April 9, 2009 8:10 PM PDT
Automakers keep big SUVs alive in New York
Astronomical gas prices last year seemed to kill the SUV market, but automakers at the New York auto show disagree. Mercedes-Benz rolls out a hybrid version of its ML-class, offering a high-tech power train in a luxury SUV. Jeep tries to make a case for its continued survival with a modern-looking Grand Cherokee featuring an impressive cabin tech roster. And GMC shows off the Terrain, an all-new model to add to its large line of SUVs.
A note about that "impressive cabin tech" comment. Some of this stuff has gotten so complex, even the dealers with their highly trained (and now highly paid) technicians can't even figure out the problems. They are tossing modules left and right; incredibly short-sighted and damaging. It's not just the throw-away that ends in the landfill, it's that chain of events and resources it takes to replace those things. And, after the warranties are out, whole cars get tossed because these sub-systems cost more to replace than the value of the car. Insidious. Ask owners of ten-year-old BMWs, Audis, MBs, Infinitis, etc. Check out the resale value of these once $55K cars. People literally can't give them away. One can buy a perfect and beautiful Porsche 928 for a few thousand. The first major part crash and the car gets parked for good; ergo the very low selling price. Where is this going? Not somewhere good.