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Porsche Fans: Watch These!

You know, most car commercials are pretty predictable, not to say boring. So I found it kind of interesting that Porsche recently released some great footage of how a Panamera commercial was made. Particularly since the last Panamera commercial I saw was really blah. But the cars and the closeups in the videos below are fascinating.

According to PorschePurist.com,

The shoot used 16 cars from Jerry Seinfeld’s collection and another 15 more from the likes of Roger Penske, Brumos, Mat Drendel and others. While the commercial was filmed at a former Marine Air Base in El Toro, California, it will be altered to look [like] the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Now the cars are running, some 50 of them. I have to say the Panamera looks like it came from a different universe.

As a footnote, we should add that Avis locations throughout Germany are going to make the Panamera available for rental beginning October 1. Autoblog opines that the rates are “a surprisingly reasonable €189 per day from Monday to Thursday. If, on the other hand, you plan to hit the autobahn for a weekend getaway, the tariff goes up to a more Porsche typical €567.”

Wow, what a bargain: $835 a day to drive this machine. Pick up your phone and call Avis today! Would you do it if you had the bread?

—jgoods

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Buicks and Old People, Part Two

Buick crash Imagine: You’re working at your desk one morning in the office and suddenly get attacked by a Buick. How many times have we read that story? Some old fart hits the gas instead of the brake and roars into your space, like a predatory tank. Here’s another instance from Michigan, and somehow they always seem to involve Buicks.

The reason is that, as we all know, many old people drive Buicks, and they do so because they feel safe in them. With 4,000-plus pounds of steel wrapped around you, a person can barge in almost anywhere in full safety and comfort. Buicks have had the safety/comfort/older buyer segment locked up for as long as I can remember—and that’s a long time. They’re like Volvos used to be, only more so. Note how long it took Volvo to change its image.

Now Buick is making a misguided attempt to attract younger buyers, as my ol’ buddy tgriffith reported. There are three things wrong with his post. One, he endorses GM’s dumb strategy of sucking up to the “youth crowd,” when in fact the company should be actively pursuing the “elderly crowd,” both because they are already well-positioned there and because the elders/boomers are growing rapidly in numbers. GM will spend lots of our tax dollars in a futile effort to achieve this market shift.

Two, with the insolence of youth, he puts down Buick drivers as “old people with blue hair and a pair of knuckles poking up over the steering wheel.” Or “Florida retirees driving with their left turn signals flashing on the way to a 3 p.m. dinner at the buffet.” In my next post look for an image of a drunken 32-year-old, weaving down a major artery at 3:00 a.m. with music blaring as he talks on his cell phone. Hah-hah-hah.

Three, my blogging buddy seems to think that the giant-clam Enclave or the tiny Aveo or the MINI Crossman (yes, the MINI Crossman) may be a path to crossover success for Buick. Down this road madness lies: See point one, above.

The fact that old people are sometimes dangerous drivers is a problem everyone needs to face, and that’s the real issue behind all this Buick BS. There should be mandatory re-licensing for drivers age 70 and over in all states, not just in the relatively few that now require it. Some of these people are indeed a menace, and I’ll bet most of them know it. Get them off the road, and stop stereotyping old people.

Tell us your Buick story: Did your father have one? Did your mother crash one? Anything else?

—jgoods

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The New Chrysler

2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Here’s what the company is going to sell before the new Fiat techno-cars arrive, according to Detroit analyst Jim Hall:

The vehicles that will sustain Chrysler in the interim are the high-volume, high-profit Dodge Ram and minivans. Adding luster, Hall said, but not necessarily volume because they are in shrinking segments, will be the new Jeep Grand Cherokee next year followed by the new Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.

Can the company survive on that? Maybe, if the economy cooperates and Fiat production technology can be integrated into the company’s operations. These are supposed to resume “soon,” said CEO Sergio Marchionne, depending on demand. Vehicles owned by the 789 closed dealers will be routed to the open dealerships, so it’s hard to imagine the factories reopening this month, which possibility the Detroit News mentioned.

