I wonder if things would be different if.....

[2o6]

This is a thread for automotive decisions (what ifs) either personal or corporate.




I wonder if things would have been different if we got the Astra back in 1998 instead of the Cavalier (back in 1995, based upon the 1983 model roughly and soldered on until the Cobalt in 2005)




I think the public's perception of GM would be different; Astra looks really good and IMO the design has aged well. Also, it was a much newer and more sophisticated platform than the old as sin Cavalier.

[Payman]

No question. There were a few cool Opels from the 90's that GM should have brought over.

[J86]

My dad's first car was an Opel Kadett

[dazzleman]

My dad's first car was an Opel Kadett

I remember those!  My neighbors had one back in the early '70s.

[SVT666]

That Opel is so boring to look at,  it may as well be a 90's Sentra.

[cawimmer430]

That generation Astra sedan is virtually non-existent in Germany. I've only seen one or two on the road (can't even remember) because everyone who opted for that Astra went for the Caravan (wagon) or the hatchback.

[2o6]

That generation Astra sedan is virtually non-existent in Germany. I've only seen one or two on the road (can't even remember) because everyone who opted for that Astra went for the Caravan (wagon) or the hatchback.

I don't mean just the sedan, but moreso the Astra lineup in general.

[Raza]

My dad's first car was an Opel Kadett

[Rupert]

Shouldn't have sold the first Trooper, woulda driven it until 2009 when I got the Explorer. Shoulda skipped the MG, then bought an S2000 in 2010. It would be mostly paid off by now.

[Rich]

I shoulda bought a used 2006 Mustang when I got to Idaho in 2010.  Would have been harder to part with when I left, though. 

[Raza]

I should have gotten up half an hour earlier in the summer of 2008 and made it in time to buy that SVT Focus.

[2o6]

I should have gotten up half an hour earlier in the summer of 2008 and made it in time to buy that SVT Focus.

Seems like those motors like jumping time and self destructing....i think yo made the right choice

[Raza]

Seems like those motors like jumping time and self destructing....i think yo made the right choice

Craig seemed really happy with his. 

[SVT666]

Seems like those motors like jumping time and self destructing....i think yo made the right choice

Yes, but every SVT owner knows this and they change the timing belt early to prevent it from happening.

[SVT666]

Craig seemed really happy with his. 

Loved it.  I was depressed for two days after I sold it.

[Raza]

Loved it.  I was depressed for two days after I sold it.

Understandable.  Especially since you went from a hot hatch to a junior exec d-bag sedan.

[SVT666]

Understandable.  Especially since you went from a hot hatch to a junior exec d-bag sedan.

Yeah, I'm pretty much loving being a douchebag now.

[Raza]

Yeah, I'm pretty much loving being a douchebag now.

You know how Nissan has the SHIFT_ ads?  Infiniti's should be like this:

               In school zones
               In bad weather
TAILGATE_In the right lane
               Mothers with small children
               When you're texting

[Laconian]

SHIFT_automatically

[CJ]

SHIFT_never

[sportyaccordy]

That Opel is so boring to look at,  it may as well be a 90's Sentra.

The 90s Sentra was a damn good car. Better than a Crapalier for sure.

2o6, good thread. Hmmm.

Biggest one that jumps out at me is Honda. Theyve made some good moves and some bad ones, but they've all kind of set big changes in the industry in motion. For example, the deaths of the NSX/S2000 reinforced this notion that speed over balance = fun, and that nobody enjoys or buys slow cars, despite the enduring success of the Miata and the revelatory reception of the FT86. What would have happened if they had made the cheap and easy updates these cars deserved to remain competitive without destroying their balance?

Another one that jumps at me. The 2002 Altima. IIRC it was a lot bigger than the Camcord, and of course it had that monster V6. What would have happened to Nissan had they not taken that risk? I think that car saved the company.

[sportyaccordy]

Personally, I shouldn't have sold the first Maxima. I should have fixed it and kept it. I think I would still have it to this day. It was an awesome car and I loved driving it. And it still had that "first car" magic. I kicked around the idea of getting an economy car for the next one but I think I am going to treat myself just a little bit.

[Vinsanity]

What if Ford actually replaced the Mustang with the Probe back in the late-80's?

[Laconian]

What if GM didn't buy Daewoo?

[Madman]

As a former Peugeot owner, I've often wondered what if Peugeot had stuck it out and started to get serious about the North American market instead of pulling the plug in August of 1991.

