Well, sort of.  Some might remember the gorgeous Pontiac Woodie.  Others’ impression of the station wagon might illicit nausea because they see the Buick Roadmaster and hear Devo on the radio.  Love em or hate em, they serve a great purpose.  For one, they multitask (unlike the iPad).   And as of 2010, they are “in.”  I call them station wagons 2.0 or more specifically, “five door sportbacks.”

Before the complete upgrade was achieved, there was definitely a beta stage.  It was not perfect but it jump started the evolution of the station wagon into the “five door sportback.”  Case in point, the Dodge Magnum.  How do you make something as asexual as a station wagon into a rock star? Simple, just add a Hemi.  It wasn’t perfect.  It had a fairly bland design – an appendage on big wheels, really.  However, it had a huge V8 powering the rear wheels.  It did enough things right to make the grocery store trip with the wife and kids fun.  And by fun I mean the Hemi drowning all sounds of the passengers yapping.  Little victories..

Exhibit B – the Subaru WRX introduced in 2007.  AWD? Check.  Turbo? Check.  5 door? Check.  In fact, Subaru is so confident in their 5 door sportback, they offer the top of the line STi ONLY in a 5 door sportback.  I don’t blame them, the regular Subaru WRX 5 door sportback’s sales number simply Chris Brown-ed the sedan.  Oh and guess which car company was among only TWO who gained market share during the recession?

There is also the Mazda 3 and the Infiniti EX.  Both are fine examples of Japanese car makers taking the sportback concept seriously.  Infiniti was particularly sneaky.  The EX is simply a modern station wagon version of the G35 Sedan.  But Infiniti totally sidestepped that relationship.  Instead, they introduced it as a separate model with design akin to the sexy FX (ya, I said it).

There were some failures along the way to SW 2.0.  POP QUIZ – what would you get if Gary Busey had a child with Rosie O’Donnell and that child mated with Kelly from The Office? A BMW X6.  I don’t care if it’s fast, the thing is hideous – German Pontiac Aztek anyone?

After all the trial and error, we have finally reached SW 2.0 with Porsche’s Panamera.  The previous attempts did a great job of making the station wagon fun to drive.  The Magnum, WRX, EX, and even the BMW Aztek transformed the traditional, boring station wagon into a  genuinely fun to drive sportback.  The only thing missing were aesthetics.  Enter Porsche.  Anyone remember the last time Porsche broke tradition and entered a new segment?  The result was the Porsche Cayenne SUV which is currently the best selling Porsche model, 5 years running.  I expect nothing less of the Panamera.  Hopefully this time, the station wagon trend stays.

My answer, without equivocation, is no.  TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan might be disappointed. And yes, I know there are $100 iPhone apps out there which provide the same service.  Take a look at the Lexus Navigation System, the Audi Navigation system, and the BMW Navigation system in their 2010 flagships and see if the iPhone will suffice.

It is easy to forget how far car navigation has come.  10 years ago, car navigation simply entailed a series of maps uploaded onto a CD or a DVD.  GPS would find the car’s location and triangulate it to the map on the screen.  Voila.  Today, everyone with a smart phone has Google Maps and/or Mapquest.  You could argue these applications aren’t as responsive.  Fair enough, grab a TomTom and Garmin, problem solved, right? Not exactly.

Car makers are smart.  They know the navigation package has the highest mark up.  They have been charging inflated prices upwards of $5000 for the “technology package” for ages.  The selling point is convenience and the pretentious right to say  “I got a BMW with Nav! Top of the Line!” as opposed to “I got a BMW.”

Luxury car makers are successfully distancing themselves from TomSquared and company.  Mercedes Benz now offers a Navigation system with a 6 disc DVD player.  The Lexus navigation system will not only give you active traffic updates but also update you on how your stocks and Lakers are doing.  Audi’s navigation system takes it one step further and adds a TV tuner.  Great, now you can connect to your phone via bluetooth and vote for your favorite American Idol all while zooming up the on ramp.

Like Ophelia, no one out-crazy’s BMW.  On board the BMW navigation system is an 80 gig hard drive.  With the hard drive comes a CD/DVD reader and a USB port so you can not only upload songs, but movies, files, documents and family photographs as well.

How do you make something good better? Just add Google.  Yes, BMW navigation system will integrate with Google.  You can “tell the car” where you will be traveling while enjoying the morning coffee on your desktop.  When you jump in the car, the navigation is already there.  Gmail fan? Great, now all your contacts can be uploaded into the BMW Navigation system – this means the physical address will be marked on the map along with names and numbers.  Scroll to John, click the home/office address, and you have directions.  Simple.  Want to text him instead? BMW now has Google voice recognition built in, say it and it shall be texted.  Voice enabled Google search is there too.  Somewhere KITT is rolling in its grave..

Would I pass over Garmin and pay $5000 for a car navigation system? If that’s what it takes to say, “I got a BMW with Google! Top of the Line!”

