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Originally Posted by Germaniac Hehe, for some reason I didn't mind the old Avalon - I thought it had quite a bit of character, despite being hideously boring. |
Err, ok.. Avalon? Character? I didn't think it was a bad car per se, but just not terribly exciting.
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Originally Posted by Germaniac Hey you, shut up, at least we know what a good city looks like down here  hehe. |
Yeah, I guess that because I'm living in that city, I sometimes do take for granted how good it looks.
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Originally Posted by Germaniac Yeah, it's certainly much better to see cars in the flesh, and really the motor show's an environment that's pretty conducive to accentuating what the carmakers want us to see in their cars (nice pretty displays, well positioned lights, rotating thingies, etc). |
I like the opportunity to see all cars in a short amount of time and small area - I can compare everything on the same night. Especially with the interior - the feel of plastics and upholstery is very important to me.
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Originally Posted by Germaniac I'd like to see you take a car out in a blind test You're quite right in that I'm not sure too many would be able tell the difference between FWD/RWD when they're wrapped around a tree with a blindfold on  Anyhow - I personally think neither the Falcon or Aurion are very attractive but I just find the Falcon more appealing in its concept and execution - for starters its RWD configuration but also the wider spread of (faster/more enjoyable) engines on offer, the lary/tacky bodykits on many of the models: I dunno, the idea of a bland, solid, reliable FWD V6 Toyota doesn't appeal to me as much as a stonking, loud, RWD grossly unenvironmental 290kw FPV-GTP Falcon Hehe, not that I'd ever buy one, but all idiocy aside I truly think that in a car of this size, RWD is a necessity - my brother slid his 93 Civic into a high gutter going round a corner a little too fast on a slippery road and it was in the most part due to FWD and the loss of control it brought about when he applied the throttle - imagine the damage in a ~1.6tonne family sedan (as opposed to a featherweight 3 door hatch) in the same scenerio - not pretty I would imagine. I'm no scientist and I won't ever pretend to be but it makes more sense to me to have drive and steering going through different wheels, as opposed to the same.. |
LOL, I'll pay that! Well, just to reiterate (since I assume you understood), I meant that most people don't use these cars in such a capacity, and to the extent of their handling abilities, that FWD becomes a factor. Add ESP and Traction Control and you'll be right, most of the time. Sure, I think that drive power and steering are better if they make use of as many wheels' grip as possible, but I just get the idea that the RWD superiority issue is beat up so much, everywhere - in general public, in media, on forums..
I rather like the Falcon, for the average family sedan it is - innocuous; the quintessential Joe Average car, 2.3 kids and all that. The proportions and overall look suit its purpose. The souped up versions also do a pretty decent job.
As for a '93 Civic.. well, these days I mainly drive a 2000 Civic sedan. Despite its low mass, it's certainly no performer, in straight lines or around bends, and leaves me distinctly underwhelmed. There are some decent FWD cars, but I am willing to bet that a '93 Civic isn't one of them. I second that large and somewhat powerful cars are well served by RWD or AWD, but there's a world of difference even within the realm of FWD.
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Originally Posted by Germaniac Speaking of the 380, I really feel for it actually - by all accounts it seems to be a pretty good car (leagues ahead of the Magna it replaced anyway), but it seems that because of the heritage that has been bestowed upon it it's been doomed to fail before it was even released. And re-released. |
Yeah, I pity it as well. It's surely better than the Magna, but I'll hold back on the "pretty good car" part though - 4 airbags when the new standard is 6? Tilt-only adjust for the steering wheel? Amongst a few others. That it was Based on the US Galant was an insurmountable handicap, too, with such limitations. Not to mention that it's hardly the best time for a large sedan, and especially a barely-average large sedan. After the first round of reviews, and even more now, IMO it's just a matter of when, not if, that Mitsubishi ceases to be a local manufacturer. I can't say I'm happy to see the jobs go, but I'm not willing to buy a 380 just to prop up the local manufacturer outfit.
02-16-2006, 09:38 AM
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