OT Motor Trend Feb 2005 Issue

[ChrisA]

Hi all,

Motor Trend magazine's February 2005 issue has an article about the "50 people who decide what you drive and when you'll be driving it". There are some very notable people in the list.

Here are some that jumped out at me right away.

#1 Carlos Ghosn Nissan CEO

#12 Michael Schumacher F1 World Champion

#17 Kazunori Yamauchi Gran Turismo Creator

#30 Shiro Nakamura Nissan Senior VP and Design Director

#50 Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Intimidator's Son

The list is a who's who in the automotive world. Most I agree with, some I don't.

Its a good read none the less if you get your hands on a copy.

William Clay Ford Jr. is quoted as saying "America has fallen out of love with the car", I thought that was hilarious.

Chris

[TomoHawk]

"America has fallen out of love with the car"

Yeah, I'll agree with that. I can't explain it, but It has to do partly with the use of all the new materials used in new cars, like plastic & CF. It seems to cheapen cars. Only the really expensive cars have real wood stuff on them.

Then you have the new 'cults' like ricers, who add cheap, stoopid things like wings, turbos, shift lights, 10,000 watt sound systems & DVD. Just to go fast and to show off useless junk. You don't need that stuff if you really like your car. How often have you seen somebody waxing a car in the driveway lately? Pure gead and vanity.

Plus, how many people do you know that travel in their cars? Families used to go cross-country camping. Now, it's easier to fly across the country, then rent some car for a weekend. RVs are nice for camping too. REAL camping, in a tent or primitive cabin!

I hope that after we get ourselves off this petroleum-dependency, things will get better, back to the point where people will take vacations with their families, and adopt a much more honest lifestyle.

Weren't some domestic company people mentioned? There are some very influential people at Ford/Jaguar, GM, even European companies.

IMO, FWIW

[Alfadog]

Ricers are evil, evil people!

Number 1 is Carlos - interesting. Is the list in any particular order?

[ChrisA]

Tomo, Ford was on the list as was Bob Lutz from GM. There were selected people from almost every make. The ones I listed were the ones that I thought were interesting and the numbers assigned were as listed in the article. Others may make their own conclusions about the "rankings".

Alfa, I believe the list was compiled by the staff at Motor Trend based on their opinion of who most affected the auto industry. With Carlos being #1, I have to agree with their assessment of Mr. Ghosn.

An interesting bit of side info, they asked him "what was in his garage", he replies "Porsche 911".

If I were the CEO of Nissan, I'd have a bad arse Skyline GTR waiting in my garage.

FWIW,

Chris

[v12horse]

If I were the CEO of Nissan, I'd have a bad arse Skyline GTR waiting in my garage.

FWIW,

Chris

Amen to that Chris.

[TomoHawk]

really?....

There's a Ford plant nearby to me, and when I drive by I look in the parking lot to see what's there, and I'm surprised EVERY TIME to see all theToyotas, Chevys, Dodge, etc. cars and trucks parked there.

[CoastGuardZ]

Hey Tomo,

When I lived in Buffalo, NY I passed by a Ford stamping plant nearly everyday and it was extremely rare to see something other than a Ford in the parking lot. They even used Ford tractors for snow removal. My neighbor worked there and said that cars other than Fords were constantly being vandalized in the parking lots. One night my wife and I came out of a movie theater in time to catch a couple of vandals placing a bumper sticker on the drivers door of a VW GTi that read "foriegn cars suck, buy American." Ahhh, good ol blue collar Buffalo. I was lucky enough never to have never been a victim, I drive a 4x4 Frontier and my wife has an Integra.

Do ya'll recall an event a little while back when Carlos was in an accident, or was it just a high profile ticket, in his 911 and was chastised by the company for not having been in a Nissan. It just strikes me that there should be a certain degree of pride and support when in a postion like his.

In the book about Mr. K, it's mentioned that one of the Japanese workers showed up in a Chevy and Mr. K flipped out on him. If you won't buy your product how can you expect anyone else to?

IMO

Nate

[TomoHawk]

I'll bet Carlos had a Nissan in the garage at the time, as well as the Porche. He was probably referring to 'the car other than the Nissan.'

[ChrisA]

If you won't buy your product how can you expect anyone else to?

Exactly!! Mr. Ghosn is also to become the CEO of Renault soon so I'm guessing he'll put a Volvo next to the Porsche!! :stupid:

We have a Goodyear Belt and Hose plant here and you'd be hard pressed to find an employee's car that DOESNT have Goodyear tires on it. The "Buy American" thing isnt as prevalent with their choice of car of truck I've noticed lately.

FWIW,

Chris

[CoastGuardZ]

The whole buy american thing kills me! My Frontier was built in Smyrna, Tennessee by American men and women. Meanwhile GM packs up and moves to Mexico, Ford is all over Canada, Chrysler is owned by the Germans. Too many misinformed people out there. If I was ol' Carlos I'd have a fleet of kick @$$ Nissans! Like the Skyline 400R

[sblake01]

You beat me to it, CoastGuardZ! Our Infiniti was also built in the U.S. as are many so called 'foreign cars.' With all the corporate mergers, not only in the auto industry, but others as well, it's hard to say what is American and what isn't.

[ChrisA]

The whole buy american thing kills me! My Frontier was built in Smyrna, Tennessee by American men and women. Meanwhile GM packs up and moves to Mexico, Ford is all over Canada, Chrysler is owned by the Germans. Too many misinformed people out there. If I was ol' Carlos I'd have a fleet of kick @$$ Nissans! Like the Skyline 400R

Yep, my Xterra was built in the states. And I agree with you about the 400R. Wicked!!

My father-in law (retired railroader) used to be really into the "Buy American" thing till I asked him where his TV, VCR, DVD player and computer were made. He doesnt smart off to me to much any more about all my Datsun/Nissans. It's even more ironic now that he has a Toyota pickup.

Oh well,

Chris