So the public will get another chance to buy mostly old-tech cars over the next 18 months, which it has shown little appetite for during the past 18 months. GM and Ford have new cars in the works, and Chrysler needs a real shot in the arm to compete. This is the make-or-break time, it seems to me. Maybe the Fiat 500 and the new Alfa 149 hatchback will come in time.

Alfa Romeo 149

Still, Marchionne is clearly on the march to create a new company built to avoid the mistakes of the past and capitalize on shared technology, something Daimler-Benz didn’t do when it controlled Chrysler. He’s shaking up the board of directors and jumping into the new company feet first. In an email to employees, he talked about the revamp of Fiat:

Five years ago, I stepped into a very similar situation at Fiat. It was perceived by many as a failing, lethargic automaker that produced low-quality cars and was stymied by endless bureaucracies. But most of the people capable of remaking Fiat had been there all the time. Through hard work and tough choices, we have remade Fiat into a profitable company that produces some of the most popular, reliable and environmentally friendly cars in the world. We created a far more efficient company while investing heavily in our technologies and platforms. And, importantly, we created a culture where everyone is expected to lead. We can and will accomplish the same results here.

Buona fortuna, Sergio!

Do you agree that the next 18 months will be critical for Chrysler? What should the company have in its product pipeline?

—jgoods

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Where Are All the Great Deals on New U.S. Cars?

This one's closing for good in December.

This one's closing for good this week.

Today GM announced plant closings of about two months (instead of the usual two weeks) this summer for all its North American operations. The reason for these 13 plant shutdowns is obvious: too much product in the pipeline.

That should translate into fantastic buying possibilities for all you GM-hungry, Chrysler-happy fans out there, right? With all that inventory, dealers should be jumping to give any bona fide buyer the keys. Well, it doesn’t always seem to work that way. While some have reported getting very good deals on cars, our informal Web survey finds just as many who found dealer intransigence, even insult.

As always, you’ve got to be an informed buyer. Do your homework on CarGurus and other sites to see where the bargains really are. The best deals still involve factory rebates, incentives like zero-percent financing, and year-end discounts on ’08 models. Inventory stocks obviously vary from dealer to dealer, so don’t automatically assume they have a glut.

There are numerous stories on the Web about finding either great deals or a great deal of frustration. Here’s a fairly typical one from Bill in New Hampshire:

Well, it turns out that the “new reality” of buying an American car is almost identical to the “old reality”, major recession notwithstanding. As I just learned (again) when an American manufacturer finally produces a “hot” car that could help them take back some market share, they are defeated by their very own dealership network that insists on price gouging. I talk specifically about the new Ford Fusion which, as I speak, is being routinely priced significantly (10%) above MSRP and thereby sufficiently annoying prospective buyers (like myself), who would like to ‘buy American’, to send then right back to the foreign manufacturers. My experience is not unique and my reaction appears to be the same for 7 out of 10 of my friends, relatives and associates. After interacting with a local Ford dealership here in New Hampshire I am headed right back to Toyota for a Camry Hybrid.

I found lots of stories like that, and of course they don’t all have to do with Fords. Goldman Sachs, incidentally, just gave Ford stock its “buy” rating today.

Not surprisingly, the big market seems to be for used cars. Dealerships make more on used than on new cars anyway and always have. Our advice on new cars: Hang on a while longer, keep shopping, and never be afraid to walk away.

Tell us about your recent car-shopping experience. Did you find a great deal—or a great deal of frustration?

—jgoods

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What Could Be Finah than Porsche in China?

We’ve written before that China is pushing past the U.S. as the world’s biggest auto market. With most all the other home markets tumbling, hope for the industry is focusing on China, where car sales may surpass 10 million units this year.

The Shanghai Motor Show has now come to represent something of a default market for the industry, with 13 new models unveiled and all major manufacturers represented. While Porsche grabbed headlines with its debut of the Panamera (its first sedan, above), other makes have come forward—or at least teased, as Jaguar did with the XJ (not to be formally shown until July in England). The best they could do was this plan-view photo which shows little more than a panoramic top.

