10 Cars That Sank Detroit - Aircraft of World War II

syscom3 · 04-03-2009, 11:51 PM

How many readers here remember the crap that was dumped on the American consumer in the 70's?

10 Cars That Sank Detroit- Yahoo! Autos Article Page

evangilder · 04-03-2009, 11:56 PM

Some really good points made in the article about cars like the Taurus, which seemed to be everywhere. Of course, the Pinto, wow, what a pile of crap that car was...

FLYBOYJ · 04-04-2009, 12:00 AM

Saw that today - I had 2 Pintos. They actually ran well after you fixed about 10 chronic problems! The last one I owned had an after market air conditioning system that actually formed ice at the vents if it was run too long! At the same time in stop and go traffic, the compressor robbed so much power from the engine (it was an automatic) it would barely get over 40 MPH!

My first one with a 1600 CC engine ran like a champ. 30 MPG and I put 75000 miles on it in 2 years! In one day a friend and I drove from LA to San Diego and then up to Pismo Beach!

syscom3 · 04-04-2009, 12:18 AM

I had a '74 Cutlass Supreme that was a great car. Too bad GM couldn't keep up the quality.

Glider · 04-04-2009, 01:14 AM

What most people this side of the pond cannot understand is that most of these companies seem to have problems with by US standards smaller cars. However most of the companies produce good small cars in Europe. Why didn't they increase production in Europe for export which would keep the dealerships going and profits up while retooling / designing new cars in the USA.

The Ford lineup in Europe is second to none in value and as good as the best in quality. The Mondeo is the car of the year in most peoples books, my neighbour has bought the new Fiesta and its a very smart car, plus if you want a small car, the Ka has just been replaced with a new design . On top of this the Focus (different to the US version) has been the best seller for years.
GM also do an excellent range of cars with some innovative designs yet I understand from people I know in the USA that they either don't exist in the USA or are very hard to find.

There must be some logic somewhere but damned if I can find it.

Amsel · 04-04-2009, 01:39 AM

I drive diesel pick up trucks. GM and Dodge have built the best in the world for my preferences. As far as American cars go I can only think of a handful that are worth a dang to me. Cadillac makes a good product and Chevy has a couple of great cars and that is it. Honda and Toyota just beats the hell out of Detroit. I am seriously considering an Audi. How does Audi rate, I wonder?

Torch · 04-04-2009, 02:02 AM

My x F-N-Law got me a "great" deal on a 1980 olds Cutlass Diesel, it was a converted gas V8 which was a total PIECE OF SH** until my dad and I thru a 69 Rocket V8 into it which we had rebuilt a couple times. That diesel V8 had to have been the worst engine out there.

Torch · 04-04-2009, 02:08 AM

Well Audi's are pretty cool cars, don't let the warranty expire. I remember when the A4 first came out they had issues with the trannies,get this 10k$s for a new one plus your chance of finding one in the junk yard was nill. I have a 2005 VW Touareg V8 which so far has been pretty good but an oil change is a mandatory 8 qts of synthetic plus 21$s for a cannister type filter..,can't get windshield wipers from your local Pep boys, everything is from a dealer, reason I'm saying this is VW and Audi share items. If you can afford it fine, if not your wallet will scream for mercy.

Njaco · 04-04-2009, 08:07 AM

I would switch the Cavalier with the Citation. My mom drove a Cavalier for 12 years and wasn't a problem. But the Citation.......ugghhh!

evangilder · 04-04-2009, 11:34 AM

OMG, the Citation! My step-dad had one of those junkers. Glider makes a good point. I had a Ford Fiesta when I was overseas and loved it. Good car with a good value. The Sierra was the Euro version of the Taurus, but the Sierra looked less boxy and had some nice lines. I find it funny that they don't keep the same tooling for the US and Europe. The Sierra was nice enough I would have bought one here, but as a Taurus, it looked ugly.

Plus cars like the Cortina and others would be good cars here too.

syscom3 · 04-04-2009, 12:15 PM

Amsel, I have a 2000 Silverado with the small V8.

