tama z71

Looks like a pile of garbage. No offense intended towards piles of garbage, naturally.

That depends on whether or not you found it to be enjoyable or more criticism and complaining.

Lighten Up Guys November 8, 2007 Let’s say you’re an upstart car company. You’ve got all the financial, production and distribution portions of your business taken care of. You decide to make a splash in a market that seems to sell a thousand variations of what is essentially the same product. How do you stand out? You stand for fun. You put on a successful and overwhelming media blitz that says, “Hey, drive our cars, because you’ll enjoy it.” And how do you deliver on the promise of fun? Give your car a three speed automatic transmission, source a Briggs & Stratton for your powerplant, and, citing safety and structural concerns, have your project tip the scales at a healthy seventeen thousand pounds. Sound like fun? A car like that would fail to give me a reason to drive it again, as it could seemingly never give me a reason to want to drive it again. Given the example of my fictional car company, its very much like an auto magazine that draws one in with the promise of pretty photos and expensive graphics, and delivers a derisive report on why the car in question is complete garbage. More and more, those in the automotive press fail to give me a reason to want to read what they are writing. Maybe it’s a product of the self-hating culture of cynicism and criticism that’s pervading many aspects of the collective American mentality. Maybe we in America just like to bitch. But, think about the last time you read an automotive article and skimmed the writing for negative points about the car, rather than for points of congratulations. It might just be me, but I don’t look forward to reading auto reviews like I used to. Sure, there will always be those sterile articles whose place is to inform, not entertain. We need those articles, if only for clarity’s sake. But the subjectivity of many auto publications today has taken the form of searing criticism and hyperbolic accusations of incompetence. Continuing with that theme, much of the writing these days just isn’t where it should be. Comparisons are no longer a test of eptitude and engineering supremacy, so much as they are a tiptoe race to see who screwed up in ways least offensive to the panel. So much is exemplified in the ever-growing tendency to decry a car’s minor faults than to celebrate its major successes. Too often, the writing becomes another intolerable product of the fad of the day. Without taking the time to cite a proper example, I’ll grab the HUMMER H2 out of the air to help prove my point. In today’s green culture, plus-sized vehicles are the targets of choice for those writers who wish to grab their armchair fame on the caboose of the enviro-train. THOMAS FRIEDMAN. While they fabulously decry the H2 and vehicles like it for our energy and environmental problems, the reality remains that such specific vehicles have a negligible impact on the overall problem. For those of you thinking, “Hey, this kid’s talking about the negative car articles, and talking about them in piss and moan fashion. I’m not enjoying his article, either,” enjoy this. Error: problem loading img “girl pressing boobs on soapy car window”.html For those still reading, my point is further exemplified through some newly established publications finding their readership through the internet. A standout example is Peter DeLorenzo and AutoExtremist.com. Don't get me wrong, Mr. DeLorenzo speaks a loud voice of proud protest to an industry and its media that quite often border on complete absurdity. That alone lends him a great deal of credibility that many in the industry simply don't have. But, that voice is almost always grandiose, ever-chastising, and immovable in its assertions. It becomes tough to read through the exercises in extended punctuation, even if you agree with what is ultimately being said (as I often do). A more local example? Forums, like Cheers & Gears, or GMinsidenews.com. Look around. These forums have a habit of becoming inundated with angrier and more derisive posts. We celebrate problem threads on Toyota forums and chastise those people when they penetrate our websites. Hell, we don't even read whole articles when they are presented to us anymore. Moderators conveniently boldface the points of the article we are most likely to want to read. A helpful practice, but one that contradicts the point of writing the article in the first place. The best example of written negativity comes from the website TheTruthAboutCars.com. Its a wesbite that seems to put forth a great deal of effort to be as scrutinizing as any publication out there. Many of the articles make a point of driving a cars shortcomings into the readers eyes with dense hyperbole, and acknowledging a cars successes with almost reticent spite. They've long run a column infamously entitled "GM Death Watch," a column that now reaches to all of Detroit. Check their website at the time of this post, and they've got four topics relating to their "Top Ten Worst Cars List," a subjective, unquantifiable piece of $h! that dances on the edges of the unreadable. All of which brings me back to my original point. I want to read about cars, and I want to enjoy doing so. But, in today's happily proliferating culture of negativity and cynicism, it feels like the whole purpose in writing and reading about cars is sorely being missed. That's how I feel. Shame that I had to bitch and moan just to say so.

