Fantastic new MINI Countryman Commercial

This is the first ad from MINI for the new Countryman SUV.  It’s really a great, fun ride.  MINI is pitching the Countryman to young families as an alternative to a gigantic SUV that couples usually get with a first baby.  It’s also being pitched to Generation Y who are just out to have fun with friends.  I’m not sure how well four adults will fit in the Countryman, but everyone looks like they have room in the commercial (of course).

Another Toyota Safety Problem and Recall

Is your circuit board cracked? Soldered joints giving you problems? Is the glass coating on your varistor broken? If so, you’re not alone.

More than 1,000 complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2005-2007 Toyota Corolla and Matrix models. The problem is that the engine can stall at any speed, without warning, and not restart. Failure to start, the check engine light on and “harsh shifting” are also listed as “symptoms” of the problem.

2008 Toyota Matrix

Woopsee…. Another Toyota safety and quality problem and yes, another reluctant recall. This issue has been floating out there for almost five years. Toyota says the problem rests with an electronic control module (ECM), a tiny circuit board that controls the operation of the engine. This time, it seems the source of the problem is clear and relatively easy to remedy.

The new recall announced by Toyota on August 26, 2010 covers 1.1 million Corolla and Matrix vehicles for model years 2005-2008 with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive. On the same day, GM announced a recall of 200,000 Pontiac Vibes (a mechanical twin to the Matrix) for the same model years. All the vehicles were made at the GM-Toyota joint venture, New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. in Freemont, California.

2007 Toyota Corolla

In total, 1.3 million Toyota Corollas, Matrixes and Pontiac Vibes are potentially affected by this problem. Previously, Toyota had issued four (yes, four) Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) addressing the issue and instructing dealers to replace the ECM to solve the problem; so it’s clear Toyota has known about it for some time now.

2006 Pontiac Matrix - A mechanical twin to the Toyota Matrix

The NHTSA says that there have been six crashes reported with no injuries or deaths. Toyota says it knows of three unconfirmed accidents and one minor injury. Maybe there are more?

Toyota North America’s regulatory affairs manager Chris Santucci said, before the recall, that the company did not believe the alleged defect “creates an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”

Huh? So I’m cruising in traffic and suddenly my engine shuts down. I lose power assist for steering and brakes and the car stops. In my experience, a sudden loss of critical functions can easily create a dangerous situation that could lead to a serious accident.

I would classify this kind of systemic failure while driving as an “unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety” – just to borrow a phrase.

There was more pre-recall spin from Toyota: “We understand that some customers have been inconvenienced by engine ECM failure and some have reported engine stalling.” Just an “inconvenience,” huh? Oh yes, now it is considered a safety defect.

Ah, but how things change in just a couple weeks. Toyota’s chief quality officer (love the new title) for North America, Steve St. Angelo, has the revised corporate spin: “Our goal [of the recall] is to help ensure that Toyota drivers are completely confident in the safety and reliability of their vehicles.” Don’t you feel better now about your Toyota? I don’t.

The potential defect was just recently highlighted by the New York Times and Consumer Reports. In an August 23, 2010 article, “Stalling Problems Could Affect 1.2 Million Toyotas,” The Times quotes one NHTSA complaint: “I was driving 60 mph on the freeway and was almost hit from behind [when the engine stalled]. Another time I was turning left at an intersection and just made it through, but cars were honking and almost hit me.”

The Times also reported that some customers were forced to pay $1,000 to have the ECM replaced if their car had passed the 80,000 mile mark on their powertrain warranty. Toyota says that the recall letter to owners will give instructions for “reimbursement consideration instructions.”

I’m not comforted by Toyota’s endless assurances about their dedication to customer safety and satisfaction. With 12.3 million cars under recall, it’s hard to keep track of which car has which problems. Is it the floor mats or the throttle body module or both? Maybe its a steering shaft or a spare tire falling out of the bottom of a minivan. The 2001-2003 RAV4 had problems with its ECM that caused rough shifting and transmission damage. Is this déjà vu?

