Jump to content
Create New...

vonVeezelsnider

Premium Subscriber
  • Posts

    4,111
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by vonVeezelsnider

  1. It's allegedly on a longer wheelbase version of the platform the new Malibu is on - since that car is on essentially the same wheelbase size as the current LaCrosse I guess that means that this one is going to have more space. The front end may not be accurately represented in the picture- it looks like they shopped out the background of the picture on and they seem to have been a bit sloppy at the front. I really dig what looks like a coke-bottle shape with it getting wider from the rear door handle back (or at least as suggested by the sculpting of the rear quarter). Nice that they kept the sweepspear too. The interior will probably look better in a lighter color (or realistically anything but black). Really looking forward to seeing (and driving) this one!
  2. Was doing my cursory browsing and saw this - felt it would be wrong not to share it... http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/201507/876365.html#pvareaid=102624
  3. Based on the name of the concept I would be unsurprised to see a potential production model called the "Park Avenue"
  4. Sweet Merciful Crap! Now I can't wait to see what they have in store for the new LaCrosse. Also - do I spy a colored trishield?
  5. This is definitely encouraging to hear- You've done yours up exactly how I would do mine - Black/Navy/Gray with the Mojave interior. It's encouraging to see that it does ride softer than the XTS. While I had the pleasure of driving an XTS for ten days last month in Arizona, I haven't driven the new Impala yet although I've been renting premiums on my trips in hopes of stumbling accross one. I did find the XTS to be a bit on the stiff side for what it was, although not necessarily a deal breaker from my perspective. What I am genuinely concerned about (and could convince me to wait and look at something with the newer generation of infotainment, like the NG LaCrosse) is the degree to which the lack of responsiveness and processing power that is inerent in CUE carries through to the myLink system in the Impala. While they've remedied the lack of knobs and buttons, the software underneath seems like it might be more or less the same as CUE and I have to tell you, I had all sorts of lag and slow response in that XTS while I had it. The Impala LTZ V6 is on my short list to replace my current '07 Impala. I'm just waiting for them to show the next-gen LaCrosse that's been running around in camo of late to see if I might prefer a mid-trim example of one of those versus the loaded Impala.
  6. I guess I'll wait for my notice in the mail. The letter for the steering recall on in my mom's Malibu arrived last week. It seems like they're just airing out every potential skeleton and getting everything out in the open, which they are being an opportunity to do. At the same time, my parents have had their '09 for about four and a half years, and it's close to seven years and 100'000 miles since I drove my '07 off the dealer lot as a high school senior (hard to believe!). In all of the time I've spent behind the wheel of that car, it's been through seven harsh Alberta winters with bad frost heaves and unplowed/ungraded, wagon path-esque residential sidestreets to say nothing of the occasional sketchy country dirt roads, I've never had this happen, nor has any behavior of the ignition switch or keys suggested throughout the course of normal operation any issue. Leads me to think this is probably one of those 'hit-and-miss' QC issues where you either have a good part or a bad one. http://gmauthority.com/blog/2014/06/impala-recall-another-thorn-in-general-motors-side/ A story on GMAuthority today quoted a GM employee with an early-build '06 having this occur on I-75 while commuting home from work... Now I've never been to Michigan but I can't fathom how an interstate highway could ever be in worse condition than the roads I spend eight months a year driving on- which makes me wonder how much s--t would have to have been on that keychain, or how defective the cylinder would have to be to back off in a situation like that, especially considering the key goes in high on the column away from your knees (unless you're Shaq) and enters at a 90* angle to the column. It takes a conscious effort to move the key out of "run" in my Impala- certainly more effort than I could imagine being caused by g-forces associated with a pothole or frost heave- and I have ten keys on my keychain. Guess I'll wait and see- maybe I'll post pics of the key once they're done drilling "speed holes" in it (LOL)
  7. The proportions and stance are very promising. Can't wait to see it without the Camo.
  8. Like frogger said, if they can keep the price point and trim levels in the same neighborhood- then they have my attention.
  9. Probably going to open myself up with this but I'm not negative on this car - at all. Yes the grille is like that from a 5-Series without the center crossmember, and yes it doesn't have the nicer tailiights of the Cadenza which to me look more premium, and yes that white woodgrain is funky- of course I have a weeping birch tree in my front yard which is white/silver/gray so I guess it's not that foreign to me. Would like to see it in the flesh to evaluate the styling. Many cars these days, including the LaCrosse do not photograph as well as they look in person. Cory is right when he says that this certainly isn't the anonymous immitator that Hyundai's own offering is. May be cheaper, albeit slightly, than the Equus... the materials don't look quite as nice as the MY14 Horse, nor does it appear to have the air suspension setup and what not. My main concerns surrounding the Equus are the expense associated potentially with the air suspension over time (replacement at $1200+ Labor /corner) and slightly too weak MPG 23MPG Hwy with the Tau V8. If this thing is a little cheaper to boot I would at least drive one and potentially give it a chance, as I would with the 300 if they finally clue into putting an 8-Speed on the Hemi.
