Upcoming Radio Show Progress

American Cars

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Radio show update -

We are currently getting together the necessary hardware and software for the new internet radio station. As this progresses we are pulling together all the necessary files for the radio show. We need sweepers and bumpers and all the fun stuff you here in between the information. It's all coming together.

In this show I may have guests and or other people to talk with about different things of interest.

I'll also answer any questions that my readers or listeners may have or want to talk about.

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American cars -

Sometimes I get on a rant and I can't stop. This is one of those times.

One of my readers wrote to me in response to my troubles finding a new car. I am currently driving a 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva. This is a car I purchased brand new in 1996. It has been a great car. I have had few troubles with it.

The water pump went and that was over $1,000FRN. Why? Because they had to remove half the engine to get at it.

I had to replace the clutch 3 years ago. That was pricey. I was going to trade it in then but alas, had a problem getting a loan without an SSN.

I have certain criteria for a car that I am not willing to compromise. It must be an American car, it must fit (I’m 6’3” and close to 250lb) and it must have a standard transmission. Other things go without saying. I need more than two seats, I need front wheel drive and I do not want a truck. I define a truck by the size of the whole it makes through the air. This means, no SUV.

One of my readers suggested a Honda Element. Although I’m sure the Element is a fine automobile, by my definition it is not an American car. Sure, it may be built in Ohio but Honda is a Japanese company. To be an American car it not only needs to be built in the states, the company needs to be American and the owners need to be American.

It really bothered me when Toyota got into NASCAR. Racing is the only sport I go out of my way to watch and nothing is better or more American than NASCAR. By their definition, Toyota is American made. From what I understand, it is beyond a certain percentage is assembled here in the states, so that qualifies. I was not pleased. Judging from some of the signs I’ve seen at races, others feel the same way. I remember one sign that had a Toyota emblem with a null set (Circle with a line through it a’la no smoking signs). I’ve always had a problem with foreign cars especially Toyotas.

My wife and I honeymooned in Sint Maarten. This is a small island in the Caribbean. It is half Dutch and half French. When you get off the plane you go through immigration, baggage claim and then you go into this courtyard surrounded by car rental places. They all have these loose leaf notebooks with photos of their rental cars. 80% of the rental cars there are Toyota Corollas. We were one of the last off the plane so there was almost no one there when we got there. I stood in the middle of that courtyard and I said, (yes, I actually said this in a foreign country) “Doesn’t anybody have any American cars?” As if on cue, all the car rental people flipped their notebooks to a picture of a Jeep.

No, I didn’t rent a Jeep. They wanted $450/week. We wound up renting a Reneault Menage. Well, it kind of looked like a Pontiac.

If you ever go to one of the islands in the Caribbean, never rent a Toyota. Not just because I don’t like them, there is a more practical reason. First, 80% of the rental cars are Toyota Corollas. Second, 90% of all cars on the island are white. This means that most of the rental cars are white Toyota Corollas. If you rent one of these, you had better memorize the number plate. Just imagine trying to find YOUR rented white Corolla at 2am after a several Guavaberry Coladas.

Yes I do pick on Toyota a lot and I'm not sure why. There is something about Toyota that rubs me the wrong way. I have a neighbor here that lives right next door. We almost share a driveway. When we first moved in he had a Toyota pickup truck. The thing was pristine. At least once/week he would be outside washing it. He kept it waxed and shiny. About a year ago he must have traded it in. He now has a Toyota Highlander. He does the same thing with this one.

I could understand treating a vehicle this way if it was something special. A Corvette, a Viper, a Mustang. It doesn't even have to be a sports car or muscle car. If it was a Hummer or a Jeep, or a Caddilac that would be fine. But a Toyota? I'm sorry, I don't get it. To me a Toyota is not something I could be proud to own. It is a Japanese car. It is an import. It is nothing special. If I were to buy one it would be because I needed something, anything and something good was not available. It would be no more than a temporary fix until something better came along.

I would make fun of it. I would put a bumper sticker on it that said, "My other car is a piece 'o shit too". I would tell people, "Hey, check out what I'm driving. Ain't it great? BAHAHAHAHA!!!" If I didn't make fun of it, I would be embarrassed.

I'm trying to figure out why I feel this way about Toyota. Maybe it is because I don't see anything special about them. People love them and they are reliable and run forever. They also hold their value better than most. However, I see nothing special about them. They don't make a "rock n' roll" model like the Camaro, Mustang, Firebird etc. Nothing they have ever made has any kind of "ahh" factor. Nobody has ever said, "Hey, check out that Camry!" Sure, you can put some nice wheels on it, put on a ground effects package, give it a flashy paint job but it's still a Toyota. You can put a wedding dress on donkey but it’s still an ass.

They have tried to make something sporty and everything I've seen still looks like an econo-box. Sure they made the Celica some time ago, but sorry, I didn't get it. They may have handled good but at a time when there was no substitute for American cubic inches, it just doesn’t cut it.

So, sue me. I'm an American.

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