Podcasts from Adam Carolla's show that mention Top Gear

Vector said:
I'm far from 'Euro bias land', try just north of the border.
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Euro bias land has no geographical definition or limitation based on nationality.
 
Vector said:
I'm far from 'Euro bias land', try just north of the border. And I would like it if you maybe provided a few examples to support how you have 'moved on'? I said you had 2 or 3 exceptions. The corvette, viper, saleen s7, the Ultimate Aero, Ford GT... but save for the corvette and the viper, the other ones are fairly exclusive. There aren't really any other good accessible sports cars made by the Big 3.
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There are a few but far between. First is notably the Pontiac Solstice GXP. 260 HP RWD Roadster makes for a great sports car. Others are the oft imitated Ford Mustang GT (by the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro) and Dodge Neon SRT4 (by the Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo). There is plenty of fun to be had with American cars. Just not to the same level of quality or value as offerings from EU and Japan. I just never think I'll see something like an STI or an R32 Golf built by the big 3 anytime soon.
 
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pandasaurus_rex said:
There are a few but far between. First is notably the Pontiac Solstice GXP. 260 HP RWD Roadster makes for a great sports car. Others are the oft imitated Ford Mustang GT (by the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro) and Dodge Neon SRT4 (by the Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo). There is plenty of fun to be had with American cars. Just not to the same level of quality or value as offerings from EU and Japan. I just never think I'll see something like an STI or an R32 Golf built by the big 3 anytime soon.
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Based on the "euro bias land" mentality of having to have handling, the older Neon (ACR) is far more desirable. They are cheap, not very heavy, and will keep pace with a miata in a straight (like thats very hard) or through a bend. It's only draw back is FWD, but then so are the Alfa-Romeo's and VW's that everyone goes on about.

Guys who like to thrash around tracks with no care for their cars will buy old and busted neons with 5 speeds and throw some cheap suspension bits on 'em, drive them till they wreck it, pull the parts of throw on next one. Rinse and repeat.
 
Two problems I have with Adam that were amplified in that clip:

1) He's stuck in the 1970s. I think he obsesses with the cars he drooled over as a kid and is just stuck there forever. And that would be early Japanese imports like the Datsun B210 and 240Z and rally cars. Not that that's bad, it's cool stuff.

2) Thus he's stuck with his image of American cars as iron blocks, leaf springs, solid axles, fake wood, plastic, etc. Because he's stuck in the 1970s and he's thinking of the Chevelle or something.

I agree with him on a lot of things and I'm glad to hear him saying it (Nascar, muscle cars, etc.) but the guy is clearly biased against something like a Corvette, CTS-V, Pontiac G8, Solstace, Challenger, etc.
 
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janstett said:
Two problems I have with Adam that were amplified in that clip:

1) He's stuck in the 1970s. I think he obsesses with the cars he drooled over as a kid and is just stuck there forever.

2) Thus he's stuck with his image of American cars as iron blocks, leaf springs, solid axles, fake wood, plastic, etc. Because he's stuck in the 1970s and he's thinking of the Chevelle or something.

I agree with him on a lot of things and I'm glad to hear him saying it (Nascar, muscle cars, etc.) but the guy is clearly biased against something like a Corvette, Pontiac G8, Solstace, Challenger, etc.
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My thoughts exactly.
 
janstett said:
Two problems I have with Adam that were amplified in that clip:

1) He's stuck in the 1970s. I think he obsesses with the cars he drooled over as a kid and is just stuck there forever. And that would be early Japanese imports like the Datsun B210 and 240Z and rally cars. Not that that's bad, it's cool stuff.

2) Thus he's stuck with his image of American cars as iron blocks, leaf springs, solid axles, fake wood, plastic, etc. Because he's stuck in the 1970s and he's thinking of the Chevelle or something.

I agree with him on a lot of things and I'm glad to hear him saying it (Nascar, muscle cars, etc.) but the guy is clearly biased against something like a Corvette, CTS-V, Pontiac G8, Solstace, Challenger, etc.
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Both your points are only true because the caller was asking about his thoughts specifically about the muscle car culture, which references exactly those iron-blocked leaf sprung solid axle plastic dashed beasts, and modern American performance lives in the shadow of that muscle-car past, rightly or wrongly; that's what comes to his mind, and you really can't blame him for that. When he gets a call about current American performance cars, then you can start judging him more.
 
pandasaurus_rex said:
There is plenty of fun to be had with American cars. Just not to the same level of quality or value as offerings from EU and Japan.
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I think this says it right here. I would concur with this statement.

