Woodward Dream Cruise and what it says about American car companies.

"Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula" (snacktasticc)
08/20/2016 at 19:30 • Filed to: Detroit

So I just moved to Michigan and while driving through Royal Oak, I noticed tons of very shiny, beautiful vintage cars and you know, noticed it was this annual event, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which is a major vintage car event that people here may know more about than I do. I listened to some news stories and I thought it was really interesting—there were so many different takes.

More than anything, I found that people kind of vacillated between loving the nostalgia and being frustrated at Ford, GM and the other auto manufacturers for being too nostalgic about the golden age of the American automobile industry and not focused enough on now. It says all sorts of things about what the declining auto industry means to Detroit.

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However, this guy thinks differently and thinks that they are finally taking risks and maybe things are looking up. Maybe he has to think that way because I think people are trying to remain hopeful that Detroit will have a revival.

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I don’t know if anyone has anything thoughts about this but I’d be interested in hearing your take.

DISCUSSION (16)

Dru > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
08/20/2016 at 19:55

I just watched Dazed and Confused this afternoon so it’s weird that I was thinking about pretty much this topic.

The auto market is beholden to outside factors, mainly the cost of energy and consumer preference. When fuel went up in the 70s and 80s, people responded by buying more efficient cars.

Prior to that, large rear wheel drive cars were the norm. Looking at where we are now, with front wheel drive being the predominant architecture for passenger cars, it seems people care more about getting more value, i.e., traveling further reliably for less money and less maintenance if possible.

It’s great to see Dodge still schlepping huge heavy muscle cars with a bag of skittles as inspiration for available colors. I have no idea if that will continue, as Ford and GM have turned their pony cars even further to the performance purist direction.

If I had to put money on it, I’d say the differences between foreign and domestic auto makers will continue to erode in favor of global platforms and ever increasing efficiency and safety.

Sky Higa > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
08/20/2016 at 20:07

Are you talking about Detroit the City, or Detroit as in a word that represents the big three automotive giants in the US?

If you mean the automotive manufacturers, I think they have already gone through a revival since the bailout and are better than ever. GM and Ford (I think) are more ambitious and have more appealing products than Toyota, and I think that Ford and GM are as forward thinking as the Japanese and the Europeans. They are totally focused on “now”

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > Sky Higa
08/20/2016 at 20:08

I think the two get conflated and maybe unfairly so

Flavien Vidal > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
08/20/2016 at 20:15

And of course, I’ll be in Detroit from NEXT FUCKING WEEK. I’ll neer get to go to the Woodward Cruise :(

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > Flavien Vidal
08/20/2016 at 20:17

:( not fair

Levitas > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
08/20/2016 at 20:39

I moved here in June to start work at Ferd, and I think Detroit already has undergone a revival. Downtown is absolutely looking good, there’s lots of things to do and plenty of culture that makes Detroit, Detroit. If you’re looking for where the money has gone, look towards Farmington/Hills, Bloomfield/Hills, etc.

As far as the auto companies, I think Ford is really the only one that has had a revival. (Biased, I know, but part of my job choice was emotional, and how their products make me feel). I just don’t like GM and the products they make and how they’re marketing them. Chrysler continues to show some financial trouble, and outside of performance Dodge vehicles, their lineup is just like GMs.

I think Ford is the only one that has really done a 180 in terms of quality, appearance, performance, quality, etc. The recent gen Taurus is nothing like the Taurus of old, the Focus is now a good car that you can have a crazy version of, a crazy hot-hatch in FiST form can be had for just over $20k. The trucks are good, plenty of technology and innovation, and they are absolutely selling like hotcakes and floating the profits.

Lincoln, on the other hand, don’t get me started.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > Levitas
08/20/2016 at 21:01

If you have suggestions about fun things in Detroit, I'd love to hear it!

Levitas > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
08/20/2016 at 23:58

Still figuring that out myself. There’s a really nice karting place up in Novi, as well as a massive mall (the one on the news, coincidentally). Might be doing a bar crawl thing next weekend in Royal Oak. And if you haven’t, hit up the Henry Ford. It’s full of great history and engineering and is really entertaining for most everyone.

Food wise, hit up Slows - fantastic bbq and its right next to the old train station. Past that I haven’t found all that much too do.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > Levitas
08/21/2016 at 00:07

I do want to see the Henry Ford!

yamahog > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
08/21/2016 at 06:48

Ughhhhh fucking kinja ate all my suggestions :(

Museums - DIA, the Charles H Wright Museum of African-American History, the Motown museum, maybe Pewabic if you’re into pottery. OH and the Heidelberg Project is about to be dismantled, so check that out ASAP

Food/drinks - seriously so much good stuff, you’ll never need to go to a chain *cough Marky Mark.* Brunch at The Hudson Cafe, burgers/fries at Green Dot Stables, Grand Trunk Pub, Mercury Grille, shwarmas at either Bucharest Grille location, more fancy dinner/cocktail options. So many craft breweries like Detroit Beer Co. Yelp is actually helpful provided you sift through the aggrieved hipsters.

Definitely check out John King books. Avoid the casinos unless you’re going to a concert in the smaller detached venue at Motor City, and Greektown (the area) is cooler than Greektown Casino.

I’m sure I’ll remember more once I actually wake up :)

yamahog > Flavien Vidal
08/21/2016 at 06:49

Honestly, if it’s nice out, locals will still be cruising and you’ll have less traffic to deal with. Detroit proper or the metro area?

Flavien Vidal > yamahog
08/21/2016 at 07:10

I’ll be staying in Novi but will probably go to Detroit a couple of days. Only staying there a week, going to Montreal after.

yamahog > Flavien Vidal
08/21/2016 at 07:13

Cool :) the bulk of the cruising activity tends to take place north of Nine Mile, but some people start all the way from downtown.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > yamahog
08/21/2016 at 11:31

Cool!!!!!!

Milky > Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula
08/21/2016 at 13:21

As a Detroit resident(hipster) I use https://www.thrillist.com/detroit to see if theres anything new/cool that I’ve missed. Mostly food/drink places but they talk about some events/things to do also.

One of the things I love about Detroit is that if you like going out, you’ll never run out of things to do.

Snacktastic Part III: the Return of the Spatula > Milky
08/21/2016 at 14:12

Excellent