Tesla leading the charge in the EV industry

So on my last blog post, I might have been a little harsh in criticizing Tesla. I’m always the first one to admit when I’m wrong, and I have to give the automaker props for achieving success in an extremely competitive market. In my defense though, I did say that 2013 would be a ‘make or break’ year for them, and I’m leaning toward this year being a ‘make’ year for Tesla. 

There are three really good reasons why Tesla deserves kudos for a job well done, aside from the obvious, which is to say that not many car ‘start-ups’ historically have even survived as long as Tesla has. First off, they have managed to make a really good car, even if you ignore the fact that the model S represents a total deviation from the norm since it does not run on an internal combustion engine. Consumer Reports gave the model S a 99 out of  a 100 score, which is incredibly difficult. It also won Motor Trend magazine’s 2013 car of the year award. And if you have ever seen one up close, you can tell right away that the body lines are sleek and streamlined, and that it’s obviously a luxury sedan, and looks very well made. 

 

The second thing that Tesla has done right is living up to it’s corporate guidance, in other words, when the company says it will produce 2,000 cars a month, pay back the Department of Energy loan early and achieve profitability, and then actually does those things, it’s no wonder the company stock has more than doubled this year. Investors like companies that do what they say they are going to do, because it makes them feel more secure about their investment, and it’s not easy to accurately predict the future, but not impossible if the company is managed well. But the third thing that Tesla has going for it is the smart entrepreneur that’s leading the charge. CEO Elon Musk is obviously no dummy, and I find it interesting that in all the recent accolades given to Tesla and what the company has been doing right, I don’t always hear that the guy in charge is largely in part the reason for the company’s success. 

 

It’s sad that other companies like Coda Automotive have failed, and Nissan hasn’t quite lived up to its expectations in Leaf sales, but love it or hate it, the electric car is not going away. It still comes down to the cost of batteries in my opinion, which is partly why I think Tesla has done well. They didn’t bother trying to produce a low-end car that ultimately would have been too expensive anyway (because batteries just aren’t cheap), which is what Coda did. Instead, they made a really nice car to compete with the luxury sedan market, and have actually outsold the Mercedes S class and BMW 7 series models. Yes, they’re still a small fish in a big pond, but you know what, I think they’re doing pretty good with all things considered. 

2013 Will be make or break for Tesla

Once again, gas prices are rising and not surprisingly, the electric car market is still making headlines, specifically with Tesla thanks to a scathing test review of its new model S by New York Times writer John Broder. Despite Tesla’s claims that Broder fabricated data in his story (more like exaggerated in my opinion) the question remains whether or not now is the time for an electric vehicle that is priced in the stratosphere, and what the long term future will be for the Bay Area-based auto maker.

I honestly think 2013 will be a benchmark year for Tesla as they work hard to achieve profitability and somehow sell the idea of a luxury electric vehicle to ‘green’ driving enthusiasts. The EV industry is already working hard to sell the public on the idea of owning a pure electric vehicle in general let alone one that is priced well over, in fact more than double in some cases, the average price of nearly every EV that is now on the market. When you think about it, you would never buy a Tesla on the idea that you would be saving money on fuel costs. Why? Because even the cheap Model S cost more than $50K, with the higher performance version selling  for almost $100K. So, for example, if you buy a 2013 Honda Fit for $20K that gets at least 30 mpg, when you break it down,  it would be much cheaper to own than even the cheapest Tesla. So why buy a luxury EV? Is the ‘green’ Tesla the new smug impractical car to own, much like owning a Hummer use to be?

On the financial side of things, Tesla has notoriously been losing money. Its losses in profits went from losing more that $50 million in 2009 to more than $250 million in 2011, and just recently announced, in 2012, the company lost almost $400 million. Despite all that, and the fact that they only produced about 3,000 cars last year, the company hopes that next quarter they will actually show a profit, and are on track to make approximately 20,000 cars by the end of the year. They also claim to have some 15,000 orders for the new model S. That sounds great for 2013, but will the demand sustain itself when the Wall St. Journal just reported that used vehicle sales are at an all-time high right now because drivers are looking at every possible means to save money. Used car dealers are actually having a hard time keeping any inventory. I hate to sound like a broken record, but more than a hundred years ago, Henry Ford succeeded in making the automobile highly successful by making it, at the very least, affordable to the masses. The Tesla seems like a very well-built car, but is it the EV that the auto industry has been craving for so long that will make electric cars mainstream?

Green car update

Time for an update on the green car market. I don’t need to remind anyone that with gas prices approaching $5 a gallon (I live in CA) the market for more fuel efficient vehicles couldn’t be better right now, or is it?

