What’s So Great About Muscle Cars?

I know I’m out of step with car lovers everywhere, but I’ve never understood the visceral, some would say Neanderthal, appeal of the muscle car (MC). Back in the days of the GTO, when young and old were talking Hurst shifters and hood scoops, I kept thinking, “What is this about? It’s still Detroit iron with a big motor that only goes well in a straight line.” I liked, and still like: sports cars, hotrods, and one-offs; Cadillacs, hearses, and limos. Vehicles, that is, with a distinct purpose.

Now comes a new generation of MCs that makes even less sense. The new Challenger, Camaro, and Mustang (CC&M) are getting all kinds of media attention, and people want to buy these dumb beasts because they either hold some quirky nostalgia for the ‘60s or mistakenly think of them as “performance cars.”

Taking a big engine and putting it in a heavy sedan chassis (with lousy brakes and handling) doesn’t make a performance car. Yet this same process goes on with the new, reskinned CC&M, at a time when Big Power is supposedly on the way out. The new Camaro (18 mpg, city) beat Honda’s Insight 2 to 1 in sales for May. How will the Obama administration read that development?

These cars won’t even meet government fuel-economy standards in a few years. An interesting article (the accompanying video is above) offers ways to get these behemoths into compliance, including lighter materials and smaller, more economical engines.

But I think the traditions of the CC&M are far too strong, and if transformed, they wouldn’t be anything like the same cars. So by 2016, the deadline date for emissions targets, they will die and—like their prehistoric forbears—turn themselves into pools of oil.

I know, you all love your GTOs and Mustangs. Well, how are they going to fit into the new world of global warming, oil independence, downsizing, and eco-transport? In fact, how are all of us car lovers going to fit into that world? Hit us with some ideas.

—jgoods

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How small is too small for cars in America?

Drivers of large pickups and SUVs beware: The “bump bump” from under your tires that you thought was just an unfortunate cat could’ve been something far worse, though not much bigger - a micro car.

Though not yet as popular as in Europe, micro cars are all over the roads in the U.S., and their numbers will only continue to grow.

Some are genuinely worth a look, while others are just hard to look at.

Perhaps the most unfortunate small car is the 2009 Ford Focus Coupe.

Somehow Ford engineers heralded back to the days of the 1990 Escort, and seem to have attached that back end onto the front of a modern Focus. Not good.

While we’re on the topic of looks, the hottest of the small car bunch is easily the MINI Cooper.

The Cooper doesn’t fall into the trap of having the odd proportions of other small cars. From any angle, it looks like a hunkered-down brute and is as cute as it is cool.

Speaking of odd proportions, though, look at the Honda Fit.

From certain angles it seems way too tall for its tiny wheels and tires. Add in the bulbous front and a barn-wall rear and you’ve got a car that looks like designers forgot to shrink certain parts while over-shrinking others. Even so, I think the Fit is the small car to buy due to its peppy performance, high quality, strong resale value, and decent amount of interior space.

It’s impossible to write about micro cars without mentioning the smart fortwo, which has seen recent sales success in the States.

At nearly 40 inches shorter than a MINI Cooper, I believe the fortwo has crossed the line into being TOO small for American roads. I’m all for saving gas and would even consider drastic measures to do so, but there are better ways than just making cars the size of a Tonka.

For those in the U.S.: Would you consider driving a small car? What European cars would you like to see here?

For those in Europe: What do you think about the small-car craze America is beginning to see? Are there any American cars you’d like to see over there?

-tgriffith

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