GM Canada's August sales fall 17.1 per cent, Toyota Canada's up 29.3 per cent

I n the article they mention that Ford and Chrysler dropped 10.3 and 24.6 respectively.

Here are a few comments of those that work in the industry that were attached to the article.  If you want the entire list of comments go to:

http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10034085&ucpg=b9bb2eabbb0704e4704bc782fb189958310#_uca_list

auto assembly Ford Worker

Thank you for your comment! September 4, 2008 7:11:38 PM

I work at Ford and I have to say that Ford Management are very successful in taking care of the bum kissers - the drunks - the drug addicts and the lazy ones who whine so they can get out of a days work but when it comes to helping the hard working dedicated - ontime - punctual - workers we are left out in the cold not only by management like B*** G**** of Ford Oakville Body Build * but by our own union reps who I see only take care of their buddies. They all would be better off creating fuel efficient vehicles and quality. Look at the Ford Flex - What a joke - Looks like a Fridge on its side - May be we should suggest to them to paint them all black with one seat and 3 coffins and call it a taliban wagon and send it over to help our troops and put the taliban in them and bury them in the sand instead of us receving out dedicated soldiers coming home in body bags

CAW Local 707 Autoworker

Cant wait for my retirement date

Thank you for your comment! September 4, 2008 6:45:20 PM

I work at Ford Oakville and all of us workers do our best to make a quality vehicle - It is not our fault that what i call brain dead management in the upper circle that seems to be years behind everybody else. The only succesful thing I see them doing is reducing the workforce and adding more and more work to the worker. Our plant manager sends out news letters telling us to build in station the first time with quality and when we do have quality issues and actually do care for our future we are looked upon as lazy overpaid workers, but when it comes to putting the screws to the worker or adding more work - they are truly 110% sucessful at that

Jonny

Thank you for your comment!

 September 4, 2008 5:11:53 PM

yes i am a GM worker with a great attitude, these workers u speak of are of an older generation who are retired now , i work in a plant that has a younger generation of works who go in everyday and work hard at their job and enjoy it and want to do the best job they possable can, i know i like my job and want to keep it , now i cant quite make managements decisions but again your speaking of a older time (the real truth) and not todays work force who relize they need to make the best quality product to keep their job and do so everyday and are rewarded with awards time and time again

Work at Honda- drive a Ford

ScottThank you for your comment!

 September 4, 2008 3:17:22 PM

I work for a division of Honda and drive a Ford Fusion. Honda and Toyota do make excellent quaility products for people that want to keep there cars for a long time. I change my vehicles every four years - the price for basic Fusion -that is well appionted and everything that you need is about $22,000. much less than a Camery or Accord.So far it has been the best vehicle I have owned out of many. I am surprised that Ford has not done better with this model

If the people who work at Ford and other companies feel this way, no wonder Ford can’t bother looking after the consumer.  I notice the Honda worker thinks that Honda and Toyota will be better for those who want to own a car for a period of time.

For those that might be offended by the above, these are not my comments and are only copies of those published on a public website.  A website not censored by Ford, like my comments were on their public website.

Ganhando novos pára-choques dianteiro, grade e rodas de alumínio, o pequeno facelift é uma espécie de sobrevida até a chegada da nova geração, de data ainda incerta. O conjunto grade e pára-choque está mais robusto e, de uma certa forma, carrega um quê da identidade visual da marca - a primeira peça principalmente. Por dentro, poucas atualizações: como no Fortuner, ganhou um novo sistema de navegação central, além de equipamentos de série como bancos em couro com sistema de aquecimento, ar-condicionado digital, airbags frontais, laterais e de cortina, controle de estabilidade, dentre outros.

A novidade na parte mecânica fica por conta do câmbio automático opcional para o propulsor topo de linha que, junto com o bloco de entrada, não recebeu modificações. Rendendo 120cv, o motor 2.5l D4D é o único movido a diesel, enquanto o 3.0l D4D de 163cv roda apenas com gasolina. Os conjuntos de freio e suspensão também são novos. Apesar de não haver confirmação sobre tais alterações na Hilux aqui comercializada, o modelo produzido na argentina deverá incorporar as mudanças visuais da versão européia e, de quebra, novos motores. Segundo a Toyota do Brasil, a linha 2009 da picape será apresentada no Salão Internacional de São Paulo, em outubro.

Por Fillipe Vivas

The new tyre, which was inspired by the single-issue wet tyre in the GP2 formula, starts with an "extreme-style" tread, which wears down as the track gets drier.

The tyre will be available for teams to test at the next rain-affected test session.

Deploying the new tyre in a race, however, would require a change in the regulations.

Neal's View: Okay, this is a step up in technology, but it removes another variable from the race. The gamble over whether to choose inters or wets helps provide for exciting racing and unpredictable results - such as Rubens Barrichello's recent podium.

RADAR PALEMBANG, HADIAH-Wakil Presiden Jusuf Kalla memperoleh kado spesial saat meresmikan Toyota Spare Part Center, kemarin (4/9). Kalla memperoleh bingkisan mobil Toyota Prius Hybrid dari PT Toyota Astra Motor. Wapres pun segera melaporkan hadiah mobil bertenaga listrik dan bensin seharga Rp495 juta itu kepada Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK).