Im well over 150,000 miles on it and hardly anything goes wrong, with the exception of what would commonly break after years of use.

I am extremely happy with it and will buy another truck from Chevy when this thing finally gives up the ghost.

Too bad Ford and GM cant apply their lessons learned from their truck divisions, over to their small car design teams.

FLYBOYJ · 04-04-2009, 12:23 PM

When I worked at Lockheed we had a Citation in our department's car fleet. One of my counterparts and I actually tried to blow it up so the department could get another car. We put rocks in the carburetor and the thing kept running despite the fact it had parts under the dash board falling out on a daily basis! One of our other fellow employees finally wrecked it during a 5 car pile up on the Santa Ana Freeway.

I had a Festiva, one of the best cars I ever owned till now. 40 mpg, air conditioning, it was able to do 80 MPH with no problem. Got rid of it after my last divorce in 1997, got a Mustang GT, had to do the single macho thing.

ToughOmbre · 04-04-2009, 01:40 PM

The Ford Explorer.....

One of most popular SUVs ever, but I guess it's on the list because it started a craze for 4WD gas guzzlers.

But it's a great vehicle, I own two of them. A '98 with 175,000 miles that I gave to my son at college and a new one that I bought two weeks ago.

How bad is the auto industry hurting? I paid about $4500 less for the new one (a comparably equipped Eddie Bauer) than I paid back in '98.

Needless to say, now is a great time to buy a vehicle.

TO

Lucky13 · 04-04-2009, 01:57 PM

Anything Ford!

pbfoot · 04-04-2009, 02:32 PM

If they have the Pinto they sure missed out on the Vega with that beautiful aluminium block and they sure could toss a lot of Mopar in there with Chrysler Cordoba with the Corithian leather
YouTube - 1975 Chrysler Cordoba
Ricardo extolling its virtues

04-03-2009, 11:51 PM	#1
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,280	10 Cars That Sank Detroit How many readers here remember the crap that was dumped on the American consumer in the 70's? 10 Cars That Sank Detroit- Yahoo! Autos Article Page __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

04-03-2009, 11:56 PM	#2
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,807	Some really good points made in the article about cars like the Taurus, which seemed to be everywhere. Of course, the Pinto, wow, what a pile of crap that car was... __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

04-04-2009, 12:00 AM	#3
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,050	Saw that today - I had 2 Pintos. They actually ran well after you fixed about 10 chronic problems! The last one I owned had an after market air conditioning system that actually formed ice at the vents if it was run too long! At the same time in stop and go traffic, the compressor robbed so much power from the engine (it was an automatic) it would barely get over 40 MPH! My first one with a 1600 CC engine ran like a champ. 30 MPG and I put 75000 miles on it in 2 years! In one day a friend and I drove from LA to San Diego and then up to Pismo Beach! __________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"

04-04-2009, 12:18 AM	#4
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,280	I had a '74 Cutlass Supreme that was a great car. Too bad GM couldn't keep up the quality. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

04-04-2009, 01:39 AM	#6
Amsel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,736	I drive diesel pick up trucks. GM and Dodge have built the best in the world for my preferences. As far as American cars go I can only think of a handful that are worth a dang to me. Cadillac makes a good product and Chevy has a couple of great cars and that is it. Honda and Toyota just beats the hell out of Detroit. I am seriously considering an Audi. How does Audi rate, I wonder? __________________ http://www.northstarnational.com/200...tte/#more-2513

04-04-2009, 01:14 AM	#5
Glider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 3,655	What most people this side of the pond cannot understand is that most of these companies seem to have problems with by US standards smaller cars. However most of the companies produce good small cars in Europe. Why didn't they increase production in Europe for export which would keep the dealerships going and profits up while retooling / designing new cars in the USA. The Ford lineup in Europe is second to none in value and as good as the best in quality. The Mondeo is the car of the year in most peoples books, my neighbour has bought the new Fiesta and its a very smart car, plus if you want a small car, the Ka has just been replaced with a new design . On top of this the Focus (different to the US version) has been the best seller for years. GM also do an excellent range of cars with some innovative designs yet I understand from people I know in the USA that they either don't exist in the USA or are very hard to find. There must be some logic somewhere but damned if I can find it.

