I think that's a pretty fair assessment tiong, but you've got to remember that outside of something like a Suburban, SUV's aren't going to be able to carry stuff near as well as a minivan. That's why I had a minivan until all of my kids graduated from college. I think these GM I've rented are nicer than the Explorer's I've recently had (the Explorer has a nicer leather seat, but cramped legroom for my 6'3"frame). The gas mileage isn't good on any of them, but the GM may be a bit better than the Durango/Grand Cherokee and a tad behind the Explorer, and I think the GM outhaul them (but the Dodge/Jeep probably are best for off road type conditions). The Japanese models like Highlander and Pilot tend to be smaller, so they get better mileage. They are also comfortable if you don't need as much space. If you've got to use the third row, the GM are probably best of the lot (but the minivans make more sense in that situation as well). The GM also excel at cross country driving comfort. At least that is how I view them after driving rentals, and I think moving up to an Acadia or Enclave makes a bit of a difference as well.
I think you are probably on the mark fintail. Korean cars just don't seem to have that great of handling and ride. I expect the Caddy will be noticeably nicer on long ride comfort as well.
I'm honestly not crazy about either one. I don't like the proportions of the Caddy. It looks like a jumbo hatchback with a minivan front-end and a Caddy grille tacked on. But, at least it looks like a Cadillac! The Equus is okay to look at, but just seems generic to me.
I think the Caddy's proportions are hurt by the transverse FWD layout, which puts the front axle too far back towards the firewall, and gives it too much front overhang.
IMO, if they gave it about 6" more wheelbase, all of it in front of the firewall, with a correspondingly longer hood and front fenders, I think it would improve the proportions considerably. Unfortunately, that would make the car bigger without really adding any useful space, and might make it *too* big for today's audiences.
Or, if they made the windshield just a little more upright, so the thing wasn't so cab-forward, and did the same with the rear, so it had just a bit of decklid, I think it would improve the proportions as well.
But, who knows? Maybe it'll look better in person, and grow on me?
IMO, if they gave it about 6" more wheelbase, all of it in front of the firewall, with a correspondingly longer hood and front fenders, I think it would improve the proportions considerably. Unfortunately, that would make the car bigger without really adding any useful space, and might make it *too* big for today's audiences.
Genesis has to be being dumped on the market at a loss
I think so. I bet we'll see a MUCH higher price for the next generation.
They sell the Azera with Navi standard now, to keep them above Sonata prices. I'm sure they'll do something similar to the next Genesis, to avoid overlap.
I just looked at the specs for the XTS on Caddy's website. Looks like it's on a 111.7" wb, 202" long, and 72.9" wide. So, it's actually fairly trim.
Is the XTS based on the LaCrosse, by any chance? Those dimensions make me think it is, just with a longer rump to give it more trunk space. I was under the impression that the XTS was going to be something all-new and larger, and then the 2014 Impala was going to be based on that?
The Caddy website also says it has 45.8" of front legroom! I find that a bit suspect, as the LaCrosse is only rated at 41.7", and even the most generous cars usually top out around 43, 43.5" at best.
By the same token though, 41.7" seems a bit low for the LaCrosse.
Good comments berri. I forgot to re-mention my initial observation that while some of the interior details are "fancier" (such as chrome handles and rings, etc.), the cheap dash plastics bring the interior downmarket even though it wouldn't be that tough (or I suspect that expensive) to improve the interior to a much nicer level of consistency. I have read on Edmunds that the 2013 Traverse is supposed to have an improved interior, so perhaps they're addressing that. If I were spending my own $30K+ on a Traverse I would be put off by having a vehicle with a cheap interior. It at least should be "decent". The Mazda CX-5 I recently test drove had a much nicer overall interior than the Traverse at a lot cheaper price point (although it's a smaller vehicle). GM has done better interiors in a lot of its cars, it just should do the same for the Traverse.
Maybe not too much, but I could see a 20% gain. Anything more will put it too close to the Germans, and other than in variants that sell to virtually nobody, it aint close to that yet. And even that 20% gain might only put it to truly running in the black. I'd seriously like to know the cash flow generated by that car. Just like Lexus dumped the original LS, I think the Genesis is being managed likewise.
"Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said it's not uncommon for executives to have to disclose deals that benefit their spouses. "The question is, how did they miss it?"
He added: "How much of that did she share in? It's certainly something shareholders would want to know."
It must be those underpaid execs, need to find other ways to supplement their minimal pay.
