"HEY!!! MY WIFE DRIVES A BUICK!!! WHAT ARE YOU TRYIN' TO SAY? '
I am saying that as a general rule (aka something that is statistically factual), Buick's customer are very old. so old actually that GM is very concerned about that brand's viability.
the same thing holds true for Cadillac. so old actually they are trying to entice younger buyers by building some sporty cars like the CTS.
you have the option of not facing the fact but GM knows that.
now, that doesn't mean every lady buick driver is not self-respecting.
Cash buyers get $1,000 toward a down payment and lease customers can get a waiver of three payments up to $1,000. To qualify for the incentives, customers must show proof that they own or lease a Toyota.
It's very clear that Obama administration forced Toyota to shut down production in order to help GM and promote the UAW to the idle non-union Toyota workers.
Repeat this story often enough, and someone will believe it.
NHTSA can't even force a recall until after it completes a formal defect investigation, which can take months or even years. And even then, such an order can be challenged in court by the manufacturer. Ironically enough, the last such challenge came from GM over their 1980 X-cars with overly "aggressive" rear brakes. The court sided with GM and no recall took place.
No way does NHTSA have the LEGAL power to shut down production lines on a moment's notice. It can certainly ASK a manufacturer to do so.
3800lbs and 220HP in the new Regal is frankly weak sauce. Even an Accord V6 does better. And that's the problem. Why put a less reliable and no more efficient engine in a car that doesn't beat Honda?
Ask ANY of those reviewers "Yes, but is it better than an Accord V6"? I bet every last one of them gives you a rather large pause.
Accord: 19 mpg city/29 hwy/23 combined for V-6 models 271HP/254lb-ft torque. Identical gas mileage, 50 more HP, and essentially the same torque. And it's not even considered the best V6 out there(my money goes for the 3.6 DI in the CTS at a bit over 300HP)
Not quite. To get "certified" it has to be bought at a BMW dealer, and be certified by the dealer. I don't believe Brit. works at a BMW or Audi dealer. What happens if the car can't pass certification from the dealer??
"......It's very clear that Obama administration forced Toyota to shut down production in order to help GM and promote the UAW to the idle non-union Toyota workers."
OK Glenn Beck. Right. Read On:
".....The Detroit News reports that Toyota is required by law to stop selling the vehicles since there is no fix available yet. David Strickland, the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that Toyota consulted with his agency, which informed the automaker of its obligations and it complied."
Unless toyota wants to stockpile cars they are not allowed to sell by law than they have no choice to shut the plants down. so not exactly a voluntary move on toyotas part :lemon: but it does sound much better for toyota with your spin on it tho
".....3800lbs and 220HP in the new Regal is frankly weak sauce. Even an Accord V6 does better. And that's the problem. Why put a less reliable and no more efficient engine in a car that doesn't beat Honda? "
First of all, the new Regal weighs 3600 lbs, w/in 20 lbs of the Accord. Second, the Regal's turbo engine makes it's torque at 2000 rpm's as opposed to 5300 for the Accord.
And, according to this Edmunds comparator, the MSRP for the CXL Regal is $2800 cheaper than the Accord, and the Accord doesn't even have the equiptment available on it that the Regal will, like memory seats, active, variable suspension, rear power outlets, or rear view camera:
Still, 50HP is a big difference. Despite the torque coming on sooner, there will be turbo lag(in a FWD vehicle no less - joy!) and unless you stop on it, it'll loaf around with the turbo off and make maybe half that much HP around town. I've driven the older high pressure turbo Saabs for a couple of years ago and they were actually pretty pathetic in city traffic due to the FWD and turbo lag combined with a god-awful GM slush-o-matic that took forever to decide when to shift.
0-60 for the Regal is supposedly in the 7.5 second range.
Even the last generation LaCrosse CXS with the 3.6VVT engine did 0-60 in 7.1 seconds. That's perhaps a better comparison as both are about the same weight, FWD, and roughly the same suspension setup. They also have nearly identical torque curves. Of course, the Saab turbos also were horrendously pricey to fix. So far I've heard nothing major at all with the GM 3.6's reliability.
Note - even the first generation CTS blows the doors off of both as expected - it's very fast and has much better handling being RWD. (or if you want inexpensive, get a certified G8. Now that's a real monster. :P The V8 is a seriously fun sleeper muscle car. (4.5 seconds) I test drove one a few months ago and I loved it. It's on my top ten list for cars to consider next year.
People loved that car and they decided on the Saab design instead of the G8? Bad, bad move.
The latest DI turbos are great. I haven't driven GM's latest turbo 4, but both Mazda's and VW's direct injected turbo 4 cyl have almost unnoticeable turbo lag and tons of midrange power. If GMs is anything like those two, it will be a satisfying engine. As for reliability, who knows.
