Different in Europe though, where most employees have been with the organization since a youth apprenticeship (something this part of the world can't embrace). Probably better jobs than many college grads can get today, especially those with iffy majors.
I completely agree. Still, we gotta keep those stinkin' socialist ideas from taking root here...Some folks might learn to like them.
I don't disagree with you on bond risk. My problem is how the GM BK seemed to uniquely change the normal order of BK priorities and processing. As in most large investments, the biggest holders tend to be big, wealthy organizations like investment firms and banks. Given what was going on at that time, they weren't really in a position to legally challenge this process given many of them were on the public dole then too.
I don't disagree that auto plant work can be hard physically. But I'm just not sure that UAW style $60-80K+ is appropriate compensation given the rest of the labor market.
I don't disagree that auto plant work can be hard physically. But I'm just not sure that UAW style $60-80K+ is appropriate compensation given the rest of the labor market.
When I was in college, we did a research project for Central Soya at their chicken processing plant in Athens, Ga. Overall, I probably spent 250 or more hours inside the plant over a 4-week period.
I've also been through several other manufacturing plant tours, including automotive plants.
From what I saw, comparing all the plants I've been inside, if anyone was entitled to $60-80K for working on an assembly line, it was the folks at the chicken processing plant. Talk about a mind-numbing, repetitive task job!
It was so awful that the plant always scheduled 125% of the daily work force, because it was frequent to have a 25-30% absentee rate on any given day.
My problem is how the GM BK seemed to uniquely change the normal order of BK priorities and processing.
It seems in every instance of economic upheaval certain aspects of our financial system go through some sort of permanent change.
Think about pre and post Great Depression, as an example.
My main complaint about the auto industry debacle has never been the bankruptcy, or even how it was handled. No, my biggest gripe is that it happened at all. The financial impacts of the long-term obligations of the Big-3 were being discussed and debated back in the 1970's when I was in college, but the can just kept being kicked down the road, with all involved hoping they would be long-gone from the scene before the car industry literally drove off the financial cliff.
There was never a question of "if"... Only "when".
Comparison: The Big Test: 2013/2014 Full-Size Sedans Chevrolet Impala LTZ vs. Chrysler 300S vs. Ford Taurus SEL vs. Kia Cadenza vs. Toyota Avalon Ltd
I believe there was a comment in the article how Kia did this size car better than sister Hyundai. But of course, I read the article for free in a minute or less.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
Here are the references to the Azera in the article.
The last time we visited this space, we pitted the Toyota Avalon (the very same one we have here, in fact) against the new Hyundai Azera and the aging Nissan Maxima. The result of that comparison was a photo finish between the Hyundai and the Toyota, with the Avalon winning by just a grille.
Unfortunately, the Cadenza is so new to market that it has yet to be crash-tested by either the IIHS or NHTSA. The similar Hyundai Azera was tested by the IIHS and named a Top Safety Pick, though it has yet to be tested by the NHTSA.
In our last full-size test, the Avalon outsipped the Hyundai Azera and Nissan Maxima by nearly 3 mpg.
Then we talked about how Kia had managed to build a car utilizing roughly the same engine and platform as its upscale brother, Hyundai, and somehow managed to do a better job. While the Kia wasn't the best in every category, it was strong in those that make the most difference: ride comfort, interior space, and fuel economy. It has a features list that could rival an $80K BMW's and value that places it above its full-size brethren. For those reasons, the Kia Cadenza is our full-size champ.
I'll hand it to Ford--it seems that they are living the old adage that 'reality lags perception by (a long time)'. They've had some very large recalls of recent product, and CR has printed reliability results that haven't been flattering for some important new products--but it seems the public isn't concerned.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
As I mentioned above, I get that it their favorite car but with the highest ( by several thousand) estimated cost to own for five years I don't think that they should have used the value card as the reason.
You may be thinking about the Car and Driver test of the same month. No Taurus in that test, but the Azera was tested in addition to the same other cars, plus the Charger. Avalon won that comparo, with Impala keeping the same #2 spot, Kia in fifth and Hyundai in last place. The two Chrysler products were in the middle.
