VenSeattle

Okay.... did I miss something?

Is Chevrolet getting a Lambda-based minivan AND a Lambda-based Crossover/SUV now?

It's a division of BCA:

http://www.reatta.org/

Here are their forums:

http://forums.aaca.org/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=UBB3

I find it amazing that out of such a small number made (less than 23,000 over 4 years), that there are so many Reattas around in such good condition.

Maybe for '08/'09 if things go well.

[post="29818"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

That's my plan as well :)

Are these numbers comparing Jan-Sept 04 sales to Jan-Sept 05 sales?

We currently use Azureus... any news on them? We've used Limewire off and on but like Azureus better.

1990 Chicago Tribune Review on Cars.com

Jim Mateja
Chicago Tribune
July 9, 1990
If you purchase a Buick Reatta convertible, you`ll find religion.
Take, for example, the reaction when you first look at the $35,000 pricetag.

``Oh, my God.``

Then, comes the realization that you just paid $35,000 for a two seaterbut have to deal with a manually operated convertible top rather than a power unit.

``Dear, Lord.``

And when you try putting the top down by hand and bringing it back up and scrape fingers and knuckles, the reaction is to again call upon the divine-at least that`s what we told the kids after Dad`s first round with the top.

The wife suggested that if someone recorded what was said in grapplingwith the top at least a half dozen radio stations would be playing it as rapand MTV would make it into a video.

The Reatta convertible we test drove was a really nice car that wasreally overpriced-by $10,000 to $15,000.

Base price is $34,995. The test car added a 16-way power driver`s seatfor $680 and a compact disc player for $396. With $570 for freight, you`re at $36,641 before tax, title and plates.

OK, it has lots of standard equipment, from antilock brakes to driver`sside air bag; to AM stereo/FM stereo with cassette, power windows, brakes,steering, seats and door locks; cruise control; tilt wheel; rear windowdefogger; and steel-belted radial tires.

The 3.8-liter, fuel-injected V-6 had some punch while delivering 18 miles per gallon city/27 m.p.g. highway, and the gran touring suspension systemcushioned two occupants from road harshness.

The reality is that when you hand over 36 big ones, you don`t expect tohave to use those now empty hands to get the top folded and hidden under thetonneau.

When down, the convertible is a pleasure to drive on warm evenings. Whenthe top is up, the size of the canvas wrapping around to meet the two frontwindows creates a massive blind spot that makes backing out the drive, moving into or out of the passing lane or parking a chore if not a hazard.

One last gripe about the top; it doesn`t fit snuggly in back along thesheet metal. There`s a slight gap, just enough to ask:

``For $35,000, why can`t the darn thing fit, for godsake?``

1990 review from Orlando Sentinel on Cars.com

Richard Truett
Orlando Sentinel
August 2, 1990
Driving the new Buick Reatta convertible is something of a bittersweet affair.

Your heart is stolen - wheeled away - by the car's subtle, graceful styling. But your mind is troubled somewhat by the car's performance.

At first glance - and especially with the top down - the Reatta has an expensive European look, making you think that it must be a sports car.

But when you slip behind the wheel, you find out quickly you are wrong. The Reatta is a luxury car. It runs, rides and performs like a luxury car, and a good one at that. It's smooth, refined, relaxed and very comfortable.

Power comes from Buick's super smooth fuel-injected 3800 V-6 engine that develops 165 horsepower. The Reatta convertible weighs in at a hefty 3,577 pounds, which is nearly 200 pounds heavier than the full size Park Avenue luxury sedan. The only transmission available in the Reatta is GM's four-speed automatic. Both engine and transmission are superb units that serve as the standard powertrain for dozens of GM vehicles.

But since the Reatta is a hand-built luxury car that is Buick's flagship and, arguably, the nicest looking American car in years, doesn't it cry out for something special under the hood, such as a highly tuned version of the V-6 or maybe a turbocharger?

