THE best car site on the web WOD is auto extremist, and for those of you contemplating fuel economy vehicles right now this is a must read I don't think most of you realize how Toyota has mastered the manipulatively simple minded press regarding their new hybrids. This is a must read. Sample

This new ad campaign for its hybrids is the direct opposite - it's not only irresponsible, it's flat-out unforgivable. We warned Detroit in this column a couple of weeks ago that Toyota would use this marketing onslaught for its hybrids to go for the jugular. And if anyone misread Toyota's true intentions up until this moment, the quaint notion of Toyota as the Jolly Green car company filled with Shiny Happy People out to save the world should surely be dispelled by now. By allowing this campaign to hit the airwaves, Toyota has made it clear that they will stop at absolutely nothing to gain any advantage in this market, even if it means equating its "Hybrid Synergy Drive" with the Fountain of Youth.

And in another post you'll read about

Japan maintains a weak yen policy that gives its automakers a cost advantage ranging from $3,000 on a small car to $12,000 on a luxury sport utility vehicle. And lawmakers chimed in. Rep. Bill Thomas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said that U.S. - Japan trade is stagnating because of Tokyo's protectionist policies. Protectionism is the one issue that Toyota's leaders in Japan fear more than any other.

In another posting there is this gem:

intentionally plays on the widespread ignorance that exists about hybrid technology to exaggerate the environmental benefits (hybrids = electricity = "clean"). Focusing on the air is a misdirection from the environmental problems created by disposing of all of the extra battery materials. Someone needs to do a full environmental accounting of this synergy drive crap and see how much pollution is just redistributed to some other area and stage in the life cycle of the product. Which is worse: a car company that isn't doing a lot about improving fuel economy & environmental benefits in its current cars...and isn't claiming to do so? Or a car company that isn't doing a lot about improving fuel economy & environmental benefits in its current cars...and is claiming to do so (and knowing the consumer ignorance will let them get away with this)?

As I said this is must reading for anyone who is buying into the Toyota hype; the cost of disposal of those huge lithium batteries and buying a new one for 5K every nine years; the myth of superior fuel economy; and lots of other stuff. Must reading. Warning: this is a professional industry site not a consumer site. Then be sure to check out the entertainment value stuff that includes hot cars, NASCAR, and girls: