Cars (not a poll)

The new Corvette is cool. Every time I see one on the road I think it's a Viper for a second, it doesn't look like the other Corvettes at first glance.

As for the issue of ripoffs, I don't think that really applies. I mean, don't get me wrong, originality is a good thing, but aside from straight up copying of schematics, basing one vehicle design on another one is not necessarily a bad thing. It turns out that, other than any Native Americans around, everyone in this country came from somewhere else, mostly Europe. It wouldn't be surprising if there are Italians or Germans working for any of those companies, be it SSC, Saleen, Panoz, whoever. True, the Saleen looks like a McLaren F1, but does that mean the Saleen is not a good car? True the Panoz resembles a Porsche, but that doesn't mean the Panoz shown there, which sells for over $120,000 and is made in limited supply, is not a good car. The Panoz might even be better built than the Porsche, I don't know. I'm just saying that the argument that American cars are not good cars because they might be based on other good cars is not a valid argument. Frankly, from the side the Panoz doesn't resemble a Porsche, it probably looks more like a Mercedes, the main thing that makes it looks like a Porsche is just the headlight placement. I just think the argument that "if it's based on something else, it's a copy or ripoff and therefore is cheap or of low quality" is faulty logic.

I agree. I would sell it before I would drive it.

lol

That picture might not do it justice. If you see Charger sitting in your rearview mirror, it's another story. That's a car that actually looks like it's angry at not being allowed to Go.

My view of American cars is somewhat influenced by Top Gear. And a lot of other people from Europe have a similar opinion. And that is, American cars are built to be tough, high performance, but lack in character, passion and design, and are nowhere near as fun to drive. I have never driven an American sportscar so I couldnt be the judge. Having said that, I do like the look of the new Cadillacs.

Oh and the Dodge Charger, what's the point of it looking good from one angle if it looks bad from all others.

I would generally agree with that. American cars are definately built to be tough, but not necessarily long-lasting. In 5 years there will be a better truck, so for the guy working construction or hauling that needs a lot of trucks, it's better to have a less expensive, powerful truck that will be cheap to replace down the road when there's something that can do the job better for the same price.

It just comes down to American cars being built for a purpose. A truck is built to move loads (not all of them do in their life..), but it's not that comfortable of a ride. But of course, there are plenty of women who like trucks (see Texas) and there are some people who make their trucks a very nice ride (see my cousins in Texas). But in the end, they are built to work. Most of the trucks in my family have ended up on some relative's ranch in Texas, where they get torn to hell, but they do what you need them to do (i.e. haul dead animals around, carry large armed men, make it around the state, etc). Likewise, a station wagon is built to haul a family and/or soccer team, and therefore by law it has to be as ugly as possible (see National Lampoon). Sports cars (generally) are built to go fast, but they might not be very durable (see Corvette). I've always driven SUVs in my days, and they've served me well for what I need them to do. I've never gotten laid because I've driven it, but.. .. well, there's not really a good side to that one.

Also, I would say that the people who design higher-end (not the cheap ones) cars are passionate about them. As passionate as European designers? Probably not. But there is passion there.

That, my friend, is a matter of opinion. They look pretty nice on the road. Give the thing a day in a chop shop and it's straight out of Mad Max. Is it classy and elegant? Hell no, it wasn't designed to be classy and elegant, it's powerful and mean.

Surely, not all Americans are farmers??? Many people say that Australia is a scaled down version of America. Everything is wide, cities are spread out and flat, Melbourne itself covers about 50km in radius. And surely, if you live in rural parts of the state, you need trucks and tough vehicles. But I happen to live in the city, and so do 4 million other people here. We go about our business, i.e. getting to work on congested roads at rush hour, parking (and paying for it) in tight spots, working, and then driving back home on congested roads yet again at rush hour. Fuel is cheaper than in Europe, 1L of unleaded will set you back about $1.20. Now, I could buy a Ford pickup truck, but what's the point? Instead I will consider a VW Golf or a medium car, such as my Vectra. A couple of years ago, I read that Melbourne was the widest city in the world, probably isnt any more, but none the less you cant argue with me on the fact that it's an American style city. Surely, there are people, a lot of them, living in large cities in America... that must be thinking the same thing when it comes to the choice of cars?

Im sorry, but that Charger looks like something only a mother could love.

No, not everyone is a farmer, and everyone might not have a ranch in Texas, but I'm not too sure about that second one. But many people who live in the rural areas of the city go out of the city, some of them pulling or hauling loads. It's not that people use their vehicle to its full potential daily, just that they use it. The alternative would be to have a second vehicle, which some people do. A guy I work with was probably driving about 60 miles each day and had a Ford F350 super duty extended cab lifted diesel truck with a shell on it, which is good for when he takes his boat down to Mexico, but a few months after starting work he bought a Buick something-or-other to drive in the city.

Speaking of the city, it's definately very large. I found this fun fact:

Sounds about right..

The nearest major intersection to my house is an intersection between 2 streets that have 3 lanes of traffic going each direction, plus a turning lane in the middle. Traffic moves pretty quick around here, and we have highways circling the place and cutting through the middle. Granted every day at a certain time the highways going a certain direction get clogged, so you just plan around that. It doesn't last for very long. But the city is still growing..

