The 10 Best Discontinued Cars

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The FJ has not been discontinued. And it hasn't gained mainstream appeal.. really? Have you driven down the road a day in your life over the next 3 years? Don't know where you reside..

Sam of TX 11:13PM December 23, 2010

Since the mid 1970s America has been losing factory type manufacturing and assembly line jobs in auto related jobs and in other industries. Here in southern California there used to be two General Motors plants (one in the Van Nuys area of the San Fernando Valley - which except for the cities of Burbank and San Fernando is part of the city of Los Angeles - and another in South Gate). The one in Van Nuys may still be running but not the one in South Gate. The Ford plant in Pico Rivera closed down and there used to be a Chrysler Corp. plant just south of LAX. There used to be a company called American Motors that used to make jeeps (based on the World War Two vehicles the way the hummers were based on the recent military vehicles). Chrysler now carries the Jeep. American Motors also made Ramblers and a model called the Nash and a small car called the metropolitan that was one-third the size of a big long Cadalac(according to the old comedy song "Beep Beep" by the Playmates). Chrysler had alrady eliminated the lower priced DeSotos and the luxery Imperials by 1961 but they recently disd away with the Plymouth line. General Mothers recently eliminated the Pontiacs and Oldmomiles. Both Chrysler and General Moters had 5 different lines in 1959. Within each line there were at least 2 or 3 models. Chevy had the Bel Aire and the Impalla and Oldsmobile had the rocket 88 and rocket 98. Cadalac had the El Dorado and the coupe De Ville. Ford Moter Company just recently got rid of the Mercury Line. General Moters can't even sell 5 different lines any more let alone 3 models within each line. Some dealerships sell both domestic and foreign cars. I bought a Kia at a Chrysler dealership but because thety didn't sell enough Chryslers the headquarters closed the dealership. There used to be many rubber and tire plants in southern California but they are all gone now. There was Firestone in South Gate on Firestone Blvd (which becomes Manchester Ave. farther West) and Goodyear which was also in South Gate and their blimp used to be kept there before moving to a hanger in Carson) and Goodrich was in the east L. A. and Uniroyal with its wall with Babylonian Kings carved on it alongside the Santa Ana Freeway in City Of Commerce is now a bunch of discount outlets called "The Citadel" and only the wall is left from the plant. Steet mills have closed down like Bethlehem or another one in some town in Pennsylvania where it was the main employer in the town and the town may no longer even be there any more. The Dole and Del Monte pineapple fields on two of the smaller Hawaiian islands off the coast of Maui are gone and the Dole processing plant in Honolulu is now a museum and the C and H sugar plant near the airport on Maui closed down.

Neal Nissim Alhadeff of CA 3:48AM November 18, 2010

Todays car have dinky engines with no power or exceleration. If you have 4 or 5 passengers and luggage and are on vacation they only go 40 MPH up a fairly large hill (like the grapevine route of Interstate 5 before it splits off to interstate 99 just south of Bakersfield, California. Highway 99 goes north to Fresno, Modesto, and Sacramento while the 5 goes northwest to the San Jose-San Franciso area. Back in 1963 the basic Chevy Impala had a 327 cubic inch engine (equal to over 5 liters). They also had a special racing type 409 cubic inch model (hich the Beach Boys sung about)(equal to over 6 liters). In the 1960s one model of Plymouth had an engine that was around 440 cubic inches. I bought a used 1988 Volvo 240DL from the mother of my brother-in-law's godson. It is a long large "soccor mom" type station wagon from before the mini vans came out. It only has a 2.3 liter engine (equal to 140 cubic inches) and only has 4 cylanders. That seems like a dinky engine with little power for a wagon that size. Back in 1971 I owned a used 1961 Mercury Comet (from when American manufactuers tried making smaller cars the first time) which had a 144 cubic inch engine but that was a lot smaller car and it was still a 6 cyendar car.

Neal Nissim Alhadeff of CA 1:14AM November 18, 2010

Some of these cars have NOT been discontinued. The Azera hasn't; Hyundai has just intro'd the '11 model.