2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
Yeah, I think Ford has been getting a totally free ride and not just on recalls. If you drive their stuff, or even read reviews, a lot of it is not really all that great once you get by the new Euro styling. Lipstick on a pig. But consumers are buying it and apparently still miffed at GM. Their downfall might end up being the eco boost turbo's though. Not only recalls, but apparently mileage isn't living up to expectations. Add on the fact that turbo's can be complicated and spin the engine harder, and that could get ugly in a few years. Hopefully Ford has designed it right and is just experiencing some early teething problems.
Referring to the article linked in the above post, about baby boomers being more likely to purchase a new car. Here’s a quote:
The second reason for the shift, according to the study, is the continuing decline in the number of younger licensed drivers. In 1983, 91.8 percent of people aged 20 to 24 had a license, but by 2011 that figure had dropped to 79.7 percent.
This is so far removed from my own experiences from 50 years ago that I feel like I have come to live on an alien planet, far removed from Planet Earth. I started driving when I was about 10, and I couldn’t wait to turn 14, take driver’s ed, and get a license. It was one of the biggest things in my life. I cannot for the life of me understand why young people today are not licensed to drive.
I was 13 when I first got stopped by a cop, and I'm not even a "car guy."
But my brother-in-law (~57) hasn't driven since getting his license and he manages just fine.
I dunno; we just got back from a 3,000 mile road trip but gas just popped to $4.19 here, campsites are pushing $30 just for a tent and it's harder to find "real" food joints on the road now - everything is franchised factory food. Too bad that flying somewhere is even more painful than driving these days.
No wonder more people are just hanging out and surfing the net.
It's because more and more young people are migrating to big cities, where there are way more opportunities for employment and mates. And, as we all know, big cities punish people who own cars.
If you live and work in a large city with good public transit, and you shop in a 3 block radius and you have Zip Car and Enterprise and a bicycle, and friends with a driver's license, why would you, as a young person just starting out, endure the burden of a car, a garage, high insurance, $300 speeding tickets, $165 parking ticket, etc--all of which would consume most of your disposable income? Aside from the rare car trip, why would you even need a driver's license except for ID?
This is so far removed from my own experiences from 50 years ago that I feel like I have come to live on an alien planet, far removed from Planet Earth. I started driving when I was about 10, and I couldn’t wait to turn 14, take driver’s ed, and get a license. It was one of the biggest things in my life. I cannot for the life of me understand why young people today are not licensed to drive.
I'm 58 and I can only remember 1 grown-up I knew as a kid that didn't drive...my uncle, but his wife drove him everywhere he needed to go.
I don't think its a coincidence that the urban areas that invests significantly in mass transit systems are also usually oriented towards (or at a minimum, appeal to) the younger generations. I think of places like Portland and Seattle being such places, since my younger daughter just finished up doing her clinicals in both of those cities, and she used the city buses for most of her transportation needs, even though she still had her car there.
I think about an article I read recently that said the AVERAGE student college loan was in excess of $25K, and it makes me wonder how many in the younger generation can even afford a new car, assuming they wanted one at all.
Seems that many young adults are more than happy to let someone else do the driving these days...
"Seems that many young adults are more than happy to let someone else do the driving these days..."
HA! How about us OLD adults? What with more speed traps than Starbucks now in California, $2200 clutch jobs, $4.30 gas, and the new California "Driver's Licenses for the Incompetent" Program (a person CAN'T be that bad a driver without being trained to be that awful), I sometimes think about throwing in the towel and just getting myself a 50 year old clunker truck that would wheeze along the backroads...and yet afford me the protection of 2 tons of thick steel (you want to rear end a 400 lbs utility bumper in your Nissan Leaf? Be my guest).
Not to mention in this devolved trickle down offshored market oligarchy economy, running a car for many young people is simply not doable, especially with the expense of education, and the fact that car expenses are likely at a historical high - while jobs aren't easy to find.
Not driving usually requires one to live in an urban core, and maybe have a job that is sympathetic. The rabid bike commuters I have seen tend to be smarmy tenured middle aged old hippie public sector surplus overhead manager types who have so little to do that they can include their commute and prep time into the space where people who actually work have to actually do work.
Mobile connectivity helps, too. No need to go see someone, just text/call/skype and have your groceries delivered.
The History of the Automobile is becoming somewhat ironic.
