Variance

Toyota Plans to Double Number of Hybrid Models Toyota is set to release twice the hybrids we have from them now by the early 2010's and reap more than four times the sales as a result. This translates to plans of one million hybrid sales by that time. Toyota is also focusing on alternative-fuel vehicles including releasing ethanol-powered vehicles in Brazil next spring. Read "Toyota to double hybrid models" @ Yahoo

Ron Gettelfinger Isn't a Bush Man Gettelfinger would prefer them shaved... President Bush's trade policies, that is. On Monday, the UAW leader argued that Bush's trade policies such as a free-trade proposal with Thailand are hurting the UAW and the American automotive industry. Gettelfinger also denounced Bush's "anti-union" stance. He told his delegates that it is time for a different relationship with domestic automakers as there are tough times ahead (as well as presently). Read "UAW chief warns of changes, slams Bush" @ Yahoo

Isuzu + GM = LPEC Isuzu and GM are pairing up once again to develop a next-generation pickup truck. This time around though, they're getting quite a bit more serious. So much so, in fact, that they are joining to create a new company: LCV Platform Engineering Corporation (LPEC). It is a 50-50 joint venture which will be based in Fujisawa City, Japan (pictured above). The company is to be established later this month. Read "Isuzu and GM Start Joint Venture" @ World Car Fans

Are the experts impressed by the RDX? Welcome to the most overstyled Acura ever: the RDX. The SUV competition to the BMW X3. It's off to a good start; it murders the X3 in looks (and neither one is a beauty queen). Powered by Acura's newest powertrain, a 2.3-liter turbo four-pot, see if the RDX has go to match the show. Read "An "urban running back" that’s not too far out of the pocket" @ The Car Connection

I definitely see some Titan, some Ram and some Colorado in there. I don't know, I'm kind of neutral about it. I wonder how different the Sierra is going to look.

2007 Toyota Camry Solara on Toyota's Web Site Middle-aged women of America rejoice! The Camry coupe has been revamped. In my opinion, it looks somewhat better on the outside. The front and rear restyles clean up the look of the car somewhat. The interior looks as nice as it has pre-refresh with some touch-ups here and there. Judge for yourself. 2007 Toyota Camry Solara @ Toyota.com

You may want to give them a call then. There's just the one picture and it doesn't say one way or the other in the description. Keep your fingers crossed.

I found dark green GT...but it's in Cali and has ~93K miles. Plus, I don't know if they ship. Craiglist and direct listing: http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/167729110.html http://www.dealerfusion.com/search.asp?mod...ntoryno=0897284 I suppose now is a good time to ask if distance matters. --- Found another black one (1996) in NC with 60K. http://gmc.autoextra.com/vehicledetail/adi.../tp-PP/do-basic

Green '97 Tahoe, 87.5K miles (liftgate though): http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-2...1QQcmdZViewItem Looks in nice shape.

Holy crap. You actually made a choice, stuck with it and bought it. Did the others finally get through to you? Anyway, yes, get rid of that ghastly pinstriping. The interior looks in pretty good shape considering the year and mileage. Congrats.

Chery Pushes Back U.S. Debut If you want to be one of the first in the country to own a Chinese car, you'll have to wait a bit longer than expected. Malcolm Bricklin has announced Chery may not arrive in America until 2008 as opposed to 2007 as he originally planned. Bricklin also stated that his bold estimation of 250,000 sales in the first year was too bold. Read "Bricklin Backpedals on Promise of Chinese Cars in 2007" @ Edmunds

I think Fly's encounter with the Tundra started it.

HD Truck Showdown: Chevy vs. Ford vs. Dodge In a big three-way duel, Edmunds pits the toughest pickups of the Big 3 against each other to determine the king of the heavy duty truck hill. Get your Calvin pissing on _______ stickers ready. Read "2006 Heavy-Duty-Truck Comparison Test" @ Edmunds

Alfa Delays U.S. Return Plans ...for about the hundredth time. Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat, announced earlier a return of Alfa Romeo by late 2007 but it is now being reported by an Italian magazine that those have now been pushed back until 2010. The reason is not yet apparent. Read "Alfa's U.S. Debut Delayed Again" @ Edmunds

The Lienerts Seven It Up Another installment of He Drove, She Drove arises this week. Taking the center stage this week is the BMW 750Li. Yep, they still bitch about I-Drive. Read "BMW's flagship 750Li leads the luxury pack" @ The Detroit News

Saw a new Kia Sedona today.

