caddycruiser

Well, some weird details aside, I like it, just like I thought I would. At least it has much better packaging/space/seating than a big GM ute, but then again, so does everyone now. I think, in that regard, you could call it best...basically because it has the packaging down pat and done well, much like the new Fords, but with better performance and such. But I wouldn't just jump and call it "best ever" already. That is nuts. In a lot of ways, yes. But in a lot of others yet to be seen, maybe not. Seems like full-size SUV's will always have a place...and after yet another romp around borrowing mom's Suburban, loading it with car doors, a quarter panel, and more, and still cruising down the road in near silence and smooth as could be...I know WHY. So...now people have another choice, but just stay away from calling one better just because of a name. Only on merits, and that alone.

I'm in close contact with a guy who has a '94 Fleetwood LT1 (like my '95), does a ton of highway driving, and had played with E85 with his several times...in addition to custom PCM tuning, the latter of which he has helped me greatly with. I know he has intermittently run E85, fully, but honestly don't remember him bringing up ever converting things--as you would expect necessary--to do so. I'll PM you his email...and we'll see what else others chime in with, too.

GREAT! Now with Motor Trend...who knows. I always usually understand the rankings, but with their recent SUV choice of the Mazda CX-9...vs. something actually new for 2008 (not from last year) and with sales so fast you can hardly find one to see, the Enclave. Either way, the Malibu isn't perfect, but it seems to be so good in many regards, it is getting the praise it deserves.

True. I don't think I'd call it best of GM, but it's definitely one of the best or the best in its particular category...well, mostly.

No, that's the Traverse, and it's your standard 4 regular door Lambda. Sliding door ideas "just to easily make a Lambda a van" are no more, or were no more, than rumors started by people who didn't have a clue. The minivan market still exists, and I certainly agree there needs to still be low-cost functional versions for various uses--not everyone does want or need power folding seats and Nav systems, like said--BUT, from a company perspective...well done crossovers just are an easier sell, have no stigma, and now can provide room equal to a van. And I'm thankful NO Lambda was ever sent to the trenches--i.e. slower sales, rebates, etc.--and made a van. They're doing extremely well because they provide van attributes without being a van--and in 3 flavors distinct enough that people who like 1 really don't like the other. To have that split, with 2 great crossovers and 2 vans with great attributes, but that were still VANS...that would have been a costly mistake. Markets just change. Minivans sell, most definitely, but it's not an exploding market and will never expand, really. And even for delivery, fleet, etc. use, there's always interesting little things like the HHR panel, and some lower trimmed vans that occupy the space.

In the process of finally trying to buy one now (to replace the '04 Suburban)...and yes, they are HOT. Very slim discounts, and dealers who either have none or who sell out of them the second they hit. Hence, why actually most so far have been custom orders. There's even knock down, drag out searches and fights right now for people to try and get the last of the White Diamond Tri-Coat ones remaining...now that the color has been discontinued, before the new Platinum Ice starts in January. This was also a part of another sales story recently, mentioning the Enclave's sales numbers and how white was the most popular color. The product is just so good, and the price fantastic, the even more common thing now is people going to look at the GMC & Saturn, only to try out a Buick and not be able to "step down" and back...it happened to us, for sure. NOW, if Phil LeBeau would actually ever talk about anything domestic without that "everything is still crap" tone he seems to come off with again and again in his short articles.

Agreed. The Corvette interior has such a mish-mash style to begin with (shape-wise, it can't match the last gen, even though it was cheaper), and the new trim package just takes those blah lines and parts and wraps some in leather to KIND OF make it look better. So, for me: 1) CTS...just killer and SO well done, in every way 2) Enclave...could still be better with a less GM generic center stack, but great ambiance in person (or maybe I'm just putting it at #2 because we'll hopefully have one soon) 3) Acadia...utility luxury at its best in GM, with actually a very well done center stack and great silver-chrome-red glowing personality 4) Outlook...great VW-like feel, particularly in upper trims 5) Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade...still great all around, with nothing objectionable, and very "quality" details and shapes

That sucks, and it sounds VERY much like my father. At least they didn't damage anything or take much. We live in a nice area on the bay, and about a mile off any main road, in a development. For years, my father would never, ever lock his car overnight, also saying "if they want it, they'll get it anyway" and also just that--somehow--it was too much of a hassle for him early in the morning, when it's often dark, to have to get his keys out an unlock the door. OKAY. Well, then there was a story a year or two ago about some local cars and other things being broken into, and after I added the obligatory "SEE!" a few times, he's locked everything up ever since. In a perfect world (which apparently he lives sometimes), "I shouldn't have to lock my doors", but that's just not the case.

