Blog For Thought

2005 Acura RL

2005-04-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

2005 Acura RL

The Acura RL has always been more appealing to the older crowd. With the MSRP price of $41,900 I guess you can't blame them. This new look is more sporty and edgy for the RL

This car posses more horsepower, 300 to be exact. That's more power than any other Acura model. But I guess with the added power comes the added price. Retail price went up $6,000 from previous years. But one thing I noticed about Acura's was that everything comes standard. So, there isn't much you need to ad on. I remember I went to test drive the TL a while back and I noticed it had bluetooth features, navigation, heated seats etc etc: all included.

The new-generation RL also is the first with all-wheel drive. It's standard. The '05 RL becomes the first with a 5-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters at the steering wheel, too—a feature that's reminiscent of race cars.

The new model includes:

Automatic Transmission.
Rear and Side Window Sun Shades.
Power Moonroof
Heated Seats
Bose Surround System
Fog Lights
Tire Pressure Monitor
Speed-Sensing
Intermittent Windshield Wipes
Navigation System with Voice Recognition
Genuine Mapel Trim
Electronic Stability Control
Traction Control
Curtain Airbags
Anti-Lock Brakes
Brake Assist
One Year Subscription to OnStar
Solar Sensing
Dual-Zone Climate Control
Trunk Pass-Through
No Key Entry/Ignition

Downsides

While the RL is trying to actively compete with BMW and Audi, they do not offer any V8's like these other car companies do. And while Acura knows they could increase brand name with having a V8, selling these luxury versions only account for a portion of sales. Plus, the 300 horsepower is impressive enough when compared to other vehicles in its class.

The 300 horsepower comes with a price: fuel wise. The RL requires premium gas and is rated 18 miles and 26 miles per gallon on the highway

Other Good Things

"Called super-handling all-wheel driveThe RL's all-wheel-drive system does more than transfer power between front and rear wheels. It can modulate the power between the left and right rear wheels to help make cornering more precise and stable and thus contribute to sporty handling."

Fine interior

"The interior of the test RL was pampering and pretty. Seats have perforated leather on them, there's nice-looking wood trim, and the audio system's surround sound is awesome.
At night, a soft bluish light illuminates the RL's floormats and joins map lights in offering a welcoming interior. A pale blue light also shines down on the center console, and the instrument gauges have a blue light that seems to emanate from the center of each one. I just wish the Xenon High Intensity Discharge headlamps didn't have such an abrupt horizontal line at the top of their beam. It's distracting and takes some getting used to.
The RL is the first car in North America to put real-time traffic information about construction zones, congestion and crashes on the navigation system map. The system uses XM NavTraffic and is available for freeways in 20 major metro areas including Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago. <-- [this has got to be the best thing ever thought of!]

Another highlight: The car's information system includes Zagat ratings of restaurants."

Safety a prioritySafety is noteworthy.

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the 2005 Acura RL is only the third vehicle in the history of the agency's crash testing program to achieve the top rating of five stars for rollover and for all seating positions in frontal and side-impact crash tests.
The car comes standard with a new body structure that's designed to keep crash forces away from passengers. There also are standard curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control, among other things. The major competitors in the segment—the Cadillac STS, BMW 5-Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class for the 2005 model year—had no reported test results. Acura officials look for the new RL to post annual sales of around 20,000, which is significantly higher than the 6,829 sales for the previous generation RL in calendar 2003, its last full year. And as you might have guessed by now, target buyers for the 2005 RL will have median age of 50 or less. "

2005-04-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the complete list of 2005 model vehicles receiving ALG Residual Value Awards:

Category Vehicle

Industry Brand Honda

Luxury Brand BMW

Compact Car MINI Cooper*

Midsize Car Nissan Altima

Sports Car Mercedes-Benz SLK*

Near-Luxury Car Infiniti G35

Luxury Car Mercedes-Benz CLK*

Minivan Honda Odyssey*

Compact SUV Honda CR-V*

Midsize SUV Toyota 4Runner*

Full-Size SUV Toyota Sequoia*

Crossover SUV Volvo XC90

Compact Truck Toyota Tacoma*

Full-Size Truck Toyota Tundra*

* indicates repeat winner from previous year

2006 Police Dodge Charger

2005-04-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture

Dodge charges into the police car market this fall with the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle, offering law enforcement agencies a four-door sedan with all the power, handling and functionality they require to effectively patrol the streets.

"With rear-wheel drive and available HEMI® power at the pavement, the Dodge Charger provides optimum police car pursuit performance," said Darryl Jackson, Vice President – Dodge Marketing, Chrysler Group. "Dodge has a strong police heritage and is proud to offer vehicles armed with modern muscle and cutting-edge technology.”

The 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle will join the previously announced Dodge Magnum police vehicle to round out Dodge’s growing fleet of bold, powerful and capable vehicles for law enforcement agencies.

“We listened to what law enforcement officers asked for and paid attention to the details that are important to them,” said Ray Fisher, Vice President – Sales, Service and Parts Operations, Chrysler Group. “By integrating features and functionality into the original design of the Dodge Charger, we can give our police customers an affordable, capable vehicle with industry-leading innovations.”

For the ultimate in pursuit power, the Dodge Charger police vehicle will be available with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine that produces 340 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 390 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. The V-8 HEMI engine features Chrysler Group's Multi-displacement System (MDS), which seamlessly alternates between smooth, high fuel economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is required. Fuel efficiency improves by up to 20 percent with MDS, but not at the expense of performance. Dodge Charger police vehicles equipped with HEMI engines will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds.

The 2006 Dodge Charger police car also will be available with a powerful, 3.5-liter High Output V-6 engine that provides 250 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 250 lb.-ft. of torque at 3800 rpm, offering an outstanding blend of performance and fuel economy.

A fully electronic five-speed automatic transmission with an Electronically Modulated Converter Clutch (EMCC) offers improved shift feel to match a variety of driving styles, situations and road conditions. This transmission is standard on all Dodge Charger police cars. Heavy-duty brakes and linings, also standard on Charger police vehicles, provide secure and stable deceleration and braking capability.

In addition, Dodge Charger police vehicles will include an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Emergency Brake Assist, All-speed Traction Control and four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). Combined, these features will provide balance and control for officers in a variety of surface and weather conditions.

ESP enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability in turns, even on uneven surfaces, patchy snow, ice or gravel. If there is a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering and the vehicle’s path, ESP applies selective braking and throttle control to put the car back onto the driver’s intended path
Emergency Brake Assist detects when maximum braking is required through sensing the rate of brake application. By applying full brake pressure to all four brakes, this system improves stopping distance All-speed Traction Control enhances mobility and prevents wheel slip when accelerating on slippery surfaces. It also provides a measure of directional stability control and helps keep the car on its intended course. The system works by braking the slipping wheel in low-traction situations. However, it also can adjust the throttle control, making the vehicle less reliant on brake applications alone ABS keeps the vehicle straight and retains steering capability while braking on slippery surfaces by preventing wheel lock-up.

Both passive and active safety features also are incorporated in the new Dodge Charger police vehicles. These include: advanced multistage driver and front passenger air bags, a front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) for controlled airbag deployment, constant force seat belt retractors, pretensioners, an energy-absorbing steering column, optional side-curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system to alert officers of low tire pressure.

