Re: *Flame bait

[leveckis@icd.teradyne.com (Tom Leveckis)]

You've got to remember that for every auto "enthusiast"
out there, there's a 1000 people who are basically numb
to the driving experience.....They don't want to drive,
they want to be driven, with a high probability of 
success (no suprises). The Japanese were especially
good at picking that up. All they did was produce the
type of auto that they were told to produce by the 
majority of drivers. I had a 1973 Datsun 240Z at one
point, then a '78 280Z,  and a buddy who had a 280ZX
and then a 300ZX. The 240Z provided the best driving
experience, and had none of the crap that sells cars 
today. Close to same for the 280Z although you could
tell where things were going: softer suspension, power
steering, a back seat!!!. The 280ZX.....all kinds of
gadgets and even a softer suspension, had to be the 
bottom. The 300ZX improved some on the handling, but
it was too late...*sniffle*.....now with the Twin turbo
......they have managed to jump in with the 3000GT, the
Supra.......alas, there is a glimmer of hope as Mazda
had the balls to be at least a little different, their
latest model RX7 provides hope that Japan, as well as
the Miata hve combined for some decent driving experience
in a time where it is hard to find. 

TVL