66 + Stop Re-naming My Car!

[knightfan26917]

*
MY RT 66 STORY

Chapter 29 (Pictures Delivered) is published....
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2012/03/15/_thats-the-highway_-18/

[To read all, click "Route66" link, top left corner.]



STOP RE-NAMING MY CAR!

This editorial was fun to write, partly because I love history & timelines of cars, roads, etc.  I suspect the fact that I enjoy timelines is part of the attraction/addiction I have to watching the brackets as teams advance & others are eliminated in the NCAA basketball tournament....

Cort Stevens
Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com
March 21, 2012


Toyota Camry. Honda Accord.

Since 1982 and 1976 respectively, these two models have evolved and changed with the times, without enduring a name change. Similar history can be traced for such entries as the Honda Odyssey. The first one wasn't much about which to write, but Honda persevered with the name and developed it into a top seller in its segment.

While some examples of continuous monickers don't celebrate similar history, the names have stuck. For instance, the Nissan Quest, first available in 1993 (with a re-badge model sold as the Mercury Villager), is today in its fourth generation even though none of the variations have particularly resonated with buyers.

Yet, American manufacturers have a knack for giving us a plethora of different names for virtually the same model. GM, Ford and Chrysler do this, perhaps too well.

READ THE ENTIRE ENTRY (& see a timeline graphic) HERE:
http://www.cheersandgears.com/page/index.html/_/articles/editorials/stop-re-naming-my-car-r487



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic
CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.hobbies.RadioShows.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
* rNw-CC+event: http://rdwhl-capriceclassic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=whatsgoingon *
"These memories are playing like a film without sound" __ Vitamin C __ 'Graduation'

[Stephen M]

Great read! The mentality of the domestics seems to be that unless a model is tops in its segment, there's no harm in a name change every few years. Ford wouldn't dream of renaming the Mustang or F-150, but everything else seems to be on a short leash.

[Carnut]

Yes, but some manufacturers have a habit of misusing the continuous name - e.g. Toyota claiming that the Corolla is the best-selling car of all time, simply because they've called a dozen cars by the same name, none of which has a single part in common with its predecessor!

And just listen to the media repeating this claptrap, then try arguing with the pub bore who got it right when it was a question in the pub quiz!  Yawn, yawn, yawn!!

[knightfan26917]

Great read! The mentality of the domestics seems to be that unless a model is tops in its segment, there's no harm in a name change every few years. Ford wouldn't dream of renaming the Mustang or F-150, but everything else seems to be on a short leash.

Thank you!  Long time no see ... hope all is well for you, Stephen!

Yes, but some manufacturers have a habit of misusing the continuous name - e.g. Toyota claiming that the Corolla is the best-selling car of all time, simply because they've called a dozen cars by the same name, none of which has a single part in common with its predecessor!

Wonder if they include Nova and Prizm sales in that claim...?



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic
CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.hobbies.RadioShows.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
* rNw-CC+event: http://rdwhl-capriceclassic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=whatsgoingon *
"I'll always be around" __ Willie Nelson __ 'Highwayman'

[knightfan26917]

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FOLLOW-UP to STOP RE-NAMING MY CAR!

In case you missed it, Drew created this timeline graphic:


I have some possible follow-up ideas; this is just the tip of the iceberg.  NO, this is not a "domestic bashing" article; that wasn't the intent.  The article idea was mentioned almost a year ago.  The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to write it ... partly because of my own disappointment in a certain unnamed division of GM that opted to turn the Celebrity into a monte carlo AND an impala, by way of the Lumina.  Recently unemployed, I had time to dig into it; the more I dug, the more intrigued I was.

For the record, I've never owned a Toyota/Honda.  My vehicles include 5 MCs (1972/1976/1979/1981/1987) & a 1979 Caprice Classic (w/NO connection to front-wheel drive).

For a "Reader's Digest" summary of my "car family", see this article I wrote for Motor Gnomes:
http://www.motorgnomes.com/2012/01/pictures-a-family-of-cars/

Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but they don't share the complete tale. And, the complete tale might be a bit wordy, so a brief "Reader's Digest" version....

1973. The newly-redesigned Monte Carlo was named Motor Trend Car Of The Year ... and I was born. Coincidence? Fate? Ironic twist?

