Straightline

You know you are living in an automotive golden age when the market is so rich with new models that there is a maxi Mini, which debuted this week on the other side of the Big Pond. There was also some news about Toyota overtaking GM in world auto sales. So let's hit the road and see what we find out there, shall we?

Over in Deetrot, The Auto Prophet had a near miss with a rolling accident looking for a place to happen and he's not happy about it. And speaking of rolling accidents looking for places to happen, The Truth About Cars' Matthew Neundorf took a look at Ford's first quarter results and concluded "they’re so far not out of the woods that they’re still deep in them."

So, you say your AC blower only comes on in the high position? Your first thought is, naturally, the switch is going bad. But Austin Davis , My Honest Mechanic, kept thinking and found another explanation, one that probably would never occur to normal nebishes.

Pontiac Solstice GXP in four words from Holly at The Driving Woman: "Lush look, wild ride,"

OK, you want to know what I think about Toyota passing GM? Peter DeLorenzo at Auto Extremist decribes the reasons for GM's long fall from the pinnacle of industrial dominance and offers some telling insights into GM's future prospects now that the fruits of the Lutz era are becoming manifest. Me? I come from a family that always bought Chevies and an occasional Pontiac, so I am sometimes saddened, sometimes angered by it all. Reminds me of Britain in the 1950s - the glory of the empire could still be seen but the future clearly was going to be entirely different.

For a somewhat more optimistic view on GM's future, check out Ed Sanchez at The Car Blog.

This was Joe Sherlock's thought for the week at The View Through the Windshield: "The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket." He's also got a thoughtful essay on our changing car culture.

Yes, the Chinese auto industry is growing quickly but somehow the "Geely Mierenbao II" just doesn't have quite the same ring as "Dodge Hemi Charger," "Mustang Boss 302" or "Corvette Z06." You can judge for yourself at Serious Wheels on the Geely concept's looks.

Now here's a neat idea for a different kind of summer - go to Automotive Design Camp. Top Speed has details.

I never watch "Pimp My Ride," but Brian Vermette at RaceDriven.com does and this week he spotlights an 800 horsepower biodiesel powered 65 Impala SS. Reminds me of how much I liked the looks of the 65 and 66 Impalas.

Am I beginning to sound like an OF? Somebody please tell me if I am.

Don't miss the Corvette F430 and the Volvo that lost to a tree in Bean Town, over at Carpundit.
 
And finally, there's just one place in the auto blogosphere where you can find out about stupid tax tricks like the one for hybrids that encourages people to buy less fuel efficient vehicles --- Kay Bell at Don't Mess With Taxes.

See ya next week!