Cars you won't be finding in 2009
Filed under: Transportation
It's safe to say that 2009 is a year that will go down in the history books. A year of change. A year of challenge. And if you're one of the few car buyers out there, you may not be surprised to hear that a few well-known brands and makes will cease to exist in 2009.
Desperate car-makers are trimming their lineups and in some cases eliminating entire brands. Here are six cars you won't be seeing after 2009.
The Honda S2000 -- One of Honda's only nods toward the impractical. A two-seater, six-speed roadster that is sleek and sexy and very un-Honda-like. Sadly, this black sheep isn't long for the family Honda.
The Chrysler PT Cruiser -- This is the car that makes everybody go "cool!" when it speeds by. Say what you will about Chrysler these days, the PT Cruiser had style, and even non-car types could point it out admiringly on the road. But 2009 will be the last year for this daddy-o, says Chrysler. I guess they have bigger fish to fry these days.
Saturn - GM, standing hat in hand before congress last year, promised to help cut its costs by eliminating entire lines of cars that were no longer best-sellers. And although it hasn't officially announced it, it hinted at ending its well-known Saturn line, including the Saturn Sky.
The Hummer H3 -- can't say I'm sorry to see this one go. Nothing symbolized the wretched excess of the last eight years like a Hummer. But there are car enthusiasts out there who will mourn the Hummer's passing. This one, apparently, was unparalleled for off-road action.
The Lexus SC -- Sometimes the times call for action. And in times like these, offering a luxury convertible such as this one seems downright profligate. When Lexus ends the SC's run this year, the company will be left without a convertible in its lineup. Maybe it's best to wait for an economic turnaround before offering another such scandalous luxury.
The Dodge Viper -- So fast, so cool, so very Steve McQueen, it's a shame to see this one go. To this day the Viper, which was built for speed more than anything else, holds the lap record on the world's most demanding test track -- the Nurburgring, a 12.9-mile circuit in the mountains outside Nurburg, Germany.
Desperate car-makers are trimming their lineups and in some cases eliminating entire brands. Here are six cars you won't be seeing after 2009.
Popular Cars That Wont See 2009
We may see the iconic Dodge Viper hit the assembly line again one day. As for 2009, this racer is taking a breather.
Tony Ding, AP
Honda ventured into sleek and sexy territory with its S2000 six-speed sports car. The safe and reliable car maker is sticking to what it knows in 2009.
Honda
Asking for a bailout, GM promised Congress it would eliminate entire lines of cars in order to cut costs. Possibly on the chopping block? Its famous Saturn line, including the Saturn Sky pictured here.
The Chrysler PT Cruiser -- This is the car that makes everybody go "cool!" when it speeds by. Say what you will about Chrysler these days, the PT Cruiser had style, and even non-car types could point it out admiringly on the road. But 2009 will be the last year for this daddy-o, says Chrysler. I guess they have bigger fish to fry these days.
Saturn - GM, standing hat in hand before congress last year, promised to help cut its costs by eliminating entire lines of cars that were no longer best-sellers. And although it hasn't officially announced it, it hinted at ending its well-known Saturn line, including the Saturn Sky.
The Hummer H3 -- can't say I'm sorry to see this one go. Nothing symbolized the wretched excess of the last eight years like a Hummer. But there are car enthusiasts out there who will mourn the Hummer's passing. This one, apparently, was unparalleled for off-road action.
The Lexus SC -- Sometimes the times call for action. And in times like these, offering a luxury convertible such as this one seems downright profligate. When Lexus ends the SC's run this year, the company will be left without a convertible in its lineup. Maybe it's best to wait for an economic turnaround before offering another such scandalous luxury.
The Dodge Viper -- So fast, so cool, so very Steve McQueen, it's a shame to see this one go. To this day the Viper, which was built for speed more than anything else, holds the lap record on the world's most demanding test track -- the Nurburgring, a 12.9-mile circuit in the mountains outside Nurburg, Germany.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
1-23-2009 @ 10:31AM
Tom said...
Steve McQueen is known mostly for Mustangs and "Bullitt" and the recent "Mustang Bullitt". Referencing him with a Dodge Viper proves that you know very little about automobiles or actors.
Reply
1-23-2009 @ 10:32AM
Tom said...
You're wrong about the PT Cruiser. It was NOT a cool car. They are not visually impressive, they are cheaply made, and they are unreliable.
Only "old" people think they are "cool" cars; I've never seen anyone without gray hair driving one.
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 11:06AM
Greg said...
The recent stories regarding the SC 430 discontinuing beyond MY09 are not correct. In addition, Lexus will be also adding another convertible to the line up in MY10 with the IS 250C and
IS 350C.
Check for more info on Lexus.com.
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 2:11PM
Susan said...
Typical media slant...
...interesting to present a story that is NOT fact BEFORE any "offical" announcement. I live in Detroit and Rck Wagner has made NO "OFFICIAL" announcement concerning Saturn. In fact, I am picking up a BEAUTIFUL 2009 Saturn Vue this coming Monday. It's an amazing car. Do not discount Saturn or GM yet!!!
Buy American...not imports!
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 2:49PM
Daniels said...
this is my 3rd Saturn, currently own a VUE and love it!! I really hope Saturn hangs in there!!
1-22-2009 @ 5:56PM
Adam said...
I have a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. It was top of the line when i bought it. I got it used for 16 grand.....It was my first "new car". Was only a year or two old with 23,000 miles on it. And i can tell you it will be a cold day in hell before I ever buy another American car or new car at all. I'm not rich and I will be paying on that car for 6 years. Which I wasnt complaining because I thought all my days of needing a ride are over. Was i wrong. The car is now 6 years old with 53,000 miles on it and is broke down.....has huge electrical problems and is by far the least relyable car i have ever owned. Buy American???? Maybe when they give me back my money.....until then I could give a shit if they all go under.