In the Beginning, Benz created heaven and earth---you had a big wide world out there, with lots of empty roads but cars that could barely beat a fast horse, and with very edgy reliability.
Now, we have the reverse---immensely capable cars that can go 150 mph with the AC on, and very few places left to use them at that level.
No wonder the 50s and 60s cars have become nostalgic and valuable--that might have been the last time when "the freedom of the road" was a term with some actual meaning.
Used cars cost $250 bucks. Driving was WAYYYY cheaper than flying. Gas was cheap.
Ever see movies of New York or LA in the 50s. Ever notice that there were parking spaces everywhere? :P
Heck, I couldn't WAIT to get my license! Heck I was counting down the days to when I'd turn 16 when I was 11! I still remember the morning when I got my license. I come back from the local Pennsylvania State Police driver's testing center with my Dad. My Mom is making breakfast. My Mom asks, "How did it go?" I'm acting all dejected and my Dad is going along with it pretending I failed. Then I show her my new license and I'm like "OH YEAH!!!" :shades: I kept my old learner's permit and all my expired driver's licenses.
No wonder the 50s and 60s cars have become nostalgic and valuable--that might have been the last time when "the freedom of the road" was a term with some actual meaning.
Reminds me of this....
This radio station was named Kowalski, in honour of the last American hero to whom speed means freedom of the soul. The question is not when's he gonna stop, but who is gonna stop him.
The freedom of the road is a good point - there was simply less population in the olden days, and in many prosperous areas of today, a lot less population density. Today in many areas, my own included, the population is many times higher than 50 years ago - yet the road network isn't much better. Makes driving less enjoyable - especially combined with distracted lowest common denominator motorists.
I wonder if making licenses harder to obtain might actually improve the situation, make it something for people to work for? Of course, it wouldn't be "business friendly", so not going to happen.
I remember I got my permit as soon as I could, too - and took driver's ed when I could as well. I couldn't wait to practice, always did it in the Galaxie or Country Sedan (this was in the 90s, remember - I didn't want to practice in a Tempo or Taurus etc). But nowadays, even the 90s seems like a million years ago. My test seemed so easy, I had no big worries. I took the test in a smaller car, and it was easy. I think my biggest or maybe only markdown was being too far from the curb when parallel parking ...-4 points.
Watch an old Perry Mason rerun, and you'll see him park directly in front of the LA courthouse. Not today...
Thinking back on my early years, regarding college and money...
I was able to work my way through college basically on my own, with a little help from my parents. I provided my transportation (Ford Currier PU, no A/C, in GA), but my folks paid the liability insurance for me, along with medical insurance. I paid all college related expenses (tuition, books, housing, food, etc.) myself, and was able to do so by working summers and part-time when school was in session. I took as heavy a course load as I could, so I could shave a couple of quarters off my tenure at school.
My living conditions weren't great, but they were far from intolerable. When I graduated and got my bachelor's degree in 75, my folks agreed to make car payments for me on a 1975 Pontiac Astre until I graduated from Graduate school, as the Currier was just about toast at that point. Fortunately, I had great luck with that car, and no unexpected expenses with it until I traded it. I finished grad school debt-free, with only that help from my folks. Seems like the car payments were in the range of $120/month...
I guess my point in that recollection is that I was able to do 95% of the funding by myself, with no loans, using the jobs of the day and go to the University of GA. Not an Ivy League school, but fairly reputable.
Having just had my youngest graduate with her doctorate, I know there simply is NO WAY she could have funded her college costs without some major loans or lots of assistance from my wife and myself. Just her undergraduate degree at the Univ. of SC, a state supported school that uses lottery funds to help undergraduates fund their education tuition would have been impossible for her to get the same way I did mine.
That's why I'm not surprised younger folks buy less new cars than baby boomers. By the time they reach the ability to afford one (salary-wise), they're already deep in hock for college loans.
I don't see how that trend can continue indefinitely. Something has to change...
I wonder if making licenses harder to obtain might actually improve the situation, make it something for people to work for? Of course, it wouldn't be "business friendly", so not going to happen.
I dunno...
Its eminently much more difficult to get a DL in Germany, but every time I'm there the traffic in the cities seems as crowded as what I see here.
