Paul M. SEZ -
> Less-pricey hatchbacks are fine, but once the price
> gets to a certain level, no one will touch it.
> Hatchbacks in general have a "cheap" association here
> which - much like calling world soccer "boring"
> because scoring is somewhat less frequent - is sad and
> totally undeserved.
I think that a lot of the problem is that hatchbacks are
associated with cheap, poorly designed cars like Ford Pintos
and Chevy Vegas, but also with station wagons, which were
usually made from care like the Ford LTD and Chev Impala.
These were big, hulking, poor handling pigs. US station
wagon buyers migrated to SUVs for several reasons. Towing
ability, all-weather drivability, and a firmer ride -- all
coming from the fact that they are basically station wagons
on a truck frame. And if they don't handle any better than
an LTD, oh well - there's no net loss in that department.
That market shift basically shut out the sporty hatchback,
which was entirely a European concept never marketed aggresively
in the US. Now, however, with the SUV craze apparently growing
a little long in the tooth with the yuppie crowd, since you don't
really need a 6000 lb towing package and 4WD to go down to
Starbucks and swill a latte (and your chic enviro-nut friends
are calling you a manatee strangler), SUVs may begin to
join minivans as a niche vehicle with trendy drivers looking
for something else.
So the market may be ripe for a new trendy "alternative" vehicle
in the next few years and sporty hatchbacks are as good a
contented as any - if the car companies are reaady.
--
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