NY times bad mouths grand prix and 3.8
08-06-2003, 11:46 PM
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NY times bad mouths grand prix and 3.8
I was reading the new york times auto section last sunday and there was an article abuot grand prixs. so i read it. All they did throughout the whole thing is bad mouth the grand prix and in a couple of paragraphs put down the 3800 engine. just thought this might be intersting for some to read if you are bored.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/au...es/03auto.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/au...es/03auto.html
08-06-2003, 11:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 89BonnieSE89
Got a password for that page?
08-06-2003, 11:52 PM
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sorry about that
"If there is one thing this front-drive car needs, it is active traction control. Under the hood of my test car was a supercharged version of G.M.'* hoary 3.8-liter V-6. A pushrod engine with two valves per cylinder, the 3800 Series motor has been updated this year with electronic throttle control. Like all two-valve pushrod engines, this one produces peak torque at lower engine speeds (280 pounds-feet at 3600 r.p.m.), but tends to labor at higher revs.
In contrast, the car'* import competitors use modern, overhead-cam, multivalve engines - many of them with variable valve timing for smoother, more flexible power delivery.
Between the Grand Prix'* peaky power plant and the touchy feel of its e-throttle, the car lacks composure. Step on the gas too hard (it doesn't feel too hard) and the front tires squeal like pigs under a gate. Then the traction control kicks in, smothering engine power. The car bogs down. It'* ugly.
On my test car, the co-conspirators in this rude behavior were 17-inch Michelin Energy tires, which do not offer nearly enough grip for a 280-horsepower front-drive car. Another weak link is the suspension tuning. Essentially, the front strut suspension is stiff while the rear suspension is very soft. In racing this is called the car'* "setup" and it dictates whether the car understeers (that is, tends to go straight as the wheel is turned) or oversteers (that is, turns freely). Most cars have a degree of understeer engineered into them for safety'* sake, so they are not overly twitchy and hard to drive. " NY times
well i forgot that you needed to be a member to read this aritcle online so i just copied a small portion of it on here. the rest was pretty bad too.
In contrast, the car'* import competitors use modern, overhead-cam, multivalve engines - many of them with variable valve timing for smoother, more flexible power delivery.
Between the Grand Prix'* peaky power plant and the touchy feel of its e-throttle, the car lacks composure. Step on the gas too hard (it doesn't feel too hard) and the front tires squeal like pigs under a gate. Then the traction control kicks in, smothering engine power. The car bogs down. It'* ugly.
On my test car, the co-conspirators in this rude behavior were 17-inch Michelin Energy tires, which do not offer nearly enough grip for a 280-horsepower front-drive car. Another weak link is the suspension tuning. Essentially, the front strut suspension is stiff while the rear suspension is very soft. In racing this is called the car'* "setup" and it dictates whether the car understeers (that is, tends to go straight as the wheel is turned) or oversteers (that is, turns freely). Most cars have a degree of understeer engineered into them for safety'* sake, so they are not overly twitchy and hard to drive. " NY times
well i forgot that you needed to be a member to read this aritcle online so i just copied a small portion of it on here. the rest was pretty bad too.
08-07-2003, 12:01 AM
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OK, I want them to write this same article in 20 years, when all the overhead cam engines have puked and the Blown 3800 is still trotting right along with all of the power it had new. Pushrod engines are reliable, and require VERY little maintenance, and don't make much less power than an OHC or DOHC engine of the same displacement.
The part about the crappy suspension is true though. The tires do spin like that even in mall parking lots, they aren't kidding there.
But basically they wrote the article like the Grand Prix was crap or something. It is rediculous. Maybe I will write an article stating that the NY Times can't write car reviews because they are outdated and overrated. Maybe they need to stop reviewing BMW'* and Mercedes before they do the Grand Prix review.
The part about the crappy suspension is true though. The tires do spin like that even in mall parking lots, they aren't kidding there.
But basically they wrote the article like the Grand Prix was crap or something. It is rediculous. Maybe I will write an article stating that the NY Times can't write car reviews because they are outdated and overrated. Maybe they need to stop reviewing BMW'* and Mercedes before they do the Grand Prix review.
08-07-2003, 12:36 AM
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LOL... I've heard the GP has amazing suspension! Lack of power at the top of the revs? That'* where all the horsepower is!. It has a VERY flat torque curve! Crack is not meant to be smoked, and we all know about the NY times track recently!
08-07-2003, 02:00 AM
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I read another similar review, I don't remember where. But the author was comparing the GP and Pontiacs, to BMWs. He was bashing them, and even included a quote like "I've always been suspect of Pontiac becuase of the amount of plastic they use" But this person was a BMW owner, it said that in the article. Hello, sounds a little biased.
But this one is even worse. Calling the 3800 "hoary." Hey, it'* a damn good engine, that'* why it'* been around for a while. And since when was a Honda Accord a "fast and furious hot rod?" And here'* a nice typo I found: (pretty NY Times-like nowadays)
"On my test car, the co-conspirators in this rude behavior were 17-inch Michelin Energy tires, which do not offer nearly enough grip for a 280-horsepower front-drive car. "
The GP doesn't have 280hp. That'* torque. They should get their facts straight before printing. That'* carelessness. They wonder why their credibility is lacking.
But this one is even worse. Calling the 3800 "hoary." Hey, it'* a damn good engine, that'* why it'* been around for a while. And since when was a Honda Accord a "fast and furious hot rod?" And here'* a nice typo I found: (pretty NY Times-like nowadays)
"On my test car, the co-conspirators in this rude behavior were 17-inch Michelin Energy tires, which do not offer nearly enough grip for a 280-horsepower front-drive car. "
The GP doesn't have 280hp. That'* torque. They should get their facts straight before printing. That'* carelessness. They wonder why their credibility is lacking.
08-07-2003, 02:02 AM
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I don't want everythign in leather in a car anyways. It'll all crack and get dirty,, and you can't put stuff on it. If you wanna mount a cell phone holder to plastic it glues on, if you got a full leather dash you're gonna ruin it!
