RealityDriven

Auto Show Misfits

- by Chris Olliff, Senior Editor

As most of you know, we have just come off of the 2007 Detroit Auto Show  and most of us have “show hangover” which consists of hurting feet, empty wallets, and the desire never to step foot into Cobo Hall again. We have walked the hall 10 times over, and taken more photos than a Japanese tourist at Niagara Falls. Among my many travels at the show, I stumbled across what I like to call “The Hall of Misfits”….

Cobo Hall has a lower level that has some aftermarket companies, and there even used to be ½ of the VW stand down there…but not anymore……

Like those toys on the misfit island in the old Rudolf Christmas show we used to watch, having a stand down in the lower level is like being a part of a different culture. In the universal order of things, this is where you “pay your dues” until you can graduate up to the “big floor”. Yes, Hyundai and Kia got their start here, and it also is space for suppliers to be seen at the show. Not much foot traffic here, so it is a great place to take your time and have a quiet look around.  

This year’s group consisted of Saleen, XM Radio, Michelin, DUB Magazine, Chainfang Auto of China, ect. For the first time since I can recall, VW did not have any space down there this year. Without them, it seemed that this floor was an afterthought or that you had taken a wrong turn….

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to trick out your ride or get away from the hustle of the main floor, then you should have a go on the lower level. It will be interesting to see how this area may change in the future, but for now it seems like a great place for the “Auto Show Misfits”.

 

Luxury Vehicles and Exclusivity

- by Atul H. Patel, Editor-in-Chief

As I walked the Detroit Auto Show, (NAIAS), and noticed the proliferation of luxury makes represented, I couldn't help but wonder who actually has the money to buy these vehicles.  The average new vehicle purchased costs over $28,000, but there are a host of brands that charge $80,000 plus.  Those divisional brands usually have entry models.  After all, car companies exist to make a profit, just like any other corporation.  Volume typically drives profits, so even Jaguar decided to offer the X-Type, BMW the 318ti a while ago, and Mercedes even offers an A-Class and a B-Class in Europe.  These put the divisions significantly down-market.  But when does a luxury brand stop being a luxury brand?  If you buy an XJ for cache and exclusivity, isn't it being compromised with every X-Type that is sold?  I say yes, and it's the reason that division such as Maybach and MINI are formed.  Maybach steps up the exclusivity, luxury and price to separate it from a "mere" Mercedes, while MINI allows for a cheaper (FWD) BMW ultimate driving machine type vehicle without diluting BMW's brand image.  Speaking of BMW, if they sell 53,000 5-Series in the U.S. per year and a KIA Rio sells 30,300 units per year, which is more exclusive?  This is especially noteworthy in markets like California where you see more BMW's than you see Chevy's. 

So, it's time to reevaluate our definition of luxury when it comes to mass market items.  When the ante gets upped with what luxury is and what brands define luxury, then it gets confusing for the manufacturers as well as for the consumers.  In "the old days", it was much simpler.  A Mercedes was expensive and unattainable for most.  But now,  A C-Class can be had for the same price as a partially loaded up Accord.  A fully loaded Accord could cost even more.  Which is more luxurious?  This is debatable.  And when a Lexus ES is so similar to a Toyota Camry, what are you really paying for?  Better service is one thing, but then you have to deal with the luxury brand dealer snootiness.  You'll notice a lot of parts sharing between Nissans and Infinitis.  This just dilutes the distinction.  Eventually people may begin to notice to the detriment of luxury brand profits.  As luxuries become mainstream, efforts are needed to retain the distinction.  Exclusivity counters the basic tenet of business that selling more is better.  But car companies have to show restraint with the prospect of short-term greed.

2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit - What It's Like to Be in "The Press"

- by Atul H. Patel, Editor-in-Chief

As a first time press day attendee to the Detroit North American International Auto Show, I must say that it was an interesting experience, particularly in how we were treated.  First of all, the respect you get from the people representing the manufacturers is apparent.  We have the power of the pen, (or is it the power of the keyboard?), so they have to be nice to us.  Then there are the wonderful cafes with made-to-order cappuccinos and gourmet accompaniments including waiters who walk around feeding you appetizers.  I felt like I was at a wedding... only with lots of cars.  One other thing that struck me is that I was walking amongst some very powerful, highly paid executives.  I could have said anything I wanted to them although mentioning that I was from RealtityDriven.com would have given me no extra credibility.  That will take time.

