Detroit Three Lead The Charge In Chinese SUV Boom

This was right around the time the progenitors of the SUV, the Detroit Three, were all slowly creeping toward insolvency. What is currently out was probably being developed around that time, and what was out in 2005 being developed 5-7 years prior.

@28-Cars-Later Yeah, makes sense the cars designed at the late 90s and dot-com boom were the best.

@Corey Lewis In terms of design maybe (although I disagree with you) but their SUVs today destroy those dot com designed ones in terms of quality and materials. Unless you like seas of hard grey plastic

@Corey Lewis No doubt, although I enjoyed the Gen X designs of the early to mid 90s. Somehow between now and today, car designs by and large went backwards.

@whynot How many "SUVs" are really still out there for sale? Not many, and one of them, Expedition, still does date from 2003.

@whynot Oh yes, I only meant styling. At that point there were reliable, simple power trains in use as well: GM 4.3L V6 GM 5.7? (Tahoe) Toyota 4.7 V8 Ford 5.0? (Navigator) Chrysler Hemi 5.7 Toyota 3.5 V6 Nissan 3.5 V6

@whynot Expedition/Navi Tahoe/Yuk/Escl 4Runner LC/LX QX LR4 (sorta) I think that's it.

@28-Cars-Later So many classic, clean designs then. Early to mid 90s clean designs to me means three cars: 1995 LS400 1995 S500 1995 (or 98) SL500 1995 740iL *I like the JDM look of the 1998ish Q45 as well, but I won't force that on people. If it said PRESIDENT on the back, then I would. Big, wide, clean, simple, restrained, power.

@whynot I don't see Expeditions as often as I used to. I had a meeting with my boss yesterday, and was suprised to see that he just purchased a 2014 Expedition EL Limited 4x4. It still looks nice, even if its a dated design.

@whynot The exterior of that Expedition isn't the issue, 'tis the inside and the terrible materials!

@28-Cars-Later Forgetting quite a few my friend. B-body Fleetwood? E-body Toro? G-body Riv? FN10 Mark VIII? Z30 SC300/400? LH New Yorker? Legend? CL500?

@whynot I can't believe I forgot about 4Runner. I'd through JGC and Wrangler into the mix too.

@28-Cars-Later Well, the Fleetwood isn't exactly restrained, at all. Toro too small. Riv too bloated, not clean! While I like the Legend, I don't think it's on par with the others on the list. Mark VIII added to list. SC400* added to list. New Yorker** added to list. ZX300 easily added to list. *Prefer the slight restyling for MY97, IIRC. **Because stylistically significant. Not b/c 2.7.

@whynot It is terrible on the inside. The seats aren't bad, just everything else around them. I swear the steering wheel looks like its from my 2000 F150 (It probably is).

@whynot I sat in a brand new Expedition Limited about two years ago at a dealer. I couldn't believe the lack of quality in there, and the huge panel gaps. They were dwarfed only by the huge price tag on the windshield. Everything inside looks like new materials grafted onto a used up old house. It's like the final versions of the XJS in 1995 - should have been totally reworked 10 years earlier.

@28-Cars-Later Gen 1 LH shipped with 3.3 or an optional 3.5. "The first generation LH cars used the existing 3.3 L OHV V6 as well as a new 3.5 L SOHC V6, and a four-speed automatic transmission." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_LH_platform I have to disagree on Toro, the 90 refresh made the car much bugger.

@28-Cars-Later Learned something on the LH then. So the 3.3 is the Mitsu, and the 3.5 is a real Chrysler engine? If the first gen wasn't killed by the engine, what killed them all off? They sold so many, and now they've all but vanished. I'll agree on the Toro. I had no idea it was 200 inches long. It just doesn't have that length presence when you see them out and about. It's longer and wider than the LS400.

@whynot The 2015 Expedition and Navigator that I have been in have been better as far as interior marterials. However, I still think they could be better. Ultimatly, the new Ford SUV twins are just stop gaps until the 2018ish model.

@28-Cars-Later "So the 3.3 is the Mitsu, and the 3.5 is a real Chrysler engine?" 3.3/3.8 were Chrysler engines, as well as the 3.5. 3.5 was the first OHC V-6 Chrysler produced. 3.0 was the Mitsu engine.

@Corey The first gen LHs were beasts, esp the Eagle/Dodge 3.3s. I imagine age, long use, and possibly transmission issues are what's killing them off. The second gen was plagued by the engine who shall not be named, and I also seem to recall some common issues with torque converters. Big domestic cars tended to have steep depreciation and I doubt the third and forth owners were financially resourceful enough to put "new transmission/engine" grade money into them. Kreutzer should weigh in on this since seems to be somewhat of an LH expert, but based on his posts and those of others it seems like at least the 300M has a small following.

@28-Cars-Later I had a 2nd Gen Concorde with the 3.2L. Transmission problems is what is killing these beasts. It is still running as it was purchased by a Chrysler used car sales manager for his kid. My Dad said he saw it in the dealership parking lot last week.