GM and Chrysler Hostage Crisis
One thousand seven hundred and four hostages have been taken by Allied trucking company.
Ok. A bit dramatic, but nonetheless the 1,704 "hostages" happen to be 2011 Silverado's and Camaro's from Chevy with an estimated worth of $47 million. General Motors-it goes without saying- is obviously far from pleased with the situation. The original rift that sparked the "hostage crisis" came after Allied (AAG) attempted to cut union members pay by a whopping 20%, yet was unable to do so due to stipulations in the company's labor contract. The union- Teamsters Local 414 responded with a 72 hour strike notice to the pay cuts. The recent surge in fuel prices from the conflict in the Middle East and North Africa prompted the logistics group to apply a 15% surcharge to the bill with GM. GM refused this unexpected surcharge (although Ford Motor Co. had agreed to the charge) and then severed ties with the logistics company on March 16. The rebuttal from Allied was to keep the 1,704 cars that have already been bought and paid for (think dealerships more so than consumers-although certain customers awaiting delivery of cars/trucks will find themselves in limbo until things are resolved) by GM and were awaiting shipment across the nation.
GM filed suit against Allied, and the following day Chrysler filed suit against the logistics company as well. Chrysler has already reclaimed at least 200 of 700 vehicles reportedly being held at Allied locations, made possible through court order. The Chrysler Corporation has now outsourced the delivery of their vehicles to numerous other logistics companies, and plans to continue to do so in the future.
Allied transp
orts vehicles for big names in the car industry like Toyota, Honda, Ford, and until recently Chrysler and GM.
The odd thing about the entire situation, which only adds to the absurdity of it all, is Teamsters Local 414 is not out of work. Nor are they on strike. A competitor of Allied Auto Group, known as Jack Cooper Transport, has stepped in to fill the void from Allied. Teamsters Local 414 supplies workers to both Allied Auto Group and Jack Cooper Transport. So, in effect- for the union members, the only real difference in their days work is who the company is that they call "boss" at the moment. There are expected to be no interruptions in production from the split, and the cars in "hostage" will be dealt with in the coming days and weeks, probably via court orders.
Let Operation Recovery Horsepower begin.
For sources, and further reading on the situation please visit:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110318/BIZ/303189934
and
http://detnews.com/article/20110323/AUTO01/103230335/1148/rss25
Camaro Goes to China
On the 22nd of March, GM officially announced that their latest move will be taking the Camaro (named Ke Mai Luo-sound it out phonetically, it is actually Camaro) to the land of dragons, emperors and (surprisingly) booming car markets. The move may not have been sparked by the recent tragic events in Japan, which will surely put a void in the market for at least a small amount of time, but the Ke Mai Luo will be marketed as a luxury import there. GM hinted that they do not currently have plans to send over the true American muscle- the V8, but rather will be providing the Chinese with the 3.6 liter V6. This might come as a surprise, but considering the cost of the V6 model- around RMB 500,000 ($76,2XX USD)- it doesn't come as a surprise that GM might just want to get its' feet wet before jumping in the market head first. As a somewhat surprising note, GM noted, "In recent years, China's luxury sports car market has been flourishing, highlighted by the midsize luxury segment (priced at RMB 400,000--800,000), which grew 141% in 2010. At present, this segment is dominated by cars with European design. The Camaro, with its "masculine" styling, will be a welcome addition."
The statements above may be true, but only time will tell if the classic American sports car is going to be able to carry its weight across the world. The international opinion of the Camaro will be interesting to watch unfold, particularly if the Camaro decides to be taken seriously across the way. But this isn't the Camaro's first venture into an Asian market. The Camaro has been available in both Japan and South Korea for some time now. The recent trend in fuel sipping awareness may play a factor in the decision not to include the ZL1 and SS in the lineup for China, but it's not likely that this was the deciding factor. The plans to release only the 3.6 V6 is probably a ploy to see if the market proves a worthy investment, and if it succeeds, the more powerful platforms could be later released. There also seems to be no word on whether the convertible will be released in the Chinese markets either, but with plentiful smog, and many of the prominent regions being either humid and rainy or cold, the convertible might not be a viable contender for the market anyway.
All of the questions that the world, in particular China, wants to know will be answered next month at the Shanghai Auto Show. The word from GM has been kept pretty mum so far, and with their official press release not longer than two sparse paragraphs, interest is building to see what
exactly the giants will do. The thought of the American manufacturer now taking products to
China is a big step in the right direction, considering that less than a year and a half ago- on June 1st, 2009 they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Since that filing and Federal help, the company has seen enormous improvement under new CEO Edward Whitacre, an entirely revamped new car line up focused on fuel economy and consumer needs and an entirely new outlook on the world market that seems to have previously been partly ignored. Regardless of past mishaps, GM is definitely taking giant strides in the right direction, and the future of the Camaro looks bright.