I did have a somewhat press looking digital camera with which I took almost 300 pictures.  But I'm of Indian descent, look young and I don't look like a journalist so some people looked at me like I didn't belong there.  Little do they know that I used to work for one of the car companies and I have 12 years in the business.  I think I know my stuff, (or at least I can write like I do).  When it came to picking up press kits, some companies/divisions were very friendly about it, like Dodge, GM, and Toyota while others asked for business cards to mail the kits later.  Since we're a new website, I didn't have my RealityDriven.com business cards on-hand, but I still convinced the Maserati guy to give me a kit.  My regular job business card helped here.  In a way, the more press kits you get, the more of a pain it is.  You have carry all that stuff around in a bag with handle straps that aren't very comfortable.  Then when lunch rolled around, I had to put the stuff and my camera below a seat while I grabbed food, (which was very good by the way).

One other obstacle we had to continually deal with were the shifting sectioned off areas for various interviews and photo shoots.  Usually after the press introduction of a new vehicle, we would leave and come back later after the rush died down, but then you couldn't necessarily get back to it the way you got there the first time.  Often the vehicles were moved too.  It was great seeing some TV show reporters getting interviewed including John Davis from the PBS show "Motorweek".  I've been watching that show since I was 12 and have always respected their seemingly rare objectivity when it comes to the auto industry.

When it was all over, I felt like we had a great day.  We accumulated knowledge, photos, and ideas for upcoming posts on RealityDriven.com to make the whole show more real for those of you who cannot attend in person.

Here are a few photos that one can only get on Press Day since they don't let the public close to the really expensive, pre-production, or experimental vehicles.  That's just reality.

 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

- by Chris Olliff, Senior Editor

January in Detroit….such a sentence brings thoughts of frigid temps, big pot holes, dirty snow, the sound of my vehicles rusting out due to salt corrosion, and the daily absence of sunshine which leads to depression…

But, in the midst of all of this….there is hope, and its called the North American Auto Show which is held in the baffles of the great city of Detroit every second week in January. For the 10^th year in a row, like a solider going off to war, I have traveled into the war zone and dodged mine fields of pot holes to this great event. And what an event it is….

New cars, beautiful women, good food, and great entertainment…..I would say this is every man’s dream! You see, we travel to the show as media, and they feed us and introduce the new cars with a staged fanfare that would make Steven Speilberg proud. Who could forget last year’s comment from David Spade saying that “at least it's (the Dodge Caliber) NOT a Neon”? It takes great skill to stay in the same shape at the end of the week, as there are many areas of gourmet food ‘round each corner that you MUST try…after all….we don’t want to upset the German chefs at the VW stand….

Yes, we do work at the show as well. We do so much walking over the week that your most comfortable shoes begin to feel like you are wearing concrete bricks! Show coverage is always exciting, and I love to see the new concept vehicles and experience the new models on the floor.

So….the North American Auto Show…..located in a freezer, has enough food to feed the entire state of Texas for one week, rivals Las Vegas for its shows and entertainment, and can make you walk so much that you could easily wear your feet down to the stubs of your ankles………

Oh…and there are cars there as well

Like my friend Steve and I say, this truly is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”!

** Stay tuned as the Realitydriven staff brings you updates and coverage from the 2007 North American Auto Show**

Manual Transmissions Versus Automatics. My Divided Thoughts.

- by Atul H. Patel, Editor-in-Chief

I've had my manual transmission car about a year now.  I had grown up in an automatic transmission family, but as a car fanatic and an employee in various powertrain engineering and product marketing positions, my exposure to manual transmissions encouraged me to finally buy a manual Saab 9-3 SportCombi 2.0 T.  It didn't hurt that my two car enthusiast friends (who also happen to write for RealityDriven.com), almost ridiculed me for giving in to the easy availability of automatic transmission versions of the car I wanted.

