Stop resurrecting once great nameplates

[SfanGoch]

Well, those who love their EMP-susceptible, computer-dependent fun wheels can look forward to this

Happy motoring!  

[espo]

3 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

BAH! The utterances of a plebeian! At least I never had to worry about the possibility of my ass getting roasted because the wiring harness under the front seat decided to short out and spontaneously combust. Ask anyone who owned a Mercury Sable about that bonus feature.

Very funny but not that far from true. We got my wife a new '98 Jimmy and it had the Memory Seat option. The few times I drove it the seat and mirrors would automatically go to my settings with my key. The problem was that when my wife drove it she would be going down the freeway and the seat would start pinning her to the steering wheel, she's 5' 10''. This only would happen when she drove the car and never with myself. It was dangerous and the dealer looked at it a couple of times. I think it was the third or fourth visit we got a Tech. that wanted to find the problem. It seems when the car was assembled some of the seat wiring was mounted wrong under the seat mounting. Her seating position was such that it only would do this when she drove. My setting put me far enough back, I'm 6' 2",  that the wiring wasn't getting pinched we were told.    

[Rob Hall]

My old Jeep ('00 Grand Cherokee) had a variety of sensor and electrical issues (w/ the power windows and seats, etc), but only when it was over 10 years old and over 100,000 miles.   The first 10 years were pretty uneventful.   My '14 GC has been fine so far (37k miles)--has way more electronics than my old one, probably will keep it to 100,000 miles and trade for a new(er) one. 

[NOBLNG]

On ‎6‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 10:50 PM, peteski said:

 While the self-driving cars are almost becoming a reality, all the automatic braking, line departure correction, blind spot warnings, etc., etc., etc. make many of today's drivers complacent while driving (because the car will "take care" of things while they check their email on their smart devices).  That's not good.

I agree 100%. All the attempts to idiot-proof everything is causing human brain atrophy.

P.S. I don't like it being called a Blazer either! It's not even Blazerish.

Edited June 27, 2018 by NOBLNG

[NYLIBUD]

Are you joking me,almost every other car looks the same.PURE ugly garbage..

[iamsuperdan]

Why do I get the sense that if these forums were an office building in 2018, the parking lot would look like this? 

 

The fact is, vehicles today are designed for exactly what people are looking for. Just like the vehicles of the 80s and the 70s and the 60s. The features, the looks, everything is based on what people are looking for. In terms of spirit, this new Blazer is exactly the same as the Blazers of the 70s and 80s.  And manufacturers are not building cars for the declining senior citizen market. They are designing for those that make up the majority of the car buying public. And those 25-40 year olds want electronics, connectivity, smaller efficient engines, more features, less servicability. Essentially, they want the opposite of what older people want.

 

As for the elders...

 

 

 

 

 

[SfanGoch]

Nobody here fears change. It's that there are those of us who loathe both ugly and excessively overloaded wrapped up in one package. Sorta like your friend's girlfriend's fat, hyena-like cousin who he asked you to take out on a date as a "personal favor". 

[espo]

20 minutes ago, SfanGoch said:

Nobody here fears change. It's that there are those of us who loathe both ugly and excessively overloaded wrapped up in one package. Sorta like your friend's girlfriend's fat, hyena-like cousin who he asked you to take out on a date as a "personal favor". 

But did she have a "great personality" ?  I always knew when I heard those words it was time to RUN.

[SfanGoch]

GM's quirky new take on the classic Eldorado Biarritz.Notice the the graceful lines and proportions. Truly, a car whose memory will last a lunchtime.

[iamsuperdan]

1 hour ago, SfanGoch said:

Nobody here fears change.

Lolz

Are you sure about that? I don't mean you, but there are a few that I question...

1 hour ago, SfanGoch said:

It's that there are those of us who loathe both ugly and excessively overloaded wrapped up in one package.

 

Well, ugly is totally objective. I personally like the look of the new Blazer. And I personally think an old Cobra is an unattractive car. Everyone has an opinion on what looks good and what doesn't. And although some will argue on this, none of those opinions are wrong.

