- First Name
- Kevin
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2021
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 143
- Reaction score
- 150
- Location
- Kenosha WI
- Vehicle(s)
- 2010 Ford Escape, 2022 Ford Maverick 2.0L XLT AWD
- Engine
- 2.0L EcoBoost
I think I get your drift.If the 70s and 90s were any lesson, it is that the influx of "smart" and "value" designs rather than "budget" and "spartan" is a big improvement. I think aiming the vehicle at women has made for a better vehicle, if you're making a guy's budget truck you're probably going to make it 4x4 standard instead of 42mpg standard if you catch my drift.
But in reality, starting in the early seventies, two factors comprised the catalysts for the dramatic changes in the automobile industry:
1) the onset of heavy government regulation (emissions and safety standards).
2) the rise of high-quality, Japanese imports.
With regard to item #1, the regulation has continued unabated. I'd love to see a breakdown of how much of the cost of a new vehicle is attributable to gov't mandates. Watch any old TV rerun or movie from the early 70's and take notice of the choking smog visible in all the outdoor shots of (primarily) L.A.
As to item #2?...it took the domestics a good 20-yrs to start producing vehicles which could go toe-to-toe with the Asian products. That competition turned-out to be good for everyone, especially the consumer.
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