Why doesn't any auto company build.....

[xaeniac]

fill in the blank...


You can respond to the posting above you and then create your own.

I will go first......

Why doesn't any auto company build an air cooled driving machine in a minimalist format for a great bargain package?

 

[tweakmonkey]

fill in the blank...


You can respond to the posting above you and then create your own.

I will go first......

Why doesn't any auto company build an air cooled driving machine in a minimalist format for a great bargain package?

Cause air cooled doesn't make nearly the power / efficiency of modern water cooled (especially DOHC) engines. I think there's not enough space to do what you could with water cooled. Unfortunately its time has passed.

Here's mine:

Why doesn't any auto company build.....
a 1500 lb micro like the Kei-car with a 1 liter, 120-150 HP turbo and mid-engine, RWD

 

[Wuzup101]

A mid engine sports car in the 50 to 60k price range... Preferably with a 400ish HP v8.

 

[Insomniator]

Why doesn't any auto company build.....
a 1500 lb micro like the Kei-car with a 1 liter, 120-150 HP turbo and mid-engine, RWD

Safety?

A mid engine sports car in the 50 to 60k price range... Preferably with a 400ish HP v8.

Boxtser S?

 

[phucheneh]

A bare-bones RWD car with a somewhat meager but acceptable amount of power. Kinda like a V6 Mustang or Camaro, but less of a big, bloated, ugly, overpriced turd.

Closest thing we have is the BR-Z/FR-S. And it's like...25k starting price...really? It's basically a RWD version of compact cars that you can buy for over $5,000 less. I refuse to accept that making it RWD costs that much. Shit, you could build a rear-mounted transmission and half-shafts for little more than what the FWD counterpart costs. So your only additional costs would be a driveshaft/torque tube, and BAM, Corollavette.

That's my 'enthusiast' option. My efficiency option would be:

Plug-in hybrid with all electric drive system, with a tiny turbodiesel being used as the APU to charge the batteries when needed.

Or a gas turbine hybrid.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Can Elio Motors just hurry the hell up and get us the $7,000 80mpg three wheeled car!

Can Ford bring their Focus Wagon stateside? With the demise of the TSX wagon the only $30K or less wagon is now the Jetta & Outback, not impressed.

Can Honda bring back its original Insight?

There is a huge market for minimalist high mpg cars for commuters - the Smart, IQ and Fiat 500 are not cutting it.

 

[vi edit]

A compact diesel truck that gets 30+ MPG on the highway for $25k or less.

 

[slugg]

Why doesn't any auto company build a car with the looks of a supercar, but keep it cheap? I'm totally convinced that the average person buys a car 90% based on looks. So why not just make something absolutely stunning? What makes these supercars super-priced are the exotic materials, go-fast goodies, and the prestigious name/badge that goes along with it. Literally none of those are needed for the look that people like.

 

[JCH13]

... because they've analyzed the market and determined that they wouldn't make enough money to justify making that product.

 

[exar333]

An inexpensive, small convertible (like the old VW Cabrio or Suzuki choices in the 90s). These would be great small cars with a modern, efficient engine and lots of fun to own.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

A compact diesel truck that gets 30+ MPG on the highway for $25k or less.

+1 yessssss......!!!!!

Make it so my average height self can reach into the bed and it's a winner.

 

[vi edit]

Iknowright?

Dear Ford...

Give me a compact truck that has had some touch of engineering this century. Give it a 20 gallon tank, a small 2 liter diesel engine that you can easily tow small boats/trailers behind and a functional bed that an average human can reach without a ladder.

I'm sure you could get close to 30MPG out of the right gearing and R&D. Between the tank size and the mpeegee's you could get almost 600 miles out of a tank.

As for a name..hmmm...I don't know...600 miles a tank? How about...Ranger?

 

[dawheat]

A year ago I would have said a RWD coupe that's compact, has reasonable power, and reasonable luxury - kind of a modern E36. The M235i checks most of my boxes, though it is a bit pricey with some basic options.

 

[PricklyPete]

Iknowright?

Dear Ford...

Give me a compact truck that has had some touch of engineering this century. Give it a 20 gallon tank, a small 2 liter diesel engine that you can easily tow small boats/trailers behind and a functional bed that an average human can reach without a ladder.

I'm sure you could get close to 30MPG out of the right gearing and R&D. Between the tank size and the mpeegee's you could get almost 600 miles out of a tank.

As for a name..hmmm...I don't know...600 miles a tank? How about...Ranger?

The new Colorado isn't far off...well except on price.

 

[Wuzup101]

Boxtser S?

Yeah something like that except cheaper and with more power.

 

[Imported]

A year ago I would have said a RWD coupe that's compact, has reasonable power, and reasonable luxury - kind of a modern E36. The M235i checks most of my boxes, though it is a bit pricey with some basic options.

