The O.C.

Any discussion on the car in those pictures is pointless......there's not a single one of us on here that can accurately imagine what the car looks like........ I'm glad they came back with the 4DSC stickers.....and if past (very past) Maximas are any indication, this car should, if executed right, give the G8 V6 a serious run for the money. I've ALWAYS loved the "concept" of the Maxima, but I too have been disappointed, mostly so, in the previous generation. I'll withhold judgement till I see it.....but I HOPE Nissan takes it back to it's roots....and gives it an attractive wrapper again.

Yeah......but who out there isn't either cutting truck production.......or running way-substantial days' supply......? If anyone has days' supply info readily available I'd be curious what it is among all the full-size truck manufacturers......THEN take that information and compare it to who all is cutting production more....or less....than the others.....

I think with the widespread arrival of remote keyless entry, the chances these days of locking your keys in your car is slim to none.....if you are like me and 100% lock the car doors WITH the keyfob. Therefore, if you are locking the doors with the keyfob, then the key is IN your hands (obviously....) The reason I like an in-car nav system over "turn-by-turn" is because with the nav screen, you are subject to alot more information, all of it visually, then just someone telling you when to turn. For example, the nav system can estimate your arrival time depending on traffic conditions, you can view all or any part of your existing route, and if you see a traffic jam, you can view a map of the area to determine how best to get around it. Plus, I'm not sure about all the other systems, but the Audi nav system will show you, like, the next three upcoming turns at the same time.....so you can "visually" imagine where you are going before you even take the first turn.

I'm one of the few that doesn't fully "get" OnStar. I was around it from a GM-standpoint when I worked for Buick.....and I've had it as standard-equipment in the previous recent GM cars I've had. To me.....there is just no justification for my paying anything a month for OnStar. The only true benefit I could see would be having them notified if I had an accident and the airbags deployed. This could greatly speed up getting emergency responders to the scene. As far as things like flat tires, dead batterys, or other problems, most companies' Roadside Assistance programs (covered for the warranty period at no cost) are pretty effective at responding to these kinds of road hazards. (In my experience.) OnStar concierge service? Well, hell most of the time you are in your car, you are probably in your local town/city and for the most part, you know where everything is anyways. Turn-by-turn navigation? I think this is a poor-replacement for a true in-car navigation system (either manufactuer-equipped or hand-held. We had it supplied for free in our Buick company cars.......never used it once. I had it offered to me in the Corvette and CTS.......never signed up for it and never missed it.

I would be worried if I were Dodge. I'd venture a very-educated guess that the penetration on the prev-gen SWB Caravan was down near single digits...at best...and I can't believe they cut fleet sales THAT much..... (I see that "reduction in fleet sales" is the new de-facto spin-tactic for declining overall sales..... )

I see your point.....but you also have a HUGE difference in size and weight between the BMW and MINI.......both which have a direct effect on the driving experience, regardless of the drivetrain setup....... One reason I love my CTS is that for a car of this size and weight (compared to the ultra-responsive MINI) the RWD CTS impresses in quite a few ways compared to, say, the FWD Mazda6 I used to have as a company car....and the Mazda WAS a great-handling car. But with the CTS, there is no dilution of steering feel from the FWD drivetrain.....the Mazda, under power, say at low speeds, pulling out to pass someone, or just merge onto a new street, would exhibitant some tug through the wheel. Now, the Mazda exhibited probably the least amount of torque steer of many higher-powered FWD cars I've driven....but it's still there...you can never totally get rid of it. Alot of times, it manifested itself in quick takeoff while turning a corner. In harder driving, (which I understand most people will never do) the CTS is just simply way more rewarding to push on a mountain road. Notice I said "rewarding." The Mazda6 was a GREAT-handling FWD sedan....and could probably keep up close with the CTS.....but it simply isn't as rewarding. As far as ride-quality? I don't really think drivetrain setup has much-if-any effect. There's simply way too much given to suspension and chassis setup and tire choice to determine how a particular car will ride. My A4 has a firmer, more tied-down feel than my CTS. But I can tell you alot of that has to do with the lower-profile tires (40-series vs. 50-series on the CTS) and the damping which is snubbed down way firmer (giving you that sharp up-and-down motions over dips and bumps vs. the CTS's more relaxed gait.) I don't think the FWD-based Quattro system has all that much effect on the ride compared to being RWD.

DAMN......bro you need to get out more.... LOL....just kidding.....ALOT of good thought I see you've put into this....... I like your use of some traditional brand names (like Monza, Invicta, etc.) Now the only trick for GM would be....to find the money to properly support all these brands from a sales, marketing, and product-development standpoint.....

When I was at GM, us "white-collar" guys (at least at Buick) were required to take the shutdown too.......has GM reversed from that?

GM....? In the $20K-$35K range? Malibu Impala G6 Grand Prix/G8 AURA LaCrosse Lucerne 9-3 CTS That's 9.........(did I forget any?)

:rotflmao: That is too funny. No I wouldn't want to annex you guys........besides you guys have your own challenges........ It's funny.....Canadian and American relations (good OR bad) never really make it into the press. And everytime I've been to Canada, it's been SOOOOO much like the States, it's not even funny. (But I haven't been to the eastern provinces.....just Ontario and BC.) It's a nice place.....with friendly people....... What is wierd is.....you guys are pretty spread-out.......in my above post, I talked population numbers......CA has almost 5 million MORE people than your ENTIRE country.....that's an amazing statistic to me......and hard to fathom........ (edit: BTW...I love Vancouver....probably my favorite Canadian city....even better than Toronto......it reminds me alot of Seattle.....)