But Porsche has been getting all the press with the Panamera, particularly since the company says it expects to sell 20,000 this model year. (If you contemplate buying one in China, with import and other taxes the turbo V8 will set you back 2.5 million yuan or $366,000, according to the NY Times. Prices here for the “entry-level” model, with Volkswagen’s 3.6-liter 300-bhp six, start at $89,000.) Still, the company has cultivated a strong presence in China since 2001 and, despite that country’s trend to small, fuel-miserly cars, there will be some luxo buyers out there who will surely hit on this machine.

The Wall Street Journal has a very interesting article on how Porsche has kept its head above water by teaming with VW (in which it holds a majority of shares), reducing its fixed costs by outsourcing to that firm, and making forays into China. It seems as if most other carmakers are trying to steal the Asian page from the Porsche playbook.

Whether the company can seriously look to sell Panameras against real worldwide competition such as the Maserati Quattroporte, the Benz CLS, and the Aston Martin Rapide is still anybody’s guess.

What’s your guess? Will Porsche sell 20,000 Panameras, and where will they be sold?

—jgoods

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New driver? Prepare to get tagged!

Should everyone on the road know that a teen is driving?

The state of New Jersey will soon start tagging cars driven by teenagers with a decal identifying them on the roads as novice drivers.

The state says police will use the decal to enforce curfew laws and passenger restrictions for teen drivers. Many teens think police will use the decals as an excuse to pull them over for no reason.

According the story on Yahoo news, the decal will be removable and nondescript, so “the public at large is probably not even going to notice it.”

See the problems here? If a teen driver is going to break the law, odds are they’ll be smart enough to remove the decal before hitting the road. Secondly, even if they forget to take it off, no one will see it anyway.

And why stop at labeling teens? I’ve seen plenty of safe teen drivers in comparison to the crazy antics of some elderly folks. Maybe we should label them, too. Perhaps there should also be a label for drunks to adhere to their car before they leave the bar parking lot. Or a sticker warning other drivers of the guy texting while driving.

Believe me, I’m all for laws that protect teen drivers, but when it comes to disrespecting them, I draw the line. Maybe instead of demeaning today’s youth, the state should try extending them the same respect and trust they bestow on older drivers. I’d be willing to bet that if we respected the younger generation, teens would be much more willing to act responsibly.

Besides the fact that labeling teen drivers is horribly demeaning to them, I hate to think about the potential safety risks of alerting everyone on the road to the fact that a teenager is driving alone.

Do you think teen drivers should have to label themselves with decals on their cars?

-tgriffith

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What Do You Think of Obama’s Auto Plans?

obama

I can’t wait to hear what tgriffith and jgoods think of today’s heaping helping of auto news, but since they’re both on vacation, I’m going to ask what you think. First, as you’ve probably heard, GM CEO Rick Wagoner stepped down yesterday, apparently having been asked to do so by the Obama administration’s auto task force on Friday, and Fritz Henderson, former COO, will take over. And here are some highlights of a speech Obama delivered this morning:

President Obama’s auto task force rejected the restructuring plans GM and Chrysler submitted to get more bailout money.
The government will cover GM’s operating expenses for 60 days while the automaker drafts a much more aggressive restructuring plan, and Chrysler will get 30 days to fine-tune its plan to partner with Fiat.
Obama noted that bankruptcy was still a possibility for both companies, but that the government very much wants them to stay in business and will now back both companies’ warranties.
Obama announced a tax incentive for new-car buyers and that he wants to implement a cash-for-clunkers program to encourage the owners of older cars to replace them with newer, more fuel efficient cars.
Obama appointed a Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, who will provide support to and pursue opportunities for those who’ve been most impacted by the auto industry’s difficulties.

Needless to say, all this news has generated a lot of reaction. Some think Obama went too far by forcing the exit of Wagoner, particularly since Wall Street has offered much less in the way of compromise and collaboration in return for its bailout money. Some think the government bailout of both industries may be the beginning of a march toward socialism. Many are simply alarmed by the amount of money Obama plans to spend saving GM and Chrysler. And some take a simpler, more practical view, pointing out that now may be the best - and perhaps the last - time to buy a new American-made car with a powerful V8 under the hood.

