QOTD: Too Fast, Too Furious?

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

The Fast and Furious franchise is apparently coming to an end, at least in terms of movies that feature the main cast (who knows what other content there will be, in terms of video games or spinoffs, et cetera).

I can’t say I am sad. Despite my car-guy bona fides, I’ve never been a fan of the flicks. Yes, the cool cars are, well, cool, but I can’t get past the ridiculous technical errors when it comes to how cars work (this makes me a hypocrite since I can suspend disbelief when it comes to space and physics for Star Wars, but whatever, it still bothers me), the ridiculous plot lines, and the cheesy acting. I guess the very first movie isn’t completely unwatchable, but if I want to watch a car movie, I’m cueing up Ford Vs. Ferrari or Rush. Or Smokey and the Bandit.

How about you? Will you be sad to see Dom Toretta and company ride off into the sunset? Or are you glad that Hollywood might find another way to play with cars?

[Image: Gustavo Frazao/Shutterstock.com]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Jun 15, 2021

    Recently watched the original (1974) Gone in 60 Seconds [valuable footage of car dealerships of the time (surprisingly similar to car dealerships of today) - plus Parnelli Jones]. Then watched 1974's Towering Inferno (where else are you going to see Steve McQueen and Paul Newman and Faye Dunaway *and* Fred Astaire [dancing very little] *and* O. J. Simpson [working security] and Richard Chamberlain and Robert Wagner and even Dabney Coleman). Was underwhelmed with the vehicles of 1974 and the acting of 1974 and most things about 1974.

  • MoparDave MoparDave on Jun 15, 2021

    Like a few posters above, I barely made it 20 minutes into the original F & F before rolling my eyes and switching it off. It was beyond a cheesefest-it had some of most cringe-worthy acting, plot (such as it was), and usage of automotive terminology. F&F ruined it for the nitrous oxide industry...is isn't "noss", dammit! (and, NO! Your car will not all of a sudden sound and accelerate like an F16 on full boil once you hit the magic button....). I used to sell auto parts (retail and wholesale). If I had a dollar for every kid who came in and wanted a "noss" kit, fart-cannon muffler, and comically oversized wing for their parental hand-me-down Accord/Camry/Olds Cutlass Ciera, I could've retired to Cranky Ex-Parts-Guy-ville a long time ago.

  • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Jun 15, 2021

    Fast and Furious franchise is like Marvel or DC. Over the top CGI.

  • Ff3733 Ff3733 on Dec 20, 2021

    When Ford announced they would be introducing an electric Mustang I was intrigued. Do get me wrong I love burning gasoline I have a romanticized notion still in my head that loves load exhaust, shifting manual transmissions, and no nanny computers keeping your modern marvel on the asphalt and rubber side up for you, but I know that’s all but over so an electric muscle/pony car frankly seemed like a no brainer, an oversight the the “Blue Oval” was rectifying for the automotive world. And then…… I saw it…..IT…..not a pony car, not an electric muscle car, not a continuation of the classic Mustang Mach 1. What Ford introduced to the world is an abomination. No one who is a fan of cars and car culture could be anything but discussed by calling an SUV a Mustang, it’s the end of the brand. Just like Porsche that is more a builder of cars PTA meeting and taking the kids to soccer the Mustang will be an SUV brand and little more. Ford has found a way to kill it’s last remaining car and it will go to the open grave beside the Taurus and the Crown Vic. SUVs are more profitable and that will not change as cars go electric Ford isn’t interested in building cars with limited market like a two door sport coupe so they moved the name to something that they think will sell better and make my words the real Mustang will die and it will never even get a chance to go electric.

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