Automobile of The Year

Several magazines have reported their choices for Automobile of the year, and at least two have named the new Nissan GT-R as their choice.

This vehicle is in the Supercar category, and has performance and features enough to spin the head of any gearhead, and produce drooling upon sight. Personally, I would love one, but Mrs. H is unlikely to agree.

My question is, in these times of unprecedented crisis why is this particular vehicle being chosen? Yes, it is a fantastic car, and will undoubtedly achieve its sales goals despite shallow pockets and long faces. However, it is a timely as a printing run of McCain-Palin election stickers. There are other vehicles out there that are more useful, have enough electronic gizmos to keep any service shop happy for generations to come and are far more relevant. The new 41 MPG Jetta TDI, the new Audi A4 (or 5 for that matter), even the Jaguar XF would all, in this scribbler's mind, be strong and more practical candidates, and there are others.

The automotive press in this country, like the industry itself, needs to tune in to the people who count: the people who buy.