Even through a blizzard and an earthquake, here's your damned Chicago show report!
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,132
From: Santa Clara, CA
I guess the bottom line would be to see how well it sells. If it sells as well as the DTS/STS combined, it will have accomplished something, and brought badly needed cash into the coffers. If it doesn't, then feel free to rip on it. But truth be told, it's a very sharp looking car. My only concern is the DI 3.6 replacing the Northstar. The Northstar really did it's part to make the DTS a nice package. I fear the 3.6 will lack it's torque and smoothness.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
I also spent quite abit of time checking out the Aveo RS. First off, it's a bigger car than the current Aveo. Think of it more as a Cobalt replacement rather than an Aveo replacement. It seemed to be the same size as a VW Golf to me.
It was a cool car and all, but I didn't like it as much as I thought I might. Alot of the shiny showcar bit's appeared too glitzy to me. It may have reminded me of a Golf, but it seemed to lack the class of the Golf. In many ways it just seemed overdone.
Still looking forward to seeing how the production RS turns out though - but I think the VW GTi is safe.
It was a cool car and all, but I didn't like it as much as I thought I might. Alot of the shiny showcar bit's appeared too glitzy to me. It may have reminded me of a Golf, but it seemed to lack the class of the Golf. In many ways it just seemed overdone.
Still looking forward to seeing how the production RS turns out though - but I think the VW GTi is safe.
Last edited by Z284ever; Feb 14, 2010 at 10:00 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,376
From: Sarasota FL
Charlie,
I agree about the V6 comment. I've always been a fan of the Northstar...not because it is bulletproof (leaks oil like a sieve) or because its a powerhouse (275hp was great in '93...320hp in 2010 is mildly depressing).
Every Northstar Cadillac I've ever driven felt smooth, powerful and effortless. And when you wound them out, they made GREAT sounds. My buddy had a '93 ETC we retrofitted a Borla STS exhaust onto (believe it or not, a Seville exhaust didn't fit an Eldo without some work) back around '99-'00. What an amazing sounding machine, and revved beautifully.
To me, a Cadillac bigger than a CTS should have a V8. Call me old-school, I guess...
I agree about the V6 comment. I've always been a fan of the Northstar...not because it is bulletproof (leaks oil like a sieve) or because its a powerhouse (275hp was great in '93...320hp in 2010 is mildly depressing).
Every Northstar Cadillac I've ever driven felt smooth, powerful and effortless. And when you wound them out, they made GREAT sounds. My buddy had a '93 ETC we retrofitted a Borla STS exhaust onto (believe it or not, a Seville exhaust didn't fit an Eldo without some work) back around '99-'00. What an amazing sounding machine, and revved beautifully.
To me, a Cadillac bigger than a CTS should have a V8. Call me old-school, I guess...
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 178
For a fleeting moment I considered this car more appropriate as a Pontiac. After considering more carefully, I know what a disaster that would be.
First, Pontiac "management" (if you want to call them that), would insist that fake hoodscoops and a large rear spoiler would need to be affixed, in order to appease the Pontiac enthusiasts. Of course, after that, no one else would buy the car.
Then, Pontiac enthusiasts would soundly reject this car because:
1) It's an Opel.
2) It doesn't look like a '64,'67,'68,'71 GTO.
3) It's not a RWD V8 for $22K
4) Doesn't have enough ribbed cladding.
GM would then put $7,000 in incentives on the hood, and they'd all sell to bargain hunters.
I think this car is better off as Buick.
First, Pontiac "management" (if you want to call them that), would insist that fake hoodscoops and a large rear spoiler would need to be affixed, in order to appease the Pontiac enthusiasts. Of course, after that, no one else would buy the car.
Then, Pontiac enthusiasts would soundly reject this car because:
1) It's an Opel.
2) It doesn't look like a '64,'67,'68,'71 GTO.
3) It's not a RWD V8 for $22K
4) Doesn't have enough ribbed cladding.
GM would then put $7,000 in incentives on the hood, and they'd all sell to bargain hunters.
I think this car is better off as Buick.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 576
From: Houston, TX
I went to the lousy Houston Auto show just to see the Buick and get a better idea of it in person. Would you believe they didn't have one except one on display where you couldn't really "see" anything. I was very disappointed. (the whole show has becoming worse to the point it was only 5 days this time but that's a whole other issue.. plus I don't believe Scott even came down here.. truly sad)
I honestly feel that this is the car for me but why so much weight? Also from looking at youtube clips people have been complained about various things such as understeer still existing despite the Haldex system and the shifter being too long and rough.