Cadillac discovered that its potential customers wanted performance with the Allante luxury convertible. When the company responded with a more powerful engine, sales increased. Buick may find out the same thing with the Reatta. Several enthusiast magazines have tested the Reatta convertible and clocked 0-to-60 mph times ranging from 9.8 to 9.1 seconds. That performance is respectable, but it isn't special. For the $34,995 base price, one expects better than that.

If however, you don't rank muscular performance very high and are looking for a topless car that will make heads turn, you will not find a car that can do it any better than the Reatta convertible. It is nothing less than a styling and design masterpiece.

The front end sports a slight wedge shape, hidden headlights, a front spoiler with integrated fog lights and a big black rubber strip that runs the length of the car. The rear end is rounded, and the taillights run the length of the rear area. One shape or directional change blends smoothly into another, giving one the impression that the Reatta was carved by the wind. It is a timeless design.

Mercedes-Benz attracted worldwide attention earlier this year by introducing a convertible top mechanism that raises and lowers in just 28 seconds, all at the flick of one switch.

Who would have thought that Buick engineers could have made a better top mechanism using none of that complicated electrical wizardry found on the Mercedes models?

The Reatta top is a completely manual affair. But you can raise and lower it very easily in about a minute. I prefer an easy-to-operate manual top to an electrically controlled one. Manual tops are easier to maintain and infinitely simpler. They place less demand on the car's electrical system, there are fewer parts that can break, and they keep mechanical clutter to a minimum.

The nicest feature of the top is that it folds down all the way into its compartment, and the fiberglass tonneau cover fits flush with the bodywork, for a very neat, streamlined appearance.

With the top up, the Reatta is very quiet, even at high speeds. No wind noise can be heard and after several heavy downpours, there were no water leaks.

Just one other note about the top: Most European convertibles offer cloth tops. They look expensive and convey class. The Reatta has a cheaper-looking vinyl top like those used on lesser-priced cars.

A cloth top could make a big difference in the way people perceive the Reatta, which costs more expensive and convey class. The Reatta has a cheaper-looking vinyl top like those used on lesser-priced cars.

A cloth top could make a big diffe ence in the way people perceive the Reatta, which costs more than any car Buick has ever built. A more expensive-looking cloth top would help underscore the Reatta's exclusivity and value.

The test car, painted red and fitted with a brown leather interior, sported Buick's electronic instruments, but unlike other instruments of this type, Buick's are shaped like traditional analog gauges. I am not of fan of this type of instrument system, but Buick's is easy on the eye after you get acquainted with it. The layout provides the driver with full information in an easy-to-read format, and it is packaged to take up very little room.

The brown leather seats were sumptuous. A myriad of adjustments - 16 in all - make them flexible enough to allow nearly any body to be comfortable. Foot room and head room are good. For a two-seater, the Reatta is quite practical, thanks to its 10.5 cubic feet of stowage space in the trunk. There also are compartments behind the seats for small items. One of the best features of the Reatta is its remote control locking, which is activated by a small radio transmitter located in the key fob.

Now, the best for last: Equipped with anti-lock brakes, big, fat 15-inch Eagle GT radials on mag wheels and a quick steering ratio, the Reatta is a pleasure to drive - unless you are the type who needs to be somewhere in a hurry. There may not be a better car in the mid-$30,000 price range to take to the country club on Sundays or to the beach.

You can sit for hours in the driver's seat and never become uncomfortable. With the top up or down, rear vision is never a problem. The car has a bit of body flex over rough roads, but it is generally a smooth, stable and solid cruiser. Gas mileage averaged a very respectable 21.4 on combined city/highway driving with the air conditioning on.

The test car features Buick's best sound system, an excellent four-speaker AM/FM-cassette-CD affair. Cruising at high speeds with the top down does not drown out the clarity of the radio.

There isn't much in the way of competition in the Reatta's price range. The Mercedes-Benz models are at least twice the price and hard to get. The Cadillac Allante is about $20,000 more. There are a few lesser convertibles, but if you can afford a Reatta, then you certainly wouldn't want to drive a Miata, RX-7, Mustang, Capri or Chrysler convertible.

