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Does America Even Need Its Own Automakers?

1788 messages,  Last post on Mar 03, 2009 at 2:18 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Automotive News, Truck, Sedan, SUV


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#1745 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [Mr_Shiftright] by boaz47
Mar 01, 2009 (11:02 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 01, 2009 10:37 am)

A car is, after all, not only transportation but a projection of dreams, desires, status, aspirations, aesthetics, etc.
 
A car has no soul. It will run just as well or just as bad for someone that steals it as it did for the owner. It doesn't care how much you love it when it breaks down. It is a tool and nothing more. It will fail on you no matter how much you plead at the worst possible minute and so dependability has to count for more than something. As far as loving the xB people loved the Baja and they hardly even put them up for resale. Still a dead duck. If a car represented hopes and dreams to more than a hand full of people cars dealers would be hurting. As is demonstrated by the decline in car sales during this bad economy. If they had to be exciting then Camry and Accord Sedans wouldn't out sell coups. The Italians made some very sporty cars as did the French and they were driven from these shores.
 
I will conceed they can be attractive and even a work of art. The xB is not however.
#1746 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [boaz47] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Mar 01, 2009 (11:43 am)
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Replying to: boaz47 (Mar 01, 2009 11:02 am)

Yes but if you were right nobody would spend money on advertising to seduce us. They would just say. "Here's a picture of it. Buy it".
 
Can you even point to a modern automobile ad that does not portray a dream, aspiration or aura of status and/or personal identity?
 
People's idea of beauty covers a wide range. Ever been to a dog show?
#1747 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [Mr_Shiftright] by lilengineerboy
Mar 01, 2009 (12:03 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 01, 2009 10:37 am)

I never met one single person that was dissatisfied with their Scion, including me
 
Sure, once you modified it. My sister bought the Mazda3 of the Corolla because she said the Toyota felt "tippy." As a bonus (in addition to the sway bars), she got rear disc brakes and a decent tire. Sounds like about what you had to do to get your Scion to be "satisfactory."
#1748 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [boaz47] by lilengineerboy
Mar 01, 2009 (12:04 pm)
Reply

Replying to: boaz47 (Mar 01, 2009 11:02 am)

A car has no soul. It will run just as well or just as bad for someone that steals it as it did for the owner. It doesn't care how much you love it when it breaks down. It is a tool and nothing more. It will fail on you no matter how much you plead at the worst possible minute and so dependability has to count for more than something.
 
If people really felt that way, everything would come down to cost, and the '05 Taurus would still be the top selling car in the US.
#1749 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [Mr_Shiftright] by lilengineerboy
Mar 01, 2009 (12:06 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 01, 2009 11:43 am)

People's idea of beauty covers a wide range. Ever been to a dog show?
 
I was reminded of that every time I used to go to Scorekeepers in Ann Arbor.
#1750 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [lilengineerboy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Mar 01, 2009 (12:10 pm)
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Mar 01, 2009 12:03 pm)

Yeah but it was still very reliable, and still is, with the new owner. 50,000 miles and zero problems, nada, zilch, not even a burned out light bulb.
 
Here's an ad for a 2006 Scion xA. The asking price is exactly what I paid new for it!
 
$13,100.
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/1054819475.html
 
Here's a 2006 MINI (not an S)
 
Asking price is $19495. I priced out a 2006 MINI in 2006 for $20, 480 (I still have the print out, so that's how I know).
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/ctd/1055023974.html
 
Pretty amazing, even if you cut 10% off these prices.
 
Think you're gonna get these prices for a 2006 PT Cruiser? Don't think so.
 
It's $8499, low miles from a dealer.
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/ctd/1054724214.html
#1751 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [lilengineerboy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Mar 01, 2009 (12:12 pm)
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Mar 01, 2009 12:06 pm)

That reminds me of something I read on a bathroom wall once---but no, we won't go there.
#1752 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [lilengineerboy] by boaz47
Mar 01, 2009 (12:42 pm)
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Mar 01, 2009 12:04 pm)

But it is that way, everything else is Anthropomorphism. If it weren't why would the most popular cars move towards vanilla? Enthusiasts are a rare breed that has learned to love a machine. A train is a train, a buss is a buss, a Plane is a plane and ship is a ship but somehow a car is a living things. Can the be or should they be extension of who we are? Advertising tries to tell us one kind of TV will make us a better person yet none of us will buy one to show our hopes and dreams. Mechanics have had tool posters and calenders in their shops with pretty girls holding air wrenches but no one believes they will attract girls because they have a Snap-on wrench. I didn't say strap-on either.
 
I am not sure falling for advertising shows strength of character. But like I said, the most popular vehicles tend to be the one that have the least personality.
#1753 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [boaz47] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Mar 01, 2009 (12:50 pm)
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Replying to: boaz47 (Mar 01, 2009 12:42 pm)

Popular cars don't have to be boring. The Fiats and Golfs and Peugeots overseas are fun to drive.
#1754 of 1788
Re: The Mini and Fiesta [Mr_Shiftright] by srs_49
Mar 01, 2009 (1:23 pm)
Reply

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 01, 2009 12:50 pm)

I owned a '73 Fiat. Yeah, it was kind of junky in the long run, but a lot of fun to drive, even with only a 1.2L engine. I still got 120,000+ miles out of it. Sorry Detroit, but I just could not see myself in a Pinto, Maverick, or a Vega.

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