Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

tjc78 said:

Driver. Change the tranny fluid. Brake fluid also is strictly time dependent, even more so in humid Florida where it can absorb moisture from the air.

Probably a good idea. I read Mercedes recommends brake fluid get changed after 2 years or 20000 miles.

And this really makes a good point;
Flushing and replacing brake fluid might cost $100 or less on many vehicles, but replacing rusted brake lines, brake calipers and other brake parts can run several hundreds of dollars, so clearly there’s value in keeping up with maintenance. As a rule of thumb, it’s wise to have the brake fluid inspected and tested for moisture content every few years, and no more than every five if you live in a high-humidity area. Drivers living in areas that get winter weather should also inspect their brake system frequently, as salt and other contaminants can get into the brake fluid.

If your brake lines are rusting out I don’t think it has anything to do with your fluid. You either live by the sea or up north. One of the things I look for in used car ads is when they brag about “new brake lines”. I avoid cars like that because that means the rest of the car is rusted underneath.

And as if that’s not bad enough, I just saw a report that in addition to catalytic converters and truck tailgates, thieves are stealing taillights now.

The taillights on the new GMC Hummer cost over $3k per side.

roadburner

kyfdx said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

tjc78 said:

Driver. Change the tranny fluid. Brake fluid also is strictly time dependent, even more so in humid Florida where it can absorb moisture from the air.

Probably a good idea. I read Mercedes recommends brake fluid get changed after 2 years or 20000 miles.

And this really makes a good point;
Flushing and replacing brake fluid might cost $100 or less on many vehicles, but replacing rusted brake lines, brake calipers and other brake parts can run several hundreds of dollars, so clearly there’s value in keeping up with maintenance. As a rule of thumb, it’s wise to have the brake fluid inspected and tested for moisture content every few years, and no more than every five if you live in a high-humidity area. Drivers living in areas that get winter weather should also inspect their brake system frequently, as salt and other contaminants can get into the brake fluid.

If your brake lines are rusting out I don’t think it has anything to do with your fluid. You either live by the sea or up north. One of the things I look for in used car ads is when they brag about “new brake lines”. I avoid cars like that because that means the rest of the car is rusted underneath.

And as if that’s not bad enough, I just saw a report that in addition to catalytic converters and truck tailgates, thieves are stealing taillights now.

I think the concern is if there is a loose connection, then moisture or air can get in, and if it is moisture it can start to corrode the lines from the inside. Just saying from what I can put together.

The reason you change your brake fluid is because of water accumulation. The problem isn't rust, it's diluting the hydraulic fluid, so your brakes don't work as well.

The problem is that brake fluid is hygroscopic- it absorbs water. The more water absorbed, the lower the boiling point; when the fluid boils you have NO brakes. "Wet" brake fluid also does the abs pump no favors. My street cars get a brake fluid flush every 2 years, the track rats get one every 6 months.

stickguy

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

good thing it got too late to do the other car today or I might not be able to get out of bed in the morning!

the Acura gets done tomorrow afternoon if there isn't any rain around.

but, at least they will be all set for winter with fresh wax applied. and doing the clay bar first makes it very nice and smooth.

mcdawgg

@kyfdx said:
The reason you change your brake fluid is because of water accumulation. The problem isn't rust, it's diluting the hydraulic fluid, so your brakes don't work as well.

Buy brake fluid test strips, then you actually know when it needs changed.

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

good thing it got too late to do the other car today or I might not be able to get out of bed in the morning!

the Acura gets done tomorrow afternoon if there isn't any rain around.

but, at least they will be all set for winter with fresh wax applied. and doing the clay bar first makes it very nice and smooth.

————————————————
C’mon man, stop complaining. Detailing a car on a nice Fall day keeps you young. You can’t shop the whole day away. You gotta remember your priorities.

jmonroe

snakeweasel

jmonroe1 said:

stickguy said:

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

good thing it got too late to do the other car today or I might not be able to get out of bed in the morning!

the Acura gets done tomorrow afternoon if there isn't any rain around.

but, at least they will be all set for winter with fresh wax applied. and doing the clay bar first makes it very nice and smooth.

————————————————
C’mon man, stop complaining. Detailing a car on a nice Fall day keeps you young. You can’t shop the whole day away. You gotta remember your priorities.

jmonroe

You can't shop the whole day away? Tell that to my wife.

driver100

stickguy said:

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

.

