gvj@ahutb.UUCP (g.v.brinkman) (04/11/85)
As an extension to "An Empirical Observation", I too have been aware that each car-manufacturing caountry tends to build cars with national idiosyncrasies. My observations are :- Italians :- build "fun-to-drive" cars. I have driven at length a Fiat 124, Fiat 131TC, Alfa 1300GTV, Alfa 2000 Berlina and an Alfetta 1.8. When seated behind the wheel of each of these cars they all screammed to be "DRIVEN", making even a mundane trip to the local shops a memorable occasion. Germans :- build quality and well-thoughtout cars (there are always exceptions), capable of sustained high-speed autobahn cruising and feeling relaxed at the end of it. I used to own a VW Polo (similar to a Golf except smaller) which would cruise comfortably at 80mph and I never felt tired at the end of a long trek. French :- comfort for the driver and passengers. English :- seem to excell in limited car production. Witness Lotus, TVR, Scimitar, Caterham, Morgan, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Gilbern, Midas, Aston Martin, Triumph (Stag and TR series) etc etc........ Japanese : excluding certain models (MR2 RX7...) offer basic motoring at a basic price. Americans : well !!! they are catching up slowly comments ?
bhs@siemens.UUCP (04/15/85)
Here's my comment. Dollar for dollar, you will be very hard pressed to find better cruisemobiles than mid to full sized american cars. Of course, cruising as in 65 mph on arrow straight (or close) highways. Of all automotive nationalities, I contend that average american cars do a better job of insulating occupant from environment. In fact, often this trait is driven (no pun) to extremes, so that sometimes ride is too soft and billowy. If I had to drive from NYC to LA, I would try to do it in a medium sized american car, if I intend to use interstates. Apart from this little rambling, I must fully agree with you (must? I want to). Another point to mull over...Italian styling, especially for small cars, is possibly the best in the world. Bernard H. Schwab Siemens RTL, Princeton, NJ