FUTURE_OF_GM

That's the "default ending" that I've mentioned in many reviews.. They know the Buick is good, perhaps even better than the competition. In fact, the only flaws they can find are subjective. But, they do not want to look like "ignorant redneck" domestic fans and offend the import community, so they throw in the default 'It's good, but is it good enough?' line. You'll also see it often take this form; "The Buick Enclave is a good effort, but only time will tell if it can compete with the [insert import here]" --or-- "Whether or not the Buick Enclave is enough to lure buyers of [insert import here] back to the division remains to be seen." ---or--- "We'll wait for a head to head comparison test to see if the Buick really is up to the task." (Upon which the Buick, or other domestic, is ranked behind the comparitive import. CASE IN POINT: The recent MT comparison involving the GMC Acadia where they praised the car in recent months, but then placed it last in the comparison, and no doubt the Acadia was chosen because it is lighting up the sales charts now. P.S. This is EXACTLY why GM should never release a vehicle to the public before letting the media test it. Besides the fact that it probably pissed a lot of the trash in the media off, it also prompts them to do LIMITED test drives of 'whatever they can get their hands on' in this case, a LOWER TRIM model. Then they'll form an opinion of the entire line on the basic vehicle, as will all of their readers. This review would've been much better had they received a CXL.

Just as I've been saying. The empire will fall.

I think the new CAFE proposals include medium and heavy duty trucks... I really don't think this is a wise idea.... I HATE the fact that GM is selling EVERYTHING. Hell, they might as well have just went bankrupt or split up the company. We know who to thank for all of this selling.

I have to go with orange... And the more PULP the better! I also have a bad addcition to those Strawberry-Banana smoothies put out by Naked.

Honestly, fuel prices don't really matter that much in the world of classic cars simply because for most people, including myself, the cars are 3rd or 4th cars. So, as long as you have a daily driver, then I'd say 'go for it' with that '68 Firebird (I've always wanted one of those too) I have a friend who converted from a Camaro to a Jeep Liberty a year or so ago and he is always asking me if I'm "Ready to sell those Camaros, gas must be killer." I bet I don't go through 2 or 3 tanks of gas a year. Another alternative is Ethanol... Ethanol dragsters have been around for YEARS, so it wouldn't be hard to set that technology up on classics either.

That's fabulous... I'd buy it for laughs, if for nothing else.

Since cRAP is the music (LOL) of choice among the young 'uns now, I'd say this is money well spent. I don't think GM is necessarily trying to scalp BMW buyers with this, however I do think they are trying to ensure Pontiac's future by putting it on the radar of the youth and trying to make the G8 an aspirational vehicle; not to mention maybe generate a few G6 sales. I think it's probably a good move. Like it or not, cRAP helped the Escalade to prominence and there is nothing wrong with that.... Chrysler kick started the 300 by delivering on of the very first copies to 50 Cent as well.

I think hydrogen is the most feasible solution for classic car collectors like me. I mean, oil will probably be around for a long time anyway, and even if it goes through the roof it still won't affect me much simply because the cars aren't driven that much. But if something should happen to oil, then I'd almost bet on a hydrogen conversion of some sort being developed for these cars. There is just too much $$$ and too many jobs on the line betweeen the aftermarket and restoration businesses, the owners and the collectors for the hobby to just be abandoned. I just hope our lobbyists are in DC doing their jobs.

Looks too asian... It really has become a sad day in the auto industry. Every sedan looks the same and because the asians are supposedly "the standard" the sedans all look like $h!. No originality or anything, it even has that ugly cropped rear that the new puke-tacular Altima has.... Maybe it'll have the horrible cut lines as well or the same 'fat arm' syndrome that the front of the Altima (front fenders) suffers from.

What about Hydrogen? I once read that BMW was always planning to offer some models that featured Internal Combustion Engines which run on hydrogen. It can't be that hard to retrofit a system like that to classics and I'm sure we'll have that choice one day. I just think there are too many solutions and their is too much time. A 1974-esque situation is unlikely to happen. Hell, with oil alone, one company said that we have enough deposits in the gulf to supply America for 15-20 years, the problem is they haven't even started drilling it yet. We have hydrogen.... ethanol... biofuels... electricity.... I'm all for a mass conversion of bread and butter models to more efficient fuels. However, I certainly hope that us enthusiasts ALWAYS have options and fun cars. I'm really scared about all this bull$h! eventually endangering my classic cars... But I refuse to lie down and give up.

That posts serves as an excellent example of what I'm always referring to when I say that cars are so good these days that they are judged on "subjective, touchy feely" measures alone. Which means that the ratings have no merit and are LACED with bias.

