Drew Dowdell

On of the largest political bloggers out there, Andrew Sullivan, posted this article from Peter Klein: Insinuating that if the domestic 3 were to fall, and they should fall, the transplants could pick up the slack. Yesterday afternoon I wrote a rebuttal to the piece and Andrew Sullivan posted it: Andrew Sullivan's blog gets an average of 200k hits per day. I've written many rebuttals to his posts, but this is the first time he has posted one of mine.

Give me a second to run a query to collect all of SMK's posts..... if the board goes down, that's probably why.

Right now? As good as dead. In the non-enthusiast's eyes, Pontiac has all the brand cache of Hyundai but without the long warranty.

What's more rebel than a 30-something married guy buying a MinicooperS to try and be a kid again? Have you seen the commercial with the two suburban house husband neighbors trying to one up each other with their Mini mods? BMW is about as rebel as a beige Camry. Especially in gayland. Hell, I was a rebel gay for buying a CTS and not a Jetta/Passat/3-series.

I'd send a G8 also..and a G8 ST.. and a Vibe...and a Tahoe. The point is that GM makes great cars of all sizes, for all pocket books, and for all needs.

Malibu Hybrid, Vue Two-Mode, Aura Hybrid, Malibu 4-cylinder LTZ, You always find some way... any way... to bash GM in every post. Pray tell, which European gassers of the Cruze's size get 40mpg? If you have a problem with the lack of diesel choices in the US, take it up with the EPA. Even emissions queen Honda couldn't get their diesel to pass emissions tests for the US.

I think the money going to Citi is a complete sham, however they did just lay off 50,000 people.

Best condition + highest mileage.

If I had one of the new GM vehicles, I'd join the caravan and follow along to DC. edit: Hell, if I had one of the old GM vehicles with 200,000 miles on it, I'd follow along also to disprove the myth that the old stuff was crap.

There is what the brand targets and who actually buys them. Just observe all the bluehairs behind the wheel of Scions...... but there I go again with facts. Scion is just a separate brand to hold Paseos, Echos, and Tercels. I'm not saying that Pontiac couldn't be a "rebel" brand, I'm just saying they haven't been. The rebel brand I'd like them to emulate in marketing style is Mini.

That joined rebels like Olds who had a 250hp 455 Rocket in 1975 or the 250hp 455 Buick

Well. You don't want my opinion then. Pontiac has no essence. It's not a performance division, never has been. Sure it had a few performance cars, but it was primarily a family car division for people who didn't want a Chevy but couldn't afford an Olds. There is nothing rebellious about buying a Pontiac GTO over a Nova SS or Cutlass 442 or Buick Skylark GS just the same as it isn't rebllious to buy a wirespoke wheel, landau roofed Parisianne instead of a Caprice, LeSabre, or Eighty Eight. You will not be branded a trouble maker for driving your mom's old 6000 STE to school. A Sunbird is not a cop magnet. James Dean would have never EVER driven a Fiero. Solstice, maybe, but he could have gotten a better dealership experience over at Saturn for the same car. I see that Pontiac needs a complete reboot. I see Pontiac as a niche brand. 2 platforms, 7 models. FWD, turbo 4, hatch, sedan, and HHR like vehicle and Alpha based coupe, sedan, and convertible 2x2, and roadster. Make them fast, fun, and cheap. Scion but with style and torque.

When I was about 2 1/2, I became fascinated by my grandmother's 1979 Custom Cruiser diesel. I loved the sound it made and it was my job to tell her when the wait to start light went out.

That spy photographer also stated that it was likely a diesel.

I would never buy anything as small as a 3-series. My CTS was the smallest car I have ever owned.

The Mercury Marauder failed because it didn't actually have any performance advantage over a V-6 Accord. Camaro has 2 doors, G8 has 4. That alone will be the decision point for many.

You have to remember that SMK only cares about dollars spent v. acceleration times or vehicle weight or seat positions. He doesn't care if BMW puts out a tricycle that does 0 -60 in 4.8 seconds and has 19 way power seats, he's willing to pay $20,000 more for the tricycle even though the Pontiac does the same thing in 4.9 seconds in a larger, more comfortable package. BMW sells more 3-series than G8s because in Europe they sell 320dis that make a mid level Passat seem like a step up.

GM: Wagoneer leads off with the CTS followed by Tahoe Hybrid, Enclave, Equinox Fuel Cell, Sierra with "Joe the Plumber" decals, Malibu, Camaro, Cobalt XFE, Vibe, Aura Hybrid. Ford: MKS, Mariner Hybrid, Sable, F-150, Focus, New Mustang, Edge, new MKZ, Econoline with "Joe the Plumber" decals, Milan Chrysler: 300c, Journey, Caravan, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Avenger, New Ram with "Joe the Plumber" decals, Challenger

The Enterprise was built for the defense of Earth and the sister planets of the Federation. I fully expected the ship and bridge to change from the original, however, it is still a military vessel.

That's actually an even better idea than I had. I was just thinking a caravan of black 'burbans. How about Wagoneer and pals each drive one of GM's top new vehicles back to DC. Assume an entourage of 10, which Ford/GM/Chrysler vehicles would you recommend to the execs to be driven down to DC?

I still think they all pile into Suburbans and Expeditions (respectively) and drive... slowly... to D.C. with many stops along the way.

And what would your response have been if Cadillac had released a double clutch transmission that needed a recall?

The 1964 GTO was based on your grandmother's Lemans..... why would the 2004 GTO not be a true GTO if it looked like your grandmother's Grand Prix coupe?