Preliminary Standard Features

Standard features on the 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle will include the following items of particular importance to law enforcement customers:

100-amp battery power feed in trunk
160-amp high-output alternator
160-mph calibrated speedometer
800CCA heavy-duty battery
cloth front bucket seats with manual lumbar and rear fixed bench seat
column shifter
easy path wiring grommet between underhood and passenger compartment
emergency rear-door-lock override
external oil coolers
four-wheel independent performance suspension
heavy-duty brakes and linings
integrated engine hour meter
P225/60R 18 V-rated all-season performance tires and 18-inch steel wheels
performance-tuned steering
police equipment interface module
police equipment mounting bracket
rear door locks and rear window switches inoperable from the rear seats
severe-duty cooling system
software-controlled alternating head- and taillamps
special electrical wiring for police market applications
speed control
stealth mode switch for interior lighting

Additional standard features and optional equipment are available on the Dodge Charger police vehicle to provide law enforcement customers an affordable vehicle with industry- leading innovations that make upfitting the vehicle faster and safer.

Production

Production for the 2006 Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum police vehicles will begin in the fall of 2005 at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario (Canada) alongside the 2006 Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300.

The 2006 Dodge police vehicles will be available to county, city and state police departments in the fourth quarter of 2005, with pricing announced at that time.

Hybrids: Are They For You?

2005-04-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

Haha stole this from Sara again...she's has some great links on her website

Apparently right now, it is more efficient to purchase a small compact car rather than purchasing a hybrid car in efforts to make up for fuel cost. Truth is, the extra money you potentially spend on buying the hybrid will never be returned. However the article explains some things that may tilt you towards buying a hybrid (other than the obvious: saving the environment, feeling good about yourself)

The IRS offers a one time tax deduction for up to $2000. However, this was applied for 2004 and 2005 models. They will be removing this for 2006 (probably because of the increased popularity).
There is more of a variety in vehicles that are hybrid. Especially now that many car makers are making hybrid models that are exact replicas of their gas-powered models, it's a lot easier to buy a car you like (rather than the notorious oddly-shaped and "futuristic-look" hybrids you see on the road).

All in all, you'll save more buying a hybrid than buying an SUV. But if you're looking to simply cut costs and save money, buying a hybrid may not be the way to go. At least not yet.

Mini Cooper

2005-04-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

Some things just shouldn't be changed. BMW is planning on making the Mini Cooper bigger for 2007.

While the core body style will remain a three-door hatchback (with a two-seat speedster rumored), BMW is working on a longer-wheelbase version that will open the door for a wider range of Minis, including a five-door with more rear legroom and added cargo area. Could a three-door version of this herald the return of the Clubman? We can only hope.

The stretched Mini features a more upright rear hatchback, along with a pair of rear-hinged doors for easier access to the rear seats. The five-door will likely feature a Rolls-Royce electronic locking system that will allow the rear doors to open independently of the front ones—a major convenience improvement over most suicide-door systems.
The interior is new, and features a dashboard design with a centrally mounted speedometer but a much narrower fascia bounded by circular air vents. The dash will be available in wood trim as well as body color.

A new front end features bug-eyed headlights, and while the overall feel of the face is familiar, details change. The nose is a more upright design to satisfy new European pedestrian-protection laws, while the grille is moved above the bumper line, making for a cleaner license plate mount and allowing space below for an enlarged lower air intake.
This is needed because the Cooper and Cooper S models will feature new 1.6-liter turbo fours requiring an intercooler located fairly low in the front fascia of the new Mini. BMW is considering two turbo versions, making 143 hp in the Cooper and 170 hp in the S, and a base non-turbo Cooper model producing 115 hp.

Click here to see pictures

Rear Side View

Toyota Supra

2005-04-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

Did you ever wonder what happened to some cars? My personal favorite way back when was the rabbit. I'm not sure why I liked that car. Perhaps it was just the weird name that caught my eye and that the rabbit car actually did kind of remind me of a rabbit. Anyway, I got thinking more recently. I know a few years ago, the Toyota Supra was a popular yet unattainable car. It seemed like they stopped making it. And I would like to ask why? It seemed like it had so much popularity. And backed by the fact that they were rare, made them even more popular.

Dirty Peter wrote a great article on it as well as the Skyline.

Hybrids

2005-04-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've written about Hybrids. I know I have previously mentioned that all hybrids have this weird look to them. But the people over at Lexus have come out with the RX 400h Hybrid. With the ever growing demand for these hybrid vehicles, I think Lexus stands out. Sara wrote a great article on it. Check it out

Scion TC

2005-04-23T18:31:00.000-07:00

Among all the cars available for young buyers, I think this one takes the medal away. Scion, which is a small counterpart of Toyota, came out with the TC, xA, and the xB. I can't speak for the xA or the xB (which have unoriginal names by the way) but I think the TC definitely appeals to young people. For a base price of $16,515, I think its worth it.

With 160 hp, this baby can seem appealing to a lot of cars in this range.

A lot better than buying a car from ebay thats for sure.

Scion Website

2007 Saturn Sky

2005-04-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ain't she a beauty?

I commend Saturn for making this car. I think they could really use it. And at a base price of $25,000 I think its pretty reasonable.

Powering the Sky is a 2.4-liter 170-horsepower Ecotec engine teamed to a short-throw 5-speed manual transmission. A 5-speed automatic will be an available option.

It's a step in the right direction. It will be available sometime soon this year.

Here's the back view.

Check out the review for the car as well.

2005 Volkswagon Jetta

2005-04-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

I've been a little reluctant to write about this new car but I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I saw it at the LA Auto Show and I wasn't impressed. I feel that the new model is almost an mirrored version of the Toyota Corolla; I still like the 2000 model better. I have a couple of friends who own a Jetta and I can't say they've all had good experiences with it.

2005 Volkswagon Jetta

More Room

Well there's one thing that they fixed for sure. Volkswagon Jettas were notorious for being small in people room yet had the price tag much higher than it should have been.

"Rear-seat dimensions have improved all around in the new-generation Jetta. Legroom goes from 33.5 inches to 35.4 inches, which still is 0.6 inch less than what's in the back seat of the Civic, the top-selling compact in the U.S. market. But the Jetta's shoulder room improves from 52.5 inches to 53.1 inches, which is better than the 52 inches in a Civic, and headroom grows 0.3 inch to tie the Civic sedan's 37.2 inches. Then, there's the Jetta trunk—a newly roomy cargo holder that has 16 cubic feet of space, up from 13 in the previous Jetta and 12.9 cubic feet in the Civic. Indeed, this new trunk space is even more than the 14 cubic feet found in the midsize Honda Accord sedan. " Hallelujah!

New Suspension

"The fifth-generation Jetta is the first with a fully independent suspension that includes a four-link rear and front axle with McPherson struts. It's based on the Golf V platform and provides a solid, Teutonic kind of ride. Factory tires on the base model are 15-inchers, with 16-inch tires available on other models. "

New 5-Cylinder Base Engine

The double 2.5 liter overhead came from ideas over in Europe. It's a jump from its 2.0 liter four from previous years. However, at only 150 horsepower, it doesn't quite show how impressive the car can be. Also according to Volkswagon, the Jetta now makes 0-60 in 9.1 seconds where as the previous years made it in 11.7 seconds.

New Style

From the outside, the car looks more like a Japanese car, like I said before (reference to the Toyota Corolla) but apparently it has won awards for its interior design.

The Jetta's don't expect to come out with a navigation option until next year and they currently do not have an iPod feature.

