Bring back cavalier, neon, and escorts!

[Popful_Mail]

Do the above names have any worth in the auto market? T'would it be worth it to resurrect the names? I realize that no current or future model is planned to go by any of those names. With focus shifting to bigger more economical cars it could be likely that the big three will add additional models in the B and C segments beyond Caliber, Cobalt, Focus, etc.

I think Ford's idea to bring back the once great Taurus name was a good decision even though it worked out poorly. A familiar name can be worth a nice bit of cash that would otherwise be spent on advertising a newer, less familiar name.

Now, I suppose that I'm not exactly suggesting replacing the names of Cobalt, Focus, Caliber. What I was asking is: if Chev, Ford, Chrysler/Dodge were to introduce an additional B/C segment car should these names be considered or are they rotten goods? Of the three, I think the most likely would be the neon.

[core_upt]

why would they want to remind consumers of the shitty product they put out for a decade while bleeding themselves dry and being killed by the imports?

These model names don't have the same legacy as the Accord, Civic, Camry, Corolla, Maxima, etc....

[Xtrema]

All those names are soiled and outdated.

Calling a car Cavalier make as much sense as calling it grandpa.

Neon is gay and so late 80s.

Escorts are for fucking not driving.

[Thaco]

yeah, i was disappointed that they brought back the Taurus, that car is so nice, but with a name like that associated with it, it still makes it grandpa's old POS car.

[sxtasy]

Originally posted by Xtrema
Escorts are for fucking not driving.

haha nice:rofl:

[snoop101]

Originally posted by core_upt

These model names don't have the same legacy as the Accord, Civic, Camry, Corolla, Maxima, etc....

Those cars arent much different then the ones mentioned.

They brought the Camaro and charger bck which would be legacy cars. Mercedes brought back the gull wing. As much as I hate to say it the FJ cruiser is actually a legacy item as its based on a old toyota FJ from the 80's I think it was. The new Mini is a legacy as well.

Ford brought out the GT a few years back. Chevy brought back the camaro and did a good job at it.

[atgilchrist]

Originally posted by snoop101


Those cars arent much different then the ones mentioned.

They brought the Camaro and charger bck which would be legacy cars. Mercedes brought back the gull wing. As much as I hate to say it the FJ cruiser is actually a legacy item as its based on a old toyota FJ from the 80's I think it was. The new Mini is a legacy as well.

Ford brought out the GT a few years back. Chevy brought back the camaro and did a good job at it.

The difference between Camaro/FJ/GT/Mini is that those names have positive memories and connotations to people. Sunfire, Cavalier, Neon and Escort usually bring to mind cars that have shoddy finish quality, and are only designed to last ~100,000km before replacement.

[snoop101]

Didnt the Focus directly replace the escort? Also wasent the escort used in Rally racing?

I do agree though that there are some cars that should just not be brought back from the dead.

Kinda funny that Ford is bringing back the Fiesta.. :nut:
I was upset they didnt give us a turbo version. That would have been awesome.

[core_upt]

Originally posted by snoop101


Those cars arent much different then the ones mentioned.



As a namesake, there is more value in the brand of the Accord or Camry than the Neon. Just as there is more value in the brand of the Camaro than the Cavalier.

[toastgremlin]

The Cavalier brand is poison: not as bad as others (Edsel, Pinto, Vega) but it was bad enough that they couldn't even shake off the stigma when they went to an entirely different platform and name (Cobalt on the Delta platform).

Now they're going to another small car platform and name (Cruze, Delta II). I'm willing to bet nobody here is even moderately excited for it.

The way I see it, the small car market is basically a 'gateway drug' to the rest of the company's products. If a Cavalier is your first pile of crap, and you spend more time under the car than in it, you're not going to buy another Chevy.

The Neon and Escort maybe have a slightly better reputation because those cars didn't go virtually unchanged for 20 years, but I suspect the same problem is there.

[masoncgy]

All of those vehicles had their bad periods which, of course, occurred prior to their improvements.

The 1981-1990 Ford Escorts were US-built, and garbage, especially the ones built between 1981-1985 that used the 1.6L OHC boat anchor as an engine. Terrible build quality. Most people don't know that the 1991-1999 Ford Escorts were actually Mazda 323s in disguise, and as such, were far superior in terms of quality than their US-built predeceasors.

Same with the Cavalier... the 1995-2005 Cavalier (and Sunfire) ended up being a durable, reliable ride. Not the highest marks in terms of quality, but they received average ratings and you still see a ton of them on the road today, pointing to a decent long-term reliability record. The same cannot be said for the 1982-1994 Cavaliers (and other J-bodies) which suffered major build quality & reliability issues.

The Neon too... the first generation (1995-1999) were plagued with issues... those built from 2000-on were not nearly as horrific.

Of course... in the end, no one forgets their first experiences, so I doubt you'll ever see a new "Escort", "Cavalier" or "Neon" model roll into the showrooms. ;)

[KrisYYC]

The Escort in Europe was actually a great car. And the Fiesta name is "coming back" to North America, around the world it's still alive and well and a top seller.


