WOW that is nice.....I wonder what technologies that car has ? Does it have DVD-Audio or Voice Recognition ? Agree....What is GM thnking by not building that car here ?
There are sights that give more details. These are luxury premium cars for the Asian market....who seem to really like the Buick nameplate! Start at $30,000 and go to mid $40's. Nice to have The Rock back!
Why do I pick 1986 as the beginning of GM's downfall?
I agree, 1986 is when GM jumped the shark. Taurus was a big leap forward and the Asian cars started coming on strong. It would be interesting to think about how poor the quality of North American cars would be without the competition from Japan!
I don't understand what is so special about that Asian LaCrosse.
No one said there was anything special about it. The point of the post was why can't we get the "better" IMO styled LaCrosse. I agree what as much trouble GM is in you'd think they'd at least test that style at an auto show and how the public is resonding to it.
I'm no expert on the Chinese car market, but there are some differences between the products and the markets that would impact GM's prospects here with this Lacrosse:
-Buick's brand is weak in the US, but strong in China. The Chinese royal families drove Buicks prior to the rise of Mao and the communist regime, and the Chinese see American brands as status symbols that they have arrived. You could afford to kill the Buick brand in the US, but in China, it projects a strong image and gives GM an advantage.
-Cars like this are sold as executive cars, not so much as drivers' or family cars. The cars are geared toward creature comforts for the rear passengers (smooth ride, luxury appointments), not to compete with sportier German alternatives.
-Just a guess here, but I would think that longstanding antipathy for and rivalry with the Japanese (there is a long and nasty history between China and Japan) would create a disadvantage for some Japanese products. China is probably one of the few markets where GM would have a better brand image over a Japanese rival.
So I doubt that these cars are necessarily going to work here, because the markets are different. For example, Buick minivans are sold as luxo-executive cruisers with individual video screens, leather interiors, etc., not so much for soccer moms, so the packaging and requirements are different. For these, too, the marketing is geared toward being a passenger, not a driver.
Thanks Pal. Boy that is pricey on Chinese Wages. Your average Chinaman won't be buying them.
I don't think North Americans can afford them either. You can buy 2 Azeras or 2 Magenti (plural for Magentis) with that...and almost the same equipment.
It was as if the General was benchmarking cars of that era when the updates/intros were made to the MC and Bu.
We certainly agree there. Since posting this, I calculated my overall fuel economy, which reveals another disadvantage: the lack of a fifth gear for the automatic, which I will guess created a real-world loss of MPG of about 1-2 mpg. I got about 30 mpg for mostly highway driving, versus the EPA 34 mpg rating, albeit I gave the car a workout that the EPA does not provide in its testing. (Believe it or not, the EPA highway MPG figure is based upon a 10-mile simulated trip on a dynamometer test at an average speed of 48 mph!) For an economy car, that's not exactly horrible, but neither is it optimal when some Corollas and Civics are EPA rated at 38-40 mpg.
-Buick's brand is weak in the US, but strong in China. The Chinese royal families drove Buicks prior to the rise of Mao and the communist regime, and the Chinese see American brands as status symbols that they have arrived.
Right on! Beee-you-eeks are a big American status symbol in China. This car is for the really wealthy, even in China. It looks so much like a Hyundai or Kia that they should just use the styling and make a car that can compete at least on looks with those two. Somehow, the Asian version of the LaCrosse looks better than the American version - they got the right styling cues from the original, and since it is smaller it doesn't come out looking like an overbloated Jaguar. More like an overbloated Azurus.
Agree on the Hyundais. They are coming like gang-busters, just busting the segments wide-opened with well-equipped cars that are decently priced, with a great warranty to boot. They are like the sleeping giant and waking up to wreck shop. The Tibby is still on my "if I was looking for a smart runabout" list, along with the Scion Tc.
