ShadowDog

Forget it. We`re not qualified analysts or controllers. We can point fingers and say a few choice words that dance happily on the side of personal opinion. Nobody can put anything in this thread that can stand anywhere near the grey area of a plausible positive outcome, never mind the side of Utopia where GM will be the best at everything it does. We`ve had the finger pointing at product and we`ve seen relatively good product churn out; mind you, the 90`s was probably the decade that got us into this mess in the first place, so it takes time to recover. Dramatic change won`t come from replacing monkeys in the executive offices. It might make a few people here feel better, but it`s still the same sheet metal and bolts assembled by the same people we all get to look at. My opinion, yes that`s all it ever was, just an opinion, is that the cost of doing business is what`s too great. Just coming up with a vehicle that sells extremely well only provides an ace in the hole. Execs go on their knees and pray for big sales to support the bleeding coffers. The fat needs trimming in order for GM to enable a w-i-d-e-r margin from their returns. That`s literally the bottom line...no pun intended.

SSR? What's that? I've practically never given it a second look. The first time I saw one I didn't have any reaction what-so-ever. I'm not quite sure what market segment GM had in mind but the utilitarian retiree? Aren't they buying million-dollar motor-coaches? WHOA! You didn't read that! Next thing you know GM will come out with one...ugh!

...and did its sister car, the Monte Carlo. I guess the round table marketers just couldn't figure out anything else worth flaunting.

Might as well forget the story, instead people have brain-farts and would rather spew their opinion on what NASCAR means to them. As for the topic, there's some merit to the idea; however, the car of tomorrow was meant to be a clean slate where safety and handling concerns are primarily addressed. Why not just put that car in the Nextel Series races, and leave the current crop of cars in the Busch Series. Would that not manage to solve the problem? Any way you look at it, you won't see manufacturer-spec bodies challenging each other. If that were to happen, it's quite likely we'd see dramatically reduced speeds since a stock body is nowhere near as aerodynamic as the current race car body.

I really don't know what I want anymore...I mean, my choice is somewhere between a car that's already been built, and a car yet to be. Wow, that sure narrows things, hmm? I'm one of those guys who would love to drive what ever for how ever long. If it's a completely pointless and impractical car, I'd drive it for a year and move on to the next flavour of the week. If it's a practical and necessary vehicle, I'd probably sign myself up to a GMT-900 4x4 pickup (one that really likes the back roads). That's the kind of vehicle I could own for a long-long time and enjoy it each time I drove it.

Been a while... workplace reno's... At the temporary desk in my temporary office...working, temporarily: If I take my hand away, it stays attached to my ear: Oddly enough...this could be me: I keep my mug baby-butt smooth with my very own, personally developed, special razor: You know you missed my sarcasm.

Why is it that critics can slam an auto-company for fit-n-finish, and then let another get away with having a tailgate that closes with the top of it being significantly lower than the upper edge of the box...ala Ridgeline? This only came up because the Avalanche and Ridgeline have that whole similarity in appearance. From Automotive.com

Sooo, where's the harm in looking at it and getting it inspected? You get to find a mighty few more things out that way than listening to a few guys who've looked at its pictures on the internet. Hell, in my position, I'd consider buying it with little care for the engine or transmission, depending upon if it had been in an accident or not, and whether the underside, exterior and interior were sound. I'd replace the drivetrain if it came to it because those components aren't rare by any means. But that's just the fixer-upper in me talking.

Mr. Dollinger, Your contribution provides an example purely based on a personal interpretation. Truth with facts, and the direct connection of facts is all I am interested in when it comes to situations involving such accusations. How are we in proving that there's no hybrid technology in a certain SUV? Can we approriately consider the conspiracy theory on such a simple matter as that particular subject to be completely without merit? I'll let you answer that. If that matter can so easily be dealt with, how can anyone possibly believe your theory on a matter involving the whole business that supports and surrounds that Tahoe?

Um... ...no. At least, not the ones without medicinal assistance?

Ah yes, the car moment. Nice read...not graphic enough, but nice. LOL I remember mine well, in the back of my spacious 95 Monte Carlo Z34, rest her soul. In short, we were on our way home from a personal photography session and the conversation came up about interesting places to have sex. She said she'd like to give it a try in the car, so I knew of a place we would be coming up to as we drove. It was so secluded near the entrance to a model airplane airfield near a major hydro-dam, in fact, that we were void of all clothing and took our time, not being worried about anyone coming our way. Nods head and thumbs up. Keep it safe, and keep it great.

How to put this delicately... That's the only real wood you'll see in that car, both voluntary to avoid being inside that car, and because some people just can't have any. Ahem...perhaps a special tray for viagra? ...I've gone too far.

I look at what was the GM interior that still found a home through to 2000. They had a rather bulbous finish with panels that came together with an inseam...taking a look at a dash at what it would appear like from a profile: .) ..) - Dash pad .) | | - Control panel | .) ..) - Lower dash region .) Still, I don't think GM could have managed to get away with using the interiors designed today the same way ten years ago. The SAAB interiors looked like the early Star Trek control panels with matte-black slab-faced mounting panels. I half expected to see metal-post toggle switches and a hazard flip-guard for fire extinguishers.

