![Click here to read Barack Obama Thinks The Shelby GT500 Is "Sick"](http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2012/01/small_06882e2963a314c9574e47db4e4fd604.jpg "Click here to read Barack Obama Thinks The Shelby GT500 Is "Sick"")
President Barack Obama took time out from watching the Republican field eviscerate each other in Florida to visit the Washington D.C. Auto Show. He sat in roughly six cars, but seemed to focus on the 2013 Shelby GT500, which he apparently called “sick.” Right on, Mr. President. More »
My taste has nothing to do with badge status. It is the engineering approach I’m a big fan of. What do Americans make, generally? Big, meathead muscle cars that can blow off the door of any cars in existence. This is why funny car and top fuel racing exist in America, and nowhere else. We are obsessed with going from point A to point B in the least amount of time, and that path is very often a straight line. I’m not denouncing the value of American cars. If going fast is what you’re after, American cars are a bargain, just like you said. But to avoid falling off of a cliff, I’ll take a Porsche or a BMW.
And yes, I am speaking for myself. This is purely my taste in cars. Obama may be into American muscle. I’m not. It has nothing to do with the badge on the hood. I like the level of refinement found on premium German cars. They can charge $45k for a car the size of a Ford Fusion for good reasons. Drive a Fusion, which isn’t a bad car at all, then drive a C300. The difference is very clear.
analbumcover1
If Obama leaves office and promises not to run for a second term, I will buy him one. IMO its a good investment in my, and this countries future.
FixUbimmer
It’s the Forderado!
mstrjon32
I’m glad you “could never be president.” I genuinely love American cars and I’m pretty sure that our current president does too.
mstrjon32
I’d love to see the President hoon the hell out that GT500!
Black_Creaux
Beats the tar out of “Dixie.”
John Krewson
Speak for yourself. As a long time devotee of euro cars, I gladly give credit where credit is due: US automakers are making great cars that compete or beat the snobby euros for a fraction of the cost. That’s worth celebrating. Even though I like Porsches, Audis and BMWs and respect their engineering (if not their reliability, I’m looking at you Audi), I wouldn’t consider any of them as purchase because they’ve all become the predictable default purchase for too many people who know much more about badge status than engineering and what a driver’s car is.
superveloce
Ford mortgaged everything including the Blue Oval a couple of years before the economic crash.
jillyicious
Now do you understand? Stop trying to kill my V8s!!!
Blakkar
Yet the Big 3 took their parts from the plant I worked in and moved their production to Mexico and Costa Rica. Although Ford was the only one of the Big 3 to actually give money to my company, for the workers, for moving our jobs out of the country. Ford also mortgaged everything including the Blue Oval a couple of years before the economic crash.
jillyicious
to be fair though we did run out of oil. in the easy spots like in the middle of texas. we are now looking at expensive methods to harvest a little oil because we are running out of the stuff.
yes, it makes sense to use what we have, but on the other hand you HAVE to invest in these alternative technologies because at some point they will be all we have. even if that’s 100 years from now, if we don’t have an alternative to oil because of libertarian misers, the free hand of the market won’t save us.
Ducky
“Each Chevy Volt sold costs US taxpayers about $250K when figuring in all of the subsidies GM received.”
Is this figure assuming all of the bailout money went to the Chevy Volt or what? The tax subsidies given to consumers for a Volt don’t come anywhere close to the MSRP. And the bailout, whether reasonable or not, covered a lot more than the development costs of the Volt. Furthermore, such technology costs cannot be assumed to be useful for only one car, as the brand image is affected positively and the technology will undoubtedly be used in more cars to come from GM.
That being said, we can have our fun cars with poor fuel economy, so long as there are still plenty of people who don’t know how many crankshafts are in a V-8 who drive hybrids and such . If Obama drove a GT500 i’d give him a thumbs up.
Antonio Morales
Bush bought the ranch in 1999. He and Laura now own a house in Dallas and barely go to the ranch.
jillyicious
Sounds like the White House Plumbers did a much better job for Johnson than they did for Nixon.
AlThums – again thankful for not getting tornadoed
“But Obama has still racked up more national debt in one term than Bush did in two.”
Please reference empirical data:
“[en.wikipedia.org]“
sdvictor
Carroll Shleby thinks that Obama is sick!
Bueller
I could never be President. As a President, you are forced to pretend that you like American cars, or something good about them. This would be too much of a conflict of interest, when I’m saying “The Mustang is sick,” when I really want to be in the booth further down the hall, where BMW, Audi, and Porsche are.
analbumcover1
“Obama’s energy strategy doesn’t involve reducing use of fossil fuels. It’s “all of the above,” as he explained in the SOTU — it involves growing alternative energy while preserving the availability of fossil fuels for the moment.”
After 30+ years of massive infusions of tax dollars to help these “start-up technologies” we still have no viable, affordable, long-term replacement for fossil fuels. Each Chevy Volt sold costs US taxpayers about $250K when figuring in all of the subsidies GM received. Each “Green Job” created over the last 3-4 years with government backing (stimulus) cost taxpayers 3-5 times what the job’s salary pays. Let private industry get off the “tax-teet”, let the market interest rule, and you’ll see real progress.
As a side note, I went through some 1920′s National Geographic magazines my grandmother had last year and I found 2 separate articles about how the Earth was going to run out of oil within 10 years!
“Keystone XL is not dead. As planned, it was environmentally unacceptable due to (among other things) its route through a sensitive part of Nebraska. The administration was willing to work with the pipeline promoters on alternative routes and was generally in favor of the project. But then congressional Republicans artificially forced a final decision before a modified proposal could be finalized” There were 3 different independent studies done that said there was no danger to the aquafurs along the proposed route. This plan has been around for 3 years and the administration has dragged it’s feet about making a decision. Yes, there was political positioning on both sides and exagerrations (jobs for repubs, enviro danger for the dems) but the bottom line is we need to exploit all sources of oil we can. Our economy is built on it, nothing in the next 20 years can replace it at a reasonable cost, and the price of oil has affected the cost of most everything else we use daily, even groceries.
Murco226
haha yes, I realize that. 911 GT-3: obamanotbad.jpg
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
Well since all of the Big 3 are already onboard with those new CAFE targets, I’d say it’s not too much money/work for the manufacturers themselves. Nice try.
BullittFan_Fords4Life
Same image popped into my head too man, I can just imagine the secret service shutting down Pennsylvania for a “There can only be one!” 3out of5 drag race shootout
MarauderMan
He probably also said some stuff about hybrids but who really cares?
“I do.”
-Gregor Mendel
Body By Bacardi
Fossil fuels don’t come from the dinosaurs, they are made from organic matter which is primarily comprised of organic matter or plant material (only minor amount of actual vertebrate animals). They are deposited during and millions of years prior to the dinosaurs. Just for future reference.
Also it looks like Obama is eyeing up an non-American auto as well, porsche 911 GT3?
wriemer1
who was the jalop that originally made this photochop?
I can t remember his username
Disgruntled SnapUndersteer
Further to the point, LBJ also had a raised platform behind his desk so that he sat 6 inches higher than the person on the other side. He’d call reps in and they had no choice but to cower before him.
BurntOrangeBurnout
is he wrong?!
where’s the news here?
Disgruntled SnapUndersteer
Power man. Power.
Mr.CardHolder and Mr.Doe
I want that shirt so bad, but the $30+ it will cost me after shipping for my 2XL ass is really holding me back. Why can’t it be like $25 shipped?
sixt9coug loves his rimblow
Imagine if a single guy was elected prez.
That would be awesome.
Mr.CardHolder and Mr.Doe
Lyndon Johnson was also a serious type A personality. He installed a multiple-head shower in the presidential residence, and kept complaining that the water pressure was insufficient, and kept calling the white house plumbers in to make it more forceful. By the time they were done, the president’s shower had the water pressure of a firehose.
ninjagin
because obama personally did all those things and at no point did congress or oil companies or global recessions have anything to do with it.
nope, just the one guy.
Ducky
They prolly cleared out the hall as he walked through it.
ninjagin
The sad thing is that he’ll likely never be able to drive in public again for the rest of his life.
ninjagin
I like that obama can respect a high powered car, gives me more respect for him.
Jon Stokesbary
Now listen up! Back in my day, we didn’t have fancy tanks! We had sticks. Two sticks and a rock for the entire platoon! And we had to share the rock!
a-study-in-moppishness
Okay, we’ve got something we can agree on. Let’s start from here and continue this discussion.
CMcNam
I like having fun daily though…..
OhNoEzanEscalade!!!11!
This is a stick, and that’s a rock.
Vicarious-Chair
What impedences? Fuel economy regs? Safety regs? Yeah because car makers love making safe and fuel-efficient cars right?
arfdog
Is there a SINGLE car company, anywhere, that builds a simple, affordable, RWD sedan?
OhNoEzanEscalade!!!11!
NEED EYE BLEACH NOWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!
jimmyray73
Sorry, that’s not a sports car. It’s barely a real car.
arfdog
Well, yeah.
OhNoEzanEscalade!!!11!
Well you can’t call her white….
arfdog
Hell yeah! Remember, he had a Hemi powered Chrysler 300 before he got all politically correct and got a hybrid.
OhNoEzanEscalade!!!11!
How do I heartclick an entire thread.
Yes, I like your comment the best. I would love me some Google self-drive mobile that lets me sleep AND drive AND lets me own my 600HP 911 GT2 RS at the same time? Sign me the fuck up for that shit.
arfdog
When I was a kid cheeba was the name of the cat.
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
[en.wikipedia.org] Troll, Sarcastic or Tard.
superflanker00su
With a small diesel and stop/start feature, and maybe a CVT, that should certainly be doable. We just need to accept that maybe a midsize family sedan doing 0-60 in 10 or 11 seconds won’t be the end of the world. They put up with small engined, relatively slow, mainstream cars in Europe and seem to get along fine.
ranwhenparked
Not exactly a bailout though. The $5 billion loan program was available for all companies developing “green” transportation technologies, and wasn’t conditional on financial need. If the government is dumb enough to make money available to you, you’d have to be even dumber not to take it. (I believe Sam Donaldson said something to that effect when asked about the farm subsidies he was collecting for his rural vacation house).
ranwhenparked
I like how he’s into American muscle, mileage be damned!
