Alfa vs GM (long and hard)

[Jay Negrin <jmnegrin@domain.elided>]

All this talk of Alfa and GM.  In all seriousness, it has potential
plussses and minussess, assuming that Alfa can come back to the US in my
lifetime.  if GM keeps its bleeping hands off of the cars, and play with
the marketing end of things, then the cars may have a chance to be seen,
and driven, this country more like they were intended, in Europe.  If
GM in its infinite wisdom, sees fit to "improve" these fine automobiles,
then all hell can be expected to break loose.

Expect (very tongue in cheek, here):

pushrod v-8 of ancient Buick derivation to pull all sorts of vehicles
around.  Remember that the tooling for these dinosaurs was paid off just
after the Earth cooled off.  Makes them cheeep to build.  At least they
are reliable, maybe.  The General seems to put this anachronistic heap
into anything and everything that needs a lift.  Does that mean that all
the other stuff is worse?

The Cavalier pushrod 4 cyl to be the envy of every 156 we see.  It may
be slow, but at least it's noisy.

three speed automatics to be the standard transmission in all cars.
Four speed automatics will be the "sporting" option.  Clutches will
cease to exist, as they are a source of warranty claims.  Besides,
automatics are easier to smog certify.

The return of drum brakes.  Return?  Excuse me!  At the home of the
General, they never left.  America, the last home of new tooling for
inferior (drum) brakes.

Cast iron to be the material of the day.  Why make it out of light
weight, easy to machine aluminum, when all of that strong, heavy pig
iron is just waiting to be molded into useful cars parts, such as entire
motors, transmission cases, and the like.  Remember GM comes ouit with
new motors so seldom, and then they seem to be rehashes of ideas that
should have died a LONG time ago.  Their "new" V8 in the Corvette is
pushrod activated OHV.  At least the heads are aluminum.  They still
need over 5 1/2 liters to get 300 bhp, though.

All front wheel drive.  NO hope of rear wheel drive performance cars. Or
any new cars for that matter.  The Corvette, flagship of the line, is
about it.  Camaro and Firechicken are expected to be relegated to the
dust bin after their product runs are over.  There you have it,
Corvettes, trucks and SUVs.  Can't forget about trucks and Suburbans,
can we, much as we try.

Back to reality.

The above is tongue in cheek, sort of.  Everything, all predictions,
mine and others' are predicated on IF the General does anything to help
its new Italian partners.  I have a healthy dose of cynicism that
anything will come of this alliance in the near future.  Don't hold your
collective breath waiting for the goodness to pour forth from Italy.

Don 't let me rain on your parade.

Jay Negrin
ARO Sothern California
putting the finishing touches on the tour to the wildflowers, scheduled
for Sunday the 2d of April.  Write for more details if you need them in
a hurry.  More published soon, though.

Ciao
jn
gotta wash the cat prints off the Alfetta in the AM

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