SeniorProjectMag
- 4. 2
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PROLOGUE
As funny as this might be, I can't recall a time when I wasn't playing with, looking
at, or thinking about cars.
At home, I had a massive collection of toy cars. Thus, I was always playing with
one of them. In my mind, I was in the driver's seat of that car. The floor, the
unpainted wall, and even the screen of the television were the racetracks.
Whenever the car flew across the floor, I was traveling with it quite happily.
Whenever the car crashed into something, a part of me died inside. I'm pretty sure I
apologized to it once or twice.
During car rides, I would often times stare outside the window. I would mindlessly
watch other drivers, who waved awkwardly in response. I would always look out
for the cars that looked brand-new and those I didn't recognize. As I saw an
unfamiliar car, I memorized the model name, the model year, the trim level, the
automaker, and the shape of the wheels. Awesome, right?
Interestingly, they played a significant role later in life, but through a different
medium: literature. In middle school, I discovered car magazines. Unlike books,
they were so much fun to read! Every time my parents bought me a new issue, I
happily ran up to my room and read and re-read the magazine for hours and hours.
Page after page, there was a new article full of professional pictures and vivid
words. I fell in love with journalism and writing articles about cars. Thus, I decided
to start a car blog called "The Open Track" in the summer of 2012. Eventually, one
thing led to another and here I am, creating this magazine.
This piece of literary and visual perfection contains articles from my blog, reviews
and comparisons, and interviews from various dealerships and friends. I hope you
love reading my magazine as much as I did creating it.
Enjoy.
- 5. 3
3
If you have seen an increasing array of white
cars in your neighborhood, it's probably due to
the fact that white is the world's favorite car
color of all, according to forbes.com. This
includes sedans, convertibles, SUVs, and
trucks. In countries from Europe, North
America, Asia, and Africa, white has been the
most popular color on the consumers' cars.
With the recent introduction of pearlescent and
metallic whites, many buyers have chosen this
upscale and elegant-looking paint. In countries
such as South Korea and China, black was
also very popular, thus received 2nd place. For
countries like Brazil and India, both dark grey
and silver were favored the most.
Interestingly, car colors play a large role in the
residual, or resale value of the car itself. For
example, choosing a trendy color will make
your car even more popular when selling the
car.
Even car color experts such as Robert S. Daily,
marketing advisor of automotive paint supplier
DuPoint Automotive, says "Colors such as silver
and gray reflect our fascination with
technology, such as seen in the brushed chrome
cues on laptop computer covers and other
electronic devices. Secondly, silver and techno-
gray seem to accentuate the angular, 'new-
edge design' of the latest luxury sport
vehicles."
CARS AROUND THE WORLD
- 7. 5
5
Going into the Porsche dealership was quite
the experience. When I drove into the parking
lot for the first time, I was absolutely blown
away by design of the building itself.
Everything, from the bricks on the floor to the
glass panes on the front entrance to the steel
beams that provided structural support, were all
connected and perfectly aligned. The word that
immediately popped into my head was
'balance'.
this is one of the 5 largest Porsche dealerships in the country
Porsche emphasizes the essence of balance
throughout all of their products. The 911, for
instance, has a flat-six engine that sits behind
the rear axle. This doesn't allow for an insane
horsepower number, but it allows the car to
hold one of the faster lap times at the
Nurburgring. The Macan, on the other hand, is
an SUV that is named after the Indonesian
word for tiger. It represents the balance
between qualities such as suppleness, power,
fascination, and dynamics.
While I did not drive these cars, I was given
time to sit and familiarize myself with the
interior of the 911 and Macan. In both cars,
there's a lot of buttons. There are buttons for
the suspension, heated and cooled seats,
climate control, and more. Surprisingly though,
the interior would be appealing and easy to
use even to those with OCD.
Likewise, both of these vehicles' interiors are
complimented by their exterior. Unlike certain
brands, Porsche products have extremely
smooth, curvy profiles. Good-looking? I think
so, but it's subjective. Instantly recognizable?
Yes.
At Porsche of Bellevue, I was able interview the
Sales Manager for some questions. I'm
abbreviated as 'KU', while Porsche is listed as
'P'.
KU: What is the correct pronunciation of the
brand? Porsch-ia or Porsch?
PP: Porsch-ia. It's the founder's last name.
KU: I always thought it was the other one!
Anyways, with the introduction of the Cayenne,
Panamera, and now the Macan in the past two
decades, Porsche has become a widely
successful and influential company in the
luxury-performance SUV + car market. To the
average consumer shopping vehicles in this
class, what separates a Porsche from the rest?
PP: Sure. There's a lot (laughs). In the
competitive markets, when we are looking at
the competitors, the areas where we are,
where we exceed the competition is in the
overall performance. You know, we generally
don’t have the highest horsepower, but we
usually have the highest horsepower-to-weight
ratio.
buttons-galore.
- 8. 6
6
So Porsche takes a total approach to designing
their cars. We don’t talk horsepower here with
the guys that come in. We don’t talk lap times.
What we talk about is the driving experience,
and that is hard to quantify with numbers.
Instead of trying to produce the highest number
in one category, Porsche tries to produce the
best result overall.
Some of the things that differentiate a Porsche,
as compared to vehicles such as MB GTS,
Jaguar F-type R, BMW M4, is the day-to-day
usability, practicality, and ergonomics. Where
the position of things are at, simple like the
shifter, the sport button, or the act of getting in
and out of the car, is a lot easier. The fit-and-
finish, the quality of the materials, especially
that of domestic brands (and foreign brands
which assemble their cars in the US) people
can feel the difference in the quality of the car.
The leather is richer, the wood paneling is
deeper (in Porsche products).
the 911 (top), the Macan (bottom)
KU: Sure! Porsche is also well-known for their
flat-six engines and the PDK transmission.
Could you briefly explain how these innovative
feats of engineering work?
PP: The flat-six engine is horizontally-opposed,
so the cylinders lay in horizontal to the ground
with the crankshaft in the middle. This is ideal
for balance, and for linear power/torque
delivery. The force that the engine produces is
not working against itself, as it is in a V-motor.
And because of the size and layout of the
motor, it allows us to put the motor where it is.
It allows us to have a rear-engined 911 with a
motor that is over the rear axle. This gives a
significant advantage in and out of the corner,
which is why we hold excellent track times at
Nurburgring. This is why we are so successful
even though it doesn’t produce 650 hp. We
can get more with less. Porsche will refer to it
as intelligent design.
The PDK transmission is a full-on, two manual
transmissions working together inside the case.
They are electronically controlled, so the next
and previous gear are always pre-selected.
This is why the shifting is so fast and seamless.
It shifts in the milliseconds. It's what separates
the Macan from the competition, all of the
other SUVS in the market.
KU: Perfect. What is the design theme of
Porsche's lineup?
