Don't Believe the Hype. There Are Still Deals to be Had!

As the New York area got into New York International Auto Show mode (I went, it was okay...) I remember seeing an interview with the CEO of Edmunds.com, Jeremy Anwyl citing in gist "now is not a good time to be buying a new car." Or something along these lines. See the interview here. He makes some interesting points. Points best kept in the back of your head when negotiating the price of a new car.

With the economy, the recent uptick in gas prices; as well as the Japanese car "supply issues," as a result of the earthquake/tsunami, well- there are a lot of variables that may prevent a "good deal." I'm contesting- in the great pearls of wisdom of Public Enemy "Don't Believe the Hype."

Ironically enough, in the last two weeks alone I've had a few friends come to me "Randy, I need a new car, I want a (insert a Japanese car maker here) and the dealer is not giving me a deal..." they then proceed to educate me- that because of the tsunami, they (the dealers) are not getting any cars. Supply is low, there are no incentives, etc, etc. That, and the world is coming to an end. That's what the salesmen told them as he blew-them-out the door.

I then proceed to ask- what color do you want?

Why? My point is- chances are, the dealers have the car you want- unless you want something specially ordered or especially out-of-the-ordinary, in other words- do they have the car you want? And are you willing to take it today?

If they do- I'm seeing a lot of Japanese cars still selling at a good discount, at or below dealer costs, depending on the car, rebates-to-dealer, incentives, etc, etc.

The "supply shortages" noted in the news like most any a metric say, with the Federal Reserve and monetary policy- there are lags and it takes time. It could take (in the car business' case, depending on supply chain) through the summer for the consumer to feel any real supply shortages as a result of auto plant closures around the world. By the time there are any real shortages felt in the supply chain- the said Japanese automaker's plant may be back online and vamping up production.

Many new car dealers (many of which that have a pretty ignorant, desperate front-line of salesmen motivated by fear and greed) will say "oh, well, ma'am we're not getting any new cars because Toyota closed its plants... do you watch the news?" as they proceed to reach for your... pants.

If you login to Truecar.com, (a great new car pricing database) you'll see, locally and nationally- there are still "deals" to be had on most Japanese (and domestic) cars. Dealer cash, factory rebates, incentives or not- cars are still selling at a discount- you just have to ask/insist and be ready to walk-out of the dealer if they riddle you a line of bullshit.

I'm painting some broad strokes here, but from what I know, as someone who has sat on both sides of the desk, times are tough. If a salesmen/dealership wants to make a buck, that's their right- it's their business, but its up to you to come in armed with knowledge and numbers in hand to get a fair price.

Don't get fooled by tricky sales tactics which include the addendum sticker - that funny little list of extras put on to the car at the dealership- marked-up a good 200% over cost. Some addendum lists may include: wheel locks, pinstriping, door-edge guards, interior protection and floormats for an additional $1500. Actual dealer cost? Maybe $500.

Watch-out for unusually high dealer "documentation" or "administrative" fees- which as I've heard- have risen with the profit margins decreasing at the dealer level. Anything over $350 is suspect in my opinion. Ask for these numbers in advance keep them in mind when negotiating a price. Also keep in mind- taxes!

Know your factory incentives and dealer cash allotments. If you walk-in and they give you, what you think is a really good deal, chances are- it's not your good looks or your savvy negotiating skills getting the great price- it's the incentives and at these prices- the dealer is basically still selling you the car at full-list!

A good, really general rule-of-thumb I like to use is- if you roll-up all the fees, taxes and costs associated with buying a new car- you should come-in at or around slightly higher or lower than the original MSRP. If you do, chances are, you got a really good deal, or at least you're not getting taken advantage of. Sales-tax alone can be say 7-8%- and the truth is- there isn't really that much more profit in a new car these days.

I will guaranty you this- you're not going to see "Honda's Year End Sale" or the "Toyotathon" late in the model year being wildly advertised if there is even a hint of supply chain delays- that's not to say there are no cars to sell at a discount. There just won't be an extravagant invitation.

I will also say this- if there's one Japanese car company really good at keeping their inventories just at the right level, it's Honda. I believe out of all the major Asian brands, this one may be the hardest to haggle with if there are real inventory issues. So, be prepared to shop around and accept the rules of supply and demand if need be.

Remember- new car dealerships are like casinos. They're in business to make money, it's their right- but keep in mind some important facts and variables and they won't be making all their money... from you.

Scarcity. Sold in the USA. Still Made in Japan.

What can I say- it's a terrible thing what's going on in Japan. Avoiding to re-iterate everything that's been written/speculated on what's going on over there- well, it's just not worth my keystrokes. I can't change anything. And avoiding to sound like a tabloid making predictions- I won't write anything about it. It's bad and it's sad- that's all I will say.

One thing I am quite amused at (maybe it's callus to use the word amused) is the direct effect all this is having on the automobile industry. It's not funny, but as a former economics minor in my undergraduate studies, it's comforting to see the effects of simple supply and demand- still alive and well. At least easily understood, for me anyway.