So, we all know that there are quite a few choices when it comes to hybrid cars, and while the Toyota Prius is still popular, Chevy’s new Volt has done a good job of reinventing the hybrid with a much more efficient system, despite some issues with battery recalls and in my opinion, bad press. Only problem with the Volt, I think, is the price, and the Volt is not alone. New entry Coda Automotive and it’s 100% electric vehicle boasts a nice range, arguably better than the Nissan Leaf, but comes at a hefty price of close to $40K, which is about the same as the Volt. Of course, the Volt has the advantage of NOT being a 100% electric vehicle, giving hesitant EV buyers the piece of mind to know that their foray into the green car market won’t mean worrying about being left stranded somewhere when their charge dies and there isn’t a recharge station near by. I think that fear will linger for a while, but honestly, EVs are really not meant to be a long, road trip type car anyway.

So, lets consider sales figures. Nissan is struggling with only 5,212 Leafs sold in the US as of October(from the Detroit News), a far cry from the company’s goal of selling 20,000 Leafs by the end of this year, but considering Nissan’s early entry into the market, the advantage to the average consumer is the availability of used vehicles for sale, and we all know used is a lot cheaper than new. You can’t buy a used Coda since it’s a new vehicle this year, but do a simple search on Craig’s List and you’ll find 2011 Nissan Leaf’s for around $25K, and yes, I understand that a new Leaf is about the same price as the Coda, but since it has been on the market longer, it has had some time to mature, with new infrastructure to go along with it. If you go to Nissan’s website and look for charging stations, it says there are currently 6,300 nationwide and growing, but more importantly, they have some new stations that can recharge your Leaf in about 30 minutes. I consider this a big plus in one of the EVs biggest barrier to entry among new buyers: fear of limited range and long re-charge times, cost, however, is still an issue, which is why being able to buy one used, is a huge plus.

The Chevy Volt on the other hand has sold more than 16K units to date this year, which is three times what it sold during the same period last year. A used Volt will run you about $30K plus, which is a little more than a used Leaf, but again, with potential buyers being fearful of a limited re-charging infrastructure, the Volt should continue to do well.

Most surprising I think on the green car front is Toyota’s recent announcement to scrap plans of a widespread rollout of its pure electric mini eQ car. Having been the early adopter of green cars when it introduced the Hybrid Prius, now more than 10 years old, logic would dictate that Toyota should be ‘gung ho’ to rollout a pure electric car, not pullback and say the market isn’t ready due to high production costs, long recharge times and limited range, although that is all probably true, a market takes time to mature, and they should know. When the Prius was first introduced, it really was not a cost-effective solution, i.e., the high-cost of the car was not offset by the fuel savings. However, Toyota is introducing an all-electric Rav4 that it has jointly produced with Tesla Motors and plans to roll out just 2,600 vehicles in the next three years­–not exactly the same as when it introduced the Prius in the US in 2000 and sold closer to 6,000 of them that first year. Has Toyota lost its nerve, or are they just being smart about making their next move into the green car market? The recent bankruptcy filing of A123, the Waltham Mass-based lithium ion battery producer, may just be evidence that Toyota knows exactly what they’re doing. Much like Nissan, Toyota has its own lofty sales targets to deal with. The Japanese carmaker has projected it will sell between 35K to 40K plug-in hybrids by the end of this year in Japan, but has so far only sold around 8,400. Much like the other EVs and hybrids, the Prius plug-in isn’t cheap. The standard plug-in Prius starts at $32K plus and the plug-in Hybrid Advanced is closer to $40K.

Time will tell who will come out on top. I think the biggest fear about owning a pure electric vehicle comes down to running out of juice with no where close by to recharge it. When you think about it though, this really shouldn’t be a big deal since you should have some idea how far you plan on driving before you leave the house, I mean you do the same with gas don’t you? The other thing is Nissan makes it easy to find out where the recharging stations are, and have drastically improved the time it takes to recharge a car, not to mention AAA has trucks that will come out and recharge your EV in case that ever happens (see my earlier blog on this topic). I’m sure it took time for a gas station to appear on nearly every corner, but think about how much work was involved in digging up the ground to install huge storage tanks, etc., all things you would NOT have to do to create a recharging station. A bigger issue is the need for better battery technology. Lithium is a highly unstable metal that is dangerous and expensive. I honestly believe this is a bigger barrier to entry than anything else. Admit it though, wouldn’t like to NOT have to buy gas?

Top Ten Most Recognizable Movie Cars of All Time

by Thomas Zizzo

I’ve seen the lists, but I wanted to chime in with my own list of popular movie cars. To say I’m a movie buff would be an understatement, so my list of Hollywood cars is wide, but specifically chosen. While some movies had some interesting vehicles play critical roles, there have been a few that have become so synonymous with their Hollywood portrayal, it’s hard to picture them as being just another car. Let me put that another way. When you see one of these cars on the road, you can’t help but think of the movie that made them famous. I’ve narrowed them down to these ten, in no particular order.