P: P: As an evolution not revolution company, we
design cars that very much follow the concept
of 'form follows function'. If you take for
instance, the rear slots on the 911.2, they are
vertical instead of horizontal. On the previous
generation, they have been horizontal. The
reason they are vertical is because the Porsche
356, when it was produced back in the late
1950's and 60's, had the same design. So we
took the vintage design cue and brought it
- 9. 7
7
forward, not only because we wanted to emote
the same feeling (as the 356), but also to be
used to cool the engine and the turbocharger.
KU: I didn't know that! Truly fascinating. What
would be the target audience for both vehicles?
PP: Porsche, since 2009, has been on a huge
push to broaden the general audience of the
911. We want the millennials to drive
Boxsters/711/Caymans, and the early-30's to
purchase their first 911.
The Macan is a fantastic compromise between
a 911 and Cayenne, especially for those living
in an urban environment. And again, the
demographic would be the late 20's, early
30's, perhaps families of four. Little known fact:
the Macan drives more like a 911 than a
Cayenne.
We're looking for people who would drive
their cars everyday instead of being a car that
somebody buys when they retire, park it in
their garage, and drive it once a month.
KU: That's awesome! Last question, the
Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards
require automakers to have an average fuel
economy of 54.2 mpg (for the entire passenger
fleet) by 2025. What steps are Porsche making
towards this goal?
PP: Great question. We are actually one of the
front-runners in those standards. Some of the
technologies that we incorporate into our cars
to maximize fuel-efficiency include the auto
stop-start system and impressive
thermodynamic systems that warm the engine
and transmission without using extra fuel on
start-up. Moving forward, we currently have
two plug-in hybrids in our lineup: the Cayenne
Plug-In Hybrid and the 918. Who doesn't want
to spend a million dollars on a car? The
technologies that we have used in those
vehicles, such as recuperative braking and
Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), should
make their way onto future Porsche products. In
addition to those, we are also developing a
full-on electric vehicle, which we are shooting
for production in about a year and a half.
Porsche is committed to being in the electric
car market. Another little known fact, Porsche
produced the first production electric car,
called the Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid, in the
late 1800s. It was powered by two electric
motors mounted on the front axle. Interestingly,
the design of this car was studied and mirrored
in NASA's Lunar Roving Vehicle. We like to
boast that Porsche has been building hybrids/
electric vehicles longer than anyone else.
- 11. 9
9
In the past two decades, Hyundai has
significantly improved their vehicles in terms of
value, design, technology, safety and
dynamics. The amount of progress that this
automaker has made is simply astounding. No
longer are they manufacturing pitiful and
abysmal vehicles such as the Hyundai Pony.
The automaker has become one of the top five
car companies in the US by recruiting key
designers, marketing staff, and engineers in the
automotive industry. With economical and
reasonable prices, decent driving
characteristics, satisfactory design, and a 10
year/100,000mile warranty, this Korean
company has recently attracted a massive
audience.
With this large of a following, the next goal for
Hyundai is quite simple: standing out. And
that's exactly what they aim to do with the new
generation of Genesis. This model will soon be
rebadged as 'G80' under the sub-brand
'Genesis'.
By creating this division, Hyundai will be able
to distinguish their products even further. Buyers
will still be able to purchase economy cars,
hatchbacks, hybrids, and SUVs from 'Hyundai',
while those who seek comfort and a bit more
flair will be able to choose among various
luxury sedans from 'Genesis'.
The Genesis G80 is truly, a respectable
vehicle. While critics point out that its design
isn't exactly striking nor memorable, the overall
shape is reminiscent of Hyundai's design
language. The interior is very much the same
story. It's elegant and simple. No weird-looking
touch pads or dials here. Just buttons, a touch-
screen navigation, an analog clock, and a
wood-trimmed dashboard.
The G80 is powered by a 3.8L V-6 capable of
producing 331hp, but can also be optioned
with the beefy 5.0L V-8 that makes 420 hp that
can easily overwhelm the rear tires. It's
decently fast.
At Hyundai of Kirkland, I was able to conduct
an interview and ask some questions. Again, I
am 'KU' and Hyundai is abbreviated as 'H'.
KU: In recent years, Hyundai has become one
of the five major automakers in the US market.
To the average consumer, what separate a
Hyundai from vehicles from the other five
automakers?
HH: The first element that distinguishes a
Hyundai would have to do with the strong
warranty. All Hyundai products come with a
10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, 7
year/Unlimited mile Anti-Perforation warranty,
and 5 year/Unlimited mile Roadside
Assistance.
The second element would be our commitment
to quality. This is what we say online, "In the
pursuit of creating vehicles of unparalleled
quality and workmanship, we have one aim: To
make everything better. But the thing about
better is there's no finish line, because
everything can always be better. This requires
constantly pushing, improving and innovating,
a never-ending process of searching for better
materials, processes and design."
The 5.0L V-8 (top), the interior of the G80 (bottom)
- 12. 10
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Third element would be the high dollar value.
Compared to vehicles from Lexus and Mercedes-
Benz, the Genesis, which ranges from $47 to
$52k, has a lot more technology and comfort
inside.
KU: Those qualities can definitely make a brand
stand out. What would be the target audience of
the G80?
H: H: I would say that the most common
demographic that purchase the G80 are middle-
aged buyers who are close to retirement, around
the late-40's and early-50's.
Of course, being a Korean automaker, a lot of
Korean individuals purchase this car. I would
argue that there still is a significant amount of
non-Korean buyers.
Another thing I'd like to add is that these buyers
are those who want to distinguish themselves
from the people around them, who drive
expensive luxury cars such as BMW 5-series,
Mercedes-Benz E-classes, Jaguar XFs, and so on.
KU: That's great to hear. Speaking of brands,
Hyundai are making sub-brands such as
'Genesis' and 'N'. Could you further elaborate
on these divisions?
H: H: As of right now, we are planning to sell
Genesis products in specific Hyundai
dealerships. Not all Hyundai dealerships will be
able to sell these cars as they are meant to be an
entirely different level of Hyundai. Similar to
Lexus, Genesis vehicles will focus on luxury and
refinement.
The 'N' brand, similar to the BMW's 'M' and
Mercedes-Benz's 'AMG', is meant to be more
performance-oriented than ever before. The
name was inspired by Namyang and the
Nurburgring. Namyang is where the
headquarters of Hyundai's global R&D network
and birthplace of all Hyundai products, while the
latter is the world's most challenging race track
in Germany. We believe in Motorsports-Derived
Technology, Balanced Performance, and
Emotional Delight. Thus, we will emphasize
performance, technology, as well as
affordability.
The Hyundai N 2025 Vision Concept (above)
"Hyundai N 2025 Vision" by Spielvogel / CC BY 2.0"
- 13. 11
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If you look at cars often (on the street, or
maybe in the garage) you might notice one
similarity among them: the color of the tire.
Every car in the the world has a black tire. The
tires are made of polymer, so the UV/ozone
rays from the sun can cause devastating effects.
In order to prevent them from getting any
damage, the tire companies must add carbon
black to the tires, since black absorbs UV and
ozone rays.
