Comments on: Undistinguished car, cut out http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 00:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1654042 Donald Petersen Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1654042 :^P  Nobody subscribes to "Nondescript Reliable Transportation Monthly."  The point of Cory's post in its entire is that the picture at the top is an unappealing picture of an aesthetically yawn-inducing vehicle.  Reliable transportation is great; no fewer than eight of the cars I've owned (out of a grand total of seventeen) were acquired specifically for their reliability, though that often came at the cost of fun, style, speed, or any of the other qualities that make driving more enjoyable than riding in a municipal bus. My judgment of woeful misallocations of transportation resources like the Dodge Omni are not meant as literal condemnations of anyone's taste, character, or social standing.  One can't always drive the car one would like.  We go to war with the ride we have. Sorry for teasing too hard. :^P  Nobody subscribes to “Nondescript Reliable Transportation Monthly.”  The point of Cory’s post in its entire is that the picture at the top is an unappealing picture of an aesthetically yawn-inducing vehicle.  Reliable transportation is great; no fewer than eight of the cars I’ve owned (out of a grand total of seventeen) were acquired specifically for their reliability, though that often came at the cost of fun, style, speed, or any of the other qualities that make driving more enjoyable than riding in a municipal bus.

My judgment of woeful misallocations of transportation resources like the Dodge Omni are not meant as literal condemnations of anyone’s taste, character, or social standing.  One can’t always drive the car one would like.  We go to war with the ride we have.

Sorry for teasing too hard.

]]> By: Diogenes http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1653296 Diogenes Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1653296 "...nondescript and utilitarian." Oh no! That's horrible! A car that only provides reliable transportation? What a travesty! Drive what you want, and let others do the same. Taste is personal. “…nondescript and utilitarian.”

Oh no! That’s horrible! A car that only provides reliable transportation? What a travesty!

Drive what you want, and let others do the same. Taste is personal.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1652770 Donald Petersen Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1652770 At one point in the mid-80s, I was in the mood to build a model car.  I was in the model shop and realized I couldn't afford any of the Prudhomme funny cars or Corvettes or Charger Daytonas.  I picked one out because it was on sale half off and was red.  Turned out to be a 1983 Datsun 200SX.  After I assembled it, I began to wonder why I hadn't bought a few bricks of Bazooka Joe instead. At one point in the mid-80s, I was in the mood to build a model car.  I was in the model shop and realized I couldn’t afford any of the Prudhomme funny cars or Corvettes or Charger Daytonas.  I picked one out because it was on sale half off and was red.  Turned out to be a 1983 Datsun 200SX.  After I assembled it, I began to wonder why I hadn’t bought a few bricks of Bazooka Joe instead.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1652761 Donald Petersen Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1652761 Come come, now.  The defenders of the the noble Dodge Omni ride to its rescue?  Seriously, have you ridden in one?  lectroid, former Omni owner, knows whereof I speak. And my teasing may seem harsh, but it comes from the former owner of two Mustang IIs, a '74 Super Beetle, a '74 Renault 12 wagon, and a '78 Accord hatchback with no hood.  I've owned nine cars that cost under $1000 (six of them under $400) and I lost my virginity in a 1978 Mercury Zephyr wagon with gray paint and maroon vinyl upholstery. I may make fun of Omnis (and to a lesser extent Coronas and Suzuki Samurais and Honda 600s and Ford Festivas), but that's because they're the only cars crappier than the ones I grew up with. And the Coronas aren't crappier as such, just completely nondescript and utilitarian. So my snobbery earns only a lower-case s, at best. Come come, now.  The defenders of the the noble Dodge Omni ride to its rescue?  Seriously, have you ridden in one?  lectroid, former Omni owner, knows whereof I speak.

And my teasing may seem harsh, but it comes from the former owner of two Mustang IIs, a ’74 Super Beetle, a ’74 Renault 12 wagon, and a ’78 Accord hatchback with no hood.  I’ve owned nine cars that cost under $1000 (six of them under $400) and I lost my virginity in a 1978 Mercury Zephyr wagon with gray paint and maroon vinyl upholstery.

