CARBIZ

I left my Olympus camera in the parking lot of a downtown Atlanta hotel about 15 years ago. Well, 'left' is probably not the right word, I actually threw it from the 12th floor window when the batteries (yet again) died as I attempted to take pictures of the city from our hotel. Brand new camera and it was eating batteries (the computer wasn't shutting off when the aperture door was closed, I suspect. Very big city. I'd like to go back, but the two times I've been to Atlanta I was travelling through to Florida, as many of us Canucks tend to do. Horrible city to get through at the wrong time of day, though!

Speaking on behalf of Toyota and GM (plus I know Chrysler has been dropping its prices like crazy lately), this lawsuit is frivolous. Another example of bored lawyers taking a crack at 'rich' companies. Would you suppose that companies as large as GM and Toyota, with as many models and permuatations as they each offer, can just arbitrarily drop sticker prices just because the Canadian dollar - after 35 years of slumber mind you, has suddenly decided to wake up? Business models, budgets and forecasting is done two or three quarters, even years ahead. The $C only acheived parity about 10 months ago. As late as last May, so-called analysts weren't convinced it would acheive parity in 2007. I don't see appliances yet on par with similar items sold in the U.S. We are, after all, different countries, with different franchise laws, different tax rules and, most of all, different costs in doing business. If a consumer is impatient enough that they feel the need to punish companies for not reacting to the perceived market quickly enough, then that certainly is their perogative; however, know this: in doing so, you are becoming part of the problem. As more money flees Canada, the government will just have to close more and more loopholes to keep the money here. As an aside, why do you think airlines now charge a 'fuel surcharge' on top of the price of the ticket? They cannot control the volatility of the price of jet fuel, can they? Auto manufacturers have been responding to the $C's rise in a prudent manner, on a case by case basis. I've been leasing Cavaliers and Cobalts for nearly 12 years, and I can assure you that a loaded Cobalt now leases for about $30 a month less than a base Cavalier did 10 years ago. If a customer has cash (and I mean REAL cash, not a line of credit that floats with the prime rate) and feels the urge to drive across to Buffalo or Seattle and purchase a vehicle there, and if they have the gumption to pay all the taxes, fees and duties at the border on the way back, and their time is worth nothing to them - then that, too, is their perogative. You might save $1,200 on an Impala, but that is assuming you are using real cash. Since there is no such thing as real cash, that would be foolhardy don't you think? My mutual funds have gone up $5,000 in 7 weeks on $120k invested. If I had a little more balls, I'd invest all my money in Latin American funds right now, not in crossing the border to MAYBE save $2,500 on a CTS.

A word to the wise when searching for a good used car: the good ones get snapped up quickly. If the vehicle is still rotting in someone's driveway, then the odds are pretty good it isn't worth owning either. We get calls all the time for 'good' vehicles under $5k. The fact is, they rarely exist. If they were that good, probably the current owner would keep them. Once upon a time, backyard mechanics could keep beaters going for years. Now, it takes $$$ worth of equipment and computer stuff to do that properly. I know !!!Ted!!! is from around here, and I can safely say that unless you personally know the vehicle, or have the skills (and patience) to work on an older vehicle, any used vehicle that is for sale under $5k is a big risk.

You guys should try liters! A 5 cent increase on the sign is more than 20 cents a gallon! We experience those kind of spikes all the time. $1.18 a liter today, down about 3 cents since the weekend. That's $4.72 a gallon, to you guys. ($5.36 in the larger Imperial gallon.) It looks like some of the locales south of the border are catching up to us! Welcome to the soon to be world of the Smart Car and Aveo!

Travelling is a great way to shake up what one thinks they know about the world. I am not talking just about the obvious differences in culture. For example, when I was travelling around the L.A. basin, surrounded by those mountains it was almost disconcerting for me because I was more used to the green, lush beauty of the coastal mountains around the Vancouver area, not the arid contrast of the California mountains. We all need to get out over our own personal boxes and travel. It is the greatest way to educate oneself! No books or courses can replace the sheer ecstasy of experience!

