BigPontiac

Posting pictures would be helpful...

I think I saw this car listed on eBay about a month ago... The listing on the web site showed some other mods to the car: Too bad they didn't leave it stock...

No manual trans and the pump to set emergency brake are very lame. Particularly considering that the Opel, Saab, and Pontiac platform mates offer a manual. Offering it in more cars justifies the engineering effort to improve the gripes cited by the car magazines... I'm still surprised the Solstice GXP and Sky Redline don't offer a 6 speed manual option. Since Aisin also suppies the 6 speed manual to Honda for the S2000, this seems like a no brainer. My old '99 Miata 10th Anniversary Edition came with a 6 speed manual...in 1999! Appealing to the Consumer Reports set is not the way to sell more cars IMHO... Nissan is one of the few manufacturers that has always consistently offered a manual trans option in their cars. I've had several Pathfinders and a Maxima all with 5 speeds. For some of us, it's a make it or break it requirement. The choices continue to dwindle due to dimwitted decisions such as this one by GM...

The front and year overhangs look a lot like the pre-Bangle-Mangle 3-Series. The front overhang was always shorter than the rear. Images of my 2005 330i for illustration purposes: Front: Rear:

I see he never did get the images of the cars to work on his site...love that attention to detail! Anyone know what the "Cose music system w/6 disc changer" audio option is on the 2003 CTS? Was that some dealer installed package exclusive to Flint, MI?

Posted at C&G yesterday at 2pm EDT: GM launches new corporate blog http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...?showtopic=7945

One Million dollars! Then, when GM ignores you, you can start whining about it all over the internet... I think I've seen this movie before!

I won't get into the interior as I think you guys have pretty much covered that. However, I would like the see the 3.6 V-6 available with a 6 speed manual trans. If nothing else, I hope that's a configuration offered in a Redline version. Even Honda finally woke up and offered the Accord V6 with a manual trans! Next nitpick, what's up with that "pump to set" emergency brake?? Just like an 1982 Chevy Celebrity... How 'bout a nice lever somewhere in the center console...like the G6 has! G6 also offers a 6 speed manual, though it needs some work...but it's a place to start! Opel interior shot with manual trans and e-brake lever. As for wheel suggestions, Opel appears to already have a set from a production model that should work fine for the XR.

Or maybe we'll all get lucky and GM will sue you for infringing on one of their trademarks and using it without permission...you know "Buick."

AUTOS: Dealers support GM's Wagoner April 8, 2006 General Motors Corp. car dealers also threw their weight behind chief executive Rick Wagoner on Friday, days after the automaker's board of directors expressed a vote of confidence in him. Dealers, including the heads of AutoNation Inc. and UnitedAuto Group Inc., placed a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal on Friday stating that "Rick Wagoner and GM are taking very bold steps and they are making a difference." "America loves a good comeback story, and GM is going to be one of the best." Full Article Direct URL: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...ESS07/604080332

Nice job Rick. Great to see GM come out swinging for a change. A CEO with a turn around plan grounded in reality, what a concept.

I think you're right. I looked mostly at the rust repair around the quarters, but the "sweep" doesn't start on the door as it would on a 2 door or convertible...and the door looks a bit short. Good catch! Poor Catalina...

That's definitely a homebuilt. It started life as a '68 Catalina. Based on the trunk, it looks as if it may have originally been a Catalina conv that someone grafted the El Camino roof onto. The quarters have been patched up badly as well...

1. Where's the URL citing the source of this article? 2. Why is this General Motors news? 3. Your comments and "spin" are not news. 4. Is it even possible for you to have a single post which does not mention Rick Wagoner? 5. Your own used car web site doesn't even display the images of the cars you are trying to sell. Why should GM put their faith in your "plan" when you can't even supervise the quality control on your own web site? But I'm sure you'll blame that on Rick too... ENOUGH! Web site image preserved for posterity. Hot Deals URL: http://www.jdollinger.com/HotDeals/unitDetails.cfm?ID=427

Sounds like the PR guy they brought back from retirement is doing his job...

OR, once GM gets their "gotta have" product, a direct sales channel via the internet would simplify the sales process for those customers who would rather order their cars and not have to deal with the "dealer experience." Those buyers, primary Gen X and Gen Y, are completely comfortable buying everything over the internet. Traditional dealers would certainly not be replaced, but they would likely need to improve their quality and sales practices to survive. Couple the GM internet direct sales with your home delivery idea and you've got a winner...and odds are MANY of those buying direct would pay gladly MSRP! The perfect next step after viewing the Edmunds Head2Head comparison. Additionally, you could likely sell more consulting services to the reamaining dealers needing to improve their sales practices... Disruptive Innovations are how you get high growth business. Disruptive Innovations require new distribution channels. Clayton Christensen has several books on the subject. From a dealer's perspective this certainly doesn't sound appealing, but from a consumer's perspective it is VERY appealing. It would also help weed out the "MSRP adjusters" that added $5k to the hoods of the GTO, Solstice and now SKY.

When did GM start using Pep Boys as a design subcontractor???? The tacky add-ons look horrible...please Bob, quit letting them kill Pontiac!

Good interview. It's nice to see Rick fighting back...

I thought it was a well done segment. As Lutz said "product, product, product!" I also found it refreshing they showed some UAW workers who seemed to understand the "shared sacrifice" idea. "GM is the horse that pulls our cart" Hopefully some of the GM workers watched the follow on segment about white collar workers putting in 60-80 hr work weeks for salaried positions. May give some perspective on how other people spend their days while at work. The grass is not always greener...

I'll really miss your website and posts here...best of luck to you. So AH-HA, who everyone wants to hear from, is leaving...yet Buickman, who keeps promising to leave, is still here. Something very wrong with this picture...

With all the new products coming, it appears that some of the Saturn dealers are starting to charge a "market adjustment" on the Sky...eerily reminiscent of some of the Pontiac dealers who inflated the MSRP on GTOs and Solstices... I sure hope this is an isolated incident. Autoblog article Full URL: http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/19/sky-hig...f-new-roadster/

Hey look, it's Cadillac's 3-Series competitor...

GM to sell 20 pct stake in Suzuki Motor - report Sun Mar 5, 2006am ET TOKYO, March 5 (Reuters) - General Motors Corp is planning to sell its 20 percent stake in Japanese compact-car maker Suzuki Motor Corp, the economic daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on Sunday. Article continued Full URL: http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybri..._T268646&rpc=44

Hopefully they offer a factory applied spray-in bedliner with it. Does anyone else see a sunroof in that picture? Could be camo, but looks like the slide-out on top style liked GM started offering in 2005.