I may make fun of Omnis (and to a lesser extent Coronas and Suzuki Samurais and Honda 600s and Ford Festivas), but that’s because they’re the only cars crappier than the ones I grew up with. And the Coronas aren’t crappier as such, just completely nondescript and utilitarian.

So my snobbery earns only a lower-case s, at best.

]]> By: Dorkomatic http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1652028 Dorkomatic Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1652028 It might've looked undistinguished THEN.  But NOW, it starts to looks quirky and interesting... It might’ve looked undistinguished THEN.  But NOW, it starts to looks quirky and interesting…

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651983 Dlo Burns Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651983 maybe I should just shouldn't listen to my mom anymore. Sorry about that tangent, sincerely Cosine maybe I should just shouldn’t listen to my mom anymore. Sorry about that tangent, sincerely Cosine

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651921 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651921 Snob seems to be an old word for cobbler, origin unknown. Snob seems to be an old word for cobbler, origin unknown.

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651917 Beanolini Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651917 <blockquote>snob came from Sans Nobilis</blockquote><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-snob" rel="nofollow">Oxford Dictionaries</a> says that it's 'sine nobilitate', and that 'snob' is not derived from it.

snob came from Sans Nobilis

Oxford Dictionaries says that it’s ‘sine nobilitate’, and that ‘snob’ is not derived from it.

]]> By: Dan Donaldson http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651777 Dan Donaldson Mon, 11 Feb 2013 01:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651777 My first car. Mine had something I've never seen since, and I'm happy about that: brown and darker brown houndstooth vinyl top. So ugly. And, it was the first car my Dad had after the divorce, he passed it on to me, he got an Audi Quattro. It had an eight track, and I inherited Carole King's Tapestry, Santana's Abraxas and something like a Tom Jones record. Played Abraxas to death. The only thing bad about this car was it had a temperature gauge that measured something, but it wasn't the temperature of the engine. It might have been fluctuations in the Van Allen Belts or something. Whenever it crept up, I would get totally freaked out. And when it (for reasons of its own) dropped back down, I'd relax. Until the day that I decided that I would no longer be controlled by an orange needle wobbling back and forth, and put black electricians tape over it.  My first car. Mine had something I’ve never seen since, and I’m happy about that: brown and darker brown houndstooth vinyl top. So ugly. And, it was the first car my Dad had after the divorce, he passed it on to me, he got an Audi Quattro. It had an eight track, and I inherited Carole King’s Tapestry, Santana’s Abraxas and something like a Tom Jones record. Played Abraxas to death.

The only thing bad about this car was it had a temperature gauge that measured something, but it wasn’t the temperature of the engine. It might have been fluctuations in the Van Allen Belts or something. Whenever it crept up, I would get totally freaked out. And when it (for reasons of its own) dropped back down, I’d relax. Until the day that I decided that I would no longer be controlled by an orange needle wobbling back and forth, and put black electricians tape over it. 

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651249 Dlo Burns Sun, 10 Feb 2013 05:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651249 snob came from Sans Nobilis (with out a noble title) snob came from Sans Nobilis (with out a noble title)

]]> By: Diogenes http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651163 Diogenes Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651163 Could someone tell me if "snob" is capitalized when appended to a proper name? Could someone tell me if “snob” is capitalized when appended to a proper name?

]]> By: Diogenes http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651161 Diogenes Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651161  From what I've seen, guys who rely on their cars to get them laid, are frequently disappointed.  From what I’ve seen, guys who rely on their cars to get them laid, are frequently disappointed.

]]> By: Andrea http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651041 Andrea Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651041 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think it's kinda cute. My brother's into autocross racing. His car of choice is an early 80s BMW <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_%28E21%29" rel="nofollow">like this</a>. Sturdy, reliable, handles well, easy to soup up, cheap. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think it’s kinda cute.

My brother’s into autocross racing. His car of choice is an early 80s BMW like this. Sturdy, reliable, handles well, easy to soup up, cheap.

