classic car

It's time for a puzzle. Whoever guesses this right doesn't get any large prizes, but as mothers everywhere say, you get the satisfaction of knowing what you did. So, without further ado, what am I:

I seat many people.
I have fake leather seats.
I give a numbing massage when stopped.
I have a communication system.
I have a time to beat to get to the finish.
My engine is located right next to the driver.
Though my performance isn't too great, I have an astonishing exhaust note.
I work in two shifts.

Today, on the way home, I saw two late 1990's Chevy Cavaliers that passed me on the road. I decided to count how many Cavaliers passed me from that point in my trip. After five minutes, the grand total was 13 Cavaliers, 11 being four-doors. My guess is that the Cavalier will be remembered like the Vega or Gremlin, as an ugly, unreliable econobox that sold in incredibly large numbers.




P.S. Check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJW8jKZ1n-M
(this is not my video)

Okay, so somebody commented on my short blog on the Porsche Panamera, asking what I thought about the VW Passat CC they saw in a commercial. Well, the CC is a new version of the Passat that went on sale in the US in late '08.
This car is an attempt by Volkswagen to move upmarket and fill in the gap between the Passat and Phaeton sedan in Europe. It gets its power from the base four cyl. from the VW GTI leading up to a V6 with 295hp, though a good V8 would be nice (a tip to VW). It has many luxury options to challenge Mercedes-Benz, like leather seats, wood-trimmed dash, and (standard) air-conditioned inside-of-armrest. The car's outside resembles the current Passat in basic styling, but with much sportier lines and an expensive look.
All in all, the Passat CC is a four-door sports coupe that has many luxury ammenities, but is lacking somewhat in power. VW may have hit all the right notes with this one, but only time will tell. Now who says I don't answer questions? photo from Motor Trend

I can't speak for everyone here (or at least I think I can't), but I think whoever is working in the styling department at Lincoln has gone way overboard. Whenever I see a new MKZ or any other new Lincoln in the rear-view mirror, my first thought is of tons of long, lethal razor blades scything through the air. Then I realize it's a Lincoln, not somebody's death machine, and that the grille is there for "style". Style to people who like grilles to whistle and taillights to not look out of place on a jumbo jet, maybe, but I just don't get it. It is like the fifties, where everything on it is ostentatious and too showy. photo from www.carsplaza.com

After having to deal with seeing no classics for months now in the wake of winter, I starting to forget what an old car looked like. But then I had a pleasant surprise. I was cruising around town, when a green Volkswagen Beetle turned the corner behind me, puttering along at a good pace. I was very happy to see some sort of classic, and it followed me for about a quarter mile before turning down a dead-end street. I guess that it was just cruising with no aim, I am about 99% sure there is no classic on that street or the surrounding neighborhood (though once I did see a Triumph) because I cruise by there often.

The one thing I wasn't quite sure about though, was that it was driving in the Midwestern snow and probably has some rust hidden under there. That's why there's no classics in the winter, we all don't want our cars rusting to hulks! But I was still happy to see a classic, even if it'll need restoring soon (for those of you down South, yes, that's how much snow and damp it is in Midwest winters). This is not my photo, but basically is the same car. this is from www.carandclassic.co.uk