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AT&T prompting 3G owners to update {TUAW.com}
Aug 22nd 2008 4:36PM I got the text; already updated as soon as at came out (thanks, TUAW). It was fun to read it with "No Service" in the upper left corner.
Toyota needs big December to reach 200k Tundra sales {Autoblog}
Dec 10th 2007 1:43PM Mr. Oak,
A great place to find out if a vehicle has a "pick" or a manufacturer to dealer incentive is the Edmunds.com website. For the Southern California market (which is probably the #1 market for Toyota), select 2007 Tunrda models have $1000 dealer cash on the hood.
Dealers (all makes included, not just Toyota) often use this money to "close the deal" by offering a "special price, just for today" during final negotiations. They count on the consumer not knowing that this incentive exists, so even if they cut the price by $750, they will still pocket $250.
Yet another reason that it pays to do your homework before you set foot on a dealer's lot - a prepared buyer will know that the Tundra model they want has a $4000 customer cash rebate and a $1000 dealer cash rebate - and will demand every penny before closing the dea.
Toyota Tundra hit with two more quality issues {Autoblog}
Oct 22nd 2007 12:32PM The reason Toyota has never laid off an "employee" (or "associate" in Toyota-speak) is because they use temporary workers that are provided by a third-party staffing agency. When demand slackens, Toyota tells the staffing agency that they don't need as many workers, then the staffing agency cuts the workers.
Some of the temporary workers have been working at Toyota for years and put up with lower wages/benefits with the lure of being hired as a full-time associate - but very few actually convert. This is one of the main selling points that the UAW is using to try to gain representation at Toyota facilities.
There has already been one temporary worker cut that I know of at the Princeton plant this year.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/25/toyotas-indiana-plant-shedding-370-temp-workers/
The hundred gadget giveaway: round 1 {Engadget}
Sep 4th 2007 12:36AM Gimme free crap!!!
U.S. Cities With the Worst Traffic Are ... {Gadling}
Jun 15th 2007 3:39AM LA was left off the list because the one of the criteria for this funding was the requirement to include "congestion pricing" in the proposals, such as the proposal to implement a toll on traffic heading into Manhattan. LA's proposal only included the study of congestion pricing, not a plan for implementing it.
There already is a form of congestion pricing in Southern California today; the toll on the 91 Express Lanes (toll lanes located in the median of a freeway) vary based on time - eastbound peak toll on Friday between 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM is $9.50 - about a dollar a mile. The toll agency evaluates the toll pricing on a regular basis and increases it when average traffic during that hour exceeds a predefined target.
It may not be popular since freeways will no longer be fully "free", but it certainly a way to pay for traffic improvements that benefit everyone. I've paid the peak toll on the 91 express lanes because to me, the time saved is worth the money. Those that don't pay the toll benefit, too; they receive the benefit of someone else paying for added capacity.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gridlock8jun08,1,1886857.story
Saturn Side-by-Side-by-Side campaign launches {Autoblog}
Jun 11th 2007 8:34PM Saturn really has nothing to lose and everything to gain with this approach. They have tried at least 3 different campaigns for the Aura since launch (that I can count) and sales are still in the 5000/month range - about 1/5 of Camry's volume and well below the volume of the forgettable L sedan/wagon. I'm sure this is well below GM's original projection.
While the marketing for the Aura has certainly been entertaining up to this point, none of the campaigns tell consumers anything about the product or give them any compelling reason to add it to their shopping list. More than half the battle of selling for the domestics these days is just getting people in the door - if this campaign gets people to start their shopping at a Saturn store, I think they've got a good chance of closing the sale on the spot.
Top 10 cities in which NOT to speed {Autoblog}
May 30th 2007 1:51PM If you ever wondered how Denver planned to pay for its new airport, check out Pena Boulevard, which is the access road to DIA (Denver International Airport). The road is wide open and the speed limit is much lower than you might expect for a freeway; to make matters worse, the speed limit changes to 35 about 5 miles before the terminals. It's very easy to miss the speed limit signs while you are trying to figure out where to go.
VW Passat being investigated for fires {Autoblog}
May 17th 2007 6:22PM Like previous posters have said, no surprises here. My 2001 GTI used to burn out turn signal and brake lights on a regular basis - each one had clear evidence of receiving a spike that had fried the bulbs. In 2005, I had to replace all the spark plugs and 1 plug wire because the coilpack had fried them.
The last straw was when I had to replace all of the spark plugs and all of the plug wires AGAIN 12 months later. The service advisor also wanted me to replace the coilpacks, but he couldn't assure me that this was the cause of the problem or that this would prevent it from happening again.
After I coughed up $1100 for the second time in a year, my GTI and I took a final drive to the Saturn dealership, where I was very happy to pick up my new Aura.
It's such a shame, too - I really loved that car but couldn't stomach the repair bills.
Mrs. Garrett has fighting words for Joan Collins {AOL TV}
Jan 22nd 2007 10:12PM I can't wait for Rosie and Donald to weigh in! Because that's what this country really needs - loud, opinionated people to tell us what to think about issues we really don't care about.
Mickey Thompson can finally Rest in Peace {Autoblog}
Jan 6th 2007 4:35PM While this is certainly a step toward justice, the individuals who actually performed the murders are still at large. The Thompson family is offering a $1 million reward for information for information that leads to the conviction of those persons.
Hats off to both the Orange County and Los Angeles County DA Offices in seeing this case through - it has been quite a journey to get justice.
