but from chrysler keep dodge-only the viper and challenger-and keep jeep but screw the rest the rest all suck!

Here goes the US government borrowing money that was printed out of thin air by the fed to support corporations that screwed themselves over and cannot be fixed with any amount money. With the ridiculous inflation and worsened debt that will surely result from this, the economy is really on its way to recovery!

But with all sarcasm aside, I wish people wouldn’t be so blind. All these bailouts will do in the long run is increase the burden of debt on the American taxpayer, while they cause a ridiculous increase in the money supply. Remember what printing money without restraint did before the Great Depression? History is bound to repeat itself if society refuses to learn the mistakes of the past.

I’ve looked through the blog and I think a longer perspective is needed not only of economic history (it really is cyclic) but also the future of the car industry.

Given the US has been in a recession for a year, a recovery will be overdue around July 2009. I have no doubt the push to replace older technology – and that includes fossil-fueled vehicles – coupled with traditional government ‘pump-priming’ spending and a miniscule cost of borrowing will turn things around. In short, we need to get over the fear and start to look for positive signals (for example, a slowing of the decline in house prices or reductions in household debt).

As for Top Gear, it is a great program but I would like to see the crew investigate more alternative fuels. I find it incongruous given the UK has so much coal and natural gas, as to why British cars are not fueled with methane gas. I know this was done during World War II. I can’t see why it would be too difficult technically since many vehicle already use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

1. The licence fee doesn’t pay for this blog, as it’s part of the BBC’s external commercial arm. In fact Top Gear magazine and topgear.com actually make a profit which subsidises the licence fee.

2. I don’t work for the BBC anyway, I’m a freelance, paid by topgear.com to do this blog because their editors think I do a decent job of it. (You’re welcome to disagree, though I notice you keep coming back so you must find something to commend it, and I’ll take that graciously.) But yes, I’ve had a few days off for Christmas.

3. I try not to comment too much on the replies posted here. It’s generally better to let the debate rage. The comments by the way are unmoderated, which explains why so many of them drift off topic, and why so many show appalling spelling and grasp of the English language. I’m assuming lots of people are posting in what is not their first language, so it would be unfair and unkind unkind to poke fun at them.

Cheers, and happy 2009 yourself.