My G35 is a 2006, which is the last year of the old body style.  I have to say I much prefer the old body style to the new, the lines are too curvy in my opinion on the 2007+.  I have to say I don’t think I’ve seen as many on the road with the new style, so I wonder if they will change that soon.  My version is actually the sport, which as far as I can tell only means different wheels… but I think these wheels do make a world of difference in terms of look.

I chose the G35 over the comparable Altima 3.5 due it having rear wheel drive and the little nice features that Infiniti offers.  For example, I love the analog clock.  Also the perforated leather seats are extremely comfortable, and I love the embroidered Infiniti logo on them.  The price wasn’t all that much more compared to the Altima, so I figured why not.

Infiniti has super high customer satisfaction, and I understand why.  The car has had no problems whatsoever in 2 years (I can’t say the same for my previous vehicle, a 2002 Saab 9-3 Viggen), and feels overall incredibly well built.

Hopefully I will have some more pictures to follow.

I believe we will see around $2 gas for at least the next 6 months.  It could go even lower.  As the economy finally starts to pull itself out of the hole it’s dug for itself, I wonder if we’ll repeat the same actions we made before.  That’s not to say these actions were mistakes, but it did help drive the price of gas up.  We will be buying an SUV in the next year or so, with 3 dogs and a child at some point in our future, but I can’t help but wonder even myself if I’m considering it only because gas is back down to $2.

Hyundai has launched an all new vehicle that for all intents and purposes is not a Hyundai in the traditional sense.  The Hyundai Genesis is simply an incredible leap in luxury and of course price for the Korean automaker.

Even though it’s claimed this car is competing against cars like the Chrysler 300, they built this car with Mercedes and BMW in their crosshairs.  This car is the first by Hyundai to offer a V8 option, and no slouch of one at that with an estimated 368HP and speeds that can get the car from 0-60 in under 6 seconds.

The car has luxurious amenities galore, many of which included, such as proximity entry with push button start, bluetooth hands free phone system, and dual heated mirrors with turn signal indicators.  When you consider against the something like the BMW, where you can get nickeled and dimed for some features you’d figure are standard, you can see that the luxury car companies may have to rethink how they offer similar features to compete.

The one thing we don’t know is how the driving experience compares.  I have to say there is something about driving a BMW or Mercedes that is unlike anything else.  It is a total driver experience.  It’s not really tangible, but you know it when you feel it.  You are almost an extension of the car.  If Hyundai can get close to this feeling in the Genesis, look out.

For a V8 model, you’re looking at about $38k, which is a bargain when you consider other cars that are the same size and price, the BMW 550 is $58k and the Mercedes E550 is $61k.  With this economy being in the toilet, I would not be surprised to see quite a few of these drivers jump ship to save about $20k.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

All car companies have had massive sales drops this year.  Toyota, Honda, and really just about all companies are hurting.  But there is a major difference - these companies are surviving.  The reason?  Better management and fewer expenses.  I would say one huge advantage is that they are not fighting the unions like GM.

The sad thing is that it may take something catastrophic such as the collapse of GM to get the unions and the auto makers on the right page to profitably move forward.  The auto market isn’t going anywhere.  Demand is down of course, just like home sales, but the major difference is that you don’t need a new home every 10 years.  The need for cars to enter the market is there.  Just like new homes the inventory is exceeding the demand, but cars are less durable than homes.  Homes will last practically forever.  Cars eventually need to be replaced.  It’s also a smaller expense than a home… which means it’s easier to purchase and more likely to be purchased.

What needs to be done?  A complete overhaul of the big 3.  They need to find a way to make cars for less.  They also need to make cars that people are buying today.  One way I think is to bring some of the European models into the US?  Why not?  In many cases these cars are more fuel efficient which speaks to many of today’s buyers.  And I imagine synergy of processes and using more of the same parts won’t hurt.  They also need the unions to understand that there is just no way to survive with their current model.  It would be great if we could all get pensions and huge salaries, but that’s not the way business today runs.  I don’t know the average assembly line worker’s salaries, but from the information I’ve gathered, it’s around $55-60k.  That is more than many of my college friends are making today 5 years later with degrees.  If a $50k education gets you $50k per year, I can’t see how assembly line work that requires no formal higher education can make more.  It means they are overpaying.

This won’t be a popular post among many that are in the industry, but it is the hard fact of business.  The US auto makers are behind the curve to start, so without making up some of this ground they are going to be in big trouble in the next 12 months.  Without MAJOR change, we may see one of the big 3 go under never to return.

