Flybrian

That Imperial look like ass. It has Elantra Wagon Syndrome.

And I didn't know you did TV commercials. I know its you 'cause your mom is super hot.

See, I think the Escalade should certainly be offered in Europe along with the H2, but in a more 'boutique' fashion.

I drove an '07 Silverado a few months ago at the Tampa Auto Show. It had the 5.3L and felt great. It seems to boil down to GM deciding to sacrifice that punchy, fuel-guzzling off-the-line power for a little gain in economy while still giving you the full strength when you need it. By retarding a fuel-rich power delivery, you don't waste as much fuel. Well, guess what, that's admirable and all, but let me decide when to feather the throttle. This is one ix that needs to be 'deprogrammed' immediately.

That's also the thing. No car is expensive. Insurance is.

Hudsons are beautiful, underappreciated cars, especially the '46-'54 step-down bodied cars. Its unbelievable how sleek and modern Hudsons look, especially with the trend towards bulkier flanks with narrow gunslit windows.

A low-cost back-to-basics car makes absolutely zero sense in this country. With cars outnumbering licensed drivers 1.2:1 combined with the overflowing market of ridiculously cheap, good-quality used automobiles, why buy some utilitarian junk? We don't need another Model T or Beetle because we are already on the road. You can't turn around without finding a reasonably-priced vehicle somewhere, especially one with the creature comforts and power demanded by most American drivers. Take this mythical price figure of $5000 for a no-frills car. 1992 Olds Ninety-Eight - 46k - $2100 1999 Olds Alero - 68k - $3500 2003 Ford Taurus - 105k - $4999 1999 Dodge Ram Van - 64k - $4750 1998 Ford Ranger - 85k - $4200 1991 Mazda B2200 - 118k - $1995 1992 Ford Windstar - 114k - $1900 1994 Chrysler Concorde - 98k - $1895 1988 Toyota Celica GT 'vert - 156k - $1800 A five minute browse on Craigslist that renders sports cars, small cars, large cars, family cars, work cars. If the need for a warranty concerns you so, buy a Korean car with 10/100k. And of all those above, by the way, most have power windows, power mirrors, and a CD player. Some have more. All have a/c.

More Skylinergasm... 1957 Ford Showcase demonstration Modern-day demonstration of a '59 SunStar also makes a 1:18 diecast of a '57 Skyliner with working top.

There is no question that Korean sedans weigh less than their American counterparts. Riding in one will confirm it. Thin doors, thin dash, tinny construction throughout.

A small displacement turbodiesel H3 could do well because it has compelling looks in a reasonable package. The Escalade is just kitsch.

