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http://realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-12_28_05_JS.html
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z8548/default.aspx
It will make you cry and shout at GM's corporate ineptitude.
But yeah, you're right. Australia's the one country that has a similar driving culture to ours, and they're the one we don't share stuff with.
Holden has a record for making some cool cars, going back maybe 35 years. I guess we should be happy with a less blobby Monte, right.
You are right about that!
Short answer: we (the general car-buying public in the US) aren't willing to pay for the good stuff. That Buick Royaum runs about $50,000, and the Euro Ford Focus goes for close to $20,000 once you do the currency conversion. Meanwhile, we have people here who think a 400hp Camaro SS should go for $18,000 after the Red Tag discount.
Loren
http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2004-Buick-Velite-Concept.htm
Rocky
Rocky
European midsized cars are small. It's sized between the TSX and Mazda6, basically. Will that work, when the Camry, Accord, and Sonata are still growing?
And in Europe, the reviews are only okay. It doesn't seem match up to the Ford Mondeo, Mazda6, or Accord. But they have different tastes... they'd rate the Mazda6 several dozen times higher than the Camry or Sonata. Well, we'll see. The styling's certainly there, and at least that'll get people to test drive it.
Rocky
Loren
Loren
Rocky
---end quote---
What??? The G8 is making a car now. New World Order to build a car. :surprise:
The CTS is sort of an interesting car. The interior is so-so, and it doesn't seem to have a telescopic steering column. For the money, which it seems overpriced, it appears to lack some basics. Still wondering how they justify the cost compared to a similar Chrysler 300 Touring Edition. The CTS is at least interesting enough to look into some day. Seems to sell used for around the same price as the DeVille / DTS Caddy. For luxury, perhaps the DTS is the better deal. FWD isn't so bad in a larger car, and they no longer handle like a fish going upstream. Actually, though I am not a big fan of FWD, liked the '87 Olds 98 Regency for handling. It was far better than a base Mustang, in that period in time.
Now, only time will tell what the fate of GM and Ford will be. It has been a long time since I owned a V8, so maybe a used second car in the form of a Mustang, or some other American RWD, is a possibility. When my new car ages a bit, I will consider another new car ( maybe from the big two ), keeping in mind GM and Fords position financially of course. If American cars are still not holding used car value, I guess used is the way to buy. For now it is just the little PT, which is fine. It is new and healthy. The radiator fan has a humm, so it will be replaced. Seems like the only thing so far that was defective. Which BTW, for me, is the best new car experience so far in cars which are not Japanese.
****** HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ******
loren
Thanks!
WITH THE NEW CARS AND TRUCKS GM IS BRINGING OUT IN 2006-7, THE "GENERAL" WILL BE BACK ON TOP IN THE USA MARKET TOO, AS GM IS ALREADY A LEADER IN OTHER "OVERSEAS" MARKETS RIGHT NOW. :P
THE PEOPLE AT GM NOW (MOSTLY CAR GUYS) WOULD RATHER CUT OFF AN ARM THAN LEAVE GM, IT IS THEIR LIFE AND PASSION. TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND A REAL CHANCE, WITH GM MOVING INTO CHINA FOR MANUFACTURING AND LEVERAGING THAT MOVE AGAINST THE UAW. THIS WILL BRING ABOUT REDUCED COST IN THE USA, AND IMPROVE PROFITS FOR GM IN PER CAR COSTS/PR0FIT. TOYOTA IS TO ARROGANT TO CONSIDER ANY MERGER WITH ANYBODY RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY DO HAVE THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AS A "PARTNER". :confuse:
THEY BOTH ARE LOCKED INTO A WORLD WAR FOR DOMINATION OF THE AUTO MARKETS, FRAGMENTED AS THEY ARE AROUND THE GLOBE. WITH THE DECREASING DEMAND FOR CARS WORLDWIDE, THERE ARE BOUND TO BE MORE MERGERS AND CLOSEINGS OF COMPANIES. GM WILL NOT BE ONE OF THEM, NOR WILL TOYOTA. EACH IS STRONG ENOUGH TO BATTLE EACH OTHER FOREVER !!!...THERE IS NO LOSER IN THIS BATTLE EXCEPT THE OTHER COMPANIES :sick:
TODAY GM CARS (IMPALA, MALIBU, CORVETTE, G6, SOLSTICE,AND THE CADDYS...) ALL HAVE EQUAL QUALITY AND BETTER VALUE PER DOLLAR THAN TOYOTAS OFFERINGS, PLUS GM BUILDS A WIDER & BIGGER VARIETY OF MODELS WORLDWIDE, AS BOTH COMPANIES PROJECT 9.1 MILLION CARS & TRUCKS FOR 2006, IT APPEARS THAT FROM 2006-2009 GM WILL RETURN AGAIN TO "THE REAL GM", WE HAVE KNOWN AND LOVED FOR YEARS !
