Sunday, February 06, 2005
Automotive Humor
"The BMW-built 2004 Mini Cooper is not a perfect automobile. Let us just take a moment to let that understatement reverberate: The back seat is the automotive equivalent of a spider hole in Tikrit. The ride is rough enough to disqualify you from future organ donations." - Dan Neil
Dan Neil is a funny guy. What is he doing as the automotive critic for the Los Angeles Times? Just winning a Pulitzer Prize after writing only 16 columns for the LA Times.
On the Nissan Pathfinder Armada, Neil wrote: "It has taken years of analysis and reverse engineering, but the Japanese automakers are now able to build vehicles just as big and stupid as the Americans."
Years after completing his masters at NC State, Neil worked on the automotive section for the News & Observer in Raleigh. He started writing an automotive column without an editor, honing his irreverent approach to the topic. After three months of what he calls "principled insubordination," the N&O fired him.
Their loss was the LA Times' gain.
Dan Neil is a funny guy. What is he doing as the automotive critic for the Los Angeles Times? Just winning a Pulitzer Prize after writing only 16 columns for the LA Times.
On the Nissan Pathfinder Armada, Neil wrote: "It has taken years of analysis and reverse engineering, but the Japanese automakers are now able to build vehicles just as big and stupid as the Americans."
Years after completing his masters at NC State, Neil worked on the automotive section for the News & Observer in Raleigh. He started writing an automotive column without an editor, honing his irreverent approach to the topic. After three months of what he calls "principled insubordination," the N&O fired him.
Their loss was the LA Times' gain.