I know what you mean, I was fine and then after being crunched up in an airplane seat for 3 hours I can hardly walk. I think they squeezed about 10 more rows into that Airbus. The Ricardo seats are made to give you as little room as possible...they aren't Ricaro's to make them comfortable. You have to slide in and take on the contours of the seat in front.

Sandman6472

Not able to even wash my vehicle's anymore as I just can't do all that bending & stretching without causing major pain in my spine. And doing it to end up literally in bed for a few days just ain't worth it anymore. Have the guy do them for us & don't mind the price. Just tired of the pain at this point in my life & add in that vertigo that seems to come & go as it pleases, can barely put in my 3 days at Enterprise. The girls are going away for a vacation in Orlando in a couple of weeks & I won't go as I couldn't keep up & would hate to hold them back. Better that I stay home & not ruin their time there. I know my limitations in life & don't push them if I don't have to.

carnaught

stickguy said:

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

good thing it got too late to do the other car today or I might not be able to get out of bed in the morning!

the Acura gets done tomorrow afternoon if there isn't any rain around.

but, at least they will be all set for winter with fresh wax applied. and doing the clay bar first makes it very nice and smooth.

What do you use for the “slippery component” with your clay bar?

stickguy

water mostly. I have the spray bottle too. I find that just slapping the water and some suds works fine.

imidazol97

If you have a voltmeter you can check your brake fluid for water content. One video showed that probing the fluid and waiting for reading to stabilize with the ground to a metal part of the master cylinder should show 0.3 volts of less of voltage for 3% moisture of less. Mine showed 0.1. I expect to refresh the brake fluid when I change the brake pads and rotors in a few months.

I need to buy a vacuum bleed kit to be able to do it myself. I used to have my wife come out and push on the brake peddle while I opened the bleed screw.

imidazol97

stickguy said:

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

Whoever named this quarter of life "the golden years" should be........ [nonpermissible language deleted].

tjc78

I know you are supposed to change brake fluid and if I was keeping something long term I’d absolutely do it.

Having said that. My 04 Grand Marquis that my Grandfather bought with 10K miles one year old and I took over in 2012 was still on the original brake fluid at nearly 13 years old and 110K miles when I sold it. That brake system had never been opened up other than to swap the front pads. Rears were original.

stickguy

rallied some energy and after lunch did the RDX. that got the deluxe package. wash, clay, wax and I pulled out and washed the floor liners, and vacuumed the whole interior. Looks way better now. Ridiculously warm for early November in the north country. worked up quite the sweat doing it, and watched many people walk by wearing shorts.

hey, it is better than the snow that everyone promised me!

but I am happy that both cars are all shiny and smooth, and have some protection on the finish for the inevitable salt onslaught. need to find the closest drive through washes that have undercarriage washes. the painted parts, I will do them myself.

jmonroe1

imidazol97 said:

If you have a voltmeter you can check your brake fluid for water content. One video showed that probing the fluid and waiting for reading to stabilize with the ground to a metal part of the master cylinder should show 0.3 volts of less of voltage for 3% moisture of less. Mine showed 0.1. I expect to refresh the brake fluid when I change the brake pads and rotors in a few months.

I need to buy a vacuum bleed kit to be able to do it myself. I used to have my wife come out and push on the brake peddle while I opened the bleed screw.

————————————————
When we moved to SC I could no longer use one of my sons to help with the brake bleeding process after I put pads or drum brakes on the rear of our ‘80 Park Ave. So I had to recruit Mrs. j for help. But before I did that I told her if she didn’t hold the brake peddle down until I told her to release it, she’d let air enter the system and since she was the principal driver of that car she’d be the one to blame if she couldn’t stop and ran into something.

OK, I’m now under the car and I cracked open the bleed screw. So I yell out to her to put her foot on the brake peddle and get ready for me to tell her when to push on the brake peddle. I backed out the bleed screw a couple turns then yelled out to her to push the brake peddle all the way to the floor and hold it there until I told her to release it. Once I saw the fluid pushed out of the line I closed the bleed screw then yelled out to her to release the peddle and let it return to its normal position. She yells back, “did you say I can take my foot off the peddle now”? I yell back, “yes take your foot off the peddle now”. She yells back, “are you sure it’s OK for me to take my foot off the brake now. I yell back, “yeah dammit, NOW. I’d like to finish this brake job today”. She responds, “OK, I just wanted to be sure so I don’t screw this up and kill myself”.