With news of Honda, Toyota and others curtailing or halting production, and the very latest, a Japanese paint plant closing is causing glitches or ripples all across the automotive world, half-the-world away.

Supposedly, even Ford can't make black paint anymore- ironic, since it was Henry Ford who stated "you can have any color you'd like, so long it is black..." when he made his original Model Ts. Reds are a problem too. Also ironic- as Red is the Imperial Japanese color if there ever was one...

According to the CNN article- Ford's original Model T-era black was called "Japan Black," again, you can learn something new everyday, even in cars, if you read enough of the news. And you can't make this stuff up... Ironic to say the least.

But the economist/auto buff in me can't help but find all these supply-chain-management nightmares that are unfolding by the day, well, amusing since- you read how globally dependent everything is these days, especially the car business.

Just-In-Time (JIT) also known as the Toyota Production System, used worldwide in most every form of production, predicates- there aren't a whole lot of extra Japanese cars, parts, red and black paints in the pike to make the problems in Japan not felt on the world's doorsteps.

Is it a big deal? I don't know, maybe? There are snags, and will be more for sure.

Dare I say- the American Japanese car distribution networks will think of creative ways to stir demand- that's wise salesmanship. Or simply, basic supply and demand? But what a difference a year makes.

Last year, they couldn't give-away a Toyota at any cost or color, now, well- there might be none left for the big sales come this late summer- which are just around the corner.

Switching gears a bit- but not totally off-topic- a friend of mine linked to me an eBay auction for a very special 1972 Datsun 240Z for sale, the original Z-car. But this one has a big twist.

A 1972 240Z- beautifully listed and epically described. Built to the tune of something like over an eighth-of-a-million dollars (or $125,000 for you less dramatic number types) to discerning performance standards well beyond originally intended for any first-generation Z-car. It's a spectacular car, and a spectacular story. Do I think he'll get his reserve? Maybe, maybe not. He should have painted the car black or red, just to be safe in this market.

(There's a lot I can say for this very car and his efforts- but maybe I'll save them for another time. Regardless of the harsh realities- I give this guy and his '72 Z an A-for-effort!)

The car reminded me of when in the mid-to-late 1990's, around the very same time I was studying economics in college, when Nissan stopped making the Nizzan 300ZX. To appease the loyal USA enthusiasts (and in a bid to not lose the image of the Z in its most lucrative and largest market) Nissan commissioned a few hundred fully-restored and sorted vintage Zs by Pierre Perrot's PierreZ Car Inc, in California.

The cars were restored to A-1 condition. Everything either re-built or replaced to like-new condition, promoted and sold in select Nissan dealerships with limited warranties, the whole nine yards. It was a unique campaign.

The American automobile business was able to sell a demand, for a Japanese car that wasn't even being made anymore.

I could only imagine the sweet vat of lemonade that's being conjured up as of now, to placate the current Japanese automobile/parts/black and red paint situation as it stands. But we'll think of something. We always do.

Maybe American dealers will get another taste of the days when people would follow the auto transporters right to their doorsteps to get their Honda Accords, and Toyota Celicas- in any color, shape or form? And at any price.

It will be like 1980, all over again. But with less shades of red and black, of course.

More Recalls- More Thoughts For Toyota

I'm not a hate monger- nor do I respect pundits who egg-on or speculate a bad situation. Nothing worse than something or someone who's never been down or in a similar situation- hoping for the misfortune of another; however, it's in the news- Toyota's recalling some 1.7 million vehicles for fuel leaks.

"The recalls are mostly in Japan, but include Lexus IS and GS luxury sedans sold in North America. That's where the world's No. 1 car company faces the biggest challenges in winning back customer trust.

U.S. dealers will inspect cars to see if loose fuel pressure sensors caused leaks. There were no accidents suspected of being caused by those problems, according to Toyota. The car maker has received 77 complaints overseas, 75 of them in North America, and more than 140 in Japan."

Going into its second year of the recall spotlight- the news does not bode well for the automotive giant.

Aside from its aging platform fleet, it's tarnished North American image; getting beyond these recalls I'm afraid, is going to be easier said than done at Toyota.

As these cars age, their components and assemblies will- and if there's any hint of a problem, whatsoever, I'm afraid the media and consumer advocates will spotlight, well, another "recall."

I'm not saying there isn't a genuine problem or flaw with the design/quality of the parts in question- but anything less-than-perfect- if it's on a Toyota- it's going back as a recall.

It's just a shame- you spend thirty years building a reputation of unflappable durability and customer satisfaction (for the most part); now you're the butt of every joke told on a used car lot- and the topic for every blogging auto enthusiast who writes web content.

New Years Musings, Better Late Than Never

Happy New Year Everyone! (Yeah, I know. A little late for that.) The automobile world has been trudging along quite nicely in 2011- I will contest there's nothing game changing going on. Trust me.

