Croc

Let me put it to you this way: people aren't going to spend an extra $20k on essentially the same car just because it has a Cadillac badge on it. Styling differences aside, the Cadillac would flop. Now, my real question here you alluded to...WHAT suspension choices, interior choices, etc. would distinguish this theoretical Buick from its Cadillac platform-mate? Buick isn't such a soft floaty car brand anymore. Buick interiors need to be top notch as well if they are to be taken seriously as a luxury brand. THIS is what makes it tough for me, and is why I think FWD v. RWD is a great differentiator between Cadillac and Buick, if only for the fact that it lets Buick shine and be top-notch luxury while giving Cadillac the inherent performance edge. See what I mean?

Please explain how this isn't "brand management"? GM needs to move on from selling the same vehicle with only subtle differences in styling as the only differentiators. How would your Riviera actually differ from an equivalent Cadillac in any meaningful way?

Buick definitely needs a Riviera again, but I'm conflicted as to your proposed drivetrain layout because I think it would be difficult to differentiate from Cadillac. The brands need very clear, zero blurring of the lines distinctions between them, here on out.

Yeah, one of the primary tenants of sustainability and environmentalism is to produce locally, consume locally. That really must kill the middle class, huh? The rest of your post?

I'm going to respond to this succinctly: arguing your point by insisting it is true and anyone who disagrees is stupid/wrong/completely uninformed/out-of-touch without actually backing your argument up with factual information is super worthless. Put up or shut up. Namecalling also doesn't fly. Last time I checked, socialism involved government subsidies and strict control, not creating new legislation that forces people to directly pay the costs of their choices to supplant old legislation that subsidized individual choices on a public level. My viewpoint is that we need to end a public subsidy, and yet you're calling me a socialist? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Or is that just something that only applies to everyone else now? I loathe the Bay Area.

We have to lead by example. We also have an addiction to fossil fuels and we need alternatives. Fossil fuels are polluting not just when they are burned in our cars, but their refinement is also abysmally toxic and polluting. Agreed, 100% Maybe so, but international jurisdictions being what they are it would be tough to implement.

The crime and social unrest is pretty bad. I'd look elsewhere, honestly. I've two friends who have attended Johns Hopkins University, and the stories they've told are pretty shocking, even for me in the South Central "ghetto" surrounding USC.

There is no "green agenda" as you like to put it. The fact of the matter is that emissions do NOT stay locally; they travel all over the world. Therefore, when YOU or a company, or any other entity chooses to pollute, or engages in behavior that results in pollution, it isn't like you're walking around with a fishbowl on your head keeping you accountable for your choices. There are very real health consequences for this stuff, and the "agenda" as you'd like to put it is far more economics-based than anything else because it seeks to make the polluter pay directly for their pollution. You already pay for it, just indirectly. Public health costs, personal health costs, etc. Is that all there is to the story? There isn't a component of "or you'll have to pay an extra fee based on the difference in emissions" clause? If not, it won't pass. Speak for yourself. Not everyone likes/wants a vehicle that goes from 0-60 in 6 seconds and gets 10mpg, not by a long shot. So? You're not entitled to a fast car. You're not even entitled to a car, period. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Why should the public subsidize you because you choose to drive a "performance" car that pollutes excessively? There are plenty of well-performing cars that are quite fun to drive that do not have a V-8 and do not get $h!ty gas mileage. That BMW 3er isn't even offered with a V8 unless you want to pony up for the M3. No one is entitled to a Ferrari for the price of an Aveo. Again, so? if Ferrari is able to create a high-mileage performance car then clearly higher CAFE standards are not impossibly unattainable. "There is no free lunch." You're really not convincing me of anything. Instead of bitching, propose an alternative solution because I'm never going to buy the argument that you should be subsidized by the rest of us for the consequences of your automotive choices.

Doesn't make it a good idea.

