Manual Transmissions - Nearly Extinct

In America people love to have their gears changed for them.  It has been that why for a long, long time.  Many cars are still offered with manuals on base models, but the take rate, in nearly every instance, is miniscule.  This is not the case in other parts of the world, such as Europe, where manuals have endured due to their lightness, added efficiency, and low cost.

Culture also plays a role.  Americans are too busy talking, reading, eating, texting, applying makeup, and crashing too be bothered with a clutch pedal and gearshift.  On the other hand, when blasting down the autobahn at a buck-thirty, you want to feel fully invested in the driving experience.  Hence, on the continent, the manual endures.

There are some enthusiasts who rage that if you don't row your own, you're not a proper gearhead.  That's true to some extent.  Hearing someone has an automatic in their 911, Mustang, or Corvette just sounds odd.  What for?  Such cars are all about the enjoyment of the drive, and having full control over the powertrain is a key part of it.  Leaving that to a lowly slushbox is self-defeating. 

Alas, with time's inexorable march forward, things change.  In the past decade there's been a revolution in transmission tech.  Slushboxes were usually inferior to manuals in terms of acceleration and fuel economy.  But now we're seeing autos with six, seven, and eight gears, maximizing economy and keeping the motor in the power band.  Automated manuals and dual clutches now offer near instantaneous shifts which no human could match.  They also have the advantage of letting the driver do the shifting when desired, or leaving it to the computer when feeling lazy.

It's getting to the point where most Ferraris don't even offer a manual tranny anymore.  Over at Porsche, the PDK seven speed is sure to become the favored transmission in time.  So when performance and convenience are better with these newfangled devices, are gearheads still going to demand a clutch pedal?

Still, changing gears for yourself is a great way to add to driver involvement.  If you're able, just once, get a car with a manual.  Yes, it'll be more work, but it'll change the way you feel about driving.

Cars You Can't Have - Holden / Chevy Caprice

I love the Pontiac G8.  Its is perhaps my favorite car of the past decade.  For me, there's nothing better than a big, rear-wheel-drive, V-8 sedan, with lots of power, lots of comfort, and and lots of speed.  I don't even mind if they're a bit understated - a sleeper or Q-ship if you will.  The cops can go after Camaros and Mustangs while I waft along at extra-legal speeds.

So how can you improve on the G8?  Why give it a huge back seat of course.  As luck would have it, just such a car exists down under:  the Holden Caprice.  Its basically a stretched G8 / Commodore with some more upscale touches.  It's not a S-Class, but it has the same excellent, RWD proportions as its shorter brethren. 

Stretch out in the huge back seat.

There's no doubt that the added wheelbase and mass will dilute the car's sporting character somewhat.  But that's an acceptable tradeoff in my book.  It still has the same excellent small block V-8, willing chassis, and near perfect 50/50 weight distribution (the battery is even in the trunk; how many other affordable cars do that?).

Sadly, as with the G8, this wonderful car isn't available in America.  In a bittersweet twist, it will be going on sale in the states as a police car, only available to law enforcement. 

Caprice cop car - you can't have it

I'm heartbroken that I can't get either of these great vehicles, but GM, recovering from a crippling bankruptcy, doesn't have the resources for niche market cars.  So, in the end, instead of avoiding the highway patrol in your Q-Ship Caprice, you're more likely to get pulled over by one.

What Happened to Honda?

Remember the NSX?  One of the greatest cars to ever come out of Japan.  Developed with the help of the late Ayrton Senna.  Light, refined, mid-engined.  Timeless.

Or how about the Prelude?  A great looking, affordable, sprightly front driver.  No?  How about the CR-X?  A wonderfully fun hatch.  Still no?  The Acura Integra.  Or its successor, the RSX.  They hit the sweet spot of sport and functionality.

Or the fantastic S2000.  240 horses from a 2.0 liter engine.  Sublime chassis.  Great looks.

All these cars have two things in common.  They are all Hondas (Acuras).  And they are all out of production.

For the longest time Honda was the brand that defined Japanese cars.  Hondas were all superbly engineered.  They were all fantastically reliable.  And they were all great fun.

Sadly it seems that, in the quest for more profit, Honda has lost some of its soul.  Certainly their cars are still some of the most refined in the world.  They still offer reliability, economy, and some of the best chassis in their segments.

But what about the fun?  Today it's mostly sedans, crossovers, and minivans.  There is the Accord coupe, which is not a Prelude.  Only the Civic Si remains, which, unchanged for a number of years, is no longer competitive.  Even worse, their recent additions to the lineup have been received with little fanfare and near disappointment.  There's the new Insight, which appears to be a carbon copy of the Toyota Prius, only cheaper, smaller, and worse on gas.  Then they unveiled the CR-Z, a rather strange, supposed hybrid successor to the CR-X. 

Honda CR-Z - What?

The styling department seems to have gone a bit awry as well.  The new Crosstour, a sort-of Accord station wagon, sacrifices cargo space for a sleeker appearance, but the end result is a car with peculiar shapes and styling cues.  Meanwhile, over at Acura, the once handsome and respectable TL is now down right bizarre looking, with pointed front and rear bumpers, and an odd, squid-like beak. 

