hyperv6

Lets take this from opinion to facts. Can anyone here provide what the present Kappa program cost to bring to market. To be fair you can also factor in the marketing value and added TV and press coverage of this project since that was much of the point of the program. Can anyone project what a RWD expandable platform would have cost and how much more profitable it could have been. [i know it would only be an estimate but keep it realistic] Can anyone give the odds of such a program being approved and how long would it have taken to bring to market. If it was started at the same time when would the cars have come to market? Could GM have afforded this program and doing the new Trucks and SUV programs at the same time? All this while tring to keep Zeta alive? Can anyone give an estimate of how much over 5-6 years it will cost to improve the present Kappa to keep sales up. New engines,wheels, colors, new options, special editions, etc. Will it be as cheap to maintain like the Miata? I am staying neutral and not taking sides on this one. I just want to see if either side can provide numbers to take the point on this one over opinion. At this point whats done is done but it would be interesting to see and compare realisitc estimated numbers for each of the programs. Also, as I have said keep it real so we don't have arguments over the numbers too. Not saying that would happen around here.

Auto week had a short story on it. They seemed to like it over all but were not pleased with the steering feel. They said they could not feel what the front tires were doing. Minor personel pic on their part. Over all they loved the car and the improved ride.

The 2.0 is doing 550 HP @ 7800 rpm est. 450 lb-ft @ 6800 rpm est. Should be fun!!!

Product development is the key to the future. If you do not continue to build for the future all the deals you make with the UAW and others to cust cost will be wasted. Goodyear tire is digging themselves out of a hole with many new products over the last 2 years. Profits are up and they are well on the way to recovery and paying down their debt. The Assurance line of tires are making them a lot of money and profit.

Advertising like this could help change the public image of quality for the better. Too many people don't understand a GM car or any other American car can go that far or long. The truth is they can run this long and many Toyota's and Honda's don't make it this long. This is what can change GM"s precieved quality with the non automotive types.

You know the old Caprice 77 and up was a good car that many saw over 200,000 miles. Then the 88-90's W cars with many 150,000-250,000 miles My buddies GP just hit the 250K mark oon the original engine and tranny. But one of the most underated cars of all time is the Berreta. They may have not been perfect but they alway started and would last for years. There are many still on the road here in the rust belt well past the last year of production. Funny how you just don't see many old Honda's here still on the road.

Just caught Wind Tunnel tonight. Robin Millers [indianapolis Star] was on with his scoop that the word going around the pit areas in IRL and NASCAR have Roger possibly going to lead GM. Miller said he is following up on this and will report more later. He said he needed to shake out more info on it this week from team members in both series. I know this one comes up every few months and there is most likley nothing here as usaual, but it is the first time I have heard that race teams are passing the word around on this topic. Hmmm can you imagine a GM leader racing Dodge's, Porsche and Honda. GM could give him some token C6R's as a signing bonus.

As a Happy Comp G owner I love the car but will be the first to state it is not perfect. The one thing I have noted is a few changes make a big differance with this car. I opted for the 04 only 5 spoke 17" chrome wheels over the 10 spoke. Also I got the larger pace car spoiler over the looks too small standard rear spoiler. Added the SPO stainless exhaust tips to lose the pig snout tips. It changed the personality of the car to a biger degree than I expected. I get a lot of people with complements and questions on what kind of car it is. Many are suprised it is a GP. Many said they never saw one like that before. Some even ask it it is a GTO [i guess they don't count doors?]. Any way I think most of the wheels Pontiac has offered give the GP a Avis look. Better more expensive looking wheels I think would even help a base GT a great deal. It is my wifes car and we bought it because she liked it. I did not even consider a GP but can now say I am glad she got me to look at it. It is a very fun car to drive for FWD. Fix the interior and make it RWD it would be killer. As FWD cars go this one is very good for a family sedan.

I don't think this was posted anywhere but it might be of some interest to some. Z0K is the Club Sport RPO package for the Solstice, MSRP 1,095. Add belts and roll cage and you have a legal SSB SCCA racer. The car with this package will be equipt with a 5 speed tranny, ABS, Limited slip, improved power steering cooler and F3E suspension. F3E combo includes High rate bushings, larger sway bars bushings, endlink bushings and Performance valved shocks. In other words a GXP suspension on a non turbo for an extra 1,095 dollars with an option to buy additional race only parts. Also available are once the Z0K is marked on the sheet. A race only hard top, shoft Hoosier tires, high friction brake pads from Brake technologies of America. More info is available from the SCCA. I wonder if you need to belong to the SCCA to buy the additional parts? Also listed is a off road exhaust from Stainless Works available from Summit Racing that excludes the muffler. It kind of looks like the hard top is not going to be a factory option. The part# is PCS 0664 and is available info you need to contact the SCCA. Could they have pass the crash requirements of the roof for the highway by calling it race only? This and more info is in the June Hot Rod Magazine.

