Random Shots
2010s
Quotes
Chevrolet Camaro’s design has deteriorated over last 40 years
“Back in ’79 we were at a BBQ and the grill ran out of gas. The 5 gallon propane cylinder would NOT fit thru the trunk opening in my friend’s new Z-28. I see not much […]
Design Notes
2015 Honda Fit: Increasingly tacky
Over the years I’ve mostly bought Hondas — and almost always have gravitated toward the brand’s smallest models. Once the Civic got too big I was glad that Honda brought to the United States a […]
Current Events
2015 Mustang: Faux pony car goes generic
With the 2015 redesign of the Mustang, Ford had the potential to reassert its leadership in what I have referred to as the faux pony car field. Instead, Ford took the cheap and easy way […]
Quotes
Marketing lacks original thought
“It’s not just a plague; it’s standard operating procedure, something that permeates car company marketing enclaves all over the world. I am convinced that there is a secret automotive marketing boot camp buried underground somewhere (perhaps […]
Drive-By Musings
Mulally book review sparks debate
Edward Snitkoff (2015) has written a lengthy review of the book, American Icon: Alan Mulally And The Fight To Save Ford Motor Company (Hoffman, 2012), for Curbside Classic. Snitkoff’s review focuses on summarizing the book […]
Design Notes
Kia Soul: Better to be hip than simple
The Kia Soul is naught but a second-generation Scion xB with better styling. The Soul is roughly comparable to the xB in size and weight. I’d classify the Soul as the tall wagon equivalent of […]
Quotes
Behold, a sensitive New Age car nut
“Buying a car based on looks is like screwing for the post coitus cuddle.” — Barry Hubris, Autoblog
Photo Essay
Exurban graffiti: There goes a generation
Evergreen Shores, Washington isn’t your typical upper-crust exurb (Wikipedia, 2015). Along the shoreline of Black Lake you’ll find a few gated McMansions, but by and large this is a working-class neighborhood. Despite amenities such as a boat […]
Design Notes
Requiem for quads
The taillights for the 2014-15 Chevrolet Camaro supposedly “took styling cues from the original first generation Camaro” (Wikipedia, 2015). Why dump the iconic quad taillights in favor of a look that is even more boringly generic than that of the 1967-68 Camaro? […]