The Pix Pixy

The Ford Motor Company, along with rival General Motors, has been going through a time of severe testing due to concerns about product quality and relevancy, profits, and long term viability. The net result is that Ford is planning on closing numerous plants and will lay off as many as 30,000 employees, a historic cutback that may only be the tip of the iceberg. Is Ford finished or will the company be able to regain strength and compete successfully in the years ahead?

Ford has certainly taken its lumps and for good reason. Profits in the North American market are nonexistent with losses actually in the multibillion dollar range. Despite the red ink, all is not lost for the “blue oval” as the company remains very profitable overseas. In addition, its three U.S. divisions have much to offer if some serious changes are incorporated. Here are my suggestions for change:

Ford — The strongest division for the automaker is the one that bears its name. Ford’s strength is in its line of pick up trucks and SUVs. Select car models including the Mustang and Fusion are also strong sellers. Ford’s weakness can be found with its small car line, the Focus, and with dated models including the Crown Victoria. Better for Ford to scrap their small car lines altogether and import cars from Mexico or overseas. In addition, the company should concentrate on overhauling the Crown Victoria and introducing an all new Ranger compact pick up truck. Finally, Ford is getting out of the minivan business as crossover vehicles, such as the all new Edge, will replace that category. This latter retreat is wise as the category is saturated and the expense of developing a successful new minivan can be diverted to concentrate on shoring up other product lines.

Mercury — Many have been predicting that Ford would scrap its Mercury division altogether. However, among the many management decisions announced recently indicate that Mercury will stay. Together with Lincoln, the two brands are weak and are in need of much assistance. Mercury cars for decades have been nothing more than reworked Ford models therefore its brand identity has been diluted. It is time for Ford to help Mercury come up with a clearer “personality” and a line of vehicles that are inspiring, not boring. A good start would be to develop a car all Mercury’s own, such as a retro Cougar coupe.

Lincoln — There was a day when Lincoln and Cadillac battled for preeminence for sales leadership in the American luxury car category. Lincoln long ago ceded the fight to Cadillac, a GM division with new and exciting products. Currently, Cadillac outsells Lincoln by more than 2 to 1 and does battle with the likes of Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes. For Lincoln, a new Town Car is needed plus a decision must be made regarding just how much the division should rely on trucks and SUVs to identify the brand. Currently, Lincoln line up includes more truck models than cars. Reviving a historic model, such as the Continental, could be a smart choice and putting some money into the LS is another. Curiously, the make is changing the name of its newest model, the Zephyr, to the MKZ after only one model year.

Ford is floundering and it is particularly noticeable in two divisions, Mercury and Lincoln. Its Mazda connection, which has yielded several models including the Escape and Fusion, has been a success. Tapping its Volvo association to help with larger cars and with engineering would be wise and Ford should work closer with its Jaguar division to produce additional vehicle lines. The current LS, derived from the Jaguar “S Type” is an example of an earlier collaboration that wasn’t utilized to its fullest extent.

All hope isn’t lost for Ford, but the company’s image has been tarnished. The seed of greatness remains, but the company must act quickly in order to regain consumer confidence and stop the ever deepening erosion of its sales base to foreign makes.

Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan is The Auto Writer covering new cars, the classics, auto parts and accessories, insurance, and more. Matt suggests you find great performance auto parts for less by shopping online today.

One central argument between car enthusiasts and on Internet car forums alike is what oil is better for your car, synthetic or conventional. Before synthetic oils became available for regular automobiles, the argument centered solely on brand types and weight. But now, with the advent of these synthetics all over the market, what is truly the best choice for your engine? Let’s explore both of these worlds to find out.

Conventional oil is rated according to a SAE system. This scale is used so that you know what type of oil is best for your car given the environmental conditions (temperature, city driving, etc.) of where you live. The first number, for example on 10W30 motor oil, is 10 followed by a “W”. This “W” indicates that the number before it is the viscosity rating of the oil. The lower this number, the better the oil is for colder climates. The higher the number, the better it is for hotter driving conditions.

