| One of my favorite shows to watch on T.V. is | | | | "sport compact" is a much better term which can |
| Overhaulin' on TLC (The Learning Channel) which | | | | be universally assigned to any compact auto. Oh, |
| is hosted by Courtney Hansen (formally), Chris | | | | and just to show you how confusing things get, I |
| Jacobs, and automotive fabricator extraordinaire, | | | | have seen and heard many, many times |
| Chip Foose. On one of the episodes a 1956 | | | | Japanese "imports" referred to as "euros". What |
| Chevy Bel Aire was transformed from its former | | | | the hell!?!?! This further gives reason to why the |
| hardtop self to a super sleek roadster. | | | | term "import" needs to go away when |
| Throughout the show, Courtney continually and | | | | referencing sport compact autos. Now, I will give |
| incorrectly, referred to the car as a convertible. I | | | | credit to a magazine that is called "Sport Compact |
| am sure she sees no problem with referring to it | | | | Car Magazine" and the many auto shows that use |
| as such, but I do because it is a misnomer. Just | | | | the term "sport compact" over "import". I will be |
| as U.S. Marines should never be referred to as | | | | the first to admit that I have been guilty of |
| "Army Soldiers" then cars should be no different. | | | | throwing the term "import" around, but I plan to |
| In the midst of my frustration, I have decided to | | | | make future references to "imports" as "sport |
| sit down and give a quick lesson on a few auto | | | | compacts".Another term that gets misused is the |
| buzz words that get interchanged all of the time. | | | | term "sport truck". When you are referring to a |
| Some of what I have to say is truth mixed with | | | | "sport truck" I think of a low truck with a |
| a little bit of my opinion, but regardless I feel that | | | | high-powered engine; that is usually a two seater |
| it is something that needs to be pointed out. Now, | | | | with two doors. In my opinion anything that seats |
| let's move on to the meat of this editorial!Ok, for | | | | more than three people and has more than two |
| starters, referring back to the | | | | doors is not a sport anything! It can have a |
| "roadster-convertible" controversy above, a | | | | sporty appearance, but sport it is not. For |
| roadster is an automobile that has been purposely | | | | instance, I have a 2000 Chevy Silverado that is |
| designed "sans-top" (without a top). The dictionary | | | | lowered and is a two door stick shift. By definition, |
| definition is: "an open automobile having a single | | | | since my truck has been modified to look unlike |
| seat in the front for two or three people and a | | | | the traditional pickup, my truck is a "sport truck". |
| rumble seat or luggage compartment in the back." | | | | Now, if my truck were an extended cab, I would |
| A good example of a true roadster is the 1932 | | | | now say, though it has a sporty stance and/or a |
| Ford Hi-Boy. Referring to a roadster as a | | | | nifty paint job, it is more like a "street truck" kind |
| "convertible" is incorrect because a convertible is | | | | of similar to "street rod". I feel that "street truck" |
| just that, a car whose top folds up and | | | | is a more appropriate term for all trucks that |
| "converts" the car to topless. Now, a lot of | | | | have been modified and seat more than three |
| owners of "true" roadsters will use special | | | | and have more than two doors. The term "sport |
| modified toppers to shield themselves against the | | | | truck" should be true to what the term "sport |
| elements when rolling long distances, but such | | | | car" originated from, a two door auto that runs |
| tops usually require extra anchoring points and | | | | fast. So, I guess the truck would also have to be |
| things that really give a roadster an unnatural | | | | fast as well. Ford has the right idea in this |
| appearance.Moving along, another term that really | | | | department with their F-150 SVT Lightning model |
| gets thrown around incorrectly is "import". This is | | | | pickup. It has two doors and Dodge also has it |
| a somewhat new term on the custom | | | | right, or should I say had it right, with the V-10 |
| automotive scene, though the term "import" is | | | | Dodge Ram pickup which at first was only |
| ancient. Compacts in general are referred to | | | | available in two doors. Now, the Dodge V-10 truck |
| collectively as "imports" and this is incorrect | | | | is available in an extended cab version, so I refer |
| because not all compacts are "imports". A Saturn, | | | | to that version as a "street truck". The same |
| Chevy Cavalier, and Ford Focus are not imports, | | | | goes for the Chevy SS pickup which to me is a |
| just to name a few! These are domestic autos | | | | "street truck" because of the extended cab |
| that should be referred to as "sport compacts". | | | | design.In closing, in order to not seem very anal |
| Sure they resemble their Japanese and European | | | | about the whole "name thing", I don't hold it |
| counterparts, but once again how can something | | | | against anyone who refers to a Chevy Cavalier |
| be "imported" or simply referred to as such when | | | | as an "import", neither do I eat someone's lunch |
| it is built here (we are not talking about assembled | | | | over people referring to extended cab pickups as |
| here by the way)? I guess that depends, as | | | | "sport trucks", and I do not get super miffed |
| former President Bill Clinton would say, on what | | | | over someone referring to a "roadster" as a |
| the meaning of "is"... is! I believe the whole term | | | | convertible. Simply, I want to set the record |
| "import" needs to go away because a Toyota in | | | | straight on a few "buzz" words.Until next time... |
| Japan isn't a damn "import"!!! That is why the term | | | | keep it legal and keep it safe. |