Student Mechanic
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- Dec 28, 2002
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Fiat, you CAN compete in this crowded field, but only if you can stand out.
This does not mean stand out with styling gimmicks. It means building cars correctly which GM especially does not. I will state a few problems with my grandpa's Buick that if you address you will sell a lot of cars:
1 The steering is too fast. It does S turns down the
straightaway because the slightest deflection of the steering wheel sends the car off course. Make the steering slow for straight driving and fast for turns, i.e. variable. 2 The accelerator pedal is too sensitive. To take the car to 70 mph only a slight depression is required. This results in poor control with speed oscillating up and down and tending to creep up. Moderate speeds like 30 mph call for inperceptible pedal movement. Make the pedal linear for level roads - 30% travel for 30 mph, 70% for 70 mph then progressive to top speed/maximum power. Better yet, make the pedal driver-programmable so he can map his own characteristic curve. 3 Rethink the pedal geometry. Make the brake pedal higher and more to the left of the gas pedal. Too many people depress both simultaneously by accident and crash. 4 Start putting emergency brake handles back in cars. The foot brake is no good for emergency stops - it is good only for parking. Emergency brakes are lifesaving when the brakes fail and they still do despite dual hydraulics as for example, when the power booster quits when the vacuum line pops off or cracks open. 5 Add a backup fuel pump with a warning light to signal failure. In my training, a lot of road stopages occur when the electric in-tank pump suddenly quits. 6 Install screw-on fuel and transmission fluid filters with a warning light for clogging. Clogged filters, the prime cause of pump failures, overload the fuel pump burning it out. 7 Watch the road clearance. The '54 Chevy I had the pleasure of test driving after boiling out the one-barrel Rochester was about right. Today's $35,000 Buicks drag and scrape on everyday dips. They start at a measly 4" and drop down rediculously lower with fuel, cargo and passengers. Low is great for low cg and stability on turns but must be compromised for sufficient road clearance.
There are more suggestions to follow if a Company Man takes notice and carries on a two-way discourse with me. Together we might build specifications for an automobile of superior design for we who appreciate it and are willing to try a new make providing such.
Student Mechanic, age 17
This does not mean stand out with styling gimmicks. It means building cars correctly which GM especially does not. I will state a few problems with my grandpa's Buick that if you address you will sell a lot of cars:
1 The steering is too fast. It does S turns down the
straightaway because the slightest deflection of the steering wheel sends the car off course. Make the steering slow for straight driving and fast for turns, i.e. variable. 2 The accelerator pedal is too sensitive. To take the car to 70 mph only a slight depression is required. This results in poor control with speed oscillating up and down and tending to creep up. Moderate speeds like 30 mph call for inperceptible pedal movement. Make the pedal linear for level roads - 30% travel for 30 mph, 70% for 70 mph then progressive to top speed/maximum power. Better yet, make the pedal driver-programmable so he can map his own characteristic curve. 3 Rethink the pedal geometry. Make the brake pedal higher and more to the left of the gas pedal. Too many people depress both simultaneously by accident and crash. 4 Start putting emergency brake handles back in cars. The foot brake is no good for emergency stops - it is good only for parking. Emergency brakes are lifesaving when the brakes fail and they still do despite dual hydraulics as for example, when the power booster quits when the vacuum line pops off or cracks open. 5 Add a backup fuel pump with a warning light to signal failure. In my training, a lot of road stopages occur when the electric in-tank pump suddenly quits. 6 Install screw-on fuel and transmission fluid filters with a warning light for clogging. Clogged filters, the prime cause of pump failures, overload the fuel pump burning it out. 7 Watch the road clearance. The '54 Chevy I had the pleasure of test driving after boiling out the one-barrel Rochester was about right. Today's $35,000 Buicks drag and scrape on everyday dips. They start at a measly 4" and drop down rediculously lower with fuel, cargo and passengers. Low is great for low cg and stability on turns but must be compromised for sufficient road clearance.
There are more suggestions to follow if a Company Man takes notice and carries on a two-way discourse with me. Together we might build specifications for an automobile of superior design for we who appreciate it and are willing to try a new make providing such.
Student Mechanic, age 17