Carnival of Cars #2

Welcome to the second Carnival of Cars!

(...and welcome to Instapundit readers! Thanks, Glenn!)

A minor change from #1, I have grouped items by topic.

Car Reviews:

• At AutoExtremist, Dr. Bud squeezes a Pontiac GTO, and likes the juice.
• AutoProphet has a chance to drive a new 2005 Mustang GT, and posts his impressions.
• James Lileks buys a Mazda3, "peppy little minx."
  
• Rideblog is unimpressed with the updated New Beetle.
• NextGenAuto doubts that the new Mitsubishi Eclipse will save Mitsubishi. Too expensive, compared to the competition.
• DublinSaab posts a long string of BOTD reviews (Beer Of The Day), but not a single post about cars since the last carnival.

Automotive Business

• Autoblog reports that the Cross Lander SUV, which is really a Romanian military 4x4 with a Ford powertrain installed, has run into importation difficulties. AutoProphet argues this is a good form of protection for domestic industry.
• Autoguy comments about GM's new division strategy, to limit the redundant products in Pontiac and Buick, and force dealers to carry both nameplates. Angry Engineer as well.
• Bob Lutz at GM FastLane posts about GM's good quality survey performance. However, the readers respond with a flood of comments saying, basically, "stop building boring cars!". As does The Truth About Cars. Trollhattan Saab notices that Saabs were not included in the party, and investigates.
• Robert Farago at TTAC ponders the reasons for the slide in large SUV sales: fuel prices, environmental guilt, and more car-like "crossover" SUV impostors. Jalopnik contributes a photo of a rare Land Rover Dinosaur.
• Dave Leggett at JustAuto writes about some bad news for Saab fans: GM will be moving production to Germany, leaving Trollhattan essentially Saab-less.

Miscellaneous

• AutoMuse comments on Ohio's lawsuit defeat, regarding its policy of "double dipping" on DUI fees.
• BigFordFan embarked on a quest to find information about a mysterious rotary (Wankel) powered Mustang prototype. After pleas for help to the blogosphere, BFF found the history of the rotary Mustang. It was built as a demonstration by Curtis Wright (the aircraft company), not by Ford, to generate interest in Curtis' rotary engines. The final summary.
• Carpundit writes about the etiquette of damaging other people's cars because they parked rudely, discussing the finer points of using rotten fruit or vegetables. Conclusion: turn the other cheek. A comment suggests www.iparklikeanidiot.com as a non-destructive method.
  
• Grant's AutoRants comments on the prospect of excitement in Formula 1 this season, now that new rules have apparently leveled the field, and slowed down Ferrari.
• Jalopnik shares the odd tale of an Italian fisher dealer who traded a "nearly new" Mercedes for a 1800lb sea turtle, caught by an Albanian fisherman. He didn't eat the turtle.
• In "Bland Automobile Design", Joe Sherlock laments the homogenization of automotive style. He presents a neat comparison of wheel designs than (1950's) vs now.