I got fed up with Edmunds Inside Line and their “What It Means To You” prattle a while back. Still, I occassionally feel the need to go back to check out what they have online. It’s kind of like reading Warren Brown’s reviews: I know I will be disappointed, but I do it anyhow.

No remorse, though, today… Pictures of the Lotus Europa.

I’ve already documented my analysis of the styling influences here. It’s just so pretty.

I really want one. Come on Lotus… bring it… to the US that is.

The GTO is dead.

There is a debate raging over at Autoblog about the demise of the Pontiac GTO. Some are arguing that it was a dismal failure. Others are arguing it it wasn’t a failure, but Pontiac had to pull it, since Holden stopped making the Monaro from which it was based and assembled alongside.

Both are right. Even if the GTO was a raging success, GM would have to pull it because of the aforementioned retooling for the new RWD cars at Holden. That said, the GTO has never met GM’s sales expectations

In my opinion, there are several reasons that the GTO never met those expectations. The GTO was a good idea, which was poorly executed. Had they spent more time letting Pontiac “own” this car, I won’t be wasting valuable cyberspace on this post, which could be better used with pictures of nekkid men. It all comes down to GM was looking for a quick fix to Pontiac’s line-up and wouldn’t sweat the details.

Detail 1: The gas tank. Pontiac had to move the gas tank from it’s Australian placement, for safety reasons in rear end collisions. GM haphazardly moved it into the trunk behind the rear seats. The should have properly reengineered the gas tank. Looking at the GTO, one would have assumed that it was a four or five-dead-hooker trunk. Open it up, and the gas tank placement limited it to one or two dead hookers max. Additionally, this prevented folding rear seats from being available.

When I opened the GTO’s trunk at an auto show, the sales guy at the display practically knocked me over to get it shut before anyone saw… this was clearly an albtross that was giving Pontiac dealers fits.

Detail 2: Styling. Overall the styling of the GTO is fine, but lacked excitement. My ex-BF used to love the wow-factor of when he walked up to his cars. The GTO has no wow-factor. I don’t think it needed a completely new body. In fact I like the over all body. It just needed some details to make it stand out.

The biggest change that needed to be made: the grille and front end. Pontiac should have made a radical departure from the lesser Pontiacs front end styling. Something like a post-modern interpretation of the front end 1978 Trans Am or the 1969 GTO. Instead they fit the same old Pontiac grille between stock Monaro headlights. From the front, it might have well been a Grand Am.

The taillights screamed family grocery-getter. Some crazy LED or Altezza lights would have added a little excitement, yet still keep the clean lines of the body.

Before I get flamed, the hood scoops: Those indeed helped the look of the car, and I believe sales had a small jump as a result. The overall blandness, though, of the car made the scoops look like an aftermarket add-on of some ricer. Not really the image I think GM hoped for.

The GTO was Pontiac’s halo car… all other Pontiacs should have aspired to look like it, not the other way around.

Detail 3: Equipment. It’s reprehensible that a 32K sports coupe should not have a sunroof available, if not standard. Even most 20K family sedans have heated seats available, but not on the GTO. No automatic climate, even a single zone unit? Ridiculous. Pontiac would have been better to offer all these options, or better yet standard for an additional 2K.

In the end, GM was betting that the big engine alone would be enough to sell the car. This is yet another example of GM not seeing cars as the emotional melding of art and engineering (as I do.), but as simply appliances.

This mentality is the same that led to the badge engineering of the 80’s and 90’s. It is the mentality that has doomed every comeback, make-or-break car for all the divisions, with exception of the Corvette, and possibly Cadillac. Ultimately, it may be the mentality that has doomed GM to the scrap heap. Whether or not you subscribe to the GM Death Watch, I think it is clear this mentality has resulted in a much diminished GM.

A final thought: a head-to-head comparison between the Cavalier and the GTO. Very sad.

As much as I love BMWs, I have been very disappointed with the latest models. Chris Bangle and crew are kind of like that Santino guy on Project Runway. It just seems that they start with a good idea and then muck it all up with crazy details in the interest of being ugly stylish.

For the most part, though, I have been happy with the new BMW 3 Series… except for the stupid chrome eyelids. I think that I may have mentioned this before.

Well, BMW has finally wised up and listened to me. World Car Fans has spy shots of the M3 coupe and sedan WITHOUT CHROME EYELIDS.

Your gratitude has been noted.

I’m Still Here.

You’re all probably wondering where JD has been, right? RIGHT? (OK, I know four of you have been. And I thank you for your concern.)

My triumphant return to blogging was supposed to be… well, more triumphant. I had planned to hop a flight and provide a “Joe Citizen” two day blog-aganza of the Chicago Auto Show. Unfortunately, the same forces that kept me from blogging for the past 6 weeks also ruined this lovely plan.

Basically, my job is (still) kicking my butt and consuming most of my energy. In a nutshell, I’ve got a huge corporate-wide project that is sitting squarely on my shoulders. Also, other folks at the company are making decisions which they should know affect my areas of responsibility without consulting with me, some of which require that I spend yet another weekend working. (Thus, no Chicago Auto Show.)

On top, I took on the bathroom renovation from hell. What was supposed to be a coat of paint, a new vanity and some new fixtures transformed into something much bigger, including drywall replacement, new plumbing and some creative woodworking.

Recently, my friend Ed has made the decision to stop blogging. This makes me sad, since I enjoy his blog very much. I know Ed and his S.O. outside of the blogosphere (they came to my home for New Year’s Eve), but much of the time, his blog is the only way I keep track of them.

Part of Ed’s reasoning is that he doesn’t have much to say anymore. That had me thinking… even though I, like Ed, am feeling the demands of my job, home, friends, family, etc., there has been many time over the past 6 weeks that I HAVE had something to say, but didn’t have the time to get my thoughts organized enough to post here. I need that to change.

I’ve been miserable for the past two months working where I do. I feel like I have all the responsbility, and none of the authority (yes, I am paraphrasing Auntie Mame). Working at a global commmunications company sounds impressive at a cocktail party, but supporting offices in Asia, Europe, Africa and four time zones of the US as a one-man department is finally wearing me down.

I know myself well enough to know I will always take the weight of the world on my shoulders at work. I tend to always look for the bigger picture, and that vision gives me the opportunity to contribute beyond what my position is. I guess that’s why I am lucky to have a salary that affords a great house and a car that makes my heart flutter.

Very soon I will need to decide whether I stay here for a little while longer or look for something new. After almost 4 years (2 years as the only one left), I’m leaning towards a job somewhere that doesn’t operate 24/7. Also, if I didn’t have to commute an hour each way (or better yet could walk or Metro to work), I think I’d be less stressed. So if anybody if looking for a rock-star .NET architect in DC, let me know.