If you don't need the sound of 6, try the 228i with the M Sport package.

Now for me..

Why doesn't any auto company build a lightweight sport coupe with more than 300HP (looking at you BRZ) for under $30k?

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

...small trucks.

Cant buy a truck the size of the Chevy S10, or those Toyota's. Whats the deal?

 

[SithSolo1]

Why doesn't Ford make a Fiesta/Focus ST with an Automatic(DCT or otherwise)?

 

[JCH13]

Why doesn't Ford make a Fiesta/Focus ST with an Automatic(DCT or otherwise)?

Because the demographic that the STs appeal to generally want to row their own. Making an automatic sports car is generally considered undesirable.

 

[Jimzz]

For those that want a small/mid truck with a Diesel GM is bring one to market soon.

http://www.chevrolet.com/2015-colorado-small-truck.html

https://www.gmc.com/canyon-small-pickup-truck.html


"The next diesel in the GM stable will be available in the new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size pickups. The company is re-entering that segment, and a high-mileage clean-diesel offering makes sense to attract financially sensitive buyers who want the capabilities of a pickup but will be paying thousands of dollars less than for GM’s full-sized pickups, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Diesel offers torque advantages over gasoline that will help lend important truck-performance characteristics to clean-diesel versions of Colorado and Canyon."

 

[Anubis]

a diesel electric hybrid
or a diesel ALD non SUV that does not dost a fortune
more diesel cars in general

 

[Fritzo]

A mid-engined US sports car. Seriously, the last time we tried was the Fiero in the 80's, and that was pretty half assed.

 

[smackababy]

Because the demographic that the STs appeal to generally want to row their own. Making an automatic sports car is generally considered undesirable.

Which is silly, considering good automatics are better than a human in terms of shifting.



Why can't automakers put out a supercar with a 1.6L 4 banger? The vast majority of people don't need to go faster than 80PMH. Give them something that looks good. A car that looked like a Ferrari and performed like a Civic for the price of a Hyundai would sell through in hours.

 

[SithSolo1]

Because the demographic that the STs appeal to generally want to row their own. Making an automatic sports car is generally considered undesirable.

Based on DSG uptake in the GTI I'd say there are more than a few people in the target demographic looking for a non-manual hothatch option.

Just look at the STi, the manual geared bastion for many a budget hothatch driver but now you can get it with CVT. Terrible choice by the way, that and ditching the hatch.

I just don't see why it has to be "Chose option 1 or Nothing."


/lazyslushboxdriver


I know I'm singling out certain manufacturers but why the hell doesn't jeep have a diesel option in one of the more affordable models?

 

[JCH13]

Which is silly, considering good automatics are better than a human in terms of shifting.



Why can't automakers put out a supercar with a 1.6L 4 banger? The vast majority of people don't need to go faster than 80PMH. Give them something that looks good. A car that looked like a Ferrari and performed like a Civic for the price of a Hyundai would sell through in hours.

It's not silly if you consider more than the single semi-true factoid you just mentioned. A vast majority of people interested in sports cars prefer to shift manually, why design an AT for the very small market share that wants it?

I think the mythical "most people" being cited by numerous posters in this thread really should be "car nuts like me."

The simple fact of the matter is that our current car selection is due to mostly market demand, a bit of crash safety and other regulations, and a dash of lawyer-ing.

Why don't we see mid-engined cars anymore? Your average driver will tend to spin a mid-engine car, likely resulting in a lawsuit. Requires a whole new vehicle platform to be developed for a small market segment. It is difficult to pass modern crash safety requirements with an engine behind the driver instead of in front. Pick one.

Why isn't there a small diesel truck yet? Fuel is still relatively cheap here. Large trucks command large profits. Diesel engines have had a rough time passing emissions in the US lately.

Why don't we see diesel hybrids? Price point, do you really think people are willing to pay a premium for a diesel engine and then another premium for a hybrid driveline? See above for issues getting diesel engines legal in the US.

Why don't we see high-powered RWD coupes with few or no options? No one outside of a few thousand (hundred?) track nuts would ever want one AND have the disposable income to buy a brand-new car whose only utility is track driving. It would still be porky and complicated compared to old cars given modern crash safety and emissions regulations.

Why don't we see high-powered BRZ-type cars? Too much power, too easy to wreck the car without further investment in ESC systems (see interviews with BRZ/FRS designer). Also price-point. All that power comes at the cost of cash, weight, and reliability. Then it's competing with the Mustang, 370Z, etc instead of filling it's own niche.

Why no turbine cars? Idling efficiency.

Why no ultra-light modestly powered kit-car-like cars? Crash safety regulations.