Tell me more. I've got the 5.7l Hemi in my wife's Durango. Whose chip matches with what, 1 new Comp Cam, to go from 345hp to 500hp?
Posted on 04/12/2006 10:50:03 AM PDT by apackof2
Hey, New York, check out the exotic "imports" - from Detroit.
Detroit. Now that the media din has successfully canonized literally every import brand imaginable, no matter what the pedigree, and instilled a Detroit = Bad, Imports = Good mentality in the American car buying public, New Yorkers attending the New York Auto Show this week owe it to themselves to check out the "exotic" import offerings from the Motor City. And if they would take their import-oriented blinders off long enough, they would be shocked at the sheer number of competitive offerings from GM, Ford and the Chrysler Group.
The state of the domestic auto industry in this country is such that Detroit-sourced brands should be viewed as exotic imports at this point, because too many in the media (who should know better) and in this country's current administration, along with the various lightweights in Washington (who are incapable of knowing better) are so blatantly biased against anything that Detroit comes up with that it would be laughable - if it weren't so tedious and flat-out wrong.
In many respects, now that the imports have gone mainstream, thanks to ill-informed tirades from such automotive "experts" as The New York Times' Thomas L. Friedman, who officially anointed Toyota as "America's Car Company" last summer - Detroit collectively has a shot as the alternative brand for American consumers. As a matter of fact, it's amusing to see some of the import brands veering to the staid and stodgy end of the automotive spectrum, while the Detroit automakers continue to push the envelope, coming up with some of the industry's most expressive designs.
After documenting this industry for the last seven years, it's no secret why this has happened, and I'm not going to rehash it here, but suffice to say Detroit played a large role in the predicament they find themselves in today and have gotten almost everything they've deserved. But some of my lesser colleagues out there have so bought into the imports-are-automatically-better way of looking at the world that they're not only incapable of seeing anything positive come from Detroit - they wouldn't know if it ran over them in the street. And the American consumers have followed right along with the program, now so conditioned to the notion that Detroit = Bad, Imports = Good that they're incapable of giving anything with Detroit overtones even a minimal shred of consideration.
With that in mind, I'll offer up a list of worthwhile offerings from Detroit that New Yorkers should check out at the show - on their way to picking out which shade of Beige to order their Camrys in.
Stop at the Chrysler Group exhibit and check out the Dodge Caliber and the Nitro. We like the Nitro better, but these are compact vehicles with a real point of view. Rear-wheel-drive fans shouldn't miss the Charger, the 300C and, of course, the bad-ass Viper sports car. And if you're into Jeeps, there are so many variations on the floor that you could spend an hour just sorting them all out. Trucks? They got plenty of 'em, so you won't be disappointed if trucks are your thing.
At Ford, the Fusion is a perfect example of a mainstream domestic car that deserves far more attention than it's already receiving, so investigate it further. And if branding exercises are your game, there are Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr versions too. The Ford Edge is the kind of crossover vehicle that should get a lot more attention once it hits the streets, even though it's not our particular thing. But so far it's getting lost in the din of import canonization. The Ford display is Truck City, so I won't even bother talking about the endless variations on the theme, although if you don't revel in the sheer presence of the "Super Chief" F-150 Concept you're truly missing out.
And for those of you out there who equate euro "sophistication" and technological overkill with desirability, don't go see the new Shelby Cobra Mustang GT 500. As a matter of fact, just keep right on walking, because its raw visceral appeal would be completely lost on you. For the rest who have the remnants of an open mind, you'll also enjoy checking out the milder Ford Shelby GT-H, a throwback to when Shelby and Ford actually sent a few Shelby Mustangs to Hertz rental lots in the 60s.
As for GM, they're the one domestic car company that has put more emphasis on product in the last few years than anyone (after ignoring it for so long they certainly needed to, desperately) - and it shows. In GM's display, you'll see good stuff everywhere you look. If you're looking for a sedan that has more character in one wheel than most other sedans have in total, the new Saturn Aura has mainstream "hit" written all over it, and it will be available this summer. For those needing something right now, check out the Chevy Impala SS with a small-block V-8 and displacement on demand. It's one of GM's "quiet" hits that continues to sell extremely well. Or the tasteful new Buick Lucerne, which packs more style, luxury and value in its package than the Lexus ES350. Then, there's the Chevy HHR, another of GM's "quiet" hits. Or the Pontiac G6 hardtop convertible. Or how about the Pontiac Solstice roadster, or the Saturn Sky, if sharp creases appeal to you more? Or the new full-size SUVs led by the Cadillac Escalade. Or the Hummer H3. The new Corvette. Or the Corvette ZO6 - one of the best sports cars in the world, period.
