FUTURE_OF_GM

Because not all of us want to drive a 6 cylinder car... I'm all for it as long as the G8 stays as a halo... Even if it is a low production halo (20,000-30,000 units) BTW, I guess this is what GM meant when they kept saying that americans wouldn't be able to buy a car larger than a Malibu if CAFE passes. If that is true, then Zeta is dead. Sad thing is, it's not that GM CAN'T sell a car the size and magnitude of G8. it's that they won't because they're too busy peddling 2500 different trucks and SUVs. I'm not being an anti-truck nazi, but GM needs a balanced portfolio, like yesterday.

I haven't been to Spruce Pine in a few years but i do remember it being nice. Hopefully it isn't suffering the same fate as Asheville.

It'll be the best kept secret on the internet. I'm sure that soon enough this thread will be swamped with insiders making justifications for faulty Toyotas.

I still hate the styling of the car FWIW. Learn to take a joke and stop trying to start a fight. Besides, I challenge you to prove that Beethoven listeners (I am one of them) are more nonconformist than Metallica listeners.

I can speak broadly for all three but mostly for NC. Hurricanes are pretty rare and don't seem to have much strength when they do hit (And by that I mean, Katrina and Andrew strength) Tornadoes are pretty rare in the flat land, but we do have them, and nonexistant in the mountains. We had a tornado in the mountains a few years ago, but a guy stood in the middle of it and filmed it because it was so weak. Seriously... The mountains get a lot of lightning in the summer and it always seems to be VERY windy there in the winter. We don't get a lot of snow currently (last 10 years or so) but we do get a fair amount of sleet, freezing rain and ice which is pretty but dangerous. Of course, here in NC we're on the line, so usually VA gets hit pretty hard with snow. Winter in the flat lands is VERY mild with little to no winter precipitation and tolerable temperatures almost year round. Summers in the mountains consist of tons of rain, so if your a depressed person, don't move there. What's currently happening in Michigan happened here about 10 years ago. In NC, the economy splits with the terrain just like the cost of living. Where I'm at now, in the piedmont, the economy is booming (Housing is even still up) and the cities have done a good job of replacing lost industry with new jobs. However, in the mountains the job market sucks and everything is mostly retirees and small businesses that are barely profittable. The mountainous areas have done a horrible job at replacing the industry we lost. It's also a lot cheaper to live here in the piedmont compared to the mountains. Gas, groceries, services, everything is cheaper. And even more so in SC to the point that a lot of people live there and commute here to work (It's about a 20 minute drive) I think NC is one of the more expensive states to live in IIRC. The emissions tests amount to plugging into your cars OBD sytem to see if you're flashing a code. As long as you don't have a light on, you're fine. The bad thing is that now they can track your inspection via computer and mail you a ticket, but they'll send warnings for 6 months before they act. Oh, and it only applies to '97 and newer. 35 years and older are exempt from inspection period. Gas is cheaper in SC and inspections/insurance isn't required in the state (I'm 95% sure on the insurance) Both states have quite a reputation for tough highway cops, but NC keeps cutting the budget so there is less and less of them on the road (It's a shame, really) Small town cops and speed traps are a nice scam that seems to play well here too. I'd recommend SC, TN, and VA before I would recommend NC. Eastern NC is nice but Western NC (where I'm from) has A LOT of issues now with culture clash and drugs. It used to be perfect, but certainly isn't anymore.

Why fuel your aggression with Beethoven (The M5) when Metallica (The G8) is so much more fun and has so much more personality? (Yep, I know some of you have to conform)

So THIS is why PCS and GME are so anti Zeta/Holden. If Alpha truly is being developed in germany, that is. It would also explain why "Holeden will answer to GME now" Interesting.... I think GM has realized that a good mix of both alpha and zeta cars is just what the market ordered. That's GREAT for the consumer. EDIT: Nevermind... The article all but confirms the death of Zeta. Pontiac will on sell 30,000 G8s in 2009 and "the car might not be a permanent part of the line up"

This piece from a year ago points out the difference in parts content between domestic and imported cars. It also touches on some 'quality of life' aspects associated with accepting the logic that imports are 'american cars' http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/...11981.html?pg=3 This article from last year points out the ever increasing amount of imported cars that are coming in to our country instead of being built here. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/weekinre...nyt&emc=rss

Excellent post! I agree 100%. I used to be a part of a fire department and we would get frequent complaints about that sort of thing. We had one church that asked us to not run them during their service but, by law, we had to (Eventhough we thought it sucked too) Maybe we can find a compromise. I do feel for the blind folks though because their lives are already difficult enough.