Sometimes you gotta find a way to get a wife to pay attention and putting the fear of the brake gods in them should work.

To this day she still likes to tell folks how she helped me do a brake job years ago.

jmonroe

roadburner

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

.

I know what you mean, I was fine and then after being crunched up in an airplane seat for 3 hours I can hardly walk. I think they squeezed about 10 more rows into that Airbus. The Ricardo seats are made to give you as little room as possible...they aren't Ricaro's to make them comfortable. You have to slide in and take on the contours of the seat in front.

Even I didn't think a refresher course would be necessary, but be that as it may...

Ricardo:


Recaro:

venture

I was driving past my neighbor's house, a few blocks away, yesterday morning and this guy almost walked out in front of me.

driver100

roadburner said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

.

I know what you mean, I was fine and then after being crunched up in an airplane seat for 3 hours I can hardly walk. I think they squeezed about 10 more rows into that Airbus. The Ricardo seats are made to give you as little room as possible...they aren't Ricaro's to make them comfortable. You have to slide in and take on the contours of the seat in front.

Even I didn't think a refresher course would be necessary, but be that as it may...

Ricardo:


Recaro:

I did it on purpose to see if anyone actually read that post!

jmonroe1

venture said:

I was driving past my neighbor's house, a few blocks away, yesterday morning and this guy almost walked out in front of me.

————————————————-
I had a 6-point in my back yard last week and he was quite brazen. Just laid down and stayed there until he was ready to leave. I rapped on the window to see what he’d do and he just stayed there. I even opened the back door and all he did was lay his head down between his front hooves.

Eating and relaxing in my hood must be pretty good for this guy. From the looks of him I’d guess he was at least 130 pounds with nerves of steel.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

driver100 said:

roadburner said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

this getting old stuff is for the birds. weather cooperated so after we got home from a shopping trip to the outlets, I got ambitious and washed, clayed and hand waxed the Maverick. Now I am creaking around like I'm 100.

.

I know what you mean, I was fine and then after being crunched up in an airplane seat for 3 hours I can hardly walk. I think they squeezed about 10 more rows into that Airbus. The Ricardo seats are made to give you as little room as possible...they aren't Ricaro's to make them comfortable. You have to slide in and take on the contours of the seat in front.

Even I didn't think a refresher course would be necessary, but be that as it may...

Ricardo:


Recaro:

I did it on purpose to see if anyone actually read that post!

————————————————-
There’s always that 1%.

jmonroe

roadburner

venture said:

I was driving past my neighbor's house, a few blocks away, yesterday morning and this guy almost walked out in front of me.

We've had as many as 12 deer in our front field.

kyfdx

Had five deer in my backyard, this past Spring. I do have a massive 0.17 acre lot.

jmonroe1

kyfdx said:

Had five deer in my backyard, this past Spring. I do have a massive 0.17 acre lot.

————————————————-
Man, you better not try wizzing anywhere on that lot. I’m a land baron compared to you.

jmonroe

kyfdx

snakeweasel

kyfdx said:

Had five deer in my backyard, this past Spring. I do have a massive 0.17 acre lot.

Deers are the one thing I haven't seen in my backyard. I have seen skunks, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, Geese, cranes, coyotes, foxes and many others but the only critter common to this area that hasn't been frolicking in my back yard have been deer.

carnaught

All I have are Javelina after dark 🫤.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

kyfdx said:

Had five deer in my backyard, this past Spring. I do have a massive 0.17 acre lot.

Deers are the one thing I haven't seen in my backyard. I have seen skunks, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, Geese, cranes, coyotes, foxes and many others but the only critter common to this area that hasn't been frolicking in my back yard have been deer.

Lucky, because they gorge themselves on our flowers.

driver100

I was checking out 2023 Mercedes C Classes just for fun. They get a good review of course, and they are really like a mini S Class, which reminds me, where is Mike these days?