I had little doubt of Hyundai's ability for success in the Sonata. It would have to take a number of things to make this happen, all of which have a point on either side to argue: Specifically, they would have required: - a good marketing strategy to get out of the shadow of their questionable quality in former years with the likes of the Excel - people willing to believe that there really is reliability to be had in a car that has received some praise for quality You see, you don't necessarily have to consider yourself 'taking a risk' when you buy a car that many say will offer you a good value. To me, you have to know something about the car, like owning it, to justify making nothing but negative comments about it. My wife owns a Korean car, the Chevrolet Optra5 (Suzuki Reno in the U.S.) by way of the Daewoo engineering. There's a lot of relatively negative things that have been said of the car through magazine articles and Consumer Reports findings; however, ours, and many others I know on web-based message boards, have had nothing but trouble-free mileage since buying it new. If there are negative things to say about the car, I haven't experienced them. Should I jump on the bandwagon of articles and start rants about a car I don't own, questioning the reasoning of so many owners as to why they bought a dud of a car? Might I be considered a hypocrit? It's debatable, but pointless to do so. People bought it, and people like it. Some of these people are simply not blinded by perceived truths of the negative opinions, and the confidence in their purchase has offered them a rewarding experience. Sure, the Sonata isn't perfect, but neither is the Camry, or Accord. If people buy it and like it, more power to them...and while we're at it, more power to Hyundai.

I'm on the fence, as usual. While I appreciate the G6 based on a variety of points, even seriously considering it as my next new vehicle, I cock my head sideways to question the profile and rear end styling. While this styling-point is purely subjective, I still end up leaning toward the sedan as a result. *shrug*

We's a bit overzealous in words without example, aren't we? Enron-style shenanigans? Example? Gross incompetence? Example? I suppose the entire business case for automotive corporations is just to have the perfect management and engineers to make the perfect vehicle for the perfect buyer, making the perfect UAW workers a perfect amount of money. Anything less is SCANDALOUS!

Summary: Living in B.C. Canada, after highschool (1997) retaining Principal's List honors (dominant in business courses), I started on a University transfer program (Advanced Accounting - Business Administration) through the Open Learning Agency to further my accounting/management skills. I worked full-time at the local grocer as their department supervisor (manager salary position). This allowed me to further my management training for better experience. The accounting program was to take three years off the seven year C.G.A. (Certified General Accounting) program through U.B.C. (University of British Columbia). Did book keeping for my brother's business part-time, as well as to assist my friend in his comic shop business. I had a good taste at the kind of job I was heading into and didn't feel like being an office jockey. I liked the public too much. Finished the O.L.A. Advanced Accounting program in 2000. Didn't go to U.B.C. Transferred to Saskatchewan in 2003 for an Assistant Manager position for their $8 million Grocery Department and complete my training. Last September, was asked to take the Manager's position for a division retail in this same city. I took it instead of heading west because it will undergo a complete $2.5 million renovation, and I wanted the experience in handling the project. Future goal: Move in about a year, a little after the reno is complete. Begin General Manager's training with additional upgrading through University transfer programs. That should take one-to-two years. Run a division for a year or so while putting focus on starting my own business. By then, I'll have every imaginable financial and management skill for hands-on ability. If that doesn't work out, FCL (Federated Co-operatives Limited) isn't all bad with 8% matched pension contributions and constant growth. I like what I do. ...some summary...sheesh.

Interesting... but the car in the image is a Civic hatchback, not an S2000. As for which is better... somehow this matters?

That's just it...you would have to remove the turn signals and replace the air dam just to make it better. The one in red just makes my head shake. I always ask myself what brings someone to buying such an ugly car? I mean, sure, if the price is right...but I still don't know if I could buy it new like many do. I'd buy a nicer looking (more reliable) used car over that thing.

And there is your reason why the MPG figure is too ancient a measure of fuel consumption. There are variables that just don't make the numbers seem accurate enough to use in the real world between two different vehicles. A great link: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...article_id=8699

On to Pontaic, the front end of the Sunfire was original and clean at first...then, at the end, they did this crap...damn what a stupid look. Before: After: Let's make it even more ugly, shall we?

Yish, a car already with a serious overbite that's been punched in the face. Damn is that thing uuuuuuuuuuuuuuugly.

Well, uh, there aren't exactly too many new tracks to go with unless you'd like Pontiac to jump back into red-neck games and start calling their cars: Dover Lowe's Bristol Then, you can also have French-connection names and have absolutely zero connection entirely between the two. I don't believe Pontiac abandoned the connection as much as the consumers have. Where's the performance been anyway?

Plastic fantastic. I've always had fake trees. I'm not much for cleaning up and wasting time on real one. Why do I get the feeling Santa shits a brick and faints when he looks at those guys on your wall there?

I don't much care for: - People without basic road / driving courtesy or common sense; - Smelling the body odor of others; - When people expect everyone else to move around them in a crowded mall just so they can walk their straight line; - Inarticulate people, and those saying, "...like..." where it doesn't belong; - People too overtly passionate about something, expecting me to care, and becoming offended when they learn I'm not; - Being treated as if I'm the 'youngin' in my job by a couple of people, as though I require guidance when I'm already doing the job of others above me; - Materialistic society with each having their head so far up their ass they have absolutely no idea for anything but what revolves around their insignificant, self-absorbed life; - Impatient people; - Liars; - Braggarts; - Ignorance and intolerance (biggots, and people whom don't take responsibility for their actions); - Wife, husband, pet and child beaters; - The power of the almighty dollar; ...the lack of respect in this crap-hole of a spinning rock.