You Can't Always Trust The Knowledge You Get On The Internet

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
03/31/2015 at 06:15 • Filed to: bad journalism

If you watch any car videos on Youtube, you have probably come across this guy once or twice. His name is David Patterson and he goes by the username !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He has always irked me and I couldnt tell why until just now when I watched this video on the 1959 Edsel Ranger.

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Now before I go into detail about what is wrong with this particular video, I wanna say his video quality seems to always be top notch, but he only seems to be knowledgable about the "Hype" cars of todays youth. For example; Lancer Evo, STi, Skyline, GTR, Etc... He also doesnt seem to do any sort of comprehensive research on the cars he reviews that he doesnt seem to know about, and in my opinion that is sloppy journalism.

The video in question is his review of a gorgeous 1959 Edsel Ranger 4 door.

Let me give some examples of inaccuracies:

He says that Edsel fell between Mercury and Ford on the luxury scale (this part is true), but then he goes on to conclude that statement with "So Edsel was competing with the other brands within General Motors". Ummmm...... Ford, Edsel and Mercury are/were all brands under the Ford Umbrella, GM doesnt play into that situation at all.

He starts to compare Mustangs to Chevelles. Woah there, Mustangs were built upon the much smaller Falcon platform than the full size Malibu/Chevelle.

He starts to berate Edsel for designing the "3 on the tree" style manual transmission shift pattern in the way they did when in reality that was a common and established shift pattern long before Edsel was even a blip on the radar.

He says the speedometer "struggles to stay alive". If he had any knowledge of cable driven speedometers, he'd know that over time the speedo cable would stretch and that slack in the line would create a "flutter" as I like to call it in the fluidity of the needle movement.

Basically my main gripe with this guy is he's sloppy, he doesnt do all the research that he needs to do so that when the uninitiated or the car guy that is just starting to get serious about his or her interest in all things automotive watches his video, they dont get the wrong information.

This guy has great screen presence and is a phenomenal presenter, but he needs to get his facts straight before he goes on screen. He needs to present from a place of superior knowledge. I would watch his videos to learn something I didnt already know, I dont want to learn the wrong information.

DISCUSSION (23)

Flavien Vidal > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 06:47

Gave up after 4 minutes... his voice is unbearable.

Tinfoil Hat in a thunderstorm, now with added diecast > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 06:54

I've got some other shit on my mind so I haven't read the entire post. But I'm here to get my mind off the other shit so I'll chime in.

I have pretty much stopped looking at YouTube car tutorial videos because of the inaccuracy on most of them. A lot of the times I've got a fair idea on what I'm doing but might need some details. So many times I've already got to what ever part I need but in the videos see them showing so many lengthy and unrequired steps that I lose all faith any anything they say.

Wobbles the Mind > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 06:56

David is simply a car enthusiast that does video blogs. He loves the culture and shows off the projects of those he's met. You cant hold him to the standard of Kyle or Alex on Autos.

Just think of him more in line with the top end "vloggers" except his content centers on what he is learning within car culture rather than eating cinnamon or opening his mail and screaming for 10 minutes.

Honestly you cant hold the post-fastandfurious to know much before 1990 Japanese sports cars. Especially when it's more a first driving reaction than anything else.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Wobbles the Mind
03/31/2015 at 07:02

This was more of a "Do your research or stick to what you know" post. If he doesnt know what hes talking about and didnt care to learn, then he shouldnt have reviewed the Edsel. BTW, I'm of the post-F&F generation and I know the difference between an Edsel Ranger and Pacer, I even know of the Ranger wagon known as the Bermuda. If I can do it so can he, It just takes a little time and a drive to learn.

Joey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 07:07

Uh, don't watch it.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 07:33

That's why he doesn't normally cover cars like this on his channel - like he said, he's only ever reviewed two "classics" and I'd argue that the Thunderbird he reviewed isn't really a classic. But you live and you learn.

Plus, I think he's good looking but that's just me.

Jonathan Harper > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 07:57

it's easy to critique a video online. You know what's not easy? Producing a video like that.

NoneOfYourBiz > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 08:09

I'm embarrassed for the kid.

Opening your mouth on topics you're not familiar with makes you look stupid.

In my school days, it's served me well to check multiple sources on any topic; beyond the required textbook, I bought three+ others on the topics, highlighted incongruities, then grilled experts to give concrete answers as to why the sources were differed. In some cases, there was genuine ambiguity; in a lot of cases, one or more of the sources were flat out wrong.

I guess ignorance is easier.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 08:19

1. Yes they do. If the Edsel falls between Ford and Mercury then they probably align with Buick or Pontiac.

2. Could have been comparing similar price point or luxuriousness. Size isn't the only thing that matters.

3. Just because it was established doesn't make it any less weird/annoying nowadays. Butter churns were an accepted method of making butter from milk, but that doesn't mean I'd enjoy using one today.

4. Yes... and? He's pointing out that the speedo flutters. And it does. Who gives a shit why, he's just pointing out a thing that happens.

I don't get your problem here. The guy is doing an impressions-ish video, not a 'everything you need to know' Top Gear- ish thing, and for that he seems like he's doing a decent job.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 08:20

Mr. Regular gets facts wrong all the time and I rarely if ever see people bitching about it. It happens. Just enjoy the car porn.

Oontzoontzoontz > Jonathan Harper
03/31/2015 at 08:21

Agreed. Where is DenMoe's videos for us to critique?

Street Surgeon > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 08:30

It's cool to see some of the cars he gets to play around with but yes, he fucks up with the facts like it's his job. The most recent KA-T S14 video is a perfect but not unique example of this.

Jonathan Harper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/31/2015 at 08:43

Exactly

Jonathan Harper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/31/2015 at 08:44

Seriously. Lay off the Haterade denmoe.

Your boy, BJR > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 09:27

Before you get all high and mighty- you screw up all the time. You said 900Ss were turbo. Which they aren't.

crowmolly > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 09:27

Chevelle was a mid sized car! Do your research!

LOL.

I get what you are saying, but there will always be some errors. I see Ford "Caution Fan" stickers on GM iron all the time with "experts" fawning over it being a perfect restoration. Conversely there's plenty of information I've got wrong about cars I have little experience with.

Bad Idea Hat > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/31/2015 at 09:39

I think he mentioned in one of the Smoking Tire podcasts that they're (RCR) really not huge car guys, just a couple guys who liked to remember the crapcans of their youths. RCR is just a vehicle to review the cars that wouldn't even make it into the seriously uncool section of the Top Gear wall.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
03/31/2015 at 09:41

I bitch about him constantly lol

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > crowmolly
03/31/2015 at 09:44

Umm, the Chevelle was the MidSize car.

The Impala was the full size and the Nova or Chevy II was the smaller/compact.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 09:45

you misheard. at the beginning he says "so they made this brand to compete with the other General Motors Vehicles", meaning it was made by ford to compete against GM

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
03/31/2015 at 09:47

Yeah I'm not going to watch it. I love Edsel's and I have no interest in seeing what this guy has to say based off the inaccuracies you called out.

Besides, Edsel was famous for using a Push Button Trans set in the steering wheel, they did cool stuff with transmissions. Even if they are a pain in the ass to work on, they're cool.

Also, Chevelle/Malibu was a mid-size not full size bro.

crowmolly > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/31/2015 at 09:53

I was responding to this:

than the full size Malibu/Chevelle.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > crowmolly
03/31/2015 at 10:05

Hahaha, yeah I caught up. My bad.