Opinion
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Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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The Near-Future of Saturn By Brian Dreggors SKY Introduced in early 2006 as a 2007 model, Saturn's SKY was a true watershed in the Saturn lineup. Cutting through the clutter to deliver halo car performance at a ridiculous price, the small roadster proved extremely popular. Retailers quickly saw their stocks of naturally-aspirated SKYs and turbocharged SKY Red Lines evaporate before their eyes; some markets have even resorted to purchasing barely-used SKYs on eBay just to have something on the lot. With 2007s completely sold out, early adopters got bragging rights, but those who wait for '08 get the following: Standard (formerly optional) Limited-slip differential S…
Last reply by PurdueGuy, -
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Some people here on NET are marred by stupidity and so much ignorance it isn't even funny. Since Lutz's arrival we have see GM go from a company that produced mediocre vehicles that were reliable, and often attractive but never exuded the norm in terms of quality and performance. We have, because of Lutz's product direction, Welburn's design direction, and Andrew Farah's engineering direction, a company that hasn't once yet, in the past 5 years put out vehicle that didn't win some sort of acclaim. Corvettes are considered Ferrari beaters, Cadillacs are comparable to BMWs and Benzes, Malibus are more efficient and better styled than CamCords, Cobalts are as efficient as …
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
The New Tundra 1 2
by Variance- 52 replies
- 13k views
The New Tundra: Success or Strike 3? -Variance February 11, 2006 Image: Toyota/Lexus/Scion Pressroom The Toyota Camry is the best-selling car in America. It has been thanks to its reputation for being impeccably reliable, styling that’s not unpleasing to the eye (but not particularly thrilling to look at) and being basically just a good Average Joe car. The 2007 Camry with its (slightly) bolder styling, increased power and available hybrid powertrain will likely allow the Camry to keep its best-seller crown. But I’m not here to talk about the Camry. I’m writing this to reflect on Toyota’s full-size pickup, the Tundra, which has been everything but a best-seller. …
Last reply by Hudson, -
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The Revolution Revisited -Variance April 14, 2006 You may recall six months ago I wrote my article Saturn’s Revolution. In it, I waxed lyrical about Saturn’s latest products and thought they were they key to a complete Saturn turnaround. The three products as you know are the Sky, Aura, and Outlook. The thing of it is that back then, we didn’t know the Sky would have much more to offer, the Aura was still a concept and the Outlook hadn’t even been revealed to public eyes yet. Fast-forward six months later to the New York International Auto Show... The Sky with No Limit If you needed any more reason to lust after a Sky, I’d first smack you upside the head and kin…
Last reply by Ravenfreak13, -
The Solstice GXP Will Add Volume
by Guest Josh- 7 replies
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When General Motors revealed the 2006 Solstice GXP to the world shortly after midnight and into a hopefully better year than ‘05 it garnered the utmost of attention from enthusiasts around the Internet. The sleek, sporty, most successful GM launch since the “Lutz-era” began has sparked a firestorm of Solstii’s since it’s first initial build in August of ‘05. Since then, deliveries have reached as far up to V.I.N. 9,000 and above. While others report that the Solstice is still projected to build “only 20k units per year” I’d kindly like to argue that point. Considering the fact that the 2006 Pontiac Solstice was projected at 20k units per year before the GXP is one glarin…
Last reply by Teh Ricer Civic!, -
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The Spoof in Advertising “What the hell was that?” A Tama Article September 4, 2006 To most folks, advertising is an accepted, albeit annoying, part of everyday life. In fact, we Americans are so heavily bombarded by the advertising juggernaut that we now subconsciously filter it all out. What would be considered an offensive amount in other countries, we consider normal. But to a company, advertising is vital. It is the face of your business that is broadcast to the entire buying public. If played correctly, it can shape your corporate image contrary to any shred of reality. If done poorly, the effects are the same. Knowing that perception is 90 percent of reality …
Last reply by Variance, -
