Automobile Fever.

[Guest r3d c0m3t]

Okay...I'm a major automotive enthusiast and it's been that way for about 8 or some odd years and I've noticed something about American automobiles - they suck. Suddenly almost every American automotive company is on this "Rejuvenation Plan" where they attempt to relive their pasts with retro designs that for the most part are hideous and unworthy to stand next to 60's and 70's muscle cars of the same name.

 

Let's look at Ford's current Mustang and Mustang GT - it pays homage to the Mustangs of the late 60's and early 70's more or less and with every version released whether it be the Shelby GT500, Shelby GT-H, or even the recent and more ridiculous Boss Mustang - they all relatively look the same. Save for a modification to the grille, lower ride height, headlight placement, stripes and the respective paint job. There's nothing radical about this "new" Mustang, it almost seems as if you can just apply these modifications yourself.

 

In my experience I understand a design can't be drastically changed with every new idea that comes about, but for the love of sincerity at least change the grille and rear tail lights, at least that would seperate the majority of the selection so it won't seem so damned perverted. Dodge is also on the same road with the Charger which is already a total crap job because it's a four door sedan and I don't ever remember the Charger being a sedan. They've also got the Challenger, which looks good on paper but it isn't too pretty as far as looks are concerned, but at least it's a starting point.

 

For once, I'd like for an American automotive company to be extreme, radical, take a dive, be new, not so damned uptight about their designs. There's been plenty of chances for America to be on top as far automobiles go; instead they always seem to chose to retain a low-profile. I can't explain to myself enough that whatever they do it's going to turn up on the other side of the river at one point or another. I respect people such as Steve Saleen, John Lingenfelter, Carroll Shelby (in his prime), and a few others. What I'm saying is instead of putting an attractive and elusive body around a display engine (in this particular case Cadillac's Cien and the Northstar XV12.) you should concentrate on making both a reality; Chrysler could have possibly held the record for the fastest car with the ME-Four Twelve, but they chose to neglect the technical restraints of the car and abandoned it.

 

Same thing goes for the Firepower concept, although I didn't look into this as heavily as the former, I do remember they couldn't keep the name or something to that degree. Anyway..all I'm saying is I crave for the day when American automobiles can offer the same performance pedigree as foreign cars - for once I'd like to read in Motor Trend that Ferrari has to worry about more than just Lamborghini and Porsche.

 

Oh, and for the record I intentionally picked on Ford. Why? Because whether or not this situation was current or not, I don't like Ford for reasons I can write on and on about, but to put it simply they lack innovation.

 

Heh. My first real rant. How wonderful.

[TaterSalad]

totally agree on you with the ford mustang part.

the only time i have liked the gt body style was when it was painted black, other than that they have all looked ugly.

[taowulf]

American automakers have made radical departures that were universally panned at the time.

 

The original Ford Taurus was quite revolutionary in design and firmly took a grip on the sales lead in the US for many years. So revolutionary was it that industry experts predicted that no one would buy a jellybean looking car. Look at the original Taurus now, and you will see design cues that have seeped down through the entire industry now.

 

Chrysler made a huge leap into minivans before there was a market. Look how well that worked out...all of the other automakers followed.

 

GM...well...they decided to start Saturn, which worked out well for them.

 

So it isn't like the Big 3 domestics NEVER innovate in style, new lines or even new brands, they just dont do so often. And they are very aware that the #1 market in the auto industry is the baby boomers. They have more disposable income, gettign close to retirement and they have nostalgia for the things from thier youth...liek the Mustang, Charger and perhaps even Chevy's proposed new Camaro. The Japanese automakers don't have that past to tap into. The baby boomer's (depiste how many of them may drive imports now) first introduction to imports were ugly little cars with . for power but better gas milage.

[Guest oRiOn]

I have come to the conclusion that American cars are made for people that want to get from Point A to Point B. American cars aren't made to be luxurious and be sound dampened, they have rattles with the stock sound system which is made out of paper. Even Lincoln which is Ford's luxury brand is too far behind Lexus, BMW, Audi.....to ever catch up.

 

-Will

[red930]

I have come to the conclusion that American cars are made for people that want to get from Point A to Point B. American cars aren't made to be luxurious and be sound dampened, they have rattles with the stock sound system which is made out of paper. Even Lincoln which is Ford's luxury brand is too far behind Lexus, BMW, Audi.....to ever catch up.

 

-Will

 

The majority of people just want cars that will get them from point A to point B. A relatively small crowd enjoys driving and an even smaller number enjoys pushing their car (regardless of it being a 'sports' car) to the very limits.