While the auto world is abuzz from the turnaround of the US automobile business, at the heels of the Detroit Auto Show- Ford is humming along nicely; the Chevy Volt has won the prestigious Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award; and Chrysler, despite living in and around a toilet going on two years now- has redesigned its flagship 300.

Did I ever tell you about my tenure with the 300? Six years ago- I was selling the then Motor Trend Car of the Year for 2005- boy have things changed there... Not a highpoint of my life, I'll admit- but few can say they knew the 300 "when" they were selling at full-list and it was a car people actually would trade-in a Mercedes-Benz or a Lexus for.

In 2005 everyone was getting fat and drunk off their real estate and stock portfolios- and the "Baby Bentley" 300- and what wins in 2011? A plug-in electric car?

Maybe it's a sign of the times? But in the pecking-order of things, a la the classic Post War American mentality of "my Chrysler trumps your Chevy" well, things have certainly changed forever.

2011 is not without it's fair share of ongoing recalls- including the latest from Honda- where something to do with a wiring harness in the CRVs is causing some Japanese engineer to fall on a sword, somewhere, but hopefully not the mass suicide (or was it mass murder?) that Toyota felt in 2010.

And there's even a smattering of recalls over at GM- something to do with the axles of their trucks? But again, compared to the Camry fiasco- in my humble opinion- any recall that even makes the news is a "quiet recall," a blip on the old dealer's bulletin.

Like when your Subaru goes in for a service and there's something to do an e-prom adjustment- that may give you better fuel economy? Or that "quiet recall" of a set of faulty rear wheel bearings that start to howl like tortured dogs- only to find out that you've driven too many miles for them to cover it under warranty. Not that I'm bitter about that or anything. But I'm digressing now at the risk of sounding, well bitter.

Another concern in the world of car- despite having pulled themselves from the doom-and-gloom of 2010's Recall-a-Rama, Toyota's platforms are aging- and while the same could be said for rebounding greats like General Motors- GM's making significant strides- so much so- that next year, 2012- promises to be yet another game-changer for GM- when "bold new" platforms sold overseas just may find themselves here, in the home market.

But a corporate reorganization is one thing- emerging from a PR nightmare- coupled to the fact that- Toyota makes boring cars to begin with, well- Toyota has a lot of ground to cover this year, and in the years to come; however, this didn't stop Toyota from unveiling the Prius wagon- the latest addition of what promises to be a whole lineup of hybrid Toyotas- or Priusses.

(I like how it rhymes and shares lots of letters with wusses...)

As if it was such a dramatic change from the Prius hatchback that its been selling for years? What? So the stuff behind the backseat gets a little more headroom.

It's like in Spinal Tap- "this one goes... to eleven."

Again, there's a reason why I haven't written anything going on three weeks.

The Excitement, Fall & Truth Behind Pontiac

Some blog right? It's been the better part of a month with no posts - and while the world of cars is as perpetual and ever-changing as time itself- truth be known- a lot of it... is just spin. While I can appreciate spinning wheels- my intentions and talents however terse or infrequent they may be- is just not to spin your wheels- I actually like to add something totally unique and insightful once in a while.

And I hope you can appreciate that.

I still read a lot about cars where I can- and while its hard for me to read about something car related and just re-verb-it and claim it as my own- as many automotive journalists do, and do popularly- its just not productive, nor is it profitable (at least its not for me anyway!)

But... Sunday I caught some news that Pontiac had finally closed its doors. I've heard it, written about it and known it for like a year now; but October 31, Halloween was the final, official day. Funny, how I didn't think they had a day in mind, but rather- I thought they'd just let it go... "let sleeping dogs lie" and lay where they are- I mean, no use drawing sad news to yourself after 84 years.

The web was lit-up with images of the scalloped, split-grill of a GTO- how the once mighty image of the American performance-era was officially off-the-shelves, recalling the once bright, fast and dueling brand- Pontiac.

I thought of my grandfather, my father's father who "drove Pontiacs..." Not because "he liked them" (as another family elder once thought and told me), no- he drove them because that's what he could afford- and what was around in the used car lot. (When he bought his first new car in 1968- it was an Oldsmobile... of course, another now-dead brand...)

I then thought of my father who struggled on Friday nights, and prayed that the botched-up, heavily modified and abused '59 Bonneville his father let him borrow would start and run- just enough so he could make it home from a date... (I mention it was modified- because when he wasn't complaining of its inability to start reliably- he was laying rubber on the Grand Concourse and carving-up on the Saw Mill River Parkway... against his buddy's then-new '64 GTO... and winning too, I may add...)

I thought of my friend Fred, who for his 16th birthday got a brand-new 1965 GTO... and drove it for years both Stateside and overseas while stationed in Germany. (I have to laugh when I think how strange that car must have looked, the American car with the Italian name- cruising along the Autobahn- among Volkswagens and Mercedes-Benzes...)

I also thought of my other grandfather, my mother's father the eternal "Buick man" who bought a metallic blue Catalina- because my father told him to- anything but another Buick... (and he never, ever did buy that Cadillac my grandmother always wanted- economics aside, I like to think he didn't want to give her the shallow satisfaction...)

