The General Car Thread.

[NeoOasis]

The F-series is a bit of a cheat when it comes to sales. First of all, "F" actually covers a range of models. It's not just engine size, the trucks themselves get bigger as the numbers rise. Then there's all the fleet trucks, not just ones that stay pickups but the ones that become tow trucks and cherry pickers...on and on. So because of that pickups always top out US sales but it doesn't mean that we're all buying F-150s.

To be totally fair. Both the Silverado and Ram trucks also cover a range of sizes. So chances are the publications include ALL models of the F-series, Ram, and Sliverado/Sierra lines.

[Petrolheadia]

The F-series is a bit of a cheat when it comes to sales. First of all, "F" actually covers a range of models. It's not just engine size, the trucks themselves get bigger as the numbers rise. Then there's all the fleet trucks, not just ones that stay pickups but the ones that become tow trucks and cherry pickers...on and on. So because of that pickups always top out US sales but it doesn't mean that we're all buying F-150s.

To be totally fair. Both the Silverado and Ram trucks also cover a range of sizes. So chances are the publications include ALL models of the F-series, Ram, and Sliverado/Sierra lines.

Yeah, though the ranges are differently-sized.

Ford goes from F-150 to F-750, Chevrolet - from 1500 to 3500HD, Dodge - from 1500 to 5500.

[The Two Jerseys]

To be totally fair. Both the Silverado and Ram trucks also cover a range of sizes. So chances are the publications include ALL models of the F-series, Ram, and Sliverado/Sierra lines.

Yeah, though the ranges are differently-sized.

Ford goes from F-150 to F-750, Chevrolet - from 1500 to 3500HD, Dodge - from 1500 to 5500.

Exactly. This is why we need breakdowns of truck sales by load ratings, so we can compare apples to apples.

[Petrolheadia]

Imagine it's 1966. You're an unmarried 20-year-old from Tennessee, who just started working in the local fertilizer factory. You finally have the cash to replace your broken 1949 Studebaker Champion, and you're about to do it, with the replacement being some pretty nice, but used car. The options are:
- 1957 265 ci Chevrolet Beauville manual 4-door wagon,
- 1958 250 ci Rambler Rebel automatic 4-door hardtop,
- 1955 283 ci Chevrolet 210 2-door sedan, tuned to over 200 HP,
- 1958 350 ci DeSoto Firesweep automatic 4-door hardtop,
- 1955 331 ci Cadillac 60 Special automatic 4-door sedan,
- 1956 365 ci Cadillac Series 62 automatic 2-door hardtop,
- 1958 361 ci Edsel Villager automatic 4-door wagon,
- 1956 324 ci Oldsmobile 88 manual 4-door sedan.

Which one would you buy?
I think that as a bachelor from a not-so-rich background, I'd end up buying the Series 62.

[Auzkhia]

Not even leather and wood grain count?

Plastic wood? Like in a bargain basement 2001 Hyundai Sonata or Rover 75?

Maybe, maybe not, haven't been in one. It looks nice, but average, GM isn't known for interior design.

[Cannot think of a name]

The F-series is a bit of a cheat when it comes to sales. First of all, "F" actually covers a range of models. It's not just engine size, the trucks themselves get bigger as the numbers rise. Then there's all the fleet trucks, not just ones that stay pickups but the ones that become tow trucks and cherry pickers...on and on. So because of that pickups always top out US sales but it doesn't mean that we're all buying F-150s.

To be totally fair. Both the Silverado and Ram trucks also cover a range of sizes. So chances are the publications include ALL models of the F-series, Ram, and Sliverado/Sierra lines.

And what’s number two and three? Silverado and Ram. This is still my point. These vehicles are up there because of how their classified.

