For the last 2 decades, Japan (at least in my opinion), was probably the best country in the entire world producing GOOD cars.
I can easily remember:
From Honda : NSX (and all its other flavors), CRX V-TEC, DelSol V-TEC, Accord Type-R, Civic Type-R (mk1, mk2 and the jap version of the mk3), S2000, Integra Type-r, Prelude....
From Toyota : AE86, Supra, Celica GT4, MR2 (Mk1, Mk2, Mk3)
From Mazda : Mx3, Mx5, Rx7 (FC and FD)
From Mitsubishi : Lancer Evolution (all), Eclipse Turbo
From Subaru : Impreza (all the turbo 4wd)
From Nissan : Skyline GTR, Sunny GTi, Silvias (from the Dastun Gazelle..rs12, s13, s14 and s15)
But then came a stupid world trend of the "green car"!
Now before you "chlorophyll injected brain people" start saying that I'm wrong, let's just think for one second.
Of all the car's I enumerated, NONE is an economical, cheap, family car! NOT ONE.
A sports car is supposed to BURN fuel, Burn rubber, Burn oil, kill little birds with the sound of it's engine and render the American eagle impotent with it's exhaust fumes.
Economical cars, on the other hand, are made considering consumption, comfort, they are cheap so that a lot of people can afford them and so, they are made with the birds in mind... and the female eagle.
So why oh why did Honda kill the S2000 replacement project and the new NSX replacement project? And then, thinking it's not enough, why did they do a CRX replacement with an 128ps hybrid potato masher inside?
Why did Toyota end the perfect Supra?
Why did Nissan killed the InLine6 of the glorious SKYLINE?
Why did Mazda go all green with the RX8 instead of putting a triple rotor bi-turbo in it?
The only ones not following this trend are Mitsubishi and Subaru! I recon that they must use a supper advanced water filter on their engineers homes... they must. Otherwise it's just a question of time until I read a news blog and just get smashed by another "Japanese Brain Fart".
I've been telling EVERYONE, since I brought my S2000, just how much better Japanese cars are, comparing to Europeans.... but then THIS!
I just found myself telling people to buy the sirocco, the golf GTI, the Peugeot RCZ, the Porsche boxter, the Citroen DS3, the mini cooper and so many other GOOD examples of just how bad the Japanese car industry is that they no longer even get in the race.
I remember the times where a test between a Civic Type-R, a Audi S3 and a Seat Leon Cupra R, where you could tell that the civic was the best even with the turbos and all wheel drive on the European competitors... but now, you couldn't fit 3 turbos in a CRZ and make it outrun a fiesta.
I'm a proud owner of an S2000. To me it's the last Honda besides the Japanese CivicType-R (the European uses a multi-link rear suspension to ... cut prices... PFFF)
I'm desperately trying to source money to buy a good Supra, GTR-R34 or an Rx7FD... I'm feeling like the time when Japan produced cars for people has ended. Now all you can buy from them is "bird cars".
It must be the water!
Simple and short, and to keep it in a nuttshell... Japan, facing a major economic crisis as today, and from sometime now, is importing all the stuff from where ?? China ! And not to be surprised because it's "as" good as Jap's but halp price half quality. And kids remember...the days of the rising sun are fading so better get used to it.
ReplyDeleteStill, either they go the "family car hybrid" way... or the "TRUE CAR" way; not in-between and all f%&#$%-up.
ReplyDeletePresenting the CRZ as the CRX replacement is an abomination, and has NO market slot for it to squeeze into.
China is a BIG problem now. They brought Volvo, meaning that my volvo is also on of the LAST true volvos. Now the NASA-BUILD-QUALITY standards are gone.
These are very depressing times for me. I need my BIG-Bucks FAAAST to buy a collection of GOOD OLD Japanese cars before they just disappear for good.
Petrol days are counted by few numbers and the future is telling and tech is pointing that cars are going to be all about efficiency and design technology to bring consumption and energy efficiency ratios to an optimal point, this also says that the good old days of Detroit and others are over and one must look ahead to new and promising technologies that enable us to be free from pretroleum addiction. With this the smell of burned rubber and oil and asphalt that overraging powers of overdimentioned engines debit in former days meet their creator in a short time...
ReplyDeleteHummm but if petrol is ending, then go the nitromethane or the methanol way. It's even MORE octanic and so.. better.
ReplyDeleteDetroit was dead before it was born. Big American V8 and V6 engines producing 150ps from 5000cc and pulling a 3ton car is SOOOO American (rednecks).
In my opinion, if the engine doesn't produce OVER 101ps/liter atmospheric and revs over 8000rpm, it's pointless. That's why I hate V engines. Just to damn inefficient (With the exception of a couple of them).
The truth is that my car has a factory specific output of 125ps using 101ron gas. It's an atmospheric 2000cc engine that totals 250ps. THAT is just as efficient as it gets from factory, and its fun and entertaining.
And if I fine tune-it, I can go over 300Ps from that same engine..that's 150ps specific power.
Producing this same power from a IMA hybrid engine would be possible with a 1800cc engine.
Producing this same power from a full electric meant that it would discharge in a couple of kilometers, making the battery charging time produce much more carbon emissions than my gas engine does.
In my opinion, it's a marketing trend. Everyone is worried with carbon emissions without being worried on just how fast they are burning and tearing forest and vegetation that CONSUMES their carbon emissions.
Do they need to get more efficient? Yep, but using new engine designs and new explosion type fuels.
A new hydrogen generating catalyst has just been found, nitromethane is real, methanol is real, alcohol is real. No need for heavy batteries and mixer-sourced engine/generators.
My opinion? Honda calls back the CRZ, puts a K20 engine on it tuned to 260ps on gas, nitromethane ready, and plants 50 trees per car sold.
No C.O. problems and FAR more fun.