Best of Oppositelock: September 17, 2013

Kinja'd!!! "DasWauto" (DasWauto)
09/18/2013 at 13:00 • Filed to: Best of Oppositelock

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Gathered here are the Oppositelock posts that people have put a good deal of effort into writing on Tuesday. Today it includes Euro cars not available in the US, automotive culture on the Champs-Élysées, the Honda N360 Kei car and more.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Speedmonkey

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I've noticed that when I mention certain cars that are commonplace here in the UK the majority US based Jalops bemoan the fact they can't get them in the US - and how they'd love to be able to get them. In the main these seem to be diesels, hatchbacks (in particular hot hatches), wagons and anything French. So I asked on Oppo what cars you can't buy in the US and got a load of responses. I've driven and owned most so here is my rough guide to Euro cars you can't get in the US and what they're really like.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Awedgar

Alpina, or Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH for those wanting that piece of information, is a manufacturer working closely with BMW producing their own branded and registered cars. Alpina cars have always aimed to have a different, complementary personality to M cars. Their emphasis is on luxurious, higher torque cars than BMW M, with distinctive features like the 20' spoke alloy wheels and the Alpina Blue metallic paint. They lack the outright sportiness of M cars, due to often not being as high revving, offering automatic transmissions, and lacking limited slip differentials, but they offer a unique experience, with higher end materials and a more useable powerband in daily driving than high revving M cars.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Enzo288

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One of the advantages of having migrated from New Zealand (with it's Australian muscle and abundance of tasty JDM imports) to the grey isles if Britain (with its.... ummm.... diesels?) is their proximity to the continent. A week or so ago I took advantage of this handy quirk of geography and spent a weekend in Paris. I was expecting a few days of wine, cheese, architecture and as many rich, buttery pastries as I could cram into my face-holes. I wasn't expecting some of the most rewarding car-spotting a Jalop could ask for.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - DakotaCowboy

Most people around Jalopnik and Oppositelock seem to want the 25 year law on importing non-U.S. market cars eliminated. I suggest a much more drastic change. I propose that we severely cut the role of the NHTSA. They will still be allowed to do crash tests and provide the information from these tests to the public. However, they will no longer be able to mandate safety equipment for vehicles...

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Aya

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So, originally, today I wanted to try an old 1970's Subie. But, somehow this chap has stolen my interest from the Subie. It's a 1972 Honda N360, one of the first Kei cars designed by Honda. Because I'm always [in] love the Kei cars, I definitely love this one. The engine was an air-cooled, four stroke, 354 cc, 31 hp (23 kW) two-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Honda CB450 motorcycle.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Aaron Brown

Throughout this post and several of my upcoming ones, I will preach to you all about my time in Europe. In this series, I will attempt to explain German automotive culture, European motorsports culture (Le Mans, DTM), and my personal experiences as a young automotive enthusiast traveling abroad to different automotive museums, races, and other automotive landmarks.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - 505Turbeaux

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I don't really know how this car got to be one of my favorites of all time, but it has. And as much as I look to find another, it always eludes me due to how many of these hit the crusher. In all honesty, it only hit the States with a slushbox, no wagon version (Europe got the funky 100/200 Avant hatchbacks, and sticks, and 2 door sedans), and the Turbo was good for a whopping 130 horses through the front wheels. But it remains in my mind one of the most comfortable, fun cars I have ever driven.

The Best of the Rest

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Moarpowerr volunteered at the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! over the weekend. BJohnson11 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and tested some electrical issues. TheJWT !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! from around Brooklyn. Turbineguy got to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Offroadkarter posted some video of a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Speedmonkey bought a spiffy !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Andy Sheehan !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in KC for an autocross event. Dumpring !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . TheSupremeLou !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on his Jetta.

As always, If I've missed something and you would like me to include it, let me know.

Fun Discussions

There were several posts that asked questions and sparked some good discussion over the last day. Take a peek and chime in on some of them listed below:

How Big Will Wheels Get?

Whats your favorite 80s sports car?

Share your dream realistic two-car garage

One Car Garage - Audi

Car Domaining - Oh Canada Edition

Japanese Sports Car Manufacturer?

Just the #tips

The #3 Returns

Hittin' Switches In A 2014 Range Rover Autobiography

Gotta Love Formula 1's Medical Car

Bicycles outsell cars as European car sales are the lowest ever

Defender > bro truck

Montoya heads back to Indy

Why tig braze? (video inside)

Seinfeld Is Back At It

Video goodies from Buzet Hill Climb; death of a Renault 5 Maxi, dorifto and a Subaru

Closing Speeds [hotd]

14-year-old girl dies in locked car

Volvo Trucks Viral videos

Jaguar F-Type V6 V6S and V8S Exhaust Comparison

BMW FAST Prototype Sighted

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Honourable Mentions

These posts have already been shared with Jalopnik directly but deserve to be mentioned again because they were first posted in Oppositelock:

This Honda Ridgeline Is Ready For Zombies

ENZY in the hood is Kia’s loveable cartoon gang

Want to participate on Oppositelock? Check out the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as well the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to help you get started.


DISCUSSION (11)


Kinja'd!!! ncasolowork2 > DasWauto
09/18/2013 at 13:03

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Can you pimp the QOTD I just posted about Top Gear?


Kinja'd!!! DasWauto > ncasolowork2
09/18/2013 at 13:12

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No sir. This only covers until 5-pm yesterday. If I get to today's edition today, it'll be in there.


Kinja'd!!! ncasolowork2 > DasWauto
09/18/2013 at 13:13

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But you sometimes need a special edition hot off the presses news item.


Kinja'd!!! DasWauto > ncasolowork2
09/18/2013 at 13:15

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Hah, sorry, I think I'll stick to my formula.


Kinja'd!!! Leadbull > DasWauto
09/18/2013 at 13:22

Kinja'd!!!2

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Kinja'd!!! Gamecat235 > DasWauto
09/18/2013 at 13:39

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No love for the new Zolland P1800 ZES renders?

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/bo-zollands-lu…

(I did repost it later for the night crew)


Kinja'd!!! DasWauto > Gamecat235
09/18/2013 at 14:11

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When was it originally posted? I don't think I saw it at it's original time if you reposted it. I put this together this morning so I saw it at the 8:33 pm repost time. I can insert it if you wish, otherwise it'll be in today's.


Kinja'd!!! Gamecat235 > DasWauto
09/18/2013 at 15:54

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It was posted around noon EST originally I think. But it doesn't matter. No worries. =)


Kinja'd!!! Bandit > DasWauto
09/18/2013 at 18:31

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For tomorrow: http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-new-truck-…

/shameless self promotion


Kinja'd!!! eNZo288 > DasWauto
09/18/2013 at 19:53

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Cheers for the plug. Viva la France!


Kinja'd!!! D > DasWauto
09/18/2013 at 22:17

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Hey hey, lost my BoO virginity!