You guys crack me up. I've kept the Lexus poster for my screen saver at work.

Interesting how the stock market has reacted to these losses, though. I guess WallStreet is not expecting any good news this year from very many companies. I read today that Berkshire is on a junk food binge, buying up stocks in Wrigley to go with Mr. Buffett's stakes in Coca Cola, Dairy Queen and Kraft. I guess the richest man in the world is betting that we North Americans are going to stay home in 2008 and get fat. Hmm, perhaps I should invest in Jenny Craig in anticipation of a diet explosion in 2009?

1. My favorite area of Canada is the 30,000 Islands - the east coast of Georgian Bay. Miles and miles of pristine coastline and Canadian Shield. I have spent long hours, tucked away on desolate granite islands with windswept pine trees, just canoeing or snorkeling. Nothing quite like it that I've ever seen. 2. I want to see Newfoundland before I die. I've been up and down the west coast. I've even been to New Brunswick. I've been to Hudson's Bay (well, James' Bay, actually), but I saw a tourist video recently of The Rock and vow I will go there soon. It's tough though, because the BF wants us to go to Brazil again in February (gee, do we have to?). I want to go to Europe, but doubt I can get the time off to do both.

It's funny that Buzz Hargrove, the leader of the CAW, is now screaming to the Ontario and Canadian government to prop up the auto industry. I guess he just doesn't get it. We've known for more than a year now that tough times are coming for large trucks and SUVs. Although Buzz was quite happy that Oshawa pumped out 500k Silverados and Impalas in the good times, he is screaming mad now that GM is laying people off. Ontario is still a larger producer of vehicles than any other State or Province in North America. Ford is hiring more people up here. He is trying to whip up hysteria against the Koreans, mostly. It is true that they build nothing in Canada, yet import nearly 250k vehicles a year. Still, he is beating a dead horse. All manufacturing in Ontario is in a slump. Something like 90k jobs have disappeared in the past couple years, mostly manufacturing. I am curious to know what (if anything) GM plans to put in the Oshawa plant. Surely, the Camaro can't keep it going. We still have 'free' healthcare, but our dollar at par with the U.S. is hurting.

I'm done with this thread. I am going to take the high road and ignore a newbie. My record speaks for itself. I am in the car business. I have been for 11 years. I ran my own corporation (two, actually) for 11 years before that. I have been posting on C&G for just over 3 years now. Those who have been on this site for that long (or longer) know my impatience with analysts and the media, in particular. We are being over analysed to death. Big Business is paralysed with analysis. There is no ACTION because everyone is too busy studying what should be done, or shoving it off to committees. This is why I respect Wagoner for bringing Lutz on board. The auto industry (particularly in North America) needs a big dose of personality to get things DONE. If certain people take my distrust of accountants and lawyers personally, I am sorry. However, Enron and other scandals only point to the fact that highly educated people with integrity can be sucked into a blackened void by figures and statistics because those figures can be distorted to show whatever the hell the Agenda of the Week wishes to show. Most of the rules and regulations are a hundred years old and need to be thrown out. The world today does not need to be as complicated as these professionals would like us to believe it must be, but then it suits them to obfuscate because then we 'need' them to explain it all to us poor simpletons. Franky, there are serious conflicts of interest to have lawyers and accountants in charge of making the rules! This is a GM fansite. If I choose to not like or respect Toyota, then that is my perogative. I have dutifully applauded their successes where I feel they are merited. If my praise is not deemed to be high enough or eloquent enough or coached with all the correct jargon as befits a Harvard debating champion, then tough! I have endured and admired the battles on C & G for these past 3 years. I stand on my record. If others don't like it, then too bad. I don't like what Toyota in particular, but the Japanese in general, are doing to the auto industry. I could just throw in the towel and go work for Toyota, but I would rather sling hamburgers. However, I don't think I have witnessed a single contributor tangle with as many members as I have seen aatbloke do in these past few months. I have had spirited discussions with others on this board in the past, but the only threat I have ever been involved in that was locked was one a few weeks ago when (guess who) started a war with three or four other members, including myself. It is great to have degrees and merit badges hanging on the wall, but when someone feels the need to shove it in other people's faces all the time - well, all I can say is that the anonymity of the internet is a wonderful thing, no?