Cadillac's sales targets in Europe look doomed Neil Winton: European Perspective Link to Original Article @ DetNews BARCELONA, Spain -- While Cadillac introduces new models into Europe, industry watchers here are busily slashing their sales forecasts for the General Motors luxury brand. And the recent launch here in Spain of three new gas-guzzling leviathans suggests that GM's attempt to sell in Europe's premium sector with Cadillacs, Corvette sports cars and Hummers is more of an attempt to sell a few more cars into niche sectors with high margins, rather than a serious attempt to storm the luxury citadel owned jointly by BMW, Mercedes and Audi. Cadillac's European market entry began with the introduction of the CTS sedan in 2003, but sales were meant to be kick-started into real action in 2006 with the little BLS, the first European diesel in the storied history of the brand. The BLS, built at GM's Saab factory in Trollhattan, Sweden, and based on the Saab 9-3, was designed with Europe in mind. The CTS, and other huge-by-European-standards cars were never going to be more than minor efforts selling in small numbers more as curiosities than serious contenders. Modest target Cadillac said from the start that to build its brand in Europe would take time, and it was careful to post modest targets. Instead of using the existing Opel, Vauxhall and Saab network in Europe, GM decided to use a Dutch based company - Cadillac, Corvette and Hummer Europe (CCHE) - and set a modest opening target of 20,000 cars by 2010. But the BLS is stumbling - sales reached about 1,300 in 2006 after the launch in April. Overall Cadillac sales totaled about 3,000 in 2006, up from just over 2,000 in 2005. Although CCHE staunchly stands by its 20,000 by 2010 target, automotive consultancies are crunching their numbers and finding that less than half this is likely. Walt Madeira, British-based Europe Sales Forecast Manager for CSM Worldwide, believes Cadillac sales will reach between 7,000 and 8,000 by 2010, with about 50 percent accounted for by the BLS. A BLS station wagon is expected to be added in 2007. Jonathon Poskill, Senior Analyst, Europe, for J.D.Power Automotive Forecasting, has slashed his forecast again. Last year J.D. Power reckoned Cadillac would sell 16,000 vehicles by 2010; now this has been more than halved to between 6,000 and 7,000. Madeira awaits promised improvements in the Cadillac dealer network, and improvements in brand awareness, or rather a change in the brand's perception, which is still associated with pink behemoths with outrageous clutter like fins and chrome. Comically inappropriate The three vehicles that CCHE is currently launching in Europe won't do much to dispel this old image. The Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac SRX and Hummer H3 are almost comically inappropriate gas guzzlers and will be thought of by some political campaign groups in Europe as outrageous and irresponsible examples of conspicuous consumption. None of these three vehicles will be powered by a diesel, a serious omission in Europe where every other car sold is a diesel. The luxury sector is even more diesel conscious and up to 80 percent of sales are diesel. Cadillac says there will be diesels soon, but won't say when. It does promise that in 3 years, all its vehicles will be offered with the ability to use bio-fuels or bio-diesel. Many European politicians, newspapers and broadcast media have succumbed to extreme environmentalist arguments about global warming and the human influence that may or not be behind climate change. Highly taxed Europeans face yet more massive gasoline taxes, while airlines are also being targeted in apocalyptic terms as destroyers of the planet. DaimlerChrysler AG's chief economist's Van Jolissaint almost summed this up in a recent speech in Detroit at the automobile show. "Europe seems to take a political position that some people might describe, not me of course, that some people might describe as quasi-hysterical, that the sky is falling: we have to dramatically change the way that we organize society today and forever," Jolissaint said. No kowtowing from Cadillac DaimlerChrysler complained Jolissaint's remarks were later mis-represented by a BBC report, making it appear as though the comments represented its position on global warming. DaimlerChrysler says human influence on global warming is not proven, but it nevertheless seeks to produce products which minimize potential impact on the climate. You can't accuse Cadillac of kowtowing to the European environmental lobby. The Cadillac Escalade is a huge, gas guzzling SUV with a 6.2 litre V8 engine producing 409 bhp, which consumes an average of 16.2 miles per imperial gallon and 383 grams per kilometre (g/km) of carbon dioxide. The Cadillac SRX is powered by a 4.6 litre Northstar V8 producing 325 bhp, 16.7 mpg and 396 g/km. The Hummer H3's 3.7 litre in-line 5-cylinder motor produces 244 bhp, 14.5 mpg and 346 g/km. The European Union, which may introduce mandatory regulations cutting CO2 emissions along the lines of the U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) rules, is expected to insist on an average of 120 g/km by 2012. The current voluntary target is a fleet-wide 140 g/km by 2008, which is unlikely to be met. A mandatory CO2 regime is likely to mean hefty financial penalties for companies like Cadillac. CSM Worldwide's Madeira believes that products like the Escalade, SRX and Hummer H3 show Cadillac in Europe is just trying to sell a few more cars at high margins, rather than seeking to maximize sales. Whopping price The Escalade is priced at a whopping $92,500, including taxes and import duty, compared with a starting price in the U.S. of close to $55,000 before taxes. Madeira also believes the sales strategy is wrong. "They don't have the right products, there is a lack of diesels, and no entry level hatchback like a Golf competitor. (DaimlerChrysler's) Dodge chose to enter the European market with the Caliber with aggressive pricing. Cadillac is still seen as fairly expensive and consumers are unlikely to abandon their BMWs, Mercedes and Audis," said Madeira. Making the BLS in Europe was also a mistake, according to Madeira, and it isn't different enough. "It would have made more sense to make the BLS in the U.S., not least because the falling dollar would have made it a better financial opportunity. I see it as offering too little in terms of price and capability (compared with the main competitor, the BMW 3-series)," said Madeira. J.D.Power's Poskitt was also disappointed by BLS sales. "We expected the BLS to do better, but it's been significantly lower because they don't have the dealer network. We thought they would go through the GM (Opel, Vauxhall or Saab) network. We didn't expect them to go through a new Dutch network. Our earlier forecast was based on them really pushing the BLS. It's had quite good reviews though, it's well priced and well equipped, but let down by the ride and handling, which is important for Europeans," said Poskitt. BLS production weak "The estate (station wagon) coming out later this year will help sales, but looking at the (BLS) production numbers, they are very weak at the moment indicating that they are not ramping up production, so it's not taking off in the way it might have done," said Poskitt. He felt the latest trio of vehicles wouldn't hit buyers' sweet spots. "Look at what you can get instead (of an Escalade) - a BMW X5 or Range Rover Sport, and they have diesels. People are now more environmentally aware and these types of vehicles are quite the opposite of what people are looking for. They are the wrong types of vehicles to gain any real volume," Poskitt said. CSM Worldwide's Madeira agreed, saying the new vehicles were "quite out of sync" for Europeans. Cadillac has compared its attempt to scale European markets with Lexus, which took 15 years to get to the around 20,000 annual sales. This year Lexus European sales will be around 60,000 and are expected to reach between 90,000 and 100,000 by 2010. These numbers are miniscule compared with by both companies' U.S. sales, which are both currently more than 10 times higher than Cadillac's 20,000 sales target. Madeira thinks Cadillac might still be successful, if, among other things, it develops products which excite Europeans. "Given that the car industry is a marathon and not a sprint, Cadillac should look to build slowly but with solid product options for Europeans, which means diesel powered cars which show CO2 awareness and are passionate vehicles for the people who choose to buy the brand. "For now, Cadillac has started the sales race limping and it's not been very quick off the starting line," said Madeira. Neil Winton, European columnist for Autos Insider, is based in Sussex, England. E-mail him at [email protected]

Satty's mother uses my screenname sometimes. Anyway, the total remains at six. I don't think an xB could do that much damage anyway.