Overall, I question this car. First off, Volkswagon has been experiencing a decline in the sales of Jettas and I could see why. The size just doesn't grow with the people that own it and the list of problems the Jetta has just isn't it worth it. Volkswagon also wants to target the same market of young people. But I think they could offer more to the younger generation which brings me to my second point: they really need to target the younger generation more such as adding the iPod feature as an option. Because sales are declining year after year, Volkswagon needs to up their marketing for this car. Lastly, I initially thought this new model was the 2006 model but turns out, its a late 2005 model. They're going to release their 2006 model but its not going to have many changes from the 2005.

I think Volkswagon vehicles have become unreliable. I, myself, wanted the Jetta back in high school but I'm glad I never made that investment. I hear about so many problems ranging from the windows to the transmission. And for the price that it is, I would rather buy another car. Many might be surprised that the Jettas are actually made in Puebla, Mexico where labor costs are low; so why is the Jetta still such an expensive car for what it is? Any Jetta owners out there? I'd like to hear what you have to say...

Keyless-Go and Smart Key

2005-04-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Many cars are coming with the option of Keyless-Go and Smart Key in their vehicles. It lets drivers unlock their doors and start their cars without pulling out a key. It works fine with the key in your pocket or in your purse.

Currently, these are the cars that offer this option:

Cadillac STS and XLR
Mercedes Benz S-Class, E-Class, SL-Class
Lexus LS430
Toyota Prius
Infiniti M

While the Infiniti-M offers this option standard, Mercedes and Toyota offer it for a price. Mercedes' option is about $1000 for this option and Toyota offers it for about $900. It's nice to see that a wide variety of cars can have this option not just the ultra luxurious ones. What is being said is that people are more likely to buy it when you price it higher. I guess that makes sense.. with all the innovative technology going into it, you would think it would be a luxury to have. Imagine never having to fish for your key when you're running to you car in a rainstorm or imagine never having to go through your purse when you have children in your arms. It seems to make things easier no?

Of course while it is a nice thing to have, is it asking for more problems? One of my friends' parents have this option on their car and he told me a funny story about the Keyless-Go option. Both his parents were in the car but the father got out while the other took the car somewhere else. About a half-mile away from the house, the car shuts off because the father had the key in his pocket. Funny because it caused more chaos than it would if you didn't have the option. Of course, it takes a little while to get used to.. especially when you're going through the valet.

Another thing is that these "keys" are harder to replace because they had technology in it. At Mercedes, each fob as their called is customized for each customer so to replace a key, you have to show proof of ownership. Then Mercedes goes through an offsite secure facility which may take up to two days. Replacement of these keys may also run anywhere from $200 plus.

Mercedes was actually the first to market this idea and now currently has 5 models that have this option available. Way to go.

2007 Shelby Cobra

2005-04-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

The Ford Shelby Cobra will be released in June of this year. At an estimated base price of $39,000, this car has a lot to offer. It will be the most powerful factory- built Mustang in history beating out the 1969 Mach 1 Cobra.

Here are some nice specs:

Shelby approves. Carroll Shelby and Ford SVT team up
Supercharged 5.4-Liter/ 6 Speed Transmission
Solid Rear Axle to ensure is handles future performance

Start saving now buddies.

Check out the pictures

Everyone's Going to China

2005-04-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Nissan currently wants to expand itself in China by introducing about 5 new Nissan models in China. The article also talks about some historical tension the Chinese have with the Japanese which may cause bad sales or vandalizing of these Japanese vehicles in China. But for now, they remain hopeful and are going to continue their market in China.

Nissan on track to beat global sales target
By Chang-Ran Kim / Reuters
Copyright © 2004 Reuters Ltd.

SHANGHAI - Nissan Motor Co. , Japan's second-biggest car maker, said on Tuesday it was well placed to beat its target of selling 3.6 million vehicles globally in the 12 months to September 2005.
The Japanese company, held 44 percent by France's Renault SA, has committed itself to selling 1 million more vehicles during the period than in the fiscal year to end-March 2002 and aims to increase sales further to 4.2 million by the 2007/08 business year, armed with 28 new models.
"We're now less than six months away in the final measurement period, and I'm pleased to report that we're on track not only to meet but exceed the 1 million incremental sales as committed," Senior Vice President Steven Wilhite told a news conference to unveil five new cars for the Chinese market.
Nissan expects most of the growth over the next three years to come from China, with sales forecast to exceed 500,000 vehicles by 2007/08 in the world's third-biggest car market. China would also then be Nissan's third-biggest market after the United States and Japan.
"For Nissan, the Chinese market is recognised as a critical and important contributor to our growth during our next three-year business plan that begins this month," Wilhite, who oversees Nissan's global marketing division, said.
However, worries have grown over Japanese car firms' prospects as protesters across China, angry over a Japanese school book that they say whitewashes atrocities during Japan's 1931-1945 occupation of much of China, have taken to the streets in April, some smashing up Japanese-brand cars.
While Nissan restated its goal of selling 140,000 passenger cars in China this year, Wilhite acknowledged that the anti-Japanese sentiment was a concern and a risk.
"I think there will be some consumers that make unfavourable decisions for us because of our Japanese heritage, and I don't think that that can be helped," he told Reuters.
He said Nissan was not altering any of its plans in China, and that it was too early to think about how to proceed in the worst-case scenario of prolonged protests and a boycott of Japanese goods.
Nissan plans to launch five new models in China in 2005, including the Tiida compact sedan, which was in the showrooms from Tuesday.
"(This will promote) Nissan to the ranks of a truly full-line auto maker in China," Wilhite said, adding the line-up would include compact hatchbacks, sedans, luxury vehicles, minivans, pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles and sports cars.
In addition to the Tiida sedan, Nissan unveiled the Tiida hatchback, Fuga luxury sedan, Quest minivan and the 350Z sports car at the news conference.
With competition intensifying and the government trying to cool down its racing economy, Nissan last year undershot its original sales target of 80,000 cars in China, selling fewer than 61,000.

Mercedes is also looking to make cars in China

The article is kind of lengthy. Here it is.

New Parking Lots

2005-04-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

"The Maheshwari group of companies that has the MPM mall to its credit, is mulling automated car parking and this may form part of its projects in Hyderabad by December-end. The group is looking at setting up three more malls in the city in the next couple of years and the earliest among them is likely to be Bonsai – a 60,000-square feet mall at Himayatnagar." Article

You know, I saw some concept designs they were doing for Beverly Center. This was a while ago so I'm not sure if it was a little premature to think it was going to happen but they were going to build an indoor valet lot. From the pictures, it looked really sleek. But I was wondering how they were going to manage to make a parking lot in the middle of the mall. Basically the idea was to make a huge turnaround where shoppers can drive up their cars and leave it for the valet and be right in the middle of the mall. I know it doesn't completely solve the parking problem; its either a luxury for those crazy shoppers or maybe some efficient way of getting more people who valet their cars.

When I was in China, I actually saw a few parking lots that do the same thing that the Maheshwari group is proposing to do. However, the parking lots I saw were really shady and I wouldn't trust my car being in there. But new technological parking lots like these will save space and hassle for a lot of people. I know I share the hate of looking for parking spots, especially in Los Angeles. The Grove currently offers a smart parking lot that tells you how many spots are on each level so thats one step in the right direction.

