turbo200

This is great input and a great perspective on this issue. I do still wish that GM will do more than unique upholstery and a radio head and call it a day. Really go in and at least replace the lower quality interior panels (lower quality than my own '97 Nissan) with higher end ones.

That's right, I've been saying this for some time. The only way GM is going to win back customers is through surprise and delighting the customer. Fleet sales are a big, meaningful percentage of GM sales these days, and this underscores the fact that less and less of the buying public are choosing GM. GM needs to try much harder than the current batch of Epsilon cars, 9-3 included, to win back market share.EDIT: Aura, being late to the game, is not part of the current batch. Hopefully it will meet the bar and exceed it greatly enough to win over lots and lots of import shoppers. I'm hoping for over 200k sales, by the second year.

daylight for me please..... some nice ones I don't love the winter in Chicago, but I do love the winter in pictureque locales... http://ph0t0graf33.smugmug.com/gallery/1192229/1/55773517 a boaty shot http://laylaenterprises.smugmug.com/galler...55557267/Medium ooooh, the things I'd do here... http://laylaenterprises.smugmug.com/galler.../55557266/Large

i thought you were starting a valentine thread, seeing as how i just realized that today is that day. though why we would need one is beyond me, oh wait a minute this is C&G....

I think this woman's quite sexy....i'd hook up sure she looked like she was on drugs a lot, but that's besides the point....

i don't know about you.....for her time she was quite the sexy woman. vuluptuous curves are one thing, but she's totally sexed up and very come get me. She was subtlely asking you to take her clothes off with her eyes, very nice.

it's not that this is unexpected, or even that it's a bad idea to give Pontiac an entry-level, Delta based car. It's a bad idea to do it on the cheap and not develop something to try and change the perception of Pontiac being cheap, just another Chevy, and not a game-changer. This has no chance of living up to the Mazda 3 or competing with the Civic. However, with a stylish wrapper, a quality and stylish interior, and good warranties, this could have been a game changer for Pontiac. Delta is a good solid base for good cars, but the Astra is an even better base, though that's best left for another discussion. We're talking Delta here, which is a good solid base, and could have given Pontiac an attractive proposition in the compact market. Instead we are getting an on the cheap Pontiac with no distinctive wrapper and nothing to warrant its existence. Seperation, brand distinction is clearly a necessity if Pontiac is to survive. In a perfect, transitioning world for Pontiac, they would have made that unique Delta car, focused on extending Kappa and built a compact 1 series off of it and started it at a higher price. Midsize and up would be RWD, since GM already offers countless, countless barages of cars based off Epsilon and W. RWD could be the last tool that Pontiac relies on to provide a unique niche in the marketplace. It's so far away though, I won't be surprised if someone else does it [Toyota maybe? they're the only ones that have the cash and widespread brands for it, Scion anyone?]......

it won't come out looking like that. forget evoke, (?), the entry level Saturn will most likely be the Astra in a couple of years.

they had enough volume to sell over 200k S-series/year back in the '90's. I think in this respect they are okay, but will probably add some more dealers. I can't think of the Saturn dealer in the Metro Los Angeles area, whereas there are THREE Mercedes dealers within 15-20 minutes in each direction from me.

ya, I'm not confirming it since I have no knowledge like that, but I am without a doubt this is what we will see. I have been pushing for RWD just as long man....it's an endless game. GM dicks around with us and continues to shove cars at the public that won't make a dent in image.

this BETTER happen. it would catapault them to head of class in power numbers and would be a sure attention getter. If CTS is getting it at the start of next year, I see no good reason not to have it for SRX this summer.[Although speaking from a perspective on GM, they will surely not have the UV8 ready for another two years, even though we've known about for almost a year already. The DI 3.6 will be delayed until the intro of CTS, which won't happen for another two years from the date I write today.]

when it's selling at 150k units, has excellent resale value, and a loyal fanbase, it can mean only one thing, it will continue to expand that base as word of mouth spreads. It's a great success even with those sales figures, and the new model will improve upon it. The Tundra is definitely a suburban truck for those seeking a bit more refinement and elegance [muted, subdued, classy exterior design]...

I assume you mean GTP. What is it with the Epsilon cars that they just don't seem as sporting as the class leaders? G6 can't seem to keep up with Altima, Accord, Mazda6, all major contenders, because it has an "unathletic feel"--translation: not nimble and rolls a lot, even though it may grip well and hold the road well. 9-3 also loses comparisons thanks to this and an underpowered engine for the class. Malibu gets away with it since its basic mission is not to be more on the sporting side. The issue is G6 has a sporty flair to it as part of its mission, raison d'etre, and it fails to succeed. Your opinion gives weight to my belief that more work needs to be done on the platform, especially if it is to underpin a Cadillac in Europe and future, hopefully better Saabs and Pontiacs and Chevys.

Since you posted that and got everyone's hopes up, this is what the REAL thing will look like [about 99.7% sure, being a GM fan has taught me lessons in expectations]. With only the coupe coming here it will be interesting to see sales, and how many end up in fleets. I expect the 2.4 to be the only engine to be offered. Again, GM doesn't seem to believe in Pontiac, and a part of me doesn't beleive in GM anymore.

I've always loved the SRX---except I felt there were flaws with the exterior and obviously the interior is its huge weakness. I would rank it as my second favorite lux SUV behind the X5, and it's more useful thanks to a third row seat that really can fit real human beings. Who can say how comprehensive this will be though? It's definitely needed, SRX is one area Cadillac never blew sales away and rightfully should have. People just never got the design.

as was said above, there is too much optimism for changes here. get ready to be really disappointed if you expect anything beyond the glued on Pontiac nostrils, bad integration complete. At this point I am having a really hard time believing the turbo will make it in there, but my only hope is the Cobalt will get it as was reported by some a while ago, and then the Pontiac could get it, but that's the only way it's gonna go, nothing unique for Pontiac I fear.

A DOHC engine for the Corvette sounds very unlikely considering all the efficiency and power they've gotten out of the OHV design. It could have been just something GM Powertrain were testing or considering, and that would be why it's labeled on that document. Internal testing has shown a 7.0L V12 also in testing, but that never came to fruition. A DOHC engine would mean more weight and more complexity, BUT it is something that GM should be looking into and could be looking into if they figure they have run out of ways to evolve the smallblock. Though I doubt that.

it'll be a rebadged cobalt, GM gave into the dealers, and needs to fill capacity after Ion is done. Hopefully they'll give it the turbo 2.0 at launch.

mercury milan i had a tough time with this one, since i can't objectively say i don't like a company, but then i thought of mercury and i realized there's nothing really there.....so i don't like them because they don't offer anything special, aside from this

great article. he's got an interesting bio, and I like the way he talks, "sense of purpose-to galvanize the organization." Interesting times ahead.

Many people have said this is one good lucking truck. If it's anything like the Antara, or Aura or Sky, I will love it.

My housing costs are ridiculous. I have no health insurance. I live very frugally. I have financial independence and have had it for almost three years now. I don't complain, things will get better down the road.

with an excellent new tranny and engine combination that are competitive with everything else out there in the entry-level luxury class, not to mention the family sedan category.Northstar isn't nearly as relevant, or as advanced, or as fresh as this engine, so I agree with that point. Just being a good engine doesn't mean you share the characteristics of efficiency, refinement, and tech your newest competitors do.

another Tahoe last night. that makes three... Tahoe is completely distinguishable from refreshed TB, shame on you