smk4565

Person B should buy a 3 year old 550i. Or there are some 06 STS-Vs for $40 grand around here, $45-48k for 07s. Cadillac does make a great used car buy. Which is great for people like me that like to buy a 2 year old car, but not good for GM or a new car buyer.

It is good to see retail sales of the key cars like the Malibu up, they need to get away from the fleet cars that kill resale values. Hummer down 23%, they aren't even on pace to sell 40,000 units this year. This brand can be dumped, it is going to be a big CAFE liability and the money would be better spent on Cadillac. Buick down 18.2%, on pace for under 150,000 sales this year. This brand is dying faster than it's customer base. Chevy was down 16.9%, that can't all be due to less Malibus to Avis, they need an all new Cobalt, all new Impala, and a hybrid that gets 40+ mpg city like the Prius. (The Volt could be huge, but they need a low cost hybrid also) A minivan and a better Aveo wouldn't hurt either. They should make Pontiac a fleet brand and give Chevy the product it needs. Chevy should get 2 products per year (10-12 products 5-6 year cycle) as good as the 08 Malibu.

They should actually compare the G8 to the STS, they are the same length and weight. The G8 is 5 inches longer than the 550i. The STS flopped because it wasn't as good as a 5-series (bland styling too) and was too big to handle like the smaller German cars, the same size car with a rubbermaid interior isn't a competitor to the 5-series when the STS isn't even a legit competitor. When the G8 gets 7.1 surround 14 speaker stereo, night vision, active steering, lasar cruise control, blind spot monitor, auto on/off high beams, 20-way seats, power sunshades, free maintenance, 12 year rust warranty, heated and power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, etc, etc then the discussion can begin. I would love to see GM make a 5-series competitor, but right now they don't have one. The 5-series is great to drive, but I don't care for the styling. If they finally do challenge the 5-series and E-class Cadillac will be the brand to do it. I don't think GM has the resources or guts though to make a CTS that bases at $52,000 like the E-class.

The Mustang GT vs XLR comparison is no worse than a G8 vs 550i comparison. BMW 550i drivers are probably not even considering cars under $55,000 let alone $33,000. The G8 is as fast as a 550i at less cost, a Mustang GT or is faster than an XLR at much less the cost. The 550i has more luxury features than an XLR or STS-V so to compare it to a car with an interior worse than the Malibu is not a valid comparison. Interior room does not equal luxury either, otherwise the G8 is more luxurious than a CTS, plus it is faster 0-60 so I guess the G8 is better than a CTS using Pontiac logic. Pontiac should compare the G8 to the Charger, 300, Genesis, maybe a G35 sedan.

A couple parts of it are funny, but I am not sure GM made that ad either, it seems too tacky. I don't like comparisons with cars that are not the same class, like Hyundai Genesis vs 7-series and A8 comparos. A Mustang GT is faster 0-60 than an $80,000 XLR and has more interior room, does that make the Mustang a better and more luxurious car? The 550i does 0-60 in 5.2 seconds, so the G8 isn't faster. The 550i has a nice twin turbo V8 and 8-speed automatic coming soon.

I never knew that, but Sigma is old anyway, it came out in 2002, the 5-series will have had 2 new chassis (E60 in 2004 and F10 in 2010) during Sigma's lifetime. If Sigma can't do convertibles, then they need to engineer that into SigmaII, along with some weight saving materials.

While I doubt anyone shopping for a $95,000 SL550 is considering anything from Cadillac, there has been a CTS convertible rumor for a while. I remember the dealer telling me that it was in the works a couple years ago, they also said awd and a coupe were coming, so they got 2 of those. But GM changes their minds a lot, so who knows if we'll see a convertible. They might as well built it since the XLR is supposed to get canned in a couple years. Unless they are planning on doing a BTS convertible . But they should have one in their lineup.

A Tahoe or Yukon isn't any more useful than an Acadia (aside from towing), although a better comparison is the Mercedes GL320. The Mercedes is heavy at 5300 pounds, but a Tahoe/Escalade is heavier, and both vehicles are the same length and have the same number of seats and the Benz tows over 7000 lbs and gets better mileage than the Tahoe Hybrid. 3200 pounds for a Jetta isn't bad, a Cobalt is the same and the Cobalt is all plastic. The M5 is just over 4000 lbs, a CTS-V is 4300 lbs with an automatic. The next M5 has the front part of the chassis made of aluminum (50/50 balance and cut weight) and they will use carbon fiber as well, so it should be under 4000 pounds.

The 135i does 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. Personally I find it too small and a little ugly, but the G8 with it's big 6 liter engine can't do that, the GXP version won't either. Here are the weights what you call heavy Germans (each car with an automatic, rear drive) 535i: 3703 pounds E350: 3740 pounds 550i: 3803 pounds CTS: 3874 pounds G8 V6: 3885 pounds E550: 3885 pounds Looks like the CTS is 134 lbs more than the Benz and 171 lbs more than the BMW. A Jaguar XJ which is over 200 inches long is only 3770 pounds, ah the benefits of aluminum. The G8 with 260 hp is equal or more weight than the 360 and 382 hp Germans, how sporting is the G8? GM needs to get cars on a diet. Especially the Vue and Lambdas.