Biodiesel, recyclable plastics and carpets, and
e85 ethanol fuel are just some of the eco-
friendly components that automakers have
implemented in their products over time. Tire
company Continental wants to introduce a tire
that puts less of a burden on the environment as
well. In Russian Dandelions (and only that
particular species), the rubber in its roots can
be extracted and combined with 40+ materials
to make a tire. Named the Taraxagum tires,
they are currently undergoing testing and will
be in production in around five to ten years, if
all goes as planned. The main perk of using
dandelions is sustainability. Unlike today's tire
making methods in which rubber is extracted
from rubber trees, Russian dandelions are not
as affected to changes in weather, and can be
sourced from all over the world.
Continental is showing the world how tires,
quite literally, could be "green".
Similar to Continental's recent environmental
research, tire company Goodyear also
achieved a new breakthrough. They found that
tires can be made with soybean oil as well.
During their testing, they found that tires that
contain soybean oil tend to last 10% longer
than the regular petroleum-based oil tires, as
well as saving a bit of natural resources. The
new tires will probably be on sale by 2015, so
if you are (or want to be) environmentally-
friendly or want to save money, try buying
these tires instead.
TECHNOLOGY IN TIRES
- 15. 13
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The Kia Sorento was the first vehicle that my
family purchased to replace a disastrous,
plasticky, trouble-prone, and green 2000 Dodge
Grand Caravan that we had for around 6 years.
There wasn't even a competition to determine
which car was better. The Sorento was superior
in every way. The pearl white paint of the latter
was completely spot-on, and wasn't peeling off
either. The Sorento was seriously a gift from
God, with a back-up camera and headed seats!
My 12-year old self would have told you that the
Sorento was the best car ever, period. But after
becoming much wiser and thus objective, as well
as owning the car for several years, I am now
able to determine the faults and flaws that I had
missed before.
The 2011 Kia Sorento (XM) was a completely
different vehicle from its predecessor. While the
previous-gen Sorento used a body-on-frame
chassis, the second-gen shared its unibody
structure along with the Hyundai Sante Fe. The
changes were significantly evident, as it
provided passengers with 3.7 extra inches of
interior space, while removing 475lbs of weight.
Looks + DesignLooks + Design
This is most definitely, the Sorento’s strongest suit.
Designed by former Audi designer Peter Scheyer,
this SUV marked Kia’s first attempt to distinguish
itself from other cars on the market. It shares the
corporate ‘tiger nose’ grille, which was
something that Kia started putting onto the rest of
the lineup. The design of a car varies from
person to person and is thus extremely
subjective, but most can agree that the overall
look of the Sorento is inoffensive.
The front fascia is well-sorted, as the grille and
headlamps are connected. The fog lamps are
placed in a black, pentagonal figure of the same
design as the grille. To give the car more of a
muscular look, there are also bulges on either
sides of the bonnet. Looking at the sides reveal a
unique and distinct line that starts from the
driver’s door and continues throughout the
body. The most visually-appealing aspect
towards the rear of the car are the taillights. In
SX models and above, LEDs are placed in a
rectangular fashion, while honeycomb
reflectors are used in the other trims such as this
vehicle. These are extremely interesting to look
at, particularly during nighttime.
the fantastic back-up camera
"Kia Sportage Engine" by P199 / CC BY 2.0
Performance + Powertrain Performance + Powertrain
This Kia Sorento is a front-wheel drive variant
and is powered by a 2.4L inline-four good for
175 horsepower and 168 lbs/ft of torque. 0
goes to 60’s house in around 9.6 seconds,
which is noticeably slow by today’s standards.
Unlike the inline-fours of Honda or Toyota, the
engine becomes coarse and raw in the higher
revs. Otherwise, the engine remains silent and
mostly smooth in city driving. Unusually, most
of the torque remains absent until 3000 rpms,
in which it comes on quite like a wrecking ball.
Perhaps Kia could have done a better job at
the throttle tuning. In all, the SUV does tend to
feel underpowered at times, especially on hills
or at freeway speeds.
- 16. 14
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Ride Comfort Ride Comfort
Oh boy. The Sorento uses MacPherson struts and
coil springs up front, and is paired with multilink
coil springs in the rear. This setup is extremely
common on SUVs and crossovers from various
companies.
While the Sorento's suspension layout looks
good on paper, it is quite the opposite in reality.
The unibody platform, when paired with this
system, just refuses to soak up bumps. Instead, it
allows the passengers to experience and feel all
the bumps and unevenness of the roads. How
generous, right?
To make matters worse, the front seats are not
comfortable. They are flat in terms of cushioning
and lack lateral support, side-to-side bolstering,
and lumbar adjustment. The rear seats are
designed to be flat when folded, thus lacks the
mentioned qualities as well. Traveling on a
bumpy road, or even a slight dirt road in Death
Valley, is ridiculously rough and borderline
unbearable.
Quality + Details Quality + Details
Cars have come a long way in terms of quality
in the past couple of years. Rock hard plastics
have been replaced with soft plastics and faux
leather stitching.
This vehicle was produced before this trend
became, well, a trend. Everywhere that the
driver sees and feels is mostly plastic. However,
Kia was able to use fake wood trimming, black
gloss plastic, and beige leather inserts on
various parts of the interior, which allows the
interior to feel slightly more upscale.
A benefit of using plastic in car interiors has to
do with longevity. Unlike cars with leather or
wood upholstery, stains, fingerprints, and
scratches do not show up easily. Even after 5
hard years of abuse, the interior does not look
significantly different than it was at the time of
purchase.
So, the Sorento is trading luxurious and
expensive components for durability and
longevity. Worthy tradeoff? Perhaps.
- 17. 15
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Technology + Features Technology + Features
Kia has been known for providing value on all
of their products. The Sorento is no exception.
It comes with an overwhelming amount of
features, such as an automatically-dimming
rearview mirror, back-up camera, back-up
sensors, roof rack, cargo tray, heated side
mirrors and seats, Bluetooth, and satellite
radio. With around 37 cubic feet of space and
an additional 35.5 cubic feet with the second-
row folded down, this SUV does not lack any
room either.
heated seats, auxiliary & usb inputs, along with safety
equipment such as hill descent control & parking sensors are
equipped
Maintenance Fees Maintenance Fees
For the most part, the midsize SUV has been
reliable. There were no major breakdowns or
disastrous events.
The only time when the vehicle visited the
dealership was when a mechanism inside the
driver’s side passenger door malfunctioned and
couldn't be opened. It was an unusual case,
and cost around $1k to repair.
Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts
The second-generation Sorento was part of
Kia’s first attempt to alter the image of the
brand. Instead of being known for producing
cheap and inefficient vehicles, the Korean
automaker vowed to dramatically change the
image of the brand by improving the quality
and dynamics throughout all of their products.
To do this for the Sorento, Kia made significant
changes to the chassis/platform, interior, and
design. And they're not done yet.
