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NEW YORK AUTO SHOW

Economic woes overshadow the shiny new cars

JEREMY CATO

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 10:39 PM EDT 29/03/08

With recent economic news dominating conversation, there was a sense of 'what's next?' running through the giant convention centre ...Read the full article

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  1. Ivan Patrick from Canada writes: I get a kick out of all these big shiney cars. I really dig the hybrids with horrible fuel economy, and small cars with fuel economy no better then my old 1988 Mazda MX6! Ah, what a wonderful technological age we live in!
  2. dave donison from cumberland bc, Canada writes: Mr Cato, you are obviously unaware of the Phoenix Motor Company based in Ontario California which has developed and is the process of manufacturing electric cars and pickup trucks. Their SUV is capable of going 130 miles before requiring a charge. Their battery packs are capable of a rapid 10 minute charge. Next years model will have a 250 mile range before requiring a charge. The electric car and the technology which will allow it to succeed has finally arrived. Once these vehicles are mass produced and become affordable to the general public, vehicles with ice's will become obsolete.
  3. Sean Keller from Boston, United States writes: One of the things I want to point out to Dave is that car companies cant really capitalize on batteries because they're so invested in gasoline and there are way more gas stations. also, i have a feeling that a premium price will be placed on electric cars because they know that a good portion of people wil still buy them. But if you're concerned about saving money more than the environment than a hybrid that only gets 35 mpg and runs on a hybrid engine might be a happy medium.

    Sean Keller
    http://www.greencollareconomy.com
  4. Jack Jones from Clearwater, BC, Canada writes: Is it any wonder Look at the picture on the front page. This is Detroit's new car? An El Camino for 2008? Gimme a break. How bout that big ol' Dodge station wagon with the huge motor, the Magnum? Geez haven't seen that style since the 72 Villager! Like, no wonder the big 3 are getting whupped, they're stupid, old and on their way out!
  5. Stop! Think! from Canada writes: Another low-tech, big engined piece of trash...I think the big three have given up on the younger generation, and are strictly going for the baby-boomers, why else re-release the el camino??? Complete idiots, they think they can bring back the 60's and 70's, the entire upper management at the big 3 should ALL be fired......
  6. Late 4 Work from Canada writes: Like it or not, most Americans do not share the buying habits of the few posters here. They may cringe at high fuel costs, but they ain't ready to drive the interstate highways with little toilet size cars on wheels.

    They like at minimum V6's. Even when purchasing import brands that have percieved better fuel mileage, they often for the option of the bigger motor. There is a market for the sub-compacts, but it isn't nearly as large as the mid size car one.
  7. Jack Jones from Clearwater, BC, Canada writes: Well then americans need to lezrn a lesson fromt he Ancient Romans or the dinosaurs. how poetic! dinosaurs driving cars fueled by dinosaurs!!
  8. NRK'st Forever from Calgary, Canada writes: That new G8 pickup....YUCK! Firebomb it!!! That's what it's for......
  9. Dane Poe from North Bay, Canada writes: To go with the rest of the posts above, I can't understand why most police forces in this country choose the Crown Victoria. It's heavy gas guzzler from hell and has no balls. Rear wheel drive sucks in snow. Ford doesn't even sell them to the public and the taxi drivers are stuck driving the leftovers. Where’s the logic in that?
  10. Paul Sallmen from Burnaby, BC, writes: You're right Ivan Patrick, I bet your 1988 Mazda is better on gas than most new cars on the road. The 80s and 90s were the heyday for Japanese cars. Less regulation then meant lighter, less complicated cars. Better fuel economy was also the result. Take a look how many models weighed a tonne or less then vs. now.

    It's time Canada adopted a City Car class for cars - lighter, smaller more fuel efficient cars with cheaper licensing and insurance. Just follow Europe's lead.

    Dave Donison, do you think Phoenix has started (or ever will) production of their cars? After all, with all the regulation, it costs exorbitant amounts of money to bring a car to market in US and Canada. Those Phoenix cars are not regular models sold in either US or Canada (to my knowledge), so does Phoenix honestly have the financing to carry out crash tests etc? Lion EV may be more plausible as they're just modifying an existing model (Ford Escape).

    On a positive note, Tesla motors is for real. Their Roadster is now being produced, albeit solely for the US market.
  11. r alexander from Canada writes: I can't really agree that the 80s were the golden age of japanese cars. 90's were signficantly better, and the current crop even more so. When I consider my family's '84 Accord, '86 Corolla, '97 Civic ,'98 Camry and '05 Sienna, I'd have to say that the cars from the 90s have proven to be far more resistant to rust, got better mileage, and, though some de-contenting was visible, also had some clever features the older cars didn't. Safety is also much more of a selling point these days- don't think cars from the 80s, and much of the 90s, had airbags, stability control, or ABS offered on as many models. Currently, a 2009 Corolla gets almost 50mpg highway and is as big as a Camry from the 80s, and has many more safety features. I'd call that progress.
  12. S H from Windsor, Canada writes: Dane Poe..... police forces use the Crown Vic because they are rear wheel drive and very reliable. Why do you think taxi's always use rear drivers? Rear drivers require less maintenance and handle better. I'm starting to see alot of the new Hemi Chargers as cop cars which are even quicker. The price of fuel might change this in the next 10 yrs. but police want a larger car that handles well. That push bar you see on the front of most cop cars probably wouldn't work as well attached to an Accord or Fusion would it?
  13. S H from Windsor, Canada writes: Jack Jones.... you're right! The big 3 are always late to the party. Chrysler should have come out with the Challenger back in the mid 80's when the Mustang and Camaro were in their hayday's!!! Better late than never I guess. Where can I get one?
  14. r alexander from Canada writes: "Better late than never??"

    The big 3 gambled on fuel prices staying low, and they haven't. And so they've come to market with a fresh crop of big cars, frome which they had been expecting commesurably big profits, but it's not happening.

    Sales of large vehicles, be they SUVs, musclecars, or full size sedans are suffering in the US, and with them, the big 3.

    It's not a matter of better late than never- seems more like they missed the boat.

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