Slideshow
Things Autoblog is thankful for in 2010
Nov 24, 2010
- Hot Hatches
- As much as I love the Audi R8, the hard truth is that I'll probably never be able to afford one. The same goes for other drool-inducers like the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, Porsche 911 or Aston Martin... anything. And I don't care.
Frankly, no segment of vehicles pulls off the fun-per-dollar equation better than hot hatchbacks.
Their no-frills, no-nonsense interiors are perfect for me – someone who actually uses a car's full functionality. I haul drums, take friends on road trips and don't want to spend my weekends painstakingly detailing a full-leather interior. I buy cars to drive them, and I don’t worry about them getting dirty every now and then.
Hot hatches have taught us to seriously appreciate the beauty of a low-displacement, turbocharged engine mated to a proper manual transmission. Think about it – with all this talk about manual gearboxes going the way of the Dodo, there’s only one hot hatch that isn't available with a row-it-yourself gearbox (I'm looking at you, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback). Furthermore, hot hatches have the power of nimbleness behind them, which makes for serious fun when you are pointing headlights-first down a canyon road. Besides, when you’re facing long stretches of tight turns, you want a short-wheelbase, zippy car — not some lummox like a Gallardo.
I'll never turn down the opportunity to drive a stupid-fast supercar or outrageously priced luxury sedan, but in my life, they're just a waste of money. Hot hatches are just more fun, and I'm thankful that we still have a plentiful batch of these pocket rockets to go around. Take a bow, Mazdaspeed3, Mini Cooper S, Subaru WRX, Volkswagen GTI and the like – this Thanksgiving, my heart goes out to you.
– Steven Ewing
- Gran Turismo 5
- This year I'm thankful for things that took forever to get here that finally got here. The Chevy Volt. The Ford Fiesta. Heck, as sad as it sounds I'm probably most thankful that Gran Turismo 5 is finally spinning within my PlayStation 3. Before hell froze over. And while the game has been in my possession for fewer than 24 hours, the early returns show that the driving simulator may have the goods to live up to its considerable hype. And while GT5 took over five years to get here, its timing couldn't have been better. It is, after all, the holiday season, and I can't think of a better way to withdraw from family functions (with my nephews) than with a brand new racing game.
– Chris Shunk
- That the wait is over
- I'm thankful that the wait is over. After years – has it only been years? – of hearing about the new plug-in vehicle era, both the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf are finally here. The EPA has certified the efficiency ratings, the vehicles are being built and customers have placed their orders. It won't be long before these two cars, the first in a long line of mass-produced plug-in vehicles, are let loose into the wild. Now, we get to see what it's like to actually live with them. Are they are great as people say? Does "range anxiety" wear off once you understand just what it means to drive with a battery instead of a gas tank in your car? Or, in the case of the Volt, does the complicated hybrid technology really reassure you day in and day out? I'm thankful that we have these questions to answer – and that we're going to get answers real soon.
– Sebastian Blanco
- Motorcycle Safety Foundation
- There's plenty to be thankful for this year, but personally, my grateful notions tend to flow toward the fine people that make up my local Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Some quick wheeling and dealing landed a cherry red 1982 Kawasaki GPZ750 in my garage in the place of two worn and battered Triumph Spitfires, and without a lick of motorcycle experience I would have been up the crick without an M on my license without the patient instructors at the MSF. After securing some spouse-mandated life and health insurance, I now count myself among the crazies that enjoy a quick afternoon ride. While my confidence builds with every stint in the saddle, the basic skills I learned in one weekend have paid dividends time after time.
--Zach Bowman