I actually flew from Detroit to Manchester, New Hampshire to buy this car at a Boston dealership, (long story), and drove it back to the Midwest.  One year later, I must say that I have a love/hate relationship with the fact that I shift gears manually.  Perhaps part of it is my car itself and the big gap between the first and second gear ratios in conjunction with little torque until 2000 rpm.  The shifting action isn't the smoothest.  But I do like the clutch.  Design aside, living with any manual transmission vehicle is not like driving on a test track.  Driving is full of distractions, unexpected events, potholes and unsympathetic drivers of automatic transmissions.

Starting off from a light, even when done properly can make a manual transmission car seem like a slowpoke.  Shifting takes longer, and it takes mental attention.  Some people say you get to control the vehicle better, and that's true on the powertrain side, but I find that since my mind is occupied by shifting, I don't get to enjoy the rest of the vehicle, (like the handling), as much like when I'm driving around turns.  Perhaps it's me, but the human mind can only comprehend so many things at once.  I can guarantee that unexpected moves can be done more quickly on an automatic, but ones that are planned, such as accelerating out of a turn can be done quicker on a manual because the transmission doesn't know what you will want to do.  Once you are fully proficient, you can pass on the highway quickly with a manual whereas it is basically thought-free, (and subsequently faster) with an automatic.

On the fuel economy front, the gap between automatics and manuals has lessened to the point that it is negligible and sometimes favors automatics.  The manual version of my car revs faster on the highway because it doesn't have the benefit of torque multiplication from a torque converter.  Manuals tend to be cheaper, lighter and less complex, but they require eventual clutch replacement.  As for resale values, automatics are favored heavily except in some sporty vehicle markets.  With some models, you can't sell a manual easily unless you find somebody who's specifically looking for a manual.

Many automatics allow you to shift gears, but they sometimes prevent you from revving as high as you like.  You also don't get that direct connection with what is happening.  But that has even been watered down with manuals due to the advent of electronic throttle control.  I do see manual transmission vehicles as deterrents for theft, and drunk driving, but on the safety front, I have to believe an automatic is safer in a panic situation.  You have enough to worry about when your life flashes before your eyes.

No matter where you stand, the debate continues and it has become further muddled with the advent of DSG and other sequential transmissions that use multiple clutches.  But if you're on the fence, I say this… Automatics are for those that appreciate smoothness which usually coincides with efficiency.  Manuals are for those that want performance and continual attention and excitement.  I guess I like a little bit of both so I'm still torn.  I did keep my old automatic transmission car which is a nice relief when I get sick of shifting, but there are many times I find myself wanting to get into my manual Saab and drive.  I like the challenge of shifting smoothly and well.  When it goes right, I love the transmission.  When I shift poorly, I get de-motivated and I don't like the transmission as much.

You might agree or disagree with this quote which references my comments on your mind only being able to comprehend so much at one time.

"If you want to enjoy the drive, drive an automatic transmission.  If you want to enjoy driving, drive a manual transmission vehicle."

+ Atul

Review: 2007 Saturn SKY Red Line

by Steve Lovett, Senior Editor

When the SKY was introduced this spring, it marked a turning point for the Saturn brand. It showcased the new design vocabulary that has been infused with the DNA of the Aura, Outlook and soon to be produced Astra. The SKY stood out with its stunning proportions and signature cues such as the boomerang grille bar, angled front lamps, wide stance, and chrome-bisected rear lamps. The vehicle has been a showstopper for the brand, but they didn’t stop there.

Saturn recently announced the Red Line version of this already sporty nimble roadster. There are quite a few upgrades in this package. Let’s start with the engine. Replacing the relatively tame 2.4L 177hp VVT inline-4 is a new, turbocharged unit. The new ECOTEC Turbo VVT powerplant displaces a smaller 2.0L but produces 260hp and 260ft-lb of torque across a wide power band. This new engine is GM’s first gasoline engine with Direct Injection technology, which uses a high-pressure fuel rail and unique injectors which result in much more precise fuel metering. Despite the huge increase in power, the Red Line SKY actually delivers better fuel economy than the base model. That’s a true win-win situation.

Other important upgrades include a standard limited slip differential as well as Good Year Eagle F1 high-performance tires to keep that power planted. With this kind of power in a 3,000lb car, the added traction is certainly appreciated. In case an overzealous driver manages to defeat these upgraded systems, the Red Line SKY includes a performance calibrated Stabiltrak stability control system, complete with a selectable competitive algorithim for track days. The suspension is also tweaked for even better handling, but still delivers a compliant ride.