I can see that... I wasn't really thinking about speed since I normally walk beside small neighborhood streets.

The verdict is still out on Tesla... I see no fun in electric cars, and as a result NEVER want to HAVE to drive one. Sure, the option would be nice to have for those of us that want it. However, ICE is where it's at for me and a large part of the enthusiast base. I've thought about switching to motorcycles as well if it gets bad enough. ICE powerplants can run on much more than gasoline, and that's what people (The general public) seem to be forgetting.

Amen brother!

Welp... Looks as if the media is hellbent on killing ALL of the fun cars. And what a surprise! All this commotion after GM invests heavily in an Ethanol company! Coincidence? Not hardly. Say hello to your future, enthusiasts. It's called video gaming, since we won't be allowed to have fun cars after roughly 2015.

Black primer, my friend Just a suggestion.... I think it'd look pretty badass on the Nova. EDIT: Nevermind... Looks like you're already thinking that way!

Squidbillies? (I dunno, it just seemed like something the dad would say)

I agree entirely... Maybe he got a little tired of the place and pulled a Dave Chapelle to take some quality vacation time.

True that... I couldn't care less about "your kids" (General quote, not directed at anyone) or there future. Your parents certainly didn't care about me or my future. That said, I do believe in preserving the environment AND doing all that we can to fix things now. My problem is with the politics and possible surrender of freedoms that accompany this panicked mindset that seems to be polluting the minds of everyone without common sense. We DO NOT need to stress out about this and hide under a rock. We DO need to find REAL solutions and innovate our way to a better future for "your kids". Why does every article wind up like that you ask? Because the THEORY of global warming (Oh god, the Al Gore zombies are knocking on my door now --- I must be silenced!) is what sells You know, to SUPPOSEDLY be so "advanced" humans sure are a skiddish, trusting and worrisome bunch aren't they?

And of course, Car & Driver is the only critic... Go figure.

Word is that the manual will only be sold in the GXP version of the G8 and G8 ST. The GXPs will debut this fall, apparently Probably a smart move by Pontiac given the market (I hate the idea, but I run on emotion and not so much logic) As for the article.... It made my day. And I mean that in the most sincere way.

But Uncle Bob, This is america... Differing opinions are not tolerated, especially if their different from what's popular. Any high school kid can tell you that. Get ready folks, it's time for homogeneous society 2.0 to kick in. It's already happening in consumerism, fashion and politics. What's next?

I saw a special on History today in which the "expert" on alternative fuels (He was an SUV hating hippie, of course) said that Ethanol was "bad" and said we shouldn't "explore it" but offered absolutely no justification for his opinion. Hmmm... Yeah, let's not explore the one alternative that might allow us to maintain our lifestyles and benefit the environment/oil dependency issue. Oh, wait, I forgot, the debate was never about that anyway.

Yep, it ain't cheap at all... I had the stock rear in my '73. Not sure what gear, but it was very mild. It was in pretty bad shape, so I was kind of forced to come up with the money and replace it. I dunno when I'll have the money to buy a new tranny (I ruled out a T56 because of price, for now) Despite revving like crazy and pushing 10:1 compression, I still get 10-11 MPG on the highway with 93 Octane. I'd like to run higher in it, just never have. It's pretty cool here in the city because you can pull up to some gas stations and they actually have seperate a 100 Octane pump.

True that... My GF's little bro wanted one for Christmas, so we got up at 3AM and went to stand in line. I've played it now multiple times and I just don't see what the appeal is. The graphics aren't that great and if I wanted to play a physical game I'll actually go play the game instead of trying to hit a sensor on top of my TV... Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I put that very set up in my '73 a couple of years ago. Lots of fun! Only problem is; I also added 17 inch wheels, so I can't really do over 55 or 60 on the interstate without winding the $h! out of the motor. Next step: transmission upgrade since what I'm running now is literally the weakest link. (Turbo 400) I'd like to find a good M21 Muncie or Super T10

Careful there friend... All those people on the board here who make it a habit to be nonjudgmental might judge you... You know, like when they judge someone who is different from them and bitch at that person for supposedly being judgmental in the first place. P.S. Thanks for the link to the new flag in my signature!