You get the picture. The New York Auto Show is a snapshot of the automobile industry right now, the most competitive it has ever been in its history. Detroit has been so out of it for so long they're now coming back around as the quintessential "outsiders" in a business that has become overrun with preconceived notions, accumulated biases and a confluence of relentlessly ill-informed weasels hell-bent on witnessing the outright destruction of the domestic automobile business - even though the consequences of such a scenario would have a profoundly negative impact on every single citizen in this country.
The "exotics" from Detroit are now worth a serious look, and this week, New Yorkers will get an eye-full. I believe they'll be pleasantly surprised.
Thanks for listening, see you next Wednesday.
Why? I've got one and I love it. It's decent on gas mileage, fast (250HP but not a race car), and looks a lot like a shark from the side. The stereo needs improvement beyond 1980's tech though (support for mp3's and mp3 disks)
Everything else you said makes sense though.
It's anecdotal, but I have a 1990 Chevy Lumina with 230,000+ miles. It's seen better days, to be sure, but it still runs. And I have a F-150 with 130,000+.
So, I think the U.S. automakers have been building mostly OK cars for a while...it's just hard for them to distance themselves from what they did in the 70s and 80s.
I'll just stick with my '89 T-bird with 219,000 miles...if it's all the same to you.
Gotta disagree, but it does depend on the vehicle type....
My 14 year old Ford E150 conversion has 150k+ on it, and I've owned it since 1998 when I bout it used with about 43k on it.. Nearly everything on it is OEM... I have had to replace the starter and the alternator.. but both were OEM when I replaced them... and the power stearing pump is starting to go... but after 14 years of service I am not complaining.
My Chrysler Sebring 1996 JXI has just shy of 150k on it, other than needing tie rods almost guaranteed every 2 years or so its mechanics are overwhelmingly OEM as well.
I am a little less pleased with the Chrysler, just general quality seems lower than other cars I've owned.. but its still be a great reliable car... bit of an expensive bugger to work on at times.. with the horizontally opposed engine and needing to remove the manifold to get to 1/2 the spark plugs... but all in all its been a good car.
But back to my original point, it depends on what sort of vehicle you buy.. a full size van from Ford will last you until you die provided you take care of it, and don't buy one with an engine that's really too little for the vehicle.. these are industrial grade machines... get a full size with a good sized V8 and if you take care of it, the drive train will easily top 250k.
"Nobody instilled Detroit = Bad, Imports = Good other than Detroit. Whoever decided that the current Monte Carlo was a good looking car should be taken outside and beaten with a stick. Then go find the guy who said all those aluminum-block Chevys could take the transition from gas to diesel operation without blowing up. Then find the guy who first used the word K-Car and kick him in the stomach. Then lets talk about the catalytic converters installed in Camaros right in front of the passenger seat that were so hot you couldnt put your legs over them. Lets talk about all the GM cars with T-tops that couldn't keep you dry in a car wash. I'm just getting started."
Those were cast-iron Oldsmobile engines, not Chevrolets and they simply weren't built of strong enough materials, the design was fine.
K-cars refers to the K shaped frome that housed the front mounted engine and final drive assembly and was a big seller as well as being economical for the owner and a financial shot in the arm for Chrysler Motors.
The cats in a Camaro were no better nor worse than most at the time heat shields were being developed to comply with regulations unrelated to emissions.
No car manufacturer warrants against water leaks experienced in the extreme environment of a power car wash.
I'm glad you didn't keep going, you were on a roll.
My 2003 Honda Civic EX was assembled in Canada but has mostly Japanese parts.
