You Auto Know	Turning the Corner by Jim Corbran

Some will be glad to turn the calendar page over to the new year. Gulf State residents, Tony Masiello and members of the United Auto Workers all come immediately to mind. For different reasons, of course.

Me? It was a sad year, with the loss of my father leaving me an orphan; and it was a happy year, as just two months later we welcomed the first member of the next generation into the family as I became a great-uncle. I also, once again, had a bang-up time using this column to drive a batch of great new vehicles. But in the normal context of this space I don’t usually get to talk about other things automotive, so what better time than now to take a short look back at a few things I thought you auto know.

Suzuki LC

Suddenly, it’s 1955: At this year’s Tokyo Auto Show (a trip which again was deleted from my budget) Suzuki debuted its LC microcar—a two-door, two-seater with a wild plaid interior, and an exterior which would look right at home in any 1950s sitcom. It’s only ten-and-a-half feet long, and is powered by a three-cylinder engine. Were it ever to make it to North America, which isn’t likely, Cadillac Escalade drivers could probably toss it in the back and use it as a spare.

Rolls Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase

Speaking of ten-and-a-half feet: I didn’t get the exact dimensions, but the LC might even fit into the back seat of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase model—maybe even sideways! The extra-long version of this uppity sedan was introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show this past summer. It adds ten inches to the already long Rolls wheelbase, and checks in with a sticker price of $385,000. From the looks of the photo, you might want to just park it somewhere and live in it—there’s certainly enough room, and that would be the best (only?) way to achieve reasonable gas mileage in this V-12-powered behemoth.

And now that we’ve mentioned gas pains: The rollercoaster ride we all took at the gas pumps after this past hurricane season shows how dependent we all are on our vehicles. Some, as car dealers from coast-to-coast will testify, have wizened up and are trading in their ridiculously-sized SUVs for more sensible vehicles. Of course, there will always be those who want the biggest, “for the safety of their family.” Bah, I say. The main reason many (no, I didn’t say “all” so don’t get yourself in a huff) drivers of these wasteful vehicles need to feel safe is because they drive like maniacs. “Damn you small car drivers; out of my way!” If everybody drove similarly-sized vehicles, there’d be no one to need protection from, except maybe buses and trucks. And for the most part, you’re gonna lose in a crash with one of them no matter what you’re driving.

“Did you mention ‘driving’?”: Why, yes I did, and here’s a few of my favorite places to drive: the Elmwood and Hertel Strips, which both give me the feeling of how the entire city could have turned out with proper leadership over the last 30 years or so; Tonawanda Creek Road, with its twisty curves, is the perfect place for a test drive, especially in a small, sporty car with a stick shift; the side streets of the East Side, where you’ll find some of the most interesting homes; Old Lake Shore Road, in the summertime—brings back memories of my youth; Niagara Falls Boulevard and Sheridan Drive on a Saturday afternoon at the peak of Christmas shopping season (yikes! just kidding on that one); and finally, any road where I’m likely to meet up with someone who says, “Saw your column last week—another great job!” To them, and to all of you, I wish you peace in the new year.