The Italian Job -1969 Austin Mini Cooper S

The British micro car exploded in popularity after the Italian Job was first released in the late 60’s, not just because it was a cool little car, but it literally played a pivotal role in the film, you might say it was the biggest star in the movie, and that’s saying a lot considering the movie had quite a few human stars in it. The plot of the film involved a huge gold heist, which would not have been possible without the help of the quick, agile little cars; little, being the important factor here. The car chase scene, arguably one of cinema history’s best, has the Minis driving over roof tops, down stairs, in and out of buildings, it was as if there was no where the little car couldn’t go. In its own right, the classic Mini Cooper is an awesome car, but just as ET made Reese’s Pieces popular-an already tasty candy-The Italian Job made the Mini one of the sweetest little rides you could ever dream of owning.

Christine -1958 Plymouth Fury

As far as I’m concerned, no movie car list would be complete without a 1958 Plymouth Fury, because it IS the title character of the movie. Although most may not admit it, I think just about everyone at some point develops a special relationship with their car. In Christine’s case, it was beyond scary and literally took on a life of its own. Most of the time people only think their car is possessed when it won’t start or breaks down a lot. Christine was much more than that of course, and I will admit there were times in the movie that I was rooting for the old Fury. Not many of the late 50’s Plymouth were ever produced, making them a rare sight, and technically, there were no production Furies made in red, but if and when you ever do see one, Christine is the only thing you’ll be thinking of.

Bullitt -1968 Mustang Fastback

I will admit I’m a little biased about this choice because I love vintage Mustangs, but hands down if the actual car that was used in the movie ever came up for sale, the price it would bring would be astronomical. Just finding a highland green 1968 GT Fastback with the 390 big block engine would be a great score, but considering the car’s iconic chase scene in the movie on the hilly streets of San Francisco with Steve McQueen behind the wheel-and he did in fact drive for most of those scenes, it’s value really is priceless. In the movie, the green fastback didn’t really have a huge role, but the chase scene was so good, it became a cult classic. The car is so revered that Ford even introduced special edition Bullitt Mustangs in 2001 and again in 2008. There was even a YouTube video done that retraces the chase scenes’ hills and turns in San Francisco some 40 years later. Even the iconic American Racing wheels, arguably the best vintage after market wheel ever made, have been reworked and branded, Bullitt wheels. Get your hands on one of these cools rides, and like Steve McQueen, you’ve got your fast machine.

Herbie The Love Bug -1963 VW Beetle Ragtop

Not only is the car in Herbie the title character, but the loveable bug did everything but talk in the film, that is if you don’t count the beeps as talking. Herbie was the complete opposite of Christine, and never before had a movie car been more animated as it shook, beeped (Beetles have a very distinct horn) squirted oil and nearly committed suicide off the Golden Gate bridge. It’s easy to forget that Herbie is a car, and you can’t help but love the unique look and simplicity of a classic VW Beetle. Almost any car enthusiast will tell you that at one time in their life, they’ve owned one, as if it was a rite of passage, and the VW Bug has outsold every car in automotive history, including the Ford Model T. For the role in the movie, Herbie was actually cast for the part. Disney put several cars out on the studio lot and had employees check them out and choose which one they liked best. The Bug was an instant hit. While there were more than 6 cars used in the making of the original film (no one really knows exactly how many cars they used) one of the original surviving cars is owned by the movie’s main character, Dean Jones. Seems fitting that he has the original Herbie in his driveway.

Goldfinger -1964 Aston Martin DB5

While there have been many ‘Bond’ cars over the years, much like his ladies, the one that has stood out the most was the 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which first appeared in the movie Goldfinger. Not only is the British classic sporty and slick, but the original car used in Goldfinger had all the cool goodies you would expect to see in a spy car, blade-like wheel spinners, oil slick, smoke screen and even an ejector seat. It is probably the only Bond car that appeared again in other Bond movies, even in one of the most recent, Casino Royale. If you want to feel cool cruising around in this classic however, it’ll cost you, try somewhere in the neighborhood of around $400K, that is if you can even find one for sale. The original car used in the movie recently sold at auction for more than $4 million.

Back to the Future -1981 DMC-12 DeLorean

The DMC-12 DeLorean is not only a unique and rare car (DeLorean’s untimely death meant the company wasn’t around very long for many to have been made) it really wasn’t a great car, as far as sports cars go. The version sold in the US had less than 150 horsepower, and could accelerate to 60 mph in a disappointing 10 seconds. But it had a certain look, and with the gull-wing style doors, it was perfect for the role of ‘car-turned-time-machine’ for the 80’s box office hit, Back to the Future. It is quite possible that the stainless steel bodied car would have been all but forgotten if it were not for its role in the Back to the Future movies. Funny thing though about the car in the movie-it needed to hit 88 mph to make the jump in time, but a stock DeLorean speedometer never went past 85 mph.

