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Comments
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=120617?tid=edmunds.il.home.p- hotopanel..1.*
-Rocky
Didn't Botany and Stetson collapse perhaps because of buggy whip analogy. Except for lawyers, politicians and ordinary folks rare times of going to funerals, who wears a suit anymore. As for Stetson, didn't guys stop wearing hats back in the 60's? Movies from 60's, such as Bond shows hats, but think that hats disappeared in 70's. Maybe Botany and Stetson did not adapt to the times. GM will apparently survive by being adaptive, which includes realizing more of its future in world markets rather than substantially in US.
I must be the rare exception because I still wear hats and suits. Not all the time, but more often than others. Geeze, you've got a point. Everybody dresses like slobs these days.
No, it had nothing to do with Canada, because they count Canadian content as "domestic" on those stickers. My Intrepid was built in Canada, and I think its "domestic" content was something like 86%. Ford slipped just enough non US/Canadian content into the Panthers to get just below the threshold to get excluded as a domestic, which is something like 75% I think?
Have Canadian-built cars EVER been considered "foreign"? My '82 Cutlass Supreme was built in Canada (at least, if I decoded the VIN correctly!)
Pre-NAFTA. One of the reasons that Canada got counted as "domestic" for content labels was so that the former Big 4's Canadian output wouldn't get boned on tariffs when sold south of the border.
If your Cutlass was built in Canada, the VIN should start with '2G...'.
So, if correct, GM started outsourcing assembly at least 25 years ago. Understand that they have had operations/division in Europe, and maybe Australia, for decades and these serve those markets exclusively.
What with Mexican and Canadian built GM vehicles, and maybe with Chinese Buick Lacrosses coming into US on the horizon, will be harder and harder to get true American built vehicles except for Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, BMW.
And the "Austrailian" or "Chinese" Buick whatever it will be called will be built in the Candian province.
-Rocky
The Buick Park Avenue is pictured and is slated for production. GM officials say that there are no plans to import the Park Avenue to US. In styling, the Park Avenue looks staid in comparison to Shanghai Automotive Industry’s Ssangyong WZ concept. The WZ looks very elegant and up-to-date vs the kind of ordinary Park Avenue. The Park Avenue will have massage seats.
The Buick Riviera coupe is shown in profile and looks good but might face competition from a Bertone (Italy) styled China Chery. Then there is the Geely Coupe concept which does not quite match up to the Riviera. But, the Geely might appeal to those with esoteric (Aztek) type tastes.
That Ssangyong WZ (luxury) concept looked pretty good to me. If and when quality, reliability, fit/finish, performance, etc usual characteristics are competitive, will probably see Ssangyongs parked in driveways of Mcmansions here.
-Rocky
No link. It is old-fashioned hard copy magazine.
It was a very good review and the transmission shifting was the only issue. The word "but" in my post is my word, not theirs. Overall, the tone of the article was very complimentary to the Enclave.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2007 Camry AutoWeek Review
"When I first saw this car, I predicted it would be the product to push Toyota into the number one position in the world. Can I take that back?"
You can apologize for your attempted cheapshot at AutoWeek without research, any time. Just because they don't always give glowing reviews to GM cars may not mean that they automatically love Toyota.
Enclave was a FWD transverse V6 last I heard, while the trucks and SUVs are RWD longitudinal V8s. The internal design might be the same, but the drivetrain outputs and shift tuning certainly won't be.
Don't understand. If they experienced something undesirable in transmission of Enclave during test drive should they keep it a secret and not honestly report it?
Only if they do the same for others, if I get the gist of the comment.
-Rocky
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
You gotta realize I was a subscriber of them for 1 year. Got 52 weeks from them and yes they are pretty biased. BMW, in their eyes can do nothing wrong. I do not believe for a momment the new GM/Ford 6-speed is sluggish. GM and Ford spent a lot of money in R&D to get that thing perfected.
-Rocky
Of these handsome General Motors sport utes—Saturn Outlook/GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave (a Chevy is yet to come)—to hit lots, many will choose the Enclave as the best-looking model out there. Now that’s high praise for any automaker, but especially Buick. Throw in a quiet interior and world-class ride should give those shopping Japanese crossovers a real reason to think Buick. Oh, and comparable Enclaves will run several thousand dollars less than the competition from Lexus.
-Rocky
-Rocky
Of these handsome General Motors sport utes—Saturn Outlook/GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave (a Chevy is yet to come)—to hit lots, many will choose the Enclave as the best-looking model out there. Now that’s high praise for any automaker, but especially Buick. Throw in a quiet interior and world-class ride should give those shopping Japanese crossovers a real reason to think Buick. Oh, and comparable Enclaves will run several thousand dollars less than the competition from Lexus.
