What happened to all the niche ( PTC, HHR,Prowler,SSR)(did I miss any?) cars ?

[DR JAY]

I spent almost 25 years repairing cars for a living and have had every vehicle mentioned in my bay at one time or another; some WAY more than others (I'm looking at you- PT Cruiser!)....I can think of many, MANY reasons why you don't see them around any more.There was an upside, though--the manure spreaders paid the bills.Besides, how many of you saw filthy and beaten Super Birds and Hemi Cudas in the 70's? There were lots of 'em...unfortunately I don't think that these mass production units will appreciate like a 1 of 9 (or whatever)70 Hemi Challenger 4-speed drop top or the ONE root beer brown 1970 Super Bird built. (It was a factory paint mistake)I feel today's cars have very little soul and in order for something to be different it has to be familiar.The last car I had with soul was my old 85 Monte Carlo SS--black over blue with a 355/turbo 350 I threw in for tire-shredding good times.

[JamesW]

I see many a PT Cruiser running around Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio . I also have watched many a Pontiac Fiero being pulled from the storage location and being sold by the road. They are also driving them also . Just wonder if they never went up in value so people started to sell them .

Very true. Michigan must be a hotspot for those type of cars. I see Fiero's, PT's and the occasional Prowler on the road all the time. There's a guy here that owns 3 Prowlers, and he drives one of them regularly. He's also got 2 Viper's (95-96) that rarely see the light of day.

[1930fordpickup]

My old boss bought a Prowler when they first came out because he had the money to burn . I wonder if he still drives it ?

[Joe Handley]

I still see a good number of PT's and HHR's around here, but was said earlier, the PT and HHR are actually practical cars once you get past the Niche market appearance.

[Deathgoblin]

I think the reason a lot of the "niche" cars are gone now is because none of the domestic car companies have the unlimited budgets they used to. Before the collapse of GM, Ford and Chrysler, you used to see all kinds of crazy concepts. It seems like now all they show is stuff that they can actually produce and make money on (SUV's/crossovers). Can't really blame them, but at the same time you miss the old days.

[iBorg]

I think the niche cars as well as the paint colors of other cars are a reflection of the economy. It has been shown there's a direct coorelation between paint colors and economy. With the current economic uncertainity, the dominat colors are those that don't show age nor make a statement. Notice the abundance of white, gray, silver and light blue cars being sold compared to vibrant colors like red and yellow. I think the vibrant cars fall into the same category. While these cars didn't have the get up and go, many of us would like, they did make a statement that connected to the owner. Now most new cars (look at the lack of convertibles also) are viewed as transportation with mileage the overridding feature. Performance and fun are mostly irrelevant to most buyers.

[sjordan2]

I'm sure that nobody is surprised by the following tidbit of information...

The design of the HHR has been credited to Bryan Nesbitt who was a former designer at Chrysler where he was the lead designer of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Nesbitt was recruited by GM to join its design staff and served for a time as the chief designer of the Chevrolet brand.

While Nesbitt was only partly responsible for the original HHR design (which GM had developed to capitalize on the PT Cruiser), it was in the works when he joined GM, and he guided it to production. He's now in charge of GM international operations based in Shanghai.

Edited May 23, 2012 by sjordan2

[Rob Hall]

About the only one of the retro styled niche models of the last decade that I liked and wouldn't mind owning was the Thunderbird.

[Greg Myers]

I thought I forgot one. I didn't like the lights, front or back. I have a '97 now, lots of fun.

[sjordan2]

I thought I forgot one. I didn't like the lights, front or back. I have a '97 now, lots of fun.

I thought I forgot one. I didn't like the lights, front or back. I have a '97 now, lots of fun.

I woiud love to see focus group results on this one. To me, it's an example of how to kill a product launch through stupid blandness. Seems to fit right in there with losers like the Cadillac Allante, and Buick Reatta.

[martinfan5]

I dont see to many of that year Tbird's , I think I see one maybe once a year, that was just a bad idea.

[Mark]

The retro-Thunderbird was killed before it had a chance, by dealers looking at a big fat markup. It was probably worth sticker price, but the ten grand beyond that, that some dealers were asking, brought a lot of negative press.

The PT Cruiser ran its course. Daimler didn't develop a second-generation model, they only cheapened it and squeezed every nickel out of it. A co-worker of mine had a very early one; a few years later she looked at another new one but was appalled by how much the thing had been "de-contented". A two-door wagon would have sold better as a second model than the convertible, and would have lent itself to a sedan delivery version.

The HHR was okay, but overpriced at first. I considered pulling the trigger on one in 2007. My nephew, who sells new cars, told me recently "be glad you didn't buy one...we've had a lot of problems with them". Then there's the panel version: pay $300 more for no rear seat, no windows in the rear doors, and no quarter windows? What kind of logic is that?

