.

Well one of our members took some time and discovered were Aaron found his information concerning Edmonds.com’s Clunker list.

CNNMoney.com senior reporter Peter Vaides-Dapena sums up the accounting diferences as  “Edmonds.com uses traditional sales measurements, tallying sales by make and model.  The Government uses a more arcane measurement that subdivides models according to engine and transmission types”  ….” Edmonds.com “Top ten Clunker Buys” list is based on transaction data collected directly from dealers”.

“The Ford Escape crossover SUV, instead of being the seventh most popular vehicle under the program, as the Govt ranked it, was actually the best according to Edmonds.com”

 “The Truth About Cars”  writer Robert Farago also picked up on this issue. And compares the two lists .  He writes that “the DOT (Govt) manipulated the data to hide the fact that a brace of SUVs and pickup trucks made the top ten; the Cash for Clunkers program is supposed to be about saving the environment”

Here are the two sets of rankings.

So in retrospect,  yes,  we might have jumped the gun and assumed that GM and Chrysler were not profiting from the program, ( as did every major newspaper and media outlet across Canada) but it has not changed our opinion that unless the Canadian and U.S. Govts adopt “protectionist” policies to ensure that the public purchases GM and Chrysler products, it is only a matter of time before they come back for more money.

Another issue is why Edmonds reported this information through CNNMoney but did not appear to have any posting of such on its own Website?

Today, we received confimation in writing that Audi Canada would honor the warranty in Canada of all US purchased vehicles. 

“All Audi warranties on 2009 vehicles take on the warranty coverage for the country in which the vehicle is located at the time it is serviced or repaired”….. “I trust this information is helpful in reassuring you as to the warranty coverage on a 2009 Audi vehicle that you may purchase in the U.S. and relocate to Canada” .

This following letter is very professional and we appreciate the time and effort that Audi Canada representatives took to clarify and document the issue.

Excellent customer service.

Now how come Honda Canada and GM Canada can’t operate like this.

CWB has been asked to get a serious message and request for help out to our members and supporters.   Please review the following petition requesting that the Government make emergency amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insonvency Act (BIA) to give preferred status to the claims of pensioners, the disabled and severed employees, putting workers in front of the line of creditors.

Given our current laws that favor large multinational companies, thousands of Canadians risk losing their pensions and benefits.   Please take the time to read the following:

Mail in deadline August 27.

Continue reading “Canadian Government sides with Goliath again!”

One of our members sent in the following cost comparison on a Lincoln MKT. It appears that with the employee discount, The Lincoln MKT Eco Boost AWD is cheaper in Canada!

It appears that Ford has the “employee discount pricing”  incentive only in Canada.  Although if Americans have clunckers they can save up to an additional $4500. 

Despite the Employee Pricing Discount, the difference would be minimal.  Ford seems to have established their pricing models with a 90 cent loonie.   Congratulations Ford,  Thanks for being fair to Canadians!

 You have got to be kidding!  This is Jon Stewart material!  So today, GM has finally woken up and decided to increase production and recall 1,350 workers in Ontario and Ohio.

Yesterday Canwest reported that GM did not have one car in the top ten sellers of those that were making “clunker” trades.  It would be interesting to find out if GM had any vehicles in the top 25.  And what models they were. 

By our count well over 1/3 of the allotted funds have been spent and GM hopes to grab some of the sales by having product available.

Let us hope that these magical managers at GM know what they are doing. 

Wonder how much GM is planning to “gouge” hard working Canadian car consumers!  They have billions of our tax dollars, now they will charge us  over 12% more than Americans —unfair prices for vehicles built in Canada!

Coming this winter… “Auto Bailout number 2″ playing at a theatre near you.

2009-08-18gazette.pdf 

You can also check out these sites and have fun readying what the the world thinks of this mess!

 Some dealers are even opting out of the program!

Check out the U.S. Govt site - CARS