2016 Car of the Year. Excuse me?

Motor Trend magazine of North America announce their Car, Truck, and SUV of the Year awards last month. That's fine and all, but I think a big shocker came when they announced Car of the Year.

It was the Chevrolet Camaro, both six and V-8 versions of it. Mother of pearl, yes, the Camaro!

This is the same model of car that Chevrolet left almost unchanged for years, specifically the last consecutive generation of the old car. It went from 1993 until the end of 2002, essentially unchanged save for some cosmetic modifications, and the addition of the Ram Air hood-to-engine power increasing system. 

Power for those old cars stopped climbing, and were rated at 315 horses for its final few years (SS version), and was long criticized for its aged looks and unrefined driving habits. A rough ride didn't help. It was "cheap" speed, though, sometimes overshadowed by unemployed car nuts such as myself. 

I may have been paying more attention to Hondas, instead, but 315 horses for a little less than $30,000 is still 315 horses, my friend. Of course, especially back in 2002 for those numbers.

But back to the main point here, and away from that rabbit trail. Has Chevy really perfected the pushrod sports car that much that a major publication hailed it as Car of the Year?

While I can understand why to an extent, I don't understand why because of the car's poor access, and its terrible windows and no vision.

Why is that enough to crown a car of the Year award? I am not sure, and I would satirically question if Motor Trend is sure other than the Camaro's go-fast mission, and GM's claimed ability for the Camaro "handle well."

Motor Trend, try to think with your head next time, and not your lead foot.

2016 Republican Candidates and the Cars they would be

2016 Election

Republican candidates and the cars they represent

Originally written 8/7/2015--Rejected from another major car blog for the possibility of angering people 

As I turned on the idiot box last night, I could not help to notice the first GOP debate was airing on Fox News. I did an article for my personal sake comparing authors to cars, but why not compare the aspiring GOP presidential candidates to the cars they in a sense represent?

Donald Trump: Extended length Cadillac Escalade with bumper stickers referencing The Apprentice as well as his ego. Probably has not been washed in a while, because like Trump, the truck has probably been all over the place.

Ben Carson: Carson has a calmer personality and does not appear to argue with other GOPs as much, so possibly something more conservative like a full size Chevrolet Impala. Maybe a clean one in all black, or dark blue.

Jeb Bush: Lincoln, but not an old Town Car. This Bush desires to be more progressive than the views the Town Car represented. But he’s not exactly poor either, so nothing below that, and he would not touch a Tesla with a 100-foot pole.

Rand Paul: Smart car/Scion IQ/Chevrolet Volt. Any of these do not blend in with other cars. They stick out, just like Paul’s almost libertarian views on a number of topics.

Chris Christie: Mercedes G550 (yes, the boxy one). This is because he is very different from the other GOPs because he is so moderate. He also appears to run other candidates over, according to the debate. Why not pick Earth’s ultimate 4x4 vehicle?

Mike Huckabee: Chevrolet Tahoe with Cross emblems on it. Perhaps a Jesus-based plate frame as well. Parked on the weekend? Church most of Sunday, as Huckabee is a vocally religious person.

Car Opinion: Could the new Bronco be a hit for Ford? BOTFG takes a look...

13 November 2015

Ford Motor Company is at it again.
Automoblog.net, the website that I write for, spilled the beans last week that we will be getting a new midsize-about SUV possibly dubbed the Bronco.
If you are new to cars and do not live in a rural area, you may not know what a Bronco is.
The Bronco, sold here from the 1960s well until 1996, was a midsize, if not almost full size, truck-based SUV that had a great reputation. Decent power, hard-working engines from the F-150, and excellent torque in the later Power Stroke diesel versions coupled to capable off-road driving made for a good nameplate.
After being phased out and being replaced by the V6-only Explorer urbanite of the 1990s (and still even today), Ford lost their two-door betweener-sized SUV. They also lost another diesel.
I think it is excellent news that they want to bring this famous nameplate back to Ford, and like the continued Research and Design division at Ford with strongly evolving technology, could mean renewed share of a the market for Ford, whom has lost to GM with the Tahoe/Suburban full sizers.
Long live the Bronco, and for oil's sake, sell us a powerful award-winning diesel in the U.S.

Used Luxury Car: Mercedes Benz SL folding hardtop

2009 Mercedes SL-class SL550/SL600

On: Why I think they are underrated

This short piece will be about why I miss the old SL550 by Mercedes--and why the SL600 is better for power, and a lot more fun to rocket around--without all the racket.