And yet a mere two years later, Plymouth gave us this disgusting beast: I can see why people found 1959 Cadillacs distasteful, though, especially compared to the classy '58s and more svelte '60s. Its a little bit like Anna Nicole Smith without the diseases.

Cadillac will sell a diesel version of its new CTS medium-premium sedan in Europe Link to Original Article @ Automotive News But the diesel won't be available immediately. "We expect at least 50 percent of CTS sales to be diesels," said Braakhekke, Cadillac Europe spokesman. Without being more specific, he said the diesel would come during the early part of the model's life cycle. Company sources say Italian engine manufacturer VM Motori will supply the CTS with a 3.0-liter, V-6 diesel with about 245hp. Cadillac needs to offer diesels to be more competitive against with German premium brands. About 70 percent of Audi's unit sales in Europe are diesels. For BMW the figure is 67 percent and for Mercedes-Benz 58 percent.

All I know about the Tempest is what I learned from My Cousin Vinnie. Just kidding. Sort of.

REBAGING IS TEH AWSUMNESS!!!11

Well, for the record: 1 - Backed into by a 4Runner 2 - Broadsided by a Mustang 3 - Sideswiped by a Tundra 4 - Rear-ended by a Solara 5 - Clipped by an Avalon 6 - Probable Land Cruiser Picked up my used hood and a hinge for $230 today. I was shocked that it was my exact same color (silver teal metallic). The donor car was a 1995 Aurora with heated seats, moonroof, and the dumbest looking spoiler I have ever seen. I still need to pry out the bracket the latch is mounted to so its locks correctly, but it works for now. I washed it and hit it with a clay bar and the water went from sheeting to beading like that, so all the scratches are either very light or delamination underneath the clearcoat. Actually, the donor car had bad delamination throughout, just like mine once did/sort of still does. I realized after that - save for a few more abrasions - this hood is only slightly worse than the original one when I bought the car, which makes me ask...what was I thinking? Must've really loved her looks. Anyhow, I'll snap pics when it stops raining. My girlfriend wants me to wash it with holy water and my dad says my car is like the Plymouth from Christine. I wish it were. Christine fixed herself. My Olds is like a needy Christine - it gets smashed and makes me fix her. Thanks for the sympathies, guys.

Thanks, Ross! Believe me, next year's production will go much, much more smoothly now that everything has been done once. Hope everyone else enjoys, too!

If Zeta can be made to be as flexible as we're hoping, its a bright day indeed. FWD or RWD, a car the size and with (at minimum) the luxury of the current DTS needs to survive over the misplaced STS.

Well, after reading through the classifieds while helping my girlfriend look for a cheap computer monitor, I couldn't help but notice a bevy of ads from local Chevy and B-P-GMC dealers seeking sales associates and offering training and the like and it started to think about it. And since I know there are alot of members here that have sold/are selling cars for a living, why not ask? The big question is - how is the car sales business for a young 22 year-old college-educated male with a real passion for cars (me)? As far as the others: What are these 'training programs' typically like? What's the difference between an internet sales position and regular sales? What's the schedule like? Is it possible to work 'late shifts' and weekends only at least to start? Is it really as cutthroat as it appears to be? How is the pay like? How is the typically split? Will it even make a difference if you know alot about what you're selling and really care about the product? Any other advice or suggestions for someone beginning to explore this field? Thanks in advance!

The latest FWD large car platform in the works (Chi) was cancelled/shelved awhile ago and with waning demand, who knows? Would it be possible to come up with something off the Lambda platform? Possibly, I don't really know, but I would really hate to see the DTS dropped. I know alot of people support the STS for what it could be, but the Seville lost its identity when it switched to the Sigma platform. Unless you want a RWD V8 or AWD Cadillac, why buy a Seville? Thanks to the CTS, there was already scant reason to justify a V6 STS; later this year, there will be no reason to buy a V6 STS or an AWD STS. Even with the Chinese restyle, its not a stunning car. The DTS has far more presence, a more tangible customer base, and its never tried to be something its not. Plus, it has far more potential now that the CTS has grown in size. The STS by comparison occupies space and rots on the lots because there is no reason to buy one.

Middle America voted the current President into office. Middle America listens to and watches Sean Hannity. Middle America is a waste of resources.

Sounds like my work.

There is certainly a place for a well-excecuted $45-60 DTS and DTS-L in the Cadillac lineup, front- or rear-wheel drive.