That’s bullshit. People watch for the racing. Lead changes, 3 and 4 wide, rubbing, and aggressive moves are exciting. If crashes were the draw NASCAR would be just as popular as it was a 15 years ago, and it clearly isn’t.

I’ll never understand the hate for daily driven pickups amongst car enthusiasts. If you’re a car enthusiast, a pickup is ideal. They make a great daily, which is perfect since most fun vehicles are less than ideal. They haul large or greasy parts with ease. They tow better than anything else, which is helpful if your…

No offense at all. It’s the same advice I give to any car guy. You need to spend a few days in Detroit to see the remains of the birth of the US auto industry. Since Detroit basically stopped growing in the 50's so many artifacts of the early days are still present. And the car culture is hard to top. Everyone is in…

Spend a weekend. DTW is in the middle of basically nothing so a quick step out on a layover won’t show you anything. I assume you are a car guy since you are here, so plan to see all the historic automotive sites, have some great local beer and food, and then pass judgement. I’ve lived in 4 states and 5 cities (3…

Welcome back Aaron! When I lived in Detroit in 2012 and 2013, I always loved your articles. At the time there was virtually no positive national press on Detroit, so it was always nice to see your honest, upbeat writing. While I (sadly) no longer live in SE Michigan, I am back frequently. It is amazing to me how much…

I’m sure most of the naysayers haven’t been in a modern Grand Cherokee. They are a premium vehicle with premium materials and build quality, especially the Overland, Summit and SRT. To think Jeep can’t put out a large luxury SUV that’s as good as an Escalade or Range Rover is flat wrong.

91 Grand Wagoneer base price was $56k adjusted for inflation. An that wasn’t factoring the small handful of options.

Its the most recognized automotive brand in the world, one of the most valuable brands in the US in any industry, the Wagoneer pioneered the modern SUV, and the Grand Wagoneer pioneered the luxury SUV market.

As long as demand continues manufacturers will keep things on the shelf a long time. I recently bought parts for my Grand Wagoneer that FCA still stocks, and they still inventory sill plates for AMC Javelin and AMX and have even had several new runs made to replenish over the years. The FJ hood could have been…

The cost to tool something as large as a hood is very high. I would guess that tooling alone would cost $200k+, and that’s if a high quality Chinese company does it. Then, the labor to run small batch will be very high, assuming they can find someone willing to do it. Most companies with the ability to handle tooling…

Right, I get that. There are a lot of coupes running around. I just don’t see a $25,000 Coupe that has a very limited market and is not its class leader as an image changer. A car like the G80 sedan could be, if it were well marketed and priced right, which is what I was originally discussing.

I’ve always wondered how many of these “unauthorized” leaks are orchestrated by the PR departments of the OEs. It’s too early for Ford to officially put any info out, otherwise they risk it being a stale product by the time it arrives, and risks causing issues with suppliers/ UAW/ delays. I can’t see why someone smart…

I’ve yet to see a single K900 off a dealers lot. Not one.

I’m talking Genesis sedan. Coupes seem to have sold pretty well, at least early in their life.

I don’t think I’ve seen more than 5 sedans driving, and I travel a lot through the Midwest and Northeast. Are there Equuis’ (Equii?) running around too? I have seen exactly one Equuis in the wild, and it was the GM of a Hyundai dealer.

To change Kia’s image, the general public has to be aware and appreciate it. The K900, and cousins Equus and Genesis are so far under the radar that they didn’t really do anything to change perception of Kia and Hyundai to the masses.

The average time a new car buyer keeps a car is up to 6 years, from 4 in the late 00's. Still, the average new car loan term is now up to 68 months, so the situation is the same. Most people aren’t taking advantage of no car payment, and their 6 year old trade doesn’t have a lot of residual value. Probably would still…

You know when you sign the lease exactly what it will cost to buy that car at the end of the lease. That is called the residualized value. Residuals are calculated based off an educated guess of what the car will be worth at lease end. There is a standard guide that gives residuals, kind of like Blue Book, but…

If you paid $100k cash for anything recently, you either have no credit/ bad credit or didn’t use your brain. Interest rates have been historically low for years. Thanks to the time value of money, you wasted a lot of potential investment income by not taking a long, low interest note. And you talk about leveraged…

Many, if not most, new car buyers would be better off leasing. Most new car buyers make a small downpayment that probably covers tax, tags and license and not much more, and then stretch the term out to 72+ months now. With low interest financing available to most buyers, that isn’t a terrible choice. The problem is,…