More CARS being discontinued

[fan-of-fans]

Since Ford announce they are discontinuing all cars except the Mustang, and now GM will discontinue the Chevy Impala, Cruze, Volt, Cadillac CTS, XTS and Buick LaCrosse. All are being discontinued to push the crossovers. So I see it those who want sedans will be pushed into a crossover.

Which I don't see why these crossovers are getting so popular. I mean, sure having one or two in your lineup is good. They're a nice height to get in or out and the upright cargo space is good. But I don't see how they have that much more cargo space in back with seats down vs sedan. And some of them literally have almost no space behind the seats.

I also think a lot of them just look odd, like a sedan with the trunk chopped off behind the rear seats. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When they first came out they were novel, like the Ford Edge and a few others, but then they started morphing literally everything that wasn't a sedan so it looks like a crossover. The new Escape, CRV, etc, all have been squished down at the back to resemble one.

It's also surprising that a lot of these crossovers/small SUVs are not appointed as well as a sedan. The pictures of the backseats make it feel as if you were sitting in a bathtub because of the high window lines and straight back seat. They also rarely seem to offer rear air vents like a sedan and overall seem cramped. You'd think they would take advantage of the rear cargo space to make the rear seats recline on more of them, but they don't seem to.

So I'd rather have a sedan or a real SUV like an Explorer or something. I also really like a minivan, but I think they're just too big for me and they are also getting less common to where I wonder if they will be discontinued all together.

Something like a Dodge Journey sized wagon I'd also like but Dodge seems to be the only one that makes something in that size. And I feel like they put a lot more into the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan interiors than they did the Dodge Journey. I mean, the Journey has a fairly nice interior, but even loaded up it doesn't have the features of a minivan.

So at the end of the day we all like what we like but why the force into crossovers, or everyone's seemingly sudden obsession with them?

In a way I see it as the station wagon went away because of the minivan, and then the minivan went away because of the SUV, and now the SUV is going away because of the crossover. Yet I don't hear much about that stupid stigma that minivans have applied to SUVs.

I do know the crossovers seem to get better MPG though. Although I was surprised that some newer minivans get almost 30.

 

[ea56]

They are just going to force more buyers into buying Japanese, Korean and German sedans. But then with the new tariffs, that is going to make them prohibitively expensive for many buyers. I’ll just hang on to my 2007 Honda Civic, with 59,000 miles on the odometer its still got probably enough life left in it to last me for the rest of my life anyway. It’s been the most trouble free automoblie I’ve ever owned, and when I sit in the drivers seat it feels like an old friend.

The US automakers are going to regret this decision in years to come. And while gas may be dropping in price now,inducing many buyers into purchasing these gas hogs, I can see the handwritting on the wall.

Another recession is just around the corner, and I believe its going to be even worse than the last one that began in 2007. When all these people with the seven year loans on these gas hogs start to lose their jobs, they’re going to wish to hell they never laid eyes on these beasts of burden. And you can bet your bottom dollar that the gas thats cheap now, ain’t going to be cheap for long.

People will never learn.

Eddie

 

[cfz2882]

marketing mistakes...

GM said one of the reasons GM is quitting most cars is so they can concentrate on electric cars,driverless cars,and "ride sharing"services....I actually see quite a few new GM cars in my area...also companies seem to be overconcentrating on marketing to the trendy "millenials generation-a demographic that generally has little interest in driving or owning a car...

 

[petek]

I'd have a hard time going back to a car as my daily driver.. I think I'm like most people and like the higher up seating, and ease of entry / exit that suv/cuv's offer. Not sure where you get that they don't offer all the features as a car., they most certainly do.. I have reclining rear seats in my 015 Forester and there's quite a bit of storage behind the rear seat. and it's considered a compact

 

[cuffs054]

I guess I'm a luddite, but I still like sedans. My recently purchased Mitsubishi Mirage has exceeded all expectations. I just can't see the need for an SUV. Of course saying that, I still have my Pontiac Aztek which at 14 yrs old is still going strong.

 

[lordkenmore]

>They are just going to force more buyers into buying Japanese, Korean and German sedans. But then with the new tariffs, that is going to make them prohibitively expensive for many buyers.

I am not up on the details of present and proposed (and threatened!) future tariffs on cars. But I assume they would not apply to cars foreign makers make in the US. And a lot of the popular cars are made here in the US.

Even there were a tariff that impacted, say, a US made Honda or Toyota, there are two points. First, if you want a car, and the only real choice is a foreign car, well, that's the only choice. Take it or leave it. Secondly, even if there is a tariff on a Toyota, that extra cost might get cancelled out if you own the car long enough since it's likely to need fewer repairs.

>I’ll just hang on to my 2007 Honda Civic, with 59,000 miles on the odometer its still got probably enough life left in it to last me for the rest of my life anyway.

With maintenance, I'd guess it should have lots of life left. I'd guess it has a reasonable chance of hitting 200,000 miles.

I know someone who has that generation of Civic, and I've ridden with him. I'm really impressed by that car. It's a car model I'd seriously consider used if I ever had the money to own a car again.

 

[lordkenmore]

>I guess I'm a luddite, but I still like sedans.

I'm that way, too. Although to be fair, I've never driven a SUV, although I have driven pickups a few times.

A big factor for me: gas mileage matters to me, even when gas prices are low. Also environmental impact matters to me. Meanwhile, I have zero reason to need a SUV--I seldom go off road (which is probably true of 99% of current SUV buyers), I don't need to haul a huge family, I seldom need to haul furniture, etc.

 

[philcobendixduo]

I am a "Wagon Lover"....