Bottom line a lot of G6 and Aura's will be sold due to increase in showroom traffic because of the Kappa's. Many in past years could not buy a Vette but they bought Chevelles, Impalas and other cars because of the Vette. It is an old trick and it works in the short term. Even the Fiero drew a lot of folks in to buy other Pontiac's in 84-85 before other problems came to be. If it was not for the Fiero helping sell Grand Ams, It could have been Pontiac not Olds taking the bullit. Lets face it the Sky can and will make Saturn cool to own and get folks to look at the cars they might have ignored. Pontiac still needs some new product other than the G6 to make much inroads.

If ypu like NASCAR or not it has done it's job for years to fill the standfs and make close racing. People in the State could care less abut technical items they want good old close racing. I have been a fan for a long tine and started watching in the ABC WIde World Of Sports. [God I hated skating] and watched the races tape delayed and only 15 Min segments. I have not been happy with NASCAR since the 80's and only held on as a Dale Sr fan. The problem is great not just cars made to run alike but the cost and big buisness greed has taken over. Many in NASCAR today have forgoten the past like Pearson, Cale and COO COO. Brian France is killing the Sport by milking every dollar and not giving anything back. Any way I might be wrong but I had someone out of Detroit tell me this same topic a few weeks back. I did not believe him but he indicated it is Ford. He told me Ford is very up set with things and I know they threatened to leave a while back if Toyota's cost are not controled. The details he gave me and info line up if it is accurate. Now what got me thinking is word Pontiac many return to NASCAR?? I don't believe they will but if Ford bails and Roush is publicly playing with Pontiacs what is the connection. I also heard Jack was going to get into drag Racing again and Pontiac is king there so it might have somthing to do with that to? Jack has never publicly tied his name to another company publicly in racing because of Ford out side IRL where he built Olds engines for Foyt. The only thing for sure is if Toyotas spending is not controled NASCAR will fail like CART and IRL with the lack of faqctory support. It this what Bruton Smith has been waiting for? Also watch for the Bush series to look at the Charger. Camaro and Mustang. Nothing planned yet and it would be a few years if they did but they are looking. Only time will tell us what is really going on. We should know by the 600. One last note where will America's best driver go. Tony will not fit in a Indy car anymore and unless AJ has some of the wide bodys left? I just pray Tony can get IROC to run Eldora next year. I would love to see top drivers on dirt in those cars. Tony has made a Million dollar offer if he wins IROC this year the owners can keep the Million if they would come to Eldora.

Compare Scion to a Camaro concept and Alfa Romeo 8C and you will know why this new scion so lame. Just no passion or soul here, just another appliance. Chevy could do so much better in all age groups with the Nomad. With the way things are going on at Scion I can see a lot 60 somethings going for this one like they did for that box on wheels.

I was lucky and got in with a small group Scott invited. We had about 2 hours to spend with the car and really got to get a good look at it. I can say I like what I saw int he pictures but the car is so much bettter in 3D. Photo's just don't convey many of the body lines and size.. I also saw the Challanger. It was nice but I too saw many less people around the car. I was not sure if it was the car or where it was at the show. Chry had the car along a back wall and it could have just been missed by many? Ther Challanger is one that did not look as good in person as it is just too big. I also was troubled by the fact it looked too much like the original car. MY thought was it looks good but it looks like a old car. How long till the Neat factor wears off? It took a about a year and half to two years for the PT and Beetle. When you see them every day it not that exciting anymore. I have not seen the Mustang get to that point yeat as there are so many varied models and custom ones out. The 300 also is standing up well with time. I just hope the more modern look of the Camaro will keep wearing well with the public and keep the wow factor going. I expect it will.

I would have to see it in person but I have found if your under 30 years of age and like import most like the car. They love the spoiler and think it looks like some offerings from Japan. As for me I have seen much worse from Japan and Korea before. But it's not a Alfa Romeo 8C. That new Alfa shows what can still be done with some taste.

Goodyear tire had hit problems much like GM in many ways. They had many problems and a distribution network that needed fixing in the worse way. The key thing the New CEO did was get cost under control and get new market leading product into the dealers. Today they sill have a little ways to go but no one is talking about Goodyear getting sold or closed down like they were. The one key for the turn around was getting the dealers support they had lacked. This was very important. This two is important at GM. Rick has to change a lot of mind and ways in and around GM and looks to have earned the trust of the people he needs to do it. Losing rick at this point might be something that would slow things down to the point that GM may not recover from. If unfamiliar read up on the Goodyear change from Gibara to Keegan. There is a lot to learn there. Gibara was a Roger Smith all the way. Keep in mind Goddyear turned around in a shorter time but they are a lot smaller and had less problems than GM is facing.