I think I am on the right side more than 40%. The Vue is built on the Theta platform that launched in 2002. The 9-4X and BRX are rumored to be more midsize on Theta premium (sounds like GM marketing at work), which incorporates Epsilon 2 with the Theta platform. At the end of the day it is still a front drive geared platform based off the Vue/Equinox. That's not good enough for a Cadillac, especially if a 180 inch long Vue is 4325 pounds. What will the BRX be if it is 190 inches long and has more sound deadening and luxury features, 4600 lbs? The SRX is lighter than the Vue despite being 14 inches longer and have more equipment on board, and it is rear drive as a Cadillac should be. They are killing a good chassis for the low cost option.

The AWD Vue is 4325 pounds, the AWD SRX V6 is 4320 pounds, despite being much larger, the SRX weighs less. The SRX chassis is superior to what the BRX will ride on, and is rear drive. The front drive BRX won't ever handle like the SRX does. The SRX also has the best interior of any current Cadillac including the CTS. The SRX suffers from dated looking exterior and it looks like a station wagon. Most cars have plastic grilles, but BMW and Mercedes do not.

According to Car and Driver Cadillac really is killing the SRX, STS, DTS and XLR in the 2010-2011 time frame. 3 of the 4 renaissance cars will be gone. I am actually glad to see the DTS go, although replacing it with a Holden Caprice style car isn't much better. I was really optimistic about Cadillac in 2003-2004, it seemed like they were on the comeback, now they have just leveled off and seem to be giving up almost, and content to be like Lincoln and Acura.

Killing the STS, SRX, XLR, and DTS and replacing them with a dressed up Vue and dressed up, long wheel base G8 with V6 only power is a new beginning of greatness?

I'm not even sure Cadillac will offer many V8s in the future, without a DOHC one, they will never match the Germans or Lexus in refinement, so they'll have to stay under the $50,000 price range aside from a car like the CTS-V. If the DTS replacement is 204 inches long like rumors suggest, it will appeal to older people like the Lucerne, DTS, Town Car do now. Older folks don't care much about speed, so a V6 will satisfy those buyers. (although my grandfather is 84 and bought a Grand Marquis last year because he likes big old American cars with V8s) Buick doesn't need a V8, old folks buy them and the 300 hp can be had from a V6, and that just as much power that's in the Buick Supers now. Buick's top selling engine is still a 197-200 hp V6, 300 is way more power than any Buick buyer will need. If GM is really worried about fuel economy, they should start cutting the weight of their cars. The Vue went up 400 lbs, the CTS went up about 200 lbs. The Lambdas are 400 pounds more than the CX-9 or SRX, the Solstice is heavier than the Miata, etc.

The Camaro probably won't base under $20,000 like the Mustang or get the fleet sales the Mustang gets. The Mustang has a longer more consistent history, so that helps it. The Camaro will likely be a better car, retail sales will probably be close. What BMW model does the G8 compete with? It is 1 inch shorter than a 7-series, but priced below a 1-series. The Malibu competes with the DTS more so than the G8 competes with BMW. The G8 is not a luxury car, it doesn't have the equipment a BMW has.

Except most Saab owners (or perspective owners) find Hummers offensive, and they think Cadillacs are old geezer land barges, or are offended by the blinged out Escalade. My mom owned a Saab (after 16 years of Volvos) and is disgusted by Hummers and Escalades, if the Saab dealership wasn't by itself, but paired with Hummer, she would have never bought the car in the first place. It's been said on here how Saab appeals to the eco-friendly, protect the environment, Starbucks crowd. How can you push Saab as eco-friendly when it is parked next to an H2, the poster child for ruining the Earth. Saabs are built in Germany now at the Opel plant. This has made many people in Europe consider Saab as just a dressed up Opel, and made it a less desirable brand. Bottom line is Saab looses money, GM has lost over $4 billion dollars on this brand since 1990. Saab is loosing more money per year than Oldsmobile did and selling far fewer cars. There is no point in keeping them. It would make just as much sense to sell the CTS for $27,000 and lose money on every one they sell.

So the Camaro will compete with BMW, but will never live up to the Mustang that bases around $18,000 and is fleeted to Hertz? I do hope the Camaro is never fleeted off to Hertz, Alamo, or Enterprise like the Ford is. Nothing from Chevy is competing with BMW, BMW is a different market, different buyer, maybe a Corvette and Z4 get cross shopped a little, but that's it. The Mustang may have a lot of history, but it isn't that great of a car. I would guess the Camaro has the turbo 4 as the base engine and a DI V6 optional. They'll probably do the standard GM trick of waiting 6-8 months after launch before they offer an SS model, and the SS will have the 6.2 liter V8 from the G8 GXP with 402 hp.