The big difference I notice there is how much better drivers behave on the autobahn and limited access roads, where the left lane is used for passing...
Goto major cities in Italy and you stand a great chance of being run down by a large group of smoke-belching Vespas...
I remember I got my permit as soon as I could, too - and took driver's ed when I could as well. I couldn't wait to practice, always did it in the Galaxie or Country Sedan
I practiced and took the driver's test in a Galaxy too. Here's what it looked like.
Like you say, in the past, a student could finance most of their academic career by working a relatively menial job in the summer, maybe part time work during the school year, and probably not needing a lot of parental aid or loans. Today, virtually impossible - calculate minimum wage + ~10% vs tuition, room and board, and other expenses - just like for expenses vs cost of living for so many others, wages haven't kept up.
There are a few breaking points society is rushing towards, that's just one of them. It makes a car, especially a new car, just not ideal for many younger people. Going to be interesting in the future today, as modern 20-somethings probably aren't going to experience a 25 year stock and real estate expansion the boomers lucked into.
Crowded, but not as stupid. I've never nearly been hit by an irresponsible woman in a fancy CUV playing with her phone while "driving" in Germany. But here in the land of the lowest common denominator...
Germans I know will say their license test was the hardest exam of their life, and were proud to get it.
I took my test in my Dad's 1978 Ford Granada coupe. It made it a lot easier because I practiced with bigger cars like my friend's 1973 Chevrolet Impala and my then-girlfriend's 1969 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.
My wife's first car was a four-door sedan with the full wheel discs in that light teal blue color with a black vinyl interior. I think it only had something like a 289 V-8.
That looks like a '65. That would make it over 25 years old when you drove it in the 90's. Amazing never seen it in 2 door form. How long did the family keep it?
Crowded, but not as stupid. I've never nearly been hit by an irresponsible woman in a fancy CUV playing with her phone while "driving" in Germany. But here in the land of the lowest common denominator...
Ill give you that... Not much hands-on phone activities while driving in Germany, and a whole lot less DUI's.
Germans I know will say their license test was the hardest exam of their life, and were proud to get it.
I agree. Can't say about cars, but I know motorcycle licenses are "graduated" into multiple levels there, by HP and age. Lots of Germans I know got their vehicle license while serving in the military, letting the military cover the fees, which I understand can run well over $1000.
66, actually. It was bought when I was 15, and it got hit when I was still 16, then sold - so didn't stay in the family long. We also had an identical parts car (but it had a 352), but once my dad saw that the frame was bent from the collision, he decided to move on, and sold them both.
The 66 2 door HT was actually a huge seller - something like 200K units, IIRC. Back in the days before much competition, and when a big 2 door was fashionable.
I won't even touch on the DUI issue, which fails here in everything from drinking age to the criminal justice system. For other distractions - law enforcement is part of it too, and an overall lack of the idea that driving is serious business.
I think a few US states have graduated motorcycle licenses. I'd rather see those for cars, especially based on size, weight, or height. But it would impact sales, so not going to happen. I think a license in Germany is a good 1500-2000, yeah. Funny thing too, some US states have reciprocity with Germany for licenses, but not all. Standards must be really low in some places.
I have to ask, do you guys think driving with no speed limit (Autobahn) is a good idea? I can't imagine that'd be a positive thing anyplace in the world.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
For some reason, I thought your car was the legendary 7 Litre, but a 390 provides plenty of get-up-and-go for that Galaxie. I like the special grille the 7 Litre had. It was very attractive.
That Galaxie says a lot about that era; so much size and bulk relative to passenger space, compared to today. But who cared? The focus was on looks and image, and it did look good. Fuel economy? Carbon footprint? Not a worry. Smooth ride? Oh, that was also very important. Handling, steering feel, safety? Eh, not so much.
Now a 3.7 liter out-accelerates that old 7 liter by a wide margin without breaking a sweat, not to mention top speed, while getting three times better fuel economy. Handling and safety don't even begin to compare. Usable passenger space, give or take some here and there, is close to a wash, except for 5 vs. 6 passenger seating. Comfort is arguable.
All in all I'll take today's 3.7 vs. yesteryear's 7, even though the latter are more interesting. Nobody will reminisce about today's 3.7s decades from now.
