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Buffalo Gap, SD Car Consumer Discussions

Re: Best car in a long time! [turbo23]

by poncho167 on Tue Jun 03 06:11:36 PDT 2008

The Mazda3 isn't a bad car no doubt and probably the most stylish in the compact class. The Cobalt has some other features including that transmission launch system which along with the HHR is the first production drag racing clutch unit installed in a car. The one or two tests I read had a larger gap in the 1/4 performance. The Cobalt is within 2-years for a restyling but the current coupe still is descent looking.

2008 Fusion SE i4 5 MAN

by blueiedgod on Wed Apr 30 13:52:36 PDT 2008

Girlfriend just leased a 2008 Silver Birch Fusion SE, 5 Manual with SYNC, ambient lighting and Sirius last night. I checked it out, and it is mostly Mazda built in Mexico. She was upset that she was no supporting US economy. Her other choice was Honda Civic, but she wanted an "American car" lol. Civic is made in Ohio!!! My impression: It's pretty damn fast, especially for a 4 cylinder. I am a Honda driver, so, I have to say, Ford's got a competitor on their hands there. The clutch is a little bit non-linear, she stalled out a few times, and I almost did. The shifter is a little too bulky, especially for her little hands, but the gates are precise, and shifts are smooth. Not like on Altima that she drover a few weeks back and kept putting it in 3rd instead of 1st, because the gates were so darn close and not indented at all. I like that you don't have to pull up on the ring to shift into reverse, like on other Fords. The single stalk for wipers and turn signals is a little bit confusing. I think the '80's called and want their single stalk back, lol. The overall fit and finish are not too bad for Mexican assembly. The car had some kind of insulation hanging from under the lower dashboard on delivery, and the weather stripping seam on the driver's door has a huge gap at the bottom. Time will tell how it holds up. A friend has a 2005 Mazda6 and he has 75,000 miles on it now, with no problems, other than regular maintenance. Edit: P.S.The Finance guy tried to sell her "the maintenance package" for a measly $1200 they will do all the maintenance by the book, and even replace wiper blades. I told him "no." He asked why. Told him I maintain the vehicles my self. He told me that the vehicle requires for me to use their oil. I told him that if it requires Ford oil then he has to give to me for free under the Magnuss-Moss act. He quit right there, and did not press this anymore. lol

Re: Condensor damage 2007 Honda CR-V [chaptain]

by blueiedgod on Mon Apr 21 13:17:54 PDT 2008

The aircon on my 2007 Honda CR-V stopped working and the cause is an object hitting the condensor - probably a small stone through the large gaps in the front bumper. Has anybody else encounterd this problem? It seems a major design fault in the Honda with such a sensitive part being so exposed. Any solutions to stop this happening again? Also, did you get any support from Honda? I had similar happen on the Si, where a road debris was kicked up by the car infront and sent it flying through the radiator. I lost all of the coolant in a matter of minutes. I didn't even think of approaching Honda. It is not their fault. Replaced the rad and went on my way. I have been contemplating placing honeycomb mesh from Home Depot or Lowes behind the bumper to protect the radiator, but have not gotten to it. As to design flaw claim, check out other cars on the road, they all have radiator and condenser behind the bumper. You are not alone. It is just the draw of the luck.

Re: okey doke [thegraduate]

by blueiedgod on Wed Dec 12 07:02:45 PST 2007

but it WOULD get 0-60 times down from 10 to around 8. Gen 2 and 2.5 with manual are getting to 60 mph in 8 - 8.3 seconds. Another benefit of Diesel is that Honda only sells it with a 6 spd manual which would fit niceley where Honda left us, manual drivers, out with the redesign of the CR-V. Since less than 5% of CR-V's sold in the US were manual, and it is expected that Diesel CR-V will garner 5% of the sales, it is not too far fetched to say that if Honda brings Diesel 6 spd manual over here, it will fulfill that 5% gap. Also, Diesel can run on filtered used frying oil. And judging the bulging pant and dress sizes of the US population, there should be no problem getting hold of used frying oil. :)

Re: Buying a New car in Plattsburg = B.S.

by valueboy on Fri Sep 21 10:57:47 PDT 2007

I note with hilarity - as today, the currencies are at PAR - that you managed to reduce a $14K (or 36%) price gap to $700 by forgetting about tax costs, and adding nonsense shipping (hey bud - have your cousin in Toronto, 4 hrs from Ottawa, spend $20 in gas to pick the car up from Buffalo). You are clearly a dealer. Now the fun begins - read the new strings on conspiracies in restraint of trade/restricing competition in a defined market (Subtitle: Honda has finally lost its sense of reality and clearly needs more in-house counsel)