  10. I'm beginning to think that BMW and Mercedes may be falling into a horrible trap in the next few years...
  11. This seemed to be a predictable conclusion... The car is truly world class.
  12. The current 300 is a great value- the only thing I would improve is adding the 8-Speed to the Hemi a-la Grand Cherokee. The Luxury Series is a flat out steal and I love the brushed aluminum grille, matte wood, brown/tan leather, and chrome ringed steering wheel.
  13. Look at the IQS ratings on the ATS and XTS. They aren't rated so poorly by JD Power because the doors fall off- it doesn't take a monkey to figure out that if you're going to saddle these types of systems for cars, you have to: A) For the love of mike put in enough processing power to operate them in a desirable fashion. B) Develop some sort of experiential learning system for getting new owners comfortable with the operation of said systems that goes beyond tossing them an iPad and an app.
  14. A variety of these puppies are unbelievably still in service in Calgary, the only major city in North America still using them in active service.
  15. For me, it's a toss up between the ELR and the CTS- leaning towards the ELR myself as except for the FWD proportions (which as you know bother me less than others on this site), it looks like a more cohesive design.
  16. Underpowered + Plasticky + CVT. I don't get it. The Grand Cherokee would have been the better choice.
  17. Awe, really? I will never comprehend the reference, "quiet" styling aside, but nice that you've seen one. It's a big car. It's not just 'blu who sees that. I was stuck behind one in traffic last week and it didn't take me long to think to myself that it was giving a weird last-gen-Accord-vibe from the B-Pillar back either. Actually I think the new Accord looks way better than an RLX- certainly one of the better looking midsize cars out there and the styling translates nicer to the lower trim cars than the overly bulky lines on the Fusion do.
  18. Since my wheelhouse is full size sedans I would have to say: - Lexus IS350 Convertible - Volvo C70 Convertible - Volvo XC70 - Subaru Outback - C7 Corvette - Volt ... are all ones I've thought about the prospect of from time to time.
  19. It looks better in person than it does in the pictures but the proportions are still unflattering. The interior is really quite a nice place to be too, of course I still have to say that in the absence of the TTV6 I still prefer the Impala. I would have a hard time justifying to myself buying an XTS (or a LaCrosse for that matter) over an LTZ model. Sure they're better cars on paper with MRC, nicer leather, nicer plastics, etc... but the Impala does look a whole lot better and I wouldn't call the appointments pedestrian by any stretch. Also, better Infotainment UI for the win. What I can't wrap my head around is that a loaded 2LZ Impala is 43k in Canada and a Cadillac XTS Luxury Collection w/o AWD, esentially a car which is identically equipped except for heated rear seats, load levelling suspension and rainsense is 58k. That and I would have constant nightmares about $600 MRC struts and the expense of replacing the LED light bar in the door handle when it burns out so the car doesn't look hoopty. It just isn't practical when these two are basically parked next to each other in the showroom. If you're paying 60k, I can see how the CTS would be bought over an Impala, but the XTS I just do not understand.
  20. They need to have a true GS that is more than all-show-no-go over the standard Turbo model. They should also consider moving it to RWD if Chevy isn't planning something similar. That being said, cars like the S60 and TSX aren't exactly setting the charts on fire either. If they do a second gen, they are going to have to differentiate it better.
  21. Jeez. Those Buick numbers are rough, the strong Encore numbers are hiding something concerning. Cadillac overall, when you look at the modeconsidering this was a down month for everybody, not so bad. I wonder what's going on there with the Cruze. That's a pretty precipitous decline. I would be worried about that one.
  22. There is only one cluster in the ATS- the XTS and CTS get the option to move up to the uplevel digital dash. And I agree, the base analog cluster is actually quite nice to my eye. While it's not fancy or elaborate, when I test-drove an XTS Luxury Collection last year I actually quite appreciated the legibilty. That being said, there's nothing stopping them from putting in a more elaborate base cluster. I always liked the one in the last-gen Lexus IS for example, with the nice sharp white backlighting.
  23. You're saying mostly what I'm thinking too. I've never been a truck guy but I have a natural preference to either of the half tons, of which I think I would have the Chevy. My uncle has a '11 F350 King Ranch Diesel and either of these look way bulkier than that but are probably way nicer inside than the Ford...
×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search

Change privacy settings