caddycruiser

Yeah, they said until they get them fully intro'd and then maybe a couple of more months, the RT will only first come as an AWD model with CVT. But then FWD and a stick will soon come standard, once they get everything rolled out.

What price a dealer sets has nothing to do with it. Very, very, very few people have ever paid that, and of those who did, it's a tiny minority of stupidity. Kind of like starting a whole thread on a stock Solstice being worth $40k just because a couple of dealers are asking that... Now discussing the car alone, and it's merits, that's totally acceptable on the other hand...at least a few people are doing that.

Most always, yes. I just wanted to point out above how so many people, especially on this board, tend to always jump up and say "they hate everything domestic and Toyota/BMW feeds them $$$ by the duffle bag full" kind of garbage, when it can't be further from the truth. Regardless, can't wait to see how the professional reviews of the Caddy turn out, as it always is just a tad upgraded in most regards over even the Denali.

I'll refrain from saying much more than I think the Charger SRT-8 is an AMAZING car, and unless you've driven or ridden in one, you have NO place to talk. Similarly, who in the hell starts a thread about a car being worth it's $44k price when it can't even be stickered that high? Enough said...

Like I said, there's similarities in the overall presense and style, but they do NOT share much of anything, except for the names. Same way any typical old gen compares to a new gen of the same model...completely different, but a somewhat familiar look. I know what you're talking about, as far as the overall look inside and out, but there's a lot more to a car than the looks...like the frame, suspension, powertrains, etc., which are all completely different in this case. The new '07s are the biggest departure they've ever had from before, no doubt, but the overall stance and demeanor is a lot closer to the '00-06 models, at least outside, then the old '90s gen are to them.

I know the increased engine size and power output makes a big difference, but so does that 6-spd...finally allowing proper gear spacing. Can't wait until it actually gets spread across the line, so even the menial 5.3L can be a bit snappier and have 2 more ratios to choose from when needed. On the other hand...to all you guys who seem to always say most mags, C&D in particular, always hate everything domestic...this is yet ANOTHER example of how you're completely wrong. What sucks gets called out and what's good gets recognized...simple as that :AH-HA_wink:

Hmm...what the heck is that car doing testing in Colorado?

Yeah...where have you been? Matter of fact, I'm starting to wonder why the whole E85 thing is now just being talked about so much, when it's been available or standard on most GM trucks and SUV's for a few years now...

Yeah, I've seen more CTS's and Lincoln LS's, both the smaller sportier models of the brands no less, clothed in nasty cloth tops and whitewalls than I care to admit... I guess it's just something so many of the blue-haired generation grew up with on their cars, they don't seem to realize it does NOT look as good today on a smooth and curvey Impala, for example, as it did on an old Cadillac. May be a little morbid to say so, but this trend MAY just eventually die off as the generation who still "gotta have it" keeps dying....or at least we can all hope as much...

Just looks like the same pop-up and slide roof they started using on '05+ models, to me. And though not "short", it definately isn't large enough of a cab to be a crew cab, especially when compared to older shots.

Very true, and that was part of the issue with Chrysler. There's another dealer about the same distance away, but in the opposite direction, and they had a bad reputation to begin with...so there was no going there. This is certainly true with a lot of higher end makes, as the closest Caddy dealer is about half an hour away in either direction, and it takes about 2 hours to get to even the first Acura/MB/Lexus/Infiniti, etc. place...just not at all convenient.

It should, actually, work since the remotes for most of the Buick line were the same back then. As far as programming it to work, I'm not sure at the moment, but I'll search around and post back when I find the instructions.

Don't let one awful dealer spoil you on a whole brand...that's why there's so many other fish in the pond. That being said, after our 300M had so many issues in 18 months and the dealer was BEYOND incompetent in even ordering simple parts correctly, it did sort of sour my mother on ever buying another Chrysler. She'll go as far as saying one or two look nice, but that she'd still never buy another one. So, I kind of see your point...

Good. Actually, with the exception of our Suburban, every new vehicle we've bought was ALWAYS from the 2nd dealer we went too, after a horrible experience at #1. Happened with our '97 Grand Voyager. REALLY happened with our '00 Chrysler 300M. Happened with the '02 Avalanche, just because the first guy insisted we needed 4wd "for resale"..."for resale"..."for resale"...needless to say, we didn't, and that was his only real reason. Couldn't give me a good example of when we'd ever use it living at the beach and driving on-road only, but still...and then, to top it off, insisted buying their abused demo Av Z71 with 7k on it for $100 under invoice was an incredible price... But, as I said, everyone of the #2 dealers we then went too afterwards were terrific, especially with the 300M and Avalanche. Knew we needed to do a locate/dealer swap to get the Suburban going into it (the whole 2wd thing again), so we ended up just going to the closest GM dealer we have all the service done at and like, and the purchase went well from day one. Some dealers are horrid...but just think, one day soon, there's a new Caddy in your future

There's interior shots all over the place...and yes, it is identical. The only difference being that the rear seat is very much like the one in the current '02-06 models, as are the headrests, just because of the way everything has to fold down back there. But beyond that, everything is identical to a new Tahoe inside...from color choices to options.

