my most hated automotive trend (chip, selling, engines, FWD)

[AllenKarber]

Originally Posted by Drover

And for the 83rd time, the G8 is not a Grand Am or even anything close to it. And they didn't just take a utilitarian car and stuff a V8 into it. The Commodore has been engineered from the ground-up for decades to accept a small-block V8.

Amen! The G8 is light years ahead of a Grand Am in every aspect,and the same goes for the GTO. the next vehicle I buy will either be a G8 or a GTO. I just wish there was a 2 door G8 coming for sure.

[Linson]

[quote=Drover;6107997]

If there were "the many of [you] who aren't looking for a compromise" then there would be more offerings for you than just the one. You're a niche market so be prepared to have slim pickin's.

that may be true, but it's a pretty big niche. i see a lot of Mustang GTs on the road these days. i still see a lot of 4th gen Camaros and Firebirds on the road. i've only seen a couple of G8s and and a handfull of GTOs on the road - ever. this is because they were concieved for the Camaro/Firebird market - and we dont like them. a much smaller niche would be people for whom these LS2 powered 4-door sedans are just what they're lookin' for.

Of course, any car below 30 grand offers compromises of its own no matter what the packaging format.

true. these are compramises that us Ponycar people are prepared to live with as we have done for decades.

If you wanna nip at the big boy's heels, you'll have to pony up for a Corvette which is the closest thing to an "affordable" compromise-free car this side of a Porsche 911.

yeah, because theyre not making anything else - hence my most hated automotive trend. actually, i do like the late model Mustang GTs.

And for the 83rd time, the G8 is not a Grand Am or even anything close to it. And they didn't just take a utilitarian car and stuff a V8 into it. The Commodore has been engineered from the ground-up for decades to accept a small-block V8.

Grand Am...Grand Prix...whatever. looks the same to me, which makes me, and most people in my niche - a rather large market judging from the success of the new Mustangs - not want to buy it. the performance numbers are actually pretty good. as i said, that's what happens when you drop an LS2 into anything. i just need a different packaging:



meanwhile, i will just stick with the cars i already have or buy a late model Mustang.

- the Mustang which competes with the Corvette, but the Corvette is not a direct competitor of the Mustang. the Camaro/Firebird are the Mustang's natural predators.

[Linson]

i dunno. seem kinda similar to me.

if this was 10 years ago, and someone asked me what i thought of these performance sedans, i would have said that i think they're pretty cool. if that someone told me that they would be replacing the Camaros and Firebirds, i would be like, well that SUCKS!

as you can see in the add for the Grand Prix picture "which may be a G8 before they decided to call them G8s, because ive seen pics of Grand Prixs that look a little different - but if you read the add, it says "Pontiacs New Muscle Car". no matter which way you look at it, THAT is not a muscle car. never was, never will be. and that this is what is being passed off as the new muscle cars, along with SS Trailblazers and whatnot is my most hated automotive trend. next most hated would probably be ricers.

[Steve-o]

To me, Pontiac designs and Toyota designs are, well, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

g'night folks

[DDevil]

Originally Posted by aussiehero123

I think there's one main reason why America won't import the Falcon, and it's a crappy one... the Crown Victoria.

Are you sure?

And I thought the real reason was that the Ford inline 6-cyl engine used in the Falcons can not be used in LHD cars because of the way the engine is built.

For the same reason it can not be used in FWD cars as well (unless they remove the front passenger seat and let a part of the engine hang into the cabin next to the driver )

[1979]

I had all but given up on domestic car design. Look at how expensive old muscle cars are now, even if the're junk. These huge prices on ebay are proof that these styles are what people like. Guys that weren't even born when some of these cars were even made. Camaros, Firebirds, Chargers, Barracudas, Javelins, etc.

When Ford came out with the new Mustang, Ford couldn't keep them in the showrooms, Why? Because, they looked like the old 1969/1970 model. GM and Chrysler took notice, and went into high gear to reserect the Camaro; And Chrysler the Challenger. By the looks of it, GM still hasn't gotten it right? The Camaro, looks very plastic, not retro enough in my opinion--back end too Javelin looking. I saw my first Challenger the other day at the post office, and it looked like a winner! The sad thing, is, is that when one of the big 3 gets a model that will finally sell, they jack the price up to the sky.

Now, if GM would only start building Cadillacs, that look like "Cadillacs", and not Euro/Japanese import wannabees, we would be all set. Bring back the chrome; long hoods, and tear drop tail lights. Bring back the elegant interiors, with nicely appointed dashboards. If I want an Audi or a VW I would buy one, I don't want to see U.S. luxury cars looking so Spartan.

Ford should bring back a large Mark, not necessarily the gargantuan one from the 70's, but a beautiful Mark, a bit larger than the Mark VIII that was cancelled a few years ago. The Town Cars made today, are no where near as luxurious as they once were, and its a shame.

Also, I hate it when the big 3 give cars names like "MKE", "DTS", "LS" or "G8". They take this from Mercedes I think. I prefer a nice elegant name like Coupe de Ville, or Lincoln Continental.

[1979]

Originally Posted by Linson

my most hated automotive trend is this: GM, particularly Pontiac's new line of performance vehicles. i.e. boring, ugly, sedans with performance car engines. for example, the Dodge Charger - a slap in the face to anyone who remembers the 68-70 Chargers. any late model Impala with a V-8, even if it is RWD. let's not forget about the mecifully now defunct GTO. and worst of all IMO, the Pontiac G8. yuck!

I think another really bad trend is making big gaudy Cadillac and Lincoln Trucks. They look hideous! The Escalade, the Navigator are aweful, and ruin these once great name plates.

[Linson]

Originally Posted by 1979

I think another really bad trend is making big gaudy Cadillac and Lincoln Trucks. They look hideous! The Escalade, the Navigator are aweful, and ruin these once great name plates.

when people drive down the street in their Cadillac Escalade, they think they look classy - and they do to other people who would be dumb enough to buy a Cadillac Escalade if they thought they could afford one - or finance one.

to me, those people just look as taaaaaaaaacccckkkkkky as the day is long.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by Linson

when people drive down the street in their Cadillac Escalade, they think they look classy - and they do to other people who would be dumb enough to buy a Cadillac Escalade if they thought they could afford one - or finance one.

to me, those people just look as taaaaaaaaacccckkkkkky as the day is long.

I certainly agree. When I think "Cadillac" I think long, low and comfortable. Like this '68 Fleetwood...

(Image not under copyright)

[sailordave]

What, no love for the 74 Pinto Mustang? As bad as that Mustang was, it's timing was perfect for the gas crunch. I hate the sports cars of the mid 70s to early 80s. Tape doesn't make a car faster or sexier. It was about the mid 80s that they began to get fast again.