Scout

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

GM must not be willing to eat crow

Again and again. 

Any one else remember when GM ran the commercial for the Suburban touting how the Ford Expedition was in a class of it's own?  Almost instantly Ford ran commercials saying "We couldn't have said it better ourselves" quoting GMs commercials. 

GM has a way of putting feet in mouth. 

As far as aluminum goes, I wouldn't be surprised if they just aren't production ready for it and that's the holdup. Maybe not wanting to retool the plant at the moment. Perhaps even some kind of copy right holding them back.  But we all know it's coming. 

GMs Real people advertising for both cars and trucks is just one of the stupidest campaigns I've ever seen.  

But it does seem to work on some people

"Well, some folks would rather still have a work truck that can handle the tough stuff over mileage....."

50 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

 

As an electrician who worked on job sites, I cringe at the thought of the tounge lashings coming to the idiot who does the types of abuse shown in truck advertising to someone's fifty grand rig.

 

I've had a lot of different things including rocks loaded into my truck from tractors. And every time the operator got as close as he could to the floor of the bed, and dumped the materials as gently as they could.

I can also tell you if someone loaded my truck like they do in the commercials I would drag them out of the tractor and beat the ever loving sh!t out of them. Then charge the company for any damages done. 

And "Real" people who use trucks for work on a regular basis would have some kind of bed liner to protect the truck. 

 GMs Real people advertising for both cars and trucks is just one of the stupidest campaigns I've ever seen.  

1 minute ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Given the insect like styling, one hopes a can of Raid might work better...

I've always felt that way about the Juke. 

17 hours ago, smk4565 said:

They should do a 2-door MacGyver edition in slate gray with a winch and Swiss Army knife and medical kit accessories.  

Or one could buy a medical kit and Swiss Army knife, and save thousands by not getting a speachal addition sticker package that comes with a first aid kit and a knife. 

"Subcompact Crossover"

Didn't those used to be called hatchback. Wagon works also. 

Because everyone with a truck looks for tractors filled with concrete blocks waiting to dump them into the bed from six feet above the bed. That's what "real" people do. The steel vs aluminum thing is pretty dumb. If people want to be honest about the whole thing then Honda probably has most durable bed. The Honda bed can claim weigh savings, no rust, and tuff like Ford. It can also claim scratch and dent resistance like GM. Honda even went as far as having a tractor dump concrete blocks into the bed from six feet above the bed because that's what "real" people do. And it faired better than Ford and GM. If you're debating if aluminum or steel is better then I guess the marketing team is doing a good job. 

On a side note, I folded the bed rail on a GMC strapping down a dirt bike. It may be steel, but what is the point if the steel if it is so thin and weak that it folds like tinfoil?

Seems a bit over the top. This is one of two things. Lawyer (CYA) mandated, or marketing hype. 

Takata, the Japanese company facing billions in liabilities stemming from its defective air bag inflators, is preparing to file for bankruptcy as early as next week as it works toward a deal for financial backing from U.S. auto parts maker Key Safety Systems, sources said on Thursday.

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.timeinc.net/fortune/2017/06/16/takata-bankruptcy-air-bag/%3Fsource%3Ddam

I'm really surprised it took this long. So what does this mean for all the people who have active recalls?

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

They seem to be doing okay with the recipe for Jeep... But otherwise I agree.

As a Jeep fan, and 4x4 enthusiast I have given them the benefit of the doubt. I don't have to like things like the compass, liberty, renegade.  Or what they have done to the Cherokee. But I can understand why much of it was done. If however they screw with the Wrangler, and reports are they may, then I can say they have finished the molestation of Jeep. I say that as a  former Jeep Willys, Comanche, and J-200 owner, not to mention the countless Wrangler owners (Wrangler was never my thing) I know. I get the whole "Jeep" thing. I don't have faith that FCA does. 

2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Remember guys.... China. Two facts to consider.

1. Jeep is huge in China and growing fast.

2. FCA has no China sized truck to sell there.

Let's also not forget if you gave FCA the recipe for ice, they could find a way to screw it up. 