Yes, remember all those - loved the last-gen 300Z. The Mark VIII, had a buddy that had one. But really loved the Mark VII LSC, talk about a sleeper. Basically a luxo-Mustang. But when the electronic air suspension went on those, mucho dinero to fix :surprise:
I just think GM really is benchmarking previous-gen competitors. As Socal and others have stated on this and other boards, GM can't come out with products that just merely compete, they need to have products that surpass the competition and have options/features on cars that make sense. An example: the Maxx had a t-top like sunroof over the rear seats. This would be ok I guess if you were actually able to see through the roofs (they were tinted so much I swear they must've been painted black), if they were able to open or maybe if there was one over the front passenger area. :confuse:
I felt the same thing. My Maxx had a V6 (well, at least the badge was "V6". The way it was moving, or lack thereof, it had to of had a 4cyl. I didn't bother to check under the hood, should have.
Maybe it had a rudimentry DoD (dead on delivery) and dropped off 2 cylinders under ALL conditions.
BTW, all the above models are being assembled locally, as well as the Asian LaCrosse.
By looking at the treand we can see that the US auto prices are about 10% less than the prices in Asian. To be precise let's take the average of the 4 differences and that gives us: 89.5%.
So given that let's assume the Asian LaCrosse's local MSRP is about 35,000 USD (let's not including that backseat entertainment system). 89.5% of the 35,000 USD gives us 31,325 USD (this number includes the 7% sales tax). So without the sales tax the MSRP of the Asian LaCrosse here in the NA market should come up to be: 29,133 USD.
Give that the US version LaCrosse CXS is listed at 27,990 I'll say the Asian LaCrosse should do pretty well if GM decides to market them here in NA.
By pricing it around 28,500 USD I'll say this is a pretty good Lexus ES fighter :shades:
The interior of this Buick is as identical to the interior of my Lexus LS430 - I can't believe it!! Why won't they sell that over here? Could rescue my opinion of Buick. Could rescue the brand!
I know it is kind of pointless that we are talking about the price of this car since I don't see Buick to offer it in the near future (or distant future). But considering that the Lexus ES350's MSRP is starting at 33,865 USD I would assume that the 5,000 USD difference (it could be more if taking GM's incentive program into consideration) is going to lure some ES buyers with its competitive interior considering that the ES is not much of a drivers' car anyway (it really is a luxurious boat on land). Better yet, maybe it'll attract some CamCord buyers as well.
just because it has "LaCrosse" painted on it, that doesn't mean it is similar in any way to the US LaCrosse, or am I missing something? Has someone confirmed that the engine, tranny, etc. are the same in both cars, and that only the interior and body are different?
just because it has "LaCrosse" painted on it, that doesn't mean it is similar in any way to the US LaCrosse, or am I missing something? Has someone confirmed that the engine, tranny, etc. are the same in both cars, and that only the interior and body are different?
They are two very different cars and the Asian version seems to be pretty advanced compared to the North American version, and it seems to have the right stuff for today's driving needs. Without that grill we wouldn't know it is a Buick at all. You are probably right though, you are dreaming if you think GM is planning on bringing this "LaCrosse (in name only) here....that would be too sensible.
Does anyone know how many units Honda and Toyota are selling in China?
Might give some idea, GM (11%)is strong in China and Toyota (3.5%)is trying to catch up;
Toyota Motor Corp., a relative latecomer to China, has a paltry 3.5 percent of the market, with 179,000 vehicles sold last year.
That puts it well behind top foreign automaker General Motors Corp., which captured 11 percent of the market last year with 665,390 units sold, and Volkswagen AG of Germany, the No. 2 foreign maker.
This could be a major reason GM doesn't care about the North American Market. If 700 out of every 1,000 Americans have a car and only 20 Chinese people for every 1,000 has a car...there is way more potential to sell cars there, and GM is the leader there just like they were here. For now, the Chinese probably prefer American cars.
It's very good that Corvette is handling the fix for the roof problem. They have been on top of this and all customers will be taken care of at no charge to the customer. No one has been injured as a result and no other cars have been damaged by the errant roofs.
