Recent content by Mallard

Nice work, Bill! Sounds like a rough weekend, but everything worked out. It's too bad you couldn't have more track time.

It's not Fiat that killed it. It's the new NHTSA ESC regulation. The Viper uses cable operated throttle bodies, the ECU cannot accept torque requests (from a traction control system), it has 3 channel ABS (ESC needs 4 channel), etc. This means that in order to install ESC on the Viper (in order...

Totally agree. It's not a Z06, it's a Grand Sport Convetible, which stickers at $58,600. GM was totally justified in doing this as it comes out of the advertising budget. Think of it this way: If the US Government owned part of Disney and the winner of the Super Bowl MVP award said "I'm...

But 295 lb-ft of torque. Not even close. The Saab 9-3 was built on the same platform as the OLD Chevy Malibu (pre-08 model year, Epsilon platform), although I'm told the only parts they shared were the rear lower control arms. The 08 and later Malibu could be considered an Epsilon 1.5. The new...

Yeah, but they're 328's. You're comparing a base 3 series to a top of the line Regal. If the Regal is $34-35k you could have the choice of an AWD, 6 speed manual, turbo 4, sport suspension, and brembo's, an 'entry level' Caddy CTS with a 300 hp V6, or an 'entry level' 328 BMW. Plus, if I wanted...

Actually this has already been on the GM Ecotec engines for a long time. I guess this press release is just to say that they're carrying over the design to the new, smaller 1.4L.

Agreed. The profit is coming back to America (and add's to the US GDP), plus the development happens in the US, which provides a large number of jobs at the OEM and at suppliers. Sure the assembly plant provides jobs too, but all the engineering/development, and testing is based in the US. The...

AFAIK, the government money picked up the tab for most, if not all, of the outstanding debts the automaker owed suppliers. The company I work for was owed between $60-70 million from Chrysler, and I believe that was paid in full. It was part of the program the government set up to keep suppliers...

Obviously their focus is for every new vehicle to be 'best in class.' You can believe me that the organization's focus has changed or you can read it in the magazines when it's launched. The Cruize has been available in Europe for a year or so already, so you should be able to find plenty of...

...or an external wastegate, or a blow through MAF, or an open filter element, or zip ties holding the oil feed line on to the fan shroud... I think it looks good, but it does look a lot like a Jetta from some angles. I liked the concept Kizashi better.

Personally, I work in the auto industry and buying American effect me, my friends, family, and local economy a great deal. I've owned both American and Japanese cars, and I've had the luxury of driving a great number of different vehicles. For a daily driver, any of the American companies make...

Except suppliers aren't just companies that stamp out parts, and OEM's source projects years before production. A lot of suppliers are high tech companies that do a lot of product development on systems in the vehicle. These are global businesses that supply ALL automakers. The amount of revenue...

I don't think there would have been many buyers of GM's parts. Honestly, Ford, Honda, Toyota, VW, etc. would have no reason to buy another automaker. Possibly they would purchase some land or equipment from them, but not an entire brand. Just look at how the sale of Hummer, Saturn, Saab, and...

The thing is, this 'government ownership of major industries' is only a stop-gap measure that was used in order to prevent a complete collapse of the US ecomony. The governemet has no intention of retaining ownership of these companies and they are staying out of their day-to-day operations...

Sold.