hyperv6

Wow a Bonnilac. Loks good.

I would avoid the Sport Model on the Bu as it is really not a major factor in this class. Now a Cruze with a 2.0 Turbo package and F5 suspension would be a better option. Can't say too much yet on the new Bu overal yet as I have yet to be in one that was not an Eco yet. The common things I would have liked are to have retained the rear seat room as it was class leading. I also would have refreshed the nose with the new Chevy nose. It looks too much like a Cruze and dates the new styling.

The one exception I like over the short stepside is the GMC model that had the Cameo bed on it. Someone here when I was growing up had a red one with all the chorme etc. The restored it and sold it about 5 years later. The real problem is for the cost of restoring one anymore like this it is almost cheaper in the long run to buy one already restored. Even with doing the work yourself the problem of getting parts is so expensive unless they have been reproduced. Even then they are not cheap. While these are worth some money the cost often out weigh the value. With the rust here it may be an issues unless you can find a doaner cab and bed from the SW.

We have a Chevy for sale just like this one near my home. I almost stopped to see how much but I would be too tempted and my wife would not be happy.

The issue is a car like this is not a Lambo or a tuner car where people will put up with hitting their head on the door sill or scrapping the front air dam on every driveway approach. This car has to live with real people on their every day drive as this is not some kind of weekend play car. Show cars are neat and cool but in the real world they would generally flop if people had to put up with a lot of crap just to drive it. Good example is the SSR. While it was cool it had many ergo issues and if it were not so much a specialty car it would have had issues. Just imagine if you had to open the door every time you wanted to adjust the seats etc. I think prople would grow tired soon on that. In this car they need better good head room and while the larger wheels look cool the extra 2-5 miles on a charge would hold more appeal to people who would be interested in this car. GM is creating a segment here with a 2 door electric luxury car and it will be interesting to see how they play it out. This is not going to just be a Volt 2 door. I just hope they pop some more powerful motors in it and a 2.5 engine. Cadillac needs to save the fun show car tricks for a real sports car that is limited production and has a real gas performance engine in it.

Here is the new Ford Falcon Supercar getting a shake down. http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/08/fpr-debuts-falcon-car-of-the-future-for-v8-supercar-series/ There will be a Altima V8 testing soon as Nissan will return to the series.

If not here it will be in Europe. We watch too much Top Gear here and think everyone in Europe is like Carkson and Richard. The fact is money is tight and gas and diesel is high priced there MPG are getting to be more important than HP.

See that is what you have it wrong as it is not going to be an ATS since Cadillac already has one. This is a car that will compete in the new class luxry cars car use less gas or in this case very little gas. All Luxury MFG will have them in the future. Also it would be a mistake to think of this car as nothing as a rebadged Volt as it will have things the Volt did not ger. #1 expect a more advanced driveline with improvments the Volt has not seen. #2 Also expect styling not offered on the Volt. #3 expect Luxury level of options the Volt does not offer. Cadillac is going for a well balanced approch to car where not everything they offer will be a sports V series sedan. The key to this car is to establish a base market and grow it as they are doing with the Volt. Electric cars are not going to dominate the market over night or even in 10 years. But if GM sits and does nothing they will have nothing as the other makers continue to grow their segments. My hope is they do not come out and make overly high sales goals like they did with the Volt. From now on GM should work at selling the car and not make any public claims as it is a now win claim for them since this will continue to be a low volume segment for a while longer. The 10,000 volts sold this year to me is a good start and it will continue to grow. At this point you statments show little insight as you are condemeing a car you really have little clue about. Once the car is here and you want to hate it fine but at least know what you are hating. There were those who condemed the idea of Cadillac building a small Turbo 4 cylinder car and today many experts feel it is the best Cadillac they have built in decades. It is not so much what you know but what you don't know that comes back and bites you in the ass. At GM today there is a lot most of us don't know since they are very quiet about any info anymore till about 12 months out.

I see another case of Premature Prediction. Are you going to complain about the 70% complete interior too. A smart observer would at least let them finish the car and look at the finished product before passing judgment to be fair.

the only thing I wish they would not do here is set any kind of sales expectations. They keep making crazy numbers for the Volt and when it fails to meet them people think it has failes when the car was never expected to meet high numbers out of the gate by those who built it. Let it sell and let the numbers fall where they may and keep working to lower cost and raise the range. The goal was just to create the segment and improve it from there.

I would not get too excited yet. I see most of the major body lines are still there. The major changes are the addition of mirrors, the lower part of the grill has changed a little but they are still doing hot weather testing so it will remain in flux. Also the car will not be show car low and the wheels will lose an inch or two. Real world and show cars have two realities and they have different goals. I do see the windows are pretty much the same the hard body line from the rear tail light forward is in tact and the over all shape is similar. They may have had to add a inch of head room so someone over 5 foot 4 can get in with out hitting their head. I just wish they could give it some real performance but I expect it may just have a little more than the Volt. I do expect that this will have the improved motors and electronics the Volt has not yet gotten. I would think of this car as being a Volt drive line 2.0.

