AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
Dwindling Appeal? Toyota's FJ thrills some, riles others.(News)
Byline: JONATHAN WONG
Throughout its first three months in the AutoWeek fleet, Toyota's FJ Cruiser began to win over staffers who initially opposed the throwback SUV: It proved a comfortable long-distance traveler, capable cargo hauler and crowd-pleasing attention getter. In fact, there is no place you can go in terminally hip Southern California without seeing FJs in droves; have they supplanted the Mini Cooper as the must-have iconic conveyance?
However, these high points were not enough to prevent some sour emotions from emerging during the second quarter of our "ownership.'' Complaints on the Cruiser included blind spots, inconvenient suicide doors and a premium-fuel appetite.
"I dislike this SUV,'' one particularly surly and fickle editor said. "I thought after my last drive it might continue to grow on me. But after four days behind the wheel, I've had enough.''
Said another: "The suicide doors are a pain, offer no benefit and make visibility lousy. The six-cylinder feels like most fours, and why it requires premium fuel is beyond me.''
Some staffers had difficulty finding a "just right'' seating and steering-wheel position and had a tough time ...
- Blockbusters threatened by online piracy.(Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the...
- Newspaper article from: Screen Digest May 1, 2002 700+ words
...Much anticipated Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones has already reached an estimated 1m viewers, despite release date being set for later in month. Similar concerns were raised over Spider-Man, though box-office coups have dispelled theories...
- German box office rises as admissions fall.(Brief Article)
- Newspaper article from: Screen Digest May 1, 2002 700+ words
...suffering a drop in admissions for first quarter 2002. Figures from federal film agency...box office record has been set in first quarter, reaching [euro]271.4m ($247m...standing at 45.2m visitors for first quarter. This suggests an increase in average...
- US POWERS GLOBAL CINEMA BOOM : France passes billion euro milestone.(Brief...
- Newspaper article from: Screen Digest May 1, 2002 700+ words
...in 2000. Unlike in the US, growth has not carried forward into 2002. France is off by around four per cent in the first quarter. Europe's largest market in value terms, the UK, grew by over 15 per cent. But this was exceeded by the 20 per cent gain...
- UK digital terrestrial to be free to air.(BBC, Crown Castle awarded...
- Newspaper article from: Screen Digest July 1, 2002 700+ words
...Travel. Also included will be a music channel and an entertainment channel, details of which are to be announced at a later date. BBCi interactive services will also be carried. Free-to-air plan is lpotential boost for recently launched low-cost...
- Warner increases marketing spend for video.
- Newspaper article from: Screen Digest July 1, 2002 700+ words
...rental trade body has threatened to take case to the Office of Fair Trading. In its defence, Warner argues that day-and-date releasing enables greater targeting of marketing spend--situation that ultimately benefits both retail and rental. Size of...
- New Israeli commercial TV stations to merge. (Finance & Business).(Israel 10,...
- Newspaper article from: Screen Digest July 1, 2002 700+ words
...broadcaster in January 2002, taking on established commercial operator Channel 2. Israel 10 reported losses of $10m in first quarter 2002, with Eden declining to pick up its licence, leaving entire broadcasting cost to Israel 10. Latter has fruitlessly...
- Enhanced TV reaches Asia. (New Products & Services).(Enhanced TV Technologies,...
- Newspaper article from: Screen Digest July 1, 2002 700+ words
...model, targeting initial subscriber base of 35,000 by end 2002, hoping to secure 150,000 subscribers in Malaysia by third quarter 2003. Earlier this year, eTV's backer CSE Multimedia Technologies secured support of PC hardware manufacturer Hewlett...
- FCC delays spectrum auction yet again. (Law & Regulation).(Federal...
- Newspaper article from: Screen Digest June 1, 2002 700+ words
...switching to digital terrestrial television (DTT). Slow DTT uptake in US means condition of 85 per cent penetration by 2007 target date is unlikely to be met. Broadcasters gifted `free' DTT channel on condition of transition (see 1996/4b4) have now demanded...