Even though the S2000 is being discontinued (terrible decision), I think it's one of the best cars ever. It's simple, fast, rear-wheel drive, pretty affordable, hugs corners and looks great while doing it.
If there was an American car available that was half that of the S2000 and affordable I would buy it, but unfortunately there isn't.
The fact is that most of the country is landlocked, flat and boring. People drive to work everyday, stuck in traffic, idling inefficient oversize SUVs with the backseats empty and who can blame them? What else is there? Families want big cars, one can understand that. But what about the younger generations?
The problem is that the executives at Ford, Chevy and Chrysler (which technically isn't American anymore) are so out-of-touch with young Americans. I completely understand building cars for baby boomers and ages 40+ but what can people 22-39 buy? IMPORTS.
Our generation is confusing. Whatever we are doing, we like to have fun, look good, and show-off while somehow coming off as humble. We want something desirable and there are very few desirable American cars.
All my friends drive Asian cars. Why? Because they offer everything we need, simplicity, good (enough) looks, and they're fun. Everyone I work with drives Asian cars (except for my boss's BMW 6-series). Why? Because they're practical, affordable, and classy (enough).
You can buy 2-Hyundai Genesis Coupes for the price of a Cadillac STS. You can buy a Subaru STi for about the same price as a Chevy Camaro.
That's another thing, even the coolest American cars are made for Old folks. The Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger are all nostalgic cars for baby boomers. I have yet to see a young person driving a Dodge Challenger. Why? Because it doesn't mean anything to us. Yeah, okay, it looks badass but it sent American car design back 40 years. What owners of late 1960s muscle cars would have thought they'd be driving cars that look identical to ones they're driving now, 40 years later? They probably thought they'd be driving flying cars by 2010. Man were they wrong.
Chevy and Ford have it in their thick skulls that young Americans want little shit boxes with usb capabilities that have some sporty lines. No we don't!
We don't want glorified junk. We want functional cars.
While the Italians make the best sports cars, the Germans make the best hatchbacks, the Japanese make the best economy cars and off-roaders, we, the Americans, make the best pick-ups to lug shit around slowly and inefficiently.
Damn it! How many times do we have to tell Ford that we want the Focus RS! People are going to start buying them elsewhere and importing them themselves.
Bring this to America and I'll shut up, for a little while anyway. Even Mexico gets the Focus RS, why is that?
~M/o "Stay up to Speed"
Posts
2011 Mustang. First home-grown American car worth looking at in years?
ReplyDeleteFord has really tightened the body up. They've done a great job refining the Mustang I do have to say.
ReplyDeletewell said Jeff, right on the moeny. I have a daily driver for commuting, and a musclecacr for fun. When my commuter is in need of replacing it will be a fule efficient and hopefully fun honda, I'm sick of modern american cars, and you are right on point about the usb crap. I'd love an S2000, civic, vw gti, Mini, etc etc.. for a fun little car. No way I'd waste money on a modern version of the Challenger, my 71 was the real thing and the modern stuff is like buying a Beetle and not realizing it was a reskinned Fox. You know it, you can't get away from it. My muscle car is a real 69 R/T with 3 carbs, a 4 spd, only gets 4 mpg, and I love every minute of it, but no new version of it would compare to it's fun factor. New muscle cars are just missing the critical raw factor that the real late 60's cars have. Unrefined gusto
ReplyDeleteOooo that 69 R/T sounds like lots of fun. Do you have photos?
ReplyDelete