GM plant productivity even with the best-Toyota.

by 62vetteefp on Fri Jun 01 08:57:16 PDT 2007

General Motors Corp., once the symbol of big, slow corporate America, virtually matched Toyota Motor Corp., the icon of lean manufacturing, in North American assembly plant productivity last year for the first time since it has been measured, industry research group Harbour Consulting reported Thursday. Toyota logged 22.05 hours of plant labor per vehicle assembled, while GM reported 22.15 hours, a difference of one-tenth of an hour, or just 6 minutes per vehicle. "General Motors essentially caught Toyota in vehicle assembly productivity," consultancy President Ron Harbour said. The results come at a turbulent time for Detroit's signature industry and at an interesting crossroads in the GM-Toyota relationship that hinges on their manufacturing partnership in California, among other projects. Toyota seized the global sales title from GM in the first three months of the year. But at the same time, GM is working to leapfrog Toyota's fuel-efficient hybrid technology with its Volt series hybrid and fuel-cell concepts. And now GM is nipping at Toyota's heels in vehicle assembly – long a key to Toyota's success. Among Detroit automakers, GM had the most productive assembly plants in the Harbour Report, and scored best overall, including in stamping parts and building engines and transmissions. The results come as GM and other Detroit automakers prepare to begin formal contract negotiations with the UAW. Automakers' plant-floor efficiency has direct effects on bottom-line profits and allows automakers to charge consumers less or put more content, such as air bags or electronics, into vehicles. GM said its latest Harbour Report results tell a story of its continuing improvement, with GM closing the productivity gap with Toyota by nearly 85 percent since 1998 and capturing bragging rights as the first automaker to have its plants capture top productivity honors in three of Harbour's four award categories. GM won in vehicle assembly, engine-making and transmission manufacturing. It did not win in stamping. "GM's leadership in three of the four manufacturing categories demonstrates we are transforming the company for sustainable, long-term success," Gary Cowger, GM group vice president of global manufacturing and labor relations, said in a statement. "This success is a result of our people being involved in the business like never before." Analysts said the marked improvement in productivity is important, but is just one of many things GM needs to accomplish and continually improve as it fights to return to profitability and restore its reputation as a quality manufacturer and battles Toyota for the dominant spot in the global auto industry. Those things are all important to avoid further North American losses and job cuts at the company. Harbour said GM's improved productivity is impressive because it came amid production cuts of about 5 percent last year and before the company fully realized the benefits of cutting its hourly workforce by 34,410 through a buyout and early retirement program. "Improving productivity in the face of lower production is a huge accomplishment, but none of the domestic manufacturers can afford to let up," Harbour said. "Toyota is not going to slow down." Toyota took Harbour Report honors again this year for leading the six largest North American automakers in total manufacturing productivity, using 29.93 hours of labor for every vehicle produced. That was slightly higher than 29.40 hours the year earlier, which Harbour attributed to the automaker's launch of new plants and several new vehicles. But GM plants took top honors in three Harbour categories, and its vehicle assembly productivity trailed Toyota by just 6 minutes. "We are virtually deadlocked," said GM spokesman Dan Flores, adding that GM – like Toyota – is focused on continuous improvement. The Oshawa, Ontario, plant that assembles the Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick LaCrosse and Buick Allure led assembly plants for the most efficient productivity, with 15.68 hours per vehicle, followed closely by the adjoining Oshawa plant that produces the Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo. GM's Spring Hill, Tenn., four-cylinder engine plant turned in the best performance of any engine plant, at 2.27 hours per engine, edging out Toyota's Buffalo, W. Va., plant by just more than 1 minute, with 2.29 hours per engine. And GM's Toledo transmission plant took top honors, with 2.54 hours per transmission. Toyota and Honda transmissions were absent from the top transmission lists because none of the Japanese automakers had a full transmission plant at the time of the survey, Harbour said, adding that that will change. "It's all very encouraging for GM, but it is just one aspect of making your company profitable," said auto analyst Erich Merkle of IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids. "There's the jobs bank, health care costs, legacy costs, all those issues are also weighing on General Motors. It's not enough for GM, given the position they're in, to match Toyota. They've got to beat them."