Can you believe how expensive paint has gotten over the past few years - but our gov tells us there is little inflation! I read both parties are going to agree to a further revision (downward manipulation) of the CPI after the election to help cut the deficit.
One of the paint guys said that the price jump was due to a titanium dioxide shortage. China stopped exporting titanium dioxide to North America two years ago when they ran short of the stuff for domestic use. All the stimulus road projects have made it a bit scare too. From a little net browsing, the "pigment feedstock shortage" may also be partly due to the manufacturers not building up stock over the slower winter months.
Hm, kind of like car prices going down when the manufacturers build up too much stock.
Cool - when they were intro'd I thought about testing one but got a few good looks at a couple of them in traffic and changed my mind. Plus I think I didn't want to go through the B.S. that happened when the Neo-GTO (Monaro) was intro'd & dealers were doing some of the most idiotic things like wanting deposits just for test-drives, ridiculous ADMs & sticker prices.
I'm still a fan of the E46s. When they started getting bloated and the 1-Series (which to me is the same size as the older 3 but with FAR LESS interior room) came to be I kind of stopped paying attention.
I liked the pre Bangle-Butt 5s - I still say that rear design was lifted right from the Chrysler Cloud Cars (Breeze/Cirrus/Stratus) - and the 8-series, including Z8.
I still like / want the IS300 but they're getting long in the tooth and wouldn't want a high-mile maintenance nightmare but the A/S5 continues topping my list for now.
Yes, shall see what the SS brings. I liked a previous design study from a few years back when they mimicked the '65 Impala coke-bottle shape & head/taillight designs.
Hm, kind of like car prices going down when the manufacturers build up too much stock.
Well, I'm glad you brought that up....
A month ago, we wrote about inventory levels at U.S. dealers. Here, 2 months of supply are considered as normal, and the average stood at 54 days when we wrote the story. The Detroit 3 however jointly had an average of 70 days’ of supply sitting on the lots. General Motors had nearly three months of supply.
If 45 days of supply foreshadow debilitating price cuts in China, what does 86 days of GM supply foreshadow in Detroit?
GM should try the "Rush Limbaugh" show!!!!! If GM has a 100 day supply of cars, then the others are also getting overloaded and used car prices should also swoon..I kinda like the high gas prices for it deflates the pricing on Mustang GTs.. I can live with 20 mpgs..
Gotta have some fun in this world and life is too short to drive around in a 138 hp eco-jalopy, worrying about the "planet." Out of 34 GM rides over the years, my favorite one is still "71 SS350 Camaro which did 90k miles in 18 mos w/o a mishap..It was a tough one!!!!! It lite up I-75 every day, Mon thru Fri..Cost $3100 new and 18 mos later fetched $2100.., Found a new home in Arizona, it got tired of those Michigan winters..
This story is really about the industry, not just GM.
"Now for the ripple effect. Government data show that motor-vehicle production contributed half of the first quarter’s annual pace of 2.2 percent economic growth. When an industry is expanding that fast, it lifts the fortunes of thousands of other companies."
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Ford Motor is back at investment-grade when it comes to its credit rating, at least in the eyes of Moody's Investors Service, and that means the famed blue-oval logo is out of hock. Ford was the only of The Detroit Three to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection and getting government bailouts to keep going. It did it by applying for loans before the worst of the recession struck so it had cash to get it through the toughest times, even as it cut factory capacity and jobs as demand for cars and trucks dropped.
Hopefully, GM will be successful in it's new product offerings. I just hope GM doesn't decide to axe the Volt since it seems oil prices are starting a decline...
World economy stagnant, things with Iran calming down, recent oil/gas discoveries... They all add up to more supply and less doubt, two things that drive speculators to other markets.
In non-related news, the Facebook IPO seems to be headed for some "issues"...
It's exciting news for us, as we leave tomorrow to tow the boat down to the lake (120 miles) in our Chevy truck. It doesn't get but about 10-12 MPG towing. Plus, we'll be filling up the boat to take on the lake. We store the boat down at the lake for the season, so lower gas prices just in time for towing are very welcome.
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So strange to see gas prices taking a nose dive just as Memorial Day arrives...7 weeks in a row of lower gas prices!
Might be a good time to buy a smaller, fuel efficient car if you're in the market. I'm sure prices will drop a bit, if people start flocking back to bigger vehicles.
China is a huge automotive market, and if you want to do business in a foreign country, regardless of type of government, you play by their rules...or you don't do business there.
China isn't the only country with strict rules and regulations on % of ownership, etc.
