After a global tour of Asia, Africa and the Subcontinent, Thoughts from the Curb is back. It's a momentous occasion and one I'll be promoting this week on Regis & Kelly, The View and Wendy Williams. Most importantly, Thoughts has found a new home here on CarPool, the new fangled Edmunds blog currently in its nascient stages that'll continue to evolve into something. I'm excited because we'll be trying new things out, expanding on past enterprises (cough, Face-Off, cough) and seeking feedback from our beloved readers. Be patient, it's a work in progress.
But as such, I'm curious to know what you'd like to see in this blog, which in its most basic sense, is a creative and opinion outlet for our editorial team and a conduit to car fans like yourself. We have our own ideas, but what can this blog provide that the other Edmunds blogs do not? What features have you liked in the past on the other blogs that we can tweak or expand upon? Are there features from other sites we can improve upon or at least oh-so-subtlely copy? Please, help us out here.
And now, onto your regularly scheduled Thoughts from the Curb ...
Now that I'm on the Edmunds video team, auto shows have suddenly become a less relaxing affair. I wasn't able to casually stroll through all the stands, sample the cheese trays at Infiniti or jump into just about every car at the show as I have in the past. Nevertheless, here's my Top 5 from the 2009 LA Auto Show.
Numero Cinco: What's the deal with this grille design? The Hyundai Tucson has it. So does the Hyundai Veloster. The Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept has it. The Ford Fiesta and most of Ford of Europe has it upside down. Apparently asymmetrical hexagons are in this year.
Nombre Quattre: Mini still has its mojo. Sure, there was the Kinky Mini. Then there's the Mini Cooper Roadster and Coupe, which are absolutely brilliant. The Roadster looks far better than the regular convertible, and since that car's back seat is pretty much useless, is anyone really going to miss it anyway? I love the houndstooth interior. The coupe will sell in fewer numbers, but I appreciate its avant garde styling (especially the more steeply raked windshield). Mini also showed its Camden and Mayfair packages for the regular Cooper and Cooper S, which bundle frequently requested options with unique paint, exterior graphics and interior trim (I love the Camden's metallic white paint). Like other Minis, though, these aspects are still quite customizable. With its 50th anniversary upon us and a new crossover on its way, Mini still has its mojo.
Numero Tre: The Liberation of Formerly Occupied Luxury Brands. In the past, Land Rover and Jaguar were stuffed into an area with Volvo next to the gigantic Ford display. It was sad really. This year, though, both were front and center in their own giant display in the south hall. It helps that each vehicle in both brands have received significant revisions for 2010 (except the LR2), but it's certainly important to note that new parent Tata is trying to put its babies out there to be rightfully noticed. At the same time, Saab also had its own, separate, sizeable space in the west hall. It too used to be tucked in a corner next to Cadillac in the GM wasteland (I say that not to be snarky [OK, maybe somewhat] but because the enormous GM display tends to be more carpet than cars). It was nice to see Saab out on its own and it was also nice to see the really quite cool new Saab 9-5. Pitty we may never see it in production or Saab at another auto show. Here's to hoping someone saves this great brand from extinction.
Nummer zwei: How come I wasn't shocked 198 times every time I touched a car? I went to the Phoenix auto show two weeks ago and there was so much static electricity, I could've regenerated Frankenstein or recharged the Chevy Volt. I didn't need styling paste to achieve my usual spiky coiffure. You've been to an auto show, you know what it's like. I remember being shocked when I was 5 years old at the Toronto Auto Show. It's quite simple really, hundreds of people + thick carpet + metal + winter = lightning bolts. Yet, LA seems to have overcome this. Do they have an anti-Franklin machine that dissipates static electricity? Is the carpet made from anti static-cling dryer sheets? Either way, this is something that needs to be looked into.
Number One: Economic Recessions Suck. This year's LA Auto Show was more like a communal car company press conference than a SHOW. Where were the interpretive dancers? Where were the pyrotechnics? Where were the herds of cattle? Where was the swag that alleged journalists line-up for and horde like refugees clamoring for the UN truck? Where were the champagne and oysters to unsuccessfully bribe me into thinking that new concept car is actually worth mentioning? Where were Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati? Where were the babes at Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati? I've only been at this for a relatively short amount of time -- I can only imagine what sort of withdrawal the old timers are going through.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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By ahightower
on December 9, 2009
06:17 AM
As to the question of what this blog can provide more of, I think this very post is a great example of it - humor.
By estreka
on December 9, 2009
08:02 AM
I'd like to see Carpool become an opinion blog. Make it into a "You know what grinds my gears?" type of thing. Here's how it would work:
Each day, 1 editor would post 1 thoughtful opinion blog on a topic of their choice, much like Talk Back Tuesday was. The post would in no way reflect the thoughts of the Edmunds staff at large. It would simply be a personal (not professional) expression of what's going on in our world.
By dougtheeng
on December 9, 2009
08:22 AM
I think the Karl on Cars and Thoughts from the Curb style entries are exactly what this new blog needs. I'll echo those above me: opinions, not facts. Opinions cause the most interesting debate and would lead to the most interesting posts, imo. It'd be nice to see similar opinion posts from other members of the staff other then just Karl and jriz. Its nice to try to 'get to know' the editors.
By misterfusion
on December 9, 2009
09:23 AM
Continue with Face-Off: More Travolta/Cage references, and more Takahashi being miserable -- it's a win-win.
By crowb
on December 9, 2009
02:34 PM
+1 misterfusion
Yes, please continue to torture Mark Takahashi as much as possible. Always a fan of your willingness to use a little humor as well, James. Humor and Takahashi torture will make the Carpool blog a worthy read. Especially the Takahashi torture. If he could be tortured in a manner that I find humorous, then so much the better.
Hint: I will find any form of Takahashi torture risible (get it? Jriz, risible...yeah!!!)
By mtakahashi
on December 9, 2009
04:35 PM
Holy schadenfreude! I feel like the sacrificial blog lamb. Next up: Takahashi gets electrocuted by the Mini E, crowd cheers. How well can Takahashi drive after being waterboarded?
Thanks Riz, I think you just came up with my weekly column.
By dougtheeng
on December 10, 2009
06:47 AM
Its not just you, Takahashi . We want more of the "can jriz fit into this..." pictures too.
By thejohnp
on December 10, 2009
08:45 AM
If you really want people reading and chiming into this particular blog, then this is where all those posts from The Mechanic should end up.
By crowb
on December 10, 2009
09:06 AM
On a more serious note, I really like the text casts that sometimes pop up in the long term blog. Its very rapid fire, a visceral back and forth about cars. Its got a raw feeling to it that the normal, edited, crafted prose can sometimes struggle to realize. So I'd have no problem with seeing more of those. There are some of you guys on staff with a real knack for giving insight while making it very entertaining. I count Sir Riswick and the Honorable Mark Takahashi, esq. in that group.
Now, lets pull out all of Mark's toenails and see if he can still heel/toe the Challenger!