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tw · 10-14-2002, 07:04 PM

Design News has just published its annual survey of engineers on cars.

Under $15K: best - Honda; worst - Kia

$15K to $25K: best - Toyota; worst - Hyundai

$25K to $35K: best - Honda Volvo Toyota BMW; worst- Ford

$35K to $45K: best - BMW; worst - Cadillac

$45K and up: best - Mercedes; worst - Cadillac

Car most owned by engineeers - Ford.

Most noteable change - engineers now prefer comfort over handling. This is attributed by the article to an aging engineering population. Consistent with another American trend that colleges graduate less engineers both in percentage and numbers. Last time this was a trend, America ended up in the recession many years later in late 70s and 80s.

In the 70s, 80s and 90s, there really are no classic American vehicles of mention. Nothing to compete with a mid-60s Chevelle, a 65 Mustang or its Shelby version, the 57 Chevy, the first T-bird and early Corvettes (when Corvettes were classy machines). Nothing in the early 1970s tops the German built Ford Capri or the Datsun Z series - especially the 260Z with its electronic fuel injection. The Mazda RX-7 is a most worthy example. Honda's NSX - the all aluminum car was special as is their S-2000 or BMW's Z coupe. Honorable mention to the DeLorean. Lotus Europa was indeed special. Mazda's Miata is a superb example of making an excellent sports car at a respectable price - and even earning a profit its first year out.

GMs long list of classics is a disaster list from the 4-6-8 Cadillac to the Oldmobile Diesel, the notch back Caddy, a Buick two seater (Regal?) whose body was built in Italy and shipped to the US on jumbo jets, Chevy Vega, Chevy Corvair, GM pickups with side mounted exploding gas tanks, the first GM V-6s that were nothing more than V-8s with two cylinders cut off (made obvious by how the engine vibrated), every 1970 and early 1980s GM 4 cylinder driven vehicle, and the so many GM cars (including Oldsmobiles with Chevy engines) that used a grossly undersized (and self destructing) Chevette transmission even in truck towing packages. Add to that list the Ford Edsel and Pinto, and the AMC Pacer. Classic list of shame mostly when bean counters designed all cars.

10-14-2002, 07:04 PM	#19
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Design News has just published its annual survey of engineers on cars. Under $15K: best - Honda; worst - Kia $15K to $25K: best - Toyota; worst - Hyundai $25K to $35K: best - Honda Volvo Toyota BMW; worst- Ford $35K to $45K: best - BMW; worst - Cadillac $45K and up: best - Mercedes; worst - Cadillac Car most owned by engineeers - Ford. Most noteable change - engineers now prefer comfort over handling. This is attributed by the article to an aging engineering population. Consistent with another American trend that colleges graduate less engineers both in percentage and numbers. Last time this was a trend, America ended up in the recession many years later in late 70s and 80s. In the 70s, 80s and 90s, there really are no classic American vehicles of mention. Nothing to compete with a mid-60s Chevelle, a 65 Mustang or its Shelby version, the 57 Chevy, the first T-bird and early Corvettes (when Corvettes were classy machines). Nothing in the early 1970s tops the German built Ford Capri or the Datsun Z series - especially the 260Z with its electronic fuel injection. The Mazda RX-7 is a most worthy example. Honda's NSX - the all aluminum car was special as is their S-2000 or BMW's Z coupe. Honorable mention to the DeLorean. Lotus Europa was indeed special. Mazda's Miata is a superb example of making an excellent sports car at a respectable price - and even earning a profit its first year out. GMs long list of classics is a disaster list from the 4-6-8 Cadillac to the Oldmobile Diesel, the notch back Caddy, a Buick two seater (Regal?) whose body was built in Italy and shipped to the US on jumbo jets, Chevy Vega, Chevy Corvair, GM pickups with side mounted exploding gas tanks, the first GM V-6s that were nothing more than V-8s with two cylinders cut off (made obvious by how the engine vibrated), every 1970 and early 1980s GM 4 cylinder driven vehicle, and the so many GM cars (including Oldsmobiles with Chevy engines) that used a grossly undersized (and self destructing) Chevette transmission even in truck towing packages. Add to that list the Ford Edsel and Pinto, and the AMC Pacer. Classic list of shame mostly when bean counters designed all cars.