The couple posts I put in yesterday about cars, I quite enjoyed writing. I am now thinking of turning the blog into a automotive discussion blog. I have been advised often that a blog cannot be general. It has to have a direction. It has to be about something. Well the thing that has interested me most in recent years is cars. So why not write specifically about them?
I think since I don't have anything particular to discuss today, let me write about my standpoints on certain companies. As I mentioned in the last two posts, I am definitely a Japanese car fan. Today pretty much three 'nationalities' of cars exist. American, German and Japanese. Yes there's car companies from Italy, Britain, France, Korea (South, of course, the North has bigger problems to worry about), India, etc. You might be surprised that I didnt mention Italy as one of the main nationalities of cars. But lets be frank, how many Ferraris do you see running around? How many Paganis, Alfa Romeos or Fiats do you see? Well the last ones a weak example. Fiats are in fact averagely common. But when you compare it to the popularity of Japanese or German cars, it pales. Another thing is that the Germans are taking over everything. Volkswagen own dozens of the brands that were originally from other countries. You might know that Audi own Lamborghini now (and VW own Audi in turn). I mean one of the original Italian super car brand is now German. Same thing with British cars. All of the best known British cars, with the exception of Aston Martin, are owned by other countries. Rolls Royce, Bentley, Rover and Jaguar are all bought out by foreign companies. The last two, I am quite proud to say, are owned by an Indian company (Tata).
So the three nationalities of cars are exactly as different as each of the nations that make them. American cars are often thirsty, extremely powerful, enormous in size but crude, not very well engineered, and in general simplistic when it comes to build and performance. This is fine in America where many cities have straight big roads. But not elsewhere. German cars are generally luxurious, refined, expensive and carry a certain aristocratic image with them. Japanese cars are quite cheap, economical, light and small. You get a lot of bang for your buck. They are built with incredible attention to (engine) detail, reliable and overall easy to own.
Jeremy Clarkson describes the American (muscle) car as similar to a killer whale, "striking to look at but you wouldn't want to own one." German cars make you look twice and fill you with awe and amazement. But that comes at a price. And often when you look at a BMW or a Merc, you don't really get actual visible things for the money you pay. You are paying about a quarter of the money for feeling elite and for the satisfaction of driving something refined. But then when something goes wrong, your wallets going to get much lighter. Also if you want to sell it off after a few years you are going to get much much lesser than what you spent. Japanese cars are quite unassuming. But you get a lot for your money. They'll be surprisingly comfortable, at least decently reliable, and with plenty of power for the roads you'll generally drive on. They'll be light on your pocket too.
That being said, there are several American and German cars I absolutely adore. I smile and nod when I see a classic muscle car, because it is indeed a thing of menacing beauty. I turn and look at a Mercedes or a BMW and feel awed at it refinement and class. But if I see a classic Honda Civic or a Nissan Z, I just feel happy. Its something thats actually within anyone's reach and it can potentially deliver lots of adrenaline surges while not causing you to go bankrupt or breaking down after a few wheelspins.
I think since I don't have anything particular to discuss today, let me write about my standpoints on certain companies. As I mentioned in the last two posts, I am definitely a Japanese car fan. Today pretty much three 'nationalities' of cars exist. American, German and Japanese. Yes there's car companies from Italy, Britain, France, Korea (South, of course, the North has bigger problems to worry about), India, etc. You might be surprised that I didnt mention Italy as one of the main nationalities of cars. But lets be frank, how many Ferraris do you see running around? How many Paganis, Alfa Romeos or Fiats do you see? Well the last ones a weak example. Fiats are in fact averagely common. But when you compare it to the popularity of Japanese or German cars, it pales. Another thing is that the Germans are taking over everything. Volkswagen own dozens of the brands that were originally from other countries. You might know that Audi own Lamborghini now (and VW own Audi in turn). I mean one of the original Italian super car brand is now German. Same thing with British cars. All of the best known British cars, with the exception of Aston Martin, are owned by other countries. Rolls Royce, Bentley, Rover and Jaguar are all bought out by foreign companies. The last two, I am quite proud to say, are owned by an Indian company (Tata).
So the three nationalities of cars are exactly as different as each of the nations that make them. American cars are often thirsty, extremely powerful, enormous in size but crude, not very well engineered, and in general simplistic when it comes to build and performance. This is fine in America where many cities have straight big roads. But not elsewhere. German cars are generally luxurious, refined, expensive and carry a certain aristocratic image with them. Japanese cars are quite cheap, economical, light and small. You get a lot of bang for your buck. They are built with incredible attention to (engine) detail, reliable and overall easy to own.
Jeremy Clarkson describes the American (muscle) car as similar to a killer whale, "striking to look at but you wouldn't want to own one." German cars make you look twice and fill you with awe and amazement. But that comes at a price. And often when you look at a BMW or a Merc, you don't really get actual visible things for the money you pay. You are paying about a quarter of the money for feeling elite and for the satisfaction of driving something refined. But then when something goes wrong, your wallets going to get much lighter. Also if you want to sell it off after a few years you are going to get much much lesser than what you spent. Japanese cars are quite unassuming. But you get a lot for your money. They'll be surprisingly comfortable, at least decently reliable, and with plenty of power for the roads you'll generally drive on. They'll be light on your pocket too.
That being said, there are several American and German cars I absolutely adore. I smile and nod when I see a classic muscle car, because it is indeed a thing of menacing beauty. I turn and look at a Mercedes or a BMW and feel awed at it refinement and class. But if I see a classic Honda Civic or a Nissan Z, I just feel happy. Its something thats actually within anyone's reach and it can potentially deliver lots of adrenaline surges while not causing you to go bankrupt or breaking down after a few wheelspins.
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