Drew Dowdell

many times laptop manufacturers will produce power adapters specifically for the car. That brick that you have to carry with you is a power inverter so if you plug that into a power inverter you're just going up in voltage and than back down again. Most laptops run off a voltage range of 12-19 volts. I'd check with your manufacturer to see what might be available.

what he said.

We already have platform overlapping...across divisions even. Why buy an Intrigue, Grand Prix, Lacross, Impala when you could buy an Intrigue, Grand Prix Lacross or Impala for the about the same money? G6, Malibu, 9-3, Aura, NG Lacrosse, BTS.. Face it, the Epsilon has become the next W-body, whored out to whoever wants it. What I'm proposing, keeping the smaller B-P in mind, is one platform for the division. Still make 5 cars off of it like you do now, just brand them all Pontiac.. or all Buick.. or all Cadillac. What you're saying about the Zeta v. Sigma thing is happening now. Why buy a DTS when you can get the Lucerne for less? At least with unique platforms for the divisions you would get unique product in the segment. This would give the divisions a reason to continue But face it each version of the Epsilon has been better than the previous. So nothing would change except that Pontiac could be Pontiac... and not just a badge engineered Chevy. I completely disagree with any self imposed design/performance restrictions like those you mentioned.

Well, chevy is a bit of an exception as they would probably need two or 3 platforms to cover their entire lineup. I'm thinking in terms of a more modern GM where Pontiac, Buick, Saturn and Saab aren't full line manufacturers The Buick full size sedan would be substantially different then a Chevy full sized sedan... and that's as it should be.

In the past I have made the suggestion that each of the original divisions, except Chevy, have one single division exlusive platform. For example, all cadillac cars be built on the sigma, all buicks be built on zeta, etc. Saab and saturn could share with over seas divisionsb and therefor have exclusive plateforms here in the states. this would affod GM similar economies of scale while promoting brand uniqueness. Rather than 8 versions of W-body over 4 divisions like the had back in the day, they could have 5 versions of W-body at one division. (sm, md, lg sedan and sm, lg coupe) for example. The second advantage is that when the platform is updated the entire division's mode line up would be updated. If GM updated one division each year (not counting hummer/gmc) they would fall naturally into a comfortable 5 year product cycle. what do you think? I apolgize for typing errors, I'm on a treo.

Do you have any actual content to add?

no

Buick Blackhawk hardtop?

I think this is an STS that I could move up to from my CTS instead of having to jump all the way to a DTS if I wanted a bump up in size and luxury. I still think the replacement for my CTS will be the '08 CTS, but if the STS refresh looks like this, things will get interesting having to pick between two very excellent cars.

I didn't realize the 3.6/6-speed were going into the GTP. That fixes my main gripe with the car.

what he said

I think he is staying that he'd like this to replace the DTS. Meaning no more FWD K-body DTS

Allante

uh...since you're leaving can I have your admin account?

not including the rear console, this should be the MCE that our STS gets. The minor change in the grill actually bridges the gap between the CTS and DTS. I wonder if The O.C. would drive it.

civic

LOL @ "shifting" the most efficient transmission, designed not to shift

fiberglass

an announcement that as the current vehicles with pushrod V6es finish their product cycles, the pushrods will be replaced with OHC engines.

relative to what?

have you had wind storms recently?

I find it interesting that they used a different flip seat setup in the Silverado than they did in the Avalanche. The Avalanche's work well and leave you with a level load surface. Save some engineering dollars here GM.

I think this is one we can all agree on

technically, he could have been writing his post prior to the Z-warning and thus never saw it.

Link The price increases range from $60 to $425 per vehicle with a majority of the hikes in the $90 to $120 range.