I want a Toyota Prius. There, I said it. Sure it has the sex appeal of a burka and is as fast as Shaq but I still want one. Apparently, I am not the only one. Toyota has sold 150,000-180,000 Priuses in 2007, 2008, and 2009 each. Must be the delicious center console display unit.

My second confession – I hate paying for gas which is why I started considering hybrids, both Toyota and Honda versions. With 45 MPG, I could drive from San Diego to San Francisco on one tank of gas. Then I did the math and turns out, this reasoning doesn’t work. And be honest, did you start “going green” around the time gas hit $4 a gallon? I did. Turns out if I were to buy a Civic over the Insight Hybrid or a Corolla over the Prius, it would take me 5 years to make up the price premium in gas money.

Alas, I wish I didn’t do the math. As much as I like to go green, I’d rather save the $6000, recycle some cans, wear an organic hemp tee shirt on my drive up to San Francisco and perhaps part take in a drum circle. GO GREEN!

DELICIOUS CENTER CONSOLE

The great American car companies – Ford, GMC, and Chrysler have legacies rich enough, you could teach a history, economics, management, and marketing class on each one. From buying Maserati (Chrysler) to buying damn near everything (GM), there have been many hits and misses between the Big 3.

Now that the dust is slowly beginning to settle, Ford is clearly the winner. How is that possible? Technologically, Chrysler was the first to the small engine, forced induction strategy which is a ubiquitous trend in the economically challenged car industry today. Just look at any Audi, BMW, and Mercedes model. They are all offering forced induction options and even downsizing the big V8’s to force fed V6’s. Chrysler was there before any of them (at least 8 years ago).

GM has arguably the most exciting of all line ups. The new Camaro is absolutely gorgeous.  It is a bargain for the money for the V6 (300 ponies for under 25k?!) and the V8 is more powerful than Ford’s and Dodge’s comparable Mustang and Charger. GM is definitely, technologically speaking, winning the Pony car battle.  And what about the Corvette? Ford and Chrysler have no models competing with the Corvette. You would have better chance at finding an agreeable universal health care plan than performance at the price point of a Corvette.

Ford on the other hand, is just now adding forced induction into the Taurus SHO and is by far the slowest of all pony car V8’s. In early 2009, when the bankruptcy spree began and economy was centrifuging down the toilet, Ford’s stock was below $1.50. At the time of writing, Ford stock is selling just below $9. But how? Enter Ford Fusion – might as well call it Ford’s personal Jesus because it is the savior Ford needs. Hold the presses, Ford is offering a mid size car with a peppy 4 cylinder and hybrid engine option? As the Guiness guys would say, brilliant!

Well, sort of, considering Toyota executed this years ago and monopolized the mid size market with the Toyota Camry and the hybrid market with the omnipresent Prius. Even Nissan doesn’t have a hybrid but they were smart enough to borrow Toyota’s and toss it inside the Altima’s engine bay. Ford is following Toyota’s blueprint and that right there is the difference maker vs GM and Chrysler.

May the best car win, but please Fiat, keep Maserati away from Chrysler. Don’t want The Chrysler TC by Maserati-induced night terrors coming back..

The car industry today vs. back “then” is quiet different. I am not talking about the technological advances in car parts or addition of turbo or continually advancing car steering technology. I am simply talking about random, superfluous but interesting historical information about car companies. Any car nerd can appreciate random car company facts, so here goes.

-Which luxury car maker started off as a motorcycle sidecar manufacturer? Jaguar.

-The Volkswagen Beetle was a design ordered by Adolf Hitler as a “people’s car.” Which engineering firm got the contract? Porsche. In fact, a few years later when Porsche decided to start making consumer cars, guess which car became the basis of the first Porsche? Arguably, that point still stands today.

-Which sports car company started off as a tractor manufacturer? Automobilli Lamborghini.

-Lexus was launched in the US in 1989. When did Toyota launch Lexus at home in Japan? 2005.

-Which car influenced the FWD front engine design ubiquitous on the road today? Mini Cooper.

-What do Lincoln and Cadillac have in common? They were both founded by the same person, Henry Leland. He sold Lincoln to Ford and started Cadillac, which he later sold to GM.

-Which car company’s first model was built entirely on a farm? HINT: it was inspired by Jeep. Land Rover.

-Speaking of Jeep, what do the Jeep Wrangler and Hummer H1 have in common? They were made by the same company, AMC General.

-Which car company claims to have the highest profit margin? Porsche.

-Which car company does consulting for other firms, including Subaru and Harley Davidson? Porsche, again.

For many home mechanics, this can be a real nuisance. You take out your original part, do your research and make sure you get the “OEM” Original equipment replacement part from the parts store. However, when you open the box, it looks nothing like the original. You immediately think the parts store is pulling a fast one on you.

The truth is, OEM car parts over time improve in design. OEM number changes commonly occur in car steering racks, ac compressors and fuel pumps. This is especially true if your car is at least 5-10 years old. I found such an issue with a client who thought he had purchased the wrong fuel pump. The one in particular was a Delphi fuel pump. Manufacturers often make adjustments to assure higher efficiency and better overall operation.