On the exterior, the Red Line can be identified by its Red Line and turbo badges, the dual exhausts, silver accent colored gills and brake cooling outlets in the front fascia. A stylish spoiler is an option, and appears very well integrated.

Saturn makes the SKY available with 9 different paint colors, three interior colors and two colors for the cloth top. The model I’m driving arrived in a fetching combination of midnight blue paint, tan top, and two-tone black and tan interior. This palette is set off by a stunning set of 18” polished aluminum wheels. This combination gives the car an upscale, almost British quality. Exterior fits and finishes were quite good, except for some gathering in the rear buttresses of the cloth top.

Interior design is first rate, except for some notable ergonomic flaws which I’ll address in my driving impressions. The Red line includes unique embroidery in the seats as well as the floor mats. It also includes a leather wrapped wheel and shift knob as well as aluminum sill plates. Making this one stylish interior to look at.

Overall, the car has the appearance of a true winner. The style is absolutely, “stand-out” and it seems to have the hardware now to back it up. Next, we’ll evaluate driving impressions with about 2000 miles behind the wheel of this beauty. Stay tuned.

The 2,200 Mile Test Drive: Ford Fusion SE

     by Chris Olliff, Senior Editor

Ahhh…the open road. There is nothing quite like taking your first trip in a new car. It is sort of like meeting that guy or girl before the first date….you think you know what to expect, but surprises arise the more you spend time with them. And so it is with a new car, as once you get past the smell and the radio channel programming, you can never “become one” with the car until your first trip. When you say “I Do” and sign the papers, its yours now. There are no give backs, take-aways, or retreats of any kind.

This is well and good, but there is one problem here. There are things about every new car that you find out after ownership, as if the short test drive was just a tease….

I had the opportunity to drive a 2006 Ford Fusion on a 2,200 mile trip. Now, those of you that know me well..you can breathe easily now as I did not buy this car. The car was a loaner, as I decided to let my 1986 BMW rest and sit this one out. During this 6 day adventure, I got to know this Fusion SE well and would like to share some observations with you. I will do a more formal review of this car another time…

The vehicle in question was a 2006, Ford Fusion SE with the 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine. The main options on this car were a 6 in-dash CD changer, and that’s it. It was gold in color, and did not attract ANY looks at all, not even from Ford Taurus or late 1990s Chevy Lumina owners. I won’t say the car is not modern looking and handsome, it just does not stand out al all. That’s right single Gents….you won’t be picking up ladies with this car!

Here are some things that I noticed over time driving this vehicle:

 

1) The back window is very small and the third brake light obscures the view of vehicles behind you. Not a very good speeding car, this one, as you can never make out if the car behind you is a cop or not.

2) The chemicals in the rear shelf seemed to evaporate and cause the back window to develop a film over it. I have borrowed this car before, and have to clean this window to see out.

3) The side view mirrors are set low, so they line up ½ half with the door body and the other ½ with the lower part of the side window. Its as if the car was dropped as a baby and things never came back to normal. This creates a weird feeling in the driver’s seat, as if something was left undone.

4) There is no temperature gauge for the outside, as most vehicles offer today. Yes, there is a tidy computer display that tells fuel range, two trip meters, average speed, and two useless timers. Get rid of a timer and provide a proper outside temperature reading. Also, as is the problem in most US made cars, you have to toggle between the trip meter and the odometer…why not just have both displayed on the same screen?

5) The upper storage door in the dash is hard to close. It has a nice rubberized lining to keep things from making noise, but the lining gets caught up around the latch too easily. They should have cut the lining as to not interfere with the latch. My experience with this was so bad; I thought the storage useless…

What did I like? The car has a very large trunk, and it has a long fuel range. You can drive from Atlanta to Jacksonville on one tank! I also liked the seats, as I had no back or leg pains after 10 hours of driving. And, finally, the stereo sounded great and had good bass.

So, there is my list of observations that came about during my 2,200 mile trip with the Ford Fusion SE. Are these issues enough for me to phone my divorce lawyer?... no…but they never would have been seen as loud and clear on the initial test drive….