Vanishing Point -1970 Challenger RT

I didn’t want to leave the Mopar fans disappointed, and lately it seems that this movie-and the car used in it-have reached cult status. I’m talking about the 1971 film Vanishing Point, and its star, the white 1970 Challenger RT. Why is it cool? Because the film is just about some guy driving from Denver to San Francisco in record time, not much plot, and who needed plot in the 70’s when you were behind the wheel of a cool Challenger RT. The other reason it’s cool is because Mopar fans loved it so much that a Chrysler dealer in Pennsylvania worked with Dodge to sell a new Challenger ‘Kowalski’ edition, Kowalski being the name of the main character in the movie. Basically, if you’re a Mopar fan, you know the movie Vanishing Point, for the car of course.

Gone in 60 Seconds –1967 GT 500 Shelby ‘Eleanor’ Mustang

As much of a Mustang purist as I am, I have to admit that the real star of Gone in 60 Seconds, was the Eleanor 1967 GT500 Shelby Mustang, even though we all know it wasn’t a real Shelby, it managed to get a lot of people’s attention. Never mind Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie, no one honestly remembers their performance in the movie, but what they do remember was that tricked out Mustang. In the original 1974 film, which technically wasn’t the original because the stories were different, and the title of the movies were different (the 1974 movie is Gone in Sixty Seconds, not 60), it did feature an ‘Eleanor’ Mustang; a 1973 Mach 1, but was no where near the modified 1967 Mustang hot rod used in the 2000 movie. Designed by illustrator Steve Stanford and built by hot rod legend Chip Foose, Eleanor was destined to be a hit among car freaks. While I still like a good stock 1967 Mustang Fastback, I certainly would not turn away an Eleanor Mustang. The design was so cool in fact it spawned a niche industry of remakes of the movie car. You can still get one, now branded as a Shelby GT500CR, made by a company called Classic Recreations, and they aren’t cheap, but they are officially sanctioned by the legendary Shelby himself, so that obviously means they’re cool.

Smokey and the Bandit1-1978 Pontiac Trans Am

Smokey and the Bandit started a love affair with the Trans Am, and why not, by the late 70’s the muscle car era was over, but someone forgot to tell Pontiac, and Smokey and the Bandit was a reminder that cool, fast American muscle cars still existed. Trans Am sales soared in the next couple of years as a result of the film. Sometimes I think we forget why muscle cars were the king of cool. They were cool because they were simple, elegant, fast and CHEAP! The Bandit was as country hillbilly as can be, and while a $5,800 Trans Am would have been a high-end car for the southern truck driver, it was a far cry from any European sports car or even something like a Corvette, which would have been almost double the price in 1978, and even less horsepower than a Trans Am! Lets face it, with the muscle car look, 6.6 liter 400 cubic inch motor and that cool, swirled metal dash, the Pontiac Trans Am was perfectly cast for Smokey and the Bandit, and getting one in the late 70’s was as easy as going to your local GM dealer, and people did.

Transformers -2010 Chevy Camaro ‘Bumblebee’

I struggled with this choice since it’s a newer movie, but there’s no doubt when you see a 2010, yellow SS Camaro with black rally stripes cruising down the street, you can’t help but think of that scene in the movie when the humble old Bumblebee changes over to the new kick ass Camaro. After a short hibernation (Chevy stopped making the Camaro after 2002), the Camaro was reintroduced several years after the movie first aired, modeled after the cult classic 1969 Camaro, auto enthusiasts, especially Chevy fans, were very excited about its release, and seeing it in the movie before it was officially on the road was quite the tease. Oddly enough, Bumblebee in the original Transformers comic books was a VW Beetle, arguably the true first car for any teenager, in fact my best friend’s first car was a yellow Beetle, the use of the Camaro was a bit of a marketing ploy with Chevy to debut its new creation I’m sure. Chevy did in fact sell a Transformers edition Camaro in 2010, and for the release of the third film in the franchise, another special edition for 2012, cementing the car’s place in movie car history forever.

Retro Cars are the rage, but are they too expensive

By Thomas Zizzo

Carmakers have figured out that bringing back retro styling to their designs is good for business, too bad they don’t feel that way about the pricing.

Once Ford started doing well with its retro-styled Mustang in 2005, Dodge quickly got on board by bringing back the Challenger, looking much like it did back in 1970, then Chevy with the new Camaro, and for 2012, the VW Beetle finally got a new look, bringing back a little bit of that old vintage Bug style, but what made some of these cars such huge hits back in the day was that they were somewhat affordable. Not so much now it seems:

•                                        Inflation adjusted/new car price             Original price
• 1965 Ford Mustang                        $16,938                                     $2,372                        six cylinder model
• 2012 Ford Mustang                        $22,310                                                                      six cylinder model
• 1969 Mustang Boss 302                  $21,991                                    $3,588
• 2012 Mustang Boss 302                  $43,000
• 1963 Corvette Convertible                $31,256                                   $4,252
• 2012 Corvette Convertible               $55,000
• 1970 Dodge Challenger RT              $18,178                                    $3,273
• 2012 Dodge Challenger RT              $30,000                                                                         5.7L Hemi V8
• 1967 Volkswagen Beetle                  $12,108                                    $1,798
• 2012 Volkswagen Beetle                  $19,795
• 1969 Chevy Camaro                        $16,714                                    $2,727                         base V-8(307 CI)
• 2012 Chevy Camaro                        $23,280                                                                       base V-6 model
•  

*inflation adjusted prices were calculated using the US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator illustrating today’s buying power of decades old prices

1969 Boss 302 Mustang

2012 Mustang Boss 302

In an obvious attempt to lure aging Baby Boomers who owned iconic muscle cars in the late 60’s when they were teenagers, carmakers have successfully brought back the right styling and performance, but at a hefty price. If you look at the original price of Ford’s ultra cool Boss 302 Mustang introduced in 1969 and adjust for inflation, you’ll see that it was far cheaper than the brand new one being re-introduced this year. True, you get a lot more car for your money than you did 43 years ago(a 1969 Boss 302 had about 290 horsepower, compared to the new one that has well over 400 horsepower)but is it worth double the original price? Look at the price of an old Corvette, it was far cheaper back then compared to what new ones cost today, but given how much cars have changed with technology and performance, is it fair to say they are now overpriced? I would argue yes, they’re overpriced.

Back in 2000, a brand new IBM Thinkpad laptop, with 64mb of RAM and a whopping 12 Gig hard drive-weighing in at less than 8 pounds, would have cost you in the neighborhood of $3,500, and that’s NOT an inflation adjusted price. Even a 17” MacBook Pro, with a 750 Gig hard drive and 4 Gigs of RAM will only cost you $2,500 today. A high-def TV purchased 6 years ago was almost triple the cost of one today, so why has the auto industry reversed this trend? It’s a fair question, I think, because cars made 40 years ago also contained a lot less plastic and other cheaply made components used today. If it’s a question of better technology, doesn’t that usually get cheaper as a market matures, much like it has for things like TVs and computers? Maybe it’s a labor cost, but minimum wage in 1969 was $1.60 an hour, or roughly $9.80 when adjusted for inflation. That means that workers most likely got paid more 40 years ago, coupled with the fact that a good part of the auto manufacturing process isn’t even done by humans today.

Auto manufacturers 40 years ago understood the value of a good deal, how else can you explain the fact that Ford sold more than a million Mustangs, yes, a million, by the second year of the popular car’s initial production run. Then there’s the fact that during the late 60’s, popular muscle cars started to appear with many options deleted, such as radios, power windows, AC, etc. Cheap performance was all that mattered, and as odd as it seams, those old cars with deleted options are now more valuable because of it. Even Pontiac’s iconic 1964 GTO, widely regarded as the first true muscle car, was marketed under the idea that you didn’t have to spend a ton of money to get great performance and styling. Even it’s name, GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato), was considered a flip of the middle finger to Ferrari, which incidentally would have cost as much as a new home in 1964. I know I’ve said it before, but there’s a reason the most produced cars in history were so successful; they were affordable.

“It (Model-T) will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one.” Henry Ford.

New automotive laws in California for 2012

by Thomas Zizzo

As of January 1, 2012, California’s new Child Safety Seat Law goes into effect. The new law requires parents to keep children properly buckled into a car seat or booster in the back seat until the age of eight. The old law stated that a child who is ‘6 years or 60 pounds’ needed to be in a safety seat.

A driver can be fined more than $475 and get a point on their driving record for each child under 16 years of age who is not properly secured in their vehicle.

Children age eight or older may use the vehicle seat belt if it fits properly with the lap belt low on their hips, touching the upper thighs, and with the shoulder belt crossing the center of the chest. If a child is not tall enough for proper belt fit, they must ride in a car seat or booster seat.

Vehicles are now explicitly forbidden from crossing double parallel solid white lines, commonly found in carpool lanes on highways.

A new adjustment to sobriety checkpoint regulations now prevents authorities from impounding vehicles at checkpoints when the driver’s only offense is failing to hold a driver’s license. The new law requires that the officer make a reasonable attempt to notify the registered owner in order to release the vehicle.

Repeat offenders can have their driver’s license suspended for 10 years if they have been convicted of at least three DUIs.

Electric vehicles must be plugged in for recharging when parking in an EV-designated space, otherwise they may be towed. In addition, the law prohibits a person from obstructing, blocking, or otherwise barring access to an EV-designated parking space.

Anyone who is convicted of reckless driving under Section 23103.5 of the vehicle code can apply for a restricted driver license prior to the completion of their one-year suspension, provided they meet specified conditions, including the installation of an Ignition Interlock Device in their vehicle.

