Who will be the US "Big 3" in 2016?

Mike Hunter will have a cow trying to spin that-fortunately he is KF.

 

a transaxle is cheaper to produce than a transmission with a seperate
axle. this is where the FWD 'assembly' cost savings come from.

bob z.

 

Please explain. I am not sure I understand how it is in anyway easier.

bob z.

 

http://www.siemensvdo.com/press/releases/chassisandcarbody/2006/sv-200608-001-e.htm

" integrate the drivetrain, steering, shock absorbers and brakes
directly into the wheels of future cars"

 

ISTR the Apollo astronauts took a vehicle something like that to
the Moon with them. ;-)

 

Red Bull gives you wings.

 

Where are all the old Ford Granadas? Fairmonts? Chevy Citations? Chevy
Monzas? Plymout Reliants?

There used to be fleets of these things, roaming wild on the expressays of
the entire continent. Now... no more...

Back in 1973 - and later, to some extent, a Japanese car was so rare that it
was just about a curiosity. I remember the first time I met somebody who
owned a Subaru in 1972 or so - it was unique in my experience, not just
because it was the first Subaru I'd ever seen but because it was the first
Japanese car I'd ever seen. Until that time, I didn't even realize he
Japanese made cars (I hadn't seen "You Only Live Twice").

So, how often do we find a '72 Gran Torino still on the road? '77 Chevelle
wagon? '69 Ford Country Squire? Performance cars, luxury cars and
convertibles tend to keep going longer but the cheap uninteresting junk -
and Detroit made lots and lots of cheap uninteresting junk - tends to get,
well, junked.

I saw a '79 or '80 Pontiac Sunbird the other day. I'd forgotten these
things had even existed and my brother-in-law had owned one and I owned its
sibling, the Chevy Monza. There were probably 20 of these things built in
'79 for every Crown or whatever Toyota managed to sell into the US that
year. I've seen one. Where are the rest?

 

Obviously you do not attend many old cars shows. If you did you would know
which cars are there and which are obviously missing LOL


mike hunt

 

Yes they were driven into the ground, also parts become harder to find
as they were then made in Japan and a supply after 10+ years didn't
exist or was very expensive.
My experiences:
1) Honda Civic 70s early model- rad cap after 10+- yrs was $50+.
2) Datsun 510 series- very thin and poorly prepared body metal that
rusted out very quickly.
Very nice car while it lasted though.

3) VW Beetle- very well built and rust proofed body, lasted forever if
one had the time for acceleration and $s for frequent new mufflers.

 

And, obviously, you don't have a clue.