Most importantly for GM, Camaros are selling faster than the factory can make them. That's the sort of problem any carmaker could use.
I suspect that's the typical aura of a brand new car that has pent-up demand. Suspicion that this demand will satisfy after 6 months and then let's see what the sustained sales look like. Don't think it will last but hopefully that is incorrect!
Assuming all GM vehicles sold in NA are made in NA, here's a list of vehicles eligible for a voucher (not sure if there's a list that's limited to the $4,500 voucher since that partly depends on the trade-in I think).
I am going on the basis of an 18 MPG Clunker and a 10 MPG improvement in mileage to get the $4500. That shortens that list by a bunch. Though from truck to truck you don't even need to improve mileage. If you trade in a cat 3 truck it has to be for a cat 3 truck, SUV or Van the way I read Cars.gov.
The way I read it is that you can trade a truck in for a passenger car, even a category 3 work truck.
"The value of the credit for the purchase or lease of a new passenger car depends upon the difference between the combined fuel economy of the vehicle that is traded in and that of the new vehicle that is purchased or leased. If the new vehicle has a combined fuel economy that is at least 4, but less than 10, miles per gallon higher than the traded-in vehicle, the credit is $3,500. If the new vehicle has a combined fuel economy value that is at least 10 miles per gallon higher than the traded-in vehicle, the credit is $4,500." cars.gov
way to put a spin on good news that suits you. You definitely see the glass half empty. My guess is you also think the Camaro isn't attractive and the Solara is.
This from Cars.gov says no to work trucks being traded for passenger cars.
work trucks may only be traded in for the purchase of a category 2 truck or another category 3 truck that is of similar size or smaller than the traded-in vehicle. Finally, the Act provides only for a $3,500 credit for trading in a work truck.
The CARS Act limits the amount of funds that can be used to provide credits for purchases or leases of work trucks. Only 7.5 percent of the funds appropriated for the program may be used for credits for work trucks. Once that limit is reached, NHTSA will stop making payments for these transactions. NHTSA will keep the public informed as to the funds that remain available for these credits.
If you are dumping an old work truck, better get with it. They are only going to allow 7.5% of the funds for that purpose. That would include the Excursion someone was trading in.
I dunno. I guess that the Impala will live on as FWD. But, notice that this announcement came after it was announced that Bob Lutz would stay on and not retire.
Say what you will about GM, but they do seem to have some pretty darn good executives in their fold. Outside of Bob, you have Ed Wellburn, Tom Shephens, and Mark LaNeve that seem to be pretty sharp. While I was disappointed to see a bankruptcy, Fritz Henderson seems to be a no nonsense guy. Right from the beginning, he seemed to have the attitude of "Enough is enough. Let's get this (bankruptcy) done and over with, get it behind us, and then get on with the business of making cars".
Now that the bankruptcy is done and over, maybe they can make some great cars instead of pussyfooting around with all the troubles they had.
Well, I agree it should be the Impala (SS), as stated previously, but I will take it as a Caprice anytime. At least this is one positive step that makes a lot of sense.
While it's a good thing that the G8 survives, why the heck change the name to Caprice? Just call it Impala darn it...
My guess is that GM would never be able to import very many of the Aussie cars to really turn it into a mass-market type of vehicle. Still, a move like that would return some dignity to the Impala name. Maybe call the V-6 version just Impala and the V-8 Impala SS. Caprice, to me, conjures up images of a car that puts more emphasis on luxury than performance...although there have been some pretty potent Caprices over the years.
GM still probably needs a large-ish, cheap, fairly economical car for the mass market and fleet buyers. The current Impala does that job fairly well. Maybe they could just rename it "Bel Air", to free up the Impala nameplate for something better.
Say what you will about GM, but they do seem to have some pretty darn good executives in their fold.
Paraphrasing a bit, but there is no such thing as good management with bad results, and bankruptcy is about as awful a result as a company can have. Clear the decks, then we'll see what can be done with the remnants of GM.
In reading the article is does not say it was available on any 4-door, nor is there any mention of a manual.
