A couple of years ago, a local talk-radio show was paying tribute to the reportedly late Canadian politician Robert Stanfield. "Reportedly late", as after the radio host had been going on about Mr. Stanfield's lengthy accomplishments in office, one of the incoming phone lines lit up and it was none other than the supposedly deceased former Conservative Party caucus leader himself calling in to ensure the station's listening audience that, indeed, the rumours of his death had been a little exaggerated.
Talk-radio being what it is these days, this only prompted the station to create an on-air contest where callers had to guess from a list of out-of-fashion celebrities which ones were either still breathing air on this planet, or just holed up in a Nova Scotia fishing village.
The contest was called, "Stiff, or Stanfield?" and it can just as easily be played with new cars that not only have left the collective car culture conscience but also raise that burning automotive question: "They still sell that thing?"
Car's like ...
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| 2005 Acura NSX (photo: Acura) |
Acura NSX Now, just to be perfectly clear, I love the NSX. The car's mill makes alluring noises, its acceleration is quick, its handling is razor-sharp, and its as comfortable to drive everyday as an Accord. But with only a mild update in 2002, the car has basically remained the same for fifteen years. And it costs more than a Porsche 911 Carrera S. Oops. I guess the Honda mother ship finally took a moment from counting the number of Civics being sold to finally realize the market's limited interest in vee-six supercars and has made 2005 the final year for this modern-day Ferrari Dino.
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| 2004 Ford Thunderbird (photo: Ford) |
Ford Thunderbird Don't feel bad if you also thought Ford had stopped selling their once-hoped-for halo car. Riding a wave of auto nostalgia and retro styling, Ford revived the Thunderbird in 2002 in a form reminiscent of the classic two-seater 1955-57 T-Birds. But like what Kevin Spacey discovered with his Bobby Darin biopic, Beyond the Sea, there aren't many folks left who are interested in tokens from the bobby-soxer era. Ford threw in the towel back in September 2003--just 24 months after launch of this latest of lame 'Birds--by announcing that this year would be the current Thunderbird's last.
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| 2005 Hyundai Tiburon Tuscani (photo: Hyundai) |
Hyundai Tiburon It's not that the Tib is a bad car. In fact this third-generation model offers a gutsy vee-six that finally gives the coupe enough oomph to take on the likes of the Acura RSX and VW GTI. But except for the new Mustang, no one cares about sporty coupes these days. Just go ask why Toyota has hammered the last nail in its Celica's coffin. And with a flush of newer (and better) Hyundai's garnering all of the media's attention, it's easy to forget about Hyundai's sportiest number.
