Yeah, there are still several economy cars out there with rear drums. Not all modern drums are bad. They still work well when used as intended. That’s said, I’d rather have discs on all 4 corners. 

Yup. And it had better brakes, tires, and suspension than stock too. All of which is a safety improvement. 

Lets not forget this car had upgraded suspension, brakes, and tires over what it came with stock. If it still retained its OEM seat belts than this car was potentially safer than an original ‘cuda.

The Volt’a chief engineer can clarify. Long story short: the gas engine does NOT directly drive the wheels at all.

Everyone here is forgetting that GM already made the best in-between. The Volt. In case you forgot, it was a plug in electric with an onboard gas generator that wasn’t connected to the drive wheels and only fired up when’s necessary providing real time electricity for the electric motors while also charging the…

I couldn’t afford a Maxima, but I did have a ‘96 Altima SE with a 5 speed back then. With 150hp and all-wheel disc brakes, and decent set of shocks/struts and sticky tires it proved to be a decent autocrosser.

You’re right...seems like these were the yuppy Mom SUV of choice at one time, and now...poof! They probably broke at some point and being a Lexus were too expensive to repair and thus were traded in and then promptly sold at auction to be parted out and scraped.

Exactly. People always bagging on the domestic cars of that era, but they often outperformed their Japanese counterparts.

Escort and Probe shouldn’t be on your bad list. Both were solid little performers. 

Hahaha! Yeah...you’re right and you’re right. 

I did a quick sketch of it as a modern car. I’d rock it! Haha.

From inside to outside. White/Red/Orange.

Kind of a less-attractive electric Ford Focus C-Maxx. It’s okay I suppose. Was really hoping Tesla was gonna go a different route with the styling of the nose. I know, I know...they don’t need a grill. But every time I look at one I just see a Ken doll crotch. 

Oddly,some of the most exciting GM products are Buicks. Who saw that coming?! The Regal GS and the TourX are both innovative attractive designs, perform well, and are good values.

I once had a Triumph TR6 I was selling, a potential buyer agreed to meet me at a regional airport. I’m sitting in the car near the tarmac when I see a gleaming twin engine Beechcraft land and taxi up to where I’m parked. The plane’s engines shut down and the props slow to a stop, the door opens up and out climbs an…

Loved this. I will say though..I’ll bet those American cars outlasted any daily driven British/European car of the era. I say that as a British car fan too.

You’re right....that may be part of their secret sauce. Making boring shit that only non-enthusiasts want. Who are also the same people that don’t ever really put a car through it’s paces.

Says people who don’t care about cars, “isn’t a Hyundai pretty much the same thing as a Honda, but cheaper?” 

I had the exact same thought. And, even though it’s older than shit, the Z still manages to look better. 

Not saying they are crap, but that reliability ain’t what it once was either. While Toyota was sleeping and making boredom mobiles, everyone else got better.