]]> By: Andrea http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1651037 Andrea Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1651037  We had two of those! Both station wagons. The one with the automatic transmission successfully hauled a two-wheeled trailer over the Rocky Mountains and back. We eventually sold it because there were three of us kids and it was kind of a tight fit. The second had a manual transmission and could have gone on forever if it hadn't been for that encounter with a fire hydrant. When I was in college, my car-savvy brother found me a '92 Geo Prizm. Prizms at that time were rebranded Corollas. It looked (and drove) like a tin can, but when you're a broke student, reliability is king. That little car just would not quit. It was totaled in an accident - front ended. The hood buckled and everything. Even then I was able to drive it a dozen miles to a salvage yard.  We had two of those! Both station wagons. The one with the automatic transmission successfully hauled a two-wheeled trailer over the Rocky Mountains and back. We eventually sold it because there were three of us kids and it was kind of a tight fit. The second had a manual transmission and could have gone on forever if it hadn’t been for that encounter with a fire hydrant.

When I was in college, my car-savvy brother found me a ’92 Geo Prizm. Prizms at that time were rebranded Corollas. It looked (and drove) like a tin can, but when you’re a broke student, reliability is king. That little car just would not quit. It was totaled in an accident – front ended. The hood buckled and everything. Even then I was able to drive it a dozen miles to a salvage yard.

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650814 Felton / Moderator Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650814 Same here!  Unfortunately, a front-end collision proved mine to be destructible. Same here!  Unfortunately, a front-end collision proved mine to be destructible.

]]> By: Ladyfingers http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650813 Ladyfingers Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650813  Yep, this is why I buy Toyota. Had an '82 Corolla that wouldn't die.  Yep, this is why I buy Toyota. Had an ’82 Corolla that wouldn’t die.

]]> By: Lee Brown http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650754 Lee Brown Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650754 My first car was a '68 Corona.  That car was amazing.  It was definitely indestructible. We fixed the linkages with fencing wire. They were a very simple car and nothing could go seriously wrong mechanically. My first car was a ’68 Corona.  That car was amazing.  It was definitely indestructible. We fixed the linkages with fencing wire. They were a very simple car and nothing could go seriously wrong mechanically.

]]> By: Heevee Lister http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650722 Heevee Lister Sat, 09 Feb 2013 07:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650722 GM's answer to this car and its ilk was the Chevrolet Vega.  Ford's was the Pinto.  I was there, I know!  Now, tell me all over again how "undistinguished" the Corona was. GM’s answer to this car and its ilk was the Chevrolet Vega.  Ford’s was the Pinto.  I was there, I know!  Now, tell me all over again how “undistinguished” the Corona was.

]]> By: welcomeabored http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650568 welcomeabored Sat, 09 Feb 2013 01:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650568 Just for future reference, Donald, please provide a list of cars one is unlikely to get laid in.  I might have taken notes, but it occurs to me this a recurring theme with you when old cars are up for discussion and the list of unfuck worthy cars is growing.  :^) EDIT: Sorry, distracted watching Death RAce 2000. Yeah I said it. Just for future reference, Donald, please provide a list of cars one is unlikely to get laid in.  I might have taken notes, but it occurs to me this a recurring theme with you when old cars are up for discussion and the list of unfuck worthy cars is growing.  :^)

EDIT: Sorry, distracted watching Death RAce 2000. Yeah I said it.

]]> By: skeletoncityrepeater http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650558 skeletoncityrepeater Sat, 09 Feb 2013 01:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650558 I always thought these little cars were rather distinguished in a plain sort of way. Certainly better looking and more reliable than most American economy cars of most eras.. I always thought these little cars were rather distinguished in a plain sort of way. Certainly better looking and more reliable than most American economy cars of most eras..

]]> By: cameronhorsburgh http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650546 cameronhorsburgh Sat, 09 Feb 2013 01:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650546 I had one of these for a short while. It certainly had character and charm. Bench seats, three on the tree, no seat belts in the back, power nothing... I felt connected to the car in a way I never have since. The only real problem it had was a cactus starter engine, but it was frighteningly easy to hotwire. I knew nothing about hotwiring, but after two minutes playing with the wires going to the ignition switch I had it running. I had one of these for a short while. It certainly had character and charm. Bench seats, three on the tree, no seat belts in the back, power nothing… I felt connected to the car in a way I never have since.

The only real problem it had was a cactus starter engine, but it was frighteningly easy to hotwire. I knew nothing about hotwiring, but after two minutes playing with the wires going to the ignition switch I had it running.

