Camino LS6

Glad to see you posting here again, Guy. And I hope that the conclusions in your post are a good approximation of the actual results. I do remain skeptical however, about placing any faith in the congress doing the right thing.

10% of all American jobs are tied directly, or indirectly to the automotive industry. Question answered.

It is bombing here in the US, and there are many other tiny cars that are far superior waiting in the wings.

The Smart is an exceptionally poor and dated design - it will not be the future.

That GM is late in getting this worked out there can be no denying but, I have yet to see ANY proof that there is any benefit to killing brands. I think all talk of the number of brands as pivotal to GM's survival, is WAY over-emphasized. It would make far more sense to talk about models and brand focus instead. You yourself have nailed this issue with the comment that what GM has failed to do is to fix (focus) the brands. A far lower number of models, and a near-prohibition of badge jobs would be a far more effective way to cut costs, raise profit, and improve sales than the surrender strategy and PR nightmare killing brands would be. GM need not kill brands to regain viability and become lean - that is a tired old saw. EDIT: Additionally, this course of action is only being considered to "please" the Congress who have been conditioned by analysts and the press to believe that it is true. That is not a basis for a sound business decision in my view.

I've often thought that tighter relations between GM and BMW would be an interesting tieup.

Great cartoon!

Very simply that's not a good enough answer. Killing brands doesn't exactly have a good track record of positive results. I believe that, far from saving GM, it will hasten the complete failure of the company.

A fine idea, DF! I will put it to the staff.

It will be a monumental error if Pontiac is killed. And it won't save GM. If GM pares down to just Cadillac and Chevrolet, they will never recover and it will only be a matter of time until the end.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/10/bmw-m...leted-full.html

I know. I really need the cash, but even though it would net me alot more money to part it out - I just can't do that. I'll be taking a 50% loss at 4k, but I had to balance the immediate need vs. my tolerance for taking a hit. I arrived at the 4k number that way. What it comes down to is that the truck will either leave as it is, or leave after I finish it. I'm in a "get on with it" sort of mood these days. And, I'd like to be able to get back to the Camino sooner rather than later. Short of winning the lottery I can't see cancelling the listing if the reserve is met - I've already accepted that level of loss.

And this is exactly where our paths cross. With Caddy I've always been indifferent, and only a handful of Olds and Buick models have ever had my attention. But Pontiac has always had that edge of exclusivity and individuality that somehow turned a related Chevy model I already liked into a second-place finisher. Even within the model spread at Pontiac, I would usually want to follow the path less travelled. ex. : My Firehawk was a Formula and not a Trans Am. So, despite my undying devotion to the El Camino, the Pontiac G8 ST is almost more perfect for me than a new 'Camino would have been. Almost. :AH-HA_wink:

After just one day being listed, there have been over 300 views and 17 people are watching the auction. Not a bad start, I guess. The truck will probably meet reserve and sell because I really want to finish it. That's just the way things tend to go for me. I don't really know what to hope for: that it sells?... or that it doesn't.

Well, we cross paths on many things, but the differences between us can be found in this post of yours as well. I've never cared one whit about Caddy generally. I just don't have much love for luxury cars in general. Chevy, on the other hand, used to build so many cars I loved that it was hard to pick any one out of the fleet. Not so much anymore, as most of the pride has left them and they are seen as generics (the Vette and Camaro excepted). As for trucks, I am a life-long Chevy truck buyer and have no intention of switching to any other brand. The final point of difference is that I am very willing to buy new, if they build something I really like. I did so with the Firehawk, and the GTO, and intend to do so again with the G8 ST. Without such cars, I simply won't bother with new. I too, will truly be heartbroken if a real GM brand goes away. Hummer, Saturn, and Saab do not count.

You buy that '76 yet?

That cop defines the word officious. ...and the word jackass.

Those cars account for an easy 70% of all of the cars I love.

I will continue to do what I have always done, only buy and drive what I like. However, I may have to build them for myself if nothing I want is available new. I will never buy a new car that doesn't fit my requirements. That means I won't settle for a sedan, or FWD, and so on.

I was just curious. I rarely wore a belt until a few years ago, and still don't care for many of them (uncomfortable). Still, I do wear one much of the time now - but not always. I wear one mostly because the traffic volume is so high around here now (and the percentage of idiots so high), not because of the law. I just wondered about the legalities of it all.

They will have nothing left to sell to me anytime soon. The only candidates will be: Corvette: too expensive Camaro: cool, but not individual enough for my taste A Chevy truck: I won't need one until at least 2015 And that's it. Nothing else comes anywhere close to what I'd buy.

All of this speculation here in this thread adds up to a grand total of nothing good. Should GM choose this path forward, my interest in the company will come to a screeching halt.

I just saw a VW Fox coupe, I had forgotten that they ever existed. Because I saw it, I also remembered the VW Dasher. I haven't thought of either one for decades.

Thanks!

Well said, Ocn. There really is nothing else quite like a colonnade wagon, they had a unique look.