Ladies and gentlemen, behold the Rover 18K4K. A flat torque curve and very high specific output... but the weird design meant it was very overheating-sensitive, it blew head gaskets like nobody's business, the cylinder liners were prone to failure and the all-aluminium block was made of a heat-treated alloy whick made…
It's the PRV V6 (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo), but it was not originally intended to be a performance engine. It was designed for such tarmac-burners as the Volvo 264 and the Renault 30. Made for idle cruising, not blitzing acceleration.
The quintaessential German is practical but affable, uncomplicated yet thirsty, and oscillates between quiet efficiency at work and boorish loudness when partying. Hence, a quintaessential German car should be understated when doing menial chores and practical to accomplish them, but when it hits the Autobahn, all…
This unkillable beast must be in the Top 10. The 2nd-Gen Honda Accord.
Well, no bad feelings. Countries don't have friends, just interests, and Franco provided stability and staunch anti-Communism in the entrance to the Mediterranean. Besides, the US provided some international legitimacy to Spain, which was instrumental in the development of the country (sanctions approved by the USSR,…
Intelligence without a sense of morality and decency is a loaded gun in the hands of a child. Ford, considered one of the average-intelligence presidents (since arriving at that office requires some smarts, IMO), did have a sense of morality and restored some of the prestige of the POTUS. He was quite popular in Spain…
Progressive, may be. Positive, doubtfully so. Nixon, by proclaiming himself a conservative, could enact very left-wing policies (EPA, China, Paris talks) and not be called a pinko. Same as Clinton could enact very pro-business policies and not be called a baby-eating conservative. In the end, the label has very little…
Maybe it's for the sheer ubiquitousness, but in Europe it's quite an underappreciated car. Even though a 406 V6 could hold its own against more prestigious German Autobahnbombers. It's good to see that Americans can see its goodness. And no, I've never owned a 406 nor did my Dad own one (he did have a 605, a wonderful…
I don't know if the girls arouse me more than the Montreal, or vice versa.
Soviet driving: if there's a way to hoon it, it will be hooned. Even if there isn't, it will be hooned. Eldos, Continentals, Ladas, Volgas, ZILs...
Ending the gold standard was positive?
Bonus for the bilingual joke.
Well, in the text there was no specific mention to Presidents of the United States...
It was my homage to Sarkozy.
Thanks. It's not very often that I have the opportunity to dust out my French cursing.
No Facel Vega. No Facel Vega!? No salope de putain de merde de pédé de reference to Facel Vega!? NO FACEL VEGA!?
So, it has a body designed by an Italian and an engine ripped off from BMW. So? France is a land of great thieves (Arsène Lupin was French for a reason, and the national hero is Jean Valjean). It may have no class, but then again not all France is fuckin' central Paris. It's slow and comfortable, like the national…
I know, I know, I just wanted to point out the difference between nationalism all over the world ("This comes from where I was born, therefore it's good") and French nationalism ("This is good, therefore it must be French"). It's a more cosmopolitan kind of jingoism. I just jumped at the opportunity, since I'm from a…
It's simple, straightforward engineering with a touch of style and nice handling.
Typical French nationalism: "If it's any good, it must be French". What about Falaschi?