04-04-2009, 02:02 AM	#7
Torch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 503	My x F-N-Law got me a "great" deal on a 1980 olds Cutlass Diesel, it was a converted gas V8 which was a total PIECE OF SH** until my dad and I thru a 69 Rocket V8 into it which we had rebuilt a couple times. That diesel V8 had to have been the worst engine out there. __________________ As I shifted into 5th gear I couldn't remember a word she said!

04-04-2009, 02:08 AM	#8
Torch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 503	Well Audi's are pretty cool cars, don't let the warranty expire. I remember when the A4 first came out they had issues with the trannies,get this 10k$s for a new one plus your chance of finding one in the junk yard was nill. I have a 2005 VW Touareg V8 which so far has been pretty good but an oil change is a mandatory 8 qts of synthetic plus 21$s for a cannister type filter..,can't get windshield wipers from your local Pep boys, everything is from a dealer, reason I'm saying this is VW and Audi share items. If you can afford it fine, if not your wallet will scream for mercy. __________________ As I shifted into 5th gear I couldn't remember a word she said!

04-04-2009, 08:07 AM	#9
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 10,236	I would switch the Cavalier with the Citation. My mom drove a Cavalier for 12 years and wasn't a problem. But the Citation.......ugghhh! __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

04-04-2009, 11:34 AM	#10
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,807	OMG, the Citation! My step-dad had one of those junkers. Glider makes a good point. I had a Ford Fiesta when I was overseas and loved it. Good car with a good value. The Sierra was the Euro version of the Taurus, but the Sierra looked less boxy and had some nice lines. I find it funny that they don't keep the same tooling for the US and Europe. The Sierra was nice enough I would have bought one here, but as a Taurus, it looked ugly. Plus cars like the Cortina and others would be good cars here too. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

04-04-2009, 12:15 PM	#11
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,280	Amsel, I have a 2000 Silverado with the small V8. Im well over 150,000 miles on it and hardly anything goes wrong, with the exception of what would commonly break after years of use. I am extremely happy with it and will buy another truck from Chevy when this thing finally gives up the ghost. Too bad Ford and GM cant apply their lessons learned from their truck divisions, over to their small car design teams. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

04-04-2009, 12:23 PM	#12
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,050	When I worked at Lockheed we had a Citation in our department's car fleet. One of my counterparts and I actually tried to blow it up so the department could get another car. We put rocks in the carburetor and the thing kept running despite the fact it had parts under the dash board falling out on a daily basis! One of our other fellow employees finally wrecked it during a 5 car pile up on the Santa Ana Freeway. I had a Festiva, one of the best cars I ever owned till now. 40 mpg, air conditioning, it was able to do 80 MPH with no problem. Got rid of it after my last divorce in 1997, got a Mustang GT, had to do the single macho thing. __________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT" Last edited by FLYBOYJ; 04-04-2009 at 01:50 PM.

04-04-2009, 01:40 PM	#13
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,233	The Ford Explorer..... One of most popular SUVs ever, but I guess it's on the list because it started a craze for 4WD gas guzzlers. But it's a great vehicle, I own two of them. A '98 with 175,000 miles that I gave to my son at college and a new one that I bought two weeks ago. How bad is the auto industry hurting? I paid about $4500 less for the new one (a comparably equipped Eddie Bauer) than I paid back in '98. Needless to say, now is a great time to buy a vehicle. TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

04-04-2009, 01:57 PM	#14
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,144	Anything Ford! __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

04-04-2009, 02:32 PM	#15
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,586	If they have the Pinto they sure missed out on the Vega with that beautiful aluminium block and they sure could toss a lot of Mopar in there with Chrysler Cordoba with the Corithian leather YouTube - 1975 Chrysler Cordoba Ricardo extolling its virtues

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