Professor Elam

2 responses to “The End of the Auto”

1. 

   Marcos E.

   June 15, 2009

   This was a pretty good read if you can get through the puns, metaphor’s and O’rouke’s choice of words lol. I totally agreed with his opinions and harsh feelings toward the real reason for the death of the automobile. According to O’rouke, I am one of the small portion of Americans who still find passion in the automobile they drive. My smile is the widest when I am putting the “pedal to the metal” of my LS1 Camaro. The reasons we automobile enthusiast’s continue to take pride in our hobby cannot be injected through textbooks, reports, or whatever the price of the oil drum might be. Everyone does what makes everyone happy and most people do not enjoy getting their finger nails dirty like the ones who recieve that feeling of self satisfaction when they hear their engine idle like it did before the radiator sprung a leak.
   In addition, it is sad that they want to pass that law to crush all older vehicles just because of their high emissions and low gas milage and make us all drive cars that deliver low emissions and high gas milage. I, on the other hand are in the process of rebuilding a truck that is 20 years older than I am. Not because I cannot afford a 2010 with heated seats and built in gps, but because of the reason that makes a classic car a classic. The sound of the V8 with no catalyic converters, the wind entering the cabin through the vent window’s, the tough look of the vehicle it gives when it is parked and the lack of air condition. Ok maybe i’ll add air conditioning.
   On a further note, O’rouke mentioned that driving the automobile became a chore because we choose to work far from where we live and far from where we play. Nobody likes work and with the new Crysler 300 commercial that stated the car had the ability to continue business face to face via dashboard screen just makes me feel another reason why people loose the passion in the automobile. They cannot get away from work.

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2. 

   Dennis Elam

   June 15, 2009

   Well I am not surprised that they are asking us to drive better mileage cars with better emissions, let me assure you, that yes you enjoy your camaro, it was not nearly as much fun without high energy ignition and electronic carbs or fuel injection. I did not have to relace the plugs in my escape for 100 K miles my 57 chevy required a set about every 7,000 miles. A mazda miata is a dream compared to the plugs n points and carburetor days, it is fun to drive whereas often the mechanic had more fun with the cars back then.
   Actually the power and low emissions make for a more efficient engine, now it is near impossible to asphyxiate yourself in a closed garage thanks to that catalytic converter….

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