2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

It's coming.  Test mules have been spotted.

Just like various concepts have been teased for years. I'll believe it when they are for sale on dealer lots. 

What the flock did I just read?  . 

As cool as the Demon is, it's a bit of a fail. The thing is basically a purpose built 1/4 mile car. However, from the factory, one is not allowed to run it all out on the 1/4 mile. 

But, but, but, GM says real people, not actors want steel. It's very important to have steel for bear attacks. And for when you want to dump cement blocks into the bed from six feet up. I guess GM isn't making trucks for real people anymore. 

You just described many symptoms of a battery on its last legs. 

19 hours ago, dfelt said:

Sad that they messed something so simple and out there for so long up like this.

I'm more surprised this kind of stuff doesn't happen more often. With vehicles becoming rolling computers and billions of lines of code to make them do what they do. I could see connected cars and trucks just download patches for things like this in the future. This plays right into the cars being totaled thread. They are cramming so much crap into new vehicles that minor accidents cause major and expensive repairs. 

22 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Clearly makes it a $45K truck in base form with the starting at $52,500 and the $7,500 fed credit. Not a bad deal.

I'm not sure if you can stack rebates, but if you can,. California has a 7000 rebate. That plus the federal could net 14,500 total. 

According to the article pricing will start at 52,500. So a bit over 50k,. After EV credits possibly under. 

22 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

... if the price is reasonable..... but yes, it does look like an interesting entry.

 

Actually at a 50K starting point the price is almost downright cheap. If you consider any state and federal credits that could apply to EVs your looking at a 40K truck. Well below the asking price for much of the 1/2 ton truck market. 

13 minutes ago, dfelt said:

I can see this selling very well to Fed, State, County and City gov agencies as the 2200 lb bed capacity will cover the needs of parks and road maintenance. Plus the fact that the onboard generator can act as a power source working out in the field. This saves them from having to buy a generator for on sight work where no electrical plugs are easily available.

I see ton's of many good uses for this truck plus the 80 miles pure is outstanding for city dwellers as they can probably mostly drive in pure electric mode.

Exactly.  After these things have been in the wild for a while and dependability is proven, I could almost see myself looking past the styling of it and consider it. 

I can’t believe I’m saying this but,

This thing actually seems usable and well done as far as capabilities go. It doesn’t have the highest towing ability but 5000 pounds isn’t too shabby. 2000 pound payload is better than most half tons available. On board power pretty much does away with range anxiety. I could see people actually wanting this if the price is reasonable.  

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2017/05/2018-workhorse-w-15-review-first-look-and-drive.html

IMO Tesla will remain a niche brand for those that can afford it. On top of that, they have growing competition from other players. For example, Tesla has teased some kind of pickup on the horizon.  But how many will they be able to produce along side the other things they have to build? With that 

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2017/05/2018-workhorse-w-15-review-first-look-and-drive.html

The w-15 has more than enough capabilities for 95% of pickup buyers, and will start 20K less than whatever Tesla offers. 

Musk has too many pans on the fire IMO. 

Would you consider a segway a bike or auto?

Somehow I missed that. I consider it other.

As for motorcycle reviews. Circumstances caused me to sell my bike. But if you get testers I still have my M1 license. 

Looking

Looking

Looking

Well, I was gonna put a think about it smiley in their someplace but couldn't find one. 

7 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

Nice!

But Frisky dont like when we circumvent the rules!

I should know....I almost always circumvent the rules and he lets me know about it!

Yea, I know it's not quite what he had in mind. But I read the rules and there is nothing about not using one vehicle to cover more than one category. 

I did have to rethink it a bit because of the NEW vehicle Claus. . But didn't break any rules.

6 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Will the auto industry do what the OIL companies think will happen that EV's will be 1/3rd of auto sales by 2030?

Perhaps. But not by 2030. Too many stubborn old farts like me still around that prefer the good old V8. Maybe one day. But not that soon IMO. 

And I forgot to mention in the previous post,. The wheels all go round and round.