enzl

what's sad is that you've missed the point....the Malibu should stand on its own merits--against competitors--to damn it with faint praise is like saying its 'good enough'Good Enough won't get the converts back. It costs the same to design an interesting product as it does a boring one. Why did GM choose boring? It defies logic and brings up an endless amount of questions as to what was going on at RenCen during development... The Malibu, I will readily concede, is an average car. We need better. My Chevy store doesn't even bother to stock a full range of models for our retail customers...that says volumes when we're selling 5,000 cars a year between fleet and retail... Nooone criticized anyone for thinking the car was a decent drive...we were critical of GM for producing something that even GM fans conclude is no better than average...

Toyota's spate of recent recalls have been all over the news and the topic of a number of recent, mainstream press articles... Of course its news worthy when the juggernaut gets dinged! Just as its newsworthy when the world's largest auto producer gas recalls (or Microsoft has issues or someone 'finds' a finger in their Wendy's Chili). So what. Let's root for GM to make worldclass vehicles (and, god forbid, disseminate some constructive criticism) rather than hope the 'contender' suffers a knockdown....

Hard truth is that the Accord and Civic - the first two Hondas that come to mind--are better PRODUCTS than the comparable Chevy models...You can rant and rave about the media elites, the pro-Japanese bias or the price of tea in China, but it all comes down to the fact that these 'better mousetraps' have captured their rightful audience in the marketplace. You wanna drive a Chevy instead?...you can..that's what makes America a beautiful country. Just don't sit there and use the Malibu as evidence that GM's product is equivalent. And as far as the media goes, Honda & Toyota have 20+ years of equity to build off of when being reviewed today....GM has 20+ years of mediocrity to contend with...just as sexual equality, racism & a host of other preconceived notions have taken time to change, the perception of American products will too...just don't expect anyone in the press to have a Pity-Party for GM....the disdain and utter indifference that was displayed in their products for years has finally been exercized...but now they've got to play catch-up. Innovation shouldn't be a dirty word up at the RenCen. ...when's the last time GM came out with a segment busting product or an original idea?...they've followed the Germans into euro-sports sedans, the Japanese into appliance-like quality, Chrysler with minivans and Ford with pony-cars.... I just don't understand how you can expect people to plunk down 20K+ of their hard earned cash in the hopes that GM has finally caught on....it's just against plain common sense to do so....I know we're all fans, but without a compelling USP (unique selling point), GM product is DOA (see Evok's diatribes for USP explanation)

You miss the point....Buick is 'supposed' to be an aspirational product. 9/10 of the vehicles mentioned above don't fall into that category. I recognize that the Century/Regal were competing on the low end with these products..the LaCrosse, as per Bob Lutz- not me, was heading upscale, thus a direct replacement for the Century (or the long dead Skylark) was not intended as the LaCrosse's mission. Deep discounting/Fleet sales have resulted from the completely uninspired LaCrosse---thus, by default, it has again drifted down into Century territory, rather than reaching up into euro-import, low end Lexus territory. I'm not disputing that the pricing is similar, just that the use of those mediocre vehicles as a counterpoint is exactly NOT what Buick or GM wanted....they would have been better served to develop another, more formal Epsilon than dragging this half-assed update into Buick's attempted revival.

If Buick is to regain its luster, 90% of the vehicles mentioned above shouldn't even be mentioned as competitors. To defend the LaCrosse by stating that its better than a Amati or Galant only makes the point that the mighty have fallen.Buick/Pontiac need such a desperately rethought direction. I can only hope the rumors regarding the Zetas are true, cause its getting scary at the local B-P-GMC dealers with the truck market falling into the toilet.

Are you kidding? The only thing I'd concede is that the 300 (in base form) doesn't match the hype....but what vehicle could?It's singlehandedly put Chrysler back on the map....period. See a Chrysler in DUB magazine before the 300? It's a runaway success and a target that every single manufacturer has an eye on. Perhaps you know something more than the execs at Ford, GM, Hyundai, Nissan & DCX. Each one of these manufacturers are trying to find their '300'...mining history and extending brands to get in the mid-priced RWD game. Could anything match the hype? Of course not. It's still a stroke of genius and the whole LX line will be in biz journals and car shows in 20 years. How many other products can you say that about, in any industry?

I'd disagree with that, but just barely...My take: This list is OK, but.... the 3-series isn't overrated, it's owners are...and I can't blame the car itself for that. It's still a premium ride & you pays a premium for that... I didn't know the Durango was rated so highly as to qualify as 'overrated' The RR is unique and, at the extremes, a very functional vehicle. I just don't know too many people who actually need that level of functionality. Cayenne isn't overrated, I think most enthusiasts know its an abomination My list would replace those 4 with: MB CLK....its a C-class hatch with a trunk...for $20k more....that's nucking futs. Toyota Camry...its an appliance. How can a maytag with 4 wheels get so much good press? Mazda RX-8- ask any owner who has become best friends with his local Jiffy Lube BMW 6-series- The ugliest manifestation of Bangle-butt, combined with a sumo-like weight and no real performance advantage over the more useful 5...

True. My parents just picked up an 06 RSX for 20K, all in. That's invoice, folks.Fun car. & come resale, it'll go, just like their Civic or G20, in about 24hrs.

