Drew Dowdell

I've never understood the love for the G-bodies the W-bodies replaced. Sure there were the Buick GNs and the Hurst Olds, but 97% of the G-bodies sold were "your father's Oldsmobile". I'll admit to a certain love for the final RWD Cutlass coupes... and though I'd never own one, I do admire and respect the GNX... but for the most part these were soft handling, floaty, solid rear axle cars. A 1995 DOHC Cutlass Supreme Coupe would completely pwn a 1985 Cutlass Coupe. A 2007 Monte Carlo SS would wipe the floor with an SS from the 80s. The only G-body that would beat it's modern successor <in a straight line> would be the GNX, and with Lacrosse Super coming, that point might even be debatable. Yeah, the W-bodies are dated.... but going back to the G-bodies, I think some of you have selective memories.......

I'll add, This was the closest any W-body came to seriously challenging the Accord or Camry. Unfortunately had the 3800 at the start, but the 3.5 "shortstar" certainly made up for any perceived deficiency later. Interior was conservative but tasteful...nothing any Camry owner would get upset about. Marketed terribly, but still one of the best and most competitive mid-sizers that GM has built even to this day. Only the Aura has matched it in my opinion. While not exactly a sales failure, it never did as well as GM hoped. Towards the end they were selling for Civic money. Though it shares it's platform with the Pontiac Grand Am, somehow quality seemed higher. To this date <pre-08 CTS> still one of the best efforts from GM in the entry-lux market. More on the softer side of the luxury spectrum this Oldsmobile was direct competition for the ES300 and Infinity I30. This particular model hurts GM in a strange way. While I like the looks of the Lucerne, I prefer the Aurora and even feel that the Aurora's interior was of better design and quality. It should be telling that the base V6 in the Aurora from 2001 still manages to out class the base V6 from a 2006 Lucerne. Again, to this date, still one of the best interiors GM has produced, only to be eclipsed recently by the SRX interior MCE.

Yeah, but the funny part is Georgia fining the owners of the Prius for it.

GM Adept at Fixing Pension Fund Problems Situation 1. GM's pension surplus increased by $9.6B in 2006 2. Went from $17.8B underfunded in 2002 to $17.1B overfunded in 2006 Significant Points 1. GM put $18.5B--mostly raised in bond issue--into pension funds in 2003 2. Got above-market returns on new money in strong investment market 3. GM locking in gains w/ switch to less volatile investment targets 4. Using surplus indirectly to help buy time for turnaround 5. Pension funds absorbed some costs from 34K early retirements in 2006 6. Will use more of surplus to pick up part of Delphi pension obligations

Prius can't pass Georgia emissions test Eco-conscious drivers in Georgia are finding out that the grass isn't necessarily greener on their side of the fence. 2007 is the first year drivers of the 2004 Prius are required to get their cars tested for emissions. You'd think the clean-running hybrid would have no problems breezing through the exam. But, as CNN reports, no matter how many times Georgia drivers try to test one, they all fail. Huh? Well, sorta. It's more like the Prius refuses to take the test. When the Prius is set to idle at 2,500 rpm on the tester, it does what it's supposed to do. It shuts off the engine to save fuel. Georgia's pre-hybrid equipment issues a failing grade because of an incomplete test. Instead of just acknowledging its system is outdated, Georgia still requires Prius owners to pay the $25 testing fee for an "aborted test." That allows them to get a failed certificate from the tester which car owners must take to one of five waiver centers (M-F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) to be granted permission to buy a license plate. Don't ya love bureaucracy? As one man in the CNN video says, "They say no good deed goes unpunished." Ain't that the truth. :lol:

Sadly, the 1999 Intrigue out classes a 2005 GP in terms of interior and refinement.

You need to wear camo to go fishing!?!?! :blink:

That's gotta be an Isuzu! That stupid pull parking brake just screams Isuzu!

The W-bodies are not and never have been "bad". They are just now out of date and out of style. For the good of GM, GM needs to move on.

The reward for Buick Rendezvous drivers buying an Enclave is the Enclave itself.....

because I'd tow it behind the Avalanche.....

tease

Put more of them on the road at the start to gain visibility.....?

He'll be able to slip out under the front overhang of any of those cars though.... :AH-HA_wink:

Looks like a 1997 Isuzu Trooper...

well *someone* has to date you..... might was well be her.

I don't hate them.... but they're dated and outclassed these days.

What's the next oldest car platform after these?

$1,000 on a $32,000 vehicle < $3,000 on a $22,000 vehicle

Did the 5.3 or 6.0 have VVT before? According to this article.... it's there now in at least one of them

I would have liked to see a smaller amount.... but the idea is to entice soccer moms out of their RX330s and MDXes and into something classier. The Enclave is rather expensive, so $1000 isn't that much as a percentage of MSRP. 4.9% isn't that much of an amazing rate.... I can get 5% at the credit union.

Lambda is traditionally a gay symbol.

My favorite lambda feature. :gay:

There is a simple solution to this .....

yes.... but we love you for it.