
big blue
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Everything posted by big blue
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GM's The Drive Theme Park in Las Vegas is Closed
big blue replied to Flybrian's topic in General Motors
The auto show in motion was awesome. Hopefully they'll start that again and come back to Dallas.. -
Well Yeah I'd probably have the CTS or G8 too lol. But if I HAD to buy a big smooth luxury cruiser, DTS would be on my list.
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Here's Edmunds' second opinion on the article:Link I think Brain Moody sums up my feelings on the DTS.
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Heh I've got friends that have complained about interiors, except we were sitting in a Buick Century and an Escalade(GMT800) so how could we not? Well if that's your preference for interiors then at least you explained it. I don't think the Accord's interior is particularly German looking, it's just a good design in my eyes. I actually find all BMW interiors pretty spartan and I don't get what's so great about them, yes even including the 7-series. Must be the materials? Same goes for Audi's A4, but I do have to say the A8's interior is awesome with its nice flowing design.
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Hey I was going to post that pic. Shucks. Seriously, this car looks way better than a GP and that fugly G6 coupe Dodgefan posted. The interior will be great and hopefully the performance too. Once this car comes out and people start seeing it on the road, most of the naysayers will be swayed.
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That's it. I knew that style of humor he was trying to do was familiar. Too bad he's not actually skilled enough to pull off the Top Gearosity.The DTS is definitely a throwback to just plush, comfortable luxury. With all the everyday stresses of the world, sometimes taking the apex of a corner isn't high on your priority list and you just want to be pampered and that's what the DTS does best. I probably wouldn't buy one unless I had millions of dollars and could afford a 50k spare car "just for fun". I have been noticing this car has been popping up a lot in my area too. I think the rear end of the DTS is very distinguishable. It's classic Cadillac but you can tell its got a modern look to it and I guess that gives it a special appeal to people when they see it.
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Click Here Cadillac's evolutionary throwback The 2007 Cadillac DTS is 17 feet long. Yet somehow it is so easy to overlook. When was the last time you noticed one? The full-size 2007 DTS is also the Cadillac that's habitually marginalized by the automotive press as a holdover, old-school Caddy driven only by very old men who smell strongly of medicinal salves or livery-service drivers who smell strongly of Drakkar Noir. Certainly there is some truth to these stereotypes. Assuming it wasn't a taxi, the last car that picked you up at the airport probably was either a Lincoln Town Car or a Cadillac DTS. It was black. And it smelled. And the only privately owned DTS that you've seen that wasn't being driven by an old man with lumbago was painted Mary-Kay pink. (Incidentally, for the 2007 model year, Cadillac has modified the pink paint it uses on the Mary Kay DTS. "Mary Kay V is making everyone forget Mary Kay IV," says one Cadillac official. "Mary Kay IV is so 2006.") Even Cadillac doesn't seem hip on promoting the DTS. Last year the company gave the venerable big boy a face-lift to bring it more in line with the edgy look of current Cadillacs. Yet the DTS's front-drive platform (shared with the Buick Lucerne) is a holdover from the previous generation of Cadillac sedans. Its length, featherweight steering and generally relaxed attitude date back much further — to a time well before Cadillac had aspirations to be the maker of German-style sport sedans. Let's do the time warp again All this leaves the DTS a bit lost in time. It possesses neither the glittering ostentation of the Escalade nor the sternness of the German-inspired CTS. New styles have made the DTS a quaint reminder of a time in the luxury-car world long since passed. The Lincoln Town Car — the only direct competitor to the DTS — is equally out of step with its maker's brave new world. So why did we bother borrowing, testing and writing about this throwback? Because Cadillac sold 59,031 DTSs in 2006. The DTS is Cadillac's second-best-selling vehicle, behind the three-model Escalade range (62,000 yearly sales), but ahead of the CTS (54,000 yearly sales). Compared to the DTS, the modern-as-tomorrow STS sells less than half as many examples each year. One thumb up All of this might not totally explain why we attempted to steer our loaded DTS with only one thumb and a forefinger on its large-diameter steering wheel. It seemed somehow appropriate to roll easy down city streets with our upper body listing slightly to the right, our right elbow resting on the cushy center pad and our left thumb locked around the bottom-left steering wheel spoke. We glided around town in this fashion for a week. Not once did we feel the desire to turn the car quickly. Other than at the test track, we never applied the brakes in anything but a leisurely manner. And naturally we never bothered changing gears because the DTS has only a conventional automatic with no sequential-shift capability. Anyway, the transmission contains only four forward gears, half as many as the automatic in the new Lexus LS 460. So what would really be the point? And, God