Edmunds Daily
Thoughts from the Curb
September 2, 2009
The beauty of the California coast is well documented -- from the first missionaries making their way up on donkeys to the countless films that took advantage of the spectacular scenery. With 1,264 coastal miles, there's also a whopping amount of beauty, accounting for 10 percent of the United States' total coast line. To see it all would take a long time, longer than I had in one weekend, and to truly experience it all would probably take a lifetime.
With San Diego to Santa Barbara already in the bag, I decided to venture further north than I have before. I've been to San Francisco, but that was on Interstate 5 through the central valley. My buddy and I would head beyond Santa Barbara up Highway 101, veering off onto the Pacific Coast Highway to San Simeon, then back inland to Paso Robles. To make the journey, I would employ the all-new 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i, a car that has been overfilling our readers' mailbox with inquiries about how it does in the real world. A full Edmunds test drive is still a few weeks away, though, so hopefully these thoughts will sate their appetites in the meantime.
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- James Riswick September 2, 2009, 3:00 AM
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August 26, 2009
Are you considering buying a car to drive across the country? Or perhaps pondering a really long road trip to visit some of the nation's many interesting places? You know, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Ann Arbor.
Well, a buddy and I are going someplace this weekend. We haven't really decided where yet, and we probably won't make it as far as Mount Rushmore (which I heard is being rechiseled to replace Teddy Roosevelt with Ronald Reagan), but hopefully we'll make it someplace good. But wherever we go, we'll need a great car. While many of the so-called great "road trip cars" are huge and designed for the wife, the kids, the dog, the Wii and the luggage, what about those of you who don't fit into the typical road trip model? What should you drive? Here are some choices for different sorts of road trips and what you should buy for them.
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- James Riswick August 26, 2009, 3:00 AM
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August 19, 2009
I'm an unabashed fan of British cars. Well, the interesting ones at least -- I'm not a member of the Morris Marina Fan Club or anything. Aston Martin, Mini, Range Rover, Jaguar and Rolls-Royce have epic amounts of personality, style and flair (sometimes known as quirks) that make them more than just transportation appliances. While every British brand has been for a swim in the financial toilet and are notorious for their unreliability, I find it impossible not to love them. There's a metaphor for a woman somewhere in there.
So it was with great anticipation that I greeted the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne this past weekend. All-new, this "Grand Bentley" promised to not only replace the outgoing ye olde Arnage, but transcend onto yet another level currently inhabited by only the monumentally awesome Rolls-Royce Phantom and some German thing that looks like an '01 S-Class. But then I saw the Mulsanne ... and could think of nothing but Dickens novels and Gwyneth Paltrow.
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- James Riswick August 19, 2009, 3:00 AM
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August 12, 2009
I've been "hard" at work recently writing the Edmunds model reviews for several 2010 Volvo models and I've come to the conclusion that Volvos are just a wee bit expensive.
Whether driving them or simply examining the interior craftsmanship, it's hard to view the Swedish brand as being on-par with BMW, Audi, Mercedes or Lexus. Volvo is certainly a step above bread-and-butter brands like Honda or Toyota, and certainly nicer than Lincoln. However, whenever I drive a Volvo I think, "Is this really nicer than a Volkswagen?"
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- James Riswick August 12, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Thoughts from the Curb
August 5, 2009
Cash for Clunkers has been a runaway success, with dealers and the government unable to keep up with demand. Thus far, the most turned in vehicles read like a Greatest Hits of the '90s: Explorer, Grand Cherokee, Blazer, Cherokee and every American full-size pickup. They've been traded in most frequently for cars like the Focus, Civic, Corolla, Cobalt, Caliber, Camry and Prius.
That Caliber really got me depressed, as did the LA Times article I read the other day that said one Chrysler dealer had run out of Calibers and Jeep Compasses and only had one PT Cruiser left. Any time somebody buys one of those, it's enough for me to light a votive candle and pop a Prozac. But it got me to thinking. What supposed "Clunkers" would I rather own than a Caliber, Corolla, Compass, PT Cruiser, Cobalt or even Focus.
I checked the Edmunds Cash for Clunkers eligibility list and as it turns out, coming up with my Keep Your Clunkers list wasn't that hard.
