smk4565

I can read fine... "But the ad blitz hasn’t had much effect. In August, GM’s 2,712 U.S. Pontiac dealers sold only 1,915 G8s — not even one per dealer. GM has problems on many fronts, including high gasoline prices, falling truck sales and billions in losses. The G8 illustrates one problem that’s often overlooked: The automaker’s lineup contains many vehicles that deliver barely any bang for the buck." Selling .7 cars per dealer is not a success. The G8 interior isn't good enough, the Hyundia Genesis has a better one and a more powerful V6 and a more powerful V8 (and more fuel efficient). But I think the main problem is the Pontiac brand is too damaged and people are just not likely to spend $30k or more on anything with a Pontaic badge on it.

EV1 was a bust, noble effort but it didn't work, so that should not be on the list, let alone #1. GTO seems high, the Mustang really created the affordable sports coupe/convertible segment. 67 Toronado should be on there since it was the first modern front drive car. Silverado has been a huge seller, although nothing is groundbreaking about a pickup.

This car should have been in development years ago, at least it is finally coming. How about pricing this like a 3-series and overhauling the CTS and making CTS $50,000 base. A 335i starts at $39,000 and can easily hit near $50k. And stopping the priced like a 1-series but sized like a 3-series or priced like a 3-series but sized like a 5-series, because the imports have been whopping on Cadillac for years. The GM beancounters need to stop nickle and diming, their engineers need to get behind the wheel of a 550i and E550, and the design department has to stop holding back, and make the BTS better than the 335i and CTS better than the Jaguar XF (the new #1 midsize luxury sedan according to Edmunds, Motortrend and CAR Magazine).

I knew in January the G8 wouldn't sell. The interior is too cheap for the price range, the car is too large to be a performance car, and they didn't change anything from the Australian version to tailor it to the American market. The repeated every mistake of the GTO, but in a 4-door sedan this time. It isn't gas prices or economy either, because BMW sold 5,000 5-series in August. Maybe the G8 isn't 5-series performance at half the price after all.

LaCrosse 5,814 for the month 29,045 for the year Lucerne 5,920 for the month 37,600 for the year Enclave 6,078 for the month 31,729 for the year 99,009 total in the first 8 months (down 21.5%) puts them on pace for 149,500 cars this year. I think August was their best volume month this year, employee pricing is probably boosting sales. Saab and Hummer combined have sold 35,000 total units in 2008, that's pathetic.

The Intrigue GLS is probably the best W-body I've driven, and I thought it was a little soft and would bounce or float a bit too much on an uneven road. The Grand Prix Comp G handles better, but it rode harder and engine lacked refinement. The Impala is the 2nd worst handling car I have ever driven (previous Ford Taurus takes that honor) although the LeSabre is really bad too, the Impala has better steering. The Camry is bad also, but I never drove the current generation. I am sure that the new LaCrosse will improve upon the current, but that isn't hard to do. GM often falls into the trap of thinking that since they improved a car it will be competitive, the measuring stick is not how much better it is than the current LaCrosse, but how much better is it than an Avalon (or Lincoln, Lexus, etc). What is the Average transaction price on a Lucerne? I don't know, but would guess it to be $30-32,000 since I mainly see the V6 model.

A base Lexus ES is $34,320, a base CTS is $34,420, but Lexus doesn't have employee pricing so a CTS right now is actually priced below the ES. For the LaCrosse to go after the ES, the base price would have to be $34,000 and like you said sell around $37,000, which is the CTS's price range. That won't happen. The LaCrosse now sells closer to 40,000 a year, adding $10,000 to the price is not going to double sales, unless they take 75-80% of Lucerne sales, which is very possible.

Agreed and the Sable is getting the axe soon. Another competitor is the Camry XLE, those can run to $31,000, same with the top line Accord.

But Malibu, Aura, etc will all be Epsilon II in time anyway, and all share parts. I'll buy into Buick making a better Avalon (although they have yet to do it) or competing with the Taurus or Maxima, but I won't buy into them competing with Acura or Lexus or Lincoln.

If it is priced much higher than what I think, it will be priced against a CTS. Buick can't command Cadillac pricing, especially with their entry level car. A Lucerne starts at $27,000 and that is their top of the line car, this has to cost less, or just cannabalize sales like the CTS did to the STS. Same chassis, engine and transmission as a Malibu, even has a similar shaped interior, it is dressed up Malibu, just as a TL is a dressed up Accord.

