Re: Cars as characters: why NBC might get it right this time
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:27 am
I think many people are being way way too hard on the Mustang. We have to take a step back and remember something. KITT does NOT have to be sleek and sexy. The 82 Trans Am was sleek and sexy because, overall, GM was covering for, by far, the worst T/A to ever roll off the line. A proud car that, was of once, 300+HP from the factory, was stripped down to a 305 with a mere 145 - 165HP from the factory. What they didn't have in HP, they made up with in looks, and aerodynamics, to squeeze out any bit of acceleration of the car. Even with it's majestic, at the time record setting, 0.37 wind drag coefficient, the car was still taking upwards of 10 seconds to go 0-60, a '73 TA can do 100 in the same amount of time. At the time our precious KITT was created, the American car line had to keep with the demands of exotic lines, that were so prominent in the Euro-cars, and even the Nissan Z's of the time. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE KITT, and I love ALL that IS KNIGHT RIDER. That show is responsible for me having been a GM Technician for 7 years, and the proud owner of an 87 Formula, which I know inside and out, and it pains me to know, that KITT doesn't even compete with my formula ie: Better wing, 16" wheels. The big thing here, is the majority of the public, when not caught up in import tuner cars, and suv's, are craving some of those old school muscle car lines, and now that we are back up to some MAJOR power, of 500+ available, cars DON'T need to be sleek and sexy, especially since they peaked with sleek in the mid 90's to early 00's. So, basically, muscular lines are back in style, and if GM were to produce a Trans Am right now, chances are, it would have nothing in common with KITT or the 80's, but be more like a modern day '77-'79 Bandit era style inspired car. So, again, sleek and sexy would probably be out, but "tough" would still be in, which the Shelby is, a tough looking car. Another thing too, everyone dogs the mustang v. the old T/A, no matter how you look at the T/A, it was, in fact an American Muscle Car, which, the mustang was a proud member of, so although the companies are different, the cars are in the same family. Muscle cars, or Pony cars, take your pick.
One last thing, I don't think we really need the old features anymore, such as ski mode and turbo boost, as freakin awesome as they were, the demographic just doesn't seem to be into the senseless trashing of cars like they used to be. Knight Rider was, in fact, on in a very special time for TV, where we looked forward to cars jumping over trains, and "skiing" between motorcycles. It seems that demographic migrated to the movies. I do think the new twist on Knight Rider with a super hot car, such as a Shelby Mustang does indeed have a good chance of being successful.
Now, with all that said, before the classic KR guys smite me, PLEASE keep in mind, I am keeping an open mind. I love the original KR, I have them all on dvd, I have a Formula, and I'm so happy to be able to communicate with a group of fellow Knight Rider Fans. It's an honor to be here, and I look forward to seeing more and more of this awesome forum. I hope noone takes any offense to anything I said earlier. I did bash the 82 T/A a little, but that's only coming from a historic and Technical side, as I worked on them for Buick/Pontiac/GMC. Never the less, it is still my favorite car to this day, and I owe all of it to KITT. Let me finish with, I welcome the Knight Three Thousand with open arms BUT, LONG LIVE THE KNIGHT INDUSTRIES TWO THOUSAND!! Later guys, sorry it was so long
One last thing, I don't think we really need the old features anymore, such as ski mode and turbo boost, as freakin awesome as they were, the demographic just doesn't seem to be into the senseless trashing of cars like they used to be. Knight Rider was, in fact, on in a very special time for TV, where we looked forward to cars jumping over trains, and "skiing" between motorcycles. It seems that demographic migrated to the movies. I do think the new twist on Knight Rider with a super hot car, such as a Shelby Mustang does indeed have a good chance of being successful.
Now, with all that said, before the classic KR guys smite me, PLEASE keep in mind, I am keeping an open mind. I love the original KR, I have them all on dvd, I have a Formula, and I'm so happy to be able to communicate with a group of fellow Knight Rider Fans. It's an honor to be here, and I look forward to seeing more and more of this awesome forum. I hope noone takes any offense to anything I said earlier. I did bash the 82 T/A a little, but that's only coming from a historic and Technical side, as I worked on them for Buick/Pontiac/GMC. Never the less, it is still my favorite car to this day, and I owe all of it to KITT. Let me finish with, I welcome the Knight Three Thousand with open arms BUT, LONG LIVE THE KNIGHT INDUSTRIES TWO THOUSAND!! Later guys, sorry it was so long