This Automotive Podcast Is Sucking Up the Great Cars at The New York Auto Show

The automotive world has converged on New York this week for the auto show and we go through some of the interesting and surprising new models and refreshes. David's pick is for a vehicle that totally sucks, far more than this minivan.

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Some of those new models will engender loyalty, but right now Ford is garnering the greatest loyalty from existing owners. That kind of loyalty may be pushing people to finance their new-car purchases for as long as 72-months, a once unheard of loan length.

Cadillac's striking CTS from the
 NY Auto Show via Autoblog 

More than 85% of Americans rely on their cars to commute to work and the AAA offers their picks for the best commuter cars.

Honda has a brilliant app idea to get drivers to pay attention to their style of driving so that they don't cause congestion. The NHTSA has a far less inspired app.

Speaking of inspiration, a British inventor has created an air car, that is one that runs on air. But not very far.

Finally, moving to air travel, soon you may be allowed to use electronic devices to distract yourself from those stressful moments during takeoff and landing.

This Automotive Podcast Won't Try and Sell You the Undercoating

The car buying process remains one of the most painful parts of owning a vehicle, but new efforts by dealers could improve that, even if the laws governing the industry are extremely antiquated.

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But in China, an airline is looking to sell cars to travelers, during flights. That won't fly with a growing number of owners who are hanging on to their vehicles for a long, long time -- out of love.

One market that has engendered loyalty has been the small-pickup market, though most auto makers have abandoned the segment. Now they are looking to get back in. One way to make those vehicles more appealing might be to put diesel engines, which ExxonMobile predicts will be the dominant fuel in only seven years.

How long?

Meanwhile, electric and hybrid vehicle sales continue to grow, but the environmental impact is probably more significant than most people think.

Sensors are increasingly moving into vehicles and assessing and communicating with drivers. One company -- Automatic -- has a low-cost gadget to add that functionality to most modern cars.

Commuting time is one metric that potential home owners should consider and a new site provides a realistic look to shoppers.

Finally, Jeff Gordon gives a car dealer a scare, and we debate whether its real.

This Automotive Podcast Doesn't Need a Safety Alert Sound

We're all digital this week. Both in audio and in content because it's CES time. Auto makers and parts suppliers are rolling out new gadgets, apps and infotainment systems that a recent study predicts will be the differentiator for buyers over the next few years.

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Ford and GM are battling for wired drivers with new systems, while traffic data supplier Inrix is adding parking information to its offerings. Delphi is also readying a new system to bring smartphone connections to older vehicles.

Being informed about the consequences is part of an effort in Japan to get people to drive safely.

Buyers weren't informed about the vehicles on the worst-selling of 2012 list. No Chevrolet models on there, and the GM brand hopes its new tagline drives sales.

The NHTSA wants to add warning sounds to electric vehicles so they don't sneak up and surprise pedestrians.

Finally, Jerry Seinfeld is re-upping his Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and while he is wealthier than many corporations, one driver tried to argue that the corporate papers in his passenger seat were enough to qualify him for the HOV lane.

Scenes From the Commute: Zap Xebra - Car or Motorcycle?

I came across this interesting little vehicle in an office park garage in the Seattle area. I did a little research and came across some info the the Zap Xebra electric, three-wheeled enclosed motorcycle. Yes, that is a long list of descriptors. It's like a three-toed sloth of vehicles: weird, rare and probably just as slow.

It reminded me of this epic Top Gear segment on the Reliant Robin.

The best part: That cord was plugged into a socket in the garage. Free electricity -- at least for the owner of the car.

A rare, slow Zap Xebra getting a free charge.

Charging Our Driverless Podcast on the Fancy Bus

Paris is usually lovely in spring time, but it's time for the bi-annual Paris auto show and there were some important and alluring vehicles unveiled, including the VW Golf (and GTI), the Jaguar F-type and the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo wagon concept.

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Not the next Tesla Supercharger

Electric vehicles are becoming more important and prevalent, and now Tesla is offering a new charging system called Superchargers. One kind of vehicle that won't be charging there are Toyotas, which pulled the plug on its plan to build pure electrics to focus on hybrids.

Which is worse for air quality? Burgers or trucks. The answer may surprise you.

Speaking of surprises: Buses are going upscale in some cities.

Next thing they will have are driverless cars. Or fonts that you can actually read. Or kids developing apps.

Finally, Carmageddon II is coming in the land of sequels and it might be worse than the original.

A Texas-Sized Automotive Podcast That's Going Places

Europe has not always been a kind market for U.S. auto makers, and now Ford and GM are struggling to find the right path forward in that market. Ford just introduced a bunch of new models for the European market, and may soon introduce a new COO -- Mark Fields -- who could eventually take over for Alan Mulally.

