Very good rebuttal, I see what your saying and I guess you're right. If
they (car manufacturers) don't get to push that envelope they come up with
"helb back" ideas. Really muffling their creativeness. Oh yeah and I guess
it would be kind of neat to be able to be at highway speeds before the ramp
is even over. :o)
Joe G.
<< Speed doesn't kill; its the sudden stop at the end. ;-)
Also, there is a difference between a fast car and a quick one. My
truck is quick, but its got the aerodynamics of a brick. Just about any
car worth its salt should be able to take me on top end. (I don't know
for sure as I have no interest in going fast.) I don't think going from
0-60 in 4 seconds is any more dangerous than going 0-60 in 10 seconds.
You've built up the same momentum when you're done... If anything, I
feel safer in the quicker car, especially when it comes time to merge
into traffic...
As far as what auto manufacturers should do; I think they should produce
what people are willing to buy (without government controls). If everyone
wants 40mpg econo-boxes then that's what they should make... Trouble is
that not everyone wants the same thing; that's why automobiles are so
diverse. I think it would be nice if every auto manufacturer had a few
cars available that push the envelope; something that shows exactly what
they are capable of. If you can build a car to go 0-60 in less than 4;
do it. less than 3? go for it. less than 2? sounds good to me! :-)
By the same token, if they can build a car that makes 40mpg, 50mpg, 60mpg,
then they should go for it! Just don't force me to buy something I don't
want. If the govt. had its way, we'd all be driving pathetic
econo-boxes. I say, stop trying to push the auto manufacturers around;
let them chart their own course. Eventually, they will be able to make
fast, efficient cars. They are well on their way now.
Keep in mind that a biker can go out and for around $5-8K, put a
Viper to shame. Plus, they won't have any trouble getting 40mpg.
I'm not saying that that level of performance should be cheap; going
faster takes money. I think the point of the poster that I was replying
to was that such a vehicle should merely be available. Perhaps something
in league with the McLaren F1, but with a Dodge, Chevy, or Ford badge. :-)
Also, consider that people want cars for different uses. Just because
a person's car is capable of going 200mph doesn't mean that person is
going to hit those speeds on the morning commute. Perhaps they road race,
or are involved in some other automotive event like Bonneville or standing
mile runs. Myself, I drag race. There are autocrossers, and a bunch of
other types of automotive events, too numerous to mention. Most people
can't afford to have a special car built up for these events, so they
have to use their everyday car. If the manufacturers don't build 'em,
how else are we going to get cars with the characteristics we want?
-Jon- >>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 11:46:50 EDT