Letters to the Editors: December 18, 2006
By Mike Hudson, News Editor | Published Dec 15, 2006
0 Ratings
Letters to the Editors are always welcome. When writing, please include your name, city and story to which you are referring. We will not publish your e-mail or phone number. You can reach us at editorsIL@edmunds.com. We may edit your letter for length or content.
Letters to the Inside Line Editors:
Cobalt SS Shouldn't Be Last in Comparo
2006 Sport Compact Comparison Test
Dear Editors:
How can you possibly think that the Cobalt SS could finish in last place? In every test you showed, it outperformed every vehicle with the exception of Mazda. Your only complaint was that it had a poor interior quality. I can't possibly see that as enough to move it to last place. I don't drive a Cobalt, and I really don't want to own one. But I think respect should be given where it is due. Give the American car a break. It's faster and more agile, and it deserves better than last.
Kyle K.,
Houghton, Michigan
Dear Editors:
Given your definition of a sport compact — "small, sporting, inexpensive" — it's pretty surprising to me that the Cobalt would finish last. Especially since many buyers in this segment prefer two doors over four even though you considered a coupe a disadvantage — and isn't it silly to consider a six-speed transmission a perk when another car performs better and gets better fuel economy without one?
I'm not saying the Cobalt is perfect — but when it's criticized for lack of interior space when the Civic has nearly the same dimensions, the only other complaint was a lackluster interior. But given its relatively low price and strong performance, it seems this would make an ideal sport compact, given your mission statement.
James M.,
Georgia
Route 66 Far From Gone
The "Driven Dirty Tour," From Cincinnati to Sin City in a Hot Rod
In his article "The 'Driven Dirty Tour,' From Cincinnati to Sin City in a Hot Rod," writer Ken Gross claims, "Sadly, old 66 is virtually gone, along with history that can't be replaced." Earlier in the article he stated that they were on the interstate for their trip, and later that they were "on and off" 66. Clearly, they were traveling more on the superslab than on old 66, for if they had traveled much of 66, they would also have seen all that was left.
I won't cite the multitude of locations that Gross and his companions clearly missed, but in the cities that he mentions, I'll name some: Ted Drewes in St. Louis, Rail Haven in Springfield, Afton Station in Afton, the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Roadworks in Winslow, and anything in Kingman!
More importantly, I'll mention a Yahoo! Group with over 1,000 members, and I'll mention Route 66 Associations in every state, a National Historic Route 66 Federation, the Route 66 Preservation Foundation, and a National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Management Program. If that is not enough, how about Route 66 Associations in Canada, Belgium, Japan and Norway?
So, if Route 66 in fact "is virtually gone," I'm not sure what so many people are talking about and traveling along on such a regular basis!
Scott Piotrowski
Director, 66 Productions
Gravel and Prohibition Make for Interesting Columns
Dear Editors,
I would like to say that Ken Gross has the best column on Edmunds. I would like to see you write about driving the back roads (unpaved, gravel, etc.) in Iowa or other places. We have some of the best rally-style gravel travel in the world, at least I think so.
I would also like to see an article about taking one of your vintage cars from the Prohibition Era and running booze from Canada to the various locations in the States. Just some ideas from an Iowa desk dreamer (in between customers) and a fan of all things with four wheels.
Ben U.,
Belle Plaine, Iowa
Follow-Up: Prius Column Was a Glimmer of Sunshine on a Rainy Day
Letters to the Editors: December 6, 2006
Dear Editors:
With all due respect (I emphasize "due") to the author of the unnecessarily harsh and rude commentary of Mr. Homan's Prius article, "Toyota Prius: the ultimate sports car for my new millennium," what is the harm in a lighthearted, entertaining slant on auto reviews? There are megabytes of factual accounts and dry statistical analyses of the many merits of the Prius, which I myself own, and thoroughly enjoy. To me, reviewing this car with an eye to its potential for sportiness emphasizes that one need not burn fun and playfulness on the altar of ecological responsibility — and if this can help persuade those fence-sitters who would gladly jump into a Prius, if they could still enjoy driving it, then I would say that Mr. Homan has done Edmunds readers a service! That, and made them smile.
Getting Nearly 50 mpg With Verve,
Benjamin H.
Leather Debate: Edmunds Is Evil
First Drive: 2007 Bentley Arnage T
There was a comment made in the First Drive of the 2007 Bentley Arnage T which said: "The cows that died for the leather trim should be proud of their lifelong work." This is a horrible and horrifying thing to say, how can the editors be so insensitive?
I have lost all respect for Edmunds. You people are evil and immoral, you disgust me.