Xedicon
Yeah, it does that to all of them. Except Reagan, he was already pretty old looking at the beginning, and when you get to that age, further aging isn’t as noticeable. Clinton and Bush both aged a lot over their tenures, and Obama certainly gained quite a few gray hairs in 3 years.
ranwhenparked
Pretty sure that is a Lambo dude…
Darigaazrgb
Oh god… get your politically correct knickers up dude…
Racingindrag
It happened to all of them in recent memory. Look at pictures of any president since FDR at the beginning of his tenure and then at the end. A hell of a job.
dal20402
the Fore CAFE numbers currently are 32.4 and they have hybrids, GM is 31.7 and they have hybrids as well, Chrysler CAFE numbers are 29.9 and they have NO hybrids (a whopping 2 MPG when your fleet has hybrids in it). Those numbers are based only on passenger cars and crossovers, no trucks or SUV’s. So Ford alone would have to add 20 MPG to their combined label. Unless you actually work in a position that even involves doing fuel economy testing for the EPA you have no idea how much work/money that would take.
ryguy85
Lyndon B.Johnson died 4 years after he was president at age 64 due to heavy stress from the presidency…so yeah.
speedyexpress48 is Lord Zero
Anyone else surprised a Secret Service agent didn’t insist on riding “shotgun” during the President’s seat time? They’re always in such close proximity during public events, I just kinda expected it.
YankBoffin
A horse walks into a bar and orders a beer.
The bartender asks “Why the long face?”
Racecar spelled backwards
Take your facts and cram them!
Oh wait… facts are factual? Well in that case I’m just to ignore your facts because I don’t like them and they don’t support my fiery rhetoric.
(In all seriousness, thank you for stating the truth instead of being a bullshitter)
IDesigner has T6 love!
Okay, how about: Mr. President you’re using the right vehicle for your platform.
X-cchannel-M
I have a feeling his inauguration parade in January will be sick, too. A GT500 shredding tires up Pennsylvania Avenue towards the White House? America, fuck yeah!
BullittFan_Fords4Life
Ryguy85- Killing muscle cars?
Name a time when there were more muscle cars being sold than right now.
It sure wasn’t during their supposed heyday back in the 1960s to early 1970s. Today’s Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers are faster, handle better, have actual functioning brakes, require much less maintenance, pollute a tiny fraction of the old ones and get better gas mileage to boot. Oh and they’re safer in collisions. And headlights, lets not forget those old terrible sealed beam tungsten filament headlights. The actual day to day experience of driving the fastest of the original generation muscle cars often came with terrible driveability, hard starting, stalling, wet plugs – this was the era of big carburetors. Sticky rubber? We didn’t even have radial tires! Drum brakes which were virtually useless when wet. For all the praise heaped on the 426 Hemis, 429 Cobra Jets and hi-po 454 Chevies very few were actually in regular use. Why? Not many people willing to shell out the huge cost up front and all the crazy maintenance they demanded. How much do you like adjusting solid lifters? Filing and setting double sets of ignition points? And with the volume of new muscle cars being sold the supply of used ones is expanding at better and better prices. Brother, we are living in the best time ever for muscle car ownership. So chill and have fun.
Racecar spelled backwards
You must have missed the part of that research where you would learn that Corporate Average Fuel Economy is the fleet average for each company’s total sales, not a required combined MPG for *each* car. Lots of high MPG Fusions, Focii, and Fiestas = fun Ponycars for everyone who wants one.
BullittFan_Fords4Life
Meanwhile Republicans are Lobbying to get these into the USA.
Obama likes the stang, ‘sweet’ is that still a cool word young jalops.
86LX5.0:Drifting to the Left
That is exactly the type of research I mean. For someone like you to be in the industry, don’t you think that raising efficiency of vehicles a good thing?
20 years ago, a V6 Mustang with more than 300 hp getting over 30 mpg was fantasy. The feds said that cars need to be more efficient and carmakers have responded. If it wasn’t for federal regulations then we would all be driving around in cars getting shit mpg (some still are) because carmakers wouldn’t put in the money to raise their efficiency without someone telling them to.
dontloseyourdinosaur
The right track is Laguna Seca.
BullittFan_Fords4Life
When I was a kid, “dank” meant “Disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold.” That doesn’t sound very positive, so I’m guessing that it means something else now.
ttyymmnn
Well thats the first thing that i’m proud of that man for… but lets not jump into politics.
shanepj13
I know what you mean. It seems that these days, if it’s not a sports car, it’s not gonna be RWD.
The Crazy Asian
Yes I know her father is Quincy Jones and he is lighter than the average African American. I’d say she might be 30% black or less, which is why she looks so light. I’m just disputing the 50/50 you stated.
X-cchannel-M
Your kids are puffing mad cheeba.
friendly hoon
I really don’t pay attention to the POTUS at the time being. I just try to shun politics like water off a duck’s back. But man does he look like being the pres has taken a toll on his outward appearance age-wise. No wonder why they limit it to two terms, anything more and they’d be turned into walking mummies…
WarShrike
…But how many of those Mustangs were V6s? How much does a basic GT cost again?
I had a V8 in two out of my past three daily drivers, and both of those models have been discontinued. I’m fine with more fuel efficient cars, but I want to be able to buy a V8 powered sedan without having to buy a luxury car.