I’m sure there are more Toyota recalls, and if you’re concerned about your car, Toyota has a web page and an large portion of its website dedicated to listing and the details of its recalls: Toyota.com/recall

Just like any other brand of cars, there are whole user groups, blogs and Quixotic crusaders who have problems with Toyota, whether it’s hardware or software. Not everything is well in Toyota City. I think Toyota has lost its shiny, happy, rock-solid image permanently. The quest to be the biggest cost them their once-deserved reputation for quality and reliability. It certainly cost them any design flair too. With heated competition from all its competitors, it seems that the once unstoppable Toyota juggernaut is finally dead in the water.

Have you noticed the desperate commercials trying to get rid of the current inventory of terminally-boring vehicles? I’m hard-pressed to find any compelling products from Toyota. And I feel like a zombie from the endless commercials filled with zeros: Zero down, zero percent financing, zero drive-offs, zero security deposits, blah, blah, blah.

Those kinds of ads used used to be the domain of GM, Ford or Chrysler. These days, although Toyota is still the largest brand in the US market, customers seem more willing than ever to give Ford, GM and the Korean Twins (sorry Chrysler) a chance. Toyota isn’t giving up its US crown without a fight, but it’s going to take some stellar, trouble-free products to lure customers back. Don’t hold your breath.

The Audi A1 “Next Big Thing” short film

The new Audi A1 is hot.  It launches in Europe on August 27, 2010 and Audi is already overwhelmed with interest and demand.   Audi set up a website (choose a European country when prompted) to promote the A1 and got 150,000 interested customers from around the world (including the US).

2011 Audi A1

Based on the new VW Polo (which we may or may not get in the US), the A1 was originally only to be sold in Europe (you know, the Fatherland).  However, based on initial responses, Audi will expand the A1 to global markets in 2011 with the exception of the two largest markets in the world: The United States and China.  Audi says that China will get the A1 at some point AFTER 2011; however, the US market will only get the A1 “at the earliest” when the second generation goes on sale.

So we have to wait for the second generation?  That’s at least 5 years.  Thanks, VW/Audi, it never ceases to amaze me what never comes to the US market. Where is the new Scirocco? It continues to get rave reviews all over Europe.  The Scirocco name has lots of brand equity in the US even if one hasn’t been sold here for many years.   VW is terrified that the Scirocco would take sales from the GTI.   Maybe, maybe not.  The GTI and Scirocco are different cars and VW could command a premium for the more sporty Scirocco.  What VW executives don’t see is that end result of selling both models would be increased overall sales and provide cool halo car for VW of America.

The 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco. Yeah, who would want this car in the US? Apparently, no one according to VW management.

The A1 is a hot car because it has Audi premium quality at an entry level price -  €15,800 (around $20,000).  Of course, with options, it will be higher; but if you could get a fully-tricked out Audi A1 for $30,000, Audi is afraid you aren’t going to buy its much more profitable A3 or A4 lines.  I guess the A1 is good enough for the rest of the world, but not the for US where they want to continue to milk us for the most money possible.  It also may be that parent Volkswagen doesn’t want an Audi pushing into its own territory.  Then there is the old canard floated by the Germans about the dreaded “brand dilution.”  (One of the most notorious examples of this suicidal act is when, in 1981, Cadillac introduced the Cimarron, a rebadged Chevrolet Cavalier.  WORST CADILLAC EVER!).  From all reports, the A1 doesn’t dilute the Audi brand and, in fact, upholds its hallmarks of a fantastic interior coupled with excellent engineering.

The Cadillac Cimarron 1982-1988 RIP. Seven years to destroy all of Cadillac's brand euqity

Audi produced a fantastic 6-part short film to promote the new A1. It stars Justin Timberlake and Dania Ramirez (the super-hot Latina who plays Turtle’s girlfriend on the latest season of Entourage).  The production values are first rate as is the check Audi had to write to hire Timberlake for this video.  It’s entirely shot in Los Angeles, which makes it all more ironic that Audi has no plans to sell the car here.  Check out Episode 2 for a hot chase scene in Downtown LA. If you like it, go to YouTube and check out all six installments of the movie.  Then write Audi and complain that they aren’t going to bring it to the US market!

2011 Ford Fiesta

World meet the United States. United States meet the World. For the first time in a generation, an American car company is selling a first-rate, European-engineered world car in the US. Hallelujah! Cue the balloons.