I also thought of Knight Rider, and the Firebird Formula V8 I kinda-sorta-wanted in middle school too, of course.

But the articles I was reading- gave a myriad of reasons why Pontiac failed. They blamed the economy, they blamed GM and the American public... They even got a retired GM engineer to testify- that the reason why Pontiac failed was, (and I'm paraphrasing now) they "didn't let the Pontiac engineers do their thing;" in-other-words General Motors went "all corporate" and instead of "Building Excitement," they built a re-badged Chevrolet or, whatever. And he's right... to a point.

They did a lot of pointing fingers as to what blunders, people, car models and such- caused the demise- and yeah- the Pontiac Aztec wasn't a winner, and yes- the G5 was a Chevy Cobalt with nicer wheels- true- but you can't kill a brand with a handful of bad cars.

Every car company has its lists of winners and losers- but much like a person who is down on his luck- or a small business that is forced to close its doors- sometimes its not the exact decision or event(s), or the actions- it just is. Its just not meant to be- for forces greater than anyone or thing, or any-one-thing could expect. It's a number of things.

There's a lot of reasons why Pontiac is no-longer here. As a car guy, and not a shallow car guy (and most of them are) who only knows the latest and greatest BMW- I can tell you- if the economy had not taken such a dip in 2008- and if GM had not gone bankrupt... You'd still have Pontiac. It's a brand- it had a heritage- and while it may have been a shell of its former self for quite a while- it was surely a great brand platform that could have been developed more if given the time- and money, too of course.

Heck- if it wasn't for China's love affair with the Buick- and Buick's quite successful transformation from being the "conservative solid choice" to being the literal shadow of a Lexus- Buick would have been axed too.

The God's honest truth is- towards the end- GM had really been making strides to try to improve the Pontiac image, and bringing something unique to the fold- case-in-point- the G8.

As a Bonneville replacement- it was sporty, real-wheel-drive, had the handling of a BMW (quite literally- the engineers who did the suspension and brakes worked for BMW at one point and designed the late-1990s 5-Series) and the edgy, modern-day looks of (I dunno) a Cadillac?

You really can't blame looks- that's too subjective. I mean, lets be honest- are there many, truly good-looking mainstream production cars being made today? Not really... Sure, Pontiacs were ugly towards the end- but then again- so was and is everything else...

But if you think about it- if Pontiac had stuck-it-out, they would have brought back the Firebird and Trans-Am with the Chevrolet Camaro... And it would have done okay against other retro performance cars- such as the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger.

What if they really brought back the GTO? And not just a re-badged Holden?

I know, I know... You can't bring back an entire brand based-off two or three retro throwbacks- but... it would have been enough to get it by for a little while- it would have brought some buzz.

The devastating truth is- the shrinking middle class in America, or should I say, the shrinking perception the middle class has of itself in America- just couldn't support the Pontiac niche.

Middle America has moved-on-up into Cadillacs or down into Chevrolets- there's not much else left in the middle anymore.

The middle is driving a Toyota or a Honda... Or something else- something, and lets be totally true here- that did performance and "Excitement" better than Pontiac.

For instance- the Solstice was a great little roadster- it just didn't tickle the fancy of enthusiasts quite like the Mazda MX-5. Close- but no cigar or smoking tailpipe.

The macro-truth is- middle America, which is what Pontiac had thrived-on for decades- doesn't have the confidence, the faith nor the belief in the American car like it once did.

Yeah, people still lust after Corvettes and Cadillacs- but tastes (and images) have largely shifted gears... forever. They'll never be as they were. And the recipe is not as simple as wedging the bigger engine from a Bonneville into a smaller, lighter Tempest.

And in marketing (and business too) unless you're able to meet that niche at that exact point-in-time- you're going to waiver and fail. You either have it- or you don't- there's little chance of catching-up.

While Pontiac had it in spades for so, so long; a performance image that lasted from the late-50's through the 1960's up until (I think anyway) the 1980's- their ultimate incarnations came-up- just so-so.

Like I said before- I still read a lot about cars and write about them where I can- but like Pontiac building and marketing cars, sometimes its just not productive, nor is it profitable to do so.

In the end- you just hope the people remember. And smile.

Pontiac- they don't make them like they used to... They just don't "Build Excitement" like that anymore.

I'm Not Surprised... Almost a Third of All Cars Sold.

I'm getting really sick of reading about auto recalls- there have been dozens of major recalls spanning the automotive globe- from cheap, to expensive, to exclusive- chances are- it's been recalled in 2010.

A few million, a couple hundred thousand... a couple hundred- any amount- it makes news these days.

But not to sound the pundit, or the "hater" I'm just not surprised Tesla Motors, the exclusive Silicon Valley maker of all-electric roadsters recalls 439 Roadsters, about 34% of all the cars it has ever sold.