There's one Honda left, however, that retains all those great Honda traits:  the Fit.  Affordable, sporty, and practical, it shows that Honda still knows what it's doing.  So why can't they replicate that formula in its other offerings?

This all makes me quite sad since I've long been a Honda fanboy.  They've been in my family for decades:  an Acura Legend, two Accord coupes, an Integra, and, more recently, an Accord sedan.  But with very few cars left that deliver on the fun factor, what's a fanboy to do?

2011 Explorer Revealed

Well, here you go, the 2011 Explorer.  As expected, it moved from a body-on-frame architecture to a car-based crossover.  Ford won't be calling it a crossover, 'cause SUV sounds cooler. 

I've already spoken at length about the Explorer, the Grand Cherokee, and the upcoming Durango.  The contrast between these vehicles is the watering down of the SUV concept: no one really goes off road, so why bother making these vehicles so capable?  Ford's gone that route with the Explorer, while Chrysler continues to design overbuilt, serious SUVs that can go anywhere.  The GC is indeed built on a unibody, but it retains a more traditional RWD setup.  The disadvantage?  More weight, and poorer fuel economy.

However, it seems that crossing over isn't the weight saving endeavour it once was.  Estimates are floating around that a kitted out, AWD Explorer will be approaching 5,000 lbs.  I previously lamented the new Grand Cherokee for weighing that much, but it seems that crossovers, stuffed with airbags, third row seats, and super-strong roof pillars are catching up fast.

Another interesting factoid is that the complicated, EcoBoost four-pot motor will be more expensive than the more powerful V-6.  It's a definite departure from the norm, one that may be a tough sell, especially if the mileage improvement is only marginal.  Time will tell.

I'll hold final judgement on the Explorer until I see performance figures, but the bottom line is that this new crossover will be a very competitive and competent addition to the marketplace.  If only it had my beloved sliding second row (which it doesn't), it may be my faux-SUV of choice.

Must Have Features - Sliding Rear Seats

For me and cars, the thrill of the drive isn't everything, and I suspect that's the case with most others.  Although hitting a windy bit of road is always great fun, I'm impressed when a car comes along with a feature or solution so ingenious and elegant you think "Why haven't cars always done this?"

So welcome to my continuing feature on must have gadgets.  First up: sliding second row seats.

A sliding second row is one of the best and easiest ways to increase the versatility of a car.  Add a few tracks and rails and the rear seat of said vehicle goes from torture chamber to Barcalounger.  Back in the day, you'd fume if someone yelled out "Shotgun!" before you did (I always lost out on that).  No longer.  People will enjoy the back seat as much as they do the front.  Not only can tall folks stretch out on a long drive, but kids latched into their car seats can be moved forward to be nearer mom and dad.

So when searching out a utility vehicle that's good on passenger comfort, make sure its got this very handy feature.

Ford makes $2.6 Billion on Q2

Ford has some serious momentum going right now, and this can been seen in many different areas.  Transaction prices for their cars are up, as well as sales totals.  The Fusion is definitely the most popular domestic car in its segment, and the stalwart F-150 continues to sell in big numbers. 

Look for Ford to continue this momentum with the launch of the Explorer next week and the upcoming compact Focus.  Both look to be very competitive offerings that will fetch higher average prices than their predecessors.

Still, the Blue Oval has a number of holes in its armor.  It has just announced the dissolution of the Mercury brand, a wise move considering every single car is a clone of a more popular Ford.  This will most certainly lead to conflict with dealers, though not to the extent of GM's woes when they cut Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, and Saab.

The Lincoln brand is also a bit of a mess.  They've been unable to stay relevant next to Cadillac, to say nothing of competing with the German marks.  And like Mercury, their vehicles are all based on Fords which can be had for less money.

Then there is the issue of Ford's massive debt load it took on before the liquidity crisis.  This did allow them to avoid bankruptcy, but they must now deal with huge interest payments that Chrysler and GM don't.

Here' to hoping Ford can continue to make money in an ever more competitive auto industry.

[Businessweek]

2012 Durango / Magnum

This most recent spy photo of the upcoming Durango (or Magnum) doesn't really show any surprises.  It will share its platform and powertrain with the recently launched Grand Cherokee (Pentastar V-6, Hemi V-8).  There will be a third row of seats and less emphasis on off road ability.  In that regard they will likely leave off any low speed transfer case to save some weight.

And considering how much the Grand Cherokee weighs, the Durango will not be a featherweight.  Nor will the V-6 move it with any authority.  Although this will be a huge step forward from the last Durango, the boys in Dearborn will be rolling out their new crossover Explorer next week.  The Ford should be about the same size as this Durango, and they even look alike at first glance.  But the Ford has gone full crossover, meaning it will be lighter, faster, and better on gas.  We'll see if the Durango / Grand Cherokee duo have what it takes its keep up with their car based competition.

[Twitter via Autoblog]

Small Car Renaissance - I Want a Focus

I have never liked small cars.  I'm Amercan after all.  Small cars were always best left to Europe, with their more compact cities, more compact roads, and more compact people (try fitting 5 linebackers in a Golf and you'll see where I'm going).