WhyMustISigh (I used to RANT…)
That dank can make most foods delicious, or at least tolerable.
dead_elvis
Google the following: ‘controversy over Ford bailout commercial’. They already did that.
BullittFan_Fords4Life
The scramble is what drives innovation, without the need and desire to change they just mope along doing the bare minimum. In europe you can either buy a 10 mpg lambo or a 75 mpg polo. and why does vw make both? because they can and want to. let car companies do what they do best, design great cars, without all the regulations and restrictions.
afrojim
That would explain where the hell that was. Was at the show today, and there were a few holes on the floor where those models should have been. Was slightly pissed not to see the Dart that wasn’t up sideways and partially disassembled. (no not on the streets of DC)
abrlcklnthewall
Smackela- Heartclick. You nailed it. By the way, I dig your AMC logo.
Racecar spelled backwards
Not really. When Ford had acquired Volvo they had already had the P2 platform developed. Jaguar had been a bit dead in the water but was still selling cars. Their products did NOT improve under Ford Ownership other than maybe they didn’t break down as much. Same with Land Rover.
Aston was always a niche automaker so it’s hard to make a judgment call on that.
But it was pure luck. Because if Ford had held onto those companies they would’ve probably needed a bailout. Sorta like if GM had found an actual buyer for Hummer/Pontiac/Saturn and all they probably could’ve squeaked by without a bailout. If they needed it they wouldn’t have needed as much.
But nothing “improved” under Ford. Not by a long shot.
tobythesandwich
The point being he had these large and inefficient vehicles when it was up to him to own them. I have nothing against that at all. He can drive whatever he wants. But as soon as scrutiny would be on him as he ran for the presidency, he dumped them and got a hybrid. Just for image. He’s a petrol-head at heart. Buy yet, he’s pushing all the BS enviro regs, killed the pipeline for no reason other than the enviroweenies told him to (there are already dozens of pipelines) and bumping up the MPG regs. All while forcing corn-squeezins, blowy power, Ra power, and questionable vehicles using our money. Wonder why beef is up 15%? Ethanol. He could have his V8s, but now we can’t. That, and gasoline is more than twice the price it was when he took office.
Scrape
[insert politically charged statement here]
jcpwn3r
WTF?
MechaScroggzilla
Hoon Force One?
Jalop-in-Training has to find first gear in his giant robot car
Dank is still used for that something else. The only other way I’ve heard it used is to describe some delicious food.
LappingLuke
He also “bailed out” a lot more companies that still ended up filing for bankruptcy protection — even with all of the loans that have been paid back this far, there’s nearly 250 billion dollars (by a very conservative estimate) that will never be returned.
Besides, filing for bankruptcy doesn’t mean a company just goes belly up and disappears. It gives them a chance to “restructure” and continue operations with the vast majority of their workforce, which is definitely what would have happened to GM.
Adamskiy, as seen on TV!
That was Jay Leno’s argument, wasn’t it?
bainelaker
“Sick” has apparently jumped the shark. “Dank” is the new “sick,” according to my kids.
When I was their age, “dank” was used to describe something else …
#kidstoday
Brian, The Life of
That guy makes Tiny Tim sound like Barry White. Wow. Does he always sing like that or is this a humor piece?
bombastinator
True. My comment would have made more sense if the president was sitting in a Camaro.
zziro
lol perfect
zziro
Facts have no place in this discussion.
Peter Lemonjello
Luck had nothing to do with the value of those brands when they sold them. All of those companies’ products improved vastly under Ford’s ownership, as did their sales.
Brian, The Life of
..um.. I thought he DIDN’T have one any more. That was the point. His love of powerful cars doesn’t seem to be secret at all. Loving something and being willing to own one are two different things.
For example I think big cats (lions, tigers, etc.) are really really cool but I’m totally uninterested in actually owning one, because I’m not crazy.
It sounds to me like you’re trying to make hay out of not very much here. If you really wanted to badmouth the man you could have gone with how unlikely the word “sick” is to come out of the mouth of a 40 year old man not holding a script.
Still kind of weak, but better than that.
bombastinator
Much of the same thing, I wasn’t a fan of Bush either.
But Obama has still racked up more national debt in one term than Bush did in two.
Adamskiy, as seen on TV!
They were in part the first proponents because they need to the other car companies to stay in business for them to succeed (shared suppliers).
yowen
well… Honestly, he got my vote. Just. For. That. Any other presidential-hopeful would actually have to gift me a Mustang to get my vote now.
This is good a reason as any right?
yowen
We need a caption on this photo, “So wait, they just keep turning left for a couple of hours?”
krische
I’m more of a Golden Country Greats man, myself.
sixtwo
Her father is Quincy Jones. So he’s not the lightest skinned guy in the world. As for the original comment, I’ve known a lot of black folks that were into Mustangs, so I don’t really get where you are coming from.
Fluxx
Yep, people said the same things when cars started replacing horses. Enthusiasts cried foul that horses were getting replaced. But what happened? The enthusiast crowd was still thriving with things like equestrian and such.