I'm surprised Ford didn't come up with a similar vehicle, to grab a piece of that market.

The Fiero: typical GM thinking, build it out of the parts bin but charge the long dollar. I looked at one in 1984. Base model, $8,400...sticker price, dealer won't budge. Where's the OHC, where's the aluminum engine...where's the five-speed transaxle? Throttle-body fuel injection...not much more than half a Quadrajet with a bunch of wires attached, dead-end technology. After looking at that, I never gave a GM vehicle more than a passing glance until I saw the HHR.

[Greg Myers]

A two-door wagon would have sold better as a second model than the convertible, and would have lent itself to a sedan delivery version.

Then there's the panel version: pay $300 more for no rear seat, no windows in the rear doors, and no quarter windows? What kind of logic is that?

You contradict your own self here ?

[RodneyBad]

If ya have a nice Niche car.

My friends B/Fs car and they drive it all summer everywhere..

Drive it all the time (on good sunny days)

Edited May 25, 2012 by RodneyBad

[Mark]

You contradict your own self here ?

Nope...offer the panel, but at a price that reflects the content. Selling less for more doesn't work, at least with me...

[jaymcminn]

The PT Cruiser ran its course. Daimler didn't develop a second-generation model, they only cheapened it and squeezed every nickel out of it. A co-worker of mine had a very early one; a few years later she looked at another new one but was appalled by how much the thing had been "de-contented". A two-door wagon would have sold better as a second model than the convertible, and would have lent itself to a sedan delivery version.

I have an '05 PT turbo convertible- the only year built before they did the unattractive facelift and the cheaper interior. Although I love my 'vert, I definitely recognize that it's a pretty polarizing design. It's definitely not like anything else out there, and you don't see them everywhere like Sebring and V6 Mustang convertibles!

Edited May 25, 2012 by jaymcminn

[Rob Hall]

A neighbor has a gold w/ tan top '05 PT Convertible...neat little car.

[Joe Handley]

I really wish they had made a 2dr panel from that version of the PT's unibody too!

[rmvw guy]

OK have to mention the VW Beetle. My 2000 is still going strong and getting lots of smiles from the kids of all ages. Still not too over priced my only complaint is how VW technology is so protected and so expensive on service. I still have my 1970 for comparison. I remember when you could get a complete tuneup for around twelve dollars.

[rmvw guy]

Maybe I missed the point of this conversation or the definition of "niche". I was thinking in terms of a retro design cue which would include vehicles like the Mustang, T Bird, Camero, Challenger, Prowler, the PT and SSR, and also the Mini Cooper, VW Beetle. However I don't understand how the Fiero fits in unless it's because it was a two seater. I'm confused. Are we talking two seat sports cars like the Viper or pickups, deliveries, or what? These all started as concept vehicles while the market was tested. The only disappointment usually the final market price. The success vehicles are usually priced right and offer options. Oh well, my two cents.

[Greg Myers]

No, I think you got it Ron. I missed on the term "niche" Your "Retro" vehicle is more realistic. Also I wasn't including the newer vehicles as they were more successful. I agree, the Fiero doesn't fit.

Edited May 26, 2012 by Greg Myers

[GeeBee]

Well I still have my '06 PT, bought it new, I don't like the look of our boring Euro boxes, so the PT ticked all the boxes, it's never been repaired, and apart from servicing, hasn't cost me a penny, it's just flew through the MOT again with flying colours ... and it's still on it's original tyres !

[rmvw guy]

No, I think you got it Ron. I missed on the term "niche" Your "Retro" vehicle is more realistic. Also I wasn't including the newer vehicles as they were more successful. I agree, the Fiero doesn't fit.

Thanks Gregory, I got lost for a minute, sorry about that. Oh, and as far as the SSR, I wish they would have incorporated the design into the S-10 platform at a S-10 price, wouldn't that have sold more? I think it was sort of a retro early '50's style and would have looked good as a stepside. It would have been useful as a real pickup and I might have considered one. Edited May 26, 2012 by rmvw guy

[lordairgtar]

http://s43.photobuck...RPanel002-1.jpg

http://s43.photobuck...RPanel001-1.jpg

For some reason, my photobucket is not letting me post direct. This is my HHR Panel. I've had two so far. A 2007 and this 2010 model. Sorry to see it being not made anymore. I've driven a friend's PT and I find it cramped and tinny. Reliable car as it never gave her any trouble, plus it's the second one she's owned. I've never had any trouble with the 2010, and the 2007 had some vibrating brake issues that were because of the Chinese sourced brake rotors. I replaced those with Napa ones from Canada. Problem solved.

Edited May 27, 2012 by lordairgtar