Import Central
9 hours ago
Still Not Getting It
Apparently GM is going to bring back the Nomad nameplate for Chevy, rebadging the GMC Acadia. Let's see, that would mean the same vehicle would be sold by GMC, Buick, Saturn, and now Chevy. Hell, let's bring out an Oldsmobile version while we're at it. There should be ONE version of this vehicle, not four. And what's up with a GMC version, I thought Buick, Pontiac, and GMC were supposed to be semi-merged, what's the point of having two of the same vehicle in one dealership?
History Repeats
Remember when Dodge brought out the Tomohawk concept motorcycle? A Viper engine in a motorcycle chassis with a projected top speed of 400 mph, what gearhead couldn't not love it? It came out of nowhere, showing that Chrysler engineering has a mean streak a mile wide
Turns out there's a bit of a history behind the Tomohawk that not many people know about. Once upon a time, 1934 to be exact, Plymouth supplied one of it's six cylinder engines to Fred Luther, a Californian attempting to break 300 mph on a motorcycle.
The full story is at Allpar.com. With the fate of Chrysler now hanging in the balance, it would be a shame to see a company with such a rich history go the way of so many before it.
Turns out there's a bit of a history behind the Tomohawk that not many people know about. Once upon a time, 1934 to be exact, Plymouth supplied one of it's six cylinder engines to Fred Luther, a Californian attempting to break 300 mph on a motorcycle.
The full story is at Allpar.com. With the fate of Chrysler now hanging in the balance, it would be a shame to see a company with such a rich history go the way of so many before it.
Turn Up The Speakers
I don't care what you think of Ferrari, this commercial is an auditory work of art! Makes me wanna go for a drive.
Ginsu Drift
Take one knife and one drift car and what do you have? Why, a cucumber slicer, of course.
It's 1979 All Over Again
I bought a car today, one that was new when I was 8 years old. A 1979 Mazda RX-7 is now part of the Ride's stable of fine automobiles. Hmm, a rotary powered automobile, and carburated too, how interesting!
Where's The Beef?
Here's Ford's new Edge CUV. It's handsome as far as SUV's go, and I hope it's a success for Ford.
Of course, it's really just a Mazda CX-7 in Ford duds, but at least it's not immediately apparent that they share platforms.
The only thing that irks me about the Edge is the weight. This thing is carrying around 600 more pounds than the CX-7. Six hundred pounds! It's got a more powerful engine than the CX-7, but because of the extra poundage it's actually slower, and gets worse fuel mileage too. Hell, it weighs more than the Freestyle, a larger vehicle.
It would have been nice to have the Ford be the better vehicle, in performance and economy, but it looks like Ford engineers just weren't that clever.
Of course, it's really just a Mazda CX-7 in Ford duds, but at least it's not immediately apparent that they share platforms.
The only thing that irks me about the Edge is the weight. This thing is carrying around 600 more pounds than the CX-7. Six hundred pounds! It's got a more powerful engine than the CX-7, but because of the extra poundage it's actually slower, and gets worse fuel mileage too. Hell, it weighs more than the Freestyle, a larger vehicle.
It would have been nice to have the Ford be the better vehicle, in performance and economy, but it looks like Ford engineers just weren't that clever.
Three Month Absence
In case anyone was wondering why this blog was silent for three months, we've produced a short video offering an explanation...
Late To The Party
Ford's done a restyle on the 2008 Escape, and it's less than impressive.
I guess this would be enough if your competition was standing still, since it looks an awful lot like the 2006 Honda CR-V.
But, the competition has not been idle, and this mild refresh of the Escape does not arm it well enough to fend off the new CR-V...
or juggernaut Toyota's new RAV4.
Once again we find Ford at the rear of the class when it comes to cutting-edge design, something that used to be Ford's turf back in the 80's when Honda and Toyota were making little boxy sedans.
I guess this would be enough if your competition was standing still, since it looks an awful lot like the 2006 Honda CR-V.
But, the competition has not been idle, and this mild refresh of the Escape does not arm it well enough to fend off the new CR-V...
or juggernaut Toyota's new RAV4.
Once again we find Ford at the rear of the class when it comes to cutting-edge design, something that used to be Ford's turf back in the 80's when Honda and Toyota were making little boxy sedans.
Isuzuness
I'm in an Isuzu mood today, so here's some links about one of my favorite (ex)car companies...
Wikipedia article on Asuna, a short-lived GM brand that sold a rebadged Isuzu Impulse as the Sunfire.
IsuzuPiazza.com, a forum for owners of Isuzu Piazzas (the Impulse in the USA).
Isuzone.org, another forum for Isuzu Impulse/Geo Storm owners.
A Trip To The Cafe
There's sportbikes, standards, and streetfighters, but my fave style of bike has got to be the cafe racer. Wonderfully minimalist, they sum up the essence of speed in a way few machines achieve. Check out this article for a short history of cafe racers from Cycle World, and then visit Steve "Carpy" Carpenter's site, cb750cafe.com to see more of these beautiful machines.
