Quote:
Originally Posted by toesuf94
I put the caprice on there as we were discussing late 80's to early 90's. I know ALL about the LT1 Caprices/Impala SS. Hell, I had two Roadmaster wagons...1 with the LT1...awesome car...but boring as a plain ice snow cone. Look at the Caprices you mentioned - what was exciting about them?
The LH series cars were 'different' than the "boring cars" offered elsewhere as far as looks were concerned...but power? Nothing that made you go "Wow!" The Neon...it was different, but 'exciting'? No. (Yes, there were some high wing festooned SRT cars near the end that were fun to look at-ish.)
Lincoln - yeah...the Mark was a neat car...but it was a blip on the radar of the models sold.
I didn't mention any trucks in my lists.
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I got ya on the Caprice thing, I had a 96 B4U model (sports suspension, which was the same spring rates as Impala SS,different shocks, 2.92 rear axle ratio), it also had all options including the limited slip rear, leather, and even a towing package (actually the ratio may have been part of that). I also had a 96 Roadmaster Limited sedan with everything but the tow package and touring package, had the dynaride suspension). LOVED those cars, there will never be another like them.
Anyways, remember this was a different time, 200 HP was a big thing, the V6 Camry and Accords of the time only had 170 HP, anything over 100 HP was big for a compact.
LH cars. It was nore than the looks. They also had an available (or standard depending on which one) 215 HP OHC V6, and in 96 was one of the first cars out there to offer a manumatic shifter via auto stick. They also handled amazingly well. i loved driving my parents LHS and Intrpid. both had the 3.5 and that was a really nice and powerful motor. Took out a couple 5.0 auto TPi Camaros in that car and it would roast my 93 5.0 HO Thunderbird I had at the time. They also had great interiors. THe mid 90s LH cars were on par in that area, where Daimler actually pennied and dimed the cars designed during their reign to hard surfaces and cheap bits, which a 1st gen LH car did not have.
You may want to do a little research on the Neon. It was, and still is, a popular autocross car. The first had the Sport model with a 150 HP DOHC 4 cyclinder and 5 speed manual. The model was so popular with racing they offered the Neon ACR model. Of course the second gen started out in 2000 which also offered an R/T model, an ACR model which eventually accumulated in the SRT4.
Remember in 98 when Daimler bought Chrysler a lot of that was because at the time they were one of, if not the, most profitable car manufacturer out there. The closest thing they actually offered to a true old persons car at that time was the New yorker and it only lasted like 2 or 3 years and was just really the sporty LHS with a lot of extra chrome
You are right on the mark partially, as it was a much loswer slower seller than a more mainstream car like a normal compact or midsize sedan, but for being large nuiche midsize coupe, sales were where they should have been. I guess on price alone it was more an old persons car, but a young person can love this car, not only for what I mentioned earlier, but for other things like the ****pit style interior, the LSC models sports suspension, that would actually lower the car an inch at 60 MPH for better aerodynamics and stability.