The facelifted second-generation Sorento
(2014) was fitted with a completely different
chassis, strut tower brace, a new front
suspension design, as well as suspension
bushings and mounts. The amount of progress
that Kia is making to their products is
astounding.
Despite this generation's flaws and downfalls,
they were mostly resolved in the past few
years. It’s safe to say that this model year’s
Sorento was Kia’s first, bold attempt to improve
their vehicles.
the 2016 Kia Sorento
"Kia Sorento Mondial de l'Automobile de Paris 2014" by Author / CC BY 2.0
2011 KIA SORENTO LX
PRICE $22,000
POWERTRAIN
2.4-liter I-4, 175hp, 168 lb-
ft; FWD, 6-speed automatic
WEIGHT 3800lbs (est)
0-60 MPH 9.6 sec
EPA CITY/HWY
21/29mpg
- 19. 17
17
KU: Hey Silas! On a scale of 1 to 10, how
much do you like your car?
SC: Definitely a 10.
KU: Is this your first car?
SC: Nope! This is my third one.
KU: How long have you owned the car?
SC: Exactly 6 months and 17 days.
KU: Wow. Very precise. What is one thing that
you love?
SC: I love the look and the sound the car. But
most of all, I love the way it drives because it
the way it builds up power is intoxicating.
KU: Have you given a name for your car?
SC: Of course! Here's also a backstory of the
name of the car. After I first saw 'Transformers'
when it came out, I fell in love with two
characters of that movie: Megan Fox and the
yellow Camaro. Eventually though, I decided
to buy the Mustang because it looks better and
better quality overall. But since I fell in love
with muscle cars thanks to the movie, I named
the car 'Mikaela'.
KU: What's one thing that you don't like about
the car?
SC: It's not loud enough.
KU: Well, you can certainly change that!
What's your favorite song to jam to in the car?
SC: 'Poetic Justice' by Kendrick Lamar.
KU: That's very fitting. Do you have any
interesting/fun memories with your car?
SC: One day there was a Porsche that was
going really slow on a 40mph road. It looked
it he was vaping, since smoke was bellowing
out of the car. When the road divided into
two lanes, I floored it (to the speed limit) and
zoomed right past him.
KU: Awesome! If someone pulls alongside you
and revs his/her engine, what would you do?
SC: I would not rev back and kick his butt
once the light turns green. Revving is such a
waste of gas.
KU: What do you do if someone cuts in front
of you?
SC: I just honk. A LOT.
KU: The police pulls you over. What would be
the most likely reason?
SC: Probably because I was speeding in a
residential neighborhood.
KU: If you were given a small loan of a
million dollars, would you purchase your car
again?
SC: I would buy it again, but in a different
color. Maybe metallic grey with gold rims.
An Interview with Silas
Silas is abbreviated as 'SC', while I am 'KU'. 2016 Ford Mustang GT shown above.
- 20. 18
18
KU: Hi Chris! Is the Saab your first car?
CJ: Yup!
KU: How long have you owned your car?
CJ: I've had it since sophomore year.
KU: So if you were to rate your car from 1 to
10, what would you give it?
CJ: A 7.
KU: What's one thing that you love about the
car?
CJ: I love that it is a manual. It allows me to
accelerate in whichever gear I want.
KU: That's pretty awesome. Have you given a
name for your car?
CJ: Mmm no. It was 'Steve' at one point.
KU: I can see that. Do you have any
interesting/fun memories with your car?
CJ: One time I was driving to school and I
started to smell this awful, awful smell. Turns
out a mouse had made a nest in the passenger
cabin filter. So as the car moved, the nest went
into the filter. The smell was still there, so I had
to take out the liner completely.
KU: That's slightly disturbing. What is one
thing that you don't particularly like?
CJ: On highways, the steering is super light,
and has a lot of play in it. It's kinda scary
sometimes, but it's also just a quirk.
It gives the car character.
KU: Cool! What is your favorite song to jam
to in the car?
CJ: I have 2 cds in my car. 'Kidz Bop' and
'Christmas with the Chipmunks'. I like to
torture my friends by playing those on repeat.
KU: You have great taste in music. If someone
pulls alongside you and revs his/her engine,
what would you do?
CJ: I would attempt to fast-and-furious out of
the situation by madly shifting through gears.
KU: I can really see that happening. What do
you do if someone cuts in front of you?
CJ: Usually slow down. I'm very passive and
don't really care. If they're going slow, I'll
either push forward or wobble my car back
and forth in the lane.
KU: Sure! The police pulls you over. What
would be the most likely reason?
CJ: Definitely speeding.
KU: If you were given a small loan of a
million dollars, would you purchase your car
again?
CJ: No, I'd buy a much nicer car. Maybe an
Audi RS7, or even Ferrari 458. Oh wait! I
would buy Reliant Robin and attach training
wheels.
An Interview with Chris
1999 Saab 9-3 shown above.Chris is abbreviated as 'CJ', while I am 'KU'.
- 21. 19
19
KU: Hey Bethany! On a scale of 1 to 10, how
much do you like your car?
BVB: I would give it a 9.
KU: What is one thing that you love about the
car?
BVB: The design. It's a triple white edition.
That means it has white leather seats, white
plastic padding, and white paint. It also has a
surprisingly good stereo.
KU: Awesome! Have you given a name for
your car?
A: Giving a name confines it to a single
identity. It's too special for that.
KU: Good answer. What is one interesting/fun
memory that involves your car?
BVB: This is actually my second triple white.
My dad bought this one during the fall of
junior year, but I totaled it last October. I was
devastated when I lost it. Fortunately, my dad
found another triple white down in Colorado,
and drove it back for my 18th birthday.
KU: I didn't know that! What is one thing that
you don't particularly like about the car?
BVB: Gas mileage. It's an older car, so it gets
only like 19 or 20mpg. Also, this one has a bit
of stain of them compared to my first one. So
dirty seats and gas mileage.
KU: What is your favorite song to jam to in
the car?
BVB: "Dangerous Woman" by Ariana Grande
or "Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber. I actually
have a Spotify playlist called 'Bug', just for
my car.
KU: Great choices. If someone pulls alongside
you and revs his/her engine, what would you
do?
BVB: I'd say "what a jerk", judge them, and
drive normally.
KU: What would you do if someone cuts in
front of you?
A: I'd move to the other lane, speed past
them, and cut in front of them. Aggressive
tailgating is the key.
KU: I feel sorry for the people that have cut
you off. If the police pulls you over, what
would be the most likely reason?
BVB: It would be speeding.
KU: If you were given a small loan of a
million dollars, would you purchase your car
again?
BVB: No, I would buy an Aston Martin.
An Interview with Bethany
2008 Volkswagen Beetle W3 shown above.Bethany is abbreviated as 'BVB', while I am 'KU'.
- 24. 22
KU: Hi Kathryn! On a scale of 1 to 10, how
much do you like your car?
KA: A 10 for sure.
KU: Is this your first car?
KA: Yes.
KU: How long have you owned your car?
KA: Like, not even a year.
