wildcat

Yes, Satty, yours is a pretty good memory, considering other makes with the Signum, Signal, et al. You're exactly right about 8 years - the Buick Signia was 1998. I think it was Car and Driver, believe it or not, that had a column praising Buick for doing the Signia, that it was a logical step in the evolution of what we know call "crossovers." I always thought that the Signia's exterior was a little like Frankenstein's monster, with various pieces fused into one vehicle, but that goldish color was beautiful.

No, it was called "Signia."

The Detroit Free Press published an article July 23rd, "An Informal Club: Retirees, coffee and GM," in which several people voiced their opinion about GM's current state of affairs. One sidebar focused on "5 Things They Want CEO Rick Wagoner to Know." To read the entire story, click here.

< a booming, bass voice with heavy echo > Toyota was w-a-y down, below average!

Probably GM itself won't bother with any publicity ( after all, this includes Buick, and, in fact, Buick is ranked above Cadillac here ), so here is the J.D. Power Customer Service Index announced July 20th. It's based on a thousand-point scale: 1. Lexus 912 2. Buick 911 3. Cadillac 909 4. Jaguar 908 5. Lincoln 906 and the rest... Mercury 905 Saturn 904 Pontiac 903 Audi 890 MINI 890 Volvo 890 Acura 889 Chevrolet 887 Infiniti 887 Porsche 887 BMW 884 Honda 883 HUMMER 882 Saab 880 GMC 879 Industry Average 873 Mercedes-Benz 872 Hyundai 869 Chrysler 867 Ford 866 Dodge 862 Toyota 861 Subaru 858 Jeep 851 Nissan 849 Mitsubishi 848 Kia 843 Mazda 843 Land Rover 840 Suzuki 823 Volkswagen 810 Isuzu 781 To read the entire release, click here.

Wow! Way over the Avalon!

So perhaps anyone who feels the production interior is less than the concept should wait 'til the '09 "Reserve" or "Super" trim? Not to go off topic, but I think C&G should make people register. All the "visitors" viewing this C&G exclusive should at least have to register.

Buick "signature" wheels? Aren't those the wheels shown on the production Saturn Aura and elsewhere? CD/BP: Thank you for capturing these. And thanks to C&G for sharing them

Gesundheit!

I'd guess the 2008 Buick Enclave . It certainly is one of GM's most anticipated products of that model year, and many would like to see the interior of the production vehicle. I suppose I could compare the shown image to the uncovered vehicle at the car shows, but I'll skip that. Buick Enclave! * If so, Flybrian, remember to spell it E-n-c-l-a-v-e . P.S. - If I'm wrong, it'd be the first time... in the last five minutes. Guess I've run out of smilies . [ EDIT ] They should have covered up those rims .

I stand by what I said. Sajeev Mehta's post does nothing to change my opinion of his umm... writing.

It seems far-fetched, but that's the title of an article online at businessweek.com. To view the piece, click here.

From the website autospectator.com, here is an excerpt from the article, "GM Sets New First Half Marks for Sales and Market Share in China: Sales Total 453,832 Units, Market Share Hits 12.5 Percent," about Buick in China: " . . . The ongoing popularity of the Excelle lower-medium sedan, Shanghai GM’s best-selling vehicle, and GL8 executive wagon family propelled Buick sales to 145,786 units, which was an increase of 38.7 percent on a year-on-year basis. Among the new and upgraded Buick products introduced by Shanghai GM in 2006, the LaCrosse premium sedan – which was developed locally by GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) joint venture with SAIC in Shanghai – enjoyed sales of 19,240 units in just three months on the market. More than 1 million Buicks have been sold in China since the brand’s first products entered the market in 1999 . . . " To read the entire piece, click here.

See original post in this thread. Same mistake made 7/9 on homepage. Repeat after me: Enclave, Enclave, Enclave...

The front end looks very angry in the top photo.