 

And as far as being overloaded; that's what the majoprity of people want. Everybody wants bluetooth, wifi, airbags, improved crash standards, heated seats, heated steering wheel, glass roofs, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, ABS, hybrid, bigger wheels, rear seast entertainment, heads up displays, toucha screens, nabvigation, big stereos, LED this, high def that, etc, etc. People demand it, the manufacturers build it. 

Keep in mind, you can still get stripped down base models. It's just that you'll never see one on a dealer's lot, because that's not what people ask for. Dealers only get so many vehicles allocated, so they bring in what sells. 

 

 

[Rob Hall]

5 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

And as far as being overloaded; that's what the majoprity of people want. Everybody wants bluetooth, wifi, airbags, improved crash standards, heated seats, heated steering wheel, glass roofs, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, ABS, hybrid, bigger wheels, rear seast entertainment, heads up displays, toucha screens, nabvigation, big stereos, LED this, high def that, etc, etc. People demand it, the manufacturers build it. 

Keep in mind, you can still get stripped down base models. It's just that you'll never see one on a dealer's lot, because that's not what people ask for. Dealers only get so many vehicles allocated, so they bring in what sells. 

Exactly..I like them loaded w/ all the goodies...and 'stripped down' circa 2018 isn't the same as stripped down circa 1965...I can't imagine there are many new car buyers today that want manual windows, manual vinyl bench seats, AM radio and no A/C that the crotchety fogies pine for...

[SfanGoch]

I like split beach seats. Cloth covered is fine. Car interiors are tight as it is. It sucks trying to cram that sixth passenger into the back seat a la Citroen Clown Cars. I also like trunk space big enough to rent out as a 2BR apartment or stuff a couple wiseguys inside, not the pigeonholes currently in vogue which can barely hold more than a couple bags of groceries or a full size spare. The only donut I want in my car is a honey glaze to go with my cawfee. Why does a car with an auto transmission need a floor mounted shifter? Does it allow the driver to pretend he's Goggles Paisano  at Le Mans?  Most people don't know how to drive a car with a manual tranny anyway. Technology exists to improve upon and reintroduce pushbutton transmission controls. And, nobody in his right mind doesn't want A/C.

[Ace-Garageguy]

11 hours ago, Rob Hall said:

...I can't imagine there are many new car buyers today that want manual windows, manual vinyl bench seats, AM radio and no A/C that the crotchety fogies pine for...

At least they're adult enough to refrain from name-calling (aimed at other members of the board) with their hyperbole.

Edited June 29, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[Rodent]

10 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

I like split beach seats. Cloth covered is fine. Car interiors are tight as it is. It sucks trying to cram that sixth passenger into the back seat a la Citroen Clown Cars. I also like trunk space big enough to rent out as a 2BR apartment or stuff a couple wiseguys inside, not the pigeonholes currently in vogue which can barely hold more than a couple bags of groceries or a full size spare. The only donut I want in my car is a honey glaze to go with my cawfee. Why does a car with an auto transmission need a floor mounted shifter? Does it allow the driver to pretend he's Goggles Paisano  at Le Mans?  Most people don't know how to drive a car with a manual tranny anyway. Technology exists to improve upon and reintroduce pushbutton transmission controls. And, nobody in his right mind doesn't want A/C.

Lincoln MKC.

[SfanGoch]

I like cars, not automotive mutations which fall between car and truck.

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

At least they're adult enough to refrain from name-calling (aimed at other members of the board) with their hyperbole.

Yeah, SOP when one disagrees. 

[Rodent]

8 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

I like cars, not automotive mutations which fall between car and truck.

Yeah, SOP when one disagrees. 

Just pointing out a modern push-button gearshift 

[SfanGoch]

Understood. I was just making an aside or whatever you want to call mindless ramblings.  

[iamsuperdan]

On 6/28/2018 at 10:15 AM, Rob Hall said:

Exactly..I like them loaded w/ all the goodies...and 'stripped down' circa 2018 isn't the same as stripped down circa 1965...I can't imagine there are many new car buyers today that want manual windows, manual vinyl bench seats, AM radio and no A/C that the crotchety fogies pine for...