help us, we liked it. How much of our enjoyment is based on the novelty of driving such a throwback is not immediately clear. The dirty bits Just because car writers and car company marketing types don't see the big, soft American luxury sedan as a growth market, this does not mean that Cadillac has let the DTS lie fallow. Cadillac gave the DTS a significant update for 2006. It changed the name of the car from "DeVille" to "DTS," (DeVille touring sedan), which, at least superficially, ties the big sedan with the high-profile STS (Seville touring sedan). The old boy also got a cosmetic nip and tuck, with a pointy front grille inspired by the Cadillac Sixteen concept car of 2003, plus some super-slim LED taillamps. We didn't do a full test last year when Cadillac made these changes. After all, who ever thinks about the DTS? Assuming a buyer opts for the "DTS Performance Sedan" package (we're going to let that oxymoronic description stand with no further emphasis), the DTS comes with a boatload of performance upgrades and electronic whizbang gizmos. They include the 292-horsepower Northstar V8 (up 17 hp from the standard version), front and rear heated seats, front and rear ultrasonic parking-assist system, rain-sensing wipers with a heated washer system, automatically adjusting Magnetic-Ride dampers, remote starting system and a variety of other systems and doodads. Bah, who needs numbers?! The powertrain and suspension upgrades of the Performance Sedan-equipped model result in decent numbers at the test track. The DTS rides, well, it rides like a Cadillac. And we mean that in the way people used to use the term. "Rides like a Cadillac" was once widely used to mean "soft and cushy," just as "Who do you think you are? Mario Andretti?" was employed to say that you drive too fast. The difference, at least for the DTS with its Magnetic-Ride automatically adjusting dampers, is a car that doesn't pitch and wallow like a dinghy in choppy water. On the skid pad, where it posted a credible 0.78 g, the DTS stayed on a relatively even keel. That the nose of the DTS doesn't dive for the pavement under panic braking and that its brake pedal delivers good feedback are even more surprising. Unfortunately, control feedback and measurable performance are a bit at odds here. From 60 mph, the 4,127-pound DTS takes 137 feet to come to a halt. This is 14 feet longer than a Toyota Avalon and 9 more than a Lexus LS 460. There's a similar disconnect between feel and performance through the slalom, where the Caddy posts a 59.5-mph speed. The car is easy to control and feels more neutral than we expect from a car with 61 percent of its weight over the front axle. But its performance is a few mph slower than most full-size cars, from the Hyundai Azera to the Lexus LS 460. At 7 seconds flat, the DTS's sprint from zero to 60 mph is, well, it's fine. It's more than adequate, if not much quicker than V6-powered quasi-competitors such as the Azera, Avalon and Chrysler 300. But the DTS sounds like a muscle car, which makes it at least feel fast. So, there's that. Inside fine We acknowledge that there are probably very few DTS buyers who know or care what a skid pad is. And that's fine. Part of what we find refreshing about the DTS is its dismissal of the wimpy, quiche-eating, Eurocentric obsession with ultimate handling prowess at the expense of comfort. The easy-access interior is where it's at with the DTS. It is conservative by design and by simple design inertia — no surprises good or bad. There are the expected chunks of high-gloss wood trim, an upright dashboard and naturally roomy footwells. A new-for-2007 cocoa-color seat leather is the only disconcerting aspect of the hushed interior. The brown color stands in stark contrast to the pale khaki hue of the rest of the interior. And the finish on the cocoa leather is so flat that it seems unfinished. Not unexpectedly, the DTS offers generous rear-seat room. Although it rides on a wheelbase that's about an inch shorter than that of the rear-drive STS, the DTS offers more than 3 inches of additional rear-seat legroom. Overall, the DTS contains about 15 more cubic feet of interior space and 5 more cubic feet of cargo capacity than the STS. The DTS also has a bit more rear-seat legroom than the bigger Town Car. Chalk one up for front-drive packaging there. The same old question Sure, we enjoyed cruising around in the DTS. And if a spacious, soft and somnolent sedan is what one wants, there aren't many choices that offer seating for six. If you regularly wear a fedora, then you owe it to yourself to check out a DTS. If you wear a chauffeur's cap, then you'll want to have a look at the DTS-L long-wheelbase model that Cadillac has just begun building for the livery-car market. But we've come to the conclusion that much of our enjoyment in driving the DTS was based on the novelty of the experience. It has been a sort of palate cleanser between servings of sportier sedans. The DTS, at an as-tested price of $53,300, is not cheap. And, frankly, there is comfort to be found in more modern conveyances — cars that don't carry the same whiff of obsolescence. The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
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Sorry, going to have to definitely disagree with you on the Accord statement. I still think the Accord has one of the best laid out and designed interiors since its introduction in 2003. I think its damn near perfect with its controls and backlit gauges. Something about the Camry's interior when i sat in it just didn't vibe "comfortable" with me.
