Todd,
I appreciate what you're saying, and you're right about the Alfa Romeo which was ahead of its time back then. I don't think Alfa was ever guilty of producing a bad driving car. And don't get me wrong, I don't hate Germans as a people. I just don't get how they've developed this reputation for technical superiority when there are alot of problems with their products. And since Peugeot doesn't have a 5 series now, I really think they're working on something. Remember, they replaced the 404 with a 504; and it was many years before they came out with the 405, so I have hope. But I've never thought of comparing BMWs with Peugeots as Peugeots are more comfortable and practical, and BMW puts more emphasis on the sport. My Dad's side is mostly Celt and English, but my mother's father was from Spain; so a little of my frustration comes from this Aryan superiority complex which negates all the achievements of the Italians, French, Spanish, and Greeks. How can they honestly
think their so superior just because they lack passion for life? You probably understand my frustration with this injustice.
todd_sanchez <todd.sanchez@comcast.net> wrote: Gary,
I live in the uber pc village of Seattle and have learned that I've just got to keep my mouth
shut on issues like these...
I would like to add a couple of private comments tho.
We have a German acquaintance that's lived here almost 30 years (married an American
Army officer who was stationed there.) They've raised three kids but she remains a German
citizen. I asked her why one time and she said she couldn't give up her German citizenship
as it would "disappoint" her family. She's quite vocal about her political beliefs and the
general superiority of things German...
On a car related issue I have had this feeling that only Teutonic stubborness has kept the
VW bug and Porsche in production. As a kid I bought a '56 Alfa Giulietta with my paper
route money. A buddy bought a '56 Porsche Speedster with his paper route money.
Amazing to consider that today, but... As kids will do we used to race. The Pacific
Northwest wasn't nearly as crowded then as now, but still it was probably not the smartest
thing to do. Sometimes we'd sneak out at night and make the loop around Hood Canal.
Here's my point: The speedster was a flatter cornerer and you'd think my friend would be
able to out corner me in my more "relaxed" Alfa. Wrong. Everytime he'd push to try to pass
me I'd see headlights spinning in the rear view mirror.
Later he and his brother did a ground up restoration including rechroming, etc. Painted
the car many coats of a beautiful yellow. Work took longer than expected (doesn't it
always?) and their first drive was in winter to go skiing. Spun it and totalled it...
I've always begrudged Nader's picking the Corvair to damn. Seems like the VW/Porsche
problems were as great or greater. (Another friend suggested that as Nader is an Arab the
Corvair thing was a long range plot to kill the nascent US economy car movement....)
I watched a History Channel documentary on the VW plants after the war. If I understood
the sub text the British used the undamaged VW plant to jumpstart the postwar German
economy. The loser being the much better engineered and much better all round 2CV...
(Too bad there isn't some manufacturing base to resurrect in Iraq!)
So, just like the WWII Northrup flying wing that was unflyable until the current iteration of
the design in the fly by wire computer controlled B2 so it is with the rear engined
Porsches; finally manageable after 60 years but only with a computer controlled traction
management and directional stablity system!!!
That early experience with the Alfa's "soft" suspension allowed me to not prejudge
Peugeots. Much to my driving pleasure these past few years. I will agree with Brian on one
point. Peugeot should have continued development of the 505.
Todd
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Received on Mon Jan 30 18:31:42 2006
