Recent Comments:
Officially Official: Corvette ZR1 makes 638 hp and 604 lb-ft {Autoblog}
Apr 25th 2008 1:11AM Whatever man, knock the old school OHV V8's all you want, but my 98 Z28 was just as fast to 60 (faster in the 1/4 mile) as our new G35 and got better gas mileage on the highway (by a lot). Moreover, it took up less space in the engine compartment. This says a lot, considering that car was 10 years ago, with an "antiquated" 4 speed automatic.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it. GM V8's are good motors, period.
Adam Carolla's audition drive for Top Gear (not really) {Autoblog}
Apr 23rd 2008 9:42PM
I actually kind of have to agree with you on that one.
Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7 Series interior snapped {Autoblog}
Apr 20th 2008 2:33PM
BWM's are cool, but the name is why people pay $10,000 more than their competition in pretty much every segment. In other words, the cars aren't worth the premium.
Has BMW significantly changed the way their interiors look in the past 20 years or so (other than adding navigation screens)?
Beijing 2008: Buick Invicta Concept debuts, say hello to next LaCrosse {Autoblog}
Apr 19th 2008 11:28AM I think you're right about the interior pieces. I recognize the steering wheel.
The car looks awesome, inside and out.
With that said, I just can't help but get ticked off at GM for letting Buick get to where it is today in the eyes of consumers. Buick used to be the car that lawyers and professionals aspired to own 40 years ago - now lawyers and professionals basically don't even have Buick on their shopping lists. In an odd, and sort of sad way, Buick is almost in the same position Hyundai is in trying to convince people that their cars are worth the price their paying. This car won't be cheap - I'll bet it will be brought to market with a high sticker price - it'll be a tough sell because of the brand's tarnished image unfortunately. Other than car enthusiasts and people who periodically pick up tidbits about the car industry here and there - most middle aged professionals or people with money still won't put Buick (back) on their lists unless they come out with some very clever marketing (I think GM would be smart to play on some of the heritage from the brand).
Bottom line - excellent car (probably) - tough sell because of brand image. I hope they pull it off. I for one would love to drive a super awesome Buick - because I know that it represents a brand that brought us the 53 Skylark Convertible, the 71 Riviera and the 87 Turbo Regals. Lexus, although nice, hasn't produced anything that has stirred my emotion like those cars do.
Buyers dropping more coin on the 2008 Chevy Malibu {Autoblog}
Mar 30th 2008 9:36PM
You really can't compare the 2007 Malibu to the new 2008 Malibu - completely different animals dude.
I'm not sure what the Malibu LTZ stickers for in Canada, but I'll bet it's cheaper than your 07 Maxima - and probably just as fun to drive.
Buyers dropping more coin on the 2008 Chevy Malibu {Autoblog}
Mar 30th 2008 9:34PM
The 08 Malibu certainly looks competitive compared to the new Accord and the late model Camry. I haven't driven any of them, so I can't say which one I like the most personally.
I will say though that I see way more 2008 Accords here in Houston than I do Malibus. As a matter of fact, I've maybe only seen 4 or 5 new Malibu's on the street - I see probably 4 or 5 2008 Accords on the way to work every day.
Chevy has a lot of catching up to do in markets outside of the Midwest when it comes to their cars (not their trucks though - see tons of new Silverados and Sierras here). Like the article basically sums up, it's going to be very difficult for GM to pull Camry and Accord drivers out of their cars and back into anything GM builds.
It's funny, on my current project I work with this guy (mid 50s) who owned a 2000 Buick Regal that apparently had some pretty big problems- he now drives a new Mazda 3. He told me he would never again drive a GM product again. He's a pretty opinionated (but nice) guy, and there's no way this guy would ever be persuaded to walk into a GM showroom again. I actually tried explaining to him that Buick was rated 2nd in quality to Lexus by JD Powers and that GM cars are winning awards left and right these days - but the sour taste in his mouth from the old GM cars (the 2000 Buick was old by that time) has him truly pissed off at the company.
These are the types of customers GM will probably never get back unfortunately. The ones who were let down by their old junk are going to be hard pressed to be convinced that these new ones are indeed a lot better.