The reason Ford is kicking GM and Chryslers ass at the moment is because they're finally bringing their good stuff from around the world to the North American market. Something they should have done 10 years ago.

I'm not a domestic fan so much, but Ford is in a different league than GM and Chrysler in my opinion.

[Thaco]

Originally posted by KrisYYC
The Escort in Europe was actually a great car. And the Fiesta name is "coming back" to North America, around the world it's still alive and well and a top seller.


The reason Ford is kicking GM and Chryslers ass at the moment is because they're finally bringing their good stuff from around the world to the North American market. Something they should have done 10 years ago.

I'm not a domestic fan so much, but Ford is in a different league than GM and Chrysler in my opinion.

yeah, as hard as i try, ford is making it more difficult to hate them, the new Taurus SHO is impressive, and ford sync is very very nice... i am actually somewhat eager to see what they come out with next.

[snoop101]

Originally posted by KrisYYC
The Escort in Europe was actually a great car. And the Fiesta name is "coming back" to North America, around the world it's still alive and well and a top seller.


The reason Ford is kicking GM and Chryslers ass at the moment is because they're finally bringing their good stuff from around the world to the North American market. Something they should have done 10 years ago.

I'm not a domestic fan so much, but Ford is in a different league than GM and Chrysler in my opinion.

Same here. I grew up with German cars and I actually like the new Ford line. I was thinking of taking the fiance to look at a Fusion. 3 ltr AWD is pretty nice and really the 3.5 isnt much more.

[Hatchback Hero]

4cyl Ecotec motors pushing 1000hp... I dont call that a bad make at all. I would settle for a shitty Cavalier over your PoS D series Civic. The Cavalier is just fine and Id be glad to see it come back. Dunno bout those Neons tho.

[Eleanor]

Originally posted by core_upt
These model names don't have the same legacy as the Accord, Civic, Camry, Corolla, Maxima, etc.... Yeah, the 5th best selling vehicle of all time with a huge rally heritage doesn't have the same legacy as a Maxima or Camry :rofl:

[SRT10Killer]

IF you mean escort cosworth than yes....

srt4's I just learned about and have giant potential while being easy to work on

[Wrinkly]

I have to agree with Thaco. I love German cars and I loved Fords back in the day (European Fords that is), but I hated North American Fords.......until recently.

We rented a Lincoln MKS for a week last Summer and drove to Vancouver. Boy was I blown away by that - Ford have definitely upped their game. I would consider one if I was in the market, for sure.

Have owned four new GM's since moving here - what a terrible waste of life that was..lol

NEVER going back - I think they're past the point of no return and would have to perform miracles to even get me near a GM stealership.

[dino_martini]

Originally posted by Thaco
yeah, i was disappointed that they brought back the Taurus, that car is so nice, but with a name like that associated with it, it still makes it grandpa's old POS car.

You know the Taurus was a great car...right?

At the time it was better than anything Honda or Toyota could put out. Then it became such a money maker for Ford that they let it stagnate and it became shit.

:dunno:

[jwslam]

Yea. These names are... eck

If the lude or CRX or del sol were resurrected that's a different story.

On the same note, using the name insight on the 2nd gen is a big mistake IMHO.

[alloroc]

Might as well bring back the Vega and the Pinto too.

[alloroc]

Originally posted by dino_martini


You know the Taurus was a great car...right?

At the time it was better than anything Honda or Toyota could put out. Then it became such a money maker for Ford that they let it stagnate and it became shit.

:dunno:

You must be young.
The reliability of the Taurus was horrible.

[masoncgy]

Originally posted by alloroc
You must be young.
The reliability of the Taurus was horrible.

It depends on the era and more specifically, the type of engine and/or transmission. For the most part, the Taurus was pretty average in terms of quality... certainly a step above it's domestic counterparts such as the Chrysler Intrepid.

[DonJuan]

and people wonder why there is like a 15 year gap between the years of cars in the GM, Ford, Mopar isles and the import section of pick your part.

[Graham_A_M]

^ Not really, the only newer domestic cars I've seen in the PNP line ups are the escorts, neons, sundances, cavaliers & the like.:dunno:
Thats about the only exception really. I very rarely go there but thats just what I've noticed.

The older Taurses & sables were absolute disasters in terms of reliability, just like pretty much everything else domestic from the 70's, 80's & early to mid 90's however.

GM had a new "lumina" concept car unveiled a couple years back.
I was thinking :facepalm: please let that name die... its almost hard to think of a more undesirable car.

[cjay^]

whenever I see a taurus in a parking lot i have an urge to take a sharpie and write cli in front of the taurus.

[frozenrice]

GM has tried to revive old names in the past.
Nova, Malibu, Monte Carlo are just some of the names that come to mind of 80-90s cars that were named after cars of the 70's whose names disappeared for some time.