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- James Riswick August 5, 2009, 3:00 AM
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July 29, 2009
I received a press release in my e-mail yesterday. A common occurance to be sure, but one that usually results in a right-click-delete or a right-click-junk. Yesterday's from AutoPacific was given a reprieve thanks to its headline: "Americans open to vehicles from China and India."
Oh, really? According to AutoPacific's research, "15 percent of new car buyers in the United States say they would consider purchasing their next vehicle from China, and 11 percent would consider buying a car from India, without knowing specific brands or vehicles. This compares with 16 percent who said they would consider a vehicle from Korea ..."
Needle scratching off record. Wait a second, did I just read that right? There's only a 1 percent difference between the number of Americans willing to consider a Chinese car as a Korean car? If you could picture me now, I'd look something like this.
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- James Riswick July 29, 2009, 3:00 AM
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July 22, 2009
Automotive commercials tend to bring out the worst of my tendency to yell at the television.
"Did you say something to me?" my girlfriend will ask from the other room.
"No, just yelling at Howie Long for claiming the Cobalt XFE is a better car than the Civic just because it gets a bit better gas mileage."
By "Cobalt XFE" she's already returned to watching "Bridezillas." But Ford's recent ad campaign has had me scratching my head at the television rather than yelling at it. You've probably seen them. Discovery Channel stalwart Mike Rowe goes around experiencing new Ford products -- sometimes he's behind the wheel explaining Ford's improved quality, sometimes he's chatting with a Ford engineer about the F-150 crashworthiness. In general, they steer away from the typical half-truths and marketing mumbo jumbo typical of so many car commercials.
My beef is two fold.
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- James Riswick July 22, 2009, 3:00 AM
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July 15, 2009
Going on a road trip this summer? Are you fiendishly attached to text messaging, devoted to communicating with others using short, non-descriptive sentences in broken English? Well, this little map should come in handy, as it shows where you can be nicked by Johnny Law for typing BTW rather than driving your BMW.
Dark Red: States with full texting while driving bans. Good for them.
Dark Blue: States with texting bans for those younger than 18 years old or holding learner's permits. Because a 17-year-old texting is apparently horribly dangerous, but a 19-year-old or even a 39-year-old is A-OK.
Pink: States with potential or pending texting bans. Get'er done.
Oregon: States with texting bans for those younger than 18 years old, but have a full texting ban pending.
White: No laws at all, where freedom rings upon texters everywhere, liberated of big government's grasp upon your Blackberry.
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- James Riswick July 15, 2009, 3:00 AM
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July 8, 2009
California Sens. Gil Cedillo and Ron Calderon, and the cars Californians pay for
California is broke and its government is too dysfunctional to do anything about it. Yet that apparently doesn't stop state senators from getting pricey luxury cars with tax dollars. This matter came to my attention last week when the Los Angeles Times reported that state legislators had agreed to a 18-percent reduction in car allowances while also publishing the 10 most expensive cars driven by state senators. The full list can be found after the jump, but it includes a slew of $50,000 luxury cars and hybrids.
My reaction is best expressed with profanity, but let me try a slightly more civilized approach.
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- James Riswick July 8, 2009, 3:05 AM
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July 1, 2009
You don't hear me going on Mechanic-like rantings regarding the end of the automobile at the hands of evil environmentalists, bending facts to make it seem things will be worse than they really will be. You won't hear me bashing the Toyota Prius; a highly practical, ultra-efficient transportation device that's an excellent choice for people who couldn't care less about cars. And given that most people couldn't care less about cars, more choices like the Prius wouldn't be a bad thing.
But there comes a time when lines are crossed. A time when my left-leaning, tree-hugging tendencies are halted by common sense and (more so) my automotive adoration. A time when I opened up Straightline and saw the above picture. A picture so ghastly and disturbing, I'm still cleaning the bits of mashed Wheat Chex I projectiley hurled onto my desk Monday morning.
This is the Aston Martin Cygnet City Car and the surest sign yet that the world is about to end.
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- James Riswick July 1, 2009, 3:00 AM
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June 24, 2009
I don't know about you, but when walking down the street, I often find myself staring at the parked cars rather than whatever buildings, trees, national monuments that may be in the background. I'm sure I'd miss a fly-by of a flying saucer if there was a Gremlin parked nearby. But doing so nets me gems like this.