The Corvette has a record for taking quality care of their customers and for providing a quality car with great reliability and customer satisfaction.
I am glad that Corvette is handling the flying roof problem:
They have been on top of ( a joke right) this and all customers will be taken care of at no charge to the customer. No one has been injured as a result and no other cars have been damaged by the errant roofs
Of course they will fix them, before there are any lawsuits. No one has been injured as a result......it's bad enough with all the idiots driving on the road, now I have to dodge flying roofs!
This could be a major reason GM doesn't care about the North American Market. If 700 out of every 1,000 Americans have a car and only 20 Chinese people for every 1,000 has a car..
Everyone realizes the growth potential of China, India and other developing regions are much more than US, W Europe and Japan. But come on, every carmaker in the world, German or Japanese, think enough of US market to bring their best stuff here! US is still by far where GM sells the most cars, makes no sense to lose a bundle here, and hope to cover it in Asia.
I read Buick was having success in China. I was doubting the Chinese taste in cars... China is where GM and Ford are making the biggest profits, but sadly not nearly enough to make up for their NA losses.
Well, Asian LC isn't the first case where US automaker refuses to offer for sale in their home country the best they have. Ford sells G1 Focus here, and G2 Focus everywhere else. Opels forever are much more attractive than Chevys and Pontiacs. Now GM sees fit to offer them here as premium Saturns.
Actually I was mimicking how the comments would go if it were HoToy having a fastener problem. The reception would have been "How wonderful the way they've handled fixing that as soon as they found out. And they'll extend the warranty to 100K on the transmissions so that once it fails after 100K you're on the hook."
Sorry, thought it was for real; :confuse: It's very good that Corvette is handling the fix for the roof problem. They have been on top of this and all customers will be taken care of at no charge to the customer. No one has been injured as a result and no other cars have been damaged by the errant roofs.
The Corvette has a record for taking quality care of their customers and for providing a quality car with great reliability and customer satisfaction.
Actally this would be a good press release from GM. And then we would say "of course you're going to fix it, why in the ______ should I pay for it?"
I think the Catera's big problem was it did not have a V8 plus it was softened up a lot for the US market. As Chuck says every company has had it's problems. Even mighty Toyota has. Back in the early seventies my neighbor bought a new Corona. It blew a few head gaskets before the engine was toast at low mileage. I didn't know anyone who had a Manta, but I did know someone that had an ugly baby blue Kadett two door wagon. It lasted until the early 1990's.
Ford sells G1 Focus here, and G2 Focus everywhere else. Opels forever are much more attractive than Chevys and Pontiacs. Now GM sees fit to offer them here as premium Saturns.
This is true! If you are in England, Ford, GM, Toyota, etc. all have great looking cars that we don't see here. The cars are more practical (at $8 a gallon you have to be) and the Euro influence helps the styling. You would not see a North American LaCrosse on their streets!
Speaking of the LaCrosse, and the Asian version, I just read a review in the newspaper on the new Magentis. Rave reviews and it looks as good as the Asian Buick all for about $20,000! Loaded with a 6 and leather for under $24,000!
"Ford sells G1 Focus here, and G2 Focus everywhere else. Opel's forever are much more attractive than Chevys and Pontiacs. Now GM sees fit to offer them here as premium Saturns."
If GM just doesn't water down the Opel's I would be interested. Some how when American management gets their hands on a product from Europe they seem to change it somehow to make it more "American". That turns me off. I subscribe to a few European auto magazines. When I show photos of cars to my buddies here they are all amazed that we do not get the cars.
The existence of this product proves that Bob Lutz is not a product guy, he's a politician. His job consists of blowing smoke about how the tactile quality of GM's interiors is improving, but doing everything possible to cheapen them for their home market, while offering nicer stuff overseas. Look at Opel's current lineup.
