2004 Chevy Suburban Cluster (needs Repair, Malfunctions) on 2040-parts.com

Crunch watch Dec 08: the auto industry in crisis

By Tim Pollard and Simon Stiel Motor Industry 31 December 2008 14:05 Wednesday 31 December 2008• GMAC, GM's finance arm, said it would immediately revise its criteria for providing loans, after the US government bail-out of the General's credit arm. It will now supply credit for anyone with a score of 621 or more on the Fico scale, the scale used to assess Amercian customers' creditworthiness (Financial Times)• The news means that 80% of US consumers would now qualify for a loan from GMAC – which should improve sales in the depressed US market (Detroit News)• Chrysler is being lambasted for taking out full-page adverts in the American national press thanking the nation for supporting its auto industry. But critics point out this is a fresh waste of bail-out resources, as pages in the Wall Street Journal – one of the titles in which the ad ran – reportedly cost up to $264,000.

Bored of wheels? Wings are up for auction

ONE-TIME opportunities don't come much rarer than having a chance to buy the only Panavia Tornado F3 in private hands anywhere in the world. Or a Harrier jump jet, if you prefer, and what's more the Harrier's flying days might not be over. That's right: alongside around 100 classic cars and motorbikes, Silverstone Auctions is to sell both of these astonishing pieces of British aviation history – with no reserve.

Move over! Fixed Penalties for middle lane hogs

Move over or get a fine! Middle lane hogs to get fixed penalties It really is remarkable the number of drivers who think three-lane motorways are split in to three lanes – lorries, them and idiots in the outside lane – and spend their whole journey sat in lane two regardless. That’s bad enough if you’re driving a car, but it’s much worse if you’re driving a heavy goods vehicle that can’t use lane three and ends up baulked and frustrated by the man with the pipe and elbow patches driving ‘steadily’ on his way.