OT...halo cars that went flop

[Plymouthy Adams]

hard to believe, #10 Avanti..look how far back in time they went to grab this beast...unfair in any form of competition...though I would never own it and have always thought the front design was an afterthought as in "we need something to make production deadlines, do something, anything"....I can't help but wonder..how did the Aztec avoid the cut? The Crossfire deserves to be there, not a favored child of the mismatch of parents..the TC..price killed this car..but hey, Chrysler held controlling stock in Maseratti at the time..and whether you want to believe it or not but was this short lived union brought forth the successful LHS platform...I assure you my 10 list would be a bit different..

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-tarnished-halo-cars.html;_ylt=AnTCg4dmbKJaofA2GUow8UVGca9_;_ylu=X3oDMTFycmJianZ1BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkgTW9kdWxlBHBvcwMxMgRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTNkdDFpczRpBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDZDU2OGU4NDAtOTA3OS0zMzIyLTlmNGEtNmM3YTJhYzlhNGNjBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xuZXdzYW5kcmVwb3J0cwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2U-;_ylv=3?page=10

[randroid]

Tim,

I agree with you on everything you said. When are those clowns with their fingers on the corporate buttons going to realize that it isn't a seller's market? I guess it doesn't matter as long as they can give themselves million dollar bonuses and know somebody will come to their rescue after their incompetence rises to the surface with the rest of their scum.

I have a radical notion that's probably too far afield to ever work, but how about they design something that works well the first time and stick with it?

Lynn's 2004 Dodge Stratus V-6 needs the intake manifold removed to change spark plugs, the exhaust system must be dismantled for access to the oil pressure switch, and has a battery sealed inside the left fender. On top of that it handles like crap in snow and was designed so chains cannot be put on the tires. Much as I like Chrysler I doubt we'd ever buy another.

I'll stop here before I get my skivvies in a bunch from just thinking about it.

-Randy

[Plymouthy Adams]

IF..and that is a big IF the designers were made to go out and service a few of the components that make up the assembly..car design would change and change quickly. I do not call myself a designer by any means but I strive in my retrofits to have total access to the items I hang to the best intent possible. While this cannot not always be done, at least you make it to where few parts are removed and hopefully no sealed AC, cooling or oiling system will be disturbed..my radiator in the bz cp is a bit of a disappointment to me in that regard..but as it is support forward mounted and the nose of the P15 tapers..and I am running AC with condenser and mechanical and electrical fans in place, it is acceptable I guess.. some things are just locked in..but I still believe I can get it in and out as I made the upper support removable..sometimes your hands are tied..but mostly I don't think they turn their hand to the service side of the car when designing things..it is designed around one aspect only..the speed of assembly during production..

[Robert Horne]

With the hot temperatures in the summer, the designers should take into account the large solar heating top of a dashboard, most of the time black or some dark color. The Dodge Avenger we owned, had a very large black dash. The AC had to run full speed on sunny days.

[old stovebolt]

hard to believe, #10 Avanti..look how far back in time they went to grab this beast...unfair in any form of competition...though I would never own it and have always thought the front design was an afterthought as in "we need something to make production deadlines, do something, anything"....I can't help but wonder..how did the Aztec avoid the cut? The Crossfire deserves to be there, not a favored child of the mismatch of parents..the TC..price killed this car..but hey, Chrysler held controlling stock in Maseratti at the time..and whether you want to believe it or not but was this short lived union brought forth the successful LHS platform...I assure you my 10 list would be a bit different..

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-tarnished-halo-cars.html;_ylt=AnTCg4dmbKJaofA2GUow8UVGca9_;_ylu=X3oDMTFycmJianZ1BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkgTW9kdWxlBHBvcwMxMgRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTNkdDFpczRpBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDZDU2OGU4NDAtOTA3OS0zMzIyLTlmNGEtNmM3YTJhYzlhNGNjBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xuZXdzYW5kcmVwb3J0cwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2U-;_ylv=3?page=10

Nice article, thank you. I have a model of the Avanti sitting on my desk. Wish I owned one.

[Don Boger]

Having worked for a Chevy/Subaru Dealership, I have had the unfortunate pleasure of working on both the SSR and the SVX. The SSR was a pain in the rear to work on, think Corvette with a truck body. The SVX was a walk in the park compared to the SSR. Little un-often spoke about fact, Chevy was partnered with Subaru for a short time because they were wanting to use the SVX drive train in a Corvette. I am so glad that never happened.

