13 December 2007

What's so exciting about a camry or an accord, nothing. By the way, toyota has service departments too, because things break. Japanese cars are overrated, and saying you know your in a Chevy is a bad thing?  If you ever want things to improve mabye you shouldn't go out of you way to spew your biased opinions and hurt a companies rep.

Alfa 8c is on the money, but spendy.  The late 60's alfas are the ones to mimic to ultimately come in with for mass production - 8000-10000 a year.
Caparos are sleds.  The modern 914 with V8 death machine.
The 1 series is to the 3 series what Toyota is to Lexus.  They aren't all that different, just the 3 costs more and has more gadgetry.
*NOT A DD hardcore fan*
Hybrids are an interim solution.  40 mpg in my camry hybrid is nice.  I can't show off the camry though.  I do like the electric motor pickup to pass.  I save money on gas, but remember I got 00 off on my taxes, which all but offset the cost over a similarly equipped gas model.  The shit dont stink comment tells me you watched the sout park episode and saw it as gospel.  I am saving the money.  MPG is different - talk all hybrids, not just escalades and other land yachts, which I agree are lame.
American car quality is still sketchy.  Don't forget alot of foreign makes (nissan, toyota, etc) are made in the states, where the Chryslers are made in Canada and Mexico.  What is an American car?  Is the factory in the US, or the HQ?

Chrysler is the new AMC.

That malibu is pretty sexy....I'd kill for a new CTS-V!!

 I very much enjoyed seeing footage of my car and my son Thanks for making my day. P.S. I miss my car 

Nice show...though I do take issue with the Alfa crack...truly the biggest problem with Alfa in the US was its distribution/dealerships...service for these cars was inconsistent at best AND parts were always an issue.  I am curious how this 8c will be distributed..through F-Car dealers???..as Ferrari is owned by Fiat...which also owns Alfa....as an aside....we(USA) never got the "good" Alfas as they never crossed the pond...Alfa rushed to be in this market...never really understood it...and their cars were not really able to be retro-fitted for the US market...much like the Early Maserati Bi-Turbo's...
As for American build quality....it has mort assuredly gotten much better....especially as you move up the food chain....as far as BMW....I cannot wait to throw the 135i around a track...is it the 2002 re-incarnated??...I will reserve my decsion until after I've driven one...as a past E30, E36, E46, E90 owner, the proof is in the pudding..so lets just wait and see.
Nice show....your settling in!!...When my M3 arrives in April I will give you a spot on report!!!..LOL
S

The 164 was not the last car from Alfa Romeo. Maybe the last car they sold in the US. 20 years ago?

I suggest doing at least 10 minutes of research about an on-going company before giving advice to it! Just going to the official Alfa Romeo website  and browsing for a few minutes you will see that they are already making sedans, hatchbacks etc. They haven't been sitting on their hands for the last 20 years.

Have you never heard of the Alfa 156 GTA? What a great sound that car makes.

and alex didn't give me the jacket for promoting his book. he gave it to me because i spent 6 days with him driving across the country and back. I modified it a bit with a NYMC badge as well..

When I say you immediately know you're in a ford, I don't mean that you see the blue oval on the steering wheel. I mean that, despite the fact that the car costs 5,000, the feel of the interior is cheap and plastic. The switches and dash aren't real aluminum, they are painted plastic, and the dash is made of the same cheap vinyl used in the Mustang. I can understand that, in a Corvette, "bang for the buck" is the name of the game, so I'll take a cheap interior if the car goes fast enough. But in a car that costs twice the price of a Z06 (and isn't any faster, by the way), I expect much higher build quality when it comes to the interior and fit and finish of the car. 

ps. the video behind ray is from the Detroit riots. He's from Detroit, so it was only appropriate.

Wow. What the hell is going on behind Ray? Is that a slaughter house at one point? It looks like God's wrath being incurred on the world as a backdrop.