I know, I know, it's a new technology, their a small company, yeah, yeah; but as you know- I'm not firm supporter of all-electric cars.

My days of playing with electric R/C toy and hobby cars have forever turned me off to the technology- I mean, something you have to charge like a cordless phone? Please. Like hybrid cars, its an "intermediate technology" at best. It's not progress.

But what's most amusing- is- according to the Associated Press:

"The automaker plans to introduce its next-generation electric sedan, the Model S, by 2012, and is working with Toyota Motor Corp. to develop an electric version of Toyota's RAV4 small crossover vehicle."

They're working with Toyota... of all companies to work on a new electric vehicle. Another company well-aware of the negative effects a recall can have...

But with Toyota- another a recall is just another proverbial pimple on the "asshole of recall progress;" whereas for Tesla- another recall can mean the whole ass of all-electric "progress".

Is It Still the Next Honda?

Just as many would argue that Hyundai is the next Honda- long considered the maverick leader in Japanese car engineering- known for its hands-down quality- Hyundai has spurred a recall of its popular Sonata sedan, er, four-door coupe.

About 140,000 of the sleek Sonatas are suspect of having steering problems. Nothing, compared to the all-time Recall King of 2010- Toyota.

Hyundai is proof that recalls, again, happen to best of them. Just make sure an industry benchmark gets recalled first.

How does that saying go? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

I've also heard- Hyundai is the Korean Toyota...

2010 Will Certainly Be The Recall Year of the Rich & Famous Too!

I'm convinced the media is stroking the egos of the working middle class? Why? Because the media has reported, blogged and done everything possible to exploit the fact that expensive cars, not just say Toyotas, get recalled too.

Case-in-point- the Ferrari Italia- which has developed a cache of being the Ferrari that likes to melt heat shields.... But just now, Bentley Motor Cars is recalling several hundred cars (under 1,000) because... The lauded "Winged-B" hood (or bonnet if you insist) ornament does not retract good enough in the event of an accident.

Now, this is not a big deal at all, its probably just a spring-load issue- but I certainly wouldn't want to be a pedestrian when the stainless-steel ornament comes at me... Oh no... But come to think of it- if you get hit by a Bentley- don't you think the least of your worries is the hood ornament?

Think about it for a second... if you must. It doesn't take a physics or an actuary accounting degree to realize the trouble you're in if this hood emblem is going to risk serious injury to a person.

Maybe they just don't want to be sued?

But anyway- as a Car Guy Who Gets It- I can attest- expensive cars get recalled all-the-time; they get recalled a lot- but now the cache of a recall is not exclusive to lesser cars alone, no... The recall is for the well-to-do... Too.

Another Recall for Toyota... Is This Still News?

When you've recalled millions of cars over the course of a year- what's another 1.33 million?

This time- the Corolla's engine control management module, thing, device- is causing cars to suddenly stall.

Just when you think Toyota is getting out of its hot water, between the lawsuits, the recalls, the negative press...

Just when you start believing the crap they talk about on their commercials... How they're spending a million dollars an hour on your safety...

Even as the automotive press, despite their shady reputation as of late- still sings the praises of their products... Toyota is still announcing new recalls.

At least they're consistent, no?

Next thing you know- that Predawn Grey Mica color they've been slinging the shit-out-of in their ads for the all-new 2011 Sienna is going to test to cause forms of cancer...

(Well, that's not true... But it still won't hide the fact that you're driving an 8-passenger minivan...)

Evidently- Predawn Grey Mica is the new black... But don't they wish it was a Predawn to a day when Toyota is not known for their product recalls?

Eventually- that day will come again... We think.

My Apologies... Really... But It's Summertime...

Sorry for being so mute this last week or so... It's just that- well, there's really nothing too monumental worth noting lately... Nothing professionally, nothing personally, and nothing car-wise- as professional and or personal as that may be. It's the tail-end of Summer.

With cars, the summer is always a bit slow. Hell- even the best Autoblog (one of the larger, more popular auto-related blogs out there...) can muster lately is a bit on Mike Tyson's Bentley Continental Coupe- I mean really, who cares???

I did, however, find it ironic that not a day after GM had announced its profitability last week, they too initiated a some 250,000 unit product recall- something to do with the seat belts in some SUVs/Crossovers...

But after the myriad of recalls from Toyota- well, everything else is just a small recall. But 2010 has proved-to-be the recall year to remember.

Anyway, I'm anxiously awaiting the 2011s to be coming out- many of which that are out- are just warmed-over versions of the 2010s.

Eh, summers suck... Markets are slow, people are on vacation- both literally and mentally. And if the best you can must is a bit on Mike Tyson's Bentley Continental Coupe, well... Bloggers like me just won't even bother to bend your ear on it...

Because if you remember- Mike Tyson's been known to bite ears.

Working On Forever- How Maintaining an Old Mercedes is a Lesson in Future Mortality

Probably the single most fun thing I do- the most enjoyment and happiness that I get out of anything- and despite hardly being a "master" at it, (I will contest, the more I know of anything- the less of a master I know I am) is working on old cars- specifically, my very-own, 1985 Mercedes-Benz Turbodiesel.

