I’m A Car Playing A Car Disguised As Another Car! COTD

Somehow, there seems to be a movie reference that can apply to anything in real life. Look, I’ve uttered “whatever doesn’t kill you, simply makes you…stranger,” from the Dark Knight. Usually, that’s in reference to doing something really dumb that somehow doesn’t hurt me. There’s even a saying that goes with our Autozam AZ-1!

Jason wrote a Cold Start about the Autopian/Galpin Autozam AZ-1 787bb. IDriveABigTree:

I’m a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude!

Here’s the reference, from one of the dumbest, most ridiculous movies of all time, Tropic Thunder:

Also, I wonder if IDriveABigTree drives a Toyota Sequoia.

Aaronaut:

Ah, my hawk-delivered message did make it!
Braptor is a good boy, I figured he’d come through.

Tbird:

I’m getting the feeling that taillight bars are very dangerous places.

TK-421 had an honest question:

(Am I the only one who thinks it doesn’t look anything like the 787?)

MaximillianMeen had a creative answer:

I mean, to be fair, it is pretty hard to get a 2-passenger kei car to look like a ~300 passenger jetliner. Pretty sure you would need a CDL to drive something on the street of comparable size.

Pete asked you about your favorite bird cars. Arch Duke Maxyenko:

One word: Thundercougarfalconbird.

That Futurama reference remains one of my absolute favorites. Behold!:

Thomas wrote a Morning Dump about GM securing $4.5 in car parts. Robert M had a good question:

Why is GM wasting money paying another company interest for buying and storing parts? Seems like a short-sighted goal to preserve cash and make the stock look good.

Alexk98 had a good answer:

There’s a general rule of thumb on inventory levels that your inventory costs you somewhere between 20-30% annually in various costs. This accounts for storage space for square footage, opportunity cost on that money, personnel required to manage it, potential property tax for larger warehouse, etc. A company whose business model it is to hold that inventory for a period of time at a set interest rate with guaranteed income from GM based on sales contracts can make money, while GM can remove a TON of logistical headache for less cost than had they just stashed parts themselves.

Also, think about the volume of $4.5 Billion in parts. I can just about guarantee that GM doesn’t have the floor space across locations to just store it, much less manage it all when they are likely set up for Just In Time deliveries with light on-site inventory. Companies of any size take time to radically overhaul their operations side to this extent. This approach gives GM maximally available parts with a reduced recurring cost AND has the benefit of not requiring expensive and more permanent infrastructure build out that is very hard to unwind or recoup costs on should supply chains become more reliable.

Have a great evening, everyone!

Top graphic image: Jason Torchinsky