4th Oct 2013, 09:31
Another reason why you see a "HUGE" amount of clean full-size trucks is because there is still a demand for large body on frame vehicles.
5th Oct 2013, 03:31
I knew only one girl that had a new Vega in high school. And a lot of us did not ever buy Cavaliers and entry level models.
The Vega had to be sleeved. Going to aluminum blocks is common today. Most all I knew bought V8s and at least a 6. The V8 engine, and I will compliment the 350 V8, were great engines, even during the low period with smog device experimentation and anti pollution crap that was very poor. Add the awful experiments with ugly 5 MPH bumpers on imports and domestics.
I either kept my pre 71 models or bought a nice V8. Gas was dirt cheap. I did own a nice Celica GT and some Datsun Z cars.
After 1980, it was poor going picking something with style that ran well. I bought some Acura Legends; nothing from Toyota appealed to us.
As far as today, you cannot beat the overall styling and performance of domestic cars and trucks. I have been on vacation for a week in Paris. The car offerings in the small showrooms are the imports I recall as being notoriously poor and unreliable. I was in the Mercedes Champs Elysee however; that was a remarkable place.
I like many imports and domestics. Never had a Vega or Cavalier, but had V8 domestics. MPG is actually great on new ones if that's your worry.
To bring up the mid 70s and 80s, it was a bleak time that affected performance, and cars ran poorly due to the federal pollution laws. Took them a while to get it right.
4th Oct 2013, 00:11
Front wheel drive's main purpose is better traction, handling and more interior room.
This has nothing to do with lowering emissions. Back in the early 80's, when GM and Ford began to offer front drive models, many of the engines they used were set up for both configurations, but yet the engines were built the same.
For example, GM:
The durable Olds 307 V8.
The Pontiac 151 inline 4.
The Cadillac HT 4100 (which was a disaster I will admit).
For example, Ford:
The 2.3 inline 4.
The 3.8 V6.
All these engines and more were used in front drive cars, along with rear drive cars, and some of the compact trucks, and each engine still gave off the same amount of emissions, while the gas mileage comparison varied little.
Where I live emissions tests are no longer required, but years back at the shop I worked at, I remember performing the analysis test on the same engines in both forms, and the results were pretty much identical.
And while we're on the subject, check the sales figures on the Chevy Cavalier from its debut in 1982 to its demise in 2005. The sales were pretty strong.