Back on the old Carspace version of this blog, a frequent feature was Scenes from the Curb where I'd share some of the weird, wacky or simpy interesting automotive sights I captured day to day.
On my recent trip to Washington, D.C., there were a great many, my favorite was this one on F Street in Capitol Hill, where an original Fiat 500 sat adorably in between two modern behemoths. And you thought the Mini was mini.
More Scenes from D.C. after the jump along with some pics from yesterday's track testing...
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- James Riswick June 24, 2009, 3:00 AM
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June 17, 2009
"Hey James, what car is that?"
I've been able to successfully answer that question since I was 3 years old. But sadly,
I can no longer tell Audis apart. Give me enough time, a big enough photo, a magnifying glass and man named Helmut and I'll be able to figure it out. OK, so that's an exaggeration, but when I see a newish Audi coming toward me on the road, I can't tell if its an old A4 or a new A4 or an A3 or an A5 or an A6. Go ahead, take your best guess with the four cars above. The SUVs are no better. Just the other day I thought I saw my first civilian Q5 on the road -- nope, just a Q7.
I was always able to tell BMWs apart back in the day before the company differentiated them with flame surfacing and weirdo headlights. I have no problem telling a C-Class or E-Class apart, nor the cookie-cutter Volvos. But there's something about Audi.
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- James Riswick June 17, 2009, 3:00 AM
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June 10, 2009
Roger Penske with his sherpa guide Torvit on his great global Saturn adventure
Remember last week when I postulated about Saturn being purchased by Magna? Well, forget that and perhaps even forget about Magna purchasing Opel. Instead, the Saturn brand was purchased by Roger Penske's automotive empire.
In an interview with Edmunds AutoObserver, Mr. Penske said that his new toy would continue selling the GM-built Aura, Vue and Outlook in the short-term, but long-term would seek other partners.
"We'll go around the world to see what products could be brought into this country," Penske said, the "we" obviously meaning his sherpa guide Torvit who will accompany him on this great global Saturn finding adventure. "Those foreign-made products will begin filtering into Saturn showrooms in 12 to 18 months."
He went on to say Saturn would aim to sell cars that focus on "aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, safety and styling." As opposed, of course, to cars that are shaped like a cinderblock, guzzle fuel, are death traps and are so hideous, small children flee. Therefore, don't expect Saturn to recreate the AMC lineup from 1974. Speculation has risen of a possible deal with Renault, but Penske nixed that, saying he'd look to many global companies.
If I were Penske, this is what I would bring over ...
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- James Riswick June 10, 2009, 3:02 AM
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June 3, 2009
Artist's rendering of Canadian-designed and built Saturn Insignia
For the first time since the wacky days of Bricklin, there's finally a Canadian car manufacturer. Last week, GM Europe was purchased by Magna International, a parts supplier and coach builder based 30 minutes north of Toronto. I can just hear "Oh Canada" being played to the din of precisely tuned exhausts. And did you know that maple syrup has potential as an alternative ethanol fuel? Expect a flood of cars with grilles that resemble the interlocking bars of a hockey mask.
I kid my home and native land, but the fact remains that Opel and its British Vauxhall twin are now under Magna control (plus the deep pockets of a Russian bank), a company that's also rumored to be in the hunt to purchase Saturn. Is the future of Opel and Saturn, therefore, still connected?
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- James Riswick June 3, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Saturn, Thoughts from the Curb
May 27, 2009
There have been a lot of stupid car names. The Japanese-market Mazda Bongo Friendee is the first to come to mind. Or how about the AMC Gremlin, a car named after a little creature that causes mechanical failures. You'd think in today's world of alphanumeric gobledigook, these naming embarrassments would be fewer in frequency ... not really.
Although I'm sure I missed some (no doubt from Japan), here are some from North America and the United Kingdom that need a rethink.
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- James Riswick May 27, 2009, 3:00 AM
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May 20, 2009
I've made it no secret that I'm a roadster guy, especially roadsters with a little spinning blue propeller placed in its side gills. There's a '98 Z3 in my garage, an '01 Z8 on my desk and a '58 507 in My Pictures. But I always hated the Z4. Its proportions were too exaggerated and it looked horrendously overstyled by a team of cleaver-wielding art students. The original taillights were a joke.
