Why I Don't Buy American Cars Anymore . . .

Happy New Year!

The response to my last Blog: "Crematoriums - A New Way to Speed Up Global Warming" was almost overwhelming! Today, I want to talk about cars . . .

The last time I bought a new American car was in 1984 when the new model Fiero GT came out with the V6 motor. It was a fun car to drive. It looked like you were sitting a a jet fighter cockpit. In the winter it warmed up fast, and with the engine weight on the back axle - I could plow through virtually any kind of snow. I had that car for three years and unfortunately had to sell it to go to University. While in University, I watched as the Fiero came to an end.

I think that when the Fiero ended - the demise of General Motors truly began. There was nothing to replace the Fiero. Soon thereafter, the Camaro and Firebird were gone too. As each model year would come and go, I would look at the changes to their current models and barely see any changes. GM's truck models stayed the same for years - same thing with the Corvette. People would have to point out the changes to me because they were so subtle or cosmetic and boring.

I would go to car shows and see a Chevrolet concept of a "new" version of the '55 Chev Bel Air. There were crowds around that car - there was excitement! There weren't crowds around any of the cars they were trying to sell. In December 1998, Hot Rod featured a new Camaro with the then as yet unseen Copper color. This car was beautiful! I was in my 30's then and every male I showed it to wanted to buy one. I even wrote GM to see how long I would have to wait to buy one. GM wrote me back denying any knowledge of the car, but my comments were important to them, blah, blah blah.

So, instead of building exciting cars that drew crowds - General Motors opted for the Aztec. I immediately determined that General Motors was no longer in the business of building cars that people actually wanted to drive. Someone in GM must have made up a rule that stated if a concept car creates any kind of excitement - it must be shelved. At GM, the Bezier curve was replaced with sharp origami angles.

For a while, I had to give Chrysler some credit. They would build an exciting concept car (the Prowler, the PT Cruiser, etc). Crowds would gather at the car shows around these cars - and then, Chrysler actually built them! They don't do that any more and are now in the same boat as GM. Their cars all look like their front ends were designed by International Harvester - and that's not a compliment.

Then, the movie Transformers came out featuring the "New" Camaro. This was a free, almost 2 hr. commercial for their concept car. Except, there was a problem. GM wasn't actually building the Camaro, and so couldn't take advantage of the significant boost the movie would have given them. Could you imagine people wanting to sign up for the Navy after watching Top Gun, and being told that actually the Navy didn't have any F14 Tomcat fighters . . . ?

I am currently driving a Kia Optima. It's a well-made, reliable car. My next car will be either a new Toyota Camry or a slightly used Lexus or Mercedes.

I have to give General Motors credit for coming out with a new Fiero (the Solstice). But I think it is too little-too late. By the way, any convertible being made now - should be a retractable hard top. In Canada, we have winter 8 months out of the year. Plus it's hard to slash the roof of a hard top.

Stay tuned for my next blog: "Chicklets - Do You Chew or Just
Nibble . . ?"