Chicagoland

Jeep is only brand worth keeping. And I think the Zeta RWD platform is better than the LX, so they can sell the rest of Mopar to China.

I see afew here in Chicago area, becasue Buick is still seen as a 'car company' by some. But, there are many new PBG dealers combined, with a few hold out Buick dealers who think the division will be "#3 as soon as..."

The ones who want LeSabre and Century back are hobbyists, not car buyers. Also, Buick has changed names before, so get with it.

I have seen Illinois State police use unmarked GP's. Did not have the time to stop on highwayand check, but they most likely were the supercharged V6's. But, regrding a G8 cop car, GM is getting new RWD Impalas, which would be more likely to get a police packge.

The G8 is absolutely NOTHING like the Catera or L series. Some are just mad because it's not a return of the B body with fender skirts and vinyl roofs.

I went to college in DeKalb IL, and it was a "Pontiac town". The Poncho dealer was the biggest, and they sold to most townies. DeKalb police used Bonnevilles until the B body was dropped for 1982. The 83-86 Parisienne was a big hit in DeKalb when it retuned. Maybe they sent a petition?

Pontiac did sell police packages, but it was to bolster lack luster sales of the 76-77 LeMans and Venturas. Some 80-81 Bonnevilles also were decked out as cop cars, complete with fender skirts. See "Smokey II", and some were in my college town.

Ford didnt just change the grille and the name of the d3 platform cars, they got a new 3.5L V6, 6 speed tranny, and new interior. Tweaked the ride too, and meanwhile GM still is selling the 1988 W body. If GM can change Lumina into Impala, and Corsica into Malibu, using the same platforms, then others should also.

Another bad example of badge engineering gone! Worse was all the N body Skylarks in rental fleets, all beat up.

Totally based on OPINION They are still on top in sales, but opinion varies.

"While the domestic automakers scramble to put out their first crossover vehicles (unibody, ostensibly car-based SUVs), Toyota is preparing Gen 2..." Why I let C/D expire. Pure crap. They are not 'scambling', they are doing. Ford's D3 is out for 3 years now, and the new Lambda X-overs are kicking Highlander and Pilot's rears.

There has been no word about any SWB RWD car for Buick, just the first post above saying "my speculation". And why a rebadged Holden G8 and Buick in same showroom? Explain the true difference, other than 'tradition'?

GTO was never meant to sell more than 18K a year at the most. Some expected 1968 sales #'s. The Holden made GTO has its core fans, just that some ONLY like old cars and never will like new ones. The G8 looks fine, and has no excuses. Again, the nay-sayers are aging Boomers who want to be 18 again, and listen to the Monkees while looking at pics of 66 Goats.

Toyota, Honda, and Kia are cleaining up in minivans too. GM and Ford have the 'not invented here' attitude with minsvans, and think SUV's are the answer. But, once families have 2 kids +, an expensive gas hogging SUV is less "cool", then a more fuel efficient, and easier to load kids into, minivan. When you have kids, "hipness" is a non issue.

I know the attitude was that is you had problems with smaller cars or engines, dealers would say "Well you shoulda bought a V8 big car/truck". No wonder buyuers flock to imports. And then they thought "imports are a fad, and only hippies buy them in California".

I agree, some fanatics were complaining it's not 'different looking enough', but then they don't buy cars, they are dweebs who just look at pictures.

All this labelling of anything not a truck a 'chick car' makes uptight men buy these hoggy SUV's. And then people wonder why gas prices are so high!

I miss the stock bodies big time. Problem was GM's cars in the late 80's were no match for Ford's aerodynamics. So they had to "dumb down" the cars to make sponsors happy. The 1990 Lumina 2 door 'stock' car was the first of the 'shop class bodies'. The money grubbers couldnt care less, they call it 'body parity'. BARF!

Tanking Explorer sales, is #1 reason and cutting Hertz orders too. Also, alot of car [non truck] buyers shifted to Camry/Accord/Sonata/Altima. What hurt Taurus/Windstar was the shoddy head gaskets, trannys, and Fords "Who cares, people should buy big SUV's anyway" attitude.

Solstice is a low volume niche car, and it is winter, remember. Also, don't expect cars based on over 10 year old platforms [GP/LaX] to 'fly off lots'. If the Aura was sitting around, then one could panic, but so far sales reports have been positive.

Yeah know, people want to see GM suceed. But then they cry like babies when old, dated, outmoded cars are dropped. Do they think the real world misses the FWD Olds 98? {It was just a generic GM FWD car with Olds gingerbread, nothing at all like the classic 98's} Some even miss the Corsica and boxy A bodies. And I am sure there is someone in Lordstown OH who swears the Vega was the best GM car ever, but so what? 95% of car buyers do not care about the 1970's "Glory Days" of GM's Personal Luxury cars, or their late 80's and 90s' blah FWD cars. How does living in the past compete in today's car business? The new Greek Letter platform are eons better than the Alphabet soup cars. And the Zeta will make people forget about the F body. GM is in business to make $$ and sell to paying customers, not to cater to "hobbyists", "history buffs", and "I wish I was a teenager forever" types who never like to see cars go away naturally.

Civic buyers maybe got CR-V's since gas prices are down. The Accord does have 'spiffs' this year to sell, since it is getting "totally re-done"* for 2008. * Not my words, but the hype

Fewer cheap rental car sales. But, GM and Ford have to get the word out that they don't just make "gas guzzlers" as the media says. Reports always say "Honda and Toyota gained sales due to thier fuel efficient products". As if all they make are 40MPG cars

"Impala Classic"? ewwww How about "Biscayne"? That was the fleet only big Chevy till 1972.

Prediction: Car and Driver will find some tiny interior part that 'feels cheap', and declare the whole car to be 'not as good as an Accord'. Another Prediciton: Should do well, and sell to many 'fence sitters' who are not totally "import only"