.....so I have an even MORE limited choice IF I were to need to purchase a new one.
I am still driving and enjoying my 2003 VW Passat GLX wagon which just turned 100,000 miles.
The new Buick Tour X wagon (Opel sourced) is nice but it doesn't get any better mpg than my VW and I HATE (yes HATE) the ugly black cladding around the wheel openings of the Buick.
VW Golf Sportwagen is nice but a lot smaller than my Passat and not equipped nearly as nicely.
BMW, Mercedes and Volvo wagons are WAY out of my price comfort level.
I have promised myself that I will NEVER buy an SUV, CUV, or "cross-over". Don't like them!

 

[DADoES]

 
I've always had sedans.  My mother has a Buick Enclave.  I don't much like driving it compared to my Fusion.

 

[norgeway]

Im keeping

My 15 years old Grand Marquis, When I have to get rid of it, I will hunt another one or a Town Car. Suits me and its PAID FOR!

 

[xraytech]

While I may not be a fan of SUVs and Crossovers I have been kinda forced in that direction.
I am an American full-size luxury sedan and wagon person. I am 6’5” so size is important to me. I had a Cadillac XTS which is the current full size offering, I found to be a touch too small for me, not to mention being a light car and the low profile 19” tires made for a poor ride on the country roads I drive, as well as it was about useless dealing with winter driving in Pittsburgh’s hilly terrain.

At the Auto show in January I spent a lot of time looking at the Buick Regal TourX wagon, but after 2 test drives I found it to be a bit too low, and the roof line was too low for me to fit comfortably.

Since the days of the Park Avenue, LeSabre, DeVille, Grand Marquis etc. are long gone I’ve been forced out of the sedan market. While I do have a Park Avenue it’s starting to get rough, so in September I took delivery of a 2015 Buick Enclave.
I like having the extra cargo room, the headspace is great.
It is well equipped with heated leather, 2nd row reclining bucket seats, rear climate control, heated steering wheel, navigation, remote start, etc.
Luckily the Enclave rides like a car and has all the luxury amenities I’m used to from owning Buick and Cadillac sedans in the past.

 

[justjunque]

Hans,

Nice cars.
I go through phases where I have wanted a Crown Victoria, especially the police version, a Grand Marquis, a Town Car.
I did drive a Buick Roadmaster for a while, and liked it a lot.
The LT-1 had plenty of power, even for a big car.
But, like I do with all of my vehicles lately, I let it just sit and deteriorate.
Now, we drive a 2002 Ford Explorer, which we bought in '05, (great vehicle), and a 2001 VW Passat sedan that was given to us a few years ago.
That little car has surpassed my expectations. I thought a four cylinder was nowhere near enough motor for it, and that it would die young.
But, it's still going, at 18 years old, and 126,000 miles. When it does need repairs, it tends to be quite expensive though. For example, $1,000 to replace the heater core.
The six cylinder Explorer has 170,000 or so on it, and has been remarkably dependable.

Barry

 

[justjunque]

Sam,

Very nice!

Barry

 

[wayupnorth]

My brother had an Enclave CXL AWD and it was very nice. When he passed away I passed on it. I have a 2014 Silverado that has been wonderful. I have to have a truck with 4WD where I live. It gets decent gas mileage but I dont put alot of miles on it. If I was living back in town, I'd probably consider something smaller.

 

[lordkenmore]

its PAID FOR

The best kind of car!

 

[surgilator1]

took the words right out of my mouth. all of these cars listed above sound impeccable and taken care of. just don't much care for a unkept automobile. I always taken pride in my ride regardless of age.

 

[joeekaitis]

Safe bet:

 

The moment the price of a gallon of gas approaches Honest Abe territory, GM's assembly lines in China can retool in a matter of days or weeks to start cranking out sedans and hatchbacks for export to the USA because they're newer than the American assembly lines built mainly to assemble one or two types of vehicle.

 

Either that or they'll be rattling an ever bigger tin cup for another round of bailouts as unsold crossovers and SUVs pile up.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Is a Subaru Forester really a crossover though. To me it's more like a wagon or small SUV. When I was talking about crossovers I meant more like the Buick Encore, Chevy Trax, etc. Not saying those are bad cars, but that's more what I was thinking of by a crossover. I guess I used the wrong term. I'm talking about 4 door cars that look exactly like a sedan but with the rear end chopped off. IE, no windows behind the rear doors.

I like the Buick Enclave and its siblings. Those aren't what I meant by a crossover. To me those are about the size of a minivan or Explorer.

I guess a pickup would be another option for me. I like the idea of sitting up higher. But I find those again, too big and I don't like regular cabs (too tight and not enough space inside out of the weather) it would have to be at least an extended cab for me. But since a lot of manufacturers only make short crew cabs or full size crew cabs, that would be the most likely choice.

I've never had a car payment on my little 01 Malibu and it's been a very reliable car. But the transmission is slipping, and a rebuild will cost more than I could probably get for the car if it was shifting properly. Plus I'd still plenty of stuff not working or not working right on it, which I've been able to live with for several years. It's still limping along but driving is stressful enough without a wonky transmission every time I go to accelerate.

I just feel like at this point it's alright to upgrade to something else, just the question of what and how much I shouldn't spend on it!

 

[kate1]

My belief is that these car companies are moving away from sedans and hatchbacks more because SUVs can be sold for more money. I think that’s why minivans have been discontinued by so many manufacturers too, a seven passenger SUV costs a lot more than a minivan. A lot of these crossovers don’t even have AWD or 4WD as a standard feature so they essentially are cars and don’t really have any features that justify the higher price. I’m a minivan lady, I don’t care what anyone says about them, they are unbeatable as a family vehicle. I plan on driving my Honda Odyssey until the wheels fall off. When I’m no longer schlepping children around, I’d like a station wagon. My husband has an old Chevy pickup that he uses mostly for work and he has a Honda Fit that we both use for errands without the kids. The Fit will eventually be given to our children to drive.