enzl

http://www.kbb.com/kbb/NewCars/PricingReport.aspx$37k w tech package,,,

Correct. Exactly what I meant.You could lease an MDX (old) for the monthly on an RDX. Plus, I just don't think the RDX looks like its a $38k vehicle, nor is a 4 cyl. with or without turbo, a great selling point. Personally, I hate the X3 & all it stands for, but I can lease one for $299/mo. locally. nuff said.

Perhaps in your area sales aren't as good...however, Honda is shuffling its plants in NA to produce more Civics, that's a fact.Ridgeline was projected at 50k/yr. That's about where they will be, give or take a thou.... The RDX, however, looks like its waiting for a lease deal to come down the pike...poorly priced, IMO.

That's from the lease guide...average across Jag lineup.I know we pick up 1 year old jags at auction for more than one-third off MSRP...not too much to imagine a 3 yr. residual being that low...

Not on the S-class...at least 15%. They lost their shirts on the Smarts and the a/b class vehicles. Much like some other companies we know and love, DCX has made money only because of the big machinery they sell.I'd take the Jag in 3 years...40k for that bad boy would be sweet. Jags hold about 38% (IIRC) of their value over the first 3yrs. Residuals are in AutomotiveNews this week. Audi's fall into the same category. Just be sure you have some faactory warranty left and a friend at the service dept. no matter which one of the tested vehicles is purchased 2nd hand.

Have you driven one? I haven't...what was your take? It's gotten decent /good press.

The key component to fleet sales is %....I think Hyundai is putting 1/3 Sonatas to fleet, Toyota is putting 10% of Camry's....Ford has been runnning an entire plant to Fleet (Taurus)...100% isn't a very good figure.Fleet has been used by GM & Ford like DCX uses the sales bank vehicles...many are back being 'remarketed' by the manufacturer in as little as 3 months time.... Toyota cannot get vehicles to stores in a quick enough time frame. (I know, my organization owns a Toyota franchise.) Fleet may be used to maximize production efficiencies, but I don't believe that Toyota needs to do it, whereas the big 2.5 absolutely must.

Note: 'Retail' sales, not overall sales. And they cheated when they claim that Sept 06 to the present is such a vast improvement over 05, as they were in the toilet last year at these times. Numbers can be made to lie or deceive very easily.

I would argue that the Lexus didn't fail, rather, it didn't possess the qualities that C&D looks for in large, sporty sedans. Toyota hasn't cracked the sportscar DNA with any of the Lexus products.That being said, Lexus will still sell every one they import. Personally, I'd wait 3 years, let the Jag depreciate to the $30's and snap one up while it still had factory warranty coverage. Otherwise, these are all overweight, blingmobiles that I wouldn't be caught dead in.

Still isn't great. And its estimated, not EPA certified....http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicles/futu...icles/index.jsp It's going to be tough explaining the mild hybrid v. dual hybrid distinction in a showroom. Lots of people are going to say 'why bother?'

25/36 is what's being reported for the Aura right now! That's why noone was touting projected EPA figures in advance press materials. Not worth the effort, IMO. Better off offering a 2.0/ 6speed 'MPG' edition.

Possibly. It's a certainty that the Zeta will spawn a Buick. From what I have heard, the kind of vehicle is up in the air. Could be a Coupe, could be a hardtop 'vert, or it might be a 4 door sedan. Since you're looking at an 09 intro at the earliest, a decision may not have been made, as the larger Zeta sedans sold in other markets could provide the bones of a 4 door and the 2 door Camaro & GTO are already being developed for an 08 intro as 09's, so a hardtop vert could easily be developed alongside a convertible 2 dr. Zeta for Pontiac or, more likely Chevy.

Awful. The worst of the Altima, Solara and G6 cues all rolled into one. Nissan is treading on thin ice with their designs lately, which have either been too conservative (G35, Altima) or ugly (Versa, Altima Coupe, Sentra).

#4 should be a Zeta derivative and should be timed to be out after the demise of the Ranier and Terraza...

I'm aware its 'The Lounge' & that all topics are up for grabs. I still don't think that ridiculous, ignorant hate belongs on this site....at minimum it makes the rest of us look bad. Thanks for the advice, though. I'll be sure to write anything I please anywhere I want and comment about anything I see fit to. If this a^%hole can write BS about people he neither knows nor understands, I'm sure you can bear with my rants... If you don't like 'em, stay out of my posts, OK. It's a pretty simple concept.