The same will happen with car enthusiasts. In 10-20 years when most people will be commuting to work in self-driving electric vehicles, the enthusiasts will be able to have their weekend cars that they can use for auto-crossing, road racing, etc.
krische
Literally laughed out loud. well done haha
cletus44
Yet Americans can’t build a simple affordable RWD sedan with a manual trans. We used to be so good at that kind of thing =(
/bitter car shopper who can’t find what he wants
dapper_otter
I wouldn’t consider things like fuel economy standard to be “impedances” they are much more like insurance. When gas is cheap, car companies have no real incentive to produce fuel efficient cars. However, if there are attainable regulations that get them to reach efficiency levels, that just saves them whenever gas prices do rise (and they aren’t left scrambling).
krische
Well, just pointing out empirical data….which is lost on a large portion of the populace.
sdvictor
Headline: Barack Obama Thinks the BMW M3 is “sick”
COMMUNIST! HE’S A COMMUNIST!
Jetstar 88
Drive a stick? Yes we can!
X-cchannel-M
Yes
Shift5G
….Ironhide approves..
Optimus-Magnus
“Let’s Stay Together?”
Skydog
If I’m not mistaken, I believe the GT500 uses a Tremec transmission as opposed to the Getraeg used in the 3.5 and 5.0 equipped cars.
Just saying.
mchale2020
Weened off fossil fuels? I’m cool with that, if you’re cool with this.
He just won Michigan.
dry guy
and by “research” i’m a diesel engineer so i have done plenty of research. I have to deal with EPA testing regulations everyday. For example, when you don’t pass the litmus test of HFE and US06 phase II you can automatically get penalized 1-2MPG on your highway label. that the type of research you mean?
ryguy85
Her father is probably not close to 100% black. Very few African Americans are anyway.
X-cchannel-M
You’re right, but they were the first proponents of the bailout, which means they were the ones to push for it in the first place. I still think they maintain a stigma of bad quality, but I really do hope that changes. I once said I would never own a ford, but the new Focus is looking pretty appealing (if I were in the market).
Slopos
Yeah. Think of all the money and jobs that would have been saved if Barry had been golfing instead of bailing out GM. Oh, well.
Well shit, that makes it ok then, right? That was your point, right?
Big-Tool
Win
I would call her anything she asked me to, twice even.
Big-Tool
“Sick” is so 2008.
Seamripper
Which “impedences” would those be? The fuel economy standards? The collision standards?
Yeah, I pine for the good old days, when my dad had a Pontiac Grand Prix with something like a 1000 cu in engine (what is that, like, 10,000 liters or something) and could leave rubber on the freeway in any of its three forward gears. The truck clutch that you had to *stand on* to shift was a hell of a lot of fun. But, yeah, I like the non-exploding, not-passenger-crushing cars better, and so do the car makers, who’ve taken nearly every single regulation and turned it into a virtue, which is why cars have like 18 airbags or whatever now. I’m good with that.
Oh, but the big Pontiac was safer, right? No. Not when dad got rear-ended by a drunk going 55 mph, and dad ended up in the back seat, the seat having sheared right off its bolts. But, on the other hand, if you drove it carefully, it would get 12 mpg. Those were the days.
the 54.5 is a combined average of highway and city fuel economy. Today the CAFE number is half of that and companies are just barely hitting it.
ryguy85
So what did you say during the last administration?
parce85
Still got a lot less help from Uncle Sugar than GM and Chrysler did. And Ford’s been making better cars, too, so there’s that.
I know it’s mostly fossilized plants since there were a lot more of those than dinosaurs.
California is running into some problems but that’s how life is sometimes. We gotta make tough decisions.
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
I was waiting for this comment. While I’m down with Barry, this is well played indeed.
Oh god. My pants.
moldy912
I sincerely wish people from both sides would agree that they both sucked. It would do a lot to move the US in the right direction if people realized they’re getting screwed by either choice.
grifonik
Your right, they just got $5bn from the DOE loan program fund, and ask congress to hold an extra $9bn just in case the economy got worse before it got better. They just had to borrow their money before the $80bn ‘bailout’, so they would look good.
Waiting for Bohner, Cantor, and the house Rs to shit all over ford in 3… 2… 1…
headhot
Don’t you go spouting facts. Fact aren’t convient. Besides, stupid people are rarely swayed by facts.
headhot
He the more people who dont care about cars use less dino juice, the more there is for people who care about cars.
headhot
I’d call her anything she wants me to.
headhot
It’s cheaper, by quite a few billion dollars, for us to pay him to screw around on the golfcourse than it is for us to pay him to screw around with the economy and government.
I’d rather him have taken every single day of his presidency off, over doing any of the “work” he’s done thus far.
Adamskiy, as seen on TV!
The mustang is one of the most stolen cars in washington dc.. just saying.
headhot
Oh, btw, I couldn’t make comments like the one above if I still had a star
zziro
Make witty pun regarding the word ‘sick’…
…Win internet!
LandofMinos: Do you see me, Toecutter? Do you see me, man? :Keep going, we’re okay: We got you, we’re going.
diesel cruze…. make it happen. my inner mpg nerd wants one
skraelingshortbus
“Since when is it a “thing” that black people don’t like sports cars?”
————————-
Mustang is no “sports car.”
< < Here’s a sports car for ya …
spectra
Bumblebee later that day..
valdaviper1
All of the cars a company sell have to average out to that, not each car hit it. If they sell a shit ton of 60 mpg cars they can sell a handful of GT500′s and it will average out to above the goal mpg figure.
