Comments on: Question of the Day: Your Favorite National Trait?

By: AJ

AJ — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:19:59 +0000

In the days of the cold war, the Russian peasants said while dreaming of one day living in America, “Come to American and buy a great big American car.”

I once had a Russian roommate (education visa) for six months that thought this very way. He was also impressed with (or shocked by) our grocery stores!

By: James2

James2 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:43:34 +0000

Got to agree about Ford A/C. Went from a Probe GT where I never had a problem and it was always cool to a Mazda 6 where the thing blows warm on occasion. It’s ironic that the Probe is mechanically a Mazda.

By: Johnster

Johnster — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:20:33 +0000

David Holzman : I’ll just point out, once again, that the French actually invented the car. The first car was the 1769 Cugnot Fardier a Vapeur.

The steam-powered 3-wheeled 1769 Cugnot looked like a motorized tricycle, or perhaps a farm tractor. The single front wheel both powered and steered the vehicle and it is truly the ancestor to our modern automobiles, as well as to trucks, tractors and trains.

However, with all of the weight placed on the single front wheel, it was reportedly difficult to steer. And, with typical French thoroughness, it was designed without brakes.

No surprisingly, the French 1769 Cugnot also has the distinction of being involved in the first traffic accident involving a motorized vehicle when it reportedly crashed into a brick wall and its driver was the first person to be arrested and jailed for the criminal equivalent of “wreckless driving.” The project was abandoned.

According to wikipedia, in 1772, King Louis XV granted Mr. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, the vehicle’s inventor, a pension of 600 livres a year for his innovative work, setting into motion the prospect of pensions for auto-workers hundreds of years later.

But then there was that bit of nastiness called “the French Revolution,” and Cugnot’s pension was withdrawn in 1789, again not unlike what seems to be going to happen to many autoworkers in the near future.

The inventor abandoned France and went into exile in Brussels, where he lived in poverty. Where will pensionless retired autoworkers go to? Mexico?

Shortly before his death, he was invited back to France by Napoleon Bonaparte and Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot returned to Paris, where he died on October 2, 1804.

By: westhighgoalie

westhighgoalie — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:32:53 +0000

I think my Subaru Impreza is almost perfect. I would like it to have stronger a/c and the front seats transplanted out of a Saab 9-3 or 9-5…. But thats all I would change… for now…(i’ll think of something else like a better stereo for instance.)

By: joe_thousandaire

joe_thousandaire — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:29:38 +0000

Not really traits of the cars themselves but employee pricing, multi-thousand dollar incentives, 0% financing and cheap replacement parts are all nice. Most of all though I enjoy having a big V8 that burns up the cheapest grocery-store gas I can find.

By: Cammy Corrigan

Cammy Corrigan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:13:05 +0000

Andy D,

Firstly, my version was simply a joke on the fact that Britain is “heaven” and France is “hell”.

Secondly, there is nothing wrong with bangers and mash and bubble and squeak or any British food!

Steak and kidney pie is beautiful! ^_^

By: Andy D

Andy D — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:46:18 +0000

sorry Katie, AKM’s version is better. British chefs? Bangers and mash, bubble and squeak ?

By: 86er

86er — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:25:18 +0000

And Italian engines–full verismo (Mascagni) or, if you prefer their sensual side, Monteverdi.

And Japanese engines are castrati?

;)

By: carguy

carguy — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:07:50 +0000

American AC
American V8 soundtrack
Japanese manual transmissions
Japanese quality
European seats and ergonomics
German handling and steering
European design

By: bill h.

bill h. — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:04:08 +0000

How about American engines are Ray Charles?

And Italian engines–full verismo (Mascagni) or, if you prefer their sensual side, Monteverdi.

By: windswords

windswords — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:15:46 +0000

Pig_Iron:
“Chrysler- Never be afraid to try something new/better (a blessing and a curse).

AMC- Fantastic can-do attitude – and on a shoe-string budget. I believe these guys really helped Chrysler’s previous turn around.”

Have to agree with you. A lot of Chrysler’s success in the 90’s was due to input by the former AMC guys.

DrBiggly:
“I have noticed that Ford products seem to have fantastically cold A/C…”

26theone:

“Without a doubt the A/C output in Ford vehicles. Nothing handles 30 degrees of separation like a Ford!”

I can second that. I currently drive a 2000 ZX2 (with a 5 spd!) as daily commuter in Florida. It has a black interior. No problem for the AC. And I have I told you I don’t like Fords?

David Holzman:
“German (Porsche and BMW anyway) engines are Mozart. My Accord’s engine is Salieri.”

