Automotive

sinking Nissan

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Nissan is facing significant financial difficulties that have led to a situation where it might go bankrupt if not addressed. Here are the key reasons based on recent reports:

  1. Declining Sales in Key Markets: Nissan has seen a significant drop in sales, particularly in the United States and China, which are two of its largest markets. This decline has been attributed to a lack of compelling new models and the inability to keep pace with market trends, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.
  3. Unsuccessful EV Strategy: Despite being an early player in the electric vehicle market with the Nissan Leaf, the company has not expanded its EV lineup as rapidly or effectively as competitors. This has resulted in losing ground to other manufacturers, especially in markets where EV adoption is growing rapidly.
  4. Heavy Losses and Financial Performance: Nissan reported an 85% drop in its operating profit in the third quarter and posted a net loss, indicating a severe financial strain. The company is dealing with high operational costs and low profitability, exacerbated by worldwide sales slumps.
  5. Leadership and Management Issues: The company has been through significant executive turnover and controversy, notably with the arrest and subsequent escape of former CEO Carlos Ghosn. This has led to a period of instability in leadership and strategic direction.

5. All Nissan’s Vehicles look the SAME.

All the SUV’s look the same. All the Cars look the same. Both of the Sports Cars look the Same. Both of their EV’s look the same. Nissan is building a lot of vehicles that all look far too homogenized. In other words, inbred.

Nissan is also putting CVT transmissions in most of their vehicles now. Continuously Variable Transmissions is supposed to mean the car is always in the right gear. What it actually results in, is that the car is never in the right gear. And CVT’s are about as reliable as a $20 Automatic Watch from TEMU. Nissan needs to buy their transmissions from ZT and/or Toyota. Period. Forget CVTs.

It doesn’t help that the Worst Drivers In America seem to all be driving Nissans. But that’s just my observation locally. Maybe it’s a Carolina thing.

This leaves us with the question… Does Nissan deserve to survive?
That’s a tough question… But the answer is YES. And here’s why:

The Nissan Titan and Frontier are quietly going about being some of the best trucks out there on the road and work site and oil fields. They are built solid, tough, and reliable in the way Toyota trucks used to be. (Don’t buy a new Toyota Truck – buy a gently used one from 2022 or older)

So here is what NISSAN needs to do: Kill off the Me Too Cars. Nissan’s product line is confusing to the Consumer just like it’s confusing to the Sales People. The Product line is competing with the product line and it’s making people go over to Honda and Toyota.
I visited a Nissan Dealship the other day and to be honest – it was a parade of clown shoes. I can see why there’s an 80% drop in sales. I couldn’t GTFO fast enough.

For the SUV’s leave the Rogue, the Pathfinder and the Armada. The Kick, Ariya, and the Murano need to die in a fire. Take the Pathfinder and make a version of it called an Xterra and make it an actual freaking Off-Road warrior. Not a Wet Leaves on the Road vehicle. The Car cars… Leave the Altima and kill the others. Just kill the others… the Sentra, the Versa, and the Leaf. Just Altima. WTF happened to the Maxima? Remember that one? The one with the 300ZX engine? What happened to you, Nissa? Who did this to you? Sports cars are in a different category, and the GT-4 is just bullshit. The 300 ZX is now just the “Z”. That’s dumb. Make it the 300 ZX again and make it Retro styled like how Ford treated the Mustang. Harken back to when Nissan meant something. Do the same thing with the Maxima. As far as the EVs go… Axe them both. Consumers are not buying Nissan EVs. If Nissan wants to make an EV – they need to start all over again. From scratch.

Automotive

RAM troubles.