Lutz is the same guy who removed standard ABS from GM's passenger cars, and removed standard side airbags from their SUVs. Now, we get the story that ABS will (once again) be standard, along with stability control, on all of GM's cars by 2010. No word on the airbags, but new side impact legislation will effectively require curtains (but not thorax bags) in the near future. In the interim, Stabilitrak is only offered on the highest trim levels where it's offered at all. And, the corollary to that promise was that all of their vans and SUVs would have standard Stabilitrak by 2007. Yet, in 2007, the Vue and Vibe still don't have it standard, and it's not even available on the Vue. Flip. Flop.
Lutz should run for office. He's able to blow smoke and flip-flop with the best of them!
"so how do the current car buyers in China have any Buick-envy????"
I believe Chairman Mao had a big ol' Buick he was driven around in. It seems to connote royalty to this day. I hear the Chinese owning a Buick is like you and me with an S-600 or something.....
"I hear the Chinese owning a Buick is like you and me with an S-600 or something....."
Uh...no.
The Mercedes and BMW (even Audi) are still more prestigeous than Buick to the eyes of a Chinese even though most of the BMW and Audi's on the street there are locally assembled. The reasons Buick does well in China is because
(1) Buick is a well established brand (that was also the case here in the states until GM managed to mess it up in the last decade or so). For example, most cars on the streets of China back in the 20's and 30's are American, and Buick is the most prestigeous American brand back then.
(2) American cars are a rare breed in China (or Asia in general).
(3) People over there don't hear many horror stories about how unreliable and how cheap the quality it is about the American cars (I know they are improving but that was the case back in the 80's and 90's).
(4) American cars are actually not that bad over there in China or Asia (see the Asian LaCrosse).
(5) Less Competition from the Japanese manufactures - The reality is: Most Chinese hates Japanese, and the way to get back from them is not buying their products. Although Toyota and Honda are selling their cars like hot cakes all over the world China is one market they are having trouble to gain market share. This not-buying-Japanese mentality of the Chinese consumers helps Buick to boost sales in a great deal.
Shouldn't Caddy outrank Buick? Or do the Caddys that make it to market there not compare to the admittedly nice looking Buicks?
I should bring back Packard and sell it there.
Speaking of these old cars...what happened to them? I know many prewar cars survived the horrors of postwar Russia...what about the cars left in China when the commies took over? Seeing how the Chinese used and somewhat preserved so many western edifices in Shanghai, I have to wonder if cars met the same fate. Hmm that might make an interesting vacation.
I am pretty sure most of the prewar cars didn't survive the 8-year Sino-Japanese War. Also, as a suggestion, China is not the best place to look for old cars, especially American old cars. As for Cadillac...it is just too rare a breed over there in China (and Taiwan), it's almost as rare as the Rolls and Bentley. I am not sure about now but at least 10 to 20 years ago that's the case with the old caddy lineup. I am sure with the new sports-oriented CTS and STS, it's visibility has increase quite a bit over there.
I was thinking maybe cars that were in the International Settlement...surely most were taken by the Japanese, but I've read that many owners found their cars after the war. By then they were probably not worth shipping back home, so I bet they were left behind. It's just a fun idea...I wouldn't think about discovering one and buying it, just seeing some survivors.
I have an old photo of a street in Shanghai with a Chrysler Airflow driving down it...I've seen a similar pic in England with a Lincoln Zephyr on the road. Amazing how things evolve...at that time, highline US cars were the equivalent of S600s (or higher), and the big Germans were mainly just curiosities.
Even if GM and Ford offer the best they have in the NA, they would still have a tough time holding on to their market shares. But I believe the erosion of shares would be much slower and they'd be quite profitable. Instead they offer substandard cars, substandard to cars they've on sale on other continents, no wonder they both lose shares and money at alarming rates.
That Asian LaCrosse has an interior quality that seems on par with Lexus. There's no Caddilac on sale in NA with an interior anywhere near it. Sorry, GM, but there's no excuse whatsoever for it!
