10 Cars Nobody Would Miss if They Vanished

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Any new vehicle purchased will be obsolete within two years as hydrogen fuel cells and electrics will take over the market immediately after we rid ourselves of the big oil obstructionists in the White House. This has been in the master plan for years and is long past due yet has been blocked repeatedly. The current plans to bailout the auto industry are yet another give-away program unless thay are tied to retooling for fuel cell vehicles. America must retake control of our finances and insist upon conditions before applying bailouts. Why bailout companies to produce gas guzzlers when peak oil has been realized and an alternative is already road ready and being produced in limited quantities??? Let's get aboard the hydrogen economy band wagon and insist upon Hydrogen Fuel Cells Now!!!

Ray Fisher of NM 9:37AM November 11, 2008

Like my dad said years ago, "There's more than one way to skin a cat." (The Ford Crown Vic and it's Mercury counterpart are still in production mainly because of Police use - and the elderly do have an easier time with entry and exit)
Okay, GM, Chrysler, and Ford all provide jobs. The private auto industry provides jobs also restoring, building, and manufacturing 'kit' cars, component cars, and numerous models and styles of classic and unusual vehicles. Personalization, performance, and mileage are most often (if done by professional builders) better than new cars and the fit and finish is far superior. We as citizens of this great country can make our own jobs making our own cars through local shops while providing jobs to our friends and neighbors. And the auto parts manufacturers already have the parts on the shelves just waiting for us to purchase. Far fetched? Yes, of course! But, who at this time last year expected John McCain and Sarah Palin to have the slightest chance to run on the Republican ticket?

Mart of KS 2:36AM November 11, 2008

I wouldn't miss any of the listed vehicles. Nor would I miss several models of German, Italian, Swedish, British, French, Korean, and Japanese manufacture. Talk about sameness! I'll stick with my 12-years-old, oil-oozing Camry (I made a conscious decision to put in more oil rather than pay a mechanic $1000 to fix it). It only has 95,000 miles on it; had 32,000 when I bought it used, and I will drive it until it becomes too expensive to drive or the leak becomes really bad. No car payments and cheap insurance plus very low maintenance costs ($2500 over nine years) make this a good car. Say what you will about Toyota being bland--most of the cars are--but Toyota is reliable and gets from points A to B and elsewhere with minimal hassle and minimal cost.

Ken of HI 10:26PM November 03, 2008

A small question, you mentioned that the Government bailed out
Chrysler once before in 1980! I would appreciate it if you would
produce the exact amount of cash the Government actually gave to
Chrysler in 1980 or any other time. I was alive at that time and
I paid attention to what went on! What I remember that took place. After Congress acting like Iacocca was a thief in the night, gave him the guarantee, then he had to find those who would actually loan him money.
Insofar as your mentioning todays Chryslers, you have
left out some mighty beautiful Chryslers on the road today. Do you have a patch over one eye?
Richard Wolf

Richard and Carol Wolf of GA 9:25PM October 31, 2008

Good grief! We are supposed to be talking about cars and some of the jerks have to infuse politics.Most of the comments have been constructive with ideas for improving the car industry. Let's stick to that.
Additionally, I won't own a Japanese car. My hangup. Nonetheless, my older daughter just got an 08 Nissan Altima. She traded in her old one that had over 200,000 miles on it and no major problems over ten years of hard use. A really good car. People just need to have what suits their lifestyle and needs and not be obsessed with worry about how they are perceived by others on the basis of what they drive. I remember too well the cliche' about the "welfare Cadillac". Trust me it wasn't a cliche'.

Willard Wheelock of WV 8:02PM October 31, 2008

Good observations on this list. Definite overlap on jeep SUV's. SUV's I think have been a major blunder by the automakers as they have for many urban dwellers become a status symbol for their egos as they want to appear "macho". Very few ever driven off-road.
I am sold on Hyundai, now driving my second one and never a problem. Ford may be saved when they finally get the new Fiesta in the showrooms. I had a 1979 which was indeed a basic car without all the frills and needless junk they load cars up with these days. Best of all it was fun to drive and got 41 mpg on trips. I wish I had another one. That was my last new car.

Willard Wheelock of WV 7:45PM October 31, 2008

My 1997 Ford Ranger I bought new and it now has 250k miles and runs great. When the engine dies I will put a new engine it so I won't have to buy a new or used car. No car payments are a wonderfull thing.

old man of VA 3:08PM October 29, 2008

You're spot on about the Grand Marquis having left it's appeal back in the day where most cars had vinyl seats (I remember sliding across our Chrysler Newport when my dad would take a corner too hard) & when your status was measured by how wide the white wall strip was--the wider the better. My best friend took his girlfriend to prom in an early '80's model Grand Marquis that was the color of beer foam & had white walls WITH wire spoke hub caps...nice!! No curb feelers though. I have a picture of him washing it the morning before prom. However...I still think Sarah Palin is a beauty queen...quite possibly the hottest politian I've ever seen. She's smart too. I'm voting for her, not for McCain.

lagerhead of GA 12:48PM October 29, 2008

If everyone were to buy used cars and trucks as many of the commentors have indicated they do, how long will it be before a factory near you and all the supporting businesses disappear and your towns, schools and other services start to suffer. New cars and trucks are the lifeblood of the American engine and if we all don't do our part to keep this engine humming along, eventually every one of us or our kids will be affected. Let's all do our parts to keep Americans employeed and America healthy.

retired_golfer of MI 8:38AM October 29, 2008

Way to bash AMERICAN cars and American workers. I bet you drive a Toyota. If you took the badges off Toyotas Nissans and Hondas NOBODY would ever be able to tell these VANILLA pieces of junk apart. They all look the same. I applaud the American car makers and workers for putting out some high quality nice looking cars out there for those of us that want to support our economy and our fellow Americans. Everyone of you watching your 401 go down the drain deserve it if your driving a foreign car. I've always drove American and I'm proud of it. Be American and buy American

Bruce of DE 8:39PM October 28, 2008