The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Motor Trends

5.9.07 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 4)

I currently drive a Chevy Malibu Maxim even though I know Hondas are better. At least I can identify my car in a sea of Hondas and Toyotas.

Which brings to mind -- where are all the clunker/junker "second cars" of old? There are none on the highways in California. Until recently my husband had a 1977 El Camino pickup that looked brand new. Gave it to grandson for graduation. He is prouder of that car than a Lexus.

Back to the spooky absence of old cars on the highway. We are exhorted every fifteen minutes on the radio to give that old heap to some charity and get a tax write-off. But what do they do with it? Not "parting them out" -- no market for that. Or re-habbing those old belch-fires to drive. Nope, only new cars on freeways. My cleaning woman drives a big expensive SUV.

We know they are never going to run out of martyrs in Iraq, but how are they keeping up with the demand for cars to wire up with bombs? I hope our charities, in misguided benevolence are not shipping our discards to people in need of transportation in "Al Qaedestan."

Joking, only joking. Our charities aren't that crazy, are they? I know our crazies are that crazy, but they aren't collecting old cars. Are they?
-- Diane Smith
South San Francisco, California

I fully agree with Eric Peters's assessment as to why GM is having problems...including the fact they don't "get it." I'm currently 48 years old and will never buy a GM car again...ever.

I was 17 when I got my first new car, a 1976 Camaro...followed by a 1979 Camaro...followed by the coolest and fastest car I ever had, my new first-year 1985 IROC-Z Camaro. Problem is my IROC began to completely shut down at random times while I was driving it. That is to say, I would lose all electrical power in the car...so the motor would shut off, the lights would go out (including the headlights), the power brakes and steering would go out...you get the picture. This happened once while going 65 MPH on the Dallas loop at night. Nothing like driving a dark missile w/ no lights while coasting at 65 MPH and trying to get into the emergency lane on the side of the road. GM was never able to diagnose the problem.

Sometimes the car would start up after a few minutes...sometimes it took longer. The last straw came when it happened on a lone state highway in the Nebraska sandhills...with nothing around for miles and no traffic. This was pre-cell phone days, so one was stuck.

GM was never able to diagnose the problem.

I got rid of that car shortly thereafter and have driven Toyota's and Nissan's every since...great cars w/ no problems.

GM lost me for life that day in Nebraska...and that's another 25-30 years of me telling that story and discouraging anyone from every buying a GM car again.
-- Dave Schallert
Parker, Colorado

Not to mention that, among U.S. carmakers, Chrysler alone remains aware of design and styling, which has become another strong suit of the Japanese manufacturers.

G.M., and Ford appear to have established a "Who can come up with the ugliest design?" contest, and repeatedly put the winners into production.
-- Bennett Bishop

DEAL OR NO DEAL
Re: Philip Klein's Rudy Talks to Heritage:

I have no doubt Rudy Giuliani is one tough hombre and he'd militate against both the terrorists and government bloat. If the Republican Party does nominate him, I will support and for vote him. ("Vote for the rightward most viable candidate" -- Bill Buckley)

Letter to the Editor

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