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After some initial confusion over whether the larger Cadillac CT6 had a future, Cadillac boss Johan De Nysschen came clean with Reuters and explained the replacement plan: a new car called the Cadillac CT5 will replace the ATS and CTS.
The fact that fleet sales makes a significant impact in Camry sales (not to mention Altima, Fusion and Malibu sales) is a glaring omission in that article.
That said, not every model faces the same rate of abandonment. Certain cars — through a hazy combination of performance, value, nameplate recognition, and other, more nebulous factors — haven’t yet been dropped off on the front steps of the orphanage by their once-loving guardians.
Let’s take a look at some surprisingly healthy performers in the non-premium, non-sports car class.
Subaru people are crazy about their Subarus. We owned one and I wasn't enamored with replacing it.
Why do you think that’s the case?
AWD? Coupled with Japanese reliability? Can’t be mpgs, right?
Closest I ever came to buying one was back in 2001 when I test drove a bunch Outbacks and Legacy GT sedans. We were looking for space (utility) and performance in snow (wife was going to take a job up in Vermont). Ended up in a Toyota Camry, of all things.
Subarus drive me insane. They're still an economy car company, meaning you get a nice awd drivetrain, at the cost of everything else. Paint quality is just about the worst I've ever seen for any manufacturer. The interiors make you want to weep tears of boredom. And then the rattles... the cheap rattles!!! Why people love them so much, I have no idea.
Their looks are meh at best (save for the STi). Their CVT sucks and is in everything. I can go on...
AWD? Coupled with Japanese reliability? Can’t be mpgs, right?
Closest I ever came to buying one was back in 2001 when I test drove a bunch Outbacks and Legacy GT sedans. We were looking for space (utility) and performance in snow (wife was going to take a job up in Vermont). Ended up in a Toyota Camry, of all things.
Standard full-time AWD (not the fake stuff Honda,Toyota does with the CR-V) is definitely part of it. Another has to be marketing. It's just such an offbeat brand that highlights its weirdness. The Outback and Forester are great, too. Oddly, your article is about the sedans, which are all pretty terrible.
Having currently the fortunate thing of being on a long-term rental (via company paid contract work) at a National Car with free choice of switching out anytime I want via their Emerald Club aisles....I've tried several SUV/crossovers as well as sedans.
And I can see how people are moving away from sedans and see the value of smaller SUVs as more beneficial than costly when compared to sedans. The CRV is a good example, slightly more expensive but with bigger cargo room and interior in the back and the higher ride height. The trade off people probably feel is worth it and the MPG are not that far off.
Larger vehicles I've driven so far: CRV, Q3, Grand Cherokee, Suburban, Yukon, Wrangler
Sedans: Accord Sport, Camry LE (just missed out on an Audi A6 here), Taurus Limited (this car does NOT age well, though being a rental certainly doesn't help)
Some people just really like the higher driving position, one renter at the lot when I switching out insisted she CANNOT drive any sedans because she is just used to driving at a higher position and need a SUV/van.
Despite now owning an SUV (and not for higher ride height) I get annoyed by our culture sometimes. Trucks and SUVs are everywhere. First world problem here, but in my little sports car I can't always see past them when I'm backing out or pulling out from a neighborhood when there are SUVs lining the curb. It might be safer for the people in SUVs, but it is not safer for anybody else not driving one.
Despite now owning an SUV (and not for higher ride height) I get annoyed by our culture sometimes. Trucks and SUVs are everywhere. First world problem here, but in my little sports car I can't always see past them when I'm backing out or pulling out from a neighborhood when there are SUVs lining the curb. It might be safer for the people in SUVs, but it is not safer for anybody else not driving one.
Just wait, someone will hit you and you'll be fine and they'll be in an SUV which will roll away.
In a non serious bumper to bumper accident, SUV might have the advantage of being "safer". In a serious accident where it actually matters, especially at higher speed, i think SUV might be more dangerous.
But at some point, it does not matter what you drive, the end result would be the same.
I always look around in Europe when I visit...they get it right, almost every car is a hatch or wagon, barely any sedans and almost NO SUV. They can't, they wouldn't fit down all the small roads and small towns.