Yes my Mazdaspeed6 has the DI turbo 2.3 - built from 2005 -07. So it must have been designed in '02 or '03? It makes about 270hp, and has quite a bit of torque down low (280?)
Anyway I thought it was a good deal when I picked mine up new (150 miles) for $22.3K It has AWD and limited-slip, HID, Bose, and the standard power stuff. This technology was never really appreciated at those prices, and the vehicle was withdrawn.
I ask again why would anyone then consider the Regal to be some vehicle to get excited about, or to consider a good value? Maybe they should have dropped the V6 from the Camaro in it (which is selling in the low $20K's), and given it AWD? But then that kind of makes the higher level GM products look overpriced right (CTS?)
"...G8. Now that's a real monster. The V8 is a seriously fun sleeper muscle car. (4.5 seconds)"
Um, no. [ And I drive one. And I like it – a lot. ] But. The quickest published G8 GT 0 to 60 MPH was R&T: 5.0 sec. - Ray ALMOST quick enough for me . . .
Not quite. To get "certified" it has to be bought at a BMW dealer, and be certified by the dealer. I don't believe Brit. works at a BMW or Audi dealer. What happens if the car can't pass certification from the dealer??
You are right I don't do new BMWs or Audis I do new Volvos, Saabs and Land Rovers mostly along with some other brands new and just about every brand used. I think the only used brand we haven't had in stock to sell were the Italian exotics and Rolls Royce.
Cars that can't be certified for us that are Volvos or Saabs we will still sell because they are not insanely expensive to fix out of warranty. For Land Rover it depends on the vehicle and what the inspection says.
For BMWs we are usually ok but it is a case by case basis. For Mercedes we almost always end up getting burned with out of warranty Mercs but you can buy them so cheap out of warranty that we usually come out ok. We sill try to stay away from them and wholesale them. The most recent was a E500 with airmatic we sold. Just barely out of warranty so figured we would be ok. Nope two of the air struts failed the first month and the second two failed the month after. A car that went from good gross, around $3,500, ended up as a couple thousand dollar loser.
Out of warranty Audis are on a whole other level from out of warranty Mercs. We typically won't sell an Audi unless there is some factory or CPO warranty left on the car. It is much to expensive for us to add an aftermarket warranty to an Audi and we can't sell a car that expensive AS-IS so we have to offer a minimum 60 day 3,000-6,000 some mile warranty. Something always breaks in that 60 days and it is always expensive.
"......It's very clear that Obama administration forced Toyota to shut down production in order to help GM and promote the UAW to the idle non-union Toyota workers."
OK Glenn Beck. Right. Read On:
".....The Detroit News reports that Toyota is required by law to stop selling the vehicles since there is no fix available yet. David Strickland, the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that Toyota consulted with his agency, which informed the automaker of its obligations and it complied."
Agreed every safety recall I have ever been involved in required the quarantine of effected cars and if a fix wasn't available a stop production on cars at the factory. Luckily all of the recalls I was involved in had fixes already done with parts avaliable or at least the engineering was done so there was no real stop in production.
Still, 50HP is a big difference. Despite the torque coming on sooner, there will be turbo lag(in a FWD vehicle no less - joy!) and unless you stop on it, it'll loaf around with the turbo off and make maybe half that much HP around town. I've driven the older high pressure turbo Saabs for a couple of years ago and they were actually pretty pathetic in city traffic due to the FWD and turbo lag combined with a god-awful GM slush-o-matic that took forever to decide when to shift.
You can't compare the older HP SAAB turbos to the regal. No direct injection and AFIK no variable vanes either. Newer SAABs have almost no lag and great passing power even without DI and the new Six speed autos shift pretty good too. The regal will do even better with DI.
whether it is a big difference or not depends on a lot of other factors.
my 530 has 200horses and my g37x has >300 horses and quite honest, the 530 feels faster than the g37x for in town driving.
a big factor for me is how the transmission is mated to the engine. when you step on the gas hard, the bmw starts moving right away; the g37x's engine will rev up, and then the car starts to catch up, gradually.
the bmw transmission feels more like a manual transmission in that regard.
OK, so what exactly will satisfy your mother's automotive tastebuds??
The short list appears to be down to something by Infiniti, An Accord(she doesn't like the last gen TSX and the current one is having reliability issues like most new models do), a last gen CTS, Or maybe.. I don't know. The #1 concern is reliability and not a jellybean. That kills 75% of the luxury market and stuff like a Camry. She's also concerned about buying a used Toyota with the quality issues they've been having with their cars(SUVs and trucks are fine, but she doesn't want a RAV4, despite it being the best solution for her) and nearly everything GM, Ford, and Chrysler makes.