Over the years I've dabbled in it enough to do it okay- to a point- I mean, I can't do major engine or systems work- I just don't have the tools, experience or the facilities- but what I can do- I do... and I like it- its one of the few things- besides jogging that makes me feel good about myself.

I fiddle around and tinker more than anything. Since as long as I can remember- I've been screwing with this shit- I've learned mostly by getting frustrated, making mistakes and picking the brains of professionals.

Lately- the old car- well, has been running like shit. Actually it runs okay- just the idle has been erratic. I had a sneaking suspicion that its fuel related- so I purged the mechanical fuel injection system- using a highly-concentrated detergent additive and a 20 oz. Gatorade bottle and some plastic tubing to act as a separate, bypassed, secondary and contained fuel system. Then I replaced both the primary and the secondary fuel filters- the turn of an adjustable wrench and a few screws later- I had new filters and clean injectors.

I then gave it an Italian Tune-Up- ask any real car guy and they'll attest- you can fix most anything with an Italian Tune-Up- think of it like exercise for machines and an excuse to drive in a lower gear and a little crazy, if only in the name of maintenance... It's the automotive equivalent to hitting the side of the television... or the ol' Seeburg if you're The Fonz.

Why am I going through all this? Because working on a car built literally of cast iron, aluminum, real rubber, copper, brass and steel- to last forever- I began to wonder- are the new Mercedes-Benzes today, or any other cars rather, made to last forever like these older ones?

Let me clarify- nothing is made to last forever- just sometimes, rarely- you get a machine that was built during a time and place, for a price, with basic, proven technologies and materials- that could last a very, very long time if well taken care of (read with simple tools and know-how)- like the old Mercedes- call it "forever" if you must.

That's not to say they don't fall apart- they do- but like the Brooklyn Bridge- whatever that eventually breaks- can be fixed or replaced (at a pretty price mind you) if you care to do so- and viola- you still have a great car in the end- or an on-going hobby at least.

Now, there comes at time when something happens and well, it's time to say good-bye. Nothing will last forever... It's just how you care to define forever- or prolong the inevitable?

Many of you who read The Car Guy Gets It know I'm also a bit of a horologist- or someone who studies the arts and sciences of timekeeping- basically I like watches. While horologists can't define forever, gosh-darn-it- they'll try to measure it... One tick at a time...

Ask any seasoned watchmaker and they'll tell you- high-grade watches can last several lifetimes- literally hundreds of years if properly looked-after. Watches like these can cost tens, or hundreds of thousands of dollars... Lots of money. Very few people wear them enough to realize forever, of course and none of them live as long to prove it... So... anyway- they're good conversation pieces for the mortal living at best.

Good, high-quality wristwatches can last maybe 30 to 40 years if worn everyday. Like a Rolex has a real-world wrist-life of around 35 years. That's not to say there aren't 60 year-old Rolex watches being worn- there are- but they're collectors' items at best. Rolex, the manufacturer- won't even support their existence with service, parts and expertise. In other words- they want you to buy a new watch after 35 years... That's what they do. It's business- to sell new watches.

Cheaper wristwatches- like quartz, battery operated-stuff- (stuff with a microchip or a circuit board) have a wrist-life of much less- maybe fifteen years or so... If you're lucky. Then it's a throw-away and an excuse to go to the mall to buy another watch. Again, there are outliers to the "rule," but they're seen as liabilities at best to any a horologist- one tick closer to gone, unless you're a hobbyist, of course- keeping shitty watches alive...

Okay- back to cars. So, I didn't solve my rough idle (but I have clean injectors, new filters and a better idea of- now- what it is...) and I got to talking to an old mechanic friend of mine- of whom I've been trying to re-connect-with for months... I was feeling like a mechanic all-day- why not try to talk to a friend who actually is a mechanic?

Lucky for me- I made contact- it was really nice catching-up. In talking about the business of fixing cars- my friend- an accomplished Mercedes-Benz mechanic for many, many years made a very good point to me- discussing about the virtues of older verses newer German cars like the Mercedes-Benz or the BMW... These newer cars, like the ones they're making today- just aren't going to last forever- forever is bad for business.

If it will be ten to fifteen years- it will be forever... Okay- maybe twenty years... But will you see people like myself wrenching the new cars of today in their backyards twenty years from now? No.

He continued... "look at the cars of just ten-fifteen years ago- the wiring harnesses go, they dry-up- and then that's it... you're screwed... what a nightmare..."

Like the watchmakers- the car manufacturers are in the business of not only selling new cars, but also fixing them... rather, making sure you can't do it without them... And cars today are sporting technologies and sciences that make The Apollo Program look like wind-up Mickey Mouse watches in comparison. That, and the materials they use today just aren't meant to survive- some car makers like BMW boast how environmentally friendly their cars are; able to be broken-down quickly and friendly too, of course.

