7 myths about Detroit automakers

[Rsv1000R]

Originally Posted by Corey

We're a fickle group of consumers that want everything. That's just the way it is. We want a sedan that will fit 5 adults with out their knees touching, 0-60 times in the high 5 second/low 6 second range, horsepower figures that rival or surpass sports cars of 15 years ago, with an interior that's whisper quiet, with 100 airbags, all while making 30 to 40 mpg. That's all well and good, but the performance requires more gas, the sound proofing adds more weight, the larger wheel base to accommodate 5 full sized adults adds even more weight, those fancy 19" or 20" factory rims that people want for style purposes adds even more weight and affects handling and bump absorption, so more shit needs to be added to smooth out the ride. And just when company A puts out the latest sedan that meets most of those criteria, company B announces their next generation sedan that is slightly bigger, has slightly more interior room, makes 15 more horsepower, and accelerates to 60 in 5.8 seconds instead of company A's 5.9.

It's a vicious cycle that continues on this way because those are the things that are most important in deciding our tastes in automobiles. Sure there was a temporary cry of indignation over gas mileage, but that was still aimed more at the cost of gas prices rather than the progress that car companies have made in producing fuel efficient vehicles. The people only started turning their anger towards the auto companies when they started to believe that gas would never drop below $4/gallon and they felt powerless to do anything about it. Since they couldn't change the gas prices, they could point fingers and shift blame to the auto makers for not producing more fuel efficient cars, even though the purchasing history of the American public showed that they were much more interested in trucks and SUV's with higher power outputs and seating for seven.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

[HRCNICK11]

All true until you factor in the Toyota Penis (yes I typed it that way on purpose). When you factor in that this car is slow, gutless, will not last as long, will cost more to fix, is bad for the planet(batterys), expensive, and only gets slightly better mileage and it sell like hot cakes purely because of marketing.

In truth US consumers are dumb yes thats right I called you and I dumb. We buy shit we can't pay for, that we don't need, might not want if we knew better(had a clue) and we do it because someone down the street did.

[Rsv1000R]

Originally Posted by HRCNICK11

All true until you factor in the Toyota Penis (yes I typed it that way on purpose). When you factor in that this car is slow, gutless, will not last as long, will cost more to fix, is bad for the planet(batterys), expensive, and only gets slightly better mileage and it sell like hot cakes purely because of marketing.

In truth US consumers are dumb yes thats right I called you and I dumb. We buy shit we can't pay for, that we don't need, might not want if we knew better(had a clue) and we do it because someone down the street did.

I'm not sure what the volume of hybrid cars are, But I'd be surprised if it still wasn't a small % of car produced.

And what sold them out was $4/gal gas in the US. I've seen gas at $1.59 in the last week. Though I suspect we will see a shift in consumer spending, Much of it ill informed, but a shift none the less.

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by Rsv1000R

I'm not sure what the volume of hybrid cars are, But I'd be surprised if it still wasn't a small % of car produced.

And what sold them out was $4/gal gas in the US. I've seen gas at $1.59 in the last week. Though I suspect we will see a shift in consumer spending, Much of it ill informed, but a shift none the less.

Hybrids current have 3% of the market.
They qualify as fad cars with all the hippy nonsense in the media.

However, as automotive appliances they work. You may get all caught up in the cost benefit of them but they are just cars that chase a different performance metric and there has always been a market for that.

In a way this goes to the whole "Americans want bigger cars that use less gas" thing and here you have vehicles that offer plenty of room and get the economy of smaller cars.


Of course the folks who like to claim that "My Impala get's 40mpg!!" screw the Prius are always entertaining but the fact is no...your Impala does not average 40mpg...despite the one time you are on the highway and the readout said 40mpg.

[HRCNICK11]

Of course the folks who like to claim that "My Impala get's 40mpg!!" screw the Prius are always entertaining but the fact is no...your Impala does not average 40mpg...despite the one time you are on the highway and the readout said 40mpg.

Goes hand in hand with my prius gets 60 cause it said that on the dash while I was coasing down the back road.

PS for the record my DRZ can get 65 or so under 60mph all while kicking a prius ass.

[Rsv1000R]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

Hybrids current have 3% of the market.
They qualify as fad cars with all the hippy nonsense in the media.

However, as automotive appliances they work. You may get all caught up in the cost benefit of them but they are just cars that chase a different performance metric and there has always been a market for that.

In a way this goes to the whole "Americans want bigger cars that use less gas" thing and here you have vehicles that offer plenty of room and get the economy of smaller cars.


Of course the folks who like to claim that "My Impala get's 40mpg!!" screw the Prius are always entertaining but the fact is no...your Impala does not average 40mpg...despite the one time you are on the highway and the readout said 40mpg.

I see them being sold on 2 fronts to those hippies who should have gone to their science and math class and skipped smoking a joint:
1)they cost less to own and operate
2)they are better for the environment.

And IMO they fail on both. Large vehicle hybrids do the best on the first, But it's still hard to justify the cost difference based on savings. And from what I've heard their manufacture is worse for the enviroment than normal cars.

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by Rsv1000R

I see them being sold on 2 fronts to those hippies who should have gone to their science and math class and skipped smoking a joint:
1)they cost less to own and operate
2)they are better for the environment.

And IMO they fail on both. Large vehicle hybrids do the best on the first, But it's still hard to justify the cost difference based on savings. And from what I've heard their manufacture is worse for the enviroment than normal cars.

Maybe...just maybe...while some of us are looking for the most HP or someone is looking for the most airbags..
Maybe some people get there kicks out of the little MPG number?

[Rsv1000R]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

Maybe...just maybe...while some of us are looking for the most HP or someone is looking for the most airbags..
Maybe some people get there kicks out of the little MPG number?

Yeah, maybe ~3% of them, I'm just not sure I want their kind of car, and unfortunately I think that's what we're going to end up with for choices.