there are some car terms that, because of changes in technology, marketing or consumer preferences, have become obsolete or inappropriate, but have nonetheless stuck.

i've come up with a list below (nitpick that I am), and would like to hear from you about others:

* "5-speed" - used to connote a manual transmission, but there are 5-speed (even 6-speed) auto-boxes

* "standard" - used to connote a manual transmission (at least, here in Canada), with the auto-box treated as an option. But nowadays, with the increasing rarity of manual transmissions, the "standard" is an automatic transmission (!)

* "automatic" - used to connote an automatic transmission in those days when there were few things automatic in a car. Nowadays, almost everything in a car is automatic (even brakes and accelerator are drive-by-wire in some cars)

* "gas pedal" - even in a diesel? or a purely electric car? (same argument with "gas tank" for a diesel)

* "turbocharging" and "supercharging" - both are correctly termed "supercharging" or "forced induction". "Turbocharging" is commonly used to refer to "exhaust-driven supercharging".

* "tuneup" - today's computer-controlled cars are not "tuned-up" in the traditional sense. Actually, the computer "tunes" the engine characteristics in real time as you drive. Other "auto-tuning" systems are mechanical, like hydraulic valve lifters.

* "sport-utility vehicle" - with their high center of gravity, high mass and trucklike chassis, their performance is far from "sporty"

* the "i" in BMW and "e" in Mercedes model designations - these originally indicated that the cars had fuel-injected engines, to differentiate them from their carburetted counterparts. Now all these cars are fuel-injected.

* "AWD" vs "4-wheel drive" - some marketing types differentiate between the two, citing the manner in which the drive is implemented. But what about 6-wheel-drive military vehicles? - these are not 4-wheel-drive.

* "V6" - I see a lot of ads describing W124 and W201 cars with the M103 engine as having a "V6". Some people think the term "V6" applies to all cars with 6 cylinders.

* "mag-wheels" - used to refer to magnesium-alloy wheels. Most wheels nowadays use aluminum alloys

* "rear-view mirror" - used to refer to the internal mirror. But the external mirrors are also used for rear-viewing.

* "handbrake" - the W201 has a handbrake, but the W124 does not. The term "parking brake" is more appropriate.

* "fanbelt" - in transversely-mounted engines, the accessory belt does not drive the fan.

Ya, I like the 'v6' thing too. Have seen cars at dealers advertised that way.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

Try explaining inline 6 or I6 to your garden variety car buyer and check out the blank look on their faces LOL
They'd probably say "Uuhhh ok, ya, well is it a V6 or not?".

The name Sport on some vehicles is a personal peev of mine. "Sport" now designates a trim level same way LX and DX does on some Asian cars...there is nothing sport about the Sport minivan you are driving

So you mean my Yugo sport isn't any better than the standard Yugo? :p

__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

I have NEVER heard the term "exhaust driven supercharging" to refer to a turbocharger.

Turbocharger: Turbine driven by exhaust gas, spinning the compressor wheel.

Supercharger or "blower": Compressor wheel driven by a belt.

I see nothing wrong with using these two terms to differentiate.

Oh, and the "i" designation for BMW is used to refer to the "i" series of motors, not fuel injection. The BMW "e" series motors had fuel injection as well.

the terms "Limited Edition" and "GT" have also been overused and now rarely mean anything special ...

strictly speaking, "supercharging" refers to delivering an intake charge with a pressure (or mass) above (hence "super") what you would normally have with normal aspiration. It does not say anything about the device that compresses the intake charge (e.g., centrifugal fan or screw-type blower), nor how that device is driven (e.g., exhaust-driven or engine belt-driven). You can even achieve supercharging via ram air.

BMW has been using the "i" suffix to differentiate its fuel-injected cars (mostly headed for the US because of strict emissions controls) from its carburetted models (sold elsewhere). When the 325e came out in the US, the "i" had lost its meaning because all its cars bound for the US were already fuel-injected, which is exactly my point. To differentiate their low-revving "eta" engine (the one in the 325e) from its higher-strung variant (the one in the 325i), they used the "e" suffix.

Yeah, but "exhaust driven supercharger" takes more breath to say compared to "turbo".

Now that I come to think of it, Mercedes Benz names have more or less, lost all their meaning. At some point, "C" meant coupe, but in 1994 out came a C class, which were sedans. Like you said, "E" meant gasoline fuel injection, but now we have E class diesels. "T" and "L" no longer are used to designate the wagon and long wheelbase versions. And what gives with calling the S class coupes "CL"? Makes it sound like a cheap Acura.

I have seen Porsches as having V-6s. GT is one of the most over used and abused terms used on cars. GT stands for Grand tourismo (touring). GTs were luxury versions of race cars, in Europe. Wealthy people would go to the races and ask the company if they could get a road going version of the cars they saw winning races. Of course there would have to be some luxury items like wood trim and leather. In the U.S. GT means the complete opposite and then some. If you were to order the GT model of a car, it meant you got "more" performance, fancy wheels, pin stripping, GT emblens everywhere and a stiiffer suspension. Which is completely opposite of a REAL GT. Road going Ferraris are GTs, except for the F40, F50 and the new Enzo. Porsche 928 was a GT, the Jaguar XJS. Generally cars that are desinged for 2 people, to travel at high speeds in comfort. Actually, every "sports" car today is basicly a GT. Real sports car are just that, car purpose built for racing. A Porsche 911 has it's roots in racing, so I guess you could call that a sports car. Look at LeMans, you have the GT class, which is made up of raod cars like Corvettes, Ferrari 550 Marenellos, and of course Porsche 911s. Which goes back to the above mentioned origins of GT cars. History lesson finished

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

I was just thinking the other day, where does the term "Glove Box" come from?, and why does it still continue?. Also does it translate in other languages? Japanese?. Anyway I keep my gloves in the map pocket, so whats that all about?. Do cars with onboard NAV need map pockets anymore?, is that a delete option?.

You have a Yugo? You might want to keep that to yourself :p

I gather that glove box was exactly that, you put your driving gloves in the box. It could possibly go back as far as when cars didn't have windows or roofs for that matter. In colder weather you would need some gloves to get a good grip on the huge wood steering wheel.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Speaking of obsolete baseball terms...

The person behind the plate that the pitcher throws the ball to used to be called the " Hind Catcher ".....

Wait..you mean Yugo's aren't cool.......Oh!

__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

...or some call it a "Jockey Box". Sorry, I don't keep either a jockey or a jock in there. But I do occasionally keep maps and gloves in there. Occasionally.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)