided that its demise is in "the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders." Those interests will be advanced on February 28, 2020." Today is National Bubble Gum Day. In 2004, American Chad Fell set the Guinness Book of World Records mark for biggest bubble gum bubble, which measured in at a diameter of 20 inches. His secret to success was using three pieces of Dubble Bubble. And don't forget: Sunday is National Pizza Day.
Maybe your experience is different, but every gay man I have ever known – and remember, I lived in San Francisco just off Castro Street for several years – wanted to be called Robert, or Michael, or James. Never Bobby, Mike or Jimmy. A notable exception would be Pete Buttigieg. Though, I suppose if you are a gay man and Butt is already part of your name, adding Peter to the mix would be a bridge too far." I had a high school friend ... (more >>>) Book Review: 'How America's Political Parties Change (And How They Don't)' by Michael Barone The author is a well-known political pundit and historian. Barone is Senior Political Analyst for the Washington Examiner and a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. His latest book is short (136 pages) and to the point. It is ... (more >>>) Inexplicable Fact: Most women with buck teeth and/or serious overbites are liberals. There's a reason that left-leaning Oregon is known as The Beaver State. Democrat Circus: The Z-Man wrote that the "election show is looking like an improv skit gone terribly wrong. The main star has come down with a very bad case of dementia. His understudy is an elderly Jewish man unaware of the fact the Soviet Union collapsed thirty years ago. The rest of the players look like call backs for a film student's graduate project. What happens after the show opens next week could be some of the best unintentional comedy of the year." Former VJ Kennedy recently posited a scenario where Biden (or some other non-socialist front runner) limps to the convention but gets the nomination anyway. An angry Bernie, realizing that this is his last chance for glory, splits from the Democratic party (he's not actually a member anyway), takes his many supporters with him, and runs as a third-party candidate. This splits the Democratic vote and hands President Donald Trump a resounding victory. 2020 could be a very interesting year. Between the Iowa caucus train wreck and Nancy the Ripper (aka: Wile E. Pelosi), it's already full of surprises. Headline Of The Week ... so far, is from The People's Cube: 'Liz Warren harshly critical of Biden's suggestion to coal miners that they should learn to code, offers to have them trained as romance novelists instead'. Quote Of The Day is from Clarence Darrow: "I have never killed a man but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." Wednesday February 5, 2020
"Volkswagen closed out 2019 with nearly 11 million deliveries to its name, while second placed Toyota Group produced some 10.7 million units. Far behind in third place is the troubled Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which barely pierced the 10 million mark." "Each adding more than one percent to their prior-year numbers, Volkswagen and Toyota beat the odds of a weakening global auto market – analysts say that 2019 global total industry volume was down around 4.5%. The Alliance was down a whopping 7%. It's a hard fall from when Carlos Ghosn was still in charge." Electric Future: GM is making a $2.2 billion investment at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to produce a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs. GM's first all-electric truck will be a pickup, with production scheduled to begin in late 2021. This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, self-driving bus like the hotel airport minibuses. Detroit-Hamtramck will be GM's first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant. General Motors is taking a massive gamble here. Who will buy all this electric-powered stuff?
This allows the operatives at Porsche to remain in touch with the company's soul, at least that's what they tell themselves anyway." Soul or not - just about every automaker is in the SUV and truck business these days ... because that's what their customers are buying. Adapt or die. Auf Wiedersehen: After almost 70 years, the Frankfurt Auto Show is no more. The German auto show will be moved to another city. Cited were absence of a number of major international automakers and a sharp drop in visitor numbers. FTA: "Auto shows are very expensive, and manufacturers are increasingly balking at the cost, particularly at a time when they are having to plough huge amounts into the development of electric vehicles and other future modes of transport." One hundred years ago, auto shows were the only way to view offerings from the numerous smaller manufacturers. Not much was needed: a row of automotive offerings, a bit of bunting, a small sign and some pamphlets to distribute. By the 1950s, shows had become fancier with rotating turntables, voluptuous spokesmodels and four-color brochures. These auto extravaganzas provided the public with an opportunity to see models in all the different trim and color styles available and gaze upon the dreamy and very futuristic concept cars offered by Detroit. Today, there are fewer manufacturers and vehicles have fewer trim options. Rocketship-like dream cars have been replaced by dull & weird eco-concepts which will get 100 mpg running on pressurized unicorn flatulence. At today's major shows, there is a 'let's wow the press' mentality; major manufacturers have been known to invest as much as $50 million in their displays. Which begs the question, "Does that manufacturer get $50 million in free publicity and/or increased sales as a result?" Many manufacturers are answering "no" and scaling back.
The MKZ will probably not be missed. The latest model suffered from a variety of quality glitches early on and, in 2014, Dan Neil tested the Lincoln MKZ, calling it "an overpriced, badge-engineered, sort-of-premium version of Ford Fusion that is actually less successful, stylistically, than the donor car." Since the nicer, but slow-selling Continental flagship sedan is based on a stretched MKZ/Fusion platform, it may also die. If Lincoln decides that it needs a sedan model, the automaker might consider my Navigator Town Car concept. Biz Stats: Last year (2019) was reportedly a great year for startup businesses, and 2020 is going to be even better, due largely to continued growth in wellness and high-tech. Here are some interesting start-up and small business statistics ... (more >>>) Political Ennui: Bored with never-ending liberal screeds posted in cyberspace, James Lileks wrote recently, "Reflexive anti-Americanism as a default intellectual position is a self-own and I needn't pile on. I'm just so bored with these people. If they believe we are Klingons harassing the borders of the wise and peaceable Federation - yawn. If they wave away the deeds of a illiberal theocracy to burnish their internationalist bonafides and declare their membership in the World Community, which as we all know is devoted to Engagement and Dialogue, they are fools. They feel ill-at-ease in their own country, and perhaps have managed to convince themselves that their unhappiness and alienation do not flow from within, but are a natural and rational reaction to being a Thinking Person stuck in the United States. If they panic about everything, they should be asked two questions: what about the thing you were panicked by last month, and what about the similar things committed by "your side" that did not panic you at all?" I don't post as much about politics as I used to. It is becoming predictable and boring. Except for President Trump who - regardless of how you may feel about him - certainly keeps things interesting. Quote Of The Day is from James Lileks: "I know eyelashes are designed to keep things out of my eyeballs, but the thing I get in my eyeballs most often are eyelashes." Monday February 3, 2020 Rush Hour On The Bridge: The Old Motor has posted a photo of a rainy afternoon rush hour in Philadelphia in 1956 or '57. The photo looks west across the Girard Avenue Bridge.
