One of my favorite coincidences about my life in writing about transportation is that I sort of have the perfect name for it. Half of my name is a car brand, and the other half is a street! Technically, I did choose my first name, but that was back in 2012, nearly a decade before I started writing about cars. But that last name was my real legal name for most of my life, and I decided to keep it for writing, because come on! Anyway, you lovely readers know the way to my heart.
It’s Chicago deep dish pizza.
But, in lieu of pizza, I do love these comments! Matt wrote a Morning Dump about how a Mercedes-Benz exec allegedly fumed about the AMG GT EV. Jason Rocker starts us off:
The problem with manufacturers doing the EV thing is they thought they’d do a Tesla. But they’re not Tesla. While Musk was in a position to say “Fuck it, I do what I want” the likes of Mercedes-Benz, and more importantly their executives are definitely not in such enviable position. Whatever I think about that shithead now, I cannot deny the dude had the balls, bravado, vision, patience and money to singlehandedly revolutionize the (EV) car market.
Daimler also has a huge part in Tesla’s continued existence. Elon has admitted that Tesla was down and nearly dead when Daimler saved the day, giving Tesla $50 million for a nine percent stake as part of Daimler’s project to electrify the Smart Fortwo. Anyway, Urban Runabout had a great response:
The problem w/ Mercedes is they saw Tesla taking their S Class customers for the Model S – So Mercedes decided they needed to compete, which was great.
The problem was Mercedes decided the solution was a Mercedes version of a Model S – jellybean styling, hatchback, big screens and everything for the EQS, and same thing but smaller and a trunk for the EQE – just like the Model 3.
When what Mercedes buyers wanted were EV S Classes and E Classes.
BMW figured it out correctly – and although the 7 Series styling is a horror show, buyers are showing up.
William Domer was less complimentary to Musk and to Mercedes-Benz:
With the help of massive federal subsidies at every step of the way he became the greediest man on earth. Like WOW dude, enjoy your overarching shitiness as a human being. Then again Ford Sr. was a Hitler backer and the skeletons in most Japanese closets are legion. Perhaps expecting humanist values from massive corporations is a mistake? /s
There hasn’t been a Mercedes I would like since the Pagoda.
But then William had this clever response:
Best Mercedes? Streeter.
Great COTD nomination, Pilotgrrl! Well done, William!
Jason wrote a sort of unhinged Cold Start about Ford Econoline trucks and Twix bars. TheDrunkenWrench:
Your brain must be studied for science when you pass.
Jason Torchinsky:
Or before! I don’t always need it.
Finally, Jason wrote about a Florida woman who doesn’t like her license plate. ExAutoJourno:
Some people have all the luck, even if they don’t believe it.
If anyone here went to their local DMV and actually asked for this letter/number combo, they’d get turned down, speedy-speedy.
Also, here’s OverlandingSprinter for your weird fact of the day:
Fun fact: Orange fruit production is measured in cases. Florida has more oranges on its license plates than cases of oranges produced annually.
Orange production is falling due to blight, bad weather related to global warming and real estate development wiping out orange groves.
Have a great evening, everyone!
*Bows in Deep Dish Pizza*
Tavern style thin crust is more popular throughout Chicagland.
I’m a thin and crispy (crust) person myself.
Like a cracker.
“Anyway, you lovely readers know the way to my heart.
It’s Chicago deep dish pizza”
It seems I don’t know the way. My guess was a bottle of Malort. But I should have known better. THAT way only drops off a cliff onto a pile of jagged rocks.