1-22-2009 @ 6:34PM
Kate said...
Thank you!! Someone else whose got a head on their shoulders!
I drive around in a 1968 Chevrolet Nova and it runs like a dream. It hasn't let me down yet!
Yeah, some import cars may have their parts made here in the US, but when you buy anything foreign, the money is going back to the Mother country, not the USA. That's what people don't understand.
I'll buy American and support my own country!
1-22-2009 @ 11:45PM
rose said...
I also don't believe this article entirely, I know that the hummer brand just came out with an 2009 H3T truck that I just saw someone driving, nothing is stated on the Hummer site nor the Saturn sites for the Sky, haven't checked the other ones so it looks like this article is making premature speculations.
Rick Wagoner made the statements over the summer when gas prices were skyrocketing.
1-22-2009 @ 2:21PM
Danielle Clarke said...
I drive a "2008 Elam Nolt" which has a large area for sleeping and a giant storage area beneath the bed. It has great hydrolic brakes and LED lights and a side canopy for keeping out the sun. Believe it or not it uses no gas. Its totally made in ephrata Pa. by a father and his sons. It has beautiful oak sides and the doors are in the front and rear not on the side. It weighs about 1400lbs and has neat spoke wheels. It can turn on a dime because the wheels turn under the body. It is tall at about 7 ft and its about 9 feet long. It only takes one haflinger to make it go. It climbs steep hills but its kinda of slow going up hill. I have reached speeds of 12mph right when my horse Buddy a Haflinger starts out in the morning.
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 2:35PM
John said...
The H3 gets a bum rap. It's a 5 cylinder and gets up to 24 mpg on the open road. The Honda Pilot barely beats that. The H1 and H2 are a different story.
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 11:32PM
rose said...
I have an H3 and you are absolutely correct. People associate it with its predecessors. It eats the same amount of gas or less than my sister's Toyota Avalon. It costs me 35.00 to fill it up and I'm in SoCal. I love it and if this is indeed true about its demise, I'm sad because I love my truck.
1-22-2009 @ 2:46PM
Rob said...
Saturn is gone.....I work for GM and it needs to go. GM has pumped billions and billions of dollars into an underperforming line and that money could have been used to bolster it's main lines...
And I believe the Nurburgring speed record was with a non stock Viper aka: aero alterations, suspension alterations whereas the ZR1 was a bone stock unit and came in at 7.26 vs 7.22 for the Viper.....
Buy American...Keep the profit over here.....
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 3:29PM
Tom said...
Well let me say this, your wrong. The Saturn brand, up until this mess that were in now was the best selling GM brand, want to trim back GM ? ok lets start by actually making a decent vehicle that doesn't fall apart in 3 years. I owned a GMC Yukon, touted as PROFESSIONAL GRADE GMC, it was a piece of shit from the start. My Yukon had 11 miles on it when i bought it for 42,800.00.
Two weeks after I bought it the windows stopped working, 1 week in the shop. two months later while driving, the transmission supports gave way and my entire transmission shifted and blew. 3 weeks in the shop. 9 months later at 11,700 miles, the engine seized and had to be replaced completely, 4 weeks in the shop. In the first year of owning it, it spent 2 entire months in a GM dealership shop getting fixed because GM builds inferior shitty vehicles, as do Ford and Chrysler. We wonder why all of our sales are going overseas. I have owned a Nissan Titan for almost 1.5 years now, and I love it, Ill take foreign over that crap they build here any day until they get their heads out of their arses and start making a quality product.
1-23-2009 @ 10:51AM
Tom T said...
Jan Magnussen owns that record in a Vette
1-23-2009 @ 11:46AM
Gary said...
Tom,
Sometimes some get a lemon, OR it could be possible you're one of those who can dent an anvil with a rubber mallet?
If I'd had your experience I could understand being upset but then again explain to me my 7 GM products that have performed perfectly with little more than routine maintainance (oils, filters, ect) and the occasional exhaust, water pump, or fuel pump. I've accumulated over 1 million miles on these 7 and still own 2 of them! A 92 F-body and an 06 2500 Silverado Diesel Crew. The aggregate milage on these two is about 90K so I'm looking forward to a lot more service from these two!
I've also owned 4 Toyotas, 1 went 300K, 2 went over 200K, and the 81 Celica was sold for $2500@ 170K and 11yrs.
Guess I'm just lucky...............
But I'll still Buy American from now on......
PS, If you really want a piece of crap, try a Jaguar! Expensive and still a total piece of POOP!
1-22-2009 @ 2:47PM
John said...
Well,my chances for owning a Viper are diminishing with every passing Lotto i don't win...
Reply
1-23-2009 @ 4:12AM
gary said...
get A VETTE! I did!
1-22-2009 @ 4:01PM
Capri said...
I will celebrate ANY Japanese car diappearing from the US. But if Chrysler or the other Big Three have any sense, they will create MORE retro type cars.The PTs sold like crazy, & the Boomers AND their kids will appreciate cars that remind them of the "good ol days"- meaning before we let Japanese cars take over & spread like a virus.
Reply
1-22-2009 @ 7:25PM
Eli shelburne said...
I wanted a PT Cruiser from day one and we finally bought a 2007 for our daughter's graduation. We've had it over a year and a half and it's only been back to the dealer for oil and filter changes--absolutely no problems at all. It's the Marine Blue color and we have had more positive comments on this car than any of the 36 others I have previously owned. Very sorry to hear of it's possible demise.
1-22-2009 @ 3:05PM
gary kiser said...
susan said bye american your 09 vue is made in mexico not in america wish people would look a little closer at what they are buying
Reply