Camino LS6

You are a man of vision.

So Saturn and Pontiac would not be making headlines today. So GM would be constantly berated for not getting the cars to market in a timely fashion. So, it would be too late to matter. Producing these cars now is an investment in the future of two brands.

Hmm, C&G Garage Projects I like it!

Croc, if they had followed your advice, we still would be waiting for the Solstice and Sky. And the naysayers would be damning GM for taking so long. What we do have is hot sellers and a reason to expand the idea to a more ambitous program with KappaII. I'd say they made the right decision, at the right time.

Camino LS7? Hmmm

Since we have veered off topic in so many directions already, and I sense new value in this discussion, let me add some more tidbits. You brought up your current vehicle buying process, so I'll begin with the vehicles mentioned. Pilot: This is simply not a segment I care about, Honda,GM or otherwise. If I were to buy an SUV, it would be a full size, truck-based vehicle. SRX: This is an "almost" for me. I currently would like to buy a station wagon which the SRX resembles. I'm not really interested in the AWD capabilities, nor the luxury features, and am not in love with the styling. Add the silly pricetag and it's game over. The grand majority of all vehicles built do not appeal to me. I have always liked BMW 5series wagons, but I feel the price is unjustified. And I hate Bangle's styling.

Evok, I was only going to do the Q&A thing in this thread from here on in, but I had to respond to this post. Surprise! I agree almost entirely with this post. The disagreements are small and not worth going into. I too am an independent voter and will not compromise my choices to please a minority or majority interest. My choices are my own.

Avalon has to be the most ponderous thing Toyota builds. It looks like an old American boat slapped on a too narrow chassis. I'm no fan of Toyota, but nothing else they build has such oddball proportions. It seems like one strange case of Toyota trying to build a car by American design standards and failing miserably. Much like the domestics do when they attempt to build something in a Japanese fashion. This car is another example of why domestic and import brands alike should stick to their own design language.

Potent combination. I used to drive a 2wd extd. cab dually with that powertrain and it was amazing. Also it got better mileage than my 6.0 2500 4x4.

Expansion of DOD/AFM,flex fuel, and stand-alone alt. fuel options to a much wider range of vehicles.

I think we've reached the level at this point. An impasse is the result. I only hope we at least understand one another's positions a bit better. I will gladly answer any questions that "the opposition" may have for me, but I think I have stated my viewpoint well enough that it should be clear. I really do welcome questions and might want to ask a few of my own if we can all agree to restrict ourselves to the Q&A instead of re-stating our positions. It could be informative.

This is raw prediction, and pessimistic in tone. I simply choose to take a more optomistic view, that it is the beginning of a major resurgence in desireable product from GM.

The answer is many. I never said that I didn't like European cars - I do. I have an extreme affection for pre-Bangle 3 and 5 series BMWs and would happily buy a gently used example. I have spent some "quality time" driving 3s,5s, Jaguars,Porsches,and Ferraris. I also happen to own a Maserati. Not a big Benz fan as they have always felt heavy and plodding to me and the electronic brakes on a SL500 are very disturbing. Here's what you are missing: I will not consider nor buy a car whose basic configuration is unappealing to me. That means no FWD,no4cyl.,no sedans (short of an ImpalaSS(94-96) or an M5),no hybrids,no v6s(with few exceptions), and no High-winders. Why would I buy something I don't want? In short, it is not the origin of the cars that is in question here. The asians simply don't make anything I would want. GM does and has. What I am saying about the type of car that will never appeal to me goes for GM products as well. While the Aura seems pretty well done, I'll never buy one or one of its competitors. Ditto the Cobalt,Impala,Lucerne and on down the line. I will not compromise my standards for the purchase of a new car and there is nothing from asia that meets those standards.

Not according to Lutz in his public statements.

So you've said. But honestly, why should I accept your analysis any more than that in the article? I have no reason to accept your assertions over theirs. I think I'll just be happy that the Kappas are a raging success which is drawing positive attention to GM, the doomsday machine be damned.

Tight budget. Hmm, how about a late 3rd gen Camaro RS with a 305 TBI? I know you are concerned about winter driving, but with the right tires it would be fine.

If modding is your thing, I recommend a '83-'88 Monte Carlo SS or other G-body *cough* El Camino*cough* they are still plentiful, cheap, and easy to mod. You did say you were considering RWD V8s.

Yes, you could get a salvage title for it. However, they don't really want to sell it to you. They will make more money parting it out - and might even still have the title and told you they didn't to get you to give up. It's not worth the fight.

I've been watching a '70-'72 Corvette convertible sit outside under a ratty old tarp since about 1997. Left them a note once- no reply. Burns me up.

I got lost in some old threads that lead me to this one, I still want to do this project. Guess I had better get off my butt and sell some of my cars.

It's here: http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...?showtopic=6709

So, I'm guessing that there are no dry towels left in your house at this point.

Been there more times than I can count,Dodge. And your first car is always special. SHHH, don't tell anyone, but my first car was a Dodge too.