Owning a Ferrari is like having a mistress. When you're with it/her, you understand exactly why you were willing to risk life, limb, your children's happiness and a huge pile of cash to indulge in inherently selfish, fleeting pleasures. And then the Ferrari breaks/crashes and the mistress goes hinky, as is their wont. And you wonder WTF you were thinking when you bought the Ferrari or indulged your libido [presumably] outside the marital bed. You swear on a stack of fifties that you will never, ever be so stupid as to think you could get away with that kind of shit again as long as you live. You will live within your means, within your sensible, proscribed comfort zone. And then the Ferrari's fixed and the mistress gives you "that" look. If the process becomes an endless loop, there's only one thing for it: buy a Porsche and marry your mistress. My gift to you Justin– and our two fine listeners.

Yesterday, we reported on a Canadian class action lawsuit claiming carmakers and dealers conspired to violate “competition and consumer protection laws” to artificially inflate new car prices. Today, the National Post reports that Porsche is lowering prices on its 2008 models in Canada by more that 10 percent– plus an additional 2 percent on an “equipment adjusted basis” when compared to an ’07 model. "We cannot ignore our customers and dealers in Canada who can look to the U.S. and recognize a substantial price difference," says the president and CEO of Porsche North America. Yes, but– the price of a new Porsche will remain higher than those sold in the US. Assuming the loonie is at parity with the US dollar, a 2008 Cayenne will still cost some 27 percent more in Canada (C$55,200) than German sport trucks sold south of the border (US$43,400). Still, Porsche’s Schwarzenbauer's back remains patted: "We listened to the market and did what is best for our customers in Canada."

TTAC's best and brightest were not slow off the mark on this one: GM's plan to put $50b into the hands of the United Auto Workers for a union-controlled health care superfund could lead to epic fraud, leaving union members without adequate coverage. The Director of the National Legal and Policy Center's Organized Labor Accountability Project and editor of Union Corruption Update sounds the alarm. "Union-controlled health and benefit plans often shortchange union members and retirees," Dr. Carl Horowitz warns. "Instead of getting the best deal for participants, these plans are often characterized by cozy, inside deals beneficial to the union bosses, and on occasion, organized crime. With the staggering size of this proposed health fund, the UAW bosses must be salivating." In case you didn't notice, Dr. Horowitz (who still has both legs intact) thinks Congress should hold hearings on the health care deal– or else. "Neither GM nor the UAW can be counted on to act in the best interests of workers. Putting the union in charge of this health fund creates a potentially huge conflict of interest for UAW leaders." 

Up until now, The People's Republic of China taxed vehicles based on weight and through tolls. (You didn't think Chinese motorists were tax-free did you?) Now they're eliminating tolls and other road taxes in favor of a fuel tax. Apparently this radical idea will mean that people who drive more will pay more and those who drive less will pay less. The China Car Times isn't over the moon about the cutting edge concept. While they repeat Beijing's claim that the new system will push car companies into developing "other alternative fuel cars," they also believe "the driver gets pinched in the pocket and has to take public transport… Clearly the Mandarins in Beijing have not taken public transport in China in the last decade and the last place I'd like to be on a Monday morning is on a packed diesel fume spewing bus with my nose pushed firmly in someones arm pit." The tax takes effect next March.

From the land of sleeping policemen and speed cameras, gizmag brings news that will touch the inner hoon in all of us. Londoner Tim Brady is now the new British national automobile speeding ticket record holder. Brady broke the old record by 16mph, by doing 172mph (277kph) in a 3.6 liter Porsche 911 Turbo "borrowed" from his employer, a luxury car rental company. After the police clocked him, it took Brady almost 2300 ft (700 meters) to stop. Brady is now serving a 10-week jail sentence and lost his license for his actions. By the way, he still didn't beat the record for the top speed ever recorded on a British roadway. That belongs to motorcyclist Daniel Nicks who registered 175mph (282kph) on a Honda Fireblade. But the Brits still have a way to go to beat the Yanks– American Samuel Armstrong still holds the world speeding ticket record by doing 205mph (330kph) on a Honda RC51 superbike.