The Z4 was a drastically more modern car than the Z3 it replaced, but like many of its contemporary Bangled BMWs, there was no place in my heart for it. Then the all-new 2009 BMW Z4 (II) showed up in the Edmunds garage. You hear this a lot, but pictures don't do the Z4 II justice (it's much smaller than it looks). Everyone I've talked to has been immediately smitten by its marvelous blend of Z8 proportions
, Z3 gills and rear haunches (from the 2000 redesign
), Z4 I character lines and plenty of GINA concept car
. It manages to honor the past while setting forth on a beautiful new course.
So I think the Z4 II looks fantastic, but how does it drive? You'll have to wait a bit for the full test and numbers, and rely on Chris Walton's first test back in March. But after driving the Z4 II in close proximity to an '06 Z4 3.0si and my '98 Z3 2.8, I thought some comparative thoughts would be in order.
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- James Riswick May 20, 2009, 3:00 AM
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May 13, 2009
Cars are always changing -- its the essence of why you read this Web site and why I write for it. If every car lasted as long as the original Volkswagen Beetle or the Saab 9-5, we'd all get very bored and start to think about automobiles on the same plain as a toilet. The old John hasn't really changed in more than half a century -- you've got a bowl, a tank, a seat and a handle (usually in the same place). It's only in Japan where they add heated seats, water sprayers and a Karaoke machine.
What was I saying? Oh yeah, cars are always changing, but it seems that the rate of change is rapidly increasing to other areas beyond styling. While the functionality of something may have been improved from one generation to the next, the basics remained fairly constant. You turned the key on with a metal key. A radio had preset buttons, volume and tuning knobs, and tone control. The shifter was mounted on the floor in a straight line labeled with PRND (perhaps with 3,2,1 following), or the odd column-mounted shifter. The emergency brake was a pull lever or a push pedal.
Not any more.
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- James Riswick May 13, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Thoughts from the Curb
May 6, 2009
There are several ways to determine just how little a car is driven. Whether it's a rich guy's 19-car garage, a poor guy's 19-car lawn or the Edmunds guy's parking lot (pictured above), there are certain signs that point to a vehicle's disuse.
Join us to see if your ride's suffering from one of these malladies.
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- James Riswick May 6, 2009, 3:00 AM
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April 29, 2009
Pontiac is dead and I won't mourn it. I'm too young to remember the GTO or the names of the models that were supposedly worth a damn. I recall the 6000, the Parisienne, the Sunfire, the Grand Am, steering wheels with 500 buttons, quad Trans Am WS6 hood scoops, superfluous ribbed plastic body paneling, hammerhead spoilers, the Solstice Coupe and the Aztek. In retrospect, it's a miracle it lasted this long.
However, there is one vehicle worth saving in the Pontiac garage.
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- James Riswick April 29, 2009, 3:00 AM
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April 22, 2009
Twas the annual Edmunds Earth Day long weekend and what better way to honor the Earth than to drive 300 miles in a 4,600-pound Buick Enclave to a town famous for its energy conservation. Did I say energy conservation? I meant gross energy drain. But hey, that's what the Hoover Dam's for and I promise to plant trees at some point this summer (quite seriously).
Any road trip is bound to elicit a few random thoughts, but most involved stupid drivers hogging the left lane. Been there, complained about that. Also, the Enclave I drove was so perfectly suited for such a journey, I had nary a complaint. I can think of few better road trip vehicles for less than $40,000. Yet, that doesn't mean the trip was completely uneventful.
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- James Riswick April 22, 2009, 3:00 AM
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April 15, 2009
Here in Los Angeles, when a police car is seen storming through the streets with its sirens blaring and lights flashing, it is known as a Code 3. That's not to be confused with a Code Red, which (if you can handle the truth) was ordered by Colonel Jessup to punish a crappy Marine. A Few Good Men aside, the rather strict Los Angeles Police Department rules currently dictate that a Code 3 may only apply to one patrol car per emergency, which is defined as a violent crime, officers in distress or serious threats to public safety. If your house is being broken into or an officer calls for non-personal-danger backup, squad cars are to abide with a "get there when you get there" approach, observing traffic laws.
