The Big Three

Another month brings another American car to drive.

Detroit apparently does not have its sh!t together. These cars appear to have been put together by design departments that don't talk to each other and live in their own little world. American management truely is crap.

(For those not keeping track of the car complaints) So far I've test driven a Chevy Cavalier, Ford Focus, and this months star entry is an Oldsmobile Alero. The Alero is the worst offender to date. It has the classic American huge brake pedal that juts into the middle of the car. This is unsafe, what if I need to brake quickly (much less actually drive the car).

It also has my favorite and current American radio configuration. The radio doesn't turn off until you open the car door. What the F? Like I'm gonna turn the key off and listen to the radio, thats what the first position in the ignition cylinder is for (Position two is car at idle...don't run the car and accessories in this mode for long periods without the engine, you'll drain the battery; position three is crank/start). Maybe the American public is growing stupider and only needs the two positions.....oh wait that car still has three positions and the radio plays.

The headlights have an auto setting. This is a good thing (much like my less modern but better designed European car). However, the frickin' headlights don't turn off till you turn off the engine, hit the door lock button, and walk 50 feet away from the car. One of these days I might actually put the headlights on "ON" and that's exactly what they'll do until the battery dies.

I've actually bumped my head on the ceiling of the passenger cabin. I'm not a tall man, this obviously took some thought by the body designer to accomplish.

The car's door lock remote beeps the horn. I hate this with a passion. Flash the lights a couple times; I know what the means, I've got eyes.

I guess that's why Olds is no longer a branded GM production car.

So far the Ford Focus is the front runner in car I'd be more likely to enjoy driving.

So Dear Detroit, don't listen to the bean counters spend some money on design and teach your project managers how to communicate!

Sincerely,
A Mechanical Engineer