Edmunds Daily
Idle Chat
July 26, 2009
While Edmunds is the world's best one-stop shop for automotive information (why else would you be here?), sometimes the automakers' websites can provide additional vehicle detail that we can't. IC's hosts arm wrestle over what their favorite automaker websites are to visit.
Mr. Romans: An honorable mention goes out to Subaru, as it has enough confidence in its products to prominently display reviews and rankings taken from Edmunds and other auto-reviewing websites. But Porsche is my favorite as it's a great fantasy diversion for financially limited people like me. I can spend hours creating dream cars on the Porsche car configurator -- and then just about have a coronary when I realize that my dream 2009 Cayman S costs $92,585. That's about the time I'll slink over to the entertainment section and download computer wallpapers and listen to audio clips of revving Porsche engines.
Ms. MacKinnon: Brent, my faves are a little more modest than yours. Plus, I have a tie: Toyota and Honda. They're both easy to use, their designs don't feel cluttered, and you can get a lot of preliminary information with just a couple of clicks or mouse-overs. If I were a new car shopper, I think it'd be easy to feel overwhelmed by the flashier automakers' sites, but Honda and Toyota both have made the process less confusing.
This is actually the last Idle Chat post. It's being retired in favor of bigger and better things on Edmunds Daily, which may or may not include constant updates on the Jonas Brothers. Idle Chat was hosted by Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat lounge (read: some place they made up) they pontificated on a topic that was kinda about cars.
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- Brent Romans July 26, 2009, 12:00 PM
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- Honda, Idle Chat, Toyota
July 19, 2009
Ford and Lexus both have technology that allows a car to parallel-park itself, Infiniti gives drivers a 360-degree view around them via multiple cameras, and rear-view cameras are widely available from the factory. While we are sometimes impressed by and often grateful for the aid they give drivers, parking technology could be better. This week's Idle Chat Topic is How Would You Improve Parking Technology?
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- Bryn MacKinnon July 19, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Automotive Technology, Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- Backup Camera, idle chat, Infiniti, Lexus, parking technology, Rear-View Cameras
July 12, 2009
Edmunds' Editor-in-Chief Karl Brauer is going to be driving solo from Denver to Los Angeles next week. Idle Chat's hosts wonder whether they'd do the same if it were a summer family vacation.
Mr. Romans: In 1984, my parents did an eventful family vacation from Colorado to South Dakotain their 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser (domestic automaking at its best). Years later, I asked my mom whether she'd drive or fly if she had to do it all over again. "Fly," she said unequivocally. And for a Denver to Los Angeles family vacation, I'd likely fly, too. But I will say that road-trip monotony -- a killer for kids -- is a lot easier to relieve these days thanks to the modern prevalence of rear-seat entertainment systems, portable/in-car navigation systems and MP3 player hookups. For trips fewer than 500 miles, I'd drive for sure.
Ms. MacKinnon: The age and size of the family would make a difference, too. I'm going to use my 3-year-old as my sample and say I'd rather fly. A 500-mile drive broken up into eight "let's-stretch-and-run-around-a-bit" segments can try even the steeliest adult's patience. Yes, air travel is more expensive and has the potential to infuriate as well, but at least you get to your destination a lot sooner and there's no chance of your usually non-napping preschooler taking two giant naps from boredom and not getting to bed that night until 3 a.m. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything.
Idle Chat is hosted by Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: fueling up a Q7 in Beaver, Utah), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Brent Romans July 12, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Family Cars and Concerns, Idle Chat
July 4, 2009
Today is the birthday of the U.S.A. In honor of that birthday, today's special Saturday edition Idle Chat Topic is What American Car Would You Most Like to Drive in the Independence Day Parade? (And for the sake of this blog post, we'll consider any car that wears the badge of one of the three American automakers and is sold new in this country to be an American car, k?)
Ms. MacKinnon: The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is my pick, because it is an American car to be proud of. Looks great, comfortable ride, a pleasure to drive, roomy back seat, great fuel economy. Plus it has an elegant user interface that trains you to drive more efficiently, but it doesn't ask you to make the compromises that hybrids can sometimes require. Now hold my lemonade, Brent, while I put on this Lady Liberty hat.
Mr. Romans: Bryn, I love how you accessorize! That hat matches your eyes. But I'd have to go with a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS as my parade choice. It's unapologetically American (erm, except that's it's built in Canada), looks great and has a 426-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 under the hood. Drop the hammer for an apocalyptic burnout (they let you do those in parades, right?) and you've got your own personal fireworks show.