Depends on where. In most of the US, bad idea - the drivers, vehicles, and roads are not compatible with true high speed driving. But in a place where drivers have better education and usually a more serious driving mindset, vehicles are kept in better condition, and roads are engineered and maintained properly, it works. IIRC, the Autobahn has better safety stats than highways on this continent. And of course, it's not like every German highway has no limit - unrestricted sections exist only where appropriate.
The 7 litre was trimmed nicely inside and out, but mine was a more standard car. Fairly quick off the line, with mileage that could probably be measured in gallons per mile.
I won't reminisce about some old cars simply based on carburetor quirks. I have no desire to experience that again. The mileage and ponderous handling are just icing on the cake. Just too bad we can't have style along with everything else that has been improved if not nearly perfected.
There are "hard" speed limits on the Autobahn, related to type of vehicle, weather and location. And even in areas or in cars where the speed limit is not "hard" but only "advisory", most of the time it's too crowded to get up to top speed.
But if you are in the right type of vehicle and in the right place, yeah, let 'er rip!
Fintail and obyone - I like both of those Ford coupes. I recall Ford's being fairly popular in the mid sixties, but for whatever reason at car shows these days it seems like the mid sixties models are dominated by GM, Mustang and muscle versions of Mopars.
There are "hard" speed limits on the Autobahn, related to type of vehicle, weather and location. And even in areas or in cars where the speed limit is not "hard" but only "advisory", most of the time it's too crowded to get up to top speed.
But if you are in the right type of vehicle and in the right place, yeah, let 'er rip!
Absolutely correct. Trucks are subject to all sorts of highway limitations, including lane assignment, speed, and even days of the week allowed on the road. IIRC, most trucks can't run on Sunday. Overall, trucks don't carry as large a load as trucks carry here, too.
Approx. 50% of the autobahn system currently has speed limits imposed today in Germany, and they do a very efficient job of enforcing those limits, via patrol force as well as camera enforcement.
Fintail is also correct in that the drivers on the autobahn certainly appear to be far more conscious of being on a high speed road system than drivers here. One doesn't find many left lane riders there, and they have a better safety record than here.
Comments
I completely agree. Still, we gotta keep those stinkin' socialist ideas from taking root here...Some folks might learn to like them.
When I was in college, we did a research project for Central Soya at their chicken processing plant in Athens, Ga. Overall, I probably spent 250 or more hours inside the plant over a 4-week period.
I've also been through several other manufacturing plant tours, including automotive plants.
From what I saw, comparing all the plants I've been inside, if anyone was entitled to $60-80K for working on an assembly line, it was the folks at the chicken processing plant. Talk about a mind-numbing, repetitive task job!
It was so awful that the plant always scheduled 125% of the daily work force, because it was frequent to have a 25-30% absentee rate on any given day.
It seems in every instance of economic upheaval certain aspects of our financial system go through some sort of permanent change.
Think about pre and post Great Depression, as an example.
My main complaint about the auto industry debacle has never been the bankruptcy, or even how it was handled. No, my biggest gripe is that it happened at all. The financial impacts of the long-term obligations of the Big-3 were being discussed and debated back in the 1970's when I was in college, but the can just kept being kicked down the road, with all involved hoping they would be long-gone from the scene before the car industry literally drove off the financial cliff.
There was never a question of "if"... Only "when".
Comparison:
The Big Test: 2013/2014 Full-Size Sedans
Chevrolet Impala LTZ vs. Chrysler 300S vs. Ford Taurus SEL vs. Kia Cadenza vs. Toyota Avalon Ltd
I believe there was a comment in the article how Kia did this size car better than sister Hyundai. But of course, I read the article for free in a minute or less.
The last time we visited this space, we pitted the Toyota Avalon (the very same one we have here, in fact) against the new Hyundai Azera and the aging Nissan Maxima. The result of that comparison was a photo finish between the Hyundai and the Toyota, with the Avalon winning by just a grille.
Unfortunately, the Cadenza is so new to market that it has yet to be crash-tested by either the IIHS or NHTSA. The similar Hyundai Azera was tested by the IIHS and named a Top Safety Pick, though it has yet to be tested by the NHTSA.
In our last full-size test, the Avalon outsipped the Hyundai Azera and Nissan Maxima by nearly 3 mpg.
