Yeah, the profit margin thing is big. If you offer manufacturers the choice between selling X cars with an average profit margin of $1000 and 0.6X cars with an average profit margin of $2000, they’ll take the second option every time. Years ago, I think there was the belief that the manufacturers needed the cheap, low…

The question is whether there has been any incentive in the last 8 years for the non-Tesla automakers to “figure it out.” In 2019, Tesla’s best year ever, they represented 0.4% of global car production. Even if GM had “figured it out” and made such a great electric car that they had won every single Tesla sale (i.e.…

Completely agree. I find Tesla build quality feels completely chintzy (especially the 3/Y, although at their price point, the S and X are maybe more underwhelming compared to their price competitors), but the price delta between the eTron and the cheaper Teslas is massive. At that point, you’re hardly competing in the…

I like your “Gut Buy” category a lot...because there are plenty of cars I vote NP / G B on that are really just cars I have an irrational fondness for. (And the German pun is an added bonus.)

Yes, great suggestion. I’m all for renaming the feature, but good buy/goodbye doesn’t work IMO. 

I don’t know Farley, I work far from the auto industry, have no inside knowledge, etc. But based on the anecdotes included in the article above, I tend to agree. He sounds like a blow hard.

Piling on the praise here, but that was a really, really great interview. The homework you did showed through loud and clear...it was obvious that you asked him about a lot of things he relished the chance to discuss.  

I’m a big fan of the Aurora. How long have you had it, and how are you liking it so far?

Oh, that’s also a fantastic point.

My thought as well. My understanding is that the convenience store side of the business is what drives profits for combined gas stations/convenience stores, with fuel sales as more of a break even proposition.

Ah, after I saw your comment I went back and was able to do the same thing. Currently running at 93% CP

Yeah, I think the decline in traditional religion opens up a portion of the population to the manipulation of these predatory quacks.

Thanks for running those numbers. Super helpful.

I think some of what you’re saying here probably has merit, but comparing raw fatality numbers between autos and general aviation is not a meaningful comparison. Fatalities per million miles traveled or something like that would be a more helpful metric.

My view as well. There are so many issues here: CEL, interior is beat (obviously an issue on this era of Porsche, but the gaffers tape on the e brake is into “you might be a red neck if...” territory), mileage is high (not necessarily bad but means a lot of wearables are going to need to be in line for replacement…

Oh, thanks for clarifying that. I thought he was saying they previously expected to earn $1.1B but instead lost $1.9B.

which means that your trim options have now been whittled down to the Latitude, Latitude Plus, Upland, Altitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, North Edition, Trailhawk, High Altitude, and Trailhawk Elite editions of the Jeep Cherokee, all of which you can get 4x4 but for six you can also get front-wheel drive.

I’m sorry to hear that. One of the collateral effects of this pandemic are the people having to die without their loved ones present, and the loved ones being unable to be there to provide comfort and say goodbye. Hang in there, and I hope our dumb Kinja comments can provide you with a bit of distraction here and…

I like this era Jag as well. The uniqueness of the V12 seals the deal.

I’ve previously made the vinyl vs digital comparison here in the comments as well — I think it’s a great comparison to manual vs automatic transmissions. I think the key is that OEM and aftermarket manufacturers will have to recognize that the manual transmission market is a niche but one that can be exploited…