NASCAR is just a rolling billboard for selling product the RWD and FWD name is not a big deal as they know they are not fooling anyone and if they are the fan deserves it. Most Series that are FWD are either not here or entry level racing. I have seen the FWD in Grand Am, Hell I remember the Champion Spark Plug challange cars from the IMSA series 30 years ago. NASCAR next year will have a Stickered RWD SS so GM will live up to what some expect I guess. The Nationwise Series has all RWD models but they only look real from the front. While I don't like the cars styling I understand it is entertainment and marketing. The races can be much more fun to watch than the follow the leader of other series. I just wish they would run more road race tracks as these cars put on a good show there as they have little down force and it shows who really can drive. I wish they would do like ARCA and put in a dirt race too. I would like to see them make these guys show they have more than one skill. They used to do it before and I think if they want to fill the stands they should do it again. I am just sad with the NHRA and how they are handling things. THey have killed the 1/4 mile and the cars are expensive jokes. If it were not for John Force and Schumacker they would be in a world of hurt. Our new Camaros are more pro mod vs pro stock now and I find it sad. I would like to see them go back to the bodies in white in pro stock. Also Read the interview with Garlits in Hot Rod and how he would fix Top Fuel. Put it back into the drivers hands not the guy tuning the engine or clutch. The thing the Supercar series has for it is the drivers are still in charge. They have few aids and on a road race track it is up to them more than the car. The driver can be the difference of 1-2 second.

True, but they still do look like real cars...real, RWD cars..not FWD appliances. Where are the cars that look like a FWD? NASCAR does not even come close to that unless you count stickers a grill and tail lights. The only thing I have seen of late that is remotely close to stock in any major pro racing are the Grand Am Continental series. I got to spend a race weekend with the Sunoco Camaro team 2 years ago and I was shocked just how stock these cars really were. But if the MFG put money into this series more so than they have it will go by the way side too. Money and compitition kill nearly every racing series there is.

Sorry racing is a buisness and not an art form. If you want pure racing go to a Amature SCCA The Supercars were to the point they are not as stock as some would like to believe they are.

Yep thanks for the info. I had wondered if they would take parts of the Zeta for the Omega or would have started a new plaform and replaced the Zeta with it as the flagship had to have something to share with. Time wise was hard to judge as so many of GM cars right now have had work started and stopped work so many times that we do not know about it is hard to judge the development times. As for the racing it may be off the table as the Austrailan series was working on their new racing car and it will be much more like a NASCAR Cup Car. They are expecting that Ford could go to FWD and if GM ever does they would have to change the race cars to keep both MFG in the series. Also they want to attract many of the other brands in OZ into the series. If the don't adapt the series will end up with only one make and so their after die. So no matter what kind of car some of the MFGs may come up with they may still be able to race them since they will all use a standard tube chassis package under a semi fabed body. Even todays series cars are getting farther and farther away from stock to keep everyone compeititve.

Because GM does not talk publically about future plans 5 years out anymore. Reporters are left to work with what they can find out. To say the least I think few are suprised with the limited future life of the Zeta as it should not become the new W body. Lets face it GM can afford to do better now and no longer just have to make due with what they have. The ATS is a good example of that.

Also as I stated a while back Holden will be Chevy and Chevy will be Holden. The greatest difference will be the Lion in the grill and the wheel on the right. Like I said this may answer a lot of questions on why we are not seein a high volume SS and related models right now. I get the feeling Oshawa will be busy with RWD models on new platforms. This also falls into to line with the Alpha Camaro time line.

This could be why we are not seeing a Ute and anything other than the SS short term. The Alpha could be used for several more cars including the replacment of the Zeta. Also we have an Omega that so far is only listed for the LTS. We all know GM will use some form of it for something else.

GM is on a weight loss program now but it will not show in most platforms till they are replaced or models are moved down. The Alpha show what GM is doing and the Trucks should show some major loses. The Nox and Terrain will move to the Delta II and see a great loss of weight from the present 4100 pounds. It takes a lot work to cut weight in a major amount of pounds It also takes time and money to do a new plaform. By 2020 we should see a lot of weight cut by then but there will still be more work ahead. Look for little weight to be down even on the C7 just with the narrowing of the car.

I just saw something about that GM may be going back to the 3 valve idea for the new V8 in some applications. It would use the 1 push rod idea for two valves like they looked at for the LS at one time. Not sure if there is anything to it but might be something to watch for.

Mark Reuss was tweeting GMI after that storty came out mreuss: @GMdudeinNA @GMInsideNews @nsap "new lows in headlines from some rumor stated as fact. Unbelievable. Lazy, silly, and sad. Bottom barrel." mreuss:‏ @GMdudeinNA @GMInsideNews: "GM Cancels Next Generation Hybrid Trucks, SUVs http://bit.ly/Q7oRgy #GMChat” @nsap new heights of irresponsible reporting." I had a feeling something was up. I just assumed GM may have had something new coming and someone only reporting what they knew. It is true few people buy them and that is why I think we will see more and more this kind of thing becoming standard. If you convince they they need it then you force them to take it.

