To each their own, Roswell and I'd never be one to judge. I just like to recognize differences of opinion because that's what makes the world go round for me. I can really appreciate you for having the opinions that you do. I am always amazed by the car collectors who go for the 67 notch-back Mustang with a straight six. But they love that car and are preserving what the average man drove.
The SRT8 cost me the most of any car I've ever purchased but only by a small margin. Despite the economy, me and mine aren't doing too badly and it just seems that what you're willing to pay for this, that and the other just sort of creeps up from year to year. That being said, modern V8s make the old school stuff seem pathetic, to me. The suspensions and chassis may lessen the harshness transmitted to the driver and it "feels" less potent but the new age stuff is far more drivable and usable and more powerful per cubic inch. I know a local tuner who gets upwards of 2000 HP out of modern engines. Old school HEMIs, Chevy 409/427, 427 Cammers and BOSS 429 were great top end mills but sucked monkey butt at normal revs. The Freaky Cams made them horrible to drive around town and the hoods were alway up. Now I can have a 427 SMALL BLOCK that revs quick and builds HP and torque clear through the rev limiter all dau long. That would have been Black magic Voodoo back in the day.
I simply can't stand automatic trannies but that's just me. I currently own a number of cars, trucks and motorcycles and every last one of them has a clutch and gears
. On the rare ocassion I give in to the Red Mist and take someone on, I have seldom found anyone who can out run my slap shifting abilities. Not that I'm that great (I am) but I usually pick on suckers driving clapped out Hondas
. Man there's just something about driving a stick that makes me smile. Its like me and the car are working together. Plus automatics are just a pain when they go bad. In 30 years of driving sticks I haven't had to have work done on a manual tranny or ever change a single clutch. Not one. Ever automatic my dad owned ended up having to have the tranny worked on at some point.
Anyway, I respectfully honor your right to like whatever you like...but don't get too upset if I don't fully understand your particular form of madness. Lord knows you're going to think I'm strange as you get to know me better.