A Visit to Daytona Dodge Chrysler

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 -- Click Photo For Full Size

Today, I did one of those things that really is a car guy thing, by going to the car dealership and looking around.  Stopping in at Daytona Dodge Chrysler and being shown around by Mr. Straiten.

For hard core Chrysler Product fans the term Mopar is about as close to the core as you get because of Motor Parts Corporation or Dodge/Chrysler parts division.  All future references to Mopar in the Automotive Tribune will be addressed with the full respect and homage associated with the rights, honors, and privileges thereto appertaining.
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Happy Birthday Smart Car

Smart Car

Smart Car has been on sale in the US for one year!  This nifty car was originally introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1998 developing from initial sketches and design studio efforts in 1993.   Smart production began with the watch people Swatch who ultimately need the cooperation, guidance and capital of Mercedes Benz to bring the project forward to today. 

There are many great photos that show this ultimate small vehicle in all sorts of places that you would not expect.  Smart is about the size of a typical golf car but it can travel with freeway traffic and gets a lot of miles per gallon.  It is also a definite smile statement type of vehicle.  Maybe it is the size, maybe color coordination between body panels and safety frame, or maybe a statement about being concerned for environment and society. … Continue Reading

Kings For Another Era

Little brother to the ZR1, the 2009 Z06 Corvette has 550 HP

2009 CTS-V

CTS-V and ZR1

arguably represent the finest passenger car and Corvette built by GM.  These monster performance vehicles are at the zenith of advertized horsepower with 556 and 638 as explained on their respective pages at the GM web site.

Both vehicles have accolades from the world wide automotive press.  This is absolutely impressive, because now the press really does provide positive commentary about GM vehicles.  The CTS-V can feel right at home in the company of BMW M products and Mercedes AMG while the ZR1 Corvette can out perform almost every car ever produced.

Dinosaurs once romed the earth and in today’s environmentally conscious society and GM’s negotiation with Washington for capital CTS-V and ZR1 vehicles will end the run for ultra high power internal combustion engine GM vehicles.  This is a terrible consequence for performance car fans, who would love to have one of these vehicles and GM, who needs positive press for providing a fantastic car at a reasonable price for cars in that perforance category.  Admittedly, prices that start at $60K and $106K are not cheap but then that is the price required to get into this exclusive performance group. … Continue Reading