Northstar

So, while looking for crossover leases for my boss, and researching dealer incentives on Edmunds, I decided to see what the SRX had to offer (its probably more than what he wants to spend but I thought maybe there were some good leases...). Anyways, right now there's a $2024 GM to dealer incentive for premium lux V6 models, $900 GM to dealer for AWD on V6 models, and $900 GM to dealer for the rear seat. Before today when the $3000 GM to customer incentive came out, there was also a $2000 GM to dealer incentive for any model SRX (at least V6). There's an SRX that has these options plus the 18" wheel and tire package and white diamond paint at my local dealership right now with MSRP of $50430. Invoice is just a bit under $46k, so assuming we can get them to agree to $46k, which should be no problem seeing as how they have 4 '08s right now, all V6 AWD, all with NAV, and all in the $46-52k range, it seems like a good time to start getting rid of them, and get them to agree to take off the $2024, $900, and $900 as well, adding in GM card points of $2200 (it would be really nice if GM sent us a card top off this week!) and $10k for the trade, which is slightly below blue book for "good" condition, we'd be left with $30k to finance. Adding tax brings us to $32400, which is $450 a month for 72 months at 0% Seems like a screaming deal to me, what does everyone think? I doubt we will actually buy it, but if a GM card top-off comes that boosts us another $1k, it can only help. For anyone with cash in hand right now (or more valuable trade), you could get a $50k SRX for $37k-trade plus taxes if you took the $3k instead of 0%. Quite a deal.