His condescension knows no bounds. He is telling us that he is smarter than us because he is 'man' enough to praise Toyota.

No, just people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

My uncle's '67 Chrysler 300 had one of those: it was a sensor to automatically dim your high beams when an oncoming vehicle approached. We thought it very cool at the time.

Just think of the weight the Tacoma is shedding daily under the body! I see a lot of personal opinions, but I think we all agree none of the product in this market stands out. With $3 a gallon gas, this segment hasn't gotten respect in years. All I am saying is that the tide is turning. All the manufacturers need to look at compact trucks as a serious segment that they want to be in. GM is taking a step in the right direction with handing the reins to Brazil. I saw a helluva lot of Montana pickup trucks down there. The Brazilians know a lot about $8 a gallon gas AND ethanol.

The electric car doesn't solve much, though. With nearly half the population living in condos or apartments, how would they recharge their batteries? With many areas experiencing brown outs in the summer (or worse - anyone remember 2003's black out?), most utility companies are struggling to keep up with demand as it is. If the electricity simply comes from natural gas or coal, then neither the global warming issue or the supply issues are addressed. Recharging at night might help, but there are so many problems to be addressed with the electric car that it cannot be a short term solution either. Although it must be nerve racking for the auto companies, I am encouraged to see the market running in different directions. We need to try everything to see what fits. It is almost like the beginning of the last century when steam, electric and internal combustion were all vying for control of the market. Funny how the more things change the more they stay the same.

You forget, Enzl: I did. I rejected working for the #1 Toyota dealer in Canada and opted for another Chev store. Of course, I look at the bigger picture that it is our way of life that is at stake if we let ourselves be over-run, but that is just me. If Toyota wins this race, it will be more than just me looking for a job. So, instead of whining from the sidelines, I jumped into the mud and I will sling it out with Toyota, one customer at a time. Small victories. As to anecdotes, well, I guess if being in the business for 12 years and having a few thousand anecdotes is worthless, then what would be valid? GM was in worse shape 2 1/2 years ago then it is now. Market forces outside of GM are worse, but I've been screaming about that for two years. Wagoner and Co. are not the problem, the fat cats on WallStreet and the lazy a-holes in Washington are. It isn't that I crow about everything GM does. I, too, wish for an solid Uplander replacement (coming in 14 months, I am told), a better interior on the GMT-355s (actually, the graphite cloth was an improvement), better gas mileage on the Aveo (oops, coming also), and other 'deficiciencies' within the GM product heiarchy, but I don't automatically reject EVERYTHING that they have accomplished. The S-10 took 20 years to replace. We've only had the 355s for 5 years and, despite what people on this board think, they are an improvement in almost every way measurable. The ride alone is superior. Gas mileage has improved ( an increasingly important marker, BTW.) GM already has great trucks in Brazil. It wouldn't take much to bring them here.

I'm lousy with diets, so I know hitting the gym is the only option for me. Mother Nature has no use for us once we hit 35, and I am a little passed that. The pain at the gym pays off in maintaining a 34" waist at my age (I am 6'2" and 47 years old). Contrary, to what the BF thinks, I do not go there for the eye candy. When I go during the day I am the youngest person by about 20 years - boy, that is scary. It's good inspiration, though: I don't want to look like them.

Well, not quite. Don't forget, GM 'market prices' their vehicles. A Z71 Colorado is about $5k cheaper than a comparably equipped Silverado. The point that has been made before is that $5 a gallon changes the landscape. GM may be catching hell from so-called enthusiasts for the 5 cylinder engine in the GMT-355s, but GM is very well positioned with these trucks when (not if) gas goes north of $5. BTW, we are already paying over $5 a U.S. gallon here.