Shawn S.
From the Web
Dear Shawn:
Sorry to offend. But if you don't like leather, then your real quarrel is with nearly every manufacturer we cover. — IL
Letters to the Inside Line Editors:
Cobalt SS Shouldn't Be Last in Comparo
2006 Sport Compact Comparison Test
Dear Editors:
How can you possibly think that the Cobalt SS could finish in last place? In every test you showed, it outperformed every vehicle with the exception of Mazda. Your only complaint was that it had a poor interior quality. I can't possibly see that as enough to move it to last place. I don't drive a Cobalt, and I really don't want to own one. But I think respect should be given where it is due. Give the American car a break. It's faster and more agile, and it deserves better than last.
Kyle K.,
Houghton, Michigan
Dear Editors:
Given your definition of a sport compact — "small, sporting, inexpensive" — it's pretty surprising to me that the Cobalt would finish last. Especially since many buyers in this segment prefer two doors over four even though you considered a coupe a disadvantage — and isn't it silly to consider a six-speed transmission a perk when another car performs better and gets better fuel economy without one?
I'm not saying the Cobalt is perfect — but when it's criticized for lack of interior space when the Civic has nearly the same dimensions, the only other complaint was a lackluster interior. But given its relatively low price and strong performance, it seems this would make an ideal sport compact, given your mission statement.
James M.,
Georgia
Route 66 Far From Gone
The "Driven Dirty Tour," From Cincinnati to Sin City in a Hot Rod
In his article "The 'Driven Dirty Tour,' From Cincinnati to Sin City in a Hot Rod," writer Ken Gross claims, "Sadly, old 66 is virtually gone, along with history that can't be replaced." Earlier in the article he stated that they were on the interstate for their trip, and later that they were "on and off" 66. Clearly, they were traveling more on the superslab than on old 66, for if they had traveled much of 66, they would also have seen all that was left.
I won't cite the multitude of locations that Gross and his companions clearly missed, but in the cities that he mentions, I'll name some: Ted Drewes in St. Louis, Rail Haven in Springfield, Afton Station in Afton, the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Roadworks in Winslow, and anything in Kingman!
More importantly, I'll mention a Yahoo! Group with over 1,000 members, and I'll mention Route 66 Associations in every state, a National Historic Route 66 Federation, the Route 66 Preservation Foundation, and a National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Management Program. If that is not enough, how about Route 66 Associations in Canada, Belgium, Japan and Norway?
So, if Route 66 in fact "is virtually gone," I'm not sure what so many people are talking about and traveling along on such a regular basis!
Scott Piotrowski
Director, 66 Productions
Gravel and Prohibition Make for Interesting Columns
Dear Editors,
I would like to say that Ken Gross has the best column on Edmunds. I would like to see you write about driving the back roads (unpaved, gravel, etc.) in Iowa or other places. We have some of the best rally-style gravel travel in the world, at least I think so.
I would also like to see an article about taking one of your vintage cars from the Prohibition Era and running booze from Canada to the various locations in the States. Just some ideas from an Iowa desk dreamer (in between customers) and a fan of all things with four wheels.
Ben U.,
Belle Plaine, Iowa
Follow-Up: Prius Column Was a Glimmer of Sunshine on a Rainy Day
Letters to the Editors: December 6, 2006
Dear Editors:
With all due respect (I emphasize "due") to the author of the unnecessarily harsh and rude commentary of Mr. Homan's Prius article, "Toyota Prius: the ultimate sports car for my new millennium," what is the harm in a lighthearted, entertaining slant on auto reviews? There are megabytes of factual accounts and dry statistical analyses of the many merits of the Prius, which I myself own, and thoroughly enjoy. To me, reviewing this car with an eye to its potential for sportiness emphasizes that one need not burn fun and playfulness on the altar of ecological responsibility — and if this can help persuade those fence-sitters who would gladly jump into a Prius, if they could still enjoy driving it, then I would say that Mr. Homan has done Edmunds readers a service! That, and made them smile.
Getting Nearly 50 mpg With Verve,
Benjamin H.
Leather Debate: Edmunds Is Evil
First Drive: 2007 Bentley Arnage T
There was a comment made in the First Drive of the 2007 Bentley Arnage T which said: "The cows that died for the leather trim should be proud of their lifelong work." This is a horrible and horrifying thing to say, how can the editors be so insensitive?
I have lost all respect for Edmunds. You people are evil and immoral, you disgust me.
Shawn S.
From the Web
Dear Shawn:
Sorry to offend. But if you don't like leather, then your real quarrel is with nearly every manufacturer we cover. — IL