Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

[007Cruiser]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

The retro may be a flop, but over 96% at this thread think otherwise.

[jerrym3]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

The retro may be a flop, but over 96% at this thread think otherwise.

Yeah, but there's a very, very slim chance that this group might be biased as opposed to being "fair and balanced".

[007Cruiser]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

True, but it's the voice of those who actually paid money to own the car.

[Rondor]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

There are 2 kind of car owners. Those who buy transportation and those like us who determine what is a classic

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

I find it hard to believe that the Volkswagen New Beetle and Chrysler PT Cruiser could be considered flops. Both far exceeded sales and production expectations.

[5bird7]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

I find it hard to believe that the Volkswagen New Beetle and Chrysler PT Cruiser could be considered flops. Both far exceeded sales and production expectations.

You've got it, Greg. It's nothing but a bunch of hot air.

[billm]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

Skip is Exactly RIGHT! I had one ordered before they came out in 2002, but when it arrived, the dealer called for $10,000 above list, and I declined the sale. Finally bought my 2004 later, on the used marked w/ 2,900 miles on it. My impression is that Ford Dealership Greed kept the T-bird from hitting it's potential early on!

Bill ______________________________________//

[jerrym3]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

Skip is Exactly RIGHT! I had one ordered before they came out in 2002, but when it arrived, the dealer called for $10,000 above list, and I declined the sale. Finally bought my 2004 later, on the used marked w/ 2,900 miles on it. My impression is that Ford Dealership Greed kept the T-bird from hitting it's potential early on!

Bill ______________________________________//

But, why didn't sales skyrocket when prices leveled off? Potential 2003/4/5 TBird buyers got turned off by lower prices?

Wasn't 2002 the biggest selleing year even with inflated prices?

When the dealers OKed the Z plan, that's when I bought mine. No Z plan, no sale.

[snowbird]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

Think it is time that someone wrote an article called/titled "Automotive Writer of the year flop".

[Peterfurlan]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

I'm sure the people at Ford knew from day one this car was going to have a limited
market. If you wanted a true sports car you would have bought a Vette. If your a family
person you need at least a four passenger vehicle. So whats left the well to do country
club set willing in 2002 to pay a premium to be the first to be seen driving this car. The
reason there are so many low mileage Birds out there is that its not a practical car for
every day use. I know there are many who use the car as a daily driver but you
are a minority. Don't get me wrong I love the car for what it is flop or no flop. Its just
that some of you folks need to be a bit more objective in your posts.

As far as the article goes it has some merit the VW Beetle when compared to the
Toyota Prius is indeed a flop. The Beetles reliability is one worst check it out.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

I bet the Chevy Vega is on that list!!

Funny how this concept of "FLOP" is something that is entirely subjective.

Sure the car was too quickly designed and put into production.

It's problems were well documented so I'll leave that one alone.

But...... how about trying to defend this "FLOP"?

Impossible right?

Maybe not.......

Inside the first 30,000 miles?

It was a stylish little car that was fun to drive. It was hatch backed, an all aluminum engine and light-weight design ........while all of shoddy Constitution and a bunch of problems........this car probably did more to usher in belief in the idea that a light weight economy car could be something more than a boring VW Beatle than any other car of the period between todays cars and the heavy-weight BOATS of the 1960s and earliest 70s.

Today? With all the problems of Aluminum engine design corrected and the shoddy construction of Detroit in the 1970s behind us........... that Vega might better be remembered as an example of a game changer......despite the simple fact it fell apart within the first 30,000 miles and was ready fro the wrecking yard at 50,000.

[Greg S]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

I seem to remember that most cars of the 70's were ready for the wrecking ball at 50,000 miles.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

I seem to remember that most cars of the 70's were ready for the wrecking ball at 50,000 miles.

Amen! I had only one good one a 1971 Pontiac Grand Prix. The rest of the decade was filled with junk in my garage. It was mostly "bad choices" of GM junk from Chevrolet and Pontiac. I spent the decade of the 80s with Datsun/Nissan and Toyota because of it.

[DavidA]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

There were more 2002's than the total of all the others combined mainly because the 2002 year was extended becuase the modifications to the '03's were not ready in time. I believe the 2002 model year was 15 or 16 months. The 2003 model year was the shortest other than perhaps the last '05 model year.

[5bird7]

Re: Here is an article on Car of the Year Flops

oh, David, you need to stay away from trying to quote stats from memory. The total of 02s was 31,368 and the combined total of 03-05s was 36730, but your point doesn't really change. Also, the 04s and 05s had the same production period.

and Steve. The retrobird was in the design stage from 1994 until it finally went on sale in 2001. That's not a short design period. plus it was delayed from production by over a year from it's original target date because Ford itself did not give it's blessing for production for almost a year and a half after the concept was released to the public. We may not have had a bird at all to drive.