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CarSpace Alternate RouteTurn off the nav system, crumple up that MapQuest printout, and let's find out where the next random turn may take us! Nov 21, 2008 - Say What?
The UAW is negotiating the possible elimination of its controversial jobs bank and is considering other concessions to help Detroit's automakers win low-cost loans from Congress. What's that? Did you say "concessions"? Amazing how fast reality has grabbed the UAW by the throat when faced with the fact that a hard line stance will kill you. It very well may take some government aid to prop up the automakers and help them weather the current turmoil, but I'm encouraged that it's starting to seem like we're not going to blindly throw money at them without some kind plan for the changes the automakers and UAW are going to make. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said: "There was a failure to appreciate that there was no likelihood of them getting a check for $25 billion, no questions asked." Dodd, along with Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., will review the industry's submissions. "There's a clear need for a much more concrete vision and plan for this industry and how it's going to survive." Now if only the government would take its own advice about living within your means. Read more at freep.com
Nov 20, 2008 - Escape To The Auto Show!
If you can't make it to the show, you can get all the latest at Edmunds coverage of the show. I love concept cars, and while I'll probably get into some of those soon, there are some really far out dreamings in the LA Auto Show 2025 Design Challenge. Consider the Mazda Kaan, submitted by Mazda R&D of North America, an electric racing car with a patented electronic tire system and a top speed of 250 mph with no emissions. While it is a lot of fun to dream, I'm still waiting for the neat stuff I saw at GM's Futurama exhibit at the 1964 World's Fair.
Nov 19, 2008 - Darwin
I'm second in line at the light and car #1 accelerates away from the light and proceeds to drift right over the white line as the road continues to bend. The curb is a good 6 - 8" tall, painted bright yellow, and now has a new mark on it where the driver managed to drive right into it at about 40 mph while yakking away on his cell phone. I'm sure that whatever was so important that he had to be on the phone was worth the large amount of damage he caused to his vehicle. Thankfully it was a left-hand bend and missing the turn didn't drift him into opposing traffic. I love it when Darwin nails an idiot without hurting anyone else in the process. Talking on the phone is not the same as having a conversation with a passenger or listening to the radio in your car. Something about a phone conversation demands your attention and concentration. The repeated near-misses - or would that be near-hits? - that you can see around you every day are more than adequate proof that the seat behind the wheel should be a cell-phone-free zone.
Nov 18, 2008 - Lagging Behind
Stocks of individual interest Dow 8273.58 -596.96 (6.73%) The auto stocks continue to take a beating from the uncertainty over the bailout situation. At this point it seems like even a decision to not bail them out would improve at climate as we'd at least know something for certain. This week's chart is the ratio of crude oil price to price I'm seeing at the pump in my area since April 15. That high of just over 36 was on July 1st, but the ratio has slipped ever since. Our demand for gasoline has decreased as the peak gas prices definitely seemed to change our driving habits, but the decrease in demand for oil continues to outpace that. A 42 gallon barrel of oil yields about 19.5 gallons of gasoline. Beyond fueling our driving jones, the main groups of petrochemical end-products are plastics, synthetic fibres, synthetic rubbers, detergents and chemical fertilizers, so the direct connection between the price of crude and gas isn't quite as solid as we may assume from time to time.
Nov 17, 2008 - Row, Row, Row Your Boat
With the Senate ready to start work on assistance to the industry, press secretary Dana Perino issued a statement saying the administration "does not want U.S. automakers to fail." She complained that reporting on the White House's statements on this issue has involved "attempts to shorthand the administration's position." Perino's early morning statement also made clear, however, that the administration steadfastly opposes drawing funds from the bailout plan to help Detroit. She said the $25 billion that Democrats favor taking from the rescue plan should come, instead, from a Department of Energy program previously approved to develop fuel-efficient vehicles. Personally, I'd like to hear more specifics from the automakers about how they're going to scale back before I'm going to feel inclined to throw more money that we don't have in their direction. Read more at the Associated Press
Nov 16, 2008 - We Do Love Our Cars
Consider the 2009 Mopar Dodge Drift Challenger shown at the 2008 SEMA Show. It has a Mopar A8 aluminum engine that churns out an estimated 850 horsepower and 849 pound-feet of torque. Not exactly a fuel-sipper is it? But I'm willing to bet it is a lot of fun! Read more about it on Inside Line
Nov 15, 2008 - Ask Dub Schwartz!
Inquiring minds want to know. Just what the heck is a Stickmop? I just want to Underscore that it's been a pleasure Dub. And switch to canoeing - you know what they say, half the paddle, twice the paddler.
Nov 14, 2008 - Massaging The Merger
That seems to be the approach that Cerebus is taking with Washington to sway the government to move towards an auto industry bailout. Cerebus says it would give up any profit on a future sale of Chrysler LLC should the company receive federal financial aid. Sound like they really want to divest themselves of Chrysler in a bad way. What's next, throwing in a set of steak knives? Read more at Bloomberg.com
Nov 13, 2008 - Silent Is Cool?
Will a Mini without engine noise still be cool? According the the Green Car Advisor more than 9,000 people must think so as they are interested in leasing one - at $850 per month. I always knew that cool came with a price tag. That must make the electric Mini really cool!
Nov 12, 2008 - Hard Times In Mayberry
Consider this passage from a Washington Post article: These problems began to surface about 15 years ago because regulators changed the accounting rules. In 1992, GM says, it took a $20 billion non-cash charge to recognize pension obligations. Evolving rules then put OPEB on the balance sheet. Now, these obligations — call it a combined $170 billion for U.S. operations — are fully visible. And out-of-pocket costs for health care are eating GM alive. Interesting that this was written in 2005. Since then, there has been the creation of a VEBA to transfer control of health care benefits to the UAW. In July, GM deferred paying $1.7 billion into the VEBA. Fixed costs are killing GM. There are two schools of thought that seem to be folly. First, GM may survive, but it's not going to be without pain and change. Anyone thinking that a government bailout is going to prevent the pain is dreaming, and the glory days aren't coming back. Secondly, the UAW is staring at the hard fact that if they "stick to their guns" and want the same wages and benefits, there are going to be fewer places for them to work for those wages and benefits. The industry is changing and every aspect of it is going to have to change no matter how much some want to return to Mayberry. Read more at Brian Sullivan's blog and Workforce.com and the NY Times
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