I agree. That said, I don't see why the next Malibu shouldn't be offered with an SS package. IMO GM would be stupid not to--the Malibu is already an extremely competent sedan, and an SS version (with or without a coupe variant) would be a glaring omission. Now, in that scenario, what would distinguish a Malibu SS from a Regal GN or GNX? Well, I think they could theoretically coexist without competing against each other, but smk has a valid point here in that GM has a long history now of failing to be able to make such a market positioning distinction. I think a Regal GNX and a next-gen Malibu SS could complement each other--the Malibu SS would increase the appeal of the Malibu to a wider variety of buyers, but the Regal would need to offer premium amenities and features not available on the Malibu. The ride and handling would need to be a little tighter, more tech features would need to be standard, and other considerations with regards to interior DESIGN and materials would need to be made. Basically, GM would need to do its equivalent of Honda Accord vs. Acura TL.

Gotta agree with you here. Now, I'm not against Buick having a performance package here and there, but Cadillac has to be firmly positioned against BMW. IMO, the key to keeping Buick and Cadillac distinct will have everything to do with drivetrain configuration--Buick should be FWD, premium mainstream (think Acura, Lexus, VW, Volvo) and Cadillac will be RWD, luxury performance (BMW, MB and to a lesser degree Infiniti). So far, GM seems to be going in the direction I would prefer here, but hopefully they won't be too married to the idea that the DTS buyers need to stay within Cadillac, versus just staying within GM.

Boo. Well, I don't know how big Oxy is, or how dense the student housing areas are, but did you report it? Might be able to track whoever down, though it's a long shot.

You have to be kidding me. That sucks dude. Is this in PV? Prolly a drunk driver, if so. What paint colors were left?

NOS, glad you're alright. Welcome to the I've-Done-Crazy-Fun-Things-with-Cars-and-Lived-to-Tell-about-It Club. Yay, another site Admin has returned!

I never noticed this since I use fast reply or just hit the reply/quote button in individual posts, but it does seem odd that "Start new topic" is located inside threads, and not just in subforums.

These? I'd rather fist-bump than walk around looking like Super Mario.

Well, I don't like being sick, and it's generally considered poor social etiquette to Lysol the $h! out of someone as they extend their arm for a handshake.

But you don't always wash your hands after you pee, you sneeze into your hand, and I don't know if anyone has ever told you this before, but you have a serious palm-sweating problem. Plus it's flu season.

Greeting cards. No one should be surprised when I open an envelope, read it, remove anything that may be inside it, and then promptly throw it in the trash. I mean, where else did you think it was gonna go? Waste of paper, trees, money and landfill space.

First off, scan for codes. Also, you don't mention what engine/transmission you have. Do you have the LX5 Shortstar 3.5L with the 4T65-E transmission? If so, then this could be a common and expensive solenoid, or maybe a throttle position sensor.

I know, right? Everyone is already paying for the "free" parking, just not directly. This is an area I'm very familiar with, and right now I'm actually working on an initiative to completely overhaul the way parking is required/managed/priced in the Van Nuys Central Business District in order to facilitate business investment and revitalize the entire district. It's similar, yet different, to what Old Town Pasadena successfully accomplished in the 80s and 90s, but so far the business community is on board. Which is nice, when you think about it, because the business community is actually in favor of messing with parking rates because the regulatory environment is in such a state of chaos that they want something, anything done. For anyone actually interested in learning something: http://www.yale.edu/transportationoptions/parking/documents/Highpriceoffreeparking.ppt http://www.uctc.net/papers/351.pdf

You are wrong. Very. very wrong. I will elaborate on this later when I have time to go super in-depth on this. What I'll say for now is this: look up and read "The High Cost of Free Parking."

LA to SD in 70-90 minutes at that speed. Hmmm, I bet that's a lot cheaper for the wallet, and a lot better for the environment than taking a commuter airplane, yea? Faster than the train, too!

Wow, that is REALLY annoying. I'm glad GM has kept the same startup chime for decades--it doesn't need any improvement.

Send the whole thing to GM. Give them names and everything. There's no excuse for this, especially since this dealership isn't targeted for closure (I assume). Take it to the top, be polite yet firm, and don't take no for an answer. Squeaky wheels get greased.