Drew Dowdell

I'm driving up to Toronto tomorrow for another PM course.

The personal attacks will stop... and apologies should be issued.

If you do go with a 4-banger, it almost has to be a direct injection unit in order to get the low end torque you want. You probably want end up with an LNF from a solstice or something. Your final drive would be what gets you the mileage.

We are also running a contest to design the next Cadillac crossover.

There is going to be some confusion on platform naming very soon because a bunch of platforms are about to get very mixed up. The Delta II architecture is very flexible in sizing. It also has a weight advantage over Theta-Epsilon. The next Theta is actually going to be Delta-Theta rather than Theta-Epsilon. Expect the new Buick Encore to be roughly between Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V in size with only 4-cylinder, 4-cylinder turbo, and 4-cylinder eAssist for engines.

Part of trying to move Buick up market.

Lamda is doing well for what it is, but the reason GM keeps trying to make more variants off of it is that it was originally intended to also underpin at least two if not three sedans as well. There was the stillborn Chi platform that was going to be the basis of the Cadillac DT7, NG Buick Lucerne, and Chevrolet Caprice/Impala. GM is trying to make the platform more viable by adding a Cadillac Lambda (as well as fill a hole in the Caddy lineup). Chi was the sedan version of Lambda.

Acadia is moving to something called Theta 5+2 (in reference to the number of seating positions) Though the next generation Theta is actually going to be a Delta variant with more flexibility in size.

All of that is true about business owners and perception. It was a major reason why my parents went Ford King Ranch instead of Escalade EXT like I wanted them to. (even used). However, there is very little you can get in the GMC that you can't get in the Chevy HD. The GMC Denali gets you more leather, wood, and heated interior bits. That really isn't enough product differentiation for price tags that large. If Buick is going to be the E-Assist division, GMC should be too. It would make the products more unique and give them a foothold over outside competitors as well.

You guys just gave me an AWESOME new idea for contests :-)

and... back to GMC.

That's going a bit too far. But this is what is one there now. Video from last year.

Gearing... or would you lift the 6-speed into there as well? The LT-1 just loafs along at 1600 RPM at 70 mph.

Reg, why don't you check the numbers first? You know we will.

I don't think you're going to get 30-35mpg out of a '70 Catalina unless you get a Volt powertrain. I could see you getting 25-27 mpg out of it from a Roadmaster LT-1.... it would also probably be the easiest and least costly swap. Another one that might be interesting that I didn't see brought up is one of the Atlas motors. You have your choice of 4-cylinder, 5-cylinder, or 6-cylinder.

I've always viewed Certified Pre-Owned as a way to get a used car with a really good extended warranty from GM, Ford, whoever.

Posted on our broadcast accounts

Remember, the 5-series grew 2.5 inches for 2011. It's now 2 inches longer and an inch wider than the CTS. 2011 BMW 5-series - 193.10 2011 Cadillac CTS - 191.30 2011 BMW 5-series - 73.20 2011 Cadillac CTS - 72.50

Post some pictures and I'll get them up on our other broadcast accounts.

Since I have to replace the entire exhaust from the Y-pipe back, I'm starting my research on mufflers now. I really dislike the Flowmaster that is on there now. It's fun for about 30 seconds and then it gets annoying with all the droning going on, particularly at highway speeds. Any breathing problems the 307 has are clear the other end of the car, so I'm not particularly concerned with a high flow unit. What I need is a 2 1/4" inlet and dual 2 1/4" outlet in the quietest muffler I can find. I do plan to go back to the resonators the car originally shipped with, but two of them this time. (I like the look of the dual exhaust.

I don't really like fish. I eat shellfish at all. I do like a grilled swordfish steak, and I enjoy the classic "fish and chips" when done well. that's about the extent of it.

I'm going to guess that the CTS will gain size slightly but reduce the overall weight using higher strength steel.

Oh how I wish we had Top Gear's budget.

Dwight, can the range of cam lob timing in VVT ever be made so broad that it goes passed the line of improving engine performance and into causing misfires, exhaust lock, etc? Basically, would adding solenoids fix anything that VVT can't already do? Sure with a solenoid valve, you could open the exhaust valve at the beginning of the power stroke.... but why on earth would you want to?

I'm just curious why every brand wants to move up market when the whole market is moving down.