We don’t know all that much yet, but it appears Honda is the first company to be able to offer a hybrid for the price of what a normal car should cost. As I’ve said in previous posts, I think one of the biggest issues facing hybrids today is that the price simply outweighs the gains saved in fuel economy.

It appears that the new 2010 Honda Insight will be offered around the $18,500 price point for a base model, and get somewhere around 60mpg. Now we’re talking… since for that price you really don’t see cars that exceed 36mpg. That means you can buy a new car at a reasonable price and save 40% on gas all in the process. Now we’re saving money!

As far as styling, I’m not quite sure why it looks the way it does. It seems to me that this is a spicier Prius. It has sharper lines than the Prius, but definitely retains the pod-like shape. But I suppose beggers can’t be choosers, so we’ll take what Honda gives us.

I have a friend that is certain that the fall of the SUV is GM’s root issue.  While Honda and Toyota are busy making gas sipping vehicles, GM is pushing out Yukon’s and Sierra’s as fast as they can.  While I believe it is true that more people are buying these smaller vehicles today, it’s far from the whole issue.

GM has had the 2nd best selling vehicle for a while, the Chevy Silverado  This year it won’t be the case, but I think gas is only part of it.  I think a major reason trucks aren’t being purchased anymore is that construction has taken a huge nose dive.  People that build houses need trucks.  Houses aren’t being built, so trucks aren’t sold.

Still though, GM has had a bigger issue of profitability even before today.  They had loss upon loss even when their truck sales were strong.  Cobalt and Impala are also strong sellers, yet the company can’t make a buck.  I don’t know all of what’s ailing GM, but it’s much more than gas prices.  Gas, and this recent credit crises, are the straw that broke the camel’s back.

What’s in store for GM?  Who knows.  I wouldn’t be surprised that they either get dismantled or taken private, or both, similar to Chrysler.  There is a lot more pain to go before they will move forward as a company.  Perhaps if they can make Volt profitable and a good seller, there is hope for GM.

Image Courtesy Wikipedia

I love the idea of the Chevy Volt on a lot of levels.  I think first it’s about time a major American car company gets towards the front of the idea curve.  I also like the concept that this car runs on electricity primarily.  Hybrids can be great, for example my last post on the VW 1L, but at the end of the day, even some gas is not no gas.  Finally the car was originally designed to be practical, yet edgy, to appeal to a younger crowd.  The kind of crowd that can really push a movement such as this.

Unfortunately what’s good in theory isn’t always the same in practice.

Before I continue… I am not saying the Volt is not a good first step.  I think this car is great in getting the American mindset in a place where conservation is a good thing.  I’m just pointing out that GM may have nto gone far enough in some regards.

The first issue is the distance the Volt can go on a charge - 40 miles.  This is not a practical distance.  Commuters, the people in most desparate need for a break on fuel consumption, typically drive 40 miles or more in most cases.  So you’re stuck relying on gas for some of your journey.  The car does get good fuel mileage after the charge is out, estimated at 50 mpg, but still, it starts to defeat the purpose if you have a long commute and your goal is to not use gas.   So you’re thinking “Andy, even if you drive 65 miles / day, you are using half a gallon of gas only”.  Well, not really, since 50mpg is I’m sure at the top end.  But that’s not the point.  Many people will not have the ability to recharge every day.  Sure, someone who owns a house and has a garage wired for electricity probably won’t have much of a problem, but the people that are geared to buy this, younger, potentially apartment-dwelling individuals, may only be able to charge once a week.  The Tesla roadster, in comparison, can go 200 miles on a charge.  Granted the car is around $100k and has no gas tank, but hey, I didn’t ask the Volt to get me to 60 miles an hour faster than 99% of production vehicles out there either.

My second issue is in vehicle design… the prototype was cool, edgy, something the young generation wants to drive.  The young generation, a very influential group.  These are the people that are hungry for change, or want to be different, and make their mark.  This is the group that will change the mindset of fuel economy and sources in the years to come.  However the image of the prototype didn’t last, and the Volt has been scaled back to a slightly better designed Civic.  I think the car is still good looking, but it’s not making a statement anymore.  It doesn’t stand out from the crowd like it should.  It makes it less different.  That’s one reason people got a Prius, you know that crazy looking thing is not a normal car, and you’re like “Oh, he’s got a Prius”.

Finally the pricepoint is something I wish could have been lowered.  $30k base buys you a lot of car, and I think is a bit high for it to make a huge impact on our roads.  If it could have started around $22k, I think that puts it in a lot more people’s budget, making the impact huge, especially younger people.