"The Corvette has a record for taking quality care of their customers and for providing a quality car with great reliability and customer satisfaction."
Wish I could agree. But the Anesthesiologist who lives across from me would disagree - since he had to sue GM to take his Yellow Vette back under the Lemon Law......
I wrote that the way the media would have written if any other company but GM were responsible. Instead of a negative approach I put the positive HOTOY spin on the report. Just think, the perfect company has a bunch of transmissions with wrong parts installed but they want the customers to report if they have problems rather than going out and checking for themselves. This is treated in the median (and Edmunds) as wonderful handling!!! At least those transmissions don't seem to have the hesitation the Lexii/Avalons tranny has. (yet).
Have to agree with ya there, imi. It's hard to get a positive comment from the mags here about our own.
Funny, I have two Fords and a Lexus, and had never noticed that transmission hesitation - until this past week, when I drove myself into a little bind, and needed to get the hell out of there FAST. Put the pedal down muy rapido (that's fast to those of you in Rio Linda) and sat there while my trusty Lex gave due consideration to what I was requesting, before kicking in a very calm, reserved, and damn near fatal manner..... And I'm having plenty of time, while my life if passing before my eyes, to wonder what the heck is going on! BARELY escaped unscathed....
Now, Car & Driver would report this as, "The Lexus is SO INTELLIGENT, it knew exactly how much time the driver had before collision, and, to conserve precious fuel, applied exactly the needed acceleration to avoid the accident." Of course, a Mustang would have just burned the rubber off the rear wheels and I would have shot out of there in a cloud of blue smoke..... How wasteful.
If I were to diagnose this problem though, honestly, I wouldn't blame the transmission - It felt a lot more like the drive by wire reostat was overwhelmed with my jerkfire command on the gas pedal, and gradually complied with it, as if it didn't really believe I wanted (or needed) full throttle....
Comments
There are sights that give more details. These are luxury premium cars for the Asian market....who seem to really like the Buick nameplate! Start at $30,000 and go to mid $40's.
Nice to have The Rock back!
Check out for more details:
link title
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I agree, 1986 is when GM jumped the shark. Taurus was a big leap forward and the Asian cars started coming on strong.
It would be interesting to think about how poor the quality of North American cars would be without the competition from Japan!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Only that it looks so much better than the North American version!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
link title
Try Google for more, try "Buick Lacrosse asia" or a few others. This is not an econo car though..$29,000 to $40,000+
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
No one said there was anything special about it. The point of the post was why can't we get the "better" IMO styled LaCrosse. I agree what as much trouble GM is in you'd think they'd at least test that style at an auto show and how the public is resonding to it.
-Buick's brand is weak in the US, but strong in China. The Chinese royal families drove Buicks prior to the rise of Mao and the communist regime, and the Chinese see American brands as status symbols that they have arrived. You could afford to kill the Buick brand in the US, but in China, it projects a strong image and gives GM an advantage.
-Cars like this are sold as executive cars, not so much as drivers' or family cars. The cars are geared toward creature comforts for the rear passengers (smooth ride, luxury appointments), not to compete with sportier German alternatives.
-Just a guess here, but I would think that longstanding antipathy for and rivalry with the Japanese (there is a long and nasty history between China and Japan) would create a disadvantage for some Japanese products. China is probably one of the few markets where GM would have a better brand image over a Japanese rival.
So I doubt that these cars are necessarily going to work here, because the markets are different. For example, Buick minivans are sold as luxo-executive cruisers with individual video screens, leather interiors, etc., not so much for soccer moms, so the packaging and requirements are different. For these, too, the marketing is geared toward being a passenger, not a driver.
Maybe so, it can happen..even with the most expensive cars.
I don't think North Americans can afford them either. You can buy 2 Azeras or 2 Magenti (plural for Magentis) with that...and almost the same equipment.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
maybe compare it to the Lucerne
or to the CTS
LaCrosse value at a Lucerne/CTS price!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
China Buick also has a version of the departed US Regal, however.