I wonder what it would be like if we could all drive our best new car pick 2000 miles before purchasing. Would we still say “I DO”…. ?

- Chris Olliff

Hatchbacks and Stationwagons Deserve More Respect, (And So Do Their Drivers)

 by Atul H. Patel, Editor-in-Chief

“My name is Atul, and I drive a stationwagon.” At least that’s what a lot of people would want me to say in some kind of stationwagon owner’s anonymous support group. This mostly occurs because I don’t have a wife and kids. To them I say, my Saab 9-3 SportCombi wagon (and most wagons) are faster, more efficient, lighter, better-handling, safer, and definitely sportier than many so-called Sport Utility Vehicles.  SUVs may have more power but the power to weight ratio is better with a wagon than most SUVs.  My 9-3 even holds about the same amount of stuff as some small to mid-sized SUVs.

Even though I catch flack for owning and driving a wagon (and a hatchback), it’s hard to argue with the fact that they are more practical than sedans. For instance, I can put my bicycle back there without taking the front wheel off and I can even put two with one of the front wheels removed. I’ve had my 1997 Saab 900 for almost ten years. My hatchback has saved me hundreds of dollars in U-Haul rental expenses when I was starting off. Hand-me-down furniture fit well in the back whereas a sedan would not have been able to hold any of the dressers, chairs, and tables that I brought from Cleveland to Detroit.   I fit a 32” tube TV which I purchased and my car saved the day when my friend bought a similar TV and could not get it home in her car.

On the efficiency front, my 1997 Saab has averaged 26.5 mpg with about 40% city driving and the 2006 has averaged 28 mpg with about 70% highway miles. This real world fuel economy is competitive with hybrid SUV’s like the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Highlander hybrid. I think I deserve a tax credit too.

In terms of safety, a lighter, lower, better handling vehicle is better at avoiding accidents. I would rather avoid and accident and get to my destination without delay than get into one and suffer less damage, possibly hurting others in smaller vehicles. In an SUV, rollovers are more likely and those really snarl traffic, let alone putting vehicle occupants in a dizzying dangerous situation, (especially if seatbelts aren’t being used in the rear seats).

I feel I’m not alone though. The trend towards hatchbacks is catching on. In Europe, hatchbacks have been considered to be more upscale than sedans. Hatchbacks and wagons are becoming more popular in North America too. The Mazda 3, Audi A3, Honda Fit, and MINI are all considered cool and I believe my Saab 9-3 SportCombi looks sharp as well. (Notice how the Saab marketing folks had to disguise the fact that it’s a wagon by calling it something other than a stationwagon.) We are such a sensitive society.

I declare this the dawn of a new era, a time when hatchbacks and wagons are not only practical, but respectable and cool. They’re not just for families with kids anymore.

My How Things Have Changed

    by Chis Olliff, Senior Editor

When I moved to Detroit just 7 years ago, things were different. Besides the fact that no one knew about Bluetooth, IPODs, self-parking vehicles, ect….The auto industry was actually a fun, exciting place to work. I remember as a “welcome to Michigan” event, my good friend Steve brought a fleet vehicle from GM for us to take on an off-road adventure. There were many fun rides in different vehicles from the GM competitive fleet, such as my memorable ride to Frankenmuth in the back of a BMW 740IL traveling up I95 at 100mph. Uh……I mean…..75mph. And, who could forget sloshing around in my first Michigan winter in an Audi TT with summer tires….who could know that a car with ABS could slide all the way through an icy intersection…

Fast forward to 2006…. Gone are the vast and fun multi-brand competitive fleets at GM and Ford in the name of cost savings, and gone are the big team lunches we would all go on. Heck, I hear that you can not even get a Ford fleet vehicle to take home if you work there.

Besides all of the missing perks, the main thing that has changed is passion and excitement. No one seems to be excited to work in the industry anymore. With all the talks about big financial losses, layoffs, and buy-outs, it seems that most folks in this town are more focused on survival than more motivational factors. And this is not limited to the general level. It seems now that, instead of an overall attitude of “making the best products out there”, many engineering and design meetings are now about how to keep costs in line and get the cheapest solution. Granted, fuel and material costs have put a damper on things, but the passion and drive has definitely been lower of late. I guess a big sign of the of the times is the large number of die hard workers who have signed up to take a package and move out of the industry.

