2016 Detroit Auto Show Highlights

I still love the automotive world, although I haven't had time to write about it much in the past few years.  With the 2016 Detroit Auto Show (also known as the North American International Auto Show) that's going on, I find myself wanting to highlight some of the standout vehicles from the show.  In no particular order, here are some of the most interesting and exciting vehicles I read about from the show:

Nissan Titan Warrior Concept

I am hopeful for this.  It's a striking design modification of Nissan's announced Titan XD truck.  Although, I'm not a 4-wheel-drive guy, this look is awesome.  And, with all the love I have for the service department guys at Future Nissan, in Roseville, CA, I'd love to buy another Nissan vehicle.

Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew

After going to Ford and looking over the F-150 re-design, I haven't been a huge fan of it.  I was a little disappointed with some of the plastics and design issues.  This truck, like the Nissan concept above, is build and designed for some big-time 4-wheel-driving.  I love the exterior looks.

The Hyundai Santa Cruze and the Jeep Wrangler Truck

These two "trucks" are interesting.  I remember twenty years ago, I made all sorts of jokes about Hyundai.  Now, along with Kia, Hyundai is making really nice looking cars.  I'm not sure the life of their vehicles and the quality level, but initially the Sorento I drove and the Kias and Hyundais I see look like great vehicles.  And Jeep?  Well, they've been around for quite a while, are known for their 4x4 capabilities, and this truck idea has been kicked around for a while.  I don't think I'd move to either of these two, but they are fun designs.

2017 GMC Acadia

Aside from the price difference, in 2011 we looked closely at the Acadia and GMs other variants of this platform.  This is a strong looking crossover, with a tall stance that helps it look more like a truck than a car.  It's been a favorite of mine in the CUV class.  This refresh looks good.

Coming Sedans, 2017 Lincoln Continental and Volvo S60

These two cars are both working to reinvigorate their brands.  Lincoln, with the return of the Continental nameplate, hopes to revive a tired brand.  I am hopeful, again, for them.  I used to love the Lincoln Continental.  The Volvo has something special, to me.  I love the long oval grill and the sleek lenses of the headlights. I love this car company's history. 

Other Concepts, Acura Precision and Buick Avista

 These are two beautiful concepts, both from companies with very tired vehicles.  Acura has not designed anything I'd buy in 20 years.  I miss the named models (Legend, Vigor, Integra).  Although, I don't see the Precision coming to production, at least as seen at the show, it's a good move in design ideas.  The Buick Avista is amazing and could make Buick relavent again.  Currently, they are just rebadged GM cars and an ugly van thing built on the same platform as the GMC Acadia.


2016 BMW M2

My favorite thing to read about was this M2 from BMW.  It's a return to the small car that is a driver's car.  It's beautiful and powerful.  This is my best in show.

There were lots of other vehicles I read about on Autoblog and The Verge, but now I'm falling asleep.  And since I make no money writing this blog, I'm going to take a nap, without proof reading or reviewing for mistakes.

Hondugly. Honda's Ugly Vehicles.

Honda is a company synonymous with quality.  In the automotive world, their vehicles are known to last and last.  But, is their focus on quality mechanics all they have these days?  Judging by their vehicles' curb appeal, I'd say yes.

They sure are building ugly cars these days.  The CR-V has always been an ugly vehicle.

But, now the Pilot is taking on these hideous looks.  The pointed nose and long squinting lenses of the lights, make it more evident these vehicles are not SUVs but CUVs.

And, don't even get me started on the Oddessy.  Of course, who likes the look of a minivan anyway?  The latest version of Honda's minivan has confusing lines from the side profile.  The body crease is different from the line along the bottom of the window, which is different still from the top rail guide for the sliding door.  It's just too many different lines.

For the biggest name in quality and affordability, Honda has the economic Civic.  This car has had some variations and models that were appealing (at least until you drove them and found the gutless engines and poor handling, compared to the equivalent VW vehicles).  The latest version of the Civic, which I saw today, has the worst front end look I've seen.  There's some sort of front chrome piece that protrudes from the grill, like an old set of head gear used to straighten teeth.  This 10th generation should be a milestone model, with throwback ideas from the first generation, and forward thinking styling of a generation this far from it's beginnings, back in 1972.

 I'm not sure about what the thought was behind that front piece, but I don't like it.  Click to get a bigger version, or go check it out on Honda's site.  Awful.

Honda also had their Ridgeline, which only had one generation. Now, there is a tease site for a coming second generation, to be announced in January at The Detroit Auto Show.  We'll see if it looks like a truck, with tough, man-ish features, or if it looks like a forced CUV with a truck bed.