True...they must just have been mistaken back then.

Haha...sounds EXACTLY like how I spend my weekends when I'm at home :AH-HA_wink:

Wow...just makes you realize, even more, how numbered the days are for the GTO.

ACTUALLY, besides from a bit of resemblence (like the overall "square" dash and outside theme), there's NOTHING the same between a '92-99 model and a '00-06. If anything, the new '07+ share quite a bit with the '00-06....but not the other way around. Matter of fact, as terrific as they are, the '07s do really have a lot about them that appears like a much dressed up last gen model...think dimensions, seating, interior space and shaping, rear suspension and powertrains, etc. Frame was all new, suspension was all new, steering all new, brakes all new, styling all new (albeit still familiar), etc. Not exactly "the same damn thing". I don't even know how you could make such a comment... As for the Uplander, you work at a dealer, what do you REALLY think, aside from styling? Still a rattly old paint can like Venture, or is there actually a significant difference?

I'd say so. The vans aren't terrible, but they're definately not great either...and the poor sales only show part of it. There's not even a remote comparison to your new Tahoe in overall feel and refinement, but it is a cheaper minivan so that's to be expected...at least to a degree. Still drive one, but be a bit leary...

Good question. I would *say* around 2001/2002, mainly because once a new design launches, most automakers start at least the planning stages for the next gen about 6-12 months later. Not that there's anything concrete at that time, or even a full design, but the basic planning and "what do we want to do" stages do get started. A perfect example of this is the Impala: they just launched the redesigned '06 model last summer, but it's already been in the news for about a month that designs for the next gen are already complete, one if FWD and one if RWD, they just are trying to figure out once and for all which they are going to choose. But yeah, I wonder when these new ones were actually started and, if not from the start, when Lutz came in.

Yeah...the Uplander. Umm... The build quality on the last gen vans ('97-04) was SO bad, those things still worry me even though the interiors are mostly gorgeous, especially on the Buick. With the 3.5L they're also quite a bit underpowered, but at least there's now a 3.9L option...even if not available on the AWD's which need it the most. But, at the same time, there seems to be a lot of common electrical and assembly bugs to this day, even on the new ones. As for the Tahoe, I wonder what the next one will be like too...especially after the full GMT-900 line gets out for a bit and GM gets some real world feedback. Planning for the next model should actually start in about a year, truth be told, but it'll then be several more years before anything new materializes and starts being discussed.

That's a bit of a stretch, as I don't think there's any similarity between a crap bucket Fiero and a trully stunning NSX, but I sort of see the point. Then again, the NSX is actually the one vehicle where no one ever really complained about it having a V6...it's a great engine, and when matched with the light weight and supercar handling, it does extremely well and is a very, very fast car. Like I said before, getting back to the RL, even if it kept the V6 (this is Honda, and even though they seem to like keeping engines smaller, most buyers just enjoy them for the great power and refinement nonetheless), but had more interior room and much better styling, it would sell a lot stronger. The early 90's Hyundai-styling is the BIGGEST problem...with the V6 being down the line a bit.

EXACTLY. Not that I keep up with the happenings of the RL or even Acura all that much, but I've heard it mentioned SO many times that people who look at the RL still end up being more impressed with the TL, just because it's a more compelling (ESPECIALLY when it comes to styling) package for an extremely attractive bottom line. That said, I'm always in awe of the RL's interior beauty when I see them at auto shows...too bad I can only fit in the front seat, and even then still feel a little cramped. But, for $50k, it's the B-O-R-I-N-G styling that would keep me away from the dotted line, regardless of how nice it drove or what features it had.

Exactly. It reminds me a lot of the Bonneville, actually, except the car itself is actually outstanding. There were one or two pretty pathetic ads, then....chirp...chirp.....nothing....and most people, except for those who really keep up with the automotive world, don't even know the car exists. There's been a show running randomly on Speed TV about the GTO, mainly from its first days, and a past marketing person for Pontiac "back in the day" gave a great suggestion for an ad that had the GTO up against a BMW 3-series....too bad no one at Pontiac seemed to car about doing anymore than showing it in a garage beside a Bonneville and Grand Prix (remember that one? ) But, as has been said before, the design is aging, even though we in the US only were around for the second half of its life, and was destined to die anyway. NOW...if GM could just figure out a way to give that level of body integrity and interior quality to the rest of the cars they make. They want import buyers to seriously consider their cars? That would be a BIG start...