I have included pictures of the Original Fuel Pump and the Improved design. In this particular case, the original fuel pump had the fuel strainer on the outside of the physical pump whereas in the new design the fuel pump has the strainer built inside the body of the pump itself. This change, along with the new locking ring, improved RFI noise filtering and reduced amperage. Tons of changes, but the part number stays the same.

OEM number changes occur and it is a natural part of the car parts industry. Instead of immediately questioning the parts store, question the part itself and look for any OEM changes when in doubt.

Here are some basic car maintenance tips to save gas.

1. A faulty oxygen sensor can be very bad. Replacing it can improve your mileage up to 40 percent.
2. Replacing a clogged air filter can save up to 10 percent. It also protects your engine from contamination and long term damage.
3. Replace spark plugs every 60-90K miles. Spark plugs get weaker over time. An improperly firing spark plug will decrease engine performance. Platinum plugs are usually only a few bucks more too.
4. Don’t speed. I don’t like this one either, but it does help. Note that best gas mileage is not low speeds but usually around 50-60mph when you transmission gets into top gear.
5. Easy on the brakes. Don’t speed up to stop. If you are coming to a stop, take your foot off the gas earlier. Using brakes equals bad gas mileage.
6. Overuse of AC compressor. A/c does not really take that much to run, but having cranked to max all the time will hurt a bit. Try a lower setting.
7. Lose gas gaps. Takes less than a second to check the cap each time.
8. Keep Tires Properly Inflated. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure
9. Dirty or wrong engine oil. Do not used unsealed or unknown oil. Go with a Valvoline, Castol, Penzoil, etc, etc. Also be sure to use the exact oil. Using the wrong oil can take a few MPG off your trip.

‘Tis the question – especially considering everyone is “running lean” financially these days, why would anyone buy new car parts if cheaper, remanfactured, used parts are available. Well, there isn’t an easy answer. My recommendation – it depends on the car part you are replacing.

If it is a gearbox or rack and pinion, which in most cases are remanufactured anyway, you don’t really have a choice. It would be wise to consider the history of the rebuilder and the level of workmanship. A good way to gauge the quality is to look at the company’s warranty policy.

Other suspension parts, such as wheel hubs, struts, shocks, brakes, rotors, etc. you always want new. Last thing you want is a “spray and pray” part and be stuck with hundreds of dollars in labor plus the cost of the reman./used part.

Apply the same philosophy to your car’s air conditioning system. Rule of thumb: you always want to buy new, with a great warranty, unless a new compressor is not available anywhere and remanufactured is your only choice.

Same goes for turbochargers and superchargers – buy new. However, I have noticed the quality of rebuilt forced induction parts is improving. Do your research. When in doubt, check the warranty.

At the end of the day, if its mechanical, buy new, otherwise don’t bother. Car radios, car navigation units, and other interior parts might be important to you but they won’t keep your car from functioning. In other words, if it doesn’t affect the drivablity of your car, shoot for used/reman. The ultimate scenario you must avoid is your car out of commission, sitting at the shop because you “ran lean” on the wrong part.

I am a little frustrated. My car radio decided to leave me for eternity; it was time for us to part ways. The solution seems pretty simple right? Just go to the dealership and get a replacement CD changer. WRONG. I don’t understand how someone can ask for such a large amount of money for a 7 year old part. I know I am not getting the best bang for the buck. I know I am not getting the most up to date, audiophile quality head unit.

Truth is, I don’t want to. I am a simple human being. I want a simple replacement to what I’ve had in the my car for the past 7 years. So I try Best Buy, Fry’s, and other local electronic stores. Again, nothing. After banging my head online for a few hours, I found a great car radio replacement solution. Best Buy size selection and warranty in car audio minus the outrageous stealership prices – all for stock car radio parts.

Why aren’t there more of these? I am still searching but quite frankly, getting tired of stolen car stereos on ebay and craigslist and the lack of warranties from other stores. I am curious, am I the only one who likes my car audio the way it is – stock? And willing to go through all this to get my car back to its simple, clean look? Call me crazy but I’d rather rebuild my CD changer than part ways with it for eternity.

Someone posed a question. With oil down to $42.24 a barrel, what does that mean for auto parts. What does that mean for cars.

The first answer is that everyone will be back on the roads. If gas is $1.50 a gallon, then everyone will start driving again. I remember during the summer with gas at $4, my commute was 1/3 shorter because so few people were on the roads.

For car parts, it doesn’t mean much. If you find yourself driving more, you need to up the maintenance. Such things as oil changes, spark plugs, O2 Sensor, tire pressure and such should all be kept a close eye on.

Other than than, not much changes on the automotive parts side. If you are in the industry, we should see increased demand for maintenance parts. If you are a driver, just enjoy the ride! We know it won’t last forever.