Nor do I think Yates is still drawing big paychecks, esp. on the web. In fact, Car and Driver ostensibly let him go because of those big paychecks. And there are plenty of web auto journalists who are just as good as Yates, yet work for less (namely, RF).

Finally, I don’t think Yates would give such a blanket condemnation of American iron. The Yates I know would likely buy imported, but he MIGHT buy something domestic. Yates likely has 4-5 cars in his stable. I’m sure at least one is a recent domestic.

And the Viper ACR just set a record for production car (period) at The Ring.

But American cars suck, don’t you know.

Sure, there’s plenty of crappy American cars out there. There are also many crappy European and Asian cars, most people just fail to mention them. While America may not have a marque to compete with Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, etc. it does have the capability to build great performing cars. Cadillac has made a great stride with the CTS, but let’s hope GM can hang around long enough to finish the job

The Corvette, CTS-V, and the Viper all show that when the bean counters stay out, Americans can make excellent vehicles.

His persepective on cars is skewed, too. Engineering a car that’s 90% of a car 200% it’s price takes alot of effort, and all this moron can do is “Yawn.”

CTS isn’t better than the E-class? It’s 20k cheaper, has more HP, and a more modern interior. Haven’t driven it, so can’t comment further, but it’s a good car on paper and pictures. E350 feels like a tank when driving and has the nameplate, but better? On all fronts?

What a loser!!!! -slap Mechanic-

I hear you, gents.

Brock owns a Hummer… and a (once Ford owned) Jaguar XJ…

He’s also a man of substance. Even though many have issues with that mass of mind matter.

I would think his writing of ‘The Mechanic’ is about as probable as the Pirates winning a World Series this decade.

It was actually the writer’s self-absorbed ranting that made me think it might be Yates. Ultimately, it feels more like the author, whomever it is, has been given a column to troll for 2.8 loyalists with bombastic language and bad logic. If this is merely an alter-ego for one of Edmunds’ top editors, the guy needs to get on some tranquilizers or else should be kept liquor-free while writing.

Looking at the entire “Mechanic” blog, there were several “Separated at Birth” entries. Didn’t Car and Driver have these in their opening section fairly frequently back when Yates was on board? Just more pieces to a very strange puzzle.

He probably drives a beat up white 240D with ripped leather and a cracked dash (with requisite fuzzy dash carpet) and has a poster of a Ferrari in his bedroom, too.

Could be wrong–who, me?–but I’m, to coin a phrase, just sayin’.

I once reviewed a book critical of Detroit. The author spoke lovingly of the perfection of her Lexus. The book contained dozens of errors of fact in the first two chapters alone.

That wouldn’t happen to have been The End of Detroit by Micheline Maynard would it?

She couldn’t even keep the names of some of the carmakers straight. Several times she referred to Suzuki as Subaru and vice versa.

I’m no GM fan, but didn’t the CTS-V just lap a record time on the Nurnburgring?

In your own work, do you provide “the best”?

I once reviewed a book critical of Detroit. The author spoke lovingly of the perfection of her Lexus. The book contained dozens of errors of fact in the first two chapters alone.

Do Americans who demand cars better than those provided by Detroit really think the people creating these cars are a different species than themselves?

It’s easy to say, “Yes, I provide the best.” Detroit says it all the time. But really?