"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
06/25/2014 at 14:36 • Filed to: None
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"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
06/25/2014 at 14:36 • Filed to: None | 7
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The year was 2010, but it all actually started a few years prior. A perfect mixture of a global financial downturn mixed with high fuel prices, a lack of creativity and marketing and a dab of over-borrowing. Next thing you know the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is dead and we're sending our astronauts into space in Russian rockets. Absolutely pathetic. It makes me sick. Especially the bit about us going to a mobile home in space in Russian technology. Fast forward a few years and I guess not is all bad in the world though, the Dodge SRT Dodge Viper is back and domestic automakers are showing signs of life. Our space fleet is still grounded though. Help us Elon Musk, you're our only hope!
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Disclaimer: This is written from an enthusiasts perspective, but you already knew that if you've been to RFD before. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong, and that domestic automakers don't actually get anything from fast, prestigious cars. The comment box is just below this article!
Where was I? Oh right. After that mess a few years ago, we still have !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! built brand new and on dealership lots for sale. The selection of special edition Mustangs is seemingly limitless. Something has to be going right. I'll admit, I love domestic cars. I pull for them, I stick up for them, I buy them, and I recommend them to friends. But why do I just don't feel the same excitement that I felt for American cars before the bubble burst? I'll start by saying that the Corvette C7 is a fantastic step in the right direction. The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , wow. Just look at it!
Image credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
The new Mustang looks amazing and will likely be pretty fantastic. The Camaro and Challenger honestly just linger in the back of my mind, but they're good too (especially the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) and will likely be gunning for the 2015 Mustang with updated models featuring more power and better suspensions. Thing is we need something new. Something big. Something…super. The current list of domestic enthusiast cars has been relatively the same since 2010 when the Camaro re-joined the fray.
Think about it this way. Do you remember when the Dodge Viper was put into production? Do you remember when they followed it up with the Viper GTS and then rolled out a bunch of competition cars. Of course you do. They gave us in the US of A a sense of Pride! "Look at what we've done! We the people of the nation with the most awesome cars have brought you this!" Same with the Ford GT. What an awesome, awesome, car, a real world beater. Again! Something that, if lined up with supercars from around the world could hold their own in performance AND style. This is poster material kids.
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Image credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Domestic automakers used to be the kings of big cars too. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , these were cars that people aspired to own. Returning to big cars now is hard because gas prices always seem ready to jump any time somebody in the middle east sneezes. We did them so well decades ago and at least Cadillac seems to be having a resurgence. The Chrysler 300 is updated but still based on an old LX platform from a decade ago.
I think what we need are more American car that gives you an enjoyable driving experience, and not something that feels like you're in a German doctors office. Something special. We need t-tops, targas, and more convertibles. More manual transmissions that don't require use of paddles. I don't want traction control, tons of airbags, or grocery bag holders. Or at least give me the option of turning some of those bits off or easily removing them. And follow others lead and make them lighter. Guess what, that helps with MPG too. Take that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !
We already told you why we think !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . And I think Ford and Chrysler do as well. Sure the Viper is back, and that's a good thing. But it's living under a very large and looming !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and under a regime that won't tolerate anything being as fast, or God forbid, faster than a Ferrari. Dio mio! So it's over to you Ford. You showed us what you can do with the GT. It was epic. And I don't use that word too often, you can do a search. You're right in the midst of a renaissance with the EcoBoost ST models, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and, as I mentioned, the redo of the Mustang is imminent.
But we want more and not just from Ford. Take those new engines and put them into new offerings. We want lightweight 2-seat convertibles. We want 4-seat GT cars with nice interiors, over 300hp and a 6-spd. Something bigger than a Mustang but smaller than a house Challenger. We want more rear wheel drive sedans. We'll take smaller, turbocharged engines, that's fine. But give us options!
Signed, an RFD enthusiast.
'Murica!
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Image credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Header image: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Adapted from an article originally drafted by !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Will is an automotive writer and Editor-in-Chief of Right Foot Down. Based in Maryland, he has had a long history of founding failed automotive sites and spending way too much time on car forums. He has owned "too many Mustangs" according to Josh and has a fetish for RWD V8s. He spent most of his 20s on tracks in the mid-atlantic and killing cones in parking lots and has even taught at a teen performance driving school.
HiredDriver
> RightFootDown
06/25/2014 at 14:47 |
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Until America trims down all we're going to get are bloated coupes with way too many cup holders. Today's normal sized American can't fit in to a Lotus and therefore they choose to drive Challengers. I blame the parents.
R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
> RightFootDown
06/25/2014 at 14:55 |
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I hate the new Viper, but show me a picture of the old one in this blue and Swiggity swooty I'm comin fo dat booty
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R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
> RightFootDown
06/25/2014 at 14:56 |
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Make a new one already. Insert Bender shouting, "Let's go already!!!!!!"
Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
> HiredDriver
06/25/2014 at 15:07 |
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America's current average BMI is rather unfortunate. I know many can't help it, but most can, it's a lifestyle change away. Drive past the damn McDonaBurgTacoKingBucksHut. Hit the vegetable and fruit sections, learn about whole wheats.
#rantover.
DoYouEvenShift
> RightFootDown
06/25/2014 at 16:21 |
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A new 3600lb Camaro is on the Horizon, and it will be awesome. If they can make a 4100lb beast run with and away from some super cars. The 6th gen will do magic for sure. New Mustang will be awesome as well. Im not sold on the looks however, I still think it looks like a Fusion. But, I think the only good looking Mustang is a Terminator, so what to I know. Challenger, in hellcat form will be a beast, in a straight line. No idea where its future is headed, not sure personally. Corvette kicks ass, and has for a long time. Same for Viper. Cadillac as well. More great things to come from them. Ford? Your move.
And I completely agree with you about the space thing. Mr Musk, send us to space please! Oh Ill take a Model S too please. And please make me another roadster.