Synthetic oils, on the other hand (before their commercial release) were used in many military vehicles and fighter jets. Airlines also use synthetics in their engines. The synthetic oil has been designed not to break down as quickly and can tolerate extremities in temperature and weather (hot to cold).

One of the major differences between conventional and synthetic oils is that synthetics are treated with more additives that protect your engine for a longer amount of time before you have to change it. And, while we don’t want to get into all the molecular chemistry involved in the making of these oils, we should mention that they also last longer in hotter conditions and won’t “gel” in colder ones, like conventional oil. In other words, synthetics have more additives, which greatly protect the car from viscosity breakdown. They are designed to withstand temperature extremes. It may be safe to say that extreme driving conditions call for the use of synthetics.

On the financial side of the matter, synthetics cost a whole lot more; up to three or four times as much as regular conventional oil. But, the wonderful thing is that you don’t have to change your oil every 3,000 miles; recommended with conventional oil use. In fact, you may not have to change it until well after 25,000 and up to 50,000 miles as long as the oil filter is changed every 10,000 miles. So, the cost at first might scare consumers away, but the long-term benefits of synthetic oil use are substantial.

However, you will still have to be responsible for your car’s maintenance check-up every 3,000 miles or so. With regular oil-changes, you are automatically checking over the car for other problems (or if you don’t an inspection mechanic does). It might help you find a problem that could be dealt with, that could’ve gone unchecked. Also, you’ll want to check the synthetic oil every now and then to be sure that it isn’t contaminated and/or that there isn’t any moisture build-up.

With normal everyday driving, perhaps conventional oils work best for you. You aren’t driving in extreme conditions and you swear allegiance to regular oil. That may be fine. Synthetic oil cannot really offer you anything that conventional oil cannot under normal operating conditions. However, the definition of extreme driving states that if you do a lot of short driving (two to twenty miles) daily, it’s hard on your car. And, specialists agree that this constitutes extreme driving due to the faster breakdown of the structure of conventional oil.

Another major reason that many are choosing the synthetic route is that it contains fewer impurities; impurities that can cause your engine harm, perhaps to the point of premature engine wear. With conventional oil, there’s no way to totally rid, filter or clean the impurities from the natural elements. That’s another reason why synthetic oils do not have to be changed as much even in extreme driving conditions.

You’ll want to be careful; however, if you do decide that you want to give synthetic oils a try. If you’ve been driving your 1983 Ford Thunderbird for years using 10W30, you may not want to switch using your conventional oil brand.

Conventional oils have solvents that stick to gaskets and seals and often cause them to swell a certain way. These gaskets and seals have been used to the same oil for years and the switch to any other type of oil (whether it is to a different conventional oil brand, or an upgrade to a synthetic) may be harmful. The oil you change (or upgrade to) will also have solvents and additives, different from the original. So in other terms, the changing of oils could result in oil leaks and/or a once small oil leak becoming bigger due to the reaction the seals and gaskets will have to the change (not because of the oil itself). If you think that this might be the case for you (i.e. if you have an older car using conventional oil), it’s recommended that you not try synthetic oil until you have an engine (or new car) with relatively virgin gaskets and seals that will be able to acclimate much more easily to the chemical changes of the newer type of oil.

It’s easy to see that that fanfare for one or the other is an argument that has really been explored. It’s best for you to decide what will fit your personal needs. If you have an older car, you may want to wait until you upgrade. However, if you have a newer car, the benefits of synthetic oils are easily seen. Again, it’s solely dependent upon you and the conditions where you drive. Synthetics are shown to provide their best protection above 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Most people do not drive their cars this hot. However, many do drive in cities, where driving times are considered to be more of a “stop-and-go” nature, which may be considered “extreme” in many circumstances. When the time comes for you to make a decision, at least you’ll be informed of the differences of each. And, until that time, no matter what, keep up that automotive pride!

Michael Walker is a freelance author providing tips and hints on engine related topics such as JDM motors, used import engines and engine swaps. His articles are a valuable source of information for the auto enthusiast.

It’s named after a nomadic, hearty Saharan tribe with the unusual-
sounding name, TOUR-egg. Literally translated, the word means “free
folk.”

