This semi-regular column is written (in his own blood) by an automotive sage and noted malcontent, known as The Mechanic. Mercilessly beaten as a child with rolled-up back issues of old car magazines, our free-spoken hero developed a unique "for your own good" take on cars and the auto industry, along with an unfortunate habit of setting himself ablaze. Later, after a distinguished career as an automotive journalist and magazine editor, he cast off the reins of his musty oppressors, carved out his superego with a plastic spork and became The Mechanic.
Despite what some vocal commenters seem to believe, I would dearly like for all three domestic automakers to survive and thrive. Forget the implications to the U.S. economy if they don't. Forget preserving what remains of U.S. automotive industry jobs. I want them to survive because I've grown weary of recommending Hondas to everyone who asks my opinion on what car he should buy.
But good Lord Almighty, can I please get some skepticism in this world? Case in point: Last week Chrysler trotted out four "electric" vehicles for the press (after the company issued some kind words on television by giving CNBC an early peek) and in one swoop the company had redeemed itself for any and all missteps and failures -- at least if you read the fawning press given the company.
As I say, I'll champion an underdog every time. Hell, Underdog was my favorite cartoon superhero when I was but a mini-Mechanic. But did it not occur to any journalist sent to cover this dog-and-pony show (or those who simply picked up the precious few details from other journalists) that this surprise announcement comes but a week after General Motors basked in the green glow of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt "production car" unveiling? Did it not occur to anyone that Chrysler's carefully painted rosy picture of the future came at a time when the domestic auto industry was fighting with Wall Street for some of those government bailout bucks?
And exactly why is anyone impressed that Chrysler LLC -- still a large and capable automaker in the grand scheme of things -- has paraded around a Lotus Europa filled with electric batteries? Chrysler now is patterning itself after startup Tesla (which itself was the recipient of fawning press before delay after delay in actually producing, you know, salable cars)? Do you know how long it takes a carmaker to cobble together a vehicle that will travel long enough on an electric charge to impress a general-interest journalist? Not much longer than it takes for that journalist test-drive.
And don't get me started on that stupidly smiling glass orb the company has nicknamed the Peapod. That's the same neighborhood-electric vehicle, glorified golf cart nonsense that a few companies have been working on for about a decade. The body that comes straight out of Woody Allen's Sleeper doesn't change anything -- except that it would make its passengers the butt of funnier jokes than before.
The other two vehicles -- the Wrangler and minivan extended-range electrics -- are more interesting, even if they're less compelling camera-candy. But how exactly do these big, heavy, decidedly un-aerodynamic trucks achieve 40 miles of electric range? And how is it that that figure just happens to be the same as the Volt? More batteries can hold more energy, sure. But more batteries cost more money -- a lot more money. And they weigh more. More powerful electric motors use more energy.
So successful has Chrysler's PR ploy been that I've actually talked to folks who believe that Chrysler just introduced four electric cars for production. Call me a cynic, but it would seem to me that Chrysler's stunt is vastly more cynical. And the worst part? It was an unmitigated success for the company.
You, as consumers of the media, should expect more. Much more. Hell, you should demand more. I made a few calls, and an insider at Chrysler tells me that the electric Lotus Europa is a real car. A car Chrysler is committed to selling to the American public in 2010. "It's the real deal," he told me during a secret late-night meeting in a dark, dank parking garage. The so-called Dodge EV might be the least technologically daring and the least practical of the lot, but at least it's something.
The other two fall somewhere just south of pie in the sky. They're not complete bullshit like the electrically powered Chrysler EcoVoyager, Jeep Renegade and Dodge Zeo the company showed at the Detroit auto show back in January, but they're also about as close to being real as the pretty pill.
He also told me that the new co-president of Chrysler, Jim Press, who saw great success while at Toyota with the Prius (both PR success and sales success), is committed to the electric car as the future of Chrysler. Press, I'm told, sees the move to electric vehicles as a when, not an if, and he has pointed his company in that direction.
"We're committed to this," my source says of electric vehicles. "No bullshit."