This reminds me of a Seinfeld episode I was watching last night. It was titled "the Parking Spot" where George and another guy Mike were fighting for a parking spot in front of Jerry's apartment. They argued that no one parallel park head first and also that no one can back into a spot 50 feet away.. you know the whole Seinfeld argument. Jerry also did a stand-up comic bit about parking as well. He mentioned that the there are more and more cars being made but no parking spots being made. Which is so true. I know many families have more than one car in the family but with more and more drivers on the road, I think it makes the freeways and roads a little more dangerous. Also with the parking situation, it seems like each year, parking becomes harder and harder to find and its horrible. So I'm glad its an issue thats at least sort of being tackled. Cars deserve good parking spots.. none of this "reserved," "compact," or "no suv" bullshit.

Concept Cars

2005-04-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

I've always wondered about the purpose of concept cars. They're always overly futuristic and seem light years away from being produced. But I came across this article that explained things pretty well.

"Let's say Ford decides to build the GR-1. Having previewed it first in concept form would still have been a smart move for Ford; in fact, many if not most automobiles begin their lives as concept cars. The reason for that is because concept cars give automakers a chance to gauge public opinion on the ideas on which they are working. In fact, the way crowds at auto shows react to concept cars often determines whether the prototypes will ever become vehicles for public consumption. However, even if a concept car becomes a production model, the show car will more often than not feature glitzy technology that doesn't go into the mass-produced version. This makes sense. Auto shows are times to bask in the glories of modern technology and to take a look at where automotive engineering is headed (and that look is sometimes lighthearted). "

Concept cars seems like they're what everyone wants to see when they go to auto shows. I didn't really realize this until I went to the LA Auto Show myself and saw a few. My favorite was this oversized pick-up truck that had comfotable seating for four and futuristic looks on the inside.

Now that I think of it, it makes perfect sense to make a concept car. I mean making a new model of a car means you're stuck with it for a few years and you don't know if they're even going to sell. Research and development is a good thing.

Sounds Like LA

2005-04-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

Britain is running into a problem. They have 30 millions cars and no where to park them.

The number of cars on British roads has broken through the 30 million mark and is rising so fast that finding a place to park is becoming a daily ordeal for most people, a study has found.
Households with two or more cars now outnumber those with no car and there are more than a million homes with at least three.

There are 4.3 million more cars than when Labour came to power in 1997 with a pledge to reduce people’s dependence on private motoring.

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, said after the 1997 election: “I will have failed if, in five years’ time, there are not many more people using public transport and far fewer journeys by car.”

The extra cars introduced since then would fill a 40-lane motorway between London and Edinburgh. The national fleet of cars has doubled since 1975 and is rising by more than 600,000 a year.

Despite the growth, Britain still falls short of car ownership levels in Italy and Germany. In 2003, there were 494 cars per 1,000 people in Britain, compared with 591 per 1,000 in Italy. The RAC Foundation has concluded that the greatest transport challenge is not congestion but creating enough parking spaces to accommodate all the extra cars.

A third of drivers have abandoned a journey and gone home after being unable to find a parking space at their destination, according to a survey commissioned by the foundation.
The lack of spaces contributes to congestion because up to 80 per cent of traffic in city centres is made up of drivers searching for somewhere to park.

Some 20 per cent of motorists are regularly unable to find a parking space outside their home and one in ten has had a row with a parking warden.

The foundation believes that the only solution is to tunnel under residential streets and shopping areas to create underground car parks. This idea was favoured by 73 per cent of the 500 drivers questioned by NOP, the market research firm, on behalf of the foundation. Only a quarter supported tougher restrictions on car ownership, such as banning new homes from having more than one parking space.

Local authorities are cashing in on the lack of spaces by making residents pay for permits to park outside their homes. Drivers paid almost £1 billion in parking fees and fines in England in the year to March 2003, up more than 50 per cent since 1998.
Edmund King, the foundation’s director, said that the parking problem had been overlooked by all the parties in their election manifestos. “The focus has been on congestion, but parking is an even worse problem. Every car journey ends with the need to park and failing to provide enough spaces is like running a train that doesn’t stop at any stations.”

Mr King urged the Government to revise planning guidance, which restricts new developments to a maximum of 1.5 spaces per dwelling. “That should be a minimum, not a maximum. It’s no use hoping people won’t buy cars, because all the evidence shows they will. The solution is to build parking spaces under homes and streets.” Stephen Joseph, director of the environmental group Transport 2000, said that creating more spaces would only encourage people to use cars for short journeys that could have been made on foot or by bike.

A quarter of all car journeys are over distances of less than two miles.
Mr Joseph said: “We need less parking in cities, not more. We must wean people off their dependence on cars and get them to base their lives closer to home, walking to local shops rather than driving to shopping centres.”
The annual total distance travelled by car since 1997 has increased by 9 per cent, or about 20 billion miles. The Department for Transport has forecast that traffic in this country will grow by 40 per cent by 2025.

China's Views

2005-04-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

China is now finding ways to reward people for having less... less children, smaller car.. hahaha

China is making a tax exempt for people who buy smaller cars.

Entertaining

Searching..Searching..Found!

2005-04-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get some hits on this blogger site for quite some time now but my repeated efforts have been shot down. I did however come across another fellow eBlogger that is writing about hybrid cars. I found some of his articles rather interesting. You might want to check it out.

Courtesy of Amit.. "Hybrid Cars: Why Sales are Growing at a Slower Pace"

2006 Mercedes Benz R-Class

2005-04-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know about this one..
This car to me looks more like a European car than an American car. It reminds me of a mini-van and I don't see Mercedes Benz making a mini-van.

Well, its going to be released in the Fall of this year so we'll see how it goes.

Check is out on MSN Autos

The 2006 BMW 3-Series

2005-04-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

I'm in love.

The new BMW is coming out this summer I believe. I've been staring at the pictures all morning. It's just so beautiful. Here are some little specs it has:

Engine: 6 Cylinder
Valve Linkage: DOHC 4 Valve/Cylinder
Displacement: 2,966 cc
Horsepower: 266 hp at 6,600 rpm
Torque: 220 ft lb at 2,750 rpm
Gearbox: 6 Speed
Weight: 3,417 lb
Top Speed: 130 mph
0-60: 6.1 Sec

Okay I know those specs aren't the really interesting ones but those were all I could find for now. I think they're still working on the website. But you can check it out and look at all the photos they have. iDrive is also an option now on the 3-series. I have mixed feelings about that one. The option looks cool and it makes the car more sophisticated but remember, its a pain to use. Guess its easier when you understand it.

2006 BMW 3 - Series

Stupid, but Entertaining Videos

2005-04-12T23:23:00.000-07:00

I've been running short on car articles lately. I don't know if any of you get sick of reading about cars all the time but here are some entertaining car videos I found. Enjoy!

Watch a Minivan beat a Camero

Dogs can drive too

Celebrities and Cars

2005-04-12T22:44:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you have a ridiculous amount of money to spend?
-Buy a new house that fits your 17 cars, of course.

Big Boi of Outkast has too much money

Ebay and Used Cars

2005-04-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine just bought a car from Ebay. I still have mixed feelings about the whole process. I haven't really had good experience with Ebay. And everyone I know that sells things always has two accounts to push the price up during the last few minutes of the auction. I guess its all part of Ebay business strategy. But wait, I'm not done talking about the fact that my friend bought a car on Ebay. Usually, I feel like Ebay is a way of selling useless junk but maybe I should stop being so negative to the whole idea. I just don't want to be scammed nor do I want any of my friends to experience the same.