Aston does it with the Cygnet to help raise the efficiency of their entire line. It would be nice if people who didn’t know what they were talking about did some research first.
dontloseyourdinosaur
Brush up on your history–golfing and public appearances have been part and parcel of every presidency since God knows when.
At least Obama wasn’t off shooting Harry Whittington while “on the clock” and then putting in overtime trying to cover it up…
smackela
Except Ford DID get money. Just not as much.
Ford lucked out that they had profitable companies they could sell in a pinch like Volvo, Aston, Land Rover, and Jaguar.
All of which are rolling out big hit vehicles that were designed under the Ford ownership. Bet Ford is kicking themselves in the ass now. Especially when Ford has to update it’s platforms that it’s stole from Mazda and Volvo.
tobythesandwich
I love a good spaghetti western
sixtwo
He’s no more black than he is white; that’s the nature of being 50% of each.
Rashida Jones (The Office, I Love You Man, etc) is equally half and half as well (black father, white mother), but are you going to call her black?
“vacation” basically just means time away from the white house. It doesn’t mean time not doing his job.
The difference between Bush and Obama is that Bush didn’t really care what people thought of what he did. With Obama public opinion is ALL he seems to care about. He won’t even wipe his ass without holding a press conference to let everyone know.
MajorOutage
Because it sucks?
tobythesandwich
“Barack Obama Thinks The Shelby GT500 Is “Sick”" Finally something we agree on!
ticket919
Meantime, someone’s asking 1,000,000 samoleans for his Chrysler.
spectra
Underneath the hyperventilating rhetoric of the Republicans and the Democrats is the reality that neither of them want to admit: they’re more alike than they are different. In the political spectrum, they are near the center, perhaps just slightly to the right. The Dems are no more Stalinists than the Republicans are Fascisti.
And any reasonable person knows that the US needs to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels which, after all, are a FINITE RESOURCE. Moreover, our reliance on foreign oil means that we have spent the better part of the past 100 years throwing our military weight around (and fomenting resentment in oil-rich regions) to ensure that unfriendly regimes don’t restrict our access to cheap petroleum.
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool car guy, born and raised in the Motor City and immersed in car culture from day one. But I’m not so short-sighted to think that my “right” to drive a gas guzzler is more important than a sound national energy policy that focuses on our nation’s energy self-sufficiency and sustainability. Development of domestic sources of renewable energy means that as a nation, we increase our national security and reduce trade deficits–both of which, last I checked, are good things.
smackela
Biggest joke of a “president” ever. Couldn’t agree with you more.
Zero
Actually, fossil fuels means its from fossilized plant matter during the carboniferous period. Only like 450 million years before dinosaurs.
California sucks. We decide not to send water to farmers in order to preserve a 3 inch fish thanks to that, I-5 is basically a desert.
cajillionaire
Sick that Ford didn’t need a bailout.
Triborough
As American as Spaghetti and Meatballs.
Torgen is stealing that old man’s diamonds!
+1
valdaviper1
No, its not from dinosaurs. Its from trees that were fossilized in the carboniferous.
Hydrogen stored in hydrides is awesome but unfortunately it has to be in a car that’s NA.
cajillionaire
And because people wear shirts that say “NNIN.”
zziro
The Mustang has a lot of redneck cred.
zziro
… it looks like this.
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
Hey! Black people like NASCAR too! They just never go to races because well…
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
Thank you. There are things we can do that will make the fuel used by badass muscle cars (that people drive a few thousand miles a year at most) nothing but a drop in the bucket in the big picture. I’ve been saying for years I’ll gladly drive an electric pod 5 days a week to have my 600+hp weekend beast running 93oct at under $3/gal.
Heartclick.
dorkstar
Sick of the Chinese transmission.
Har har?
DELICIOUS BUNNY
True story: farmers collect cow methane to power their farms.
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
His predecessor took 967 days for vacation in 2 terms. I think Obama is around 80-90 days range in his term thus far.
sdvictor
When did I say that? I don’t have any idea what stereotype you’re talking about, but I’m talking about the fact that ‘stangs are ‘murican muscle cars with solid axles and big V8s just like NASCAR.
Now go call an ambulance; your heart is bleeding.
zziro
This needs to barely kiss 20MPG, the Focus, Fusion and Fiesta exist to bring that average all the way above 54.5…
Hell the Fusion hybrids alone give that number.
AJ
A little chili and I’ll do my part, hell I could power my neighborhood, I think you’re on to something.
hotrodart
I was just talking my black friend about the dodge challenger srt8 392, he own a Chrysler Crossfire and a Caprice.
superflanker00su
pics
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
+1
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
rep +1
MzRtS12
LOL. Your post has much more to do with talk radio hosts’ creative stream of consciousness than with any actual reality.
He said the US needs to be weened [sic] off of fossil fuels in defending his choice to send Canada’s Athabasca Oil to China.
1. Obama’s energy strategy doesn’t involve reducing use of fossil fuels. It’s “all of the above,” as he explained in the SOTU — it involves growing alternative energy while preserving the availability of fossil fuels for the moment.
