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not bad from the side, but kinda vulgar and sexually suggestive in front.
My biggest issue with the Dart is that it looks like two different cars joined at the B-pillar. The front half looks like it could be a decent midsized car. Legroom's good, and I think it has something like 58.4" of shoulder room. That's actually more than most midsized cars today and probably on par with what passes for "full size" these days. My old Intrepid was something like 59.1", and I think my Park Ave is similar.
But then, the rear-end looks like they just stuck something on, like a previous-gen Elantra, but at least gave it cool taillights.
I don't hate the Dart, but not in love with it, either. But to be fair, that's pretty much my sentiment on most compacts.
Yeah, but I dunno how easily the Dart would translate to a hatchback. Not only did they lengthen the Alfa to make the Dart, but they widened it as well. So, while the Dart doesn't look so hot as a sedan, it might not look so graceful as a hatch, either.
Maybe they should've just gone all the way, and made it a bit bigger aft of the B-pillar as well, and used it as a replacement for the midsized cars?
Oh, I've heard they're thinking about badge-engineering it into a Chrysler 100 or something like that. Please, Lord, let that just be an early April Fool's joke!
Agree completely.
Union leadership usually has some influence on the company's BOD and in decision making.
Adding to the mix is that the government "imposes" many more benefits on the population, such as guaranteed vacation time, healthcare, etc., so there isn't as much for the unions/management to argue over in negotiations.
While there are still union strikes in several sectors, strikes usually don't take too long to resolve, and they usually aren't as "poisonous" as they seem to be here.
One other positive is that, in a large way, Germans are willing to pay more for perceived quality, and a large part of at perception is the product being made in Germany (or Western Europe).
USA: management to union: do as I say, not as I do
Elsewhere: management to union: let's work together to get this going quickly and efficiently, and think about the future
It might not all be so easy and glib, but pretty much, that's how the relationships work.
"German corporation law, the Aktiengesetz, requires all public companies (Aktiengesellschaften) to have two boards: a management board called a Vorstand and a supervisory board called an Aufsichtsrat.
"In Germany the supervisory board of large corporations is composed of 20 members, 10 of which are elected by the shareholders, the other 10 being employee representatives. The supervisory board oversees and appoints the members of the management board and must approve major business decisions." (link)
You might say it's union to management, especially so since Saxony owns ~20% of VW and likely votes with the unions. :shades:
USA: management to union: do as I say, not as I do
Elsewhere: management to union: let's work together to get this going quickly and efficiently, and think about the future
Pretty accurate, except that it's VERY two-sided. Perhaps even more so on the union side. The union says to management: "We won't put up with you guys. We will stand fast and TELL you what we are willing to do. And if you don't like it, we'll strike".
I don't have a huge problem with a government having a stake in entities that contribute to the well being and future of a given system. They rely a lot more on cooperation than the pseudo capitalist (in reality statist oligarchy) we cling to here.
Edmunds has a long term road test going (as of Jan. 17, '13).
2013 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye Long-Term Road Test (that's the latest update)
From Wiki...
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is a public company and has a primary listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, where it is a constituent of the DAX index, and secondary listings on the London Stock Exchange, Luxembourg Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange and SIX Swiss Exchange. As of September 2012 20% of the voting rights are held by the State of Lower Saxony.
Oddly, the replacement stuff I bought, was made in the US. Or, Hecho en EE UU, as the label also said. It was vinyl/composite strips. Oh, and the cheap toilet flap I bought was also made in the US. That actually shocked me, as I could see them making some cheap rubber part overseas and then shipping it here. Same with the composite trim parts.
It's very likely ingrained in the national consciousness, since VW didn't get off the ground until Hitler built a state owned factory.
Andre, Home Depot can't afford to sell US grown timber because they lose so much money taking stuff back from everyone. Tis a bit odd; I see loads of logs going by my place every day.
Yes it is. Chile is one of the largest exporters of softwood milled molding and trim, plywood sheathing and raw logs. A combination of low costs, skilled labor and cheap transportation makes it effective to import those products.
BTW, I was as Home Depot recently and saw bagged firewood - what I call romance packs. It was advertised as European Birch. When I looked at the label closer, it was from Estonia. I was surprised that it was cost effective to buy precut and packaged firewood from Europe.
You can't even move firewood around here because of the emerald ash borer and yet the elm trees are dying by the zillions in Michigan. Have to wonder what bugs are slipping through the cracks on the wood coming over.
Henry Ford still owns a plantation and sawmill a couple of hours from here, so maybe Bill will crank production back up again for woody wagons before the bugs decimate them.
Speaking of Elm trees. A close friend moved to Chimayo NM. She has had nothing but trouble with the elm trees and her septic system. Local septic guy blames the Presbyterians for planting the awful Elm trees all over New Mexico. :P
We also have restrictions on hauling firewood more than 25 miles from where it was cut. Some kind of beetle that is killing the live oak trees. I only burn eucalyptus as it leaves less ash, burns hot and is plentiful around here.
I'm sure the EPA folks will find something wrong with that idea and block it.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Honestly, I stopped watching these no matter who is president years back. It's all just a big bunch of theater and BS. You've got the other party cheering when they hate the president's guts. It's all so phony. And a bunch of lies and marketing bunk and spin will come out of both parties addresses tonight like every other time. Tomorrow it's back to their respective political donors and PAC money control.
Exactly; I could be lazy and sloppy tracking my old M6 or my 2007 MS3. My Club Sport has only 150 bhp to play with, so you screw up just one corner and you pay for it the entire lap.. It has made me a much better driver.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Agree with 100% of what you say.
Watchng CSI on cable.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It was under the British post-war management that VW actually started making production cars for general sale.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Beetle
You and Rocky, sucked into sports, the opiate of the masses. :shades:
Can't get Rocky away from his Heat.
Agree with 100% of what you say.
Seconded!
I remember since I was a kid, hearing/reading that the Beetle was Hitler's concept of "The People's Car", and that the design was pretty much locked before his demise.
So only those paid under the table.
The vehicle that went into production after WWII was essentially the pre-war design.
Post war, there weren't any excess $$$/marks for anything like serious R&D.
Then again, the US cars sold post war through 1948 were basically "spruced up" 1941 models.
Back in the 1990's I restored a 1941 Dodge D-19 3-window business coupe, and even though the 1948 Dodge models had a much different look, you would be surprised at the number of interchangeable parts, including body parts.
I'm sure they discourage logging in the city parks!
I just happened upon the bags of firewood and was curious. We have a fireplace and use it only a couple of times per year. I have my own stock of dry apply and oak in the yard from trees I took down.
Fleets that do a lot of miles would likely recoup that investment much quicker than most folks. Durability is the kicker, though. If you can get 100k extra miles from each fleet truck, you come out way ahead.
* torque for big loads
* durability/longevity
* fleet applications with high mileage (break even sooner)
Looks like the 3.0 Diesel in the Grand Cherokee will get around 21/30 for the 2wd model, 20/28 for 4wd. In comparison, the 3.6 V-6 is 17/23 and the Hemi is around 14/20.
I'd imagine its rating in the Ram would be similar? For instance, my Ram, with the Hemi, is rated 14/20, same as the Jeep. And the 3.6 V-6 is actually rated slightly higher than the Jeep, something like 18/25, but that's because it uses an 8-speed automatic, while the Jeep's V-6 is only a 5-speed.
I wonder if that Diesel would make sense in the Charger or 300?