I liked the car is a red color, that is a $1700 option, and to get flat gray it is $3400 extra. I saw a Mitsu in a gleaming metallically candy apple red color that looked really nice, it probably doesn't cost extra to get that on the Mitsu. And does that flat gray actually cost more to produce.....at least it probably doesn't need waxing!

driver100

Since it is a slow day I put in this letter from Dennis O'Sullivan's Wheels column in Fridays newspaper;

QUESTION

I just moved to Waterloo about four weeks ago. Some people that I knew recommended a garage to me so I took their word that they were honest and fair. My car had about 85 thousand miles and the garage recommended that I renew my transmission oil when I went in for a tire changeover. I agreed to this and about two weeks after the transmission was serviced, it started to vibrate and erratically shift on take off and my car’s engine light came on but went off after a couple of days. I went back to the garage and they checked the oil and took the car for a testdrive but found nothing wrong. I went with him for the test drive and I have to admit that it did not shudder when the mechanic was road testing the car. On the way home, after about four stops however, it started to shudder and shift erratically again on take off. I then went to another garage and they told me that the garage might not have put the transmission filter on correctly. I declined to have them remove the pan. I again went back to the first garage who changed the transmission oil and questioned them as to what they might have done wrong. They scoffed me off and told me that they did not do anything wrong and that my transmission problems were internal and had nothing to do with the changing of the transmission oil. I left the garage with the feeling that the garage was looking for a job and that I looked like an easy mark. I stopped by a transmission shop and they told me that I would need to replace the transmission or have mine rebuilt. I would appreciate your opinion.

L from Waterloo

ANSWER

To start with, the changing of the transmission oil will not cause internal problems for a transmission that is in good working order. The second shop that looked at your car was not an actual transmission shop but they do work on transmissions on the side. Do you recall the first shop telling you that the transmission oil in your car was very dirty and very thick? They also asked you at the time if anyone had put an additive in your transmission and you said NO. I asked the garage to check the last oil change sticker that was on your car and found that you had changed the engine oil about 550 miles ago. I called the garage in Milton who had changed the engine oil in your car and you and I both know what was added to your car’s transmission to try and stop the erratic shifting, so I will leave the story there.

I think that you have had some unknowledgeable advice as to the problem with your transmission. I want you to go to a qualified transmission shop for them to do a proper diagnosis. I know of quality transmissions shops in and around Hamilton but I am not familiar with any actual transmission shops in Waterloo, so you will have to do your own due diligence.

Some things directly related to your car’s transmission that will cause erratic shifting are a faulty throttle position sensor or a turbine speed censor, which will also trigger a yellow check engine light to illuminate. I think that you will find that one of these sensors are faulty and had you gone to a proper transmission shop for a proper diagnosis in the first place, you would not have had any need to sent me this email.

kyfdx

So, is this a newspaper column or a private detective firm?

driver100

kyfdx said:

So, is this a newspaper column or a private detective firm?

Yeh, I like how he uncovers the real story. The column reads like a mystery.

abacomike

@driver100 said:
I was checking out 2023 Mercedes C Classes just for fun. They get a good review of course, and they are really like a mini S Class, which reminds me, where is Mike these days?

I liked the car is a red color, that is a $1700 option, and to get flat gray it is $3400 extra. I saw a Mitsu in a gleaming metallically candy apple red color that looked really nice, it probably doesn't cost extra to get that on the Mitsu. And does that flat gray actually cost more to produce.....at least it probably doesn't need waxing!

Anyone who thinks a C Class Mercedes is really like a “mini” S Class Mercedes should be driving Toyotas, Chevy’s or Fords. I can’t think of anything about a C Class that is really like an S Class except for the name, “Mercedes”! They aren’t even built in the same country.

It’s like comparing Jupiter to Earth - they’re both planets, but…!

Still love ya driver and I am always here.

abacomike

@snakeweasel said:
Deers are the one thing I haven't seen in my backyard. I have seen skunks, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, Geese, cranes, coyotes, foxes and many others but the only critter common to this area that hasn't been frolicking in my back yard have been deer.

Interested in a herd of green iguanas? Always around. Enjoy seeing them falling out of trees when the temps dip below 45 degrees at night in our winters.

driver100

abacomike said:

@driver100 said:

I was checking out 2023 Mercedes C Classes just for fun. They get a good review of course, and they are really like a mini S Class, which reminds me, where is Mike these days?

I liked the car is a red color, that is a $1700 option, and to get flat gray it is $3400 extra. I saw a Mitsu in a gleaming metallically candy apple red color that looked really nice, it probably doesn't cost extra to get that on the Mitsu. And does that flat gray actually cost more to produce.....at least it probably doesn't need waxing!

