Great article. Fitting that the company that bore his name had plenty of other firsts to its credit:
-first commercially successful fully automatic transmission
-first high-compression pushrod V8
-first four-door hardtop (along with Buick)
-first production turbocharged passenger car
-first postwar front-wheel-drive American production car
-first American production car with a V8/5-speed manual combo
-first production V8 passenger car diesel (though that one wasn't exactly a source of pride, as it turned out)
Oldsmobile died the minute it lost its autonomy and, by extension, its penchant for innovation. It just took everyone 15-20 years to realize it.
Wow. Now I know why I've never been asked to shoot Pirelli calenderesque photos. I'm completely lacking the hipster douche goatee-gone-amok and fauxnytail.
Dave Chapelle's really gone off the deep end after that trip to Africa.
Anyone who buys a 3-series with an engine other than the diesel is sick in the head? Those are strong words when, by most accounts, the pairing of gas I6s (remember, one's twin-turboed) and the M's V8 are pretty stellar engines, and you can get it with a stick. I mean, as an engine, BMW's diesel makes me weak in the knees (425lb-ft can do strong things to me, especially at 23/36mpg), but the way you have to take it isn't perfect. Now, there's no other engine you should take in an X5 (although you shouldn't take an X5).
I am disappointed in the ecoweenieism that picked the naturally aspirated Ecotec over the direct injected turbocharged version (which also makes more power and torque than VW's equivalent).
@Maymar: Not to really disagree with you as the I6 and the I6 TT are absolutely stellar... but a friend of mine just picked up a 335d and took me for a drive recently. The way the torque pushes you back in the seat is mind numbing...
Remember when this list used be about all-around good performance and engineering? When stuff like Buick's 3800, Cadillac's Northstar and the Nissan VQ series made the list every year?
I'm not sure when Ward's fell victim to the same eco-weenie crap that's taking over the whole fucking world, but I'm sure as hell am not happy about it. I love turbo-fours, diesels and direct injection as much as anybody, I don't know how much longer I can deal with all this plug-in-hybrid, evil man-made carbon emissions will kill us all bullshit that's progressively destroying the car hobby I so dearly love.
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
@spuy767: I know! How couldn't you? The VQ just keeps getting better and better. It's equally brilliant in FWD Altimas, the Z car and luxury Infinitis.
And the 3800, despite being a 40+ year old pushrod, it was easily one of, if not the best V6s on the market up until 2002-2003 or so. 200 horsepower (24o w/supercharger!) and 30 MPG on regular unleaded seemed unbelievable in the '90s, but Buick pulled it off. It wasn't until Nissan and Honda started one-upping each other that the 3800 finally stopped being competitive (and I can't believe GM tried replacing it with that "High Feature" garbage). Still, there's plenty of recent-vintage, 3800-equipped big GM sedans that make good beater highway cruisers. Not bad for a once-unloved, uneven-firing, sawed-off Fireball V8.
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
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01:13 AM
-first commercially successful fully automatic transmission
-first high-compression pushrod V8
-first four-door hardtop (along with Buick)
-first production turbocharged passenger car
-first postwar front-wheel-drive American production car
-first American production car with a V8/5-speed manual combo
-first production V8 passenger car diesel (though that one wasn't exactly a source of pride, as it turned out)
Oldsmobile died the minute it lost its autonomy and, by extension, its penchant for innovation. It just took everyone 15-20 years to realize it.
12:13 AM
12:02 AM
This post would not be complete without a reference to the song "Henry Ford" from Ragtime. Neat little number. Excellent lyrics + structure.
12/09/09
12/09/09
Dave Chapelle's really gone off the deep end after that trip to Africa.
12/09/09
12/09/09
DEATH TO ENGINE HATS!
12/09/09
12:47 AM
12/09/09
I am disappointed in the ecoweenieism that picked the naturally aspirated Ecotec over the direct injected turbocharged version (which also makes more power and torque than VW's equivalent).
12:12 AM
12/09/09
As for the list, it's not bad (not great, either) although no hybrid makes my list and no way Hyundai makes the world's best V8.
Now that Subie has solved that pesky banjo bolt issue, I'm thrilled to see their pancake's on the menu.
01:14 AM
12/09/09
I'm not sure when Ward's fell victim to the same eco-weenie crap that's taking over the whole fucking world, but I'm sure as hell am not happy about it. I love turbo-fours, diesels and direct injection as much as anybody, I don't know how much longer I can deal with all this plug-in-hybrid, evil man-made carbon emissions will kill us all bullshit that's progressively destroying the car hobby I so dearly love.
12/09/09
12/09/09
12/09/09
And the 3800, despite being a 40+ year old pushrod, it was easily one of, if not the best V6s on the market up until 2002-2003 or so. 200 horsepower (24o w/supercharger!) and 30 MPG on regular unleaded seemed unbelievable in the '90s, but Buick pulled it off. It wasn't until Nissan and Honda started one-upping each other that the 3800 finally stopped being competitive (and I can't believe GM tried replacing it with that "High Feature" garbage). Still, there's plenty of recent-vintage, 3800-equipped big GM sedans that make good beater highway cruisers. Not bad for a once-unloved, uneven-firing, sawed-off Fireball V8.
12/09/09
12:15 AM
12:16 AM
12/09/09
12/09/09
12/09/09
And the style, of course, is by the maestro, Marcelo Gandini. Which makes a looooooot of sense.
12/09/09
"I'm Richard LeJames, bitch!"