10 Cars That Sank Detroit

95CobraR · #1 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009, 10:47 AM

I don't agree with the guy's list at all.

The Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer, and the Chevrolet Cavalier were highly profitable cars for Ford and GM. To state that these cars "sank" Detroit is just incorrect in any valid reasoning process.

The Hummer didn't sell in enough numbers to budge Detroit.

I have always read that the Toyota Prius was an unprofitable vehicle for TM. TM makes its money on the Lexus (and large production Toyota's) and can confuse some internet "writers" into saying a low production hybrid "sank" Detroit.

Quote:

Besides—what's a sebring, anyway?

Sebring is a town near an Air Force landing strip where WW2 bomber pilots were trained for the eventual victory over the Axis forces. The USAF sold the B52 bomber air strips to the City of Sebring who decided that it would be a good idea to build a road race course for sporty car guys.

The race track opened in 1950, and the 12 Hour race has been a special race since 1952. The city still owns the land but has a long term lease to the Panoz organization which now promotes the race.

Who is Rick Newman?

Ronbo · #2 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009, 07:21 PM

That list is BS, a lot of cars on it were quite profitable.

Ford Tempo converted many to Celicas and Camerys (missed this gem).

Never mentioned those Suzuki/GM pieces of junk (another diamond in the rough).

The first Ford Ranger (Isuzu Pup) (but, but, it's Japanese! It's got to be good)

Chrysler's Mitsubishi-built turds like the Talon...

I've owned several Chevy Astro vans - best darn fleet vehicle ever made, replaced by yet another wrong wheel drive, under-powered mini-van that doesn't sell.

Pinto's and Vega's - no where near as bad as the Datsuns and tin-can Toyotas from that era.

Subaru - (can you say frame that bows under the weight of a four-banger)

Seems to me the crappiest cars were usually, brace yourselves, THE CHEAPEST!!!

LTD's were good, T-birds, Caddys (I agree not the Cimmeron), Lincolns, Malibu's, Bonnevilles, Mustangs, 88's, 98's, LaSabers...

My general experiance getting into a Camery or Civic is similar to the above cheap, crappy cars...

Cobrabill · #3 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009, 07:54 PM

[quote=Ronbo;Pinto's and Vega's - no where near as bad as the Datsuns and tin-can Toyotas from that era....[/QUOTE]

That is catagorically false.All of them rusted quick.So that point is a wash.As far as drivelines go and build quality,Datsuns were superior to anything coming from Detroit in the 70's.

joyridin' · #4 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

That is catagorically false.All of them rusted quick.So that point is a wash.As far as drivelines go and build quality,Datsuns were superior to anything coming from Detroit in the 70's.

Agreed. My Vega launched the engine at 55k. Had a Toyota Celica we used as a field car with over 120k miles. Took the engine and trans from the Celica, put it in the Vega, and after many, many miles, sold the car.

If it didn't rot out, it's probably still on the road today. Had a lot more power than the Vega engine also.

Ronbo · #5 (**permalink**) 04-10-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

That is catagorically false.All of them rusted quick.So that point is a wash.As far as drivelines go and build quality,Datsuns were superior to anything coming from Detroit in the 70's.

I wouldn't say so, friend of mine used to drive around with two or three of 'em stuck to the front bumper of his Polara.

Datsuns were so bad they had to change the name to Nisson... Didn't help much though.

Cobrabill · #6 (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronbo

1)I wouldn't say so, friend of mine used to drive around with two or three of 'em stuck to the front bumper of his Polara.

2)Datsuns were so bad they had to change the name to Nisson... Didn't help much though.

1)I would.The Z car won it's class 10 years running-no American car has ever done that.
Datsun also wrote the book on compact pick-ups.

2)It's Nissan.And it was always Nissan-the parent corp.They dropped the "Datsun" marque and promptly lost 500,000 sales(units) in one year.So again,you are wrong.

Ronbo · #7 (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

1)I would.The Z car won it's class 10 years running-no American car has ever done that.
Datsun also wrote the book on compact pick-ups.

2)It's Nissan.And it was always Nissan-the parent corp.They dropped the "Datsun" marque and promptly lost 500,000 sales(units) in one year.So again,you are wrong.

Why do I get the feeling if there was a Jap Cobra available, you'd buy it...

Yes I'm aware that Nissan was the parent company. As far as the best in class, I guess it was the best crappy Jap car. (although the RX-7 would run circles around the Z)

Cobrabill · #8 (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronbo

Why do I get the feeling if there was a Jap Cobra available, you'd buy it...

Yes I'm aware that Nissan was the parent company. As far as the best in class, I guess it was the best crappy Jap car. (although the RX-7 would run circles around the Z)

Jap Cobra?Nice non-sequitur.
Back to best in class-your ignorance is showing.Take a look at who that beat to win it.

BTW-name an American car that won it's class 10 years running.

RX-8?That Rotary pile of junk?That's laughable.Since the Z was busy winning it's class,that means the RX-8 was busy LOSING it.

Tucson Unified School District still has 1981 Vintage Datsun 720 Pick-ups IN SERVICE today.Who is still using 70's vintage Ford Or GM products today in revenue service?

One more poser for you:If Datsuns were just"crappy Jap stuff",then why did Pete Brock race them and win a sh!t-pot of races in them?