Good for them. I wish Chrysler luck with that strategy, but until it's more than a dog-and-pony show for the TV cameras and Washington's check writers I'd like the automotive and business press corps to put down their pom-poms and practice a little journalism. -- The Mechanic, Inside Line Contributor
E-mail me at themechanic@edmunds.com.
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I hear you. Journalism has become so tainted by bias, hype and laziness instead of investigation and actual reporting of factual information that it's meaningless. This is true in political circles as well.
What's the big deal? It's as easy for one company as another to make electic cars. They all have access to the same technology.
There's no reason to doubt Chrysler anymore then to doubt Tesla or GM.
None of these companies have a electric car on the market that a regular person can go and buy.
I don't care who builds it, until someone like Edmunds can test it long term and declare it viable, it's all just PR hype. To say Chrysler is any worse then the others is just nonsense.
Funny how its not bullshit for Honda to introduce the Hydrogen car. Of course they can introduce it all they want. Where are you going to refill them? Honda dealership? Maybe the Japanese government can subsidize that too. Of course, as you well know, Japan Inc. can do no wrong in your eyes. You've admited it yourself. I know Hondas track record personally. My wifes Honda Odyssey came highly recommended too. Of coure that was before the two trans rebuilds, sliding door falling off its track, door rattles, oil leaks, dvd player malfuntions. All before the 30k mile mark. Yeah. Recommend Honda somemore.
@ dvsutton,
Your experience is hardly the majority, but even aside from that, some of you need to stop looking to start the "domestic vs. import" argument. Your whining about Honda's hydrogen car is irrelevant because Honda NEVER claimed either first gen FCX or second gen FCX Clarity for mass public consumption. If Honda wanted EVERYONE to own one, I'm sure they'd have been more than happy to sell FCX customers its Hydrogen Home Fueling Station alongside its hydrogen vehicles, but that's never been the case. Some of you need to grow up. The whining and bickering got stale a long time ago.
Anyway, back on topic, I agree with The Mechanic, I wasn't hardly impressed with the Europa-trick and couldn't quite figure out how they were able to achieve 40 miles from the two larger vehicles. There have to be significant trade-offs. Neither of those vehicles are as light or as aerodynamic as the Volt (which you've already covered), but if that were truly the case and all things were more or less equal, it would lead one to believe GM should be, or will be getting more out of its Volt than 40 miles battery-only based on physics alone.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Chrysler has a history of producing fantastic concepts with no inclination of production, no matter how fanatical the public response is.
ahh robert fargo now works for edmunds. TTAC's not raking in enough dough?
Oh good, The Mechanic crawled out of his mom's basement. :(
Why pick on Chrysler? There's a startup every week, claiming they're going to save the earth with their ill conceived concept. Chrysler actually owns an electric vehicle company. Chrysler can make a pretty darned good transmission. Chrysler has more potential for mass producing an electric car than Tesla.
Is anything going to come from the Chrysler announcement? I've no idea. It might be bunk. It just doesn't make sense to me to single them out, when there are better targets.
Mechanic is right. What an elaborate marketing ploy. The majority of consumers don't do their due diligence. Hell, not even news corporations do their due diligence when it comes to cars. And this is the perfect way to give them some positive publicity.
What Chrysler needs is a better lineup. Stop making large, unwieldy gas guzzlers. Stop making boxy, unbecoming, "retro styled" cars that go out of style in 3 years. (Yeah, I'm talking to you, Dodge Charger/Chrysler 300.) Be the 1st American company to release a true econo-box. Something that costs under $12,000, has 75HP and has the appetite for gas that an anorexic chick has for fried chicken.
That's all I'll say right now.
I agree with certain points of this article. I do find it suspicious that so many companies have announced plans to have X number of EV's in their line up before 20XX.
I think the GM Volt experience is a more realistic representation of EV development. The Volt has progressed at a reasonable pace so far, and will hopefully debut without a delay. These other companies promising EVs even before the Volt MY, well I think that's a major stretch to steal attention from an industry changing GM vehicle.
I also think its better for the press to fawn over EVs then last-century gas guzzling vehicles that go from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds.