I think through all of this, one of the main things I have learned is that you can be passionate about something and not have to work in that industry. No one around here loves cars more than I do, but I have lost my interest in working in the industry. Yes, the ideal situation is to do what you love, but sometimes things change and you must adapt accordingly. Just ask the guy on the assembly line who has poured his life into building cars and now must either go back to school of find a new job in a new state.

Perhaps, in the next five or so years, the industry will pick up and the cycle will start again. There will be others to follow in our steps, and we can only hope that their road has less bumps than ours…

The Great Diesel Engine

 by Chris Olliff, Senior Editor

Since I was a boy, I have been fascinated by the diesel engine. My friends down the street had a 1978 Mercedes Benz 300D (non-turbo). You could hear that car coming for miles, and the 2 to 3 shift on the transmission seemed to take as long as the Iraq war.  Who could forget the great smoke screens they could produce, and the wonderful black out feature….they could soil the rear of a car and cover the license plate to make any get-a-way car proud. I was especially fond of watching the Mercedes in-line 5 shake like a dog when wet upon start up. Ahhh…the fond memories…

Or should I say…..THE HORROR……

Yes, you can take the bag off your head and stand up. We know who you are, you are one of the few, the proud, the ex-GM diesel owners! What do you get when you take a 5.7 liter V8 gas engine and convert it to diesel power….a GM publicity nightmare…  Who could forget that sound, the sound of the engine running. If you closed your eyes, you would have thought that someone put a bunch of loose bits of metal in your engine to run amok. Also, there was excitement over how to jump start a GM diesel, as they had TWO batteries!  But, most of all, the fun of owning a GM diesel was betting your friends how long the thing would go without warping the cylinder head. Yes, this problem was so bad, that some vehicles were converted back to gasoline by GM. You see, diesel engines run on compression and they need thicker metal in the engine to handle the higher pressures. The GM 5.7 converted engine could not handle the pressure…(no pun intended)

Soooo….Where does this leave us? Well, most Americans think a diesel is smelly, slow, loud, and not that reliable thanks to the great GM diesel of the 1980s.  So bad are the memories, that GM and Ford are reluctant to re-introduce the diesel to the market in the US. Add to this the fact that pumping diesel fuel can be as nasty as cleaning up cat poo, it is slimy and smelly and foams up. If you get it on your hands, it is not a pleasant experience.

While we in America ran from the diesel engine as if running from a skunk, Europe embraced the technology and made it better. Today, over 50% of the vehicles in  Europe are Diesels, and they have what Americans love: TORQUE. So, why should we car about all of this?

Recently, the US has adopted lower sulfur Diesel fuel, which has been used in Europe for some time now. This allows for the engines to use higher pressure injection systems and better particulate cleaning devises. These higher injection pressures have enabled the diesel engine to have performance as good as or better than gasoline engines. What this translates into for you and me is that we will be able to buy diesels that are not any noisier than what we drive now, do not smoke at all, have a higher level of durability, and will get 27% to 30% better fuel economy than their gas counterparts.

Ok, so what’s the catch? Great question! Basically, a vehicle with a diesel engine may cost up to $2,000 more for that option. As most of you search for your calculators to figure out the return on your investment, don’t forget that that cost is more than half of the premium you would pay to drive a hybrid. Keep in mind that the hybrids have not been consistent with their fuel economy ratings, but a diesel will be more consistent in all types of driving styles. You will not have to “pilot” your diesel vehicle like you do in a Prius, and you won’t have to hide because your car resembles a stapler.

So there you have it…..a modern diesel may have nasty fuel to pump (which I hear is better in the lower sulfur form), but it has many benefits over any other car out there. Many foreign car companies have plans to bring diesels to the US market in the next few years, and we can only hope that the folks at GM and Ford will come out of their fox holes and take another chance on the diesel car. No more needing to wear bags over our heads or wait until Christmas for our diesels to reach 60mph, the new diesels are awesome! 

Don’t take my word for it, drive one yourself….