I just read the other day someone knowledgeable saying GM has the design talent, it's just that beancounters and bureaucrats were given a lot of say until Lutz's arrival and all this wholesale restructuring. BigPontiac: Thank you for sharing Dvorak's piece. Design is absolutely critical. But I think Wagoner and Lutz have been and can continue to cut through the "fiefdoms" and let GM's designers show us what they can do - the Buick Enclave will be a good example!

MarioBro88: That's great that you found C&G and wanted to contribute by posting the information about future Cadillacs. But since it was specific to Cadillac, be sure you put it in the right area (like Flybrian wrote, under "Cadillac," rather than "GM Corporate News)" and try to be sure it hasn't already been discussed or posted earlier. Besides, I'm not so sure that we need to be quoting GMI, since we have some insiders and brand enthusiasts here who are quite knowledgeable; GMI may have ten times the members, but there have been many instances where C&G had the correct or detailed future product information and they didn't (or still don't). Anyway, I hope your number of posts grows way beyond 13 and that you enjoy being a part of C&G!

As much as I shake my head at the amateurish nature of their Buick LaCrosse CXL review [ see separate C&G thread under Buick ], they are presenting a thought-provoking piece called "Detroit's Seven Deadly Sins." To read it, click here.

I'm not implying that Sajeev Mehta has to like the LaCrosse. I think it's a car in need of many improvements. What I am saying is this review is not written in a professional manner, unless the audience is high school dropouts or prison inmates. A professional writer doesn't use phrases like: " . . . harmonizing like a barbershop quartet on ecstasy." "A country that's been a democracy all of 19 years makes rides that hand David Dunbar Buick's legacy its collective ass." And there's too many cutesy lines like the reference to Calgon. Also, what, for instance, does "While the trunk fails high school physics . . . " mean? Why does it fail? The LaCrosse simply wasn't for Sajeev Mehta's age bracket, which I suspect is juvenile.

Buickman: If you truly care for Buick and GM's survival, you better stop with the "Tick, Tick for Rick" and come down squarely in support of Richard Wagoner. To change the boss at this time is stupid and possibly suicidal. Set aside your personal differences with the man, and recognize that Mr. Wagoner needs to remain in his present position. If you can't rally behind him, then perhaps you should sell some other make of cars. I know it must have been hurtful and insulting if they didn't accept your ideas, after you have been one of their top salesmen. But let it go! Right now, judging by the headlines, GM and, evidently, Wagoner are fighting for their survival - against Kerkorian, Ghosn, certain members of the press, and some analysts. GM will never "return to greatness," to use your phrase, if you continue to flood this and other websites with your vendetta against Wagoner in full public view. I'm not saying you have to agree with everything he does ( I don't ) or like every vehicle GM sells ( I don't ), just see the bigger picture at the moment.

Sajeev Mehta has written a review of the Buick LaCrosse CXL for the truthabout cars.com. To read the review, click here. It is not a positive piece, declaring the vehicle a "rental car" that is bested by Hyundai. EDIT AFTERTHOUGHT: Now that I've read it over several times, I find the review insulting and amateurish. They can think the LaCrosse is a good or bad car, that's their opinion. I'm saying the writing style is nasty and less than professional. I presume that the author is not a professional journalist.

GM is already getting rid of the Terraza and Rainier by themselves. They don't need Nissan or Renault to hold their hands.

evok: Thank you for taking the time to write this so that all of us can understand what is happening. The figures help to explain the situation and, like you, I hope the GM BOD rejects Kerkorian and York's proposal.

Satty: No, I meant calling by you-know-who for Wagoner's ouster, indictment, hanging, etc. You and I are in agreement, to put anyone else in the top chair would delay GM's progress. As I stated, this thread was, hopefully, to somewhat balance the negative thinking on someone else's part and recognize the good things Mr. Wagoner has helped to accomplish.

That's true, but to call for Wagoner's ouster will not improve those interiors. Time will. (Mind you, GM better be on top of the game starting yesterday and from here on out!)