KU: Exciting! What is one thing that you love
about your car?
KA: It's very cute, it's very small, and it's very
red.
KU: I would agree! It is very red. Have you
given a name for your car?
KA: I have. Her name is Shelly the Jelly Belly.
She looks a jelly bean!
KU: Yep! What is one interesting/fun memory
that involves your car?
KA: Once I was hanging out with a friend,
and we watched a movie. When I was driving
her home afterwards, we decided to take a
picture in the middle of the road. I should
mention that was midnight. It was very safe
and memorable.
KU: Very safe indeed. What is one thing that
you don't particularly like about the car?
KA: Let's see…there's no tape player. So I
can't connect my phone via an aux cord, I
have to connect to bluetooth. There's also a
dent in the car. It makes her unique. It gives
her character.
KU: Definitely! What is your favorite song to
jam to in the car?
KA: Oh man. I'm having a hardcore 'Panic At
the Disco!' phase, so anything by them.
KU: Nice! If someone pulls alongside you and
revs his/her engine, what would you do?
KA: I'd make a face at them, and I don't
know, just drive at the speed limit like a
normal citizen.
KU: Good choice. What do you do if
someone cuts in front of you?
KA: I, uhm, would probably say something
pg-13, and say a really snarky comment like
"someone's really important".
KU: Let's say the police pulls you over. What
would be the most likely reason?
KA: Probably being on my phone. Probably
for texting or changing the song. It's a bad
habit!
KU: I do that too! If you were given a small
loan of a million dollars, would you purchase
your car again?
KA: Absolutely! I could buy a lot of jellies.
Perhaps around 200 jellies?
An Interview with Kathryn
2005 Hyundai Accent shown above.Kathryn is abbreviated as 'KA', while I am 'KU'.
- 25. 23
KU: Hi Ian! On a scale of 1 to 10, how much
do you like your car?
IK: A 10.
KU: Is this your first car?
IK: Yep!
KU: That's an awesome first car. How long
have you owned your car?
IK: I've had it for two years.
KU: What is one thing that you love about
your car?
IK: The audio system is absolutely fantastic.
KU: Have you given a name for your car?
IK: Erotic (censored) lioness.
KU: Alrighty then. What is one interesting/fun
memory that involves your car?
IK: Last December, I was on the way to a
friend's party. On the way there, I slipped on
black ice. My car, as beautiful as it is, doesn't
have the best traction. It's a fair tradeoff,
traction for aesthetic beauty. I walked
unscathed, but more importantly, so did my
car.
KU: What is one thing that you don't
particularly like?
IK: It doesn't have very good acceleration. It
also doesn't sound very loud. Especially when
I put it in 'neutral' and rev it.
KU: What is your favorite song to jam to in
the car?
IK: "Love Me Sexy" by Jackie Moon.
KU: Great choice. If someone pulls alongside
you and revs his/her engine, what would you
do?
IK: I would call the cops because I don't
tolerate that type of delinquency on the road.
KU: What would you do if someone cuts in
front of you?
IK: I would let it fester inside of me. I wouldn't
do anything at that moment, but I would cry
when I go to sleep and post an emotional
facebook status about it.
KU: Very specific. If the police pulls you over,
what would be the most likely reason?
IK: Probably because I was carrying a high
amount of illegal narcotics across the
Canadian border.
KU: If you were given a small loan of a
million dollars, would you purchase your car
again?
IK: No, I would do what any reasonable
person would do.
I would build a wall.
KU: Is that right?
An Interview with Ian
2004 Jaguar X-type shown above.Ian is abbreviated as 'IK', while I am 'KU'.
- 26. 24
KU: Hey Sam! On a scale of 1 to 10, how
much do you like your car?
ST: Like, 11.
KU: Is this your first car?
ST: This is my third car. My brother and sister
had a '93 Wrangler. I drove that for a year
before it traded it in for a black GTI. After a
year, I got this one because it had a lot of
modifications, but was cheaper than mine. I
had this for about 8 or 9 months.
KU: What is one thing that you love about the
car?
ST: I like how practical and performance-
oriented it is. I can drive fast while comfortably
seating 5 people and carrying all of my rafting
equipment, which happens every weekend.
KU: Have you given a name for your car?
ST: Uhm, I have. I call it 'beast mode'. The
previous owner had a camouflage blue and
green wrap on it, along with a beast mode
sticker on the side. So I decided to name it
'beast mode' to keep the legacy going.
KU: Sweet name! What is one interesting/fun
memory that involves your car?
ST: Let's see. Oh, one time I got stopped by a
police officer because he was interested in my
car. He pulled me over just to ask a couple of
questions about my vinyl wrap. He was like,
"dude, is that a seahawks vinyl wrap?"
KU: That is one awesome cop. What is one
thing that you don't particularly like?
ST: It's really hard to work on since it’s a
german car. Parts are ridiculously expensive.
To change one thing, it takes a couple of
months and I go completely broke. There was
a one time where I ordered a boost gauge.
When it came, the instructions and diagrams
were all in German, so I couldn't understand
any of it. I ended up returning it.
KU: What is your favorite song to jam to in
the car?
ST: "Crank that" by Soulja Boy. Fantastic
driving song.
KU: I bet! If someone pulls alongside you and
revs his/her engine, what would you do?
ST: I would probably rev my engine back, but
just let them go. Street-racing is dangerous.
KU: What would you do if someone cuts in
front of you?
A: I'm a pretty laid back driver. Usually I'll just
ignore them.
KU: The police pulls you over. What would be
the most likely reason?
ST: Probably speeding (laughs).
An Interview with Sam + Modified Car Culture
2005 Volkswagen Golf GTI shown above.Sam is abbreviated as 'ST', while I am 'KU'.
- 27. 25
KU: If you were given a small loan of a million
dollars, would you purchase your car again?
A: Yes! I definitely would. I would take the rest
of the million dollars to make the car BETTER.
On Modified Car CultureOn Modified Car Culture
KU: So I know that you're really into cars and
certain elements of the car scene, such as
'stance' and 'tuning'. Could you elaborate on
those?
ST: Sure! There's a huge difference between
stance and tuning. Stance follows the idea of
'form over function'. The people who are into
'stance' just want to make their car look good.
And by 'look good', I mean making the car as
low as humanly possible, while making it still
drivable.
example of a 'stanced' vehicle
Tuning is different because it's turning a less-
appealing or inexpensive car and making it go
faster and sporty. It's essentially transforming a
mediocre car into a great one. I'm personally
more interested with tuning, as it has to do with
speed.
Tuning can cost a considerable amount money
and isn't necessarily accessible to everyone. But
to the enthusiast looking to make his/her car
faster, tuning allows the driver to get the
performance of Ferraris and Lamborghinis
without shelling out a ridiculous amount of
money.