The North American auto press needs to stop worrying so much about 0-60, HP, etc and bring more suitable attention to small cars. It will be a long time before everyone is driving an EV and in the interm, the solution MUST BE smaller vehicles as seen EVERYWHERE ELSE in the world.
Until someone makes a working affordable plug-in hybrid that can compete against vehicles like the Camry or Civic, then these vehicles are nothing more than a niche market.
And that's just for personal transportation. The real success will be when we have an electric full sized truck that can compete with the F150.
Until then, it's just alot of dreams and flash.
Funny, I thought the very same thing about the ridiculousness of the EV Caravan and Jeep when I read that article. As for the Lotus/Dodge, if a start up Tesla can do it so can Chrysler. So no big deal there. The real question is how much will this vehicle cost, what's the range, etc, etc...
I highly doubt "The Mechanic" is Robert Farrago, opfreak (I understand you were banned from TTAC for flaming, BTW). I wish Edmunds had a more stringent policy.
Regardless, I think Edmunds and "The Mechanic" should come clean and say who he is. Is Edmunds afraid of losing advertising dollars from the car companies that are dissed here, a la the Dan Neil incident concerning the LA Times?
But one thing's for certain -- that Chrysler PR show of becoming an electric car maker is all smoke and mirrors AND it's not at all clear Tesla's going anywhere either. I mean, how many cars has the latter produced? Is it in the double digits yet?
The Mechanic has some good points, it is time that the 'next gen' vehicles being presented by some manufacturers are billed as concepts not as mass production ready vehicles. The responsibility for calling bullshit is on the journalists and reporters for major car publications. They are the experts in the field. They need to tell their readers that the facts don't add up, there will be sacrifices made concerning the vehicles and production may not occur on time. We as the readers and consumers also need to be a bit more skeptical. We can't continue down the path of believing some of the stuff being presented to us by car companies. We need to think a bit more about how realistic the 'gas-alternative' technologies are.
I'm pretty sure I read the same press coverage as everybody else, and yet I only saw it as a PR stunt at worst, and a blip on the radar at best. The story was done after about two days.
I guess if the press were overly fawning toward Chrysler, then I was just smart enough to dismiss it...which suggests that the press actually were not that fawning after all. ;)
dvsutton:
so, you have issues with you honda, and suddenly thats indicative of their entire reputation?
if so was the case with the big three, they would have died out totally years ago.
japanese gov't my ass. honda employes american workers PERIOD.
No Sh@#$!
I said the exact same thing. How has GM -a much more successful company which is so much more stable than Chrysler despite all the bad press- struggled to make the Volt an ergonomical reality yet Chrysler sudden sprouts three-THREE (and that's not counting the golf cart)electric vehicles. And two are just every day cars where you don't give any compromises. Sound too good to be true?
I'll geive Chrysler this- they learned a new way to play the game. And if they don't screw up too much, the new strategy could buy them some time.
Who the heck is dvsutton? I sincerely doubt his so-called 'Honda' experience, given that it lies insanely outside the norm. I'll give you my own experience. I've got a 1994 Civic that just won't die. I'd love to get a different car, but for practical reasons I've been waiting for my Civic to kill over, and it just won't do it. 210k miles and the lone repair outside of normal maintenance was an AC condenser.
I've also got a 1999 Chrysler minivan. Piece of freakin' crap. It is apparent that virtually no thought went into design, engineering, etc. If this vehicle is representative of what consumers can expect from U.S. manufacturers, count me out. Funny part is (to me anyways) is that it's got an E85-compliant engine (means it can run on ethanol), not because Chrysler cares about that kind of thing, but it was an effort to get CAFE credits, due to their gas-hog model line. A couple years ago, when ethanol got (wrongfully) hyped, it's all you heard about from the U.S. manufacturers. The imports didn't need CAFE credits because they've been ahead of the game -- they've been working on fuel efficient vehicles for years, thinking way ahead of the US auto industry. I'd love to buy an auto from a US-based manufacturer, but the fact of the matter is that they are way behind the game and have been putting crap on the market for years.
While I'm a big fan of Honda, I don't doubt his "Honda experience".
I know two Honda Odyssey owners that have had transmission failures. One of them also had his engine changed (under warranty) and there have been other minor problems too.
