Originally Posted by
Padgett
"Essentially" an obsolete Merc, agree.
Will admit to having a non-traditional outlook, spent five years in Anderson and Flint working for a major car company (then fighting to avoid antitrust charges and worried about selling too many cars), left when not allowed to transfer to Advanced Engineering in Warren.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy cars that are not necessarily popular (had several Vegas and an Astre plus a Sunbird with a SBC shoehorned in the nose by the factory (won a lot of autocrosses with that car and would run with the Porsches. They did not like that. Also broke everything possible to break and some things not considered possible. Had to check the front wheels for cracks after every run)).
So I am enjoying the heck out of my Crossie and fixing the deficiencies as I go. Got a bit too much sun over the weekend so driving the coupe now. Is possible there is a Pentastar in its future but not yet. Don't think I've ever had a car that stayed stock for long and that includes the Judge (15x8 wheels WS6, 442 suspension, T/A steering box is much nicer).
Guess I only joke about cars that are liked, others I just ignore (but still would find either a Studillac or a Facel Vega hard to pass up...)
The only modern production car of which I am aware that possibly had fewer differences year to year would be the Volkswagen Beetle. Not since Ford's "T" has the car remained so "essentially" the same for five years of Production.
Being built on the same chassis is not "essentially" the same.
A good many parts and assemblies of the 320SLK yes, much like the '75-79 Olds Starfire/Buick /Pontiac/Monza was essentially a refurbished Chevy Vega design. However, in the 75 to 79 models,,,,only minor changes unnoticeable in terms of use, wear, foibles, maintenance and looks. The question asked of the OP.
Okay, I'm done showin' off.