THAT'S MY 2 CENTS WORTH !!!...GO GM,COOL BABY! :shades:
NOW THAT THE MUSTANG HAS AGAIN STARTED A TREND IN CAR SALES WITH THE MUSTANG, 40 SOME YEARS LATER (!!), THE REST OF THE PONY CARS ARE POSITIONED TO COME BACK STRONG (CAMARO, FIREBIRD, CHALLENGER...I SUPPOSE THAT THE BARRACUDA AND COUGAR ARE NOW IN THE WORKS TOO !!!!).
THESE ARE VERY COOL CARS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. :shades:
HOW WILL THESE CARS EFFECT THE "TUNER GENERATION" OF PRESENT OWNERS, PERSONALLY I THINK THAT ONCE THEY LEARN TO DRIVE IN A "RICE BURNER" (MOST OF THOSE I SEE AROUND HAVE CRUMPLED FRONT FENDERS AND MISSING OR DENTED AIR DAM BUMPERS !!! :sick: ...LOL.)...AND GET THIER HANDS ON JUST ONE OF THE PONY CARS,... THEY WILL NEVER GO BACK TO ANYTHING ELSE, MAYBE ONWARDS TO CORVETTES AND VIPERS, BUT NO MORE HONDAS, MAZDAS OR TOYOTAS !!???
WHAT'CHA THINK ?...CAN AMERICA PULL IT OFF AGAIN, AND WIN BACK THE YOUNGER CAR BUYERS WITH "PONY" CARS, I THINK SO.
IF SO, ALL OF THE USA AUTO COMPANIES WILL BE BACK ON TRACK TO CONTINUE SELLING CARS TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICANS, THEY WILL HAVE WON THEM BACK INTO THE "FOLD".
They may also see their little tuner cars as "high-tech" and see the big muscle cars and pony cars as crude and "low-tech." Good God, how many times I had to endure the pushrods vs. OHC/DOHC argument in these forums.
Two of muscle cars old enemies will still haunt them - fuel consumption and insurance. Cars like the Mustang and GTO come from the factory as hot rods and the insurance companies will nail them with high premiums. Not many young guys can afford it, but they can afford it on their puny 4-cylinder Honda Civic DX base model commuter car, or so it appears to the insurance company.
The high prices of muscle and pony cars will also work against them. Heck, I'm 40 and I can't justify spending $35K+ on a GTO, but make it $25 or less and keep all the toys, you have a buyer.
I, personally would love to see a reemergeance of the American auto industry. Cars like the Corvette, Mustang, Charger, 300-C, etc. are a nice start. What they really need is to once again build a car as popular as the 1960s Chevrolet Impala - a car that was everything to everybody. The Impala could be a hot performer, a thrifty economy sedan in Biscayne form, a sensible family car with a bit of style, a station wagon, and once a pickup truck as an El Camino.
Not this current junky CTS, but the next gen 2007 or early 08' CTS---> 2007 Cadillac CTS
On Sale : Summer 2006
The next generation of the BMW chaser will have a softer look reminiscent of the bigger STS. Engine choices should be the same as before, with two V6 motors and a V8 for the CTS-V. There is speculation that the next V-Series model will have a NorthStar V8 instead of the current LS6, in keeping with the upmarket image of Cadillac.
Loren for pics scroll down on this website
http://www.modernracer.com/spyshots/spyshots.html
I hope it get's build this summer. I will definitly guarnatee I will buy this car in Black
Rocky
Rocky
2007 Cadillac CTS
On Sale : Summer 2006
The next generation of the BMW chaser will have a softer look reminiscent of the bigger STS. Engine choices should be the same as before, with two V6 motors and a V8 for the CTS-V. There is speculation that the next V-Series model will have a NorthStar V8 instead of the current LS6, in keeping with the upmarket image of Cadillac.
I'll take my pre-ordered copy in Black.... Thanx :shades:
I do hope they build the "Blue Devil" 515 hp. engine for it instead
Either Way a copy is reserved for ME !!!!!
Rocky
Loren
500 horsepower? Just what I've been waiting for to drive to the quick store for my morning coffee.
I left that stage with my 2nd Mustang many years ago. Even my Mustang stage was tempered because I had 3-speed manuals and 289/305 motors (they had overhead valves, imagine).
I just want to see practical cars come out of the turn around with practical motors and bodies. The Lucerne has a nice impression; I would expect the LaCrosse to have minor changes to pickup on the hints of the Lucerne. Seems the milk company jokes have diminished about the Lucerne
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The pics of the CTS are two different cars; the rear windows on the doors aren't the same.