Here are a few versions drawn up, from people guessing or predicting what it will look like.  Motor Trend and Car and Driver posted these photos.

So, the question is, how do you make a quality vehicle that also looks great?  Do you have to sacrifice one for the other?  I have long wanted to be a Honda fan, because of their history of low maintenance costs, long lasting dependability, and their economic and environmental reputation.  But they are too often ugly, gutless wonders.  I've tried twice; once, with a Civic in 1999, which was beat out by my VW Golf based on power, performance, and price, and the second time was the Accord in 2008, which was beat out by my Nissan Altima for the 3 P's too.

I do want a truck.  Could the new Ridgeline grab my attention and be daily driver that performs as a truck with the efficiency of a car?  We shall see. 

2011 Kia Sorento...Might Be Time To Return Ours

Besides this video, which is enough to make me want to return my 2011 Kia Sorento, mine is currently going on the third day at the dealership for some issue with the transmission that we've taken it in on 2 times previous.
 

What should I do? Lemon Law? Also, there isn't a lower level of professionalism than that of the employees at the Kia dealer here. I can't believe the poor attitude and total disregard for customers. I'm really considering moving Kia back to the NEVER BUY list they were on before my 2011 purchase.  This is what $10,000 cheaper than Honda's Pilot will get you.

So Much To Say, No Time To Say It - Part 4

Most of the time, I do these on Twitter now, so if you follow me you'll see a lot of things there.  And, if you don't have a Twitter account but have Facebook, my tweets are forwarded to my Facebook.

First, the iPhone still needs Flash.  There are so many videos that I don't get to see because they are Flash.

Sony announced NGP (Next Generation Portable)

Motorola Officially Introduces the Atrix...might be my next phone.



Google introduces Cloud Print (I just set it up and it is so easy and awesome).

Dodge steals the LED style head-lights from Audi.
First Audi's design...COOL.

Second, Chrysler's design...actually pretty nice too, but COME ON.  Be original.

Honda makes the minivan uglier...if that's even possible.  I think the line at the bottom of the windows looks bad with that weird jog at the back window.  It takes away from the flow of the car.

Here is a video of NBC's Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric try to explain the Internet and the "at" symbol in 1994.


There is more I've forgotten, but I'll hopefully remember and post later (I just laughed to myself because I've lost the time to blog in my life, thanks to kids, and life, and work).

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The Fit is No Go

The California Highway Patrol (CHP), in what I'm assuming is LA (since the video is from KTLA), tried a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver on this Honda Fit. Notice after several failed attempts from several different CHP units, they finally are somewhat successful in slowing the Fit. Then, with one final ram from the all white unit the Fit is no go. The officers assume the classic “circle the wagons” pattern (a.k.a. cross-fire pattern), and while the Fit is still attempting its get-away, one "Chippie" decides to gets out of the passenger-side of the all white CHP unit. Although the Fit was close to being immobilized, an officer in this situation may become aware of the danger of being run down by the suspects. If the Fit's driver continued his attempts to flee, and the officer outside the white unit became fearful for his life, the officer may have opened fire on the Fit's driver. With the cross-fire set up these CHP units were in, this officer may have sent rounds in the direction of his fellow officer (at the top of the screen in the black and white unit). That officer did recognize the situation and moved out of the line of fire, but things can happen so quickly. Besides the horrible tactical positioning of the vehicles, the weak PIT maneuver attempts, and the appearance of controlled chaos, California is also in the middle of a budget crisis. Right away, the CHP should be working to implement a policy outlining guidelines for how many pursuing vehicles are allowed to be involved in both a pursuit and the application of a PIT maneuver. Both the agency that trained me and the one I worked for had specific policies for pursuits and PIT type maneuvers. From my training and experience, it seems very unnecessary for so many CHP units to attempt to PIT the Fit. I was trained when, where, and how hard to hit another car to cause the spin out. If timidity causes the first attempt not to work correctly, the bad guys gain knowledge in how to avoid further attempts. Poor execution of the maneuver is more dangerous then not using it at all. I was trained on the same course as those very CHP officers. I learned the same technique they did, I learned how to properly execute the move, and I learned a weak maneuver attempt results in the bad guys continuing on their path of destruction. I do love law enforcement, and I do know there are times when nerves and adrenaline may cause an officer to make poor decisions. But, proper and ongoing training is the corrective process. The CHP has a training course second to none. They may need to send a few guys back for a refresher course.  