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Hey now, my grandfather owned an 89' Cutlass Ciera He let my father use it after we got an 86-87' Cutlass Supreme from my aunt. Then he bought a 93' 88 which was our last Olds. My grandfather now drives a 97' Lesabre. Ok ok I admit, not the best example of Olds engineering(the Cutlass Ciera) but it did run up to 185k and then the cooling fan kept on failing and we had to trade it in for an Accord in 99'. Actually it does get a little worse, my grandfather bought a 79' Omega(!) new and we kept it till 91'. That car couldn't make it up an ice incline to save its life thanks to RWD and its weight. *ahem* Anyways, I'm still surprised at how good looking the interior of the Aurora is. The refreshed ones are especially pleasing to the eye inside and out even compared to some of today's cars. As for GM being hip, they do have a better image than they did even 5 years ago thanks to stunts like Oprah/Pontiac, Escalade, GM fashion show etc.
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I miss Oldsmobile, can't beat that old red and silver rocket emblem.
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I was actually waiting for someone to do a comparo interior pic between the 3 DCX cars. It's kind of sad really, I like the Patriot's look but knowing it shares the Caliber's inside stings.
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I for one would've never considered any of the old Saturns save for the Vue maybe. Count me in as loving the new Saturn. I will say I can understand the love for the old Saturn if that was your thing. The dent resistant panels were pretty nifty
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Interesting comparo right here. I'm glad the Aura won since that means GM is getting their act together and finally building competitive cars. I've seen the Camry interior dozens of times in pics and even sat in one at the autoshow last year. It still surprised me how cheap the Camry looked when autoweek posted the interior shots of both cars. Must be the Morocco brown leather that bumps up the Aura's cabin a notch asthetically. Good braking performance by the Camry however, its not like the Camry is a bad car, it's just not exactly class leading anymore. Now all those midsizers are up near each other in quality level.
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Have to agree with you there. That's one nice looking hatch, actually gives the Mazda3 a run for its money. At least in the style department and hopefully in the driving dynamics too.
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Have to agree here. My parents have lived in Minnesota/Iowa and have gone through the winters there in the RWD 70's cars of yore. Even though we live in Texas now, they still prefer FWD just because of the frustration they went through in their earlier years with RWD and any sort of snow/ice. Many people in the northern half of the country give FWD a much higher priority than people down south.
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Heh I never knew the owners had all those cars, much less were Japanese. I need to stop by there and become buddy buddy with them
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Fullsize P/U Comparison: Toyota vs. Chevy vs. Nissan
big blue replied to Variance's topic in The Lounge
Wow no crazy uproar about this? I'm actually surprised, or maybe it's too early and people haven't seen it yet. Anyhoo, seems pretty fair. I am shocked to see the dyno chart though and quite disappointed. However, I think I'd take a Sierra over any of these just based on looks alone. Before, I used to think the Silverado look better in the pics but after seeing both in real life, the Sierra does look a lot more "Professional Grade" than the Silvy does. The Tundra at least is capable now unlike the old one, still can't get over that interior though. As for the Titan it's also still a handsome fierce looking truck on the outside, too bad the inside is so dull. -
Nothing like good old TLC from your car while you sit inside all nice and smooth.
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Edmunds' Follow up test: 2007 Saturn Aura XR
big blue replied to big blue's topic in Heritage Marques
Hah well that's odd. Serves me right for replying right after work. -
Edmunds' Follow up test: 2007 Saturn Aura XR
big blue replied to big blue's topic in Heritage Marques
The Accord has had 244hp, maybe you meant the Altima, which was just redesigned this year. -
Edmunds' Follow up test: 2007 Saturn Aura XR
big blue replied to big blue's topic in Heritage Marques
Looks like the editor didn't catch the switch up in the trim levels, but it's definitely an XR. They tested an XE in their first test of the Aura. -
Original Article Good review overall, I'm surprised the XR beats the new Altima's V6 though. More thoughts after I get back home.
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Honda and Acura vehicles said to overstate mileage by up to 4%
big blue replied to BrewSwillis's topic in Honda
Well since you said it MUST be correct. Your statements are just teeming with bias and false pretenses. Check your bias at the door THEN post and maybe you'll be looked upon with a shred of credibility next time. -
Market Watch! GM's Incentives Drop - Japan's Shoot Up
big blue replied to big blue's topic in General Motors
Hmmm not really familiar with TTC...or did you mean TCC? -
Thanks for the pics Petra. That one image of the dark blue NG Vue actually looks quite nice. Also when I was looking at the Accord coupe concept, I'm not sure if you used a different lens or something but the car's tailights looks tiny! The front end however is definitely better looking in your photos than the press photos from Honda.