Escort Passport iQ
If you enjoy driving as much as we do, you'll be glad to know that someone came up with the bright idea of combining a GPS device with a radar/laser detector. This stroke of absolute genius is a major leap forward in the radar/laser detection world. This rules out the cluster of suction cups and 12-volt power hungry devices on the windshield- or at the very least thins the crowd. The engineers over at Escort developed the Passport iQ as a solution to this quandary. Not only is it a fully functioning GPS with everything you would expect from a Garmin, TomTom or any other GPS unit, but they 
went the extra step and included the added benefit of integrating a radar/laser detector into the unit as a seamless package detecting in the X, K, Ka, and Ku bands.
I'm sure Escort will never say it, but another added benefit, and the one everyone is thinking- is the fact that this unit, to the non-discerning eye would not be able to tell the Passport iQ apart from a regular GPS or navigation unit. In states like Virginia (for private and commercial vehicles) and Illinois, New York and New Jersey (for commercial vehicles) this is a tactful advantage, but be weary… the men in blue also read blogs and have the internet. It's only a matter of time before they catch on as well. The Passport iQ also comes with SmartShield VG2 Immunity, which prevents VG2 radar detector detectors from sensing the detector. The VG2 radar detector detector is used by police agencies throughout the United States and Canada, along with other countries in the EU to detect the use of a radar detector. The SmartShield VG2 Immunity is not completely fool proof however, and it should not solely be relied on to protect you from the prying eyes of the law. The only way to never get caught speeding is to never speed. It's as simple as that. But I won't say that this doesn't provide some peace of mind, and an increased amount of protection.
The navigation unit is supplied with Navteq maps and free 90-day trial subscription to Escort's Defender Database system which includes icons and warnings for known speed traps, red light cameras, and speed cameras. After the free trial expires there is a subscription fee to access the database. However, you may make notes and references on the maps as you travel to include personal observations of speed traps, cameras etc. The Navteq software has the options of viewing maps in a birds-eye view, or plan-view 2D mode. The Passport iQ captures the unique function of being able to record all of this data as you travel and save it for future reference. The iQ also displays the posted speed limit (where available) and sounds a warning when you exceed 10 mph above the posted limit (this is generally the bottom line for prosecutable ticket range in most areas). The display also posts your real time speed as determined by GPS, which has proven to be more accurate, especially on older cars equipped with a cable driven speedometer.
Specifications:
|
Operating Bands Radar Receiver/Detector Type GPS Receiver Laser Detection |
Display Type Power Requirement Auto-Calibration Circuitry SmartShield VG2 Immunity Dimensions |
The only drawback that seems to be discussed about the device is the disconcerting bounce that results from the weight of the device when mounted to the windshield via suction cup. Since it is the amalgamation of 2 different devices into one, the weight is fairly substantial. The other option (and for states like Minnesota and California where affixing devices to the windshield is prohibited) is the dash mount method. The drawback to this method is the obstruction of the rear facing laser detector that needs to be mounted high enough to "see" out the back window above the rear seats. But despite the mounting issues, the unit seems to be quite impressive and the rumors from Escort are confirming what the critics are hoping for in future models. The future models could possibly be equipped with real time traffic information as well as Bluetooth support. If it is released, it will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 premium, most likely from Navteq.
The unit retails at $650 USD, which some might say is a bit high, but if you factor in a speeding ticket (most people who buy detectors usually do so after being burned at least once.. depending on the severity), and then a good navigation unit, plus the radar/laser detector, the price is well worth it. We might even suggest waiting for the next generation to come out with live traffic and Bluetooth, as that would prove to be an invaluable option.
The Camaro ZL1 Versus the Corvette: Chevy Taking Aim at Itself?
There's a lot of news out there about the Camaro5 Fest coming up, and lots of other Camaro things dominating the various news feeds these days (February sales numbers, etc.), but I wanted to explore in theory another bit of news: the regular rumor that the ZL1 will come with a $47k price tag. It makes sense, the price associated with the 550HP supercharged monster of a Camaro, but it also raises some questions. Obviously, it puts it just below the Mustang GT500 by about $2500, so that's meant to be its primary competition--and the two vehicles stack of amazingly well to one another on paper--but it also puts the Camaro ZL1 right in line with the base C6 Corvette, for an interesting thought: will the ZL1 Camaro take away from Corvette sales, or vice-versa?
