[Dantilla]

Mazda decides there is a market for a two-seat sports car.
Result? Thousands of Miatas sold.

Mercury decides there is a market for a two-seat sports car.
The result? Capri. Let's call it the Crappy.

Pontiac decides there is a market for a two-seat sports car.
The result? Fiero. Let's just call that one the Fiasco.

What the US car companies missed was simply that the purpose of a sports car is nothing more than fun. Fun to drive. A great experience every time behind the wheel.

On paper, the Mercury dealer could point out all the advantages of their front wheel drive Capri over the Miata. But it was a bore to drive. I don't care that it would be better in snow. Or has more interior room.

Every time I drive a Miata it puts a stupid grin on my face.

hopefully, the Solstice will not share the Fiero's fate. By the time they got the bugs worked out of it, and put a decent 6-cylinder engine in it, the reputation had already doomed the car to failure.

I hope GM does well, but have a hard time thinking that will happen anytime soon.

I think it was Bob Lutz who said " There is no problem a car company cannot fix with good product". I hope he has a few more tricks up his sleeve.