Agreed, it's a safe bet that no turbo ever went in a 4-door G-body. At least, not at the factory. The last 4-door Regal was in 1984, and that year you could only get it with a 110 hp 3.8-2bbl, and if you wanted even the slightest hint of performance, you opted for the 125 hp 4.1-4bbl. Motortrend tested a 1982 Bonneville with that engine, and got 0-60 in a blistering 12.9 seconds. :sick:
It irritated me a bit that Buick let these cars languish. At least with the other divisions, in 1983 they started putting 305's in Grand Prix/Bonnevilles and Monte Carlo/Malibus again, and Olds started giving the Cutlass Supreme the 307 once more. But Buick wouldn't put a 307 under a Regal's hood until 1986. While the turbo engine was cool, it was limited production. So for a few years with the Regal, you either got something many cheap imports could dust off, or a Corvette killer, but no middle ground.
.........that the pictures of the new Caprice are bogus Photoshop ones because I'm not impressed. The side looks like a Malibu, the grill and the taillights look like they took old Chevy fronts and rears and tacked them on.
Why not Chevi-cize the G8 it by taking it in an evolutionary direction? They can achieve a retro look without looking like they're dipping into the parts bin of yester-year.
Caprice, to me, conjures up images of a car that puts more emphasis on luxury than performance...although there have been some pretty potent Caprices over the years.
We're thinking the exact same thing!!!!!!!!
Imagine the G8 with V8 wearing the badge "Impala-SS". With all that performance and comfort it'll revive Impala's reputation in no time....... although Bel-Air seems like a good alternative, but seriously not Caprice.
When I think of Bel-Air it is a mid grade Chevy after the Impala was introduced in 1958. The Caprice was always a big pig to me. Cop car or Taxi cab. It would be nice to see the Impala name come back up to its heritage. I still remember a girlfriends brother getting a new 1958 for graduation from High School. His parents were loaded. That was a beauty. The Bel-Air hardtops and Convertibles from 1955-57 were real lookers also.
I don't see GM ever getting their act together. Caprice is a good name for a Cruise ship not a car.
I like the look of the car - more so than the G8 - but Agree that Caprice shouldn't be the name. Would have loved them to call it an Impala and if they needed to keep the current Impala around just rename that. Hey, Vega is available....
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
The guy is 77 YO. Caprice means his long term memory is better than his short term memory. Whatever the name, at least he's keeping the platform that is the best mid-size in the old GM fleet.
It will be called Caprice because that's what the car you saw in the picture is, a Caprice. The Chevy Caprice has been sold in the Middle East for years, based on the Aussie Holden, and now it is coming here. Further, The base price of $28,000 is more than what other full-size cars cost. Chevy still needs the FWD Impala, unless, of course, GM decides to build the car here, which will reduce the cost significantly and make it more mainstream.
Thanks torque, was thinking the same. Thye are really bringing the ME Caprice over here, and this kind of ties into ideas / thoughts that were tossed around years ago when the "Aussie Experiment" first started. The Caprice / Buick project was to come over here, with Impala SS / possibly GS versions to spawn off later. But with the on-again / off-again / back-on / no wait, back-off Zeta and Sigma platform debacles it's just amazing they're keeping any RWD outside of CTS.
But as everyone else said, make mine Impala SS with six taillights please :shades: It'd make a nice bookend to the '65. And if I could just get my hands on a Ute...
Sounds like it lives on elsewhere. Big deal! It's just like those beautiful Buicks they sell only in China. Why do car companies dumb-down their designs for the NA market. I was having a discussion about the Ford Focus and our Focus is at least a generation behind the European Focus.
I wouldn't taint even the Bel Air name by attaching it to this modern day Lumina or Accord on steroids. Call it a Biscayne, Del Rey, or even a 210. The barest bones cars can be a 150.
Why do car companies dumb-down their designs for the NA market.
The key word is DUMB. The average American car buyers are not much smarter, when it comes to vehicles, than a box of rocks. If it starts and gets them to work it is a thing of beauty.
Big deal! It's just like those beautiful Buicks they sell only in China. Why do car companies dumb-down their designs for the NA market.
Simple answer - money. Did you notice how much a new Focus costs there vs. here when similarly equipped?
1. Euro customer is less affuent and is used to buying vehicle less frequently. In return they have specific quality, fit and finish, ride and content requirements that are must. In other words - they have less money, buy it less frequently, pay more, but also expect more. 2. US customer has very specific demands regarding size and feature content, but beyond that all they want is price, price and did I mention price? The habit of buying/leasing every three years made them treat the vehicles similar to rental cars: has to take you from A to B, needs AC, power locks and windows and large cushy seats for evergrowing bottoms - and rest doesn't really matter. Steering wheel can have half-turn play, panels may have 3" misalignments, plastics can be hard as a rock. Even Honda or Toyota runs NA-specific designs that skimp on "upscale" touches in sake of covering basics.
