@RoboRed loves his virtual G8 GXP: So did I. One of my earliest TV memories was back in the days when GM built a half decent truck and backed it up with that catchy tune.
I was actually under the false impressions that GM built better trucks then Ford. Then, I came into possession of a 1994 Chevrolet K2500 loaded to the max with a 350 and a 5spd. Then, after many thousands of dollars and hours of pain later, I bought a 1990 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat and never looked back.
Heads up, GM - if you overdo the hype and the car isn't fucking FANTASTIC, you'll look like dickheads, and we'll be the infuriated taxpayers who kept the dickheads employed and overpaid. Play your cards a little closer.
When it hit the charts, Weird Al's song White and Nerdy, a spoof of Chamillionaire's Ridin Dirty, took off like a rocket. People called Chamillionaire and congratulated him on his great take on Weird Al's song. The official Youtube view count for Ridin Dirty stands at about 2.1m views, White and Nerdy is closer to 5 million.
Without even listening to the song, how long before somebody comes up with something that mocks it, and is way more entertaining?
I'm going to pop open a cold one on the day GM officially announces there will never be a Chevy Volt mass produced for the 'Merican consumer. #laautoshow
@Ford Tempo Fanatic: I'll just wearily shake my head. Then I'll pop a bottle of whiskey, but not necessarily out of a sense of celebration. #laautoshow
@that ain't the way to have fun, son:
It's available in Europe already, with a 2 liter turbodiesel with 150 HP. It's not very economical though, for European standards that is.
@underwear-ninja: LoL, sorry , but the Cruze is sold as a Daewoo Lacetti , I don't like that to much but you have to talk to GM about that. Is that "Ask Fritz or Tell Fritz" thingy still on? #laautoshow
Do they have an appearance package on that Cruze that will disguise its underlying appliance-like features? You know... like a 'Sport' or 'GT' deal? The description of the engine, along with a manual transmission and the assumed low curb weight sound kind of fun. But it looks like it might put me to sleep. #laautoshow
@Pessimippopotamus: I kept seeing 2750 lbs. But let's go with 2850. I'm also seeing horsepower figures of 138 - 140. (Though I see there's a 1.6 liter that makes only 112, probably in Europe.) With 138 hp and 2850 lbs., that's a hp:wt ratio of about 1:20.
Just for s*$ts and giggles, I tried to find the 2010 VW GTI figures for the same. I see a curb weight of 3100 - 3200 lbs. with horsepower figures of 197 and 211. Going with 197 and 3100 lbs, this gives us hp: wt ratio of 1:16 or 1 hp for every 16 lbs. of weight. That's substantially better performance... so how about something a little less challenging? Anybody got any ideas of a sporty little fuel sipper with four doors? #laautoshow
@Pessimippopotamus: Interesting. That's about the same weight and horsepower as the wife's 2002 Protege5, which is indeed quite fun to drive. However, it definitely doesn't get close to 40mpg. #laautoshow
@nataku8_e30: Excellent comparison! So the Fit is a little peppier, but doesn't get you into the "4's" for fuel mileage. The Fit was on my list when I last went shopping for a new car. But at the time you couldn't even find one with a stick shift to take out for a test drive. :( I ended up going with the Scion xB after ruling out the Aveo, the Rio, the Ion, something from Suzuki... can't remember them all now. I had about 12 cars I was looking at. So, comparing the xB to the Fit, the xB has 103 - 108 horsepower and weighs 2415 lbs. That gives it a hp:wt ratio of about 1 to 23... which explains why I had to get a stick shift just so it felt like I was having any fun while driving it. But it does get 30+ mpg in my semi-aggressive driving. By those numbers, I suppose the Cruze would be a step up in performance for me... #laautoshow
@Racin_G73 - dirt track legend (some day ... maybe): ...not quite - remember, the estimated weight / power ratio from a previous commenter for the Cruze was conservatively estimated at 20.65, so actually the Cruze has a lbs LESS to carry around per HP than the Fit. The Cruze is the peppier car in this case.
