Originally Posted by
NSXType-R
I also agree with the points they have made. Forget about driving dynamics, I feel like cars haven't gotten better looking at all- look at Acura and BMW.
I don’t think they look particularly bad but they are increasingly samey. If that is possible.
Originally Posted by
NSXType-R
On a side note, I alarmingly see more drivers on the phone or texting. I feel like cars these days are too disconnected from the road. Drivers don't feel like they're a massive projectile anymore. They don't see driving as a privilege, they see it more as a right. I'm not sure if it's because cars are boring, or driving exams are too easy, but it scares me that drivers are distracted and I feel like they don't respect the fact that they could cause a massive accident. It's a different mentality than drinking and driving I feel, and there's no easy way to address it.
I don’t see driving as a privilege either but I do see it as a serious responsibility. Too many “drivers” perform the task as though it was nothing more than writing a text message. It is the most dangerous thing most of us do each day and too many do not treat it as such. I don’t think it is the cars fault as much as the familiarity we get with it. Most of us do it every day and with familiarity comes contempt. Only since I have become older and been involved in near misses and seen others not so lucky and had my mortality presented to me have I also come to respect just how serious driving a car can be. We all need the wakeup call as early as we can get it.
Originally Posted by
NSXType-R
And on the idea of Ford pulling out of Europe, I think that's stupid. I haven't read the article, but that's like saying Ferrari should pull out of selling cars in the Americas and stay in Europe only.
Ford as a company is way more healthy than GM is. GM just has too much sprawl and unfortunately I feel like they could close Opel and Vauxhaul. It's a shame as both companies have great histories, but for the company to survive as a whole there's just too much overlap and not enough distinction. Either that or stop selling Chevy and Cadillacs in Europe.
Ford on the other hand isn't completely out of the woods- they have no idea how to make Lincoln a distinct brand from Ford even after closing Mercury and if they think badge engineering Fords into Lincolns is going to work they'll be in for a big surprise.
But then again, Ford was always the most healthy of the 3 American car companies, so I still hope they'll be around for some time being.
10 years and probably 90% of vehicle manufacturing will be done in China and probably India anyway.
"A string is approximately nine long."
Egg Nogg 02-04-2005, 05:07 AM