Croc

That's pretty hot. Unfortunately, I have this sinking feeling the next ION will really be the GM do Brazil Vectra...

It's not low expectations, per se, it's just that since I've been through it, I know the pitfalls and cop-outs all too well. It sucks...but I'd rather tell it to you straight than paint a pretty (and false) picture of how if you just do three things, it'll all magically melt away. Cuz guess what? It doesn't. If there were a magic bullet, we'd all have it and all look like the A&F model on their splash page. Of course...the weightloss methods I outlined previously are the healthy ones. There are other ways to lose weight...but they are unhealthy and sometimes dangerous. Just stick to the healthy stuff...the other ways might be faster, but they are more trouble than they're worth... Edited for spelling

The Pontiac Cobalt coupe, Bob?

What, you aren't soiling yourself in anticipation of the all-new Pontiac G5?? You've got to be kidding me.

Very interesting, indeed. Silly Chargerino...

Actually, I think it would have been delayed, but slightly. Nothing significant. Though IMO, I don't think any delay would be significant since GM is making small RWD roadsters a competitive segment instead of a single offering by Mazda. The fact that they were released later than the MX-5 would be made up by their addressing the current Kappa shortcomings (of course assuming that GM would have actually designed the platform better given more time).ETA: the MX-5 is so evolutionary...I think most of the sales of the Kappa twins are simply due to the fact that they are visually different than the Miata, which has looked about the same for over a decade.

No. That is not what I said. Re-read my post.

I think there will be a rear revision of the sedan to match the coupe. I remember hearing that 2007 is a MCE year...and with the Pontiac G5 I would imagine the sedan will have something closer to the coupe's rear.

Actually...it isn't the same. The taillamps look different. Also, Cobalt gets an MCE this fall...think a new rear to match the coupe is in the works?

Bull. There would be no "far and away better" Kappa coming if the first one had been done right.GM actually could have (and should have) afforded to spend more money to engineer Kappa for greater flexibility. Yes, it would have cost more money in the short term...but then we would have a platform that could be used for many years and even more vehicles. Platform engineering costs are amortized over time and through volume. The higher the volume a platform the sooner its costs get paid off. Again, it will take a lot longer to pay off Kappa through 2-seat roadsters than if we had 2-seat roadsters...and small sport coupes, hatches/sportwagons or even sedans. All of those would lead to more volume. More volume leads to greater profitability. Oh, and in 2003, GM's future cash problems were quite predictable. The GM of today is a continuation of the trends of the past decade (at least!). GM's turnaround plan has been in the works ever since Wagoner brought Lutz on board, and that wasn't 12 months ago.

But updating Kappa won't let it spawn other variants. The modifications necessary to let it spawn other vehicles would virtually make it a whole new platform.

Not if they are all similar targets. Look at the Infiniti FX, G35 coupe and sedan, Nissan 350Z...all of those are very successful vehicles, and all are on the same platform, with just a few modifications here and there. They are pretty different targets, no? So...what's Nissan/Infiniti's secret of producing one platform that is flexible enough for multiple variants?If GM had been more practical, they could have produced a small RWD platform that could spawn small roadsters, compact coupes, maybe even a sedan or hatch/sportwagon. One platform can underpin a wide variety of vehicles successfully as long as each application is calibrated and tuned for the needs of each segment. If Nissan/Infiniti can do it, then GM could have as well.

Except the GXP is better and on the same platform...

Cocoa with Cashmere? Has that been a running change, because that sounds a lot like what my father's 2006 has. Very nice combo.

He'd get a better workout running those same hills.Face it, the reason people use bikes for transportation is because they are efficient machines. You go farther and easier than you would on your own. I'm tired of arguing this. If you don't believe me, ask any trainer which is better exercise: riding a bike on hilly terrain or running on hilly terrain for the same amount of time.

Yea...again...when you're running/walking...you can't bull$h! it like biking. Biking hard constantly through hills requires a lot of discipline...and this is BV we're talking about. If BV wants the "easiest" way to lose weight...it is through running. Just trust me on this. Chargerino, were you ever needing to lose a bit of weight? I'm speaking from first-hand experience here.

Look, I used to bike extensively. I didn't lose my weight until I switched to walking/running.

Yes, but it is a lot easier to bull$h! exercise on a bike than by walking/running. Also, unless BV invests in one of the newer safety seats, too much biking will make him impotent.

Actually, believe it or not, the bean counters weren't the ones who rushed Kappa through with all its limitations. You need the bean counters at GM. They're an easy scapegoat, but they need to be there since their job is to prevent the wasting of money. GM needs a balance between bean counters and car guys. That's where Rick Wagoner comes in. If the car guys who were pushing Kappa were more circumspect, we'd have a more flexible platform that would be better in almost every way as well as being able of spawning different RWD variants.

First of all, I don't think you would. Half a mile is like 5 blocks. If you were morbidly obese with a severe case of asthma, then you might have a problem. My mother, in her mid-50s, runs 8 miles several times a week. Actually, biking is really $h!ty exercise. That's why it is easy to go long distances at decent speeds without much sweating. Walk or run...but biking if wasting your time.

I'd still call Kappa II a "failure" though simply because engineering 2 platforms when GM should have been able to do the job with one...thats spending twice as much as they should have. Remember, Kappa is so damned inflexible that to get it to support other types of vehicles would require so many modifications that it wouldn't really be the same platform.

You really just need self-discipline and access to a weightroom.Or you can go running at least 3 miles every day through a mixture of flat and hilly terrain, but that requires discipline. Then there's always dieting, but that too requires discipline. Really, there is no magic bullet. If you want to lose weight, then instead of sitting on your ass logged into C&G for 4 hours everyday...use at least one of those hours running, doing yoga, weightlifting, dancing...anything physically active.

Exactly. Companies can/should do more image vehicles when the finances are all in order. A company making a frivolous, limited low-volume vehicle platform "because they can" while they are reporting $10B losses is just stupid. Toyota, however, is swimming in cash and can afford to waste money.

Ahhhhhhh OK...

My apology.