Restrictions of the Factory

So here’s the thing,

Something I have noticed with my car, and it goes for a LOT of other cars as well, is that some cars don’t come out of the factory as good as they could be. Like this:

Take a good hard look at that. That is when I put in my K&N filter in my Fiesta. To the right is the gargantuan stock air filter, and to the left, the less restrictive K&N filter. Sometimes it just boggles my mind as to why they do this. I know in some cases, especially with cars like my Fiesta, which is a performance version of a economy car, they have to meet a certain price point. However, here is the thing with that as well: I have lights in my freaking cup holders. Yup, lights in the cup holders! Yes, it is pretty awesome because I can use my peripheral vision to put a cup down in it rather than taking my eyes off of the road. But I would much rather not have those lights in there, and instead have something like a less restrictive filter in my car, or a better rear engine mount that helps cut down wheel hop and vibration. The biggest thing that boggles my mind, is there is no belly pan, or skid plate if you will, underneath my engine! A belly pan is on the low end of 100 bucks, yet they didn’t put one on it, so I’m forced to go out and get an aftermarket one. Either way, it presents a unique opportunity, an opportunity to help support third party vendors, doing what they do best. That is to make our cars better, and to have a legitimate excuse to wrench on your vehicle. With everything in the auto industry changing, and things seeming to become more restrictive in regards to wrenching on your own vehicle, you always have to remember that you just shouldn’t settle for what is there. For every factory restriction put on something, there is a vendor out there who knows a way around it. Just putting in that air filter made the take off much cleaner, and it’s just an air filter. We shouldn't be content in just leaving vehicles how someone else thought we would like them. We should make them how we want them to be. Unfortunately a lot of times people that want to do this are left out in the cold because of the very high cost of workshop maintenance books, a lack of a Haynes manual, what have you. I mean the workshop manual for my car costs over 1,000 dollars, and there is no Haynes manual planned for it. When it comes to a situation like that, all you have is your experience, and vendor support. But all it comes down to is taking a chance and trying to change something up, and knowing what you are working with. Companies like Ford make cars like the ST lineup specifically for people that like to go to the track, like to modify their car, like to just change up the status-quo. Not all cars are like that, most are not, but all cars can be changed to suit what you need, or want. When it comes to doing things like modifying cars, and having cars that are easy to modify out of the factory, it is quite a case of use it or lose it. If manufacturers lose those niche market for cars built for car people, then they aren’t going to be making cars for car people anymore, and they will focus more on those beige mobiles. Just because it looks like a complicated design doesn’t really mean it is. In that way it's hard to learn but easy to do. Don’t let some factory restrictions on this or that hold you back. There is always a way to get past it, and make it better. Besides, you’ve got bigger things to worry about, like what happens after you pop off that plastic engine cover...

And that, well that’s the thing about dealing with restrictions -Jeremy

Tin Cans

Here's the thing -

Starting in the next model year, the Ford F-150 is going to be 700 lbs. lighter thanks to a liberal application of aluminum. It's a good thing in many regards. In fact, all facets of performance will be enhanced, braking, handling, and speed. And yet some people are concerned about the changes. It's mostly because that aluminum is still semi-costly and not perceived to be rugged enough for every day truck duty.

Ford doesn't feel as though it's a problem. In fact, they've been working for over a year to make sure that the support systems are in place to take care of any future F-150 customers are taken care of. However they could be doing more. What is that more, you ask? Well, it's a little thing called economy of scales. Right now, as the F-150 is waiting for launch, Ford is undoubtedly designing the next Focus, Fiesta, and Fusion. And if those designs do not incorporate the same troublesome material, then Ford is wasting their time and their dealers'.

It's called economy of scales, and it's a production trick as old as time. Basically it means the more you use a material, design, or process in the production of your product line, the cheaper it becomes. This is due to things like buying in bulk, process standardization, and the ability to use the same tools for multiple different jobs. There's no reason why the aluminum materials and production processes that have made such a big to-do out of the next F-150 shouldn't be applied to the whole line. Even if it's not as thorough of an inclusion as they have in the US's best selling vehicle, there's no reason why essential pieces such as the hood, roof, or trunks of these cars shouldn't be made from the stuff.

