The O.C.

It's GOTTA BE.....that's all I can figure. I don't beat the car up......while I wouldn't say I'm a "mild" driver.....a good portion of my commute every day is about 25 miles with the cruise set on 70-75.....yet I still only get between 17-19. I drive this car like every other car I've had. Here's what I've averaged with a few previous cars.....all overall averages...mixed driving, etc....commuting, etc.... '07 CTS 3.6L 6-speed - 17-19 '06 Corvette - 18-22mpg '03 Mazda6 V6/5-speed - 20-24mpg '07 Audi A4 2.0T/6-speed - 25-28mpg (!...really...) It's not a deal-breaker for me.....I love the car....and still think the 3.6L is a fine engine. It's just not what I was expecting mileage-wise. I was going to get a v-Series but took the 3.6L Sport because I wanted close to a v-series feel but with better fuel mileage. Now that I look back, I should have gotten the v-Series. I bet it wouldn't have done that much worse in mileage.......

Tustin Cadillac in Tustin/O.C. had two....I didn't see the second one.....but the one I did see was a black-on-black 3.6L D.I. performance model........

Trouble is.....those attributes alone are not enough to make it in today's market......GM needs to leapfrog the competition....not just match it (or in some cases <cough, cough...the interior quality>....not match the competition.)

I can sum up the Solstice/SKY situation in a few words......Pontiac dealerships and old-school GM mentality....versus Saturn's more forward-thinking way of doing business. That's it. OK....before you guys bitch me out for it.....Reg goaded me into yet another CA dissertation....it's his fault. As far as CA and O.C......where the hell where you in the O.C...? Near Disneyland? Because if that's where you were.....you didn't even see the "real" O.C. Orange County is celebrated for it's world-class symphony and theatre (ever been to any of the South Coast/Costa Mesa playhouses?), dining (in non-chain restaurants even! alas!), and arts (Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts, anyone?) The O.C. has far more culture than most "suburban" enclaves around the country. And you can get some of this culture without having to go into a "city" such as L.A. to the north. Do you know anything about the economy here? Do you know the statistics? This is one of the most economically sound regions in the country right now.....job and industry-wise. "Financial and social collapse?" Get real..... Furthermore, the O.C.'s vibrancy is bolstered by it's neighbor to the north, Los Angeles....which is a pacific-rim city....arguably an favorable economic situation to be in when you consider everything going on globally and in Asia. Economically in the U.S. I'd argue that New York is it's only rival. Los Angeles is 2nd only to New York as a financial center....it leads the country in the fashion and design industry....it is still the (barely) capital of the entertainment industry....2nd largest media market in the country (also behind New York) AND California as a state is the largest and most vibrant agricultural region in the country. And once again....I love how you try to put words into my (and others') mouths....like saying we think CA is "the center of the universe." I never said anything to the sort. But you can't ignore the statistics.....the size and power of the auto market here.....the size of the economy here....the sheer population.... (Of course those economic strengths do give us our negatives......traffic, lots of people, crushing housing costs, illegal immigration.....but many people like me appreciate and enjoy the positives....which far outweigh the negatives.) Plus it's an awesome place to be.....IF you are a car enthusiast.

My proposed route: Delta Airlines....PDX to ATL... LOL Ship the car.....

I couldn't pick an all-time favorite....too many.... ....but a random mention goes to a couple of Buicks I loved......the Electra T-Type and the LeSabre T-Type coupe.......

I'm very disappointed with the mileage I get with my 3.6L in my CTS.......over 21,000 miles, I've averaged between 17-19mpg (with the 6-speed manual) and that's with a mix of around town, rush-hour driving, but a fair amount of steady-state, cruise-controlled 70-80mph. The only time I've ever gotten over 20mpg was on a straight freeway cruise to Phoenix....where I averaged 22-23mpg (but at an admittedly elevated cruise of 80-90mph.)

Then go look at GM's own sister cars......Lucerne vs. DTS. The Cadillac uses much nicer materials over the entire dash. And before you tell me "it's a Cadillac and should have nicer materials" remember that Buicks are supposed to be "premium" products as well.....and should have an interior closer in quality to a Cadillac than an Impala (which the Lucerne shares most of it's interior plastics.) Hell, even a LaCrosse has nicer materials inside it than Lucerne....and with actually alot less hard, cheap plastic.

As good as I have to admit the Spectra was....I still would have a hard time buying one. I'd still get a Cobalt over that.....but that's MY perception problem...I admit it.....I have a problem seeing myself owning a "Korean" car. But I do admit they have come a damn long way......

whatEVER..... DRAMA QUEEN.....

True...it's a GM fansite...and that's why I'm on here too. HOWEVER, I consider myself an automotive enthusiast across the board.....and therefore tend to look at things on a larger scale than just my enthusiasm for all things GM. In NO WAY is Tundra "substandard." You may not like the vehicle....and that's fine. But I tend to think the truck is quite attractive and aggressive....seems to have a robust powertrain....and an interior that is stylish and unique (if not necessarily better than GM's entries.) We'll see how well your "stinker" does at the end of the year. Somehow, I think Toyota's executives will be more than satisfied......