But sure, there are plenty of people who drive small cars. They drive the little Toyotas and Hondas and Kias and Saturns and Nissans that all look the same. They get good gas mileage, and they last for a while, but that's about all you can say for them. We probably have a higher percentage of the population who drive larger vehicles than other countries, and all I can say about that is that most people I know who own these vehicles do so because they depend on the thing's abilities fairly often. That's not to say that everyone does, but take Lance for instance, how the hell do you expect him to carry around all those damn gnomes (not to mention the underpants) unless he has an SUV?

That's the thing that makes me wonder... what exactly are you moving all the time? Honestly, if you live in the city, when you move houses, you need to move your things, that's fair enough. But assuming that people move every 10 years on average, I dont think that buying a pickup truck for that purpose is justified. I mean, there are people who's business requires them to have one, or one of those vans, but an average person, whether it be a software engineer, accountant, lawer, doctor, salesman, etc, has absolutely no reason to buy one. Americans just like their cars big, handy, practical. Well, for what I do day to day, the Vectra that I have is still too big. A Smart would be enough for me, but I choose not to get one because it is estheticaly challenged. And then you can object to my statement how I could buy a car that's bigger than what I need, and in reality you buy something that you believe both looks good, is practical, and is well made, but that is still within some limits of reason. I saw a Hummer the other day, and well... it's as if I cant think of any shape for my car but a box. Of all the tools that I have for work, I design it with a ruler. It's something like, if I make a car look like a brick, will people buy it? Oh my God, they do, and not only in America, but here too.

But, before you contradict me, let me just say this: I believe that American cars are in every aspect better than European cars, that Americans are Gods, that everything American is far more sophisticated.

Lance: I've driven my friend's Rav4 and .... well ..... let's just say it was a weakling tho, very practical for daily basis driving.

I wouldn't call it faulty, but rather not always true. but I totally agree with you, not everything based on something is bad.. but it just gives me the first bad impression: "eh? why didn't they bring an original design?" ..

as for American cars being long lasting.. man, don't just get me started! I've seen people suffer from American cars, especially Chevrolet.. and haven't seen one person praising them.. maybe they become defective because the weather conditions here are very harsh?! but that doesn't justify it because Japanese and European cars are doing well here..

and finally, risci.. you also saw a Z06 that night and took a bad resolution pic of it?!
here is a pickup that I'd love to own, but hey it's American
btw it's a photoshop work! this guy who mixed that pic is amazing!

That's just it, no one moves things all the time (unless for work), but they do move things. Most recently I used my own vehicle to get building supplies from the store to my house (many trips). If I had not had a vehicle as big as I do, I would have either had to get them delivered or borrow someone else's vehicle. As for moving, the 6 years I was in school I moved 5 times. It's not a big deal if you don't have a vehicle that can do that, but people feel like they have a lot of disposable income around here, so when gas prices were lower there wasn't much of a reason not to get a big car if you think you may need it occasionally.

I'm driving one now. I'm trying to sell it, but I haven't found a sucker yet. Last time I had it in the shop it cost me over $2000 to get it out, so it's time for the thing to go. The truck I was driving before this (a Ford) ended up costing more each year to fix than the thing was worth at all by the time we got rid of it. It broke down 3 years in a row the week of my birthday (which is in the middle of summer, in the North at least). The conditions where I live and where you live are probably pretty similar, we're in a desert here. Summers get to 45-50 degrees. That's why all the car makers have their test tracks and proving grounds out here, because if a car can tear around a track during summer in the desert, it will probably do fine in San Diego or wherever. Japanese cars (which seem to be built in the US now) are generally known for lasting longer here.

Not bad. Tell him he missed the air scoops on the right side of the hood.

actually, there are single-sided hoods like that

now more exotic cars, a video of the following cars:
-DB9
-Continental GT
-SLR
-Murcielago
-Carrera GT
-Enzo

Part 1: The introduction
Part 2: The Top Speed Runs
Part 3: The Acceleration Test

There you go, here's an old truck filled with tree parts parked at the bank. There's another truck in the background (parked next to my brown piece of shit) with a yellow light on the roof and a metal cover on the bed, apparently also doing some work.

Car? Car? By the time I buy another car it will probably be hydrogen fueled and amphibious. I prefer to pay them off and then keep them until they fall apart and have $0 resale value. I enjoy the long interval with no payment except maintenance & insurance.

As a software geek I have two requirements of a car--1) it must keep the rain and environment out; and 2) it must start every time I need it. All else is gravy.

currently drive= BMW 325i

plan to buy= still paying on this one; no change imminent

probably never but= ??? maybe Lamborghini -- if I could afford a staff to keep it running & tuned

I've just joined the forum after finding Context today.

My cars are a Vauxhall Zafira and a Jaguar X-Type.

Lance, As its dark now I'll try and take some pics of the car tomorrow for you and post on here. Although its nothing special and at the moment its very dirty. The inside is more impressive with the touch screen for controlling the audio system, sat nav, climate control etc.

I don't know if you guys saw this or not, but apparently the fastest street legal car is a 1972 Vauxhall with 2200 bhp. 0-60 in under a second.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006500792,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtxfbxGz1u4&eurl

Not bad! I like the fact the article points out that being 1972 he doesn't need to pay road license ha ha He spent £100,000 doing up a £60 old banger and they mention the fact he doesn't need to pay road license. Brilliant .

Naaahhhh! Can't beat this one ;D ;D

My father has a 79 VW bug (not convertible ) that I drive ocasionally.
The kids (and sometimes the grown up too!) just treat it almost like a pet or a real family member!
It's not just a car for the kids. It's "grandpa's Fusca". (Fusca is the brazilian name for the VW Bug).