The Carchat

With the NUMMI plant officially closed, thousands of highly skilled San Francisco Bay Area workers have unfortunately found themselves unemployed. However, it is important to stay positive during this time, and know that there is hope for a new career. There are many job openings in the San Francisco Bay Area relevant to NUMMI workers where they can transfer their skills.

A great resource worth checking out if you find yourself in this boat…

But Toyota Canada shot back, saying the company moves faster on possible safety defects, and recalls, than its U.S.-based competitors. Further, it needed to investigate the complaint to see if it had merit -- and if so, have a solution ready to deploy.

"You may want to go back and do some research so you can benchmark our performance," Stephen Beatty, managing director of Toyota Canada, said in response to harsh questioning by Conservative MPs.

Having spent time with Mr Beatty, I can say he's one of the sharpest guys in this industry. I would not want to be peppering him (or the Toyota Canada delegation) with misinformed or misdirected questions.

The TTC has come under withering criticism in Toronto over the past few months: a debacle over the raising of transit fares that led to huge queues and delays for riders, a picture of a sleeping fare collector, major service disruptions on the subway lines and the sexual escapades of TTC chairman Adam Giambrone, who was forced to give up his run for mayor.

In an attempt to improve its reputation, the TTC has appointed a panel to make suggestions on how to improve service and customer relations.

I'd love for more people to use public transit — but incidents like this aren't helping things much. And since I frequently use the TTC, I can honestly say that things have not gotten better since the transit commission told its employees to be friendlier.

Just what do you expect from public transit?

According to the Dept. of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, car ownership costs are the second largest household expense in the U.S. . In fact, the average household spends almost as much on their cars as they do on food and health care combined for their entire family.

I'm inclined to agree. Ever since I stopped booking test vehicles, my monthly savings has shot up — not spending $350-450 per month on fuel will do that.

Sure, I love cars: but apart from being dangerous, they may also contribute to long-term debt. Buy, drive, and own carefully.

The OCDA is the first District Attorney's Office in the U.S. to bring a consumer protection lawsuit against Toyota after the 'unintended acceleration' issues.

In an official statement, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas' office said that it will try to stop Toyota's U.S. division "from continuing to endanger the public through the sale of defective vehicles and deceptive business practices".

Really? Really?

Jacques Villeneuve is set to have a seat fitting in Stefan GP's car in Cologne on Monday, AUTOSPORT has learned.

Team boss Zoran Stefanovic has said that the 1997 world champion is close to a deal with the Serbian squad, which continues to push for a place in the 2010 Formula 1 field.

DETROIT – General Motors today announced that Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines Co., Ltd. (Tengzhong) was unable to complete the acquisition of HUMMER.  As a result, GM will begin the orderly wind-down of the HUMMER operations.

“One year ago, General Motors announced that we were going to divest HUMMER, as part of focusing our efforts on Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac going forward.  We have since considered a number of possibilities for HUMMER along the way, and we are disappointed that the deal with Tengzhong could not be completed," said John Smith GM vice president of corporate planning and alliances. "GM will now work closely with HUMMER employees, dealers and suppliers to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner." 

GM will continue to honor HUMMER warranties, while providing service support and spare parts to current HUMMER owners around the world.

Well there goes that.

Sometimes you see something you just can't believe. And yet, there it is in cold type (or warm electrons).

Today's candidate is a single sentence by Washington Post writers Peter Whoriskey and Frank Ahrens, discussing Congressional investigation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's response to multiple reports of Toyota safety problems.

Its says: NHTSA officials told investigators that the agency doesn't employ any electrical engineers or software engineers.

Makes. Me. Sick.

But does not make me surprised.

Likes: boxed fenders.

Dislikes: V8 engine, DSG-only, optional sunroof, optional rear wing, boring-ass body kit lifted from a TT-RS, will still likely be heavy, LED lights, black-and-silver rims are copies of a Volvo design (really), available "comfort" seats, stupid red trim on seats, and stupid carbon fibre trim on a car with power seats (I doubt North America will get the manual sport seats).

It looks like a car for bankers and douches, no doubt to be tarted up on HRE or BBS CH rims and driven very slowly through the posh neighbourhoods of North America.

What I really want is an all-alluminum and carbon body, 500 horsepower 5-cylinder engine, manual gearbox as the only transmission, launch control, no rear seats, smaller mirrors, rear lip spoiler, ridiculously expensive service routine, no radio, navigation, no leather, no power seats, and a curb weight of close to 3200 lbs. Roll cage optional, 5000 units worldwide.

That's the RS5 I want, not some panzy-assed poseur rig.