Idle Chat is hosted by Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday (except this Sunday) in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: the break room building a bust of Ben Franklin out of Rice Krispy Treats and purple Skittles ), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Bryn MacKinnon July 4, 2009, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- American Cars, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevy Camaro, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Fourth of July, Independence Day, Parades
June 28, 2009
Edmunds.com has so many great calculators, tools and capabilities on its website that some things don't get the attention they deserve. This week, our Idle Chat hosts give a shout out to their favorite features on Edmunds.
Mr. Romans: Edmunds Local Services is my favorite. Here, consumers can rate their recent dealership experiences (for both sales and service) and locate and rate local repair shops. It's word of mouth experience right at your fingertips. Plus, its automotive focus makes it easier and quicker to get info than from something like Yahoo Local. Edmunds Local Services is still relatively new and unknown, though, so there aren't a ton of ratings yet. But the more people that use it, the better it gets.
Ms. MacKinnon: I want to make an Edmunds Comparator T-shirt. That's how much I love the Comparator. If you're researching a car, it's your best friend. The Comparator allows you to choose up to 5 cars (all the way down to the trim level) to compare side-by-side. Then you can toggle between four different sets of information: Pricing, Ratings, Features, and Specs. There's even a printable page so you can take a break from the computer. The Comparator's also a great way to compare trim levels within a specific model. If you know you want, say, a Nissan Altima, but want to see what features come with each trim level, just load up the Comparator with a bunch of Altimas and compare away!
Idle Chat is hosted by Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: beside the koi pond at Editor in Chief Karl Brauer's house), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars. They might have listed more favorite features this week, but you know, it's "Idle Chat," not "Bryn and Brent's Great Weekly Web Thesis."
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- Brent Romans June 28, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Car Advice Articles, Idle Chat
June 21, 2009
Last month we celebrated Mothers' Day by suggesting cars for our car-shopping mothers. For Fathers' Day, which is today, dads all over are opening packages filled with the ugly ties, pungent cologne and lumpy crafts made in school that so often pose as Fathers' Day presents. To counter, we'd like to give a little Idle Chat gift to soon-to-be dads (and their partners, too, actually). Today's Idle Chat Topic is Recommended Cars for Parents-to-Be.
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- Bryn MacKinnon June 21, 2009, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Family Cars and Concerns, Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- family car, family vehicle, Fathers Day, Kia Rondo, new baby, Toyota RAV4
June 14, 2009
Today's Idle Chat Topic: Summer officially starts next week, which means it's also prime road-trip season. If you're needing advice about a car for a road-trip, Edmunds.com has this article. But we just saw a new road-trip movie of sorts (Hangover) and had a more esoteric thought: What famous movie or TV car would we want to drive on a road trip?
Mr. Romans: This is a tough one. Part of the problem is that so many dream cars of my youth (KITT, the General Lee) have been tarnished by lame TV or movie redos. I would consider the Ford Falcon V8 Interceptor from Mad Max and The Road Warrior, but in this case I think we would have more fun with the dog grooming van from Dumb and Dumber. It doesn't exactly meet editor Sadlier's requirements for a good road trip car. But in return, I could sing "Mockingbird" with Bryn. It can't get any better than that.
Ms. MacKinnon: Brent, no way are you dragging me on a road trip with you in a van that looks like a dog. I'll be driving cross-country in the bright yellow Volkswagen T2 "Microbus" from Fox Searchlight's 2006 film "Little Miss Sunshine", thank you very much. And I'm taking Michael Cera, Jon Stewart and Steve Carell with me. We will play Slug-a-Bug, eat Giant Cheetos and listen to a continuous loop of ABBA Oro.
Idle Chat is hosted by Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: the ArcLight movie theater in Hollywood), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Brent Romans June 14, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Ford, Idle Chat
June 7, 2009
Idle Chat's hosts have spouses who refuse to own a minivan. Today's topic: How to convince the minivan hater in your life that minivans aren't that bad after all.
Ms. MacKinnon: I thumb my nose at the stigma-mongerers. I've wanted a minivan since my mid-20s, pre-husband, way pre-child. Those sliding doors just sing to me. I adore the minivan's total convenience and versatility. And while their styling may not rival a sport coupe's, minivans have come a long way from their ugly-box-on-wheels beginnings. My husband has always been staunchly opposed to owning a minivan, until a few recent stints in press vans. After a weekend of kid-related outings, he had to go back to his Civic coupe, a car which he still loves, but now he sees the benefits of a minivan, both for our family duties and his gear-dependent photography business. Unfortunately, American minivan shoppers' options are dwindling, with the recent demise of GM and Ford's minivans and the forth-coming end to Hyundai's Entourage. And I do wish that more manufacturers would bring us their smaller vans, like the Mazda5, because some families might want the ease of use but don't quite need the enormity of most minivans.