Stuff she won't consider - Hyundai, Nissan, Chevrolet, Pontiac(didn't like the G8), etc - all of the basic makes due to image with relatives and friends and lack of luxury features. - BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, and VW/Audi - all out due to cost to fix and reliability issues. - Was really really sad that Mini isn't reliable. - Considered a Boxster but not remotely affordable, even used, and they also have issues with their engines that they just fixed last year.
Stuff she passed on/didn't like: Toyota - can't say I blame her. There's a rather large jump to Lexus in appearance and quality. Nissan to Infiniti is similar as well. The only Honda she liked was the Accord, and that got about a 7 on her "like it" scale. She liked the TSX better, but not the last generation one which is more reliable/has the bugs worked out. She liked the TL though it was larger than she wanted. FWD and TL sized is an issue for parallel parking, which she currently just doesn't do at all with her LeSabre. She hates that her LeSabre has a nearly 40ft turning circle and has a transmission that feels like the car is almost running a CVT in how much like a rubber band it feels under acceleration.
The Infiniti lineup I have to get her into a showroom to check out. (I love the G37 but she'd go nuts with its hard suspension) Then again, I hear that the M series is also pokey off the line unless you stomp it. I doubt if she ever used more than 1/3 throttle in her life. It might be a better alternative for her than the CTS. Certainly more reliable.
Now if I can just get her to look at Lexus... lol.
Oh - the new LFA/Supra is up on the Lexus page and it looks wicked. I have another car to add to the list of things I lust after and will by if I ever become rich... :P
there's a great reason not to buy a car that you like. Read on.
"...all of the basic makes due to image with relatives and friends and lack of luxury features."
What the? I could give a rat's buh-toot-tey what my friends or family thinks about the type or brand of car I like or buy. Who cares? Besides, I know more about cars than most all of them or all of them, anyway. If your Mom doesn't know squat about cars, then being afraid of what her other family or friends think should mean even less. Because she can't be held accountable for it.
It's the exact thing that held up Kia and Hyundai sales for so many years. Which makes their success all the more cool to see now. They've really had to earn it with the American people.
Hey, british rover, has your dealership heard anything about receiving the new 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero's yet? Whatup wid-dat...yet?
Nope no news yet maybe next month. I know SAAB wants to put those 9-5s into production ASAP but it will take a couple of months. I expect to see them over the summer maybe start of the third quarter.
She wants a luxury car and well, if she doesn't like the rental car image considering that her friends have higher-end 50K+ cars, then that's her choice. I also think it's a bit silly, but her "type" is a known segment in the market that is usually catered to in Japan and Europe.(and forgotten in the U.S. for the most part) She's almost 70 and wants one last car that is her little luxury sedan to get around town in and show off her money a little bit without getting silly about it.(plus her LeSabre is rental car silver and almost ten years old - and looks very dated). When she gets to 80, she'll then get something slower and less fun, but she wants one last car that is fun to drive while she's still young enough to actually drive the thing properly.
Well, if she's driving a car as big as the Lesabre, did she consider the new LaCrosse? Mine has the rear view camera and the side view mirrors tilt downward in reverse. The CXS has the 3.6
Don't laugh - show her a Subaru legacy premium package with leather 2.5i don't tell her its a subaru she won't know unless you tell her.
My 63yr old mom just replaced her Altima with the 2010 Legacy after going through all the same stuff your listing. She loves the Subaru and every time it rains and gets crappy out she loves it even more.
When I get that old I'm just going to rent by the week. If I hit 80, I'll cut back to daily rentals.
Tee-hee...kernick, if I had just taken a sip of Diet Dr.Pepper whilst reading that post of yours it would have been sprayed all over my monitor!
No, plekto, I realize everyone's car choice is personal to them and they have a right to buy what they like. Besides, they spend so much for the object it had best be exactly what they want and be projecting the kind of image they want projected by it. Understandable. I just get impatient with people when they start basing big box purchase decisions on the worries of a certain family member that will object, etc.
I mean, who's money is being spent here, anyway? What if she liked the new 2011 Kia Sportage SUV, for instance. Would the family or a certain family member throw a stroke over it, or...something?
Ah, well, brand image, that could be a topic for another rainy Saturday afternoon I suppose. Having said that, the new LaCrosse or LeSabre might fit her bill quite nicely.
Why doesn't she buy a loaded Jetta (pretty luxurious) and put another $5k in the bank for potential repairs. Then it is still around $30K and she has the cost covered. Maintenance also included initially.