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The Subtleties of Car Magazines By Mystik Intro For the better part of these past few years, GM and its domestic counterparts have been at the forefront of media attack. They’re vehicles have been deemed underwhelming, and paling in comparison to those from import manufacturers. From the lowly Cobalt, to the muscular H3 to the sporty Solstice, each one of these vehicles, although a great improvement over previous iterations, were all reduced to a failure in comparison to they’re Asian counterparts. So it does seem that these Asian cars are the darlings of the automotive media, and should bear the right to put at the forefront of car news…right? Magazine Buyers Luck…
Last reply by knightfan26917, -
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The past couple of weeks at the Cheers & Gears Detroit Garage has been interesting for the past couple of weeks. Last week saw a Fiat 500C Abarth and the week before was a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR. During a conversation with a colleague of mine, the question was asked which car would I feel more comfortable in pushing. The answer I gave surprised him when I said that I would take the 500. My reasoning for this choice comes down to this; the Lancer Evolution has a lot more exploitation available thanks to computer wizardry and a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine. You can corner much faster and go a lot quicker than in many vehicles, which can make you f…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Sometimes, it's good to put things into perspective. Case in point: Last week I had the good fortune of riding in my friend Craig's 36 Ford sedan. This is a project that he has been working for the past few years and for the most part it's finish - just some slight paintwork and a few other odds and ends. Sitting in this car was a throwback. An example was the seats - they felt springy and cushy, not firm and supportive like modern cars. The dash is just painted metal with a set of dials and knobs. Your only source of ventilation? Opening the windows or lifting a latch behind the hood. If you want the access the trunk? Lift up the back seat. As for the ride itself, it f…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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http://themagsreport.blogspot.com/2007/04/...t-25-years.html SRX Z06 Aurora SL2 CTS-V Aura Impala SS (Caprice body) Grand National Fiero GTO Thoughts?
Last reply by vonVeezelsnider, -
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Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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SAME CONCEPT across different makes/COOs. #inarut
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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New York Times editorialist Thomas Friedman's recent piece attacking and accusing General Motors as being a major contributor to our dependence on foreign oil by analogizing that, among other things, the automaker is like a "crack dealer." These inflammatory comments have raised the ire of many here and on web communities like ours elsewhere. If that weren't enough, the Times refuses to print a rebuttal from General Motors unless it tailors it to the Times' wishes, removing among other things, the word 'rubbish' and 'irresponsible' as they are "not the tone we use in Letters." Really? 20th Century Fox, producers of The Omen, may have a bone to pick with you as another e…
Last reply by carman21, -
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Dear GM, I was born in Flint in the mid-eighties and have lived in or near it all my life. I've had to watch you gut this entire town these last twenty years by taking away our factories one by one and decimating our workforce. I'm not the only person who thinks this is unfair. I'm sure the entire city thinks its unfair. I'm sure the entire state, the entire country thinks what you did and are continuing to do to Flint is unfair and uncalled for. How can you wonder why you're losing sales to foreign competitors when you have shown so little loyalty to your home town? Toyota is showing more loyalty to the American cities they've put their plants than you have been.…
Last reply by razoredge, -
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THIS thread made me decide to start a poll. It's rather simple: vote for which brand you think should get the second Lambda minivan (besides the Chevy). It seems many people think Buick or Saturn would be a better fit, and those are the only two options besides GMC as I think everyone agrees Pontiac should not have a van and Cadillac and Saab don't either. So, vote away! This WILL be sent to GM.