This whole exercise though is a bit deceptive, though. The gearing and torque curve shape will actually affect driveability more than the weight / power ratio, especially when you're talking such "underpowered" cars. Since I don't have any real information on the Cruze, I would bet that it has a much lower torque peak or flatter curve than the fit, since it's using a turbocharger. Plus, since it is a bit heavier and more powerful and judging by it's highway fuel economy number, more aerodynamic as well, you're likely to see a significantly higher top speed (which is pretty irrelevant under the normal driving conditions these will see) and, more importantly, much better acceleration at freeway speeds and passing ability. #laautoshow
12/07/09
at least try to make it catchy.
12/07/09
12/07/09
Pick up the Tempo of your Life!
12/07/09
12/07/09
12/07/09
I was actually under the false impressions that GM built better trucks then Ford. Then, I came into possession of a 1994 Chevrolet K2500 loaded to the max with a 350 and a 5spd. Then, after many thousands of dollars and hours of pain later, I bought a 1990 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat and never looked back.
12/08/09
12/07/09
Volt
Sell it to dolts
These are the folks who bought Plymouth Colts
Come on
We're selling to you
Come on
-Environmental Compassion and Education Initiative ("Tears for Fears")
12/07/09
12/07/09
Heads up, GM - if you overdo the hype and the car isn't fucking FANTASTIC, you'll look like dickheads, and we'll be the infuriated taxpayers who kept the dickheads employed and overpaid. Play your cards a little closer.
When it hit the charts, Weird Al's song White and Nerdy, a spoof of Chamillionaire's Ridin Dirty, took off like a rocket. People called Chamillionaire and congratulated him on his great take on Weird Al's song. The official Youtube view count for Ridin Dirty stands at about 2.1m views, White and Nerdy is closer to 5 million.
Without even listening to the song, how long before somebody comes up with something that mocks it, and is way more entertaining?
12/07/09
12/07/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
Oh, and it'd last forever...or until some bonehead put gasoline in it a 15th time. #laautoshow
11/18/09
It's available in Europe already, with a 2 liter turbodiesel with 150 HP. It's not very economical though, for European standards that is.
11/18/09
Grrrrr.
#tips
11/17/09
Cobalt Coupe replacement? #laautoshow
11/17/09
@Motor_Yakuza: #laautoshow
11/17/09
11/17/09
@underwear-ninja: LoL, sorry , but the Cruze is sold as a Daewoo Lacetti , I don't like that to much but you have to talk to GM about that. Is that "Ask Fritz or Tell Fritz" thingy still on? #laautoshow
11/17/09
90' 5.0 L02 v8 (Base): 140 hp
We did come a long way. #laautoshow
11/17/09
So, how much until this thing will arrive? #laautoshow
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
Just for s*$ts and giggles, I tried to find the 2010 VW GTI figures for the same. I see a curb weight of 3100 - 3200 lbs. with horsepower figures of 197 and 211. Going with 197 and 3100 lbs, this gives us hp: wt ratio of 1:16 or 1 hp for every 16 lbs. of weight. That's substantially better performance... so how about something a little less challenging? Anybody got any ideas of a sporty little fuel sipper with four doors? #laautoshow
11/17/09
Also, the fit is only rated 33 mpg highway... #laautoshow
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
This whole exercise though is a bit deceptive, though. The gearing and torque curve shape will actually affect driveability more than the weight / power ratio, especially when you're talking such "underpowered" cars. Since I don't have any real information on the Cruze, I would bet that it has a much lower torque peak or flatter curve than the fit, since it's using a turbocharger. Plus, since it is a bit heavier and more powerful and judging by it's highway fuel economy number, more aerodynamic as well, you're likely to see a significantly higher top speed (which is pretty irrelevant under the normal driving conditions these will see) and, more importantly, much better acceleration at freeway speeds and passing ability. #laautoshow
11/17/09
This year we get some run of the mill Chevy and a Toyota van. #laautoshow
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09