Speaking of Ebay, I found this article where people are selling their used Toyota Prius for 2-3 thousand more than a new hybrid. It's because its been so much in demand that people will pay that to have the car now. Still, most people aren't expecting to make much money off of it so I don't really get the point of selling it. One dealership actually just slashed off $5000 off a $34,999 used Prius because it wasn't selling. 35 grand for a Used Prius?? It's unbelievable. When you are payin 3-4 grand more for a car, you're really just paying to have the car before other people. Insane.

How Can I if You Don't Let Me?

2005-04-08T00:43:00.000-07:00

I wrote a long entry earlier about the new Lexus IS but eblogger decided to delete my entire entry.

I am officially on blogging strike. This isn't the first time it hasn't published my blogs.

I am angry.

Honda Smarter than Toyota?

2005-04-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

I came across this article that I thought was quite interesting. The article talks about how Honda's strategy to price their Accord Hybrids a higher than Toyota's Prius was a good choice. Toyota appeals to the masses who want a car that is good for the environment while the Accord appeals to those who want the best technology.

Price Comparison

Honda Accord Hybrid - $30,505 (including freight)
Toyota Prius - $21,000

Currently, Honda does not have to increase production over the next couple of months in order to keep up with the demand of hybrids. If Honda were to price the Accord similarly to the Prius, it seems like they would do better in sales. The article states, "the big draw with the Accord that would give it an edge in the market if the price were the same as that of the Prius is that it's essentially the same body and interior as those of the regular Accord. The Prius, while just about as roomy and practical as the Accord and Toyota Camry, is a bit odd-looking, which is a turn-off to some consumers." I have to totally agree with this statement. The Prius is a bit odd-looking, and I had an entry before questioning why hybrids had to look the way they did. I believe that having a hybrid version of a regular car is most logical. Why spend more time and money on a new look when consumers would rather have the same look with different engines?

Here's the article.

Mercedes ML 350

2005-04-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Benz has just released the new 2006 ML 350. I must say, it is finally a nice big change for the ML's. I currently drive the 1999 ML 320 and just looking at the new model makes me want it. I haven't really looked at the models between my year and the current new model but I don't imagine them to be quite different. The new model has a new sleek design that more resembles the Lexus RX 300 to me but its still a nice change. The interior is a lot better as well. I don't know if its just 6 years of change that's showing through or if Mercedes finally got smart. There are some features that I thought really helped Mercedes. Well, the ML at least..

CD Changer in the glove compartment - for the longest time, Mercedes always had their 6 Disc CD Changer in the trunk or the back of the car. WHY??? That was the most inconvenient and illogical thing ever! At least they finally changed it
Easier fold down seats - I can't even begin to tell you how hard it is to lower the back seats in my car. I can never doing it without hurting myself, breaking a nail, or exerting a lot of force on the seats
Updated technology on lower level models - before, it seemed like Mercedes got lazy with all models below the S-Class. But they finally upgraded the ML interior to look more like the C, E, and S-Class.
Direct Select Column Mounted Shifter - this is the feature I like the most. It resembles that of the BMW 7-Series and saves space in the middle console. It also gets rid of the shotty side cup holders the older models had.
7 - Speed Transmission - I'm so glad they upgraded the ML320's to 350's. I know they did this awhile back but I think the 7 Speed Transmission is a new thing.

Back when my parents decided to update their 20 year old cars, I thought Mercedes was way ahead of the game and was more technologically advanced than any other car. But then, I saw the BMW 7-Series bombarded with tech features, almost requiring a pilot's license to drive that thing. Plus, I also saw other companies such as Toyota, Infiniti, and Acura coming out with such "techie" vehicles. Then it seemed like Mercedes was being pushed down the list.

A while ago, it seemed like Mercedes Benz was well set apart from the rest of the car industry, offering a unique blend of class and speed. But I think after they introduced the more affordable C-Class Hatchback (which I can't say I like), they put themselves in a position to really suffer. It was rather brave of Mercedes Benz to venture into the more affordable realm because they had established their name by being a luxury vehicle...a dream car if you will. And in a way, I think sales have suffered or their brand name value has slightly gone down because of this decision.

On the brighter side, I think Mercedes is recovering from that with new and innovative models coming out. I really like the CLS which is a sporty four-door coupe that has a price tag to match the look. Base MSRP is $65,000. And back to the ML 350. I'm so impressed with this model that it almost makes me want it. The interior mirrors that of the BMW which I think is nice but at the same time, its not too overwhelmed with technology and sticks with the basics. I can't stand the iDrive feature on the BMW. I think I've mentioned this before but it's so hard to push those buttons and drive at the same time. It's times like these I really value the simplicity of things.

Locomotive Hybrids

2005-03-31T16:38:00.000-08:00

Since cars, trucks, and buses are already on the road, what other area do hybrids need to conquer? Locomotives of course! Make way for the "Green Goat." A goat in locomotive lingo is a smaller type of train used to move rail cars over short distances. The Green Goat will use 40 percent to 60 percent less fuel and emits 80 percent to 90 percent fewer pollutants than conventional train engines.

"To build the hybrids, the company strips older locomotives of their engine and cab but keeps the same frame, fuel tank, brakes and electric traction motors. Then it slaps in the long-life lead-acid battery bank. RailPower Technologies says the added weight of the batteries actually helps improve the Green Goat's pulling power, which is rated at 2,000 horsepower -- enough to pull 88 rail cars."

I thought this article was rather interesting. Our society has become so concerned with the environment which is both commendable and not. Well first off, we all know its an issue that's arising. And everyone feels the punch when it takes 50 bucks to fill up your car tank. You learned about all this in elementary school. The ozone layer, the smog, the rainforests, etc. Humans know how to capitalize on their resources and deplete them as well. That's why I don't give credit to our society on becoming more aware of the environment. Part of all this is good for business and companies capitalize on the fact that these hybrids are good for the environment. Maybe I'm being cynical... but maybe I don't want to be ignorant. I know how the business world works sometimes. You have to step on people to get ahead and sometimes you step over society to create a false sheet of worthiness.

I don't know how this blog that started off as an introduction of locomotive hybrids turned into a blog about the business world but I guess it all comes down to this: I question the business world. I'm afraid of it in a sense. I imagine all these corporate big heads walking around like they're the ruler of the world and they forget about life in general. They forget that people have feelings, they forget that life isn't all about work, and they forget that life is worth living. People can be very conniving in business too. You know....lawsuits, insider secrets, lies. I know not every business is like this but it still crosses my mind. I have met many ethical people in business and I'm thankful that they are people like that out there. But among them, I have also met immoral people that use others to help themselves out a bit. At the beginning of this year, I was confronted with the question, "can any business be ethical and successful at the same time?" ...and I truly did not know the answer to it. It really opened my eyes to business and not to be ignorant of other people's actions.

Well there are my two cents.

Oh yeah, don't forget about the locomotive hybrids.

How Much Can You Save?

2005-03-29T14:29:00.000-08:00

I thought this site was cool. It shows how much money you can save from buying a Hybrid car and how many gallons of gas you can save

Interested?

Thieves Taking the Hybrid Off Of Hybrid Cars

2005-03-28T10:31:00.000-08:00

With thieves always out on the loose, what does this say for business?

