Wheels.5 - Wheels on the Web

My good friend and colleague does a very long review of the Chrysler 200. At about 38:10, I join him. The joke at the end is that he always ends his reviews with "Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down," but when he brings in someone for an in-car interview, it always goes wrong. "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc573jgmo9w"

LOL. Wow. Really surprised by your comments about the 200. I think you mentioned previously that you were heading down for the test drive and you weren't expecting much based on the previous models, right?

To me Dodge/Chrysler cars with the exception of the 300 have never had a 'solid' look to them, unlike say a Mercedes E class. Kind of plastically but more that the Mercedes and other brands look like they were carved out of one piece of metal, though that obviously isn't the case. Maybe just a case of fit of the seams not being as fine quality wise with Chrysler.

Interesting recall by Mazda on some Mazda6es: "Mazda has a spider problem, and now it's issuing a voluntary recall to implement a "bug fix" in every sense of the word. A certain species, known as the yellow sac spider, is spinning webs in the vent lines of Mazda 6 sedans. The spider is attracted to gasoline and other hydrocarbons, and despite the Japanese carmaker's best efforts, the arachnids keep finding their way inside of the vent lines. It's not just a problem because it's creepy, however. The spider webs can cause restricted air flow, which could lead to a pressure buildup in the fuel tank. Pressure can cause cracks, and cracks can lead to fires, though no fires have yet been tied to the issue." "http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/6/5587116/mazda-6-software-update-addresses-spider-problem" I wonder if other car makers have this problem?

Just read your piece, Jil, about what brought about the end of leaded gasoline. It's a shame that health wasn't the motivation for the auto and oil industries to stop requiring leaded gasoline, though. Not surprising, either, sadly.

Joseph and Jil, have health or safety concerns EVER been a reason or motivation for the car industry to make changes/improvements with the thought of the health or safety of the consumer in mind? IIRC Lee Iacocca vehemently argued against having seat belts installed claiming that thousands of passengers would be strangled by the belts. Way to insult your consumers, Lee. If Ralph Nader had never been born I guarantee you cars would be stuck in the 1950's safety wise. No seatbelts, anti lock brakes, airbags, traction control, crumple zones, except MAYBE on the very highest end models and then only at a super premium. I have a semi personal Iacocca story if anyone is interested.

My uncle was a reporter for KYW tv and radio in Philadelphia for over 25 years and covered a number of stories, Three Mile Island (got his picture in Newsweek for that one) was on a plane with the Cardinals on the way to Rome when Pope John Paul died and got the inside story of how the conclave of Cardinals REALLY works when it comes to selecting a new Pope, at least back then they gave it to the person who showed the absolute LEAST amount of interest in being Pope, actually physically recoiling when the subject was brought up got you bonus points, the MOVE fiasco.

Anyway, my uncle along with my mom had bought Dodge Aspens, my mom got a brown wagon he got a sedan.

TRULY HORRIBLE cars. On a good day they steered like a boat. I ended up totalling ours when I hit 3 other cars on a sleety day in December. My uncle had to get the transmission on his replaced 5 times and the electronics twice.

"http://www.autotraderclassics.com/scaler/632/473/images/b/2012/10/18/6 7691701/0_Dodge_Aspen_wagon_008.jpg" The horror...the horror.

About five years after Chrysler had stopped making them, my uncle was at some big to-do in Philadelphia and Iacocca was one of the speakers. Afterwards my uncle was hanging out backstage and Iacocca came through to glad hand. He stopped and was chatting with my uncle and of course since it's Iacocca he asked my uncle what car he drove. My uncle said with some disdain, "One of yours, an Aspen." Iacocca, leaned over, patted my uncle on the shoulder and smiled as he said, "That's okay, we don't make that anymore." WAY TO SELL ME ON THE CHRYSLER BRAND LEE!!!! SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!!

That was the last time my parents even set foot in a domestic car dealership. After that it was a Mazda 626, Toyota Corolla sedan (which I wrecked), Toyota Corolla wagon (which I wrecked) Honda Accord sedan, Acura Integra sedan, Toyota Camry sedan, Honda Accord sedan, which I was in when it got wrecked but was not wrecked by me, Acura Cl and Honda Odyssey.

The Corolla wagon one, the driver two cars ahead of me thought a flashing yellow traffic light was gonna turn red, so he slammed on his brakes and....accordion affect. Kinda sorta my fault. The Corolla sedan was my fault.