The automobile has lost it's character... perception or reality? - Page 2

wolf · 11-13-2003, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tonksy
i always liked the gremlin...who made that? wish they were still around

AMC

They also made the Hornet and the Eagle (which was a 4WD station wagon built on the Hornet hatchback frame).

I had a Hornet Hatch. Best friend's family had the Hornet sedan, and yet another friend had the Eagle.

JeepNGeorge · 11-14-2003, 04:30 AM

I think a lot of it has to do with the design methods. With the advent of computer modeling the designers can't feel a clay model in their hands and simply add a swoosh or tweak a tailfin into existence.

This isn't mine, but I'm currently restoring a truck of the same make and model as this. http://www.sweptsides.com/main58.htm

FileNotFound · 11-14-2003, 08:36 AM

I dunno why nobody mentioned the Chrysler 300M or the Concorde.

I personaly own a 2001 Chrysler Concorde LXi and love it.

Compared to the other cars I'd driven it's nothing ground breaking, but then it's got character. Thats a lot more than I could say about the Toytoa Camry which felt like it had 2 cylinders, the Honda Accord which just seemed so generic that I wanted to cry, the Honda CRV which drove great, had awesome traction, and felt dull even when going 90 in a 25 zone. Nissan Maxima seemed like something designed by marketing using the latest ricer trends not a real engineer, Mercury Sable had some nice features but overall the styling (bubble car) was not one bit impressive.

Other cars I like. Lincoln Continental. Lincoln LS. Infinity FX. Chrysler Pacifica, Upcoming Dodge SRT-8.

The Lincolns don't look very special, but you GOT to drive them. After that you'll see why you'd want to buy a car that depreciates faster than a failed .com stock and eats more gas than a 18 wheeler. Infinity FX, despite the visible ricer trends manages to maintain style and drive great. Pacifica looks very very nice imo. Dodge SRT-8 also looks great, I love the futuristic agressive stuff.

russotto · 11-14-2003, 09:07 AM

I have a Mazda Miata and a Subaru Outback wagon. Neither looks like every other car out there, though the Outback isn't distinctive in a good way, it's mostly only because there's few other wagons (though there's no shortage of Outbacks). Neither is extraordinarily expensive.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-14-2003, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JeepNGeorge
I think a lot of it has to do with the design methods. With the advent of computer modeling the designers can't feel a clay model in their hands and simply add a swoosh or tweak a tailfin into existence.

Even if they did it would be pared off in the wind tunnel. CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) has dictated the wind resistance must be minimized so they all gravitate toward the optimum shape for a low coefficient of drag (cd). Hence they start to look alike.

lumberjim · 11-15-2003, 12:05 AM

i just loves my grand cherokee

and i like to drive a wrangler every summer for a demo....great to take the top down and blare the radio

driving a sebring right now...nice enough, but a little vanilla

going to take a Liberty next....they're cool

plthijinx · 12-12-2003, 07:17 PM

i traded my truck in around 2 years ago when my son was born. the ex and i both had trucks and i felt the urbanization tugging on my leg so i bought a used '95 volvo 960. worst mistake i ever made. don't get me wrong, volvo makes a great car. the car handles extreemly well, is comfortable, and sporty but a pain in the ass to fix and finally, doesn't fit my lifestyle anymore. i can't wait to get back into a truck! can you picture an "off-road volvo"? i have to go to the farm a lot more now to help my dad out and it's just tearing that poor car up!

by the way, that ford GT is SWEET

xoxoxoBruce · 12-13-2003, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by plthijinx

by the way, that ford GT is SWEET

Well, for $150,000 it should be, although Car & Driver gave it the nod over the $200,000 Ferrari. But not the $600,000 Ferrari, heh, heh, heh.

dar512 · 12-13-2003, 03:30 PM

Hello, my name is Dar and I drive a mini-van.

Scopulus Argentarius · 12-13-2003, 06:42 PM

67 Galaxie 500

390 Cu In. 2V, (315 HP!) (Mine..all mine!) Mine was Blue
or
427 Cu In. 4V (415 HP!)
or
PI 427 Cu In. 4VX2 (425 HP!)

Of course, They were great cars *after* the gas tank was replaced.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-13-2003, 11:30 PM

Very classy Scope. In 1972 I worked with a guy that wanted to sell a 1965 Mercury 4 door barge. I was looking for something that would carry my 350cc Yamaha on the rear bumper. It was that light blue metallic that faded and peeled but mechanically perfect with only 100k miles. He had taken it to the Mercury dealer twice a year for state inspection and gotten raped but they replaced everything, needed of not. The beast would seat 4 abreast comfortably and more for concert runs. He said $50 and I hemed and hawed while I frantically searched my pockets for cash before he could get away. The day before he turned it over his wife got rearended by a truck by starting off at a light then stopping quick, so he said $25 because the trunk wouldn't open. I wrapped a chain around a pole and yanked the bumper out enough to open the trunk and I was cruisin'. That monster with a 390 two barrel didn't even notice the 350 lbs on the back bumper.

lumberjim · 12-13-2003, 11:33 PM

i was 2

xoxoxoBruce · 12-13-2003, 11:50 PM

Punk.

zippyt · 12-14-2003, 12:15 AM

I was 9

xoxoxoBruce · 12-14-2003, 12:18 AM

I was divorced.