The Fiesta nameplate hasn’t been used by Ford North America for almost three decades. Ford brought the first-generation Fiesta to the US in an ill-timed attempt to find its place in the brave new world post-Arab oil embargo and under new EPA rules.

While the first-generation supermini Fiesta was a hit in the rest of the world, American consumers weren’t ready for the tiny, fuel-efficient, but crude sardine can. Five generations of the Fiesta have graced all continents save North America for the past thirty years. The all-new sixth generation Fiesta went on sale in Europe in 2008 and has finally made its way to the US this summer as a 2011 model.

Ford can save buckets of cash if a car can be sold in all markets worldwide. It costs hundreds of millions of dollars to develop or re-engineer a car for each market. Opening the US market to world cars amortizes development costs over a larger number of units sold and brings the cost structure down to a point where selling a small, inexpensive car, built in Mexico, is profitable for Ford.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta Hatch

I confess that I love hatchback cars. They are so versatile and cute; however, market research informs car companies that Americans won’t buy hatchbacks. This is why Honda no longer sells a Civic hatchback. Same for the Toyota Corolla. The Honda Fit gets great reviews but doesn’t sell in high volumes. In Europe, hatchbacks easily outsell sedan variants. Go figure.

Maybe tastes are changing. I hope so because the Fiesta Hatch is by far more desirable than the sedan. Given the diminutive size of the Fiesta (160.1 inches), the hatch just makes sense. Flip the back seats down and you have much more cargo for groceries or a dorm room junk.

2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan

I test drove the base Fiesta SE Hatch ($16,190) with the PowerShift automatic ($1,125). Most of you will choose the automatic in a city like LA. That’s why dealers only order automatics. My Fiesta had Rapid Spec Package 203A ($775) which included SYNC voice-activated hands-free phone and music system, 80-watt premium sound, Sports Appearance package, cruise control and 15 inch painted aluminum wheels. Sirius Satellite Radio added $370 for a total sticker of $17,990.

The new PowerShift transmission is an automated manual six-speed dual clutch gearbox that Ford jointly developed with Getrag of Germany. It’s much lighter than a standard automatic transmission and increases fuel economy by as much as 10%, according to Ford. In most driving conditions, the target owner will think it’s a regular automatic.

Ford's new DirectShift dual-clutch automated manual transmission

The only thing that surprised me was that the car didn’t creep at a dead stop. I took my foot off the brake, expecting some forward movement, but nothing happened until I tapped the gas pedal. Odd at first, but you get used to this the first day of driving.

I’m six feet one inch tall, but I managed to find a comfortable position with the four-way front seat manual adjustments and manual tilt/telescope steering wheel. Unfortunately, unless you are a double-leg amputee, you aren’t sitting behind me. It’s a great two person small car. If you want to seat four people, I’d suggest four young anorexic females under five-four.

2011 Ford Fiesta - Hatch open for cargo

The little 1.6 liter Duratec Ti-VCT I-4 seemed to have plenty of pep for the usual LA stop-and-go traffic and dodging through freeway messes. I found the steering direct and responsive as someone tried to back into my tester from a blind driveway. The base 15” wheels were plenty for most drivers, although I’d prefer the 16” wheels with better gum.

Ford's new "Kinetic" styling looks great on the Fiesta's small sides

The ride was a bit choppy, but that comes with the supermini with the territory. When you’re dealing with such a short wheel bases (98” – Fiesta, 97.1” MINI, 98.4” Honda Fit), it’s hard to smooth out LA’s horrible streets. The independent front MacPherson struts and twist beam rear suspension perform their job diligently. An independent rear suspension would be preferable; but it would have been a packaging problem that sucked up more interior volume than could be justified by the extra cost.

Fiesta's Center Stack

The interior is fresh and easy to decipher. The little infotainment screen presents its data in bright red LED readout. There is no navigation system available – most kids driving this car will have a hand-held device or use their smart phone with its own navigation software. The USB port in the center is well located and can be used to charge your iPhone. Cup holders are on the small size; but a larger hole (in the center area where an armrest should be) can be used for Big Gulps as long as you don’t rock the boat too much.