Pretty much. Base CTS vs. Lacrosse Super, it's a pretty clear choice for most...well, except for the dollars and cents of being able to get more $$ off the Buick's sticker in the end. Still, very close either way. But the point still stands, and I'll even agree with Fly a bit here, the Lacrosse is not at all a bad car, but rather quite decent and just hobbled by ancient underpinnings and a mish-mash interior and trimming of sorts. Solid and decently refined, but about as much so as it takes to make a nice rental. Still, in things like Super trim, it actually becomes very attractive as a small sedan, and will give the car a nice "fun" model before it bows out. I've been moderately attracted to the random CXS models I see, but now with the Super, I actually have a pretty strong pull to one. Not sure if I'd actually sign the check, but would at least drive one, if in the small sedan market.

Yeah, I knew of various special editions, and also the 5-speed manual teamed up with the V6 early on...but never knew they had a 3.1L Turbo. The power output was nothing great, but I wonder how many are still around...or even how many were made in the first place. Interesting, "crappy" late 80's/early 90's GM car, for sure--at least in Turbo, etc. guise, and with the Kit-car like dash.

I pretty much agree. Not that the US version is a beauty, but the China version is very bland and derivative outside, aside from more balanced proportions. Its key saving grace is the much higher level interior, and design, but that will soon be remedied on the new US version as well.

Uh, the Lacrosse was already stale from day one...even as Bob Lutz admits, things like the Super model are just to give it a fun little boost and a few new sales to those who notice before it's done with. The completely new Lacrosse isn't far away, and already seen running around with just tape on it, so this current Lacrosse and it's antique W-body platform that limits the proportions and squeezes the interior will be gone shortly. That all said...I really do like this Super model, and the new face, wheels, and extra little touches, along with the V8, do make a dowdy little sedan at least quite interesting, and it is well done for what it is. Even better than the more commonly known Impala SS, for example, and as was said, with a better suspension (i.e. Bilsteins, like the Grand Prix GXP), and a more luxurious ambiance. It looks nice now, has great power, and is trimmed out well enough to help most forget the downfalls of the interior until the new model arrives. Here's a good Youtube from a GM Engineer with a Super, as well...and gives you an idea of the quiet burble of the 5.3L in the Buick:

As usual, they look better real world...including that 2LT one with the last gen Malibu SS wheels. They "fit" the look of the car perfectly, and look great. Plus...further relief to still know it's a V6 and again see ONLY the lovely 3.6L OHC under the hood and not the rental special 3.5L growler anymore. Now, if that had just happened a few years ago The Malibu should take all of what is good about the Aura, but also gives it more detailed body proportions and a bit better interior in some ways, plus a better model spread, etc. Should do well...and effectively kill the V6 Impalas with less room and ancient bits underneath, except to Enterprise.

I know. Seeing things like that in person was one thing, but NOW going back 17 years (or even just 10 in a lot of ways) and seeing what some GM vehicles were actually like in reality is fascinating. Just things like those seatbelts, the way the car jumps up and down when the ABS is working, how clickity clacky and crappy the darth vader interiors were no matter how fun things like the computer screen thing and 50 way seats seemed, etc. OH, the days of cars like that...I laugh, but at the same time, have oddly fond memories of them, whether it be grandma's '92 Grand Prix or even our '89 Corsica...had no idea how terrible they were, until years later.

Living in Delaware for 8 years now (oh, and southeastern PA for a large part of the last 4)...I've never been to Georgia, but also have never heard anything but great things. Parents and relatives have said it's a gorgeous area in general, climate and otherwise, and I work with a guy at home who is always talking about how his parents moved to a place near Savannah "and were able to buy land & build an incredible house for what you'd pay for a dump in lower Delaware". So, he obviously thinks highly of it, with a Delaware prospective. Planning of land & then a new home? Definitely gets you the all important very southern climate, and also from what I've been told, and area that's both beautiful and without extreme overpricing (or at least not used to).

That's true, and they are clearly VERY badge engineered, but it's always worked. You wanted the sportier, less trimmed out version, you got the Dodge. You wanted the more luxurious, tarted up version, you got the Chrysler. And from what I've seen, both have always seemed to sell exactly on the same level--and to their own respective buyer groups--so keeping both is still a good idea. There's a LOT about the new Chrysler vans that already could stand change from day one, but they're the bread & butter, and always a strong seller no matter what. And there's just much more needy products that need to go away or be drastically re-done, far and away, before even touching the vans.

I listen to it all, off and on, depending on what time I'm in the car--tend to vary between 93.3 WMMR and 94.1 WYSP...depending on the music and who's talking. Don't think I've heard Preston & Steve in a while, but used to listen a lot last year and before.

