Thursday, September 23, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Ford Capri
This car was in this country, but we didn't get the RS or the V6 version, I owned a 73 model.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Where's the 3 door?!?!
Here is the new focus slated to come out mid 2011 (as a 2012 model). Again they've dashed my hopes by giving us a little but still a little less than the Euros get. They've given us the hatchback back but taken away the 2 doors of entry on the sides. Neither the Focus nor the Fiesta will have a three door for that matter. WHAT THE F*%& FORD!?!? And in the same note, THANKS FOR RETURNING THE HATCHBACK FORD!!!
More test drives
Right, so we drove 4 more cars the last couple of weeks. I want to note three of these cars are compact cars in direct competition with each other and that none of them showed any definate advantage over any other in its class. so if you give a crap, here goes.
Bismark, ND.; 2010 Chevy Cobalt: Good power. Fair to good suspension. Fair interior. Note of interest: I did not expect to like this car. It is not a fantastic car but the engine is tourquey and the suspension good enough to make it somewhat fun to drive. This model is being replaced by the better Cruze which has been in production for a couple of years in Europe and has even been made the basis for a BTCC team in G.B.
Seattle, WA.; 2010 Ford Focus: Good power. Good torque. Fair to good suspension. Good interior. Note of interest: This had the best interior of the three and tied for worst suspension. This model is also being replaced by a much praised world car which promises to be better than this U.S. domestic only unit. It is also not nearly as fun to drive as my first gen. which by the way was also a world car.
San Diego, CA.; 2010 Chevrolet Impala. Good power. Good torque. Fair interior. Good suspension. Note of interest: I was not expecting much from this car. It had good torque and power and carried its weight well. Not that it was fun to drive but I am biased towards a short wheel base. I have to mention that they fly pretty well as well. Five year old Tyler Allen Strong thought that it might be a good idea to "tell the guy I borrowed the car from for money that I am sorry for jumping his car". I considered the idea but ultimately decided against it.
Eureka, CA.; 2010 Toyota Corolla. Good power. Fair torque. Fair to good suspension. Fair interior. I always wonder what the big deal is with everyone praising Toyota but this car made me realize... I was right. Nothing special here. Nothing was horrible but the combination of crap torque, lack-luster suspension and ho-hum design inside and out made me wish I had gone back to the counter and asked for something else.
To sum up, the two cars for which this blog was basically made (amongst others) are not as good as they should be and it shows in their performance. They are both, thankfully, being replaced by models designed and tested in Europe. Don't get me wrong, I believe we can design and make a good car. Look at Cadillac. The really do give a shit when they build a car and performance wise, they are kicking the crap out of their European counterparts. For that matter, both Ford and Chevy are making ground on their competition from Japan and Europe but when it comes to the small car market we don't care enough. At least they know enough to know they can just bring over a proven design they already technically own. A practice they should have never abandoned.
Bismark, ND.; 2010 Chevy Cobalt: Good power. Fair to good suspension. Fair interior. Note of interest: I did not expect to like this car. It is not a fantastic car but the engine is tourquey and the suspension good enough to make it somewhat fun to drive. This model is being replaced by the better Cruze which has been in production for a couple of years in Europe and has even been made the basis for a BTCC team in G.B.
Seattle, WA.; 2010 Ford Focus: Good power. Good torque. Fair to good suspension. Good interior. Note of interest: This had the best interior of the three and tied for worst suspension. This model is also being replaced by a much praised world car which promises to be better than this U.S. domestic only unit. It is also not nearly as fun to drive as my first gen. which by the way was also a world car.
San Diego, CA.; 2010 Chevrolet Impala. Good power. Good torque. Fair interior. Good suspension. Note of interest: I was not expecting much from this car. It had good torque and power and carried its weight well. Not that it was fun to drive but I am biased towards a short wheel base. I have to mention that they fly pretty well as well. Five year old Tyler Allen Strong thought that it might be a good idea to "tell the guy I borrowed the car from for money that I am sorry for jumping his car". I considered the idea but ultimately decided against it.
Eureka, CA.; 2010 Toyota Corolla. Good power. Fair torque. Fair to good suspension. Fair interior. I always wonder what the big deal is with everyone praising Toyota but this car made me realize... I was right. Nothing special here. Nothing was horrible but the combination of crap torque, lack-luster suspension and ho-hum design inside and out made me wish I had gone back to the counter and asked for something else.
To sum up, the two cars for which this blog was basically made (amongst others) are not as good as they should be and it shows in their performance. They are both, thankfully, being replaced by models designed and tested in Europe. Don't get me wrong, I believe we can design and make a good car. Look at Cadillac. The really do give a shit when they build a car and performance wise, they are kicking the crap out of their European counterparts. For that matter, both Ford and Chevy are making ground on their competition from Japan and Europe but when it comes to the small car market we don't care enough. At least they know enough to know they can just bring over a proven design they already technically own. A practice they should have never abandoned.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Dave Mirra making a beer run for the festivities after the 100 Acre Wood Rally.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Not that anybody gives a rat's ass but next week I will be doing another review on another rental car. What will it be? Your guess is as good as mine.
To review.
Colorado: Hyundai Sonata; Good interior. Crap suspension. Poor power. Worth mention; Not much good to say. This is, however, the earlier model and not the current 2011+ model. Also, Hertz gives you Sat. Radio on midsized car rental. I don't ask for it but it is nice when you get it thrown in for free.
New Jersey: Chevy HHR; Good power. Poor interior. Good suspension. Crap tires. Lots of blind spots. Worth mention; This would have been a good car with the right tires. Fun to drive.
Indianapolis: Mazda 5; Good power. Good interior. Great suspension. Small and nimble. Worth Mention; Finally, a manufacturer put a proper size tire on a car. This car had as much passenger room as the Flex and was still fun to drive. It is basically a micro mini-van (sliding doors on each side), but felt more like a sub-compact. Very reminiscent driving characteristics to my 1st gen Ford Focus. If it came with AWD I would already own one. No SH%#. Plus it has the Duratech 2.3
Connecticut: Ford Flex; Great power. Good suspension. Good interior. Massive car. Worth mention; I had three people tell me they liked the look of the car. Also, you don't realize how big this car is until you park next to a Caravan and do a double take when you walk out an realize your not sure which car you arrived in.
"What's the difference between a rental car and an M1 tank... A rental car will go anywhere."
To review.
Colorado: Hyundai Sonata; Good interior. Crap suspension. Poor power. Worth mention; Not much good to say. This is, however, the earlier model and not the current 2011+ model. Also, Hertz gives you Sat. Radio on midsized car rental. I don't ask for it but it is nice when you get it thrown in for free.
New Jersey: Chevy HHR; Good power. Poor interior. Good suspension. Crap tires. Lots of blind spots. Worth mention; This would have been a good car with the right tires. Fun to drive.
Indianapolis: Mazda 5; Good power. Good interior. Great suspension. Small and nimble. Worth Mention; Finally, a manufacturer put a proper size tire on a car. This car had as much passenger room as the Flex and was still fun to drive. It is basically a micro mini-van (sliding doors on each side), but felt more like a sub-compact. Very reminiscent driving characteristics to my 1st gen Ford Focus. If it came with AWD I would already own one. No SH%#. Plus it has the Duratech 2.3
Connecticut: Ford Flex; Great power. Good suspension. Good interior. Massive car. Worth mention; I had three people tell me they liked the look of the car. Also, you don't realize how big this car is until you park next to a Caravan and do a double take when you walk out an realize your not sure which car you arrived in.
"What's the difference between a rental car and an M1 tank... A rental car will go anywhere."
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