So what better way to test drive the Touareg — the first SUV offered by
Volkswagen — than during an open-road, 400-mile round-trip journey to
the famed Monterey Peninsula?

Certainly, my chosen route south on Interstate 5 has long stretches
where anyone who enjoys the pleasures of driving can feel “free.”

But 30 miles into my journey, a sensor warning appeared on the
console panel: “Defective tire on board.”

The same warning had also appeared sporadically during my first two
days with the vehicle in short, around-town treks. A local Volkswagen
dealer representative said many Touaregs have suffered through the
same “growing pains.”

In short, owners noticing the same warning have brought their new
vehicles to dealers with concern. But they’ve largely discovered nothing
is wrong with the exception of an overly sensitive computer system.

In my instance, the warning quickly changed to a danger light: “Flat
Tire.” I stopped at freeway exit service station and examined what
appeared to be four properly inflated tires. Nonetheless, I increased tire
pressure slightly in all of the tires, noted that the warning and danger
lights disappeared and continued with my trip.

Through three more days mixed with city and freeway miles, the
warnings appeared and disappeared several times, and I subsequently
read about the Touareg’s first recall for a related problem with its Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Nonetheless, the local dealer had assured me there wouldn’t be a
problem. And with that in mind, I began a steady, if slow, study of a
powerful vehicle that includes a multitude of innovation, a spacious
interior, a comfortable ride and a sensory overload of features.

The Touareg I drove was equipped with a 3.2-liter, 24-valve, 220-
horsepower V6 engine and had a base price of $34,900. The blue-silver
exterior was nicely complemented with an anthracite-colored interior.

The standard features list was long and included such unique offerings
as five 12-volt power outlets, dual zone climate with rear vents, a
multifunction trip computer and compass, a recharging mini-flashlight
and power heatable exterior mirrors.

Additional special features included heatable driver and passenger
seats, a powerglass sunroof and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The electronically controlled permanent four-wheel drive, electronically
regulated shock absorbers and double wish-bone suspension
enhanced the vehicle’s nice road handling.

The Touareg’s most intriguing feature is its three varying locking
differentials that can offer up to 12 inches of ground clearance
depending upon road or off-round terrain surfaces.

I had the standard differential engaged during my entire journey, and
the Touareg didn’t disappoint. It accelerated well and handled lane
maneuvering and cornering nicely.

On some ascents, the vehicle was slightly underpowered and during
long straight highway stretches, a windshield “whistle” interrupted an
otherwise quiet, smooth ride.

My test Touareg also featured a nearly $6,500 options package,
including a navigation system ($2,650), an 11-speaker, 325-watt, 12-
channel audio system and a single CD changer ($2,200). Add leather
and 12-way power seats, upgraded headlamps and a rear differential
lock and the Touareg’s price increased to a hefty $41,815.

The audio system, while powerful, included a complicated channel and
mode selection formula that can easily distract a driver with varying
musical tastes. Volume and channel controls are also available on the
steering wheel, near the controls for the easy-to-use cruise control.

Considering its new position in the luxury SUV market, purchasers of the
Touareg are likely not in the market for fuel efficiency. Still, the
manufacturer’s estimates of 15 mpg (city) and 20 (mpg) highway didn’t
hold true during my test week.

After several days of driving primarily highway miles, I refilled the tank
and calculated the mileage at disappointing 14.1 mpg.

2004 Volkswagen Touareg

Safety features — Driver and front passenger (front, side and curtain)
airbags and supplemental restraint system, three-point seatbelts (all
seating positions), child safety rear door locks, tire pressure monitoring
system.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 15 mpg (city), 20 mpg (highway)

Warranty — Warranty — New car limited four years/50,000 miles;
Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 12 years/unlimited miles.

Price range — $35,000 to $46,000.

James Raia is a syndicated journalist in Sacramento, Calif., who writes
about sports, fitness and business topics as well as the free electronic
newsletters Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times and The
Weekly Driver, a car review column.

Samples of Raia’s writing can be viewed on his web site: ByJamesRaia.com.

His car reviews and newsletters can be viewed at The
Weekly Driver and
Endurance Sports News and Tour
de France Times