But...you can still order vehicles like that (kind of), if you know which brands still do it!

[Rob Hall]

4 hours ago, iamsuperdan said:

But...you can still order vehicles like that (kind of), if you know which brands still do it!

Fleet spec pickups I can imagine are pretty stripped down and gray inside.   

[1972coronet]

Outward appearances aside : which direction is the engine / trans situated ? If it's yet another wrong-wheel-drive s-box , then its looks are even worse ! Yes , a front engine / rear drive platform makes all the difference to me when it comes to a vehicle's looks . 

I want ashtrays , lighters , and decent cup holders . You can have your screens and "touch" everything !

[Rob Hall]

2 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Outward appearances aside : which direction is the engine / trans situated ? 

Front drive/transverse engine, same platform as the Acadia and XT5.   Just a volume lease appliance. 

[MrObsessive]

5 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Outward appearances aside : which direction is the engine / trans situated ? If it's yet another wrong-wheel-drive s-box , then its looks are even worse ! Yes , a front engine / rear drive platform makes all the difference to me when it comes to a vehicle's looks . 

I want ashtrays , lighters , and decent cup holders . You can have your screens and "touch" everything !

The first thing I notice when any new design comes out is the placement of the wheels in relation to the dash. If the dash is practically hovering over the front wheels GUARANTEED it’s FWD. 

There are some exceptions, but that’s been a long standing pet peeve of mine for years when it comes to modern design. I can’t stand the “too close to the front door” wheel positioning on many cars I see.

IMO, just makes it look kinda goofy, and I’m tired now of the constipated dog stance I see a number of cars have. ?

[Rob Hall]

15 minutes ago, MrObsessive said:

The first thing I notice when any new design comes out is the placement of the wheels in relation to the dash. If the dash is practically hovering over the front wheels GUARANTEED it’s FWD. 

There are some exceptions, but that’s been a long standing pet peeve of mine for years when it comes to modern design. I can’t stand the “too close to the front door” wheel positioning on many cars I see.

IMO, just makes it look kinda goofy, and I’m tired now of the constipated dog stance I see a number of cars have. ?

Yeah, the short front door to front wheel distance (or dash-to-axle ratio) is a giveaway of a FWD based platform... not a fan of FWD, I prefer RWD/AWD for cars and SUVs (though I do like certain Audi and Volvo models). Interestingly, the next gen Explorer coming for 2020 will be on a new RWD/AWD platform I've read (same as the new Lincoln Aviator which replaces the MKT). 

Edited July 2, 2018 by Rob Hall

[peteski]

On 6/29/2018 at 10:13 AM, Rodent said:

Just pointing out a modern push-button gearshift 

Funny - what was old is new again.  Push-button shifting was all the rage in the mid-20th Century.  SOme cars even hat the buttons in the center of the steering wheel.

 

On 6/28/2018 at 1:11 PM, SfanGoch said:

Why does a car with an auto transmission need a floor mounted shifter? Does it allow the driver to pretend he's Goggles Paisano  at Le Mans?  Most people don't know how to drive a car with a manual tranny anyway. Technology exists to improve upon and reintroduce pushbutton transmission controls. And, nobody in his right mind doesn't want A/C.

Forget the floor-mounted automatic transmission shifter.  Many cars nowadays have those fancy paddle-shifters, for sifting your auto-transmission without taking your hands off the wheels.  Those are included even in SUVs, for the Formula-1 wannabes. 

[Rob Hall]

8 hours ago, peteski said:

Forget the floor-mounted automatic transmission shifter.  Many cars nowadays have those fancy paddle-shifters, for sifting your auto-transmission without taking your hands off the wheels.  Those are included even in SUVs, for the Formula-1 wannabes. 

My Jeep has the paddle shifters in addition to the console shifter..for the 'sport' setting of the 8spd auto.   I've never really used them, though I do bump them occasionally.