What are current production cars that you think are beyond their prime, what do you think they could do to update them? I thought about this the other day when I saw the prime example of this in our market, at least in my opinion.

The Lexus SC430, kind of cool for what it was when it came out, still pretty rare, now it is so far behind across the board they need to do something, even if it is only to pull the plug. I think if I were Lexus I would create two coupes, an IS based coupe with sharper lines, include an IS-F model in coupe trim to keep the younger crowd interested. Then I would do something similar to the SC, but more posh and high end, perhaps offer a hybrid model in addition to the V8.

The irony of me looking at a SC430 and thinking its dated when I'm driving a S2000! Which brings me to my next vehicle, the S2000. I bought a 2008 and think its a pretty capable little car for what it is, the suspension and chassis are still capable in todays market. I think the weakness is the engine, which so many praise, while I don't dislike it, I think there are some obvious better choices. For example the turbo K23, better low end torque, more power across the board, maybe apply the same turbo technology to a K22 and allow it to rev a bit higher, smaller turbo, whatever.... Bottom line is more torque with the same driving dynamic, beef up the rear dif. but do not change the tranny too much other then it ability to with stand the increase in power. Then I think they could bring a lot of life back to the car with a true high revving VTEC, NA engine. Something even more insane then the original F20, extremely low, low end torque, but high hp way up in the bandwidth, make this car lighter, and with a sportier suspension and you have the car the CR should have been. People would buy both, it would bring a lot of life back to a dated car. Maybe give it a bit of a face lift so people know its new, sharpen up the lines a bit, but not too much.

 

I agree with you about the SC, and S2000. I think I would add the crown vic to that list. Its time to update it.

 

i think that the crown vic is still around because police departments still buy them. might not be too long before it's a gonner though because, i am seeing alot of chargers replacing the vic.

 

i see alot of cops in Chevy Tahoe around my town

 

Pretty much everything by Chevrolet and Pontiac.

They need to get rid of that awful, huge, gold, plastic-looking, ugly emblem they slap on every car of theirs too.

 

I'm pretty sure Lexus has stopped making SC430's... for now. I just wish Infiniti would bring out the next Q... (but probably not with this economy)



edit: found the link on SC430 and Avalon being canceled

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightlin...-canceled.html

 

Ford Ranger. Automotive fossil.


Terry

 

"I think the weakness is the engine, which so many praise"


240 HP N/A 4 banger a weakness ? lol

Considering the BMW z3 with a 6cylender only produced 170HP i think its damn good Accomplishment.

If you are not happy with the power buy a SuperCharger .

 

The current SC is ugly as sin IMO...loved the previous though.

 

i believe they have stopped production crown vics, only fleet vehicles are available
i will add the Z4 on the list

 

well, like I mentioned above, they've canceled all production on the SC for now... hopefully, when/if they bring it back, it'll be a completely redesign... cuz yeah, I agree the last one is fugly and slow as fuck (especially for a V8)

 

Mazda 3, but that's coming out soon, right?

VW New Beetle has stayed pretty much the same since 2000. Although that's somewhat hard to redesign.

 

 

How bout The grand cherokee, about the same since forever

 

New Z4 coming, but the current model has grown on me.

 

Z4 hardtop > Z4 convertible (especially the "M")

 

Audi A8 needs a redesign I think, though it still looks very good after that many years

 

09 tl

 

I think they should re-do the new Infiniti FX's headlights/grill... and YES, the A8 is VERY overdue... I think there's a thread on it... showing concepts or rendering of the next A8 (or at least I've seen it somewhere), and I don't think the change is drastic at all...

 

how about the caddy dts/deville ... that chassis has been in production FOREVER

 

I'd like to see Pontiac come up with an interior worth a shit. ALL of theirs suck. And they seem to have the same style of fat, bulbous buttons to go with exteriors which are the same (see the Solstice and the "new" G6 GTP). Basically, all of the Pontiac line looks the same. And it's not a same in a good way.

That being said, the G8 looks OK, but it does so because it came from Australia.

 

^^^btw no offense... as much as I love the Leggy GT... I think it's time for the Legacy to be redesigned

 

None taken. I think it needs one too, but it still looks pretty good.

 

true bout the fx headlights and grille and the sc bein very slow

 

what?

 

^ umm didn't they just redisgn the dts/deville in 06, and the new one has almost the same styling of sharp lines as the new cts...... am i missing something here?

 

Jaguar XJ series has looked the same for about a million years too.

 

they should just go a different direction with the whole entire line, perhaps along the same line of the new XF

 

I agree. I saw a Top Gear episode last week with the XF in it, and really liked the way the interior lights up. Car looks really nice in person too.

 

bmw X3 and volvo S60 & XC90

 

^^^yes, YES... and yes

 

I believe they have an X3 redesign coming out for 2010.

 

Let's hope the don't make it into a baby x6

 

it's funny how there's all these X6 haters, but yet the car's practically sold out

 

Crown Vic and ANYTHING made by Chrysler or Dodge. I don't care if it came out yesterday, it needs to be updated.

 

WORD.

if state and federal depts are prime consumers, there is NO rush to change. it takes big $$ to outfit/customize these vehicles.

 

The '09 Pilot. That thing makes me physically sick every time I see one.

But seriously...big on the Ranger. That thing is a dinosaur in every respect.

 

Big YUP to that.

But not the S2000. It rocks as is. It's a classic. Honda should discontinue it altogether, wait a few years, then reintroduce a different roadster. That's what they usually do. (Preferably not the S3000 concept....back to the drawing board for that concept...)

 

Don't get me wrong I like my S2k, it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it, and I appreciate the engine for what it is and what it was designed to accomplish. 240HP, yes, but only at 7,800 RPM's, below 6k RPM's you are looking at closer to 140HP, it has a lot of power way up in the bandwidth but more down low would be great and a SC would not fix that.

Yes the S2000 is some what of an engineering marvel and I really do enjoy driving it and its engine, but I would much rather have less rev's in exchange of more torque down low, besides 8k is hardly high revving by todays standards

 

I would say that the Chevy Cobalt, Chevy Trailblazer, Pontiac G6, Toyota 4Runner, and Scion tC could use a redesign.