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Next-gen Buick small sedan could be built by Opel


wildcat

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Hmmmmm. Let's see. Build a small car in Europe, price it high because of the Euro-$ exchange, slap a bunch of $$$ on the hood because it's not what Americans want. Lose money.

Haven't we seen this movie before??? Maybe it's just a headfake to appease Opel's union bec of the loss of Saab production in Russelsheim? GM can't be that dumb can they?

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Well look at how Saturn's sales have been doing. Based on that, the based way to kill Pontiac is to give them Opels. :P

And what a shame since GM's best front wheel drive cars are Opels.

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Does this mean no Alpha for Buick?

Last I heard Alpha and Delta II are roughly the same size.

This could be successful as long as it isn't close to the Cruze in content, styling or features.

An Alpha Buick can be positioned differently, for example as a 21st Century Riviera. Done right, with very careful positioning and pricing, it might work profit-wise.

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Isn't Alpha delayed due to a lack of money? Anyway, when and if it comes, Alpha will be RWD. A Delta II Buick is FWD, right?

P.S. EDIT: See gminsidenews's homepage story, "Buick, Opel Get Chummy: Both brands may share a few models in the future...including Astra."

Edited by wildcat
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Isn't Alpha delayed due to a lack of money? Anyway, when and if it comes, Alpha will be RWD. A Delta II Buick is FWD, right?

P.S. EDIT: See gminsidenews's homepage story, "Buick, Opel Get Chummy: Both brands may share a few models in the future...including Astra."

Alpha was delayed until around 2014, I don't think Cadillac will survive that long without it, but oh well. I've always thought Buick should get smaller cars, I'd hope for upscale version of the Cruze, rather than another Astra import. Importing Opels and Holdens is not working, they don't fit the American market, and we often get them after they were on sale over seas for a couple years and are a little dated by the time they get here. We don't need to keep reliving the Catera, GTO, G8, Astra mistakes.

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Alpha was delayed until around 2014, I don't think Cadillac will survive that long without it, but oh well. I've always thought Buick should get smaller cars, I'd hope for upscale version of the Cruze, rather than another Astra import. Importing Opels and Holdens is not working, they don't fit the American market, and we often get them after they were on sale over seas for a couple years and are a little dated by the time they get here. We don't need to keep reliving the Catera, GTO, G8, Astra mistakes.

The Cruze is a Daewoo design, isn't it? Like the Aveo..not sure if that's any better for the American market.

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This could be successful as long as it isn't close to the Cruze in content, styling or features.

Though I think he was specifically referring to Alpha, PCS said elsewhere in this forum that GM's intentions are to (if I may paraphrase) make Chevy "nice," Buick "better," and Cadillac, the "best." A reasonable plan. You're right, FUTURE OF GM, as long as GM makes it clear what the differences are and why Buick is better and why Cadillac is best.

Me, personally, I've always said that I prefer something nicer than Chevy (no wonder I like Buicks) AND that I AM willing to pay for it. Thank you, GM, for planning a smaller Buick. I'd suggest that they don't call it a Buick "Astra," since Astra is now tainted by its failure as a Saturn. Nor do I think Buick has to revive the name "Skylark" (certainly not "Skyhawk," yecch); pick something fresh, Mr. Marketer.

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I think using the name "Century" would be a big mistake. The most recent Century was a plain-jane, old fuddy-duddy-car, and Buick needs to make a clear and demonstrative break from it.

If GM is going to use a name from Buick's past, they must be VERY selective. "Invicta," for example, would work on the proper model, because of several reasons: 1) it was last used more than 50 years ago and for such a brief time, so there basically is no one who would say, "Invicta? My grandparents had one of those." (Whereas with a Century, they could.) Also, using "Invicta" would be like GM throwing a bone to Buick loyalists such as myself. Though admittedly few would recognize the name, it would mean something to me. For others, it would have no connotation, so no problem. Which brings me to the last test: what definition(s) does the name have now? "Invicta" means invincible, powerful, a proper message for aspirational Buicks. (Again, to some people, they bring up Century = "the banker's hot rod," which doesn't resonate at all in 2009).

As much as I LOVE a name such as "Wildcat," it probably isn't right for a contemporary Buick. Perhaps one way to test a name is to say "Lexus Wildcat," no that doesn't sound right. "Lexus Century," absolutely not. "Lexus Special," no, not special at all. I personally don't even like the use of "Super" (super-duper). I'm not saying Lexus is any litmus test for Buick names, but if that's the target, that kind of buyer, what is selling, what is the market.

Remember, PCS said we have to forget our old, preconceived notions of Buick. Buick is going after people who want something a little nicer, have the money to pay for it, yet don't want a Cadillac.

"Electra," OK I could see GM choosing it, tongue-in-cheek almost, for a "Buick Volt," especially if they continue to use electrical terms on all the variations ("Ampere," whatever).

"Riviera" I feel is a classic, untarnished name that still sounds good.

But there would be arguably few others that you could pull from Buick's past without resurrecting the very image you supposedly are trying to get away from.

Still, had it been me, I think I would have suggested "Roadmaster" for what became "Enclave." "Roadmaster" is a powerful name, in control of the road.

The name "Enclave" is ok, and most people agree, it's the vehicle that most counts.

I might have used "LaCrosse" for a crossover, if it didn't have the slang reference we all know. ("LaCrosse" did have a nice, almost subtle way of a variation on "LeSabre." French le, la; sabre, cross, sword.)

"Rendezvous" was ok ("where luxury and utility meet," I would have promoted), but it's too closely related to the Pontiac Aztek to use again now. (Let it go, Buickman!)

Buick "Insignia"? (Better than just "Signia," the Buick concept that was sort of a ragtag Frankenstein's monster design if you ask me.)

I think the ship has sailed for Buick to use "Regal"; that, to me, is a 1980s Buick. I want a 2009 or beyond model.

Buick "Agila"? Sure! It's fresh, something new! )I guess that's what Bob lutz tried to do with "Lucerne," and his Swiss watch references, but it failed.)

Why can't, in this era of instant and easy e-mail and texting, can't GM ask present 30 to 55-year old Buick owners for suggestions, as a starting point if nothing else. (Yes, I'd make the age cut LOL) I think any of us would be happy to try to help to the best of our ability in any way we could.

Edited by wildcat
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ocnblu, I'm a stubborn son-of-a-gun. I'd vote "no" on "Centurion," probably because if someone says Buick "Centurion" to me, my mind can instantly picture, say, a '73 convertible. "Centurion" would have been ok for a concept (a concept, only) right at the year 2000, but that's it. [ Groucho Marx's voice ] "Opinionated, aren't I?" [ trademark Groucho eyebrow arch ]
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Flash back to 1978 and just reuse the same name: The Buick Opel.

And for the record, my dad's '85 Skyhawk was a FAR better car than his '80 Skylark or his '78 Opel. The day the '76 Plymouth Volare coupe with a the 318/4 speed was traded for the beige Opel was a sad day in my childhood :(

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