The Reatta's low production and stellar styling will ensure the car's classic status. One wishes, however, that Buick would make this car - or at least a special model - appeal to performance enthusiasts.

Buick could satisfy those who want sports car performance in the Reatta by building a GS model. It could have stiffer suspension, a set of cloth-covered sport bucket seats, a five-speed, regular analog instruments and a turbocharged engine. Within the confines of GM, all the pieces are there. Is the will?

How many:

6,383 - 1990 Buick Reatta coupes
65 - 1990 limited edition Buick Reatta convertibles (in white only)
2,132 - 1990 Buick Reatta convertibles

1,313 - 1991 Buick Reatta coupes
305 - 1991 Buick Reatta convertibles


[url="http://research.cars.com/go/crp/safety.jsp;jsessionid=GL41DLONDSV2XLAZGI3ZXKY?makeid=7&modelid=58&year=1990&myid=&acode=&crpPage=summary.jsp&gotopage=safety.jsp&aff=national""]Cars.com website on 1990 Reatta Reliability (info sourced from JDP)[/url].

Cars.com website on 1991 Reatta Reliability (info sourced from JDP)

1990 review by Newsday from Cars.com.

Tom Incantalupo
Newsday
August 3, 1990
BUY A CONVERTIBLE and you join an exclusive club composed of people willing to spend an extra $5,000 or so for the pleasure of driving with nothing but the sky above their heads. Or, perhaps, just to be members of an exclusive club. How exclusive? Well, though convertibles underwent resurgence in the 1980s, they still account for only about 2 percent of all cars sold, or about 182,000 last year.

A week with this convertible makes it easy to see why, but, at the same time, to understand the allure for some people of an open-topped car.

Besides being more expensive than hardtops, convertibles usually are noisier inside, even with their tops up. Their bodies tend to shake and shudder over bumps because, even with special chassis reinforcement, a car is structurally weaker without a steel roof.

The two-seat Reatta is no exception on either count. We'd judge the noise inoffensive, but the shaking and shuddering are excessive when the pavement gets rough.

Lowering and raising the Reatta's manually operated top is a bit complicated, but not difficult if you follow the instructions. With the top down and windows rolled up, wind-buffeting is minimal. The top seals well to keep out wind and rain. And if it's exclusivity you're looking for, the Reatta's got it; only about 700 convertibles have been sold since they went on sale in the spring.

The convertible is built by Buick in Lansing, Mich., along with the coupe, which debuted in January, 1988. Both are likeable, if expensive, cars, providing a blend of sportiness and luxury that is ideal for metro New York driving conditions.

The Reatta is 14 inches shorter than Buick's Riviera, on which it is based mechanically, and its wheelbase is 9.5inches shorter. The instrument panel is nearly identical. For 1990 it thankfully does not include the touch-sensitive video screen that served as the controls and displays for the sound and climate systems; Buick dropped it for 1989.

The Reatta's dashboard includes easily read, round, electronic gauges clustered in front of the driver. Controls are mostly push buttons, and some are hidden by the thickly padded steering wheel. The heater/air conditioning system is automatic, but can be overridden.

The convertible Reatta weighs 200 pounds more than the coupe, which, of course, slows it down a bit, but 0-to-60 acceleration still is in the 10-second range. At nearly 3,600 pounds, the Reatta is rather chubby for a two-seater, but it carries its weight well; its firm suspension and Eagle GT tires keep things nicely under control.

A long list of standard equipment includes power windows and locks, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, an antitheft system and a driver's side airbag with manual lap and shoulder belts.

1990 Buick Reatta Engine: 3.8 liters, V-6, 165 hp. Transmission: Four- speed automatic, front wheel drive Length: 183.7 inches Weight: 3,577 pounds Trunk Capacity: 10.5 cubic feet Base Price: $35,575, incl. destination charge EPA Rating: 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway

I was at Huling Bros Buick-Pontiac-GMC in West Seattle a few days ago. They have $3,000 Market Adjustment mark-ups on LaCrosses & G6s.