We certainly agree there. Since posting this, I calculated my overall fuel economy, which reveals another disadvantage: the lack of a fifth gear for the automatic, which I will guess created a real-world loss of MPG of about 1-2 mpg. I got about 30 mpg for mostly highway driving, versus the EPA 34 mpg rating, albeit I gave the car a workout that the EPA does not provide in its testing. (Believe it or not, the EPA highway MPG figure is based upon a 10-mile simulated trip on a dynamometer test at an average speed of 48 mph!) For an economy car, that's not exactly horrible, but neither is it optimal when some Corollas and Civics are EPA rated at 38-40 mpg.
Right on! Beee-you-eeks are a big American status symbol in China. This car is for the really wealthy, even in China. It looks so much like a Hyundai or Kia that they should just use the styling and make a car that can compete at least on looks with those two. Somehow, the Asian version of the LaCrosse looks better than the American version - they got the right styling cues from the original, and since it is smaller it doesn't come out looking like an overbloated Jaguar. More like an overbloated Azurus.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Agree on the Hyundais. They are coming like gang-busters, just busting the segments wide-opened with well-equipped cars that are decently priced, with a great warranty to boot. They are like the sleeping giant and waking up to wreck shop. The Tibby is still on my "if I was looking for a smart runabout" list, along with the Scion Tc.
Yes, remember all those - loved the last-gen 300Z. The Mark VIII, had a buddy that had one. But really loved the Mark VII LSC, talk about a sleeper. Basically a luxo-Mustang. But when the electronic air suspension went on those, mucho dinero to fix :surprise:
I just think GM really is benchmarking previous-gen competitors. As Socal and others have stated on this and other boards, GM can't come out with products that just merely compete, they need to have products that surpass the competition and have options/features on cars that make sense. An example: the Maxx had a t-top like sunroof over the rear seats. This would be ok I guess if you were actually able to see through the roofs (they were tinted so much I swear they must've been painted black), if they were able to open or maybe if there was one over the front passenger area. :confuse:
Maybe it had a rudimentry DoD (dead on delivery) and dropped off 2 cylinders under ALL conditions.
Honda Accord V6:
US: $29,211 (including 7% sales tax)
Taiwan: $32,697 (including sales tax)
Difference: 89%
Toyota Camry V6:
US: $29,446 (including 7% sales tax)
Taiwan: $33,909 (including sales tax)
Difference: 87%
Honda Civic EX:
US: $19,752 (including 7% sales tax)
Taiwan: $21,182 (including sales tax)
Difference: 93%
Toyota Corolla:
US: $19,131 (including 7% sales tax)
Taiwan: $21,485 (including sales tax)
Difference: 89%
BTW, all the above models are being assembled locally, as well as the Asian LaCrosse.
By looking at the treand we can see that the US auto prices are about 10% less than the prices in Asian. To be precise let's take the average of the 4 differences and that gives us: 89.5%.
So given that let's assume the Asian LaCrosse's local MSRP is about 35,000 USD (let's not including that backseat entertainment system). 89.5% of the 35,000 USD gives us 31,325 USD (this number includes the 7% sales tax). So without the sales tax the MSRP of the Asian LaCrosse here in the NA market should come up to be: 29,133 USD.
Give that the US version LaCrosse CXS is listed at 27,990 I'll say the Asian LaCrosse should do pretty well if GM decides to market them here in NA.
By pricing it around 28,500 USD I'll say this is a pretty good Lexus ES fighter :shades:
That is a base model and we have no idea how it compares to Lexus mechanically or for reliability and performance.
At $28,500 I would still put my money on the Lexus or 3 Series and wait to see if it is more than just a pretty face.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Check this out to compare;
link title
They are two very different cars and the Asian version seems to be pretty advanced compared to the North American version, and it seems to have the right stuff for today's driving needs. Without that grill we wouldn't know it is a Buick at all. You are probably right though, you are dreaming if you think GM is planning on bringing this "LaCrosse (in name only) here....that would be too sensible.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Does anyone know how many units Honda and Toyota are selling in China? I'm curious if there is market prejudice against the Japanese brands.