At the end of the day, that's what matters. Not
the symbol that the car represents. Not the status
that follows the car. But how the car actually
runs. The actual performance of the car.
a heavily-tuned Japanese-spec Toyota AE86
"Photo" by Author / CC BY 2.0
Tuning: Depicted in the MoviesTuning: Depicted in the Movies
15 years ago, the tuned car scene was forever
changed by the release of one, specific movie:
"The Fast and Furious (2001)".
Supposedly, this movie reflects the diverse and
large car culture of the LA-area. The vehicles that
are driven by the main characters are, by no
means, stock. Things like aftermarket body kits,
nitrous, neons, enormous wings, Lamborghini-
style doors, are just some of the modifications
that are done to the cars.
But does anyone actually make those changes to
their beloved vehicles? No, only a handful of
people do. From the very beginning, the movie
stereotypes this group of individuals for the sake
of entertaining viewers on the big screen.
On the other hand, it does follow the main
principle of tuning; these tuned cars are not
head-turners to begin with. The street-racers use
cars like Honda Civics and Volkswagen Jettas.
This action-packed movie, with countless street
races and police pursuits, glorifies reckless
driving, destruction of private property, and
embezzlement.
For these two reasons, 'Fast and Furious'
inaccurately represents the actual tuned car
scene of LA. Sure, there are those who make
radical transformations to their cars. For most,
they dedicate their time, finance, and lives to
tastefully and effectively improving their cars.
- 29. 27
At the Detroit Internation Auto Show about six
years ago, Volkswagen announced their plans
to sell an enormous figure of 800,000 vehicles
by the year of 2018. While the German car
giant were widely popular in Europe, they
were not yet well-known in the States.
What caused the German automaker to make
such an ambitious and seemingly-impossible
goal? It was because of the massive success
that smaller automotive companies, including
Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and Subaru, received in
the late 2000's.
In 2010, Subaru completely outsold
Volkswagen, with just four principle vehicles
versus VW's eleven. According to
autoblog.com, the company was able to
increase their sales by 22 percent, while the
rest of the car industry grew only 11 percent.
By introducing almost four different models in
the past six years, Subaru became one of the
top ten car companies in the US market.
Until recently, the Japanese company's slogan
was "Love. It's what makes a Subaru a
Subaru". In order to spread this love, Subaru
began to fund and sponsor various sporting
events, charities, and even retailer stores. Due
to their efforts to aid various groups of
individuals, Subaru has established a strong
brand loyalty.
It's very easy to see why Subaru owners are so
content with their all-wheel drive cars. In my
short time with the Subaru Outback, the SUV
felt extremely natural to drive. It has light but
direct steering, good overall visibility, and
comfortable seats. Plus, it has an overwhelming
amount of safety equipment such as blind-spot
monitoring, crash-prevention system, lane-
departure warning, and more. Add standard
all-wheel drive and Japanese reliability, and
you get up one capable SUV.
Meanwhile, the BRZ marks the long-awaited
return of the fun-to-drive, good-looking coupes
from the Japanese brand. While I wasn't able
to test the car's driving capability, I was glad to
find that the car, was very attractive. It was so
attractive that I ended up taking photos of the
BRZ for around 2 hours. It looked that great.
With the introduction of the BRZ and the
updates to the Outback, the small-company
from six years ago is truly moving forward by
expanding its lineup and spreading the love to
even more consumers.
At Chaplin's Bellevue Subaru, I was able to
conduct an interview and ask some questions.
Subaru is abbreviated as 'S', and I am listed as
'KU'.
KU: Starting with the Subaru 1000 in May 14,
1966, Subaru is celebrating their 50th year
anniversary of the creation of the boxer
engine. What are its benefits/differences
compared to other (inline-four and v-shaped)
engines?
SS: The boxer engine is completely symmetrical
front-to-back and side-to-side. There's no
counter-balances (slant to one side or one side
is heavy) so that you have to put a weight on
one side to balance it out. The transmission
plugs in straight into the motor itself, instead of
coming in from the side and then having all
kinds of wonky stuff going on with that.
Everything is 100% symmetrical front-to-back,
side-to-side. And its not just the motor, but also
how the rest of the car plugs into the motor and
response to the motor. The cylinders are always
laying in the oil because it is horizontally
opposed.
- 30. 28
In a V-shaped engine or an inline, the oil is in
the oil pan and the cylinders are upright.
Without oil or with a film of oil on the
cylinders, as you start-up the car, the oil pump
kicks in and pumps the oil up. In a boxer
motor, they're always laying in the oil. This
causes less wear-and-tear, vibrations, and is
more reliable and longer-lasting.
KU: Sure! Kelly Blue Book (KBB) stated that any
2015 Subaru model will retain 46.2% of its
residual value after five years. This is higher
than almost every other brand. What are some
of the contributing factors to this rating?
SS: Because of the longevity of the car, the
lower labor costs, and low ownership costs,
people know that any Subaru will be a reliable
car that will not break the bank. And, for a pre-
owned vehicle price range, it has the best
value out there. It will last longer than most
used cars, it will do the job, and it will retain its
value. It will be the all-purpose car for any
conditions. Not everyone can afford a brand-
new car, so they have to find a car within a
certain price range, that will also last the
longest, be reliable, and be the do-anything
car. That car will definitely be a Subaru.
KU: Awesome. Subaru is also known for their
"symmetrical all-wheel drive" system. What
differentiates Subaru's system compared to
other automaker's AWD/4WD systems?
SS: The system always active, always on, and
always responding. It's not waiting for
something to go wrong and then try to kick
itself into gear. With the automatic transmission
it can do up to 8 transfers of power per
second. It's judging that off of the grip that the
wheels have, the weight that is distributed over
each wheel. For example, if you were going
uphill, most of the weight is in the rear (since
the car is at an uphill angle) and so 90%
would be rear-wheel drive, and 10% would be
front-wheel drive. If you were going downhill, it
would be up to 90% front-wheel drive and 10%
rear-wheel drive. So it's always changing
depending on the weight as well as the
traction.
interior of the BRZ
KU: Very cool! What would you say is the
design theme of Subaru's lineup?
SS: I'm not exactly sure what you would call it. I
can tell you this though, with Subaru, and they
started off this way from the very beginning.
Instead of the design team designing the car
and handing it over to the engineers and
saying "stuff a car in here", the engineers
engineer a vehicle the way it should be made,
and give it to the design team and say "put a
good-looking car on this". So the design
process is reversed. We really want to make
the best car and so we have reversed the
process, unlike other companies.
- 31. 29
2015 BMW M235i
PRICE ~$44,150
POWERTRAIN
3.0-liter I-6, 320hp,
330 lb-ft; RWD, 8-
speed automatic
WEIGHT 3535lbs (est)
0-60 MPH 4.6 sec
EPA CITY/HWY
20/31mpg
KU: If someone pulls alongside
you and revs his/her engine,
what would you do?
Bill Liu: I would switch to sport
mode and quickly accelerate to
the speed limit. You gotta stick to
the 'speed limit'.
