66 + Stop Re-naming My Car!

[x]

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MY RT 66 STORY

Chapter 29 (Pictures Delivered) is published....
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:
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 = www.chevyasylum.com/cort
* rNw-CC+event: rdwhl-capriceclassic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=whatsgoingon *
"These memories are playing like a film without sound" __ Vitamin C __ 'Graduation'

[twomanymontes]

Cort, it's a good observation. The reason American Companies change a few things and rebadge cars is $$.
One, Research and Developement costs big $$. Import manufacturers have big deep pockets for that. and they don't have multiple lines to feed. Honda INC has Honda and Acura, Nissan INC has Nissan and Infinity. Fugi Heavy Machinery only has Subaru, Toyota is a little more diversified, Toyota, Lexus and Scion. At least what is sold in the States. I think there are other company names outside of the States.

But then again, Imports have done the same thing as well. Isuzu Rodeo, Honda Passport and Nissan Pathfinder were all the same vehicle at one time. And the Isuzu P'up is just a rebadged Chevy Colorado.

Two, The unions here have cranked the inflation of cars to be too expensive to be able to pay for new ideas. Import manufacturers don't have that issue. Most don't have any type of union so they can produce for less.

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Mar 25, 2012 14:20:03 GMT -5 twomanymontes said:

Cort, it's a good observation. The reason American Companies change a few things and rebadge cars is $$.

That certainly is what it all boils down to ... kinda sickening, especially for one nameplate..... .


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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:
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:
whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/03/29/_thats-the-highway_/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic
*** 3rd GEN MC (1978,1979,1980) FORUM > thirdgenmontes.proboards.com/ ***
** 6th GEN (2000-07) GROUP > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/y2kmontecarloclub/ **
"I can't remember who I was back then" __ Tim McGraw __ 'Red Ragtop'