The problem is, police officers don't abide by this.
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- James Riswick April 15, 2009, 3:00 AM
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April 8, 2009
Dear Pedestrians,
Go ahead and walk slower when making your way across this busy intersection. In fact, please feel free to restrict your walk to a light sashay or casual stroll. There's no need to rush. I'm happy sitting here in the middle of the intersection preparing to turn left, as are the four other cars behind me. As long as you're not overly winded in this temperate 72-degree weather. Wouldn't want you to strain something.
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- James Riswick April 8, 2009, 3:00 AM
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April 1, 2009
Here at Edmunds, we strive to make sure every demographic of car shopper is provided the most thorough buying advice they can find. Recently, we discovered a gap in our coverage. The world's many leaders, revolutionaries, freedom fighters and international V.I.P.'s don't have the information needed to make informed buying decisions. "Is my military junta best represented by an Escalade or an S65 AMG?" Well, El Generalissimo, we're glad to announce our new series "Car Reviews for Dictators." Enjoy this week's entry, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G550.
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- James Riswick April 1, 2009, 9:00 AM
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Those initiated with Top Gear need no introduction to the "Reasonably Priced Car." Normally, I'm happy to leave those uninitiated to my arcane references out in the dark, but I'm back from vacation and in a good mood. See, the "Reasonably Priced Car" is the vehicle Top Gear has celebrities drive around their test track, with the irony/joke being that rich and famous folks get the "honor" of competing for the best lap time in a cheap and terrible car. I had no idea just how cruel an irony/joke it was.
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- James Riswick April 1, 2009, 3:00 AM
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March 25, 2009
Thinking about anything that happened to me as occurring "20 years ago" is still a difficult concept to wrap my youngin' head around. But 20 years ago, my father hung a full newspaper page ad on the side of our pistachio green Kitchenaid refrigerator. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" it said and there was a picture of the brand new 1990 Mazda Miata. See, my dad had to sell his purple 1973 MGB in order to buy a house, and a decade-plus later, the Miata was a chance to return to his roadster ways. A few months later, we cleared space in the garage for a red Miata.
Dad didn't drive it much, it was simply a weekend toy. Six years and only 7,000 km later, we moved from Toronto to Indianapolis. When he went to plate the Miata, the horrible news came that we couldn't keep it. See, Miatas in Canada didn't have the driver airbag mandated in the United States. According to whoever at whatever agency, we'd have to install an airbag and subject the Miata to a front-end crash test in order to keep it. Thanks a lot, jerk. After a one-year swan song, the Miata got shipped back to the Great White North where we sold it for a pittance. My dad's roadstering ways were ended once again.
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- James Riswick March 25, 2009, 3:00 AM
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March 18, 2009
We recently had a 2009 Nissan Cube stop by the office. To quote my arch nemesis Josh Sadlier, "this car is nonsense." There is just no other way to describe a "car" that looks like either an aquarium or a washing machine. A "car" that handles like either an aquarium or a washing machine. A "car" that has water ripple ridges build into the headliner. A "car" that's gauges are colored differently to represent the Earth and the Moon. A "car" described by Nissan as a "mobile device." A "car" that forces you to utter the nonsensical words, "Hey, do you have the keys to the Cube?"
But all of that is before you start customizing your Nissan Cube. Now, plenty of brands offer customization. Mini is perhaps the most famous, allowing you to add different color interior panels, "bonnet" racing stripes and a Puerto Rican flag graphic upon the roof. On the other end of the spectrum, Rolls-Royce will put just about anything you want on your $400,000 behemoth sedan. Fridges, humidors, iron safes, VHS entertainment systems, butlers named Cavendish. Anything your gold-plated heart desires.
And then there's the Cube.
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- James Riswick March 18, 2009, 3:00 AM
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March 11, 2009
States throughout the Union have enacted laws banning the use of cell phones (talking and texting) while driving unless with a Bluetooth device. Even though morons interpret this as "ear free" -- holding their cell up to their face with speaker phone activated -- I think it's a necessary law that keeps everyone safe. I, for one, am happy that it could curtail the number of idiots swerving in their lane in front of me while drifting between 45 and 15 mph as they discuss today's "One Life to Live" with Kelli.