MY RT 66 STORY
All chapters, including NEW addition, #30....

1-4, Potential Sale; Arriving; Goodbye; Preparation:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/03/29/_thats-the-highway_/

5-8, The Letter; An Idea; A Return; Research & A Test:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/03/31/_thats-the-highway_-2/

9, The Drive & A Revelation:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/04/03/_thats-the-highway_-3/

10, Stall Tactic:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/04/06/_thats-the-highway_-4/

11-12, To Make Connections; Plans Verbalized:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/04/19/_thats-the-highway_-5/

13, Road Trip Rush:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/05/12/_thats-the-highway_-7/

14, Late Night & A Whistle:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/05/12/_thats-the-highway_-8/

15, Awakening:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/05/25/_thats-the-highway_-9/

16, Train & Memories:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/05/25/_thats-the-highway_-10/

17, Shopkeeper:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/06/21/_thats-the-highway_-6/

18-19, An Answer; Return Visit:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/08/11/_thats-the-highway_-12/

20, The Picture:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/10/17/_thats-the-highway_-11/

21, Shaping History:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/10/31/_thats-the-highway_-13/

22-23, Rebuilding Idea; Planning Stage:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/12/09/_thats-the-highway_-14/

24, Surprise Meeting:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/12/16/_thats-the-highway_-15/

25, A Long Meeting & A Visitor:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2012/01/24/_thats-the-highway_-16/

26-28, A Couple in a LTD; A Rude Awakening; Tale of Two Conversations:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2012/02/25/_thats-the-highway_-17/

29, Pictures Delivered:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2012/03/15/_thats-the-highway_-18/

30, Awkward Moments:
http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2012/03/26/_thats-the-highway_-19/



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic
CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.hobbies.RadioShows.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I can't remember who I was back then" __ Tim McGraw __ 'Red Ragtop'

[Otto Puzzell]

Hasn't the Malibu been the mid size entry for Chevy since 1997? The Impala is one size larger, fighting with the Avalon

[Stephen M]

The chart perhaps makes a case for the simple alpha-numeric names the German brands seem to favor. Although I must disclose I'm much less taken with BMW's more recent approach where they've divorced the number from the displacement and ladled on modifiers to end up at "Z4 sDrive 35is" and such.

[Carnut]

The chart perhaps makes a case for the simple alpha-numeric names the German brands seem to favor. Although I must disclose I'm much less taken with BMW's more recent approach where they've divorced the number from the displacement and ladled on modifiers to end up at "Z4 sDrive 35is" and such.

I think they're so keen to sell their cars in China.
It's only a matter of time before we get a BMW 476 Super Whizz-Bang Go Like Shit Friendly Rocket Ass-Basher...

[DeAutogids]

The chart perhaps makes a case for the simple alpha-numeric names the German brands seem to favor. Although I must disclose I'm much less taken with BMW's more recent approach where they've divorced the number from the displacement and ladled on modifiers to end up at "Z4 sDrive 35is" and such.

Opel and Volkswagen don't do that; Opel sells the Corsa, Astra, Insignia and other cars; Volkswagen sells the Up!, Polo, Golf, Jetta, Passat and others. Smaller manufacturers in Germany don't do it either neccessarily; the Gumpert Apollo springs to mind.

[Ultra]

The chart perhaps makes a case for the simple alpha-numeric names the German brands seem to favor. Although I must disclose I'm much less taken with BMW's more recent approach where they've divorced the number from the displacement and ladled on modifiers to end up at "Z4 sDrive 35is" and such.

I think they so keen to sell their cars in China.
It's only a matter of time before we get a BMW 476 Super Whizz-Bang Go Like Shit Friendly Rocket Ass-Basher...

^ Yeah that!

[knightfan26917]

Hasn't the Malibu been the mid size entry for Chevy since 1997? The Impala is one size larger, fighting with the Avalon

Yes'n'no.

While the "impala" is larger than the "malibu" (not by much, though!), both of them are considered, for whatever reason, to be "Camry-fighters".  Never understood that myself.



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic
CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.hobbies.RadioShows.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
* rNw-CC+event: http://rdwhl-capriceclassic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=whatsgoingon *
"I'm thinking it over anyway" __ Duncan Sheik __ 'Barely Breathing'