Crooks have been stealing the "hybrid" logo from real hybrid cars and putting them on their own car to use the carpool lane and escape parking regulations. It's pretty easy to get by if you own a Honda Civic or a Honda Accord. These two cars are offered in both standard and hybrid. People usually steal the "hybrid" sign hoping to deceive cops a little and get away with fines and save time. The parts department at Honda also sells these signs separately but they hope that people don't abuse this good thing we have going. As of now, there aren't many states/cities that allows single driver carpool lane users so the problem isn't major, yet. But this goes to say why many hybrid cars aren't just replicas of standard fuel emitting cars.

Check the article

Here's a picture I wanted to post. Thought it was clever.

Hummer H2 Burning

2005-03-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

I know this was almost two years ago, but I still cannot stop snickering at the thought of what happened.

The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) set fire to Hummer H2's and other SUVs at a Southern California dealership. I can not even begin to fathom how ridiculous of an idea this was. "One of the more common arguments against such activity is based in the fact that the air pollution caused by a burning Hummer H2 is far greater than the amount of air pollution that same vehicle would have emitted over its lifetime of operation." So these liberators were going against their very beliefs. Sometimes, people just don't use their heads.

Today, trucks and SUV's have lower levels of emissions than they did over a decade ago. And a decade from now, they'll emit even less. There are even hybrid trucks and SUV's being offered now. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also supports the Hydrogen Hummer which uses little to no fuel. The Hummer H2 may seem like an out of this world vehicle but I believe there are other cars just as big. The Ford Excursion, Toyota Sequoia, and the Infiniti Qx are quite large vehicles as well. I mean I'm all for saving the earth but there's no way to do that by setting fire to a bunch of cars. Where's the logic in that?

Hyundai to Fit XM Satellite Radio in U.S. Cars

2005-03-23T10:26:00.001-08:00

Hyundai has decided to install a standard XM radio on all of their cars starting in 2007. This raises the XM radio share price by more than 5 percent. Hyundai has become one of the fastest growing automakers, beating Volkswagon, Mazda and Mitsubishi. Personally, I prefer the BMW/Mercedes Benz iPod choice but XM is a nice little perk to have as well. I remember when XM Radio first came out and advertised that satellite radio was so much better because it had no commercials and an endless number of stations. But the monthly fees really got to me. Plus, when XM became more popular, they started advertising more and had commercials like any other radio station.

I was sitting in my brother's car the other day trying to figure out how to use his Sirius Radio feature. I found myself paying more attention to the screen than to the road. Maybe its because I'm loyal to my iPod or maybe its because sometimes too much of something isn't a good thing. Some people may prefer the simplicity of things now rather than "fancy- pants" radio features.

Hyundai made this decision in hopes of helping their sales and market share grow but are they really helping themselves? or helping XM more by buying and marketing their product?

Addicted for sure

2005-03-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

I'm not really sure how this relates to business but I thought this article was interesting. In India, two engineering students became addicted to a cough syrup, Corex. They were consuming up to four to eights bottles a day. What's kind of ironic is that they were using their auto engineering skills they learned to steal luxury cars. Police claimed to have recovered six stolen cars allegedly stolen by these two students.

See the article for yourself.

Cough syrup sales increase. Morale falls.

Hummer H2 Burning

2005-03-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

New Cars Should Have Blackboxes?

2005-03-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

"Aeroplane-style black boxes should be fitted by law in every new car to help police, courts and vehicle manufacturers determine how accidents are caused, a Midland MP has said.
An on- board computer would record speed, engine revolutions per minute, and the exact positions of the accelerator and brake pedal.
The proposal was put forward by MP Rob Marris (Lab Wolverhampton South West) during a debate on the Government's new Road Safety Bill.
Information about safety, such as the vehicle's speed, was already recorded by computers which controlled air bags or anti-lock braking systems, he said.
Courts should be allowed to use this data in cases where someone had been injured, he said.
Transport Minister David Jamieson said: 'Such technology would offer benefits in research and accident reconstruction, but it may be viewed as unacceptably intrusive with respect to the driver.'"

Whenever I think about the future, I think of a world with no privacy. I think of movies like Minority Report, and I wonder how chaotic it would be if thats how life really is going to be in the future. We're constantly trying to improve our race by reducing crime and such, but they cannot do it without some sort of an expense. It's an unsettling thought. I'm not sure how this is really related to cars and business but the first image that came into my head were the futuristic cars in Minority Report, The Fifth Element, and Demolition Man. I hate the idea of the government keeping tabs on us. And for them to start coming into the privacy of your own car totally surprises and even scares me. Pretty soon, they're going to be planting chips into our heads. Keep yourself safe and protect your privacy

Honda is Everywhere

2005-03-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

Honda forecasts 15% sales growth in IndiaAgence France-PresseBangalore, March 8, 200517:24 IST

The Indian subsidiary of Japan's Honda Motor on Tuesday forecast its sales of passenger cars would grow 15 per cent in the 2005-2006 fiscal year due to the country's strong economic growth.
Honda forecast sales of 42,500 units for the year.

"This will be more than the average of the Indian automobile industry's growth which will be about 13 per cent," said Hajime Yamada, president and chief executive of Honda Siel Cars India, in which Honda owns a 99.9 per cent stake.

During the current financial year ending March, the company expects to sell 37,000 passenger cars, Yamada told reporters in Bangalore.
"Our market share in the premium segment during this financial year will be about 23 per cent," he said. "By October-end we will increase out plant capacity to make 50,000 cars from the present 30,000."

The premium segment covers cars priced above 22,000 dollars.
Honda's sales have been driven by its best-selling City model which is expected to clock sales of 32,100 units this year.
It has invested five billion rupees (111 million dollars) in India since it started commercial production in 1997.

Yamada attributed the surge in demand to India's economy, which is Asia's fourth-largest and estimated to grow at 6.9 percent for the year to March. He also cited lower prices of passenger cars because of stiff competition and easy finance.
India's annual car sales crossed the one million mark for the first time in the year to March 2004.

Classics

2005-03-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

I must say, I really like the new Mustangs. Its a nice reminder of the classic past with a hint of the future in it. I remember seeing concept pictures of this car a couple years back, and I immediately fell in love. I love the old classic look and even wanted to own one, but the fact that they're hard to find and maintain steered my interests into other cars.

Even with their new design, Ford has been forced to slash prices on their cars in order to keep up with the market. It's because of all of the Japanese rivals that cause Ford to do such things. However, aside from the usual competition perspective, Ford has internal problems as well. Healthcare and retirement programs are taking its toll on the company. "Ford's total liabilities for healthcare are about $24bn, pensions are something similar," says motor industry analyst Graeme Maxton. The company's value is around only $17bn which means that their liabilities are much greater than their value.

"If the name wasn't Ford, it would be filing for bankruptcy by now," says outspoken credit ratings analyst Sean Egan.

Ford has some issues to deal with. They may have sleek new designs, but it won't help if they don't deal with these other issues. C'mon Ford..you can pull through. Afterall, you are "built Ford tough."

Hydrogen Hummer

2005-03-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

Although this car isn't going to be produced, its Hummer's (as well as Arnold's) way of being aware of the problem. Hummer's parent company, GM, has been known to make the most gas-efficient and fuel guzzling cars. Check out the article

Vehicle of the Week
Arnold's Hydrogen Hummer
Dan Lienert

In what the company has called a "bold experiment," Hummer has prepared a hydrogen-powered version of its H2 SUT (sport utility truck), the H2H. The vehicle is not intended for production, and a Hummer spokesperson said yesterday in a phone interview that the company will not divulge the prototype's development cost.