However, back in September, our esteemed Governator vetoed a bill that would ban people from driving with dogs in their laps. Arnold said he would only sign bills that are of (James feigns Aahnold accent) "dee highest priority for Caleeeeforneea." But how are cell phones and texting a high priority, but not lap dogs?
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- James Riswick March 11, 2009, 3:00 AM
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March 4, 2009
My good friend Sam is a nerd. I say that with all the affection in the world and with the full disclosure that I have a U.S.S. Enterprise-D coaster on my desk. A fun evening for us is spent trying to out-do each other's knowledge of world capitals ("Oh yeah? Kyrgyzstan!").
So when my friend Sam drove through Georgia for the first time (the Atlanta one, not Tbilisi), he was so strongly moved and/or tremendously bored that he wrote a letter to the Georgia Department of Transportation. I was quite amused and thought it perfectly illustrated how different freeways are from one state to the next. Any one who's ever driven across the country has certainly noticed it and should you live in one of the states he mentions in the letter after the jump, I'm sorry.
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- James Riswick March 4, 2009, 3:00 AM
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February 25, 2009
In the automotive business, we're constantly dealing with change. Every day I write about, read about, talk about changes big and small made to cars. It's that very change that keeps me and all the other folks I work with so riveted to the subject of new cars -- even if we don't like the changes. It's the reason I don't write for Mustang 5.0 (aside from not having a mullet).
So I'm down with change in that regard, but when it comes to my daily routine, I want change as much as an 83-year-old oil man who voted for McCain. You see, I like morning talk radio, specifically entertainment shows, and for whatever reason, I don't like listening to music in the mornings. In high school, I would listen to the "Bob & Tom Show" religiously during the daily half-hour drive. I felt like I was a part of the conversation, that I actually knew the personalities involved. When I moved from Indianapolis, I found myself missing my mornings spent with Bob, Tom, Chick and Christie Lee.
Then, three years ago I began listening to the new Adam Carolla Show.
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- James Riswick February 25, 2009, 3:00 AM
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February 18, 2009
On Sunday, I ventured up to Big Bear Lake, a ski resort mountain community located in the mountains north of San Bernardino, California. Knowing there had been snow recently, I checked the CalTrans Web site to see if there were any road closures or other important announcements. Turns out, it said cars traveling to Big Bear on state road 18 required snow chains except for vehicles with four-wheel drive and snow tires. I would be driving a Mercedes-Benz G550 (pictured), a vehicle that obviously has both -- and could probably make it up the mountain without the road.
As I approached the roads to Big Bear I started seeing signs that said "chains required for all vehicles." Figuring that the Web site is updated more than the road-side signs (which I was surprised weren't warning me of incoming Nazi Zombies), I chose to ignore it and keep going.
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- James Riswick February 18, 2009, 3:00 AM
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February 11, 2009
What happens when you're too heavy for your car? One of our staff members recently stumbled upon this story from Global TV news in Edmonton, Alberta.
Click here to view the video (no imbed from Global Edmonton)
It involves a rather large woman who bought a Kia Rio and then quickly returned it to the dealer complaining that it was pulling heavily to the left. They tried to correct the problem, but she was soon back again. They had to explain to her that she was the problem -- so much weight on one side of a small, light-weight car was bound to make it pull to the left. They couldn't defeat the laws of physics.
It's hard to tell how sensitive the dealer service person was to this woman's feelings, and certainly sensitivity awareness training could be useful in this circumstance. But aside from that, what was he supposed to do or say? She said she was humiliated, but it was the truth. Was he supposed to lie?
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- James Riswick February 11, 2009, 6:00 AM
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February 4, 2009
Maserati Gran Turismo as designed by a tacky person
I'm not sure whose Web site was first to introduce a "Build Your Own" feature, but they revolutionized how we research cars. Even if dealer lots don't have the exact car you equipped, breaking the buying process down in such a way makes understanding what you're purchasing much easier. Plus, for car geeks like myself, "Build Your Own" has been the source of endless wasted hours playing "what if?" on the Internet. Should my M Roadster be painted Imola Red or Estoril Blue?
