I saw one last night close up. It could be worse, but I think it's got too many details -- espcecially the front end. It's also got the "ass in the air" look that seems to be common recently. As with all newer convertibles, the doors come up to your ears. I presume thats for side-impact safety, but it really ruins the feeling of being in a convertible. It's just not the same if you can rest your arm on the door...
Didn't GM source that tranny from one of their light trucks? If so, yes, a transmission can really be so mismatched to the vehicle.
What's worse would have to be the visibility from the driver's seat. Take a look at Ken's picture and notice how low the top is at the A-pillar and window intersection--when you see someone driving one of these with the top up, it's like you can't even see anything above their mouth.
Not to mention that the tops seem remarkably wrinkled in the rear when they're in the "up" position--I'll bet it's related to the goofy cowl behind the seats and also the fact that lowering/raising the top seems rather difficult to do.
Wouldn't the Focus be considered a US vehicle? I'm sure you have the much better "world car" version (similar to our Mazda 3), though.
Wow, that Peugeot sells for next to nothing! How do they do that and is it worth a damn?
Chris
99BBB
It's actually a Toyota/Peugeot/Citroen car (Aygo/107/C1) so I guess they make a lot of them plus it's somewhat basic other than that I can't say. It seems like a nice small car, in US terms very small, which is good for getting around the city.
Kind regards Bruno
I am pretty sure the Focus is made in the UK but with the car industry who knows really. I mean in some ways you could argue the MX-5 is a US car or that fx. the Lotus Exige is danish car since the frame was made in Denmark (not sure if it's still the case but Hydro Aluminum did the glue thing to begin with). Also I think Lotus is using a Toyota engine which in a way is Japanese except they have factories in Ireland...
I think the only US Ford's we get over here is the Cougar because the other ones seem to small Ka/Puma/Fiesta or to European Focus/Mondeo/Transit. Still who knows - I did not even know the Mazda 3 was sold in the US.
Kind regards Bruno
But my old Nissan Fairlady SPL-311 (Datsun roadster) had both the engine and transmission from the domestic Japanese Nissan Miler pickup and it didn't shift badly and the ratios seemed just right. Unless bringing both the engine _and_ tranny over was the secret... It definitely seemed to me as though the Solstice tranny was really, well, _wrong_.
No, European Fords are considered German (or maybe a bit British) cars. I think the design/R&D is mostly done in Germany, although production might be spread out in various countries. I don't know the amount of work done in Britain. Since a German car has automatically a better reputation than a British one, it is likely that Ford doesn't stress the British contribuition.
Engines, interior materials and suspension setup are most probably different.
My friend's wife has had her Solstice for 6 months now. The lowering of the top is an origami adventure. The hard plastic toy factory interior already rattles. I usually go to Costco with my 97M, while she can barley fit two Tic Tacs in her trunk. (No pun intended.)
Ha!
It would not be a Pontiac if it had a nice interior. Designing tacky and poorly-made interiors are both a prerequisite when making these vehicles.
It still gets some credit for having a roof line that is below my neck.
Pat
Hahahaha! A friend of mine named his first Miata "Tic Tac"!
Iva & Vixen
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