Article: 10 Cars We Lost in 2010

[Audrey]

I thought this article was interesting. The [US] auto industry is changing a lot right now due to many factors: financial problems, growth of international brands, new technologies on the rise, EV/hybrid sector growth, and others.

In Memoriam: 10 Cars We Lost in 2010 | Autopia | Wired.com

I am most happy to see Honda Element is on the list, because those "toasters" are hideous!

[Zinky]

I'd say the old Explorer should have been replaced 3-4 years ago. It looks so out of date. Ok, you could say the same about the Marquis, but the buyers probably like that it hadn't changed in years. Shouldn't the Ford Ranger have been on that list? Another vehicle that should have been updated years ago while it still had a chance. I'm concerned that they waited to long on the Explorer.

[BondiBlue]

I won't be missing the PT Cruiser, Sebring, Cobalt or Element. Especially the Sebring. Everything Chrysler did right with the 300, they undid with the Sebring.

[PotiusMori]

Originally Posted by BondiBlue

I won't be missing the PT Cruiser, Sebring, Cobalt or Element. Especially the Sebring. Everything Chrysler did right with the 300, they undid with the Sebring.

The Sebring isn't really dead, it's just tweaked, improved and renamed as the 200. It should be dramatically improved... but to be honest. A Schwinn would be a dramatic improvement over the Sebring. But I admit, I won't miss any of the rest, or the Sebring/200, that I can tell.

[tjl]

Interesting that they picture a Cobalt SS when discussing the Cobalt. The Cobalt SS probably would win an award for "best special edition of the worst base car".

[tjl]

Originally Posted by Zinky

Shouldn't the Ford Ranger have been on that list?

You can buy a 2011 Ford Ranger.

[andrew]

The only one I'm going to be sad to see go is the body-on-frame explorer. It's sad that the only major manufacturer building that type of SUV (that I can think of right now... I know someone will make me look the fool in the next post) is the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

The 4Runner, Explorer, Blazer, Durango, Xterra (was this ever BoF? The Pathfinder was) are all more car than truck now.

[mrbirdman330]

Originally Posted by andrew

The only one I'm going to be sad to see go is the body-on-frame explorer. It's sad that the only major manufacturer building that type of SUV (that I can think of right now... I know someone will make me look the fool in the next post) is the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

The 4Runner, Explorer, Blazer, Durango, Xterra (was this ever BoF? The Pathfinder was) are all more car than truck now.

I would consider such things vehicle evolution but going to more car than truck this is de-evolution.

[tjl]

Originally Posted by andrew

The only one I'm going to be sad to see go is the body-on-frame explorer. It's sad that the only major manufacturer building that type of SUV (that I can think of right now... I know someone will make me look the fool in the next post) is the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

The 4Runner, Explorer, Blazer, Durango, Xterra (was this ever BoF? The Pathfinder was) are all more car than truck now.

Ummm, don't the FJ Cruiser and 4Runner ride on the same (truck) platform? Toyota offers the Highlander and Lexus RX for those who want a "car" SUV.

XTerra was and is still a relatively inexpensive truck SUV. Blazer was also always a truck SUV; so was its TrailBlazer successor.

Although it does look like the truck SUVs are once again become more of the niche products that they once were, for people who do off-road and/or heavy towing.

[Cobra348]

Not a bad as the PT Loser! <shudder> Underpowered and overweight vehicles on a Neon chassis.