BigPontiac

Beyond styling, the more important question to GM is would you buy one? Could you afford to buy one? If you're not prepared to vote with your wallet, then your opinion won't really count in the eyes of GM. The "I can't wait until I can find a used one" attitude doesn't help keep GM and Pontiac in business.

GMpartsdirect.com had some interesting stuff listed under accessories for the 2007 Sierra...you might want to take a look. Also, GMC.com has a picture under accessories of what the hard tonneau cover would look like in your color (thought that was on your "to buy" list...)

Now you could make the front look like this:

Those cars had different sheetmetal...reasonably unique across GM divisions... These two are more like the Commodore to G8 transformation: '68 Chevy Chevelle '68 Pontiac Beaumont (Canada)

AWD is not required to drive a car effectively in snow. An Audi A4 Quattro with performance tires will not perform well in snow. A Mini Cooper S, Mazda 3 or Subaru WRX with performance tires will not perform well in snow. Whether the car is front, rear or all-wheel drive the tires have a HUGE impact on it's performance in inclement weather...particularly winter. A BMW 3-Series or Cadillac CTS with RWD, traction control and a set of 4 winter tires will run out of ground clearance before it runs out of traction in a snow storm. I drove my old 2000 BMW 323i in snow all the time with zero issues on a set of Blizzaks, 5 speed manual trans, and traction control. My friend's doing the same thing with his CTS.

Appears to leverage some of the WRONG Pontiac styling cues from the past.

How 'bout stealing some cues from what Foose did in Overhaulin'? They put a Laguna S3 nose on and a custom hood from some other year SS Chevelle or something (it's been a while...) Has a nice rise to the hood. That episode on DVD might get you some suppliers and parts sources too. Overhaulin' Episode

Buy a set of 4 winter tires. Problem solved.

I like the hood scoop delete look much better. Swap out the tail lights for the standard Commodore units and it would look pretty good.

Very nice! How's the paint quality? Any issues?

Hmmm, something about it looks vaguely familiar...

Full article is up on the C&D website with additional pics... Article

As I said a few posts ago, I think BMW has built up enough goodwill from prior tests that C&D dismissed all the gremlins as an isolated case with their particular test car. They'd previously tested a BMW 330i before the comparison and it performed fine (and they used it's test results!), so they gave it a pass. Was it fair to give the BMW a pass? I don't think so, no. To me it should have earned a DNF as I stated earlier or they should have gotten a replacement car to compete in the same test for a level playing field. But they've done that type of thing before. Their longterm tested Cadillac SRX had it's share of problems (stranded them a few times I think), yet they continue to name it to their 5Best Trucks list. Was their test car just a lemon or does BMW really have quality issues now? I have no idea. My personal experiences with BMW have been good, but I also have the old style "de-bugged" model. The new one could very well have "teething problems." Much like that CTS-V video from Streetfire.net where the guy is beating on his Caddy trying to get home. Is that car representative of all CTS-Vs or was it's engine just assembled on a Fri afternoon after a few beers at lunch... If I paid my money for C&D's particular BMW or the Streetfire guy's particular CTS-V and had all those problems, I'd wanna lemon law both of them. And it would likely prompt me to switch to a competing brand's vehicle.

I think this is the article you're referencing: R&T comparo (sorry, I don't have this magazine to scan for the points breakdown chart this time)

Agreed, stupid name. I just found it to be a neat project vehicle.

Good, bad or indifferent, the BMW is currently viewed as the benchmark vehicle in this particular segment. When the competition can consistently "Out BMW, BMW" then the target will shift to the new leader. The field has been getting closer and closer in each comparison test and BMW has likely made themselves vulnerable with their styling direction experiment (re: Bangle mangle) as well as their emphasis on technology wizardry. Both have the potential to negatively affect the brand and send buyers to alternative offerings.

Yeah, it's dead! Hopefully the Compass is next. It's too bad they couldn't have done something along the lines of the Durangoneer instead... Link at Autoblog

Interesting analysis. It still appears you don't agree with their methodology. Their approach looks similar to a Kepner-Tregoe Matrix and you want to re-value some of the weight variables. Getting back to my original statement, I said the market doesn't grade on a curve. C&D isn't the market...the market is our free market economy....who's buying what. The weights C&D assigns for their ratings categories likely represent the opinion of the "dreaded enthusiast" as well as the built up goodwill earned by the Japanese and European manufacturers over the years. And like it or not, that's probably representative of buyers in the North American market...that's the perception gap that GM (and Ford, etc.) needs to overcome. They need to focus getting the product right...under commit and over deliver. Come on, "everyone" knows people buy the GTO because it has an "adult sized" back seat when compared with the Mustang...

Actually, you're trying to adjust the results...hence ADDING a curve since you perceive GM wasn't treated fairly based upon your personal beliefs. You may feel it's appropriate to cut GM some slack (grade on a curve), but there's a whole bunch of other buyers out there who won't (no curve). GM needs to get to the point where buyers and reviewers say "the CTS is a great car" not "the CTS is a great car...for a Cadillac". 2nd generation of IS model, yes. I was referring to 1st time in a comparison test against that field of competitors with the 2nd gen model.

If GM can get the product right the first time, the rest will follow. It's always the small details that add up that kill them. The CTS appears to be their best shot yet at proving they've got their act together. Though strangely, I'm most fascinated by the Chevy Volt!

Whining and bitching about the methodology of the test doesn't help GM sell more CTS's. The market doesn't grade on a curve...Once the comparisons start with the new models, things should get interesting. What should be more frightening to all the BMW haters is the fact the Lexus placed 2nd on its first time out. But, in the words of Ricky Bobby -- If you ain't first, you're last!

Here you go: (hopefully the image survives image shack...)

Good to see someone who owns a CTS expressing an opinion. Sounds like you did what I did: test drove cars, picked one you liked and voted with your wallet. At the end of the day, that's what matters.I was surprised when I originally read that C&D article that the BMW placed first with all the issues they had with their particular test car. It actually validated my decision to buy a 2005 model! In their tuner comparison tests, cars with mechanical issues generally earn a DNF (did not finish) rating. However, if you go back through this thread and read all the back and forth, my point in posting it was to illustrate the point of how the CTS has been reviewed against its competition; "performance against it's competition." My original scope was opinions of posters on this board, but that scope was widened to the larger population by VenSeattle, not me. Follow the chain of posts. If you've got a another comparison article that portrays the CTS more positively than C&D did, post it! That said, assuming the BMW got a free pass, let's eliminate it from the list. The revised ranking would still have the CTS placing 5th out of 8, assuming the BMW got an automatic last place with a DNF award. Would that convey to the readers of the magazine to even put the CTS on their shopping list? Does it help with the perception gap GM is trying to close? Does it help Cadillac make money by selling cars?

Someone in my town has a CTS with the fake convertible top (white/tan top) like this: It pains me whenever I see it! I wish they'd crack down the dealers...that kinda of stuff isn't helping remake the brand at all...

Agreed. As was mentioned in the article, the CTS has improved each time they test it. Hopefully the 2008 will be the leap forward they need after applying what they've learned. I'm sure C&D will do a new comparison later on this year...something like the CTS, 335i, G35, TL Type-S, IS350, MKS, etc.