On the other hand my folks have three Caravans over the years (1988, 1996 and 2001) and while not perfect, none of them ever had a major problem. Not much in the way of minor problems either. They put a tonne of miles on the 1st two too.
I'm not saying Chrysler is better then Honda but they are not crap either. And Honda isn't perfect. (I hope 1487 doesn't hear me say that).
The Mechanic is just one more reason why i never go a day without signing on to Edmunds. Thank you for saying what needs to be said. I wish i could spend my money with American automobile manufactures but until they can offer the same RESALE and RELIABILITY as the Japanese, i feel i have no choice but to get the MOST for my money with Honda and Toyota. I currently have a 05 civic, and a 07 sc430 and couldn't be happier.
I would like to thank fd2 and zeniff for taking time out of thier day selling Hondas, to reply to my message. Thier reputation on other posts preceeds them as being as bias as the mechenic against any domestic nameplate. I dont' believe either of them for a second, that they have ever owned or driven a domestic nameplate in the last twenty or so years. I, on the other hand, have owned a Honda. Like I said in my post, ODYSSEY IS JUNK. Honda makes Junk Transmissions. I would never buy a Honda Product again. And I will shout from the highest mountain and let everyone I know what I went through owning one. I hope I can sway some people away from Honda badged products. And I hope that pisses fd2 and zeniff off even more.
I'm not a big fan of people posting individual experiences and trying to say that that experience represents the entire brand. I accept that it's going to happen.
Putting that aside, Holy carp!
dvsutton posts a bad experience about Honda transmissions and suddenly he's the devil? Talk about a bunch of fanboys.
Y'all need to get over it. There's bad Honda and there's good Chrysler.
I have a sinking feeling that the Volt will not sell, will not capture the public's interest when it is finally available and will have to be heavily discounted just to move them. When it comes to human psychology, perception is everything and the name Cheverolet will not be able to tantilize enough customers to pay or even want a car with that name.
I am one that always roots for GM, and lately even Ford. Although, I myself, would never spend my money on one of their products. Maybe a Mustang or a Camaro but I were shopping for an "appliance" car, my first inclination would be Japanese.
It's my money, it's American money and it's worth more in a Japanese car than it is in an American car.
I almost wish we didn't have a choice and I had to buy American. Then my perception would change because I had no choice.
"I wish i could spend my money with American automobile manufactures but until they can offer the same RESALE and RELIABILITY as the Japanese, i feel i have no choice but to get the MOST for my money with Honda and Toyota. "
Do you have any data to support your notion that there are no reliable American cars on the road today? Of course not. You do have a choice but you have delued yourself into believeing you do not. It funny when people who havent owned a domestic vehicle in 15-20 years come on here (or anywhere) and preach about how they have no choice but to buY Japanese if they want a good car. Americans are so ignorant and the sad part is they revel in their ignorance.
"It's my money, it's American money and it's worth more in a Japanese car than it is in an American car."
That kind of closed minded nonsensical thinking is prevalent here at Edmunds unfortunately. Resale value on American cars is going up and foreign automakers are discounting and selling to fleets more than ever. Where do you get off saying your money is better spent on a Japanese car?
"I dont' believe either of them for a second, that they have ever owned or driven a domestic nameplate in the last twenty or so years."
Exactly. Most of these domestic car experts get their opinions from a) C&D or IL or b) driving rental base model Calibers and Cobalts from the airport. You can tell how jaded and out of touch someone is by how irrelevant their stereotypes of domestic cars are. We live in the era of the Malibu, CTS, CTS-V, Enclave, Fusion, etc. and people are here saying there arent any domestic vehicle worthy of their hard earned money on sale today.
"The imports didn't need CAFE credits because they've been ahead of the game -- they've been working on fuel efficient vehicles for years, thinking way ahead of the US auto industry. I'd love to buy an auto from a US-based manufacturer, but the fact of the matter is that they are way behind the game and have been putting crap on the market for years."
"The imports didn't need CAFE credits because they've been ahead of the game -- they've been working on fuel efficient vehicles for years, thinking way ahead of the US auto industry. I'd love to buy an auto from a US-based manufacturer, but the fact of the matter is that they are way behind the game and have been putting crap on the market for years."
