Car Talk 2: Un-American Motor Company.

[max225]

So now the only hot hatches in the USA are:
Veloster N
Focus ST
GTI
Cooper S

on the Veloster N, but the others are getting rather portly these days too.

GTI is lighter than the last gen. And it is still well under 170" it is quite a small car... Why would anyone want anything smaller if you actually drive and use the car.

[Davestr]

Sad!

http://www.thedrive.com/news/19157/thes ... -never-get

0-60 6.5 seconds, or .5 faster than before
3 cyl so it will sound neat
More power than before
Torque vectoring AND LSD available
3 driving modes
Tripoding in the promo vid
New steering wheel looks

Man. This would be a lot of fun. This is what the GTI should be, not the huge minivan it is. Hell the STI used to be about that size too, I wish it still were. The smaller older Imprezas were more fun than these bigger ones. I would actually consider getting one to replace the STI.

[Davestr]

Lexus IS killin' it. Impreza horrible after 8 years. Toyota SUVs reliable long term. Generally looks like the Jap cars are better built for the long haul.

Japanese has been the king for sometime. Cayman was nice to see in the reliable part

[max225]

Used, so my voice is meaningless, but it goes to point that used cars can drive brand preference. 5/7 would buy again - even new this time, because I want a GD 3-cyl with loud exhaust and an LSD. As long as I can still get it with Recarbroes.

The problem is, everyone in the price sensitive small car enthusiast space is a expert and thinks buying new is a "waste". It is for personal finance kind of, but this is what happens.

As someone that gives marketing input for vehicle program business cases on the regular, there's no way to quantify conversion of used car to new car sales. Brand loyalty is quantifiable, but there's no way of tracking used car sales to know that someone bought a vehicle used and then bought a new one to replace it...especially when most people won't trade-in on the new car so they don't get "screwed" by the That's all data we marketing folks need to analyse sales trends and support new vehicle programs.

Further, I imagine that you're in the minority. Most buyers would continue to

This is partially why no cheap sporty/sports cars exist...because those in the market find it wiser to go used for the same price or less. Expensive sports cars sell to people that have money and/or don't care about the hit of buying new. The situation we find ourselves in is a product of how we buy cars. I've been saying this for years.

This isn't new though, pun intended. "Enthusiasts" always go for "The cheapest 911 in the country" type deals.

There are certain cars that make sense new...
Mustang 5.0 before the price bump
Most of the line up
Chevy SS
Cameros
Corvette

I can almost always find a new one for as much as a used one or a small upcharge. ST is too niche of a vehicle and it doesn't make sense for the US. The market is too limited as clearly indicated by the lackluster sales.

[max225]

NEW RAV 4 is coming everyone...

[Davestr]

0-60 6.5 seconds, or .5 faster than before
3 cyl so it will sound neat
More power than before
Torque vectoring AND LSD available
3 driving modes
Tripoding in the promo vid
New steering wheel looks

Man. This would be a lot of fun. This is what the GTI should be, not the huge minivan it is. Hell the STI used to be about that size too, I wish it still were. The smaller older Imprezas were more fun than these bigger ones. I would actually consider getting one to replace the STI.

It’s a shame we don’t get the Polo GTI too.

+1 its probably the better GTI. I love seeing them here. Optimally sized. Perfect.

[Davestr]

NEW RAV 4 is coming everyone...

[Johnny_P]

NEW RAV 4 is coming everyone...

[max225]

NEW RAV 4 is coming everyone...

They sure don't make cartoons like they used to

[Apex]

NEW RAV 4 is coming everyone...

If it looks like this...

[Johnny_P]

Got the same roof line as the FT-AC concept







I mean... this actually has potential. If using the same engine as the Camry it'll have 200 ish HP and an 8 speed auto. Slap the Tacoma front end on it, and make the back look like a miniature 4Runner....

[Johnny_P]

Laugh all you want this thing has actual potential. I'm interested.

[max225]

Laugh all you want this thing has actual potential. I'm interested.

I am somewhat interested. But I fail to see how it is better than a CompASS. The AWD system in the Rav 4 is utter crap and 999/1000 models will come with A/S camry tires and FWD.

That "concept" aintgonnahappen. That's what the 4Runner is for...

[Johnny_P]

Laugh all you want this thing has actual potential. I'm interested.

I am somewhat interested. But I fail to see how it is better than a CompASS. The AWD system in the Rav 4 is utter crap and 999/1000 models will come with A/S camry tires and FWD.

That "concept" aintgonnahappen. That's what the 4Runner is for...

