1
2
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:As for performance, I think in terms of 1960's American Big Three: Every model (or almost every one) should have a performance model. A bump in hp, stiffer suspension, and stickier tires (and hopefully a manual trans). Not a badge, fancy wheels, and a leather interior.
It wouldnt hurt.
Early sixties cars have one issue, most of them are gawdawful ugly.
I vote 50s models, damn near everything has a performance trim, and actually looks good.
The first I heard of it was over the winter (when I worked at a Mitsu dealer) that they are focusing on smaller "green" cars. Starting with their electric vehicle in a couple years.
It doesn't really matter anyway, the only good car they have produced for the past decade or more is the Evo.
EvanB wrote:The first I heard of it was over the winter (when I worked at a Mitsu dealer) that they are focusing on smaller "green" cars. Starting with their electric vehicle in a couple years.
I've been seeing these around town (we have the Mitsu plant here).
EvanB wrote:It doesn't really matter anyway, the only good car they have produced for the past decade or more is the Evo.
Incorrect, the only good car they have sold in America for the last decade is the Evo
Grizz wrote:SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:As for performance, I think in terms of 1960's American Big Three: Every model (or almost every one) should have a performance model. A bump in hp, stiffer suspension, and stickier tires (and hopefully a manual trans). Not a badge, fancy wheels, and a leather interior.
It wouldnt hurt.
Early sixties cars have one issue, most of them are gawdawful ugly.
I vote 50s models, damn near everything has a performance trim, and actually looks good.
You need to re-read my original post. I separated the issues of styling and performance. Thats why I said "As for performance".
But, if you want to argue styling and performance as a whole, I am going to disagree. The 60's were better. While a lot of the 50s cars were very beautiful and a pinnacle of automotive design, the 60's put everything into gear. The Big Three had twice as many cars to chose from than from the 50s and every car had at least 4 different models (coupe, sedan, convertible, station wagon), some ranging to 8 different models. There was a lot of great styling in the 60s. I'm going to say, by 1968 almost every model from each brand had a performance model.
I know there are more cars from the 60s that I would own off of styling alone and that's including the other American brands and European stuff.
See, I was thinking in just terms of early 60s, and I don't know why. It doesn't say that anywhere in your post. Damn I need sleep.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:Lets be honest, almost every Japanese car maker is moving to beige. I think I can count on one hand the fun affordable cars coming from the major automakers over there. When they see that the cars they are making only appeal to a small group of people and they're not making the money they thought they should, they decide to go in a direction that will appeal to the masses.
The biggest reason that I remain a huge fan of Mazda. And not just a huge fan, but a huge fan who's willing to buy their products new off the showroom floor.
I just do not see why we cannot have reliable efficent cars that are still fun. Just imagine a green MR2? A great handling 2 seater with styling. I would think it could sell quite well. Porsche is doing it.. why can't Toyota and Mitsu?
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:What cars were actually used for that movie?
Depends on the scene. The parts filmed inside the factory were in South America, Argentina I believe. Those may have been Fiats or a retooling there of. There was at least one Omni / horizon altered for a US scene, possibly a Sentra or something else as well. I like that movie.
mad_machine wrote:I just do not see why we cannot have reliable efficent cars that are still fun. Just imagine a green MR2? A great handling 2 seater with styling. I would think it could sell quite well. Porsche is doing it.. why can't Toyota and Mitsu?
Porsche can get away with it because at that price bracket you're not buying an only-car. Toyota, Mitsu, Honda, Nissan, can't because of the market; in the Venn Diagram of "people who buy sub-$30k cars", "people who will buy a 2-seater sports car" and "people who will buy a green car" there's not a whole lot of overlap.
Now, I'd be all about a 2+2 RWD performance hybrid, or maybe something like the challenge Fiero that has a gas motor powering one set of wheels and an electric motor powering the other for a BPWD (Both pairs wheel drive) but I'm guessing I'm pretty alone there, too.
1988RedT2 wrote:SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:Lets be honest, almost every Japanese car maker is moving to beige. I think I can count on one hand the fun affordable cars coming from the major automakers over there. When they see that the cars they are making only appeal to a small group of people and they're not making the money they thought they should, they decide to go in a direction that will appeal to the masses.
The biggest reason that I remain a huge fan of Mazda. And not just a huge fan, but a huge fan who's willing to buy their products new off the showroom floor.
Mazda is in a league of their own now. They have stayed with thier sporty mantra (Miata, Rx-8, MS3) while still appealing to the masses (2,3,6, Cx-7, Cx-9).
I think at some point in the 90s every japanese manafacture had atleast 3 sporty cars. Now most have 1 or less.
thestig99 wrote:dankspeed wrote:What's left after you kill off the eclipse and Gallant? That only leaves the Evo, right ?
Which is at least nearing its end IIRC. Don't they have a crossover/SUV or something, and a re-badged Nissan Frontier... or is that Suzuki?
That is Suzuki, Mitsu sold a rebadged Dak, since dropped.
The website is listing 3 lancers, 2 eclipses, and the Galant for the 2012 car lineup.
ReverendDexter wrote:mad_machine wrote:I just do not see why we cannot have reliable efficent cars that are still fun. Just imagine a green MR2? A great handling 2 seater with styling. I would think it could sell quite well. Porsche is doing it.. why can't Toyota and Mitsu?
Porsche can get away with it because at that price bracket you're not buying an only-car. Toyota, Mitsu, Honda, Nissan, can't because of the market; in the Venn Diagram of "people who buy sub-$30k cars", "people who will buy a 2-seater sports car" and "people who will buy a green car" there's not a whole lot of overlap.
This may be true.. but nowhere in the rule book does it say that a green car has to be boring and cheerless... except of course most of the people who are dyed in the wool greenies seem pretty cheerless