Please learn to separate facts from commonly accepted myths. None of the imports were for the new CAFE regulations and Toyota came out publically against the idea. There is a major auot lobbying group that represents all the major automakers and that group said they did not favor congress' CAFE changes. Foreign automakers have specialized in small cars for years because thats what they sell at HOME. I hope you dont think people are driving Highlanders and Pilots in Japan. IN most Asian and Euro countries the small car is king and gas is high. This means that automakers from those countries have DECADES of experience in making decent small cars. US manufacturers didn't even start making compacts until the 70s or 80s because that wasn't ever a specialty of the US market. Since you are such a Honda fan I compel you to compare the CObalt SS with the Civic Si and see just how "behind" American cars are in 2008. The Cobalt SS isnt even compared to the Si because it's performance is on another plateau. The Focus matches the civic in mileage with the manual tranny and the Cobalt XFE exceeds the civc with a manual while offering more hp. As for durability I would say most cars today could easily make it to 150k miles without enduring major engine or tranny work.
My fellow domestic experts:
I, too, would never compare a Cobalt SS against a Civic SI. Sure, the Cobalt wins the numbers war, whereas in quality, fit and finish, it's no contest, Honda takes that hands down. Try selling your Cobalt SS in 5 years, I'll try selling a Civic SI in 5 years, and let's touch bases on which is selling for more, and why that's so.
Now in regards to whether domestic automakers have been behind in the game because they were focused on a US consumer or a global consumer is besides the point. Just as the imports are here in the US, the big 3 are in other countries, and if they'd been paying attention to trends (here or abroad), they'd have been prepared for a shift in consumer tastes. US automakers have nobody but themselves to blame for being behind the curve. Perhaps US automakers have been lax because if they get to the point of no return, they know Congress will bail them out. I sincerely doubt that foreign makes have that option (certainly not to the same degree), and that may force import automakers to be more forward thinking. Who knows. Point is, imports are behind, and if you disagree, then why are consumers flocking to the imports in droves? I'm no spokesperson for Honda, Chrysler, Yugo,etc. But I can share my own experience, and that is that the imports are far ahead of domestics.
How much money are automakers going keep wasting on these BS PR stunts?
I’m sorry, but the “Big 3” are the greatest in bulls—t futuristic propaganda that even trumps communism. Doesn’t any one remember all of the “Cars of the Future” that the big3 have been promising us since the 1950s? Cars that drive them selves along magnetic highways, cars that are turbine powered, cars with all the modern conveniences of home, Hover cars, Flying cars, cars of the future being the safest place on earth? HELLO. The big3 year after year parade these cars and like fools we sit waiting to buying diluted facsimiles. The big3 are in a world of hurt because no one is drinking their coolaid anymore. Instead we are walking across the street and shopping for a car more like the future. Safe, reliable, durable, body panels that seem to fit from one end to another, interior a cut above Rubbermaid, fake wood trim more then 3mm thick vinyl (Chrysler), and offer us futuristic gadgets that should be standard in the 21st century. And don’t get me wrong because I can bash imports too. I have been around long enough to see these stunts and cardboard cars to know IF and when they hit the dealer’s lot they will be nothing like their claims.
The more we turn our backs on the big3 and call them out for what cheap stunts they pull maybe just maybe they may hear us.
Electric vehicles are gay. Journalists are liberal douchebags for the most part. Two peas in a pod, hence the love affair.
I don't care how great they say the electric car is, it's never going to be "the future". All of the articles and Press Releases about electric cars overlook the fact that the "energy crisis" does not apply only to cars. Where is all this electricity going to come from when fossil fuels run out? Those are just as big, if not bigger problems then the lack of transportation. But everybody seems to believe the only thing that's going to run out is oil. We should stop trying to build an all electric car and find a fuel source that actually is renewable.
Electricity is a renewable fuel source. It just depends on how you generate it. Here in Canada, roughly 60% of electricity is generated by hydro which is the best method. There's lots of opportunity to expand it too.
It's just laziness that coal is still used anywhere to generate power.