For me (and my lazy butt) it's actually easier to get in and out of a normal lower ride height car/sedan than SUVs, but yes the view is better though lot of negatives otherwise....difficult to manuver in tighter spaces, and the MPG can be horrible if you're doing short commutes/stop and go.
I may be tempted to get something like a CRV in the future, but otherwise I do feel personally I'm liking the sedan more in general.
Heck something like a sports wagon would be a great combo of all the above: cargo room, sedan/sporty ride/mpg
easiest vehicle to get in and out of is a minivan
Mom had a caravan when I was a kid...then when I was 11 she got a civic Si hatch...1990...we made that work with a house to maintain and my sister and I.
This is a big reason why I have the A3...I love the hatchback and good gas mileage back to my roots...
Drove a Suburban just for the experience for a weekend....and you can haul a small army in those things...it is absolutely ginormous and parking/manuvering is a bitch and the MPG is non-existent, especially in stop and go. I have no idea how people can daily that, way too much. But yeah good point on minivans...I've had the option of renting one but yeah.....lol probably not gonna do that out of my free choice unless I had to.
Rollover is still a real risk for SUVs...no amount of technological wizardy can beat the laws of physics...they certainly have gotten safer over the years but still a much higher risk compared to low riding cars.
Best car I ever owned, Honda Crosstour AWD V6. Kind of ugly yes and the big drawbacks were: headlights not bright enough, blind spot / lane change and cargo space ok for vehicle size but fuel efficiency was pretty good for a 4000 lb vehicle and it felt very substantial when driving it. The few inches higher of ride height made it a lot easier to get in and out of but not so high like an SUV and as such, not as prone to rollover issues.
In addition to cult like following (Props so Subaru marketing and their ad agencies) as our nation gets older and larger, getting in and out of sedans becomes harder. Volvo S60 cross country anyone (rip off no doubt but a sedan that sits a few inches higher has its place).
I grew up riding in one of these, and yes it had rear facing seats in the far back:
Originally Posted by TacoBello
Subarus drive me insane. They're still an economy car company, meaning you get a nice awd drivetrain, at the cost of everything else. Paint quality is just about the worst I've ever seen for any manufacturer. The interiors make you want to weep tears of boredom. And then the rattles... the cheap rattles!!! Why people love them so much, I have no idea.
Their looks are meh at best (save for the STi). Their CVT sucks and is in everything. I can go on...
Well, I can tell you after owning my first Subaru, the brand has stuck with me for a while, and you can keep the cheap comments:
Best car I ever owned. Period.
Originally Posted by kurtatx
Standard full-time AWD (not the fake stuff Honda,Toyota does with the CR-V) is definitely part of it. Another has to be marketing. It's just such an offbeat brand that highlights its weirdness. The Outback and Forester are great, too. Oddly, your article is about the sedans, which are all pretty terrible.
Originally Posted by kurtatx
Subaru sedans
This I agree with, given the current state of their sedans. The WRX/STI are good. but the Legacy is just boring. Meant to compete with Honda and Toyota, but provide no driving excitement. I test drove a 2016 Legacy 3.6 and it was adequate, not great. In the US, the 2008/9 Legacy was a great car (3.0 like my Spec B above), just unloved. In 2.5GT, 3.0R, plenty of get up and go, but not competitive given market. However, look for those years/model now. And anything decent is still $10K or more. a Spec B will command $20K plus.
As much as I would love to get another Legacy GT/3.0 Spec B, it was far more practical for us to get the Volvo XC 90 when we did. I needed to haul 5 to 7, and travel all over Europe with a car that I could reasonably get repaired if it broke down (never did). And I had to bring it back to the USA, so not being an SUV guy I bought one and still have it. 6 years and still goes strong.
Once the kids are out of the house, I can get a coupe / fast sedan as a DD or toy. Even better once I am not paying for my kids college tuition.
I dunno, I slapped a 20MM rear bar on the 14 Legacy and the handling improved quite a bit... The newer ones ride really well and are comfortable.. I do not think the mid size sedan is going anywhere any time soon....
I dunno, I slapped a 20MM rear bar on the 14 Legacy and the handling improved quite a bit... The newer ones ride really well and are comfortable.. I do not think the mid size sedan is going anywhere any time soon....
I could see economy sedans going away, but the "Executive Saloon" will exist for a long time, IMHO.
07-28-2017, 11:31 AM
