mjd1001

I agree, that alone makes the car look less aggressive. As for as the exterior looks go, the aura, in my mind, just went from serious contender for my dollars to something average at best.

I have been looking at this picture every couple minutes when online for the last hour or so...I still think it's hideous. It looks cheap...like you took a G6 and added on a bunch of aftermarket parts that were bought at a junk yard. And that grill is awful. I still think it looks like the original G6 grill that melted a bit. Just give me the GTP coupe and throw in the new transmission and more powerful engine, stick a GXP badge on the side and I'd be happier than I would be with this.

I agree I do not like the name "G5"...I do like the Name Pursuit. Silly going to all alpha-numeric names for a division like Pontiac.

I'm hoping that Saturn has decided to name their cars after things associated with the "sky and heavens" so to speak. The Sky, Aura (as in a 'glow' around a star or planet) The "Saturn" name itself, the Astra (obviously being a derivative of Astro having to do with stars) would fit in. Now to just find a new name for the Vue and Relay. I dont' know where Outlook fits in there, but it's not a terrible name so I'm not too worried.

I don't know...If the power and fuel economy are on par with the domestics, I think this may steal some sales from them. I know some people through work. Some of them currently drive Import cars and domestic trucks, and from talking to them they would have no problem buying an Import truck. The only reason they have not is some of them are in construction and contracting, and the Toyota was always a bit smaller and less powerful than the domestics. If that changes (and it looks like it may), Toyota may attract truck buyers who already own Import cars. I won't buy one. I don't really need a full size truck, and while I like the looks of this new truck I think the hood is too short, but I think others will. One thing is for sure, I dont' think Toyota will lose any current Tundra owners because they don't like this new one as much as the old one.

I like the looks of the new Tundra, except for one thing....the hood seems to be too short with respect to the rest of the vehicle. It'll probably stack up very well with its tech specs though, so it should do well.

Consumer reports is simply one of a long list of sources for information. I do not beleive anyone should take what one source says as the definitive word on a vehicle. Read what they have to say, use your own judgements about each point they make. If they bring up something negative, look more into it to see if that negative point applies to you. Anyone implying (or outright stating) that people who agree with the 'idiots' at consumer reports are at the same intelectual level...may be showing themselves to be not that bright...by showing they are unable to read an article and take bits and pieces from it...instead of only looking at the conclusion it makes and then judging the magazine by that. It is a source of information. People are unlikely to agree with ANY source 100%. Use it as a way to gather information and opinions (ones you agree with or disagree with) before making a decision on your own. To do anything more than that is akin to feeling the need to find someone who agrees with your opinion 100% and bashing those who don't.

The above line struck me, refering to this year being 'critical' for GM....it's the same thing we heard in 2004...and 2003...and 2002......

There are some people who would like to buy an SUV but gas mileage is an issue for them. Take a look at how well the Saturn Vue is selling lately (250hp suv with 28mpg highway). Look at how well the Rav4 sells with gas mileage even better than the Saturn Vue. I don't expect something like the trailblazer to get 30mpg highway...but if the SS could get in the low 20's highway, I would probably buy one...where right now it's nto even being considered. When you drive 30,000+ miles per year for a job like I do...the $1000+ in fuel savings adds up.

Ok, as for how fast it will be... It is going to weigh a bit more than a stock Solstice due to the bigger engine and wheels at least. So figure on about 3000 lbs. That is about 2000 less than the Vette? Now, I'm sure the suspension improvements will help, but the new Vette was built for that engine...the Solstice might lose a very small bit of acceleration in that it might not handle the power quite as well as the vette. Either way, probably enough to balance out that with the 200 lb advantage it has with the vette. So overall, I'd expect it to post very very close numbers to the stock vette. 0-60 in the mid 4's....quareter mile in the mid to high 12's (might be another tick slower through the quarter mile than the vette...due to the added wind resistance at the higher speeds with the convertible not being as slick as the vette).

I agree that this car is one I would seriously consider. Look at it this way...it only costs about $5000 more than a GTO, and what other car would be in it's class?

I like the changes to the 06 redline, however this picture doesn't seem to do it much justice...maybe it's the black vehicle on the greyish/black background. Also, it does appear it needs to be lowered more based on these pictures...but as we all know the Vue Redline is lowered compared to the regular Vue.....but it doesn't look like it in these pictures...huge wheelgap showing there. I just think GM chose some VERY un-flattering pictures to showcase this.

I also would like this idea. I don't want or need even a Colorado type vehicle as a truck. I would take something even lighter duty. I want a truck, but something that gets better mileage than a Colorado and is smaller. If anything, just to make it a little easier to throw a few things in the back, nothing heavy though.

I agree the Solstic may be the most significant vehicle for GM, but not for the auto industry as a whole. It is not creating a new segment...but rather than putting an entry into an existing segment...but one GM has never really tried before. If it's a hit, it's a huge plus for GM, but not significant to 'change the face' of the auto industry in the same way the originial Miata did.

