Dan Neil (LATimes) - the American J.Clarkson?

[0497]

What makes Jeremy an entertaining critic is that he's aware of the fact that car ownership is very subjective. As a result, there's a lot of witty metaphors - not much technical talk but more lifestyle.

After reading (and viewing) some LATimes motoring pieces, I'd say Dan Neil is the American equivalent. Naturally he doesn't have the English public school, stiff upper-lip attitude but; he is well aware of the fact that he's living in and writing for Los Angeles, the capital of the show business industry with all it's bling and meglomania.

LATimes: should check out the video reviews
http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...ities-highway1

[0497]

Dan Neil winning the Pulitzer

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=1831503

[RUU-CHAMA]

I like him because he understands the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang.

[0497]

Did some Googling and it turns out, he's infamous for being fired after writing about having sex in a Ford Expedition to check out how much space it had. Also, after pissing off GM with a scathing review, they pulled advertising from the LATimes.

http://www.newsobserver.com/313/story/240861.html

In what was perhaps the first ever X-rated review of a car, he went too far by describing in titillating detail a certain Ford's capacity for sexual congress on the back seat .
.....

"I remember as if it were yesterday," he said. "My working theory was that nearly everyone had achieved some sort of sexual congress in an automobile -- indeed, whole industries were based on the fact. Yet no reviewer had ever written about what makes a car good for this kind of behavior.

"I had another, rather more delicate notion in mind, as well. Middle-age married people were buying SUVs in large numbers, to dutifully schlep the kids to and fro, to tow their awful boats, and the like. But the SUV is also big enough to occasionally, and comfortably, get a groove on, you know, just to spice things up, which is what married couples do.

[BlaRo]

The fact that he won a Pulitzer shows that there's still room in this dull politically correct world for witty, clever reviews that piss people off. He deserves more credit. 8)

[thedguy]

Sounds like we have at least 1 host for an American hosted version of TG.

[Cobol74]

I think I have found someone who can write, loves cars and has integrity. He should be immediately raised to the status of National Treasure - do Americans have such a concept?
Well this bloke seems to have the 'Right stuff' - LA Times have no backbone what so ever BTW. I thought one of the most endearing traits of Americans was bravery - his ex-employers obviously do not qualify.

[bigsweezey]

That's not america that's LA. Cali is in a world of it's own...mostly populated by hollywood liberals.

Take him and jay leno and you have yourself a good starting lineup for a great car show. TG or not. Leno is leaving the tonight show soon too.