HarleyEarl

It's interesting to see American automobiles in a different context and the fan base that exists in other countries. Here's Buicks in Sweden: http://www.buicksinsweden.se/

You should frame that. I have never read a more accurate portrait of a car salesman. Perfectly stated. Another one could be: 'you are only as good as the total sales at the end of the month because the next day, is like your first, you are starting all over'

Yes bland sells, when thats all that is available. A potential Park Avenue (I'd rather they not use that name, but that's another program), is no Camry or Impala. I feel, one of the biggest reasons Detroit is in trouble is dumbing down American design to Japanese levels and then lacking the quality therein. American car design is just beginning a renaissance, lets continue that with Buick. Especially Buick. Just read earlier Buick history. Buicks were highly regarded around the world. It was the 'it' car. It needs that back. Buick has a rich heritage to build upon. Here is an example of the grandeur and commanding presence of Buicks of the past. when they were seen as something very special, by royalty, celebrities and the wealthy. Not suggesting retro versions, but at least the bold, American design that once was.

I noticed something curious about new Chryco vehicles. When the turn signal is on the daytime running light turns off on that particular side. When I first saw this, I thought their headlight was burnt out. Now I see this on them all. Does anyone know why they did this? It looks so odd.

'Unbiased'?!...I almost hurled. CBC is the most biased of any media outlet I know. It is a leftist, socialist, tax funded institution. There are many in Canada can't wait for the day this irrelavent band of Castro lovers is left to fend for itself. It will die an instant death. Now back to news of Magna. Get any news of this anywhere else but CBC. Then you might get some semblance of balanced, thoughtful reporting.

I'm just not feeling this car. It doesn't have anything Buick about it. Generic, dull, listless, boring, ho-hum. Buick is in danger of going the way of Oldsmobile. This will not help.

1962 Ford Galaxie 500

Corvair hardtops are my all time favorite. The effects of this design are still felt in cars today. Another American classic.

Me too Camino....that design was so far ahead of it's time. It still holds up well today. An American classic.

Trust me, Buicks are nowhere near beyond precision. They are more before precision.

I like the 'Drive Beautiful'....much more Buick. 'Beyond Precision' is pretty lofty. It sets them up for ridicule.

Ya, it's not so much the plastic wood that I object against...it's the overuse of it. That Outlook woodie version is so heavy with this stuff....they need be more subtle with it. There is a generational thing with wood interiors I think. Many younger customers view it as old-fashioned. I mean they stopped making fake wood grained microwaves, clock radios, stereos, humidifiers, televisions etc a long time ago, maybe it's time for cars too. It does add some warmth to car interiors, I have to admit, but for many years, American cars hardly ever used the stuff and looked great. Car manufacturers need to get imaginative with interior schemes again and then fake wood grain won't be necessary. I think it's a lazy way out.

Agreed, you wouldn't go wrong with any one of these fine vehicles. On the subject of interiors, I still don't understand Saturn in even having a woodgrain interior in any of their vehicles...it just doesn't make sense to me. They want to change their image, go in a more Euro direction, dynamic, modern...then they do this. It's GM-old-think.

Now this one, I always thought of as a two-door hardtop, but really it's a pillared coupe....it kind of blurrs the line a bit. The '55 Ford Crown Victoria:

'63 Studebaker hardtop with a hole:

One of my all-time mopar favorites, the 67 Cuda hardtop:

Rambler Ambassador was the first hardtop wagon. Kaiser introduced the first 4 door hardtop.

If I was choosing between the Saturn Outlook and the GMC Acadia, the Acadia would win. To me, better looking, and less image baggage. Saturn could go super premium and have a supercar in their lineup and I still wouldn't go there. It will take years to change the perception that Saturn has. I would be slightly embarassed to say I owned a Saturn. It feels emasculating. The interior alone would win me over to the GMC... the Saturn's is dated and overwrought with fake wood.

Now this is pillarless!

Honda used to be known for restrained, refined styling. They had almost an Audiesque thing about them. Increasingly their designs are getting more and more oddball. I'll bet that is why they are losing sales.

Who produced the first pillarless hardtop wagon?