Croc

Wonderful. But it still remains that what's widely in use is this inferior, delicate form of the technology. Also, I wouldn't quite believe everything coming out of China. As someone who was involved in some high speed rail research for use in California, it turns out that a lot of what they put out in press releases is...let's just say wildly optimistic at best. If the technology exists and is ready to address all of these issues/shortcomings, then why isn't it being implemented? Why no retrofits? You can't put a price on the safety and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of people, nor can you on environmental devastation.

That is Chrysler's logo. It's a new one they unveiled this past week Klassy. I bet Josh Oliver already got a tattoo of that one.

Or why they still don't have a Blackberry app. I would bet anything that the vast majority of GM's luxury buyers who own smartphones own a Blackberry. I'd guess the Droids and iPhone are more Chevrolet and GMC territory.

Guys, the luxury market isn't the volume market. Sales numbers aren't at all what the game is about--profits are. If anything, Mercedes-Benz's push for volume in the mid-late 90s has been a large part of their fall as king of the US luxury market because they are too attainable. It's just like Cadillac in the late-70s and early 80s--what caused the brand's 30-year slide from greatness? The promotion of a Chevy guy to head Cadillac with the promise of volume. This led to cost-cutting and short-term gains, but in the long term the prestige was gone. Cadillacs weren't aspirational--they became common. It's a delicate balance, and it's similar to why I'm shaking my head at VW for their recent decision to go for volume by sacrificing on some measures of quality. No one seems to learn from history.

This is just now getting reported??

I hope this works in getting water back in there... I think this particular type of reactor is kind of old and should perhaps have been retired by now. Which brings us to the question of how costly it is to safely shut down and dismantle a nuclear power plant; it's an interesting and sometimes overlooked issue whenever the nuclear power debate appears. Yes. Apparently the spent reactor tubes have to cool down for TEN YEARS minimum...to then be stored somewhere?? We just don't know what to do with nuclear waste. And reactor tubes last for 6 years...but need 10 to cool down?

The XTS isn't Cadillac's flagship. Done. Period. Closed Quote. The End. Good Night. Drive Home Safely. Don't Forget to Stop by Our Gift Shop on the Way Out. Of course it isn't. And that's precisely why it would make a better Buick flagship than a muddled Cadillac without a clearly defined place in the lineup.

Well...it is a bit of both. There are design flaws in the Japanese plant, and multiple levels of redundant systems failed. By the way, we are actually on the verge of a complete meltdown. The more I'm learning about nuclear power, and how it works, and what a delicate balance it all is to maintain safe operations...I'm becoming less of a fan by the day. I just don't think the risks are worth it.

I think you just answered your own question!

And what money is that?

So? I'm just providing updates as I hear them.

Good. I like seeing a company do the right thing when they definitely don't have to.

Pure Detroit should have trademarked that.

When the new guy comes swinging out the gate with name-calling, snide insults, and generally obnoxious behavior...let's just say it doesn't go over very well with most people.

This is now being rated the second-biggest nuclear disaster ever, behind only Chernobyl.

Wow, sounds like financing to the hilt!! I wonder if Suze Orman would have DENIED you had you called in...

Well, since anyone who complains about the FWD shortcomings is ridiculed here, I'll leave that out. Also its dreadful FWD proportions. I'll also not start about how it confusing that Cadillac's largest car is not a flagship and seems more like a overpriced, rebadged Buick. The single biggest disappointment to me is that its too narrow. The second biggest disappointment is that it everything we've seen about the XTS's design screams "would have been sweet in 2004". The XTS is just a FWD generic, based on Epsilon II? Not remotely flagship material...but it will give Cadillac something to compete w/ the ES and MKS. THANK YOU!! Now my question is why in the hell Cadillac wants to compete with either of those two vehicles--that's Buick's territory. Lincoln has gone so far downmarket, that what? Cadillac needs to chase them with a token vehicle? It's just bull$h!. The last decade, Cadillac has been transitioning itself to an actual competitor to Mercedes and BMW with sporting, well-appointed cars. They aren't quite to M-B or BMW levels of luxury, but they have the driveability down. This vehicle does nothing to advance Cadillac. It won't be as well-appointed as a Benz or a Beemer, and it won't out-drive anything from either of those two brands. Ideally, Cadillac will be the third marque at the top of the luxury pyramid, alongside M-B and BMW. It will be the American, happy medium between BMW's emphasis on sport and M-B's emphasis on luxury. In other words, Cadillac will once again be the Standard of the World.