Also, what about a Volvo S40? Fords have been pretty reliable lately. I understand it is similar to a Mazda 3 which is a great handler and has a tight turning circle.
"but her "type" is a known segment in the market that is usually catered to in Japan and Europe.(and forgotten in the U.S. for the most part) "
I disagree with that. Cadillac, Lincoln and even Buick to a lesser degree had a large chunk of that market and still has a seizable portion of that market: check out the average age of those buyers.
the japanese are largely not in that market. One exception there might be Lexus LS. Infiniti, Acura and other models of Lexus are mostly bought by younger (relatively speaking) people.
would she like the new Saab 9-5 Aero? british rover says his dealer may have them by summer. I love that new sedan but really love my '08 Mitsu Lancer GTS design more. I'll probably stay put with it.
But the 9-5 is more luxurious and more costly...something she seems to be actually looking for. I love it's smooth luxurious yet pretty sporty lines.
".....But people want to be young and a Buick just doesn't cut it these days."
You've obviously never driven or rode in the 2010 LaCrosse. I know or have met a few owners of them. One is 70, one in his mid 50's, I'm 41, and the girl who bought the CXL that I first test drove back in August was a ripe old 23!!!! Most of the people I see driving an Enclave are women who appear to be in the 35-55 age range.
The Enclave, new LaCrosse, and 2011 Regal aren't your great grandfather's Lesabre.
When I get that old I'm just going to rent by the week. If I hit 80, I'll cut back to daily rentals
Bah, my mom finally quit driving at ~85 ... after she got a speeding ticket.
Maybe if she had owned a stately Buick (she always had one in her 30's and 40's) instead of a zoom zoom Mazda, she'd still be driving.
She had an Impala forever before the Protege, but the car I really remember was the GMC pickup that wouldn't die. The only issue it had was a busted right headlight mount - the light worked fine, but lit up all the trees along the shoulder.
The only issue it had was a busted right headlight mount - the light worked fine, but lit up all the trees along the shoulder.
Tee-hee...like a good GM product should. Just kiddin', GM fans.
Just reminded me of my first car, a '65 Ford Mustang. Burned through taillight bulbs like Roman candles on the 4th of July. Either burning out a clutch or failing it's brakes or burning out those taillights, it was always something with that car. But I still hated to part with it, it was 1983 that I traded it in on a 1970 Chevy Suburban SUV that could pass for a bus. 9 mpg big block V8. I only owned the '65 Mustang for 5 years. Whoa. Seemed like many more years than that. And that's not a bad thing, either. Just seemed like the ownership experience lasted longer than 5 years.
What a different driving experience. The only GM product I ever owned and it actually was a very reliable rig. So I don't have a fervor of anger and hatred towards GM and it's products. And, judging by my Ford Mustang experience, I can be very forgiving, too.
Yes, the CTS is on the short list, though she really wants something a size smaller than that if possible. But due to being RWD and having good suspension, it handles like a full size smaller FWD car. If it is FWD, it needs to be barely bigger than a Civic to compensate.
The LeSabre that she has is like a giant whale in her mind that she hates. She really wants a Bosxter I think, but can't bring herself to waste the money on a car that is basically a fancy toy(the grandkids are still around and so on).
Optimally, it should have the typical goodies similar to an Accord V6(nav, homelink, dual zone AC, good audio, leather, sunroof, yada yada...), be free of major reliability issues, not cost a fortune to fix, have RWD or AWD, and not cost more than $25K or so a couple of years old.(2007 or newer) Small SUVs also would be considered, but she wants it to get at least 25mpg highway in any case.
So far, I've got the M45, the CTS, and not much else. But those two alone are decent choices, really. The M45 impressed me to no end in how it was put together and the way it drove. It's a bit larger than she wants, but it handles very nicely. The G37 convertible... oh, that's gorgeous but out of the budget. Heh. That medium blue color that they have for it is astounding to look at as well. I have to look at some of the SUVs as well, but so far, it's between Lexus and Infiniti. Small and SUV doesn't compute with the Domestics or European brands other than maybe Volvo and VW, which she doesn't like and doesn't trust to hold together respectively.
Bah, my mom finally quit driving at ~85 ... after she got a speeding ticket.
Maybe if she had owned a stately Buick (she always had one in her 30's and 40's) instead of a zoom zoom Mazda, she'd still be driving.
My Dad bought his '03 Regal when he was 57. First Buick for him. He commented that maybe if he'd bought cars like that when he was younger, instead of the '62 Corvette, '64 GTO, '63 Impala SS409, etc, it would have kept him out of a lot of trouble with the law!
but the car I really remember was the GMC pickup that wouldn't die. The only issue it had was a busted right headlight mount - the light worked fine, but lit up all the trees along the shoulder.