Mr. Romans: Though we don't actually need a minivan right now, I've tried to prep my wife for the future. I tried reason: "A minivan's sliding doors make it the easiest and most practical vehicle for family transport!" I tried enticement: "Think of how fun it would be to take a family road trip with your parents!" (This one, admittedly, I only half-heartedly backed.) And I even tried sales pressure: "Now's the time to buy! The 2009 Honda Odyssey, the best minivan out there, is going for below invoice right now!" To all of this, she said, "No." My wife is somebody who doesn't want to own a vehicle that looks like it smells like dirty diapers. And for that, there's just no convincing.
Idle Chat is hosted by Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: the cargo area of a press van, hunting abandoned juice boxes), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Bryn MacKinnon June 7, 2009, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Family Cars and Concerns, Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- family car, Honda Odyssey, Mazda 5, minivan
May 31, 2009
Today's Idle Chat Topic: It's time to wash a winter's worth of gunk off your car. Do you hand-wash at home, go to a coin-op, drive through an automated stall at a gas station or spend freely for a full-service car wash? IC's hosts debate the merits of their favored method.
Mr. Romans: Bryn, I'm in the minority for sure, but hand washing at home is the way to go. Of course, this actually requires a house, a driveway and a hose, which I realize not everyone has access to. In this case, a coin-op is the next best thing. But washing and drying at home is the surest way to minimize scratches on your car's paint. It's also enjoyable -- you're outside, and you can get up close and personal with your car. Best of all, it's the cheapest method by far.
Ms. MacKinnon: Maybe you've got the time, energy and proper equipment to wash your cars yourself, Brent. I just don't. So, most often, I take my car to a good-quality exterior car wash (no brushes, plus optional undercarriage wash) at my local gas station when my ride needs a bath. Occasionally, when my budget can handle it, I'll go to a full hand wash car wash and catch up on my reading. I like the fact that the commercial car washes use less water than I would, and that they treat and/or recycle the waste water, something I'd have a hard time doing in my driveway.
Idle Chat is hosted by Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: driving a Mercedes-Benz E320 while listening to Rose Royce's "Car Wash"), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Brent Romans May 31, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Car Maintenance, Idle Chat
May 24, 2009
With every passing model year, manufacturers introduce features that make using their cars easier and more convenient to use. Today's Idle Chat Topic: Would You Rather Have Keyless Ignition or Built-In Bluetooth?
Ms. MacKinnon: You're gonna make me choose? Bah. OK, I choose Bluetooth, because 1) I triple-hate wearing an earpiece in my ear and 2) the speaker on my cell phone is pretty weak and 3) I live in California where hands-free phone operation is mandatory. Plus, until they install keyless entry on my house, I'm still going to have to dig those keys out of the dark recesses of my purse sooner or later.
Mr. Romans: Bryn, didn't you see how cool I looked talking into my blinky LED Bluetooth earpiece a while back? Wait, or was it silly? Eh, no matter. I'd still take keyless ignition. Not having to fish the key out of my pocket to unlock my car, though seemingly a minor time-saver, is actually a huge boon, especially if my hands are otherwise full of stuff. I can also do a neat parlor trick and leave the car's engine running and lock the doors from the outside. You don't know how great keyless ignition is until you have to go back to driving a car without it.
Idle Chat is hosted by Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: standing in front of the office microwave waiting for our popcorn to be ready already ), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Bryn MacKinnon May 24, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- Bluetooth, idle chat, keyless entry, keyless ignition, new car buying
May 17, 2009
Today's Topic: It must be prom season -- glammed-out high schoolers are filling up our local restaurants. Plus, we're all nostalgic after seeing 17 Again recently. So IC wonders: What new car would we want to drive to our high school prom?
Mr. Romans: A 2010 Ford Mustang GT coupe would be good. It's reasonably priced, so it's possible my time-warped self would have a parent kind enough to loan it out for the night (thanks, dad!). It looks cool, has a tough-sounding V8 and is as American as the prom itself. Plus, the updated 2010 Mustang has a better-looking interior and the trick Ford Sync system for easy MP3 player integration. Oh, and it still has a backseat ... for taking another couple along, obviously.