7 out of 10 cars built offshore? What's the sales ratio domestic .vs. foreign market?
BMW builds every X3, X5 and X6 in SC. They sell them worldwide. Is that bad for Germany?
Would you rather have GM go bust and not repay the taxpayer, but do all it's manufacturing stateside (until it goes under) or make a profit and repay its obligations to the government?
Ford just sent me a letter saying they want to buy back my 2005 Grand Marquis LS as an incentive to buy a new Ford product. I'd consider it if Ford had ANYTHING I remotely desire. The dummies axed the three of their vehicles that were on my car-shopping A-list. Too bad! Let me know when the 2013 Lincoln Town Car arrives!
I was in NC for 4 days driving a rental Traverse. Here are my thoughts - keep in mind I've not seen the different interiors of its various siblings.
Good: - Solid vehicle to drive - Refined engine except a little raspy on hard acceleration - Good seating position - Significant amenities in our vehicle (trip computer, bluetooth, steering wheel controls, radio stays on until door is opened, etc.
Not as good: - Mileage was what I'd call fair to poor (18-19), but I guess what I'd expect for AWD and huge wheels - Lots of size for the amount of interior space in the cargo area IMHO (very high floor) - Visibility not so good - Wide turning circle
In summary: - I don't see anything really compelling about this vehicle. It's heavy, it doesn't get very good mileage, and it doesn't have enough cargo area for its size and lower mileage. I guess I'm too used to a Honda minivan where I get 23 mpg instead of 18, with more cargo space. But the Honda is not quite as solid and of course you don't have AWD on the Honda. It's a decent vehicle, just not that great IMHO. The only thing I think would make it compelling is if you need the AWD or want to tow something.
The Traverse is not like a disaster or anything, it's just that I'd really like to see GM blow it out of the park rather than bat .230 like the middle of the pack.
I'm really curious to see the new Fusion. I like the pics I've seen so far. I know it's the Aston Martin look they're going for, but I actually see a bit of '57-59 Chrysler 300 Letter Series in there!
I think Ford's lineup looks really good now EXCEPT for big cars. But then, there really isn't a market anymore for big (or even semi-big) cars, so we can't really blame them, I guess.
I haven't driven one yet, only sat in them, but my impression with the Taurus is that, if this makes sense, it's bulky without really being big. It's really not that roomy inside, although it has a big trunk. Then, there's just something about the Taurus's styling I don't like. Hard to explain. It's not ugly, but it just doesn't do anything for me.
If you want a big car, I think these days, Chrysler's the one to go for, either a Charger or 300. Nice, lanky 120" wheelbase. The last time a Chrysler car topped that was 1978!
Or, wait until the redone Impala and Caddy XTS come out.
I wonder how the redone Fusion and the forthcoming Dart will compare to each other? I know one's supposed to be a midsize and the other a compact, but from the specs I've seen, the Dart isn't that small.
The only experience I have had with a 2011 Fusion was a rental, and the drivers seat was the most uncomfortable seat I can remember sitting in over the last 25 years. My wife had the same complaint.
I would definitely like to try one at a dealership before ruling it out, if I was interested in purchasing one. I learned long ago not to base judgments solely on a rental experience.
The up side for the rental company is that bad seating helps keep the mileage down...
I don't get it either. No matter what some silver spoons say, corporations are in fact not people, they know no loyalty or ethics. In the short term, if it helps GM repay the loans (the kind of aid all nations we compete with give their industries), then so be it.
I would not be worried about GM betraying the US per se in doing business in China, when so many Americans have voted with their wallets that they don't care for GM products, and Chinese consumers seem to like them. I would be more worried about the unjust business rules, the technology transfer, stolen IP, and how when China eventually makes a halfway competent car, it will likely be allowed in to this market with none of the rules and restrictions China places on our firms doing business there.
I bought a LaCrosse over the Taurus. Both are very nice cars, but the Taurus is one of the only newer cars that pulls off very little interior room relative to it's large exterior size. The center console is overwhelming and if you have large feet the driver's footwell is really crowded.
I also believe that GM's 3.6 is a little more refined of a power plant. I am very impressed by this engine. Smooth and quite powerful at higher RPMs.
LaCrosse is a super model next to a Taurus, no doubt.
I like Buick's styling since the Enclave came out. The whole lineup is attractive, too. One of the few brands that manages to keep a family resemblance, yet each and every car looks good.
I bought a LaCrosse over the Taurus. Both are very nice cars, but the Taurus is one of the only newer cars that pulls off very little interior room relative to it's large exterior size. The center console is overwhelming and if you have large feet the driver's footwell is really crowded.
