Uh, yeah. I think you're right!

I guess the SSR could have been a people mover - if those people were

 

Since we don't know what the actually Astra will have, we can't really compare, but I don't think it will cost as much as an IS either. I don't think it will be of that caliber. My comment was that sport compact does fit into the portfolio if Buick is targeting Lexus. Lexus has a sport compact.

 

Again, I don't consider the Lexus IS to be a "sport compact" unless you consider the 3-series to be a sport compact. You do recall that the IS is RWD, correct?

 

Whatever Buick's Delta based small car is, I sure hope that they are actively benchmarking the Volvo S40 and Audi S3.

 

While they aren't sport compacts by some definitions, they are sporty compact cars. I wouldn't call them "compact executive cars" either. But, that is what some people do call them. Would there be cross shoppers for a Mazda 3 and a Lexus IS, I doubt it. There might be some cross shoppers for a Buick small sedan or hatch for this. Especially if there is a performance version of it.

What the Buick Astra version does is provide more refinement and appeal to a younger generation. I am not sure what volume they plan to have with this version of the car. But put Buick with a Delta II sedan, and you are close.

Buick won't be a great Lexus competitor because of this car. It will take a great lineup and it will take a few years. This is just helping the line up and the appeal of Buick.

 

Buick Astra would be a Mini, Acura RSX, Audi A3 type of car. Not a 3 series or Lexus IS350

 

*YAWN*

I guess anything will help Buick out now though (Yes, this will be a Buick here)

I certainly hope it'll help, anyway...

Too bad GM didn't have sense enough to offer this as a Pontiac. That's where it fits. (Saturn runs a close second... Saturn would've been a better fit if it had the dealer network that B/P/GMC had)

I'm sure GM would've had a hard time making $$$ on it if they badged it as a Pontiac, though.

 

I think that statement alone explains why GM is cutting Pontiac. It might have made a good Pontiac, but it wouldn't have made money. No business case... no product.

 

Not sure if I like this or not... definitely not fond of the back half, it looks awkward. It looks very Nissan/venza/mazda-ish, so maybe it will sell?

 

Realistically, it will be priced close to it's natural competitor, the VW Jetta, and not the Lexus.

I don't see any evidence that GM truly believes that Buick is a "Lexus fighter", despite a whole lot of wishful thinking on forums. Cadillac will fit that roll much better, probably with an ESish sedan.

 

I suppose. But even those cars are available with AWD, no? Would Delta II be available with AWD?

I guess I'm just not going to be convinced that a compact FWD 4 and 5 door wagon is a good fit at Buick. I know they want to try and make the brand younger and cooler, but the very same thing was accomplished at Cadillac by improving and uniquely styling the formula, not by throwing the formula out and resorting to sport compact cliches.

 

This is accurate. It will also cost less than any of these as well. I think the end goal for Buick will be to compete with Lexus. It will take some time to get to that point.

Most cars buyers don't care about FWD vs RWD. Some actually prefer FWD because they think it is safer. AWD is getting advertised and I would agree that it should be available for this car.

Cadillac did change its formula, other than the styling. They were getting away from the land yachts they were offering. Only one is left today, and it is going to be on the chopping block soon.

 

The vehicle that initially put Cadillac back on younger, successful buyers' shopping lists was the Escalade - certainly not a 5 door compact. Cadillac's sedans are still large and plush, they just don't necessarily ride like sofas anymore. Put it this way, if back in 2000 Cadillac announced their first vehicle in their sedan renaissance would be loosely based on Cavalier, I think we all would have laughed uproariously.

Buick is a brand that has no credibility with anyone not eligible for AARP membership. If a luxury compact wagon is going to give them that credibility, more power to them. I just don't see it. After all, if you can't move the current Astra from a supposedly youth-oriented brand like Saturn....

 

The Astra was too expensive to be Saturn's entry level car. You could get an Aura XE cheaper and when people can get a bigger pretty much equally efficient car for cheaper, they usually will.

Buick can sell a small premium car without people balking at the price (assuming it's styled right and has the right features).

 

Buick's first push was the new Enclave. Talk to some dealers. Younger people are getting them. I am 28, and I bought a 2009. That is in my opinion the first vehicle that Buick has had in a long time that appealed to me. The LaCrosse will come next. The Regal after that. The Astra, or what ever Buick calls it will come after the Regal. Hopefully all of these vehicles appeal to a younger crowd. The Astra will just be one that is more affordable to much of that younger crowd. Buick will eventually get another Delta II car that will also be a sedan.

I do suspect the reason younger people are interested in any Luxury/Near Luxury brand is because of a single small vehicle. They are more likely to buy the smaller vehicle because of what they can afford.

It has been mentioned here that there are several reasons to why the current Astra failed. Most consumers won't know that this is the completely redesigned version of that car either. This one won't have the limited options that the Saturn version had either.


Given the current state, and the Buick is moving forward, what would you have GM do with this brand? Please don't say large RWD sedans. First, that is how GM got here (the large sedan part). Second, 95% of the buying public doesn't care or know about FWD vs RWD. RWD Buicks are not the answer. If it was, how are all of the Luxury/Near Luxury car brands in business?


The one thing I would think they could add is to bring over the Park Avenue that is being built in China. It isn't required, but that would definitely show that Buick can have some serious luxury cars. Something that is a distant option might be to bring over the Opel GT, when ever it gets on its newer (possibly Alpha) platform... if that ever happens. (I guess I have 2 ideas).