Overall quality of plastics and fabrics was as good as Honda or Mazda. I found a couple panels that had unacceptable gaps; however, that may be fixed as the factory hits its stride.

Upgraded leather interior looks great

I checked out an upgraded SES Hatch with the leather seating surfaces and VIP entry package with keyless ignition. The contrasting piping on the seats looked terrific. These touches add maturity to an otherwise very youthful design.

Ford’s new “kinetic” design language works well on the Fiesta, including the “exotic dragon’s-eye” headlamps. The sides have a high character crease sweeping through the door handles to the rear C pillar and the front style line slinks around the headlamps, below the Blue Oval in the front grille and up through the A-pillars/roof. There is almost no overhang on the rear wheels which give the car the illusion of extra length.

These details distinguish the Fiesta from its boring Japanese and Korean competition and moves it closer to the MINI in character. The lack of cheap bling lends a more expensive look to the Fiesta as do the body-colored mirrors with signal repeaters.

Sweeping styling lines look best on the hatchback

The Fiesta is the best entry-level supermini since the 2001 introduction of the MINI Cooper. It’s also the best domestic entry-level car in decades. The Fiesta starts at $13,320 with EPA estimates of 29/40 mpg. Think of it as a budget non-hybrid that’s a good first car for the kids. The Mazda2 shares the same basic chassis yet the Fiesta outshines the Mazda2 in all metrics. I see great things in Ford’s future.

Front Face hasa nice lines

Keyless Ignition is a nice upscale touch

The Best Car iPhone App So Far

This Smart Drive app from Smart is super-cool. It shows how creative a car manufacturer can be with aftermarket software and a smart phone (not to be confused with the smart car itself).

They Don’t Want Your Prius

Thieves may not want your Prius or your Volvo; but if you have a big, blinged-out SUV, watch out – they want your ride.

The annual Highway Loss Data Institute’s report on the most and least stolen cars is out again. The HLDI is an insurance-funded group that aggregates loss data from the participating insurance companies. The latest results are for the 2007-2009 model years.

The 2009 Cadillac Escalade is a thief's favorite

As in the past, the most stolen vehicle is the Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade has an average loss of a whopping $11,934. I’m sure the insurance rates are adjusted accordingly. It’s interesting to note that General Motors’ vehicles account for six of the Top Ten.

• Chevrolet Corvette Z06
• Hummer H2 (the gigantic one)
• Chevrolet Avalanche
• Chevrolet Silverado -1500 crew cab
• GMC Yukon

I can see the interest in the Corvette; but you have to have a taste for gigantic trucks for the others. The work trucks listed probably have valuable tools on board in addition to the parts.

2009 Corvette Z06. Love the exterior look, don't love the interior

Oddly, Nissan has two entries in the top ten too: The Infiniti G37 coupe (based on the Nissan 370Z) and the Nissan Pathfinder/Armada large SUVs. Who knew anyone was buying the Armada let alone stealing it?

The Infiniti G37 coupe is a low volume luxury coupe – something you don’t normally see on a list like this. I have no idea why car thieves want it. Maybe it is modified for drifting or street racing.

The 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe is sleek - but not a drifter

The Ford F-250 crew cab pickup Dodge Charger (with the Hemi V8) round off the Top Ten.

There are a couple common links here. First most of the cars and trucks have large engines that can be ripped out and resold. Ditto for the seats, and other parts. The second link is that many of these cars and trucks are often blinged out with lots of chrome aftermarket parts and gigantic, expensive wheel and tire upgrades. Those things are easy to strip out of a stolen car and sell the on the car parts black market.

Your friendly auto body repair place is supposed to use new parts on your car; however, many cut costs and buy the black market parts while still charging you or your insurance company for the new parts. This practice is commonly referred to as “insurance fraud.”

The thieves and chop shops are getting pretty sophisticated. Even though modern vehicles have complex, multifaceted anti-theft devices, smart keys, and engine immobilizers, the thieves and their accomplices just pull the whole vehicle up on the back of a flatbed truck. They even know how to thwart the electronic lockout devices and reprogram the code when necessary.