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CTIxykcTH8...0gear%20pontiac
Last reply by VenSeattle, -
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With the average transaction of a new vehicle reaching $48,247, buying a new car is quite expensive. And while this price gets higher each year, automakers still make inexpensive vehicles. We compiled a list of 10 models that come in at under $22,000, less than half the average transaction price of a new car. Even though these are the least expensive model year 2024 new cars you can buy, most have a good set of standard features and all come with reversing cameras, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard. These vehicles are ranked from most to least expensive. For two of them, this is your last chance to buy one new. The Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa a…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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Toyota: Moving Forward...Entirely Too Fast -Variance July 18, 2006 As you may have heard today, yet another recall has been issued for Toyota vehicles. Over 400,000 vehicles worldwide were recalled for a faulty part that can cause an engine to cease functioning. 150,000 of the recalled were in overseas (outside of Japan) markets, predominantly in North America. Among the affected are the Corolla, Echo, and Prius. Now normally, I don’t see a big deal in recalls; they happen to the best of companies and no one is immune to them. However, lately it seems Toyota has got recall SARS or botulism or something. Toyota, Dude, What the F*ck Barbeque? The above-mentioned rec…
Last reply by MRDETROITMETAL, -
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So I'm sitting at home Friday evening, watching TV and I see the commercial for the new Rav4. I turn to my wife, who happens to like the Highlander, and ask her what she thinks. She says, "Its ok." Now my wife doesn't hold the same prejudices as me, but she also doesn't see in Toyota what growing numbers of the nation and the media see. You all know what I'm talking about. Toyota, despite current reality, is seen as the end all be all of vehicle reliable and quality. Now this is a reputation rightfully earned in the past, but isn't quite as upheld today. Now don't get me wrong. Toyota's are good vehicles. But in many ways, they're not better than their competit…
Last reply by Bandit 1, -
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My 2006 G6 GT is THE worst GM vehicle I have ever owned or leased. From the horrible electric steering (which is going to the dealership next week for its first repair, the 6 or 7th time the car has been in the shop) to the absolutely horrific Panoramic sunroof, which does nothing but squeak, rattle, knock, ping, slam, crack, pop, and any other noise you can think of right above your head, all the time, whether the roof is open or not. It's obvious that GM has no fix for the roof. It has been back to the dealership twice (one of those trips was for over 3 weeks, while I paid a $341 lease payment to drive in the dealership's stinky 2003 Buick Century with nothing in it…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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Phase Out Pontiac to save Buick and GM: Can Pontiac adjust? Or more importantly, can the public adjust to the new image of Pontiac? Pontiac has called itself the brand that drives excitement, but truthfully, it lacks any such excitement. I mean:the Grand Prix as a performance car? Come On! It is a masked vehicle most youths would never want, the stodgy, yet elegant in my opinion, Buick LaCrosse. These days the brand uses hyperbole to sell,and not in a limited amount, I mean calling a V6 a powerful engine is normal, but saying sleek styling, performance bred engines, is over the top! The main reason Pontiacs arent selling is the fact that they are no longer performance…
Last reply by Chicagoland, -
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Per reporting by state news agencies like King 5, a bill is being discussed today, Thursday February 3rd, 2022. This bill which has been done via Pilot Programs starting back in 2017 would eventually replace Gas Tax with a Road Tax. House Bill 2026 in Washington State would mandate the Department of Licensing to establish an early adoption program that would require registered owners of electric vehicles to pay a fee of 2.5 cents per mile beginning July 1st, 2025. Participant would be mandatory for all new electric vehicles and voluntary for older current electric vehicles on the road. Hybrids would be allowed to voluntarily participate in the program on July 1s…
Last reply by balthazar, -
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Welcome Aboard! A Tama Fictional Letter May 10, 2006 Dear Toyota, Hi! I'm General Motors, and, welcome! You boys seem set to take my spot at number one. Hell, if I didn't know otherwise, the media would have me believing you were already on top! Oh well. Since you seem set on staying here for a while, I thought I should write you this letter, and let you know what things are like around here! When the time comes to pass that you've officially taken my spot, these tips are going to help acclimate you to the position. - When you've officially reached number one, you are going to find yourself making all kinds of new friends! Those who have so far supported you will to…
Last reply by Mr.Krinkle, -
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It was a night like any-other an uneventful stroll around town and I saw it my first Turd up close. It was sitting in a driveway next to a Buick LaX... Intresting I thought. Anyways as I am snopping the owner walks out the front door and says so you like my truck. I say well I am in the market (lie) and just wanted to see one up close. The guy then being a 30 something macho man goes on to say that it'll out tow a Ford SD or Silverado HD. I soon find myself at a loss for words... I said oh really, he said yeah on youtube you see Tundra's (Turds) all the time strapped to a Chevy and each truck trys to pull the other damaging the drive-shaft and so on. I said sir could it r…