Anyone who thinks a C Class Mercedes is really like a “mini” S Class Mercedes should be driving Toyotas, Chevy’s or Fords. I can’t think of anything about a C Class that is really like an S Class except for the name, “Mercedes”! They aren’t even built in the same country.

It’s like comparing Jupiter to Earth - they’re both planets, but…!

Still love ya driver and I am always here.

Good to hear from you Mike.
I thought saying the C was like an S was a bit of a stretch but, as you know I never say anything without proof to back me up. I was quoting an article which isn't real proof of anything these days, but you can check what they said;
The C-Class has always been a baby S-Class, and that's still very true of the newest version.
https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/g39968591/2023-mercedes-benz-c-class-review/
...and they aren't the only ones, others say they have similarities too.

I think it is case of artistic license, there is a bit of truth, but let's face it, the C Class at half the price is not going to be a miniature copy of an S.

tjc78

About the only critter I ever see in my yard is a 10 year old Shitzu.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

@snakeweasel said:

Deers are the one thing I haven't seen in my backyard. I have seen skunks, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, Geese, cranes, coyotes, foxes and many others but the only critter common to this area that hasn't been frolicking in my back yard have been deer.

Interested in a herd of green iguanas? Always around. Enjoy seeing them falling out of trees when the temps dip below 45 degrees at night in our winters.

Yes I've heard of green iguanas.

ab348

tjc78 said:

About the only critter I ever see in my yard is a 10 year old Shitzu.

I used to get visits from neighborhood raccoons, but they seem to have relocated. The only wildlife now is Hobbes, a big fluffy orange tabby cat who lives up the street but seems to think he owns the entire area. At least he is friendly.

qbrozen

snakeweasel said:

Yes I've heard of green iguanas.

But I never heard of a herd of green iguanas. Nor any color of iguana, for that matter.

fintail

abacomike said:

@driver100 said:

I was checking out 2023 Mercedes C Classes just for fun. They get a good review of course, and they are really like a mini S Class, which reminds me, where is Mike these days?

I liked the car is a red color, that is a $1700 option, and to get flat gray it is $3400 extra. I saw a Mitsu in a gleaming metallically candy apple red color that looked really nice, it probably doesn't cost extra to get that on the Mitsu. And does that flat gray actually cost more to produce.....at least it probably doesn't need waxing!

Anyone who thinks a C Class Mercedes is really like a “mini” S Class Mercedes should be driving Toyotas, Chevy’s or Fords. I can’t think of anything about a C Class that is really like an S Class except for the name, “Mercedes”! They aren’t even built in the same country.

It’s like comparing Jupiter to Earth - they’re both planets, but…!

Still love ya driver and I am always here.

I think the "mini" is the styling theme, which does resemble the S-class from a distance with nothing near it for proportion. But as you say, in terms of equipment, they are not in the same ballpark (nor intended to be). The C is still a key player in its segment.

oldfarmer50

abacomike said:

@snakeweasel said:

Deers are the one thing I haven't seen in my backyard. I have seen skunks, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, Geese, cranes, coyotes, foxes and many others but the only critter common to this area that hasn't been frolicking in my back yard have been deer.

Interested in a herd of green iguanas? Always around. Enjoy seeing them falling out of trees when the temps dip below 45 degrees at night in our winters.

Sounds like you need this:

https://youtube.com/shorts/BR5Yzf7ztKU?feature=share

driver100

fintail said:

abacomike said:

@driver100 said:

I was checking out 2023 Mercedes C Classes just for fun. They get a good review of course, and they are really like a mini S Class, which reminds me, where is Mike these days?

I liked the car is a red color, that is a $1700 option, and to get flat gray it is $3400 extra. I saw a Mitsu in a gleaming metallically candy apple red color that looked really nice, it probably doesn't cost extra to get that on the Mitsu. And does that flat gray actually cost more to produce.....at least it probably doesn't need waxing!

Anyone who thinks a C Class Mercedes is really like a “mini” S Class Mercedes should be driving Toyotas, Chevy’s or Fords. I can’t think of anything about a C Class that is really like an S Class except for the name, “Mercedes”! They aren’t even built in the same country.

It’s like comparing Jupiter to Earth - they’re both planets, but…!