My problem with things like this isn't so much that they happen, but that the people involved act like ..."oopsie!... Sorry".
When you get paid the big bucks like these jokers get paid, you're supposed to have the wherewithal to know the rules.
Like Enron, Worldcom and the like, these top echelon dudes always claim "Oh, I had no idea...it was a secret being kept from me...some underling did it, and I had no knowledge"...
The shareholder is being promised Kobe steak, yet being served a cheap hot dog.
Maybe they've figured out that market share doesn't equal profit. Second quarter results won't be out until the end of June.
Maybe...but indications are profit will be down as well. Europe and slowing growth in the USA, don't you know!
While the world's largest automaker posted a first-quarter profit that surpassed forecasts, the outlook for its key market fell short of expectations. GM's results echoed those of smaller rival Ford Motor Co, which last week also posted a stronger-than-expected profit, but offered a disappointing forecast.
GM's North American results in the first quarter were also shy of Wall Street's expectations.
"Economic growth may be moderating to some degree," said Josef Schuster, president of iPox Schuster, which owns GM shares. "It's going to hit GM in terms of sales and revenue outlook."
GM executives said the U.S. economy was getting better, but in fits and starts.
"We're clearly seeing some improvement in the economy," Chief Financial Officer Dan Ammann told reporters on Thursday. "It's a modest underlying improvement, but it's patchy and it won't necessarily all go in a straight line."
GM said it expected its core North American results in the second and third quarters to largely match the first quarter due to scheduled downtime at its large truck plants. Citi analyst Itay Michaeli said the outlook implied adjusted earnings in North America in the first nine months of $5.1 billion, well short of the $5.6 billion he was expecting.
Meanwhile, "We're Number 2" is projected to gain vs. The "New GM".
Still, Toyota’s projections indicate it will earn more than GM (GM), which last week reported net income fell 61 percent to $1.32 billion on losses and restructuring costs in Europe. Analysts estimate the Detroit-based company will earn $7.38 billion over the next four quarters, excluding preferred dividends, which last year totaled $1.61 billion.
I agree. Isn't the attempt to own the market a big reason GM got into such a bind?
Sometimes, it's better to execute a few things in a great way .vs. do everything in a moderate way.
Look at Apple. When Jobs came back to the company he slashed the myriad product offerings and focused on a relatively narrow product line. Looks like it worked pretty well for Apple.
BMW is pretty successful, but you don't (at least, not yet) see BMW pickup trucks on the road here.
It's an important lesson often lost on big company upper management bigwigs, who see success as dominating all segments within the market they service.
I think you're right; Europe is going to drag down a lot of companies in the near future. China seems to be slowing down too.
Toyota worries me a bit too - I' m not convinced that the nuke crisis is over, what with all those fuel rods lying around. Another big quake and some bad luck and they could have all sorts of supply and production problems if they have to evacuate some more areas. Best thing they could do is crank up the Tupelo factory.
Maybe even kick Fisker out and move back in with GM in NUMMI.
"A day of driving during the press introduction at Virginia International Raceway here — a fast, challenging road course near the North Carolina border — revealed a Camaro that evokes blue-ribbon sport coupes like the BMW M3. Except that the ZL1 surely gets around V.I.R. much quicker.
Given the tenuous nature of G.M.’s survival a few years ago, it’s faintly amazing that Chevy now builds a muscle car capable of lapping the Nürburgring hot on the heels of a machine like the Porsche 911 Turbo. Call the ZL1 heavy, call it expensive, but don’t call it just a Camaro with a supercharger."
The 2013 Shelby GT500 should be a step beyond the ZL1, and for about the same price. The GT500 will be a supercharged 5.8L making 660+hp, 200+ mph machine on the Nurburgring straight. I also believe the Shelby will not get hit with a gas guzzler tax.
I saw a ZL1 at the Chevy booth at Indy last week- impressive. While I think I'd take a Boss 302, this is a GREAT time to be an auto enthusiast; there are a ton of excellent and quick cars at virtually every price point.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I'm a fan of Salmon myself. Yes, it's farm-raised, but that's actually better. If you knew how bad the oceans are and how close to mass die-offs it all is, you'd never touch anything that wasn't from a farm.
That's a good looking car for its segment. They usually look like boxes. The headlights are peeled back quite a bit, but other than that they nailed the styling.
Bright colors like that will make the brochures and TV ads but they'll only make 2% of them that color.