Maybe I'm just tired of the offerings that are available to me over here. I'm looking for a decent RWD sports coupe, but whenever I type in RWD into autotrader, all I get are old lincolns and mustangs... peppered with the odd bmw or nissan. I don't want a saloon car, so it seems my only options are to find a decent 300zx or Rx-7. This is also why I was looking at a Fiero or MR2.
 
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pandasaurus_rex said:
There are a few but far between. First is notably the Pontiac Solstice GXP. 260 HP RWD Roadster makes for a great sports car. Others are the oft imitated Ford Mustang GT (by the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro) and Dodge Neon SRT4 (by the Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo). There is plenty of fun to be had with American cars. Just not to the same level of quality or value as offerings from EU and Japan. I just never think I'll see something like an STI or an R32 Golf built by the big 3 anytime soon.
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But even thoes "good" american car are still based off of a euro or j-spec model.

The Challenger is based off the 300 and Charger chassies which is based off the C-Class or E-Class Benz. (i cant remember which one....)

The Solstice and Sky are based off the Vauxhall VX220 which is based off the Elise.

Im just guessing with this one but i bet that the new Camaro is based off the new VXR chassis that Pontiac now calls the G8

The new "Sport Truck" that Pontiac will release is based off the Holden Ute


So yeah, America can make some good cars but we are WAY behind IMO. But we have steped up our game A LOT! Just look at a Grand Am vs. a G6 or a Focus vs. an Escort.
 
Mopar_Korean said:
But even thoes "good" american car are still based off of a euro or j-spec model.

The Challenger is based off the 300 and Charger chassies which is based off the C-Class or E-Class Benz. (i cant remember which one....)
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The Dodge Neon (ACR/SRT-4) were designed and built here. The Dodge Omni GLH/GLHS were mostly American (the styling was obviously ripped off from VW), same goes for the Daytona/Charger.

The Solstice and Sky are based off the Vauxhall VX220 which is based off the Elise.
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The elise/vx220 have NOTHING to do with the solstice/sky other than they are both sports cars. Elise is Mid engined and made from aluminum and the solstice/sky is Front engined and made from steel. The sky/solstice were also developed in house at GM.

The 2 cars don't even share the same engines (other than they both had ecotec's).

Im just guessing with this one but i bet that the new Camaro is based off the new VXR chassis that Pontiac now calls the G8

The new "Sport Truck" that Pontiac will release is based off the Holden Ute
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The g8 just barely came out (and it's a Holden Commodore), but the new camaro is built on the platform. All the previous cars were still American designed/made.

So yeah, America can make some good cars but we are WAY behind IMO. But we have steped up our game A LOT! Just look at a Grand Am vs. a G6 or a Focus vs. an Escort.
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The Focus and Escort are both foreign designs.
 
Mopar_Korean said:
Just look at a Focus vs. an Escort.
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The first gen Focus waas a nice car, I must say. Don't even get me started on the current gen North American Focus. I drive by a Ford dealer every day and to see those abominations of half-baked design lined up next to the road. :barf::barf::barf:
 
thedguy said:
The Dodge Neon (ACR/SRT-4) were designed and built here. The Dodge Omni GLH/GLHS were mostly American (the styling was obviously ripped off from VW), same goes for the Daytona/Charger.



The elise/vx220 have NOTHING to do with the solstice/sky other than they are both sports cars. Elise is Mid engined and made from aluminum and the solstice/sky is Front engined and made from steel. The sky/solstice were also developed in house at GM.

The 2 cars don't even share the same engines (other than they both had ecotec's).



The g8 just barely came out (and it's a Holden Commodore), but the new camaro is built on the platform. All the previous cars were still American designed/made.



