American cars suck

FC · 09-03-2008, 01:09 PM

Basically, that's what he says.

His point is that no single American car is the best in its segment regardless of price. That's debateable in some cases except for one: There is no better offroader than the Wrangler.

And of course, to simply write off cost as a parameter is ridiculous.

ZBB · 09-03-2008, 01:37 PM

Thank you for making me feel so good about my recent purchase of some Detroit iron.

I'll have to go pull out my C&D from earlier this year, where the CTS made the Top 10 list

Its been a VERY long time since Detroit ever worried about designing best-in-class product. There's comments someplace from Bob Lutz about the development of both the current and previous gen Malibus. The previous gen was designed to be meet the late 90's Accord and Camry designs (since that's what the developers could get their hands on during development). The current Malibu was designed to be best in class, and they made assumptions about where Honda and Toyata were going -- trying to target their future product, not just what they made at the time.

When you shoot for average, you get average or lower. When you shoot for best-in-class, you can end up with decent product...

FC · 09-03-2008, 01:52 PM

I like your CTS. I like it better than the CTS-V because I love that big grill with defined slats as opposed to the smaller, grease filter grill that the CTS-V has.

ZBB · 09-03-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

I like your CTS. I like it better than the CTS-V because I love that big grill with defined slats as opposed to the smaller, grease filter grill that the CTS-V has.

09-03-2008, 01:09 PM	#1
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,263	American cars suck Basically, that's what he says. His point is that no single American car is the best in its segment regardless of price. That's debateable in some cases except for one: There is no better offroader than the Wrangler. And of course, to simply write off cost as a parameter is ridiculous.

09-03-2008, 01:37 PM	#2
ZBB Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart Location: The Valley of the Sun Posts: 12,821	Thank you for making me feel so good about my recent purchase of some Detroit iron. I'll have to go pull out my C&D from earlier this year, where the CTS made the Top 10 list Its been a VERY long time since Detroit ever worried about designing best-in-class product. There's comments someplace from Bob Lutz about the development of both the current and previous gen Malibus. The previous gen was designed to be meet the late 90's Accord and Camry designs (since that's what the developers could get their hands on during development). The current Malibu was designed to be best in class, and they made assumptions about where Honda and Toyata were going -- trying to target their future product, not just what they made at the time. When you shoot for average, you get average or lower. When you shoot for best-in-class, you can end up with decent product... __________________ ZBB

09-03-2008, 01:52 PM	#3
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,263	I like your CTS. I like it better than the CTS-V because I love that big grill with defined slats as opposed to the smaller, grease filter grill that the CTS-V has.