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What American cars from the past 10 or so years can be considered equal to Japanese/German performance and quality. Im not just talking supercars, but regular vehicles...has any american manufacturer produced something equal or better than volkswagens compacts or Honda and Toyota's midsize cars?
What American cars would you hold up to the world if you had to represent the USA's recent automobiles?
The irony is that at least in Europe Ford and GM are rather well thought of and competitive car companies. Both brands are also entirely global, so it is easy to pick out vehicles that are huge sales successes in foreign markets. I guess the point being, what are we allowed to consider for this discussion? Is it only models sold in North America? Models solely designed, built and sold here? Basically you really need to quantify "world class".
For example, the Ford Fiesta has long been one of the most highly respected and well selling models in Europe since the 1970's. The Ford Focus is another world car that is highly thought of overseas. The Chevy Cruze is a true world car and garnered tons of praise. Then we get into more niche models, things like the Opel Insignia (sold in US as the Buick Regal) is a very well respected and sought after vehicle in Europe. The Holden Commodore is a long respected vehicle built in Australia, but exported to many other markets, in the US it was the Pontiac G8.
If I was going to narrow it down to just what cars (exluding SUVs, minivans and trucks) we have here, this would be my list:
Some of these like the Challenger, Mustang and Camaro are unique 'American cars', but just because they are unique it doesn't mean they are bad. Others like the Cruze, Regal, Focus and Fiesta are true world cars sold in multiple markets and under multiple brands. Regardless, the above list can be bought here and in general I think they are every bit as good as their foreign competitors.
i remember throughout the 80s, 90s and 00s, enthusiasts in America kept pressuring Ford and Gm to bring their praised European offerings to America...but when it actually happaned ....Merkurs, Ford escort, Ford Mondeo, Opels as Saturns, etc etc....nobody in America seemed to care and those cars were deemed inferior to Hondas and VWs....so are Ford''s and GM's Euro offerings only good in a European setting, or are things like the Chevy Cruze and New Fiesta changing that?
Well the thing is, Fiesta is more or less UK/german design, Cruze is Daewoo legacy and Regal is Opel.
It leaves you with Mustang, but it's niche car sold only in US market, I don't think it will be a success anywhere else. similar with Ford-150.
From truly US designed and produced semi-global cars, I think 2012 dodge charger has some potential. Also Chevy Volt in case batteries won't be a disaster.
i remember throughout the 80s, 90s and 00s, enthusiasts in America kept pressuring Ford and Gm to bring their praised European offerings to America...but when it actually happaned ....Merkurs, Ford escort, Ford Mondeo, Opels as Saturns, etc etc....nobody in America seemed to care and those cars were deemed inferior to Hondas and VWs....so are Ford''s and GM's Euro offerings only good in a European setting, or are things like the Chevy Cruze and New Fiesta changing that?
I think it's changing and for several reasons...
1. American buyers and Euro buyers tend to prize different things. For many, many years, Americans preferred large vehicles with large engines. In the meantime, the Euro models tended to be small and efficient. Mainstream American buyers also valued SUV's and pickups over the family sedans and hatchbacks that are favored in Europe. So, even when we got the occasional Euro model that wasn't watered down, they didn't sell very well.
2. Americans had a low opinion of American cars for many years and for good reason. Even when we did get a good Euro-spec model, people eschewed it in favor of an import brand because they couldn't shake their perception that domestic cars were junk. Even though someone in Germany cross shops a Ford and Opel(GM) alongside a VW and considers the Ford and Opel options to be just as good and in some cases better, Americans tended to have a lower opinion of the domestic brand.
3. A lot of the manufacturers simply designed two completely different models for the separate markets. A good example of this is the Ford Focus. For many years the Euro Focus has been an excellent car. However, the North American version was an entirely different model from the chassis up and lacked the refinement and character of the Euro version. We still got the Euro Focus, but in a roundabout way. The Euro Focus and the Mazda3 as well as the Volvo C30 and S40 all share the same platform and always have. Ford finally ended that practice with the latest Focus and we now get the same chassis that Europe gets.
4. Most of the Euro imports we got tended to be 'watered down' in terms of engine and transmission choices. There are many highly sought after 'tuner' versions of cars like the Fiesta and Focus that are sold in Europe and get the attention of American Euro car enthusiasts. The enthusiasts want those models, but do to cost, there has to be a mainstream version to support it as well. So, you would get enthusiasts clamoring for something like a Fiesta RS, but when they come over, they are initially only offered in the mainstream versions. If those cars don't catch on, and as per number one above they generally didn't, the hot enthusiast versions would never be sold here.
5. Do to differing standards with emissions and fuel prices many of the attention getting MPG leading cars don't make their way over here. For instance, the Focus diesel in Europe gets upwards of 65 MPG, yet they don't bring that engine combo over here for a multitude of reasons.
Overall though, American car buyer tastes are changing. We are buying more and more cars and moving into a market that prefers premium compacts and values MPG while retaining some sporting character. The domestics have now found a home market that is willing to buy the same kinds of cars they have been selling in other markets for decades. On top of that peoples perceptions of the domestic manufacturers, particularly Ford, have been changing and people are viewing the domestics on equal terms to the foreign brands.
Well the thing is, Fiesta is more or less UK/german design, Cruze is Daewoo legacy and Regal is Opel.
It leaves you with Mustang, but it's niche car sold only in US market, I don't think it will be a success anywhere else. similar with Ford-150.
From truly US designed and produced semi-global cars, I think 2012 dodge charger has some potential. Also Chevy Volt in case batteries won't be a disaster.
Well, that's why I said you need to quantify the criteria. I don't personally see a difference between Ford of Europe or Daewoo or Opel designing a car that then gets sold over here either as the same thing, or under a different badge. Ford is still Ford and GM is still GM. It's a global business.
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