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The problem with RAM is the bewildering selection of trucks they have… Not just 1500, 2500, and 3500, but with all the variations of each in terms of trim levels, fascias, and optional packages that seem like good things – but in reality, it makes buying a RAM a nightmare. You sit down with a RAM salesman, and start talking about what you want on your new RAM that starts out at under 39,000 and soon it explodes into the 90K range. The other big problems is that RAM doesn’t have a reputation for being reliable. Not just interior electronics, but in the Engine and Transmissions. A TRUCK has GOT to be Reliable. That’s what its for. Bells and Whistles are not why people buy trucks. Locked up Transmissions and blowing manifolds and leaving oil patches where you park are not things that invite premium dollar expenditures. The other big – BIG – problem is STELLANIS. The CEO has cut corners so hard and so deep in the manufacturing process that the factory is rolling out new vehicles where the employees on the line KNOW there’s a problem, but the line just keeps moving and the problem doesn’t get fixed because they literally can’t fix it… it’s off to the next step in the production cycle. Look, RAM makes some great looking, comfortable trucks that SHOULD be top sellers in the truck market. The #1 thing RAM needs to do… Is leverage their own Buy Out from Stellanis, so RAM, DODGE, and JEEP become their own corporation, without some Euro-Trash jackwagon dictating his personal ideals on how to RUIN American Vehicles. Do that, and RAM trucks can mean something again.

Uncategorized

My Dad passed away.

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Last Week on Tuesday, I watched my father die. My brother Josh was there, as was Dad’s wife, Joyce. We were standing around his bed as the Hospital Staff unplugged his life support. The previous Thursday Morning, he had a massive heart attack and stopped breathing. But they managed to get his heart restarted but he had been without oxygen to his brain for about five minutes. He was in a coma since the heart attack.

We held on to hope that he would recover. That he would wake up. An MRI scan was done and it showed a glimmer of hope, initially… But then a neurologist took a look at it and determined that the damage was severe throughout all of the brain.

We all knew Dad didn’t want to live like this. He had a DNR on file… that the hospital wasn’t aware of initially… And we knew his chances were almost zero, and it turns out to have been exactly zero. We didn’t know what would happen once we pulled the life support… He his body could kick in and he’d live. Or he would expire… Doctors said it could be five minutes or five days… In God’s mercy, it was only about 1 minute. His body gasped for air for awhile and then the gasps came fewer and fewer until it all stopped.

In the very moment of his passing… He smiled. Just before he went slack. I believe it’s because he saw his Father, his Mother, his brother Bruce, and my brother Zach.

I’m grateful for these last few years I had with him… Because we had always had a rocky relationship and I had learned a great deal about him that I didn’t know. This knowledge became an understanding of the reality of things that he had always kept away from me and my brothers. All the pieces came together and the picture it made was one of a man that sacrificed so much for us. For me. I didn’t know how much he loved me until the end. I had no idea. I miss him terribly.

Automotive

2024 VW Jetta 10K Update

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10,000 miles has rolled by. At 5K, I got the oil changed. VW insists that it only needs the services done every 10K, but that was making me feel itchy. So I went ahead and got that done. And now I’m itching to do it again. But that’s neither here nor there. Really so far, the car has not given me a lick of trouble. I hit something in the road and had a huge hole cookie cuttered out of a tire, but that’s not VW’s fault… The car its self is pretty solid. And getting 38 miles to the gallon is awesome. And if I drive like I was civilized or something, I can get 40 to 42. I especially appreciate I’m getting that on Regular Unleaded and not the Premium my Audi A4 Avant requires.

If I have any complaint about the Jetta, it’s the seats. They are stiff and to be honest, hurts my boney butt. And I need my windows tinted, due to my eye’s light sensitivity. Still, I adore this little car. Since I got it, I’ve found that it has a Sport Mode, which makes the car very lively to drive. I didn’t realize it had that. I also learned that the 8 speed transmission was built for VW by Toyota, so it’s very solid gear box that I do not anticipate problems from. Okay, one last item I’d love to get fixed… the Auto Start/Stop system. MAN I hate that. But that’s remedied by a Start Up procedure that has me pressing the Deactivate Button for that. But if I forget, it reminds me when I come to a red light. Gah! I wish there was something I could do that would permanently deactivate that system. VW should include an under the dash Switch or a Fuse that could be pulled so that system stops bothering me.

Speaking of the Audi, I still have it. In fact, it’s doing great. My son who is the VW Tech is currently driving it as the transmission in the GTI totally grenaded. He’ll get his GTI fixed in due time. In the meanwhile, he’s been fixing some things in the Audi. Such as the Coolant Leak. And he’s replaced all the shocks and struts. So the car drives like it should again, without leaving puddles. That Audi is nearing 200,000 miles and it’s still running strong.

I’m currently thinking that after the GTI is fixed, I might sell the Audi to acquire a solid used pickup truck. Because we NEED a pickup truck like crazy. I’ve got a Garage filled with junk and nothing to cart it off with. And for the quoted price of having someone come do that for me… Well, you can understand.