Best small cars that have stood the test of time

-by Thomas Zizzo

I’m not sure why I’ve always liked smaller cars. I think maybe it’s because they’re not as common and typically get better gas mileage or are easier to park, whatever it is, I love driving little cars.

I put together this list of my favorites, but there are specific reasons why I chose these cars, and I will explain. First of all, it has to be small, and I understand that while some cars are relatively small-you can call them compact, some cars are really small; I’m looking more at the really small, but not so small it would be considered a micro car, such as a classic BMW Isetta, or a late 50’s Nash Metropolitan. Those cars didn’t make my list because not only are they considered micro, they no longer exist, and haven’t for quite some time. I believe that a car is really great if it has been around for a while, and evolved over generations of drivers while maintaining its original appeal. So you will notice on my list that these cars have been around for many years and can still be found today. Of course, the popularity of small cars seems to be on the rise when you look at some newer cars available now, such as the return of the little Fiat 500 to the United States, thanks to the merger with Chrysler, and the new Scion iQ. Only time will tell with these cars; are they a passing fad or a new standard. There may be other cool small cars out there, but these are my favorites.

VW Bug

The Volkswagen Beetle is hands down the greatest small car ever made, and before you jump in to argue, I’ll tell you why. There have been more VW Bugs made than any other car, yes, ANY other car, including the Ford Model-T when it surpassed an astounding 15 million plus cars sold by the early 70’s. Yes, there are cars that are smaller, but overall, a Bug is pretty darn small compared to most. When referring to vintage bugs(anything made prior to the late 70’s)they’re simple, easy to work on, cheap to maintain, and despite being small, they’re quite roomy inside. I can still remember the first time I went to park my ’61 Bug on a busy street that normally would have required a complex parallel parking maneuver, it was so easy I almost laughed. What amazes me even more is that the Bug still lives on, and while the new ones are a far cry from the original models, the soul of the little German car is going strong, and shows no signs of dying any time soon.

Mazda Miata

A Mazda Miata is pretty darn small, almost micro in size, and when it first debuted in 1989, it was such a huge hit that people paid above sticker price to get one-what???! Yep, they did, in fact most dealerships had waiting lists for the little convertibles. The inspiration for the Miata came from the vintage MGs and two-seat roadsters of the late 50’s and 60’s, and for whatever reason, by the late 80’s and early 90’s, small convertible sports cars were non-existent. The Miata is still produced, although much more refined than its first inception. You might say that the age of small roadsters was destined to make a comeback with the introduction of the Miata, and why not, they’re a blast to drive, just make sure you don’t need to bring any luggage larger than a gym bag for a road trip.

Austin/BMW Mini

The Mini of course prides itself on being small, hence the name. Much like the VW Bug, it’s hard not to fall in love with the little car, and its popularity is arguably just as big. Some might consider it micro-an original vintage one maybe, but I would argue that it isn’t quite as small as it looks. The inside of a vintage Mini is actually very roomy, considering its size. Hollywood made it uber-famous with the 1969 cult classic film The Italian Job, and when BMW took over the brand in 2001, the spirit of the Mini was kept alive, even if the new Mini is a little larger than its humble beginnings. Point being, small is still cool, and the Mini keeps that idea alive even today.

Jeep

The Jeep CJ, known today simply as the Wrangler (CJ stood for Civilian Jeep) was arguably the first true SUV, and when you really look at one, they’re small, at least I think so. Not many vehicles have evolved yet remained true to its original flavor like the Jeep. It literally defined a new category of car-not a truck, but not a passenger car, it is something else. The CJ was first introduced after the vehicle’s huge success during WW2, and much like the military version, the CJ was simply unbreakable and could go just about anywhere. I think people have always had a desire for adventure, especially with their cars, and what better to fulfill that desire than with a Jeep. It has changed owners/manufacturers over the years (Willys, AMC, Chrysler) but the overall concept and look has stayed the same. Even when SUVs became all the rage in recent years, the Jeep was always a contender in its class, and thanks to its compact size, the only reason other SUVs have done well is because the Jeep is considered by many to be too small. As I have said before, time will tell, and the Jeep truly lives up to the idea that good things come in small packages.

Fantasy Cars on a Budget

-Thomas Zizzo

Being a car enthusiast, you might say there are plenty of cars I would consider my ‘dream’ car. Of course, a 1970 Boss 429 Mustang will run me close to a quarter of a million dollars, but just because my dream car seems a little out of reach doesn’t mean other potential dream cars are that impossible to own.

Silver Shadow Rolls Royce

Built between 1965 and 1980, the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow has the classic look that just screams the highest level of quality and design that the British luxury car-maker is known for. You just can’t get a more luxurious car than a Rolls Royce, except for maybe a Bently, which is made by the same company. It’s safe to say any true auto enthusiast would dream of owning a Rolls, but many might not know it isn’t really that crazy to own one. Ok, so a new one will cost you as much-if not more-than my own personal dream car, but you can easily pick up an early 70’s model Silver Shadow for around $15K or less. That’s not bad considering the level of quality in which a Rolls Royce is produced. They are literally hand made. If you see wood on the dash, it’s REAL wood that the factory cut and varnished themselves. In an age of mass production with ultra-cheap labor, you can’t get anything better for an automobile at that price. Of course, a tune-up and/or replacement parts may cost you an arm and a leg.