As great as the possibility exists that this is only paper accounting and has no major effects in GM's wallet, the perception of 39 BILLION DOLLAR LOSS is just too juicy for the media not to spin and too attention grabbing for people to look into fully.

To quote Toyota's design team: "Aw, f@#k it!"

I expected better from Honda. A total mishmash of cliched styling cues slapped together, and the sedan looks like a new Sebring from the A-pillar back. Not very impressive

The proportions are too unconventional, the character line was taken straight off an Elantra, and the interior doesnt stand out in any way that separates it from other new interiors. Its just, goofy. I dont like it.

God, I have to post again. There is not one redeeming quality that I can gather from these photos. Toyota must not like being number 1 very much, they look like theyre trying to climb back down with this piece of $h!.

Thats bad, I dont like that. Its especially bad when it looks older than the outgoing model. Sheesh

GM fandom be damned, that is one hell of an attractive car. Pontiac needs to step up.

How long will this thread be open? I've got plenty to say about GM advertising.

probably the new 355 trucks. those things need the update. hopefully a new el cam too! hahahaaa!!!

porn hustler. someone get this clown outta here.

oh yay a political thread. thanks f@#kers. your opinions on politics =

haha thats the big stigma with the sport. ive been skatin, snowboarding mountainboarding and wakeboarding since i was 11, and the mountainboard is by far the easiest of the four. also, the one that has hurt me the least of the four.

Started up a forum for mountainboarders. The sport seems to be languishing, so I decided to step into the act. http://mtbforum.informe.com/ By the way, if anyone is good enough with a computer to make a half appealing logo, please shoot me a PM, as my art skills suck mightily.