Weapons

HK VP9SK

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In my brief on the FN Reflex, I let slip that I owned the HK VP9SK. This pistol has been on the market for some time now (2017). Since I mentioned it, I might as well talk about this one too.

The VP9SK is as the name implies, it’s simply a compact version of the VP9 which has been out since before Trump’s first presidential term. 2014 actually. Back when I was helping run a certain Gun Store and Range, I was able to spend some time with the VP9, and it impressed the hell out of me. It was a good looking piece, with good sights and one of the best striker triggers I had ever felt. In fact, it shot so good for me, I actually won a bullseye contest with it.

I snagged this one when a sweet trade option came to me because I really did like the VP9, and this EDC Friendly Version of that just seemed like a great way to go. The trade offer was straight across and the gun I traded was completely useless to me, so why not?

The ergonomics on it are great, due to the swappable back strap and side plates on the grip… you can make it fit your hand perfectly. Which is a huge advantage. The un-ergo thing for a lot of shooters is the HK Magazine release. Americans prefer buttons… but I’ve run the HK USP as a Duty Pistol and got used to that, so the German Way is not unfamiliar to me.

Firing the HK VP9SK is a pleasure. For one so compact, this little HK feels absolutely plush compared to other pistols in this class. Compared to most Micro Compacts which can feel rather “Snappy”, the VP9SK feels like a Cadillac. The accuracy is very good. And with some practice getting reacquainted with the paddle mag-release, speed reloads and “Tactical” reloads are very easy and quick. Something some of the Micros cause struggles with.

The VP9SK is an interesting pistol… Because the newest HK that just dropped, the CC9, is basically a VP9SK that got into Crossfit and Bicycling and Veganism and won’t let you forget about it. I think the CC9 is a bit late to the Micro Game, and is kind of unneeded because THIS EXISTS and the CC9 doesn’t offer anything over this, save for being slightly skinnier, has the Button mag release, and is made in the USA… and now we’re MAGA Country again, so we’ve got that going for us. Which is nice.

In short, if you are considering a Micro Compact, but don’t quite like the way any of them feel… The VP9SK is probably a great choice for you. But don’t take my word for it. Go find one at your Local Gun Seller, and wrap your hands around it. You’ll be glad you did.

Weapons

FN Reflex

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FN was a little late to the Micro Compact 9mm game when they came out with the Reflex. But don’t hold that against them… Because they built the best one. 11+1 capacity with the flush mag, and 15+1 with the extended mag. This smokes the other competitors in terms of Capacity. It has fantastic sights and trigger that feel like a Single Action. There’s a good reason for that trigger feel… Because it is a Single Action trigger. In fact, regardless of the looks, this gun isn’t a Striker Fired gun at all. There is a Hammer in there. An actual, honest to Thor hammer where the striker system normally lives. Hidden Hammer guns are nothing new… Just really rare in today’s market. Because of this, the trigger pull and reset are a little different than other guns in this class. So that might take a bit to get used to. But once you do, it’s no problem at all. Because even though it’s different… It’s a very good trigger.

In the hand, the Reflex is TINY. But it doesn’t shoot like a tiny gun. It is a bit snappy, but not unpleasantly so. You can add the Pinky Wedge floorplate to the flush magazine so your pinky finger doesn’t dangle. If you want. The extended magazine gives you both a full capacity and a full grip, just like everything else in the Micro Compact Class. Unlike the other Micros, the Grip Texture FN uses, while aggressive, really locks the gun in place while shooting.

FN is well known for making absolute shooting MACHINES. This little guy runs like an Engine. A furious little engine powered by 9mm ammunition and anger. The slide is even easy to operate. A lot of Micros have stiff slides that can be a tad bit difficult to run, but the Reflex is easy. It’s also spookily accurate. I found it easy to keep all of my 15 yard shots in the 10 Ring.