’’Saya berterima kasih pada Toyota. Prius itu bukan untuk saya pribadi, tapi untuk dicoba-coba siapa pun yang ingin merasakan. Nanti saya dilaporkan ke KPK, disangka menerima gratifikasi,’’ ujar Kalla setelah secara simbolis menerima miniatur Toyota Prius Hybrid dari Presiden Direktur PT Toyota Astra Motor Johnny Darmawan. ’’Tapi, nanti kita lapor lah,’’ sambungnya yang disambut tawa dua ratusan hadirin.

Ketika berkeliling di pusat suku cadang terbesar kedua di Asia Pasifik seluas 10 hektare itu, Wapres duduk di kabin mobil berwarna silver itu. Kalla juga menghidupkan mesin mobil. Namun, Kalla segera menyerahkan kembali kunci setelah puas mencoba mobil yang diklaim irit bahan bakar itu.

Johnny Darmawan menuturkan, hibah satu unit Prius adalah upaya Toyota untuk memancing Indonesia agar menghadirkan mobil-mobil yang ramah lingkungan dan hemat bahan bakar. (noe/owi/oki)

Ferrari:

Felipe Massa is contracted until 2010, Kimi Raikkonen until 2009. But do not expect that to be the end of it. The Raikkonen-retirement rumours persist, alongside his seemingly disinterested state-of-mind. Reports suggest Fernando Alonso has signed a deal for 2010, but can join a year early should Kimi quit. Reports also suggest the Robert Kubica is being lined up to join Alonso in 2010. Do not expect Massa to see out his contract.

Expect to see in 2009: Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.

McLaren-Mercedes:

With Lewis Hamilton's contract, reportedly, due to expire in 2012, McLaren have announced that Heikki Kovalainen has penned a one-year extension and will continue with the squad in 2009.

Expect to see in 2009: Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen.

BMW-Sauber:

Recent reports suggest that BMW have taken up the option on Poland's Robert Kubica and he has signed with the team for 2009. Nick Heidfeld continues to be under pressure, having been outclassed by his teammate in the majority of races. His poor Valencia showing cannot have helped. Although the German is said to have a contract for next year, BMW's reluctance to confirm him is pointing towards the team securing the services of a certain Fernando Alonso, as the team look towards challenging for titles from 2009. Should Alonso decide to stay at Renault for another year, it's probable that Heidfeld will be kept on, however test driver Christian Klien has been linked to the role, with Bruno Senna stepping up to test for the Hinwell-based team.

Expect to see in 2009: Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld.

Toyota:

Timo Glock is expected to stay on, having signed a multi-year deal last year. Jarno Trulli's place may have been under threat, but Toyota have allowed Kazuki Nakajimi to continue his learning at Williams.

Expect to see in 2009: Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock.

Renault:

Number one driver Fernando Alonso has been linked with at least five teams for 2009. Red Bull are now out, so are Toyota. Honda would still like to have him, even for just one season, whilst BMW-Sauber would only have him on a multi-year deal (unlikely as he seems to be Ferrari-bound for 2010). Expect him to stay with the Régie should Kimi not retire. Second driver Nelson Piquet Jnr. is another driver with his place unsecure. Test drivers Romain Grosjean and Lucas de Grassi have both been linked, as has Bruno Senna (although these rumours seem to have gone cold of late). Piquet's seat is probably the second hardest to call for 2009 (behind Toro Rosso's) but as his form has improved over the last few races his position within the team gets stronger.

Expect to see in 2009: Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jnr.

Red Bull Racing-Renault:

Following David Coulthard's decision to retire at the end of the season, the team moved quickly to announce Mark Webber would be staying with the team, joined by German star Sebastian Vettel, who gets promoted from the sister team, Toro Rosso.

Expect to see in 2009: Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

Williams-Toyota:

Nico Rosberg has publically announced his intention to stay with the Grove-based squad for 2009. Toyota have already allowed Kazuki Nakajima to remain with Williams for 2009 as part of the deal that sees Williams use Toyota engines.

Expect to see in 2009: Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima.

Honda:

Shortly after announcing that both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello would be their drivers in 2009, Ross Brawn decided that it was not that clear-cut. Jenson Button is still expected to hold onto his seat, however Barrichello faces doubt over his as Honda continue to court Fernando Alonso, and are prepared to offer him a one-year contract. However, Fernando does not think the Renault is competitive enough for him, and Honda would seem to be a backwards step, if the past two years is anything to go by.

Expect to see in 2009: Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.

Toro Rosso-Ferrari:

Sebastian Vettel has been promoted to the Red Bull squad. Sebastian Bourdais's seat is under threat. He has not adjusted well to the car: the STR3 does not suit his driving style. With possibly two seats available, Takuma Sato, Sebastien Buemi, and Bruno Senna have been linked. Takuma Sato has the experience, Buemi is from the Red Bull stable.

Expect to see in 2009: Takuma Sato and Sebastien Buemi.

