FUTURE_OF_GM

In NC, the car has to be 35+ years old. hence why my '68 is currently a classic, yet my '73 isn't.

Last time I tested: 132 Time before that: 131 I had to take them for college related things, so I'm assuming they were accurate but don't really know.

Wow... Absolutely NO media on this... Big surprise.

:bs: Why make the concept then? I think GM *think* is having bad watering down effects on Holden.

I agree 100% The problem is this; Buick CANNOT risk losing it's loyal buyer base in exchange for fewer, if any, conquest sales that might materialize. GM made that mistake once with Oldsmobile (Of course, Oldsmobile had MANY other problems too) So, I would rather see GM take a gradual approach... Honestly, with Buick's image, like Cadillac, it'll take AT LEAST one product cycle to build a decent foundation of new buyers.

I remember that... I think SS would be fine if Chevrolet hadn't watered down the brand so much with it's current SS offerings. I mean, you're going to offer the fastest production Corvette ever that'll trounce $200,000 cars and link it to a $20,000 trim package on a Cobalt (I like that Cobalt, just shouldn't be called SS) and an AWD truck that hardly out runs 2WD versions of competitors mid level trucks???? And that doesn't even consider the "style" factor. In my opinion, Chevrolet should take this route on the car side: Since SS has been tarnished just a bit and is already in place AND had a broader original meaning anyway why not use it for your sporty cars and TOP performance sedans (Hopefully most of them WILL be more worthy of the name in a couple of years) Then, since Z/xx has actually received an image boost via the Z06 and is less common, why not use it for your COUPE ONLY high performance cars. Pretty much just as it was used back in the 60's. You'd have a Zxx as this top 'vette, then the Z06 the the top dog Camaro Z28, then a Lancer/Impreza 'ass whipping' Cobalt coupe named Z-something. Therefore, the sin of "No Corvette can ever be SS-ed" wouldn't be commited, then the Camaro could rank and file with base, SS and Z28 logically and then on your mainstream cars high performance rare coupes wouldn't be diluted by sharing a broad SS name with WORTHY, but not as barbaric cars. Thus allowing Chevrolet to continue BUILDING "SS" into a widespread, attainable, credible force while creating a sub division for the Z cars and US car guys. :) http://www.cheersandgears.com/public/style_emoticons//rotflmao.gif

Ahh. bingo, that's it! Thanks z :)

On second glance I'm beginning to warm up to it. I'm just more of a stealth guy instead of an add-on queen. Kinda like Chip Foose as opposed to WCC. Nice and sleek and elegant as opposed to "trying to hard"

It's very easy to see that Korea is hand picking all of it's designers from Detroit... Every new Hyundai either looks like a recycled 10 years old GM car or a blatant copy of a sucessful Japanese car (Which Detroit tried to do for years)

I was being sarcastic about the employee bit, sorry I guess I should've noted that. I do tend to be on edge a lot, but I'm really tired of all the negativity.

So we're going on a "he said, she said" basis for this story. Well, I guess GM was showing some signs of recovery. So something had to be done to screw things up and keep the company down long enough to go bankrupt/be split up... The great american witch hunt!!!! Destroy all of our businesses one way or another, especially when they get on top because WE LIKE to see failure.

I don't think it's any one persons fault and I enjoy reading your posts and I enjoy your sense of humor. I also think it's great that you're so passionate about Pontiac, it's commendable and respectable that at times you're not affraid to be an individual. I think the constant negativity in the industry toward GM has A LOT to do with it. Personally I have struggled several times with leaving the forum or becoming an admin only simply because I think that my negativity has degraded the place somewhat. But, it's to be expected... When you're as passionate about something (GM or Pontiac) as we are then naturally you're going to either become combative or filled with sorrow when you see it slipping away, ESPECIALLY for all the wrong reasons. I always heard that when a hobby turns into a stress that it's time to stop. There was one point in time that I dredded and hated coming to the forum simply because of the stress it induced (Bad news) it was a sad and sobering experience and my participation level hasn't fully recovered since. My initial posts were polar opposite of how I post now, but then the environment changed and once you defend GM like I do, you're expected to always defend GM in that way. It's a role that you get stuck in and eventhough I've hated myself for some of the snide things I've said at times, it's almost as if that's my place in this community and it's what's expected from me and therefore I comply. But alas, stress can be controlled and things ALWAYS get better if you're willing to try and change them. Sorry to ramble, but I think it all relates to the point.

Thanks man. It's just opinions, sometimes I think some of us take things too seriously (And I'm definitely guilty of this)... I mean, I sit here and say I dislike Oasis yet many here could easily make fun of me because a lot of the stuff I listen too is barely audible at times (Talk about no culture) I mean, why does what I say matter anyway, afterall I haven't been talented enough to make millions like Oasis. My point: Take what is said for what it is worth, a different view and that's all.

I agree... That lower nose is GOD AWFUL, the wheels are too small and the profile is watered down and reminds me of an old 300. Buick concepts had the BEST styling in General Motors, what the hell happened?!?!?!?! It's such a let down. But, some pics of the Lucerne seem to look good and the chrome grille looks a lot better, so hopefully it's better in person.

