Quick question, and I'm serious here: are we normal? In most of the world
out there, people don't know what size their engine is, and if they do, they
can't tell you what that size means, except for bigger is faster. The fact
is, there isn't much of a market left for performance sedans. There's no
market to cover. How many Taurus' are there compared to SHO's? Do you
really think that if these upgrades were made, enough people would buy
them? The fact is J. Crew has a larger distribution than JC Whitney. If
there was a market for these cars, the economists at CC would tell them to
make them. Quick econo boxes sell, they're a dime a dozen. Quick trucks
sell, there's a 360 offered in a Dakota. Quick luxo things sell. Quick
family sedans don't, at least in the price range CC caters to.
Just my uneducated opinion,
Robert Trottmann
Craig Baltzer wrote:
> Guess the point is that Chrysler has not chosen to play in these markets
> (and obviously there are $$$s there or the other guys wouldn't be in
> it), so they don't have the market "covered". In Ottawa I see Maximas,
> Caddy STSs, Contour SVT and Grand Prix GTP quite regularly (we have a
> big SVT dealer up here, so there are quite a few "SVT" cars (Contour,
> Cobra, etc.)). For a number of my friends they have been "stepping stone
> cars" (i.e. originally bought a Grand Prix, wanted a bit more hoot, so
> traded for a GTP the next time rather than going elsewhere).
>
> The disappointing part is that the Contour SVT, Grand Prix GTP, etc are
> just "hotted up" versions of regular models; other than "auto-stick"
> there is little in the way of performance enhancements available at
> Chrysler. I'd love to have a Chrysler option that had the Avenger body
> and handling, but had some hoot. To me these types of cars are the "next
> step" cars when you get responsible and have to get rid of the
> Camaro/Firebird/Mustang, etc. and can't afford a Merc/Lexus/Accura/BMW
> but don't want to drive a 9-10 second slug-mobile. Maybe it doesn't
> matter to Chrysler 'cause they don't have anything competing with the
> Camaro, et al.
>
> I also think this lack of "corporate" enthusiam spills over into the
> after market. Just try finding any "go fast" parts for a Chrysler
> product outside of the trucks, Neon and Viper. Good luck! There are a
> bunch of things out there for Maximas and the SVT/SHO guys, as well as
> suspension/braking parts for the GTP. Even in the "Mopar Performance
> Catalog" there are no (nada, squat) parts available for anying "new" in
> the car line (outside of Neon). Oh, I'm sorry, there are some decal
> packages available, and some nice seat covers.
>
> Anyway, I'm sure I've annoyed everyone with my musings (and Bob Eaton
> hasn't phoned to asked me to come over and lend a hand at Chrysler) so
> I'll shutup now and let the list get back to Dakota content...
>
> Craig
> ____________________________________________
>
> Craig Baltzer - Anjura Technology Corp - Ottawa, Ontario
> Craig.Baltzer@anjura.com - (613) 727-1411
> _____________________________________________
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tony Mastres [SMTP:mastres@id.ucsb.edu]
> > Sent: Saturday, February 21, 1998 3:37 AM
> > To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> > Subject: DML: Re 0-60 sedans!?
> >
> [snip]
>
> > Other thatn perhaps the Maxima, I can't recall the last time I saw any
> > of
> > these cars on the road or even ia a parking lot for that matter. I
> > kinda
> > liked the SHO's but I havent seen one for ages, point being, why
> > should CC
> > buld these cars when most people want to but something tamer like a
> > van!?
> > I'm sure a high performance variant of some current CC product would
> > make
> > many people on this list happy but I'd bet no matter what the
> > performance ,
> > sales would be weak. Just as they are with all the models listed
> > above.
> > I think people who want a real high-performance sedan also want
> > luxury and
> > quality (perceived or real) to match the performance. Thats what sells
> > cars
> > for Lexus, Mercedes etc.. I dont think any of the US MFG's (other than
> > Caddy) are in that business.
> >
> >
> > Tony J. Mastres
> > Photographer
> > Photographic Services __
> > 1120 Kerr HAll UCSB []_.-' (Q,___\
> > Mastres@id.ucsb.edu *******`(o) >>>}__(o)s>
> >
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