Force India:

Recent reports suggest that Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil will keep their seats, however, last season Vijay Mallya promised his Indian fans an Indian driver for 2009. Narain Kartikeyan is considered not good enough, whilst Karun Chandhok is viewed as inexperienced. Maybe Indian fans will have to wait until 2010.

Expect to see in 2009: Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil.

It must be tough to be Anthony Davidson. Spending years of his career at Honda as a test driver, when he could have secured drives elsewhere is testament to this man's loyalty - but when a seat vacancy arose, Davidson did not mean as much to Honda, as Honda did to Davidson.

Over his years of testing for Honda, Davidson picked up a reputation. He was not good at his job, he was one of the best. It could be argued that only McLaren tester Pedro de la Rosa and former Ferrari's former World Champion-cum-occasional tester Michael Schumacher are better at getting the technical aspects of the car just right.

Looking on as his twice former teammate Takuma Sato is helped by what seems to be half of Japan (the Honda half, not the Toyota half) to secure the second seat at Scuderia Toro Rosso for 2009, Davidson must be wondering what happens next. Maybe there would be more of an outcry if it was not for Lewis Hamilton's gleaming star.

This week it was announced that Sato would be testing for STR in Jerez later this month, but for Davidson, the Formula One options look bleak. Although the Brit insists he would be happy returning to a developmental role, providing it meant his profile remained high, he is a racer, pure and simple.

It was his testing, first with BAR and then when they became Honda, that brought Davidson into the spotlight. Barring a few lowly outings with minnows Minardi, he completed a total of six laps when he was the substitute for Sato in 2005. Following the creation of satelite team Super Aguri, again in order to keep Takuma Sato in Formula One, Davidson was given the second seat. In 2007 Davidson completed his first full season as a race driver this decade, in a car he knew like the back of his hand from testing at Honda in 2006. It is at this point that Honda's cars started to nosedive in performance, and, although a wrongly calibrated wind tunnel has been blamed, you cannot help but think they would have done better had Davidson been around.

Super Aguri survived until the Spanish Grand Prix of 2008, when financial problems - caused by defaulted payments by title sponsor S.S. United - caused their downfall. Davidson had performed impressively, bearing in mind he was driving the slowest car on the grid, he was running in third at the Australian GP of 2008 before a warthog put him out of the race. Although Sato grabbed the headlines for overtaking then-World Champion Fernando Alonso at Montreal, Davidson's performances went by almost unnoticed. Honda have said they are helping their dynamic duo to gain employment, but it is clear that the Japanese marque favour the Japanese driver, and it seems Davidson is going to have to migrate east, to the Honda-powered IndyCar Series.

The Briton was a guest of IndyCar Series frontrunner Panther Racing at last weekend's Detroit round and, according to the official series website, should have tested with the team a couple of weeks ago, only for a shoulder injury, sustained while training on a mountain bike, derailed the plans.

The Briton is not entirely alien to the US open-wheel scene, having been offered the chance to quit his test driver role at Honda to join leading the Champ Car World Series outfit Newman/Haas Racing as long ago as 2005, (the same year a full-time drive at Williams F1 fell through because BAR wanted Davidson to return in 2006) but eventually opted to pursue his goal of racing in F1 instead of replacing Bruno Junqueira, who had broken his back, ironically, in a one-off IndyCar outing at Indianapolis. The rid eventually went to Oriol Servia who, like Junqueira, has been a full-time member of the now unified IndyCar Series this season..

Since Davidson's visit to Detroit, Panther has signed fellow Briton, and former karting rival, Dan Wheldon to race the number 4 Dallara next season, but is reportedly trying to find the finance for a second entry as the IRL-sanctioned series regains some of its former lustre. While current Panther driver Vitor Meira would be high on team boss John Barnes' shopping, list, Davidson is tipped as a serious contender, along with GP2 race-winner Mike Conway, who wowed onlookers, including several other IndyCar teams, with an impressive testing debut at Infineon Raceway last month.

Neal's View: It is sad to see a grid without Anthony Davidson on it. He has more talent than some drivers lining up there and his testing ability makes him a valuable asset for any Formula One team.

The lap contains every type of corner, and combined with the long straights, requires a compromised aerodynamic set-up. Cars that are quick in sector two, the twisty middle section of the lap from Turn 5 to Turn 14, usually have an advantage because they can then tune their downforce levels for the long straights that dominate sectors one and three. If a car is struggling through sector two, there is no choice but to put on more wing and that will affect straightline speed.

Bridgestone are bringing their medium and hard rubber compounds for the race and graining should not be an issue for any of the teams. Such is the high-speed nature of the track that it is one of the easiest circuits of the year on brakes as well.

Eau Rouge is one of the most famous corners in the world, but has been comfortably flat in top gear for F1 cars since the introduction of the 2.4-litre V8 engines in 2006. However, the drivers have to be careful not to scrub off too much speed through the corner otherwise they will be slow up the hill towards Les Combes.

Full throttle: 68%
Brake wear: Low
Downforce level: Medium - 5/10
Tyre compounds: Medium / Hard
Tyre usage: Medium
Average speed: 230kph (143mph)

Neal's View: Look forward to a brilliant race after the processional greyness of Valencia!