regfootball

Now VW is getting into the Trailblazer Encore class..... https://www.caranddriver.com/volkswagen/tarek

Been seeing more of the new style Altimas lately. They all seem to have 'AWD" badges on them. Nissan's not gonna get rich on Altima sales though. TIme for a new Rogue though, those sell like hot cakes around here. Had Nissan turned their lineups over more quickly I don't think they would have these issues. Infiniti's behind the curve. The new crossover of theirs is a bit of a styling dud and thats the one that has to hit the meat of the luxury crossover market for them. I don't think its been doing that. I think we underestimate still how much over the decades the car buying public has been drinking the 'Honda and Toyota are best, most reliable' kool aid. Why people buy Toyotas, I truly do not understand, but they can poop on a plate and make straight cash homey doing so, no questions asked. I do admit to liking the current RAV4, but everything else Toyota is 'why would you buy that over ______?" to me...... Until Nissan gains back that swagger like when they introduced the game changing Altima style in the early 00's (or whenever that was).. and breathes a hint of performance image back into their products, it may be tough. Right now they have to sell themselves on easy credit and cheap payments like many other manufacturers do but it becomes a problem when you have to have easier credit and cheaper payments then Hyundai to move metal.

Nice family picture!

seeing the article on the internet about finding an old unconfiscated EV1 and relearning what GM did to crush all the EV1's, and seeing how Tesla has cornered a good chunk of the EV market now for itself without GM getting serious about creating a real competition to the Tesla products (when they could easily have wiped Teslas ass off the floor had they invested some real product dollars into EV...) and seeing how politically EV's seem to be well received as saviors when really there are plenty of ill side effects for the idea of EV mass propulsion (not to mention no useful or convenient infrastructure) and seeing how GM's electric cars are always small or niche models (Volt, Bolt, ELR, pickup hybrids, CT6) this talk of Cadillac going deep into EV's is all just a smokescreen. A smokescreen to cover for why they didn't invest in new competitive products in the Johan era. Truth is Cadillac is caught with their pants down, and like the rest of GM wants to appear green, on top of technology, and want to somehow be in the EV mix, at least in terms of social media buzz. so back to the EV1....that was the 90's already. A quarter decade and GM has still not nor has plans to produce any significant game changing EV that will be adopted by the car buying public en masse, that is affordable for many, and in 50 years will serve as a bellweather in the sales of vehicles in this world and nation. A point that your kids, when they are grandkids can say, "My parents had the Model T electric" (you get what i mean when i say that). Really all the manufacturers, none have taken EV out of social media curiosity or low volume high price lux car sales and smashed the mainstream barrier to truly change and create a demand for what we drive in America and the world to push for real everyday EV's. Sure, we have Prius and Leaf etc. But the Mustang Mach E might be the only vehicle that really represents something that might impact the future. I mean, global oil still has pull, right? That's partly why we still drive oil mostly. And battery tech is still for the few for the cost it is. Mining is an issue. Power grid investment is an issue. Electric power tends to be controlled by government and utility cartels, electric power buying and selling really will never be much of a capitalistic ritual of a free market. That is a huge problem. I filled my car with 300 miles of range in about 120 seconds the other day at Costco. I still don't see matching that feat any time in the next 20 years where you literally can pick any station everywhere and do that. I don't see any of GM including Cadillac coming to market with a game changing EV or line of EV's within 5-10 years yet. It's all bullshit. GM could wipe the industry's ass if they wanted to but they won't. Cadillac's dealer base needs revenue and customers to keep their doors open. They won't risk it by changing their whole product line to EV nor should they. So please, apart from one or two models that may hit and sell a few each year to be cute, please do not believe the crap about GM or Cadillac being a huge EV company. So in the meantime, build those Blackwing v8's and turbo 6's and stuff them in as many Cadillacs as you can. That is where you can still make bank. Along with real passenger and cargo space. ANd flip your middle finger to the feds in the process and their regulations.