 

Comparing a Ford car to a Porche or Ferrari is somewhat pointless, Ford's userbase certainly doesn't have that kind of cash for a car and they need to concentrate on making their more affordable (and usable) vehicles more affordable and more useable. Similarly Lincoln doesn't make cars that are even close to the cost of the equivalent cars and generally have to work around a platform designed for a cheaper car as well.

 

Fortunately in Ford's case they have Jaguar that makes up for both of these shortcomings (somewhat) but they also come with the price tag that says they belong with the big boys.

 

One last comment - speakers made out of paper aren't necessarily bad. Paper is actually an excellent choice of material....when coated and reinforced properly.

[CPDMF]

You don't think the C6 & C7 Corvettes have exactly what you are looking for? Style, Performance, Handling, and leading edge technology. At 60-70K it will walk on pretty much anything in it's price range..

[Guest r3d c0m3t]

The majority of people just want cars that will get them from point A to point B. A relatively small crowd enjoys driving and an even smaller number enjoys pushing their car (regardless of it being a 'sports' car) to the very limits.

 

Comparing a Ford car to a Porche or Ferrari is somewhat pointless, Ford's userbase certainly doesn't have that kind of cash for a car and they need to concentrate on making their more affordable (and usable) vehicles more affordable and more useable. Similarly Lincoln doesn't make cars that are even close to the cost of the equivalent cars and generally have to work around a platform designed for a cheaper car as well.

 

Fortunately in Ford's case they have Jaguar that makes up for both of these shortcomings (somewhat) but they also come with the price tag that says they belong with the big boys.

 

One last comment - speakers made out of paper aren't necessarily bad. Paper is actually an excellent choice of material....when coated and reinforced properly.

 

Although I tend to agree with what you're saying, but you must also remember that Fords also owns Aston Martin and if you key back to my first statement you'll notice that almost every Aston Martin looks the same, as well as every Jaguar did for a very long time and look where it got them. Granted Jaguar has started anew with the Jaguar XK and it's getting them places, but it's going to take another major step such as something along the lines of a modern day XJ220, in Aston's case they need to go back to the days of such models as the Virage - the successor to the original 1977 V8 Vantage.

 

I know you're looking at this from a primary standpoint that's above all else rational, I am looking at this picture through a lens of reformation. I can only imagine what Ferrari would be like if Enzo hadn't told Henry to go **** himself (of course I'm paraphrasing.)...maybe the 599GTB Fiorano would look exactly like the 612 Scaglietti.

 

I'm all for cars that can get you from point A to B, but from all the years I've been into cars I haven't once been as excited for any new American sports car or supercar as much I would be from something such as Mercedes Benz, Audi, BMW, etc...

[Guest r3d c0m3t]

You don't think the C6 & C7 Corvettes have exactly what you are looking for? Style, Performance, Handling, and leading edge technology. At 60-70K it will walk on pretty much anything in it's price range..

 

 

Heh. One thing...there's no C7, yet.

[CPDMF]

Heh. One thing...there's no C7, yet.

Won't be much longer.

[Guest oRiOn]

Corvettes might be nice for the first 4-6 years you have them. I hear it all goes downhill reliability wise. The thing is though, American car companies don't manage their "empires" as well. Take a Ford/Chevy/American Car against the same price Japanese car. The Japanese will be much nicer, easier on the eyes, more fuel efficient, and will last 150k miles easily. Toyota is an amazing company, they have the highest profit out of every other car manufacturer in the world, and their cars are amazing to boot (Lexus as well). They obviously know what is going on and know how to run their Empire.

 

-Will

[radodrill]

I'm all for cars that can get you from point A to B, but from all the years I've been into cars I haven't once been as excited for any new American sports car or supercar as much I would be from something such as Mercedes Benz, Audi, BMW, etc...

 

Agreed!

 

A lot of US auto makers are designing cars with a sporty exterior and labeling them as "sports cars". I personally only attribute the sports car title to such vehicles produced by known performance manufacturers; i.e. Porsche, Ferrari, AUDI (e.g. TT series), Mercedes Benz (e.g. SLK series), etc. The most notable (perhaps only) exception in the US could be made for the Chevy Corvette line.

 

Probably one major factor why German auto manufacturers in particular are more focused on performance (even in their sedans) is the Autobahn, most of which does not have a speed limit. On average BMWs, Porsches, AUDIs, and Mercedes-Benzs are traveling in excess on 250 kph (155mph); though sadly the US models have speed limiters to keep them from hitting their top speeds.

[Guest r3d c0m3t]

I find it strange and largely stupid that Chevrolet chose the Zeta platform to build upon the Camaro concept, no wonder it needs such large amounts of horsepower; it's too damn heavy. In any case I guess it really does go to show that if you live by the sword, you'll die by the sword.