For someone like me who loves stylish cars, I dislike the fact that nowadays, most cars look similar. Cars should have their own personality, like those classic models of American cars. Images of the Cadillac, Pontiac and Chevrolet immediately come to mind, as well as a picture of speeding down a highway or enjoying a neighborhood joyride. Indeed, cars like these are artworks.

As much as I admire these big and brazen cars, they have the tendency to be huge gas consumers, which is not really good for the environment. However, times have changed. Back then, Americans did not really mind how many miles to a gallon it was because gas was inexpensive. The government also did not need to support welfare, so it did not impose a tax on drivers yet. But nowadays, gas price is rapidly going up and there is a heated debate on the environmental impact of automobiles. For example, an SUV such as a Hummer consumes a gallon in just nine miles.

This has pushed many Americans to drive European models instead, like the Saab and BMV, since these are more economical. In fact, these European brands might even be considered American since some are made in America. This lifestyle change is a necessary one, although some might find the shift to European cars not as much fun.

Some American cars have become cultural icons, appearing in movies and on TV. For example, & cherry red-colored Ford Gran Torino from Starksy and Hutch TV series was almost like another character. Endearingly called striped tomato, this rounded corners with a screech and skidded as both detectives maneuvered it to catch the bad guys. Another memorable car was the General Lee from Dukes of Hazard. This Dodge Charger was a huge star – with a painted Confederate flag on its roof and a hot engine. 229 different cars were used throughout the show. I guess they did not handle it with care.

In Knight Rider,  the car that dominated the TV show was KITT. This one had a high-tech computer on board that had witty conversations with the shows’ character played by David Hasselhoff. Personally, KITT was annoying and I found myself switching channels when Knight Rider came on. I wanted to drive KITT straight into the sea! I guess, self-respecting actors should never act along talking autos, even those sleek American cars.