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Grex > Cars > #89: Automotive "goofs" and "goodies" | |
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mcpoz
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Automotive "goofs" and "goodies"
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Jul 4 12:34 UTC 1996 |
What do you think the major "goofs" and "goodies" are for the various auto
companies world-wide. I'll start things off with a few entries.
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| 46 responses total. |
mcpoz
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response 1 of 46:
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Jul 4 12:36 UTC 1996 |
Cadillac's 4-6-8 engine (was supposed to run on 4,6, or 8 cylinders, depending
upon the power needed.
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mcpoz
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response 2 of 46:
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Jul 4 12:36 UTC 1996 |
Oops, I screwed up the initial entry: That should have been titled "Goof"
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mcpoz
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response 3 of 46:
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Jul 4 12:39 UTC 1996 |
Goody: Chrysler's introduction of the mini-van.
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bruin
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response 4 of 46:
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Jul 4 17:29 UTC 1996 |
Goof: The Edsel (soitinley!)
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n8nxf
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response 5 of 46:
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Jul 4 21:07 UTC 1996 |
Goof: The invention of the automobile and our increasing dependancy on it.
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scott
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response 6 of 46:
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Jul 6 23:59 UTC 1996 |
Goof: The massive popularity of gas-sucking Sport Utility Vehicles... what
do you suppose the OPEC folks are thinking right now?
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mcpoz
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response 7 of 46:
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Jul 7 01:36 UTC 1996 |
Goody: Automatic Overdrive transmissions introduced by ? ? ?
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bruin
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response 8 of 46:
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Jul 7 02:20 UTC 1996 |
Goof: The protruding beak nose on 1970-71 T-Bird, 1992-95 Buick Skylark, and
possibly other models.
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scott
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response 9 of 46:
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Jul 7 14:50 UTC 1996 |
Goodie: The Nissan "NAPS-Z" engine, a straight 4 cylinder with high
compression and *two* spark plugs per cylinder - pretty efficient, never fails
to start quickly in even the coldest weather (my experience with a 10 year
old model).
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void
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response 10 of 46:
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Jul 7 16:46 UTC 1996 |
goody: any in-line engine (the amc 258 straight-six being a personal
favorite).
goof: unibodies.
re #6: i think the massive popularity of those big vehicles has to do with
the fact that most of them are *not* unibodies, and therefore are less likely
to be totaled (or allow their passengers to be totaled) in an accident.
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mcpoz
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response 11 of 46:
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Jul 7 22:05 UTC 1996 |
Goodie: elimination of leaded fuel and the resultant gain in the environment
(even though it is tough on valves).
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n8nxf
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response 12 of 46:
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Jul 8 13:47 UTC 1996 |
Goodie: The increased effectiveness and reliability of emission control
devices used in automobiles in the last 15 or so years.
Badie: Road salt.
Goodie: SUV's that like to tip over on their side due to their mass, high
CG and their haven't got a clue drivers. (BTW, having had unibody cars for
the last 20 years, I prefer unibodies, accidents included.)
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void
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response 13 of 46:
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Jul 9 10:59 UTC 1996 |
well, everyone has their preferences. having driven around 500,000 miles
in everything from a geo spectrum to a peterbilt, i'd much rather have
something with a frame in it than folded sheet metal.
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n8nxf
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response 14 of 46:
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Jul 9 11:57 UTC 1996 |
(Biggest cars I've driven were '70s era Buick Electra 225 and Olds Tornado.
Either of those or a Spectrum, against a Peterbuilt would be sPLat!)
Goodie: Radial tires. Last longer, better mileage and safer.
Goodie: Regenerative braking. Reuse some of the enery usually given off
as heat while stopping.
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void
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response 15 of 46:
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Jul 9 18:52 UTC 1996 |
goof: computerized engines. they're getting so complicated that dealerships
can't even fix 'em right.
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bruin
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response 16 of 46:
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Jul 9 19:56 UTC 1996 |
Goof & Goody (depending on your point of view):
1963 Split Window Corvette Sting Ray
Goof - because of the extraordinarily large blind spot
Goody - because of the collectors' value of the 1963 split window models.
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mjh16886
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response 17 of 46:
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Apr 5 02:30 UTC 1997 |
Goof!! Them gas guzzling boats of the early '70s
Goody!! Early '80s styles
Goody!! The old reliable high performance V-8
Real goofup!!! Geo Metro, Yugo, and just about every single shit shaker
compact car around. Even my Buick Riv can splat one of them little cars like
a foot on a cockroach. Safety is a BIG issue for me.
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mjh16886
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response 18 of 46:
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Apr 5 02:34 UTC 1997 |
and by the way. emission controls are a real goody for the earth (although
a bit frustrating)
another goody is a well maintained, well built, and quick car (in any year,
shape and creed)
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bruin
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response 19 of 46:
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Apr 5 14:15 UTC 1997 |
Goof - Ford Festiva (which looks more like a Little Tikes "Cozy Coupe" than
a real car).
Forgive me, Rob Henderson, for knocking your basic means of transportation.
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void
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response 20 of 46:
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Apr 6 04:07 UTC 1997 |
goof: gm's cessation of production of full-size, rwd passenger cars.
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kentn
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response 21 of 46:
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Apr 6 08:14 UTC 1997 |
Full-size = "boat" right? So is it a goof or not?
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void
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response 22 of 46:
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Apr 6 23:06 UTC 1997 |
personally, i think it's a goof. by discontinuing production of full-size
rwd passenger cars, gm has handed ford a fleet car monopoly. then again, i'm
a cabdriver and i vastly prefer chevy caprices over ford crown victorias. i'll
stop before i go off on another of my anti-crown-vic rants, though. ;)
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bruin
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response 23 of 46:
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Apr 6 23:43 UTC 1997 |
Re #22 What about the Mercury Grand Marquis? I know that Yellow Cab has at
least two in its fleet (including Patrick Quinn's 1992 model, #66).
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omni
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response 24 of 46:
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Apr 7 05:27 UTC 1997 |
I prefer the 1985 Chevrolet Impala/Caprice as the best taxi car built. The
new Caprices are too wide for my tastes. I cannot comment on the Crown Vics.
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