If At First You Don't Succeed...
Give up! Apparently, so sayeth GM about it's line of minivans. The Detroit News is reporting that GM is probably going to drop out of the segment, instead focusing on crossovers. Umm, yeah.
"We do believe it is a declining segment," GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told The News on Tuesday. "Our new crossovers, Acadia, Outlook and Enclave with their three rows of seats and economical V-6 engines, can meet the same customer needs, minus the 'Soccer Mom' stigma.."
Yeah, it was worth it to spend all that money to redesign GM's full-size SUV's that aren't selling. Of course, having a coherent naming strategy would have helped too. Astro, Lumina APV, Venture, and now Uplander. Hard to make a name for yourself if you keep changing your damn name. Abandoning market segments is not a way forward, but I guess in GM's case there is no way forward. It's all downhill from here on out.
"We do believe it is a declining segment," GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told The News on Tuesday. "Our new crossovers, Acadia, Outlook and Enclave with their three rows of seats and economical V-6 engines, can meet the same customer needs, minus the 'Soccer Mom' stigma.."
Yeah, it was worth it to spend all that money to redesign GM's full-size SUV's that aren't selling. Of course, having a coherent naming strategy would have helped too. Astro, Lumina APV, Venture, and now Uplander. Hard to make a name for yourself if you keep changing your damn name. Abandoning market segments is not a way forward, but I guess in GM's case there is no way forward. It's all downhill from here on out.
The Master Of Ergonomics?
Having worked as a technician for a Honda dealer for the last four months has exposed me to many of Honda's models from the past two decades. While it is true that they are very reliable machines overall, the reputation Honda has as a master of ergonomics perplexes me. I see little evidence of it, finding that usually it's done well, but not any better than other manufacturers out there. And sometimes Honda makes some monumental mistakes.
The Element has the shifter mounted on the dash, slightly awkward if the transmission is an automatic, absolutely infuriating if it's a manual. Why? There's nothing to support your arm while shifting, maximizing your fatigue while caught in rush hour traffic or enjoying a twisting road. While some may consider taking an Element down a tight, curvy road a recipe for disaster, taking the last gen Civic Si should be a joy, except for the same shifter-on-the-dash design. Different is not automatically better.
Talking about the Civic, the current design features an unusual split-level instrument cluster. The tach is on the bottom, while the digital speedometer is on the top tier. It's disconcerting at first, and serves no purpose other than to make the tach basically useless. All the magazines say they grew accustomed to it. I say The Master of Ergonomics shouldn't design something you have to grow accustomed to.
Then there's the CR-V with the not quite column mounted, not quite dash mounted shifting column. Or the Prelude with the neo-Buick dash, placing some of the gauges in the middle of the car to "include the passenger" in the driving experience. The list goes on, but the point is that the Master of Ergonomics doesn't really deserve the title.
As a side point, I have yet to see any mention that the current Civic features a radio design that is not removable, being an integral part of the dash. Apparently Honda thinks they know best when it comes to car audio. This goes against the whole "personalize your machine" movement that Scion has latched onto. Good move Honda.
The Element has the shifter mounted on the dash, slightly awkward if the transmission is an automatic, absolutely infuriating if it's a manual. Why? There's nothing to support your arm while shifting, maximizing your fatigue while caught in rush hour traffic or enjoying a twisting road. While some may consider taking an Element down a tight, curvy road a recipe for disaster, taking the last gen Civic Si should be a joy, except for the same shifter-on-the-dash design. Different is not automatically better.
Talking about the Civic, the current design features an unusual split-level instrument cluster. The tach is on the bottom, while the digital speedometer is on the top tier. It's disconcerting at first, and serves no purpose other than to make the tach basically useless. All the magazines say they grew accustomed to it. I say The Master of Ergonomics shouldn't design something you have to grow accustomed to.
Then there's the CR-V with the not quite column mounted, not quite dash mounted shifting column. Or the Prelude with the neo-Buick dash, placing some of the gauges in the middle of the car to "include the passenger" in the driving experience. The list goes on, but the point is that the Master of Ergonomics doesn't really deserve the title.
As a side point, I have yet to see any mention that the current Civic features a radio design that is not removable, being an integral part of the dash. Apparently Honda thinks they know best when it comes to car audio. This goes against the whole "personalize your machine" movement that Scion has latched onto. Good move Honda.
Vintage Poetry
Here's a little poem from 1916 about driving, and it's suprisingly relevant to today, especially my parents! Courtesy of Tickin' T's of Central Ohio.
MA AND THE AUTO
Before we take an auto ride Pa says to Ma: "My dear,
Now just remember I don’t need suggestions from the rear.
If you will just sit still back there and hold in check your fright,
I’ll take you where you want to go and get you back all right.