Hey, 
this episode was better than the last car discussion, it was alot more confortable. however you guys gotta up what these guys know about cars...the Bimmer 1 series is a car that was CLEARLY designed for the european market where people want small efficient cars, and yes, its as heavy as hell...as for hybrids, i dont know or care enough to make a comment about them, and the comments about the knowing ur sitting in a ford? how is that???? afterall you are sitting in a FORD(but it looks nothing like the inside of a mustang?)...a car modeled after the car that stomped ferrari's in le mans???...its built to be a simple car, it has racing at its heart and not the stupid "luxury garbage" that lambo, ferrari and the like companies do in europe. plus its alot more bang for your buck than any ferrari or lambo. I can understand the comment about the Z06, but the track times dont lie, it rapes ferraris and lambos.
AND U DIDNT EVEN BRING UP THE FACT that there are OTHER car manufacturers for example Saleen which makes the saleen s7.

you guys are coming along and im gonna continue watching

pat

you get in the ford gt, and right away you KNOW its a ford? okay lets get in F430...gee whats this? a chevy? honda? of course those thoughts would NEVER occur to you as you would KNOW this is a Ferrari. The designers and marketing people want you to know and feel branding. 

That being said, your spot on about the exterior design. I think Detroit is afraid to swim in the deep end especially in the standard car world. 
As for sports/exotic car class. Detroit has its head up ass. And its not entirely the designers fault. I've been to Pasadena Art Center where they recruit new talent. Somewhere after college those designers lose their originality, or its taken from them by idiot management. 

Dude. On one hand you are begging for fans, groveling even. So Im like, OK, I'll be your fan alright?

2 Conditions:

1. Remove Team Polizei 144 off the jacket which Im guessing was given to you for promoting his book?

2. Immediate Retraction for heavily criticizing 'American Cars Suck'.

Firstly the definition of American is difficult at best. Many Fords today contain over > 80% foreign content. Many Honda's contain greater than > 80% local US content. 

The Ford GT is arguably a foreign vehicle as it was designed & supplied by foreign subcontractors & many specialists from the UK.

The Z06 does 0-60 in 3.7! Hello? Anyone home? And it costs what, like a loaf of bread?! CMON give em a break. Nothing in the Universe even comes close. And you can drive it all day long without having to worry about any kind of special maitenance or problems.

I've had many a vehicle from all parts of the globe. The brakes on my Camaro SS have saved my life on numerous occaisions! It can stop in 1/2 the distance of an F40 costing id="comment_list" Million! And 10 years ago, 0-60 in under < 5 seconds and > 300 HP was unique in its class. And the air induction scoop. Even today I could put a Ferrari sticker on the hood & have some people second guessing.

The Cadillac STS was awarded interior of the year by a group of automotive journalists. The CTS interior was designed by a womens group so you will notice soft textures everywhere & could explain why it is so user friendly.

American Cars Suck is a very broad & derogatory statement which is very inaccurate & incorrect. Yes they have issues namely current dollar exchange rates, unions, legal & legacy pension payments. But remember, Nobody does Performance/Value ratios like Yours Truly. If one makes outlandish comments or statements, they must be substantiated & supported with facts & figures. Thank you, your biggest fan { Retraction Pending }

Matt, you have great taste in cars my friend! 

Well done!

 Good questions, and Matt and you put your 2 cents in just enough that it made it seem less like an interview (comparitevly speaking to last time) 

I'm not too fond of paddles on the 8C, let a lone ANY car. 

The Caparo is awesome, despite its draw backs, but i say give it a year and it will be.. well maybe not. It is British, and it is built in a shed by 4 bald dudes in the country. In all respects though, its design is brilliant, they just need to fine tune the details. 

I want that 135i. Ray you have a really good point though! Light weight, some what compact, and sporty is a must. Light weight is KEY. But the 135i is gorgeous, so I want one. 

I'm from California... Northern California. Everyone has a Hybrid. The US needs to think like the Europeans! Diesel.. thats all I got to say. 

The Z06, the GT, the Challanger, CTS-V are the only American cars that are worth even talking about. Other than that... US cars suck. We need to get our shit straight!! Its annoying. 

I hope everyone gets Wert's background.  That is what Detroit looks like on a daily basis.  I've been there. 

The Eminem movie made Detroit look like Disneyland.

Totally hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!