Then we talked about how Kia had managed to build a car utilizing roughly the same engine and platform as its upscale brother, Hyundai, and somehow managed to do a better job. While the Kia wasn't the best in every category, it was strong in those that make the most difference: ride comfort, interior space, and fuel economy. It has a features list that could rival an $80K BMW's and value that places it above its full-size brethren. For those reasons, the Kia Cadenza is our full-size champ.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
GM had 17.5% of the new-vehicle market in May, Ford had 17%, Autodata reports.
Relevant, because we're the only ones buying them. :shades:
The second reason for the shift, according to the study, is the continuing decline in the number of younger licensed drivers. In 1983, 91.8 percent of people aged 20 to 24 had a license, but by 2011 that figure had dropped to 79.7 percent.
This is so far removed from my own experiences from 50 years ago that I feel like I have come to live on an alien planet, far removed from Planet Earth. I started driving when I was about 10, and I couldn’t wait to turn 14, take driver’s ed, and get a license. It was one of the biggest things in my life. I cannot for the life of me understand why young people today are not licensed to drive.
But my brother-in-law (~57) hasn't driven since getting his license and he manages just fine.
I dunno; we just got back from a 3,000 mile road trip but gas just popped to $4.19 here, campsites are pushing $30 just for a tent and it's harder to find "real" food joints on the road now - everything is franchised factory food. Too bad that flying somewhere is even more painful than driving these days.
No wonder more people are just hanging out and surfing the net.
If you live and work in a large city with good public transit, and you shop in a 3 block radius and you have Zip Car and Enterprise and a bicycle, and friends with a driver's license, why would you, as a young person just starting out, endure the burden of a car, a garage, high insurance, $300 speeding tickets, $165 parking ticket, etc--all of which would consume most of your disposable income? Aside from the rare car trip, why would you even need a driver's license except for ID?
I'm 58 and I can only remember 1 grown-up I knew as a kid that didn't drive...my uncle, but his wife drove him everywhere he needed to go.
I don't think its a coincidence that the urban areas that invests significantly in mass transit systems are also usually oriented towards (or at a minimum, appeal to) the younger generations. I think of places like Portland and Seattle being such places, since my younger daughter just finished up doing her clinicals in both of those cities, and she used the city buses for most of her transportation needs, even though she still had her car there.
I think about an article I read recently that said the AVERAGE student college loan was in excess of $25K, and it makes me wonder how many in the younger generation can even afford a new car, assuming they wanted one at all.
Seems that many young adults are more than happy to let someone else do the driving these days...
My non-driving brother-in-law is in Seattle btw.
HA! How about us OLD adults? What with more speed traps than Starbucks now in California, $2200 clutch jobs, $4.30 gas, and the new California "Driver's Licenses for the Incompetent" Program (a person CAN'T be that bad a driver without being trained to be that awful), I sometimes think about throwing in the towel and just getting myself a 50 year old clunker truck that would wheeze along the backroads...and yet afford me the protection of 2 tons of thick steel (you want to rear end a 400 lbs utility bumper in your Nissan Leaf? Be my guest).
Not driving usually requires one to live in an urban core, and maybe have a job that is sympathetic. The rabid bike commuters I have seen tend to be smarmy tenured middle aged old hippie public sector surplus overhead manager types who have so little to do that they can include their commute and prep time into the space where people who actually work have to actually do work.
Mobile connectivity helps, too. No need to go see someone, just text/call/skype and have your groceries delivered.
In the Beginning, Benz created heaven and earth---you had a big wide world out there, with lots of empty roads but cars that could barely beat a fast horse, and with very edgy reliability.
Now, we have the reverse---immensely capable cars that can go 150 mph with the AC on, and very few places left to use them at that level.
No wonder the 50s and 60s cars have become nostalgic and valuable--that might have been the last time when "the freedom of the road" was a term with some actual meaning.
Used cars cost $250 bucks. Driving was WAYYYY cheaper than flying. Gas was cheap.
Ever see movies of New York or LA in the 50s. Ever notice that there were parking spaces everywhere? :P
Reminds me of this....
This radio station was named Kowalski, in honour of the last American hero to whom speed means freedom of the soul. The question is not when's he gonna stop, but who is gonna stop him.
