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26th June 2008 11:56

People and businesses are having to adjust in all sorts of ways to higher gasoline prices and they impact some sectors of the economy more than others. And it’s interesting to see how these adjustments take place. Below is a link to an unusual example.

To be more serious for a moment and still on the subject of the impact of higher oil prices…

Their impact on shipping costs will obviously be felt acutely in the auto industry. Will that make outsourcing production to far flung places (or places a long way from final markets) less attractive? It might do if the overseas base is a global sourcing base and transporation/logistics costs in the operation are relatively high. Maybe some global sourcing decisions that previously would have gone down the ‘let’s do in China’ route will now be tipped into ‘better to do locally’.

Could higher energy prices put the brakes on rampant globalisation in the auto industry?

Prostitutes offer petrol discounts

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EDITOR’S NOTE: During the APS Coordinators Seminar recently held in Bangkok with IMPAC being a major sponsor, Dr. Victor Vroom of Yale University was one of the speakers. Dr. Vroom was interviewed by “The Nation” newspaper during the seminar, and we thought you might like to see the article which appeared in Thailand’s largest business newspaper — The Nation.

Looking to brain science to retain, develop human assets
Published on June 7, 2008

Professor Victor Vroom of Yale University, the long-standing authority on management, leadership and workers’ motivation, told me that advances in neuroscience were having a great impact on psychology.

For instance, the latest brain-imaging technology has allowed scientists to observe what is actually happening in specific parts of the brain in real time. Such observations are expected to have significant consequences on the study of the human mind and behaviour in future.

Back in the 1960’s, when Vroom, who earned his PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan, authored “Worker and Motivation” (1964), which is still in print today, neuroscience and psychology were still distant cousins, given the absence of imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging and computerised tomography.

Today, neuro-psychology gains prominence as scientists have these sophisticated tools to better study the mind and behaviour.

In this context, increased knowledge about workers’ motivation and other aspects of life will likely emerge to help managers and organisational leaders boost productivity and efficiency in the workplace. According to Vroom, who also authored “Leadership” and “New Leadership” in the 1970s and 1980s, the forces of globalisation, technological advancement and increased competition in the market-place have resulted in more complex issues for management.

Hence the decision-making process to resolve these problems needs to be more organic or adaptive and participatory, since today’s knowledge is more specialised and managers alone do not have enough knowledge to tackle the problems.

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Why choose a Specialist over a Generalist? Independent over Dealer?

As a specialist we know your car better, especially when it comes to the right way to make economical repairs that a general repair shop wouldn’t know about or a Subaru dealer would never consider. Sometimes a vehicle will develop a pattern failure and a real solution needs to be found or a more economical repair procedure can be had.

Through the years we have found solutions to replacing expensive parts by making repairs to existing components rather than just blindly install new ones. We have been able to become very good at repairs and service work by specializing in Subaru and we try to share this experience with our customer with lower labor prices.

We know what parts we can use on your Subaru without sacrificing longevity. Most automakers have become pure design and assemble companies leaving the parts manufacture to other companies. These auto parts companies are free to sell the same parts in aftermarket channels with out the Subaru logo. While in some cases in only makes sense to stick with Subaru parts especially when it comes to slower moving items that may have not been introduced in the aftermarket by the companies that originally made the parts for Subaru. There is also a good chance that the exact replacement part can be found at a 20% savings if you know how to look (we do).

From top to bottom we really know your Subaru well and want to help you get as many trouble free miles out of it as possible. We have seen these cars go well over 300k and I am the owner of a 1992 Legacy with 292k and counting. We take pride in servicing cars with higher miles and often have suggestions to help keep them going. Even though your Subaru may be getting up there in miles don’t discount just how long they will run.

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Our FPV versus HSV test at Oran Park involved a pretty simple test; line the two up at the start of the main straight and drive flat out over 400 metres, the length of a standard drag strip.

Our ‘quarter mile’ comparison – both cars had an automatic transmission and the official timing was performed with the same driver - was an interesting match-up that revealed more than we expected from a simple straight-line acceleration test.

Yes, the FPV F6 is – ultimately – the quicker car. But only just, and it’s not exactly a clean sweep.

Off the line the HSV ClubSport launches more confidently, using its better rear-end grip and instant V8 engine response (there’s still a slight hesitation from mild turbo lag with the FPV).

The HSV is actually quicker than the FPV to 60km/h by one-tenth of a second. Both the FPV and HSV touched the 100km/h mark in the same 5.1 seconds.

So anyone who buys the FPV hoping to impress their friends with superior acceleration may be disappointed for 100 metres or so if they’re alongside an HSV with the new 6.2-litre V8.

Once moving, though, the FPV soon tips the balance of power. The FPV is a potent performer, struggling with traction at lower speeds due to the monumental torque that’s almost addictive in the way it thrusts you into the back of the seat.

Once the turbo kicks in, though, the FPV takes a lot of stopping. It’s a quick car for the money and infinitely better in its power delivery than the F6 Typhoon it replaces, which had noticeably more turbo lag.

With the FPV fast building speed it became pretty clear the HSV was never going to catch it. After 400 metres there was only one-tenth of a second between them (13.1 seconds for the FPV and 13.2 seconds for the HSV), which is roughly one car length. A win for the FPV, but only after it fought back.

As we’ve established before, what the turbocharged six-cylinder in Ford’s new Falcon lacks in outright power it makes up for with prodigious torque, available way down low in the rev range, where it’s most useful.

But there’s still a lot to like about the instant throttle response of a V8.

Incidentally, we also had a FPV Falcon GT tested on the same day and it was the slowest of the trio. 0-100km/h took 5.8 seconds and it crossed the 400m line in 13.7 seconds. But it didn’t sound like a particularly happy car, with a rattling from the exhaust.

Really, the battle for pace in the Australian muscle car war comes down to the FPV F6 and HSV ClubSport.

So really it depends what you want. The HSV has more impressive initial acceleration and the sound of a V8. The FPV is better once you’re moving and the tantalising snort of a turbo boosting away under the bonnet.

So, which would you choose?

Toby Hagon

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