Which means Cerberus might be the catalyst that ALL of the big 3 needed to finally bust the union for good. Think about it... Cerberus has plenty of money and they can see how COMPETITIVE a UAW-free Chrysler would emerge as. But then again, I seem to think that's the attitude of ALL the Detroit automakers currently. They're fed up and they know that they've hit bottom, for the most part. Share is close to bottoming out, the government is about to crash the truck party and they ALL face bankruptcy or serious fiancial hardship if the UAW is not capped or dealt with in some way. So, the question is; how far are they willing to push things? It's probably certain death if the UAW refuses to move, so why not shut the ride down a few years early by playing hardball? The difference with Chrysler is; they're in the best position now when the dust settles, with the deep pockets of Cerberus and their determination to turn the business around.

2 COMMENTS: 1) Obamas comments about fuel economy piss me off that much more now. 2) How is the RAV4 and american icon?!?!?! ----------- I used to support McCain until he backed that bill to cut Detroits throat a few years ago... I think I might go with Edwards.

First of all... I'm with Camino and 68 all the way. I'll give up my V8s when I'm dead and that's that. Secondly, I don't think it'll be as bad as everyone thinks. Americans do not like to conform by nature, and while I see some of us giving up our biggest vehicles, I do not think legislation against all 'substantial' vehicles will ever work. And if it does, then Austrailia, here I come! I really don't think it'll affect the industry too bad as long as it doesn't bankrupt them initially... We're americans, when faced with challenges what do we do? We INNOVATE and, just like with the 70s, I'm sure we'll be able to innovate our way out of this too. GM stated that the technology in the Volt batteries alone would allow a Cadillac Escalade to achieve 70 MPG. We're not out of the game yet!

These ads are working too, as my mom noticed them and mentioned 'out of the blue' one day, how much she liked "that new GMC" Oh, and +1 to reg.... I agree 100%

I just love how all the 'analysts' always want to milk 3 points of share off the total.... And what happens when this company downsizes to 10%? The analysts will ask that they downsize to 7 or 8%....So, that puts Chrysler at 10%.... GM at 20% now and Ford ultimately controlling 13% for a combined share of: 43%, by analyst projections. Welcome to the new import dominated market! Because just like everyone else, he knows that the UAW reign of terror is drawing to a close.

If the car gets good reviews, is MARKETED right and gets good 'word of mouth' then I'd say it is highly likely that a good amount of YOUNGER Toyota buyers will cross shop. But, it'll take a while for EVERYONE to fairly shop (If ever.)

LMFAO!!! Seriously! I think some of that stuff would be excellent! I agree that the sales people HAVE to be educated enough to INFORM the consumer as to why the 'Bu is better.

CAREFUL!!! You'll be swamped by the cheerleaders!!!! I think this is an EXCELLENT move! Hopefully GM will carry this 'head 2 head' gusto over into the Silverado and other new products as well. Be our guest; sample a Camry and see how much BETTER our Malibu is!

+1 GM is screwed regardless.... And they'll probably have to pay this asshole and all the other assholes one way or the other... Funny how no one has sued the FCC, Verizon or the OTHER automakers yet... This guys just wants $$$. Personally, I'd rather see GM blow the $$$ on lawyers for the principle of the matter.

+1 GM is screwed regardless.... And they'll probably have to pay this asshole and all the other assholes one way or the other... Funny how no one has sued the FCC, Verizon or the OTHER automakers yet... This guys just wants $$$. Personally, I'd rather see GM blow the $$$ on lawyers for the principle of the matter.

I think Pontiac's future rides on Alpha... Both figuratively and literally.

Osama is an idiot... If anything, I'd like to see Edwards get the nod (As he did acknowledge Detroit needing help when Toyota passed GM in sales... And he's from my home state of NC here, a state that has taken HUGE losses from manufacturing outsourcing) I consider myself more conservative, but I'm a registered Independent and I sure as hell have had enough of Bush.. I'm not so sure which way I'll go with this election... A politician is a politician, and they're all out to screw the working man and screw Detroit IMO.

I wonder what the oil industry thinks of this. Are they in fact NOT lobbying Congress to drop the fuel economy BS as GM, F, DCX and TM are? Seems like XOM alone would have enough money to buy off a few Congressmen with those records profits they just reported.

*whispers* Sadly, I am an in-the-closet fan of "My Humps"/ WHAT'S THAT?!?! OH, YEAH, YEAH.... SLIPKNOT RULES MAN!!! I didn't say anything about my humps, you must be imagining things. (Don't tell anyone)