Just because your company is on the verge of bankruptcy— well, that's no reason not to arrive in style. Right?

From ABC:

All three CEOs - Rick Wagoner of GM, Alan Mulally of Ford, and Robert Nardelli of Chrysler - exercised their perks Tuesday by flying in corporate jets to DC. Wagoner flew in GM's $36 million luxury aircraft to tell members of Congress that the company is burning through cash, asking for $10-12 billion for GM alone.

"We want to continue the vital role we've played for Americans for the past 100 years, but we can't do it alone," Wagoner told the Senate Banking Committee.

While Wagoner testified, his G4 private jet was parked at Dulles airport. It is one of eight luxury jets in the GM fleet that continues to ferry executives around the world despite the company's dire financial straits.

ABC estimated that the trip cost GM $20,000, as opposed to a first class ticket on Northwest Airlines flight 2364 from Detroit to Washington — which would have cost about $800.

Amazingly, private jets are a luxury that even free-spending AIG is reconsidering.

AIG, despite the $150 billion bailout, still operates a fleet of corporate jets. The company says it has put two out of its seven jets up for sale and is reviewing the use of others. Though there are no such plans by GM or Ford.

Big Three CEOs Flew Private Jets to Plead for Public Funds [ABC]
(Photo: Bonita Sarita )

The U.S. House of Representatives is considering loaning at least $25 billion to GM, Ford, and Chrysler, possibly as part of a second economic stimulus package. If so, they'll have to move fast. Congress will go on break at the end of this month and may not reconvene for the rest of the year.

"House leadership weighs loans for automakers" [Reuters]
(Photo: Getty)

11 Least Fuel Efficient Hybrid Vehicles

1-2) (tie) Chrysler Aspen Hybrid & Dodge Durango Hybrid 19 MPG

3-5) (tie) Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Lexus LS 600h L, GMC Yukon Hybrid 21 MPG

6) Lexus GS 450h 23 MPG

7-8) (tie) Lexus RX 400h, Toyota Highlander Hybrid 26 MPG

9-11) (tie) Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid 32 MPG

Hybrid Cars [HybridCars]

For whatever reason, Chrysler is currently advertising a "Full Tank of Fuel" as a "free feature". That's right. ONE SINGLE TANK OF GAS. I can't imagine buying a car and being told "Thanks for spending $20,000!" then getting into the car... and find out it's riding on empty.

Hey, at least they won't let you uncheck it. (We tried.)

"The aim is to get in touch with our customers because they are more than just numbers," said Doug Betts, vice president and chief customer officer for Chrysler, which means he's in charge of ensuring quality.

"When a person is happy with his or her car, they tend to tell five other people,” Betts said. “But when they’re unhappy, they tell 50 people — friends, relatives, neighbors and fellow workers. A positive experience obviously sells more cars. An unpleasant experience doesn't. If a person we call has a problem, it's up to us to make it right."

Sure, it's a stunt—but in a week they're opening up a short-lived line of communication with 2,100 customers instead of hiding behind dealerships and call centers.

We're curious to see how this turns out, so if anyone receives a call from a Chrysler executive in the coming days, please let us know how the call goes.

"Chrysler Execs Phone Your Home" [Kicking Tires]
(Photo: Getty Images)

ABCNews explains:

The automaker unveiled a "gas card" program, guaranteeing $2.99-a-gallon gasoline for three years to people who buy or lease new cars from Wednesday through June 2, 2008. Customers will be limited to 700 gallons each year and must buy one of 23 models. Chrysler will pay for the cost of gas exceeding $2.99 — an incentive with a psychological twist.

Are you interested?

The Chicago Tribune says:

Chrysler's major competitors, Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors Corp., and Honda Motor Co. all said they would not follow with their own subsidies, but Suzuki Motor Corp. has made a similar offer in the U.S. with free gas for the summer.

Chrysler tries luring buyers with gas deal as sales drop [Chicago Tribune]
Want $2.99 Gas? Buy a Chrysler [ABCNews]
(Photo: greefus groinks )

Chrysler, which is facing sluggish U.S. sales because of housing-market weakness and high fuel prices, this month announced an expansion of a restructuring plan unveiled in February, saying it would cut its North American hourly work force almost in half by 2010. The company has also made several high-profile executive appointments since Cerberus took over.

Meantime, Chrysler executives have also now decided to kill the entire PT Cruiser line after the 2009 model year, according to a dealer who was told of the decision this past week. The move further expands the auto maker's push to eliminate slower-selling models. Chrysler, in announcing the expanded restructuring this month, said that it was dropping the PT Cruiser convertible, Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Crossfire and Dodge Magnum.

