http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/ Autoblog Comments for The end of the muscle car, yet again? http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 3:28PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
Which is exactly what will happen. The large cars you'd actually want to drive will be dolled up with wood inlays and 34 way power seats and similar effeminizations and then sold by Cadillac or BMW or Lexus starting at $79,900.

Meanwhile, the cars on the Chevy and Toyota lots you can actually afford will be small hatchbacks and wagons ala Europe.

The era of regular Americans being able to have a big comfortable vehicle - a SUV, a truck, a Chrysler 300 type car - are over.

And that's what the muscle car was. A big fast car for a regular guy.

Thank the Democrats.
]]>Feb 16th 2008 5:59PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 11:41PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
If you look around you, prices are already starting to creep up on everything from bread to milk, eggs, etc.

A) Oil is hitting $ 100/Barrel - "After 2011 we could be in for serious trouble"
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20071118/ai_n21115589
B) 19 Feb. IOB Iranian Oil Bourse opening Non-U$D exchange
C) Gold close to $ 1000/Ounce by end of 2008. $ 2000/Ounce in the near future
D) The US has 8,133.5 TN Gold Reserves which account for about 76% of its total reserve. Germany 3,400 TN, France 2,750.
E) Debt for the war is approaching $ 1 Trillion by some estimates
F) Coal hits $ 300/TN http://www.davidstrahan.com/blog/?m=200802
G) 2006 Peak Oil production 81 MB/day http://www.energywatchgroup.org/fileadmin/global/pdf/EWG_Oilreport_10-2007.pdf
H) India Tata $2,500 car
I) Europe surpasses US auto sales > 13 M

http://www.odac-info.org/news_releases/documents/ASPO6-PeakBy2012.htm
http://www.energyshortage.com/e/index.html
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3i263_2013-la-fin-du-petrole-23_shortfilms]]>Feb 18th 2008 7:15PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
I think easily tunable cars with entertaining handling, good power, and everyday practicality are the way to go. It's all about how a car makes you feel.

So maybe it makes sense to offer a variety (3+?) of performance cars in similar price range ($23k to $31k) to suit different tastes. They could share platforms, components, parts and therefore costs could be reduced, and since their style will be different they will appeal to a larger audience in total, and volume sold will be higher, thus further reducing the manufacturing costs.

Of course this will be rather difficult to achieve because of CAFE standards, but still possible with utilization of right technology.

rgt881@gmail.com]]>Feb 16th 2008 3:30PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
Isn't that contrary to the definition of "muscle car?"]]>Feb 16th 2008 3:30PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 10:52PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 17th 2008 2:01AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 3:33PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 3:36PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 3:37PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
I like the style of Muscle cars but they are kind of ridiculous in the fact that they weigh a crap load. 4100 for a rwd challenger hehe is kinda extreme how many mpg is this car sipping?

I rather get a datsun 240z or a Cutlass if I wanted to waste some gasoline they're at least classic. If you don't like CAFE then you should have voted for the other political members. ]]>Feb 16th 2008 3:50PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 8:39PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
I still don't think a turbo four Mustang will be embraced but if there's no eight on the menu in the future it'll be somewhere to get the power you want in the future.

COBRA SVO!! Joking.]]>Feb 16th 2008 3:56PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 3:59PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
Less power for 1-3 more mpg? I'd rather see these muscle cars available in powerful V8 form with little regard for efficiency (for enthusiasts), *and* a much more fuel efficient V6 or even (dare I say) I4 for people who want to commute and look stylish while doing so.]]>Feb 16th 2008 4:03PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/Feb 16th 2008 4:09PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
In the states we complain about $3 gasoline but there's a real possibility that we'll see higher fuel prices in the years to come. A 15 MPG muscle car is going to be very expensive to own.

I'm not a 'peak oil' theory guy but the fact of the matter is that more countries are buying oil. With greater demand comes a higher price. Muscle cars will still be made but I suspect most will be hybrids or even electric cars in the years to come.]]>Feb 16th 2008 4:10PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
As for Cali and CAFE:
California needs to be more active in promoting the car pool lanes they spent billions on and have better public transportation. I go to Southern California (L.A. area) for work about 3 times a year and hardly see anyone use the car pool lane. I swear nearly every car in grid lock has one driver in it when I drive from Santa Ana to Pasadena. ]]>Feb 16th 2008 4:19PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/the-end-of-the-musclecar-yet-again/
And with these 300 hp NA DOHC v6's being as heavy and fuel thirsty as a comparably powered ls v8, who needs a v6?]]>Feb 16th 2008 4:32PM