Maybe your problem is that these women are picking up on the fact that you're a homophobic moron and want to either stay away from you or punish your narrow minded ass.Can we please stick to cars here, boys? Whenever there's a tangental thread like this, it truly reveals the level of ignorance some of you are capable of.

My educated guess is based on the fact that the 800's & 900's are highly profitable, yet losses were in the Billions in US operations....the implication being that the losses must be a result of other carlines...I can't imagine that the Delta is as profitable as Sigma, if only because most units of Delta are sold at a steep discount, between the rental, fleet & retail with $thousands on the hood. There can't possibly be more than a $2,500 profit built into the average Delta in the first place, given the fixed costs of manufacturing them....

Hard to agree with any of that....so I'll just address the 'What Bush could have done/could do part of things.':1. Agressively promote US co.'s oversees, through: -better management of the Dollar's Value -creating opportunities for gov't and biz to work together to mutually promote ideas -stop being such a cowboy, worldwide. Part of our inability to sell things to other countries stems from the perception that we're a bunch of greedy, war mongers who won't talk to those that don't agree. 2. Start a conversation with big business about Pension Funding & Healthcare. With the money we've thrown down the drain to fund war and reduce rich people's tax bills, we could have guaranteed the future finances of millions of middle class people that will get burned by the possibilities that they will not get their pension, as promised & some kind of baseline medical care. 3. Pursue a conservation policy of any kind. Get a guy to turn of his lightbulb or, god forbid, ensure our national security with a reduction of dependence on foriegn oil purchased from our enemies! That's just off the cuff....

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/24/holden-...global-exports/ Current story is that the RWD Holden will be rebadged a Pontiac and imported from Australia....the production may be transferred to the States, if demand warrants, although it is more likely that a 2nd Camaro-related derivative will join the Impala as the 3 RWD, NA-sourced Zetas. (GTO, Velite, or a Saturn RWD sedan have all been rumored for Zeta)

Not many vehicles can claim better profitability than the Escalade. I'm certain the Sigma pales in comparison, but that's not necessarily a fair match.I believe that BMW's profitability is generally 8%. I suspect the 5 series is way higher than that....so, again, its tough competition, not necessarily the best comparison. The Sigma must be more profitable than most of GM's car architectures....most of the other car lines are sold at a loss.....

16 inspired. Not a 16 in its concept form. A sedan of STS++ size with a monster V8 (think zo6 with refinement or a supercharged n*) could sell for $75-80....That would be a bad ass ULS....

I've always thought that the Escalade & its variants are the spiritual successors to the big, brash chrome Caddy's of yesterday. To me, going up against the established players isn't the way to go in that class. Jags mistake with the XJ should be avoided. I hope that Caddy is thinking more along the lines of the Sixteen than a bigger STS....I guess we;ll see.

Understood But I still don't get it. Are HD dualies also going to get this type of attention? I'm a bit more jazzed by the confirmation on the new 'bu. Or the Blue Devil. Or the Lambdas...

The 'cuda probably makes more sense, from a development cost perspective, but I wouldn't be surprised if a 4 door coupe made the cut because it would have no natural competition.Should be an interesting few years at DCX. They really are making the Lx's look like exceptions with some of their late rollouts. I've been extremely umimpressed by what I've seen.

According to conversations I've had with an insider, part of the Challenger program includes linking its development to a second product...this may be it. Bear in mind that the Japanese transplants have, generally, maximized the output of their factories by running intervals for related product. For instance, the CRV, Civic and Element can all be built on the same line. By adding newer product (generally with higher sales in years 1 & 2) to the same line, you 'make up' for the lower demand for the other product on that line... In this case, the LY's will be out after the Challenger...but the Challenger has been pegged as a 50K unit max, so another platform mate would be logical. DCX has made it clear that all future products will have to share platforms more extensively, hence the Durango/Aspen, Liberty/Nitro, Wrangler/Trailhawk where you haven't seen these classes sharing platforms before. My boss went to the dealer long lead preview this Summer and indicated that there are a number of wild projects that may bear fruit. I believe the Trailhawk is the first of those previewed vehicles. The Nassau 4 door coupe makes sense as the CLS on MB's development calendar as early as 01.