Do you think GM and Chrysler need to be saved? Do you think Obama and the steps he announced today can help save them?

-Steve Halloran

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The best car songs… ever!

The famous Red Barchetta

When I decided to write about the best songs ever about cars, I had a few in mind but was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of great songs that pay tribute to the automobile. Seriously, I could fill a week’s worth of blogs on this topic alone.

Being a rocker at heart, I’m going to give my absolute favorite songs that both fuel my passion for rocking out while capturing the essence of what it means to fall under the spell of steel and chrome.

You won’t see any Little Deuce Coupes here or take any rides along Route 66. No one will drive a Chevy to the levy, and there will be no whining about getting a T-Bird taken away.

These, friends, are some of the best songs ever about cars (and I know there’s a ton more, so let us know your faves!):

Red Barchetta, Rush

Don’t we all wish we had uncles like the guy in this song? Every time I hear this song I can almost feel the speed and hear the sound of this old Ferrari.

Black Devil Car, Jamiroquai

Let the lyrics speak for themselves: “Riding around in my black devil car I can’t hear a sound because my foot pushing down too hard.”

The Distance, Cake

The story of a determined but lone race car driver… Ever feel like giving up on anything? Listen to this song!

I Can’t Drive 55, Sammy Hagar

“When I drive that slow, you know it’s hard to steer. And I can’t get my car out of second gear! What used to take two hours now takes all day.”

Well said Sammy, put the pedal to the metal!

Fuel, Metallica

The perfect song for driving fast is all about driving fast… Go ahead, quench your thirst with gasoline and turn up the stereo!

Your turn: What are your favorite car songs?

-tgriffith

Unfortunately, there’s no trophy or prize money, just the satisfaction ...

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Car Videos: Making Audi’s Super Bowl Ad, Hyundai’s Bowl Ad, MINI Car Wash

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, car fans! Since we know much of tomorrow’s discussion of the game will center on the ads, we wanted to share a couple of previews of car advertisements that have generated a lot of attention on YouTube as well as a MINI video that’s been shared and generated comments on lots of other auto blogs.

The Making of Audi’s Super Bowl Ad

Hyundai’s Genesis Super Bowl Ad

MINI Cabrio Car Wash

Which of these three videos is your favorite? Have you seen any other great car videos lately?

-Steve Halloran

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What’s the worst car you’ve ever owned?

Car buyers are a hard-to-please bunch.

At the same time, though, a car is one of biggest items that people become emotionally attached to. For example, when my 1984 Toyota 4X4 pickup was stolen and destroyed, I was heartbroken. That truck wasn’t just a mode of transportation for me; it was a part of my life. So going to the impound yard to “identify the body” tore me up.

Definitely not a chick magnet!

It’s funny how a car can infiltrate our emotions and create human-like attraction and ultimate satisfaction in the driving experience.

Of course, there are cars on the other side of that emotion too. This blog announces Consumer Reports’ findings on some of 2008’s most satisfying cars. Consumer Reports also announced the least satisfying vehicles of the year, which were overwhelmingly led by American models.

The Jeep Commander was the least satisfying of all, with only 32 percent of owners saying they’d definitely buy or lease one again. Joining the Jeep at the bottom were the pickup cousins of Colorado and Canyon from Chevy and GMC. Chevy’s Equinox was right down there, as was the trio of GM minivans the Chevy Uplander, Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay.

I have hope that American-made vehicles will start climbing up that list, but that’s not my point here. What I’m thinking about are the cars from our past that we’ve owned but would never own again. The cars we’ve hated but for some reason ended up driving, even if just for a short amount of time.

I sure remember mine… a 1985 Chevy Caprice. I’ll tell you what, my grandpa didn’t do me any favors with the ladies by giving that heap to me in high school!

What’s the least satisfying car you’ve ever owned? We want to hear your stories in the comment section!

-tgriffith

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Porsche Fans: Watch These!

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