Remember the plastic cup holders you could buy at K-Mart that fit over the transmission hump or hung from the doors? This is what people used for cup holders before they became standard on cars. They were flimsy things that didn't keep your drink from spilling anyway. As for me, I avoid eating or drinking in any of my cars and forbid others to do so as well.
I have cooled seats in my Cadillac DTS Performance. You can hear the little fans in the seat when the car is sitting still in the garage. I had my DTS out yesterday and had the cooled seats on. I pulled into the garage, turned off the A/C and radio, but kept hearing this whirring noise and wondered what the heck it was. Turned out I left the cooled seat on. I always thought they worked with the A/C, but it looks like they work independent of the A/C.
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.
Here's an idea...what if you get rid of that Grand Marquis, get a new LaCrosse for her, and use the 2005 as the "beater" car?
That's an idea, but the Grand Marquis is paid for and I don't want another car payment. Maybe I'll get a new LaCrosse for her in the future after I pay off the DTS.
Yeah, a paid-for car does come with a nice feeling, doesn't it? Knowing how debt-adverse you are, I imagine you're paying that DTS down ahead of time, too, so you'll be ready to get a new LaCrosse before you know it!
Do we really need a 6 speed manual with a relatively low revving V8? Let's just go back to the Borg Warner Super T10 four speed for up to 375 hp, and use the M-22 rock crusher for the real monster motors. I have them in stock....
That 12.8 cubic feet might also be a bit deceptive on the LaCrosse. I've read that the Accord, both the new version and the 2003-2007 only have a 14 cubic foot trunk. Still, the trunk looks bigger than that to me, perhaps because it's fairly tall inside. You wouldn't be able to fit a 4-foot wide screen for a sliding glass door in the trunk opening, like I could with my my '79 5th Ave and its ~21 cubic foot trunk. But at the same time, you'd have no trouble getting a good-sized cooler in there...something that I have to position in just the right spot, at just the right angle in my NYer, or the trunk won't close.
But just going by the numbers, 12.8 cubic feet does sound pretty bad. That's compact car territory in my book! Heck, that's almost SUB-compact! My old '88 LeBaron turbo coupe had a 14 cubic foot trunk. A '75-79 Nova, with its sloped off rear deck and full-sized spare, and gas tank under the trunk floor, still had 13 cubic feet. Still, if the LaCrosse's trunk is shaped well, it might be more useable than that figure suggests.
I looked at the Buick Web site and there was only mention of ventilated not cooled seats. Better than nothing perhaps, and perhaps they'll offer cooled seats for the next model year. Also, as others have noted, trunk size is a little on the small size. I still like the car and will keep it on the short list. Trunk space in the CTS is nearly the same, so it's a wash. CTS, though, has "cooled" seats.
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.
Understand that "Caprice" name was used in past on Chevrolet car model. But, maybe the wizzards at GM planning and marketing should look at the dictionary before finalizing the name.
Caprice - a sudden, impulsive change in the way one thinks or acts; freakish notion; whim.
Agree the name is suspect and actually would underscore the transition from the old GM to the new GM. Irresponsible, irrational, unpredictable, eccentric....Lutz is showing his true colors with this first news...but what's ina name?
GM Holden’s export vehicle, the Australian-built Chevrolet Caprice, won the Best Luxury Car Award at the 2006 Autocar Middle East Awards December 2006.
Rick Wagoner, the former CEO of General Motors, has finally reached a retirement agreement with the Detroit automaker. The former GM executive – ousted by the Obama administration’s auto task force in March – will officially retire on August 1st and is set to receive $8.6 million over the next five years.
Although an $8.6 million severance package seems pretty rich coming from a government-owned company, that figure is down about 60 percent from what Wagoner would have received at the end of 2008. Before GM’s bankruptcy, Wagoner was set to receive five payments of $4.5 million and an annual payment of $68,900, totaling about $23 million, according to Automotive News.
Under the new agreement, Wagoner will receive five payments of $1.64 million and an annual payment of $74,030.
In addition to those payments, Wagoner will receive insurance benefits until January 1st and is also entitled to an existing life insurance policy. Wagoner can either keep the life insurance policy or accept its current cash value, believed to be at about $2.6 million.
Wagoner has remained on GM’s payroll since his departure in March, receiving payments on his agreed upon $1 annual salary.
The Caprice lost some character when Chevy dropped the 'fleur de lies' [sp?] badges for 1991. Those made it unique to the Impala, which had the 'deer' logos.
