Say it Ain’t So: Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce Among Clunkers Casualities?

Clunker?

The official Cash for Clunkers website has released a list of cars that were traded in on the program, and some the vehicles on the list are downright shocking.

Most are not… there are at least 60,000 Ford Explorers on the list, most of them from the early to mid-90s, though a couple of 2008 models were turned in.

But check out these cars that were on the list, and keep in mind that the law requires the engines of these vehicles to be permanently disabled. Try not to weep:

• 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Volante (I found one for sale here for just $69,500. )
• 2006 Audi A4 Cabriolet Quattro (OK, so it’s not a supercar, but still…)
• 1992 BMW 850i (For sale here for $24K.)
• 1987 Buick GNX (Only 547 were ever built.)
• 2007-2008 Chrysler 300 AWD (There were 3 of these.)
• 1987 Excalibur Autos Phaeton (No joke, but still hard to believe.)
• 2000 Jaguar XK8 convertible (I would’ve gladly paid that guy 5 grand for his car rather than see it killed just to get $4,500 off a Hyundai.)
• 1985 Maserati Quattroporte (You just don’t junk a Maserati.)
• 2005 Mazda RX8 (Still worth about $15K)
• 1997 Rolls-Royce Continental R (Ever heard the words “Rolls-Royce” and “clunker” in the same sentence?)
• 2008 Scion xD (Wait a minute. This thing is rated at 29 mpg, for one thing. Secondly, it’s still worth about $16K. How’d this one slip through?)

You can see the full list here, but I’m warning you, it’s got everything. Corvette and Camaro fans may want to stay away.

Would you have taken any of these cars off owners’ hands before they were sent to the crusher?

-tgriffith

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How General Motors Is Already Screwing Up

GMC Acadia: Coming next year as a Denali

One of the great things about being an auto blogger is that I get to pick apart what companies are doing wrong without having the responsibility to come up with a way to make it right.

That said, I have had my share of great ideas and am pretty sure I’d do a reasonably good job of running a car company, mostly because I seem to have something GM lacks: common sense.

Here’s my proof: I read an article today saying that GM is planning a Denali version of the Acadia.

At first that might not seem so odd, since there was also a Denali Envoy. But dig a little deeper and find out that the Buick Enclave is based on the same platform as the Acadia and serves as the more luxurious sibling.

So an Acadia in Denali dress will be a fancier Acadia… just like the Enclave is a fancier Acadia.

Umm… so much for consolidation, I guess.

In other wacked-out GM news, the company announced a concept that would serve to compete with “boxy” entries like the Honda Element and Scion xB. While it’s only a concept, GM officials have indicated they feel the need for a “premium” offering in the segment.

But there isn’t a need for a premium boxy vehicle. They are called “econoboxes” for a reason. Making a premium econobox would be like offering a premium version of Chiclets - utterly pointless and equally as ridiculous.

Is GM going back to old habits, or have you seen evidence of a real turnaround?

-tgriffith

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