G. David Felt

Came across this story, shows that many are fed up with Musk's social attack on investors and the SEC. This could really hurt Tesla as companies like Daimler decide to go after the Market Tesla has dominated and could steal away customers who were hard core supporters but have lost money due to Musk irrational actions. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-stocks/greenlight-comment-adds-to-tesla-losses-from-musk-mocking-sec-idUSKCN1MF1DA

To say that today the average auto is a supercomputer would be an understatement. Auto's are being asked to do so much now that many take it for granted what they can do and others wonder why self driving auto's are not already normal here after years of self driving auto's being promised. Part of this is computer tech only now getting up to speed, other reasons is adoption by people. Consumer Reports decided to check out just how good is autonomous driving and is it more of a Semi-automated driving. Consumer Reports has compared the Cadillac Super Cruise, Tesla's AutoPilot along with Nissan's ProPilot and Volvo's Pilot Assist. While GM, Tesla and Volvo did not respond to Consumer Reports request for response, Nissan did issue a statement saying that their ProPilot Assist system is available on several models all of which cost tens of thousands of dollars less than the others in the report. While CR has tested the automated driving systems for years, this is their first official in depth testing of the systems. The testing was conducted on both private and public roads to insure real world results. With a system that uses a combination of cameras, radar and other various sensors to map, monitor and react to traffic conditions, each system had its limitations. Cadillac Super Cruise only works on divided highways that have been mapped by GM. Tesla Autopilot can work on small, curvy roads with poor lane markings but operates erratically in those situations. Nissans ProPilot did better than Tesla and Volvo for keeping the drivers engaged but just under Cadillac's Super Cruise. Over all Cadillac's Super Cruise was judged to be the best balance of High-tech capabilities with car operational safety and driver engagement. Consumer Reports does point out that Super Cruise is NOT GM's Cruise self-driving technology that Honda has just bought into to help bring to market. Reuters Story

Daimler has made this year many announcements about their electric auto program. China was a natural place to have a battery plant and of course due to the aggressive acts by the government to have an electric auto program. Daimler on Friday October 5th made what was an expected investment announcement of their Alabama factory to be upgraded to start production of their newest GLE model. What also was announced was that Daimler is going to build as part of a $1 billion dollar retrofit and expansion a massive new electric auto Battery production line. This comes as Mercedes-Benz launches their EQ product line. On Friday Board member Markus Schaefer stated “We aim to play a pioneering role in the development of e-mobility and are well-prepared to accomplish this mission,” Daimler with Board support is currently updating 6 factories to produce EQ autos for the global market and besides the Battery plant in China and now the US is adding six more for a total of 8 Auto battery manufacturing sites to support Daimlers plans to convert their whole product line to Hybrid and pure electric only auto's for the global market. The home Plant in Sindelfingen Germany which is the home to the building of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will become their Center of Competence for building all Autonomous and electric auto's. Daimler has stated they will spend $1.75 Billion to build a battery production plant in Sindelfingen and one in Untertuerkheim which is also being converted to a high tech electric car component production facility. This expansion joins Daimlers original electric auto battery production in Kamenz Germany. Reuters Daimler story 1 Reuters Daimler Story 2

But the Car is a Sexy convertible!

The 1938 Oldsmobile Automatic Safety Transmission started the greater adoption of auto driving and increased safety by keeping both hands on the steering wheel. This is what eventually morphed into the 1940 Hydra Matic automatic transmission. The last of this car known to exist is going up for auction according to the Hemmings blog. This is one of 475 1938 L-38 Convertible Coupes built which is also the last for Oldsmobile with a rumble seat. The AST was a $100 option. This car also had the optional dual side mounts $65, deluze radio, $66.50, electric clock $15, fog lamps $6.25 and optional heater $15. This car is expected to sell for between $55,000 and $75,000 dollars. Yes as this car started the automatic transmission story, the event of electric cars seems to be ending it as the lack of need for a transmission is pretty common. The only exception to this is in 200 Mph EVs. Seems technology is truly replacing what allowed for mass movement of people in a new form. Green Car Report Story

You know you want Aquaman and his Kingdom!

Very cool additional details on the ZR2 Bison. https://www.theblock.com/article/2018/september/the-colorado-zr2-bison-is-here.html Gotta love this video:

So jazzed about this movie: Anyone else excited to see it?

Nice, but the front end looks like a squished beer can.

Very cool, will be interesting to see how this shakes out!

They could easily kill off most of their cars and a good amount of niche CUVs as I doubt they bring in any more profit to the company. Someone on the board is going to have to challenge this attitude of build a car and CUV in every class and make sure every little hole has a special something as it is the right thing to do. Nope this just proves it. I suspect MB is going to have to cut models too as the global slow down in auto's will prove out that only selling 100 of a niche model is not profitable for every class.

Maybe a Chinese company is the next Edsel.

I miss my 1969 Ford Camper Special Pickup. It was an awesome truck that just always ran and never gave me any problems. Yet career took off and I had to move out of state, so extra auto's were sold.

Course the big plastic on the bottom also looks like Shit. @ocnblu did it right on his truck when he removed it. Course the ZR2 is not bad looking. Would like this package on the GMC.

How about Blackout edition? Course I have mixed feelings on adding more fender flares like they did on this. Chevy has nice flares but Meh nose for me.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/04/elon-musk-mocks-sec-as-shortseller-enrichment-commission-days-after-settlement.html I have to say while he is a prick, he can make me laugh! SEC = Shortseller Enrichment Commission He really should focus on making his company profitable and hurting the short sellers the best way possible by making the stock price go up! ?

Greater Seattle area during the morning from 5am to 9a, and from 2:24pm to 7pm you can get an express bus into / out of Seattle every 5 min. Makes it really nice to get around on the bus system. Course they are building a crazy overpriced lite rail too so the next 5 years will be interesting to see the options we get for mass transit. No road expansion, money is all going into the buses and lite rail.

So you would be happy with this in your Driveway!

So true, the majority of truck buyers do not need or want all the bells and whistles. Yet the dealerships order them this way and as such you end up with Truck Envy and Luxury truck over a practical daily driving truck. Prices need to drop by half.

The Conti sells terrible and mostly due to the cramped interior space. That car sucks for comfort of space inside. Even with average people in the front, big people cannot get in the back. I like the looks of the Conti, but the space restrictions inside is a deal breaker. I suspect many others also find the interior to be way too tight for a car that size. Plus majority of people want a CUV weather they need it or not.

Seattle you see a ton of A8's on the Road, I have yet to see a Conti in the wild here. Course German, Asian and GM is the core of what you see here except for the over abundance of F150, Ram, Chev & GMC trucks everywhere.

Yes, yes I do! PNW = Tree Huggin, Weed Smokin, Make Love, Not War, Contemplate the Universal big questions!

lol, sorry, I have only played Forunza (Spelling?) and I honestly do not remember which version Alex my son has as he plays all the time. I just play when he either brings it over to my house or we go to his and play.

Stevens is awesome tons of open terrain and easy to get up and down from. Nothing like the craziness of getting to the greater tahoe lake area.

People riding the bus for work want an autonomous auto for errands before and after work. I hear plenty of people would rather not have to think about driving, just live their life doing what they like.