Funny, that: the Uplander/SV6 are the #2 selling vans in Canada. The Caravan beat them out, of course. A Corvette customer I had today rolled in on a new Canyon. He loves the truck. Thrilled with the gas mileage. He's looking to trade his '96 Vette on a new one. He seemed to know a thing or two about vehicles. You can find bad news if in everything if you want to. The under performing Tundra plant and the Tacoma rust problem are but leaks in the dyke. Added to the Avalon launch problems last year, the Prius computer problems, Tundra frame and tailgate issues - well, you get the picture: it eventually becomes a torrential downpour if left unchecked. I am sure GM was pretty smug with the Cimaron and Oldsmobile diesel problems, too. Look where that got them.

The Canadian government gives us $1,000 rebate on the Impala if you get the 'flexfuel' option, but THERE ARE NO E85 GAS STATIONS ANYWHERE. Well, I hear there is one in Ottawa and one somewhere else. But, good grief: a friggin' rebate for buying a car that runs on a fuel you cannot even buy. Why do I feel like a porter on the Titanic?

I almost choked when I saw the heading. Bring back the Metro? EEEK! The Aveo is 10X the car that the Metro was. Have you ever driven a Metro? They couldn't get out of their own way, let alone pass anything. Crash tests? FOGETTUBOUTIT! The new 1.6 should improve things quite a bit on the '09 Aveo. I'm sure GM has a couple aces up its sleeves with the NG Aveo. Let the Suzuki, er, I mean Metro rest in pieces.

Now would not be a good time to debate the pros and cons of union membership: the local transit union just walked off the job at midnight Friday, strangling Canada's largest city. Why? Our union-friendly Mayor gave them EVERYTHING they wanted. The union 'leadership' approved the agreement late Sunday, but the rank and file rejected it. A 9% pay raise over 3 years, and a clause that automatically raises their wages every time another city in the area gets a raise bigger than them????? Oh, BOO HOO, they are upset that they have to go before a Board to get approval for sick leave. Welcome to the f$%king real world. Sick leave? Has anyone ever seen these fat, heaving TTC types? What they should clamor for are free memberships to Jenny Craig - maybe then they'd have less need of sick leave. They whine and mewl about 'stress' on the job. Stress? They should try driving a bus in Rio de Janiero: careening through traffic at 40 mph, giving out change, changing gears and navigating 8 lane roads and tunnels - that is stress! These fat f$#kers leave a bus full of people stranded while they go and buy a friggin coffee! Toronto needs to privatize the transit authority, like London and other cities have successfully done. $23 an hour to sit on your fat ass and collect tickets. TICKETS. What major city still uses tickets anyway? One of the guys I work with has a son in law who just retired at 50 years old from the TTC: $50k a year to sit on his ass completely. Unions are run amok and the civil servants are the absolute worst. Anyone who wants to do a doctorate on the Decline of the Western World need look no further than the average civil servant union. These guys make the UAW look like a bunch of pansies (not that there is anything wrong with pansies, mind you.)

:rotflmao: So, Toyota, what exactly would constitute a RECALL? I guess we should be grateful that they are being proactive on this, but I find it very interesting that the media is deafeningly silent on this. The Toronto Star went absolutely rabid about a gas tank sensor problem (that turned out to be PetroCanada's fault, not GM's) that affected vehicles only in in southern Ontario. This is far more serious and not a peep. People still joke about rusty Ford's - and they have been fine for 20 some odd years. I wonder if Toyota will enjoy the same fate?

I've re-read the Foundation series about 4 times. (What was he up to? Six books? Seven?) Every time he wrote a new one, I'd have to go back and re-read all the previous ones. Pick up Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, I think. It spawned 2 or 3 books in the series.

Dragging up examples from the '70s is just wacked. WE ALL AGREE 90% OF THE VEHICLES PRODUCED IN THE '70s WERE RUST MAGNETS. This Tacoma FRAME rust-through problem is NOW. That is criminal. Where is the LA Times on this one? Or the Toyota Star?