Unbelievable.

Why start a new topic... LA Time's story on the recall:

2:43 PM PDT, October 13, 2005
Software Glitch Triggers Toyota Prius Recall
By James F. Peltz, Times Staff Writer

In what's believed to be the first recall of hybrid cars for engine-related problems, Toyota Motor Corp. said today that it is notifying about 75,000 owners of its hot-selling Prius about a potential software glitch that could cause the car to stall or shut down.

The voluntary recall dented the good reliability record of the Prius, whose sales have jumped in the past two years as drivers sought better fuel economy in the face of soaring gasoline prices.

The problem involves the hybrid's computer software, rather than mechanical parts, and it first came to light in May when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was investigating consumers' gripes stalls and shutdowns in the car's gas-electric engines.

"We have a total of 428 complaints, but no crashes or injuries," said NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson. He said Toyota made the decision to contact owners to fix the problem, which involves 2004 and 2005 models.

"We're satisfied that their remedy is going to take care of the problem," he said. As a result, "we intend to close our investigation" and Toyota is "to be commended" for the voluntary recall, Tyson said.

Although there have been two other recalls of the Prius, neither involved the hybrid-engine system, which uses complex electronics and computer programming to make the car's separate gas engine and electric drive motor work together smoothly.

Asked if this was the first time an automaker had recalled cars for problems directly related to hybrid-engine technology, Tyson replied: "Without doing exhaustive research, in my recollection, it's the first."

Toyota will notify Prius owners by mail that they can take the car to a dealership for free repairs, said Allison Takahashi, a spokeswoman at Toyota's Torrance-based U.S. operation.

"Most of the time it's just a warning-light coming on," but the gasoline portion of the gas-electric hybrid engine "occasionally" cuts off, she said.

If there is a stall, "you still have your electric motor and your brakes and your steering, so the driver can pull over" away from traffic, Takahashi said.

The NHTSB has not received similar complaints from drivers of other models of hybrid vehicles, Tyson said. Other automakers, including Honda Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co., also have rolled out hybrid models as demand for the fuel-efficient cars has increased.

Toyota does not expect the software problem to slow sales of the Prius, Takahashi said. "Demand for vehicles that have lower emissions and high gas mileage will still continue," she said.

Jim Hossack, a consultant at the research firm AutoPacific Inc. in Tustin, agreed that the problem wouldn't curb enthusiasm for the Prius. One reason: Toyota has a long record of building reliable vehicles, he said.

"It is a new technology and they will be forgiven," Hossack said.

Introduced in the U.S. five years ago, the Prius triggered the popularity of hybrid vehicles, especially this year as gasoline prices surged to $3 a gallon. Demand is so high that some dealerships have waiting lists.

Toyota sold 53,991 Prius cars in 2004 and had sold 81,042 this year through Sept. 30, and the automaker expects to sell 110,000 for all of this year. New models have a base price of $21,275 but often sell for thousands of dollars more due to the strong demand.

The car also has been praised for its quality and reliability. In May, the auto-research firm J.D. Power & Associates named the Prius the top compact car in the firm's annual initial-quality survey.

What will they ever do with that .28 cents and hour ? Lets see, thats a whole 11.2 bucks a week, or 44.8 gross buckerunies a month, so say maybe 30-32 smackers per month, new apartment maybe ?

Opp's Im doing it arent I . Sorry  :rolleyes:

[post="29404"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Well, it will guarantee everyone who's on minimum wage some type of cost-of-living increase even if their employers weren't going to be that generous.

Also, the benefits of consistently raising minimum wage are better appreciated when viewed over the long term.

No matter what, the lowest someone will take home (that is, after taxes) on a full-time job in Washington will be $1k ($15,870 @ 80%: $12,696). Considering you don't need a car if you live in Seattle, $1k a month will support rent and groceries. Several respectable companies here also provide a mass-transit pass or subsidy for their employees.