Now, HK just released the CC9, which is a slimmed down VP9SK that had some Cosmetic Surgery to turn it from a Sub-Compact 9 into the desired Micro 9. And I don’t say that like it’s a bad thing… Because the FN Reflex looks like it’s a 509 that had the same operation. (But it’s not)

Full Disclosure. I have the VP9SK and it’s a fantastic EDC option. It’s only a little bit bigger than the Reflex. And it shoots amazingly well, as you would expect with anything from HK. The Reflex does carry better, being a bit smaller and a bit lighter… and it shoots almost as good as the HK. And while being smaller and lighter it has more capacity than the VP9SK, and more than new HK CC9. So if you are thinking about the CC9… get the Reflex.

In short, if you are in the market for Micro 9 as an EDC gun… get the Reflex. It’s the astute choice for those that want their cake, and want to eat it as well. You really don’t sacrifice much at all with the FN Reflex. You can get an Optics Ready version, and there are sub-compact lights that will fit on the rail as well. So it has everything you could want. I have no complaints or criticisms about this piece at all. And that’s a first for me. I’ve been examining ALL of the Micro 9s on the market, and I think FN has made the perfect one.

The only downside to the FN Reflex is the same as any gun choice that Zigs and not Zags… and that’s Holster Selection. There are holsters out there for it, but your options are limited. Luckily, the FN Store has those options in stock for you. If you go to your local gun seller, such as Cabella’s, you will a plethora of holster options for the Glocks, Hellcats, M&Ps, and 365s… and nothing for the Reflex. So if you want to get the Reflex, just go ahead and order the holster online that fits your style and get it on the way before you go pick up your Reflex. Because as soon as you do get the Reflex… You are going to want to carry it immediately.

Uncategorized, Weapons

The Misunderstood Scout

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The most misunderstood rifle IN THE WORLD is the Scout Rifle.

Jeff Cooper came up with the concept of a light weight, general purpose rifle, of midrange caliber that’s capable of handling threats and big game and anything else you need a rifle for. Light weight was the most important aspect of the rifle so that you could throw if over your shoulder on the sling and just have it on you. Understand, at the time, Cooper had spent a lifetime in the Marines, Hunting in Africa, and racing Porsches like a Sir. He was a man out of his own time. A throwback to days gone by. But his Scout Rifle concept was actually just as sound then, as it is now.

It’s the rifle you have on you. The rifle that you grab when the horses are spooked and you don’t know what’s out there. It’s the rifle you can defend your homestead with and put meat on the table with. There is nothing about this that is outdated or old fashioned. People get far too hung up on the Long Eye Relief Scope as part of his concept. The purpose of this, was that the rifle could be brought up from a low ready, and get on target in a snap. At the time, there was no a lot of options in the optics world and there was no such thing as the LPVO scope. If Jeff was still with us, his Scout concept would undoubtedly include an LPVO.

I had dinner with Col Cooper, with my wife and Jeff’s daughter was there as others. It was an amazing meal and Jeff sat at the head of the table like the Duke of Awesomeness. Absolutely Majestic with his walking stick with the head of a silver Water Buffalo. At the time, the Steyr was still brand new and we discussed at some length the whole Scout Concept. Jeff liked the Steyr “Schtire” Scout well enough, but he acknowledged the shortcomings of the S.S as produced. He had some other ideas about the Scout and some things he would liked to have seen that Steyr didn’t do.

One thing, Jeff insisted that a Scout Rifle would have a Sling and if it didn’t have one, it wasn’t really a Scout. A Scout could have just iron sights, if the Shooter was sharp-eyed enough and skilled on the use of Irons. The Caliber could handle the problems you were likely to encounter, and he considered .308 to be a good choice. Because that round is good enough, and is readily available where Ammunition is sold. Wildcats miss the whole point entirely, he said. (Summation, not quotation)

There’s one other detail that everyone misses because it wasn’t talked about, but Jeff strongly recommended, Controlled Round Feed. So a Mauser, Winchester, Ruger type action and not something like the Remington 700 which doesn’t have a Controlled Round Feed. All in all, the rifle, with a loaded magazine and optic needs to be 7 Pounds or Less. Less is preferable. As light as you can get. That way you don’t leave it in the truck when it should be on your shoulder. Because that’s what the Scout is all about.