The 550 version of the SL today offers around 400 horsepower, if not a little more. What do I think? I think that is too much for an eight-cylinder powered car. It is also too close to the beloved twin turbo SL600 V-12's 510 hp figure. Even my own girlfriend thinks the V-12 needs to stay around after our conversation about the 600 last week.

Because no matter how much you boost a V-8 SL, it will never be as silky or effortless (common adjectives for Mercedes) as their excellent twin turbo V-12 motors. 
Starting with 493 hp in 2004 and now pegged at 510, the car currently boasts a truck-like 612 pound feet of torque, and remember this is all on pump premium gas we are talking about. Five and a half liters of all-aluminum, silky V-12 muscle that runs right into its 155 mph speed governor at full gas smash.

The old SL550's normally aspirated 5.5 liter V-8 was paired with the 7-speed automatic; a manual has not been available since the 1990s. And yes, the normally aspirated V-8 made the same displacement somehow as apparently "small" piston V-12 did.

The SL600, however, was paired with the slightly stouter 5-speed automatic to accommodate the 12 cylinder's torque. Used in the old Maybach 57 luxury sedans, these were stout engines and transmissions.

Step inside, and there is only room for the driver and the passenger. This is where I now think Mercedes hits the nail on the head, because interactive luxury systems are abound. Some of the goodies that will fit into the car's small interior are present, such as the smooth ride and fairly slow handing response. The SL will never let you forget you are driving a car that weighs almost as much as a Dodge Dakota does.

     Photo Credit: Google Images

What do you love about your truck No. 1: John Hoover and his F-150

TH BLOG of that Filtz Guy will be doing a series of timeless features this second half of the year 2015. John Hoover of Finleyville, Washington County, Pa., was the first to step up to the plate. Specifically, we will be interviewing truck owners about their trucks all around Western Penn.

While some working men use their trucks to carry fuel to construction equipment, John Hoover uses his sparingly
o help his kids move to new houses, and to haul of a bit of mulch for occasional mulching."

Hoover, who also owns two newer small SUVs, owns a 1989 Ford F-150 4x4 long bed, as pictured. He has put around 20,000 miles on the truck's odometer, which be bought from a friend somewhere around 2000-01. It's total mileage is right around 70,000 miles, which is read from a standard old school odometer.

It has locking hubs for 4 wheel drive, has no modifications, and a torque-rich big 4.9-liter six cylinder engine. It, as well as the close gearing of the 5-speed, help with work and hauling furniture. Its drivetrain has had no issues, as like other old school Ford 4.9s, it has been reliable for him.

While it's not for sale, Hoover said he has some some funny experiences of his ownership with it. He said when was helping haul a glass-topped picnic table, he said the table actually felt right out of the truck's bed around a sharp turn. "It was in the West End of Pittsburgh," he said, "and thankfully the table did not fall too far away from the road." Hoover said that he was thankful he did not have to clean up the mess, because he placed the table back in the bed, and was good to go afterward. There were no issues with it nor the truck.

He has only gone through one battery since bought it 15 years ago from a friend, and the motors for both of the windows do not work anymore.

Despite the Ford's wear and tear issues, 

"Once you own a truck, you will never want to go back to a car, or even a van."

While Hoover may not drive the truck on a regular basis, he does find enjoyment in helping his family, and driving one of the rare manual transmission trucks on American roads today.

21st Century of Guts: Why I still remember the forgotten GTO

8/3/15

I have been thinking about the sleek looking modern Pontiac GTO from about a decade ago. 
I have been thinking about its strong, somehow poetic 350-horsepower engine.
I think that the car kicks ass. But why did it go?

Who can forget such a car. The 2004 Goat boasted a 5.7 liter engine lifted from the Corvette. That car boasted a 0 to 60 time of a good 5.3 seconds for the stick and 5.4 for the automatic. Fast, but the auto's acceleration felt a little slow.

Source: Net Car Show website

Seeing the car lose its guts, all of its sales, and its availability for the American market.

It was kind of beautiful, if a little on the plain side. But I sure do miss seeing them on GM dealer lots.

I miss seeing them rumble quickly past everything in sight, only Corvettes and Subarus and other serious performance cars strong and light enough to keep up.

I miss the no-cost 6-speed manual option, one of the very few cars to offer such an option. I miss hearing those 'boxes clutches engage and then disengage, and then continue to wildly accelerate onto a freeway ramp. 

I have been thinking lately perhaps I will own such a car someday, used, with plenty of miles. And, just for kicks, an automatic car to mod it. 

The best sports car Ford made

I need to get this one off my chest. I have since joined another blog but I want to say this.

I think the Ford GT is one of the best Ford sports cars ever sold in the USA. 

I believe this even if Jeremy Clarkson asked Ford to take his car back.