Maybe American engines are Rock’n'Roll?

By: Zarba

Zarba — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:10:30 +0000

Japanese (Honda) small 4 -cylinder engines

German brakes

Italian styling

English interiors

American air conditioning

French…ummm…err…next!

By: red60r

red60r — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:08:56 +0000

Our ‘04 Volvo S60 and Suby Forester both have A/C that copes just fine. Not so fine was our dalliance with a ‘97 Saturn that never put out significant heat, except in summer. USA A/C isn’t always supreme. Of course, my earlier ‘84 Volvo 244 Turbo had vacuum-operated air handlers that shut down the dash vents when the manifold pressure went above ambient level, accompanied by gasping noises. I think the vents are electric in newer models (or they figured out how to leak-proof the vacuum reservoir).

By: Axel

Axel — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:59:06 +0000

Best things in general about American cars in the past 20 years:
1. Interior space
2. Torque/low-RPM power (OHV FTW)
3. Value

An Impala’s virtues against a Camcordima are clear: the Impala makes all others feel cramped, the others have “whizzy” engines that are weak off the line, and the Impala gives you way more bang for the buck. Ask anyone who’s bought an Impala since 2000, and they’ll say the same thing.

By: dragofan

dragofan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:52:44 +0000

I’ve owned two Ford products with incredible A/C: a 1985 Mercury Lynx and a 1999 F-250 SD. With the Lynx, you’d lose 5 mph instantly once you turned the A/C on, but it was COLD. Just had to be sure to turn it off to not lose 20 mph going up a hill. My current Civic completely sucks in the A/C department in comparison.

By: blautens

blautens — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:34:05 +0000

American A/C…mmmmmm…I’ve actually had cars towed before when my A/C broke rather than drive it to get it fixed.

In south Florida, especially if you’re wearing body armor and an unfortunately designed uniform, A/C is crucial.

Hope the men and women in Iraq/Afghanistan have good A/C in their vehicles…

By: willbodine

willbodine — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:26:23 +0000

It’s sorta like the old joke about best/worst national characteristics:

BEST: French chef, Swiss banker, British policeman, German mechanic, Italian lover.

WORST: French mechanic, Italian banker, German policeman, British chef, Swiss lover.

By: chalmers

chalmers — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:17:21 +0000

No one’s really talking about French cars, and believe me, I dislike them most of the time too, but the French have the balls to do things that most other countries wouldn’t do.
The SM? The DS?
Putting little balls of hydraulic fluid in as suspension.
Sure the styling is always a bit “controversial” but holy hell none of PSA or Renault’s cars are “boring” or “ordinary”

By: brettc

brettc — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:09:44 +0000

German diesel engines, and German seats. You can drive for 700 miles or more without refueling, and your butt won’t be sore.

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:07:45 +0000

I’ll just point out, once again, that the French actually invented the car. The first car was the 1769 Cugnot Fardier a Vapeur. And the French certainly pushed the envelop on technology over the last 50-60 years or so.

Having said that, German (Porsche and BMW anyway) engines are Mozart. My Accord’s engine is Salieri. But the car is such a great compromise that I love it.

By: dasko

dasko — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:06:50 +0000

Swedish car seats. They are quite possibly ergonomically perfect.

By: TR3GUY

TR3GUY — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:03:30 +0000

Italian Design….Try a nice Red Alfa GTV.

By: ckb

ckb — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:58:38 +0000

European Design. American and Japanese cars for the most part seem bloated and swollen. European cars just seem more sleeker and purposeful. Their overall shape just makes them look more well put-together. See: Ford Mondeo vs. Ford Fusion.

By: carlisimo

carlisimo — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:53:41 +0000

Katie, I know what you mean about the Yaris. I had a ‘91 Tercel, bottom of the heap, and you could still tell they had made an effort. The interior door panels didn’t have any screws in sight, the manual steering was perfect, and there were other little details meant to prevent rattles and the like. I’ve driven a lot of cars in that class and only the Civic could match it for quality.

I’m in love with the Japanese light-footed feeling. I don’t like cars that feel like a vault.

By: pman

pman — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:37:52 +0000

TexasAg03 Says: That wasn’t always the case. However, given current prices, premium has never been a better deal. Premium is $.20 more than regular so when gas was $1 a gallon, premium was 20% more; now that gas is around $4, premium is only 5% more.

I know what you’re saying. I guess it’s all how you look at it. I’m looking at it from the angle that currently regular gas is a crappy deal and premium is a crappier deal.

IHere’s another national trait I love. This time it’s Italian. For a long time, nobody did red paint like the Italians.