Right, but how with production volume at the very least doubling with an autobox option, how likely would it be that the Viper would continue to be basically hand-built with highly-trained and specialized UAW workers? Would it still have a hint of profitability? Or would Dodge say, y0u know, we could more easily make…

The M3 was always a different class of car. A 2004 Evo or STI would set you back ~$30K. The M3 was already well into the 40s by that time. That was a pretty big gap.

There were several other penalties. Instead of a nice Quaife diff, Dodge saved $1K per car and used a brake-lock diff system that clearly didn’t work very well. It was also intended to function up to 85 mph. I always wondered how long brake rotors lived on these cars.

Well, with the CaliberSRT4 they lost the contest. Sales dropped off a cliff compared to the hot Neon.

The mild systems are a really cheap way for OEMs to report fairly significant carbon emissions reductions. Look for MHEV to be a fairly standard system on ICE cars going forward.

Yeah, you did a great job explaining it. Why it’s done this way in the U.S. is probably partly marketing but also getting some sort of EPA credit without much extra hassle. I’m really not sure. But it would be nice to see the MHEV option produce real fuel economy gains in some mid-priced options.

A Kangoo with different styling and proprietary infotainment for thousands of Euros more. We can’t say Merc doesn’t know how to diversify its product portfolio.

The AWD system in the Eagle was derived from the Quadra-Trac developments in the mid-70s at Jeep. Basically, if the AM Van ever did get a drivetrain it would probably have been a Quadra-Trac setup from Jeep.

The ZDX? That was a modified Pilot/MDX... the Crosstour is just a fat Accord.

I was thinking the same thing, though the downside of a Prius is very low ground clearance. Given the current market, he might have more luck finding a regular Prius with mileage and features he wants.

Both are great recommendations but the fuel economy is a wash. The Mazda 5 is heavier, has fewer gears and basically the same displacement engine albeit tuned for torque instead of peak horsepower... the TSX will absolutely score better highway mileage.

Yeah, I agree with you. The 996 was not half-assed... it was a clean-sheet chassis that was a big improvement on the 993's chassis. It also used a superior suspension to the Boxster, as well as beefed-up engine and components. It’s estimated that Porsche’s decision to co-develop the Boxster and 996 saved as much as…

The porky Caliber SRT4 and its goofy brake-lock diff was trash.

An unsuccessful homologation special is hardly damning considering the regular BX was one of the company’s most successful models. As we’ve seen, when Citroen is given an actual budget it is able to succeed in rally.

I remember my father looking at the Navajo right after the Explorer launched. He passed on it because it was only available in a 2-door. That was when you could get a 5-speed stick and—I kid you not—a vinyl interior in an Explorer, which is what he got.

Sorry to trigger a Mondial owner here but I’m talking about the Mondial 8 launch... the 1980-81 cars—launched around the same time as the Biturbo—were pretty awful for the amount of money asked. Failure-prone electronics, unsorted handling, crude k-jetronic injection, crummy aesthetics, a higher price than the…

MHEV systems don’t produce major gains in fuel economy in the U.S. market, primarily because they are used only to boost power on luxury models. In other markets, particularly in Europe, these systems are often used to fill power back in for detuned or smaller engines. Those setups have noticeable gains in fuel…

The Biturbo was not built to take on the 3-series, which in 1981 was still a glorified 2002. The Maserati was positioned much higher—the MSRP was more than twice that of an ‘81 320i. By 1987, BMW had of course started building the M3 with comparable performance, though still a 4-cyl. Before then, the 5-series was…

Yeah, these were terrible. The ride quality was nice but people expecting sports car handling were disappointed. And the failure-prone mechanicals disappointed everyone.

Let’s see, slow leak, 14-year-old car, parked on the street... yeah, it’s likely corrosion. Aluminum rust isn’t soft like iron oxide so it bubbles up and prevents the tire from forming a perfect seal on the rim.