I just broke part of the headlight assembly on my '85 Silverado last night. I was trying to change a headlight, but was having trouble taking off the screws that hold the metal surround that keeps the headlight in place. Two of 'em were pretty rusty so I WD40'ed them. Got one of them out, but then the last one wouldn't budge, so I put too much pressure on it with the screwdriver, and before I knew it, the whole headlight punched in! Turns out I ended up popping out one of the adjustment screws. Nothing too major, I guess. I was able to push it back into place, but it is stripped. Not the screw, but the plastic part it screws into. Never did get that rusted screw out either...I ended up just bending the bracket down as far as I could, gently, and getting the light out. Do that enough times, and I know it'll break eventually, but it's not like changing a headlight is an every day occurence.
Next time I drive that truck at night, I guess I'll find out how much I screwed up the headlight's alignment!
Oh, man! That is one super-mega-ultra-cool ride! I missed out on a chance to buy a 1950 Buick Roadmaster back in college. One of my professors had a two-tone green 1952 Buick Super.
Comments
I am saying that as a general rule (aka something that is statistically factual), Buick's customer are very old. so old actually that GM is very concerned about that brand's viability.
the same thing holds true for Cadillac. so old actually they are trying to entice younger buyers by building some sporty cars like the CTS.
you have the option of not facing the fact but GM knows that.
now, that doesn't mean every lady buick driver is not self-respecting.
GM incentive offered to Toyota owners
http://detnews.com/article/20100114/OPINION03/1140421
and
http://detnews.com/article/20100127/AUTO01/1270400/Fallout-grows-in-Toyota-sales- -halt
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Chicago radio station WGN that the government asked Toyota to stop selling the vehicles.
LaHood said, "The reason Toyota decided to do the recall and to stop manufacturing was because we asked them to."
NHTSA can't even force a recall until after it completes a formal defect investigation, which can take months or even years. And even then, such an order can be challenged in court by the manufacturer. Ironically enough, the last such challenge came from GM over their 1980 X-cars with overly "aggressive" rear brakes. The court sided with GM and no recall took place.
No way does NHTSA have the LEGAL power to shut down production lines on a moment's notice. It can certainly ASK a manufacturer to do so.
Ask ANY of those reviewers "Yes, but is it better than an Accord V6"? I bet every last one of them gives you a rather large pause.
Accord:
19 mpg city/29 hwy/23 combined for V-6 models 271HP/254lb-ft torque. Identical gas mileage, 50 more HP, and essentially the same torque. And it's not even considered the best V6 out there(my money goes for the 3.6 DI in the CTS at a bit over 300HP)
It screams a bean-counter and rental fleet move.
Not quite. To get "certified" it has to be bought at a BMW dealer, and be certified by the dealer. I don't believe Brit. works at a BMW or Audi dealer. What happens if the car can't pass certification from the dealer??
OK Glenn Beck. Right. Read On:
".....The Detroit News reports that Toyota is required by law to stop selling the vehicles since there is no fix available yet. David Strickland, the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that Toyota consulted with his agency, which informed the automaker of its obligations and it complied."
Wrong
Under Chapter 301 of the Motor Safety Code, Toyota can't continue to sell the defective vehicles unless it has a remedy
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100127/AUTO01/1270400/Fallout-grows-in-Toyota-sales- -halt#ixzz0dypoxGQg
Unless toyota wants to stockpile cars they are not allowed to sell by law than they have no choice to shut the plants down. so not exactly a voluntary move on toyotas part :lemon: but it does sound much better for toyota with your spin on it tho
First of all, the new Regal weighs 3600 lbs, w/in 20 lbs of the Accord. Second, the Regal's turbo engine makes it's torque at 2000 rpm's as opposed to 5300 for the Accord.
And, according to this Edmunds comparator, the MSRP for the CXL Regal is $2800 cheaper than the Accord, and the Accord doesn't even have the equiptment available on it that the Regal will, like memory seats, active, variable suspension, rear power outlets, or rear view camera:
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison?styleid=101201284&styl- eid=101174004&styleid=101249102&maxvehicles=5&refid=&op=3&tab=features
0-60 for the Regal is supposedly in the 7.5 second range.
Even the last generation LaCrosse CXS with the 3.6VVT engine did 0-60 in 7.1 seconds. That's perhaps a better comparison as both are about the same weight, FWD, and roughly the same suspension setup. They also have nearly identical torque curves. Of course, the Saab turbos also were horrendously pricey to fix. So far I've heard nothing major at all with the GM 3.6's reliability.