The CL isn't a sedan ? {'No- it's a coupe'. Whatev; it's a non-SUV, non-roadster; I think you kno what I mean.} Regardless- sedan vs. sport car vs. SUV- any one could be a 'flagship'. mercedees claims it's the s-class, when frankly, it should be the SLS. If they had done it right and made the maybach a mercedes, your hierarchy formula would work there. But most people would agree that the old school 'biggest is most expensive' think went out a few decades ago. It did at Cadillac ('76 Seville). Reading comprehension is good: Some buyers, yes. Fact is, the pint/quart/half-gallon/gallon sizing works well in the automotive world. You got a brand, and you have your size classes, and then you have content subclasses reflecting the position of the brand. Please, tell me one other brand that positions its largest sedan smack in the middle of its sedan pricing tiers. Please, it's a joke. This should be a flagship Buick, not a mid-level Cadillac. See, the reason I'm sticking to sedans here is actually quite obvious: apples-to-apples comparisons. Coupes, wagons, roadsters, SUVs, trucks, and 2+2s are niche vehicles that do not compare well across classes. Last time I checked, the Cadillac Escalade EXT is in a class of its own as a luxury crossover pickup truck. Likewise, how many brands have 2+2 4-door coupes like the CLS? Exactly. Everyone has sedans, and as I clearly said in the original post, the universal brand strategy is pint/quart/half-gallon/gallon. So until you have multiple comparable brands with complete pint/quart/half-gallon/gallon lineups for non-sedan vehicles, we can't really include those niche vehicles because it's an apples-to-oranges comparison.

I see what you did there, but I've edited my post to clarify. I think you know what I meant, anyway.

Some buyers, yes. Fact is, the pint/quart/half-gallon/gallon sizing works well in the automotive world. You got a brand, and you have your size classes, and then you have content subclasses reflecting the position of the brand. Please, tell me one other brand that positions its largest sedan smack in the middle of its sedan pricing tiers. Please, it's a joke. This should be a flagship Buick, not a mid-level Cadillac.

Doesn't change the fact that not only does this vehicle not fit with the new image of Cadillac in any way whatsoever, it also complicates the positioning of the rest of the lineup. Let's be honest here...very few people buy Sevilles/STS compared to Deville/DTS. Wonder why? Oh, because same powertrains, larger car, less money. Hmmmmm... This is just perpetuating the same nonsense that has been going on at Cadillac since the 1980s.

Bingo.

OK, is there anything I can do to protect myself to minimize exposure? That's what I want to know more than anything.

Did you not actually say that? I'll retract if necessary. It saved them money. Instead of developing an Insignia, Regal, Grand Am, AND an Aura, they developed just the Insignia (and did a great job) and slapped Buick badges on it for the places they don't sell Opel. For people who were in it for the deal, there is the still very nice Malibu. For those who want something nicer and sportier, there is the Regal. Ditto Cobat/G5 - Cruze/Verano Ditto Aveo/G3 - Sonic Only the G8 and Solctice don't have a direct replacement...... yet. And how many cried that GM was going to fail without Pontiac? Camino? Ocnblu? Anyone else? GM4life, I'm sure we could find a handful of others who said it as well. The fact is GM is healthier without Pontiac than it was with Pontiac the last 30 years. Forgot about him. He bought a purple Torrent right at the end, right? Because it was a much better SUV compared to the Equinox, which was just too cheap in comparison, right? Did he actually think GM was going to fail, or was he more like I was in not personally caring for the decision, but not being devastated by it either??

Aaaaaaaaaaand this one makes three.