Short-lived mainstream cars

[Quhet]

Was idly thinking about short-lived mainstream cars earlier. (i.e not exclusive supercars, and not trim models or sporty versions like a civic type R). Examples include the Ford Puma (1997-2001) and Renault Wind (2010-2013) - What others have there been, and why?

A usual model lifecycle is 7-8 years so anything less than that is probably an indicator that the manufacturer got something wrong.

[Sebring440]

Quhet said:

A usual model lifecycle is 7-8 years so anything less than that is probably an indicator that the manufacturer got something wrong.

Puma's easy to explain: it was built on the Fiesta (BE91 - 4th generation) platform, and when the next generation of the Fiesta was released in 2002, the new car was completely and utterly different. So nothing "wrong".

[MonteCarlos1]

Honda CRZ 2010-2013

Ford Cougar 1999-2002

Audi A2 didn't last that long either if memory serves me right

[sosidge]

MonteCarlos1 said:

Honda CRZ 2010-2013

Ford Cougar 1999-2002

Audi A2 didn't last that long either if memory serves me right

A2's lasted about 6 years on the UK market. Often cars that don't last long in the UK have longer lives overseas (like the CR-Z did)

A couple more off the top of my head:

Range Rover Evoque convertible

Suzuki X-90

(both weird open-top SUV-coupes which is a niche I don't think anyone will manage to fill)

[Juan B]

Merc Vaneo didn't last long

Kind of like a weird big A Class MPV

And in more recent years the X-Class was only 2017-2020 I think?

[Quhet]

Good shouts with the Honda CRZ and Mercedes X-class. Think covid and the resultant short supply of parts, coupled with poor sales killed off the Merc IIRC

[lufbramatt]

Current Toyota Supra doesn't seem to have lasted long? Thin they came out around 2020 and I saw a story recently about the "Final Edition" production batch.

[MonkeyBusiness]

Mazda CX3 didn't seem to last long.

[Jamescrs]

MonkeyBusiness said:

Mazda CX3 didn't seem to last long.

CX3 is still listed as a new model available on the Mazda website, I only know because a colleague asked my opinion on them about an hour ago

[e-honda]

Smart roadster
Chrysler crossfire

[Uncle boshy]

BMW ix3 summer 21 to oct 24

[blueg33]

Triumph Acclaim - October 1981 - June 1984

[C69]

The second-generation Saab 9-5 was in full-scale production for less than a year.

[Baldchap]

e-honda said:

Smart roadster

Warranty claim costs meant every car was a loss to MB/Smart. Hence the model was dropped. From memory the average cost per car was in excess of €3500.

[sosidge]

C69 said:

The second-generation Saab 9-5 was in full-scale production for less than a year.

That's going to be a hard record to beat!

[SteBrown91]

Uncle boshy said:

BMW ix3 summer 21 to oct 24

Thats because its basically the same as the G01 X3 which went out of production at the same time which was sold from late 2017

EDIT: What was shortlived was the Pre-LCI iX3. This went on sale in the UK after the LCI X3 had been announced!

I think this was purely the cars had already been built/factory already had the bits to build them but were delayed due to covid etc.

Edited by SteBrown91 on Thursday 2nd January 14:47

[C69]

All Edsel models, because Ford's new sub-brand only lasted three years after being established in 1956.

[Ussrcossack]

blueg33 said:

Triumph Acclaim - October 1981 - June 1984

Produced as a stop gap until the rover 200 series I believe

[SkodaIan]

I think we only had to suffer the Daewoo Nexia for a couple of years. However given it was effectively just the old model Astra, there probably wasn't much R&D cost to recover.

On a similar vein, I saw a (rather rusty) Seat Exeo earlier. That was another car which wasn't sold for very long, unless you count the Audi A4 it was previously.

There was also the Suzuki Kisashi and Hyundai Genesis which were completely new cars but not on sale here very long, nor did either sell very many. (Both on sale here for only about 18 months)

[Truckosaurus]

Vauxhall VXR8 estate - was an official UK car for one year, 2013, and they sold one (1) plus a press car.

Also, the recent Suzuki Jimny was only for sale as a 'car' for 2019-22 but relaunched as a commercial vehicle for another couple years.

Edited by Truckosaurus on Thursday 2nd January 15:09