The Focus and Escort are both foreign designs.
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The Sky and Solstice are a re badged Opel GT. They all share the same platforms. My mistake. I also realize that the Neon are American only designs. I know, I own 2 :)

Who really cares about GM cars anyways:rolleyes:? (can you tell Im a mopar fanboy? )

My point was simply that some (NOT ALL) of the better American cars are either based off euro/j-spec cars. Or have been designed by Europeans. And I know the focus and escort are euro based. I smacked myself in the head after I submitted the reply. :lol:

In the end i guess it doesnt really matter. Buy what you like and put it away wet.
 
Labcoatguy said:
Both your points are only true because the caller was asking about his thoughts specifically about the muscle car culture, which references exactly those iron-blocked leaf sprung solid axle plastic dashed beasts, and modern American performance lives in the shadow of that muscle-car past, rightly or wrongly; that's what comes to his mind, and you really can't blame him for that. When he gets a call about current American performance cars, then you can start judging him more.
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As I said the first go round, they are points that were amplified by that clip, I've known of Adam Carolla's car opinions for a long time to varying levels of detail. That clip solidifies my suspicions. When asked about muscle cars, he didn't even venture into anything remotely modern like a Challenger, Charger, Corvette, GTO, et al. He immediately zoomed into his period of arrested automotive development, the 1970s.

OK, I'll grant, maybe he would have a more positive opinion of modern muscle car equivalents. But I'm betting not, and I'm betting he's one of those guys who thinks the Corvette has truck leaf springs, a solid rear axle, and drum brakes. Because he just doesn't care, because it's not a 70's Japanese import.

Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I am.
 
Mopar_Korean said:
The Sky and Solstice are a re badged Opel GT. They all share the same platforms. My mistake.
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The Opel is actually a rebadged Saturn (though the styling is from europe).

Who really cares about GM cars anyways:rolleyes:? (can you tell Im a mopar fanboy? )
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More people care about GM cars than Mopars :p (can you tell I'm a Chevy guy?)

My point was simply that some (NOT ALL) of the better American cars are either based off euro/j-spec cars. Or have been designed by Europeans. And I know the focus and escort are euro based. I smacked myself in the head after I submitted the reply. :lol:

In the end i guess it doesnt really matter. Buy what you like and put it away wet.
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hmmm I read your point completely wrong, because it appeared to me that you were saying all the good "American cars" are actually Japanese/european.

This day and age it's rare to find a car that is all Japanese, or American or whatever.

Alfa Romeo uses modified GM V6's, Mazda and Ford share a basic platform for their 4 cylinder engines (though parts are not directly interchangeable in most cases). Mitsubishi/hyundai/Chrysler are similar to the Mazda/Ford setup.

GM are tech partners with BMW and Toyota (guess where the VVT comes from on the Ecotec), the ecotec engine itself is a shared design work between the US engineers and the European Division. The list goes on and on.
 
thedguy said:
The Opel is actually a rebadged Saturn (though the styling is from europe).



More people care about GM cars than Mopars :p (can you tell I'm a Chevy guy?)



hmmm I read your point completely wrong, because it appeared to me that you were saying all the good "American cars" are actually Japanese/european.

This day and age it's rare to find a car that is all Japanese, or American or whatever.

Alfa Romeo uses modified GM V6's, Mazda and Ford share a basic platform for their 4 cylinder engines (though parts are not directly interchangeable in most cases). Mitsubishi/hyundai/Chrysler are similar to the Mazda/Ford setup.

GM are tech partners with BMW and Toyota (guess where the VVT comes from on the Ecotec), the ecotec engine itself is a shared design work between the US engineers and the European Division. The list goes on and on.
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Hey man, its no biggie. Its kinda hard to get the right "point" across by just typing. But im wondering how are GM and BMW partners? I would have never imagined anything with them two.
 
Mopar_Korean said:
Hey man, its no biggie. Its kinda hard to get the right "point" across by just typing. But im wondering how are GM and BMW partners? I would have never imagined anything with them two.
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They share technology, apparently. I only know they claim to be tech partners but haven't bothered to look and find out exactly how.

I do know the GM is apparently looking into buying BMW's SMG transmission. GM has been selling BMW automatic transmissions for a LONG time.
 
avanti said:
the always hilarious Bob Saget is a guest on the show today, coming up in a few minutes!
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Bob Saget is such a dirty, dirty man. Anyone seen The Aristocrats?
 
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