Last reply by gm4life, -
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G. David Felt - Editorial Staff Writer Alternative Energy - CheersandGears.com What will it take? Oil started the year at over $100 a barrel and now hovers around $94 a barrel. Oil may fluctuate but continues to stay close to $100 a barrel. Refined Gas production being sold overseas keeps the average consumer paying $4 plus a gallon and people continue to complain about Green House gas emissions and the lack of being able to afford the gas cost. Natural Gas on the other hand continues to increase in production keeping prices right at $4 per thousand cubic feet or about 30 cents per gallon before government tax's giving one a range from a low of $.60 a gallon to $1.85…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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In an article in the Sunday, March 25, 2007 edition of Parade supplement the is a column called, "Intelligence Report" written by Lyric Wallwork Winik (it says), and alleges to be a report from abroad. It says, "Europe: "No" to foreign cars Americans have embraced Japanese cars to the point where U.S. automakers like Ford and General Motors are fighting for their lives. Not the Europeans. Most show great loyalty to their own nationalities when it comes to buying a new set of wheels. In Germany, the 10 best-selling cars are all German. In France, nine of the top ten are French-made. Three of the five most-popular cars in Italy are made by Fiat, an Italian firm. And in…
Last reply by rkmdogs, -
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At every auto show there are big headline grabbing releases. These are releases like concept cars (Buick Avista) and production high end luxury vehicles (2017 Lincoln Continental and 2017 Lexus LC 500) that draw crowds and clicks, but after the lights are turned off at the Cobo Center those vehicles mean little to the average car buyer. Then there is news that matters to more in everyday life… important, just not headline grabbing. One of those important news items from the 2016 Detroit Auto Show was the repositioning of 2017 GMC Acadia crossover from full-size to mid-size. The GMC Acadia was introduced for the 2007 model year becoming one of the largest crossover veh…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Germany. Known for impeccable engineering, German vehicles usually have cutting-edge technology and are status symbols. Sweden. The Swedish are known for safety, and even though the only brand from Sweden is Volvo, they want to have a sleek design while making vehicles easy to drive. South Korea. In my opinion, South Korea is doing a great job with their vehicles. Creating Genesis as a stand-alone brand was genius because they can have vehicles close to or competing with the Germans while costing thousands of dollars less. What vehicles did I choose from these three countries? First, we have the Genesis G70. The particular G70 I am talking about is the G70 3.3T. It c…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Who's the Rental Queen Now? By Brian Dreggors for Cheersandgears.com Remember prom night? Well, not that part, but the part before it at the actual dance where the king and queen were elected? What a magical moment when the most popular and stuck-up get recognized by their peers yet again. Big whoop, let’s go spike the punch… Well, its that time of year (sort of) to have our own little C&G promenade and top honors in this superlative goes to Rental King and Queen of the First Half of 2006. Before you elect the winners mentally, remember we’re talking about cars that go to the good folks that pick you up and try harder, not government fleet sales (police and local…
Last reply by VenSeattle, -
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Many folks have chosen buying, over leasing an auto over the last few decades. Be it for company write off or due to wanting to just be in the latest technology every three years, leasing was for a smaller select group of people as most folks buying an internal combustion or hybrid auto looked to maximize the purchase by owning the auto long-term. Let's first take a look at the average life of an auto in the U.S., depending on your resource the average life of an auto in the U.S. is 16.58 years for the average auto, but some are done after only 12 years and some last 20 years. The full list of the 75 longest lasting models in the USA is here. Acura MDX on ave…
Last reply by smk4565, -
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GM's E85 efforts are clearly being noticed, so much that even my biology teacher, who's this uber-liberal granola woman in her sixties, started talking about an Avalanche ad excitedly: "Wow, have you seen it?! I've always wanted a cute little truck; gosh, I'm going to buy one right away when we get an ethanol station. Are Chevy cars any good? They are? Good, as long as they're not Fords. I once nearly burned in a Ford...." and so on. I refrained from breaking the news to her, that the Avalanche is hardly "cute" or "little", and that it gets 11 MPG city on E85. I can only imagine the disappointment when she and millions of other consumers find out. At the moment, the ads…
Last reply by PurdueGuy, -
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Boy did this guy nail the topic right on the head! Go read: http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/...192.A11746.html The only point he missed is the one about ego satisfaction. That is where some of the pundits who comment here are stuck!
Last reply by Cory Wolfe, -
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Jerome Flint Strikes Back--Booing the Home Team There you have it folks.
Last reply by Sixty8panther,
