Drew Dowdell

Critics will poopoo the lack of a blue and white rondel most of all. Being more beautiful than the LS shouldn't be terribly difficult, that's kinda like being more beautiful than Kathy Bates... big, stern looking, handsome for what she is, but still no Kathrine Zeta Jones. The Park Ave probably won't park itself, but for the most part I could see it competing in technology and comforts while still being less money. If you could buy a 360hp Buick Park Ave with all the goodies except self park and it had this interior for $15k less than an LS, wouldn't you? Only the brand snobs wouldn't.

fixed

Gm = Marine engines, Locomotive engines <woah, honda missed one there>, Electric vehicles <actually release to the public>, flex fuel <honda fields a massive 0 vehicles that can burn E85>, diesel, cylinder deactivation, two types of hybrids, bus engines <Honda missed there too>, hybrid bus engines <no honda>, fuel cell technology, E-flex technology, the first SULEV V6, VVT that make's Honda's Vtec look like a computer controlled rube-goldberg machine but of course you knew that you were refering to hybrids and the article was referring to the variety of fuels used to power the next generation of automobiles. Honda has gasoline engines and gasoline hybrid engines <one style, only available in small cars>, and that's it. They're talking about doing a diesel, but it's not here yet. Making an engine isn't a trick, making a hybrid or alternative fuel engine for the next generation is...and Honda has one of them. GM has 3 types of fuel available, 3 kinds of hybrids <Tall, Grande, Venti> that can be used in anything from a mid-sized family sedan to a full size SUV to a city bus and was doing cylinder deactivation before it was cool. In terms of automotive powertrain variety, GM is way ahead of Honda. That's not to say I don't like Honda's hybrid, I actually greatly enjoy it. The Flexcar I use most is a Civic Hybrid and it does it's best to tempt me from GM every time I drive it.

Is the Northstar going out of production? It's still good for 320hp without direct injection. edit: This does mean no Enclave Super.

I think the Astra will be an unsuspected splash once word gets out. They're only planning on selling 30,000 of them here next year? I'm hoping that can't be right.

Honda, so far, is a one trick pony.

they never were...

Plug in, alcohol burning, hybrids with variable displacement engines. that was easy.

Oh... see, I want Buick to soak up the Buick-type buyers. That's what I picture the LaCrosse II existing for. The ES isn't aspirational to you and I because we know it's just a Camry De Lux. However Regina Realestateagent sees the L on the hood so it's aspirational for her. The RWD Zeta Park Ave should go up against the LS, and the Enclave is already putting the hurt on the RX. The IS, GS, SC and LX are covered by Cadillac.

100 Million? For what? Engine and transmission are both the same. You can't tell me that suspension tuning and different bumpers cost $100 million.

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Is it the name that is bad.... or the car? Odyssey Altima Malibu Tundra all were also-rans, but look at them now.

I'm not putting any timeline on my bet..... I agree with you completely. keep in mind, I work for a company that trades oil, natural gas, and electricity. we're fairly major in the industry.... and I have access to some of the best minds in the biz. most of my speculations are coming from the traders.

I'm not predicting the fall of big oil. I'm not even predicting a decline in prices yet, but we're already in an unsustainable position. A good 20% of the current price is just inflationary speculation at this point. There is going to be a point where one or two major oil producing countries are just going to say "screw it" and open up the taps while the money is great. Once that happens many of the other oil producers will start cheating as well. My bets are on Russia.

waaaay over speculated. yeah the costs are high, but it's turning into a situation similar to the housing market.

nope. no way. it will be a niche product at best..... which is unfortunate.

Tell people you have a Seville, Eldorado, Deville, Escalade, Continental, Town Car, Navigator.... people know you're driving a luxury car. And I disagree about the name Cutlass, I owned a convertible. When discussing my car people would say "They made a convertible one of those? I bet that was a sweet ride. My mom had a Cutlass years ago... she drove it till 200k miles then traded it in on a Toyota" These days, tell someone you drive a 300.... Is that the new Ford that took over for the Taurus? Or that new Bentley looking thing from Chrysler... No I think it's a Mercedes. Could be a Lexus.... maybe BMW... no those all end with "i". I don't think you're giving enough credit to the names of yore..... then again, neither do the car companies.

Well.... now this has become a thread that I really need to stay out of.

Maybe GM could sell them the Atlas design once the Trailblazer dies.

I say who cares what it makes you in the eyes of others. Do what is right in your heart as long as it's legal.

How many people do you think remember the name of the mid-sized entry from Buick, Olds, or Pontiac in 1989? How many people do you think remember the name of the mid-sized entry from Lexus, Mercedes, or Infiniti in 1989?

For those of you who can't remember why 2007 was soooo bad. <video>

tanx..... see what happens when you use alpha-numerics rather than actual names? What do you think Buick should be chasing in this market?

How very KIA of them!