I honestly feel that this is the car for me but why so much weight? Also from looking at youtube clips people have been complained about various things such as understeer still existing despite the Haldex system and the shifter being too long and rough.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,650
From: Indianapolis, IN
It probably isn't worth it for Charlie (or whoever) to snap photos with a point and shoot and go to the trouble of hosting them, when better pics are a few mouse clicks away.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
autoblog, jalopnik, etc. all have rather extensive auto show coverage. They take photos of the actual cars at the shows, plus you can find the OEM-supplied studio photos on those sites as well.
It probably isn't worth it for Charlie (or whoever) to snap photos with a point and shoot and go to the trouble of hosting them, when better pics are a few mouse clicks away.
It probably isn't worth it for Charlie (or whoever) to snap photos with a point and shoot and go to the trouble of hosting them, when better pics are a few mouse clicks away.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,698
From: USA
I would not buy it because it is a Buick..and I don't drive Buicks. I also don't think it has enough power. In my mind..and premium, AWD car weighing 4000lbs needs to bring at least 300HP to the party to be competitive.
For a fleeting moment I considered this car more appropriate as a Pontiac. After considering more carefully, I know what a disaster that would be.
First, Pontiac "management" (if you want to call them that), would insist that fake hoodscoops and a large rear spoiler would need to be affixed, in order to appease the Pontiac enthusiasts. Of course, after that, no one else would buy the car.
Then, Pontiac enthusiasts would soundly reject this car because:
1) It's an Opel.
2) It doesn't look like a '64,'67,'68,'71 GTO.
3) It's not a RWD V8 for $22K
4) Doesn't have enough ribbed cladding.
GM would then put $7,000 in incentives on the hood, and they'd all sell to bargain hunters.
I think this car is better off as Buick.
First, Pontiac "management" (if you want to call them that), would insist that fake hoodscoops and a large rear spoiler would need to be affixed, in order to appease the Pontiac enthusiasts. Of course, after that, no one else would buy the car.
Then, Pontiac enthusiasts would soundly reject this car because:
1) It's an Opel.
2) It doesn't look like a '64,'67,'68,'71 GTO.
3) It's not a RWD V8 for $22K
4) Doesn't have enough ribbed cladding.
GM would then put $7,000 in incentives on the hood, and they'd all sell to bargain hunters.
I think this car is better off as Buick.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
We don't. Brandon isn't looking at this objectively. He said specifically "I would not buy it because it is a Buick." Based upon some of his posts he is a hurt Pontiac fan, and despite what the folks at GM might say; he isn't going to buy the Buick version of what could have been a Pontiac. This car could have easily have been the G6 2.0 and Brandon likely would have gone apecrap over it, but it isn't his brand and so he won't buy it. This kind of thing happens when you kill a brand that people have grown to love.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,030
From: Frankfort, KY U.S.A.
autoblog, jalopnik, etc. all have rather extensive auto show coverage. They take photos of the actual cars at the shows, plus you can find the OEM-supplied studio photos on those sites as well.
It probably isn't worth it for Charlie (or whoever) to snap photos with a point and shoot and go to the trouble of hosting them, when better pics are a few mouse clicks away.
It probably isn't worth it for Charlie (or whoever) to snap photos with a point and shoot and go to the trouble of hosting them, when better pics are a few mouse clicks away.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,650
From: Indianapolis, IN
I was talking about personal photos. Sure its easy to see studio prepped photos on those sites. I like to see personal photos, ususally you see more detail in them because people take up close photos of the cars at different angles. But it is a pain when the cars are surrounded with people.
Autoblog is "press", and they go into the shows on preview days, without a zillion kids running around, but with the cars actually on display as they are for the public. They generally take their own photos, which they then post to the site (often along with the OEM-supplied studio shots).
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
I don't usually even bring a camera to press previews anymore. I'm more there to get to know and talk to people, more than anything else really. 90% of the media there, honestly don't know their *** from a hole in the ground when it comes to cars. I can usually learn more in an impromptu 5 minute side chat, that most of these people can in a scheduled 20 minute interview.