VenSeattle

I'm beginning to wonder if Cobalt will go on a stretched Gamma... leaving Delta II reserved for premium FWD compacts... Saturn, Opel, SAAB, & Buick?

The current Malibu only had 4 years (2004-2007.) Won't the current Aura only have 4 years (2007-2010)? Why can't the Cobalt?

The next phase of midsize sedans will have unique instrumentation and interiors. The short lived black-tie affair will be a thing of the past.

Wow! So that's what you buy a man who has everything! Very cool that you're settling in and making yourself at home.

Gamma? Congrats on some news about Alpha!

It's funny though... Not everything in Canada is imported. It still costs the same to manufacture many of those cars in Canada as it did 2 or 4 years ago.

They may perform another update after the '10 LaCrosse arrives in 2009, but... like Moltar, I suspect the 'Super' facelift will make it across the line-up by then.

Yes! It's Eps II I like what I see so far!

Now, if we can just build them!

What could Germany use to compete with the Tim Horton's, Starbucks, Krispy Kremes of North America? Hmmmmm........ :AH-HA_wink:

Safe journey! Let us know how things develop.

Ah! But which came first? Being gay, or being a gynecologist?

Very True... Seattle is pretty good at not taking itself too seriously... most people are laughing about it. I've yet to speak to anyone offended over the SLUT. As for 520... Well, Seattle and the Eastside compromised on a new 6-lane bridge that will be designed to support future expansion of mass transit (they won't commit to saying Light Rail, but we know that's what they're referring to.) They will be "capping" the highway in those mentioned rich neighborhoods in Seattle. Here's a link to all you'll want to know about it. The simulation videos are interesting also. See Current Plans for specifics. The next branch of the Light rail will be from Westlake Center to Husky Stadium in the U District (right at 520.) Perfect for the 520 project huh? Speaking of Northgate and lightrail... :AH-HA_wink: ? Take a look! Bellevue and Redmond are already finalizing plans for light rail and transit stations. Here's a link to Bellevue's website and the Bel-Red Corridor project. All of this is happening between my house and Downtown Bellevue... I can't wait to see my property value once it's finished. We initially expect the light rail to pass across I90 Bridge. Eventually to come full circle on the SR520 Bridge. That's the perfect case scenario IMO. I believe the building blocks to kick off this initiative will be on this November's ballot. If gas prices continue to climb and break $4, it's an easy shoe in for approval. The Sounder is alive and well. I have friends who live near Marysville that drive into Everett and commute down to work each day by the Sounder. When I worked in SODO, several people in my office took the train also. I use another train line pretty often, The Amtrak Cascades. In fact, I'm taking it down to Portland next weekend to hang out with friends just for fun. My company also uses it to go between our satellite office up here and our divisional office in Portland. It's only 4 hours and cheaper than driving or flying (around $30 each way) without any of the stress getting there and finding parking afterwards. Hardly any time is lost since you can work on the train while in between offices.

Good Grief... That comment brought flashbacks of Jay Mohr & Scott Wolf in the movie Go.

The Enclave kicks its ass...

I've always preferred the term promiscuous myself.