Here's the 2005 study for comparsion's sake (for what good it'll do since the study was revamped):

Criagslist.org (pretty good for local stuff) Cars.com Carsdirect.com

2006 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study Not too long ago, J.D. Power announced that they would be overhauling the way they evaluate car quality. The results of the revamped study are now in and can be seen above and at the following link. Read "Redesigned Initial Quality Study..." @ J.D. Power and Associates

Does this mean you'll now smoke pot, eat granola and cease to bathe?

A bold move. Funny, as the Ford brand seems resistant to attempt any with its small cars.

The Auto Enthusiast Appeal -Variance June 6, 2006 Automotive enthusiasts and enthusiasm have and has existed probably for as long as cars have been around. There have been many automotive clubs, websites and magazines. You can read books and/or watch movies (such as Cars, a pic of which is above) or television programs featuring cars and driving. Of course, if automotive enthusiasm is nothing new, why am I bothering to write anything about this? It’s like writing about the new phenomenon of bathing or eating. Well, to some, those may be new things but I digress… The point is I think car enthusiasm is at its strongest level ever. All you have to do is look around… Cars is not the only car-themed entertainment currently out there. The third installment of The Fast and the Furious, subtitled Tokyo Drift, is set to hit theaters soon. On TV, there are countless automotive programs to choose from: Overhaulin’, King of Cars, Pimp My Ride, Pinks and more. Also, there are going to be new television series featuring GM and Ford. Hell, I think cars and their enthusiasts are influencing things that have nothing to do with cars. There are dishwashers with direct injection, Dunkin Donuts has “Turbo Ice” coffee, I have an “RT” (think Dodge) Sharpie marker. It seems more things are being designed to appeal to people that are into cars. My point? I’ll be honest, when I started to write this, I didn’t really have one. It was more of an observation but I’ll try to make one. I guess it’s that more and more people are getting into cars and companies are trying to cash in on it. And who’s to say the influence won’t increase? Auto manufacturers have already taken actions based on the opinions and wants of the enthusiast community: -The removal of the big chrome slab on the front of the hood of the new Lincoln Navigator effectively making it 10% less laugh-out loud hideous. -The addition of a traditional manual gearbox in the BMW M5. -The Chevy SSR was built in response to an overwhelming response to build it from enthusiasts (yes, we know the aftermath of that but bear with my point that I’m already struggling with). -I’m not entirely sure on this one but I think people such as us helped GM decide to bring the Opel/Vauxhall Astra here as a Saturn. -In addition, there’s GM’s consideration of making more of their cars RWD. In short, I think this is the greatest time to be a auto enthusiast. Not only do we have many great cars to choose from these days but we are helping to make some of them available and shape them more to our likings. The manufacturers seem more open and to care more about what we think. I mean, why shouldn’t they? If we don’t like it, we won’t buy it. More of us should take advantage of this. Don’t like something about a car’s design? Want a car they make but don’t sell here? Tell the manufacturer or start a petition. A while ago, I would have questioned whether petitions were worth the time but these days, I think they just might have some kind of impact. So, there you are…and if I haven’t made my point clear, just go back to considering this an observation and nothing more. That way we both can’t lose.

I trust everyone who saw it stayed past the credits. :AH-HA_wink:

May 2006 Sales: Subaru of America CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 1, 2006 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported its second best May sales month ever, with sales totaling 16,406 units. This total represents a 13 percent increase over the same period last year. Year-to-date sales are also up 3 percent compared with last year. SUBARU OF AMERICA POSTS STRONG MAY SALES (Word Document)

May 2006 Sales: American Suzuki Motor Co. BREA, Calif. -- (June 1, 2006) -- American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced sales of 10,135 units in May – representing an increase of 36 percent over May 2005, the best May sales in company history and the third consecutive month in which Suzuki reported sales above 10,000 units. Year-to-date sales, which total 47,443, are up 37 percent. SUZUKI SALES UP 36 PERCENT – A NEW RECORD FOR MAY (Word Document)