The Auto Writer

Today marks the end of June, the halfway point for the year. And what a year it has been!

Gas prices are the topic of many conversations and the news across the US auto industry is glum. Everyone is down save for a few automakers (Honda) whose fleet is dominated by fuel efficient vehicles. The prospects for the second half of the year aren’t particularly bright, strongly suggesting that when 2008 has been put in the history books, it’ll be a watershed moment for car manufacturers.

Short of wringing our hands and wishing things weren’t so, the pressure GM, Ford, and Chrysler are facing may be a good thing for the long term. Additional smaller models are being planned; new technologies that increase fuel economy, power, while reducing emissions are now being used; and in the case of GM and Ford their fleet quality has risen sharply. Chrysler, on the other hand, being the smallest of the three is a concern — the company’s long term may very well be at risk.

Some of the tops stories on The Auto Writer this year include the following:

Tesla Alleges Fisker Design Thievery — Yes, the Tesla Roadster is finally out and fresh on its heels may be the Fisker Karma, another electric beauty. Tesla, however, is having some heartburn over the Fisker design, alleging all kinds of things about Fisker. The last bit of news I’ve heard about this is that Fisker wants to go to arbitration to settle Tesla’s suit. Hmmm….

Is The Dodge Magnum A Lemon — I actually wrote this article for a lawyer in 2005 or 2006 who then decided to stiff me when he changed the terms of our agreement. I kept the article, but decided to publish it in 2007 because, well, it is an interesting subject. Apparently, my readers think so too because it is also the most commented on article ever for this blog. Not just simple comments, mind you, but details about why their Magnums are problem plagued. To be fair, I like the Magnum’s looks and I drive a Neon myself, but if there are problems with a car, then sharing that information with others can be beneficial.

Cadillac Showcases One New Model & Two Concepts — You know that I don’t get out all that much when I point to the highlight of the year as being my trip to Detroit in mid-January. I visited the NAIAS as the guest of GM (a wonderful host, btw) and was able to see up close and personal several new or proposed models including the CTS coupe. Many of my January articles focused on the Detroit show giving me a clearer picture of where the industry is and where it is headed.

Which Brand Has The Best Resale Value? — Quite a few people were surprised to learn that Volkswagen finished on top, given its quality problems over the years. I was surprised too, but I attribute some of it doing so well, because their retail prices are competitive. Now, with all small cars actually increasing in value, buying a VW could be a good move. Maybe not.

Watch Group Alleges Widespread Toyota Labor Abuse — Toyota is the new #1, but the bigger they are the harder they fall! One labor rights group recently shined the light on Toyota’s labor practices and the news is pretty sad. True, many of the companies in question are suppliers, but Toyota has to be aware that some of these practices (i.e., low wages, long hours, miserable working conditions) are going on. If not, then Toyota has some serious ‘splaining to do. Come to think of it, they’ll have to explain what they plan to do no matter what.

The Rising Value of Your Fuel Efficient Car — Do you own a ’94 Tercel? How about a ’01 Neon or an ’04 Civic? The value of your car has likely increased in the face of $4 gasoline. Before you take your clunker to the junk yard, consider making the repairs necessary to keep your 35+ mpg car on the road — or sell it for a mint!

Lastly, thanks to everyone who has been reading this blog and contributing comments to add value to the discussion. I plan on keeping hard at it for the rest of the year, so please snag a feed to track what subjects I am covering.