Reporter's Notebook: Unloading Another Set of Unpopular Opinions

We all have unpopular opinions. I know I have mine.

The problem with unpopular opinions is expressing them. Sometimes you would have to side on not expressing them, because they could cause trouble with your readers, social media followers, and the court of public opinion. Therefore, I had to severely edit myself on some articles over the years.

Just like medical ailments and certain parts of our body, we all have opinions. And, yes, some of them just happen to be unpopular.

So, I figure that maybe I could explore some of my own unpopular opinions. Granted, you might actually agree with them. I am not counting on that. However, why don't I give this a go.

Maybe…just maybe…we might even just agree.

CAN WE BRING BACK SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS, PLEASE? I grew up at a time when most automobiles were standard offerings in the marketplace. We're talking good old hardtop sedans, two-doors, and station wagons. Those days are gone. What's left our SUV's and pickup trucks. Don't get me wrong, I like a good SUV or pickup truck. Yet, I still yearn for the days where the sedan and station wagon can return back to relevance.

While the sedan still exists and the station wagon is a rare sight, seeing them drop off the catalogs of many brands and manufacturers is truly disheartening. They were the bread and butter of these automakers. Not to mention there were more efficient. There are some signs that they may be coming back, however the damage is done. And, that makes me worry about the future of the automotive industry.

I AM BORED WITH SUPERCARS: This one is going to stoke some serious debate. Just let me explain. We have been giving a lot of credence to these high-performance icons that are the stuff of childhood fantasies. In my case, that would be vehicles such as the original Lamborghini Countach. These days, I often worry that the supercar market has become so contrived with offerings that are pushing the horsepower threshold to the point that they are becoming commonplace.

I would like us to not have that feeling. I don't want to be in the position to say, “You seen one Lamborghini, you've basically seen them all.” That would be a disservice to both owners and fans of the Bull. Or, any of the brands of supercars in the market. To be honest, I am getting closer to that point. Perhaps, there is nothing exciting that would stoke my interest. Maybe, Ferrari’s new four door Purosangue could re-engage my interest in that genre of automobile again.

AT EVERY TURN, AN AUTOMAKER I LIKE GETS INTO SOME CONTROVERSY: You've probably heard that the state I live in – Minnesota – as well as the city I reside in – Saint Paul – are calling for a mass action against the rash of thefts involving several Hyundai and Kia models. The fix is simple, right? Simply install an immobilizer that will thwart the thieves from stealing these vehicles.

Then, Volkswagen got embroiled in another issue regarding their Car-Net telematics system where it was unable to respond during an incident in Chicago. Behold the power of crisis PR! A good chunk of owners will get five years of this service for no charge!

Shall I also bring up the rash of recalls on certain Ford products? As well, as some other topics that have been brought up about that company out of Dearborn?

All of this has created a minefield that is getting harder to navigate, especially when we’re trying to work with vehicles from these manufacturers. I'm sure that there are some manufacturers that are being good citizens and doing right for their owners. It has simply become quite a challenge to try to do this job towards discovering how good these vehicles are. Even in the face of these controversies. 

ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND ELECTRIFICATION…YOU KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING: Let's be clear, we are simply at the point of no return when it comes to EVs, hybrids and PHEVs. They are here to stay. There is no going back. We are just going to have to get used to it…and, get over it. We recognize that switching from internal combustion engines to electric motors is a costly endeavor. It is costly not only for the manufacturers to make the switch to new architectures and drivelines, but it is also ending up being even more costly for the consumer to buy into these vehicles.

This is not just an issue within the legacy manufacturers. It is also a daunting task for startup companies looking to get into the vehicle production space. There are plenty of outcomes that are either helping or hurting the EV cause. One of which stems from the owners themselves. (I will refrain from calling certain manufacturers out in this case.) The EV experience should be one where there are wins across the board. But, are we there yet? That depends on how you look at the entire picture. And, there is a lot more issues I can throw into this unpopular opinion. With that, let me stop here…

I COULD GET ALONG WITH EVERYONE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SPACE, BUT… Let me be honest here, my track record of making and retaining “friends” has been a spotty one over the past 59 years. Lately, I’ve been feeling it even more. A good sign of this came when I was watching my appearance on the “Dreamkillers” podcast Drive Cartel hosted back in 2020. I believe I said something to the effect that there are some car meets I would like to “avoid like the plague.” That is becoming true as I get older.

Part of it is the feeling of being unwelcomed – whether it is age, sexual orientation, professional status, physical ability, and so forth. Then again, I always had that feeling of being unwelcomed all of my life for some reason or another. As I return from yet another health situation, a personal pull-back would be in order this year and going forward. Rather, to choose the events that are more accessible and easier to navigate with maximum engagement available. Does this mean that I’ll have to say on highly frequent basis, “have fun, kids”? Maybe…

All photos by Randy Stern