It is hands-down the best car I have ever had or that my parents ever had:
Oldmobile '98 (cr@p)
Chevy Corsica (Lemmon)
Ford Tempo (cr@p)
Ford Bronco (cr@p)
Ford Taurus (cr@p - they even forgot to bolt the engine to the frame)
Ford Taurus (cr@p 1996 company car - cracked engine block with only 120,000 miles on it)
Ford Escort (not bad but died at 130,000 miles)
HONDA 2003 CIVIC EX - PRICELESS
I bought a Jeep Liberty in 03. After 75K miles I'm still impressed. And I hated Chrysler for years, not to mention AMC Jeep.
Just found out that a mild grind Comp Cam and a chip will turn the 5.7L Hemi into a 500hp 7K RPM beast.
Chrysler is coming back and I very impressed with their designs. It is the only american car company that I would even think of buying from.
Your 1990 Chevy Lumina only has 230,000? That averages about 14,000 year - not exactly taxing to the auto.
My 2003 Civic already has 60,000 with ZERO problems after only 38 months (got it with 7 miles on the odometer).
um, that hasn't been my experience.
We put 128,000 miles on a 96 Windstar. 158,000 on an Aerostar. I have 88,000 on a 2001 Escape right now, and it acts like new, looks it too, except for expected wear and tear. We have a '97 Mustang convertible V6 (with a new top) that runs and looks great ... with 102,000 miles. The F-150 is low mileage, as is our Expedition. Are we Ford loyal? Not really. We have owned lots of brands, including Japanese, english, Swedish and German. By experience, the English and the Swedes made the hangar-queens ... the Japanese made the most uncomfortable and most expensive to collision-repair.
That will go exactly 5.7 miles before blowing.
:-)
Tell me more. I've got the 5.7l Hemi in my wife's Durango. Whose chip matches with what, 1 new Comp Cam, to go from 345hp to 500hp?
The truth is that Detroit makes *some* good cars and a few great ones (the new Corvette Z06 is tops). The H3. The 300C. Shelby Mustang. Ford GT.
But...the unions are donating all $45 Million of their campaign funds to Democrats this year.
Frankly, if unions want to be political, then they can expect it to be a two-way street with politics right back at them.
So I don't want to see GM ask for a government bailout after the UAW backs Democrats exclusively.
If GM and the UAW don't want political concerns to factor in, then they should themselves get out of politics. Otherwise, this ain't bean-ball.
And just as I might choose to not pay to see a Hollywood movie with some hyper-left-wing star like Barbara Streisand in it, I *might* not buy a car from GM or Ford while the UAW is donating all of their campaign contributions to politicians that displease me.
Every Detroit car that you buy helps Democrats because the UAW channels union dues to one Party.
TOWARD A BETTER LOOKING AZTEK
Pontiac designers have finished their studies on what to do about their ugly duckling Aztek SUV. After months of review and meetings with consumer study groups, Pontiac have redesigned the exterior more like the original concept version with a monochromatic exterior color scheme and wider wheels. Gone for 2002 is the two-tone look that featured gray trim, and the small wheels that made it look ungainly. The wheels are replaced with 16-inchers. A spoiler has been added to help redefine the Aztek's much maligned rear-end.
ROTF!
Actually, it's nothing all that new. The only difference is how cheaply and easily the new HEMI design makes these things.
Heck, Gurney and three other cars did better than 2906.226 trouble free miles at the '66 Le Mans...with off the shelf 302s. American's simply have a history of building excellent engines.
Bzzz. I own a Jeep Liberty and love it, but I cannot call Diamler-Chrysler an "American car company." They are owned by Diamler-Benz, and make no mistake, it was not a 'merger' it was a takeover.
BMW, Mercedes, Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Hundai are just some of the foreign brands that assemble cars in the US of A and are just as "American" as Diamler-Chrysler.
Talk about lipstick on a pig.
Ok, this is going to sound a little off the wall, but think about this.
If you don't mind a flat out, butt-ugly vehicle, buying a used Aztek is a great value.
These cars are the same platform as the Buick Rondezvous. Mechanically, not a bad vehicle. They drive and run fine. They just are about the ugliest things I have ever seen. So, if you buy one used, you'll get a good vehicle for little money, (someone else will have been abused on the depreciation, since the resale is in the toilet on these things). Now, if you keep it and drive it till it dies, you end up winning financially. When you're inside of it, you don't have to LOOK at it. :)
I've tried to convince myself this is financially a wise move, but I'm just too vain to drive such an ugly car.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.