Yes the Lucerne and Impala LOOK like hard plastic. The dash materials beneath the woodgrain trim are shiny with a glossy texture that screams "cheap." It's been my major bitch with the quality of the interior in both cars since they came out. GM simply uses inferior materials. And yes, I've been inside a new Malibu.....(up on the stand at the Detroit Auto Show) and the materials are less-than-favorable compared to the competition.

Hmmmm......let's all look at what happened to the midsize market today compared to, oh say, 30 years ago? Who would have ever thought that Toyota and Honda would RULE the midsize sedan segment? I'm not saying Toyota is going to magically outsell Silverado or F-150.....but all of you taking the Tundra TODAY with a grain of salt are making a big mistake....remember Toyota's business plan never counted on outselling Silverado and F-150..... Furthermore....Plane....your "comments" about the Tundra speak of bias and bashing.....

Most of the late-model domestic cars that I see here are rentals. Can't remember the last time I saw a "retail" LaCrosse, Impala, G6, etc. In fact, seems the Impala SS is the new queen of the rental fleets....I've seen a ton of them recently....all with bar-code stickers in the window. Go to any GM dealership in this state.....you see fleets of trucks and SUVs in the lots....along with plenty of pre-owned inventory. Where are the new cars?

....the Koreans are building damn good cars now. The last Kia Spectra rental I had was much more nicely-executed than any Cobalt rental I've been in. The new Veracruz, while I wouldn't buy one over a Lambda, is quite a nicely-done product and certainly more-than competitive...... Sonata is superior to the current Malibu.....and the new Malibu will only just match it or barely surpass it.....

I see more Tundras than new GMT-900 pickups too......strangely enough....considering how many more a full year Chevy should be selling compared to Toyota.

GM's market share in CA is like in the low-teens...... Aside from trucks, about all they sell are rentals/fleets here. The main problem is perception......very few people out here want to be seen driving a "domestic" as they call them......(somehow pickups and SUVs get some sort of pass though....) Strangely...driving a "domestic" has fallen even behind driving a "Korean" in this state.....

Oh, okay....

For sure in the October issue of Automobile (the one that JUST came out.) GAWD...it's a nice-looking ad....and the car looks good pictured in it. It's a "pseudo-interview" with John Heinricy, GM Performance Division "Executive." In fact, here's some more stupid comments by John...... "What kind of statement does the LaCrosse Super make?" and John says..."Under the skin, it's got a little muscle." WTF...."a little muscle?" It's got friggin 300hp...! Also, when asked what to expect when one gets inside the Super? He says...."Refined performance. Don't expect a race car." I kinda understand that it's not a "race car" but his comments seem like damning the Super with faint praise! He'd be better off trying to position the Super as a modern interpretation maybe of the GN....saying it's a premium luxury car with a mean streak.....or something like that.... Awful ad......

The 3.6L is a fine engine....and should serve Malibu well. BUT.....what GM really should have done is engineer the 300hp DI 3.6L for FWD duty and installed it in the V6 Malibu instead. Why....????? Simple.......leapfrog the competition.....and provide an unexpected competitive advantage. Remember...it's not just good enough to match Accord and Camry.....Chevy needs something akin to a home-run out-of-the-ballpark. A new midsize entry....WITH a class-leading V6 engine that matches competition from segments several notches up.....would be an exciting story to tell.....and add some real "street-cred" to a "mainstream" midsize entry.

Also....which truck is the $8K on...? Is it the hard-to-sell regular cab? Perhaps it's on a "loss-leader" to get people into the showroom? An "ad" truck?

I don't know if ur referring to me as "Mr. Cryptic" but let me assure you I'm not "counting on the failure of a few products".....just pointing out the realities of the marketplace....something GM has been reluctant to do..... I believe, if you review my Enclave post, you'll see quite a gushing review from me on that product.......

Probably a safe assumption. However, I DO think that GM did a good job with the exterior styling....I find the new Malibu QUITE attractive. I also think the basic underpinnings/chassis/suspension will be very competitive in the marketplace. And FINALLY, GM is putting a just-about fully up-to-date selection of powertrains in the car (minus the base 4-speed automatic.) It may lack a few features (Navigation) but overall content and pricing should be good too. It's the interior details I think that will sway many people to stay in their Accords and Camrys, et al. Domestic buyers most likely won't mind the interior at all.....but it's the imports right now that are leading and defining this segment. And that's a problem for the new Malibu.

Okay.....most of you know I'm not a W-body fan.....but I've said repeatedly that I think the styling upgrades on the '08 LaCrosse Super are quite attractive and would most likely make it the GM model I'd buy if locked into one of the three W-bodies.... Have any of you seen the print ad in this month's magazines? It talks all about the new Super....the styling changes.....the chassis improvements.....and even hints that it might be "quicker than a Grand National" (which it's not....Impala SS went 0-60 in 5.7 secs compared to contemporary GN road tests of the times that had the GN just under 5.0sec 0-60.) But NO WHERE in the entire ad does it mention that the Super has a V8.....or that it has over 300hp....in fact, no mention of what the powertrain is.....AT ALL.... Now.....WHY would Buick put out an ad like that? It's the V8 that MAKES the Super.....

I agree....and almost $49K is WAY too much for this car. Overpriced I'm afraid....... My '07 loaded Sport ($42K) payment is $643/month....with no money out-of-pocket.....and IMPORTANTLY I've got 20,000 miles per year on my lease which hikes the payment quite a bit (I drive the car for work and put lots of miles on it.)