Makers today are more interested in selling a recyclable product than building anything forever- not only is it good business but it's a good image and a marketing tool.

Toyota once ran a commercial where they made, out of sticks and leaves- a pile of bio-degradable shit made-up to look like a Prius- and time-lapsed the decomposition in an open field. Nice... if you're into John Denver too, of course.

But like the cheap, throw-away, battery-operated wristwatches- the technologies behind today's cars relies heavily on computer chips- silicon. Once the silicon chipboard or motherboard dries-out, breaks/shorts... it's throw-it-away, say good-bye.

Now if you dig deep- you'll learn- there's a big to-do about making sure the suppliers and venders of all these high-tech auto bits of today will still be available, if need-be tomorrow, forever from now. There are agreements and plans in-place- but... It's complicated and well, no one knows what the future is going to bring. Forever is not guaranteed for anyone, and alas not anything- especially new cars.

As for my old Mercedes, well, I'm literally a two open-ended-wrench-turns away from a fix, I think... I'm 99.9% sure I know what it is now, thanks to some online reading and some friendly advice from an old friend... I'm also 99.9% sure that twenty, thirty years from now, I'll be bent over the left fender of some old Mercedes (quite possibly the one I'm driving now...) trying to figure-out something on a nice, Saturday afternoon.

I could only hope- after all, the future isn't guaranteed for anyone you know.

But maybe, just maybe there will be a fix for the future tinkerer. Maybe there will be an app for that... Or something... for making an old pile of whatever- quite literally- last forever.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon... 2015's Mass Product Recall... Today.

Toyota- just as you thought the very worst is over- yet more recalls are coming-to-light- this time, it's with the steering mechanisms in some Toyota Avalon and Lexus LX 470 SUV models.

As reported here, by the Associated Press.

If anything- this recall is keeping the service departments at their respective dealerships gainfully employed with overtime.

At the rate Toyota is going- don't be surprised if they are commended for being the biggest payers of hourly wage overtime in 2010.

And don't be shocked if some quirky ad-man makes a funny tongue-in-cheek poster entitled "The 2011 Toyota Avalon... 2015's Mass Product Recall... Today." A hail to my two favorite ad-proposals...

Chrysler's 1957 very famous Plymouth campaign for the Forward Look "Suddenly It's 1960":



And the (some would say- an original Madison Avenue Mad Men) Jerry Della Femina's 1970 book entitled "From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor" originally an idea for a Panasonic television ad...
I dunno... I think it's funny.

Toyota's Lexus. Now They're Really Getting It...

When Toyota debuted the Lexus brand in 1989- it was a clear-cut blow to the German auto makers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Well, gosh- I do believe they've finally, totally done it.

Toyota reports that some 270,000 vehicles have faulty engines...

This car guy loves this. Sure, Toyota has recalled over 8 million vehicles this year to date- but that's all safety related- finally something performance/engine related- the kind of stuff foreign import car drivers (like me) have known since the beginning.

I'm a realist as much as I am a car guy- and let me tell you- no "car enthusiast" wants a car that actually works. I mean- what fun is an animal that when it bites- doesn't hurt?

Sure- car guys want it to work- but what fun is having a car you know is always going to work well and all the time?

Look at people who drive British cars- they're mostly total (yes, still) pieces-of-shit and car enthusiasts still buy them- it's what makes them appealing.

Sometimes the driving excitement is in whether the car is going to start at all.

Part of the allure of driving a good, premium car is knowing your car is going to get you there- and if you're used to driving Japanese appliances- which are what Toyotas and Lexus cars basically are- where's the fun in knowing that it's guaranteed?

You need that small percentage of total disasters/shit storms to keep you on your heels and toes- in the foot well- if you're a real car enthusiast, anyway. Nothing good in life is ever totally guaranteed.

Now, I'm not saying Lexus cars haven't had their share of mechanical problems- they have. They just don't advertise them as much as other brands do- but now that Toyota is undeniably the Recall King of the Century- everything and anything is coming to light.

If you ask any professional mechanic- they'll admit that some any given models in particular have their fair shares of "problems."

One Lexus mechanic confided in me once years ago- a generation of 3.3-liter V6s as used in the very popular ES and RX model-line had oil-return line issues- where if the oil wasn't exactly changed often enough- plaque and sludge could build-up- causing an engine seizure. Nice!

But if you drive most any European or American premium cars- you know- most brands and models have their "good" and "bad" years.

Basically the Lexus recall involves faulty materials used in making the valve springs. The parts may fail causing erratic idling, strange noises- maybe even a stall.

The models potentially affected include the IS350, GS350, GS460, GS450h, LS460, LS600h, and LS600hL.

Oh, big deal... I've driven cars at highway speeds that made strange rattling noises- hell, some have even stalled completely on me while cruising down the road- it makes for a better driver and a better car enthusiast- trust me.

Drive a car that has jumped time- but still ran well enough to limp to the mechanic- ten miles away- now that's engineering.