Get Your Priorities Straight A Tama Article February 12, 2006 When the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon made their midsize debut in late 2003, they were touted by General Motors as the most powerful and most fuel efficient trucks in the class. As unlucky timing prevailed, rival midsize trucks outgrew, outmuscled and outsized the GM twins, leaving them as the most fuel efficient trucks in class by a slim margin. Today, the Toyota Tacoma continues to run away with the segment sales lead. Dodge has introduced a refreshed Dakota, replete with the most powerful engine in the segment. More and more, the 355 twins are looking like the oldest trucks in the class, if only by a few months. Now, over the past few years, Chevy has teased us with three different Colorado concepts featuring a fully functional V8 powerplant, in 5.3 and 6.0 litre flavors. For those fans who remember the Colorado Cruz, SS and Z71 Plus concepts, they know better than anyone that GM at this point can only be searching for a reason not to add the small-block to the mid-cycle enhancement, due in the next few years. While the concepts have temporarily hushed media cries for more power and owner's fantasies of driving an eight-cylinder midsizer, both parties continue to seek a permanent response. However, gas prices have done their part to bring fuel economy to a new level of importance. When the General finally does bring out its refreshed or redesigned Colorado and Canyon trucks, where will the emphasis lie -- more power, or more mileage? Colorado Curious Having owned and driven a 2004 GMC Canyon for the last three years, I've answered many a question regarding the truck. Initial oohs and aahs over the new model truck gradually turned into questions about its power, which gradually turned into questions about its fuel economy, commensurate with continually rising gas prices. Many times, those who have the most questions about the truck's performance are those who currently own a large vehicle and have lost the bandwagon love for their SUV, thanks surely to markups in gas prices. Initially these were the same folks who asked about its horsepower or ability to tow a trailer. Nowadays, those folks sit on the fence between selling their big ol' babies or coming to grips with the realities of an OPEC run world, and their first question is almost always about the fuel economy. More Power - 0 ... More Mileage - 1 Media If I'm here to talk about mainstream media critics' evaluations of a new GM midsizer, then I'll quit right now - the truck could generate 3500 horsepower by running on tapwater and would still fall short of its Japanese rivals. Rather, let's talk about GM's media opportunities in advertising. Boasting good fuel economy figures means some serious scratch among automakers these days. According to the gospel of auto advertising, General Motors, Honda and Toyota are all the single-most fuel-efficient automaker in America - and at the same time! While the true measure of a vehicle's thirst will never be revealed even by the SAE, let alone a marketing department, fuel economy is the buzzword of the day and one that automakers are hitting on in every segment of the car market. Greenity notwithstanding, in the truck market, power is where its at. If you watch television (and I know you do), then you probably watched the Super Bowl (and I know you did), meaning there's a good chance that you got to see Toyota's teeter-totter-Tundra ad. No mention of the sub-20 mpg ratings, or sub-15 numbers most drivers will probably see -- just raw power and hugeness. In the truck world, power is a virtue, and that now spills over to the category that has so readily shunned the "compact" designation. While the abysmal economy numbers of a V8 will be sure to drive away some fuel-conscious would-be buyers, it ought to rope in just as many buyers, as well as give GM a reason to properly advertise their small trucks. More Power - 1 ... More Mileage - 1 Owners Outside opinions and uninformed judgments are always welcomed (no, they're not), but no one can tell you more about a car than somebody who owns one. www.coloradofans.com offers the largest community of GMT-355 owners and enthusiasts on the interweb. Members know that opinions there have ranged from the desire for mind-numbing power to an uncompromising demand for better-than-great fuel economy, reaffirming that the ownership experience truly is an individual thing. A recent poll of 47 members offered that 31% of voters desired more power, while 68% wished for greater fuel economy, and a mysterious one percent showed no preference in a two-option poll. The poll was measured as of February 12, and is available for view and further debate below... cFans Poll - More Mileage vs. More Power http://www.coloradofans.com/viewtopic.php?t=40816 More Power - 1 ... More Mileage - 2 The Answer - Choices, choices, choices When you've got the extensive parts bin that GM has, how can you fail to offer something for everyone? For those who love fuel economy, continue to improve upon the Atlas 4-cylinder, which currently offers 185 horsepower as well as mileage numbers at the top of the class. Bring over a diesel 6-cylinder from the Holden Rodeo, as well as making E85 compatible with all engine offerings. For those who crave power, source the 5.3L V8 right out of the new Silverado, bringing 320 horsepower and a whole lot of bragging rights straight to the top of the midsize class. For those who are greedy -- cylinder-deactivation and hybrids all around! A 6-speed transmission wouldn't kill the party, either. Midsize trucks are indeed the gateway into larger, full-size pickups, and for automakers that means building the gateway into the land of gross profiteering. If General Motors wants to fully legitimize their midsize line and strengthen their future sales base for the terrific full-size trucks they offer, then the answer is clear cut -- more power or more mileage? Give the people what they want. Give them both.

oh dude. this is the car that will help legitimize pontiac. god bless holden.

Great, fantastic, and entirely necessary feature. However, can it be slowed down at all? Its tough to read at that pace.

not very many returns with a frostwire search. im finding bearshare to kick ass, though everything is licensed and only goes as far as my computer.

engine sludge? whats engine sludge? we make the prius. toyota. moving forward

Alot of people dislike the DTS for being fwd, and running on an aging platform. To me, it kind of stands as a solid testament to Cadillac's heritage of BFL cars. That is, BIG f@#kIN LUXURY. Doesn't this thing just look inviting? I could go to sleep on that dashboard. Vintage caddy.

they need to have forums. good ones. like ours. tell them that.

can someone do a chop job? i have some ideas that might make it less polarizing... -graft on the new silverado headlights -remove the amber eyelids -fatter tires, smaller wheels -integrate the hood into the front fenders better. remove the equinox feel -add a billet grille, and, if at all possible, some manner of traditional bumper thats if anyone is interested, but those seem to be the major areas of complaint