Camino LS6

Yes there is. That's Pontiac's job (in the same showroom). That sort of duplication just can't take place any longer. It would unfocus both brands. Not knocking the performance Buicks of the past, but it simply cannot be part of Buick's mission now. Elegance in an affordable package has to be what Buick is all about. Classy but attainable, with bulletproof reliability and excellent resale. Luxury that makes sense in every metric. That's not to say that they can be under-powered, or lacking in handling prowess, just that performance is not the main focus for the brand. And absolutely not for the marketing, so no GNs or T-types. And, a tight focus on Park Avenue and Riviera caliber style.

I don't see much risk of that. OPEC is notoriously bad at sticking to production cuts, some of them always need the money. I'd be more worried about a hurricane, harsh winter, or terrorist attack. Any of those would give the speculators all that they need to drive the price back up to uncomfortable levels again. And, with our current economy, the pain threshold is now much lower. Crazy days.

I think you will be seeing the small cars you are asking for, but they may not wear the Saturn badge.

Agreed. They will do what they must, and deal with the rest later. I do think though, that GM will be forced to absorb Chrysler in the end. Sad, but I don't see it being avoided. I wish the Big 3 had had time to get their financial houses in order before the economy fell off of the cliff. The story might have been different then, with the marginal imports being forced out instead of Chrysler. Some of that will likely still go on. There are simply too many players in this market, and some will be weeded out. I'd love to see GM be able to keep Chrysler's brands alive long enough to sell them again (minus Jeep), but I don't see that as possible. I'm afraid it is the end of the road for Chrysler, and that just plain sucks.

Extremely well-written, and I share his conclusions and guarded optimism.

Pretty much spot-on.

+1 I don't have a dog in this hunt.

By CaminoLS6

Buick should stay out of performance - forever. Electra is a no-brainer. Needs to happen. No Zetas, unless it is a production version of Velite with a DI V6.

Too bad about F1 if it is really following the NASCAR model. Another motorsport turned infomercial. Yuck.

...and the tactics of the pusher resurface.

I would love to watch that sort of racing. As a wise poster said years ago: "NASCAR = Putting Skittles in a toilet and flushing" Wasn't that way at one time, but it is now. Insanely boring.

I'll have to see what happened in the House today, before I post any more opinion.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but that would take start-up funds that I don't have to enter a dubious marketplace.

Well said, thanks, and agreed. These are the times...

- Force GM and Chrysler to merge if they want the money - Force the bailed-out banks to finance the industry loans - Use the TARP money to make the loan - Have the FED make the loan - Allow the already appropriated "green tech" money to be used for other purposes - A govt.-backed bankruptcy (non-starter) - do nothing (unlikely, but this is congress)

Mine is just a tiny little business, and I like it that way. It's personal.

I'm not so sure about that. This battle will take place in Congress, and the merger could be a way to make both sides look good.

It sure would.

I do. And, while I haven't asked anyone for a green card, most crews are now composed of Hispanics. Documented or not, they have supplanted Americans almost entirely. I'll never hire someone I can't communicate details to, since most of my work is design/install. The nuances of procedure and quality can't be communicated by pointing. Bensalem isn't very far from me.

...unless it has been modified. Remember Balthazar's comment that the fenders looked home made?

Disagree on the Solstice. Yes, you can get a Sky (for now) but as much as I like that car, it should never have existed. Much like Saturn itself. I agree about the rest of the non-G8 lineup.

The G8 now has a color that begins to approximate it in certain lighting. It's called Pacific Slate Metallic and is my leading candidate for the G8ST I hope to own.

Even in this highly restricted reality, I think Pontiac would still benefit from the vision of a single boss. It wouldn't be the 60's, but it would be better than the recent, ineffective, groupthink.

I can. Sort of. I remember tractors with Half cabs used to accommodate very long items - the nose cone of a missile for example. Though I've mostly seen them on construction cranes mounted directly to a truck with a continuous frame. Just brainstorming a bit, I know what I suggest would be hell on right turns.