Drew Dowdell

just because technology has been surpassed, doesn't mean it failed. OnStar, in it's day, was the best you could get and was also widely adopted. It is also shortsighted of you to think that Onstar is only for directions. Onboard diagnostics, airbag notification, Concierge services, roadside assistance, can your TomTom do that? XM was thought up by Delphi... owned by GM.... initially deployed in GM Vehicles. Just because the market has since moved on from plastic body panels, doesn't mean they weren't a success. Saturn didn't get their high loyalty rating on the dealership experience alone. There are many people who, once they bought a Saturn, only wanted another Saturn because of the plastic panels. Magnetic Ride control is an expensive system. Just because it's not cheap doesn't mean it's not a success. Is the Northstar not a success since it's never been in a vehicle less than $30,000?

droopy Sonata butt.... otherwise... decent looking.

Cadillac never played in the 3-series market except for the laughable Cimmaron. Cadillac never played in "entry sport lux" before because it didn't exist before being created by BMW and Audi. Taking the Cimmaron out of the picture, in 1980 Cadillac's smallest vehicle was the Eldorado. 1990, The smallest vehicle Cadillac made was again the Eldorado <not counting the overpriced Allante'>. In 2000 the smallest Cadillac was the Catera, a car geared more toward the C and E Class than the 3-series. So yeah, Cadillac came from not having an entry in the market to having a car with 50% of the sales of the segment leader AND developing a good reputation at the same time. Wouldn't it be amazing for BMW to come out in 2008 with a full sized luxury truck to compete with the Escalade but in only one bodystyle? Wouldn't BMW lovers be tap dancing if it had a sales rate 50% of all 3 body styles of Escalade?

Her definately..... You got both Saturns recently, let her have a turn.

Wait a sec... I though I read somewhere that the old Caprice 9C1 could do 0-60 in 8.0 seconds, it's been 10 years and Ford still hasn't caught up?

fixed

What development money?

Astra really seems to be the natural successor to a Protege' or Mazda3 hatch.

We're just saying that we don't expect the CTS to outsell the 3-series, <leader in it's segment for what, 15 years now?>, but it's still doing very well considering that it's just one body style and one drive configuration compared to BMW's 8 possible combinations. Nissan doesn't expect the Titan to outsell the Silverado either, however if Nissan sold half as many Titans in only one configuration as Chevy sells Silverados in 5, I'm sure Nissan would be shouting from the rooftops and Ghosen would be hailed as a saint. Think about it for a second. To come in with no entry at all to challenge the 15 year leader of the segment and suddenly win sales that are around 50% of the 15 year leader..... that is a major win for ANY company.

CTS-D in about 15 months time.

Tell her to wait a month and get an Astra?

Uh.... this would assume that people are smart. There is this relatively new technology out there that does exactly that. Costs about $1,000 more but offers a lifetime of fuel savings far greater than it's cost. No batteries, no fancy transmissions..... it's called Diesel.... but it's only been around about 100 years or so....

I suggest you ask your doctor for Wellbutrin. It's the same exact drug as Zyban but is usually cheaper simply because drug companies are ruthless sharks.

Worldwide the 3-series is used as a taxi cab in 2 liter diesel, cloth seat, hand crank window form. In the US market, the 3 series is sold as a sedan, couple, convertible, and wagon and is available in AWD. The CTS offers only a sedan and for the first time this year offers AWD. I think the proper way to say what you're trying to say is "The 3-series sells in 4 different versions with AWD available, yet only outsells the CTS 2-1" As for getting 20 year import buying women out of their RXes and MDXes.... well, I suppose Cadillac could ask Buick for advice on how do it since that's what Buick is doing with the Enclave.

Onstar Magnetic Ride Control <still the only?> XM Radio <under Delphi> XM Traffic Nav <tied with Acura> Hydroforming Plastic body panels EV-1 <though you may not consider it successful or recent, customers who had them tried to prevent GM from taking them back> technological experience from this will end up in the Volt.

January is the next trip. And I've admired the current Astra since I first saw it. But fear not, my loathing for BMW still runs strong. when I do go back, the only thing I won't leave behind is my love for American cars. About 6 months after I move, I plan to pick up a CTS-D for my touring needs

The solution for the battery heat problem is ridiculously simple, I'm surprised it even took GM longer than 15 minutes to figure it out. The original Prius had vents in it's rear fenders to cool it's batteries. Why is it inconceivable that the Volt would require some sort of cooling mechanism also.

You want game changing product? Direct injection engines Roadsters that out-style anything in their class... and even some in the class above it <I hate the noses on the Z4 and SLK> '08 CTS <though the '03 CTS was a game changer too> 2-mode hybrid 6-speed front, rear and all wheel drive transmissions..... that actually use all their gears... unlike Camry, Accord, Odyssey, or TL 20mpg in a full size SUV More E85 vehicles than anyone else Saturn Astra Lambdas Saturn Vue Aura and Malibu that realistically give the CamCord a run for it's money... when was the last time there was even room for serious debate on that point? Aveo <when is the last time GM had a top seller in anything below a midsizer?> and that's just now.... we still have coming... HCCI Engines Volt the new passenger car diesel Blue-Devil Zetas T-E platform Alpha Epsilon II

If diesel trucks were so good, Toyota would have one...... right?

Entry level luxury - Then and Now

like I said.... railroad locomotive setup + a battery.....

PC Liquid cooling system, $170

Probably something like

38 tonight.... which reminds me, I need to change out the furnace filters.

Long story: My 1985 Continental was on fire....twice. The first time I was driving along Route 422 about an hour north of Pittsburgh doing about 65mph when all of the sudden I lose all power. I coast as far as I can and come to a stop along side the road. Smoke is pour out from under the car. I get out and look under. My catalytic converters are on fire. A state trouper pulls up just in time and puts the fire out. I have it towed to a Ford dealer. After two days to diagnose, they figure out it's a circuit board attached to the distributer that went bad. Distributer shut down and the engine fed raw fuel into the cats and they caught fire. $522 to fix. I ask for a detailed estimate to see what's on it. Parts...yada yada labor... yada yada then the best part.... $100 to remove my spark plugs, clean them, and reinstall the same plugs. He insisted the plugs would be fouled out. Keep in mind that this isn't the transverse mounted, FWD Continental.... this is the longitudinal mounted V8 with spark plugs so easy to find your grandmother could to a plug and wire job. Dealers will rip you for anything they can. Never did change <or clean> those plugs..... the second time it was on fire was terminal... the wiring harness shorted out and melted.