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A Texas-sized rest stop (WSJ photo)

Speaking of the future, at TechCrunch Disrupt two auto-related companies -- YourMechanic.com and Lit Motors -- won the startup competition.

Commuters care the most about fuel economy and Total Car Score has a list of the best commuter cars.

Speaking of fuel economy, gas stations in N.J. and Pennsylvania are charging $8 a gallon for gasoline to protest the parent company.

In Texas things are big, even the convenience stores.

Finally Toyota is rolling out a new tagline: "Let's Go Places."

Scenes From the Commute: A Chrysler LeBaron Convertible

This Chrysler LeBaron convertible was a surprising sight on my Friday evening drive home.

1. Because it was in my neighborhood and I hadn't noticed it before
2. These are probably rare because they weren't paragons of durability

Overall these weren't terrible cars at the time, when good convertibles were rare. They had optional turbo-charged engines and a somewhat cool design.

A 20-year old Chrysler LeBaron convertible is a rare sight.

Scene From the Commute: MG Midgets at a Cross Roads

It's impressive to see even one MG Midget on my short drive to work, but it was a bit of a shock to see two, at the same traffic light but going in opposite directions. So I didn't think it was two buddies caravaning.

What was the most unusual car you've seen on the drive this week?

An MG Midget (Photo from Wikipedia)

Carmageddon Was a Bust. Will Viadoom Create Havoc?

Over the summer, the worst fears associated with Los Angeles's Carmageddon -- the traffic jams expected when I-405 was closed for a weekend -- proved to be overblown.

Efficient commuting? From the Seattle Times.

Now Seattle is facing Viadoom: The closure of the crucial Alaskan Way Viaduct as workers demolish a portion of the downtown elevated highway as part of the controversial tunnel project.

The Seattle Times has provided all kinds of maps, guides and other resources for drivers looking to avoid the potential traffic snarls cause by the project.

While we were standing in the rain competing in a pumpkin race, several thousand Seattleites turned out this weekend to pay tribute to the roadway and stroll about without fear of getting hit by a car.

Tomorrow will be the big test to see if Seattle's already tough traffic gets exponentially worse. Stay tuned.

Fat, Poor and Unhappy Is No Way to Car Cast Through Life

We wish we were just coming back from Germany. That's where the Frankfurt auto show is taking place, where car makers are showing off some interesting new models and dramatic concepts. David's favorite is probably among the most boring, but has the most realistic chance of ending up in his driveway.

Audi's /urban Spyder concep

Ford showed off a concept that is connected to the cloud and learns the driver's preferences. At the same time, Ford has teamed up with Bug Labs to develop a new open-source platform that would increase integration for third-party software and hardware for its vehicles.

Another company is rolling out an Android-powered aftermarket infotainment system, which had us debating whether modern cars can handle aftermarket stereos.

Teen driving is fraught with risk, and mobile phones and texting are a big issue. Sprint is rolling out a new service that aims to prevent teens from using their phones while driving. There is a big problem: the cost. Meanwhile, driving schools are failing their students, but mainly because the driving tests are so easy that they only need to do a bare minimum of teaching.

Do you commute? Are you fat, poor and unhappy. Well, that's a big risk if you do commute, according to a new study.

Parking is an issue in many cities, and now the cost of parking spaces is starting to rise faster than the value of housing. Would you pay $125,000 for a parking space?

Are you disappointed that the cars of today aren't anything like the promises of the car of the future from the distant past? Doc Brown and Michael Knight are.

Would you buy a car without test driving it? That might be crazy but not unheard of these days.

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A High Quality Automotive Podcast That's Also Satisfying

How do you define quality? Well, J.D. Power and Strategic Vision are bickering over what quality means and their lists of quality car brands are very different.

Should hybrid cars get kicked out of the HOV lanes? California is considering doing just that, arguing that hybrid technology is longer that unique.

A people moving box from Brooks & Bone

This weekend is Carmageddon in the Los Angeles area. Last week, we talked about flying cars being the solution. This week JetBlue is offering flights from one side of the city to the other for about the price of a gallon of gas, $4.

Most cars are style over substance, but two recent car design school grads have gone utility over style to create concepts for moving people around in urban areas. It's a box.

Distracted driving has become cause celeb for the U.S. Department of Transportation, and now Syracuse, N.Y. and Hartford, Conn., are both cracking down and doing lots of education. And it's working.

Groupon has offered deals on driving schools, car parts, auto detailing and now actual cars. A Detroit dealer is offering a $500 Groupon for $199, but those who buy, are locked in to that dealer.

Another bargain trend are penny bidding sites. One bidder nabbed a $31,000 Camaro for $5.28. Really.

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