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As for the SRX, I think that the SRX was too far along when Lutz was first hired to make significant changes. However, the STS was not. My opinion is that Cadillac would have put the same basic plastic interior in the STS had Lutz not taken an interest.
How do the torque curves of the two motors compare? Horsepower only means anything if you drive at
55006300 rpm all day long.2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Nice ride pal !!!
-Rocky
Honda had 4 levels of Accord models starting with DX, then LE, then LX then EX. (Don't know exact model line-up on 08's.)Equipment, features and prices increased when going up from base DX to LE to LX to EX. Seems that this was and is an efficient and cost effective way to build and sell cars. Never could understand why GM did not have similar structures rather then their very long option lists to build it like you want it like a hamburger.
I just bought a brand-new Cadillac DTS Performance in Black Raven with an Ebony leather interior Friday night!
Best wishes to you to have many years and miles of enjoyment.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071127/BUSINESS01/711270334/10- - 14
Congressional negotiators are close to agreement on an increase in fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, with some caveats to satisfy U.S. automakers, people familiar with the talks told the Free Press on Monday.
The compromise would preserve the distinction between cars and trucks, something Detroit automakers have fought for, while giving federal regulators strict limits on how to put the increases into place. It also would include a provision backed by the UAW aimed at keeping small-car production in the United States.
All sides had agreed regulators would set a specific fuel economy target for every vehicle based on its size. Backers of higher standards wanted the same system to apply to all vehicles, but automakers argue trucks are used differently than cars and require a different system for setting fuel economy targets.
Seems like the following does not agree with the above though. Does it mean the whole industry has to hit 35 mpg or individual companies?
The people familiar with the talks, who requested anonymity because of the talks' sensitive nature, said the deal on the table would preserve different rules for cars and trucks. However, it would still require the industry to hit a 35-m.p.g. average by 2020 with no exceptions but with limits on how federal regulators could write the final standards.
I purchased the car in Apr. 2007 and have just over 4,000
miles on the odometer. The under door rocker panels began
separating from the car body at 3,000 miles. Dealer will not
repair under warranty because it is considered a design defect.
So much for the GM extended warranties. They can warranty
their vehicles for life...................no matter, they don't stand
behind the warranty. As for me, I plan to return to Toyota.
At least they will repair a flawed vehicle. Read all about this
matter in the Saturn Aura 2007 FORUMS at Edmunds.com
slightly separated rocker panel. The separations and gaps are large enough to see the fasteners and floor underneath the car.
You do not have to look hard to see the fact that in time the whole rocker panel will separate on both sides of the car. Other people
besides me are also unhappy that Saturn refuses to fix the
problem. Would you be willing to purchase my car in this
condition, if I tried to resell it ? YES, I am very, very unhappy
because the warranty is supposed to cover appearance defects.
What I would do is to take off the rockers and put some type of very thin weatherseal along the sheet metal along the rocker interface and then put the plastic rocker panel back on. Perhaps Saturn has a corner type seal that could be applied w/o removing the rocker?
http://www.carspace.com/dinof/Albums/2007%20Saturn%20Aura%20XR%20Defect/2007%20A- ura%20Defect%20Areas.JPG/page/photo.html#pic
manager that was handling my case the easiest and cheapest solution I could think of. I proposed that they simply glue a
piece of rubber door gasket over the separated area and cover
the defect..........the gasket would be glued to both the plastic
rocker panel and metal car body. I would have been happy with this simple fix. They declined, so now I am in Arbitration with
Saturn and the BBB. I will probably lose because the Arbitrator
does not have the power to order a recall of all Auras involved.
and even a small rubber gasket is TOO expensive for them to
insure satisfied customers. Also, I do believe that with time, the
rocker panels will fail.....because they are attached with 5 plastic clips underneath the body.
manufacture vehicles ( the 2008 Auras) with the exact same defect. They are knowingly selling flawed vehicles to an unsuspecting public. Enen though I like my Aura, I will probably try to sell it to some other person as stupid as I was for trusting Saturn. Their new motto is : RETHINK SATURN. It should be FORGET SATURN. They cannot seem to depart from
their plastic car roots. Even when they produce a good metal
car, they will hang some flimsy plastic part on it.
http://wardsauto.com/commentary/gm_turnaround_real/
I’ve always been a Doubting Thomas when it comes to turnaround talk at General Motors.
But I’ve seen enough evidence to say it: The auto business turnaround is real, despite the $39 billion third-quarter loss, which is the result of arcane accounting rules. More important is that production capacity has been reduced, and market share has leveled.
After the first six months of this year, GM’s market share was 23%, a sharp dive from 24.5% last year. Then in July it moved to 24.1%, in August to 26.1%, in September to 25.5% and in October to 25%: Four months of share increases over the six months before.
The number of first-rate cars and trucks in GM’s portfolio also is growing. The stable includes big pickups and SUVs; the new cross/utility vehicles such as the Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia, plus cars such as the Cadillac CTS, Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura.