Like I said, Cadillac gave up on the luxury of size.

no she is the problem if all that is being offered to the market is 1.3 litre subcompact crossovers. i have no problem with the market switch from sedans to crossovers, my beef is the regulations and side agendas that force the auto industry to offer smaller and smaller vehicles with tiny buzz bomb engines as the norm, and if you don't buy that, you get killed with a huge upcharge, just if you want a v6, good acceleration, and some elbow room. cadillac is a great example. absolutely cadillac took a sales hit on their sedans because of their size. I can't tell you how many times i heard people at auto shows looking at cadillacs say (regarding the CTS and ATS) too small, not big enough, uncomfortable. etc. Part of luxury is ample accommodations. Of course you are going to pick an XT5 if you are dropping 50-60k when the ATS is unlivable for a lot of people and the CTS is even cramped for many. One reason I love our Pacifica van is there is no shortage of space, and it was not overpriced as such with all the room and a v6. I also did have a Malibu, 2016 nice car. Saw a new Altima AWD on the road today. A relative just got a Sonata. Some folks will still buy sedans but they need to have better powertrain options at a reasonable cost than just the EPA compliance special. I would have looked at another Malibu but you can only get the 2.0 with the Premier, which ends up being 10 grand more for a turbo four. That turbo four should be an alacarte 1500 dollar option. Let me decide if i want the fuel economy of the base motor.

Maybe FCAPSA will sell this in Chrysler showrooms ? ”CHRYSLER LHS wagon”

Well, I did my part! dont Fret! Lots of great deals on used Regals for the next few years. In a couple years maybe a sportback for the daughter and then maybe I’ll find me a 2019 GS as a spare. That and a used CT6. Face it peeps. The era of any interesting cars is coming to an end between the Mary Barras caving to the feds and other regs. And the electric push will siphon all development funds from sporty vehicles. Encore GX’s will be considered mid sized sports cars in 5-10 years. I do understand and appreciate crossovers and my next ride eventually may be another minivan or some type of crossover

Well I was saying if I bought her a verano it would likely be the cheaper non turbo. However at a dealer near my wife’s hometown recently they had a manual trans turbo for not a lot of dough

Verano equals turbo free motor. And the style is cool enough for teens I think despite being a Buick. Nice size car for a teen.

Left to my own devices if this car wasn’t gifted I would have tried to find a cheap Verano or 2011ish vintage Regal for her. Or maybe even an Encore or Fusion. the 13 -15 era Malibu also. Maybe a captiva or aura or astra also was on my mind I think the verano would have been the coolest option once she grads high school maybe a current style Cruze hatch too But your point is true. The CUV is more chic. Although I think she is a bit against the grain. I really think the verano would be the best ride if the price was right.

no ABS light comes on, and the build sheet i requested from GM does not show it equipped as such. J65-power front and rear disc brakes, also no ONStar....... it has fleet code in the build sheet.

I bought a kick ass FM transmitter for the drive back. Works well! The Anker Roav F3. It may delay the need for a new radio with built in USB and connectivity. https://goroav.com/products/smartcharge-f3

Now we are a member of the W body club, the 3800 club, and the red instrument panel lighting club. Had to have a full brake job done just to drive it. Need to replace some bulbs and get a working fob. And a complete fumigation to get rid of the smoke or dead animal or whatever smell is going on inside. And I'm sure there will be other stuff. But i drove it back the other day for 230 mile return trip and i must say it brings back the older days of GM with the slow tractor like torque of the 3800 and smooth shifts of the 4 speed automatic. Not a speedy car but a reminder of what a good road car the older GM's are. And the ride on the grand prix is arguably better than my TourX. Shame this doesn't have ABS or side air bags.

Grandpa giving us 2008 Grand Prix for our daughter to drive....wish there was more cladding!

While i can understand how it would be attractive in the market, I can't like this thing. Anything Hyundai or Kia still reeks of faux to me up and down. I would spend a bit more for an Exploder or a Traverse or Enclave or even an Atlas. Just like I wouldn't get a G70 over even an Alfa or something, unless a huge discount was involved. My wife is hinting at not wanting the next vehicle to be so large, or have the third row. We must be moving out of that phase of life. I will give credit to the Palisade for not being so ungainly feeling from a size perspective.

I think just FWD versions are CVT. If that is the case, most want their CUV to have AWD in which case you can upgrade to AWD plus 9 speed and its a non issue. Car and Driver gave decent praise to the CVT in the malibu, although it is still a CVT...it replaced a 6 speed.

curious, does it really look better w/o cladding?

Too bad it has all the cladding! used car price watch. For anyone looking, some of the 2018 sportbacks with 25k or less miles around here are seriously on the market for around 16 grand. That would be for one with cloth / no heated seats and say no blind spot.

the CT4 and 5 are 2020 models. The ATS and CTS which Cadillac banked a good part of the last decade on, were small inside.

Cadillac spent most of the 2000's making mot of their cars smaller......

https://www.walser.com/inventory/used-1975-buick-lesabre-convertible-4p67j5x111126 1975 Lesabre

me thinks this Opel branded roof cargo box would be a neat accessory....

wow, yes, lots of CLADDAGH