My wife is one of these folks too. She's looking to trade in our IS300 and not a single domestic is on her short list. (narrowed it down to the Acura TL actually)
It will be interesting to see how the Malibu ultimately does in the marketplace over the next few years. Hopefully it will do well. Chevy needs a win in this category.
Lutz says GM considering 2.0-liter turbo for Camaro {Autoblog}
Mar 19th 2008 9:54PM How do you build an abortion?
VIDEO: Pontiac G8 invades Spy Hunter, circa 1983 {Autoblog}
Mar 14th 2008 6:04PM PCS! Is that YOU!!!!
Actually - this commercial rocks man - , you have to admit that was a good commercial for this car. :)
Wagoner disagrees with Lutz on global warming, bets against states' rights {Autoblog}
Mar 12th 2008 12:16AM Wow, all I can say is there's some real stupid people making comments on this website. Some of the juvenile pissing matches and comments about topics that people know little if nothing about are simply amazing.
GM and the other large American car companies aren't "Dinosaurs" - (especially GM) - these are multi-national companies that are just as innovative and sought after (think about why Renault wanted to join forces with them 2 years ago) as any other major auto company. Bashing for the sake of bashing - you folks have no clue what you're talking about. Seriously. Yes - GM makes SUVs - but they also make all kinds of cars, all over the world - they aren't going anywhere folks - sorry, but your wet dream of only Japanese car companies doing business in the United States isn't going to happen - at least not for a long while. GM may be a shadow of itself in years to come - but they'll have a presence here in the States. Who knows, they may even get some market share back someday.
California is an important, progressive state that always tends to define and mold American culture in positive ways. But I didn't vote for their politicians or their politician's grandiose, crazy ideas. I don't want them influencing what I buy - period.
Let's face it - the number 1 goal for any politician is to get re-elected. If California has a problem with it's environment, they need to put the onus on it's citizens to do what's right for the air they breathe - impose a 55 mpg speed limit - HOV lanes should be open to anyone with a small car that gets better than 35 mpg on the highway - raise taxes on gasoline, encourage people to turn their lights off - give tax breaks for those who use solar panels on their houses - etc, etc...
But you know what - California politicians will never put that responsibility on their constituents - they'll never get re-elected! The Car makers - being in Detroit, or Tokyo or Munich - they go after them - it's easier - and that's their attitude. They don't have a clue about physics, chemistry, mechanics, etc, not to mention do they realize or want to discuss all of the other possibilities that cause pollution. It's easy to blame the car companies - they're much more vulnerable, and they don't have major headquarters in their state. Moreover, it's something that everyone sees every day (people don't see coal burning power plants every day, so it's not fresh on their minds). It's very easy and looks very appealing for politicians to pick at the "low hanging fruit" that is the auto makers. Voila - they get re-elected and the gravy train continues.
If they were truly concerned, and actually wanted to see some real, immediate change, they'd provide incentives at a local, individual level to make actual real change now, instead of screwing around with the car companies.
2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan first look and pricing {Autoblog}
Mar 9th 2008 11:09AM
Again, this will be a perfect example of the perception problem that GM has - especially with it's small cars like this.
I'm sure to the average car guy (or girl) that drives this back to back against a Mazda 3, most of the negative issues surrounding the Cobalt's interior, or door handles, or the way the steering wheel feels, etc, etc, will all be decided upon before the two cars are even sat in. In our heads, Mazda = "superior import quality" Chevy = "cheap poor person's car". The reality may or may not be different - but people's minds will already be made up.
It's been argued that if people are told over and over that something is superior, even if it isn't superior, that they'll tend to believe it. Mazda, Honda, Toyota, et. al all of this going for them. It's really their only advantage - don't fool yourselves - on a track, and as a daily driver I'm sure this little Chevy can very much hold it's own against a small import. The "what do I want to be seen in" factor goes a long way.
Who knows, the Mazda Speed 3 may actually be slightly better - but not in a 2008 Ferrari vs. 1992 Lumina sort of way, which I think a lot of people on this board will quickly draw that conclusion - without even looking at the Cobalt at all.
