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September 09, 2007

The Worst

If you wanted proof that the Pulitzer Prize is meaningless, check out Time Magazine's latest issue, featuring The 50 Worst Cars of All Time, compiled (and presumably written) by Dan Neil, the Los Angeles Times' auto critic -- and a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for journalism.

Amongst the cars targeted by Neil for abuse are the Ford Model-T, because it encouraged working-class people to drive; the Explorer, because it's an SUV; the Excursion, because it's a big SUV; and the Hummer H2, because it's a quasi-military SUV.

I laughed out loud when I saw that the Model-T was on the list; the social commentary trying to justify its inclusion was ludicrous. The Ford revolutionized the world: it standardized assemby-line production; provided affordable transportation for the non-rich; created unparalleled freedom to travel; offered the possibility of living further than a horse ride from work; and introduced the idea that workers deserved decent wages -- all the better to be able to afford their very own Fords.

This makes it one of the 50 worst cars of all time?

The article is a horror show; if you didn't know it had been written by a "professional" car critic, you'd assume it had been thrown together by a bicycle-riding, Birkenstock-wearing, vegan, Manhattan-dwelling Luddite.

If there's ever a list of the 50 Worst Lists of All Time, this has a lock on #1.

Pathetic.

Posted by Mike Lief at September 9, 2007 09:06 PM | TrackBack

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