The Germans love Hasselhoff, but don't necessarily love buying new cars. For the tenth straight month in a row the year-over-year domestic sales slumped, marking a decline of 7.8% in new car registrations over the first ten months of 2006. Maybe it's because they make cars too reliable? Good financing rates? Industry officials are citing a three percentage point hike in the value-added tax and uncertainty among buyers over the ongoing climate debate. We buy the first one, but wouldn't getting rid of your old diesel Benzie and replacing it with a newer, cleaner car help the environment?[Reuters]