IMO, GM is foolish to waste the G-8, and should absolutely rebadge it as a Chevy Caprice and sell it alongside the Impala FWD. There is plenty of market for both cars, and this would be smarter than keeping Buick and GMC in the stable. I agree with those on this site who think GM is not changing ENOUGH or Quickly ENOUGH to survive. How many failed attempts at redesigning do they get? If they are serious about survival, they should scale back to 2 Divisions, Cadillac and Chevrolet, and jettison the rest of everything, keeping only the best cars in their fleet. This half-assed attempt to "downsize a little" is only going to delay the inevitable.
Absolutely agree with your post. Not much room for even a hint of the old GM tricks AFAIC. The G-8 is one of the good ones not tainted by the UAW/Accountants. Could care less regarding the name as long as the car is not butchered in the process. NO GT = no sale in my book.
Rick Wagoner, the former CEO of General Motors, has finally reached a retirement agreement with the Detroit automaker. The former GM executive – ousted by the Obama administration’s auto task force in March – will officially retire on August 1st and is set to receive $8.6 million over the next five years.
Geez, and that's for sending the company down the toilet. Could you imagine what he would have received if he would have run a successful company?
"This week's departure of Steven Rattner from President Obama's automotive task force suggests the panel soon could be dissolved now that General Motors and Chrysler have emerged from bankruptcy.
The possibly imminent dissolution of the task force suggests what its members and President Obama have insisted all along - but have not been believed - that they do not want to run the day-to-day business of GM and Chrysler."
Do you think that will be the end of the money from US tax payers? It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. To be honest I kind of wish that Barry had stayed tied up with the auto industry and not gotten involved in the CnT and healthcare.
I look for US to go into the same slide as Japan. 17 MM vehicles is a historical figure. That many vehicles would never have been reached but for the banking industries loose lending policies. Now the pendulum has swung and lending is as it should be. Though I cannot say I am thrilled with our TARP money being handed out to banking people in the form of bonuses. I do not expect Obama Motors to get much of the C4C money. Maybe sell a few work trucks that do not need to have improved their mileage.
I am not holding my breath. I am looking for the economy to be a real train wreck before we hit bottom. GM will seem miniscule compared to the overall loss of jobs. If I was in business today, I would be liquidating before the hammer falls.
people go on and on about 'Gov't Motors', and say 'Gov't can't do anything right'. But, how about the Dept of Defense? The US Military? They never question them, in fact the Military is good example of working Gov't institution, so why think "all" is bad?
You are spot on...liquidating and de-leveraging are the smart plays. The interesting thing is the financial community is still spinning it's "green shoots" perspective and leveraging energy and technology. Without strong fundamental consumer support, this is very premature from my perspective.
I did hear a recent poll that suggests many will put off buying a car for a least 4 years, which lends much credence to your stance.
".....I did hear a recent poll that suggests many will put off buying a car for a least 4 years, which lends much credence to your stance."
I believe that was in reference to people who had recently purchased a new car, as opposed to trading it in every 3 years. I know that when I buy my new Lacrosse, it will be around for at least 6 or 7 years. My wife's Ranier is almost 6 yrs old, and will probably be with her for 4-5 more years (then handed down to my youngest, who is now 12)
front end to my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS front end and guys, we have a winner.
Having said that, I've seen way worse Chevy's than this Australian Chevy Caprice. I'm not even going to hint that someone might call it a "Crapice." :shades:
Couldn't resist though, our friend Chevrolet is...ummm...bordering on being called a laughingstock vehicle manufacturer.
I agree nvbanker, they oughtta pare it down to Chevrolet and Cadidillac and call it exciting and new and get to it now, not three yesterdays ago.
I did hear a recent poll that suggests many will put off buying a car for a least 4 years, which lends much credence to your stance.
I know I'm planning on putting it off as long as I can. And next time around, instead of new, I might go with slightly used (1-2 years old). Probably not what the auto industry wants to hear right now. :sick:
I have a feeling my 2007 Cadillac DTS will be with me a long time unless GM produces something really awesome like a big V-8-powered RWD Buick Park Avenue or something. I hate the idea of having a car payment regardless of the make of the car. Debt makes you vulnerable. Shoot, I don't even like the idea of having a mortgage!
I have a feeling my 2007 Cadillac DTS will be with me a long time unless GM produces something really awesome like a big V-8-powered RWD Buick Park Avenue or something. I hate the idea of having a car payment regardless of the make of the car.