I guess your stance is that if they don't love every aspect of every GM product more than they love any aspect of any other maker (except the Acura TL, your pet) then they're biased propagandists. :sick:
An optimist would have noted the phrase "the competition from Lexus which suggests that Buick is playing in the big leagues with this model.
Bet you were always disappointed at your birthday gifts as a child.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Versus
THE NEW
-Rocky
-Rocky
:shades:
-Rocky
FWD six speed ratios are about: 4.5:1, 2.9:1, 1.8:1, 1.5:1, 1:1 and 0.75:1
RWD ratios are about: 4:1, 2.4:1, 1.55:1, 1.15:1, 0.85:1 and 0.67:1
Do all the Enclaves get those large chrome rims, or is there another option?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
-Rocky
-Rocky
Sheeesh
As for the other cars mentioned, the Lucy is kinda stylish in its own way, and perhaps being every bit a DTS should replace that model. The cost of the FWD big luxo would be reduced while adding a bit more splash looks wise. Are they having steering issues though? The Park Avenue and LeSabre did have style and grace, but it became dated in the eyes of the press AND the customer. This does NOT mean, like the Lacrosse, the style is not there, but rather the customers and the press seem to want for something totally new. And as we all know, that something new can look ridiculous, be it tail fins, the wagon wheels on cars. Sadly, a rather tasteful and smooth designed Lacrosse was already dated when it hit the showrooms. People no longer seem to want the smooth, rounded, and simple flowing lines of the 90's Buicks. It is not about what I think or a couple of others here think, but the majority which seems to hold back the Buick sales. Then there is the debate over engines and drive trains. Will not go there other than stating that even if it is just a game, as in new this and that, it is one GM in. All manufactures play the game. Come time to impress the press, you have to have what is considered new. The Buick line up, I am sure will want to keep both the older customers, and bring in the new. The Lacrosse has three grades and various handling results. One would hope this works from a marketing aspect, this would work.
Well it may work for other cars, but unfortunately, for right or wrong, when Buick does it, the focus shifts immediately to the base model. The model which satisfies those want a good ride without feeling any bumps along the way, also has the looser handling and old drive train. So what happens is the base model, all so typical Buick, becomes the focus and the image remains as a stodgy old mans car. Perhaps some sort of compromise is needed, as the old base for Buicks get too old to drive. Maybe a medium handling, tighter steering, and only the modern drive trains should become base, then add the sport package to that for even harder riding and more power and cornering a car. Just a thought.
Loren
Loren
****
Well, most wanted is a popularity contest. It had little to do with actual reliability. Most reviewers don't like GM's offerings. But they are decently reliable and less expensive than most of the imports, so a LOT of people buy them.
I think that may be part o fit - it's a car you settle for because of economics. They really wanted that E-Class but didn't have enough money. So the "Buick" feels like something they settled for.
Me? I know what I can afford and don't get into the whole grass-is-greener scenario. And as a result, a 2 year old Lucerne CXS is right near the top of my list this fall. Compared to the 10-20 year old vehicles I've had, it's going to be lovely.
-Rocky
To be honest I'm not sure pal..... :confuse: Good question. I assume they are available on the CXL on up models.
-Rocky
Wow Rocky, you totally read my mind on that one :surprise: . I hate that GM is going to take very strong entries and dilute them across so many brands. A Chevy would compete directly with the Outlook AND the Acadia which already compete with eachother.
I think you're right too about the Chevy minivan. IMO GM should not have given up on that segment; a blind man could tell the Uplander/Relay/Terrazza were FUGLY. You don't pull out when those committee designed 'sport activity vehicles' weren't successful. Did they really think they would be?
I think this goes back to focusing the brands:
What is GMC's purpose? (professional grade or denali-spec)
Are we really going to give Saturn a chance as a sporty marque for import-intenders like Nissan/Mazda? If so why have the Acadia and Outlook if they are both for import-intenders?
Is SAAB a luxury vehicle above Buick?
What makes are Pontiac targeting?
One thing I do think is that if SAAB were to get a lamda it should be AWD and maybe it could be a Cayanne competitor and take major styling cues from that new AeroX concept to put SAAB into a segment in which GM doesn't really compete. Instead of looking like an Enclave/Outlook/Acadia it would be less boulbous.
This is enough to make the iron-gutted want to chuck their lunch: