Has anyone noticed that outside of trucks and SUVs, that the only way American Auto makers can score a hit with their Automobiles is to introduce nostalgia cars?

Let's define nostalgia cars. These are the cars that baby boomers drove and admired some time between their teens and early 20s. The same baby boomers are now in many ways responsible for designing and supporting cars that were popular almost 40 years ago.

Let's run down the list.

Chrysler:

P/T Cruiser
Prowler

Ford:

Thunderbird
2004 Mustang

Chevrolet:

SSR

Import Nostalgia Cars:

Mini Cooper

Volkswagen Beetle

The problem with nostalgia cars is that the baby boomers liked them. Once the nostalgia is gone what happens? There is no roadmap for the car. They either never get redesigned or end up discontinued.

American car makers might actually score more hits if they actually focus on why Gen X and Y buy imports over domestic brands, besides quality and reliability, instead of resurrecting cars that my Mom and Dad liked.

 

I totally agree with you. Reliability is a biggie.

 

I used to be an owner of a "nostalgia car". I bought a 2000 Vw New Beetle back in '99. Once the whole "cool car" effect wore off I found myself in a unpractical, quirky, odd shaped car. By the time I went to trade it in the resale value had already gone down the crapper.