Drew Dowdell

From my blog: If the current recession has hit Germany, it doesn’t show. Walking around Cologne there is construction everywhere. New shops going up everywhere. The stores are busy and bustling. Germany has been careful to not outsource it’s labor force to foreign markets as much as we have in the US. If German companies need cheap labor, they set up shop in the former East German territories. This way, at least the GDP stays local to Germany’s economy. Why can’t we do the same thing here? Sure, we couldn’t pay the minimal wages we pay Chinese prison laborers to sew soccer balls with their teeth, but I’m sure there are willing laborers in states like West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, etc. The cost to ship thing from Alabama factories to stores in the US would have to be a LOT cheaper than shipping it from Shanghai. At the same time, we would have an easier time making sure those workers are treated ethically and there are better safety standards in the products they produce. Just ask any Mattel executive about lead in toys and see what kind of reaction you get. Yes some prices will go up. Do you really think $30 for a DVD player is reasonable? It’s time that we start demanding some real quality in the products we purchase.

Do. Want.

scrape the emblems off and what is it? I'll still take the STS thanks.

To have GM actively listen and participate in a forum such as this one so we can tell them when their plans are going to be a boatload of FAIL.

Freezooka.com

I'd go for the Lincoln. More interesting. More likely to go up in value if you take care of it's issues. Interior looks spotless Less overall miles than the Buick

Meh, put all my text books into Kindle format and I'll carry a netbook for taking notes on.

None of the cars that I've purchased have been bad. The worst car I owned was a 1983 Caprice that my great grand father gave me when my Toronado was stolen and totaled. It was in perfect shape with ~140k miles on it. The only reason it gets listed as "the worst" is because it had the 3.8 liter V6 in it. I was outrun by a VW Rabbit diesel. But, for a full size 1983 vehicle, it got amazingly good gas mileage. IF you kept it at 65mph on the TPK you could get into the very high 20s.

I don't mind criticisms of the Lacrosse. I mind intellectual dishonesty. I'd argue that the market is a bit more segmented than just "entry lux". The CTS, LaX, G37, Genesis, ES350, and 3-series are all entry lux. It'd be a fools errand to hold them all to the same measure. Edit: furthermore, if you're going to go on about Buick's average buyer's age, Matlock references then fair is fair for Lexus who's buyer age is only 1 year less

In cars of this size, the torque number is what matters more. The Impala SS had about 120ft/lbs more.

Now you've probably heard my rants on the base engine of the Lacrosse, so don't think I'm defending Buick just to defend Buick but.. First we have this: Great! Awesome! Buick not only stacks up to Lexus's biggest seller, but exceeds it in many ways! Well, this is the automotive press. We couldn't let something like that happen. If Buick can build something that can beat the market leader, well then we'll just have to compare it to vehicles not in it's direct market! Ahh... there we go. Nothing brings up the sweet smell of American failure like comparing domestic FWD V6 luxury sedans intended to be soft to RWD V6 and V8 import sedans intending to be sporty. The only way to make this comparison more perfect would be to put the Lacrosse up against the M3. If by "brilliantly executed" you mean "skillfully killed"... then sure, that's what Acura did with the TL. Buick may be associated with "old" but they've been highly regarded for reliability for years. Even still, the Enclave, and the Rendezvous before, it brought Buick's average buyer's age down quite a bit. His stats are out dated. Buick's average buyer age is actually 62 years old according to J.D. Powers.... but we wouldn't want to quibble with him over something like that because it might make people go look up Lexus's average buyer's age of 61 and we wouldn't want things like facts get in the way of a good Buick beating. Dan, I invite you to visit www.CheersandGears.com You could also instruct your readers in basic economics. The only way for the government to ever get out of the automotive business is for people to buy domestic branded cars. Every Camry sold keeps GM under government control that much longer. Since you didn't even mention the sweepspear and hood vents as a nod to Buick's past, I guess I'll have to give you a pass on this one. But so you don't like too much of a tard at all those domestic bashing party's you go to, I'll give you a hint: The Lacrosse does have it's flaws, the base engine being my personal gripe, but at least get your facts straight when you're going to bash Buick.