2009 Honda Pilot Test Drive

I'm usually not a huge Honda fan, but I gave the 2009 Pilot a test drive. And well, I'm impressed. It has decent power, comfort, control, and amenities. The 3 rows of seating are all usable, and there is still enough room for an umbrella stroller, a couple small bags, a few bottles of wine, 4 adults, and 2 car seats (oh that's the Napa trip we're planning with cousins). There probably isn't enough room for all of us for an over night trip with the needed "kid care" items, but it's close. Anyway, I'm still thinking with the deals that are available on the bigger Toyota Sequoia, I'd be better off going that route for a trip like the one we're planning. I guess for now we'll need to take the lavender minivan of the wives' grandma. AWESOME!

El Camino of Assie-land (And Then I Start Rambling)

They still have an El Camino in Australia made by Holden called the Ute. Here's an ad showing the history of the Ute. The Chevrolet El Camino, which was built from 1959-87 (with a break from 60-64), was GM's response to Ford's Ranchero. Although the popularity of the El Camino carried it on for nearly 8 more years beyond the Ranchero, we haven't seen a newly designed El Camino here in the USA since the late 80s. The Aussies; however, have both the GM owned Holden Ute and the Ford Falcon (new name for the Ranchero) today. There is some buzz on the automotive blogs that GM may introduce an El Camino based off the Ute platform here in the USA, but don't hold your breath. Automakers don't bring the popular cars of other countries here because they don't think they will do well. That must be why all the foreign cars do so poorly. Wait, isn't Toyota on top now? Can you say bitter? I'm not really interested in the Ute myself but I do think American Automakers are making decisions that don't fit the pulse of automotive fans here in the USA. Ford and GM both have excellent vehicles they produce and sell in other countries, which are appealing to Americans too. This concept of "World Cars" would probably work if automakers focused there research more on what is hot and what's not. There are probably several problems that I don't know about, like: the unions, differing opinions within the corporations, poor data gathering, self glorifying designers, old school thinking (like Ford and their desire to name all cars with "F" and all SUVs with "E" in the USA). I think there should be more avenues for consumers to give input on what they are looking for. With the Internet this should be easy. Heck, if you read a few blogs and automotive magazines, you'd see what's available in other countries and what's missing here. If you think about it, why do we still have cars with problems like roominess, fuel economy, power, handling, beauty, safety. Why are all the American Automakers losing money every year when this is the county with the most advanced, most wealthy, most wide spread, self indulged, EVERYTHING? How can the automakers RIGHT HERE be so out of touch with the desires of the people RIGHT HERE? Why is it the foreign automakers are out selling, out designing, out EVERYTHINGing the American Automakers? It's sad really. Henry Ford is often thought of as the "Father of the Automobile" (I know there is some debate on this), and Ford is now known for poor quality vehicles. I could talk for hours about the first and last Ford my parents bought (Taurus) and how it killed my parents' bank account. It was a pile of.....it was horrible. And now Ford renames the Five-Hundred to "Taurus". They are so out of touch that they think the Five-Hundred did poorly because of the name? NO! READ A BLOG OR MAGAZINE, FORD! You'll see that it's a boring design, it had a gutless engine, and it's front wheel drive. The Taurus name did nothing to help. And the engine upgrade, done with the name change, wasn't enough to offset the stigma associated with the name "Taurus". At least "Five-Hundred" started with an "F". Haha. Give me an Toyota or Honda so I know I'll see 200K miles. Give me an Audi or BMW so I can love to drive the roads of this HUGE country. Give me my VW Golf with 167,000+ miles and great handling, fuel economy, comfort, sound system, design, etc. so I can know I purchased an inexpensive vehicle that has fulfilled so many of my desires. Sure it's a little small, but it does so much extra that I forget about it's stature (yeah, okay and it's color, jerk). It's blue. Stop calling it purple. Wow. What happened here. I really just lost track of the point of this blog. I need to add a subtitle to this blog. I'm a ramblin' man.

How You Know You're Getting Old

In 1976, I was born. Also, Honda introduced the Accord. 31 years later, I’m realizing that I’ve spent the last few weeks reviewing this car.

The 2008 Honda Accord has been redesigned, and for the first time ever, I like it. I know that Hondas have always had a great name and been reliable, fuel efficient vehicles. But, I’ve never been interested in Hondas because I’ve never thought about driving around in a family vehicle that is a “smart” buy.

So, here’s my review (keep in mind I haven’t driven it yet). This is the first Honda to catch my eye. It is much roomier than its predecessors, with room for a 6’2” guy like me in both the front and back seats at the same time. It has an engine with more power than it’s ever had before, with Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) to give 19 city to 29 highway miles per gallon.

One website joked about it being so large that the writer said, “It’s freaking huge! I thought it was a Buick.” Well, I’ve never wanted to switch to a family car known as the fuel efficient king of the world, but Honda has done it with this model.
Next is a test drive (and some cash) and I’ll be driving one.