My favorites are.....in this order...... Car & Driver Motor Trend Automobile Road & Track I can't really explain why I like them in that order, I just do......but that being said....if I were to rank them on QUALITY....it would be..... Automobile Road & Track Car & Driver Motor Trend I think it has to do with the fact that C&D and MT bring alot more in the realm of, like you said, being informative and to-the-point with plenty of road tests and test drives. Automobile and R&T, on the other hand, bring a higher level of automotive journalism to the articles they do offer...... So....I enjoy C&D and MT for the sheer road tests and vehicle reviews......but find AM and R&T to be the higher-quality reading........

No dufus....(j/k) Think population..... California: 36,132,147 Canada: 31,361,611 Texass: 22,859,968

And this surprises you? Gee....yeah....that's LOTS of Volvo employees in Irvine (NOT..) Doesn't surprise me at all.....European carmaker....closer in time zones and flight times to Europe....... (One reason why Nissan's move to TN was all the more surprising.....unless France is exhibiting more-and-more control....????)

You've basically said nothing. I've heard nothing of a new Honda brand.....and I'm not exactly un-connected in the business...... So if you know something, give us your details.....otherwise I consider it non-existent.... (edit: It's just like everyone thinking Alfa Romeo is coming back to the U.S. market.....guess what? Notgonnahappen.com......)

That's why I actually agreed with you.......

First of all, who gives a crap about Japan. We are discussing GM's plan for the U.S....and in the U.S..., Toyota has three brands to GM's eight. And what information do you have about Honda adding another brand to it's lineup? What brand? Positioned how? This is not something I've heard of at all...... And GM's problem IS the number of brands and models. With 8 brands, there is NO way you can effectively differentiate all of them on price or market segment.

Oh....James May? I actually like Hammond.....he has an affinity for older American cars.......

:rotflmao: That "chubby, curly-haired" guy is their STAR.....Jeremy Clarkson.....LOL Consider him the "David E. Davis Jr." of the british motoring press. BTW....as an aside....I heard confirmation that BBC America is going to be doing a U.S.A.-based TopGear TV show....!!!!!!! A U.S.A. based magazine will be developed and sold here as a compliment as well (just like TopGear TV show has the british TopGear magazine....)

I agree with Enzl above...... You can pat GM on the back as much as you want for the good products that have come forth lately (I've done the same) but that doesn't change the reality of the situation they are in. AND....while not written in stone, given the current nature of GM's situation, I also do not see any way for GM to begin trending upwards.....at all. MAJOR life-changing decisions are going to have to be made......in order for GM to stop the slide.....not to mention cause it to begin trending upwards...... That's the reality of the situation the corporation is facing today. Trying to dance around that isn't going to do anything but delay the inevitable (inevitable, that is, if GM doesn't do something drastic.....) What they have today is an unworkable business model. Can they change it? I really don't know. But I know they HAVE to change it...if they are going to remain the #1 biggest and most powerful auto company. GM will survive due to overseas business. But I bargain you will see a dramatic reduction in the importance of the N.A. market to GM......much to (all of) our disappointment.....

Mistsubishi (e.g....Isuzu).....and Mercury (e.g....Plymouth.) Oh....and throw in Suzuki auto for good measure......

Actually they are not doing as well as you think. I worked for Suzuki for like 4 years.....and I guarantee you, you WILL see the automotive division pull out of N.A. It's only a matter of time. Suzuki had great promise.....and alot of good employees that worked there. BUT, contrary to what you find at companies like Honda, Toyota, etc., (which rely heavily on input from North America) Suzuki was almost arrogant (in a Korean-type way) about it's position in the U.S......blaming the N.A. employees.....insisting that because they are one of the largest auto companies in the world (primarily from it's strength in Japan and India) that they should be as big as Honda or Toyota here. Feedback from the U.S. on product decisions was never heard and/or understood. Amazing......contrary to their overwhelming success in the motorcycle and ATV divisions...... I still have a few friends inside Suzuki....and they tell me the "new" XL7 is a HUGE disappointment. Also, with the demise of the Korean entries (a huge mistake in my mind to offer those to begin with) they are back down to 3 vehicles......SX4, XL7, and Grand Vitara.....none that are all that competitive in the marketplace.

Honey, honey, honey... Don't date yourself.....

LOL.....so true.....

Awwww Reg.....friends here....enemies in that "other" thread.... (j/k) Seriously.....I took the Kia job after GM because.....first of all, I wanted to stay in SoCal......they offered me a BOAT-load of money.......and I thought...."hey".....this might be the next BIG thing....! And how fun would it be to be a part of that? Well, the Koreans WERE the next "big" thing.....look where they are now compared to when I was there (just the Sportage and Sephia)......but it's certainly not "fun" to be a part of it.....

Reg...I'm not trying to pick a fight with you...... .....but this constant, what appears to me IMHO, "head in the sand" thinking just really gets my goat......(and I'm not saying you are the worst-offender....)