3. There are some local issues, too, like great UAW labor killing any innovation there may be, etc.
Don't forget the 20 cup-holders (with half of those able to swallow the Big Gulp) and 30 cubby holes for drinks, snacks, phones, iPods, crumbs, used wrappers and the like. No cup-holers, the vehicle's no good.
I remember one magazine article years ago giving BMW a slight simply because they didn't offer cup-holders on their cars, particularly the 5-series. Then they came out with a cupholder but to their credit they made it so horrible it wasn't worth using. BMW felt a vehicle was supposed to be driven, not used as a place to hold drinks, go figure right?
MB was the same way - I think most models didn't get cupholders until the mid 90s, and the ones they did introduce were terrible - delicate and hard to reach - just a new way to discourage the distraction altogether. No problem for me, I don't drink in my cars.
I'll believe that the G8 [Commodore] lives on when it is for sale in Chevy showrooms. Also, with the way things change so fast at GM, who know what name it will end up with after all.
Regarding the old RWD Buick G cars, back in 1980-82 MPG was king, and Buick was calling themselves 'The V6 brand'. Buick got a lot of buyers trading down from big cars to V6 Regals, Centurys, and Skylarks.
OTOH, buyers who still wanted V8's stuck with full sized cars and that market came back huge in 1983-84. [But it was too late to cancel/postpone/rename the boxy FWD C and H body replacements]
Lemko, can I get your take on the new LaCrosse coming out? I know you're partial to Buicks. Me, I never really considered one until I saw the '10. I must say I'm intrigued.
Yeah, I have seen some car commercials actually boasting cupholders as it was the most important feature in a car. There is this not-so-nice stereotype of an American, as this fat guy wolfing a hamburger and big-gulp drink in a boat-sized car overflowed with of wrappers and plastic cups that has a turning radius requiring and eight-lane highway to make a U-turn, suspension made of chewing gum.
What's not to like? The CXS has the 3.6 with 282 hp, mp3 capable, bluetooth, Harmon Karden stereo, Heated and cooled seats, Variable dampening shocks, Entertainment system w/ 2 headrest mounted screens, ice blue backlighting. I'm waiting on a call from my local dealer so I can test drive one.
The cup holder stereotype I think of is an Angeleno [person from Los Angeles] trying to multi-task while sitting in the parking lots they call 'freeways'.
Other is suburbanite sitting in an SUV in a fast-food drive-thru, just to get an ice creme cone or frapaccino. All while "multi-tasking".
The cup holder stereotype I think of is an Angeleno [person from Los Angeles] trying to multi-task while sitting in the parking lots they call 'freeways'.
Other is suburbanite sitting in an SUV in a fast-food drive-thru, just to get an ice creme cone or frapaccino. All while "multi-tasking".
I learned while piloting my POS hand-me-down K-car sans cup holder that it was easier to eat the 2 McDonalds cheeseburgers meal than the Big Mac meal on the way to LA after the Kannan Rd stop. I also learned that I need to start gathering steam from the point I got back on the freeway to make it up the far side of the Conejo valley into Agoura Hills.
You had me at "cooled seats!" I sure could've used them today when it was 106 here in Fort Worth. Are you sure they're cooled and not ventilated? I'm kind of leaning toward something along the lines of a certified CTS or the '10 LaCrosse for my next purchase. The Buick is on my short list.
I learned while piloting my POS hand-me-down K-car sans cup holder that it was easier to eat the 2 McDonalds cheeseburgers meal than the Big Mac meal on the way to LA after the Kannan Rd stop.
LOL. I've learned that, with age, I'm not nearly as good at that kind of multitasking, period! Back when I was 22, I had no trouble piloting a '68 Dart V-8 with a loose suspension and disabled power steering while wolfing down almost anything. But now, at the age of 3738 oh, let's just say "30-something" I have trouble eating and driving even in today's much more precise cars.
