Oppo Homework Help? (Car related) UPDATE

"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
10/24/2016 at 19:17 • Filed to: None

I need to write 1500 words on a discontinued car make/model. I have to relate it to six dimensions: (economic/political/social/cultural/technological/environmental influences)

I chose the Ferrari 250 GTO because it was on the list, but I want to change it. It needs to have existed before the year 1985.

Porsche 934 for your time.

UPDATE: Corvair and Delorean have been chosen.

DISCUSSION (45)

No Prius Needed > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:23

You could do the Lancia Beta and how it tarnished Lancia’s reputation.

CB > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:24

Bricklin SV-1. There’s a large bit on it in The Yugo: The Rise And Fall Of The Worst Car In History. Bring up large investments by the New Brunswick government, how it was designed to be as safe as possible, and how utterly crap it was.

Or you could just write about the Yugo, using the same book. The politics that brought it in and what brought it down (namely, Consumer Reports and other, better cars).

Really, I just can’t recommend the book enough.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > CB
10/24/2016 at 19:25

Both Yugo and the SV-1 are taken, unfortunately.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > No Prius Needed
10/24/2016 at 19:25

Also taken, might be doing Alpine.

CB > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:26

Damn. The Pontiac G8 or the Ford Falcon, then?

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > CB
10/24/2016 at 19:27

The falcon might work, but the G8 is too new. I’m thinking I might do Alpine.

No Prius Needed > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:27

Corvair?

interstate366, now In The Industry > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:27

Honda N600?

CB > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:29

Could you mention some of the European brands and what made them pull out of the North American market? Are the Pinto or the Corvair already taken?

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > No Prius Needed
10/24/2016 at 19:29

That might work, but now I have multiple options to consider, thanks!

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > CB
10/24/2016 at 19:31

Pinto is and someone else just mentioned the Corvair, which is a good suggestion. I could do a Euro company like Peugeot or something, but I don’t want to complicate things.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:32

Any ‘People’s Car’ should be easy to relate to those categories....Trabant? 2CV? FIAT 126? FIAT Topolino?

RPM esq. > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:33

Chevrolet Corvair, killed for its allegedly unsafe handling characteristics, often viewed as an unfair scapegoat in the movement toward stronger safety regulation and consumer protection laws. At least four of the six “dimensions” more or less write themselves.

Ford Pinto, design compromised from the start by new regulations, killed for its propensity to burst into flames when rear-ended, and the poster child for destructively greedy corporate cultures (the infamous cost-benefit memo).

ZIL-4104, the armored luxury chariot of the Soviet elite during the heyday of the Soviet Union, built by workers sworn to secrecy; its successor was much less luxurious as the Soviet economy was in decline, and was eventually (though still produced) viewed as an embarrassing anachronism in an era where free markets allowed the Russian elite to import new BMWs and Mercedes.

VW KDF-Wagen/Type 1 Beetle...

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/24/2016 at 19:33

The 2CV is a good one, very well might choose that one.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > RPM esq.
10/24/2016 at 19:35

Beetle and the Pinto are taken, but others have considered the Corvair and it seems to be a good option, thanks!

RallyWrench > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:35

Delorean?

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > interstate366, now In The Industry
10/24/2016 at 19:36

Not bad, maybe not as influential/iconic as I’d like, compared to a Corvair/2CV, thanks though!

WRXforScience > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:36

You could always write a SAAB story. I’ll see myself out.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > RallyWrench
10/24/2016 at 19:37

Solid, might very well work.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > WRXforScience
10/24/2016 at 19:38

I’ll give you one point for creativity and another for leaving. Please do not return.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:48

https://www.amazon.com/Engines-Change-History-American-Fifteen/dp/1451640641

mustang; cultural youth independence, 60 economic boom

1981 Honda accord; baby boomers grow up Japanese companies set up in the US

RallyWrench > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:49

That fits every dimension you cited pretty damn well. I mean, if you want socio-political/economic madness, try building cars in Northern Ireland in the early 80's using government and shady money, overpromising on a lackluster product built on other manufacturer’s parts, and somehow creating a cultural icon in the process. If you have the time, John Delorean’s autobiography is an interesting read.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > RallyWrench
10/24/2016 at 19:54

The choice basically comes between the Corvair and Delorean, both of which have plenty of options, thanks for the info!

