Drew Dowdell

Every car has it's nit-picks, including the new Escalade. The 2007 Escalade is still best in class, nit-picks and all. That said, there is media bias, it isn't a myth. Examples: Last months C&D that cited "japanese durability" as a highpoint on a Mitsubishi Eclipse. C&D naming the new 3-series top mid-sized sport sedan when 1. it broke down on them three times, 2. It was the smallest of the bunch, bordering on compact, 3. The Lexus essentially had the same performance numbers. CR listing the new Impala's reliability as questionable while giving an "undetermined" to the new Sonata. CR listing the CTS's reliability as "poor" based on the 3.2 engine, an engine that hasn't been offered for sale in over a year and which about 5% of CTS's sold the prior year were equipped with. Motor Trend's car and truck of the year.... when there were clearly better options. Ignoring anything regarding Mercedes reliability. In this regard automobile "journalists" have attention defic..... OOOOhh.. 3 pointed star! <with appologies to Fly> edit: sorry for grammer/spelling... I'm extremely tired.

As someone who shops in this segment, the bluetooth thing is really a glaring omission. It's not a deal breaker for me, but such a minor <$100> feature should be at least and option. It's something that would put the Escalade over the top and no Toyoguy could say "see it doesn't even have bluetooth". It's a minor detail that shouldn't be overlooked simply due to the nature of the customers this type of vehicle attracts. Put bluetooth on as an unpackaged option and I guarentee you 90% of Escalades sold would have it. You guys can explain it away all you want but it's still something Lexus has and Cadillac doesn't. As far as the battery issue with bluetooth. You buy a car charger plug it in inside the center console where GM thoughtfully put a power point, pair the phone with the car, shut the console, and off you go. There, no battery issues. P.S. My phone runs for 3 days between charges with the BT always on.

This is bound to happen as greater globalization of GM happens. They are consolidating platforms so much but still keeping fairly different brand "feel". As things get consolidated they need less people. 10 years ago they had: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, N, U, W, Y, Z in just the car Bodies Now they have Delta, Epsilon, Kappa, G/K, Sigma, Theta, U, W, Y U and W are being dropped and being replaced with Lamda and Zeta<supposedly>. G/K is probably in it's final generation. GM has moved from 15 car platforms to 9 while keeping up a fairly decent lineup. Sure Buick and Pontiac are a little starved right now, but as the Zeta and Epsilon II move in to replace W-bodies and G/K bodies those holes will be filled. 6 less entire car platforms definately warrent some layoffs. I feel bad for the people who are being let go, but I think this is a needed move for GM even if it were making money.

I'm guessing the Caravans they used to drive came up on lease and GM offered a better deal to Xerox.

I pretty much agree that the Montana should be "taken behind the barn and shot" also. strangely, I see more Relays and Terrazas then I see Uplanders <not counting that one Xerox rep I see driving an Uplander nearly every day>. I've seen one montana CSV ever and it had an enterprise sticker on it.

No, just buy new CDs. Now if your car could only play CD supplied by GM that cost 25% more, only worked in your one car <have to buy a second CD even if your other car is also a GM>, couldn't be used out of the car, then... yes.

Ya know the bluetooth thing is a bit of an annoyance. It's such a minor add on these days and nearly every other luxury car manufacturer has it. It's stupid to use the OnStar personal calling for a number of reasons. 1. Very expensive compaired to your standard cell plan 2. Have to keep a second phone book programed 3. Have to keep a second phone plan running 4. No choice of networks. Verizon only for digital. AT&T wireless for analog. If you live in an area with weak coverage, you're screwed. 5. Multiple numbers. I have no idea what the number is for my Cadillac... I certainly don't hand it out to people and say "Try me on the car phone". I use one phone, my mobile phone. 6. With XM Radio and Traffic Naviagtion, there is no longer a need for the Directions and connections plan. And that's me as a Cadillac owner and Onstar subscriber.

oh, it's still funny fly...

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Yeah, I saw those at the dealer. I really like them.

Not in my driveway.......

Doesn't holden actually make money for GM?

Oh yeah.... Chas and I were down there during spring break.... and we'll just leave it at that.

From my Bahamas trip....

Toyota Marino

Nissan Cefiro

Kia Oprius

Nissan Bluebird

If you get the Maxx, will you keep the Camaro? I doubt you'd get much in trade. Just make it your weekend car.

It's not media bias when what they write is true. But when the media lists an Impala's reliability as "questionable" and then also writes "Japanese durability" as a high point on a mitsubishi, then I'm going to question the media's biases. Heck the CTS still has questionable reliability in CR yet that rating was based entirely on the 3.2 engine!

At my last <and by that I mean final> corperate job we had to "badge" to get into different sections of the building. We had to "badge" to get into the administrative offices. We had to "badge" to get into the factory. We had to "badge" to get into the Ivory Tower <ahem, Executive floor>. We had to "badge" to get into the shipping office that sat between the administrative offices and the factory. So to walk to from my cube, to my boss's office then out to the factory I'd have to "badge" 5 times! All the while, the warehouse doors were wide open and anyone could have walked in. Do we manufacture F/A-22 Raptors or the secret of the next fusion bomb? No. We made sheets. White, low thread count, mostly sold to Walmart and K-mart, sheets. It turns out the reason for all the security in the building is because the owner's son is paranoid that someone is going to try toget in the building and kill him. What he forgot to factor is that the only people who want to kill him already have the badges because we all work for him!

Concept Tucker. The concept drawing Tucker produced were a lot different from the 50 Tucker Torpedos acutally produced.

They're Camry gauges.... duh!

Why would GM be hit hardest? They have the most efficient SUV fleet as it is. They also have Duramax.... throw that in and voila, instant MPG lift.