General Motors Fans

lemko

My friend has most definitely kept his 1998 Corvette in tip-top shape. I barely see a swirl mark on its blue metallic finish.

imidazol97

More pictures and more information.

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/201- - - 3/Feb/0215-chevy-ss.html

roadburner

It's made in OZ, so I'd certainly consider it.

obyone

Don't know whether this is good or not but remove the Chevy badge and it looks like a Mazda (smiling face). I'd rather have lemko friend's '98 vette. C5s are a dying breed.

andre1969

At a quick glance, it reminds me a bit of a cross between a BMW and a Chevy Cruze. Doesn't really excite me, style-wise. But I'd consider one, not because of how it looks, but because of what it does!

fintail

Maximum Bob has some funny things to say

imidazol97

> funny things to say

"And the entirety of the Chevrolets, Buicks, GMCs and Cadillacs that were launched to huge acclaim in ’09, ’10, ’11 and ’12 were conceived, designed, engineered and sent on their three-to-four year journey to introduction by the “old”, pre-bankruptcy GM team. You know, the incompetent, slow, clueless, unimaginative bunch led by Rick Wagoner, Fritz Henderson and myself. WE did every one of those winning products for which some 90-day wonders would now like to be retroactively credited."

Sounds like Bob Lutz had some good input. I judge him as a rational fellow who understood the car business.

fintail

Of course, that bunch was also at the wheel for some bad times. But I digress...

I just liked this line: "But to suggest that he is the architect of GM’s current success is a bit like crediting the rooster with making the sun come up."

We need more execs with personality.

michaellno

We need more execs with personality.

No, we need execs who understand the business of making automobiles for profit.

Do you ever hear of a personality laden BMW executive?

roadburner

Do you ever hear of a personality laden BMW executive?

Back in 1998 I had a very enjoyable dinner with Vic Doolan and Karl-Heinz Kalbfell. It was anything but boring.

fintail

Well, you know what I mean, assuming both types of execs are of relatively equal skill.

Comparing BMW with GM is kind of tough, completely different reasons for existing and different structures.

michaellno

Well, you know what I mean, assuming both types of execs are of relatively equal skill.
 
Comparing BMW with GM is kind of tough, completely different reasons for existing and different structures.

Yes and no. Both are in the business of selling vehicles for profit. Target demographic are different, but execs for both companies should know both their product and their market.

I agree that, all things being equal, personality trumps blandness. But i would rather have bland and competent rather than full of bluster and clueless.

imidazol97

First I've seen the convertible in pictures.

http://i.imgur.com/4gbcxI4.jpg" width="650" height="433">

http://i.imgur.com/YMRcX6F.jpg" width="650" height="433">

fintail

Apples and oranges as corporations go, though. Freude am Fahren vs Jack of all trades, master of none (or few). The former will easily be able to create nice profit margins. Add in the completely different labor and national corporate environments, I can't see how they can be compared other than that they both make cars.

Sadly, with what must be the vast majority of execs on this continent over the past few decades being ineffective grossly overpaid cloned sheep with identical MBAs, we get neither personality nor ability.

uplanderguy

It's made in OZ, so I'd certainly consider it.

That's the only reason I wouldn't consider it. Not a fan of front-fender vents either, but I do like the proportions of the car.

roadburner

I've since read that the SS won't be available with a manual, so no sale...

jae5

Nice pics. The grille itself has a slight throwback to the C1; overall the frontal area reminds me of, I want to say Caddy Cien?, maybe wrong. Though I'm not a fan of the taillights / treatment, should be a good seller.

stever

Redesigned 2014 Cadillac CTS Snarls With New 420-HP Twin-Turbo V6

http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/non-make/carnews/carnews_318131_600.jpg" height=400 width=600">

stever

"Of course, there's no confusing the new car with the old in the metal, and once you actually drive it, you'll have to admit the 2014 Chevrolet Impala finally has what it takes to compete for real customers.

The best part is the 8-inch MyLink touchscreen interface for audio, navigation and phone functions. It's easy to use if you've ever picked up a smartphone or tablet and it's a radical advance for the Impala, which never before had a factory nav system."

Chevy Finally Builds a Large Sedan for the 21st Century

fintail

Weird thing - the steering wheel in the new Impala:

http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/chevrolet/impala/2014/fd/2014_chevrolet_impala_int_fd_314134_717.jpg">

Is very reminiscent of the one in the W221 (2007+) S-class:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/sl/images/2007-s550-dash.jpg">

Have to admit, the new car looks light years ahead of the old one, actually nice.

uplanderguy

Funny, the Benz dash looks more like an American product to me than the Impala's! I think it's probably the woodgrain. The Impalas I saw at the Cleveland Auto Show had a glossy black dash decoration, which I like. But then, I like the tortoise shell door-grabs inside my brother-in-law's '05 Chrysler 300-C!