Yeah, that's my biggest beefs with the Taurus...that wide, tall center console and the narrow footwell. The seats themselves are kinda small too, as if they put compact car seats in a large-ish car.
I wonder how the LaCrosse compares to the Taurus for interior room? The EPA website does list interior volumes, but they're still showing the old W-body LaCrosse volumes, and not the new model.
The EPA lists the Taurus at 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, and a 20 cubic foot trunk. For a car that size, those numbers aren't that impressive other than the trunk. For comparison, the older Ford 500 was rated at 108/21.
I've seen the LaCrosse's trunk listed at 12.8 cubic feet. And going from the interior dimensions I've seen published, I imagine its passenger volume would come up around 101.6 cubic feet.
Considering the Taurus is about 6" longer, 3" wider, and on a slightly longer 1.2" wb, than the LaCrosse, it seems disappointing to me. It's been awhile since I've sat in the new LaCrosse, but I remember the seats being big and comfy, and the car having plenty of legroom both front and back.
The LaCrosse is fairly large inside (Autmobile mag has it as 101.7 for the Eassist model). Its one of the only cars I don't have the seat all the way back. It still has a pretty beefy center console, but nothing like the Taurus.
The seats are plenty big (even for a wide-body like myself). The rear has decent leg room but the sloping roof can make it a little hard to exit for some passengers.
The trunk isn't huge, but the gooseneck hinges are covered up, so you can load it to gills and not have to worry about crushing things.
For comparison, the older Ford 500 was rated at 108/21.
The 500 was certainly a big car inside. I think it was even roomier than my 06 Avalon.
The old DTS could be loaded up to about that level, seems reasonable to me. I'd take it over an Equus for the money, anyway.
Cool thing is that there is an almost 100% chance it will end up in the "luxury" rental car category, especially now that the TC is mercifully gone. So, you could sample one, although it likely wouldn't be loaded.
As passenger, I dunno, I'd have to sample the XTS' back seat. The Equus is pretty darn comfy, and you're surrounded by suede and leather, even the headliner feels expensive.
If I shop at the Hyundai store I'd likely downsize to a Genesis anyway, with the package that gets you the real cowhide-wrapped dash.
Tough call there.... the Equus is roomier, more powerful, RWD and will probably be around the same resale. I would have a tough time making a decision.
You can line a lot of bland invisible cars with fancy trim and make it a nice place to sit - which pretty much describes the Equus . I bet even with FWD the Caddy is just as good to drive, and the better to look at part counts for a lot. Nobody here buys a car to be driven in, I suspect no NA market Equus will meet that fate until they are gobbled up by airport town car fleet drivers too.
Genesis has to be being dumped on the market at a loss.
I'd pick the Caddy on looks alone. I'd be interested to see actual performance figures too...Equus is more powerful, but has to be heavier, likely doesn't have the best chassis tuning for spirited driving, and that family sized dollop of KDM flair just doesn't appeal to me.
But yeah, best to buy either used, they won't have Japanese style residuals.
Comments
Hm, kind of like car prices going down when the manufacturers build up too much stock.
I'm still a fan of the E46s. When they started getting bloated and the 1-Series (which to me is the same size as the older 3 but with FAR LESS interior room) came to be I kind of stopped paying attention.
I liked the pre Bangle-Butt 5s - I still say that rear design was lifted right from the Chrysler Cloud Cars (Breeze/Cirrus/Stratus) - and the 8-series, including Z8.
I still like / want the IS300 but they're getting long in the tooth and wouldn't want a high-mile maintenance nightmare but the A/S5 continues topping my list for now.
Yes, shall see what the SS brings. I liked a previous design study from a few years back when they mimicked the '65 Impala coke-bottle shape & head/taillight designs.
Well, I'm glad you brought that up....
A month ago, we wrote about inventory levels at U.S. dealers. Here, 2 months of supply are considered as normal, and the average stood at 54 days when we wrote the story. The Detroit 3 however jointly had an average of 70 days’ of supply sitting on the lots. General Motors had nearly three months of supply.
If 45 days of supply foreshadow debilitating price cuts in China, what does 86 days of GM supply foreshadow in Detroit?
Look out below!
Regards,
OW
Guess more vehicles will be heading for the dealers too:
GM breaking ground to expand Missouri plant for new midsize pickups (Detroit News)
Gotta have some fun in this world and life is too short to drive around in a 138 hp eco-jalopy, worrying about the "planet." Out of 34 GM rides over the years, my favorite one is still "71 SS350
Camaro which did 90k miles in 18 mos w/o a mishap..It was a tough one!!!!! It lite up I-75 every day, Mon thru Fri..Cost $3100 new and 18 mos later fetched $2100.., Found a new home in Arizona, it got tired of those Michigan winters..