What I don't like about the 08 CTS is the C-pillar is huge and the trunk looks stubby and high. The old car was better proportioned, but the new front end is better. The bulging wheel wells make the car look a little chunky as well, I like that they tried to make it more aggressive looking, but it doesn't look as sleek as it could. Falls way short of the Jaguar XF, even with the odd headlights on the XF. Cadillac is going to regret dumping DOHC V8 plans or V12 plans, because BMW is working on a twin turbo V10 that makes 625 hp. So much for Lutz claiming "the CTS-V will suck the doors off the M5." Although I'd be more impressed by a 30 mpg CTS than a 600 hp one.

Saab sales in Europe are declining as well as in the US. It is a money pit at this point, and GM doesn't have lots of extra money laying around. Where it the potential in Saab? A dressed up Vue with a turbo engine? A 2010 9-3 on a 2003 chassis? A new 9-5 that may never even happen since they sold about 2,000 9-5s in the USA last year? I kind of like Saab styling, I like the airplane theme stuff they do, the idea is good. But it's a money pit with bad sales. If they took the $3-4 billion wasted on Saab each year and gave every last penny to Cadillac, maybe Cadillac would be a global brand that could at least be #4 in the world, perhaps #3 if they really get it together.

Lack of a competitive 9-3 hasn't helped either. The SRX chassis was considered for Saab years ago, but it was too expensive. They were going to do a Saab based on the Subaru B9 Tribeca, until the GM-Fuji/Subaru alliance fell apart. Saab lost $428 million in 2006, where does the money for a new 9-3, 9-5, 9-4, etc come from? Every penny spend on Saab would be 5 times more beneficial if it was spend on Chevy or Cadillac.

Don't buy a Saab no matter how big the rebate sticker on the windshield is. They break down, there is a reason they are in the bottom 5 of JD Power reliability rankings. Although if lots of torque steer is #1 on your shopping list, (which it probably is if you have a Grand Prix GXP), a Saab may be for you. I agree the regular CTS grille is much better than the V-series. I just wish the base CTS grille wasn't all plastic.

Saabs aren't a high end car, they are priced below Acura for the most part. My mom had a 2002 9-5 Aero that was loaded, nice car, handled well, but it was a maintenance nightmare, and was towed 4 times, one of which was 1 day after a $1000+ repair bill. The dealership service was horrible (it was a Pontiac-GMC-Saab). Not to mention massive depreciation, it was $42,000 MSRP new, and she sold if for $8000 when it was not even 5 years old. The Audi dealer only offered $5000 for a trade in, they wanted no part of it, because they knew it would be hard to sell it. We of course had several 9-3 rentals since the 9-5 was in the shop so much, the 9-3 is a garbage car. The turbo 4 is gutless, (the turbo V6 wasn't out then), the interior is cheap, too many buttons for the radio (its like el-cheapo iDrive) ride, handling and steering were average, it handled much worse than the 9-5. No discount is big enough to get me to consider a 9-3.

Toyota said they would have a plug in car in 2010, and Ford is working on a plug in Escape hybrid. The Tesla Roadster is already in production and is electric only, no gas engine at all, and can go 221 miles on one charge. The Volt goes 40 miles on one charge. The Tesla roadster is 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, that beats an M3 or Corvette. The Volt is an important car for GM, but other companies are working on similar cars, GM isn't going to be the only one with a car like the Volt.

Mercedes is actually going to beat GM on lithium-ion batteries with the 2009 S-class hybrid. GM may have the first plug-in hybrid but Toyota also claims they'll do it in 2010. The Volt is a car GM desperately needs, but I don't know if it can be called a "game changer" if Toyota has one also, or if the Volt is near $40,000. From Business Week... "Mercedes says the S400 BlueHybrid, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine in combination with an electric motor will deliver a combined 299 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy of the car would be nearly 30 mpg. Mercedes expects to foollow the S400 with a second lithium-ion hybrid, the S300 Bluetec Hybrid, which combine a 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged, four-cylinder diesel engine with an electric motor. That car will achieve almost 44 mpg." The S400 has the CTS, Tahoe Hybrid and LS600h beat by 10 mpg, that is pretty impressive. I know people will want to knock the 4 cylinder diesel, but think of how many S-Classes are in cities like New York, London, Tokyo, Berlin, etc chauffeuring CEOs around, and sit in traffic most of the day and never get above 35 mph.

Toyota has also claimed they'll have a plug-in hybrid in 2010. They are already the hybrid leader now, plus they spend more money in research and development than any other company in the world. GM not only has to be fast, but execute near perfectly on the first model year, which they don't have a great history of doing. As for why don't they spend money elsewhere, they don't have that much money. This is where the too many models and brands issue comes into play as well as the legacy costs. GM doesn't make money on small cars, so they don't invest in them, instead money goes into full size trucks. Another place money has gone is Saab. I read GM lost an estimated $4 billion on Saab from 1990-2002 (including purchase price). Saab lost $428 million in 2006. Why on earth are they spending money there, when the cost of materials, labor, advertising, and the 400 million thrown away could go to making better small cars or diesel/hybrid mid size cars.