In this case, he wasn’t representing ‘his constituents’. He was representing the dealers AGAINST his constituents. There’s a difference.

True. In a way, the whole Ethanol E85 thing is similar. Supposedly, it saves gas. Except it’s less power, and I get about 100 miles to a tank less than with regular fuel. So how is that supposed to be ‘better’?

I agree. Other parts of the World they sell small cars without internet access and make a profit. Meanwhile, we’re still obsessed about making 600 horsepower engines while bitching about emissions regulations. Americans need to change a bit in their thinking and their marketing.

While in some spirit I agree, I believe that engineers or other science types should be in charge.

1st: While I’m sure it’s fun now to jump on VW, or anything even remotely associated with it, I must be missing something on this story. Most of it sounds like regular business. It’s not unusual for companies that make a like product to hold meetings, or even trade information, especially in a changing market and…

I’m not saying it fails as a decent vehicle. With the Tahoe underpinnings, it would be fair with the Z71 and 4wd. But the fact that they tried to make it look like a real Military vehicle, with pretend tow hooks and plastic parts just makes it a joke.

Or the Military ‘runs-on-anything’ motor.

As someone who has spent a lot of time in a real Hummer, I laugh at these things. It’s ALL fake, with just enough stuff to make it look tough.

5th... That number is all wrong. Gas, I can see, but not time.

That is a pretty fair assessment. I would also throw in that it’s pretty much the only reasonably attractive ‘normal sedan’ - type car available as an electric. But what will happen when, in the next year or so, others start making usable vehicles in electric form? A Honda Fit in an electric, especially if it has…

It’s not a universal blanket rule. But regardless of model, most Teslas have a common underpinning. You’re comparing a German taxi to a German Police car.

No, he might have a point there. If Tesla is good enough to make a brand loyalist out of someone, it goes that they might want something a little different after 3 or 4 years in the same car. I know people who buy Ford or Chevy even though they complain about this or that, simply because they are going to buy said…

Your 4th gear comment is right on. Americans are buying as many Toyotas as Chevys. And Japan, for instance, has many vehicle segments that America won’t even THINK about, like the entire Kei class, which I saw a zillion of when I was there. And the neatest little trucks and vans on the entire planet. Why would…

I’ve had my HHR 8 1/2 years. I replaced the two camshaft position solenoids a few years back with the updated part. It’s done everything I’ve needed, hauled a lot of odd junk, and still runs like the day I bought it, at 84k. Total spent on non-routine maintenance?... about $140.

Other countries don’t seem to be totally ruled by marketing departments. Germany makes plenty of perfectly ordinary Mercedes and BMWs. Yet, Americans are fooled into paying twice as much for a ‘luxury’ brand, loaded with crap that the rest of the World doesn’t want, or pay for.

Or, just do like everybody else seems to be doing... change a bit of angle on a few body panels, change the taillights, maybe put a different badge on the grille, and, *poof*, ‘new’ model.

True. Nowadays, there’s a young person in there who just has it as a job. Fewer people know anything off the ‘top of their heads’ anymore. Back home, we had Smith Auto Parts. You could ask about something, and before you were done, he would blindly reach out behind him, hand you a box, and always be right.

The profits still go offshore. Toyota doesn’t build a plant here out of the kindness of their hearts. The shareholders expect a nice check for that.

Globalism, as defined, is great, but within limits. This really isn’t Globalism in lots of cases. This is purely run by money. This is not charity, this is not the well-wishes for any corporation to truly uplift people.

Well, technically, you can use a regular harness, but you won’t get chimes or warnings. But it’s a third the price. OnStar harness for $150?