Now, however, with an economy in the toilet and gas prices hovering at about $2.80 a gallon, interest in small cars is higher than ever.  Sure, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have always been there, but those cars don't exactly ignite the soul. 

Even GM has finally realized that an effort must be made.  The new Chevy Cruze looks like a relatively refined, efficient car.  It's not a fashion statement, but it will be a lot of car for a competitive price.

But it was Ford's new Focus that really blew me away.  Overnight, the Cruze, which hasn't even gone on sale, looked like an also-ran.  The Ford will lose out in interior room and practicality to the Chevy, but in terms of presence and fun-to-drive factor, the Focus will win in spades, mark my words.

I have never aspired to own a compact car.  It always came with the caveat "Well, I need some wheels."  But, for the first time ever, I actually want to own a compact car.  I'll take a hatchback, please.

Jaguar XJ - Very, Very Fast

If you don't like Jaguars, there's something wrong with you.  Sure, there have been a few hiccups (X-Type, stuck-in-the-past XJ) but now, for the first time in a long time, they've got a whole lineup that people are gushing about.  It's only 3 cars, but they're all pretty fantastic.

The newest addition, as well as my favorite, is the new XJ.  After years and years of basically the same looking car, Jaguar has brought out an edgy, daring Q ship that has loads more style and panache than any of its German competition.  It may be lacking in tech and gizmos next to an A8, but I'd gladly trade self-closing doors for some design flair.

You won't need to worry about losing any drag races either.  Inside Line put one through its paces and came up with a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds.  That's with the upgraded supercharged engine, but even the base naturally aspirated 5.0 liter is competitive.

The best part of all?  The XJ undercuts a comparable S Class or 7 Series by thousands of dollars.  Step up to the supercharged model and you may still end up paying less.  Lovely.

This car does an excellent job of combining a sporty character, sleek design, a cosetting interior, and exclusivity, perhaps better than the newfangled four door supercars from Aston and Porsche.  And it does so for a lost less money.

Bravo.

2011 Ford Explorer: Coming Full Circle

Next week we will finally get to see the 2011 Ford Explorer.  Ford's been on a roll for the last year or so, and my gut tells me this will be no different.  Its going to have all the gizmos, safety, and fuel efficiency that the buying public demands from crossovers these days.

Except, of course, for off-road ability.  Let's face it: Americans love SUVs, but ground clearance, fording depths, and breakover angles aren't exactly the stats they compare when car shopping. Which is why automakers came up with the crossover: keep the height, roof racks and big tires, but throw away the transfer cases, box frames and towing ability. 

It is for this reason that I find the teaser photos for the new Explorer rather amusing.  You'd think that the Explorer is most at home in the wilds of Alaska, boating, kayaking, hiking, etc.  Anything but making a run to Walmart.

Ford's really pushing the off-road thing, despite the fact that the new crossover architecture has wiped out what little off-road ability the vehicle had to begin with.  They're even offering a Land Rover-esque off road system, but, really, is anyone going to use it?

Advertising campaigns tend to stretch reality from time to time.  Just look at the TV spots for the new Grand Cherokee: Designed in AMERICA. Built in AMERICA. For AMERICANS.  They seem to be leaving out the little tidbit that the chassis is sourced from a Mercedes.

The bottom line is that the Explorer has never been about off-roading, so why start painting that picture now?  In a way, the Explorer was the first crossover: a truck not meant be used as a truck, but a stylish, capable alternative to station wagons and minivans.  And with a lighter, more car-like chassis, the 2011 Explorer is going to fulfill the original idea of Explorer better than ever, even if that's the last thing Ford wants you to think.

The New Grand Cherokee - It's slow

I really like the new Grand Cherokee.  Damned sharp looking.  Nicely beveled, excellent proportions, a timeless design that the buying public will like.  And it will undoubtedly be one of the most capable SUVs you can buy.

But all that capability equals one heavy vehicle.  Inside Line put one on the track and the results were, let's say, lackluster. 0-60 of 9.0 seconds, thanks to a curb weight over 2.5 tons and an outdated transmission.  There's word that Chrysler will be bringing in ZF's jolly new eight-speed, but that's a few years away.

This is also the premiere of the new Pentastar V-6.  Its definitely competitive, with 290 horses, but its got a lot of metal to move around.  You can always bump up to the timeless Hemi, but that costs at the dealer and at the pump.

And, btw, this sucker is pricey. Well over 30 g's just to get in the door.  I'm a little worried that the new Ford Explorer, to be unveiled in a week's time, will steal some of the GC's thunder.

Hi

If you are reading this, then you are an intelligent, classy, attractive, wonderful person.  Welcome to my blog, where the topic is cars.  I can yak about cars for days on end, so I figured I'd burden the internets with my ramblings. 

To give everyone an idea of what I like in a car, I've posted a photo of the late Pontiac G8.  For me, it's just about the perfect car: its big, its fast, its fun, and its affordable. Well, it was affordable.

I'm always looking for input and new topics, so drop me a line if you have any thoughts.

More to come - stay tuned.