1991:  Prior to pulling out, Peugeot had announced all-wheel-drive versions of the 8 valve 405 (405 DL X4 and 405 S X4) for the 1992 model year.  US Peugeot dealer's parts microfiche even listed these models, complete with part numbers.  A handful of 1992 models did make it over just prior to the pull-out announcement, but none were the X4 versions.  Peugeot also confirmed the 605 V6 automatic was going to be launched in mid-1992 as a 1993 model but, of course, this never happened.

Now lets get into the "What if?" .............

1992:  Instead of withdrawing from North America, Peugeot decided to redouble their efforts in the new world.  The 405 sedan and wagon continued to be offered in DL and S trim levels, with the option of all-wheel-drive (X4).  The 405 Mi16 sedan continued to be offered as well.  The 505 wagon was in it's final model year, offered with either 120 horsepower naturally aspirated 2.2 litre engine or the 160 horsepower 2.2 litre turbo.

1993:  605 3.0 V6 launched.  505 Wagon now discontinued.  405 was facelifted and a new 2.0 litre engine replaced the previous 1.9 litre unit.  Front airbags now became standard on all models to silence critics who complained of a lack of airbags in previous years.

1994:  Peugeot expands into a new (for America) market segment and brings the 306 hatchback with 1.8 and 2.0 engines to the New World.

1995:  Another expansion into a new segment sees the 806 minivan launched with 134 horsepower 2.0 engines  Both 5 speed manual or four speed automatic transmissions are offered.  306 cabriolet and sedan launched.  Now with a four-model range, Peugeot is better positioned to compete in the American market.

1996:  The 406 sedan replaces the 405 but the 405 wagon continues to be offered for one more year.  605 is facelifted.

1997:  The 406 wagon joins the sedan and replaces the 405 wagon.  Gorgeous Pinninfarina designed 406 Coupe introduced.

1998:  The 306 is facelifted and a wagon joins the line-up.

1999:  Final year for 306 sedan.  Final year for 605 sedan.

2000:  Final year for 806 minivan.  607 sedan is launched and replaces the 605.

2001:  Final year for 306 hatchback.

2002:  307 hatchback replaces the 306 hatch, but the 306 wagon and cabriolet continued to be offered for the last time.

2003:  Final year for 806 minivan.  307 wagon and 307 CC cabriolet launched.

2004:  Final year for 406 sedan, wagon and coupe.  807 minivan launched.

2005:  407 sedan and wagon replaces the 406 sedan and wagon.  607 is facelifted.

2006:  No changes.

2007:  407 coupe arrives as a belated replacement for the 406 coupe.  Final year for 307 hatchback and wagon.

2008:  308 hatchback replaces the 307.  307 CC cabrio offered for one final year.  Peugeot launches it's first SUV in America, the 4007, based on the Mitsubishi Outlander.

2009:  308 SW wagon launched.  

2010:  308 CC coupe-cabrio launched.  3008 crossover launched.  Final year for the 607.

2011:  Final year for 407 sedan and wagon.  RCZ sports car is introduced with 200 horsepower 1.6 turbo.

2012:  308 facelifted.  508 sedan and wagon launched and replaces the 407 and, to an extent, the 607.


Yep, this is what could have been.  I'm not sure if Peugeot would have considered importing the 206/207/208 to America, so I didn't consider these.  However, given the popularity of B segments cars in America these days, the 208 would certainly be a no-brainer.

Sadly, when I look back at the (real) history of Peugeot in America, I see a golden opportunity that was lost.  Peugeot could have been a major player on these shores if only they had listened to their American customers and dealers and had taken the American market seriously.

[Rupert]

What if Ford actually replaced the Mustang with the Probe back in the late-80's?

What if Porsche had replaced the 911 with the 928 in the late-70's?

Either they would have gone out of business 15 years later, or they would make cars that look different than just bigger/mid-engined versions of the 911.

[hotrodalex]

What if Porsche had replaced the 911 with the 928 in the late-70's?

Either they would have gone out of business 15 years later, or they would make cars that look different than just bigger/mid-engined versions of the 911.

Like cars that look like bigger/mid-engined 928s?

[Cookie Monster]

What if Mazda made a coupe version of the Miata?

I would have one of those now instead.

[Raza]

What if the Z4 weren't totally fucking awesome?

I wouldn't want to live in that world. 

[MX793]

The 90s Sentra was a damn good car. Better than a Crapalier for sure.

2o6, good thread. Hmmm.

Another one that jumps at me. The 2002 Altima. IIRC it was a lot bigger than the Camcord, and of course it had that monster V6. What would have happened to Nissan had they not taken that risk? I think that car saved the company.

It actually wan't really any bigger than the Camry.  1 cubic foot more passenger space volume than Camry, but one cubic foot less in trunk capacity, so same total interior volume.  Accord had the same passenger volume as Camry, but was down a couple of cubic feet in trunk space.