CAR BRANDS

[popeyespappy]

That's called "noise". You can program a computer to make it, too.

You might be able to program a computer to generate the same frequencies, but you'd still need something like this to turn it into sound.

The Was 3000 by Wyle Laboratories can produce a level of sound up to 165 dB. The speaker’s output is 30,000 watts. This was created primarily to make noise. Using a technique called airstream modulation, it pushes away nitrogen and compressed air through different holes in its system. This allows puffs of air to act as a modulator. This low frequency noise reduction technology can be used in big sites like airports. As a matter of fact, it is being used at the airport in Baltimore/Washington. It also has a military use as it can be utilized to simulate battlefield scenarios.

[Napoléon]

No cars have personality ... probably because they're not persons.

I see this same discussion in relation to guitars of various brands, and it's horseshit, through and through.

Can't be that much horseshit if millions of people across the globe all buy into that very subjective opinion. Just because you don't see personality in cars doesn't mean other people can't either.

Besides, it's a turn of phrase more than anything. Talk about being pedantic.

That's called "noise". You can program a computer to make it, too.

Yet more pedantic-ness.

---

The BBC is planning to continue the show without Clarkson.

Yeah, but both Hammond and May's contracts are up at the end of this series.

I think everyone involved knows that without Clarkson the show will go the way of every one of Hammond or May's side projects.

If Clarkson's gone, Hammond and May will go too. They've basically confirmed that much already.

They'll probably just reboot it with different presenters altogether.

[pocaracas]

I once heard the noise a prius made without using the petrol engine... awesome! Loved it!
It was just the wheels rolling on the ground. That's when it made sense to me that they would generate artificial noise on such cars - pedestrian awareness.

I can't wait for the roads to be less noisy, cleaner and safer.

Face it, engine noise is excess energy being wasted! (not that it's a lot - waste through heat is much greater )

[Thumpalumpacus]

No cars have personality ... probably because they're not persons.

I see this same discussion in relation to guitars of various brands, and it's horseshit, through and through.

Can't be that much horseshit if millions of people across the globe all buy into that very subjective opinion. Just because you don't see personality in cars doesn't mean other people can't either.

Besides, it's a turn of phrase more than anything. Talk about being pedantic.

Nah, millions of people believe in deities, too.

Personality in an inanimate object or mechanical contrivance is projection from the owner, in my opinion. Certainly not inherent.

That's called "noise". You can program a computer to make it, too.

Yet more pedantic-ness.

I'm razzin' you. Lighten up, Francis.

... and the word you're looking for is pedantry.

/pedantry

[Napoléon]

Nah, millions of people believe in deities, too.

I fucking knew you'd use that line. Like it's even remotely the same thing.

Personality in an inanimate object or mechanical contrivance is projection from the owner, in my opinion. Certainly not inherent.

Nobody said otherwise. What is undeniable is that people buy into brands. The idea of a car being more than just a machine. Lots of people join car clubs and associations for this very reason. I doubt electric car companies will have the same sort of following and loyalty in 50 years as what car companies do now. The basic point I was making is that petrol cars promote more of a following. It has more of a history and people just plain prefer the use of an actual engine producing a real noise. Sure you can make noises similarly with computers and such, but it's not the same and people know that. But whatever.

I'm razzin' you. Lighten up, Francis.

... and the word you're looking for is pedantry.

/pedantry

TIL.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Nah, millions of people believe in deities, too.

I fucking knew you'd use that line. Like it's even remotely the same thing.

They're both appeals to popular opinion ... that's probably why you expected such a riposte.

Ask me if I give a shit. Go on, ask.

---

I don't.

---

[Napoléon]

They're both appeals to popular opinion ... that's probably why you expected such a riposte.

Nah, it's that I knew you'd be intentionally dense enough to ignore the obvious differentiation. One is a widely acknowledged opinion, the other a belief.

[rexbeccarox]

I love my '02 Camry. She has 120,000 miles and I'm gonna run her until she quits. I also have a little 50cc Honda Metropolitan scooter. I love her too, but she needs some fixing up. I stopped riding her a few years ago after I dumped her, but I'm ready to get back on the horse, as it were.

[SteelCurtain]

...What is undeniable is that people buy into brands. The idea of a car being more than just a machine. Lots of people join car clubs and associations for this very reason. I doubt electric car companies will have the same sort of following and loyalty in 50 years as what car companies do now. The basic point I was making is that petrol cars promote more of a following. It has more of a history and people just plain prefer the use of an actual engine producing a real noise. Sure you can make noises similarly with computers and such, but it's not the same and people know that. But whatever.

I agree. With a caveat. I think the idea of new brands having a following like 100 year old brands is a little ridiculous. In 50 years, if Tesla survives and propagates, it'll have a following just the same. For kids that will grow up with electric cars being the majority of the vehicles on the road, they will view petrol vehicles like we view the big block 427 that is not even remotely feasible today in the world of 1.3L turbocharged engines that output the same power. They will be the awesome things of a bygone generation.

Not to mention that as the electric car becomes more of a necessity, the major brands will have their own. Already Porsche, Ferrari, and McLaren have full hybrid hypercars available, as you probably saw on Top Gear. The electric range on them is like 8 miles, but the point is that they are 200mph hypercars that have electric motors in them.

Efficiency and charge is the major issue. For a vehicle to have the proper utility, it needs to be able to accomplish a road trip. I should be able to drive 12 hours straight or I should be able to recharge in a time period not appreciably longer than it takes me to pump gas. Electric cars will be the playthings of people who can afford a road trip car and a daily driver car until that happens.

Or, alternatively, America will develop long range mass transit infrastructure as a result of electric cars becoming popular. Wishful thinking...

[Thumpalumpacus]

They're both appeals to popular opinion ... that's probably why you expected such a riposte.

Nah, it's that I knew you'd be intentionally dense enough to ignore the obvious differentiation. One is a widely acknowledged opinion, the other a belief.

Hey, nothing like a nice insult to display your butthurt. You're funny when you're touchy like this, though I doubt it's intentional.

Seriously, because a lot of people think a certain way doesn't verify the truth of the thinking. Whether one is a belief and the other is an opinion is irrelevant to the point, and you're certainly smart enough to know that ... or so I had assumed. At any rate, keep digging. I'm sure you'll impress someone.

Cars don't have personality, people do.