Cut the Fat: A Smaller GM is the Only Way to Go Please note this isn't actually what I want to happen, but rather what I think has to happen in order for GM to survive, and not only survive, but thrive. Here is how I would go about fixing GM: Kill: Pontiac, GMC, Buick Sell: Hummer Possibly stop selling in US: Saab Keep: Chevy, Saturn, Cadillac I'll see how long I decide to write for, but here's the basic idea: I think it's pretty obvious GMC has nothing but rebadges. The Acadia is their most unique product, and there are 3 other Lambdas. Reasons to support cutting GM have been addressed in the last week or so, so I see no reason to expand. Most buyers would move to Chevy trucks. With the way things are looking, it's time for Pontiac to die. Solstice and G8 are the only cars that actually follow what Pontiac is supposed to be, and it looks like more FWD rebadges are coming down the line, if the brand doesn't die. No need to make enthusiasts suffer any long. Move the G8 to Chevy and sell it as the Impala (I see no need for the "G8 Impala", Malibu on EPII, and another big car in Chevy's lineup). Solstice could possibly go to Chevy as well, or it could die altogether because of the Sky. A Cadillac on Kappa would probably be a better idea than a Chevy with a similar price to the Sky, anyways. Buick: Cases can be made to cut all of Buick's cars. The Enclave is still a rebadge, fanciest of the Lambdas or not. People have demonstrated they'll pay well over $40k for a Chevy SUV/X-Over, so the Traverse and Outlook can simply be moved slightly more upscale. Lucerne's size and upcoming CAFE standards make it's future break, in addition to not having any new platform to put it on since the Zeta model has been canceled. EPII is a possibility, but how much bigger can it be than the NG LaCrosse. And speaking of the LaCrosse, I don't see much reason that the NG Aura can't take it's place, which allows the Malibu more breathing room against the Camcord. Buick is the easiest brand to make a case for it to stay, but I see more than enough reason to cut it to, well, cut it instead. Especially if Saab were to stay around, in which case the NG 9-5 would also compete with the LaCrosse on the upper end, Buick seems pretty obsolete. Ok, enough with the reasons to cut the brands, lets just say they all get cut, and look at the new GM. It's pretty easy to see where I'm going when I list Chevy, Saturn, Cadillac, and possibly Saab. Chevy's lineup would look something like this: Subcompact and compact cars: Beat/Trax (or both - whichever one(s) get produced elsewhere). There's no reason for Chevy not to have a plethora of small cars. Toyota sells two Scions and the Yaris, all of which GM needs competitors for. Honda has the Fit, and I'm sure more automakers are bringing microcars in the near future. It's time for GM to be leading a trend, for once. Next in line comes the Aveo, followed by Cobalt and Volt. This may seem like overkill, but if $10 a gallon gas is really coming, these cars will sell in huge numbers. No one thought having the Tahoe, Suburban, Trailblazer, Trailblazer EXT, and GMC counterparts was overkill when they were selling like hotcakes. Small-midsize and large cars: Malibu, Impala (Chevy G8), Alpha vehicles: Camaro, sedan. Malibu would be as-is (but updated, and with a real Hybrid), Impala would be sold in low numbers with a V8, but offer hybrid and 4cyl powertrains, giving decent MPG for buyers who need a larger vehicle. Camaro would offer everything from a 4cyl to high-power V8, and same for the Alpha sedan (perhaps without a Z/28-like powertrain option, however). Corvette stays around as-is (but updated). Crossovers and SUVs: A subcompact X-Over on either Gamma. This vehicle would get 70+MPG in hybrid form, using the Volt's powertrain, close to 40MPG in the most fuel-efficient non-SUV form. The most fuel efficient SUV/X-Over on the market. A slightly bigger SUV on Delta would be placed above the subcompact. This vehicle would essentially be a Volt X-Over. Same powertrain and wheelbase. Next would be a VUE-sized X-Over, followed by something between Equinox and Traverse in size. Tahoe and Suburban would be up for debate, perhaps 1 could stay. Trucks: Pretty much the same, but move the G8 ST to Chevy as an El Camino. Obviously improved fuel efficiency is a must here. Perhaps something on the platform used for the X-Over between Equinox and Traverse size would be a possibility. Vans: Depending on where the minivan market goes, Chevy may enter the market, but for now the loan van would be the Savanna for commercial purposes. This lineup consists of 20 vehicles, if I counted correctly. Many of the vehicles are global (Aveo, Beat, Trax, Cobalt, Malibu (?), Impala (w/Holden), and some of the X-Over's could be sold elsewhere, as well). Chevy's current lineup consists of 16 vehicles. Saturn: Saturn's lineup would simply be Opel's as is planned. Saturn would continue to move upscale and fill the gap between Cadillac and Chevy at a minimal cost. Cars: Corsa, Astra, Aura, Sky. Quite self-explanatory, I think. Corsa takes on premium subcompacts, Astra the Rabbit, GTI, and co., and Aura the Passat, TL, ES and other upscale, FWD midsizers, along with upper CamCords (Aura would start where upper CamCords do and move into the $33-35k range). There's no need for a FWD Cadillac here, and Chevy does not have the image to compete here. With Buick gone, this market belongs solely to Saturn. X-Overs: Add 1 X-Over below the Vue (not two, like Chevy), Vue, and Outlook, sized similarly to the Chevy on the same platform. Overlap, but minimal overlap, this vehicle would need to appeal to current Enclave buyers and Hybrids: Obviously, most cars in the future will need hybrid powertrains, but it may be a good idea to give Saturn a hybrid car, such as the Volt. I am unsure if it is totally need, however, given the Volt's expected price. Cadillac: Obviously, the range topper. Alpha sedan and coupe to take on the 3er and co., RWD and AWD, CTS on Sigma/Alpha/whatever to take on 5er. and company. Sedan, coupe, wagon (coupe vs. 6er, CLK, A5). Vehicle above CTS to take on 7er and S-Class. Perhaps further down the line something above the S-Class competitor, but I don't see a need for that until Cadillac re-establishes itself as a true luxury player. I don't see a need for any cars available only as hybrids for Cadillac, as I don't see where one would fit in between other Cadillac hybrids. On the X-Over front, Cadillac would get the new BRX/SRX to go against the X3, RDX, etc., a vehicle to go against the X5 and ML, and something to replace the Escalade (perhaps keep the name). For sports cars, a Z4 competitor and a SL competitor should be sufficient. Saab: the only reason to keep Saab is their expertise in high power 4cyl turbo engines. Perhaps it would make sense to keep them in the US if all their cars are global, anyways. Dealership network: Old PBG dealers would be offered Saturn. I think the Chevy/Cadillac network is too complicated to change much, but obviously improved service and new dealership buildings would be a prime target. Saab can stay pretty much as-is, though perhaps in some expanding cities they could be thrown in with the new Saturn dealers. I feel this new GM lineup would drastically reduce overlap and give GM more money to invest in advertising, improvements at dealers, and simply more money to put into it's vehicles in R&D. GM would likely never gain all the lost sales back, but at this point, GM will be happy if it has any sales in 5 years. The auto industry is a classic example of the survival of the fittest, and it's time for GM to finally cut the fat.