I owned a CTS with the 3.6 and I've driven a CTS with the 2.8 and a 9-3 with the 2.8 Turbo. I'm quite familiar with this engine family. Honda wouldn't even put out a V6 engine where the HP peak and the redline were the same number. 217 ft/lbs @ 5100 rpm is just lame. The Accord 4 cylinder has 190 ft/lbs @ 5000 rpm and it weighs 800lbs less! Buick should have just used the 3.6 VVT and 3.6 DI setup like the CTS has.

My point was the S/C engine offered better performance and is a lot cheaper than the 3.0 DI

Anyone else notice that: Look rather pathetic next to the: The supercharged 3800 could muster? But noo.... we need progress.... we need DOHC.... we need... even if it results in a slower car that gets worse mileage. *Oldsmoboi* *in the CRV* *Waiting for the Vtec to kicketh in yo*

Just because it cost more doesn't mean it will be more effective.

I just got this reply from the BBB:

They claim to be BBB Accredited, but they aren't even listed in BBB's directory. Proceed with Caution.

looking around at some of the listings.... it's almost as if they're buying repos that were repoed from dealerships rather than individuals. Like the bank came and took a dealership's whole inventory off them.....

They're so close I just figured Chrysler found a willing schmuck to dump the Airflow tooling on.

The current gen Equinox is the next gen Equinox. It's on the lots today.

Did Toyota buy the tooling for the Airflow or something? 1934 Desoto 1936 Toyota Model AA 1943 Toyota Model AC

Well if you would stop dragging your foot there Quasimodo

It is. The economic war between the Asians and us.

The current Accord coupe is one of the better mainstream Asian designs in a while. The sedan, not so much. My list: 1. Malibu - I know you'll probably think I'm just GM humping, but I think they are the most handsome mainstream sedan out there. I'll take an LTZ in black with the Black/Brick two tone interior please. 2. Milan - I liked the previous one and I like the new one. 3. Aura - Not as visually appealing as the Malibu, but not bad. 4. Fusion - I like the new one better than the previous, but the aesthetic just doesn't grab me like the Malibu and Milan. 5. Legacy - Finally an attractive Subi. I've long respected Subarus as vehicles but I just couldn't get into the styling. 6. Impala - Big car feel for not a lot of money. For those wanting a more "classic" feel without going all out and getting a Grand Marquis, this would be a good old reliable. I happen to like the styling, but wish it would get the new Chevy nose. 7. Sonata/Optima - Fine as an appliance. Mildly more interesting than a Camry simply because it's not a Camry. I'd never buy one. 8. Mazda 6 - The car itself is fine, but there just seems to be something missing in the exterior design. I can't put my finger on it, but something just seems off. 9. Passat - The design is tired but not bad. They've been milking that Passat roofline for about as long as they're going to be able to. Seeing plenty of Skodas in person, the Passat reminds me of them. 10. Accord - The exterior is just off. Coupe is nice though. 11. Camry - Very tired. There are much more solid platforms out there. 12. G6 - Never appealed to me. Interior completely sub-par. 13 Altima - Ditto G6 without the benefit of being a domestic. 14. Avenger - A slightly more attractive Sebring 15. Sebring - A complete basket case. Had a rental in May that should have qualified for Cash for Clunkers right off the lot. 16. Galant - As bad as the Sebring but without any of the "interesting personality". *Lacrosse is left off because I haven't seen one in person yet. If it's everything it's cracked up to be, it'll probably take the top slot and bump all the others down one.

For service, Cadillac treated me extremely well. They picked up my car from my office even for just an oil change. I never had to step foot in the dealership if I didn't want to yet the car was always serviced there. If I was in the area, I could stop in any time for a free car wash and a doughnut. You know what? It worked out for them.... because when I needed to buy an Avalanche, even though it was used, I called up my sales guy from that dealer and told him what I wanted him to find for me.