Hummer's parent, General Motors, owns the H2H and shares it with the office of the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. In a recent statement, Schwarzenegger said that the purpose of the prototype is to "demonstrate the economic and technical viability of hydrogen." He had said during his gubernatorial campaign that he was interested in alternative fuels and one day would go so far as to own a hydrogen-powered Hummer.

California is making a pioneering effort with its Hydrogen Highway Network, an initiative that combines the efforts of industry and government to develop the state's infrastructure, research and market for hydrogen cars. Hummer, a maker of the some of the most fuel-inefficient and wasteful automobiles in the world, presumably wanted a part in this venture because Schwarzenegger already likes the brand's cars, and because the company is trying to change its image.

The H2H puts lipstick on the pig by turning a vehicle whose urban fuel economy is about 10 miles per gallon (filling the tank routinely costs over $50) into a futuristic, alternatively-fueled car whose main tailpipe emission is water vapor. Hummer has engineered the H2H to use a supercharged version of the regular truck's 6.0-liter V-8 engine.

According to Hummer, the H2H was created by a team of GM engineers from the U.S., Canada and Germany, in collaboration with Quantum Technologies, a California-based supplier of hydrogen fuel systems. The car is a one-of-a-kind deal, although the partners might build one or two more H2Hs.

The H2H uses a conventional internal combustion engine powered by compressed hydrogen, even though GM's plans for its future model range involve hydrogen cars powered by energy sources called "fuel-cell stacks." Supposing for the sake of argument that Schwarzenegger wanted to drive the H2H around California ("I don't think that's a common occurrence," said the Hummer spokesperson), he could refuel the car at several stations.

The majority of California's 12 to 15 hydrogen refueling stations are in the southern part of the state, although Schwarzenegger could--for example--refuel the H2H at the University of California, Davis' station if he didn't stray too far from Sacramento. Hydrogen currently costs $4 to $10 per kilogram, the unit in which it is measured, and the H2H's fuel tank holds five to six kg of hydrogen. GM believes that if hydrogen is to be commercially viable it must cost $2 to $2.25 per kg--that is, it must be competitive with gasoline prices.

GM does not allow Schwarzenegger to use the "Self-Serve" lane at the hydrogen station. The company fills the tank itself, keeps the vehicle in Lake Forest, Calif. (near its engineering facilities and Quantum's offices) and requires that a GM engineer ride in the car at all times.

Forbes Fact
Is Hummer's tentative embrace of green technology sparked by conscience or sales? Noting that Hummer's North American sales in the first 11 months of 2004 declined 19% compared to the same period in 2003, the refashioning of Hummer starts to make sense--even if selling Hummers on their fuel economy still sounds like a desperate move. This spring, Hummer will introduce the H3 sport utility vehicle, the company's smallest and most fuel-efficient car yet.

Ford Pinto and Business Ethics

2005-03-04T18:33:00.000-08:00

I know this issue was awhile ago but I just learned about it through an organizational behavior lecture. Ethics is constantly an issue in business (as I mentioned previously). It's just very surprising to see the extremes business will go through to save that dollar. So here's what happened...

Ford came out with the Pinto in the 60s I believe. However, the major problem with this car was the design. In crash tests over 25 miles per hour, the gas tank always ruptured. Always.
"Many studies of reports and documents done by Mother Jones on rear-end collisions involving Pintos reveal that if you ran into that Pinto you were following at over 30 miles per hour, the rear end of the car would buckle like an accordion, right up to the back seat. The tube leading to the gas-tank cap would be ripped away from the tank itself, and gas would immediately begin sloshing onto the road around the car. The buckled gas tank would be jammed up against the differential housing (that big bulge in the middle of your rear axle), which contains four sharp, protruding bolts likely to gash holes in the tank and spill still more gas. Now all you need is a spark from a cigarette, ignition, or scraping metal, and both cars would be engulfed in flames. If you gave that Pinto a really good whack? say, at 40 mph - chances are excellent that its doors would jam and you would have to stand by and watch its trapped passengers burn to death."

That's assuring isn't it? Ford then did a Cost-Benefit Analysis comparing the cost of recalling the vehicle and moving the gas tank and the cost of human deaths potentially lost from their cars. It you look at the article, they give you a breakdown and summary table of the calculations. In short, it would have cost the company more to move the gas tank than to save lives. So, Ford decided not to recall the Pinto. Ford eventually did recall the gas tank but it was way too late to save their reputation with customers. They ended up halting the production of the Pinto. Was it worth it?

Diesel's and Hybrids.. Just a Fad?

2005-03-04T01:41:00.000-08:00

As our fuel reserves dry up, experts say that diesel's and hybrids will become obsolete. We are moving to a completely electric world.

"Currently, gas accounts for 98% of energy used in transport. The world consumes about 80 million barrels of oil a day, a number that continues to increase. American consumption alone is expected to grow nearly 50% over the next 20 years. "

Amazing isn't it. So what does it say for automotive businesses? I guess it wouldn't be too hard to change their models into electric. But what about the heavier cars? Will the electric cars be able to handle the weight? I guess that's what all these businesses are wondering themselves. Our economy is becoming less reliant on fuel and more on electric. What do you think its going to be like?

Here's the article I was referring to. Diesels, Hybrids Only Short-Term Trends

Cars cars cars!

2005-03-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

With my continued interest in cars, I've come across this article about how Ford and GM are cutting the production of their SUV cars in order to compensate for low sales. For good reason too. The foreign competitive market has long been on the tails of these American motor companies and with that, American companies need to catch up. The Toyota Prius I previously mentioned has gone up 120% in sales. 120%. And somehow, the Toyota Tundra (pick-up truck) has managed to keep sales at 50%. Overall, Toyota has kept up by 11%.

So what is it exactly about these foreign cars that is so appealing? The fact that their cheap and reliable would be good reason to buy these cars. Ford has the classic Mustang they can always fall back on but in general, I think they're struggling to keep up with the Japanese car market. And when did the whole anti-SUV phase come into play? Is it because of the H2 (Hummer) that drew so much attention to the gas-guzzling industry, the increase in gas, or the increase in sales of SUV's at one point? Being a SUV owner, I understand the pains of filling up my tank with a good chunk of my paycheck. So, thats why I'm opting for a more economic vehicle as my next choice.

The only thing is, SUV's are extremely useful in everyday life and thats why I don't see them actually disappearing. Maybe this whole "gas-electric" hyrbrid car is just a phase. Not that I don't see good reason to promote it, but everyone seems to be so health conscious and environment friendly like its some sort of fad. Good for business and for once, good for the environment I guess.

Apple

2005-03-01T15:07:00.000-08:00

It seems never-ending as to what Apple can come up with. Take their ipod for example. Almost every student on campus possesses some form of this ipod (shuffle, mini, 20gb, U2 Special edition). And now, they have introduced the ipod photo which is quite ingenius. Their marketing strategy to first come out with the blue screen then the color is a savvy business move. Now, all the people who never had an ipod suddenly will want to get their hands on this because its "color." The ipod is so popular now that it is being offered by car dealerships who will install adapters that allow you to play your ipod on your car stereo.

Also, think of all the accessories they have for the ipod: itrip (which uses the radio to play your music), car charger, cassette adapter, voice recorder, earphones... the list is endless. What will they come up with next?

Kentucky Fried Cruelty

2005-03-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

After watching a few videos from this site, I realized how businesses often put profits before ethics. And when you are on the defensive side, its hard to come up with a response to all these allegations. However, it doesn't say that a business cannot be ethical and successful at the same time. All they need to do is actively look for solutions to possible problems and allow the public to be aware of it. That way, the public may even be more inclined to accept the company.