One thing not to like about the new LaCrosse is the trunk is miniscule. The competition has it beat by a lot. The Taurus is 20 cubic foot and the LaCrosse is only 12.8 Cu ft. I would look at what Ford has to offer before I jumped too high.
I dunno; it's nice to have something to drink after an hour or two of driving without having to pull over and dig under the seats for the water bottle that went flying at the first sharp turn. I suppose it depends on the type of driving one does.
I have yet to drive one, but I really like it. It makes my girlfriend's 2005 LaCrosse look OLD!!!If there wasn't so much life left in the current car and the economy wasn't so crappy, we'd definately would buy it. I told my girlfriend if she really takes care of it and doesn't wreck it, her '05 LaCrosse will last at least as long as my '88 Park Avenue.
The Chevy Caprice has been sold in the Middle East for years, based on the Aussie Holden, and now it is coming here
Torque, how is it any different when the ME Caprice and Pontiac G8 are both rebadged Holden Commodore? There's nothing new besides cosmetics and badge (okay if you're pushing it the Commodore has steering wheel on the right).
Comments
I suspect that's the typical aura of a brand new car that has pent-up demand. Suspicion that this demand will satisfy after 6 months and then let's see what the sustained sales look like. Don't think it will last but hopefully that is incorrect!
Cash for Clunkers - Eligible New Cars
You'll have to click through for GMC, Chevy, Buick, etc.
"The value of the credit for the purchase or lease of a new passenger car depends upon the difference between the combined fuel economy of the vehicle that is traded in and that of the new vehicle that is purchased or leased. If the new vehicle has a combined fuel economy that is at least 4, but less than 10, miles per gallon higher than the traded-in vehicle, the credit is $3,500. If the new vehicle has a combined fuel economy value that is at least 10 miles per gallon higher than the traded-in vehicle, the credit is $4,500." cars.gov
The posters over in the Cash for Clunkers - Does it Work for You? discussion probably have it figured out.
work trucks may only be traded in for the purchase of a category 2 truck or another category 3 truck that is of similar size or smaller than the traded-in vehicle. Finally, the Act provides only for a $3,500 credit for trading in a work truck.
The CARS Act limits the amount of funds that can be used to provide credits for purchases or leases of work trucks. Only 7.5 percent of the funds appropriated for the program may be used for credits for work trucks. Once that limit is reached, NHTSA will stop making payments for these transactions. NHTSA will keep the public informed as to the funds that remain available for these credits.
If you are dumping an old work truck, better get with it. They are only going to allow 7.5% of the funds for that purpose. That would include the Excursion someone was trading in.
We don't get fooled again.
Regards,
OW
Meet the new Chevy Caprice.
Say what you will about GM, but they do seem to have some pretty darn good executives in their fold. Outside of Bob, you have Ed Wellburn, Tom Shephens, and Mark LaNeve that seem to be pretty sharp. While I was disappointed to see a bankruptcy, Fritz Henderson seems to be a no nonsense guy. Right from the beginning, he seemed to have the attitude of "Enough is enough. Let's get this (bankruptcy) done and over with, get it behind us, and then get on with the business of making cars".
Now that the bankruptcy is done and over, maybe they can make some great cars instead of pussyfooting around with all the troubles they had.
So far, so good...
Regards,
OW
My guess is that GM would never be able to import very many of the Aussie cars to really turn it into a mass-market type of vehicle. Still, a move like that would return some dignity to the Impala name. Maybe call the V-6 version just Impala and the V-8 Impala SS. Caprice, to me, conjures up images of a car that puts more emphasis on luxury than performance...although there have been some pretty potent Caprices over the years.
GM still probably needs a large-ish, cheap, fairly economical car for the mass market and fleet buyers. The current Impala does that job fairly well. Maybe they could just rename it "Bel Air", to free up the Impala nameplate for something better.
Paraphrasing a bit, but there is no such thing as good management with bad results, and bankruptcy is about as awful a result as a company can have. Clear the decks, then we'll see what can be done with the remnants of GM.