I wonder if making licenses harder to obtain might actually improve the situation, make it something for people to work for? Of course, it wouldn't be "business friendly", so not going to happen.
Thinking back on my early years, regarding college and money...
I was able to work my way through college basically on my own, with a little help from my parents. I provided my transportation (Ford Currier PU, no A/C, in GA), but my folks paid the liability insurance for me, along with medical insurance. I paid all college related expenses (tuition, books, housing, food, etc.) myself, and was able to do so by working summers and part-time when school was in session. I took as heavy a course load as I could, so I could shave a couple of quarters off my tenure at school.
My living conditions weren't great, but they were far from intolerable. When I graduated and got my bachelor's degree in 75, my folks agreed to make car payments for me on a 1975 Pontiac Astre until I graduated from Graduate school, as the Currier was just about toast at that point. Fortunately, I had great luck with that car, and no unexpected expenses with it until I traded it. I finished grad school debt-free, with only that help from my folks. Seems like the car payments were in the range of $120/month...
I guess my point in that recollection is that I was able to do 95% of the funding by myself, with no loans, using the jobs of the day and go to the University of GA. Not an Ivy League school, but fairly reputable.
Having just had my youngest graduate with her doctorate, I know there simply is NO WAY she could have funded her college costs without some major loans or lots of assistance from my wife and myself. Just her undergraduate degree at the Univ. of SC, a state supported school that uses lottery funds to help undergraduates fund their education tuition would have been impossible for her to get the same way I did mine.
That's why I'm not surprised younger folks buy less new cars than baby boomers. By the time they reach the ability to afford one (salary-wise), they're already deep in hock for college loans.
I don't see how that trend can continue indefinitely. Something has to change...
I dunno...
Its eminently much more difficult to get a DL in Germany, but every time I'm there the traffic in the cities seems as crowded as what I see here.
The big difference I notice there is how much better drivers behave on the autobahn and limited access roads, where the left lane is used for passing...
Goto major cities in Italy and you stand a great chance of being run down by a large group of smoke-belching Vespas...
I practiced and took the driver's test in a Galaxy too. Here's what it looked like.
There are a few breaking points society is rushing towards, that's just one of them. It makes a car, especially a new car, just not ideal for many younger people. Going to be interesting in the future today, as modern 20-somethings probably aren't going to experience a 25 year stock and real estate expansion the boomers lucked into.
Germans I know will say their license test was the hardest exam of their life, and were proud to get it.
Didn't test in it though.
Ill give you that... Not much hands-on phone activities while driving in Germany, and a whole lot less DUI's.
Germans I know will say their license test was the hardest exam of their life, and were proud to get it.
I agree. Can't say about cars, but I know motorcycle licenses are "graduated" into multiple levels there, by HP and age. Lots of Germans I know got their vehicle license while serving in the military, letting the military cover the fees, which I understand can run well over $1000.
The 66 2 door HT was actually a huge seller - something like 200K units, IIRC. Back in the days before much competition, and when a big 2 door was fashionable.
I think a few US states have graduated motorcycle licenses. I'd rather see those for cars, especially based on size, weight, or height. But it would impact sales, so not going to happen. I think a license in Germany is a good 1500-2000, yeah. Funny thing too, some US states have reciprocity with Germany for licenses, but not all. Standards must be really low in some places.
All in all I'll take today's 3.7 vs. yesteryear's 7, even though the latter are more interesting. Nobody will reminisce about today's 3.7s decades from now.
But if you are in the right type of vehicle and in the right place, yeah, let 'er rip!
But if you are in the right type of vehicle and in the right place, yeah, let 'er rip!
Absolutely correct. Trucks are subject to all sorts of highway limitations, including lane assignment, speed, and even days of the week allowed on the road. IIRC, most trucks can't run on Sunday. Overall, trucks don't carry as large a load as trucks carry here, too.
Approx. 50% of the autobahn system currently has speed limits imposed today in Germany, and they do a very efficient job of enforcing those limits, via patrol force as well as camera enforcement.
Fintail is also correct in that the drivers on the autobahn certainly appear to be far more conscious of being on a high speed road system than drivers here. One doesn't find many left lane riders there, and they have a better safety record than here.