At first, the Camaro and the Corvette seem like two very different vehicles: one's a heavy, HP concerned, more affordable pony car; the other's a lightweight, race-inspired, monster of an American muscle car. Those differences though will ultimately be made much less apparent when the two vehicles hit the track. The extra weight of the Camaro will be negated by the increased HP load, and the MRC suspension given to each vehicle will help them both handle the course equally well. The notoriously difficult to control rear-end of the Corvette may even seem less responsive than the Camaro when on a windier track--a thought that's fairly impressive to think about. So, when the comparisons hit the web of the two vehicles (and we know they're inevitable) I'm incredibly excited to see how the two vehicles, which are almost identical in price, fair against one another. It's pretty fair to assume that the Camaro, with the extra HP and vastly improved suspension, will outperform the Mustang GT500 readily, and be right in line with the lighter and more race-specific Corvette's performance numbers. What separates these two vehicles at that point then? A MPG rating that will certainly be a little better on the Corvette, or the Camaro's extra back-seat? Maybe the argument for a consumer ultimately comes down to a battle of style and namesake (the Camaro's beloved by the population, but few vehicle or vehicle names hearken back to such incredible thoughts as the Corvette does) between the two vehicles? I'm afraid that Chevrolet's gearing up to compete with itself here, and I'm not sure if that business move will be a good one in the long run. As it stands right now, the Camaro outsells the Mustang and Challenger handily, and the Corvette stands as the next step up. When two options from the same company exist in the same market point, how will they help/hinder one another?
I'm not sure how these vehicles will affect the market-shares of each other, but, I do think that as competition goes the ZL1 and the C6 Corvette will be more in line with each other than the SRT8 392 Challenger or GT500 Mustang are. What do you think? Obviously, the ZL1's going to be an amazing vehicle and a great step forward by Chevrolet as a company--but will it be a successful business move? Since the restructuring of GM, this question begs to be asked about every move they make.
GHL Cat-Back Exhaust Review
A lot of people have recently started running pretty fantastic sales and specials on the GHL Camaro Cat-Back exhaust, and the price (I was able to pick mine up for $599.99! Under $600 for a Cat-Back? Yes please!) was so unbeatable that I had to get one.
GHL has been making exhausts for a number of years now, and the work they do has been very well reviewed, so I was confident going in. The exhaust arrived in a single, tall, box, and everything was packaged well and efficiently within it. I opened it up, took everything out of the bubble-wrap, and inspected the various pieces--everything looked awesome! The tips are over 4" in diameter, and made from high-quality, well-finished stainless steel. The enlarged dual round exhaust tips also have a fantastic visual appearance when installed on the vehicle. The mufflers are actually kind of small, compared to what I've seen from other companies, so I was a little worried that the volume and tone may be too aggressive at first sight, but (and I'll address the sound later) I was very thankfully proven wrong on that point. The rest of the piping, back through the x-pipe, is all made from the same high-quality stainless steel, and is very obviously an improvement in quality and construction over the stock Camaro exhaust. So, just looking at it, I immediately knew this thing was going to be a hit in many ways.
The install, as with the install for all Camaro Cat-Back exhausts, was quick and easy. It took me less than an hour to get the old exhaust off, and get this new one on, doing the work underneath a lift. Everything bolted up and lined up well, and looked perfectly placed underneath the Camaro carriage. If you have any experience with vehicle installs, and have access to a lift, a cat-back exhaust is the sort of install for a Camaro that can definitely be done from home, which means that at $600, this exhaust is definitely a steal! That being said, the GHL hardware, while sufficient, isn't as solid as some of the other companies. If you can find access to an upgraded set of clamps and bolts for install, I'd recommend going with them, as Stainless Steel clamps and bolts in general tend to have some issues holding their lubrication, and have a history of being difficult to work with. Even if you do end up buying improved hardware, the price is still WELL below what you'll pay from any other company right now, and the piping, mufflers, and tips are of comparable quality to what any other company offers. From behind, the pronounced and aggressive appearance of the 4 1/4" rolled edge exhaust tips gave the vehicle a fantastic modified appearance. I love that powerful, muscle look that the round exhaust tips offers for the Camaro.
Once installed, I was excited to get this Camaro started up and check out the tone! At start-up, the increase in volume was immediately noticeable. The system is definitely louder than stock, but it's by no means deafening. This isn't the sort of exhaust that's going to wake up the neighborhood or draw you a ticket, but it's also the sort of exhaust that offers such a muscle-y and powerful tone that on the road, it's certain to draw envious looks from more than a few other drivers. And muscle-y and aggressive are the perfect descriptors for the tone. When revving it up through the RPM range the GHL Camaro exhaust emits a deep, throaty, rumble--just the sort of tone that provides the perfect combination of classic and modern, which the Camaro specializes in so well. Combining that tone with minimal drone under load (note, there is some drone, especially around the 3600-4200rpm range, for whatever reason, but it's nowhere near the drone levels that systems like the Magnaflow and Flowmaster) gives an exhaust that offers the better of two worlds. A throaty, strong growl outside, and a gentle hum inside.