Automotive

2024 VW Jetta SE

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Last Thursday I acquired a new Car. A 2024 Jetta SE. My 2007 Audi A4 Avant Quattro has become rather long in the tooth and needs a great deal of replacement parts and repairs… So much so that it’s going to have to be sidelined for awhile. And that saddens me, but I do look forward to the car’s final and ultimate form. In the mean time… this Jetta now my Daily Driver. I’ve always respected the Jetta, but never really personally liked them very much. But the new body style is just too good looking. I love the new grill and headlights. I had other options of course, and I test rode all of them. But none of them felt nearly as good as the Jetta. Just getting in and shutting the door told me that unlike the other cars, this was a real German Sedan. It’s almost as big as the discontinued Passat, and you’re not paying big Audi dollars… but it looks like you did.

It’s powered by a 1.5 Liter Turbo that I was anticipating to be woefully lacking in everything. But paired with the 8 speed Tiptronic transmission… With Gear ratios properly sorted out… the car is both smooth and fast. And since the engine is displacing less than a Harley V-Twin, the fuel consumption is Very Conservative. And by that I mean, I’ve never had a car before that sipped gasoline so delicately. 40 miles per gallon if I drive within the bounds of the law. Cruising at 70, with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, I was still getting 38.5 MPG’s. And that’s a lot of MPG’s compared to what I’m used to. My A4’s consumption can not match at only about 22 MPG’s for the same trip, and while burning Premium.

Android Auto, Apple Car Play, Dual Zone Climate, Defrosting Mirrors with Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane holding assist… it has all the technology I could ever want. I’m not even used to all this. I love the blacked out wheels, dark platinum paint… It just looks fantastic.
Inside the car, there’s actually more space than the A4. And the trunk is pretty much just as big as the Avant’s Wagon rear cargo area, though not as tall. It’s very usable. You could camp in the trunk.
I do think I need to get this car’s Windows tinted, just to complete the look. If you are in the market for an affordable and economical car that’s not just an Eco-Shit Box… The new Jetta is well worth a test ride.

Weapons

SHOT SHOW 2024

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There’s been some interesting new releases that debuted at SHOT Show 2024, and within the last little while. I’ve not talked about the Industry in awhile so let me knock some rust off here.
Springfield Armory: They are doing great over there and are continuing to crank out rock solid 1911’s. They remain one of my top choices. Huge fan of their Operator, TRP, and Ronin series. They just released a new line called the Garrison, which to me seems just like the Loaded series, but without forward slide serrations. I’m not really a fan of their other 1911’s so much. I don’t need my 1911 to try to look like a ZEV Glock.
Their new Echelon pistol looks great and feels even better in the hand to me. As long as you don’t bother with the Extended Magazines, the guns are running great.
Remington: Following Mossberg now, they just released an 870 with a detachable box magazine. Which I think is a retarded idea that needs to go away.
Industry Wide there is a major flood of Double Stacked 1911’s. So many from all corners… but mostly from Turkey. We’ve never seen so many Double Stacked 1911s. Proof positive that the 1911 design is still as viable and popular as ever. They have a 9mm double stacked 1911 that runs Glock mags now. So, there’s that. Speaking of which…
Glock: They have FINALLY made a commercial version of what everyone has been doing all along, cutting down the frames to make shorter and more concealable grips. But really I found the Glock Model 45 to be just about perfect, once you upgrade the Sights.
Daniel Defense: They purchased the Hudson H9 pistol design and then spent the time, energy, and resources to actually make it work. This is a groovy thing, but the H9 is a pistol that just FEELS SO GOOD in the hand. I have wanted to like them… but now that DD is making them, maybe I can. Word has it that only 1 part is interchangeable between the two versions, so that’s a sign that a LOT of engineering had to be done. Makes me wonder why DD spent the money on Hudson design when they could have probably just done their own from the ground up.
Looks like Mossberg is still making their little pistol to everyone’s dismay. Has anyone actually seen one in a Gun Dealer’s Pistol Case? I haven’t. And I’ve been looking. Dealers response to inquiries have been a universal, “we can get one in if you want it.”
Buck knives released a new knife… the Buckmaster Diver Pro. Looks like a Kingon knife from Star Trek for $899. Which makes me think “WHAT THE FUQQ ARE THEY THINKING?”
Okay, the biggest shocker and smile maker of SHOT 2024 is S&W with their new 1854 Lever Action. I’m interested. Even if it looks exactly like a HENRY. And even if it is over 1200 bucks. Those I trust have reported great reliability and accuracy. Will I buy one? Maybe.

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