The Decline Of Modern Civilization, Part I
on 09/10/2006 at 02:12 AM
What is that thing? It’s even fuglier than the old VW “The Thing” kommado kar.
OTOH, there are more cars and trucks on the market today with very powerful engines in them then were available in 1971. Chrysler/Dodge will sell you a station wagon with a 420HP V8, or two different family sedans with bad-ass designs powered by that same engine, or a 350 V8 that can get 30mpg, or an “economical” V6 that churns 250+ hp. And now they’re bringing back the Challenger, with it’s total 1971 retro look? Oh yeah, it sucks out there these days.
About the only thing you can’t get in a sporty car these days is a manual transmission. Mostly because Americans are lazy, unskilled drivers. For the few of us who actually like to drive and want that level of connection to the car and the road, the choices are pretty slim. As far as I know, there is no compact or midsize car with a 6 and a stick unless you want to pay $35000 or more. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Nissan Altima 3.5 SER. Go drive one - they go sideways when you put your foot down. Bad engineering.
Even today’s economy cars are better built, far more reliable, and much roomier than what we had back then. The new paradigm is giving us very efficient and practical shaped vehicles - Toyota Matrix and its clones. Lots of space, good headroom, backseat legroom, good mpg and they handle Ok. And they’re a bit zippy too. All in small footprint vehicles that garner at least 3-4 stars in crash test ratings. We’ve come a long long way since the AMC Pacer and the Ford Pinto.
Drew, are you ready for this? That is the Ford Model U concept car (now you know why Ford is in trouble). Here is the description:
Like Honda’s Element, the Model U offers a reconfigurable interior with little clutter and lots of possibilities. However, the Model U presents a reconfigurable exterior, too. The roof is power-retractable and the rear of the vehicle can be opened as well. The rear window retracts into the deck lid which can then be folded into the floor. Unlike the Element, or any other car, is the Model U’s environmentally friendly nature. The Model U is powered by a 2.3-liter supercharged, intercooled hydrogen internal combustion engine mated to an electric transmission. In short, it’s a hybrid, but a hybrid that can meet PZEV emissions standards.
Continuing the green trend is the Model U’s soy-based body panels, seat foam and grease as well as corn-based tires and sunflower-seed-based engine oil. Much of the Model U can be recycled or is biodegradable so as not to further pollute the soil when its life is over.
I see that Ford is competing with the Honda Ridgeline for the ugly car of the year award. YUCK!!
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