The new 3, coupe or sedan, are so very color/wheel combo dependent that Caddy has a great openning, if the new CTS is all that.

It doesn't stack up too well against anything....except previous Centuries & Regals. This is one of those models that Lutz touched at the last minute. I think his newer work is far superior. This is just not the vehicle you want taking on the Camry, Accord, Passat, Lx's, etc...it has no real place except as a catchall for Century/Regal trade-ins & rental companies. I think Lutz is doing much better now.

....blandmobile.Any one of a number of Japanese nameplates are more attractive & MSRP for far less than a decent spec edition of the LaCrosse... Additionally, when correctly optioned, it touches on Lux nameplate vehicles it can't beat... So I guess that means it's nowhere.

Although this 'interview' may be entirely accurate, I can't give any credit to blind item reporting. The 'Dean' of US autowriters should be able to find a name source and put them on record...

eh....LaCrosse is a rehash...a marginal product, bottom line. Lutz himself has stated that Buick has Lexus in its crosshairs...when you make those pronouncements and fall short, you get reviewers who pick up on your failed boasts. That's commerce in a free country.If the LaCrosse were a Hyundai, we'd be clowning it....just because it has a GM badge doesn't mean its worthy of a passionate defense. GM is currently running 50/50 in terms of overall excellence in its new products. They need to be a whole lot closer to 100% to pull out of their nosedive. Personally, I don't see this as that harsh a review...it could have been alot worse, as I find the styling to be a stately update of a Taurus with Buick cues...not what Buick intended, I'm sure.

Incentive spending is down, avg. transaction price is up. That's good.Momentum seems decent, although from what I know of retail reports in my region, I think a portion of this sale rate is fleet. Still looking for a breakdown.

I could only find the following rumor as to the mix...but Numbers are not verifiable....http://news.google.com/news?q=GM+and+Fleet...i=news&ct=title No context, but it may be a holiday glitch.... Sales are good in a historical context....however. As you've outlined.

I'm always looking, so I've seen a bunch...had one on the lot. Lasted 48 hrs., so somebody must like 'em....Definitely going in the tan Esc. direction....LSD is an interesting point. Gotta look into that....

Congrats!I don't mean to come down on the purchase...its a nice car...and a hit. Exactly what Pontiac needs...I'm looking forward to some seat time in the future. As a dog owner, I love the 4 seat 'vert, regardless....

My limited seat time has been lots of fun. I was a little surprised at the plastics, but, as I'm considering picking up a SportCross at some point, I'm interested to hear recommendations as to year and interior options...I'm thinking tan interior, since the black is like a cave (and I've got a brown and white dog who made the IS look like a lint brush after a brief ride. Also, has anyone got info on the wheel offset and compatibility with other Lexus stock alloys....I'm going to need to mount winter tires 5 mo./yr. and I'd like to get a unique look that's still 'stock'?

You are right...the Euro HB, Verso & Matrix have different roofline heights.....the Euro Hatch and the Matrix will converge more closely in the next product cycle, as the Verso has recently been redesigned (7 pass model available). If you've missed the latest Corolla, rest assured, you haven't missed anything special.

Prefer the term 'agricultural' or just 'ancient'?....drive any import G6 competitor in V6....you'll find an extra gear or two in the automatic powertrains attached to a smooth motor that embarasses the pushrod crap GM is stuffing into these puppies...You can take it personally, or come to realize GM is not putting its best foot forward....there are a number of engines and tranny's in their own stable to vastly improve the offering. THEY have chosen not to offer it to us (or to the mags that give them deservedly mixed press.)

Maybe, just maybe, its the vehicles themselves...Kappas, GMT900's, vette's & other World Class product get good reviews. The rest of the stuff is mediocre...trust me, our flagship franchise is a GM regional powerhouse. The new stuff in our showrooms is marginally better than the stuff we're taking on trade. GM can do it. They just need to do it consistently.

Matrix is not a Euro-Verso...different developments of Corolla floorplan.I would suspect that the next gen will be more similar, but the Matrix/Vibe are currently cheapened versions of Corolla HB's....I should know, I've got a Corolla LE for the weekend and it has the exact same ergonomic problems with its dash/seat/steering wheel relationship as the twins...

The whole article describes an adequate product....a Pontiac Sebring, if you will...there's nothing wrong with that....and since the entire 06 production run is already spoken for, the General's mission has been accomplished here. If their Zeta reviews are similar, then we're in trouble. Otherwise, it's not an enthusiasts' vehicle, although that may be exactly what the market wants anyway. There's nothing wrong with mediocre press, so long as the model is a sell-out...for now.

I was thinking this is a play to get GM's stars: Daewoo & entre into the Chinese market, where I believe the French are weak, the Japanese stigmatized by historical animus & GM China's huge successes recently..... Not a perfect match, but it might make sense...

As someone who's lucky enough to get to drive lots of vehicles for brief periods, I recently had one of the above for 2 weeks and 1000 miles. Pros: Great engine (too bad its' dissappearing), fun slot car feel, everything you touch regularly feels special, who could hate suede??. Cons: Very little interior space, Black hole atmosphere inside, really hard plain black plastic--over the entire interior--- Averaged about 22 MPG in 50.50 city/hwy mix Overall: 8/10