Harsh Realization: Mexico Has the Cars That American Enthusiasts Want

[toyomatt84]

Well, considering not a single vehicle listed was something I'd ever buy, I'm glad they're not available on the US market. For one, half of the cars listed were French. And, after working on a few cars, there's only one undeniable fact about them that has always been true... they're unreliable. To this day, I don't know of a country that produces more maintenance ridden vehicles. Secondly, none of the US-based manufacturers vehicles are of interest to me. Call me odd, but the only vehicles produced under the Ford Motor Group title that are of any use in life, are either Jaguar, Mazda, or Aston Martin (oh wait, not any more). And, that's more than I can say about the GM Group.

 

[skip0110]

What French cars have you worked on? The few Renaults we got in the 80s?

 

[weiss_komet]

Living here in Southern California, I see many interesting Mexican-liscened cars. As have been listed before, I have seen the Ford Ka. It was at the local Wendy's. Annother i saw further south was some SEAT minivan. What an odd looking car. Guess you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Whenever i get the unfortunate chance to visit Mexico, i never see anything all that exciting. Gotta say, those drivers in mexico are completley insane.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Last time I was in Mexico everyone was driving Nissan Sentras and VW Bugs. I think I maybe saw a Peugeot 406, but at the time I wouldn't have cared much for the car, as my tastes for foreign automobiles were pretty much limited to the standard-issue German, Italian, and British marques...

 

[toyomatt84]

What French cars have you worked on? The few Renaults we got in the 80s?

My dad's friend is a car collector. He's got a Fiat Abarth, Peugeot 205, Peugeot 206, Citroen 2CV, and quite a few other models. He has to constantly work on them, and I've been there for a few repairs. He moved to Arizona, though, and I haven't talked to him in quite some time. Maybe he got rid of them by now.

 

[Dave A]

Fiat isn't French the Fiat Abarth isn't French, Abarth are a French company but the car is still a with typical Italian reliability. 2CV's are utter crap, 205's are great to drive but I can't comment on the reliability. 206's look crap but I can't comment on any other aspect. I can say that my 306 has never had any issues, except being crashed into and then Charlotte crashing, giving it matching wings. Overall though I wouldn't say French cars are anything to shout about over reliability. Exspensive parts too.

 

[Metar]

Ah, unreliability. I wonder if French and Italian manufacturers are ever going to shake that image off... I reckon that collector-friend of yours had to work on the BX's suspension, or the XM's electronics.

Our 306 didn't have a single breakdown yet (306 Remodelage), that ZX we had never had a problem (lost it after it drowned ), and our Fiat Uno had a problem here an there, mostly age-related. A lot of people I know drive French cars, and almost none have serious problems. In fact, research in Israel shows, the average number of breakdowns for French cars is less than the average for European and American cars.

Back on topic, I agree with what some said before - a lot of the French cars really aren't such a great thing anymore. Sure, the 205, 106 and 306s were great driver's cars... But once those got pulled out of production, Peugeot was left with a bunch of overweight cars, with a grille larger than the hideous Audi-grille. Renault manages to get along OK - the Megane isn't too bad, nor the Clio, and their hot-hatches are great... Citroen seems on an uprise. They improved the design a little, but their handling-dynamics have been improving constantly - especially the connection of the steering-wheel, which, due to the oddball suspension, was 100% 'Floaty' in the past...

Just another case of me beating myself in a debate. I started out with a solid line, and lost it.

 

[neanderthal]

there isnt a single cheap, rear wheel drive, light, sporty car thats sold in mexico today that isnt sold here.

thats what i want. and i consider myself an enthusiast.

BMW bring the 1 series with the new twin turbo diesel four pot. and make it $15000.

 

[1X83Z]

Well, I know what you mean, but yeah... kinda. I was thinking more along the lines of some hot-shot doing new-car development (ala Bob Lutz) while a level-headed but enthusiastic CEO and CCO run the company...

Rick Wagoner tells the story of an office joke they used to have about Bob Lutz: 'out of the last ten projects sent to his desk, Lutz has approved eleven of them.'

Car guys are the last people you want running these companies.

 

[kennythebomb]

They won't change. Not unless all those dinosaurs at the top of the company finally go extinct. If they could get fresh blood to their company, and enough of it to overrule any decisions made by those currently in charge, some progress could be made. It's just the old farts have grown fat and lazy with American car buyers eating from their hands for so many years that now that simply don't know how to adapt to this new market. And considering the MASSIVE losses apparently aren't even enough to change them, it may take nothing less than the complete demise of 1 of the Big Three to finally wake the other 2 up.

I *AM* the fresh blood - but fresh blood isn't given power to make decisions. My work doesn't really affect you, the consumer, too much.

"Cars That American Enthusiasts Want"

Hardly. Most of those are smaller economy cars unless I'm missing something.

Now the Focus ST... that is a sweet car and I've love to drive it. I don't like the new Focus too much though.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, 'automotive enthusiasts' in the sense that they can appreciate foreign models that aren't sold here, and generally would want them to come to America...