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No one was more surprised than me when, just four days before the next big auto event, I decided not to go. As it turned out, I had made the right decision for the wrong reason. Others reported back there were too many car journalists and not enough vehicles to go around. A fifteen minute drive is way too insufficient to properly evaluate a car.
I am discontent. I decided not to go because I have become rather disillusioned with the whole business of car reviews. You see, I think a lot of the cars pouring out of the world?s manufacturing facilities are, frankly, as dull as ditch water.
Just Beyond Reach
It would be unfair of me to say they are bad cars; they are not. Mostly they are of exceptional quality with many safety features that were the stuff of science fiction not so long ago. Often they are smart and presentable but, and here?s the thing, they are not designed for drivers. For the most part, the driver might as well be piloting a motorised muffin. Stodgy is the word that comes to mind. Perhaps I?m generalizing unfairly. Obviously there are still plenty of great cars around that will get the blood flowing and even make some people call for some new pants: The Ford Focus RS and the Audi TT both reinforce that point. The Ford is reasonably priced too, but many of the cars that truly excite are out of the financial reach of most of the car buying public who truly love the smells and sounds and sights of the open...