Shown in the photo are two PTC Route 15 trolley cars headed west and one (far in the distance at upper right) headed east. The Route 15 trolley still ... (more >>>) Electrifying Development: Lincoln announced that its first fully-electric vehicle - probably an SUV - will be based on a Rivian platform and will appear sometime in mid-2022. Autoblog wrote, "Based on what we know about the Rivians, it could have a range from 230 to 400 miles and output as high as 800 horsepower from a quartet of motors." Ford Motor Company has invested $500 million in electric vehicle startup Rivian.
The temperature was a moderate 50 degrees; the skies were mostly cloudy with occasional patches of sun. Mt. St. Helens was hidden but I did get a glimpse of the snow-covered Cascades to the east, peeking through a break in the clouds. This my first old car drive since early December. The old Plymouth fired right up and ran great. About an hour after I returned home, the rain returned. The Day the Music Died: I still remember the exact day - I was a sophomore in high school. On February 3, 1959, I heard the news on the morning radio: Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper had perished in a plane crash. They were killed in a crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with pilot Roger Peterson. Soon after takeoff, late at night (12:55 am) and in a snowstorm with strong winds, the pilot lost control of the light aircraft, a 1947 single-engined, V-tailed Beechcraft 35 Bonanza. The small plane crashed into a cornfield about five miles northwest of the airfield. Everyone on board was killed. I remember discussing it ... (more >>>) Subscribe Or Die: James Lileks bought a new computer recently. He wrote, "Some of the new programs require a monthly subscription, which is an absolutely hateful model detested by everyone. Imagine buying furniture, and if you stop payment, the sofa disappears. Or rather it's there, but you can't use it." I had the same experience. My blog is still composed and uploaded using my old 2009 Mac OS X. Book Review: 'How Things Work: The Inner Life Of Everyday Machines' by Theodore Gray I really liked the pictures in the book; many of them were items molded in or fabricated from clear acrylic. Having been .. (more >>>) Quote Of The Day is from Ella Wheeler Wilcox: "A pat on the back is only a few centimeters from a kick in the pants." | last month | |
Wolfsburg Woes: Corey Lewis at TTAC 
How Could I Have Forgotten: Last week, I watched a memorable 1994 Simpsons episode, 'Bart of Darkness'.
Man Of Many Adventures: Novelist and underwater explorer Clive Cussler has died at age 88.
What To Buy? Consumer Reports listed its 
Some Good; Others Not So Much: J.D. Power's 
No Sale: While cleaning out an old file, an ancient 1986 business card fell out, bringing back a particular automotive memory. It belonged to the Fleet & Lease Manager for John & Phil's Toyota in Corvallis, OR.
February 2020 Update: Last week, I visited the Oncology Center for the usual blood test, which measures cancer markers - carcinoembryonic antigen. My blood CEA is now 1.0, which remains well within normal range (0-5.0 µg/L according to my oncologist). Good news.
Hair Today; Gone Tomorrow: Sy Sperling, former president of and chief pitchman for the Hair Club For Men, has died at age 78. His tag line: "I'm not only the Hair Club president but I'm also a client."
Death Of Performance Models? Dave Pericak, former head of Ford Performance and now responsible for the brand's icon models, has 
It's Not Just About Making Money; It's About Keeping It: Record Mercedes-Benz sales brought 
His Art Will Live On: William A. 'Bill' Motta, a talented artist, who shaped the look of Road & Track magazine for 40 years, 
New Leader Needed? Ford Motor Co. 
January Vehicle Sales: More and more manufacturers are changing their reporting auto sales to a quarterly basis only, so January sales are - at best - a guess. Nevertheless, analysts at TrueCar 
Where Are The Customers? Regarding the electric vehicle market, Douglas McIntyre 
Sunny & Cold: Monday was a gorgeous day, with blue skies dotted with puffy white clouds. At noon, I fired up my 
Harsh Conditions For Local Car Buyers: Recently, we stopped by McCord's Toyota in Vancouver, WA to get new batteries for our key fobs. Several years ago, this dealer built a new showroom with a large display area, replacing a small, dumpy one.
Who's In Charge Here? Eric Peters 
It's Baaaaaack: General Motors is 
What's In A Name? Over at Powerline, Susan the Ammo Grrrll 
2019 Winner: Volkswagen Group can rightly be called 
Evolution: Peter De Lorenzo 
Dead Sedan: The Lincoln MKZ mid-size sedan, once known as Lincoln Zephyr and based on the Ford Fusion, will be 
First 2020 Old Car Drive: There was a brief respite from the Northwest's wet winter weather last Thursday. So, at 2:00 pm, I fired up my 
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