Just say no. That Cadillac could last at least 10 years. Save up and when enough cash, just write a check for new car. Of course, GM would go bankrupt (again) as well as some other car makers if we all adopted this common sense attitude about spending and debt.
The only debt that an average citizen should ever have is a mortgage on the house they live in.
"GM CEO Fritz Henderson suggested in his press briefings after the automaker's emergence from bankruptcy that plant closings are over. "We did what we needed to do to right-size our capacity and our people assuming a 10 million (seasonally adjusted annualized rate of sales) breakeven," Henderson said.
Ten years? My 1989 Cadillac Brougham has lasted 20 and is still going. I had planned on just keeping my 2002 Cadillac Seville STS and saving up for a new Cadillac or Buick, but I guess I ended taking my Seville in for service and coming out with a new DTS Performance and waking up the next day wondering, "What happened?" Hopefully, I can be more disciplined this time. I only have 9,813 miles on the DTS so far, so there is a good chance it'll last me ten years and beyond.
It's an 07' isn't it? Jeeze, 4500 miles per year is along the lines of a secondary "toy status... Figure ten years and you won't even crack 50k! I hope it would last that long!
The new GM (Government Motors) proudly introduces the 2010 ‘Wee Can!’
This people’s car runs on hot air and big promises. It boasts three unbalanced wheels -- the right-front wheel slightly larger than the left, facilitating easy turns to the left.
The Wee Can comes complete with two Teleprompters, each programmed to help occupants talk their way out of almost any moving violation.
The congressionally designed transparent plastic canopy reveals the smiling faces of the "always happy" occupants, who breath freshly filtered, government supplied, low carbon footprint ‘air’ (additional oxygen is optional).
Neon headlamps provide gentle, but limited forward lighting. However, the Wee Can comes equipped with powerful Xenon tail lights, allowing the driver to look back with amazing clarity. The radio boasts two commercial-free stations – Air America and ABC radio!
The amazing Wee Can even floats, allowing the driver and occupant to safely navigate s**t creek when power fails due to something George Bush must have done while still in office (paddles are optional).
PRICE: $375K retail (or simply make the maximum reelection campaign donation permitted by law to three liberal Democratic candidates of your choice).
You can be one of us. Yes, you can ‘Wee Can.’
On Thursday, Mr. Lutz wrote on GM's "Fast Lane" blog that GM had been studying the idea of selling the G8 as the Chevrolet Caprice "because a car like the G8 was just too good to waste."
But he added that "upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today's market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be."
The reversal suggests Mr. Henderson hasn't yet worked out all the kinks in the new, leaner GM, which emerged from bankruptcy protection on July 10. As part of the company's reorganization, Mr. Henderson is eliminating a number of senior executives' positions and shuffling his staff.
Oh well, too good to be true. First nail in the coffin...
I always thought Lutz was an idiot and highly overrated. He is the one who thought that hybrids were not worth pursuing. And of course the Solstice/Sky were flops, because even thought they are beautiful physically they are still junky. So they bring him back and he's already flapping his mouth. The "New GM"? Looks like to0 much of the old guard to me.
You could well be right but what has happened is that Lutz's inattention to anything serious affecting gas mileage has put GM into a jam that they may not recover from.
He did not and does not get it. He's a car guy. OK But he's like a 1950s car guy.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Hybrids are absolutely worth pursuing, because they increase the ability to get every spec of energy from whatever fuel source one is using. Hybrid technology can be applied to diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, whatever: things like idle-shutoffs and regenerative braking are not and don't need to be exclusive to gasoline engines.
Just imagine, for example, taking a biodiesel engine, which is already very efficient, and slapping a few hybrid bits onto it.
Of course, GM is still trying to figure out how to get away with making a V12 Camaro.
Hybrids are absolutely worth pursuing, because they increase the ability to get every spec of energy from whatever fuel source one is using. Hybrid technology can be applied to diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, whatever: things like idle-shutoffs and regenerative braking are not and don't need to be exclusive to gasoline engines.
Just imagine, for example, taking a biodiesel engine, which is already very efficient, and slapping a few hybrid bits onto it.
Absolutely correct. Hybrids may not sell in huge numbers now, but we are talking a future of 10-30 years here, and hybrids will be huge. Toyota and Honda will be there with fifth+ generation hybrids and GM will still be trying to get the two-mode hybrid to be cost effective. GM (and Lutz's) lack of long term strategic vision is one of the numerous reasons why GM is where it is today.