Well they still pay, they just don't have to buy ads everywhere to get word of mouth advertising.
Posting free content on Facebook comes at a price, say auto companies (Detroit News)
General Motors Co. says its U.S. sales fell 8 percent in April, blaming reduced sales to car rental companies.
As inventory continues to rise, I'll wager incentives trend up as well to move the stock.
Regards,
OW
"Now for the ripple effect. Government data show that motor-vehicle production contributed half of the first quarter’s annual pace of 2.2 percent economic growth. When an industry is expanding that fast, it lifts the fortunes of thousands of other companies."
What's Good for GM Is Good for the Economy (Business Week)
(Turns out that the quote the headline copies is a misquote. Figures).
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Ford Motor is back at investment-grade when it comes to its credit rating, at least in the eyes of Moody's Investors Service, and that means the famed blue-oval logo is out of hock.
Ford was the only of The Detroit Three to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection and getting government bailouts to keep going. It did it by applying for loans before the worst of the recession struck so it had cash to get it through the toughest times, even as it cut factory capacity and jobs as demand for cars and trucks dropped.
Ford's credit upgraded out of junk bond status
How's that for optimism!
Regards,
OW
http://www.usatoday.com/NEWS/usaedition/2012-05-23-Auto-Plants-Overworked_ST_U.h- tm
Looks like GM is headed that way within the next year.
Moody's: GM on track to investment-grade rating (Detroit News)
Hopefully, GM will be successful in it's new product offerings. I just hope GM doesn't decide to axe the Volt since it seems oil prices are starting a decline...
Following, as usual.
Regards,
OW
Bad for the Volt, but great for the trucks that are the real cash cow for GM - Sierra/Silverado.
In non-related news, the Facebook IPO seems to be headed for some "issues"...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/23/us-facebook-lawsuit-idUSBRE84M0RK20120- 523
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Might be a good time to buy a smaller, fuel efficient car if you're in the market. I'm sure prices will drop a bit, if people start flocking back to bigger vehicles.
A month ago hybrids were commanding full MSRP. I think today you're in a much better position to negotiate.
Bad timing for the Malibu Eco, since they launched the mild hybrid only, and now no one will care.
China is a huge automotive market, and if you want to do business in a foreign country, regardless of type of government, you play by their rules...or you don't do business there.
China isn't the only country with strict rules and regulations on % of ownership, etc.
7 out of 10 cars built offshore? What's the sales ratio domestic .vs. foreign market?
BMW builds every X3, X5 and X6 in SC. They sell them worldwide. Is that bad for Germany?
Would you rather have GM go bust and not repay the taxpayer, but do all it's manufacturing stateside (until it goes under) or make a profit and repay its obligations to the government?
Just asking...
I dunno, man, Ford has a pretty strong lineup now...but you like big boats, right? Taurus SHO doesn't make the heart rate go up?
And since we are apparently required to mention others, here's one for Ferrari:
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/01/ferrari-458-italia-recalled-fire-risk/
Good:
- Solid vehicle to drive
- Refined engine except a little raspy on hard acceleration
- Good seating position
- Significant amenities in our vehicle (trip computer, bluetooth, steering wheel controls, radio stays on until door is opened, etc.
Not as good:
- Mileage was what I'd call fair to poor (18-19), but I guess what I'd expect for AWD and huge wheels
- Lots of size for the amount of interior space in the cargo area IMHO (very high floor)
- Visibility not so good
- Wide turning circle
In summary:
- I don't see anything really compelling about this vehicle. It's heavy, it doesn't get very good mileage, and it doesn't have enough cargo area for its size and lower mileage. I guess I'm too used to a Honda minivan where I get 23 mpg instead of 18, with more cargo space. But the Honda is not quite as solid and of course you don't have AWD on the Honda. It's a decent vehicle, just not that great IMHO. The only thing I think would make it compelling is if you need the AWD or want to tow something.
The Traverse is not like a disaster or anything, it's just that I'd really like to see GM blow it out of the park rather than bat .230 like the middle of the pack.
I think Ford's lineup looks really good now EXCEPT for big cars. But then, there really isn't a market anymore for big (or even semi-big) cars, so we can't really blame them, I guess.