[Flatie46]

I agree with your comment about the front styling of the Avanti Tim. I like the car all but the front end and ahve often wondered what happened? When I worked at a Chevy dealer back in the 80's we took one in on trade and it was put in the showroom, I had the chore of wiping it down every other day. A friend owns a crossfire and she absolutely loves it, to each his/her own.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I love the looks of the Crossfire..I went to the dealer ship and was not happy with two things..the 2.7 engine..and the step down floor pan..while getting in and out whee door opening is not a hinderance..you ok..but on the delaer ship lot I went to get into it..got about half way in..reversed my decision and got out, tossed the man the key and walked away..beisdes, it has a stigma not unlike the Miata..chic-car..

[Flatie46]

When I saw the Subaru WRX on the list it reminded me of the only person I ever knew to buy one. It was I a guy I worked closely with for several years at the factory I'm at, his name is Chris Wallen. He bought one shortly before quitting his job to got to Nashville and become a big time songwriter. He's written songs for Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins Confederate Railroad, Brooks and Dunn. That's the car he headed to fame in. Lol

[BobT-47P15]

Saw two of the SSR pickups just this afternoon.

They are cool looking....but not very practical.

[Plymouthy Adams]

a lady friend I grew up with has one of the HHR's..not my cup of tea... driving the vehicle found a small and confined inner space and the view was not what I expected..was restrictive..I don't really mind a small compartment but I usually find that only in my little British cars..where they are supposed to be..!

[Flatie46]

Have to admit I liked the HHR when it came out but when I saw the price tag I quickly lost intrest. It just wasn't worth it to me. All of the retro looking cars have kinda fell by the wayside. Hate to say it but the PT Cruiser may have been the biggest success of 'em all.

[Plymouthy Adams]

the PT Cruiser when first released was also a bit overpriced..dealers could mark them up big time and did just that....but once the market was flooded they fell in line and become affordable as the prices fell to the SMRP..that is what saved it from the list also..it did have a 10 year run though..I did not care for the convertible..too much Carson look in the top..an afterthought design form concept..but majority of that was rules and regs on rollover safety/survivability..

[Frank Elder]

Have to admit I liked the HHR when it came out but when I saw the price tag I quickly lost intrest. It just wasn't worth it to me. All of the retro looking cars have kinda fell by the wayside. Hate to say it but the PT Cruiser may have been the biggest success of 'em all.

Not the mustang, camaro or challenger............

[Plymouthy Adams]

I would not included the Mustang in the that line up with the Camaro and Challenger..the Mustang did not cease production and therefore was not resurrected..the Mustang going back to its early design was timely however and a big plus for their sales..only Saleen seems to know how to make the later model ugly

[faucet47custom]

I don't know the entire history, but someone resurrected the Avanti badge as an independent brand. They put the bodies on a borrowed GM drivetrain from the Camaro/Firebird line. They were made about 100 yards from where my office is now until GM cut those cars from production and they had no donors for running gear. I had spoken once to the people that ran the place and were great to talk with and loved what they did. Just an interesting anecdote I thought I would share.

[Robert Horne]

Have to admit I liked the HHR when it came out but when I saw the price tag I quickly lost intrest. It just wasn't worth it to me. All of the retro looking cars have kinda fell by the wayside. Hate to say it but the PT Cruiser may have been the biggest success of 'em all.

I drove a few of the HHRs when they first came out. The LT with the larger of the engines would run very good. Many HHRs were overloaded with options that jacked the price way up.

[Flatie46]

I thought the first retro Mustang bodystyle was nice, they keep tweekin' it and I wont like it. The Camaro was a big dissapointment to me. It just wasn't very retro. If I didn't think it was suppose to look like a 60's Camaro I might not be dissapointed. I like the Challenger somewhat, having the right paint, wheels and soforth make a world of difference to me on them. The Charger for some reason I liked from the getgo but it looks nothing like any of the chargers. Other than the Charger these cars don't seem to sell well in this area. More poor folk like myself I guess.

[Plymouthy Adams]

the Charger is not a Charger of the old breed due to two extra doors..that single one factor is why the popularity of the car is 'lacking' the police however seems to love them..so I guess the extra doors are a plus for them..

[Young Ed]

I see a lot of chargers both the first reissue and the recent redesign. I do like the somewhat retro side to side taillight panel on the new ones.

[ascinder]

No Isuzu VehiCROSS, what gives?