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Thread: 1972 Buick VS 1972 Citroen

  1. #1
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    1972 Buick VS 1972 Citroen

    Back in late 1971 and into 1972, Motor Trend printed letters from two readers regarding "American VS European" cars.
    On the American-car side was 68-year-old Edwin Schampel and on the European-car side was 19-year-old Robert Curiale.
    The debate went on and on and Motor Trend thought they better do something about it.

    So, M/T arranged to supply two cars (one American, one European) of those reader's choice. Schampel and Curiale were to choose one car each and M/T would test them and compare notes. Also, Schampel and Curiale would drive both cars and comment on both.

    Since I think it's an interesting comparison, I thought I would post the complete article here. Here are pages 1 and 2 as it originally appeared in the May, 1972 issue of M/T:
    Attached Images Attached Images
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

  2. #2
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    Matra and fleet, bahahhaha.
    "We went to Wnedy's. I had chicken nuggest." ~ Quiggs

  3. #3
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    looks interesting, when're the remaining pages coming?

  4. #4
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    And here are the last three pages (pages 3-5):
    Attached Images Attached Images
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sweeney921
    looks interesting, when're the remaining pages coming?
    Right now! It took a while to upload them... I wanted to make them extra-large.
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

  6. #6
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    is there a more biased american car magazine than MT?
    Who killed the Electric Car?
    GO HABS GO!

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by ZeTurbo
    is there a more biased american car magazine than MT?
    How is that article biased?
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

  8. #8
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    Wow, look at the likes and dislikes, it's more like driver vs driver.
    The Ace of All Aces.

    Crysis. Maximum Game.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by NuclearCrap
    Wow, look at the likes and dislikes, it's more like driver vs driver.
    which is never good An interesting read though thanks !!!

  10. #10
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    Havent' even READ it yet, but will when I get time.

    Good find Fleet.

    BUT SERIOUSLY comparing a 68 year old and a 19 years olds vies on cars ???

    THINK about it, imagine today what that would lead to ..... a 19 year old will want an Atom and crave the handling/performance of a Lotus and not have ONE issue with the cold/cramped interior and the 68 year old will want a Honda as it's reliable, safe and comfy.

    As already stated you're going to see more abotu the driver than the car, BUT it SHOLD still be enlightening as it will show up those perspectives
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnnynumfiv
    Matra and fleet, bahahhaha.
    nah, they said both sides letters were "articulately worded"
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  12. #12
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    Shame that they were so dumb not to be able to CHECK the basics like the ignition circuit on a car not starting ?? Come on guys Did the magazine do ANY technical articles or was it just a "bad day" ??

    So it was even MORE just about personal taste
    And reading it in full validated the point first raised Shame really.
    They would have done better to have given each of them the other car for a month so they actually got used to it and got over the initial bias.
    BUT that would have been expensive

    BTW, WHO is "CP" who wrote the article in the box kind of confirming everything that's been said about the Citroen in THESE pages ?
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  13. #13
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    so the main flaws of the DS by this senior citizen are:

    You sit like in a pick-up truck (which now about 50% of the US-public seem to appreaciate) and he is looking over a short hood (implying that he can actually see the road in front of him....)

    It has no autobox..... to be followed by : this car is all work for me.... at the time of writing of this article the DS had already been on the road, and virtually unchanged for 16 years. Obviously it took GM quite some time to get level.

    But a nice find anyway thanks Fleet.
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fleet 500
    Right now! It took a while to upload them... I wanted to make them extra-large.
    Meant to add that that was appreciated.
    It made reading them a lot easier.
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  15. #15
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    It's another episode of

    "Fleet 500 Posts A 35 Year Old Article The Size Of A Postage Stamp"

    This article doesn't really address any issues, either
    a) whether "Domestic" is "better than "Import" - the case upon which the original argument between the two was based

    b) the fact that different drivers with different requirements will not be satisfied by the same car.

    It could have been quite an interesting article, but in the end you have a poor review of two cars by people not used to reviewing cars, and no real conclusions about anything, apart from the "Statement of the Blindingly Obvious": different people like different things.
    Thanks for all the fish

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