FUTURE_OF_GM

Oh yeah... That's what we do (the american auto industry) we invest in brands and rebuild them, then are forced to sell them off by the media and 'the street'

And this is news?!?! I mean, it's not like they sell many "gas guzzlers" and all.

How much for the 30th anniversary?

It's too bad Pontiac can't ally with Chevrolet in some way, as to be the 'step up' from Chevrolet. Then we'd see a much different ending to the war.

And maybe Cadillac doesn't want Pontiac to get Alpha because it knows Pontiac will wipe the floor with the Cadillac version? (Seriously, the volume would be Pontiac based on price alone) but Buick is "different enough and small enough" for their version to not matter much. Same thing with Zeta? Cadillac didn't want a RWD Pontiac line because it would hurt their sales. But now, because of CAFE, not only have the 2 Pontiac Zetas that directly competed with Cadillac (The GTO and G8 wagon) been nixed, but also the entire 'plan' So Cadillac might be competing with Pontiac (Since Cadillac 1] can't get it's prices up to where they should be 2] Is largely targeting the same buyer and 3] will no doubt be DUMBED DOWN with the newest product) As a result of that, and GME's desire to see Opel (Saturn) displace Pontiac in the line up, Pontiac is literally 'fighting the world' in GM now. That sucks in a way, because Pontiac will never win out over GME and Cadillac, since money talks. However, it's kinda cool since Pontiac has always been the 'black sheep' or outcast at GM. It continues tradition. Am I right? Or am I just having fun being a conspiracy theorist?

OMG!!! I'm in love with "All Nightmare Long" I have a new anthem!

Well.... GM has lower the bar for Cadillac, so naturally Pontiac and everyone else has to follow suit so that Cadillac doesn't look dumb(er)

And why would GME care again? Unless it's to benefit Cadillac in Europe. But I thought you guys HAD a luxury car division?!?!

ORLY!?!?!? I'm patiently waiting for that PM

I had heard different. And Holden showing an Alpha concept (READ: the closest thing to Alpha that has been shown) kinda hinted Oz too.

Best car eva!!!!

FWIW, I think Cyanide is the best vocal performance by James so far. Of course, I love the AJFA style, but I was introduced to MetallicA in the Load era and one of the main selling points for me was James vocals. (I also like Blues) So that could be why I'm more into 'singing James' than 'yelling James' It just seems that James has now found the perfect compromise between gut busting and singing. That gives the overall experience a 'smooth' nature that no other metal singer can touch IMO. It's still heavy as hell, but not so 'scarey' that it could almost be considered mainstream. I think that has been a huge key to MetallicA's commercial success. (Not that I judge a band by that merit, but hey, it's reality) RE: commercial. A friend of mine was b*tching about how MetallicA is commercial now, yet his favorite band is Slayer. Am I the only person that sees just as many, if not more, Slayer shirts and videos than MetallicA now? I mean the skateboarders seem to really be into Slayer and Slayer seems to really be cashing in on that. Just a FWIW.

Awesome!! I thought about ordering it. But then I thought about how much I loved the 'ritual' of going to the store first thing in the morning (a few minutes before it opens) and hanging out with other MetallicA fanatics. It's funny, I did that for St. Anger and realized that there is a certain archetype for die hard MetallicA fans. Most of the guys were exactly like me; bigger, edgy and very 'james-esque'

I don't have either, so I couldn't tell ya. I want tats but I keep drawing them up and bitching about how I can never get them exactly how I want them. However, my GF has both (1 tat and, at one time, 17 piercings) She could definitely give you some advice. :AH-HA_wink:

Hmmm.... So that long post that I made a LONG time ago about Cadillac lobbying for Alpha appears to be at least half correct? I'm fine with that. I mean, I want Holden to continue to have it's independence, but it's nice to see something other than trucks and Y-Bodys being developed here. Maybe GM can engineer a lighter Zeta, or a hybrid of Zeta and Sigma. Or even a Sigma II for large cars. EDIT: I still don't understand why Zeta can't be utilized for SOMETHING... Large cars, trucks, anything? And since it can't be used for anything, that leads me to question if Holden should be in charge of developing RWD. Not that I'm anti-Holden, but seriously, there has to be some logical reason why Zeta can't be used. Is it just too heavy? Will it not meet safety requirements as a truck? Does GM just not want to launch the cars in a softening market? Why?

+1 It seems that everything I feared (which enzl would constantly bring up) has come to pass. I hope you're wrong too, my friend.

Oh they will, and they'll be praised for it while being allowed to keep their "green image" All the while, the Detroit companies will languish without either (A "green image" or competitive V8s)

Ya know... I'm optimistic, despite all the bad news. This pretty much is what we were getting anyway minus Zeta. And who knows, maybe the bigger Eps II will accomodate AWD. Then when money starts coming in again, maybe GM can do a better large RWD platform. After all, Cadillac will need it to survive. So I don't think the question is "if" but rather "when" I certainly hope GM fulfills on it's goal to offer PREMIUM (READ: EXCITING, DIFFERENT, FUN) small cars. I'm just jaded, because the only small car made by a domestic that I've ever desired to own is the Focus (and I do own one of those)

RE: Kappa Thirstier?!?!? Was Kappa II to underpin something larger as well? Last I heard Kappa was in line for the new, smaller 4 cylinders. Maybe Alpha can save them?

I agree 100% And here's the thing: Chevrolet doesn't have that big of a perception problem. And if the Volt is a hit, and it produces a few premium compacts, it'll be right there beside Saturn and there will be no use for Saturn anymore. (Remember what I said about Chevy and Saturn fighting for #1?) The reason the Opels should go to Pontiac is because Pontiac has equity.... An established identity, good or bad. Saturn does not. Saturn is nothing more than a niche maker for the few people that won't buy a Chevrolet whereas Pontiac has an identity that is SEPERATE from Chevrolet in the mind of the consumer (Again; good or bad)

Yet another free ride on perception alone.

Nope, you missed my point. GM screwed up (as does Toyota, as hard as that is to believe) The problem is in how the screw ups are treated differently. It's pretty much akin to corporate racism.

Studio version of "Cyanide" and the video for "The Day That Never Comes" available now at MetallicA.com

+1 +1

So those of us who tow things and actually use our trucks will abandon them? I think not.