So again, I’m quite happy to see GM come out with something different, a breath of fresh air.  I think the idea is incredible.  But I think as they developed it they may have lost sight of what the mission should have been.  Where really good is good enough.  I hope really good will be good enough for this to catch on.  If not, the whole effort will be wasted.

In a world that can’t decide whether it wants to buy a hatchback, SUV, or Minivan, the Dodge Journey seems to be a perfect fit. It’s a crossover for sure, in that at first glance you’d be hard pressed to figure out what it’s supposed to be.

Give Dodge credit, they are trying to innovate with fun, practical features not readily available in cars these days. For example, the beverage cooler in the dash is really brilliant, what they call the Chill Zone. They have lots of place to store things, has available 3 rows of seats, and also offers optional all wheel drive. Really it’s quite versatile.

I have to say though I’m not a huge fan of the design. To me it looks like a caravan that has been squeezed together from the front and the back. I think the concept of this car is where Dodge needs to be… people are buying this type of vehicle. But design is where some car companies succeed, and others fail. Dodge has a history of making cars that are not very exciting-looking, and I think this one sadly in the same boat. Nissan is a great counter-example. The Murano was innovative, different, and cool. Now the Rogue is it’s kid brother. But the Journey won’t stand out. Won’t be noticed from afar. And that is part of what today’s car buyer is looking for.

So good job Dodge. I think you made a great vehicle, but when you decide to give it a facelift in a few years, make changes that make it stand out and be more desirable.

Image Courtesy Wikipedia

If you haven’t heard, Volkswagen is planning on releasing a new vehicle for the 2010 model year, the 1L.  Of course the image is still a bit in concet phase, however to achieve the staggering fuel efficiency it’s hyped to get, there can’t be too many changes to the overall design.

The 1L is designed to get a ridiculous 235MPG (note the decimal point after the 3 is not missing). In fact, the name 1L comes from the fact that it takes only 1 liter of gas to go 100km. No matter how you slice the numbers, that’s about 8 times better than you’re average compact and about 5 times better the most efficient hybrid that’s mass produced on the road today. So if your gas bill is $200/month right now, imagine it slicing to $25 or so. Unfortunately 2010 is only going to have limited production, but still, this vehicle is in all ways a gamechanger.

This car is nothing short of miraculous in terms of how it achieves it’s gas sipping superiority.  First is the car’s size. It seats only two, but in tandem (think how two ride a motorcycle, only with seats) instead of side by side.  So your passenger is behind you. This keeps the car really narrow, just a hair over 4ft wide.  It's also low at about 3.3ft high. That gives this car ultimate aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of .159, half that of normal cars, meaning less air resistance on the road, to burn less fuel.

VW also made this with ultra-lightweight materials making the cars under 650lbs in weight when empty. To put that in comparison, I had a 1983 VW Rabbit GTI in college, and it’s curb weight was TRIPLE that. Though my girlfriend refused to ride in it because she called it my suicide box, the 1L is built with safety in mind. It’s built with crumple zones that resemble racecars, so even though you’re vehicle may not be much in substance, it is designed to help you in the event of a crash.

Is this the perfect car? No… but it’s probably the best we’ll see in the next 2 years for practicality and affordability in an ultra efficient vehicle.  And with gas prices uncertain in the future, this could turn into the ultimate commuter car.  With my commute 45 miles roundtrip, I know I’d take this car anyday.  1 gallon of gas a week. Nice. But I’m a married guy with no kids. Would you drive it?  Would a 2 seater tandem car fit your lifestyle?

I was driving to work the other day and I noticed a new car I hadn’t seen before on the road. This always gets my attention, obviously, since I'm really into new cars. This car was sharp, with great lines, nice wheels, and overall a sporty stance. Usually this means something from the Toyota / Nissan world. After a second, I realized I was looking at the new Chevy Malibu. In particular the Malibu LTZ

WOW! I can’t believe an American company finally figured it out. Ford was on the right track with the Fusion, but it’s a bit small for more of what I’d consider a family car, which is a lot of the Nissan Altima / Toyota Camry buyer pool. They need a car with more space but doesn’t sacrifice on looks or performance. Chevy hit it on the head with the new Malibu. This is a car I would be proud to drive from sheer looks.

So what about performance? Malibu LTZ comes with 252HP and 0-60 in about 6 an a half seconds. Certainly not best in class, but not bad either. It also gets good mileage on the highway with 26MPG. And it starts about $1k less than Camry XLE and Altima SL, so you’re looking at overall a pretty good value. As long as the quality stays up to par with the foreign brands, I think Chevy has got a good thing going, and they should continue to design cars with this concept in mind.