Ms. MacKinnon: Brent, if I were your parent, you wouldn't be getting near my Mustang GT. It's the '78 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser or the bus for you, young man. Now, for my prom pick. Though I know my high school self would balk at the damage it would do to my big prom hair, I choose a 2009 Mini Cooper Convertible (and to 1990 Bryn I say, "More Aquanet."). As for the Mini, it's cute, it's fun to be in and fun to drive, it's fuel-efficient and with the top down, we'd be in our own mini prom parade. C'mon, it's prom!
Idle Chat is hosted by Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: the teachers' lounge at West Beverly Hills High School), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Brent Romans May 17, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- Ford Mustang, Ford Sync, Mini Cooper
May 10, 2009
During a recent casual workplace conversation, we realized that each of our mothers is looking for a new car, and they'd like our advice on what they should buy. So, in honor of them on this Mothers Day, Today's Idle Chat Topic is Cars Our Moms Should Buy.
Ms. MacKinnon: My mom wants a reliable sedan that costs less than $25,000, has a good safety record and is capable of chauffeuring two grandchildren and at least one adult. It also needs to be comfortable for my dad to drive (he's 6'2") occasionally and exhibit a bit of a luxury feel (they've been driving Buicks for the last 20 years or so). Because of the high luxury content and the good experience we had with our long-term 2007 Hyundai Azera, I recommend my mom get a 2009 Hyundai Azera GLS. MSRP for this base Azera is $24,970, but TMV in my parents' area is $23,495, well below their price limit. Unfortunately, when I search dealers in their area using our site's New Car Inventory tool, there's only one car that fits the description. I guess suggesting a car is easy. Actually finding that car? Not so much. Happy Mothers' Day, Mom.
Mr. Romans: My mom has been driving various incarnations of the Nissan Maxima since 1987. But she's decided that her next car should be a hybrid. Not for the theoretical savings in fuel, she says, but for the reduction in carbon footprint. My first thought was a Nissan Altima Hybrid, but it's not sold in her home state of Colorado. None of the hybrid-powered SUVs seem to suit her. So I'd recommend the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius. Ford's new Fusion Hybrid is a tempting choice, but the Prius wins me over with its lower price and better fuel economy. The Prius is also more refined than Honda's new Insight. A Prius it is, then. Hardly an original pick, I admit, but it's a good one. I just hope she doesn't start to gloat in front of her neighbors.
Idle Chat is hosted by Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: the Mothers Day brunch buffet line at IHOP), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Bryn MacKinnon May 10, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Family Cars and Concerns, Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- family car, Hyundai, Hyundai Azera, idle chat, mothers day, Toyota, Toyota Prius
May 3, 2009
Today's Idle Chat Topic: Edmunds.com's new Consumer Favorites allows site users to vote for their favorite vehicles, with this month's category being Best Family Hauler. Since Idle Chat's suggestion of the Family Truckster was shot down as a possible choice, we've rebelled (rebelled!) with our own topic this week. Idle Chat wonders: What's the best new car to start your own personal taxicab business in?
Mr. Romans: As much fun as it might be to have a Bugatti Veyron as a taxicab, I'd probably need to charge about, oh, $2,500 per fare to make up for the Bug's price. Plus, with LA traffic, I wouldn't get to my clients' destinations any quicker. But I'd still want to stand out if I had my own one-cab business. Therefore, I'll nominate the Ford Flex. It's stylish, roomy and probably pretty economical to operate. And it has a refrigerated snack box! The Flex would look right painted yellow, too. All I need now is a massaging-bead driver seat cover.
Ms. MacKinnon: My first thought was to go with the Hyundai Genesis, with its huge back seat and comfortable ride. But then I started thinking about the wear and tear that the back seat of a taxi takes, and I decided to get practical: Honda Element. It has a hose-out interior. Have you seen the inside of a taxi lately? Ew.
Idle Chat is hosted by Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: waiting for a cab outside The Edison), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Brent Romans May 3, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- Ford Flex, Honda Element
April 26, 2009
Today's Idle Chat Topic: What would you put in the optional refrigerated bin in the center console of the rear seat of the 2009 Ford Flex?
Ms. MacKinnon: Why not use the Flex's fridge to support a (very, very) small ice cream vendor business? Hey, in this economy, it doesn't hurt to get creative about income sources. And even though the usable space is pretty paltry, I bet I could jam six or seven Choco Tacos in there. Or a handful of yogurt push-ups. Now I just have to get a PA system and choose a creepy theme song. I'm taking suggestions.