Say WHAT? of PA 10:50PM August 05, 2010

I'm reading these comments and I'm finding that some of you who are die-hard "Made in a America" fans are a little uninformed. While the BRAND may be an American name, it doesn't necessarily mean it IS American-designed, or even American-built. Each of the big 3 in Detroit has now or has had partnerships with Japanese or even Korean builders, who either design their vehicle, or go as far as to build it for them completely.
*The following are not all-inclusive, and I apologize up-front if any discrepancies are made. The info mentioned below is mostly reflective of US-sold vehicles only, though GM brands in other countries vary greatly as well.
For instance...Ford used to have Kia manufacture some of their compact cars, the Festiva and Aspire come to mind here. Ford also has partnerships with Mazda, who's designs they have been using for YEARS...ever see a resemblance between the Ford Explorer and Mazda Navajo? How about the Ford Escape and the Mazda Tribute? The Ranger was Mazda as well. Most of Fords sedans are also sisters to Mazda models.
On to Chevrolet...Chevy has long had partnerships with Toyota, Suzuki, and Isuzu. Anyone remember the Geo line? All of the Geo line was not only Suzuki design, but Suzuki-built...with the exception of the Geo Storm, which was a little sister to the Isuzu Impulse, and manufactured by Isuzu. The tracker remained Suzuki design throughout it's name, and even when renamed the Equinox it was no different...Suzuki...all of the Saturn, Pontiac, Buick, and even Cadillac brands are no different. The Chevy Aveo is actually manufactured by Daewoo, but is also the sister to Suzuki's Aerio. Daewoo, after all, is a subsidiary of GM. Did the Pontiac Vibe bare any resemblance to the Toyota Matrix to anyone? It should have, because it was Toyota's design. How about the Pontiac Fiero and the original Toyota MR-2? Also Toyota's Design and build. The later models (mid/late '80s) of the Chevy Nova was designed and built by Toyota as well. The Chevrolet S-10/Colorado, Blazer, Trailblazer, Traverse...all Isuzu designs, that all happen to have an Isuzu sister.
No how about Chrysler? Chrysler has long had a relationship with Mitsubishi... Anyone remember the Eagle Talon/Plymouth Laser? Those were reincarnations of the Mitsubishi Eclipse, and built by Mitsubishi. The Dodge Dakota, anyone? Mitsubishi again. How about the Dodge Stealth? That one was a re-badged Mitsubishi GTO/3000GT. The Dodge Colt/Eagle Summit were also designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi.
So, lets not forget that, just because it has on of the Big 3's names on the hood, it doesn't make it "American." And , most American designs are FULL of foreign parts regardless. Face it, we all have to trust that the money goes out to all parts of the world, no matter who's brand you buy, and no matter how hard you try to buy only American brands. We just have to trust that it all comes full circle eventually and gets back to the US somehow.

JasonA of IN 5:47PM July 10, 2010

WHAT ABOUT CHRYSLER

J.WAYSHAK of AZ 9:25PM April 23, 2010

Ok while it might be true that the forgin cars are made here but where do you think the profit from those cars goes to. Back to Japan !!! This helps them not us !!
So you need to wake up and see the whole pic

Barebones of IN 1:19PM March 22, 2010

More foreign cars plants are in America, employing American citizens, that you think. And the big three, use nippon-denso parts to assemble
quote...American cars! So...Who's the American Idiot?

ncfiremech of CA 8:47PM March 21, 2010

I agree with the lady from Florida. I have always drove american built cars and been satisfied with the years service I got from them. I owned two used Japanese cars and found it extremely hard to find repair parts when they broke down. Also living in a rural area finding someone to work on them was difficult.
I like both Ford and Chevy but have owned more Ford cars and trucks. I guess probably due to getting a better deal. I am really liking the new Fords and most important to me, they did not take bail out money.
I can not say to much negative about foreign cars; since we are lucky enough to have some assembly plants and connected bussinesses in our state that provides many good jobs. People are given a chance to earn a good salary that would not be here otherwise.
I guess when I buy my next new car it will come down to affordability and safety. Gas mileage would be considered but comfort would come first; since I do not drive an excessive amount of miles yearly.

Kathy Watts of AL 8:02PM March 15, 2010

Here's to all you idiots that buy foreign cars - especially "Toyoyos" - ha ha. When you buy an American car you help keep your neighbor working and help keep that money in our country. I find it very sad that Pontiac is going out of business, these are the best cars I have ever driven and owned and were the least amount of trouble, lasted the longest, and got the best mileage. I had one Grand Prix that got great mileage, was fast, drove great, and lasted well over 200,000 miles. Same with Chevy cars and trucks I have owned and presently own a Ford and a Chevy with high miles, still running great. But American idiots have decided to buy Toyoyos and all that crap instead, mindlessly believing they were getting a better car. Hope you all smarten up and buy an American car in the future. Do the research, you will find you are getting a better vehicle. Who knows, maybe we can even get Pontiacs back in production again. Wake up America.

margie koelling of FL 10:38AM March 06, 2010