Nobrainer’s Think Tank

Well, pending one more visit to a mechanic, my car might well be on it’s last leg. Again. The transmission is slipping between 2nd and 3rd gears. So maybe the assholes at J. Koons were right earlier this year when they said it was slipping. (However they were still wrong that my car wouldn’t pass inspection, and I’m still pissed that they refused to diagnose/fix my fuel pump problem). Anyway, I’m once again looking at new cars.

I’m still not exactly sure what I want.

If I go with a GM it will be because of their current offers combined with some rewards cash. If I go that route, I’ll probably stick with either a Pontiac G5 or Chevy Cobalt, both are small and relatively cheap and should be able to adequately serve my basic needs.

Nissan’s cars have really been growing on me. I like the styling of the Altima Sedan. I’d be interested in the new Altima Hybrid if they were going to sell them in Virginia. And I really like the new Altima Coupe. However by the coupe ends up being about $28k once the options are included. Being as that Altima may be more than I need, the Sentra and even the Versa may be good choices that can get me moving for under $20k.

I had all but ruled out the Camry Hybrid, but it’s now a strong contender based on the many included options, the fuel mileage, and the fact that I can drive it in the HOV lane around here. At around $28k it makes a strong argument for being a better choice than the Altima Coupe.

That then leaves some permutation of the Honda Civic. A basic one can easily be under $20k and a hybrid with 40/45MPG is only $24k.

I guess I’m just going to have to make a decision matrix and go with the output. Assuming the ol Grand Prix is actually dead, of course.

UPDATE: I just heard from AAMCO and my transmission is shot, requiring probably $2500 of repairs. Despite the several thousand I’ve already spent on repairs this year, I think it’s time to cut my losses.

Also, all the prices above for new cars are MSRP, so I’m not actually certain what the prices at the dealerships are.

After about 10 days on the road, I have once again confirmed to myself that vacations are never as relaxing as they ought to be. Rather than go into all the details in one post, I’m going to try to create several smaller posts over the next several days just so that I can feel like I’m generating new content here.

For now, let me just say how nice it was to be back in my own bed last night. Very, very nice.

Let’s further say, just for the sake of argument, that this car manufacturer is losing money hand over fist. Let’s even go so far as to say that you, as the CEO, are about to visit Washington DC to ask for other people’s money to pony up public funds to save the ship which even the Somali pirates wouldn’t touch.

Would you…

A) fly from Detroit to DC on the cheap in order to best keep your company afloat,
B) drive one of your company’s cars and use the event as free marketing,
C) don’t think twice about taking a private jet, because, come on, if you don’t do it the other CEOs are just going to make fun of you if you don’t, or
D) highlight the new concept car which literally uses hundred dollar bills for fuel and gets 0.1 miles to the Benjamin.

If you chose D, you are probably not too far from the truth. But the answer, of course is C.

Yeah.

I hope we get to keep the Big 3 around.

And here’s a tip, if you’re home offices are in Detroit, and your new CEO refuses to move his residence from Seattle, he’s not really committed to the cause and you probably shouldn’t trust him.

Me: I’m not that old. His math is off.

(moments later)

Me: No it’s not.

Here’s the 3 parts of the Good Eats turkey frying episode.

(more…)