[The Two Jerseys]

Imagine it's 1966. You're an unmarried 20-year-old from Tennessee, who just started working in the local fertilizer factory. You finally have the cash to replace your broken 1949 Studebaker Champion, and you're about to do it, with the replacement being some pretty nice, but used car. The options are:
- 1957 265 ci Chevrolet Beauville manual 4-door wagon,
- 1958 250 ci Rambler Rebel automatic 4-door hardtop,
- 1955 283 ci Chevrolet 210 2-door sedan, tuned to over 200 HP,
- 1958 350 ci DeSoto Firesweep automatic 4-door hardtop,
- 1955 331 ci Cadillac 60 Special automatic 4-door sedan,
- 1956 365 ci Cadillac Series 62 automatic 2-door hardtop,
- 1958 361 ci Edsel Villager automatic 4-door wagon,
- 1956 324 ci Oldsmobile 88 manual 4-door sedan.

Which one would you buy?
I think that as a bachelor from a not-so-rich background, I'd end up buying the Series 62.

How beat to hell are those Caddys that they're going that cheap?

I'd probably go for the 210 and modify it.

[Petrolheadia]

Imagine it's 1966. You're an unmarried 20-year-old from Tennessee, who just started working in the local fertilizer factory. You finally have the cash to replace your broken 1949 Studebaker Champion, and you're about to do it, with the replacement being some pretty nice, but used car. The options are:
- 1957 265 ci Chevrolet Beauville manual 4-door wagon,
- 1958 250 ci Rambler Rebel automatic 4-door hardtop,
- 1955 283 ci Chevrolet 210 2-door sedan, tuned to over 200 HP,
- 1958 350 ci DeSoto Firesweep automatic 4-door hardtop,
- 1955 331 ci Cadillac 60 Special automatic 4-door sedan,
- 1956 365 ci Cadillac Series 62 automatic 2-door hardtop,
- 1958 361 ci Edsel Villager automatic 4-door wagon,
- 1956 324 ci Oldsmobile 88 manual 4-door sedan.

Which one would you buy?
I think that as a bachelor from a not-so-rich background, I'd end up buying the Series 62.

How beat to hell are those Caddys that they're going that cheap?

I'd probably go for the 210 and modify it.

Hint: old luxury car.

[Petrolheadia]

If the Buick Regal was mediocre... it would've been much better.

And you know what's the best thing to come out of the Big Three, unironically?
The "$100k Ford".

[Auzkhia]

If the Buick Regal was mediocre... it would've been much better.

And you know what's the best thing to come out of the Big Three, unironically?
The "$100k Ford".

It's Lincoln, what a luxury car should be. The new Lincolns are quite nice now.

[The Two Jerseys]

If the Buick Regal was mediocre... it would've been much better.

And you know what's the best thing to come out of the Big Three, unironically?
The "$100k Ford".

It's Lincoln, what a luxury car should be. The new Lincolns are quite nice now.

Even if the stole the grille from Jaguar...

[Petrolheadia]

It's Lincoln, what a luxury car should be. The new Lincolns are quite nice now.

Even if the stole the grille from Jaguar...

Every brand that had been around in the 30s has vertical grilles in its history.

[NeoOasis]

If the Buick Regal was mediocre... it would've been much better.

And you know what's the best thing to come out of the Big Three, unironically?
The "$100k Ford".

It's Lincoln, what a luxury car should be. The new Lincolns are quite nice now.

The Continental and Navigator sure. Though I understand Lincoln is moving back to dedicated names instead of random letters, and more dedicated platforms. So far Lincoln is still moving in the right direction, even if their commercials continue to confuse.

[Elwher]

If the Buick Regal was mediocre... it would've been much better.

And you know what's the best thing to come out of the Big Three, unironically?
The "$100k Ford".

It's Lincoln, what a luxury car should be. The new Lincolns are quite nice now.

This is a lincoln, what a luxury car should be.

[Costa Fierro]

It's Lincoln, what a luxury car should be. The new Lincolns are quite nice now.

This is a lincoln, what a luxury car should be.

A badly made, chintzy, underpowered piece of crap?

[Petrolheadia]

This is a lincoln, what a luxury car should be.

A badly made, chintzy, underpowered piece of crap?

It's not chintzy. It's actually got an appearance, unlike many other 70s cars.

Also, HP rundown:
The mid-production - 1975 Continental ($9656) had 206 HP, more than the 1975 Jaguar XJ6 (150 HP for $13,100) or 1975 Mercedes 450SE (180 HP for $18,333), also offering more space and equipment for its lower price.