]]> By: swlabr http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650540 swlabr Sat, 09 Feb 2013 01:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650540 Boxy... Undistinguished? As far as classic automobile aesthetics goes, beauty is in the eye of the chacon a son gout. I think this little old car is kinda cute, perhaps in a boxy, undistinguished way. Please note that Phil Are Go! picked a soundtrack to go with the car, which is ELP's 'Karn Evil 9'...! (I could almost see a scene from a movie, with the Corona racing against KLF's Ford Galaxie through the streets of Istanbul...) Boxy… Undistinguished? As far as classic automobile aesthetics goes, beauty is in the eye of the chacon a son gout.
I think this little old car is kinda cute, perhaps in a boxy, undistinguished way.

Please note that Phil Are Go! picked a soundtrack to go with the car, which is ELP’s ‘Karn Evil 9′…!

(I could almost see a scene from a movie, with the Corona racing against KLF’s Ford Galaxie through the streets of Istanbul…)

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650525 Donald Petersen Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650525 My high school buddy Lenny was often first out the high school parking-lot bottleneck gate since he drove a '72 Pinto wagon, complete with woodgrain stickers.  And he didn't care who he scraped on his way out the gate. My high school buddy Lenny was often first out the high school parking-lot bottleneck gate since he drove a ’72 Pinto wagon, complete with woodgrain stickers.  And he didn’t care who he scraped on his way out the gate.

]]> By: rasterops http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650507 rasterops Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650507 They still exist... found this one on ebay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1965-RT40-Corona-Shovelnose-/281060026775?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item41707ba997&_uhb=1#ht_500wt_990 They still exist… found this one on ebay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1965-RT40-Corona-Shovelnose-/281060026775?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item41707ba997&_uhb=1#ht_500wt_990

]]> By: Gyrofrog http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650498 Gyrofrog Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650498 If you cover up the front end, the lines are not so different from those on this fine auto: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02442/Mercury-Rolls_2442938c.jpg If you cover up the front end, the lines are not so different from those on this fine auto:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02442/Mercury-Rolls_2442938c.jpg

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650493 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650493 My first car was a Mazda B2000 Sundowner with literally hundreds of dents. It's great having a first car that all the other cars avoid because they think that you're a crazy bad driver. My first car was a Mazda B2000 Sundowner with literally hundreds of dents. It’s great having a first car that all the other cars avoid because they think that you’re a crazy bad driver.

]]> By: Murilee Martin http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650464 Murilee Martin Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650464  My very first car was a beige '69 Corona sedan. It was seen as terribly uncool in the early-80s Bay Area, but now that I write about cars for a living I'm proud that I didn't have a Colt or LTD like all my peers.  My very first car was a beige ’69 Corona sedan. It was seen as terribly uncool in the early-80s Bay Area, but now that I write about cars for a living I’m proud that I didn’t have a Colt or LTD like all my peers.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650454 Donald Petersen Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650454 If your history includes ownership of a Dodge Omni, I imagine you'd proudly drive nearly anything else. If your history includes ownership of a Dodge Omni, I imagine you’d proudly drive nearly anything else.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650451 Donald Petersen Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650451 That you did.  It occurs to me that Mike Ness' founding of Social Distortion and embrace of hot-rod kulture may have simply been an overcompensation for an OC childhood spent being ferried around in a Corona. That you did.  It occurs to me that Mike Ness’ founding of Social Distortion and embrace of hot-rod kulture may have simply been an overcompensation for an OC childhood spent being ferried around in a Corona.

]]> By: lectroid http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/undistinguished-car-cut-out.html#comment-1650443 lectroid Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211824#comment-1650443  sure, it's boxy. But it's not a box. Look at the very subtle curve of the hood, and the slope of the front grill. Inspired? No. But distinguished, as best it can.  Goodness knows, this is infinitely better than the mid-80's chunks of plastic that followed. I'd happily own, and proudly drive one these. Not so much my old 84 Dodge Omni.  sure, it’s boxy. But it’s not a box. Look at the very subtle curve of the hood, and the slope of the front grill. Inspired? No. But distinguished, as best it can.  Goodness knows, this is infinitely better than the mid-80′s chunks of plastic that followed. I’d happily own, and proudly drive one these. Not so much my old 84 Dodge Omni.

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