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Four domestic cars you must consider
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2009 Lincoln MKS in front of the Jefferson Memorial
Detroit is producing some of its best vehicles in decades. Fueled by crushing competition from Europe and Asia and a US market screaming for quality, reliability and innovation, Ford, GM and Chrysler are fielding very competitive products. Unfortunately, the current financial meltdown has hit the auto industry square across the jaw, stymieing once robust sales. Mix in more stringent credit standards and reduced advertising, and these exciting new vehicles remain mothballed on dealer lots.
30 years of disappointing vehicles
The domestic auto industry’s challenges didn’t spring up overnight. It is still recovering from a reputation is earned in the '70's for ho-hum design, shameful build quality and chronic unreliability. In the interim, brands like Honda, Toyota and Nissan have swooped in, producing vehicles that sip fuel, are well constructed, and require little more than regular oil changes to run well over 100,000 miles. Even Hyundai, once the poster child for disposable transportation, is churning out stylish, solid vehicles that meet or beat many Japanese products in reliability and initial quality.
A new era for domestic automakers
Well, times have changed, at least a little bit. The reliability and build quality standards set by the likes of Toyota and Honda are now being reached by manufacturers here in the US. Fuel economy numbers, are improving dramatically, with domestic automakers likely to be first to market with plug-in hybrid vehicles. And in the style department, Detroit is now turning out some real lookers.
If you’ve been blindly buying Japanese or European, now is the time to consider a domestic. And with GM, Ford and Chrysler heaping on incentives to get vehicles in consumer’s driveways, many of these cars are relative bargains when compared to their import equivalents.
In the first of two articles, I give you my picks for eight new domestic cars that you must consider:
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2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD
Ford Flex
Vehicle Type: Crossover SUV
MSRP Price Range: $28,295 - $36,555
MPG: 17 city, 24 hwy (SE FWD model)
Import Equivalent(s): Mazda CX-9, Nissan Armada
Why you should consider: The era of gas guzzling, body-on-frame SUV’s has gone the way of the VCR. In its place comes the crossover – versatile, vehicles with SUV utility but car-like ride and fuel economy. The knock on many crossovers is that they lack the size or style desired by SUV buyers. Enter the Ford Flex, a vehicle that defies convention and showcases Ford’s renewed emphasis on interior design and build quality. It can transport up to eight passengers in bold, aggressive style. And with an average fuel economy of just over 20 mpg, the Flex hurts a bit less at the pump.
DC Car Examiner's take: Haul and crawl in a uniquely styled grocery-getter
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2009 Chevrolet Mailbu
Chevy Malibu
Vehicle Type: Family sedan
MSRP Price Range: $21,605 - $26,880
MPG: 22 city, 30 hwy (LS model); 26 city, 34 hwy (hybrid model)
Import Equivalent(s): Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima, Honda Accord
Why you should consider: The 2009 Chevy Malibu was introduced as “the car you can’t ignore”, and with good reason. It has consistently ranked as one of the best selling domestics but it volumes have been bolstered largely by heavy fleet and rental sales. In its quest to build a world-class family sedan, GM completely reworked the Malibu. The result is a handsome, sporty vehicle with laudable performance and excellent fuel economy. A hybrid version plants the vehicle’s foot firmly in the gas-friendly waters of the future. And with GM’s 100,000 warranty, it’s a worry-free purchase as well.
DC Auto Examiner's take: Definitely worth a look if considering an Accord or Camry.
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415-hp 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
Pontiac G8
Vehicle Type: Sports sedan
MSRP Price Range: $28,190 - $31,555
MPG: 17 city, 25 hwy (Base sedan)
Import Equivalent(s): BMW 5-series, Acura TL
Why you should consider: Fast cars are nothing new to Detroit, but the days of straight-line racing down the main drag are over. Today’s sports sedans marry speed and power to luxury and performance and the Pontiac G8 is Detroit's latest attempt to compete. Derived from GM’s Australian-built Holden Commodore, the rear-wheel drive G8 replaces the full-size Bonneville – a car more popular with the AARP crowd than the NASCAR one. Available in base, GT and a Corvette-engine sourced GXP trim, the G8 puts a fresh face on a storied performance brand that has lost its identity of late. And with a starting MSRP in the high 20’s, it’s a world-class performance sedan at a bargain basement price.
DC Auto Examiner's take: Rip-snortin’ American muscle marries European-inspired performance.
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2009 Lincoln MKS
Lincoln MKS
Vehicle Type: Premium Luxury sedan
MSRP Price Range: $37,665 - $39,555
MPG: 17 city, 24 hwy (FWD model)
Import Equivalent(s): Lexus GS, Mercedes Benz E-class
Why you should consider: Lincoln is a storied but stodgy brand, traditionally associated with soft-riding land yachts and cavernous interiors. With recent flops like the Lincoln LS and Blackwood pickup, it’s no wonder sales have been lower than President Bush’s approval ratings. But a fresh crop of Lincolns have come to market, headlined by the new MKS sedan. The premium MKS looks only vaguely domestic from a distance and up close, sheds any resemblance to traditional vehicles hailing from the motor city. Its interior is clean, smartly designed and luxurious, complementing a sleek, sexy exterior that appeals to a younger, more hip buyer. And the commercials that peg the MKS as some sort of plush, space age land cruiser? Awesome.
DC Auto Examiner's take: Ground control to Major Tom: Lincoln's got a legitimate luxury sedan again.
In Part II, we’ll explore my domestic picks for convertibles, full-size crossovers, sport compacts and luxury coupes.
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