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Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this threadThe end of the muscle car, yet again?
(Page 1 of 1)
chonkyfire @ Feb 16th 2008 3:28PM
Hmm....while I agree with this article totally that still doesn't explain why the muscle car was killed off in the 70's as an OVER reaction to the OPEC crisis. I think what we're seeing today is an OVER reaction to CAFE and to global warming. V8 muscle cars don't need to be killed off if they are sold in small enough numbers and mostly to enthusiasts. Let the V6 model be the one for people who put a lot of miles on their cars and need better efficiency. Don't kill off the cars the define the brand. Do that, and we'll abandon domestics for fuel efficient imports as we did in the 80's.
Dan @ Feb 16th 2008 5:59PM
Large, desireable vehicles will still exist. But the only way to keep them selling in small numbers is to price them beyond the reach of the general public.
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.
500 @ Feb 16th 2008 11:41PM
You may be correct Dan, but you can't just blame the Democrats. John McCain-style Republicans signed off on this one too.
DIRETTORE @ Feb 18th 2008 7:15PM
* Chonky, Actually we already passed Peak Oil in 2006.
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