Regular readers will know that we're big fans of painfully obvious press releases. Although it's been a while since a really stupid obvious PR shout-out has crossed our e-transom, it was worth the wait. Honestly, I can't do justice to this one. So, at the risk of seeming as lazy as a newspaper automotive supplement editor, here's the text: "Peanut butter and jelly, chips and salsa, vegetables and … oil changes? They really do have something in common — they both promote good health. Just like your mother told you to eat your vegetables so you could be strong and healthy, you have probably been told that you are supposed to change the oil in your car regularly, according to the guidelines in your car's owner's manual. Your driving habits, the climate you live in, and the conditions you drive in will determine whether you are on a regular or severe schedule. But like you may skip the broccoli and opt for fries instead, you may let your oil change slip, thinking it really doesn't make that big of a difference. But regular oil changes and maintenance can have a big impact on how long your car lasts… So the next time you're tempted to skip that oil change, remember the price you and your car may pay in the long run. As for skipping the vegetables … well, you know what mom said." Podcast with Steve Christie, Executive Director of the Automotive Oil Change Association below. 

The EPA has just released its summary of the model year 2007 composite fuel economy ratings by manufacturer (or, in EPA-speak, "marketing group"). The average for all manufacturers was 20.2 mpg– no thanks to the SUV/truck-centric Big 2.8. Honda led the pack with an average of 22.9 mpg, squeaking by Toyota at 22.8 mpg. The other manufacturers slotting in above the industry average: Hyundai/Kia (22.7), VW (21.4), and Nissan (20.6). Falling below the average were GM (19.4), Ford (18.7) and DaimlerChrysler (18.3). GM has never managed to exceed the average, but they tied it three times, the last time in 1998 (20.1). Pre-Daimler Chrysler last placed above the average in 1984, bettering the 21.0 average by 0.1 mpg. Ford has never placed above the average; Toyota and Honda have never been below it. Click here for a graph showing a side-by-side comparison of the 2007 results.

The Manchester Evening News reports that the local plod have crushed over 10k cars belonging to owners who are wanted for a criminal offense, dare drive without a proper registration or insurance, and/or haven't maintained their vehicle properly. This "bounty" stems from new police confiscation powers enacted in January 2006 and deployment of patrol car-mounted Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and software (which can identify a car's legitimacy or outstanding warrants attached to the registered keeper in seconds). As awesome as that may be for insurance companies and road safety– "police say uninsured drivers are six times more likely to have convictions for driving un-roadworthy vehicles and nine times more likely to have convictions for drink-driving"– the fines involved are equally staggering. Offending vehicles are hit with a £200 on-the-spot fine; or a larger one meted out later, in court. There's also a £105 charge for recovery, plus £12 a day storage AND offenders get points on their license. As the Greater Manchester Police seized 25k cars during this time frame, without storage charges, we reckon the crackdown has dumped over £4,575,000 in revenues into the City Council's coffers. You know, byproduct-wise. 

India’s economy is growing fast. Too fast. To curb inflation, the country’s central bank has been busy raising interest rates. Bloomburg.com reports the result at the auto industry’s sharp end: new car loans are the most expensive they’ve been in five years. As nearly 75 percent of all of India’s fresh whips are purchased on credit, the new car market has slumped since June. Most Indian automakers are reacting to the credit crunch by trimming production or holding off on new factories. With plans for three new plants in the next 18 months, Tata managing director Ravi Kant has decided to offer new customers deep discounts to move the metal. If and how this will effect the Indian automaker’s bid for Ford’s damaged Jaguar brand is uncertain, but it can’t help.