All of the listed GM vehicles have OnStar, the two-way communication and emergency service GM owns and has promoted in its vehicles for more than a decade. OnStar is GPS-equipped and can be used to locate a stolen car. So the first thing the law-breakers need to do is disable the OnStar system or do the snatch, strip and dump so fast that the owner doesn’t have time to call OnStar to locate the vehicle.

In the past, some of the most common family sedans were at the top of the list. Cars like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Chevy Impala. Those were stolen because there were a gazillion of them on the road that the demand for repair parts, particularly cheap black market parts, was quite high.

The shift to more profitable horsepower and bling has been developing over the past decade, and this latest list confirms that.

So how about the cars that the thieves don’t want? The Volvo S80 tops the list. The average loss on an S80 is only $619. Volvo must have very cautious, conservative drivers. The sad part is that Volvo had to defend it’s flagship by attributing the low loss rate to its excellent security system. Right.

The 2009 Volvo S80 - not very exciting for a "flagship"

Volvo sold only 4,190 S80 units for the first six months of 2010 and sales are falling as customers wait and see that happens once the Chinese car company, Geely, takes control of Volvo from Ford.  Volvo S80 owners don’t adorn their cars with large wheels and lots of bling. In short, they are anonymous.

There is also good news for the thousands of smug Prius owners in LA. Sure you bought the car to express your love of the environment and to prove your “green” bona fides. Sure it sounds like and is as dull as a refrigerator to drive. But it seems that thieves don’t like it. The complex parallel hybrid drive system and monolithic dashboard make it a nightmare to steal and chop up. And as the battery packs get older, they become worthless.

A 2009 Toyoa Prius. I'm sick of seeing them everywhere in LA

The Japanese dominate the lower echelon, picking up seven of the bottom ten. I guess no one wants the Toyota Sienna minivan, the Toyota Tacoma small pickup, the Subaru Impreza wagon, the Nissan Murano midsize SUV or the Honda Pilot midsize SUV.

I’d forgotten about the Saturn Vue small SUV. It seems that the thieves have too. The Vue accounts for two models (front drive and four-wheel drive) of the Bottom Ten.

The Bottom Ten is rounded out by the MINI Cooper. As an owner of a MINI, I’m glad to hear it. It may be that there are so few on the road (you wouldn’t know it by driving in LA) that the parts aren’t in demand on the black market. It also could be that a thief would have as much trouble getting it to unlock as I do.

A 2009 Subaru Impreza - It doesn't inspire theft, does it?

My philosophy on stolen cars is simple: Fully-insure your vehicle, don’t leave any valuables inside or visible, park in a safe location and lock your car. If it is stolen, or trashed, you’re covered. If it’s a classic that really can’t easily be replaced then store it in your garage or secure carpark. Don’t worry, be happy, right?

Flawed But Still Desirable – Range Rover

ACINAR Issue 303, 26 July 2010

There were collective gasps when Consumer Reports publicly chastised Apple for the antenna defect in the hot-selling iPhone 4. The watchdog’s fix? Put some duct tape around the beautiful, industrial-chic stainless steel band that fuses the front and back of the device. No Apple devotee is going to do that. They’d rather never use it to make a phone call than destroy the aesthetics. For this flaw, CR couldn’t give the new iPhone 4 a recommended rating.

The iPhone 4

What may be more instructive is that if you checked Consumer Reports’ website, you’d also notice that the iPhone 4 is still its top-rated smart phone. Despite the legendary failures of AT&T’s 3G network, the iPhone 4 out-scored all other smart phones for all other carriers. So the top rated smart phone can’t be recommended because of its propensity to drop voice calls more frequently than its predecessors. That’s astonishing.

Even with all the blogs, YouTube videos and news reports about the defect, Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO deflected and downplayed the criticism and offered free plastic cases or bumpers to anyone who wanted one. The iPhone 4 is so popular that it’s sold out in all worldwide markets. Neither Apple nor AT&T can’t keep them in stock.

The obvious lesson is that if people love and lust after something, almost no empirical evidence of defect will kill its popularity.

That brings me to Land Rover’s Range Rover. The Range Rover (HSE and Supercharged) and its lesser, but dashing cousin, the Range Rover Sport (a dressed-up LR4-Discovery) have become standard issue to Hollywood Hills real estate agents, Beverly Hills lawyers and The Housewives of Orange County.

