Golden Age of Autos-with a catch
This is truly the golden age of autos. If I had unlimited cash, I'd buy:
Sedans- used 740i with James Bond wheels
- audi a8 long wheelbase
- Aluminum bodied Jag XJ long wheelbase w/supercharger
- used Audi RS6. Too bad prices aren't plummeting
- (very) used Ferrari 400i
Commuter Cars
- used M3 coupe
- new lotus exige
- mini sport
- pontiac solstice. Damn they look great
- Cadillac XLR convertible. The new batmobile
SUVs
- Grand Cherokee SRT-8
- Trailblazer SS
- 06 Chevy Tahoe
White Trash Weekend
- new little hummer H3
- new toyota FJ
- Jeep Commanche pickup with 4 litre 6
Wagons
- E-class 500
- Audi allroad with 4.2 or Audi S6 (with aftermarket wheels)
Rallye Cars
- WRX subaru
- Mazda speed 6
But let's drill down. I have been having bad, bad thoughts about the Grand Cherokee SRT-8.
0-60 in 4.7 seconds? What appears to be very good handling? But it will obviously have piss-poor gas mileage-they don't even post the mileage. Plus, the Grand Cherokee disappoints with cramped rear seat room and a trunk that isn't as big as I'd like. But it looks f'ing cool, handles, and hauls ass.
Similarly, the Chevy Trailblazer SS
is BAD ASS looking. It has a corvette powertrain ferchrissake!
Then there is the GD Dodge Challenger
This being said, would you touch a GM or Ford product? Daimler-Chrysler is the only US car company I'd touch; drive a Charger and you'll see--very impressive; an Audi with low end torque. Speaking of Audi, their new lineup (with the exception of the A3) looks like shit. What a bummer.
Conversly, where the hell are the hybrids? Ford and GM are staring at the end of US dominance, and doing virtually nothing. Toyota is teasing us with solid bets (prius, Highlander). But I want a Land Cruiser with the 268 hp hybrid powertrain, 500-1000 pounds in weight reduction--I can sacrifice rock crawling for efficiency, pneumatic suspension, and a handling package a la the SRT-8. Is that too much to ask?! I just want 20mpg in an suv...
On a side note, European Car just had an article saying GM (with it's controling stake in Fiat) will be importing the Alfa Romeo Brera in '07. Gad-what to do. Simply looks cool and will handle well--but is slower than the competition and isn't practical for shit. The other amazing thing they are doing is repurposing the Corvette drivetrain in Cadillacs, Trailblazer SS, and Holden (er) Pontiac GTO.
Bottom line: I guess this is why we all love cars. They are never perfect.
Sedans- used 740i with James Bond wheels
- audi a8 long wheelbase
- Aluminum bodied Jag XJ long wheelbase w/supercharger
- used Audi RS6. Too bad prices aren't plummeting
- (very) used Ferrari 400i
Commuter Cars
- used M3 coupe
- new lotus exige
- mini sport
- pontiac solstice. Damn they look great
- Cadillac XLR convertible. The new batmobile
SUVs
- Grand Cherokee SRT-8
- Trailblazer SS
- 06 Chevy Tahoe
White Trash Weekend
- new little hummer H3
- new toyota FJ
- Jeep Commanche pickup with 4 litre 6
Wagons
- E-class 500
- Audi allroad with 4.2 or Audi S6 (with aftermarket wheels)
Rallye Cars
- WRX subaru
- Mazda speed 6
But let's drill down. I have been having bad, bad thoughts about the Grand Cherokee SRT-8.
0-60 in 4.7 seconds? What appears to be very good handling? But it will obviously have piss-poor gas mileage-they don't even post the mileage. Plus, the Grand Cherokee disappoints with cramped rear seat room and a trunk that isn't as big as I'd like. But it looks f'ing cool, handles, and hauls ass.
Similarly, the Chevy Trailblazer SS
is BAD ASS looking. It has a corvette powertrain ferchrissake!
Then there is the GD Dodge Challenger
This being said, would you touch a GM or Ford product? Daimler-Chrysler is the only US car company I'd touch; drive a Charger and you'll see--very impressive; an Audi with low end torque. Speaking of Audi, their new lineup (with the exception of the A3) looks like shit. What a bummer.
Conversly, where the hell are the hybrids? Ford and GM are staring at the end of US dominance, and doing virtually nothing. Toyota is teasing us with solid bets (prius, Highlander). But I want a Land Cruiser with the 268 hp hybrid powertrain, 500-1000 pounds in weight reduction--I can sacrifice rock crawling for efficiency, pneumatic suspension, and a handling package a la the SRT-8. Is that too much to ask?! I just want 20mpg in an suv...
On a side note, European Car just had an article saying GM (with it's controling stake in Fiat) will be importing the Alfa Romeo Brera in '07. Gad-what to do. Simply looks cool and will handle well--but is slower than the competition and isn't practical for shit. The other amazing thing they are doing is repurposing the Corvette drivetrain in Cadillacs, Trailblazer SS, and Holden (er) Pontiac GTO.
Bottom line: I guess this is why we all love cars. They are never perfect.
posted by Twain at
12:33 AM
2 Comments:
Challenger looks AWESOME. Only new Amerucan car I would ever care about. Like Keith Martin said on the Speed B-J coverage, this Challenger actually looks like a Cuda. The beltline is smooth, and the grille subtle. It really is a Cuda, and that is why it looks so great.
By
Archer, at 5:56 PM
also search W8 on craigslist SF bay area. THere is a great looking blue W8 passat wagon in Santa Cruz for $21k!!!
By
Archer, at 5:56 PM
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