Apr 23, 2015 | American
Here’s the hardest part of and why I haven’t posted in a long time; research distracts me from actually getting to writing the article. My wife said to me today as she was leaving for work, that I should write in my blog, so I’m really going to do it today. The first generation Cadillac CTS-V.
Luxury car brands like to have a separate brand within their brand they can tout as their in-house performance division. BMW has the M cars, Mercedes has AMG, Audi has S cars, Lexus has their F designation, Jaguar has R designations, and Cadillac has V. The first car that received the V designation was their already somewhat interesting CTS. A front engine-rear drive, 5 series/E class sized car, that on paper, appeared to be a legitimate competitor to European and Japanese mid -sized sedans. The V version, got upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and most importantly, a 400 horsepower LS6 or LS2 all aluminum V8 bolted to a T-56 manual transmission. That’s it! No automatic slush box for this boulevard cruiser. Enthusiasts rejoice!
So on paper this looks like a winner. Unfortunately, this was pre-recession era General Motors. American cars in the mid 2000s had a reputation for having some pretty low rent material interiors and this car is no exception. Acres of flat black plastic along with a fit and finish that appear to be of the same standard as a Chevy Cobalt of the same era, not of the most prestigious American nameplate that you would expect. Malibus and Camrys of today have much nicer materials and fit and finish over what was then Caddy’s most expensive version of their 5 series fighter.
Look at those vents! You know they make a horrible plastic on plastic scraping sound when those joysticks are moved. Also observe that gauge cluster that appears to be directly lifted from a Cobalt with a V graphic and a couple of low-resolution LCD screens added.
Beige!!!!!!
Aside from the interior, and I think I read something somewhere that these cars had an issue with rear differentials failing, but I have no reference for that right now. I would most certainly drive one of these cars. I liken the Small Block Chevy V8 is to GM, as what the 911 is to Porsche. Both are obsolete designs that have been engineered and tweaked to the point where they not only remain relevant, but are beyond competitive.
I stole photos for this post from:http://www.edmunds.com. If you are the owner of these photos and would like me to take them down, I will gladly do so. jj@doublejslist.com
Aug 25, 2011 | American
The 2 door SUV is a dying breed in today’s family-oriented, car-based SUV marketplace. The Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon were the last full-size SUVs available in the United States. Personally, I am a huge fan of 2 door SUVs. They have a shorter wheelbase, making them better for off-roading, and lack the soccer-mom look that 4 door SUVs are synonymous for. In 1995, the full size 2 door GM SUV went though some significant changes. The Blazer had it’s name changed to Tahoe, and both the Yukon and new Tahoe received a completely redesigned interior that was much more modern and ergonomic. In 1996, both trucks received the updated Vortec 5700 V8 that offered up 255 horsepower as the base engine. Four wheel drive was optional, but almost every 2 door Yukon and Tahoe came equipped. According to Wikipedia, A 5 speed manual transmission was available, but I have never seen one, nor could I locate one online anywhere. It is a shame, because that would be a fantastic truck.
Sadly, the Yukon GT was killed off in 1997, and the Tahoe 2 door was axed in 1999. A shifting marketplace and high gas prices are to blame. It’s really too bad, because these trucks are so damn cool.
My ideal version of one of these trucks would be a Yukon GT, mostly because I think GMCs are generally cooler because they aren’t as prevalent. A Tahoe sport would be adequate also, because they had a sport appearance package that made them look pretty modern. I think it would be perfect with dual exhaust peeking out below the rear bumper, and mufflers that allow a little bit more of the small block V8’s tone to be heard. It would be a truck that looks fantastic, and is just not all that common anymore. This is why it is on my list.
I stole photos for this post from:http://www.edmunds.com. If you are the owner of these photos and would like me to take them down, I will gladly do so. jj@doublejslist.com
Aug 22, 2011 | American, Asian, Japanese
In 1991, Ford unveiled the second generation Escort to the American marketplace. At the time, Ford owned a significant portion of Japanese automaker Mazda. The first generation Escort was barely adequate as a contender in the subcompact segment of the US market against foreign competition. Since Ford had such strong ties to Mazda, they decided to co-develop the platform the new Escort would use. The end result was one of the best small cars that has ever worn the blue oval in the US. The icing on the cake was the GT model that was released at the same time as the other models in the second generation lineup.
The GT model had a lot of upgrades from the standard Escort. It received four wheel disc brakes, sport tuned suspension, a handsome body kit, fog lights, it’s own grille and sport seats. Perhaps the greatest upgrade was from the single cam ford engine, to the double overhead cam 1.8 liter Mazda engine. This was the same engine that was used in the Miata (MX-5). Anyone familiar with that engine knows how spirited, and reliable it was. The collection of changes transformed the mundane econo-car into a very competent hot-hatch, ready to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen GTI, and Honda Civic Si.
It is seldom that these automotive gems are seen on the road anymore, however, when one is spotted, it is similar to spotting an endangered species that is still thriving in the wild. The idea of any hot hatch is usually enough to trigger excitement in a true auto enthusiast’s heart. The concept of a truly competitive American branded hot hatch, is inspiring. This is why it is on my list.
Honorable Mentions:
The First Generation Escort GT:
They usually looked pretty good, but were lacking in performance and feel that could make them steal sales from the competition.
I stole photos for this post from: http://www.productioncars.com, http://www.escortfocus.comhttp://www.cargurus.com . If you are the owner of these photos and would like me to take them down, I will gladly do so. jj@doublejslist.com