Land Rover's 2010 Range Rover

The Range Rover is no ordinary luxury SUV. It has such off-road capabilities that it could easily cross the wrecked roads of Los Angeles after the big one. The floods of water resulting from either broken water mains or the tsunami after the earthquake would barely ruffle its massive, 5,697 pound body perched on 22 inch wheels. The great urban jungle called Los Angeles has been tamed.

People love their Range Rovers. In January, the 2009 Range Rover was awarded the Polk Automotive Loyalty Award by R. L. Polk & Co. in the Luxury Sport Utility Category for the second year in a row. The Polk Loyalty Award is based on actual customer surveys and records.

In July, the Range Rover was the overall top-rated vehicle in AutoPacific’s 2010 Survey of the Most Ideal Vehicles, as surveyed by new owners. AutoPacific surveys owners in the United States to rate new vehicles by how close they come to their ideal,using 15 categories, such as power and acceleration, interior lighting and storage, and seating visibility and comfort.

Range Rover's Sumptious Interior

The Range Rove won both its category – Luxury SUV, and the overall crown. Pretty impressive, considering its such a small niche player and the auto industry is barely staggering back to life after the worst global recession since the Great Depression.

In fact, in June, Land Rover’s sales were up 41%. Since April 1, Land Rover’s sales are up 71% while sister brand Jaguar increased only33%.

Last December, the 2010 Range Rover Sport won Automotive Lease Guide’s (ALG) Residual Value Award in the Best Luxury Utility Vehicle category for the fifth consecutive year.

ALG’s annual Residual Value Awards, for the 2010 model year, honored the vehicles in each industry segment that the guide predicts will retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year lease term.

ALG studies the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing strategies are among the key factors that affect ALG’s residual value forecasts.

Say what? Vehicle quality is a major factor in ALG’s award? Here’s the disconnect:

It’s no secret that Land Rover vehicles have horrible initial quality ratings. In JD Power & Associates 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS), Land Rover (including Range Rover) is dead last in the rankings. And it has been last or almost last for years.

The slick Range Rover Sport is based on the cheap LR4 platform

JD Power’s study looks at the number of problems reported by owners per 100 vehicles. The industry average is 109 problems for every 100 vehicles or 1.09 problems per vehicle. Top-rated Porsche has reported problems of only 0.83 per vehicle. Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Ford and Honda all score less than one problem per vehicle.

Land Rover scored a whopping 170 or 1.7 problems per vehicle. That’s more than double the top 4 brands. Runner up Mitsubishi scored a146, so it’s not like Land Rover just barely slid into last place. Sister brand Jaguar tied with MINI at a dismal 1.3 problems per car.

The Jaguar Land Rover Group (JLR) is owned by Tata Motors of India. Many of the quality problems were inherited when Tata bought JLR from Ford in 2008; but the look, feel and performance of these large luxury SUVs continue to draw plenty of admirers and loyal customers.

I’ve driven the Range Rover HSE (the base $80,000 version) and I have to say I liked it very much. The high-perched front captain seats are fantastic. The combination of the aroma of premium English leather and the powerful 5.0 liter 375 hp V8 that packs 375 lb-ft of torque, is intoxicating. Every luxury electronic trick is either standard or optional. You are transformed into English royalty; well armed for urban battle.

The leather seats are supremely comfortable

Royal money is needed to buy or lease on one of these monsters ($80,000 – $110,000 for the Range Rovers; $20,000 less for the Sport models). Then again, most of the people driving a Range Rover are charging it to their production company or a sugar daddy. It also helps to have a personal assistant to deal with those pesky service visits.

You will be lucky to get 300 miles from the 27.6 gallon tank. The EPA rating for the Range Rover is 12/14/18 (HSE or Supercharged). Expect real-world economy closer to 10-11 mpg range, so always carry your Black American Express card.

I like the Range Rover Autograph Edition ($109,625) in Vallorie White Pearl (only $9,500 extra). I’ve measured; it will fit in my garage. I’m also looking for a sugar daddy. Any offers?