I think you are giving Honda more credit than they deserve on hybrids. Their latest bomb the Insight is not selling well for a good reason. It does not improve on the Civic Hybrid and lags behind the Prius.
You are right about GM muddling along with their worthless hybrids. Ford is doing well and will be the major challenge to Toyota.
Toyota and Honda will be there with fifth+ generation hybrids and GM will still be trying to get the two-mode hybrid to be cost effective. GM (and Lutz's) lack of long term strategic vision is one of the numerous reasons why GM is where it is today.
Absolutely. At some point I figure most if not all cars will implement some pieces of "hybrid" technology. Ford is putting engine idle cut-off in the Fiesta, Kia is putting low-resistance tires on the Forte. Lots of cars are getting electric power steering, and some are getting electric air conditioning. Pretty much all of this stuff started off in hybrids.
And so far GM has just barely managed with electric power steering last I heard. :shades:
Henderson basically put the brakes on the Caprice idea right after Putz opened his big mouth. Read that Henderson would consider the Caprice for police sales, plus he doesn't like re-badges (he either kept his mouth shut on that one else he wouldn't have made it at GM this long). So outside of that, current G8 and any other U.S. iteration is dead. Darn shame you ask me.
As others have stated, there's still too much of the "old" GM to make the "new" GM believable.
Comments
Heck no. Both McDonalds and Starbucks coffee are total crap. Of course, maybe that's the reason the price is cheaper.
Cupholders IMO are space wasters, and they exist simply because Americans want them. Get a tight capped bottle darn it.
Here's an idea...what if you get rid of that Grand Marquis, get a new LaCrosse for her, and use the 2005 as the "beater" car?
Compare the Lucerne to Taurus.
But just going by the numbers, 12.8 cubic feet does sound pretty bad. That's compact car territory in my book! Heck, that's almost SUB-compact! My old '88 LeBaron turbo coupe had a 14 cubic foot trunk. A '75-79 Nova, with its sloped off rear deck and full-sized spare, and gas tank under the trunk floor, still had 13 cubic feet. Still, if the LaCrosse's trunk is shaped well, it might be more useable than that figure suggests.
Understand that "Caprice" name was used in past on Chevrolet car model. But, maybe the wizzards at GM planning and marketing should look at the dictionary before finalizing the name.
Caprice - a sudden, impulsive change in the way one thinks or acts; freakish notion; whim.
GM Holden’s export vehicle, the Australian-built Chevrolet Caprice, won the Best Luxury Car Award at the 2006 Autocar Middle East Awards December 2006.
Regards,
OW
Although an $8.6 million severance package seems pretty rich coming from a government-owned company, that figure is down about 60 percent from what Wagoner would have received at the end of 2008. Before GM’s bankruptcy, Wagoner was set to receive five payments of $4.5 million and an annual payment of $68,900, totaling about $23 million, according to Automotive News.
Under the new agreement, Wagoner will receive five payments of $1.64 million and an annual payment of $74,030.
In addition to those payments, Wagoner will receive insurance benefits until January 1st and is also entitled to an existing life insurance policy. Wagoner can either keep the life insurance policy or accept its current cash value, believed to be at about $2.6 million.
Wagoner has remained on GM’s payroll since his departure in March, receiving payments on his agreed upon $1 annual salary.
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
Geez, and that's for sending the company down the toilet. Could you imagine what he would have received if he would have run a successful company?
Obama Warranty Service.
Are we having fun yet?
Mission Accomplished: Auto Task Force Could Be History (AutoObserver)
"This week's departure of Steven Rattner from President Obama's automotive task force suggests the panel soon could be dissolved now that General Motors and Chrysler have emerged from bankruptcy.
The possibly imminent dissolution of the task force suggests what its members and President Obama have insisted all along - but have not been believed - that they do not want to run the day-to-day business of GM and Chrysler."
Regards,
OW
Don't hold your breath. :sick:
Regards,
OW
I am not holding my breath. I am looking for the economy to be a real train wreck before we hit bottom. GM will seem miniscule compared to the overall loss of jobs. If I was in business today, I would be liquidating before the hammer falls.
I did hear a recent poll that suggests many will put off buying a car for a least 4 years, which lends much credence to your stance.
Regards,
OW
I believe that was in reference to people who had recently purchased a new car, as opposed to trading it in every 3 years. I know that when I buy my new Lacrosse, it will be around for at least 6 or 7 years. My wife's Ranier is almost 6 yrs old, and will probably be with her for 4-5 more years (then handed down to my youngest, who is now 12)
Having said that, I've seen way worse Chevy's than this Australian Chevy Caprice. I'm not even going to hint that someone might call it a "Crapice." :shades:
Couldn't resist though, our friend Chevrolet is...ummm...bordering on being called a laughingstock vehicle manufacturer.