They call that a turnaround. It’s happening.
How far will it go? Alas, not as far as many of us hoped. I don’t expect to live to see GM at 30% of the market again. It’s reasonable to figure that GM will peak at 25%-27% of the market over the next few years
The present globalization will have to actually work, and Americans will have to prove they are willing to accept cars designed and engineered by GM in Germany, Korea or Australia.
And GM Powertrain must keep up with the engine and transmission developments by the competition. I haven’t seen real evidence of that yet. The 6-speed automatic for the Malibu 4-cyl. isn’t in production yet, so the volume models of this new car carry a tired 4-speed auto while Honda and Toyota competitors have 5-speeds.
And hope the plug-in hybrid-electric car works, because the blow to GM’s credibility will be great if it can’t deliver in 2010 or 2011.
But why look for trouble? There’s good news tonight. I can see the yellow brick road ahead.
be assembled in the same factory in Kansas as the Aura. I
wonder if the Malibu Rocker panels will be a new design or a
plastic hang on like the Aura?
In looking at the picture they both use the hang on plastic rocker panels.
Why would anyone demand this? Big safety feature. BUT new GM vehicles have in the light switch a feature so you can turn them off.
I often see cars on the road that are slightly difficult to see coming because of their color, the color of the background, or the overall sky and lighting conditions at the time. They don't have daytime lights. I make a habit of looking twice before moving at an intersection.
I'm glad both my GM cars have the daytime lights.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
If one can't see an oncoming car on a bright sunny day then he/she probably shouldn't been driving in the first place. If it's dark, foggy, raining or under any bad condition then it's the drivers' duty to turn the lights on.
I like my DRL but I don't see the big deal without it.
I'm not sure what you're implying here. I have sometimes not seen a car moving on a street because of the angle of the street to the stop sign where I'm sitting causing no movement of the car relative to the background. On second look I've seen the car. Sometimes its the dark color of the car which blends with the background of trees or woods and shadows.
I watched a 17 year old smack his blinged up Cobalt into the rear of another band parent's car a few weeks back. Are you saying if he couldn't see, he shouldn't be driving?
Motorcycles require lights if I recall correctly in our state. Why shouldn't cars. People won't turn them on voluntarily just as they won't wear seat belts in a few cases. In most (all?) states headlights are required when raining. I see lots of people with no lights. Our car turns on the lights when the wipers are turned on. If I leave them in the automatic setting, the headlights are always on instead of the DRLs.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Where are these drivers who are doing their duty?
Since it seems to care so much, maybe GM could spend 6$ and install DRL bulbs that don't burn out within six months?
I often see cars on the road that are slightly difficult to see coming because of their color, the color of the background, or the overall sky and lighting conditions at the time.
Have you been to the eye doctor lately? If she gives you a clean bill of health, perhaps you should consider moving to a lower latitude where there is a reasonable amount of ambient light during the day.
Of course I've been to an eye doctor lately. Are you trying to say I can't see? What kind of insults are you delivering here? :mad:
Back to GM rather than my eye sight or the climate, and the climate is getting might hot around here right now. :mad: :sick:
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
No kidding. GM trucks seem to be the worst offenders. The DRL's on my Suburban constantly burn out. I've already noticed a few of the redesigned full size trucks and Tahoe's with burned out DRLs.
The new 4114K was specifically made to help solve this issue. It's a heavy duty long life bulb. Others have used a Colorado bulb which is amber...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The oil change places must love these bulbs. They wanted to charge me $20 bucks to change one. What a way to make huge gross profits. I change them in like 5 minutes with a $2 bulb.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"Some GM vehicles apply a pulsed voltage to the Daytime Running Lights (DRL), this pulsed voltage causes LED bulbs to fail quickly, just as the stock filament bulbs also fail quickly in these DRL installations."
My SRX allows me to shut off the DLR's and I can replace the DLR's with the foggy lights. The fog lights can be turned on without other lights which is the whole point of having fog lights when there is heavy fog (or a serious snow storm). One should not be speeding along in either case
I don't use my fogs in general driving. My DLR's are amber (bulb).
-Rocky
But many people drive with their low fog/driving lights on with their low beams in GOOD weather blinding oncoming drivers. There are many cars with these built-on from the factory. They seem to be aimed up too high on about 50% of the cars.
Other than bad weather times, I always thought driving lights were for use with high beams for additional, distant visibility. But now they've become a chic addon for drivers who don't use them to help drive but rather use them as a status marker.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
FWIW, I've never driven a car that DIDN'T have that feature.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Me neither. Probably 'cause it's illegal to have more than 4 headlights on at a time in most states.
What's odd is the number of cars where you can't have the foglights on and the low beams off. Why even have fogs at that point?
Because they look cool? that's why most people get them
Maybe the correct description is they think they look cool...I can't say they really do.