No light? could they be testing new Carbon Fiber body panels? If the Blue Devil is to get to 2800 pound I would expect more CF panels. I would think if it was a owner mod car he would have not run away and opened the hood. If you SC a Vette most will brag. We sell parts to Callaway and Lingenfelter, neither do much to hide their cars. John when he was living even brought his first C5 turbo to our Christmas party and would talk all night about it. He loved his project cars and trucks. He is missed!

If I recall correctly they have to use stock parts and springs on the suspension. SCCA SSB rules limit things like lowering etc.

I do believe this site is a place to share and trade ideas or opinions and respect that. I do not think we should attack someone because of their different veiw or opinion. On the other hand if you have made your point and expresed it many times you don't need to go sticking in someones face multiple times. If you want respect you need to earn it not abuse it. With freedom of speech come responsibility. So use it with care or lose it with abuse. This is not censoship anymore than preventing a drunk driver from getting behind the wheel of a car. You may have infringed on his right to drive but you also may have saved a life because of his abuse. Also if you disagree on something ignore it and it will go away. The more you make of it the more it will get posted. Only your replys to what is posted keep some of these threads alive, ignore them they die!

Here are some photo's of the new SSB Pontiac Solstice racer in SCCA. These were taken by a member of the Solstice Forum at the Indy Speedway for a GM ride and Drive event for March Madness. The car is expected in the SSB SCCA class and will receive factory support if past stories hold true. It will be fun to watch the Solstice compete against the Miata for braging rights!

Did anyone notice some of the lines on the side and wheel wells look like the drawing MT has last summer. I don't teally care what the holden looks like since it is not sold here. I will wait till the new NA designs are shown before I complain. Keep in mind the Suburban and H2 may share the same base but differ greatly. Here is the MT drawing, hard to say what all has changed on the GTO since but the wheel wells look similar

I feel it they go to RWD as planned it is time to lay the Monte name to rest. WIth the Chevelle it would give you a new herritage start and many options [2 door, 4door, convert, El camino, etc.] that fit with the name. But on the other hand does Chevy need more than a Impala and Camaro RWD. As much as I would like to see the other cars is there going to be enough need or room in the line up for that many cars so close together in type? The more coupe options you offer the less Camaro's your going to sell? The question is who are you going to take sales from ? Are they going to come from another company or from your other lines? Is there really room for a Chevelle with the Impala covering the 4 door and Camaro covering the 2 door markets. Add Pontiac and Buick it gets croweded quick. I would at least save the El Camino with an Impala front and add a GMC with a Pontiac nose from the GP replacment. Then give Buick there to takes on this car in a sedan and Velite.

Japan has never gotten a good grasp of heritage when it comes to products. They are always forward thinking to the next step. They never look back and in some cases for good reason. Case in point Harly Davidson. Japan has always tried to find the formula of a Harley and built may V twins but no matter what they build they are still not Harley Davidson. You can make it look like one, sound like one and even run better than one but it is still not the original. Honda Also has learn the same on the NSX. It might be a great car but it's still a Honda and not a Ferarri. GM if done properly can capitalize on it heritage of past models in modern designs. So many of Japans cars have no styling that relates to much and they have little to draw from the past but a few limited production models like the Toyota GT from the 60's. The PT Cruiser while not a great car it has already proven people want cars that are cool. They want cars that make them stand out in a crowd not something a Camary will not do for you. A good design should make you feel it inside when you look at it. The Ferarri's cars of the 60's and 50's could stir most souls when they see it. Not because they are Ferarris but their styling. The Italian rebodied Vettes of the 60's prove this. If a cars styling does not make you say WOW! when you see it like the Caddy Sixteen or Camaro concept It needs work. It needs to be interesting and attract the veiwer. I have said berfore it cost no more to style a good looking car as a plain or ugly car. Give a car presents at a affordable price and they will buy.

For once a news magazine show that was not doing a piece on the old boob Mikey Moore bashing GM or strapping rocket engines to Chevy gas tanks to show how they blow up. Who knows it might start a trend of promoting GM vs tearing them down. Well at least we can hope. The Caddy looked very interesting. I can't wait to see anything on the Impala.

It would work better on a Solstice.

I saw the story. It must be slow at the magazine markets or sales must be down. To test a car that is not even built yet with drivetrains that may not reflect what is going to be used on a computer is pushing it a bit. Some get mad if we just speculate on when they will build it let alone the 1/4 mile times. I just suprised they did not trash it for cheap plastic on the inside already!!! You know how MT loves GM cars. My guess they did not sell a lot of magazines with the Honda car of the year issues and are tring to make up lost sales with some cars with personality. I did note in the story that Ford has canceled all the special edition Mustangs but the Mach 1 and the Shelby. I wonder if this is some of the fall out of the loss of SVT.