Looks nice, thanks for posting. I'm going to show it to my dad since he's interested in a G8.

Interior reminds me of the A6 interior, but more rounded. I really hope the radio/display/whatever it is isn't actually recessed like that...

I forgot to tell you how to apply the paint thinner, which is probably important. Get a rag (preferably old), and dampen a small bit of it with paint thinner. Take the part you put the paint thinner on and put a finger or two behind that area, then rub lightly on the spots. Rubbing too hard will result in more of the paint/stain coming off.

I have a tip for you: paint thinner. Try it somewhere on the door first (lower door panel?) and make sure it's not taking too much of the paint or whatever it is stained with off, but it should take the marker off, that's what we used at work for all sorts of marks and scuffs pretty much anywhere on the interior of the car. Black was the hardest to do it right on because it was so easy to notice, but I think with tan you should be OK. Even if you do take a bit too much paint/stain off at some times, it is a lease, right?

If I remember correctly from driving HHRs at the dealership (this was 2 years ago, though), the 2.2 is a bit of a dog in comparison to the 2.4.

Of the runflat variety, though. The Z06 just get the ZR1 tires, which should be much better considering Michelin specifically modified the normal PS2 ZPs (which are also run flats, but apparently must not suck). Most magazine reviews complained that the tires reached their limits before the car, and that if you put some good tires on the Z06 it'd be significantly faster through turns.

I think Fly made that up a while ago. Is it really that big of a deal? If it is, I can change it... Sal - you can PM me or any of the other admins. (z28luvr01, Camino LS6, CSpec, VenSeattle, and there are more if you go to the bottom of the forums page and click the link.

Still has craptastic tires. Why does GM think the ZR1 needs some of the better tires you can get but not the Z06? Ugh. Anyways, it looks very nice. I think I'd order that combo if I were getting a Z06.

Those geese look confused, like they're saying "since when was there a giant lake here?" In all seriousness, this is quite sad to see. Tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of people are going to be without a home and probably don't have flood insurance in most cases. Lost of people are going to have a hard next 15-20 years.

I have not driven any cars in the RL's class other than the STS, but I'm pretty sure most people can tell a difference between FWD and RWD on midsize or large cars when they aren't going in a straight line. RL sales didn't really decline that much, they went from like 500 a month to 300 a month

From the article:

I doubt it is online, but I can scan it to you if you want to read it. So perhaps it isn't part of the camo. Damn.

Too bad the new Chevy compact won't' be out in time. You don't have 7 months to wait, or at least it doesn't sound that way.

It seems very low to the ground, I wonder if this is the SS. I also think that the Sebring-esque C pillar could be camo, it looks tacked on, and the C-pillar is always something they try to disguise. I'm pretty sure those taillights are camo, too, especially the silver/gray part on the bottom of them. The overall feel I get is a mix of Malibu, Mazda3, and S40. Perhaps a tad bit of Traverse in the front, also (headlights, mainly, but they could be camoed up good too. Overall it looks pretty substantial and much, much better than the current 'balt. Read this past month's C&D article about "The guy who hides cars" - it will give you some insight in to all the things they can do to camo them.

Wow, too bad it can't go 200 just for bragging rights, but those numbers are very impressive. 0-60 in 3.9 is faster than a regular Corvette.

