Blake Noble

jesus

In a literal sense, someone didn't give that memo to All That Remains (not a fan, but hey ...). Now, if you want your mind blown when it comes to female band members, check out Boris. Who knew a sweet, innocent Japanese chick could play guitar like this? Iommi would be proud of these licks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb0xkgE97b8

In regards to the 4th-gen V6 suspension/steering statements, I will say that from the countless 4th-gens I've test driven and the two 4th-gen V6s I've owned, I've noticed it to be a hit-and-miss kind of deal. My old A4 Firebird and the M5 Camaro I have now both handled/handles great, but I have noticed the suspension on my Camaro is a lot more firm and holds the road better than my Firebird did. The steering in my Camaro is also tighter and better weighted than my Firebird's used to be.

I see a vision ... "Announcing the long awaited self-titled debut EP from Deathcock featuring the revered YouTube death metal vocal talent W. Attle on vocals, the amazing R. Downyfeathers Jr. playing brutal lead guitar riffs, C. Rowing's impressive and brooding rhythm guitar licks, the beautiful Adrianna Broody on bass, and Gene Fryer pounding the skins ..."

Hmmmm ... seems I was mostly right all along.

It could be possible. Shame Fbodfather no longer posts here, I know he could shed some light on this.

Like I said earlier, if the XTS was big, stately, utterly gorgeous, and beautifully polarizing like the 1967 Eldo, it would be more than acceptable, regardless of the drive wheels. I was expecting a modern, 4-door version of this: Instead I see a bloated, rehashed version of this:

The website itself labels it as a "1997 Camaro sketch" and it is maintained by the designer himself. I think the 4th-gen exterior MCE was originally intended for 1997 (I know Chevrolet revised the Camaro's interior for 1997 to have more commonality with the Firebird) but wound up being pushed back a year for one reason or another (cost constraints I think). I'm not 100 percent sure I'm right on that, so don't hold me to it. Also it does make sense as an MCE because the valence panel appears to run the width of the original 4th-gen hood to accommodate for revised headlamps, i.e. a seemingly inexpensive revision. The edges of the fenders appear the same and the lower fascia looks revised to coincide with that of the C5 Corvette, which was also new for 1997. I'm pretty sure GM designed its old MCE cars just as they did new models; point being they have a design team sketch out different ideas. I've seen sketches for the 1998 Firebird MCE before that had fixed headlamps.

I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think the '70s hood-mounted stone shield was plastic too. I just know the stone shield on my '72 is plastic (original and the reproduction replacement); same for '71 models. '71 and '72 models are not, obviously, mounted to the hood.

"... piece of painted metal between the grilles ..." Actually, the Olds stone shield was plastic too.

XD I thought the same thing pretty much. That upper valence panel really makes me think of an Aurora coupe. The lower fascia is more C5 Vette though.

Found a few design sketches for the C5 Corvette, the 4th-gen Camaro MCE, VUE, Sunfire GT, etc. while probing the web. Enjoy! C5 Vette: F4 Camaro MCE Proposal: VUE: Sunfire GT: Why didn't GM put this interior in the Sunfire? Link to where these came from: http://draganelmagda.blogspot.com/

You don't need to give me a mild version of the smk treatment here. I vocally support GM. I believe the vehicles I've purchased, although used, show that I do really like the company as well. I know what GM's capable of, past, present, future, and I feel like GM could have done much more with the XTS, but again, what does my opinion matter?

Like I said earlier, the production car will be the final say here and I have sneaking suspicion that it will only be worse (i.e. this XTS concept is pretty much what we'll see when a buyer ponies up for every last option). If I'm wrong, I'll gladly admit it. I just wanted to see an XTS that I knew would be an instant success for Cadillac. I don't think I see that here at all, but whatever. What the hell difference does my opinion make, right?

You and I both know what you just said is a fallacy because you and I both know the Camry does not appeal to all people. But, fine. Let's let the production car be the final say. I'm completely expecting something worse to show up at next year's NAIAS. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it.

You misunderstood me. I wasn't talking about success based on sales figures, of course, I was talking about success based on appeal. The new Camaro is a fine example of a car that appeals to quite a lot of people, regardless of what powertrain and drivetrain layout a particular individual prefers. Those are two entirely different things.

To be honest, I don't anyone here really knows what the average car buyer really wants outside of something that will haul their fat ass to McDonalds without them having to putting up with trivial things such as basic maintenance after the 10,000,000,000 mile warranty wears off. I will say and do know this, though, a car that can appeal to all people, no matter if it's front or rear drive, V6 or V8, is a truly successful car. The XTS isn't. It will surely appeal mostly to the certain buyers mentioned in this thread.

The stock rims and tires on my car are 16" so I'm just about certain 4th-gens can fit 17" rims and tires without any issues. Of course, I'll also eventually be installing a 1" - 2" lowering kit on my car, so that's an unknown variable I'll have to deal with.

As do at least 1/2 of the members posting in this thread, if not more. So far the only vocal supporters of the XTS are Olds, balthazar, JB, Capt. F-Turbo, and DF to some extent. There isn't much love to go around from everyone else. This car is a monumental let down to most people here.

Hey, lookithur what I found in the recently necromanced thread: Said beautifully. And this: /thread. (And this dude too.)

That's exactly what it is. The LaCrosse is great as it is, it does not need someone to keep it company across the street at Cadillac. The XTS only serves to dilute the Buick/Cadillac relationship, i.e. which brand goes where, does Buick continue to chase Acura and Lexus and leave Caddy to tackle the big Euro-Lux nameplates in every key area or does it even matter? If the old fogeys want something to trade their DTSs in on, screw it, let 'em go for a LaCrosse. Hey, since the LaCrosse is really that damn good, it could happen. It wouldn't be like they would be stepping down at all. It wouldn't be out of the question to see a buyer like Olds's grandma trading in her 7-Series for a new LaCrosse, rather than Cadillac's touch-screen interior interpretation of it, seriously, since she's had 3 Park Aves and doesn't care if her wheels push or pull the car. That's a real question everyone is ignoring: why doesn't GM see current DTS owners as potential LaCrosse prospects? Why does GM feel like they should keep 78 year-old DTS driving John Doe with one foot in the grave (yeah, not a good choice of words, but ...) at Cadillac and not see if he would rather have the LaCrosse? I don't think at age 70 a DTS buyer would really be putting Buick down as an "Old Person's Car". And I know it's not what Buick needs, but, hey if it can keep Buick and Cadillac from inbreeding like this then that's what should happen.

I now just realized how nice those wheels would look on my Monte SS if I still had it.

Woo-hoo. Post 10,001. I officially have no life. Anywho, I have a sneaking suspicion it's going to be those wheels that will be going on my car. The more I see the chop I like it. They have a similar, clean basic five-spoke design that has made me gravitate to AR TT2s in the past, but with classic Chevrolet heritage baked in.

In response to my post in the screencap above, I had posted a picture of the '67 Cadillac Eldorado, which, yes, managed to get away with being a front-drive Cadillac. Maybe if the XTS exuded the same thinking regarding style and spirit the Eldorado had, I could forgive it. The XTS doesn't have the charm those classic nose-pusher Eldos used to have; the XTS feels so cold and generic.