2. Keystone XL is not dead. As planned, it was environmentally unacceptable due to (among other things) its route through a sensitive part of Nebraska. The administration was willing to work with the pipeline promoters on alternative routes and was generally in favor of the project. But then congressional Republicans artificially forced a final decision before a modified proposal could be finalized, leaving the administration with the choice of approving the original, unacceptable proposal or rejecting the project. Still, the promoters can reapply. But had Republicans not forced the premature decision, the Canadians would not be left having to reapply, and approval could have come sooner.
3. It’s not like China can just waltz in and collect that oil tomorrow. The Canadians will have to build a pipeline to Vancouver first, which is a project that’s more difficult than Keystone XL and hasn’t even been planned at all yet.
that will mean we can’t have freedom of movement, food choices, heated homes in the winter, or jobs.
Doomsaying much? You’re in the fever swamps here. Again, his proposal is not to deprive us of energy, but to gradually increase the amount of alternative energy in our total energy mix.
dal20402
Isn’t that standard combined across the range of cars sold? Besides, give these things smaller (than V8) turbo charged engines and they’ll still go just as fast but get good economy as well.
TheCrudMan
I do live in California. I’ve had more jobs offers in the 6 months that I live hear than I can ever remember. Yep, I’m in the manufacturing sector too.
Proud of Boxer indeed.
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
Not only is that racist, its also confusing.
Since when is it a “thing” that black people don’t like sports cars?
Quality_Magic
Why yes Mr. President, the GT500 is sick. Why don’t you take it for a spin. American car companies can do amazing things even considering the impedences placed on them. Imagine what they could do if you just let them do their job?
btw, I’m by no means an Obama apologist, but it makes me proud knowing that the President is a car guy and “man’s” man, and that he can hit the high notes on our difficult to sing patriotic songs.
I know it’s all about publicity lately but I don’t think he has to act to like the ZR-1 and the GT500.
B-Sel; Curmudgeon in training
Sometimes it’s fun to be sick…
RoachSwatter
They sold ~70K Mustangs last year, and just shy of 250K fusions.
If those Fusions hit 66MPG (doable, albeit a bunch of slow Fusions would result but still) then Mustangs need only hit 26mpg to average out to the 54MPG figure for cafe. That’s not taking into consideration the impact all those Focii, Fiestas and other Ford cars will have on Ford’s CAFE.
Obama gets it, smart people get it… what’s it going to take for everyone to get it? We can still have our fun, tire smoking cars if our boring family cars get to those higher figures.
When Google’s auto-drive tech turns a family hauler into a stress-free auto pod you’re not gonna give a $hit about DD sedan performance figures, especially when you have that GT500 waiting for the weekend for serious hoonage.
JonZeke
My source for all things automotive: Jalopnik.
[jalopnik.com]
SerialThriller
LOL That’s rather creative. Did you make it yourself? I got a good chuckle out of that.
Type R- Loves his ‘New Formula Red’ s2000
Well, Obama’s not all that much of a gearhead. He’s just tired of the Presidential limousine repeatedly getting dusted by Biden’s bitchin Bird.
wkiernan
I can’t even top that. Congratulations, you get a heart click!
Rattleface Blouses
Mr. President, I think you’re on the right track.
X-cchannel-M
No, he still lives there, and owned it long before serving as governor. It has been thoroughly greenwashed though – geothermal heatpump, rain water collectors, etc.
ranwhenparked
This must be the Caucasian half.
zziro
What are we paying this guy for again? To go to car shows and play golf? Im about sick of seeing Obama screwing around on the clock.
TheShadowFromHell
I think it’s fair to say the new GT500 is objectively sick.
472CID
The US needs to be weened off fossil fuels, it’s going to take more than tar sands oil to resolve that issue — if you think you can’t have freedom of movement because there’s no XL pipeline, you truly are stupid. Stalinistic tendencies – hahaha! That one actually got me a giggle. I’m sure when Newt Romney is president, we’ll all have our freedom of movement back, and a job for everyone.
sixtwo
We will attach devices to people’s asses to collect methane. We will use this methane to heat our homes, power our cars, and even to launch to the moon to create a secret moonbase from where we can attach the commies.
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
But didn’t he get rid of his gas guzzlers when he said that? as in, not hypocrisy?
the_conway
Hmmmm. That’s rather intriguing! Do you have a source? Would love to read up on that.
Type R- Loves his ‘New Formula Red’ s2000
Ford Death Panel Van?
Dopeaz
You just passed it.
hotrodart
Ford isn’t a company he bailed out.
That isn’t an expensive economy car (an oxymoron on wheels) that he is subsidizing with additional tax dollars, like Volt.
I wonder what Gub’ment Motors thinks of their government overlord praising their competition.
BoxerFanatic
Remember he also said the Ford Granada he learned to drive in was the worst car Detroit ever built. I think he’s one El Camino remark away from being the first Jalop president.
baldheadeddork
The Dodge Dart is American?
sixtwo
:/
Biofuels.
Solar.
Wind.
Hydro.
The list goes on.
Fossil fuels means from dinosaurs.
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
Let’s see… born in ’61 wasn’t from an affluent family, solidly middle class though, maternal grand parents are from the cheaper strains of Europe, not to generalize too much, and paternal grand parents are Kenyan where there probably aren’t too many automatics. Undergrad in Eagle Rock Ca. Shit yes he can drive a manual.
