Darwin S. writes:

I have a 1999 Buick Century that now needs constant water. It happens pretty slowly. I recently drained all the water and refilled with water and antifreeze. It doesn’t appear to be leaking anywhere. What’s happening? Thanks.

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Vijay Ravindran at the WaPo’s Achenblog details his own descent into Camaro buying hell:

“I wanted a Chevy Camaro.

I’d never really liked American sports cars before. But the 2010 Camaro — a revival Chevrolet has been talking up since 2006 — is so much more sleek than your typical muscle car. And since my BMW 330 started showing its age (nine) around the same time that the death of the U.S. auto industry hit the headlines, I thought: Why not do a little something to help?”

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An Automotive News [sub] piece on Toyota’s efforts to rethink its North American manufacturing strategy reveals Toyota NA President Yoshimi Inaba’s potential willingness to apply for US retooling loans. Though Inaba states that the Obama administration would not play a “material” role in Toyota’s return to profitability, he refused to rule out applying for Department of Energy retooling loans. Nissan has already secured $1.6b worth of the so-called “136 loans,” and is moving away from its current strategy of sourcing hybrid components from Toyota, according to Reuters. And whether it takes money from the government or not, Toyota is sounding the same PR notes as its recently-rescued competitors. “Our sense has been always that we listen to the market, we listen to customers, we listen to the dealer. That element is a little bit lost,” admits Inaba in the WSJ. Inaba also concedes that Ford is better positioned to exploit GM and Chrysler’s bankruptcy-bailouts, adding that “we certainly want a good chunk of it. As the dust settles down a little bit we would also like to go after any incremental volume.”

“With this new brand manifesto campaign, we set out to reintroduce Scion to young, urban consumers by reinforcing the company’s unique position as an authentic brand that is all about creativity and individuality.”

Simon Needham of of Attik, creator of Scion’s new “Brand Manifesto” campaign. Which makes Scion look like that drunk guy at the party who’s met you three times but doesn’t remember. Just play along. Oh, you’re into big wheels and bodykits? How interesting. “Become one of us by becoming none of us?” How individual. On the other hand, at least Scion’s repetition is better than those NSFW hamsters.

Is it beginning to seem like we’re stuck in a 1971 time warp? Sorry, if that era is a bit painful for some of you. True confessions: I don’t like writing when it’s nice outside. And it’s glorious here in the summer. I wrote this six-car comparison back when it was still rainy and gray. So I’m “on vacation”, and you’re stuck in the early seventies for three more weeks. But for you dear CC readers, I offer this faint hope: If I’m inspired, or if writers start getting paid again (god forbid), I might increase the Curbside Classics once the weather turns crappy in the fall.How often would you like to see a fresh old moldy car?

Oh, and if you already know this week’s car from the results of the C/D test, please don’t spoil it for the others still hanging in deep suspense. Thanks!

As Robert posted below, TTAC is redoubling its efforts to get timely road tests by reaching out to the very manufacturers we lay into on a daily basis. But why, you might ask, would these giant firms feed the mouth that bites them?

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The Washington state Department of Licensing has pulled O&J Sales’ license after finding 22 cars were contaminated by methamphetamine, reports The Whidby News Times. The cars, worth $70,000, were crushed due to the high cost of cleaning them to state standards. And those high state standards (0.1 micrograms per 100 square centimeters, 15 times the California standard) are a cause of frustration for the lot’s owner. “If the standards were applied to every car dealership in the state, most of them would go out of business,” says O&J owner Mark Brown, noting that one of the crushed vehicles was bought from a state police auction. Unfortunately for Brown, his lot was raided in March, when police found 94 grams of meth. This led to the arrest of Brown’s son, the lot’s manager. The O&J building tested at 5,200 times the legal limit for meth on a swab test. The shutdown of O&J is the first meth contamination-based closure on record.

Carmakers build cars. The Truth About Cars (TTAC) reviews cars. What’s the problem with that? Any car company that takes account of TTAC’s no-holds-barred reviews is better positioned to appreciate their strengths and learn from their mistakes. To grow, develop, improve, compete and thrive. And yet, the list of automakers that refuse us access to their press cars is, shall we say, comprehensive. As of today, I’m launching a campaign to change that, to get the latest vehicles into the hands of TTAC’s reviewers. Not by altering this website’s call-it-like-we-see-it remit (heaven forfend), but by appealing to the automakers’ sense of honesty, integrity and fair play—and bludgeoning them with our site stats (1m+ unique visits per month, over 2m page views, top Google rankings).

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Electronic monitoring of motorists is gaining legitimacy, as the federal government explores a pay-per-mile road tax and California mulls pay-per-mile insurance. But will the possibility of improved efficiency and use-based taxation convince drivers to accept on-board electronic spies? Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has already expressed his fondness for pay-per-mile road taxation, and the Chicago Sun Times reports that he’s willing to pay participants nearly a grand to help him test the idea.

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Ever since ForbesAutos.com disappeared down the media rat hole, the autoblogosphere has been more or less listless. Into this breach (dear Horatio) strides everyone’s favorite misnamed bi-weekly motor mag. AutoWeek presents their “best rides for campus cruising.” Which is, of course, the headline writer’s “inventive” take on a top ten list of entirely sensible cars that Mom and Dad should purchase on behalf of their education (i.e. party) seeking progeny. Well, it’s not really a “top ten” list per se—’cause that would mean AW would have to rate the cars in some sort of order, which would risk pissing off the people paying the bills. So here are their random choices for aspiring didacts.

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I started the bidding at $275. The faces in front of me went instantly from melancholy to downright sullen and FU’ish. Low end dealers, auto recyclers, crushers par excellence, this was an impound lot sale. A final howling call for the dead, the dying, and the DUI’s. In the past few months I had started the bidding at $100. But the tow company’s finances had taken a cliff deep dive (they lost the county contract). With one of his regular wreckers already being used for spare parts. The owner was clearly on the ropes. You know what? The strategy worked . . . and . . .

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TTAC’s Best and Brightest don’t need proof that Chrysler dealers are in a world of hurt. Still, seeing their misery displayed on a LED sign by the side of the road rubs salt into the wound. 76% off 2009 Dodge Ram Trucks! And this was before Chrysler filed for Chapter 11, from a dealer that dodge the ChryCo dealer cull bullet. Fine print? Lots. Slime-filled sales tactics aside, it’s only a matter of time before the real liquidation sales arrive. If so, is Dodge’s most basic of workhorses worth a look?

As Old GM’s satellite divisions fly out of orbit, sending the company’s “world car” development plans spinning off into chaos, GM NA is trying to defy gravity with a new, limited product portfolio. Or something like that. Bottom line: Buick is planning to sell the rejigged Opel Insignia—formerly destined to replace the Saturn Aura—as the new Buick Regal. Automotive News [AN, sub] wants readers to clock the fact that the new Regal will slot below the new LaCrosse—because otherwise they might not wonder . . .

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TTAC Commentator pleiter writes:

Convince me one way or another, about OBD-II. I want to know if I should invest in it for personal use. I need to know things like what are the major options, is it just pigtails and a PC laptop interface, now, does it work very well with one publication or not (Chilton’s, Haynes), will I still have the risk of purchasing wrong electronic parts that are not returnable.

Also, is there any emerging market for economy chips or economy (mpg) reflash? I know cold camshaft profiles are starting to show up, but I’m looking for something easier to implement and reversible, because I’m lazy.

I have a Scion tC and two 325i’s.

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