1970's Silver Shadow Rolls Royce

 

Magnum PI Ferrari 308

If you grew up in the 1980’s like I did watching the rogue private investigator played by Tom Selleck cruising the backroads of Hawaii, you’ll remember one thing for sure-the red 308 Ferrari he drove. That iconic ride is so distinctly Ferrari and was once considered a dream car that only the well-off could own. Now, for between $25K to $40K, and a retro Detroit Tigers baseball hat, you too can look like Magnum PI cruising down the street. It’s arguably still not a cheap car, but it sure will get you noticed, and given the price for just about any other Ferrari, it would be considered an ‘entry-level’ car of its kind, and wouldn’t be a bad investment.

 

Ferrari 308

 

Porsche 944

Nothing says performance and style like a Porsche, but even old Porsches, except for maybe the 914, ok, and the 924, aren’t exactly cheap. Then there’s the 944, which if you remember from the iconic John Hughes film Sixteen Candles, the coolest guy in the movie (Jake Ryan) drove a red 944. For a long time I dreamed of picking up a date in a cool red Porsche like the one he drove in the movie, and now, that dream car will cost a whopping $5K or less. I couldn’t even get a classic Mustang for that-at least one that doesn’t need a total overhaul.

1986 Porsche 944

 

Lexus LS400

A 1995 Lexus LS400 was probably the most luxurious (LS stands for luxury sedan) Japanese car you could ever buy. With premium options, an LS400 could have had a sticker price of more than $40K, and why shouldn’t it, for that kind of money you got the reliability of a Toyota, but the luxury of a Cadillac. It was such a cool car that even Bill Gates drove one, making the Lexus the car to have if you wanted to be like Bill. But that was then and now, for less than $5K, you can own one of these comfortable and luxurious cars. I would say that out of all the cars I’m putting on this list, it would arguably be the best buy for the money. Back in the late 90’s, it was rumored that this very car was a status symbol for Microsoft employees, not just because Bill Gates drove one, but because it was also a really nice car.

Lexus LS400

 

Pontiac GTO 2005-06

The Pontiac GTO introduced in 1964 is widely regarding as being the first true muscle car. It’s aggressive styling and brute horsepower started a trend among American carmakers that would define an unforgettable era in automotive history.

Fast forward to 2004 with the reintroduction of the GTO. By now, American carmakers were long criticized for putting out cars that lacked the sleek styling of their European counterparts. The new GTO not only looked like a European sports car, but boasted big performance as well. The 2005/06 models got even better when GM replaced the LS1 motor with the more popular LS2 engine used in Corvettes, giving the GTO more than 400 horsepower and a 0 to 60 time of less than 5 seconds. The cool styling and strong performance made the car a big hit, but at a hefty price of well over $30K, ok, arguably that’s cheaper than a Corvette, but we are still talking about a two door sports car. Keeping in mind a 2006 Pontiac GTO is only 5 years old, you can easily pick one up for about $15K, not bad considering the LS2 engine by itself costs about that much.

 

2006 Pontiac GTO

Top Ten Ugliest American Cars Ever

So here is what I consider to be the ugliest American cars ever made. Yes, there are plenty of foreign cars that got hit with the ugly stick, but for the purposes of this list, I’m sticking with American cars, and the good ole’ US of A has had a few duds over the years when it comes to looks and styling.

Starting with the bottom is the Cadillac Cimarron. While I realize that the Cimarron is not the ugliest American car on the road, it forever changes the term, ‘the Cadillac of…’ when used to describe the best of something. As the term suggests, a Cadillac is supposed to be the ultimate in design and styling, which the Cimarron is not. Most Cadillac fanatics will tell you they do not even consider the Cimarron a Cadillac. It was ugly, poorly made and completely un-like what a Cadillac should be.

Cadillac Cimarron

Next up is the Chevy Chevette. This car came during a time when gas was becoming very expensive-if you could get it at all-and obviously no one in the US could figure out how to make an economy car look cool, kind of like the early days of diet food, sure it was good for you, but it tasted so bad most preferred to starve. The US had to compete with the likes of Honda and Toyota, and while they got the size right, that was about the only thing they got right. All you could really say about this car in the late 70’s was that it got good gas mileage and it was easier to park than most of its American brothers and sisters.

Coming in at number eight is the Chevy Citation. This is the line that replaced the Chevette, and believe it or not, won Motor Trend’s car of the year for 1980. Still doesn’t change the fact that it was ugly. It looks like a boxy, bloated Pinto, and yes, that’s on the list too.