Mr. Romans: Well, I took a peek in my refrigerator for ideas. I had a jar with three olives in it, mustard, some carrots and a small container that, near as I can tell, used to have guacamole in it. I really need to go shopping. So I guess I'd just end up with bottled water or something. Still, with the top of the refrigerated bin being hinged on the front, it's difficult (but not impossible) to get in there while driving. It seems Ford doesn't want us Americans to be snacking on our chilled items while in motion.
Idle Chat is hosted by Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: the freezer section of the Costco in Inglewood), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Bryn MacKinnon April 26, 2009, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Ford, Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- Ford Flex, in-car refrigerator, interior storage, road trip
April 19, 2009
Today's Idle Chat Topic: Things Drivers Have Forgotten Since Driver Education
Mr. Romans: Turn Signals. This technique seems to have been dismissed by 80 percent of the population. The car in front of me is slowing down; is he going to make a turn, or did he just accidentally tip his 60-ounce mega soda onto his lap? Without a signal, I can't tell. Also, left-lane camping. You'd think that these oblivious dawdlers would get a clue after the hundredth car passes them on the right. I also get annoyed at teens who recklessly race around in parking lots, drivers who don't pull to the right for ambulances and people who don't drive appropriately when it rains. Oh, and while I'm ranting, I'd also like to complain about the fast food industry's current fetish with tiny hamburgers. Seriously, we went through this back in the 1980s already. Please stop. There. I feel much better now.
Ms. MacKinnon: Brent, dear, you're foaming at the mouth a little. Here's a tissue. But since you brought it up, how's this duet of right-hand turn peeves: Drivers behind me who honk, splutter and flail with impatience while I'm waiting at a red light to make a legal right-hand turn at an intersection with either a no-right-on-red sign (so I'm waiting until it's green) or a right-hand-turn arrow that's currently red (also waiting until it's green). Sorry, no can go, Mr. Furious. Try some isometric butt clenches to ease the tension while you wait. Or even better: I'm waiting for the elderly lady pushing her meager hand cart of groceries home to finish exiting the crosswalk so I can turn right. Yet the fool behind me still lays on the horn like I've just made him miss his court-mandated anger management class. Whatever happened to conscientious driving?
Idle Chat is hosted by Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a couple plastic chairs in the Santa Monica DMV office), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Brent Romans April 19, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Car Safety, Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- driver education
April 12, 2009
April is National Car Care Month. And while there are plenty of vehicular vital signs that you should pay careful attention to all year long (engine oil, transmission fluid and tire tread depth, just to name a few), Today's Idle Chat Topic focuses on a less fundamental but more in-your-face car care issue: In-Car Air Fresheners.
Ms. MacKinnon: I like the idea of air fresheners for the auto, but can't get behind them in practice. Artificial pine trees, chemical strawberry-scented miniature flip-flops, pina colada gel in a can? Blech. So I don't buy them, but I like the idea of a do-it-yourself freshener for a not-so-fresh car's interior. Therefore I sometimes keep a little box of baking soda under the driver seat of my car (the kind intended for use in the refrigerator or freezer with detachable panels that expose a fine mesh through which the baking soda absorbs odors), but I also just found this great homemade air freshener trick, which sounds promising. Nothing like the pervasive smell of coffee to make your morning commute a little less noxious.
Mr. Romans: Here's a question: "How did America's cars get to be so stinky in the first place?" It probably has something to do with what we covered in our Do You Eat in Your Car post. I've never used automotive air fresheners personally -- having a little tree dangling from the rearview mirror is just too kitschy -- but I can see the appeal. If my car smelled like dirty socks, I suppose I'd want it to smell like, oh, I don't know, lemons, or maybe Scarlett Johansson. I would just be afraid that I'd be covering up the problem rather than addressing it -- my car would end up smelling like Scarlett's dirty socks.
Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon are two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: the curb outside Pep Boys), we pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Bryn MacKinnon April 12, 2009, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Car Maintenance, Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- car air freshener, car care, Maintenance, maintenance tips, national car care month
April 5, 2009
Today's Idle Chat Topic:At General Motors, CEO Rick Wagoner has been forced out and vice chairman Bob Lutz has stepped down to be just an advisor until he retires at the end of this year. So IC ponders: What should Rick Wagoner and Bob Lutz do now to fill the time?
Mr. Romans Says: Say what you want about the outspoken Bob Lutz, but you have to admit: he has really great hair. We men should all be so lucky as to have such thick and lustrous silver hair at age 77. So I'm thinking they should open a barber shop together. Yeah, OK, it might seem like it'd be a step down, seeing as how they used to run GM and all. But obviously Mr. Lutz knows hair, and Mr. Wagoner, well, I'm sure he could handle the books OK. Plus, they'd have plenty of interesting stories to tell. Bob's Motown Barber shop. Perfect.