Remember that my hearing’s good and also I’m not blind.
And, I can drive this car without suggestions from behind."
Ma promises that she’ll keep still, then off we gaily start,
But soon she notices ahead a peddler and his cart.
"You’d better toot your horn." Says she, "to let him know we’re near;
He might turn out!" and Pa replies: "just shriek at him, my dear."
And then he adds: "some day, some guy will make a lot of dough
By putting horns on tonneau seats for women-folks to blow!"
A little farther on Ma cries: "He signaled for a turn!"
And Pa says: "Did he?" in a tone that’s hot enough to burn.
"Oh, there’s a boy on roller skates!" cries Ma. "Now do go slow.
I’m sure he doesn’t see our car." And Pa says, "I dunno,
I think I don’t need glasses yet, but really it may be
That I am blind and cannot see what’s right in front of me."
If Pa should speed the car a bit some rigs to hurry past
Ma whispers: "Do be careful now. You’re driving much too fast."
And all the time she’s pointing out the dangers of the street
And keeps him posted on the roads where trolley cars he’ll meet.
Last night when we got safely home, Pa sighed and said: "My dear,
I’m sure we’ve all enjoyed the drive that you gave us from the rear!"
This interesting rhyme was copied from a book printed in 1916
entitled "A HEAP O’LIVIN" by Edgar A. Guest.
MA AND THE AUTO
Before we take an auto ride Pa says to Ma: "My dear,
Now just remember I don’t need suggestions from the rear.
If you will just sit still back there and hold in check your fright,
I’ll take you where you want to go and get you back all right.
Remember that my hearing’s good and also I’m not blind.
And, I can drive this car without suggestions from behind."
Ma promises that she’ll keep still, then off we gaily start,
But soon she notices ahead a peddler and his cart.
"You’d better toot your horn." Says she, "to let him know we’re near;
He might turn out!" and Pa replies: "just shriek at him, my dear."
And then he adds: "some day, some guy will make a lot of dough
By putting horns on tonneau seats for women-folks to blow!"
A little farther on Ma cries: "He signaled for a turn!"
And Pa says: "Did he?" in a tone that’s hot enough to burn.
"Oh, there’s a boy on roller skates!" cries Ma. "Now do go slow.
I’m sure he doesn’t see our car." And Pa says, "I dunno,
I think I don’t need glasses yet, but really it may be
That I am blind and cannot see what’s right in front of me."
If Pa should speed the car a bit some rigs to hurry past
Ma whispers: "Do be careful now. You’re driving much too fast."
And all the time she’s pointing out the dangers of the street
And keeps him posted on the roads where trolley cars he’ll meet.
Last night when we got safely home, Pa sighed and said: "My dear,
I’m sure we’ve all enjoyed the drive that you gave us from the rear!"
This interesting rhyme was copied from a book printed in 1916
entitled "A HEAP O’LIVIN" by Edgar A. Guest.
The Ultimate Dumb Move
Advertising Age is reporting that BMW is changing their slogan. The Ultimate Driving Machine is becoming A Company Of Ideas. If that's the best they could come up with, then it's a company full of BAD ideas.
Growing Up Geauga
Is the attraction to cars and speed genetic, or can it be influenced by events in your life? I grew up in Aurora, Ohio, home to Geauga Lake Park, one of the oldest amusement parks around (founded in 1888). My parents would get season passes, and we would go almost every weekend in the summer. I spent much of my youth riding the Double Loop, the Corkscrew, and the Big Dipper.
Just how much of my passion for cars is owed to these great roller coasters? More on Geauga Lake here, here, and here.
Just how much of my passion for cars is owed to these great roller coasters? More on Geauga Lake here, here, and here.
Video Sunday
Since it's sunday, we'll take a trip down memory lane courtesy of YouTube. First up is an old Toyota commercial from 1985.
Again from 1985, it's the commercial that introduced the MR2.
It's the Punch it Margeret! Camry commercial. We still say this today in my family whenever my Mom gets on the gas!
Nissan had some great commercials for the Z, here's two of the best.
Acura did a better job promoting the Integra as a sports car than a luxury car, and the tradition continues with the RSX>
One of my all-time favorites, it's the Nissan Maxima Top Gun pigeons, from the 1997 Superbowl!
And finally, something not car related, but it is relevant to this website. The Dreamcast was the machine that first connected me to the internet.
Again from 1985, it's the commercial that introduced the MR2.
It's the Punch it Margeret! Camry commercial. We still say this today in my family whenever my Mom gets on the gas!
Nissan had some great commercials for the Z, here's two of the best.
Acura did a better job promoting the Integra as a sports car than a luxury car, and the tradition continues with the RSX>
One of my all-time favorites, it's the Nissan Maxima Top Gun pigeons, from the 1997 Superbowl!
And finally, something not car related, but it is relevant to this website. The Dreamcast was the machine that first connected me to the internet.
