Cien became the XLR. They had zero product development money in 2002, so they combined the Art and Science design language with the C6 chassis and Northstar V8. It was arguably a better car than the base C6 and had more in common with the C4 ZR1 with the derivative Northstar.

The problem is that modern assembly lines and vehicle designs are set up for efficiency in assembly. Assembly is the #1 cost in manufacturing a vehicle. If you can push more cars out the door than your competitors, you win. Ford has this locked down with the F-150, and it’s why Tesla was going through “production…

I am impressed by your setup and power supply, but now you need to take the vehicle to a professional and have them properly rewire it. Your main fuses are too far from the battery bank. The mains should be fused preferably right on or next to the positive terminals. You should also have fuses on the negative…

GM has sold more than 55,000 Bolts. Ford has yet to even release the Mach-E for sale. Tell me again why GM should care?

5th gear: I’m pretty sure inpatient rehab is 100% covered for workers and dependents through Ford’s comprehensive health insurance program, at a cost of 3% to the worker. The $250k is probably largely an internal “awareness” program and will be used to produce materials to draw worker’s attention to addiction…

The best “hidden” door handles were on the Chevy Beretta and first-gen W-body coupes.

Shame on the UAW for keeping GM from giving Saturn any development money to introduce a midsize sedan until 1999 and an SUV until 2002. They considered the Spring Hill Assembly workers scabs for having a collaborative contract with management. I’m still driving my wife’s 2007 Ion QC. It looks and drives better than…

Literally everything about this story made me smile and my day. Thank you for sharing it.

Neutral: You poor, privileged thing. You took two cruises as a child, work in an industry that requires frequent air travel, you get to drive cars that I will never even so much as have the opportunity to touch, and you feel guilty about that? Talk about First World Problems. You want to feel guilty about your…

Neutral: Every employee at GM is eligible for a 401(k) and can purchase stock in the company at a reduced price as a benefit. So when people say screw the shareholder profits, they are really screwing themselves.

Regarding the CarMax warranty, it’s a named-exclusion policy with no limit. Meaning that unless the document states the issue is not covered, it is covered with no dollar limit. Many used car dealers and some new car dealers, and many online warranty companies, are selling named-inclusion policies that have a dollar…

CP. A Grand National had to die to create this abomination. If was $35,000 for a real Q-ship Buick, I’d say shut up and take my money. But not this. Not like this. No way son. Game over.

Neutral: Anyone who has ever worked for any auto manufacturer or had family who worked for any auto manufacturer knows exactly what “unallocated” means. It does not mean you are shut down. Shut down involves disposing of the facility and fixtures, and personnel. Unallocated means that the plant does not have a product…

Only downside is that there is no one to complain to if something goes wrong a week after you received the car. One of my co-workers ordered a used Nissan Rogue through Carvana. It’s a great car, but eight days after receiving the car, a blister appeared on one of the “new” Chinese tires they installed during their…

NP. But every time I see a car like this, Possum Kingdom starts playing in my head. The shot with the hood open just confirms the refrain, “Dooooo you want to diiee?”

4th Gear: Chances are the UAW is going to have to issue instructions for certain workers who have never been part of a strike. YOU DO NOT BLOCK SALARIED EMPLOYEES FROM ENTERING THE PARKING LOT OR THE BUILDING. Every once in a while, some newbie on the picket line who’s all juiced up on Solidarity Kool-Aid tries to…

Man, you guys are harsh. Cadillac gets hammered for “calling in” the XT6, but Land Rover gives you a modern Freelander dressed up as the “New Defender” with Discovery and 15 year old Range Rover bits and it’s “not a bad thing”.

Brass Monkey Edition?

1st gear: Ford blew all of the EV tech developed for the C-max, Fusion, and Escape and decided that EcoBoost was the future. Now the market is starting to shift to BEV and they have nothing in the pipeline except an electric F-150 and the Mach-E. If they cripple the range like VAG is doing, GM, Tesla and Rivian will…

Plumbers gotta plumb. They also sell the chassis-cab for RV upfitters. A 1-ton Express/Savana with a 6.6 Duramax was 2/3 the price of a similarly equipped Silverado or Sierra. Now they only offer them with the 6.0 Vortec or 2.8 Duramax.