It's not middle class (not even close in Seattle where the average home is over $300k)... but it provides a means for survival. A lot of people get 2nd jobs when they're at the min-wage level, which helps to raise their standard of living (if they have time to have a life.) Plus, most people get room-mates to split costs.

It's a living. It can be rough... but it is survivable. (Once again, that's saying a lot considering how expensive it is to live in Seattle. Those who live in cheaper parts of Washington fair even better.)

I wish other parts of the country would increase their min-wage to our levels. It does seem to make a difference.

Washington State's minimum wage is currently $7.35/hr... It will be increased to $7.63/hr on Jan 1,2006. I believe we're the highest in the country.

Almost like constantly pointing out other brands shortcomings to bolster your own.

That's not my normal practice. I usually stick with the manufacturer that the topic is discussing.

What negative rhetoric, or is this how you generalize all non-rabid GM fans?

[post="29042"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

How I generalize non-rabid GM fans? You? A GM fan? :huh:
It's how I describe the non-rabid Toyota fans.
You're not a troll… but you're no GM fan by any definition.

Sorry to have shocked you, I have little interest in recall threads, and haven't posted 2IS breakdown pricing, or de-camo'd Camry spy pics, I wasn't first to post the LS concept thread either.
Look what up? GM's own recall was never posted .  But you can join the circle and bash on Toyota, problem is that won't really assist GM getting through the yr.

[post="28981"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I'm also sorry to disappoint, but I don't have any interest to target Toyota for bashing. However, if I wanted to do that, I'd probably do it in a Toyota fan forum to show my appreciation for all your hard work here at C&G. ^_^

It gets old constantly seeing "Sure this is bad, but GM is worse" in every topic posted with negative PR about a GM competitor.

And, yes, bashing a competitor doesn't help GM survive. Your negative GM rhetoric doesn't contribute to the degradation of GM's situation either. So both sides are even.
Enjoy! :CG_all:

Where's the "other" option for Jamie Lee Curtis and others like her?  :ph34r:

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Well... I could add it to the poll for mustang84. Should I put you down for 1 vote? :P

He spoke at USC last year.  I listened, open-minded, and came to the conclusion that he is one of two things:

1) A generally uninformed "crusader" who talks to hear himself talk about things he really doesn't care about other than the publicity and "fame" he generates.  A wannabe celebrity, who hopefully will never be one.

2) A very good manipulator who is adept at taking liberties with the truth in order to promote himself and his agenda, all the while convincing his listeners that he knows the truth and is just the only one to speak it.

Neither of which are very flattering.  So Michael Moore is either an idiot, or something of a cult leader in the making...

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Moore must be related to Nader some way or some how. :lol:

For those who think the G-Platform has an overhang handicap.

There's only a 1.4 INCH difference between the new Avalon's overhangs and the Lucerne's. The platform does not have an issue with overhangs.

Avalon length: 197.2"
Avalon wheelbase: 111"

Difference 86.2"

Lucerne Length: 203.2"
Lucerne Wheelbase: 115.6"

Difference 87.6"

Wait until you see it in person. Pictures just don't give a good perception of scale for the Lucerne.

So more inexpensive cars dilute brands?

Does it work in the other direction, with Chevy having that Corvette the average Chevy fan can't afford?

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You're not that dense.

Last I heard:

Aurora was petitioned for Sigma. Originally the 2nd gen Aurora was supposed to be a completely different car (Bigger and more 1st gen like than it actually was, maybe on H body instead of G body) The ACTUAL 2nd gen Aurora was supposed to be named Antares and be the replacement for the 88 & LSS NOT the 1st gen Aurora as it became.

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Yeah, the real 2nd gen Aurora was suppose to have followed the 1995 formula and continue to be co-developed with the Buick Riviera. The 2nd generation Aurora was suppose to remain a V8 powered luxury sedan and move further upscale (and in price) to create room between the Intrigue & Aurora for the 88 replacement. When Buick dropped the development of the next gen Riviera, it left Oldsmobile without a program. Oldsmobile had to modify the 88 replacement (as FOG said, Antares) into an acceptable Aurora with little time to spare.

