I've been keeping my eyes open on the import competition, and they're making some good stuff. I've taken a real liking to the EVO MR and STi despite their econo-box looks. As it stands right now, GM/Chrysler/Ford will have a hard time getting my next sale.

 

Evo MR and STi are both over 30k.

 

Slap a silver 10th anny. Cobra ( silver , gunmetal multispoke wheels , and red accent interior ) in front of me next to a Z06 and it would take me a month to come to a decision , hehehe

 

I have $3,000 in GM card points and I still wouldn't buy any GM car I can afford.

Why? It's because they are too busy competing with themselves rather than other automakers and making the types of cars I'd buy right now. What do I mean? Here's and example - I don't want a Trailblazer and *Surprise* I don't want any of the other seven(?) itterations of it. They are too busy whoring out their platforms to EVERY SINGLE DIVISION rather than making fewer cars that significantly different from each other. Ford and Toyota have nearly the market share and each have far fewer brands.

I'd consider a good handling, driving focused performance wagon. Well, GM doesn't make those. [Edit: You can include Saab in this one, but they are not cheap and the only one that is is Japanese]
I'd consider a low cost RWD coupe. Well, GM doesn't make those.
I'd consider a Diesel. Well, GM doesn't make those.
I'd consider a fun to drive hatchback of reasonable size and a slick shifting manual transmission. Well GM doesn't make those.
I require a manual transmission. Hmm. Not many choices.
I wouldn't consider a hybrid, but GM still doesn't offer them in any CAR.
I wouldn't consider a low cost AWD sedan, but GM doesn't offer them either.

The irony is that if you go to any other automaker, they make at least a few of the above types of cars while GM, the world's largest automaker doesn't make any of them.

 

More of the usual GM-scorning I've become so accustomed to on this site ( ). On the wagon - you lay out your criteria (good-handling, driving focused (whatever that is)) then when you find an example from GM, oops, have to add another qualifier to make it seem GM has no such offering for your discriminating tastes ( ). Low-cost RWD coupe? How about an 04 GTO for nearly $10k off sticker as they have been selling for lately? $24 or 25k not low cost for 350 hp? I could go on... but it's clear you're not serious about buying a GM car anytime soon. Go polish your Mustang...

 

LOL...the "Big" brothers want you to quit whining and keep the faith.

I thought long and hard about it. There is no doubt that in stock form, you get more car with the Z06. Price was only a small consideration. I knew I could get an 04 Cobra new for ~$30k (ended up paying $29.8k), and that a low-mileage 02/03 Z06 could be had for ~$33-35k - if you were a wise shopper and didn't mind travelling a bit. Bigger considerations were day to day driving and what I typically do with my cars.

One of the main reasons I sold my 99 T/A for the 99 Cobra I had was that I simply didn't like "falling in" and "climbing out" of the seats. I much prefer the more normal, "upright" seating position of the Cobra. The Vette is very similar to the F-body in that regard, and I was worried that after several months, I'd get tired of it.

The other big considerations was what I'd do with the car in regards to mods. My wife made this point for me - she said, in essense, that "it didn't matter what I bought, that I couldn't leave it alone. If you're going to mod it anyway, you might as well stick with something you know." That actually made sense, as I am quite familier with Mustangs, 4Vs, clutches, etc. Also, the cost of many of those things would be less (use a clutch change as an example).

I'll say again that in stock form, the Z06 is a better car - no doubt about it. But for me, I think I made the right choice. I have a Kenne-bell 2.2L blower sitting in the garage, and a live axle swap is planned. Should be fun. Time will tell if I made the right choice for me.

Sorry for the thread-hijack.

 

Say what you want, but there is a reason that GM is losing market share despite throwing 10K off coupons everywhere. You can blame "Anti-GM" people all you want, but at the end of the day, GM is not making the products that people want to buy.

And yes, as soon as It warms up, I think I will go out and polish the Mustang. Thanks for the reminder.

 

I think most people are tired of hearing rants about GM because , really its pointless to rant about the current product . The new guys at GM have admitted they have a major problem with the current product , I wont elaborate because I know you know whats goin on . And further more , your just now starting to see "a couple" of the ALL Lutz era cars come to market . In a 2-3 years from now , GM will be a drastically different company . While , I totally agree with you ....GM's offerings right now are beyond weak for the most part ( their are definately a few exceptions ) Give it couple years and I think we'll be playing a completely different ballgame .

 

I am disapointed with GM but there are some nice cars and trucks coming soon as well as a few that are out now. GM is just late to the party with most of the "gatta have" cars.

The problem with GM for me is that im an odd ball. I don't fit into any demographic study they have done. I bought Vettes in my early 20s when I was single. My wife just sold her SRT-4 and we replaced it with a 300C so the very nice Cobalt SS is 2 years late for our family as well as the Zeta sedans. I did buy a GTO a year ago and I love the car. Its my daily driver and its almost perfect for me.

I will buy at least one more GM car in the next 2 years, a FI pontiac Solstice. And maybe a Zeta coupe (The most optioned version with at least 400hp). The problem with these cars is that they should have been on the market a year ago. When they do hit showrooms many people will have bought the competitions offerings. (300c, SRT-4, Mustang ect...)

 

I think WERM made a valid point.
What I was saying for myself, and my preferences, he simplified in the overall car market sense. I'm not anti-GM (although I wont deny being anti-Chevy) but I'm just stating that they could do better, and it seems that they really dont give a damn.

Oh, and I used to polish my Mustang at least every other week...whats wrong with that?

 

just acknowledging your response bob, also i can see how you decided on it too

and yea, i think some of gm is still "on the road to redemption" but for the most part, i'm satisfied with what's coming out

 

GM's market share loss is disappointing -- but it's not a harbinger of things to come, instead an artifact of outdated opinions. Customers alienated by poor 1980's - early 1990's domestic car quality have yet to come back, although GM's current world-class quality is changing minds and making a difference slowly but surely. The discounts are an enticement to get them back. As for making what people want to buy - sure there are some duds and that shouldn't surprise anyone. But it's pretty hard to deny (though I'm sure you'll find a way ) GM's put out some definite winners and that can do nothing but help. CTS, CTS-V, XLR, H2, C6, and yes the Equinox, to name a few. These ARE products people want to buy - and you bet they are buying them.

These $xxk coupons might be a nuisance to you... but they enabled me to afford upgrading to a 2005 GTP CompG with just about every option available. A lot of buyers appreciate the discounts very much, so speak for yourself. For me it was the difference between affording and not affording an upgrade. But of course, GM has NOTHING for your discriminating tastes - - so never mind. BTW... while you're waiting to shine up your Mustang I'll be out tearing up winter roads in my supercharged, HUD/XM/TapShift/Nav-equipped sport sedan and laughing at the snow...

http://www.mwshowgo67.com/compgroup0...22304_2119.JPG

And does your Mustang (or ANY Mustang or Ford for that matter) display navigation cues like does my GTP in its HUD???

http://mwshowgo67.com/compgroup05/im...41226_2144.JPG

 

Doesn't everybody have "discriminating tastes"? Is one person's "tastes" better or more right than another's?

And is this a GTP or a GTO? Can't tell.

 

You're right. They don't have much for my discriminating taste. Throwing rebates on what they have doesn't make me want it more, either. But take note that there is a difference between saying "GM does not make anything I want to buy" and "I will not buy a GM product."

BTW, If it snows, I'll keep a lookout for you. I'll be in my Turbocharged/AWD/ 5-speed Manual Sport Wagon. Try and keep up.

 

I'll take that as a compliment

Apparently not...

http://mwshowgo67.com/formula95/imag...70904_1680.JPG