That concept is the design direction for the Rav though. It's too small to be a 4Runner. Look at the silhouette photo, it's got an identical roof line.

AWD system, yeah I wonder what they'll do with it. Jeep seems to have figured out a robust AWD system for a FWD based vehicle. A TRD Off Road version with a better AWD option and all terrain tires would be fun. As long as 0-60 isn't too much more than 7.5 seconds it has my attention.

[4zilch]

on the Veloster N, but the others are getting rather portly these days too.

Veloster N just ain't my thang. Can't deal with that much asymmetrism.

Curious to see how it performs and how it's priced. I like things that are a bit different from the norm, and I don't mind asymmetrism too much - I deal with on motorcycles....deciding to take pics on the exhaust side, or swingarm side

[4zilch]

on the Veloster N, but the others are getting rather portly these days too.

GTI is lighter than the last gen. And it is still well under 170" it is quite a small car... Why would anyone want anything smaller if you actually drive and use the car.

Vary rarely do I need anything larger than a FiST

[max225]

I am somewhat interested. But I fail to see how it is better than a CompASS. The AWD system in the Rav 4 is utter crap and 999/1000 models will come with A/S camry tires and FWD.

That "concept" aintgonnahappen. That's what the 4Runner is for...

That concept is the design direction for the Rav though. It's too small to be a 4Runner. Look at the silhouette photo, it's got an identical roof line.

AWD system, yeah I wonder what they'll do with it. Jeep seems to have figured out a robust AWD system for a FWD based vehicle. A TRD Off Road version with a better AWD option and all terrain tires would be fun. As long as 0-60 isn't too much more than 7.5 seconds it has my attention.

It'll be around 8.5-9 these are derpmobiles. No one cares about the 35-40k MSRP one off TuRD version that the won't budge the price on. That's the issue...
TRD vehicles are MSRP only... you can get 8-10k off a trailCOCK

[max225]

GTI is lighter than the last gen. And it is still well under 170" it is quite a small car... Why would anyone want anything smaller if you actually drive and use the car.

Vary rarely do I need anything larger than a FiST

You're a just like they need to make cars for the "masses" not 2 forumbros.

[Johnny_P]

GTI is lighter than the last gen. And it is still well under 170" it is quite a small car... Why would anyone want anything smaller if you actually drive and use the car.

Vary rarely do I need anything larger than a FiST

[4zilch]

Vary rarely do I need anything larger than a FiST

You're a just like they need to make cars for the "masses" not 2 forumbros.

You say this like I'm not fully aware why they don't build shit for me.

Let me rant in peace FFS.

[Johnny_P]

That concept is the design direction for the Rav though. It's too small to be a 4Runner. Look at the silhouette photo, it's got an identical roof line.

AWD system, yeah I wonder what they'll do with it. Jeep seems to have figured out a robust AWD system for a FWD based vehicle. A TRD Off Road version with a better AWD option and all terrain tires would be fun. As long as 0-60 isn't too much more than 7.5 seconds it has my attention.

It'll be around 8.5-9 these are derpmobiles. No one cares about the 35-40k MSRP one off TuRD version that the won't budge the price on. That's the issue...
TRD vehicles are MSRP only... you can get 8-10k off a trailCOCK

CompASS TrailCOCK will have more cash on the hood, ToyBOATa TuRD mallmobile will likely have better resale. Pick your poison. Also that 9 speed auto in the Compass suuuuuuucks.

[4zilch]

Vary rarely do I need anything larger than a FiST

[Johnny_P]

You're a just like they need to make cars for the "masses" not 2 forumbros.

I say this like I'm not fully aware why they don't build shit for me.

Let me rant in peace FFS.

You should just go buy a CUV like a good peasant.

[max225]

You're a just like they need to make cars for the "masses" not 2 forumbros.

You say this like I'm not fully aware why they don't build shit for me.

Let me rant in peace FFS.

They don't build shit for any of us here... which is why we're here

[max225]

It'll be around 8.5-9 these are derpmobiles. No one cares about the 35-40k MSRP one off TuRD version that the won't budge the price on. That's the issue...
TRD vehicles are MSRP only... you can get 8-10k off a trailCOCK

CompASS TrailCOCK will have more cash on the hood, ToyBOATa TuRD mallmobile will likely have better resale. Pick your poison. Also that 9 speed auto in the Compass suuuuuuucks.

I don't think it will. Rav4 and Camrys have horrendous resale already, it won't get any better. They sell 400k RAV 4s a year... not like it is a rare vehicle.