I haven't driven one yet, only sat in them, but my impression with the Taurus is that, if this makes sense, it's bulky without really being big. It's really not that roomy inside, although it has a big trunk. Then, there's just something about the Taurus's styling I don't like. Hard to explain. It's not ugly, but it just doesn't do anything for me.
If you want a big car, I think these days, Chrysler's the one to go for, either a Charger or 300. Nice, lanky 120" wheelbase. The last time a Chrysler car topped that was 1978!
Or, wait until the redone Impala and Caddy XTS come out.
I wonder how the redone Fusion and the forthcoming Dart will compare to each other? I know one's supposed to be a midsize and the other a compact, but from the specs I've seen, the Dart isn't that small.
Not like the Jeep Wrangler fire recall...
I would definitely like to try one at a dealership before ruling it out, if I was interested in purchasing one. I learned long ago not to base judgments solely on a rental experience.
The up side for the rental company is that bad seating helps keep the mileage down...
I would not be worried about GM betraying the US per se in doing business in China, when so many Americans have voted with their wallets that they don't care for GM products, and Chinese consumers seem to like them. I would be more worried about the unjust business rules, the technology transfer, stolen IP, and how when China eventually makes a halfway competent car, it will likely be allowed in to this market with none of the rules and restrictions China places on our firms doing business there.
The prop thread made a big impression on me last month so I got a chuckle from this:
1996 Lexus ES300: DIY Troubleshooting (Inside Line)
Now that's a prop rod!
Actually, I agree.
something about the Taurus's styling I don't like
Same here. I like it for the AWD and the EcoBoost.
Not sure what big car I'd choose. So not my style, for the the smaller/lighter the better. Even when I bought a minivan I got the lightest one.
If someone gave me an XTS with that gorgeous 12.3" screen I'd be pleased...
I also believe that GM's 3.6 is a little more refined of a power plant. I am very impressed by this engine. Smooth and quite powerful at higher RPMs.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I like Buick's styling since the Enclave came out. The whole lineup is attractive, too. One of the few brands that manages to keep a family resemblance, yet each and every car looks good.
Yeah, that's my biggest beefs with the Taurus...that wide, tall center console and the narrow footwell. The seats themselves are kinda small too, as if they put compact car seats in a large-ish car.
I wonder how the LaCrosse compares to the Taurus for interior room? The EPA website does list interior volumes, but they're still showing the old W-body LaCrosse volumes, and not the new model.
The EPA lists the Taurus at 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, and a 20 cubic foot trunk. For a car that size, those numbers aren't that impressive other than the trunk. For comparison, the older Ford 500 was rated at 108/21.
I've seen the LaCrosse's trunk listed at 12.8 cubic feet. And going from the interior dimensions I've seen published, I imagine its passenger volume would come up around 101.6 cubic feet.
Considering the Taurus is about 6" longer, 3" wider, and on a slightly longer 1.2" wb, than the LaCrosse, it seems disappointing to me. It's been awhile since I've sat in the new LaCrosse, but I remember the seats being big and comfy, and the car having plenty of legroom both front and back.
The seats are plenty big (even for a wide-body like myself). The rear has decent leg room but the sloping roof can make it a little hard to exit for some passengers.
The trunk isn't huge, but the gooseneck hinges are covered up, so you can load it to gills and not have to worry about crushing things.
For comparison, the older Ford 500 was rated at 108/21.
The 500 was certainly a big car inside. I think it was even roomier than my 06 Avalon.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
http://www.cadillac.com/xts-luxury-sedan.html
GOTTA get the Premium package, for the screen alone. I went with AWD, Premium, added the spare and the pano moonroof, and it rang up at $59,600.
A bit spendy but it's a big car with everything. Should be a $30k car CPO in a couple of years.
Cool thing is that there is an almost 100% chance it will end up in the "luxury" rental car category, especially now that the TC is mercifully gone. So, you could sample one, although it likely wouldn't be loaded.
More than a few here on K Street.
To drive, I'd take the Caddy (with AWD).
As passenger, I dunno, I'd have to sample the XTS' back seat. The Equus is pretty darn comfy, and you're surrounded by suede and leather, even the headliner feels expensive.
If I shop at the Hyundai store I'd likely downsize to a Genesis anyway, with the package that gets you the real cowhide-wrapped dash.
I had that in my Genesis. Not one person ever asked/noticed it was real leather on the dash.
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Tough call there.... the Equus is roomier, more powerful, RWD and will probably be around the same resale. I would have a tough time making a decision.
The Caddy is certainly better looking.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Genesis has to be being dumped on the market at a loss.
But yeah, best to buy either used, they won't have Japanese style residuals.