Bets of Morbidity - The Sedanocalypse.

Automotive News said: Cars have accounted for just 41 percent of the U.S. market so far this year, down from 50 percent for all of 2013. Barclays Capital analyst Brian Johnson said the country has plunged into a “sedan recession.” In May, the carnage affected all sizes and prices; sales in every car segment, including subcompact, compact, midsize, luxury and sporty, dropped double digits from a year ago. Overall, car sales dropped 16 percent and light-truck sales rose 2.4 percent, for a total industry decline of 6.1 percent. For many shoppers, cars have become the equivalent of wide lapels and whitewall tires, said Gary Uftring, president of Uftring Auto Group in Peoria, Ill. “We don’t get a lot of ups on cars right now, as far as people even wanting a price on them,” said Uftring, whose brands include Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan and Subaru. “Styling has changed, and what people want to be seen in is a crossover or a sport utility.”

The Buick Verano, as well as the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 are already dead in the water. It appears that sedans are a dying breed, and that only the big and strong will survive. Anyone care to guess what will die next?

2 door coupe is already dead.

The new Regal, if it hasn't died already. How dare GM make a family friendly car an enthusiast would love? One of only 55, from the 254 models offered in 2014 that had a manual option. An even smaller number were rear wheel drive, but I don't remember specifics from 2 years ago.

Anything fun...

I'm not sure those statistics really say what they think they say. While there is a decline in sedans, there is a HUGE upswing in slightly tall hatchbacks in the form of CUV's. So yes, when half the trucks you sell are tall cars but you call them trucks then that makes your car numbers look bad and your truck numbers look good.

JohnRW1621 wrote: 2 door coupe is already dead.

Besides the cramit, mustang and challenger. Oh and BMW and Mercedes still makes 2 doors. And the GTR and Porsche. Besides those, oh and some Italian company and the jaaaaaag.

Nick (LUCAS) Comstock wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: 2 door coupe is already dead.

Besides the cramit, mustang and challenger. Oh and BMW and Mercedes still makes 2 doors. And the GTR and Porsche. Besides those, oh and some Italian company and the jaaaaaag.

"Performance" coupes are doing fine, but 2 door versions of regular cars are dying. Honda seems to be the last big holdout. I hope they don't drop the accord coupe with the redesign in '18.

Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!

Nick (LUCAS) Comstock wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: 2 door coupe is already dead.

Besides the cramit, mustang and challenger. Oh and BMW and Mercedes still makes 2 doors. And the GTR and Porsche. Besides those, oh and some Italian company and the jaaaaaag.

Don't forget the answer and the twins, 370z, and I'm sure there are others.

I'm with mazdeuce on this one. For various reasons our society has moved to a slightly different definition of "the family car".

I hate trunks. I think they are idiotic and far less space efficient than any hatchback/SUV/CUV/station wagon.

I applaud the general public for agreeing with me!

To clarify, the 2 door coupe counterpart to the 4 door version has died.

Past samples: 2 door and 4 door Cavalier.

Few still exist but far fewer than years past.

In reply to EvanR:

I have to agree. Unless they're on a big, elegant car, everything should have either a hatch, split gate, tailgate, or barn doors.

JohnRW1621 wrote: To clarify, the 2 door coupe counterpart to the 4 door version has died. Past samples: 2 door and 4 door Cavalier. Few still exist but far fewer than years past.

I'm 99% ok with this. I can't think of any recent car off the top of my head where I prefer the 2 door version to the 4 door version.

G_Body_Man wrote: In reply to EvanR: I have to agree. Unless they're on a big, elegant car, everything should have either a hatch, split gate, tailgate, or barn doors.

Even big elegant cars should have a GT style hatch like BMW, Tesla, etc.

People initially liked SUVs because they allowed the driver to sit higher than other cars and have better visibility. However, when every vehicle on the road is an SUV, what will they do then?

Can Utes be poised for a comeback?

revrico wrote: The new Regal, if it hasn't died already. How dare GM make a family friendly car an enthusiast would love? One of only 55, from the 254 models offered in 2014 that had a manual option.

Have you driven a manual trans Regal? I wouldn't go so far as to say that the car actively fights you from driving it smoothly, but it REALLY makes you wonder. Pure exercise in frustration. Throttle response like a loose rubber band with response lag in both directions.

The owner of the car ditched it after a year. He didn't say why, but in the back of my mind, I know.

That engine drives beautifully with an automatic. But with the manual trans, it's atrocious.

The way the electronic parking brake is integrated is nice, at least. Just flip it on at a light, and when you go to drive off, just try to drive off. It automatically disengages. (At least, I think it was the Regal that does this)

JohnRW1621 wrote: To clarify, the 2 door coupe counterpart to the 4 door version has died.

Good! If you have a back seat, you should have some dang doors for it. I want them to use the Mustang Chassis and redesign a Falcon for the USDM. I'd buy that in a heartbeat. I want a usable back seat, doors to go with it, RWD, good suspension and I don't want German.

stuart in mn wrote: People initially liked SUVs because they allowed the driver to sit higher than other cars and have better visibility. However, when every vehicle on the road is an SUV, what will they do then?

Either donk their SUV or bro-truck it.

A guy at worked pointed this out to me- next time you see an old 50's sedan- check out the size of it. It may very well remind you of many CUV's, and not modern cars. It's not until the 60's did they get low and "small" here.

We have space. That's why people like those sizes of vehicles.

Europe does not, that's why the big family car is a medium size here.

In reply to Knurled:

I have not actually driven one, too new for my blood. it just sticks out aside from Rustangs as the only US made manual car I remember from the list. I think one brand of ranger/s10 sized truck was offered as well.

Actually, I'm wrong with my last sentance

I guess it just stuck out to me as something strange to be offered in a manual.

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

I was hoping we would get the Aussie Ford rwd 4 door here in the states but then 2007/8 happened.

alfadriver wrote: A guy at worked pointed this out to me- next time you see an old 50's sedan- check out the size of it. It may very well remind you of many CUV's, and not modern cars. It's not until the 60's did they get low and "small" here. We have space. That's why people like those sizes of vehicles. Europe does not, that's why the big family car is a medium size here.

You're right, 50s cars aren't as low as I thought, but still lower than many modern cars. A 55 Bel Air is 57.1in, which puts it right in the mix of most modern cars. Taller than a Civic, but on par with a Corolla, Camry, etc. Shorter than the smaller hatches like the Fit, Focus, etc.

Not like the 90s when it was common to have cars in the low low 50s.

A Focus is taller than an Escort is taller than a Pinto, too.

Longer, lower, and wider is kind of the opposite of what really happened.