You never know - may depend on what demographic they're trying to appeal to. I see more "funky"-colored Souls than I do traditional-colored ones.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
This ain't the first time CR goes up against Toyota - remember the drift-tastic Lexus GX? They put a "Do Not Buy" stamp on it, even though a Jeep they tested also skidded out in their tests and got no such stamp (maybe they felt sorry since they were bankrupt at the time?).
Cars.com says the Prius C is more affordable than a Sonic.
Great numbers. Have to wonder when it's all going to stall out with the lack of job growth and pain in Europe. Nice that cheap credit is back. And "cheap" gas.
There was a time I would never have considered $3/gallon cheap.
It's all relative, I guess.. When I was 16 you could buy a name brand loaf of bread for $.30, and a gallon of gas for the same price. Just like today...
Comments
The suspension on my Genesis was a train wreck. It handled pretty well, but the ride needed a lot of tuning IMHO.
My Fiance has an 08 Elantra and while it doesn't excel in either category it is more than acceptable.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I think the Caddy's proportions are hurt by the transverse FWD layout, which puts the front axle too far back towards the firewall, and gives it too much front overhang.
IMO, if they gave it about 6" more wheelbase, all of it in front of the firewall, with a correspondingly longer hood and front fenders, I think it would improve the proportions considerably. Unfortunately, that would make the car bigger without really adding any useful space, and might make it *too* big for today's audiences.
Or, if they made the windshield just a little more upright, so the thing wasn't so cab-forward, and did the same with the rear, so it had just a bit of decklid, I think it would improve the proportions as well.
But, who knows? Maybe it'll look better in person, and grow on me?
So in other words you want an 89 Brougham..... :P
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I think so. I bet we'll see a MUCH higher price for the next generation.
They sell the Azera with Navi standard now, to keep them above Sonata prices. I'm sure they'll do something similar to the next Genesis, to avoid overlap.
Loved that movie.
Well, I wouldn't complain! :shades:
I just looked at the specs for the XTS on Caddy's website. Looks like it's on a 111.7" wb, 202" long, and 72.9" wide. So, it's actually fairly trim.
Is the XTS based on the LaCrosse, by any chance? Those dimensions make me think it is, just with a longer rump to give it more trunk space. I was under the impression that the XTS was going to be something all-new and larger, and then the 2014 Impala was going to be based on that?
The Caddy website also says it has 45.8" of front legroom! I find that a bit suspect, as the LaCrosse is only rated at 41.7", and even the most generous cars usually top out around 43, 43.5" at best.
By the same token though, 41.7" seems a bit low for the LaCrosse.
Yes it is an Epsilon II varient.
The 41.7 is probably right. The Avalon is within a half inch of that and they are very close (having owned both)>
I can't believe that figure is accurate in the Caddy.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
No offense to lemko, but I think it is worlds better looking than the DTS, too.
GM CFO: Ah, wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/05/gm-didnt-disclose-6- 00000-deal-for-cfos-wifes-firm/1
"Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said it's not uncommon for executives to have to disclose deals that benefit their spouses. "The question is, how did they miss it?"
He added: "How much of that did she share in? It's certainly something shareholders would want to know."
It must be those underpaid execs, need to find other ways to supplement their minimal pay.
When you get paid the big bucks like these jokers get paid, you're supposed to have the wherewithal to know the rules.
Like Enron, Worldcom and the like, these top echelon dudes always claim "Oh, I had no idea...it was a secret being kept from me...some underling did it, and I had no knowledge"...
The shareholder is being promised Kobe steak, yet being served a cheap hot dog.
Perhaps the GM Top Brass didn't know they are still loosing market share. :surprise:
Hint, Hint...
Regards,
OW
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Maybe...but indications are profit will be down as well. Europe and slowing growth in the USA, don't you know!
While the world's largest automaker posted a first-quarter profit that surpassed forecasts, the outlook for its key market fell short of expectations. GM's results echoed those of smaller rival Ford Motor Co, which last week also posted a stronger-than-expected profit, but offered a disappointing forecast.
GM's North American results in the first quarter were also shy of Wall Street's expectations.
"Economic growth may be moderating to some degree," said Josef Schuster, president of iPox Schuster, which owns GM shares. "It's going to hit GM in terms of sales and revenue outlook."
GM executives said the U.S. economy was getting better, but in fits and starts.
"We're clearly seeing some improvement in the economy," Chief Financial Officer Dan Ammann told reporters on Thursday. "It's a modest underlying improvement, but it's patchy and it won't necessarily all go in a straight line."