The CAmaro looks retro alright-retro Mustang-like. I'm not sure that's the right look for the Camaro. But it should sell. It's like the HHR being accused of being a PT Cruiser wannabe. It's not quite the same but too similar.
The G6 Cabrio looks cool too. That should sell.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Gonna have to stop in the local GM dealer soon and look at the Lucerne up close. Have not seen one on the road yet. Have tried to see Lucerne style in TV commercials, but for some reason Buick/GM is only showing fleeting glimpses of a very dark blue Lucerne and background is dark. Seen pictures in magazines and Edmunds, but have to see in person. Would like to see better commercials from Buick. They should look at Lexus, Honda, Cadillac commercials to see how to do properly.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The Civic Coupe model looks pretty good but the Sedan model its too bland looking and the styling likes look too many other cars in my opinion. I dont think it looks like a Beetle wannabee though.
"I would expect the LaCrosse to have minor changes to pickup on the hints of the Lucerne. Seems the milk company jokes have diminished about the Lucerne ."
I'm no Buick fan but the Lucrene looks alot better than the LaCrosse. It looks like GM actually spent alot time on the Lucrence's styling. The LaCrosse it looks like they took styling elements from different cars and just slapped the whole exterior design together just like Honda did with the Civic Sedan styling. With the Lucrene styling doesn;t like other cars. A little hint of VW on the tailights but thats about it.
Loren
Tell me what it is about the Lucerne's styling that you like, in art critic style. I'm sure I'll learn something.
LEMKO, HOW ABOUT AN IMPALA SS FOR 25-28,000$ WITH A CORVETTE ENGINE & ROOM FOR THE FAMILY PLUS GREAT GAS MILEAGE ?????????OR FOR THE KID A COBALT SS, A SUPERCHARGED TUNER CAR... CHEVY'S GOT IT TOGETHER !!
GO GET IT RIGHT NOW !!
I can explain the tuner thing though... high school was recent enough for me, and this is definitely and import town (NUMMI's here, but there are as many Hondas as Toyotas).
For one, many parents give their kids something sensible, like a Civic. It's easier than asking for a Mustang. And better in many day-to-day ways. The kids drives around for a bit, realizes he likes driving and spending time with his car. Learns about it. Finds out he can put in parts from the aftermarket or from other Hondas and Acuras. And the older Civics could be lowered quite a bit without drawbacks. (Lowering too much degrades handling, but in Civics with double wishbones all around, that happened after a lot more lowering than in most cars.)
Other reasons for sport compacts to have become the big thing...
- The Mustang and Camaro a decade ago were honestly crude cars.
- Whenever owning a 30-40 year old version of a car is cooler than owning a new one, something's wrong.
- Muscle cars were (are) coveted by old people and rednecks. Not a good way to become cool.
- The '92 Civic looked futuristic compared to every affordable 1992 car out there.
- There is a large immigrant population here in CA without any connection to American cars of the '60s. Almost all of the immigrants from Asia came with a grudge against the Japanese much stronger than ours, but they came when the quality gap was so large that they developed loyalty to Japanese brands anyway.
- Between David and Goliath, the small and agile upstart just gets more love.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
If its bad to bring up GMs past atrocities, why is it OK to talk about a now 16 year old ad?
Truthfulness.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Did the ads claim the Accord bested the Century? If not, I don't see the issue. I think the Accord at the time still beat many players in mpgs. And how much of a difference was there? I am sure the Century got its mileage in a very lazy OD, the Accord lacked such a feature IIRC. Not quite an apples to apples comparison.
Also, in 1990 Honda was very youthful, and I doubt many cross-shopped an Accord and a Buick of any kind.
Today though, things have progressed. The LaCrosse isn't the antique the Century was, and the Lucerne has no reason not to be a real hit in its class. I still can't imagine a new one being a wise buy though, when local dealers have been advertising loaded (leather, moonroof etc) 05 Lacrosse for 17K.
Ill agree with you there that I doubt many people cross-shopped a Buick with a Honda. Thats not a diss against Buick but Honda and Buick have a very different buying audience.
On a side note in my mind the closest thing competition wise that GM had to the Accord in 1990 was the Chevy Beretta probably. Maybe the Grand Am or 6000 was a direct competitor to the Accord. I won't doubt you on the rust with accords back in the day. You won't hear an arguement from me on that issue.
First off its not the snoozer that the Regal and Century were in the mid 90's/early 00's. The LaCrosse just looks like alot of other car designs thrown together where as the Lucrence actually looks original mostly. Its a good starting point for Buick on the Lucrene but its not a total 180 where you are going to see Lucrenes all over the place.