I agree nvbanker, they oughtta pare it down to Chevrolet and Cadidillac and call it exciting and new and get to it now, not three yesterdays ago.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I know I'm planning on putting it off as long as I can. And next time around, instead of new, I might go with slightly used (1-2 years old). Probably not what the auto industry wants to hear right now. :sick:
Just say no. That Cadillac could last at least 10 years. Save up and when enough cash, just write a check for new car. Of course, GM would go bankrupt (again) as well as some other car makers if we all adopted this common sense attitude about spending and debt.
The only debt that an average citizen should ever have is a mortgage on the house they live in.
But the numbers don't add."
Plant Closings May Not Be Over For GM (AutoObserver)
(not exactly an ergonomic assembly position there)
2010 ‘Wee Can!’
This people’s car runs on hot air and big promises. It boasts three unbalanced wheels -- the right-front wheel slightly larger than the left, facilitating easy turns to the left.
The Wee Can comes complete with two Teleprompters, each programmed to help occupants talk their way out of almost any moving violation.
The congressionally designed transparent plastic canopy reveals the smiling faces of the "always happy" occupants, who breath freshly filtered, government supplied, low carbon footprint ‘air’ (additional oxygen is optional).
Neon headlamps provide gentle, but limited forward lighting. However, the Wee Can comes equipped with powerful Xenon tail lights, allowing the driver to look back with amazing clarity. The radio boasts two commercial-free stations – Air America and ABC radio!
The amazing Wee Can even floats, allowing the driver and occupant to safely navigate s**t creek when power fails due to something George Bush must have done while still in office (paddles are optional).
PRICE: $375K retail (or simply make the maximum reelection campaign donation permitted by law to three liberal Democratic candidates of your choice).
You can be one of us. Yes, you can ‘Wee Can.’
On Thursday, Mr. Lutz wrote on GM's "Fast Lane" blog that GM had been studying the idea of selling the G8 as the Chevrolet Caprice "because a car like the G8 was just too good to waste."
But he added that "upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today's market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be."
The reversal suggests Mr. Henderson hasn't yet worked out all the kinks in the new, leaner GM, which emerged from bankruptcy protection on July 10. As part of the company's reorganization, Mr. Henderson is eliminating a number of senior executives' positions and shuffling his staff.
Oh well, too good to be true. First nail in the coffin...
Regards,
OW
I always thought Lutz was an idiot and highly overrated. He is the one who thought that hybrids were not worth pursuing. And of course the Solstice/Sky were flops, because even thought they are beautiful physically they are still junky. So they bring him back and he's already flapping his mouth. The "New GM"? Looks like to0 much of the old guard to me.
He did not and does not get it. He's a car guy. OK But he's like a 1950s car guy.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Just imagine, for example, taking a biodiesel engine, which is already very efficient, and slapping a few hybrid bits onto it.
Of course, GM is still trying to figure out how to get away with making a V12 Camaro.
Just imagine, for example, taking a biodiesel engine, which is already very efficient, and slapping a few hybrid bits onto it.
Absolutely correct. Hybrids may not sell in huge numbers now, but we are talking a future of 10-30 years here, and hybrids will be huge. Toyota and Honda will be there with fifth+ generation hybrids and GM will still be trying to get the two-mode hybrid to be cost effective. GM (and Lutz's) lack of long term strategic vision is one of the numerous reasons why GM is where it is today.
You are right about GM muddling along with their worthless hybrids. Ford is doing well and will be the major challenge to Toyota.
Absolutely. At some point I figure most if not all cars will implement some pieces of "hybrid" technology. Ford is putting engine idle cut-off in the Fiesta, Kia is putting low-resistance tires on the Forte. Lots of cars are getting electric power steering, and some are getting electric air conditioning. Pretty much all of this stuff started off in hybrids.
And so far GM has just barely managed with electric power steering last I heard. :shades:
Henderson basically put the brakes on the Caprice idea right after Putz opened his big mouth. Read that Henderson would consider the Caprice for police sales, plus he doesn't like re-badges (he either kept his mouth shut on that one else he wouldn't have made it at GM this long). So outside of that, current G8 and any other U.S. iteration is dead. Darn shame you ask me.
As others have stated, there's still too much of the "old" GM to make the "new" GM believable.
So true.