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
10/24/2016 at 19:55

The Mustang and Accords are still available today though, so I don’t think those will work.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 19:58

hmm triumph and the collapse of the British car industry?

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
10/24/2016 at 20:01

Too late :(

I chose the Corvair and Delorean.

RallyWrench > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 20:07

Both of which also involve John Delorean. He was a top GM manager at the time, and was on record as hating the Corvair. He also made the original Pontiac GTO happen, among other things.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 20:09

The Subaru 360.

Economic: Since WW2 just finished Japan had very little money, and they needed a cheap & easy to produce car. It also kicked off the kei car segment, if the 360 did not exist there be no kei cars.

Social/Cultural: It allowed people to get around and go places.

Politics: When Malcolm Bricklin tried to import some into the USA, performed terribly in every aspect. They sat on the docks in California for year, then he dumped them in the ocean.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > RallyWrench
10/24/2016 at 20:10

I did not know that...

I sent my prof the email and the Corvair was my first choice, and Delorean was second, so I’m probably doing the Corvair.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/24/2016 at 20:16

Unfortunately I have already chosen: see update.

BorkBorkBjork > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 20:18

Hummer would be an easy punching bag. You could talk about how it became the Sierra Club’s boogey-man and the target of hatred by Jeep owners. Make sure to talk about Team Hummer’s Baja exploits, and the intertwined history of Hummer and Jeep.

Under_Score > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 20:20

Social/Cultural: “Excuse me, but did you just ASSUME that I was a car?”

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 20:21

Thats shocking, the 360 is rather unknown.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 20:29

Out of curiosity what class is this for? I might be very interested in a class like this.

wafflesnfalafel > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 21:05

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsafe_at_Any_Speed

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-23/why-you-should-buy-a-1960s-chevy-corvair-right-now

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-07-12/news/0907090687_1_chevrolet-corvair-motor-trend-heater

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 21:18

For sure, lots of interesting history from them hiding the prototypes from the Nazis during the war and them still finding Prototypes for it even relatively recently!

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/24/2016 at 22:30

I loved the “cyclops” one headlight design lol

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/24/2016 at 22:49

No noone chose it, but I saw this after I made the update.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/24/2016 at 22:52

This is for what class at Georgian?

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/24/2016 at 22:57

Automotive Concepts

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/25/2016 at 08:18

Tucker 48

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
10/25/2016 at 15:07

They WERE meant to be cheap, but well-engineered cars for the poorer masses! One headlights saves wiring and mounts, plus build costs! :P

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
10/25/2016 at 15:24

It’s called automotive concepts, in the automotive business program at Georgian college.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > BorkBorkBjork
10/25/2016 at 15:25

Yeah I thought about that but it has to have existed before 1985.

Berang > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
11/01/2016 at 20:16

The 360 wasn’t the first kei car, several companies had already tried making them. But Suzuki was the only company that was having any (very limited) success with the kei car concept. Suzuki’s car was a close copy of a German Lloyd, whereas Subaru’s 360 was an entirely original design.

Also I don’t think Bricklin ever dumped any 360s. When he left SOA, he actually got the remaining unsold 360s (it was a few hundred) and they mostly ended up being used in his Fasttrack business (mini dirt tracks where you could race subaru 360s) until they were all trashed. If anybody dumped them in the ocean, it may have been dealers, but that seems highly unlikely too, since why not just sell them for scrap, instead of paying to hire a barge?

I think the whole ocean dumping myth is probably confused memories. Renault’s dauphine sold very well for a short time in the U.S. and then rather suddenly sales dropped to nothing. Renault actually turned a boatload of dauphines around and sent them back to France. I think this might be the source of the myth.