Not one of the crowd at the stoplight means Astra or one of the VWs (I assume if you don't have a dealer there aren't a ton around). It sounds like you don't need a whole lot of cargo-carrying capability, so I don't see a whole lot of reason to move to the Vibe for that. I'd probly drive the Astra and Rabbit and go from there. If you don't want either of them then expand your options.

I'm not sure. It had been sitting on the lot for a while (I think we got it for like $4k less than what the sticker was -- they wanted to get rid of it badly) and when we went to pick it up the check engine light came on, so they took it to the shop and said it needed new spark plugs. I'm guessing it had to be something to do with sitting so long, perhaps they got dirty or something? Either way, I haven't had any problems sense, nothing but oil changes and tire rotations. I had to jump it once because it had sat for a long time and the battery was dead (usually it sits in the garage unless the weather is nice and my dad wants to drive it, or in the summer when I drive it), but that's all.

Not looking like a Buick is a good thing if Buick is going to survive.

I haven't had any problems with mine other than it needing spark plugs when I got it at 6k miles. It's only at 15k now though.

My dealer finally got a G8 GT in and my mom and dad went with me after work to test drive it. I got to take about a 10-12 minute spin in it after my dad drove it for about 10 minutes and my mom about 4-5. I was quite impressed. The suspension was superb, even over one of the worst roads around here (riding over that road in every other car I've ever rode over it in is hell). Smooth ride, but still very firm through the corners. The GTO is a good drive, but the G8 is better (though you can feel the added weight of the G8). Steering is very similar, but the G8 is smoother and never once got unsettled through a corner (or on a straight piece of road, for that matter). The GTO is still good, but the G8 is that much better, as it should be seeing as how it's suspension is 10 (?) or so years newer. Acceleration was obviously very good, but I didn't get on it too much. Nothing past 4k rpm. I used the manual shift mode, but I thought the 1-2 shift took longer than it should have (2-3 and 3-4 seemed quicker). The 6-speed definitely is a HUGE upgrade over the GTO's 4-speed. Smoother shifts, slightly quicker $h!s, and obviously 2 more gears for accelerating. Interior was quite nice, especially considering the price of just $32k and the powertrain and world class suspension to go along with it. The stereo sounded very good, though I didn't turn it up too loud. It is VERY quite, much quieter than I thought it would be inside. I found myself at 60mph in a 45mph zone, and I had no idea I was going that fast. Thought I was going around 40, that's how quite the car is and how smooth of a ride the car has. My only real quibbles on the interior was the glove box door was quite cheap (not uncommon) and if you pulled much on the center console in would move slightly. I guess you probably wouldn't be pulling on your center console much, but they still could have done a better job there. Overall though I was quite impressed. Nice materials and fit and finish with those two being exceptions, nice seats, HUGE back seat, nice trunk... not much to dislike. Another quibble is that the sunroof is tiny. I mean it has to be one of the smallest I have seen. Not a huge deal, but a bigger sunroof would be nice. My dad is somewhat considering buying one now. We may trade in the Trailblazer and my mom and dad will switch between the GTO and G8 when I'm at school (ie not in the summer). My brother will be getting the Malibu either way (which would mean my dad would drive the GTO and mom the TB if we did not buy the G8). Unfortunately, there aren't any G8s equipped without the summer tires but with everything else around here in orange. We could try to have the dealer find one, but I searched for 15 minutes on Pontiac's site and couldn't find one. Not a deal breaker, but the V6 that the dealer had in orange looked great. I'd pick either black or orange if it were up to me (I have seen all except the blue that changes to a blurple at an angle).

I like the A5/S5, but I'd drive other cars around that price range to so that I was sure I was making the right decision on where I was spending my $55-60k.

At least in GM's case the design is nice, though. Chrysler's are just a bunch of blocks.

He has copyrighted the picture, so he can do whatever he wants with it and can stop whoever he wants to stop from posting it. Get over it and quit acting so childish over a petty matter. Back to the Buick (fair warning: any posts not discussing it will be deleted).