Functions better is definately subjective... Especially considering the difference in tops. But satisfies better isn't IMO, almost every journalist has picked the Solstice as the overall better car. I know and I respect a straight shooter :)

Just glad it wasn't that hideous hybrid Lexus.. But, of course, it is an asian winner... A sign of the tides changing, soon they will endorse asian trucks over American trucks just like they do with cars, it's already beginning.

This should be exploited nd advertised.... GM could build a great name around value, performance and efficiency. SEMA just hasn't been the same since John Moss left.... Those were such great times.

Could this be a preview of the Blue Devil motor???? The front is nice, no doubt a preview of the tuner Solstice, the hood vents look a little cheesy to me and the arrow head should've been left on the fender. The wheels STILL look too small (Definately don't look like 19 inchers) and are too chunky/plain. The side skirt looks like it came out of JC Whitney. The top would look a lot better if it didn't overlap the side windows so much and the window frame should've been left silver/chrome IMO. The wing just needs to go. I hope it looks better in other pictures and maybe I'll warm up to it. Especially knowing that this is the same terrible GM PR gray photography.

Must be nice to live in that kind of society.

I agree and disagree... I would definately keep an overhaulin' car, or any classic for that matter, if for nothing more than the appreciation in value. (Especially now) and it takes A LOT to restore/mod a classic. I've been working on mine for YEARS. As far as "Steal me" there are a lot of measures one can take to avoid that such as a secure garage with alarms and cameras or GPS/shut off kits for the cars. Or, if you're like me, just be in the area of the cars at all times when you have them out or put them in a secured place. Sorry to stray off subject.

I pay $86/month for 2 cars (The Focus & the '73 Camaro) Comp, collision, no deductibles, clean record (No tickets or accidents that were my fault, knock on wood) I'm 23. My parents get an even better deal as they have the multi vehicle, safe driving and long term (insured our cars there for a long time) discounts. I'm going to put both of the Camaros on classic car insurance for about $111 a year

THANK GOD!!!!! I'm not the only one that HATES this song!!!!! GEEZ, talk about BANKRUPT of ideas.... The entire song is just filler and very BAD filler at that! My personal peves: Anything Nickelback, I hate this band and wish they had NEVER been discovered. Manufactured POP rock at it's best... LAME. Anything Nirvana and Alice in Chains. I actually like both of these bands but since my local station plays them 200 times a day I feel like I'm gonna puke everytime I hear them. NO kidding... I'm so glad the Cobalt ditched this song as it's advertising theme. (No offense anyone, this is my personal taste) Well, I do agree about the Beatles... But then again, Oasis sucks worse IMO. I do at least respect the Beatles, same can't be said for Oasis.

I agree there is a lot of good news now. It's almost as if we hit the trough and now we're back on the upswing, but we're not there yet. And just as an aside, I wasn't trying to sound condescending about our current forum, we have a great group of people. I just miss the closeness that the site had back then. I think the reason we don't have that so much now is a product of a lot of things; negative times for GM, more people in the loop, for me personally, not spending as much time here. For example; I remember when a new member would come on board back then one of the mods would always either start a thread or post a reply welcoming that person, then we would all chime in. The family vibe, part of what made/makes this place great and something that needs to be thought off more often by us all (Me and a few others especially)

Yes, we should test the elderly more... But that saddens me a lot, because I know if and when I were in that situation, which if we're all lucky enough maybe we will be, I would feel belittled, disrespected and insulted by having to test more often and possibly getting my license pulled.

I have a sound for you :D I'm biased, but I love the sound of my '73 Camaro... small block Chevy 400 bored .30 over, (406) cammed, 10:1 compression with Hedman shorties running via 2.5" inch X-pipe to 3" Flowmaster single chamber Delta Flow mufflers. It has just enough back pressure to sound mean, but is free flowing enough to run good. It's loud too, shakes the neighbors windows. :D And it massages your back while sitting in it. Second would be my '68; pretty mild small block 350 run through hedman headers via 2.5" X-pipe to 40 series dual chamber Flowmasters. It purs more than it roars, and it's a 4 speed so I can do those nice 'clutched' slow downs :) I love "popping" exhaust systems... Nothing like letting the clutch out and hearing the fury of a hot V8 announce itself to your stoplight mates. News cars I like, right off hand... The GTO sounds awesome as does the SSR. Previous generation F-bodies are orgasmic because they turn so fast.(Of course I'm talking about F-bodies with non stock exhaust--as most have) Any GM truck (Our '99 has a glass pack on it and surprisingly sounds great [We bought it that way]) It sounds especially good in the Tow/Haul mode when the engine is extended further up the RPM scale before shifting. But probably the BEST sounding V8's I've heard (On a modern, stock car) would have to be the Mustang 4.6 and 5.0 motors. Give me a 5.0 Ford, 2 flowmasters and a clutch and I'm as close to heaven as I can get without crossing over! WORST sounding, BY FAR: Dodge Viper.