Do they buy Japanese cars in Korea? (and vice versa)
so how do the current car buyers in China have any Buick-envy????
-loren
Might give some idea, GM (11%)is strong in China and Toyota (3.5%)is trying to catch up;
Toyota Motor Corp., a relative latecomer to China, has a paltry 3.5 percent of the market, with 179,000 vehicles sold last year.
That puts it well behind top foreign automaker General Motors Corp., which captured 11 percent of the market last year with 665,390 units sold, and Volkswagen AG of Germany, the No. 2 foreign maker.
For more info go to:
link title
This could be a major reason GM doesn't care about the North American Market. If 700 out of every 1,000 Americans have a car and only 20 Chinese people for every 1,000 has a car...there is way more potential to sell cars there, and GM is the leader there just like they were here. For now, the Chinese probably prefer American cars.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
With Solstice's smoking up the track and Corvettes popping off roofs......it is going to be hard to catch up to the General!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The Corvette has a record for taking quality care of their customers and for providing a quality car with great reliability and customer satisfaction.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
They have been on top of ( a joke right) this and all customers will be taken care of at no charge to the customer. No one has been injured as a result and no other cars have been damaged by the errant roofs
Of course they will fix them, before there are any lawsuits. No one has been injured as a result......it's bad enough with all the idiots driving on the road, now I have to dodge flying roofs!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Everyone realizes the growth potential of China, India and other developing regions are much more than US, W Europe and Japan. But come on, every carmaker in the world, German or Japanese, think enough of US market to bring their best stuff here! US is still by far where GM sells the most cars, makes no sense to lose a bundle here, and hope to cover it in Asia.
I read Buick was having success in China. I was doubting the Chinese taste in cars... China is where GM and Ford are making the biggest profits, but sadly not nearly enough to make up for their NA losses.
Well, Asian LC isn't the first case where US automaker refuses to offer for sale in their home country the best they have. Ford sells G1 Focus here, and G2 Focus everywhere else. Opels forever are much more attractive than Chevys and Pontiacs. Now GM sees fit to offer them here as premium Saturns.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It's very good that Corvette is handling the fix for the roof problem. They have been on top of this and all customers will be taken care of at no charge to the customer. No one has been injured as a result and no other cars have been damaged by the errant roofs.
The Corvette has a record for taking quality care of their customers and for providing a quality car with great reliability and customer satisfaction.
Actally this would be a good press release from GM. And then we would say "of course you're going to fix it, why in the ______ should I pay for it?"
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
This is true! If you are in England, Ford, GM, Toyota, etc. all have great looking cars that we don't see here.
The cars are more practical (at $8 a gallon you have to be) and the Euro influence helps the styling. You would not see a North American LaCrosse on their streets!
Speaking of the LaCrosse, and the Asian version, I just read a review in the newspaper on the new Magentis. Rave reviews and it looks as good as the Asian Buick all for about $20,000! Loaded with a 6 and leather for under $24,000!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If GM just doesn't water down the Opel's I would be interested. Some how when American management gets their hands on a product from Europe they seem to change it somehow to make it more "American". That turns me off. I subscribe to a few European auto magazines. When I show photos of cars to my buddies here they are all amazed that we do not get the cars.
Lutz is the same guy who removed standard ABS from GM's passenger cars, and removed standard side airbags from their SUVs. Now, we get the story that ABS will (once again) be standard, along with stability control, on all of GM's cars by 2010. No word on the airbags, but new side impact legislation will effectively require curtains (but not thorax bags) in the near future. In the interim, Stabilitrak is only offered on the highest trim levels where it's offered at all. And, the corollary to that promise was that all of their vans and SUVs would have standard Stabilitrak by 2007. Yet, in 2007, the Vue and Vibe still don't have it standard, and it's not even available on the Vue. Flip. Flop.