Crashburn
And Bush bought a ranch, which he ditched ASAP after he didn’t need to play cowboy.
Jonathan Hendry
He said the US needs to be weened off of fossil fuels in defending his choice to send Canada’s Athabasca Oil to China. For people that aren’t on the receiving end of his cronyism, that will mean we can’t have freedom of movement, food choices, heated homes in the winter, or jobs.
BTW, go to the Boxer-Costa-Pelosi Dust Bowl for a good look at what your Stalinistic tendencies have wrought. Be sure to wear your Proud of Boxer t-shirt.
CJinSD
Bro, that’s just an incentive to make muscle cars more efficient. I mean, 412 hp and 26 mpg highway. That’s pretty damn good.
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
Dear Leader was already driving a car at age 3 and could rally-race at speed by age 8.
BLS for Jimmy McMillan
Oba…
Keep going…
Obamamama
Shit!
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
Show me where anyone has ever said: You can’t have one
Xander Crews, Proud of BOXER
and his current ride is based on a GMC Topkick
SerialThriller
That ZR-1…
Scott Petersen
Obama secretly loves gas guzzlers. While he was still a lowly state and then US Senator, he had that Chrysler 300 with a V-8 Hemi, and the also had a V-8 Jeep Grand Cherokee. As soon as he started running for president, he got rid of those and got a Ford Escape Hybrid.
Typical political hypocrite. “You can’t have one…but I can.”
Scrape
I am pretty sure he does, but I doubt he has had practice over the past 10-12 (or even more) years.
404 Name not found
“Yeah, that’s right Volt: How my ass taste?”
Swine
he had a beat up honda civic in grad school, it was probably a stick.
dtirtawinata
Oye! El Jefe! I got you a camisa!
VeeArrrSix
FYI there is NO WAY this “sick car” will hit your 54.5 MPG combined EPA rating, thanks for killing muscle cars
ryguy85
It’s not sick; it’s a symptom of a bigger disease.
BLS for Jimmy McMillan
Actually, if The President of The United States Of America can drive a stick, and chooses to point this out while checking out a GT500. That is quite a bit more fun than just “This is sick.” Dammit Mr President, make Detroit make more manual transmissions! Automotive handling classes for all!
Semi-inquiring minds want to know. Can our leader drive a stick?
Gamecat235
I live in Washington, DC. Most politicians here who are at all beholden to environmental interests drive either the Escape Hybrid, the Fusion Hybrid, or one of the Toyota hybrids. It’s cheap inoculation against charges of hypocrisy (such as Al Gore often faces because of the energy use of his house).
On the other hand, conservative Republican pols tend to drive either Lexus LS, Mercedes E- or S-class, or large SUVs.
dal20402
Please Mr. President walk away from the RWD, V8 Powered (read: inefficient, gas guzzling) Automobile, and leave it alone. We know your love for wacky schemes to get us all out of our cars and into electro-bubble cars. Please sir, walk away from the Mustang. “I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy”… ok, whatever, but please, away from the Mustang.. move along, shoo shoo, nothing to see here.
SirNik84
Was it coughing?
GuacamoleFire
Well I know he had a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a Chrysler 300, and then a Hybrid Escape when he ran for President. Possible… but unlikely.
VeeArrrSix
He should pass a bill altering the requirements of the motorcade. How sick would it be if he drove himself around in a GT500, yeah he’d still be flanked by the rest of the motorcade, but they drive pretty freaking fast as it is. And it would probably get better gas mileage than the current beast he rides around in. Not that that really matters
Is that a rain coat?
I was just thinking about this same thing. I want to think yes. But I have a sinking suspicion that he can’t
Is that a rain coat?
Finally! One thing we both agree on, Mr. President.
Troll is English for Troll
Glad you like the cars. Now just stop trying to destroy them.
Admiral_Awesome
Obama generally has good taste in vehicles, but the forces of political correctness prevent him from exercising it. Before taking his seat in the US Senate, he drove a 300C, after taking office, it was swapped for an Escape Hybrid. Something tells me he really would like to take that Mustang out and light it up.
ranwhenparked
“Soon we will be together”
Sun_Tzubaru
Well, I hope it gets well soon.
agentroadkill
Is having a live rear axle a pre-existing condition?
Rattleface Blouses
I think a lap or two ’round Laguna Seca in this might alter his views on automobiles.
Rattleface Blouses
Not bad.
Dopeaz
“This is sick” is code for “Ford, you know where I live.”
Justal
Obama calls Mustang sick.
Make quip about health service.
Mikeado
That sounds, patriotically perverted.
Orenthal.James
Imagine Dr. Klahn saying: “Take him in the Camry.”
stephdumas
Do you think he knows how to drive a manual transmission?
VeeArrrSix
Aww, yeah. Bump it.
[nation.foxnews.com]
HideyoshiJP
Comments on how Obama wants to kill all fun cars along with freedom, liberty, and bunnies in 3…2….1….
Sabastian
This gives me some hope that the gearheads won’t be ignored. But then again…
twinturbo2
Well, he’s got my vote.
Mat Dubord
Me thinks Barak Obama’s ‘Beast’ is sick!
The Ninjalop