Note - even the first generation CTS blows the doors off of both as expected - it's very fast and has much better handling being RWD. (or if you want inexpensive, get a certified G8. Now that's a real monster. :P The V8 is a seriously fun sleeper muscle car. (4.5 seconds) I test drove one a few months ago and I loved it. It's on my top ten list for cars to consider next year.
People loved that car and they decided on the Saab design instead of the G8? Bad, bad move.
Anyway I thought it was a good deal when I picked mine up new (150 miles) for $22.3K It has AWD and limited-slip, HID, Bose, and the standard power stuff. This technology was never really appreciated at those prices, and the vehicle was withdrawn.
I ask again why would anyone then consider the Regal to be some vehicle to get excited about, or to consider a good value? Maybe they should have dropped the V6 from the Camaro in it (which is selling in the low $20K's), and given it AWD? But then that kind of makes the higher level GM products look overpriced right (CTS?)
Um, no.
[ And I drive one. And I like it – a lot. ]
But.
The quickest published G8 GT 0 to 60 MPH was R&T: 5.0 sec.
- Ray
ALMOST quick enough for me . . .
280HP HO 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed manual
AWD
That might make an impact with the TSX / A4/ 1-series crowd ...
You are right I don't do new BMWs or Audis I do new Volvos, Saabs and Land Rovers mostly along with some other brands new and just about every brand used. I think the only used brand we haven't had in stock to sell were the Italian exotics and Rolls Royce.
Cars that can't be certified for us that are Volvos or Saabs we will still sell because they are not insanely expensive to fix out of warranty. For Land Rover it depends on the vehicle and what the inspection says.
For BMWs we are usually ok but it is a case by case basis. For Mercedes we almost always end up getting burned with out of warranty Mercs but you can buy them so cheap out of warranty that we usually come out ok. We sill try to stay away from them and wholesale them. The most recent was a E500 with airmatic we sold. Just barely out of warranty so figured we would be ok. Nope two of the air struts failed the first month and the second two failed the month after. A car that went from good gross, around $3,500, ended up as a couple thousand dollar loser.
Out of warranty Audis are on a whole other level from out of warranty Mercs. We typically won't sell an Audi unless there is some factory or CPO warranty left on the car. It is much to expensive for us to add an aftermarket warranty to an Audi and we can't sell a car that expensive AS-IS so we have to offer a minimum 60 day 3,000-6,000 some mile warranty. Something always breaks in that 60 days and it is always expensive.
"......It's very clear that Obama administration forced Toyota to shut down production in order to help GM and promote the UAW to the idle non-union Toyota workers."
OK Glenn Beck. Right. Read On:
".....The Detroit News reports that Toyota is required by law to stop selling the vehicles since there is no fix available yet. David Strickland, the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that Toyota consulted with his agency, which informed the automaker of its obligations and it complied."
Agreed every safety recall I have ever been involved in required the quarantine of effected cars and if a fix wasn't available a stop production on cars at the factory. Luckily all of the recalls I was involved in had fixes already done with parts avaliable or at least the engineering was done so there was no real stop in production.
Still, 50HP is a big difference. Despite the torque coming on sooner, there will be turbo lag(in a FWD vehicle no less - joy!) and unless you stop on it, it'll loaf around with the turbo off and make maybe half that much HP around town. I've driven the older high pressure turbo Saabs for a couple of years ago and they were actually pretty pathetic in city traffic due to the FWD and turbo lag combined with a god-awful GM slush-o-matic that took forever to decide when to shift.
You can't compare the older HP SAAB turbos to the regal. No direct injection and AFIK no variable vanes either. Newer SAABs have almost no lag and great passing power even without DI and the new Six speed autos shift pretty good too. The regal will do even better with DI.
whether it is a big difference or not depends on a lot of other factors.
my 530 has 200horses and my g37x has >300 horses and quite honest, the 530 feels faster than the g37x for in town driving.
a big factor for me is how the transmission is mated to the engine. when you step on the gas hard, the bmw starts moving right away; the g37x's engine will rev up, and then the car starts to catch up, gradually.
the bmw transmission feels more like a manual transmission in that regard.
G8 GXP automatic: also 4.7 in C+D
The short list appears to be down to something by Infiniti, An Accord(she doesn't like the last gen TSX and the current one is having reliability issues like most new models do), a last gen CTS, Or maybe.. I don't know. The #1 concern is reliability and not a jellybean. That kills 75% of the luxury market and stuff like a Camry. She's also concerned about buying a used Toyota with the quality issues they've been having with their cars(SUVs and trucks are fine, but she doesn't want a RAV4, despite it being the best solution for her) and nearly everything GM, Ford, and Chrysler makes.