But what makes a good Build Your Own feature?
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- James Riswick February 4, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Thoughts from the Curb
January 28, 2009
News of the potential Fiat-Chrysler Alliance has set the automotive world aflutter. On the one hand, it must be taken with great apprehension -- there's still much to be done with many questions. But the basic idea of this alliance is certainly solid. Chrysler gains access to Fiat's extensive range of small car platforms, while the Italian automaker gets access to Chrysler's American factories and dealer network -- two pieces that could allow it to get back into the world's most lucrative market.
See more Fiat-Chrysler News at Edmunds Auto Observer
We're not entirely sure yet which models would be transformed into Chrysler-Dodge products, nor do we know if they would be straight badge-engineering jobs or a more complete working of a platform. We also don't know which Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles could make it over here. Again, there are plenty of issues. But here are some possibilities and what each could mean to American car buyers.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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- James Riswick January 28, 2009, 6:00 AM
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January 21, 2009
We car guys love 0-60 times. We can tell you a BMW 335i does it in 5 seconds or a Nissan GT-R in 3.3 seconds (with launch control and roll-out). When a car comes back from our test track, the first question you'll hear is "what was its 0-60?" I don't recall anyone saying, "hey Mike, what was the Mustang's braking distance?" But you know, maybe we should.
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- James Riswick January 21, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Thoughts from the Curb
January 14, 2009
There's a lot of rhetoric going around these days about why the Big 3 find themselves in their current quagmire. The conventional (lack-of) wisdom seems to be that they failed to make fuel efficient vehicles, which is often synonymously dubbed "vehicles people want to buy." At the same time, every manufacturer is touting how green and fuel efficient its vehicles are, most often citing the misleading highway EPA number as fuel efficiency gospel. The result is an atmosphere of half-truths, falacies and misrepresentation -- which is no surprise given that Madison Avenue and the United States Congress are involved.
Part of the problem is the source: manufacturers spinning facts to sell cars. We all expect that. But another issue is people who don't know what the hell they are talking about being thrust into the automotive world all of a sudden: the United States Congress and general interest TV anchors/reporters who wouldn't know a Chevelle from a Chevette. These are the folks who often take manufacturer spin and puke it back out without looking closely at the fine print. Spin like this.
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- James Riswick January 14, 2009, 6:00 AM
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January 6, 2009
Since I'm a 60-year-old man stuck in a 25-year-old body (or is that a 6-year-old boy stuck in a...), nevermind. Any way, I was watching 60 Minutes last night and watched this report about New York's Nassau County district attorney who successfully prosecuted a drunken driving case as a second-degree murder crime.
In the case, 24-year-old Martin Heidgen was driving his full-size GM pickup with three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system. His friends told him not to drive but he did it anyway. He ended up driving for three miles the wrong way on the parkway before slamming head-on into a Town Car limousine carrying a family from a wedding. The result was horrifying, as the video below shows.
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- James Riswick January 6, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Thoughts from the Curb
December 30, 2008
After a week spent in snowy Toronto, I decided something.
I like driving in snow. It's interesting and different; a change of pace from 72 degrees and sunny. It normally takes a lot to slide a Ford Escape, in fact, it normally takes so much you'll inevitably perform a slide sequel on its roof. Not so in snow. Take a corner a little too quick, or goose the throttle mid-turn and away you go. Maybe you'll end up in a ditch, but that's part of the fun. For a whale of a wintery good time, try an empty unplowed parking lot for some wicked 360s in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
But away from such hooligan histrionics, there's simple everyday driving. All of a sudden I'm using windshield washer fluid for something other than coaxing tailgaters off my as...pen by Chrysler. Knowing which lane I'm in is an adventurous guessing game -- "is that the slow lane, a shoulder or somebody's lawn?" That invigoratingly weird feeling where my feet are numb but my face is hot. Snow is pretty. Dodging errant sliding vehicles is like real-world Mario Kart. I get to carry a broom in my car -- two if I was into curling. Did I mention you can slide anything?
See, driving in winter is exciting and a welcome departure from the doldrums of Southern California's same-old same-old. What a fun week away from it all.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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- James Riswick December 30, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Thoughts from the Curb