Ms. MacKinnon: They should write, direct and star in an off-off-off-Broadway musical revue called "Maximum BOB!" a buddy cop-style romp through their careers, backed by a supporting cast of Avenue Q
-style puppets. Think I'm crazy? Mr. Lutz is already planning to dip his toe into the greasepaint world
this month, and Mr. Wagoner has plenty of time on his hands now for costume fittings, singing lessons and dance rehearsals. 5, 6, 7, 8!
Idle Chat is hosted by Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a spongy sofa at the local JC Penny), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
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- Brent Romans April 5, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- General Motors, Idle Chat
- Technorati Tags:
- General Motors, idle chat
March 29, 2009
Hi, we're Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: two Ansse bar stools at a Pragel countertop in an Ikea showroom), we pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Today's Idle Chat Topic: Sliding doors are the best automotive innovation since the windshield. Discuss.
Ms. MacKinnon: You're gonna throw things at me for saying this, Brent, but I propose that every car made on the planet have sliding doors as standard equipment. I'm serious. Sure, I love them in family-specific applications like minivans and micro-minivans, yes, but why should they be banished to the family car ghetto? Get over the stigma, America. Let's put 'em on coupes, convertibles, sedans, wagons and subcompacts, you name it. Not only would it be the end of the Door Ding Era, it would usher in the Magic Remote Door Epoch, a period in which parking lot rage and vehicle entry-related anxiety are a distant cultural memory. And don't try to confuse me with talk of "real-world feasibility" and "technical impossibilities." I want what I want, and I want universal sliding doors.
Mr. Romans: See this nifty Ikea silicone spatula, Bryn? I'm throwing it at you right now. But seeing as how you've blocked off any logical discussion, I'll present you with this thought -- if every car had sliding doors, almost everything would be classified as a minivan. Sliding-door Ford Expedition? Minivan. Sliding-door Dodge Caliber? Minivan. Experimental 12-wheeled 2020 NASA lunar rover? World's first lunar minivan. And since they'd all be minivans, our cars would inherently gain Cheerio dust-caked seat tracks, Sponge Bob Square Pants stick-on window shades and phone calls from our moms asking us when the next grandchild is coming along. This is a dark world, Ms. MacKinnon, and I want no part of it.
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- Bryn MacKinnon March 29, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Idle Chat
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March 25, 2009
Hi, we're Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Wednesday Sunday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a dilapidated U-Haul trailer double-parked in Manhattan), we pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Just wanted to let everyone know that Brent and I are moving our Idle Chats to Sundays from now on. Our hard-hitting automotive journalist approach pairs perfectly with your morning coffee and doughnuts. So grab a latte and a jelly-filled and join us this Sunday morning for Idle Chat Weekend. You don't even have to change out of your PJs.
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- Bryn MacKinnon March 25, 2009, 12:00 PM
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- Idle Chat
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- idle chat
March 18, 2009
Hi, meet Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Wednesday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: an oversized Ziggy beach towel on the grass in Brent's backyard), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Today's Idle Chat Topic: In our 2009 Audi A4 test drive published last week, Associate Editor Josh Sadlier described the car's optional navigation system as having an "absurdly stilted female voice" that evoked "images of alien landings." In its never-ending quest for automotive betterment, Idle Chat asks: What celebrity navigation voice would you want in the A4 instead?
Mr. Romans:
My initial reaction would be to have somebody fun, like Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson (she'd "mhrmm" every time you miss a turn) or John Madden ("Boom -- You're here!"). But I suspect that they'd get just as annoying as alien computer lady. So I'm going to have to go with Don LaFontaine
, the man who voiced thousands of movie trailers over a four-decade career. With Don navigating, every destination would be exciting as a Hollywood blockbuster. Alas, Don passed away last year, but in a world
where Audi has the technology to create alien computer lady, I'm sure we can parse Mr. LaFontaine's voice into the A4.
Ms. MacKinnon:
Brent, it's too hard to choose! I want Andy Garcia for sultry night drives, Steven Wright for deadpan hilarity, and Ernie and Bert when I have the kid in the car. And that's just for starters. So I demand that Audi give me unlimited options, because who knows what kind of mood I'm going to be in at any given moment? Incidentally, for a few years now, TomTom's has had a handful of celebrity voices available for purchase for use with its portable nav systems, but I'm not sure how long I could take the turn-by-turn stylings of Mr. T
.
Who would you pick to be the A4's celebrity voice navigator?
