Muscle Car Classics

I've gone through the lastest car sales numbers from August and I'd like to say it's a "mixed bag" or that things are "looking up" but, really, it's just plain painful.

Here are the lowlights? from the Big 6:

Automotive history is littered with good intentions gone bad. Automatic seatbelts. Vocal warning systems. Ralph Nader.

One of the more vivid automotive tragedies of the last 50 years centered on the desire to save car owners money by creating bumpers that wouldn't be damaged in low-speed accidents. The idea seemed simple enough: If a car's bumper could withstand, say, a 7 mph impact without damage it would mean no repair bills for the thousands of minor accidents that happen every year.

Sounds good in theory, but the reality is that few manufacturers could blend this type of impact absorbption into a car's bumper when the regulation went into effect in 1973. Instead of integrating the impact protection into a vehicle's front and rear styling most manufacturers simply did what corporate resources dictated -- they slapped 6-10 inches of rubber onto each end of the vehicle. And in case you haven't ever seen cars from this era (1973-1977), the answer to the question "Didn't that look odd while upsetting the car's overall lines and proportions?" is an unconditional "YES!"

Thirty-five years later I see the latest attempt to make cars safer, and the resulting impact (sorry) on vehicle styling feels like 1973 all over again.

If I had to pick a compact crossover based purely on model name I'd have a surprisingly limited selection. CR-V. CX-7. RAV4. Sportage. VUE. X3. Not exactly names to brag about when discussing your latest purchase with the neighbors. I don't mind "Forester" and "Escape" actually sounds kind of cool.

The all-new 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan doesn't do much to break the "goofy compact crossover name" trend, but otherwise it's a solid entry.

I think I'm most impressed by how much interior space the automakers can now pack into these otherwise small vehicles. I remember when the Escape came out in 2001 and it had almost exactly the same interior volume as the outgoing Explorer. Then the BMW X3 came out a few years later with nearly as much interior volume as the then-current X5.

Same situation exists with the VW Tiguan. When I initially approached the vehicle in the parking garage I questioned how much usable second-row and cargo space would exist in that tiny footprint. Looking in through the windows did nothing to change my impression, but after adjusting the driver's seat for my six-foot frame I hopped in the second row and found fully adequate leg and head room.

Then, despite the short distance between the second-row seatback and rear glass, I popped the rear hatch and marvelled at the functional cargo area. It's no GMC Acadia, but as a compact crossover there's plenty of space for groceries or luggage or even a couple kids' bikes. 

If you think Lamborghinis are nothing but non-renewable-resource-sucking status mobiles you probably don't care about yet another one being bashed and burned beyond recognition. And if you think Lamborghini drivers are nothing but self-centered, over-moneyed cads you probably don't care about one meeting the same fate as his car.

Ever since "Dietrich" (aka Stefan Eriksson) balled up a Ferrari Enzo on PCH in February of 2006 the image of the spoiled rich guy with more money than brains has pervaded the national consciousness. Certainly there were wealthy guys wrecking expensive cars before Eriksson, but the value of that particular car (a million dollars-plus), along with the colorful (and criminal) background of the driver seemed to represent all the worst aspects of exotic car owners.

That the new ZR1 Corvette is stupid fast doesn't phase me. The Z06 isn't exactly slow, and the ZR1 costs an additional $30,000. Give any half-witted Corvette tuner a Z06 and $30,000 and he'll create a fire-breathing monster.

No, a fast ZR1 doesn't impress me. But an extremely well sorted ZR1, capable of being driven fast without risking imminent death while also being fun to drive? Now my interest is piqued. Throw in everyday comfort and functionality and I'm willing to at least investigate financing options.