2014 TOYOTA PRIUS
PRICE ~$25,765
POWERTRAIN
1.8-liter I-4, 134hp;
FWD, CVT
WEIGHT 3072lbs (est)
0-60 MPH 9.8 sec
EPA CITY/HWY
51/48mpg
KU: What is one or two interesting/
fun memories that involves your car?
Kevin Zhou: One day at 3am, I drove
to Cherry Valley Road in Duvall to see
the northern lights with my dog. We
didn't get to see it, but it was a
memorable moment.
Sometimes during a clear night, I pull
over and lie on the roof of my car and
stargaze while listening to radio. It's
great. You should try it sometime!
2005 INFINITI G35
PRICE ~$31,450
POWERTRAIN
3.5-liter V-6, 298hp,
260 lb-ft; RWD, 5-
speed automatic
WEIGHT 3472lbs
(est)
0-60 MPH ~6.0sec
EPA CITY/HWY
17/23mpg
KU: What is one interesting/fun
memory that involves your car?
Daniel Yasinski: When I lived in
Texas, I beat a Tesla P70D in a
drag race.
KU: If you were given a small loan
of a million dollars, would you
purchase your car again?
Keelan Nauriyal: Heck no! I
would buy an Audi R8 or Ferrari
488 GTB for sure.
2010 KIA SOUL
PRICE ~$18,495
POWERTRAIN
2.0-liter I-4, 142hp,
137 lb-ft; FWD, 4-
speed automatic
WEIGHT 2820lbs
(est)
0-60 MPH 9.3sec
EPA CITY/HWY
24/30mpg
2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C
PRICE ~$21,000
POWERTRAIN
1.5-liter I-4, 99hp;
FWD, CVT
WEIGHT 2496lbs (est)
0-60 MPH 10.9 sec
EPA CITY/HWY
53/46mpg
KU: What would you do if
someone cuts in front of you?
Justin Li: That has not happened to
me yet. I drive with really nice
people?
Other Funny Interviews
- 32. 30
Ever since the introduction of streetlights, more
cities and towns have been brightly lit than
ever before. However, there are still parts of
the countryside that do not have streetlights,
thus making those areas a little bit dangerous.
Although governments have been unable to do
anything due to financial reasons, there seems
to be a 'bright' solution: glow-in-the-dark roads.
In the Netherlands, design studio Studio
Roosengarde used photo-luminescent paint on
500m of an unlit public highway. In theory, the
paint is able to emit a bluish hue for around 8
hours after a sunny day. Furthermore, the
design studio plans to install transparent
snowflake patterns to warn drivers of the icy
conditions in freezing temperatures. Lastly, they
plan to have lanes that charge electric cars.
Only time will tell if this proposed solution
actually works. For example, the paint will not
be efficient on a rainy day because it is light-
sensitive. Next, the snowflakes could end up
being a distraction to the drivers. Still, this is
such a great proposal.
Similar to asphalt roads, traditional rear-view
mirrors have been around for a long time now.
The very first ones were clunky and heavy to
move around, but they were then replaced with
a plastic outer-body, which had the day/night
function with a flick of a switch. Currently, they
have auto-dimming functions through a light
sensor. Cadillac wants to take another step
towards advancing the rear-view mirror.
Instead of a mirror, Cadillac uses a rear-
mounted camera to display objects behind a
car on a wide 1280 x 240 screen. This
increases the rear vision by 300 percent, and
could decrease the blind-spot zone for drivers.
For those who prefer a more vintage rear-view
mirror, Cadillac also allows drivers to switch
back to a regular-angled mirror.
DRIVING IN THE FUTURE
"Glow-in-the-dark road in The Netherlands" by Arjan Tupan / CC BY 2.0
"Photo" by Automotive Rhythms / CC BY 2.0
- 33. 31
'16 + '08 HONDA CIVIC
THE RETURN TO BASICS
My family purchased the 2008 Honda Civic EX
on October 11, 2007. I'm probably the only
one in my family that remembers that date.
Anyways, I remember that date because I was
that excited about the car. Remember the
'disastrous, plasticky, trouble-prone, and green
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan' that I mentioned
before? We still owned the Caravan when
buying the Civic. As you'd expect, the Civic
was better than the van in every single
category.
The award-winning, 8th-generation Civic
received signficant changes compared to its
predecessor. It had a completely new 1.8 liter
engine, a new 5-speed automatic transmission,
and grew 3 inches in length. As an upper-trim
EX model, this car featured a voice-activated
navigation, XM satellite radio, moonroof, a
160-watt audio system with CD player, and an
auxiliary input. All of these were new
technologies in 2007. Thanks to these features,
it also won '2006 North American Car of the
Year' and 'Motor Trend 2006 Car of the Year'.
Fast forward to May 22, 2016, and we added
the third compact car to our family: the 2016
Honda Civic. After having a trouble-free
experience with our 2008 model, we decided
to buy the recently-launched, 10th-generation
Civic.
Much like the older civic, a lot of changes have
been made. For one, this car is based on an
entirely-new compact global platform.
Compared to its older sibling, the overall length
is increased by 6 inches, is fitted with a new
2.0 liter engine and CVT transmission, and lost
around 100 lbs of curb weight. With these
changes, this Civic also received the title of
'2016 North American Car of the Year'.
So then, both generations of this vehicle were
fitted with the latest, most advanced technology,
won several awards, and were priced around
$20k. How do they compare? Let's find out.
- 34. 32
Looks + DesignLooks + Design
When this refreshed model was
released in 2006, many praised the
style of the new Civic. After 8 years,
the design has aged considerably
well. In short, the overall looks of the
8th generation sedan are round and
conservative. Looking at this car
won’t hurt your eyes, but it also won’t
make you turn around for a second
look. On the front, it has horizontally-
stretched headlights that connect to
the chrome Honda badge. The lower
vents below the grille are shaped so
that the car looks like it is frowning.
Moving on, the side profile features a
line that starts from the front bumper
and continues until the rear bumper.
The entire car is completely smooth
and round. While the design is
inoffensive, it doesn't particularly
stand out.
Quality + Details Quality + Details
At the time, the interior of this car
was impressively futuristic. It came
with an extraordinary two-tier
dashboard, with an analog
tachometer on bottom and a digital
speedometer on top. The materials
are relatively upscale, with a one-piece soft plastic dash on the
passenger side, spongey material on the doors, and comfortable
cloth seats. The steering wheel is on the thin side, and provides
little feedback to what the front wheels were doing. Over the
years though, the interior has held up nicely. There are little to no
rattles or squeaks even after 8 hard years of ownership.
Powertrain + PerformancePowertrain + Performance
This generation of Civic is powered by a 1.8 liter inline-four
engine that produces 138hp and 128 lb/ft of torque. Count 9.5
seconds, and that’s how long this car gets to 60mph. Although a
brand-new engine, Honda managed to remove all of the
harshness that comes from an inline-four. Matched with a buttery-
smooth 5-speed automatic, this Civic has enough torque for the
city and the highway. The linear power curve allows the driver to
have some fun at safe, legal speeds.
