Department of Transportation fudges numbers to make imports look like winners?
Apparently there is some debate growing about how the Department of Transportation (DOT) counted the sales in the Cash For Clunkers program. According to the DOT, each drivetrain was counted as a separate model, meaning a front-wheel drive Ford Escape was one vehicle, while an all-wheel drive Ford Escape was counted as another. At first glance, it would not seem like this is a big deal. Well, Edmunds pulled the data together based on model and not by drivetrain combination and the results are very interesting.
According to Edmunds list, three of the top 5 most purchased vehicles were from Ford, not the imports as the DOT is reporting. Also, 2 of the top 10 were full size pickups (Ford F-150 at #4, Chevrolet Silverado at #8.) As John McElroy points out in his column on Autoblog, it would appear that the DOT is trying to say that the program had a bigger environmental impact than is really the case. The DOT’s list shows lots of smaller cars in the top 10, while the actual Edmunds list tells a different story.
It is also puzzling why the DOT would want to make the Domestic 3 look bad by putting together a list that seems to show the imports greatly outselling the American manufacturers. Just doesn’t make sense, but I guess that’s what we’re going to have to get used to under the new administration. Great job again Washington for twisting the media and more or less lying to the public…
(Image source: Ford Motor Company)
Dodge’s engineers sat down and said, how can we make the 2010 Dodge Ram better, without actually having to change anything. Their conclusion? The 2010 truck can handle 1,500 more pounds of towing load than the 2009 without any mechanical changes to the truck whatsoever. Does that mean the 2009 trucks are capable of towing 10,450 pounds, or are they only good for the originally stated 9,100 pounds? Who cares! This now puts the Ram into the thick of the half-ton towing race, behind the Ford F-150 (11,000 pounds) and the Toyota Tundra (10,800 pounds) and slightly ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado (10,300 pounds.)
For more details, head on over to Pickuptrucks.com!
Domestic Three increase truck market share while Nissan and Toyota fall
I’m so tired of people stating that the American 3 don’t make quality products. Then to make matters worse, people continue to spout garbage about how great Toyota and Nissans’ products are. If their products are so great, then how do you explain the fact that they both lost market share to the pickups offered by Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge? That’s right folks, Toyota and Nissan both lost market share year over year on their pickups while Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge all picked up market share.
Toyota had one of the hardest drops, watching sales of it’s new Tundra (from a billion dollar plant recently built in Texas specifically for this truck) fall from 76,516 to 36,106! For all of the numbers, head on over to Pickuptrucks.com.
New GM is learning quick! Dealers complain of limited supplies of trucks and SUV’s…and it’s a good thing!!!
That’s right folks! The Old GM that used to have a 120+ day supply of large trucks and SUV’s is now pushing itself towards a new leaner 75 day supply. Dealers apparently are clamoring that they need more vehicles like the Buick Enclave, GMC Yukon SUV and extended-cab Sierra pickups, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado trucks.
For the full story, head on over to Autoblog.
