“‘Free-market’ capitalism is ALL ABOUT externalizing costs (e.g. dumping waste in a public stream, etc.), because the only concern is the company’s shareholders, not the ‘commonwealth’—this is not a value judgment that is simply the system.
The only recourse the public has to control this built-in tendency is government—for which the primary function is to protect the common good (not very successfully at the moment).”

Bovine Scatology!!!!

Why is it that Socialist Nim-nuts can say things that are patent falsehoods, and get away with it? They always complain about free enterprise/capitialist systems and “externalizing” pollution.

Name the worst pollution cesspools in the World.

Russia, China, East Europe like Poland, Hungary Czech Rrepubic etc. All members of the former Socialist, Marxist, A$$wipe bloc, that he so fervently worships.

Nary a single western democracy. Could it be that when no one owns anything, then no one cares about any thing? Pollution seems endemic to marxist tyranies? Why?

Free enterprise and it’s decentralized husbandry of land and resources created the great cleanup. It has been going on for 200 hundred years and only accellerated after 1970. Where? In the western Democracies, where there is accountability.

The air, water and land is much, much, much, much,…. yada, yada, yada cleaner than in any of those Marxist hell holes.

And then Mr. Nimrod spouts his obviously, stupid and erroneous, idiocies, and yet no on calls him on it.

Dude. Do not believe the badly produced disinfo from the dropout school of trollology that created “Young Blood.” These type comments and their old school writers are the product of a small, out of touch group of cave dwellers living in darkness and hoping their pithy little remarks will discourage real people. They don’t. Young Blood and the anti-American trolls are actually CCP agents employed like Tokyo Rose was in the dark ages to try to “psyche” you out.

What’s truly laughable is they pour tons o’ dough into their fruitless little ventures and get ZERO results! Hee Hee! Talk about bad investments! These clowns throw money around, get nothing in return, and dig down for more money to throw out! If you’re looking for a low paying, unrewarding job… apply to become a CCP agent. Sure its cowardly, and waaay out of date – but you might like the donuts and sitting in the dark all day!

2009 BMW 335D
http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/2009-bmw-335d/12449945

Ridiculous timing (leadership?)

Is a $50,000 + EREV Cadillac what GM needs to be planning right now? With not even one $40,000 Volt on the road . . . not for another 2 years?

GM continues to exhibit the mindset (regardless of what they say) that hybrids/electric cars are just novelties for brand badging. Not something that should be sold en masse.

Robert Lutz from January, 2004:
“And Lutz did concede that Toyota has won the public relations battle with the Prius, even if it followed a business strategy he does not endorse.

“For Toyota, it was a huge, huge, immeasurably valuable PR coup,” said Lutz. GM’s decision not to pursue a hybrid car “was a mistake from one aspect, and that’s public relations and catering to the environmental movement.” ”
http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/06/pf/autos/detroit_gm_hybrids/index.htm

Micky Bly mentioned in one of his interviews regarding the Tahoe Hybrid that it only needs 30 hp to cruise down the highway. That is 22.4 kW, which is about twice that of the Volt.

Now if a Voltec Tahoe could be built, probably with a drive system at the front wheels and another at the rear wheels, and still use the Volt’s T-shaped battery pack, this could be an attractive package.

You could go with a smaller engine, no transmission, no transfer case, and probably lighten the frame (this Tahoe would have limited towing). You would have 8 passenger capability, 4WD, increased road clearance, and room for all your goodies from Home Depot.

Now let’s assume that this vehicle uses twice as much energy as the Volt. So now we have an AER of 20 miles, and get 25 mpg once the ICE comes on. So if the average owner gets half his miles from electricity, then this vehicle gets a nominal 50 mpg!

For 15,000 miles per year, this equates to 3000 kWh of electricity and 300 gallons of gas. At $.15 per kWh, and $4 per gallon gasoline, annual energy costs are $1650. Compare this to a Prissy at 50 mpg and $4 per gallon, and its energy costs are $1200 per year.

My point, if GM has the technology to provide an equivalent 100+ mpg in the Volt, then 50 mpg in a full size SUV is doable. In this scenario, I don’t see the vehicle demographics changing much, and trucks and SUV’s could continue to dominate the highways of America.

Ain’t technology great!

Bob Lutz will be replaced by Thomas Stephens.

America is not a country for OLD MEN. If your old then move to Japan, they will respect you over there. In America you are just in the way.

———————————————

Ha! You don’t have a clue. Lutz is much older than 60, he is 77. In fact, his replacement is 60. I’d say it’s clueless people like you that are in the way. Now, if only we could find a way to ship you off to Japan, then we’d be fine.

You’re more forgiving than some will be. Of course, that’s one way for GM to return to profitability; to make a compelling product, like the Volt, that not only keeps the faithful coming back to the GM dealership but also provides a healthy dose of conquest sales.

Of course, at 10K units in 2011 and $40K, the Volt… it is unique but the quantity and price erase the other advantages. It would be a whole ‘nother story if it was due in 2010 in 80-100K volume and at a more affordable price.

—

#64, Gary, “You say that Toyota and Honda don’t hide their problems? Have you ever Googled the Toyota Engine Sludge problem? I’ve also just received a letter in the mail in regards to a class action lawsuit against Acura in regards to odometers spinning too fast–which leads to warranties expiring faster and extra over mileage lease charges.”

I have certainly heard of the Toyota Engine Sludge problem. Who hasn’t? What I don’t know is anyone who actually HAS a sludged Toyota engine. I own one of those motors, myself.

Sludge has two possible sources: some sort of really bad engine design problem and poor maintenance habits.

Now, the SludgeMaster is probably MORE likely than some motors to develop problems due to poor maintenance and too-long oil change intervals but that doesn’t mean it’s Toyota’s problem.

Toyota sent me a letter about it (probably in 2003); if I run into trouble and can provide reasonable evidence of reasonable care, they’ll take care of the motor if it fails due to sludging. In 2001, after the V6 had been in production for 3 years and problem reports started to show up, Toyota redesigned critical parts to make sure future 3-liter V6 motors would be less likely to develop problems on poor maintenance. They probably applied the lessons learned to other motors, too.

Did DexCool owners get similar care?

And lawyers will take any case they can find, on contingency, if they have nothing better to do. A class action lawsuit means little and many are “settled” with a cash payment to the law firm(s) involved (a “go away and stop bothering us” fee) and coupons for something of negligible value to the actual wronged customers. We’ve gotten coupons like that… it’s law firms scamming the public, really.

Anyway, what’s done is done. I’m waiting for round II. round III, round IV and so on….