After watching "Meet your Meat" I couldn't help but feel disgusted at what businesses do these days to "maximize profits and reduce costs." This has really opened my eyes to the realities of the business world.

Kentucky Fried Cruelty

Rain rain, Go Away?

2005-02-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, this season has been rather wet and cold. A couple weekends ago, I was driving down the 91, and I saw at least 6 accidents on the road. The intense rain has flooded the streets of LA and Riverside County to the point where no one knows what to do with all the water. Sunny California is used to its clear, blue skies so when rain comes around, we're sitting ducks.

But rain can't be bad for everyone. Auto-body shops thrive off of car accidents and minor fender benders. Now they might not wish ill on car drivers, but they do make profit out of other people's misfortunes. Its is kind of twisted how that all works out.

Check out the article.

Cost of Dying

2005-02-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

Money seems to be around us constantly, especially in the business world. But have you ever thought of what happens to it when you die? Or more importantly, what is the cost to die? Nothing in the world is free, not even dying.

Removal from the place of death to undertakers from $171.59
Undertakers' professional services $1,239.28
Coffin from from $533.85 to $2,163.99
Hearse to funeral $247.86 up to 20 miles, then $181.13 per mile
Extra limousine $181.13 per car
Cremation charges $476.65
Burial plot $476.65 and upwards
Gravediggers normally included in cost of burial plot
Body to be place in church by pallbearers $142.99
Church fees $247.86 (includes minister and usually organist, but not choir)
Clergyman at Crematorium $144.90
Clergyman at burial $144.90
Press announcement from $57.20
Flowers from $76.26 for a basic wreath

Rough Total for a Basic Funeral: $4141.12

This total doesn't even account for legal fees or the debts you accured when you were alive.

I guess thats why people say, "I'm so poor I can't afford to die."

Justice Prevails

2005-02-21T21:35:00.000-08:00

I'm a sucker for bizarre stories.

Check this one out

Wonders of Ebay

2005-02-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

Ebay is great for many things.. you can get rid of useless things collecting dust in your attic, buy your favorite items for cheap, or most importantly, sell something possibly for more than what you paid for. I think its amazing that people can actually make a living off of Ebay. Granted they may be legitimate, but sometimes I can't figure out how it actually works.

I always hear of the most random and odd auctions happening on Ebay. Once, I heard about a guy who was auctioning off a beating. Yeah..a physical beating. And people were actually bidding! I don't know if it was a joke or something completely serious but still.. where do these ideas come from? I also heard that people were selling "mother's milk" to people online. Who does that? Who would actually trust someone's milk or why would they even want to pay to have someone else's milk? (Can't you tell I'm so fond of Ebay) And lastly, a friend of mine sent me a link to an ebay auction selling authentic Disneyland Rides! I know this was kind of corny because who in the right mind would want a Space Mountain Attraction Vehicle but it was cool at the same time. I'm sure there are a bunch of Disneyland fanatics out there who would stop at nothing to get his hands on one of those. But I guess this gives you an idea of how completely weirded out I am by what they sell on Ebay.

My past Ebay experiences (which are very few) haven't been very pleasing. The most recent one occurred not too long ago when I wanted to buy bindings for my snowboard. The lady specified white and had pictures of white bindings but for some odd reason, she sent me black bindings. I need them for my Mammoth trip this weekend so I told her I was in a rush. She's from my area so I requested to meet her. She suggested that UPS come pick up the bindings and that she would refund my money. But..I wanted my bindings! I guess it isn't her fault to not want to meet up with a complete stranger but I'm a girl.. what can I do to her? Now i'm binding-less for the weekend

Oh how I love Ebay.

Gas Guzzler vs Environment Friendly

2005-02-17T14:21:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've been looking into buying a new car. I currently drive a SUV so I'm looking for something a bit smaller and less of a gas-eater. For some odd reason, I've always been interested in cars. I like to compare different models and choose my favorites even when I'm not looking to buy a car. Anyway, initially, I went for the usual favorites of people today: Infiniti G35, Bmw 3 Series, and every other common car you see on campus. I went to test them out, but nothing really stood out to me. I mean, yeah, the G35 is a fast car for its price, and the BMW is well, a BMW, but something about these cars didn't really warm up to me.A friend of mine got a hybrid car recently and took me for a ride and I was quite impressed. Usually when the term "hybrid"comes into your mind you usually think "weird shaped domed" cars which have no style or engine power whatsoever. And why is that? Is is all part of some business scheme to separate the hybrid cars from the normal cars? I want to say that the odd shape of the hybrid cars have something to do with the way the car works, but I don't buy it. It runs off of electricity and some gas. That's it. I just need a car to get me from point A to point B. Anyway, I came across this website www.hybridcars.com and it shows all the cars readily available and the releases of new hybrid cars. It also mentions the perks and incentives of having a Hybrid car including, my favorite, being able to use the carpool lane by yourself. The Toyota Prius caught my eye (plus it was most normal looking car next to the Accord/Civic Hybrid) so I looked more into it.

The Prius is known to have all these technological features including bluetooth, voice activated DVD navigation, and the Smart key system. I'm quite impressed. Maybe you'll see me driving around in my new Prius

Career Advice

2005-02-17T14:19:00.000-08:00

I often find myself going onto MSN.com and reading the career advice that they give. I mean its not like I have anything to compare their advice to, but sometimes, I feel like it is a little misleading. I keep thinking to myself, "it can't be that easy." For some reason, I hate receiving career advice. Maybe its becauseI'm so confused as to what I want to do with my life and hate facing the fact that I know nothing about myself in that sense. Everyone gives me their own take on interviews, job paths, and "get rich" schemes. And for a slight moment, I buy into their ideas. But I think that there is really no one to tell you what you want to do; you need to find out for yourself. Alot of times, I let other people make decisions for me. It wasn't until recently that I decided I didn't want other people deciding my life without my consent, but I also felt that I was stranded for thoughts. I no longer knew what I wanted in life because I had been so used to people finding out for me.I think everyone comes to a point where they think about the direction their life is going and at some point, question their motives. Why is it so hard to combine interests and work? Maybe its because work is so often looked at as something people dread everyday and the very thought of combining the two is just insane. But you know what, I don't think its that hard. As long as you the drive for something you really love, there's nothing to stop you.Now, I just gotta find what I love to do.

my advice for now...stay in school for as long as you can or least until you find out what you want to do.

First Time Bloggers

2005-02-17T14:18:00.000-08:00

First off, I would like to welcome you to my site. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and improving my writing skills.

To begin my blogging experience, I had to go through a fairly easy set up...or at least I thought. I went throughthe steps and started writing a post within minutes. Writer's block left me on this posting page for thirty minutes but I finally finished. I read it over and decided finally to publish the post. Within about a second, it notifies me that there is an error and all my work has been erased. Gone. Forever. Now I am distraught and have completely forgot what I was even writing about. It amazing what computers have done to us in just a few years. Kids these days have been more glued to the computer screen rather than the television (although I do not know which one is worse). Computers are in every business and in everyone's home. We have become so reliant on computers and the internet that a day without it is like a day without nicotine for smokers. Look at me now, I'm sitting here typing a post. While although this is rather constructive and part of a class, nonetheless, I am still infront of a screen that brings the world to me rather than me going to it. Is this a good thing or bad thing?All I'm saying is... go out and get some sun.