Lutz should run for office. He's able to blow smoke and flip-flop with the best of them!
Just kidding. :shades:
I believe Chairman Mao had a big ol' Buick he was driven around in. It seems to connote royalty to this day. I hear the Chinese owning a Buick is like you and me with an S-600 or something.....
Uh...no.
The Mercedes and BMW (even Audi) are still more prestigeous than Buick to the eyes of a Chinese even though most of the BMW and Audi's on the street there are locally assembled. The reasons Buick does well in China is because
(1) Buick is a well established brand (that was also the case here in the states until GM managed to mess it up in the last decade or so). For example, most cars on the streets of China back in the 20's and 30's are American, and Buick is the most prestigeous American brand back then.
(2) American cars are a rare breed in China (or Asia in general).
(3) People over there don't hear many horror stories about how unreliable and how cheap the quality it is about the American cars (I know they are improving but that was the case back in the 80's and 90's).
(4) American cars are actually not that bad over there in China or Asia (see the Asian LaCrosse).
(5) Less Competition from the Japanese manufactures - The reality is: Most Chinese hates Japanese, and the way to get back from them is not buying their products. Although Toyota and Honda are selling their cars like hot cakes all over the world China is one market they are having trouble to gain market share. This not-buying-Japanese mentality of the Chinese consumers helps Buick to boost sales in a great deal.
I should bring back Packard and sell it there.
Speaking of these old cars...what happened to them? I know many prewar cars survived the horrors of postwar Russia...what about the cars left in China when the commies took over? Seeing how the Chinese used and somewhat preserved so many western edifices in Shanghai, I have to wonder if cars met the same fate. Hmm that might make an interesting vacation.
I have an old photo of a street in Shanghai with a Chrysler Airflow driving down it...I've seen a similar pic in England with a Lincoln Zephyr on the road. Amazing how things evolve...at that time, highline US cars were the equivalent of S600s (or higher), and the big Germans were mainly just curiosities.
Caddy has some presence in China
http://www.gmchina.com/products/cadillac/Chinese/home.htm
http://www.cadillac.cn/
So maybe there's some hope. I think it's very interesting how these brands still carry so much clout somewhere.
That Asian LaCrosse has an interior quality that seems on par with Lexus. There's no Caddilac on sale in NA with an interior anywhere near it. Sorry, GM, but there's no excuse whatsoever for it!
Reading CAR is sometimes a double edged sword...it should be renamed "Cool Stuff You Idiotic North Americans Will Never See"
Wish I could agree. But the Anesthesiologist who lives across from me would disagree - since he had to sue GM to take his Yellow Vette back under the Lemon Law......
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Funny, I have two Fords and a Lexus, and had never noticed that transmission hesitation - until this past week, when I drove myself into a little bind, and needed to get the hell out of there FAST. Put the pedal down muy rapido (that's fast to those of you in Rio Linda) and sat there while my trusty Lex gave due consideration to what I was requesting, before kicking in a very calm, reserved, and damn near fatal manner..... And I'm having plenty of time, while my life if passing before my eyes, to wonder what the heck is going on! BARELY escaped unscathed....
Now, Car & Driver would report this as, "The Lexus is
SO INTELLIGENT, it knew exactly how much time the driver had before collision, and, to conserve precious fuel, applied exactly the needed acceleration to avoid the accident." Of course, a Mustang would have just burned the rubber off the rear wheels and I would have shot out of there in a cloud of blue smoke..... How wasteful.
If I were to diagnose this problem though, honestly, I wouldn't blame the transmission - It felt a lot more like the drive by wire reostat was overwhelmed with my jerkfire command on the gas pedal, and gradually complied with it, as if it didn't really believe I wanted (or needed) full throttle....
Either way - it was a RUSH, I'll tell ya......