- 35. 33
Looks + DesignLooks + Design
This new Civic is entirely different
than ever before. It’s full of lines,
angled panels, and long overhangs
that definitely distinguish this car on
the road. The front fascia has an
increased amount of vents and grilles
that extend and slant towards various
angles, making it look wide and
aggressive. Similarly, there are two
lines that continue from the A-pillar
and rise into the taillights. The most
visually-intriguing aspect of the car is
in the rear. In contrast to the sharp
edges of the front, the rear bumpers
and taillights are slightly curved on
the side. The rear roofline also slopes
downward, much like the Audi A7
sportback.
Some might argue that the new Civic
has been over-styled compared to
previous generations. But it’s instantly
recognizable as a Civic. That’s a
successful design.
Quality + DetailsQuality + Details
The interior has been vastly improved
compared to its older sibling. The
two-tier dash is replaced with a
traditional analog tachometer with a
digital speed readout. To prevent the inside from becoming too
dark, there are aluminum and different shades of soft touch
plastics. Both wind and road noise is well-subdued, thanks to
fluid-filled suspension bushings and plenty of sound-absorbing
materials. In short, the new Civic has a very comfortable interior.
Powertrain + PerformancePowertrain + Performance
The latest Civic is powered by a 2.0 liter inline-four engine that
makes 158hp and 138 lb/ft of torque. With the Continuously
Variable Transmission, the car gets to 60mph in 8.2 seconds
according to 0-60specs.com. So, the new model has 20 more
horsepower, 20 more lb/ft of torque, and is 1.3 seconds quicker
to 60 mph. And it does drive like it. Although not sporty, the ‘fun-
to-drive’ factor still remains.
The new car smell
comes from plastics!
- 36. 34
The 2016: This LX trim comes with a great deal
of standard equipment. It has an electronic
parking brake with brake hold feature, hill start
assist, eco mode, automatic climate control,
LED daytime running lights and taillights, 5-inch
LCD screen with a multi-view rear camera,
automatic headlights, Bluetooth, and a lot
more. These are systems that were limited to
luxury vehicles just a couple of years ago! In
short, there’s a lot of value for the $20k price
tag.
the electronic parking brake + brake hold function (above)
Ride Comfort Ride Comfort
Both vehicles deal with potholes and rough
roads extremely well. It doesn't float over
bumps like the Rolls-Royce Phantom, as it
shouldn't. Instead, the bumps and unevenness
of the road can be felt, but are not punishing
either. It’s a comfort-oriented setup, with
MacPherson struts on the front and a Multi-Link
suspension system on the back for the new
civic, and double wishbone system for the old
one. Unsurprisingly, the new Civic is slightly
better at masking road noise thanks to its fluid-
filled bearings.
However, the older Civic provides more lateral
and side-to-side bolstering than its newer
model. It’s an unusual combination, as the
older model has a softer spring rate with has
more supportive seats, while the newer model
has a stiffer suspension with less supportive
seats. Go figure.
Technology + Features Technology + Features
The 2008: Like previously mentioned, this EX
trim included amenities such as a moonroof,
voice-activated satellite navigation system, XM
radio, keyless entry, power mirrors, and
upgraded stereo system. Considering the car’s
age, the navigation system, as well as other
crucial electrical parts, work rapidly and
flawlessly. The graphics and font used
throughout the cabin do seem dated, however.
- 37. 35
Maintenance Fees Maintenance Fees
Japanese vehicles have a long reputation of
being reliable and problem-free. This Civic is
no exception. Despite ~120,000 miles on the
odometer, the car still drives like new. The only
minor parts that were changed or replaced
were the engine oil, the engine air filter, and
the front and rear brake pads. Interestingly, our
engine started leaking coolant early this year
due to a small dent in the upper chamber of the
engine block. National Highway Traffic Safety
Association had released a TSB recalling these
engines, and Honda agreed to replace/fix
them for free. Thus, the entire engine block was
replaced sometime during January.
Another time when this car visited the
dealership, was when it was involved in a rear
collision. A truck plowed into the one-month old
car, which I was sitting in, at a stoplight.
Everyone involved was safe, but the car was
not. It didn't have any frame damage, but the
rear of the car was completely destroyed. It
had to receive extensive repairs. So yes, if you
happened to be wondering if this car will
protect you from a severe rear-end collision, it
will. Now you know!
ConclusionConclusion
Which is better? The newer, powerful, and
more advanced Civic is the obvious winner in
this comparison. It’s much better to drive and
live with every single day.
But these award-winning vehicles both carry a
similar MSRP price tag of $20,000. One was
launched in 2007, and the other in 2016. So
the question changes. Considering the price
point and the time of release, which of these
two vehicles was more innovative and ground-
breaking for their car segment?
While subjective, I would argue that the 2008
Honda Civic EX is more ground-breaking
considering the time of release. It featured a
futuristic two-tier dashboard, an auxiliary/CD/
MP3 capability, and decent driving dynamics.
But then again, I might be a little biased.
2008 HONDA CIVIC EX
PRICE ~$20,000
POWERTRAIN
1.8-liter I-4, 138hp, 128
lb-ft; FWD, 5-speed
automatic
WEIGHT 2700lbs (est)
0-60 MPH 9.4 sec
EPA CITY/HWY
25/36mpg
2016 HONDA CIVIC LX
PRICE ~$20,000
POWERTRAIN
2.0-liter I-4, 158hp, 138 lb-
ft; FWD, CVT
WEIGHT 2472 lbs (est)
0-60 MPH 8.2 sec
EPA CITY/HWY
31/41mpg
- 38. 36
For most of the 210 million drivers in the
United States, cars are simply, another mode of
transportation. It's just a different way of
getting from point A to point B.
Then there are those who use cars as a medium
of displaying their wealth. They purchase high-
performance supercars and hypercars that cost
more than $1 million each, park them in their
garages, and post pictures of them on their
instagram accounts.
One thing is common among all car owners.
After purchasing his/her car, the buyer is lost
for words. Driving it, let alone sitting in it, puts
a smile on the new owner’s face. Soon enough
however, the new car smell fades away along
with our initial feelings towards it. Dents,
scratches and other signs of use begin to show
on the car and make us think, “I need a new
car”.
Why do our initial emotions disappear over
time? Is it because we are driven by our
appetites, our ‘ids’ in a Freudian lens, which
are continuously wanting something greater? Is
it because we begin to judge our cars by
looking at the form, rather than the function? Is
it because we materialize our cars?
In Ecclesiastes 6: 9, it says “Enjoy what you
have rather than desiring what you don’t have.
Just dreaming about nice things is
meaningless.”
Our current society is full of materialism. As
consumers, we are constantly bombarded with
advertisements on the radio and television.
There is no end to our ids. Society tells us that
we have to have the newest phone, bag, and
car.
What we should be doing, as Christians, is
valuing the function, not the form, of the
products that we own. We should be content
with what we have, the cars that we have,
rather than wanting what we lack.
WHAT ARE CARS TO US?