During decel, however, the smaller mufflers lack the ability to even out the decel pop noise, that is common with larger (read, V8) exhaust systems. That popping tone, which, at around 2500-2000RPM when decelerating is already noticeable on the stock Camaro, is definitely more noticeable with the GHL exhaust. It's not obnoxious, by any means, and some people even love that noise because it hearkens back to the classic muscle-car days, but it is there. I'm not a huge fan of it, personally, but even given my natural disposition to that tone, it hasn't been a personal bother at all while driving. The Decel pop can even be avoided by a couple of different means. The first is, quiet simple, dropping in to Neutral whenever decelerating at a rate to cause the popping tone. By doing that, you're allowing the engine to drop RPMs in a more natural manner so that the tone doesn't exist. You can also tune the vehicle to change the deceleration rate, and, at the cost of 1-2mpg create a much more even tone. This is something that I'm considering doing, and it's not all bad, either. The 1-2mpg are lost, but a proper tune will also allow for the exhaust system to put out even more power. And, at maybe $300, the full cost of the GHL (with tune) still comes in below the cost of many competitor's cat-back exhaust systems.
So, I mentioned the tune, and I mentioned horsepower, and that leads me to my last point on this review: performance. We know the exhaust is well-built, well-designed, gorgeous, and has a fantastic tone--but how does it perform? I can't say for certain, as I did the install myself and didn't have ready dyno access, but a few things are known for certain. Aftermarket exhaust systems allow for greater air-flow, and greater air-flow means that the engine runs more efficiently. Efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to HP, too, so you can be certain that this GHL provides extra HP. How much, exactly, is difficult to say. A lot of competing companies will offer different exhaust performance numbers, and you have to remember to take them all with a grain of salt. If I were trying to sell you an exhaust, I'd publish the best numbers that I could too, and what this usually means is that those exhausts that claim 16, 18, even 20+ HP are getting those numbers post-tune, and on a generous dyno. There are many many ways to eek out extra numbers on the back-end of a dyno if you know how to manipulate it to your cause, and that's what a lot of companies do. Realistically, any and every exhaust will give you a similar performance gain. There's some variance, as the more aggressive systems ultimately do allow for greater air flow, and, ultimately greater HP, but the 9-14 range is pretty much how it is for all cases. Trust me--I've dyno'ed multiple systems with multiple people on multiple vehicles, and those numbers are the standard across the board. So, let's assume the GHL gives 11-12 HP extra (right in the mid-range of them), then. That's the sort of HP that's noticeable, but not super-obvious while driving. I can honestly say I felt like the Camaro had more pick-up with the GHL exhaust on it, but I also wonder how much of that feeling comes from also hearing how much more aggressive the vehicle sounds. No matter what, the performance is along the same lines of what any other exhaust will offer, and at a steal of a price. Again, too, if you tune your GHL, you'll still come in below the cost of a Corsa/Borla/Magnaflow/Etc. exhaust system, and be getting every bit of power there is out of your exhaust--putting it ahead of those more costly competitors in performance.
So, here's a short list of the pros and cons for the GHL Camaro Cat-Back Exhaust, and my final thoughts on it.
Pros: Beautiful exhaust system--the polished stainless steel and large round exhaust tips look great; fantastic sound; minimal drone; equivalent performance numbers to competitors; solid construction on the piping; GREAT price.
Cons: Hardware's sufficient, but not impressive; decel pop became a good bit more noticeable; that's it.
Final thoughts: The pros far outweigh the cons on this exhaust system. Far far outweigh them. Ultimately, the incredible price means that this exhaust just can't really be beat, and that's ultimately the name of the game, isn't it? The bang for the buck? It's all here. Even if you splurge on new hardware, a tune to even out the pop and give better performance, and somebody to install it, you're coming in just below what you'd pay for the Corsa Camaro Exhaust system, alone. At that price, how can you say no? I have to give the exhaust an A, all-around, for providing the ultimate economy solution for your Camaro exhaust needs, and for doing so in a gorgeous, great-sounding, well-built, aggressive package. GHL has hit a serious homerun here, and, when it has distributors like Southern Car Parts (my good friend Jim over there was the guy who alerted me to the deal that this exhaust was, and I have to give him a shout-out for that!) selling the thing at $599.99, they've certainly got a huge hit on their hands.
(Note: the photos and videos I've used here are from the www.SouthernCarParts.com website, and I'll get my photos from taking the thing out of its packaging loaded up here this evening, also.)