GM said it expected its core North American results in the second and third quarters to largely match the first quarter due to scheduled downtime at its large truck plants. Citi analyst Itay Michaeli said the outlook implied adjusted earnings in North America in the first nine months of $5.1 billion, well short of the $5.6 billion he was expecting.
Meanwhile, "We're Number 2" is projected to gain vs. The "New GM".
Toyota Forecasts Profit Will Double to Highest in 5 Years
Still, Toyota’s projections indicate it will earn more than GM (GM), which last week reported net income fell 61 percent to $1.32 billion on losses and restructuring costs in Europe. Analysts estimate the Detroit-based company will earn $7.38 billion over the next four quarters, excluding preferred dividends, which last year totaled $1.61 billion.
Regards,
OW
Sometimes, it's better to execute a few things in a great way .vs. do everything in a moderate way.
Look at Apple. When Jobs came back to the company he slashed the myriad product offerings and focused on a relatively narrow product line. Looks like it worked pretty well for Apple.
BMW is pretty successful, but you don't (at least, not yet) see BMW pickup trucks on the road here.
It's an important lesson often lost on big company upper management bigwigs, who see success as dominating all segments within the market they service.
Toyota worries me a bit too - I' m not convinced that the nuke crisis is over, what with all those fuel rods lying around. Another big quake and some bad luck and they could have all sorts of supply and production problems if they have to evacuate some more areas. Best thing they could do is crank up the Tupelo factory.
Maybe even kick Fisker out and move back in with GM in NUMMI.
Yeah, I remember thinking how nice it was when they didn't have an SUV...
"A day of driving during the press introduction at Virginia International Raceway here — a fast, challenging road course near the North Carolina border — revealed a Camaro that evokes blue-ribbon sport coupes like the BMW M3. Except that the ZL1 surely gets around V.I.R. much quicker.
Given the tenuous nature of G.M.’s survival a few years ago, it’s faintly amazing that Chevy now builds a muscle car capable of lapping the Nürburgring hot on the heels of a machine like the Porsche 911 Turbo. Call the ZL1 heavy, call it expensive, but don’t call it just a Camaro with a supercharger."
Muscles on Its Muscles, but Nuance in Its Soul (NY Times)
Waiting to spot a ZL-1....
Regards,
OW
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Regards,
OW
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Agree if they match your dream, it really would be a "New GM" baby!
I'll bet they don't have the B----.
Regards,
OW
I just heard on the radio today that tuna migrated over from there, and have 10 times the usual levels of radiation.
If the can glows in the dark, don't eat it.
They could target the FT86 with 200 or so, and not even overlap with the V6 Camaro.
All 4 of us got one. White shirt, simple old school logo, pretty cool actually, 1950s style.
Tuna comes Pre-cooked now???
Yes but the levels are far below levels considered harmful. What I heard equates it to one dental x-ray.
My solution - don't eat blue fin tuna.
Hm, now GM is going to tie up with Man United. Not sure how the Tottenham Hotspur crowd is going to take that.
GM Prepares to Make Chevy, Manchester United Announcement (Business Week).
Wife is American, I'm from Brazil. :shades:
Maybe we'll all wear our new Chevy shirts so the 4 of us match.
Yeah, but how often does a tuna go to the dentist? :confuse:
Guess I'll start glowing like a Jalapeño Spark.
Bright colors like that will make the brochures and TV ads but they'll only make 2% of them that color.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2012/05/carscom-recommends-the-2012-toyota-pr- - ius-c.html
I find that rather hilarious.
This ain't the first time CR goes up against Toyota - remember the drift-tastic Lexus GX? They put a "Do Not Buy" stamp on it, even though a Jeep they tested also skidded out in their tests and got no such stamp (maybe they felt sorry since they were bankrupt at the time?).
Cars.com says the Prius C is more affordable than a Sonic.
GM Reports Highest Monthly Sales in 33 Months
The market was way up, but a year ago a lot of competitors had no supply due to the tsunami so these are gains over a good month last year.
In related news...
http://usat.ly/LdwfCW
And, the cars being purchased are being sold for more, too...
http://usat.ly/KvOIfX
It's all relative, I guess.. When I was 16 you could buy a name brand loaf of bread for $.30, and a gallon of gas for the same price. Just like today...
I feel old sometimes...
Then I remind him he was making $30 a week back then - and he was doing good.
Even today the price of gasoline is cheap. I remember in 2009 a gallon gasoline was cheaper than a gallon of (non-premium) bottled water. Read more at
http://lewrockwell.com/armentano-d/armentano29.1.html