Still love ya driver and I am always here.

I think the "mini" is the styling theme, which does resemble the S-class from a distance with nothing near it for proportion. But as you say, in terms of equipment, they are not in the same ballpark (nor intended to be). The C is still a key player in its segment.

......and, they gave the 2023 a glowing review. It will probably be the last C Class gasser as MB slowly goes more EV. Also, I think they were talking mostly about the way the two cars resemble each other in looks.

Michaell

"Same sausage, different lengths"

Describes the C/E/S class, the 3/5/7 series from BMW, and the A4/A6/A8 sedans from Audi.

Curious that none of the American brands adopted that strategy.

tjc78

There aren’t any American sedans left to do that with!!

explorerx4

Stopped the lake yesterday. It's big.

driver100

Michaell said:

"Same sausage, different lengths"

Describes the C/E/S class, the 3/5/7 series from BMW, and the A4/A6/A8 sedans from Audi.

Curious that none of the American brands adopted that strategy.

Many years ago, before many of you were born, Ford came out with the 1960 Comet which was sold by Mercury dealers. People who had more expensive T-Birds, and Galaxy 500s complained the less expensive Comet had a look that resembled their cars. I think the Big 3 shied away from making models resemble each other after that happened...but it didn't stop the Europeans from doing it.

Quote from the article:
The Comet was the second compact to come out of the Ford Motor Company in the early 1960s to help combat a flood of sales-stealing imports. Based on Ford’s Falcon, the Comet debuted partway through the 1960 model year. It had the squared-off roof of Ford’s upscale Thunderbird and Galaxie — which wouldn’t appear on other Mercurys until 1961.
https://buffalocars.com/corbscorner-061818-61comet

Michaell

My maternal grandmother drove an early 60's Comet. I have very dim memories of it, as she traded it in for a '67 Monterey coupe. That thing was massive.

snakeweasel

explorerx4 said:

Stopped the lake yesterday. It's big.

Lake Erie I presume, I spent a lot of time on that lake and a lot of that time was under non idea conditions.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

"Same sausage, different lengths"

Describes the C/E/S class, the 3/5/7 series from BMW, and the A4/A6/A8 sedans from Audi.

Curious that none of the American brands adopted that strategy.

Many years ago, before many of you were born, Ford came out with the 1960 Comet which was sold by Mercury dealers. People who had more expensive T-Birds, and Galaxy 500s complained the less expensive Comet had a look that resembled their cars. I think the Big 3 shied away from making models resemble each other after that happened...but it didn't stop the Europeans from doing it.

I don't know about that, seems to me that the big three started to clone cars among their brand names in the 60's.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

"Same sausage, different lengths"

Describes the C/E/S class, the 3/5/7 series from BMW, and the A4/A6/A8 sedans from Audi.

Curious that none of the American brands adopted that strategy.

Many years ago, before many of you were born, Ford came out with the 1960 Comet which was sold by Mercury dealers. People who had more expensive T-Birds, and Galaxy 500s complained the less expensive Comet had a look that resembled their cars. I think the Big 3 shied away from making models resemble each other after that happened...but it didn't stop the Europeans from doing it.

I don't know about that, seems to me that the big three started to clone cars among their brand names in the 60's.

All I know is I remember reading about the complaints at the time....that the lower priced Comet bothered T-Bird owners because they looked too similar. I checked to see if I could find any info to confirm it and I got an article that was very current.......explaining the same problem.
Off hand, I can't think of a case where the smaller and/or less expensive cars looked similar to their bigger mates, like a C Class and an S Class do...or BMWs or Audis. Maybe class doesn't matter as much in Europe...lol

graphicguy

Anyone want a car that will cost 10X the purchase price to keep it on the road? My sister had bought one new many years ago. Even new, it was a challenge…..

Fun car, though…..

https://marqued.com/listing/9a1d3a32-0872-434e-b283-de75b6e780d4/1986-fiat-bertone-x1-9-5-speed?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Marqued_Inventory_Jun_2022&utm_content=Marqued_Lot_47_BuyerTraffic_Inventory_Fiat_Bertone_1986&utm_term=23852213066020736&fbclid=IwAR2o8ZfBa8RpO5OcEWaUnvs8XtgeIVwPfNzrmEqYHARhvA3pJoTs9_hYbno