Stuff she won't consider
- Hyundai, Nissan, Chevrolet, Pontiac(didn't like the G8), etc - all of the basic makes due to image with relatives and friends and lack of luxury features.
- BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, and VW/Audi - all out due to cost to fix and reliability issues.
- Was really really sad that Mini isn't reliable.
- Considered a Boxster but not remotely affordable, even used, and they also have issues with their engines that they just fixed last year.
Stuff she passed on/didn't like:
Toyota - can't say I blame her. There's a rather large jump to Lexus in appearance and quality. Nissan to Infiniti is similar as well.
The only Honda she liked was the Accord, and that got about a 7 on her "like it" scale. She liked the TSX better, but not the last generation one which is more reliable/has the bugs worked out. She liked the TL though it was larger than she wanted. FWD and TL sized is an issue for parallel parking, which she currently just doesn't do at all with her LeSabre. She hates that her LeSabre has a nearly 40ft turning circle and has a transmission that feels like the car is almost running a CVT in how much like a rubber band it feels under acceleration.
The Infiniti lineup I have to get her into a showroom to check out. (I love the G37 but she'd go nuts with its hard suspension) Then again, I hear that the M series is also pokey off the line unless you stomp it. I doubt if she ever used more than 1/3 throttle in her life. It might be a better alternative for her than the CTS. Certainly more reliable.
Now if I can just get her to look at Lexus... lol.
Oh - the new LFA/Supra is up on the Lexus page and it looks wicked. I have another car to add to the list of things I lust after and will by if I ever become rich... :P
"...all of the basic makes due to image with relatives and friends and lack of luxury features."
What the? I could give a rat's buh-toot-tey what my friends or family thinks about the type or brand of car I like or buy. Who cares? Besides, I know more about cars than most all of them or all of them, anyway. If your Mom doesn't know squat about cars, then being afraid of what her other family or friends think should mean even less. Because she can't be held accountable for it.
It's the exact thing that held up Kia and Hyundai sales for so many years. Which makes their success all the more cool to see now. They've really had to earn it with the American people.
Hey, british rover, has your dealership heard anything about receiving the new 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero's yet? Whatup wid-dat...yet?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
thanks for the detailed explanation. Here is a shorter version of the story.
She wants a BMW at Chevy price.
When I get that old I'm just going to rent by the week. If I hit 80, I'll cut back to daily rentals.
My 63yr old mom just replaced her Altima with the 2010 Legacy after going through all the same stuff your listing. She loves the Subaru and every time it rains and gets crappy out she loves it even more.
Seriously try it you might be surprised.
Tee-hee...kernick, if I had just taken a sip of Diet Dr.Pepper whilst reading that post of yours it would have been sprayed all over my monitor!
No, plekto, I realize everyone's car choice is personal to them and they have a right to buy what they like. Besides, they spend so much for the object it had best be exactly what they want and be projecting the kind of image they want projected by it. Understandable. I just get impatient with people when they start basing big box purchase decisions on the worries of a certain family member that will object, etc.
I mean, who's money is being spent here, anyway? What if she liked the new 2011 Kia Sportage SUV, for instance. Would the family or a certain family member throw a stroke over it, or...something?
Ah, well, brand image, that could be a topic for another rainy Saturday afternoon I suppose. Having said that, the new LaCrosse or LeSabre might fit her bill quite nicely.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Also, what about a Volvo S40? Fords have been pretty reliable lately. I understand it is similar to a Mazda 3 which is a great handler and has a tight turning circle.
I disagree with that. Cadillac, Lincoln and even Buick to a lesser degree had a large chunk of that market and still has a seizable portion of that market: check out the average age of those buyers.
the japanese are largely not in that market. One exception there might be Lexus LS. Infiniti, Acura and other models of Lexus are mostly bought by younger (relatively speaking) people.
you would think that with her AARP membership, she would be eligible for a Buick.
But people want to be young and a Buick just doesn't cut it these days.
But the 9-5 is more luxurious and more costly...something she seems to be actually looking for. I love it's smooth luxurious yet pretty sporty lines.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
sure, if it goes at chevy prices.
You've obviously never driven or rode in the 2010 LaCrosse. I know or have met a few owners of them. One is 70, one in his mid 50's, I'm 41, and the girl who bought the CXL that I first test drove back in August was a ripe old 23!!!! Most of the people I see driving an Enclave are women who appear to be in the 35-55 age range.
The Enclave, new LaCrosse, and 2011 Regal aren't your great grandfather's Lesabre.
that's why every great rule has its exceptions. you proved it beyond any doubt.