Was just searching through for some Motorweek videos...and found this one of a 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo. Guess I was out of the loop, unaware of the TURBO 3.1L V6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGcEqvOgEVw Otherwise, a really interesting review, and WOW, so evident of that awful 80's/90's "GM syndrome" with the visbily clunky and junky interior, KIT car dash lights and buttons, etc. And really love that, uh, "great" braking action of the 1990 ABS system and wonderfully non-sophisticated mushy all-strut W-body suspension. As much as I had to laugh, really brought back fond memories of crusing around in my grandmother's '92 Grand Prix LE sedan--that was still, by far, her favorite vehicle ever. Bench seat, column shifter, and all...it was an oddly fun car.

Precisely. Right now it's just to get some of that quick, "available soon" interest going, with some quick spots that make the point quickly...THEN right before and when they start hitting lots, point out more specifics with features, pricing, etc.

See, it still baffles me why SO many people, especially of the "GM crowd" aren't getting it. Though I completely think that it should have been a Malibu of the same year and NOT a Cutlass (that's just...odd...), the POINT is to fully acknowledge that, with cars like that, they've been ignored again and again and again. And, even more so, a LOT of people who had either bad experiences or just scoffed at things like the 2 last gens of Malibus, now still have it ingrained in them that "that's what a Malibu is" and can't accept anything else. GM admits it, publicizes it, and says "THIS" is different, and not what everyone is stuck on thinking it "WAS". It makes a great point, and it's nice to see this kind of advertising from GM. Don't get stuck on what they did in the past, specifically pointing to people who have proceeded to buy imports, etc. just "because" of that one dowdy, cheap car they see when they hear that certain name, and never actually realize what the current product is. They need more thorough, clearer ads as well, that push a similar point, in coming time, that make it glaringly obvious, with more speaking, etc. Acknowledging a past foible that some people have never gotten over is more effective than just putting something new and different out and expecting people to naturally "come over".

That's an interesting point, at least with some vehicles. There are different maintenance items that a lot of people may not even think of, but crop up. Kind of like all the Saturn Vue's that are around with the Honda 3.5L. Everyone always remarks how fantastic of a powertrain it is in the Vue, but if they're GM die-hards, there are small things like the timing belt, etc. differences that need to be noticed & remembered. I think it's just a weird coincidence that 2 were seen by Satty on fire/smoking, and not traced to a certain problem--I stay up to date with common problems of a lot of vehicles, and have never heard a thing about this. But, you never know.

See, that's the thing. The first sales were actually in late April, and continue to just a rapid pace, but you won't yet see one on every street corner. Think of something like the 300C, Beetle, etc. Insanely hot sales for quite a while, but it still takes some time for enough of them to get spread around that you'll see one daily. Locally, at home, I've seen a total of 3 on the road, 2 from out of state, and the same for when I'm in PA mostly. Give them another year of sales, and you'll really see them out there, in addition to the already prevalent--mostly--Acadia, for instance.

The key issue, with the Sonata specifically, is they just fell into the trap of having it 90-95% "great" as of the last redesign and then just going nuts with production...more, more, more, essentially. So, it still sells, but there's been so many new entries in the year or two since it's been out, that it can't help but fall back a bit and sadly become really much so the packed lots--big rebates mid-size star. The refreshed version, with new interior, etc. is out for next year, but until then, and still with so many other choices, sales aren't going to be brisk for sure. Still, a great appliance car like so many, with proof such as the flawless 40k+ beating C&D put one through over a year, and actually a big fan base...but there's only so many sedan buyers, and with so many choices, you HAVE to offer them something truly unique to make a difference. So, it's just a minor growing pain for Hyundai at the moment, a company who I still think is and can continue to do great things, just cautiously still.

Dead on, and I completely agree, especially with the Rendezvous. Of course, my grandparents themselves took advantage of a great deal on a used '03 Rendezvous, always having wanted one...but the vast majority right now are going from their old & young first owners into the second hands of families and such on a budget who will continue to enjoy them. And, from this point, there already are and hopefully will continue to be a lot of continued sales going through the Enclave, and whatever other similarly impressive sedan(s) they will have before long.

EXACTLY. The Rendezvous was first to start attracting a lot of younger buyers, and did, but also in the lifespan, attracted quite a few of the typical older buyers as well. With the Enclave, it seems like the people who WANT one and are buying the most are anywhere from their late 20's to 40's. A lot of these are also the same people trading in their Pilots (I've read SO many of those stories now...), MDX's, RX's, etc., because they're drawn in by the styling then astounded at the performance and versatility, that beats every other crossover available, all for a great price.