I know what you're saying though: "Shawn, that will cause the price of these cars to skyrocket!" But this is not true. That's where the economy of scales comes in. Case in point, the Fiesta currenly has 3 different engine choices here in the States. Instead of offering both the naturally aspirated 1.6, and the 1.0 turbo 3-cylinder, simply offer the smaller turbo engine. After all, it's not found in any other Ford product. This would greatly reduce the cost of the vehicle across the line, certainly enough to cover the cost of the upgraded body panels. It would also give the Fiesta class-leading braking, handling, and speed.

There's no reason that we, in today's modern society, should only concern ourselves with the advancement of engine technology. It's time for body and frame technology to take their next steps forward as well. If Ford is willing to stick its neck out and take a risk on more than just their best seller, there's bound to be a huge return, and at the same time a huge savings. Now that's a weighty proposition.

And that, that's the thing.

-Shawn

Introducing Guest Writer: Greg Tully

Hi guys, Greg here. So I grew up with a dad who loved Ford. When I was born my dad had a 1989 Ford Mustang GT, despite his having two boys. He kept that Mustang until I was 3, and bought a brand new 1999 Ford F-250 Powerstroke, which we still own. When gas first became $4 a gallon, my dad bought a 2003 MINI Cooper S to go along with the truck.

My mom had a Pathfinder when I was born. She sold it, and bought a used 1998 Infiniti i30. Later, she sold that too and bought a brand new Honda Pilot so she could have seating for 8 people. Then my mom bought a 2009 Mazda 3 to save money on fuel, and eventually replaced that with a 2012 TDI.

My love of cars started when I was in elementary school, when I started collecting hot wheels. One of my best friends at the time loved hot wheels, and he taught me to love them too. In 2005 when my mom was looking for cars to replace her Infiniti, I helped her research. Even though I still wasn’t anywhere close to driving, I still loved looking up all the specs and reviews of all the cars that my mom was test driving. Ever since then, I have loved researching, reading about, and talking about all different kinds of cars.

When I turned 15, I got my permit. At the time my dad had his truck and his MINI, and my mom had her Honda and the Mazda. I learned how to drive stick in both the Mazda and MINI, at the same time. No easy feat, considering the clutches acted so differently. When I got my license, I inherited the Pilot from my brother, and drove that for 2 years until we sold it.

My current car is a 2007 Subaru Outback 2.5i. Don’t worry, it’s a stick shift. It isn’t anything like any of the other cars that I have driven, but it is also my favorite. That’s probably because it’s my first car that I got to pick out my self. I count it as my first car, even though the Pilot was technically my first. But if I had an unlimited budget, I would buy a Shelby Raptor and find some way to swap a manual transmission in it.

Blame my dad for that, he is the one who taught me to love ford trucks.

~ Greg

Introducing: Garrett Davis

My first real interest in cars began in 1999 when I was 10 years old and was told to pick out a magazine off the rack for a long road trip we were about to embark on. Motor Trend's 50th Anniversary issue caught my eye immediately with a bright red 911, a gorgeous Jag, and a black Lamborghini Diablo -- my favorite car of all time, in the most menacing color available. After that I was hooked on anything car related. I would memorize different models and brands and have my mom quiz me on every car we saw on the road. If there was a car out there, I had to know everything about it. The number one item on my Christmas list that year was a Motor Trend subscription, and I read every issue cover to cover multiple times, though none as many as that original 50th anniversary issue.

Pictured: 17 year old me with my truck after a thorough test of 4WD. I was hooked. Still wear that shirt too.

Fast forward to my 16th birthday and my mom is handing me the keys to a 1994 Ford Ranger. It was a 4.0L V6, 5-speed manual (skull shifter of course), and four wheel drive. I was in love. Not just with my lovely new-to-me truck, but with driving in general. I would always volunteer to drive places, or just to get out and hit some back roads for no other reason than to just enjoy the open road. After high school I was infected with the Jeep bug, leaving my best friend and I to dump every minimum wage dollar we earned into our not so shiny Jeeps. We became the only members of our Jeep club under 20 years old, and joined them for as many trails as we could. We swapped axles, did deep engine and suspension work, and any other repair we could reasonably scrape our knuckles on in our own Jeeps. I also helped my family swap engines and transmissions, and do some body work on stock cars. This is where I learned how to work on cars. 