A Malibu LTZ with 4-cylinder and 6 speed combo is 3649 pounds, a full 200 more than the MKZ with front drive and 6-speed auto. The LaCrosse will be heavier, at least 3700 pounds, probably closer to 3800, so the MKZ is a lightweight by comparison. The Aura XR has decent handling, if the LaCrosse handles better then it will be an okay car, but they will tune it to float for the geezers and make the steering unresposnive, that is what Buick does. There is no doubt in my mind that this car will be like a dressed up Malibu, 10-15 more hp, softer ride, "quiet tuning," a few more features inside, but basically the same car, and they'll price it at $26-32,000.

I actually like the MKS look, though the MKS is too big and too slow for me to be interested, but when the MKZ gets that styling theme next year, I think it will look really good. The interior looks like it will be much nicer also, plus ecoboost is coming. The LaCrosse won't be better than an MKZ, it will float and have non-responsive slushy steering, and it will no doubt be over weight. The MKZ is lighter than a 4-cylinder Malibu.

I said a year ago the G8 would be a bust, and it is. Every mistake with the GTO was repeated. Astra is not nicer or faster or better handling than a Golf/Rabbit or Mini or Civic, etc plus Saturn has less brand image than Honda or VW, so no wonder it doesn't sell. Saab shouldn't exist anymore.

Or GM's Mercury Milan.

RWD > FWD. V8 in a Lambda won't work, unless it is a bad V8 making around 300 hp, which they can get from a V6. Front drive is limited as to how much power it can take, and the bigger engine will just screw up the weight balance and handling even more. You can't compete with BMW or Mercedes (or Range Rover) with engines, transmissions and platforms shared with a Chevy. They need better than that.

It will no doubt compete well with the front drive offerings from Jaguar/Land Rover, BMW and Mercedes, oh wait...

Fail.

No one will buy that. If Mercedes is selling 100 wagons, Cadillac would sell 50, why bother. Worry about getting the CTS to E-class price, getting a 3-series competitor, an S-class competitor, making the XLR relevant and competitive with the SL, getting a unibody Escalade that isn't a front drive platform share, etc.

This car is horrible. Acura is already kind of a joke luxury brand, this just seals the deal.

To do a Cadillac version, it would (or at least should) offer Cadillac performance, and be able to do 0-60 in under 7 seconds, which is a far cry from what the Volt can do. Cadillac doesn't need a slow, front drive compact based on a Chevy, that was an epic failure in the 1980s. If they take the technology and implement it into a rear drive electric vehicle that at least matches the CTS DI in acceleration and handling then they are on to something. But that won't happen, even the Escalade is going front drive. If a Chevy Volt is $40k, what is a Cadillac version, $60k? And can Cadillac get people to pay $60k for a small sedan?

The concept looked better, the headlights look too much like a Civic, and the car looks like it is made out of plastic. $40k for a Chevy will be tough when people can get a Prius (with the more reputable "T" on the front) for $26k. Some will buy it because it is all electric, but people that just want high mileage and low purchase cost will look at the Insight or other non-hybrid compacts.

The 335d has 265 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque and 23/33 mpg, that is better than CamCord 4-cylinder economy, but with Corvette level torque, so it should be quite good. The 335d and 535d are quiet too, about 66 dBA inside, which is Lexus LS460 territory. And the 3 and 5 series has always carried their brand volume, for the past 25-30 years those 2 cars have been considered best in their segment. Worldwide they are selling 1.3 million or so vehicles, they're doing fine and will continue to do so.

With the new $250,000 entry-level Rolls, sales should really take off! I do like how the Rolls-Royce emblems on the wheels stay in place while the car is moving though. The 5-series sells pretty well for a car that has been around a while and is $50-70k. The 8-series is coming back, and bringing a new V12 with it, should be interesting.

I don't like how it looks, because I hate how the Prius looks and it is too similar. This is a little better looking, but it is still odd. But no matter how ugly it is, if it gets 70 mpg and costs $20,000 they will sell a ton of them. 70 mpg (even 50-60) is huge.

I don't think they should throw in the towel, 2 years ago I said they should dump Saab, Hummer and Buick and just put more money into Cadillac. Saab and Hummer have to go, maybe dump Pontiac and keep Buick, regardless, Cadillac needs more money, more current models, nothing with a transversely mounted engine.