Dear Bob,

What do you have to say about Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) killing the Viper after 25 years? Since you were among the top Chrysler executive at the time of its development, any heartbreak with its farewell.

Joshua Zarowitz, Shaker Heights, Ohio

The Viper ran out of good reasons to live: The original premise was "more power and speed than anyone else." But the Viper was, in recent years, trumped by the Corvette ZR1 and Z06 and even in its own family by the Hellcat.

Car companies are making record sales and decent profits. Why don't their stock prices reflect it? GM's and Ford's are dismal.

Jim Millner, Charlottesville, Virginia

I think it's because a company is either cool and cutting-edge, or it's boringly traditional. Tesla, the world's biggest cash incinerator, is the former and has a stratospheric stock price, unhinged from financial reality. GM and Ford are the latter. No matter how well they do, they are old-school, probably because they create value for the shareholder. If you get a better answer than this, let me know!

What are your reasons for not owning a BMW?

James R. Boulware III, Columbia, South Carolina

BMW used to thrill me with superior performance, style, and vehicle dynamics. All those attributes are average now; what remains is the social aura of the brand. I don't need that and won't pay for it. I do own and ride seven BMW motorcycles, though.

Do you foresee any hope for a return to a simpler car, one without all the bells and whistles and toys in the interior?

Paul Culp, Anthem, Arizona

There's an arms race among manufacturers, egged on by the media, to put more and more technology into cars—stuff which fewer and fewer people know how to use, or want. I'm with you on the key desirable attributes, and it's why I bought a GMC Yukon Denali instead of a Cadillac Escalade, with its illogical, balky CUE interface.

With America's love for SUVs and the decline in sedan sales, I find it puzzling and frustrating that car companies are not bringing more wagons to the U.S. Is it that Americans really hate wagons, or is that what car companies perceive? After all, an SUV is essentially a tall wagon. I've been waiting for a wider variety of affordable wagons to come to our shores but fear I will soon have to settle for an SUV like everyone else.

Jeff Underwood, Street, Maryland

My last attempt to lure Americans into wagons was the Cadillac CTS and CTS-V. The media loved them. I had one, and so did a few others. Sales were poor. Face it: The crossover has displaced the wagon with almost equal dynamics and a much better package. You don't have to "settle for an SUV," just a passenger-car- based crossover.

Do you think FCA will ever build compact and mid-size cars again, or are they done? Do you think they may turn to Peugeot or Renault to design them?

Charles Lang, Charlottesville, Virginia

I think they are done, although how they are going to meet the fuel-economy targets without small and compact vehicles escapes me. Due to shipping, federalization expense, and exchange rates, sourcing low-end cars from Europe is prohibitive.

Bob Lutz has been The Man at several car companies. Ask him about cars, the auto industry, or life in general.

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