Agreed, it's a safe bet that no turbo ever went in a 4-door G-body. At least, not at the factory. The last 4-door Regal was in 1984, and that year you could only get it with a 110 hp 3.8-2bbl, and if you wanted even the slightest hint of performance, you opted for the 125 hp 4.1-4bbl. Motortrend tested a 1982 Bonneville with that engine, and got 0-60 in a blistering 12.9 seconds. :sick:
It irritated me a bit that Buick let these cars languish. At least with the other divisions, in 1983 they started putting 305's in Grand Prix/Bonnevilles and Monte Carlo/Malibus again, and Olds started giving the Cutlass Supreme the 307 once more. But Buick wouldn't put a 307 under a Regal's hood until 1986. While the turbo engine was cool, it was limited production. So for a few years with the Regal, you either got something many cheap imports could dust off, or a Corvette killer, but no middle ground.
Why not Chevi-cize the G8 it by taking it in an evolutionary direction? They can achieve a retro look without looking like they're dipping into the parts bin of yester-year.
We're thinking the exact same thing!!!!!!!!
Imagine the G8 with V8 wearing the badge "Impala-SS". With all that performance and comfort it'll revive Impala's reputation in no time....... although Bel-Air seems like a good alternative, but seriously not Caprice.
The Bel-Air hardtops and Convertibles from 1955-57 were real lookers also.
I don't see GM ever getting their act together. Caprice is a good name for a Cruise ship not a car.
Regards,
OW
But as everyone else said, make mine Impala SS with six taillights please :shades: It'd make a nice bookend to the '65. And if I could just get my hands on a Ute...
And yes, just call this car an Impala...mmm-kay?
The key word is DUMB. The average American car buyers are not much smarter, when it comes to vehicles, than a box of rocks. If it starts and gets them to work it is a thing of beauty.
Simple answer - money. Did you notice how much a new Focus costs there vs. here when similarly equipped?
1. Euro customer is less affuent and is used to buying vehicle less frequently. In return they have specific quality, fit and finish, ride and content requirements that are must. In other words - they have less money, buy it less frequently, pay more, but also expect more.
2. US customer has very specific demands regarding size and feature content, but beyond that all they want is price, price and did I mention price? The habit of buying/leasing every three years made them treat the vehicles similar to rental cars: has to take you from A to B, needs AC, power locks and windows and large cushy seats for evergrowing bottoms - and rest doesn't really matter. Steering wheel can have half-turn play, panels may have 3" misalignments, plastics can be hard as a rock. Even Honda or Toyota runs NA-specific designs that skimp on "upscale" touches in sake of covering basics.
3. There are some local issues, too, like great UAW labor killing any innovation there may be, etc.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Objection!!! Not everything, McDonals has a good coffee like Starbucks.
I remember one magazine article years ago giving BMW a slight simply because they didn't offer cup-holders on their cars, particularly the 5-series. Then they came out with a cupholder but to their credit they made it so horrible it wasn't worth using. BMW felt a vehicle was supposed to be driven, not used as a place to hold drinks, go figure right?
Regarding the old RWD Buick G cars, back in 1980-82 MPG was king, and Buick was calling themselves 'The V6 brand'. Buick got a lot of buyers trading down from big cars to V6 Regals, Centurys, and Skylarks.
OTOH, buyers who still wanted V8's stuck with full sized cars and that market came back huge in 1983-84. [But it was too late to cancel/postpone/rename the boxy FWD C and H body replacements]
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I WILL be buying one. No questions asked.
Other is suburbanite sitting in an SUV in a fast-food drive-thru, just to get an ice creme cone or frapaccino. All while "multi-tasking".
Other is suburbanite sitting in an SUV in a fast-food drive-thru, just to get an ice creme cone or frapaccino. All while "multi-tasking".
I learned while piloting my POS hand-me-down K-car sans cup holder that it was easier to eat the 2 McDonalds cheeseburgers meal than the Big Mac meal on the way to LA after the Kannan Rd stop. I also learned that I need to start gathering steam from the point I got back on the freeway to make it up the far side of the Conejo valley into Agoura Hills.
I have mostly amended my ways since those days.
LOL. I've learned that, with age, I'm not nearly as good at that kind of multitasking, period! Back when I was 22, I had no trouble piloting a '68 Dart V-8 with a loose suspension and disabled power steering while wolfing down almost anything. But now, at the age of
3738oh, let's just say "30-something" I have trouble eating and driving even in today's much more precise cars.The Camaro launch has not been pretty... :sick:
Torque, how is it any different when the ME Caprice and Pontiac G8 are both rebadged Holden Commodore? There's nothing new besides cosmetics and badge (okay if you're pushing it the Commodore has steering wheel on the right).