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- Brent Romans March 18, 2009, 12:00 PM
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- Audi, Car Audio and Electronics, Idle Chat
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- Navigation
March 11, 2009
Each Wednesday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a bus bench in front of the In-and-Out Burger by Bryn's house), Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com, pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Today's Idle Chat Topic: Do you eat in your car?
Ms. MacKinnon: Cheeto dust. Burrito fallout. Cappuccino overflow. Blech. I do eat in my car, but I try to choose dry, non-crumbly foods that can be popped into the mouth in one shot. I'm not that concerned about the residual values of the cars I own (I tend to keep cars until they must be towed away to the recycler), but I hate the sick, sweet-rot smell of a food-dirty car. So you won't find me nibbling industrial hash browns from a greasy paper wrapper, but you might catch me snarfing a whole box of Girl Scout cookies.
Mr. Romans: Well, yes. Normally, I stick to simple snacks. But a couple of months ago, I was late driving somewhere and in dire need of a meal. I picked up a bean-and-cheese burrito. Bad idea. About half-way through consumption, a blob of leaky cheese and reconstituted bean broke free and landed on my shirt. (At least it wasn't as bad as what happens in this eat-in-your-car video.) Another reason: just like smoking, eating in your car really does leave an odor. I once bought a used 240SX that smelled like Indian food. Even after a year, a friend snarkily remarked, "Dude, since when did you start doing deliveries for Bombay Palace?"
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- Bryn MacKinnon March 11, 2009, 12:00 PM
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- Idle Chat, Selling Cars, Used Cars
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- car wash, fast food, road trip
March 4, 2009
Each Wednesday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a musty sectional in Karl Brauer's garage), Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com, pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Today's Idle Chat Topic: The 2010 Kia Soul's + and ! Trim Level Names -- Silly or Cute?
Mr. Romans: You may not have noticed, so I'll fill you in -- Kia's new compact hatchback, the 2010 Soul, comes in four trim levels: Soul, Soul +, Soul ! and Soul Sport. Yes, really. We've test-driven the Sport and pronounced it good, but why the trim-level contrivance? (And why just plain "Sport" after the quirky symbols? It'd be like naming your first two kids Rotherhithe and Tzeitel and then naming your third Ed.) I can only wonder what's next -- "The 2011 Soul, now in +, !, !!! and :-P trim levels!" Put me down for silly.
Ms. MacKinnon: Agreed, Brent. And I wanna know what conversations on the Kia lots sound like. "Yeah, I wanted to see one of those ! Souls." "Well, ma'am, we're fresh outta !, but we've got plenty of + that you'll love." Huh? I once met a girl whose name was pronounced "star" but was spelled Starr* with the asterisk. Just because they say so, doesn't mean it's right. But as long as we're playing, might I suggest a super-stripped base version called - (pronounced "minus") and a ; (pronounced "wink") that features a headlight setting which turns the Soul into an on-purpose padiddle?
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- Brent Romans March 4, 2009, 12:00 PM
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- Idle Chat, Kia, Test Cars and Car Reviews
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- kia soul
February 25, 2009
Each Wednesday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a musty sectional in Karl Brauer's garage), Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com, pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Today's Idle Chat Topic: What is the deal with those stickers and fake emblems dealers slap on the cars they sell?
Ms. MacKinnon: Here in Southern California (home of our editorial offices), dealers mostly stick to (easily removable and totally unnecessary) license plate frames and fake license plates for advertising that you just bought your new ride at Honest Tony's Autoporium-o-rama. But there are plenty of out-of-state cars cruising our mean streets so that I am quite familiar with this (IMO) strange and annoying practice of dealer branding, whether it's a blocky sticker crudely stuck on the rear decklid (see above) or an almost believable metal trim piece spelling out the dealer's name and placed next to the car's factory badging. Sure, dealers should be allowed to advertise to the public. But the nerve of using adhesive on my precious new set of wheels to do so! Shocking.
Mr. Romans: Yep, they're tacky. But what can we really expect out of the country that invented Las Vegas, truck antlers and the 1974 Ford Mustang II? Really, we only have ourselves to blame. It seems plenty of people don't mind (or are otherwise oblivious to) rolling in decade-old cars with original dealer stickers and plate frames still attached. Even here, though, I would argue that it's not all that bad, as the alternative is even worse. When these people remove their car's dealer kitsch, they replace it with items like "I'd Rather Be Crocheting" license plate frames and "My Chihuahua Is Smarter Than Your Honor Student" bumper stickers. I think we're facing an unsolvable problem, here, Bryn. (Although, I must say, our long-term BMW X5 test car would look pretty snazzy with a set of truck antlers.)
Want to get rid of an unwanted or unsightly dealer sticker or emblem on your own car? Just remember that the longer it sits, the harder it'll be to remove. We've also heard of shoppers refusing to take delivery of a car with a dealer sticker on it, so keep that in your back pocket when you buy your next car, if you're not into being a rolling billboard.
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- Bryn MacKinnon February 25, 2009, 12:00 PM
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- Car Buying, Car Negotiating, Idle Chat
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- car dealer, dealer advertising, dealer stickers, license plate frames
February 18, 2009
Hi, meet Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Wednesday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a dusty couch in the breakroom), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Today's Idle Chat Topic: Our cantankerous editors are at odds about whether seat belts or LATCH connectors are better for securing child safety seats.
Mr. Romans: I've been using a child safety seat for a year-and-half now. Not for me, obviously, but for my 1.5-year-old daughter. And I must say I greatly prefer securing the seat in my car with LATCH connections. I don't know why people bother with the seatbelt method. If LATCH is done right, it's quick and easy. With the seatbelt method, you have to unreel the belt, thread the buckle through the back of the seat and click it in, all while trying to keep everything snug and not letting go. Getting my kid into the car is hassle enough; I don't need more of it.
Ms. MacKinnon: Brent, though you may think using LATCH is the way to go, I respectfully disagree. I've found installing with seat belts to also be quick and easy -- and I switch our car seat in and out of different test cars almost every day as a part of my job. And regardless of how much easier you think LATCH connections make the hooking-in process, LATCH doesn't eliminate the need to put your weight on the seat and pull with all your might to tighten the seat down - my most hated part of the whole thing. Another tick in the seat belt method's favor: Rear seat belts are in every car built since 1968, making installation via seat belt an equal-opportunity, all-inclusive way to travel with the kiddie. Seat Belt Nation. Love it or leave it, babydaddy.
Which install method do you prefer?
(Disclaimer: This post is not intended to be a serious discussion about safety. If you want authoritative advice, read your child safety seat's owner's manual as well as our safety seat story. Also, Bryn and Brent advise to play nice, chew your food slowly and not to run with scissors.)
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- Brent Romans February 18, 2009, 12:00 PM
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- Car Safety, Idle Chat
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- Auto Safety
February 11, 2009
Hi, meet Bryn MacKinnon and Brent Romans, two editors at Edmunds.com. Each Wednesday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a dusty couch in the breakroom), they pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Today's Idle Chat Topic: A woman in Maryland painted a quilt design over her entire 1993 Saturn using donated nail polish. If you had to paint an entire car in nail polish, what color polish would you choose?
Ms. MacKinnon: This is simultaneously intriguing and abhorrent to me. First, the abhorrences: the fumes (egads, the FUMES!) and the teeny tiny brush (the PATIENCE!). Now, the intriguingnesses: the CHOICES! From 99-cent Wet 'n' Wild to $30-a-bottle Chanel, there are thousands of possibilities! And they're so much more fun than the handful of factory paint options the manufacturers offer for each model, usually limited to some variation of silver, white, beige, blue, red or black. Sure, they try to jazz it up by giving the colors fancy names (Pop Quiz! Wild Strawberry, Molten Metal, Alien Metallic, Black Sapphire: Are they crazy car paint names or nail polishes?), but it's nowhere near the variety available in the beauty aisle. When was the last time a car company offered factory colors like pink or purple? My choice is something bold, something sparkly, something Eddie Izzard would be proud to wear. Gimme a deep, rich bluish purple with a bit of glitter.
Mr. Romans: Oh, you know me, Bryn. My plastic-paneled 1993 Saturn would just have to wear Nars Jungle Red (as featured in "The Women") with sparkles. Or maybe I'd give it a French manicure. Heck, I might even be inspired enough to create my own BMW Art Car . But I wonder: Did Ms. Maryland think about the long-term implications? What's the durability of nail polish? Would I have to repaint my car every two weeks? If there's a chip, I suppose that'd be easy to fix - just whip out a bottle from the glove box and dab. But what about fading or protection from rogue pigeons? If I got into an accident, would the body shop be able to match the paint? Could I still wax with Zaino? Worst of all, disaster would be near at hand anytime some joker came around with a bottle of nail polish remover. And around our offices, I bet that would happen a lot.
What polish palette would you pick if you had your pick of polish?
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- Bryn MacKinnon February 11, 2009, 12:00 PM
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- art car, car paint, nail polish
