Robert Hall

It's a good idea that GM is going with a more upscale interior for the higher priced trucks, I know if I were shopping a $50-75k pickup I wouldn't want the same Rubbermaid interior as a $25k work truck..something costing 2-3 times as much needs an appropriate interior for it's price point.

Consider the context, though..that was Road & Track...Road & Track writers favored sports cars, which then were small European cars that were underpowered compared to the massive US cars of the era. Triumphs, MGs, Porsche 356s, Austin Healeys, etc were the kinds of cars their writers favored, and sports cars of that era weren't known for being fast, but were known for handling. While at the time American cars were massive and known for V8s and acceleration but not for handling.

I liked the Magnum, wish they had done a 2nd Gen with ‘11+ Charger front and interior. I remember looking at the WK ‘05 Grand Cherokee and thinking they had cheapened the interior compared to my ‘00 WJ. I didn’t like the design or the interior materials of the WK.

the late 00s were a low point for Chrysler interiors...they were dreadful across the board...cheap, hard gray plastic. It's like Daimler did everything to the lowest possible cost as far as interiors.

Bolt still looks like a potato. Leaf is about as bad. Kona isn’t bad, the Mini familiar.

Another beach day, saw a very clean dark blue late 80s IROC-Z rolling w/ the T-Tops off, and a clean maroon mid 80s Cutlass Supreme.

Today at Breakwater Beach at Geneva State Park. I love September at the beach. Warm and sunny, no crowds. Mello listening to the surf.

'greasy and sweaty'...interesting description. I assume the recent trucks have been better than the old Fisher Price despair gray $1 plastic interiors that they put in everything from the Cavalier to Corvette, though.

Heh-heh. I meant Laramie when I said Lariat. These trucks have so many trim levels it gets confusing. But lots of choice is a good thing. Same with some SUVs.

I think the ZR2 is targeting the Raptor and TRX, as a performance off-roader, though less over the top. Not sure how the High Country compares to the Denali, Platinum and Limited. Interesting, Ford has a Limited above the Platinum, and Ram has a Limited and Limited Long Horn. I think the Big Horn is a lower level, below Lariat? Hard to tell from the Ram site which doesn't have seem to list the trims from lowest to highest.

BTW--the new trim level in the Silverado for 2022 is the ZR2, not XR2. Its described as an 'extreme off-road capable' model, similar to the Colorado ZR2. https://jalopnik.com/the-2022-chevy-silverado-zr2-wants-to-be-the-most-truck-1847647549

The '22 Silverado interior update looks quite good. Slight front end tweak also w/ new grille and big badge for some trims.

That reminded me..I saw a blue & white ID4 a few weeks ago out on Catawba Island plugged in at a McDonalds. Should have taken a pic, it was parked between the drive thru and the building.

It's in the ballpark of the fastest FWD 'ring times from a few years ago. Definitely fast. 2015 Golf GTI 7:47:19 2015 Honda Civic Type R 7:50:63 By comparison, some sports cars: Porsche 911 GT2 RS 6:43.30 Lambo Aventador SVJ 6:44:97 Mercedes AMG GT Black Series 6:44:97 The record time, for a race car is Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo : 5:19:545

Looking forward to the new Matrix movie. Watched the trailer today. Too bad they didn’t get Elon Musk to play a new Architect.

^ looks like a BEV version of the current GLB.

So far, Genesis models have been on their own platforms (RWD/AWD), unreleated to Hyundai (FWD/AWD). Who knows how they will do it with the BEVs... I could see a Genesis BEV maybe starting $10k more than the Hyundai variant.

Certainly nothing unusual about price overlap between higher trims of models of lower brands with lower trims/models of higher brands... For example, the lowest priced Cadillacs certainly have some price overlap w/ Chevy, GMC and Buicks, so nothing new. So no surprise if some Genesis models overlap Hyundai or Kia models in price.

I love the Challenger and Charger as they are. Wouldn’t mind having one, with a V8 of course.

Yep, in my family we’ve had at least 10 cars and SUVs with the 5.0, including my ‘87 Mustang GT. My Dad had 3 5.0 Town Cars, my Mom 3 Thunderbirds and a Mustang, my brother 3 Mustangs and an Explorer, my sister an Explorer. And a couple older 5.0s--a '68 Cougar and a '68 Fairlane.

IIRC, my Mom's '81 Thunderbird had the 4.2L. She didn't like that car...it had replaced a '77 Thunderbird. The '81 was replaced by an '83 Thunderbird w/ the 5.0.

I think he just meant the '90s 4.3 was of a different time and place than the late 70s-early 80s small V8s...one odd factoid is in the 70s Chevy had both a 262 and a 267. Ford also briefly dabbled in the small V8 game with the long forgotten 255 in the early 80s.

Another beach day today, went and sat on the sand reading a book on the history of Top Gear. Saw a sharp candy apple red '68 Pontiac Firebird 400 w/ Cragar SS wheels...nice rumbly exhaust. Also saw a gray late model Nissan GTR at a gas station out in the country, and a black w/ white interior Rolls Royce Dawn convertible rolling top down...

"Taking Stellantis is not without side effects. Depending on the specific dosage, you may have increased interest in off roading, drag racing, or street racing. Please see your doctor if you have experience any of these side effects while taking Stellantis.."

^that's just someones photoshop daydreaming. I suspect the Charger will be unchanged for some time until a replacement is announced. No changes for 2022 that I've read.