What happened?

[Brian Lohnes]

Agreed, Jim. My only issue with what was once dubbed, "Retro-futurism" by Ford's J. Mays is that in the market for modern cars (which I realize you do not give a rip about) other companies are looking forward and the American companies continue to reach back. Scion is a perfect example. They build stuff that looks like it sprang from a cartoon but kids dig it and they buy it. The Nissan Juke is probably the most horrifying vehicle ever designed but people are buying it. When the Mustang gets redesigned, the options are to either stick with the current theme or go a completely different direction, and what happens then? The retro-designs are cool but they seem to paint companies into a corner.

[Bob Holmes]

The Mustang redesign is said to be smaller, more Euro-like, with a lot of Aston styling cues.

[Shawn Anderson]

I think the 2 door thing leads to a bigger issue, me and my sisters grew up getting in and out of 2 door cars. Dad was a car guy and would not buy 4 doors (other than our 64 valiant) so we all got used to getting in and out of a 2 door car. All my friends parents bought 4 doors and or mini vans these weenie's can't stand getting in and out of 2 doors, now they are the consumers and choose function over style. And prove I live by my words last weekend went to agraduation party 2 hours away and put me my mom and two sisters (all adults) into my mustang. There needs to be a 2 door taurus sho

[MoparBilly]

I really like Mark8's but they didn't sell well.

If you can't follow the logic, follow the money.

Have a guy down the street about a mile who is Mark Viii Fanatic!! Used to have 7 of 'em in his driveway, now down to 5!!

Brian,
So you're telling me I like cars designed in the land of fruits and nuts?? OK, I guess I can live with that!

Is the Subaru BRX/Scion Fr-s a collaboration or what's the story?? Nice looking little car.

[moparmaniac07]

Is the Subaru BRX/Scion Fr-s a collaboration or what's the story?? Nice looking little car.

Yeah, that's exactly what it's supposed to be. Not sure on the actual workings of the deal, like who designed what, etc., but, yeah, it's a joint effort between Subaru and Toyota.

[ksj2]

Ive got two on the list(Challenger and the wifes MX5).I agree with Brian on the Scion etc stuff.Bad thing is I pull up next to one and I look for a hamster behind the wheel.LOLShawn has good point.Alot of it is what you grew up with.My brother raised 2 kids in a 76 T/A until the kids graduated high school.They know how to get in and out of a car carefully.

[Ron Ward]

I looked at the list of photos of currently available 2DR coupes. Only about 3 of them are in the average Joe's price range.

[ksj2]

Which one you buying Ron?

[squirrel]

I think the 2 door thing leads to a bigger issue, me and my sisters grew up getting in and out of 2 door cars. Dad was a car guy and would not buy 4 doors (other than our 64 valiant) so we all got used to getting in and out of a 2 door car.

That is probably a big part of it. My kids mostly got to ride around in two door cars, with the occasional 39 chevy 4 door or crown vic, but mostly a 55 chevy, 70 dart, 66 suburban, and a 3 door 99 silverado. We'll see how they treat their kids

[CDMBill]

I looked at the list of photos of currently available 2DR coupes. Only about 3 of them are in the average Joe's price range.

I think it's interesting that there are so many very highly styled cars in the 2DR coupe market especially the German brands and I see a lot of those here. You'd think that would influence what they sell at the affordable end of the market.

[bishir]

Ole g body's were some of the last real cars... Full frames...two doors that were each half as long as the car, real bumpers, rwd...

[Beagle]

That explains it...they're on the Pacific shoreline.

Used to be, some good stuff came out of the Detroit area.

some of my favorites came out of some guy named Shinoda who was a Californian.

[anotheridiot]

It preaches more towards responsibility as a culture than car companies not wanting to build 2 doors. Get your teenage son insured in a coupe (any coupe) over a 4 door or station wagon and you will see double the insurance easy. Its just the mindset that people are less responsible in 2 doors. You see most of those pictures on the last page are the imports that want us to be irresponsible because that makes us continue buying their crap over our crap.

[Javelin]

Is the Subaru BRX/Scion Fr-s a collaboration or what's the story?? Nice looking little car.

Yes, it is. Subaru did most of the engineering and builds them (and the motor is a Subaru boxer) and Toyota paid the bills, provided the direct-injection, and did the styling and tuning. They are RWD sports cars with low weight and a really low COG.

The Toyota version (Scion in the US) is tuned for neutral handling and has less standard equipment (lighter). The Subaru version is tuned for understeer and has a touch screen standard (heavier, more complicated).

[tedly]

One of the big things is the profit margin on small cars is very narrow. If the manufacturers don't get it right, they are going to lose money. One of the ways to cut down on the expenses of manufacturing is to just offer one body style. The style that sells the best by a long shot is four doors, so everyone makes those. With the Big 3 still digging out from the financial mess they were in minimizing costs and risks was essential. I wouldn't be surprised to see some small coupes start popping up again soon, but it may be another couple of years depending on if sales and profits keep on the upswing they have been on.