11-14-2003, 08:36 AM	#18
FileNotFound Intouch with his inner sheep rider. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 603	I dunno why nobody mentioned the Chrysler 300M or the Concorde. I personaly own a 2001 Chrysler Concorde LXi and love it. Compared to the other cars I'd driven it's nothing ground breaking, but then it's got character. Thats a lot more than I could say about the Toytoa Camry which felt like it had 2 cylinders, the Honda Accord which just seemed so generic that I wanted to cry, the Honda CRV which drove great, had awesome traction, and felt dull even when going 90 in a 25 zone. Nissan Maxima seemed like something designed by marketing using the latest ricer trends not a real engineer, Mercury Sable had some nice features but overall the styling (bubble car) was not one bit impressive. Other cars I like. Lincoln Continental. Lincoln LS. Infinity FX. Chrysler Pacifica, Upcoming Dodge SRT-8. The Lincolns don't look very special, but you GOT to drive them. After that you'll see why you'd want to buy a car that depreciates faster than a failed .com stock and eats more gas than a 18 wheeler. Infinity FX, despite the visible ricer trends manages to maintain style and drive great. Pacifica looks very very nice imo. Dodge SRT-8 also looks great, I love the futuristic agressive stuff. __________________ This is a rat. \|This is a hamster.\| This is a chipmunk.\| This is a Sheep Rider.

11-15-2003, 12:05 AM	#21
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	i just loves my grand cherokee and i like to drive a wrangler every summer for a demo....great to take the top down and blare the radio driving a sebring right now...nice enough, but a little vanilla going to take a Liberty next....they're cool __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

12-12-2003, 07:17 PM	#22
plthijinx Master Dwellar Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,197	i traded my truck in around 2 years ago when my son was born. the ex and i both had trucks and i felt the urbanization tugging on my leg so i bought a used '95 volvo 960. worst mistake i ever made. don't get me wrong, volvo makes a great car. the car handles extreemly well, is comfortable, and sporty but a pain in the ass to fix and finally, doesn't fit my lifestyle anymore. i can't wait to get back into a truck! can you picture an "off-road volvo"? i have to go to the farm a lot more now to help my dad out and it's just tearing that poor car up! by the way, that ford GT is SWEET __________________ For your dreams to come true, you must first have a dream.

12-13-2003, 06:42 PM	#25
Scopulus Argentarius Your current user title is: Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: BTR Posts: 301	67 Galaxie 500 390 Cu In. 2V, (315 HP!) (Mine..all mine!) Mine was Blue or 427 Cu In. 4V (415 HP!) or PI 427 Cu In. 4VX2 (425 HP!) Of course, They were great cars after the gas tank was replaced. Attached Images Last edited by Scopulus Argentarius; 12-13-2003 at 06:51 PM.

12-13-2003, 11:30 PM	#26
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Very classy Scope. In 1972 I worked with a guy that wanted to sell a 1965 Mercury 4 door barge. I was looking for something that would carry my 350cc Yamaha on the rear bumper. It was that light blue metallic that faded and peeled but mechanically perfect with only 100k miles. He had taken it to the Mercury dealer twice a year for state inspection and gotten raped but they replaced everything, needed of not. The beast would seat 4 abreast comfortably and more for concert runs. He said $50 and I hemed and hawed while I frantically searched my pockets for cash before he could get away. The day before he turned it over his wife got rearended by a truck by starting off at a light then stopping quick, so he said $25 because the trunk wouldn't open. I wrapped a chain around a pole and yanked the bumper out enough to open the trunk and I was cruisin'. That monster with a 390 two barrel didn't even notice the 350 lbs on the back bumper. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-14-2003, 04:30 AM	#17
JeepNGeorge Hand-of-Kindness Extender Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Where am I? Posts: 139	I think a lot of it has to do with the design methods. With the advent of computer modeling the designers can't feel a clay model in their hands and simply add a swoosh or tweak a tailfin into existence. This isn't mine, but I'm currently restoring a truck of the same make and model as this. http://www.sweptsides.com/main58.htm

11-14-2003, 09:07 AM	#19
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	I have a Mazda Miata and a Subaru Outback wagon. Neither looks like every other car out there, though the Outback isn't distinctive in a good way, it's mostly only because there's few other wagons (though there's no shortage of Outbacks). Neither is extraordinarily expensive.

12-13-2003, 03:30 PM	#24
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Hello, my name is Dar and I drive a mini-van.

12-13-2003, 11:33 PM	#27
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	i was 2 __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

12-13-2003, 11:50 PM	#28
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Punk. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-14-2003, 12:15 AM	#29
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	I was 9 __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

12-14-2003, 12:18 AM	#30
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I was divorced. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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