You B^%@&! There's hardly any opposition with the urban development for South Lake Union or the Street Car. The Street car is actually being subsidized BY THE BUSINESSES (happily too) that the Street Car will pass by... Gee... that's not what I call opposition. Mind you, there is some irritation because Seattle is once again going in several different directions with mass transit: Monorail, then light rail, now the trolley expansion (we have a street trolley that runs along the waterfront, but the two will not be connected... initially that is.) There is talk of expanding the SLUT if it's very successful... which upsets some who wish for a single mass transit solution. My opinion is if the businesses impacted are paying for it, then who really has the right to complain? The "Cascade" neighborhood they mention isn't being ignored at all. They have received fixed-cost apartment buildings as well as upscale condos & apartments. It's possible they're just bitter that the adjacent South Lake Union development project is outshining their own renaissance (believe me, the South Lake Union project is HUGE. Picture most of an entire section of downtown being leveled and/or renovated all at once.) It shouldn't upset the Cascade neighborhood though. The neighborhoods will be hardly distinguishable from each other if you didn't know which side of the street determined the boundaries. This is due to all the new construction in both neighborhoods. Cascade will benefit ten fold by all the new employment opportunities that will be moving into South Lake Union. Microsoft is one of the companies looking at office space (I believe two or thee buildings in that area.) That alone will increase demand because NO ONE will want to cross Lake Washington once construction on the new 520 bridge begins. It's actually amazing all of the construction going on in the Seattle/Bellevue area. Downtown Seattle & Downtown Bellevue have dozens of high-rises going up. Practically all of the major retail districts in Bellevue & Seattle area are undergoing complete renovations - Bellevue: Factoria Mall, Crossroads Mall, and Overlake (shared with Redmond) will all be completely overhauled over the next several years. Bellevue just rezoned them for mid-rise construction which will allow mixed-use & multi-use development within the shopping centers itself. Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square all compliment each other already in Downtown Bellevue. Just wait until Neiman Marcus opens up at a new multi-high-rise development down the street, The Bravern. That will probably push Bellevue Square to finally lure Saks 5th Avenue to take an anchor position (probably pushing out JC Penney in the process.) Seattle Area: NorthGate Mall, SouthCenter Mall, Alderwood Mall are all going through unbelievable expansions right now. University Village & Pacific Place have already gone through their makeovers. WestLake Center is really the only shopping center that could use renovating. The rest in downtown are fine. Okay... I'll quit rambling... Back to talking about sluts.

My preference for Buick trim levels: luxury - Reserve Sport - Super Hybrid - en Suite However, Considering Super has been both a model and trim level, Electra could possibly be used in the same manner. I think Buick fans would become extremely upset over this... But, just to go along with Oldsmoboi's idea: Luxury - Super Performance/Sport - Wildcat Hybrid - Electra So all Buicks would come off the line as a near fully-loaded "Super" model with limited options/dealer-installed accessories. Wildcat would be Buick's Redline Electra could be Buick's Greenline

Unfortunately, neither would be appropriate for an entry-level Buick sedan.

It also coincides with the rumor that a compact Skylark could debut at car shows in 2008.

Yeah... that explains why the 2008 Accord is the first large sedan Honda has ever made and why GM doesn't offer vehicles larger than the current Malibu... It's funny, all of a sudden it becomes acceptable or fashionable to build "large" vehicles, once Honda and Toyota do it. However, if a car's dimensions are out of proportion with Honda or Toyota... it's too big or has ancient proportions. People still complain about the Lucerne's dimensions, yet its overhangs are within an inch of the Avalon's. The wheelbase is where the extra length comes from.

So, the Delta II-based Buick Excelle replacement will be ready by the end of the year?

I understand what you are saying because I live close to the border and travel to Victoria and Vancouver often. It's become relatively expensive for just a 'weekend getaway' since, as you have stated, the prices have not adjusted to compensate for the exchange rate between us. The thing is, you're looking at it from an internal business perspective. From the buyer's perspective, nothing has changed. The Corvette still costs the same as 2 years ago and so does the LTZ Tahoe. I would think GM could lower the invoice to allow dealerships more room for negotiating a sale or possibly provide internal bonuses/kick-backs for vehicles sold. What, though, when the Canadian dollar drops out again? Something to consider... the adoption of a North American Common Currency similar to the Euro... where Mexico, Canada, and the US switch over to a common currency. It's been proposed before, and I expect it to come up again with the inflation of the Canadian Dollar. Currently, this is one of the benefits of doing business across borders. Sometimes the exchange rate isn't in your favor... other times it is. Yes, GM is making more profit on Canadian sold vehicles than before. Expenses have gone up too. I can only hope, for GM's sake, that the increase in profits outweigh the increase of expenses.

Uhm.. How do you think manufacturers make profit with exports and in foreign markets? Should GM adjust the price of Opels or Vauxhalls when the Exchange rate changes? What about Holdens? GM didn't recently raise their vehicle prices because of the exchange rate. The vehicles were already priced that high. Canada's local economy didn't change because of the exchange rates. Buyer Income didn't change because of exchange rates. The only difference is instead of US citizens trying to buy "gray market" vehicles from Canada, Canadians now want to buy "gray market" vehicles from the US. One thing to remember the costs of doing business, including manufacturing, in Canada has dramatically increased with the exchange rate.

Canadian incomes were not adjusted with the rise of the Canadian Dollar. The vehicles still cost the same for Canadians now as they did back with the Canadian dollar was .6 or even .8 to the US dollar.