Automotive Thanksgiving, Part 2

And now for a second helping of automotive things our Cars staff is thankful for...

Rik Paul: Of the many things to be grateful for in today's cars, perhaps the advent of modern automotive electronics tops my list. Sure, I used to feel a surge of pride when I'd finish an afternoon tune-up on my old pride-and-joys--replacing the condenser, adjusting the points and engine timing, cleaning the carburetor, etc. But I also remember particularly frustrating cars--my Fiat Spyder, for one--that seemed to need this ritual every fortnight, or it would make getting from point A to point B a risky endeavor. Electronic engine-control systems have not only brought me more personal peace of mind, but are a big part of the reason why we've seen overall reliability improve so dramatically over the past couple decades.

Likewise, I remember the eye-opening, heart-in-your-throat, at-the-limit handling characteristics of some early SUVs when somebody suddenly cut into my lane on the freeway and I was forced to go into accident-avoidance mode. The emergence of sophisticated electronic stability control systems has definitely helped make that less of an issue than it used to be.

Jeff Bartlett: I'm thankful for the rebirth of the muscle car, and the musclebound performance that has trickled into mainstream vehicles. With the Mustang, and upcoming Camaro and Challenger, automotive legends will be re-engineered to fit my automotive fantasy, with classic lines and modern comfort, performance, and safety. I just hope fuel prices don't doom these coupes. In the meantime, even the Honda Accord and Toyota RAV4 have horsepower to rival the Mustang from just a few years ago. Indeed, this is the best time to be a consumer and car enthusiast.

Liza Barth: We've come a long way in the world of transportation since the Mayflower landed. I'm thankful that cars are getting safer; we're seeing more and more vehicles score highly in crash tests and features like stability control and rear-view cameras are becoming increasingly common. I feel much more secure driving now than when I first learned to drive in a car without ABS, airbags, and even power steering. Now, if only the automotive world could do something about that traffic...

Jon Linkov: How can anyone not want to give thanks for the Corvette LS7 engine, Honda S2000 transmission, or the simplicity of the Miata's soft-top operation? But for me, the real thing to give thanks for is the quick and tidy resolution to the contract negotiations between the United Auto Workers and the Big 3. No prolonged strike and no major back-and-forth posturing--just an agreement hammered out and ratified. (The ducks are in a row at Chrysler and GM, with a Ford agreement expected to soon follow.) Because these three companies do have a major impact on the economic health of our country-not to mention the household budget of each Big 3 employee-so the relatively quick resolution to what could have been a very messy situation is worth giving thanks for.

Bob Huerster: I'm thankful for early experiences that opened my eyes to the automotive world and fueled a passion that has become my profession. The first automotive spark was truly fired in high school, where during a "shop" class we disassembled a lawn mower engine and put it back together again. A few years later, I got a part-time job in a full-service gas station where I performed a range of maintenance and repair functions alongside an excellent mechanic, giving me true hands-on experience with a wide range of vehicles. These two experiences instilled a life-long love of cars and an appreciation of what remarkable machines they are. Today, I am immersed in the automotive industry and  have the privilege of providing research to the Consumer Reports Cars team. Looking back, I am eternally grateful to those early mentors from whom I learned so much.

Now that you've had your fill on our thoughts, what are you thankful for in the automotive world? Share your Comments below.

Also, see part one for more cars, trends, and technologies that we're thankful for.