L.A. Auto Show, 2012 . . .

[Kris Clewell]

When i did the driving school in birmingham, about the only thing that really interested me was the cayenne. its a cool truck. The boxster lightweight was kind of neat too. Sounded great. The rest of the 911/cayman stuff seemed flaccid and boring.

http://www.europeancarweb.com/featur...l/viewall.html if you want to read my bit about it. Nice cars, just a bit sleepy. I tried to get out there again to do this new stuff, but no journalist space left for next spring I was going to take my car out there. Maybe they read my bit and thought I was too negative.

[LongRanger]

I can't blame Porsche for making money. It's a business, after all . . . not a 'club' or a hobby

And if this is what They have to do to make that business run --- so be it

I just wish Someone With The Power would drag out some of their Old Dead Legends --- then take one home, use + drive + live with it . . . if only for a few days . . .

. . . then --- come back to The Office . . .

. . . make a car that celebrates the Cars That Came Before


Because these? . . . . feel like 'business' . . .



. . . when what I want is a Porsche

[LongRanger]

New Lincoln MKZ

Decent-looking car, I guess . . . 5 years late?

[LongRanger]

More MKZ . . .

Comfy enough, inside . . . but weak in some of the details . . . like the dash + console

[LongRanger]

New Fords . . .

These Guys 've been making some kinda interesting (to me, anyway) cars, last couple years. No --- NOT Mustangs . . . I'm talking about the Fiestas + Festivas + Foci. I'm in love w/ small + cheap + darty cars, so . . .

Anyway, saw these on my way thru the Regular Stuff

Next to the diesel + hybrid Porsches? . . . this was the biggest shock of the show. Non-trad gas cars aren't just showpieces rotating on a rotunda somewhere, anymore

Everything in this post is either hybrid or electric

[LongRanger]

Ford Fiesta

Regular . . . and ST (= Not)

Not sure if 'function' is triumphing over 'style,' here . . . or if the people who design + approve these came from the video or kid toy industries. Someone needs to talk to these people

And I sure hope they drive better than they look

But . . . I do like the colors --- something else about this show

'Color' is back

[LongRanger]

Ford Focus ST

Car was here, last year, I think . . . . just not open . . .

. . . or priced

Compare w/ VW's GTi

[LongRanger]

Numbers . . .

[LongRanger]

Automotive solicitation . . . The Hooker in front of the car lot

Keep waiting/hoping for one of the SVT Guys to lose a bet or something --- get sentenced to a stretch in Small Passenger . . . . then teach 'em all a lesson about building excitement

Am I the only Guy jonesin' for a small/awd/turbo Thugmobile, Stateside?

'Keys, please!'

[LongRanger]

Memo . . . to Ford Sales & Marketing . . . .

Please see the attached photo

Note the demographic


Granted --- this is Thursday afternoon, but does anyone else see what I see?


On the Bright Side . . . at least the cars aren't all silver-and-white