Of other notes in the article is consideration of a GXP version of the G6, Torrent, and Vibe. G6: GTP is here, but a GXP with 270hp plus and a 6 speed auto would FINALLY put GM on the performance map in this segment. Vibe: New design coming in 07. GM does not like to launch new products with top of the line powertrains right away. Also, the Vibe will once again be made with Toyota Parts..so I think a GXP version will only be available if Toyota decides it. Torrent: Why? The Redline Vue is on the same platform, and from what I can tell it sells with moderate success. A Torrent GXP will only split the sales from the Vue...plus what if GM decids to offer an Equinox SS at the same time? I can't see that big of a market for $28,000+ AWD small SUV's with 15 sec quarter mile performance.

I have one friend who works at a gm engine plant....he falls into the category of making 90% of his pay for staying home (job bank I beleive it's refered to). He is still getting paid more than just about every single one of his freinds...yet he goes weeks sometimes without working. I think he has stayed home more than he has worked this year.

I think it depends on where you live. While the workers by you wasing dishes and bussing table will make only .50 less than the Delphi wages, in other areas that is the case. Most jobs like that here (plus jobs at fast food places, supermarkets, malls...basically many MANY jobs) are still paying minimum wage or very close to it...which means those proposed Delphi wages are not 'just 50 cents' more..but rather $3.00+ more an hour.

If what myself and the other posts on this board are true...then the new 06 inventory isn't going to the west coast...GM must for some reason be pushing as much inventory into the lots in Buffalo and Rochester NY. :)

I'm not sure where you guys are from, but that is not the case currently in Upstate NY. The two closest dealers to me are one Chevy Dealership and one Pontiac Dealership. Both are mid-sized. Both have an unbeleivable ammount of inventory. My previous post was not an exageration. I'd say the Pontiac Dealership has 20-30 06 Grand Prixs....about the same number of G6's, and at least as many GMC Sierras. And once again, this is not a small dealership, but certainly not a Mega Dealership. My guess from driving though the lot every couple of days (looking to see if any more of the G6 GTP coupes have come in) is that they are maybe selling 2 or 3 of the Grand Prix's a week, yet they have to have close to 30 on the lot (including 4-5 GXP's, and none of them have moved at all since the beginning of the month)

Well, it is going to be VERY hard to lay off the incentives again. There have been articles that the sales of the 2006 models in October are awful so far...possibly the slowest October in 13 years. Also, have you driven through a Pontiac or Chevy lot lately? The slow sales show. The local dealerships there are jammed with cars, you can't even drive into their back lots becuase they are so full of cars they aren't selling. Literally they can't even take deliviers of any more cars becuause I don't know where they are going to put them. Yet the factories keep producing cars...so unless they find some way to sell them, there is going to be storage problems (among others more serious than that.)

GM selling GMAC might be a calculated move by them...calculated in that they expect a strike/shutdown in the very near future. Think about it, why would GM sell their most profitable part of the company? What if they know its worth more now than it will be in the future. Suppose GM plays hardball with the UAW, and that forces a strike. Certainly GM may actually welcome that from the operations/manufacturing side. We all have read that when you figure in labor costs, they don't make much money on cars and in fact often lose money. They make that money up through financing. So if a strike occurs, GMAC is where the huge it would be. I have a feeling GM execs are planning for a strike, maybe they are even going to push for one. So they sell GMAC now, get the money for it....and take care of the other side of the operation once a strike is gone. Remember, if a strike occurs, GMAC isn't worth much, it won't be generating any profits. By selling it now, GM gets something for it. Then, when the resolution to a confrontation between GM and the UAW occurs.....If GM plays hardball and pushes the UAW, maybe they can emerge from that with a labor deal that will actually make them profitable on the manufacturing side.

Many don't want to hear this...but your point about this being a Macro-economics issue is 100% true. It is impossible to understand how or why this is happening and what will become if it unless you look at it form a Macro-Economics perspective. Unless you are capable or willing to do that...arguing on either side will not come up with any kind of solution or closed ended explanation.

That one is easy to argue, but once again you are not looking far enough into the problem. The financial problems at Delphi are vast, it is the enormity of the problems that is causing the bankruptcy problem. So what is a greater cause of those problems....Execs getting overpaid compared to their peers in other industries....or UAW workers getting more pay and benefits comapred to their peers? I'm waiting for your responce to that.

This is not about greed of a big company..this about survival of a big company..and maybe an entire domestic industry. Are there some greedy execs involved...Yes I'm sure there are...but the dollars they are taking is miniscule in percentage terms to the financial burden the company faces as a whole in respect to it's future possible existence.

In that case then a 'proper union' is immoral in my view and in the views of any others. How far does "whatever means" go? Does it cross the line of doing things that are illegal (I beleive refusing to work under bankruptcy law would be bordering on illegal). If that doesn't work..or if doing illegal acts mean "whatever means" to you..than how is that different than when you complained about "thievery" a few posts ago (despite the fact that under bankruptcy laws..it is not theivery)? Seems to be plenty of holes in your logic. And the judges political bias? We are talkign what is supposed to happen..and what is supposed to happen here is that the case would be thrown out. Seeing how there is obviously financial difficulty here, the only way political bias could change "what should be" to "what shouldn't be" is if there was not financial difficulty. That is not the case here. So once again you even bringing up political bias has nothing to do with YOUR case, so is it just what you are conditioned to say when a topic comes up whether is is pertiant or not? I can do that also....let me think of something...how about "your sister is fat" or "my dad can beat up your dad"?