For the past couple of years we have all heard that the police are constantly cracking down on vehicle enthusiasts who are modifying their vehicles.

Some people took it for granted, others said it is not accurate information, and there is no such profiling that exists.

The other day I was with a friend of mine casually driving the streets of Mississauga. We were behind a police cruiser in an area that can be associated with high numbers of modified vehicles. The vehicle in front of the cruiser was a somewhat modified WRX STI.

As we pulled up to the next intersection, we could tell the STI was going to be pulled over. It left the intersection slowly, with it’s exhaust system in a deep rumble. It got maybe 10 feet when the cruiser turned it’s lights on.

The STI is worth about $30k Canadian. Add 5-10k for modifications and you have a $40k car. Why does the police take it upon themselves to profile modified vehicles, as there are many more important issues at hand?

Reading the Toronto Star, there was an article explaining how all but 7 of the 150 drug dealers rounded up in last weeks raids are out on the street continuing their crafts. Should the police not dedicate more manpower to such issues rather then trying to destroy a hobby?

Spokespeople for both Cerberus and Chrysler Corp. as well as Lee Iacocca himself have assured the press, that Chrysler is not looking to go Chapter 11.

This comes shortly after Chrysler drew on it’s available $2 billion line of credit. Issued by Daimler, and Cerberus management, it gave Chrysler a loan at just 7 points above prime.

This is a significant move, as Chrysler lost $1.6 billion in 2007, yet managed to keep over $9 billion in cash.

Fitch Ratings cut Chrysler and GM in it’s review, as both face serious problems in their business.

It is believed that there have been talks about a possible spinoff of Chrysler from Cerberus Financial, although Cerberus denies these allegations.

Dagens Industri the Swedish business magazine reported today that Ford is in talks with an unnamed Chinese car company, whom is believed to be Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. to spin off it’s Volvo division.

What this will bring to the Volvo nameplate, noone knows. Naturally it will seem like it’s cheapening the brand if it gets sold to the Chinese. According to major publications, investor Kirk Kerkorian, would like to see Ford rid itself of Volvo, which it purchased in 1999.

It is said that CEO Mulally has began to consider selling Volvo about a year ago. Several companies have been contacted regarding the offer including BMW and Mazda.

Volvo instead of meeting their targets of selling 200,000 vehicles by 2010, are said to be closer to approaching 90,000 vehicles. Head office is in the midst of asking unprofitable dealers to leave the franchise, thereby cutting about 20% of it’s dealerships in the U.S.

Ford said to cut about 2,000 jobs across the board from the operations of Volvo in midst of it ending it’s quarter with a $151 million loss.