It helps to explain why the 95-99 Aurora was targeting the Lexus LS400 while the 2nd Gen Aurora arrived targeting the Lexus ES300. The 88 replacement was suppose to go against the ES300, while the co-developed Riviera/Aurora were suppose to target vehicles like the LS400.

Sigma does fit in somewhere on the story line. I thought it was on the 3rd generation Aurora that GM rejected Oldsmobile's request. It may have actually been the 2nd gen as FOG said, after the Riviera/Aurora program fell apart. Regardless, by that time GM was showing symptoms of doubt about further investment in Oldsmobile and started cutting development funds.

hmmm... BMW's Global sales expectations for the Phantom is an average of 1000 annually. (The Maybach was at some absurd number like 1,500)

Let's go back to the beginning of 2005, and check this article out: to see their Optimism for 2005:

Rolls-Royce is on track and preparing to sell as many as 1000 ultra-expensive vehicles during 2005, according the company's acting chairman.

Krause also noted sales picked up in the second half of 2004, reaching 80 units in December and boosting hopes for total sales of 1000 units during 2005.

300 Phantoms were sold in 2003.
797 Phantoms were sold in 2004.


Where is Rolls-Royce right now? Well through August 2005:

RR has only sold 389 Phantoms.

In this other article, BMW has said:

Indeed, no specific sales targets have been revealed for the two-year-old Phantom either. All the company is prepared to say is that it will sell an average of 1,000 cars per year during the model's 12-year life cycle.

So far, sales have fallen short of such targets. During its first year, just 300 cars were sold. This year, however, sales will "more than double that" and sales will continue to grow as the Phantom becomes better known in the market place, Mr Biggs said.

The thing that’s hilarious is that I've loved Rolls-Royce since I was 3 years old, and you guys are acting like I don’t know anything about its history or reputation. I don't hate the Phantom. I have a Rolls Royce dealer less than 2 miles from my house and I see one almost every day when I drive by (Amazingly, it sits outside with a Bentley Arnage :blink: .) The exterior styling has grown on me and I've always love the interior. Hands down, it's a better vehicle than the Maybach.

My posts in this thread have not encouraged the need to increase sales, but a need to protect Rolls-Royce's reputation at all cost.

If revenue and sales numbers are not an issue, then RR needs to stick with vehicles equivalent to the Phantom. The EX100 is a good idea. It would be great successor to the Corniche.

The Bentley Continental flying Spur/ Mercedes S65 AMG fighter is a bad decision in my opinion. I think BMW would be better off coming out with the aborted 9-Series luxury sedan (if the idea ever existed).

Rolls-Royce has been and should remain above Bentley.
This move will place them side by side:
Rolls-Royce Phantom = Bentley Arnage
Rolls-Royce production version of EX100 = Bentley Azure
Baby Rolls-Royce = Bentley Continental Flying Spur/ Bentley Continental GT

It dilutes the brand. Rolls-Royce should remain above this. No matter how BMW sugar coats it, I think the whole concept of a "cheaper" Rolls will be scoffed at by its high paying clientele and considered crude.

didn't DCX recall 280k Rams for a tranny defect last week
0 replies

along w/GM's recall of 125k 05-06 vehicles for engine fires which didn't even make forum news.

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Yeah... let me look those up so I can post about the Toyota Recall since you're discussing their recalls in this one... ^_^

You're so quick to bring us the latest Toyota news. I'm shocked that Josh beat you to posting this topic?

It's just you....surely these cars will be all-Rolls, and big hits....

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Just like the Phantom... right?

The actual pictures look a lot more convincing... oh well, time will tell if it's true or not.

Maybe the Lucerne will have an available "chrome package" like the LaCrosse, but will include a chromed grille.