When the redesigned 2008 Impreza WRX made its New York debut, you could hear the collective creak from the upturned conks of the cognoscenti. What’s with the Camry clone? Somehow Subie thwacked a dart-full of its patented anti-fun serum into the styling of one of the world’s most “enigmatic” designs. But just how bad is the damage? Have Subaru’s efforts to re-brand the rockstar ‘Rex as a kinder, gentler, pop-idol created a yawnster? More importantly: is it possible to be a bad Subaru, but a good car?

Is the name of the coffee table tome resting underneath my left elbow. Michael Furman's photographic study of automobiles built from 1925 to 1948 leads with pictures of American models, and it's enough to make an American car lover cry. From the Bentley Blower-like 1927 Kissel 8-75 Speedster to the perfectly proportioned 1932 Lincoln KB Model 248 Convertible Roadster (I'm ignoring the hideous 1940 Lincoln Continental Convertible), the US section features some of the most beautiful and charismatic cars the world had ever seen. As TTAC continues to chronicle Detroit's dissolution, let it be said that we look forward to the flowering of talent that its conclusion will bring. There will come a time when the US once again return to the pinnacle of automotive design and engineering. Count on it.

Clearly, nothing about the United Auto Workers (UAW) proposed contract with GM is clear. Until we see the precise details, the agreement's ramifications are unknown and unknowable. Meanwhile, you'd expect the media to hang fire. Yeah right. "For GM, deal is a game changer" proclaims the Globe and Mail. "GM Labor Deal Ushers In New Era for Auto Industry" the Wall Street Journal advises. "Deal gives GM cash to build better cars" predicts The Detroit Free Press. Scanning these Pollyanna prognostications, the Freep provides the greatest insight. Not because I believe a word of Mark Phelan's thesis. Because I don't.

In spite of UAW president Ron Gettelfinger's publicly stated confidence in his members' support for the new GM contract proposal, some of his union brothers and sisters aren't exactly happy with the health care component of the deal. The Soldiers of Solidarity (SoS) has been– and continues to be– opposed to the creation of a  union-controlled VEBA health care superfund. They claim VEBA stands for "Vandalizing Employee Benefits Again." In a statement on the SoS website that would bring tears (of joy) to Walter Reuther's eyes, three former UAW executive board members state "We believe it irresponsible by the parties to this negotiation to shift the burden of risk to the retired workers and their families and release General Motors from its commitment to the full and perpetual coverage of healthcare for the workers who built the wealth of the corporation in the first place." Not surprisingly, they're urging UAW members to vote against the new contract this weekend. If the signing bribes work members ratify the contract, the SoS' next move will most likely be a call for new union leadership.  

The International Trade Commission has ruled that Toyota did not pilfer key technology from Solomon Technologies to create the Synergy Drive system used in ToMoCo's hybrids. Solomon CEO Gary G. Brandt is undaunted. "We believe the ITC made serious errors in interpreting the pertinent patent law and precedents in this case and as we have reviewed the case transcripts more fully we are even more convinced that we will eventually prevail." Speaking to TTAC [below] Brandt says his company had "numerous documented meetings" with Toyota prior to the release of the Japanese automaker's hybrid system. What's more, since the Prius was released, Toyota has licensed [what Brandt claims to be] Solomon technology to Ford. The legal action continues. Meanwhile, Solomon has posted an animation on their website highlighting the similarities between the two systems.

CTV reports that a class action lawsuit suit filed in Ontario Superior Court claims carmakers and dealers conspired to violate “competition and consumer protection laws.” Lawyer Henry Juroviesky claims US car dealers suppressed cross-border shopping by limiting supply, inflating prices and voiding warranties. In the past, dealers “used the large gap between the Canadian dollar and U.S. greenback to justify the higher prices in Canada,” says Juroviesky. "Now that the dollar is at parity they can't use that cloud… to mask what they're doing.” Meanwhile, a recent study says the problem is going away. "In all of our 'popular' segments… the price gap between Canada and the U.S. narrowed in 2007," says Dennis DesRosiers, President of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. of Richmond Hill, Ontario.