The interior of the Impala didn't seem all that big to me, at first try. GM used to be the absolute king of packaging vis-a-vis interior space versus exterior size--starting with the '77 big cars. But that's been lost.

fintail

To be fair, the MB went into production at the end of 2005, so the pictured car is a little dated now, too. MB does have a history of using a high gloss laminated wood that doesn't always look real.

The old Impala isn't really the biggest thing inside either - and I remember my rental had some weird headroom issue upon exit with the A-pillar. The new one has to be unbelievably better - it sure looks it.

andre1969

The interior of the Impala didn't seem all that big to me, at first try. GM used to be the absolute king of packaging vis-a-vis interior space versus exterior size--starting with the '77 big cars. But that's been lost.

I'll have to revisit the Impala, maybe when they start hitting the showrooms. It was definitely lacking in shoulder room, compared to something like a '77 Impala. My guess is that it's probably more on par with a '78 Malibu for shoulder room, but more generous in legroom and headroom.

I think the high window sills, small windows in general, thick roof pillars, center console, might contribute to making the car feel smaller inside than it really is. Sometimes a smaller car can feel bigger inside, if the passenger cabin is open and airy. And color can make a huge difference, too.

stever

I'd have to say that the Impala wheel follows the curve of the dash more than the MB does. Especially with the matching chrome strips.

fintail

I noticed the spoke design and the weird overbite of the hub - I haven't noticed that on many other cars.

jae5

What did you think of the two-tier dash / IP? Kind of reminds me of times when people put dash mats on their IP to protect from sun damage (or hide it).

Have to admit not fan of the twin-pod instrument cluster on this, or any other current vehicle; they are pretty overdone and look rather bulky because of the overly large plastic surrounds.

At first exterior glance it reminded me of the current Accord with a quarter-panel line of the Buick. I'm wondering how well it's going to age / stay fresh.

Not knocks on GM / Chevrolet / Impala, it should serve that market well, just my impressions.

uplanderguy

I like the front-end styling of the Impala--seems more upscale to me than other cars, but I'm a traditionalist. I think it doesn't have the 'alien' or 'insectoid' look of long headlights almost reaching the windshield pillars that some of the Asian cars do. Lemko first used those terms here and I was like "Yes! That's exactly what I think too, but couldn't express in the right way!".

uplanderguy

Speaking of room in the Impala...I know this isn't the end-all of space utilization, but the '14 Impala is on a 111.7 inch wheelbase...actually less than a '12 Malibu which was 112.3. I'm only 5'8", but I think our Malibu ('11) has terrific rear-seat legroom...I remember one mag calling it 'limo like'. You do sit low in the car which I'm not crazy about though.

jae5

You, Lemko and I share the same sentiment on the headlights - I can't stand those things :mad: !! I first noticed the elongated lights on the Nissans (370Z and the spears on the Maxima) or maybe the last-gen Celica, then seems like everyone else just went bigger and longer. I don't like the bug-eyes on the Spark either,such a small car with such BIG EYES, akin to Red Riding Hood saying the same about "Grandma Wolf".

I just still wish for a RWD Impala, just an old diehard I guess. But anytime I get saddened I can just hop in the '65, take a spin and the world becomes right again. :shades:

andre1969

Count me in, on those feelings toward the bug-eyed/insectoid/alien looking headlights.

Actually, one of the first cars I can remember having headlights I really didn't like was the 1992 Pontiac Grand Am. Although in retrospect, they look downright tame, almost tasteful.

I didn't really care for the headlights on the Intrepid when it came out for 1998. They just seemed too big, overall, in relation to the car. But, I got used to them I guess, or at least it wasn't enough of a deterrent, as I bought a 2000.

And yeah, a RWD Impala would be cool. Or, even just a civilian Caprice. I know people like the perceived bad weather safety of FWD, but is RWD really that bad these days? We had about 3" of thick, wet snow here today, and some of the road surfaces were pretty bad. I drove my 2012 Ram to work, a truck with RWD, a light rear end, and a lot of power. I couldn't get that thing to spin out or skid, to save my life! :P

At one point, in a safe, desolate area, I tried to punch it going around a corner to see if I could get the rear end to brake loose. Nope. Where's the fun in that?