But, after getting stuck, lost, and breaking down a few too many times, we finally decided that this was not a hobby college kids could reasonably afford, and hung up the towel. Since, I've had a few intermediate vehicles, ranging from Japanese trucks to German hatchbacks. I have finally settled into a 2014 Focus ST, and couldn't be happier. It's the first car I've ever bought new, and also the first car I've owned that was newer than the 1990's. Nearly 10 years of driving and I still can't help but take back roads home when ever possible, or volunteering to drive anywhere. I just seem to belong in the driver's seat. The 2,000+ miles and 60 hours of drive time that I've put into my car since buying it seems to confirm that. For reference that's barely even a month ago.

Today I work as an RF Test Engineer for a major tech corporation, and writing about the very cars I've lusted over for so many years is my new hobby. Let's hope this one sticks.

~ Garrett

Product Planning

Here's the thing -

I've never worked for a car company. I don't have an engineering degree. But what I do have is a keen eye on the industry, and a degree based around things like logistics, business analysis, and management. That combination wouldn't take me far off the beaten path of your average product planner. In that vain, with a bit of ego, and some serious thought that should've been applied to things like work or, you know, a life, I present you with the top 3 cars that should have been made:

3: A Falcon-based Lincoln LS:
The CTS is the car that single-handedly revived Cadillac. During the years leading up to it, Cadillac was on its deathbed, ironically like most of its customer base. However, with their sites set on their best European rivals, they went back to the drawing board and created what was to be one of the most astounding come-back cars of the century. Love it or hate it, the CTS was the first Cadillac to truly bring the fight to BMW and Mercedes. And now, with their position secure, we can't help but wonder: what's taking Lincoln so long to do the same? Instead of rehashing the entire Ford lineup, just with longer taillights and a split grill in the front, how about we make the Lincoln lineup special again? And you know just the car to lead the charge? The Falcon. I know I've talked about this before, but if you want to gut and remake a Ford, make it a memorable one. Make it one that when you're done can take the fight to the CTS. Make one Henry would be proud to drive, so long as it's black.

2: A new Monte Carlo -
Let's just face facts, the Australian-based GTO was a flop. It's not for lack of ability, or for being subpar. It actually blew everything that it was competing with at the time out of the water. The reason was GM's usual product fumbling. They phoned in a product that was clearly meant to be something else, and put the most legendary muscle car name ever on the side. However, the formula was a good one, and under a different set of conditions, it would have been a huge splash instead of a horrendous belly flop. A luxurious, sporty interior, a decent stack with a real stereo, and the ability to spin the world backwards with muscle car torque. Sounds like a Monte Carlo SS to me. At least the kind that they built before it was just an Impala coupe. If you still don't believe me, here's a picture of a concept of the latest generation of Monaro (what was our GTO):

1: A proper Integra successor -
Full disclosure: I don't hate the RSX. I actually really like it. And I like the generation of Si that took the place of the RSX, so much so, that I own one. But the Integra was bigger than that, bigger than a lineage of just what was capable in a FWD "rice rocket". It was a cultural icon that united the Fast and Furious crowd with serious tuners. They could be made to be as much about show as they could be for go. The name came to symbolize the idea that we can, in fact, all just get along. Whether you were a fan of a clean looking sleeper, or you came for the neon lights and custom sub-woofer enclosures, you were sure to find one at any car show that fit your tastes. And now what do we have? The ILX?! I was so excited to think what that I meant when they first announced the product, and now I fear that it may in fact, in Honda's mind, may be their attempt at being the new Integra. It deserves better than that. We Honda fans deserve a car that will look straight at the BRZ, the Focus ST, and the Mazdaspeed 3 and announce with a natural aspirated, stratospheric redline: "We're back".

So there they are. The best cars that never were. Some, I'm sure, were kicked around the offices, but never saw the light of day. But I can assure you, if ever given the chance, I'll make sure they do.

And that, that's the thing.

- Shawn