"Most of the people I see driving an Enclave are women who appear to be in the 35-55 age range. "
that's why conclusions based on a sample of one are unreliable and utterly useless.
http://www.autoobserver.com/2009/09/new-lacrosse-not-scoring-big-with-buicks-pre- ferred-prospects---yet.html
"The average age of buyers for all Buick's is in the 70s. Enclave buyers' average age is in the 50s. "
70s? and their supposed "young" buyers are in their 50s? no wonder you have to show them your AARP membership card to test drive a buick,
and LaCrosse owners cross-shop most Taurus, Malibu, Fusion, and more Buicks?
Buick / GM cannot possibly happy about that.
Bah, my mom finally quit driving at ~85 ... after she got a speeding ticket.
Maybe if she had owned a stately Buick (she always had one in her 30's and 40's) instead of a zoom zoom Mazda, she'd still be driving.
She had an Impala forever before the Protege, but the car I really remember was the GMC pickup that wouldn't die. The only issue it had was a busted right headlight mount - the light worked fine, but lit up all the trees along the shoulder.
Tee-hee...like a good GM product should. Just kiddin', GM fans.
Just reminded me of my first car, a '65 Ford Mustang. Burned through taillight bulbs like Roman candles on the 4th of July. Either burning out a clutch or failing it's brakes or burning out those taillights, it was always something with that car. But I still hated to part with it, it was 1983 that I traded it in on a 1970 Chevy Suburban SUV that could pass for a bus. 9 mpg big block V8. I only owned the '65 Mustang for 5 years. Whoa. Seemed like many more years than that. And that's not a bad thing, either. Just seemed like the ownership experience lasted longer than 5 years.
What a different driving experience. The only GM product I ever owned and it actually was a very reliable rig. So I don't have a fervor of anger and hatred towards GM and it's products. And, judging by my Ford Mustang experience, I can be very forgiving, too.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
The LeSabre that she has is like a giant whale in her mind that she hates. She really wants a Bosxter I think, but can't bring herself to waste the money on a car that is basically a fancy toy(the grandkids are still around and so on).
Optimally, it should have the typical goodies similar to an Accord V6(nav, homelink, dual zone AC, good audio, leather, sunroof, yada yada...), be free of major reliability issues, not cost a fortune to fix, have RWD or AWD, and not cost more than $25K or so a couple of years old.(2007 or newer) Small SUVs also would be considered, but she wants it to get at least 25mpg highway in any case.
So far, I've got the M45, the CTS, and not much else. But those two alone are decent choices, really. The M45 impressed me to no end in how it was put together and the way it drove. It's a bit larger than she wants, but it handles very nicely. The G37 convertible... oh, that's gorgeous but out of the budget. Heh. That medium blue color that they have for it is astounding to look at as well. I have to look at some of the SUVs as well, but so far, it's between Lexus and Infiniti. Small and SUV doesn't compute with the Domestics or European brands other than maybe Volvo and VW, which she doesn't like and doesn't trust to hold together respectively.
Maybe if she had owned a stately Buick (she always had one in her 30's and 40's) instead of a zoom zoom Mazda, she'd still be driving.
My Dad bought his '03 Regal when he was 57. First Buick for him. He commented that maybe if he'd bought cars like that when he was younger, instead of the '62 Corvette, '64 GTO, '63 Impala SS409, etc, it would have kept him out of a lot of trouble with the law!
but the car I really remember was the GMC pickup that wouldn't die. The only issue it had was a busted right headlight mount - the light worked fine, but lit up all the trees along the shoulder.
I just broke part of the headlight assembly on my '85 Silverado last night. I was trying to change a headlight, but was having trouble taking off the screws that hold the metal surround that keeps the headlight in place. Two of 'em were pretty rusty so I WD40'ed them. Got one of them out, but then the last one wouldn't budge, so I put too much pressure on it with the screwdriver, and before I knew it, the whole headlight punched in! Turns out I ended up popping out one of the adjustment screws. Nothing too major, I guess. I was able to push it back into place, but it is stripped. Not the screw, but the plastic part it screws into. Never did get that rusted screw out either...I ended up just bending the bracket down as far as I could, gently, and getting the light out. Do that enough times, and I know it'll break eventually, but it's not like changing a headlight is an every day occurence.
Next time I drive that truck at night, I guess I'll find out how much I screwed up the headlight's alignment!
My 88 YO Mom loves her '01 BPA and still drives it....of course, if you're following her, the car looks driver-less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Regards,
OW
Doing the gangsta lean, is she? :P
Regards,
OW
Ah, the good ole' days!
Regards,
OW
All of them were women and all of them were under 45.
All of them were women and all of them were under 45.
That's interesting .. was it because the buyers thought the Enclave was a better vehicle, or because of the uncertainly surrounding Volvo?