Chevy Citation

At number seven on the list is a more recent design, the 2001 Pontiac Aztek. It kind of looks like a cross between an SUV and a Toyota Prius-yikes! It’s hard to tell if it’s an SUV or a car, today we call them ‘crossover’ vehicles, but the body lines have no distinct style, it’s over done with plastic body cladding, and the bumpers, well, just look at it, it’s pretty damn ugly.

2001 Pontiac Aztek

Number six on the list is probably a car not many have heard of, and the fact that it was hideously ugly may be why. AMC, who has brought to the car world some pretty ugly cars, introduced the Matador in 1971. It replaced the previous Rebel line of cars, and I think it represents the worst of 70’s styling, much like a few other AMC cars. If you took the front end of a Ford Pinto, stretched out the wheelbase, slapped some Corvair taillights on it, then added a Chevy Vega roofline, you get something that looks like a Matador.  Even worse was the Barcelona model, which came standard with an interior that no car should ever have, even seatcovers from the flea market would look better than that interior.

Next up is the Mustang II. By 1974, the Ford Mustang was due for a radical change, unfortunately, the muscle car era was over, and smaller, more fuel efficient cars were on every car makers mind, too bad styling was not. Looking like something between a Pinto and a bad dream, the Mustang II represented a huge shift for the popular sports car. Unfortunately, the Mustang wouldn’t look cool again until at least 1985. It came in the Pinto fastback version, or the boxier standard type-both were incredibly ugly. The only good thing that came out of the Mustang II was that hot rodders could take the front ends out of them and bolt them up to their old rides giving them independent front suspension and disc brakes.

1974 Mustang II1976 Mustang II Cobra

1976 Mustang II Cobra

Number four on the list is the AMC Gremlin. The name alone screams ugly, but in my opinion, it still isn’t as ugly as its close cousin, which is number two on my list. It was yet another car meant to compete in an auto market where cars were getting smaller and more fuel efficient, but its looks were nothing like the more popular imports of its day. The 70’s were destined to be an era of odd automotive styling, and the Gremlin was evidence of that trend.

AMC Gremlin

At number three is the Ford Pinto. It would forever be synonymous with failure. It not only had ugly styling, but it was plagued with mechanical problems, most notably, its propensity to explode with a rear end collision. Of all the really bad designs that came out of the 70’s, the Pinto somehow gets looked at as the benchmark of bad design, but next up on the list is actually worse.

Ford Pinto

I would say the AMC Pacer should be number one, but it was a very difficult decision and it took the number two spot. What can you say about it, it’s so ugly it’s hard to know where to start. When it debuted in 1975, Road Testmagazine said it looked like a ‘four-foot submarine sandwich’. The Pacer even made the Pinto look tame, which is saying a lot, I think. Personally it reminds me of those odd space ships that were used for the series Lost in Space. If you want people to stare at you while you’re driving, get a Pacer.

AMC Pacer

Number one should be no surprise. The 1958 Ford Edsel was hands down the ugliest car ever made, even though I personally think the Pacer was uglier, more people will say ‘Edsel’ when they think of an ugly American car. It was the grill, that toilet seat or horse collar front end is what sealed its fate for sure.

1958 Ford Edsel

Electric Vehicles Biggest Turn Off

There’s no doubt that electric cars are making a comeback, and while new technology has made them more efficient with longer range capabilities, nothing has changed about the fact that once batteries are dead, it takes time to recharge them.

Electric cars can typically take about ten hours to recharge with a standard outlet, or if you have the $2K to upgrade to a 240 volt charger-what is typically used to power electric clothes dryers-then the charge time is reduced to about 3 hours. The latest and greatest technology for recharging EVs is called ‘Level 3’ and uses a 480 volt system. It boasts a recharge time of 80% capacity in only 30 minutes, only problem is, the special wiring upgrade is in the neighborhood of $50K.

So the big question is, what do you do if you’re driving home and your EV dies?  Not surprising, AAA has recently come out with new trucks equipped to rescue your battery drained EV.  Their new tow trucks are equipped with a 4.5 kWh lithium-ion battery on board that can give a standard electric car anywhere between 15 and 3 miles of power, depending on the type of charger your car has.

AAA will deploy the trucks with mobile electric vehicle charging capacity in six metropolitan areas across the US as a pilot program including San Francisco Bay Area, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Knoxville and the Tampa Bay area. AAA estimates that there will be 1.2 million EVs on US roads by 2015. On a personal note, if oil companies were smart, they would start adding recharge stations to their existing gas station infrastructure across the country. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of years, there’s no doubt that an electric car, or very efficient hybrid car, is automakers big revenue race, that is to say, they will be competing to one up each other with a better, cheaper fuel efficient car. If oil companies ignore this fact, they could be like the next saddle makers before everyone starting owning a car instead of a horse. You watch, it WILL happen.