[Costa Fierro]

It's not chintzy. It's actually got an appearance, unlike many other 70s cars.

If you put a Continental next to any other offerings from Chrysler or Cadillac, they'd look very much the same.

Also, HP rundown:
The mid-production - 1975 Continental ($9656) had 206 HP, more than the 1975 Jaguar XJ6 (150 HP for $13,100) or 1975 Mercedes 450SE (180 HP for $18,333), also offering more space and equipment for its lower price.

The 1975 Continental also nearly weighed two and a half tons. Both the Jaguar and the 450SE weighed significantly less, the SE at 1.7 tons and the XJ6 at 1.6 tons. The SEL also came with a 6.9 litre V8 that produced 250 hp, but I'm guessing you overlooked that because it would have made significantly more horsepower, had better reliability and was considerably faster.

Lower pricing also came with inferior reliability, quality and economy. And in the wake of the 1973 fuel crisis, every American car manufacturer was looking to downsize. And they did.

[NeoOasis]

The 1975 Continental also nearly weighed two and a half tons. Both the Jaguar and the 450SE weighed significantly less, the SE at 1.7 tons and the XJ6 at 1.6 tons. The SEL also came with a 6.9 litre V8 that produced 250 hp, but I'm guessing you overlooked that because it would have made significantly more horsepower, had better reliability and was considerably faster.

Lower pricing also came with inferior reliability, quality and economy. And in the wake of the 1973 fuel crisis, every American car manufacturer was looking to downsize. And they did.

Let's not forget the 206 horsepower was made out of the 7.5L anchor Ford called an engine. Still better than the Eldorado's 200 out of 8L...

Personally I'd rather have the Mercedes. The 6.9 liter trims are classic sleepers.

[Petrolheadia]

It's not chintzy. It's actually got an appearance, unlike many other 70s cars.

If you put a Continental next to any other offerings from Chrysler or Cadillac, they'd look very much the same.

Also, HP rundown:
The mid-production - 1975 Continental ($9656) had 206 HP, more than the 1975 Jaguar XJ6 (150 HP for $13,100) or 1975 Mercedes 450SE (180 HP for $18,333), also offering more space and equipment for its lower price.

The 1975 Continental also nearly weighed two and a half tons. Both the Jaguar and the 450SE weighed significantly less, the SE at 1.7 tons and the XJ6 at 1.6 tons. The SEL also came with a 6.9 litre V8 that produced 250 hp, but I'm guessing you overlooked that because it would have made significantly more horsepower, had better reliability and was considerably faster.

Lower pricing also came with inferior reliability, quality and economy. And in the wake of the 1973 fuel crisis, every American car manufacturer was looking to downsize. And they did.

You know how much the 6.9 would cost? Nobody knows, because it was not sold stateside.
Also, the Lincoln was heavier, because it had a larger interior.

Let's not forget the W116 could be overrated. The 1973 Car and Driver test compared the pedestrian Olds Cutlass Supreme sedan with the Mercedes 450SE - and the Oldsmobile wasn't found much worse.
It was definitely much better than 70s US Car Basher #8745 from the Jalopnik cooment section would say.

[Elwher]

It's not chintzy. It's actually got an appearance, unlike many other 70s cars.

If you put a Continental next to any other offerings from Chrysler or Cadillac, they'd look very much the same.

They do share a certain similarity, but the differences are greater than a similar comparison today, at least to my eves.

[Auzkhia]

It's Lincoln, what a luxury car should be. The new Lincolns are quite nice now.

This is a lincoln, what a luxury car should be.

When American automakers decided to sit on the couch.

[Elwher]

This is a lincoln, what a luxury car should be.

When American automakers decided to sit on the couch.

But what a comfortable couch it was, sir.

[Auzkhia]

When American automakers decided to sit on the couch.

But what a comfortable couch it was, sir.

Yes, the cars had couches too.

[Jordkloden]

I despise automobiles. Bring back the horse-drawn carriage.

[The Two Jerseys]

But what a comfortable couch it was, sir.

Yes, the cars had couches too.

Mmm, split bench...