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As Craig points out, everyone has certain priorities for their car. Personally, I try to appreciate cars from all walks of life - When I'm not driving my 9-5 Aero, I'm either in an Acura Legend or a Buick Century wagon (and it's even got 75-series tires - helluva difference from the Aero ride "quality") - and I love all of them for their unique qualities. Each has a time and place where they shine. I think the Grand National deserves to be recognized as a *significant* car for the time period. That's all. Sure, there are better-looking cars out there today, faster ones, etc... but the GNs deserve to be recognized for what they achieved in their day (and also the fact that their performance rivals many cars out there today! - I love Saabs, but I can't think of any Aero, Viggen, or SPG that could really challenge a GNX at a red light.
I think the Grand National quite easily belongs in that list you mention. C4 Vettes are great - I love em. but legend has it that the GNX was killed by the Corvette guys inside GM: they weren't happy that a "sedan" was quicker, cheaper, seats 4, and had standard A/C! Corvette, being the performance "icon," GM's flagship car, had to win.
and just for the record, the third-gen Camaro (1980s) was a huge leap forward in terms of handling. It was very well thought out; steering, suspension, braking, etc. were hugely improved. Just because it does awesome (emphasize AWESOME) in a straight line doesn't mean it's not capable in the twisties.
American cars may shine at the dragstrip, but they are by no means lacking when it comes to canyon-carving. There's always gonna be something better out there, but I just think that we should recognize cars for their achievements, not generalize and denigrate them.
"Just a tweaked 80s Buick" - why do you say it like it's a bad thing? Hating on the 80s? tuned-up, turbocharged performance cars? or are you just hating on American cars in general? Maybe a GN wouldn't be the right car for you - that's fine, don't buy one. But why belittle the significance of it? Did someone run over your dog with one? What did Buick ever do to offend you?
-Chris
posted by 12.238.2...
, Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:59:12
, Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:12:56, Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:02:50
, Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:12:29, Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:29:38
, Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:29:33, Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:36:18
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