God no... all of that weight in the nose would screw up the balance of one of the best balanced FWD vehicles available. If you want over 300hp, the 2.0 Ecotec turbo can already offer that, GM certified. But then the Regal has the same engine as a $50k Cadillac XTS. What GM has created by making Cadillac a V6 brand, is that Buick becomes a 4-cylinder brand. Wouldn't surprise me if even the Lacrosse loses the V6 in favor of a turbo four on the next redesign. I have a feeling GM is going to put eAssist on everything and just make people buy it. Cruze will get it, Equinox, Enclave, CTS, etc. GM's 2011 CAFE number was 32 mpg for cars and 23 mpg for light trucks. By 2025 they need to get to 54 mpg, get ready for a lot of eAssist fours, and no V8s. You're kind of close. eAssist will be available in every Buick eventually. I would much rather have a V6 than a Turbo 4 anyday. I used to think that way but I have learned better. I have had two 3800 SC engines and now have a 3.0 HV and one 3.6 HV and I would not take any of them over the 2.0 Turbo I drive daily. To be honest I would take the 2.0 Turbo over a couple of the V8 engines I have had in the past. I thought when I bought my LNF I was making a misatake I may regret but today I only hope they continue to put this engine in more vehicles including more rew cars. Either way there is no way companies will make the MPG of the coming regs unless customers change their buying habits. Since there will be no large wave to the electric cars and diesels they will be putting these hybrid systems on to get as much as they can from the cars till they can removed more weight. This is not about being green this is about increaseing MPG in cars that are still too heavy.

To get to the higher levels of MPG they will have many things like this creeping into our cars in the next 10 years. Though they did drop the hybrid from the new coming truck line. It makes me think they have something new coming.

Here is the latest update. We took our first road trips to Cleveland and Dayton to the Air Force Museum. On both trips we averaged 67 MPH and got 25 MPG higway. Most of the time on the road I was between 70-80 MPH and it averaged out on the DIC as 67 at heach fill up. It was a comfortable ride and the AC was cold as Dayton was 97 Degrees that day. So far since new we have only had to change the oil once as I did it just a little early. The V6 holds 6 quarts and GMC is recomending a new filter on this years engine that has a little more filtering capacity. It is recomened for retro fits. I could only find the fitler at the dealer or order it in at work. As of yet no defects or issues. I can see the chrome over the grill will be an issue in the future. It is already showing a few dings. I may buy a new one once it get bad and have the 3M film put on it. I love the new wheels with the plastic inserts. The 19 inch wheels look great and no expected quality issues on the chrome like I had on the GTP. The plastic believe it or not is more expensive but it will keep the wheel like new longer. I am generally lucky that I keep my cars longer than most but they are always in top condition so I seldom have to buy a car. I normally plan to change them when they are getting to the point where I may not get much out of them or anything lower than $7000. The GTP had me worried but I still got what I wanted even after getting my price on the Terrain. The 3.0 is a good engine but the 3.6 will be even better. To me it was not worth the wait because the wife wanted Mocha Steel and 2012 was the last year. The new color is a little more darker and she did not like it. Also I got the cheap deal on the V6 last spring so it saved me money. I have looked at the Denali and I just don't see the value there in the Terrain Denali. The extra cost is just not worth it. The SLT2 is priced at the limit of what I would pay for a SUV this size. I hated the styling on the Terrain when they came out and it really grew on me. To me it is very truck like compared to many in it's class. Washing it is has a lot of things that remind me of a H3 like the squared off fender etc. Intelilink is great and the wife loves it. It is easy to use and very friendly. I am looking forward to the updated GM will send out. It works great with our I phones. The only real issue with it is that it always links to the wrong phone for the one I want or it links to my sons I touch. I generally find out I have the wrong one when I am driving down the road and I have to stop and put it in park to select the one I want. What does amaze me is on the Theta foru, how many people have purchased the Nox and Terrain and think they have Mytouch or Intelilink. They get on the forum and ask how can they tell if they have it? How could one buy a car and not check to see it has everything you want?

These two cars are old GM. GM has only finished a Malibu started before the Chapter 11 and the Buick was a model planned before the Chapter 11. At this point Buick is in a squeeze between Cadillac and Chevy and has yet to really step out to be their own model. One only has to look at the many new Cadillacs coming to know where most of the first money went leading off with the ATS. Chevy will also see more changes soon but till Cadillac moves up in image and price Buick is kind of stuck. The Verano is the new base stone followed by the Encore and at some point the Regal and Lacrosse will be replaces with higher value and better models vs what they are today. As it is Buick has taken on the inage of a fancier more expensive Chevy just as Pontiac did. I would not rush to judgment on Buick yet as they really have yet to lay out their plans. The sad fact is things like E assist will be added to most cars to bump MPG like it or not. I for one would like the option to choose if I want it or not.