Chrysler Considers Slashing Number of Car Dealers [WSJ]
(Photo:susiewrites)

Affected vehicles include: 156,796 model-year 2006-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander SUVs; 90,383 model year 2007 Jeep Wrangler SUVs; and 49,371 model year 2007 Dodge Nitro SUVs.

Chrysler says the defect may have caused one accident, but no injuries were reported. They're also recalling "72,333 model year 2008 Dodge Avenger sedans and Chrysler Sebring convertibles to ensure proper function of driver and passenger front door latches and locks," according to the Wall Street Journal.

Nobody managed to hurt themselves with the door latches either, just in case you were wondering.

Chrysler to Recall 300,000 Vehicles Over Potential Braking Problem [WSJ]

GM, Chrysler, Daewoo, FIAT, GM, Honda, Jaguar, Toyota, Volvo, and VW all use Keeloq.

Once, there was a car with a very reactive car security system sitting outside my apartment. Following a light rain, it would go bloop-bloop! every time a drop of water fell on it from the tree above. My room was in the front of the house and this annoying sound easily penetrated the walls, over and over again. Finally I went out there and kicked the car's tires, causing it to explode with klaxons, screeches and warbles...

I walked up the street a bit. My neighborhood dashed out of his brownstone, looked around for culprits, and examined his car to make sure it was ok. I sidled on over and made casual conversation about how extremely sensitive his car's alarm was. I think he got the message because after I went back inside the car didn't make any more bloop blops to warn its owner that raindrops might be trying to get inside his car.

Now, if those researchers could just use the same method to develop a tool to silence people's car alarms that keep going off unnecessarily...

How To Steal Cars — A Practical Attack on KeeLoq [cosic.esat.kuleuven.be]
[Red Tape Chronicles]

"I am very excited to be part of a team focused on re-establishing Chrysler as a standalone industry leader, with a renewed focus on meeting the needs of customers," said Nardelli.

Robert Nardelli Named CEO of Chrysler [CNN Money]

PREVIOUSLY: Home Depot's "Embattled" CEO "Big Bob" Resigns
Home Depot Is Still Really Sorry That You Hate Them
Home Depot Revamps Customer Service: "We are not to let a customer go untouched."

You must have your vehicle inspected after five-years of ownership by an "authorized" Chrysler dealer. And check out this nugget, "The inspection must be made within 60 days of each 5-year anniversary of the warranty start date of the vehicle. " So, you void your lifetime warranty if you forget about leap year.

Chrysler offers a lifetime warranty [Boston Globe]
Chrysler to Offer Lifetime Powertrain Warranty; Covers Most Cars and Trucks [AP]
(Photo: kerinin)

The recall affects 2005 model-year vehicles sold or registered in the District of Columbia and the following twenty-seven states...

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas and Alaska.

Chrysler Group to recall minivans to fix air bags [Chicago Sun Times]
(Photo: Dan4th)

• Why does my 2006 Toyota Corolla LE make so much noise when I start the car in the morning? [Link]

• Are there any manual transmission driving simulators for the PC that can do a decent job of allowing me to simulate actually driving stick? [Link]

• What is the Best Source for keeping up with the ratings on HDTVs? [Link]

• I'm leaving in a week and I still can't figure out a good solution to managing my US finances from the UK. [Link]

• We have a Chrysler Airtemp A/C unit (more than 20 years old) that's gone on the fritz 2 days before we're scheduled to be away for 2 weeks. Is there any way for me to determine on my own if this is a catastrophic breakdown that will require a new unit? [Link]

• I'm asking for a male friend who has tried Weight Watchers but didn't like going to meetings. So do these cardboard box diets work? [Link]

• My boss purchased a rather pricey item on eBay and we have not received it. She did not request signature confirmation or shipping insurance. She did receive a USPS tracking number and, according to that number, it's already been delivered... 'cept, you know, it hasn't been. Are we SOL?[Link]

• How can I start my own pay for porn site? [Link]

There are absolutely no new ideas in advertising. In this latest proof, Chrysler rips off Volkswagen ripping off Mitsubishi by playing up the combustible engine's ethnic heritage, in this case, as in VW's, German. The campaign introduces Dr. Z as CEO and spokesmensch. To cries of "I can't see any lederhosen," Daimler replies, "Farfegcocca."

Are soccer moms even a viable meme anymore? Apparently so.

Dr. Z will make you pee your pants, you fag-assed journalist.

Children gawk at Dr. Z's Dirty Sanchez.