Death of Mainstream Sedans?

[Morris Minor]

/Morris scampers out to check whether tires on AWD CUV are lame or not.

They're Hankook Kinergy Mud & Snow.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Duh, but to the average person who doesn't give a shit about how they drive, their car, or anything pertaining to their car, it's much easier to just blame it on the car and get a "stronger" tool that can "deal with" her abuse.

I'm not saying it's correct, but that's how lots and lots of people think. Veeman's got a point.

[r0tor]

I have no use for snow tires on the JGC

[ifcar]

My grandmother yesterday was telling me she wants to replace her 2007 Azera so she can get the latest safety features. She's mostly interested in a midsize sedan, but I also suggested the Nissan Rogue because the surround-view camera could be very helpful in her condo's parking garage. Her first reaction was "oh, I don't need an SUV." Protecting the midsize sedan from death.

[shp4man]

They're Hankook Kinergy Mud & Snow.

Fucking Korean shit....

[AutobahnSHO]

Which is why they can coexist in peace.

If anything, the only sedans and hatchbacks left will be the exciting ones, as those are the ones anyone will want to buy.

Nope they'll be the cheap beater cars.

[AutobahnSHO]

Even with tall sidewalls, hammering into sharp edges potholes can damage a tire.  Instead of immediately popping, it will just break radial belts instead, leading to potential blowouts later.

Hmm, maybe that's what happened with Odyssey?...     There were some serious gashes on the inside sidewall and the tire was "hopping" and bigtime steering shimmy..

[MX793]

Hmm, maybe that's what happened with Odyssey?...     There were some serious gashes on the inside sidewall and the tire was "hopping" and bigtime steering shimmy..

Entirely possible.  Did the sidewall damage look like splits/cracks or gouges?

[12,000 RPM]

Fucking Korean shit....

Yeah he's so better on some Firestones 

[veeman]

Using fueleconomy.gov the difference in annual fuel cost between a current CRV and base automatic Civic is $300 assuming 15,000 miles driven per year.  Between a CRV and base automatic Accord is $200. 

[12,000 RPM]

The CR-V vs Accord is the more relevant comparison due to price. But yes the gap is just about closed.

[2o6]

GM may end up killing both the Sonic and the Impala. Same with Ford axing the Fiesta and Taurus.




Not surprised, but it seems like with these newfangled modular platforms, making cheap cars and variants should be at an all time low. Although a basic Escape/CR-V et al are remarkably thrifty for what they are, cost of entry is still high, IMO. I'd rather get a decently equipped Sonic for $16K, rather than be pushed into an Equinox for 23K. That's a lot of money.



Sad.

[2o6]

My BIGGEST problem - at least sedans and hatchbacks have a sembalance of affordability? I don't know anyone my age who can actually afford a decently equipped CUV.

[MrH]

72 month loans on CPO SUVs

[2o6]

72 month loans on CPO SUVs

That made my heart hurt

[MrH]

That made my heart hurt

It should.  I'm as shocked as you are.  I feel I make pretty good money, and I took out a 5 year loan on an SUV <$40k and I pay a huge amount every month.  No way could I afford it fresh out of school.

Has to be loan length.  Average is 67 months now, with 1/4 of all new loans between 73 and 84 months.  84 months!!!  Can you imagine still paying off a 2012 model year car today?  That's crazy.

[12,000 RPM]

My BIGGEST problem - at least sedans and hatchbacks have a sembalance of affordability? I don't know anyone my age who can actually afford a decently equipped CUV.

There will still be the Cruze and Malibu, which should be dirt cheap with how they are moving. Especially now with the subprime market getting pushed out

[2o6]

There will still be the Cruze and Malibu, which should be dirt cheap with how they are moving. Especially now with the subprime market getting pushed out

I don't want one of those



Also, Ford will likely only have the Focus.

[12,000 RPM]

Focus looks promising

[MX793]

It should.  I'm as shocked as you are.  I feel I make pretty good money, and I took out a 5 year loan on an SUV <$40k and I pay a huge amount every month.  No way could I afford it fresh out of school.

Has to be loan length.  Average is 67 months now, with 1/4 of all new loans between 73 and 84 months.  84 months!!!  Can you imagine still paying off a 2012 model year car today?  That's crazy.

Nobody's still paying off a 5+ year old car. 













They've since traded up to a newer vehicle, rolling their old loan principle into the new one.

[Xer0]

Nobody's still paying off a 5+ year old car. 


My friend did this, except that he rolled over his old loan payment into a new leased vehicle.  He didn't divulge specifics, but I can only imagine that its hideously ugly and he'll be screwed mightily when that lease is up.










They've since traded up to a newer vehicle, rolling their old loan principle into the new one.

[MrH]

Nobody's still paying off a 5+ year old car. 













They've since traded up to a newer vehicle, rolling their old loan principle into the new one.

True. Which is even worse.  I'm waiting for this bubble to pop and 2-3 year old car values drop big time.

[12,000 RPM]

Used car prices have changed fundamentally since the recession. Plus new car sales are set to decline, which I'm pretty sure will put even more upward pressure on 2-3 used car prices. Only thing I see changing that are big upward interest rate moves or a recession.

[Lebowski]

Yeah I'm not so sure it's a bubble. Viewing car ownership as entailing a perpetual monthly payment has been the norm more or less our entire lives (for most of us here), I don't see that changing.

[AutobahnSHO]

Hmm, maybe that's what happened with Odyssey?...     There were some serious gashes on the inside sidewall and the tire was "hopping" and bigtime steering shimmy..

Entirely possible.  Did the sidewall damage look like splits/cracks or gouges?

Yup. And the tires were not that old nor abused. The guy said they looked dry-rotted. Smaller cracks with big chunks missing.

[AutobahnSHO]

True. Which is even worse.  I'm waiting for this bubble to pop and 2-3 year old car values drop big time.

Maybe someday. Better never though. I used to pay $2k for an ok car with 90k miles in the last 90s. Then it was $3k was an ok entry car.

Nowadays it's been much more expensive to get a used car.

[Morris Minor]

The steadily disappearing American car

   
• Sedans started disappearing from the U.S. car market in 2008.
• Fueling the trend are low gas prices, a stronger economy and dramatic improvements in the design of SUVs and trucks.

After a century of ferrying millions of daily commuters and taking countless family road trips, simple passenger cars are disappearing from American life, and they may not come back.

Detroit's Big Three automakers — Chrysler, Ford and General Motors — pioneered the mass production of the car, but in just four years, all three may be known to Americans simply as truck and SUV makers, with only a stray sedan for sale.

The automotive industry in America is making what many observers think is an irrevocable shift toward pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossovers. While carmakers are producing sedans and sports cars that are safer, faster and more comfortable than ever, customers continue to flock to taller vehicles with features cars simply cannot offer.

More... https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/06/the-steadily-disappearing-american-car.html

[12,000 RPM]

Damn.... Daewoo troubles prompting rumors GM will kill the Spark too

I feel like when gas spikes used small cars are gonna go for a fortune as there won't be any new ones to buy....

[AutobahnSHO]

Lol saw a commercial for the "rebirth of a legend"- the new Eclipse cross.

It's a CUV.

[Laconian]

The Eclipse did something very bad in a past life, and was reborn in a baser form in order to atone for its sins.