Find me a car that drives and still drives broken- and well, that's an enthusiasts' car if I ever saw one.

Find me something that's never failed... and that's just a disaster waiting to happen.

Lexus has finally gotten this car guy's... respect.

Doors That Catch Fire... Brakes That Fail and Accelerators That Stick. Oh My.

Wow... Chrysler recalls nearly 600,000 vehicles. Gee, ya think?

Seems like Chrysler has taken a page out of the success saga that has been Toyota- but it took a page from one of the later volumes. Wha, whaaaaaa.

(Okay, bad joke.)

But I'll tell you what isn't a joke (well, it actually was a joke...) I sold Chryslers about six years ago now- and about the only thing that differentiated us at all (in a positive way) were two cars- the 300 and the Town & Country minivan.

Forget the 300- it was a fad.

Without those two vehicles then, in 2004/2005- Chrysler didn't have a product. Now, one of them- the Town & Country could develop a short in the automatic sliding doors- that could catch fire.

Just what you want to hear when you're thinking about a safe family van.

Jeeps Wranglers which brakes may fail- and Dodge Calibers whose accelerators are going the way of Toyota's.

But now Chrysler is run by Fiat- and I like the fact that they're instilling that Fiat quality they were renowned for back when America drove Fiats.

Okay, that was also a joke too. But the joke isn't funny anymore. Time for some Morrissey.



Chrysler- try not to kill yourselves.

Houston... We Have a Problem... Only This Time, It's With Toyota

Forty years ago, around this time- Apollo 13 discovered it had a problem. Maybe you've read about it, lived through it- or have seen the movie Apollo 13 starring Tom Hanks- it's a great movie- I've seen it dozens of times.

I never get tired of seeing what America, albeit in a dramatization, can do in a time of crisis- and who doesn't love a happy ending?

For the last few weeks- I've seen slight changes in Toyota's marketing. They're eating their hat- they're trying "Everyday, Moving Forward" to get past the last few months which have been trying (to say the least) for them- looking past pedals that stick, brakes that don't work, steering systems that don't steer and the latest- SUVs that flip-over.

To say the very least- Toyota has reiterated a similar version of that now famous phrase- "We Have a Problem..." And they do- and they're sorry- believe me they are.

Today- I came across a clip- part of the new Avalon 11 marketing campaign- a hip, Mad Men- like, cool ploy to get you to discover and "Travel Avalon Class"- a 2011 Toyota Avalon that looks nothing more than a re-packaged, slightly revised Avalon you've seen before since 2005.

I see this as just a diversion, really, as the Avalon was never really a big ad campaign car- those in the trade knew it as the poor man's Lexus, the Japanese Buick- a favorite among the Depression and Swing Generations. This is the Toyota my late grandfather would have bought if he were still alive- and not himself a Buick Man to the end.

I also think (don't quote me here) the Avalon is just about the only Toyota today not being recalled or advised against in the media...


(A little-known fact- when the Avalon first premiered about 15 years ago- it was available with a steering-mounted-on the tree- gear selector and six-place, front bench seating- a la Detroit's Golden Era.)


Ironic... Here's that little marketing clip- part of a series Toyota is showing you courtesy of "Traveling Avalon Class..." which tells of Apollo 13:

Go to the Toyota website and visit the Avalon's microsite- there's a Don Draper wannabe introducing the Travel in Avalon Class- snappy new features- which believe me, are minor to say the least- but I thought it ironic- the clip above tells of American heroism with Apollo 13.

So- where am I going with this?

I covered the Toyota mess as it was first unfolding for another website and while I at first I swore I'd never buy a Toyota ever again... (let me re-phrase- I've never owned a Toyota- nor do I ever plan to... they're just not my thing) I can and will continue to recommend them to friends and family.

They're just not my style- but that's not their fault- but I'm a Subaru loyalist- if I drive a Japanese anything- it will be a Subaru now and forever, but thank you.

If they did try to cover-up and delay the recalls- shame on them, sure... That's not cool... But lets not forget success here. And in their defense- the media just may have fed a bit of a Witch Hunt with Toyota...

Let's not forget how invested America is in GM these days...

But with Toyota- you cannot ignore or deny of them of being highly successful. So, they're going through a bit of a rough patch.

It happens.

Which leads me to my advice to you- if you loved Toyotas in the past- if they've been good to you- buy another. Now's a great time.

They have killer incentives like 0% financing to those who qualify.

I've driven nearly every generation of Camry- and never disliked anyone of them.

Sure, you see them everywhere- but believe me- as a real car guy- you cannot deny them of anything.

A million consumers are not wrong- Toyotas are great cars for what they are- and now's a good time to kick them (the tires) a little while they're down.

Don't feed into what others are saying- if you've driven Toyotas, loved Toyotas- stick with them- they're not going out of business...

I keep telling myself- if all this had happened to Subaru or Mercedes-Benz (my personal favorite brands of cars...) would it have erased the past? No.

And to share my most favorite Toyota clip of all: