skunk
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Post by skunk on Apr 13, 2005 19:35:57 GMT 1
All I'll say is this: The 2005 Buick Le Crosse, this dramatic new car that is going to save Buick, looks just like the dramatic new 1997 Ford Taurus. Good Luck I cant brag about having discovered the similarity between the Buick LaCrosse and Jumba from "Lilo and Stitch" (AutoWeek did), but here are the pics anyways: The LaCrosse looks like a pregnant Taurus...
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Markus
Junior Member
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Post by Markus on Apr 13, 2005 21:53:35 GMT 1
I am getting the X-files feeling Unbelivible meeting. This Buick can make his career only as a chocolade-egg give away. Not even a scrap metal dealer can be interested on it.
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stanhas87
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1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
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Post by stanhas87 on Apr 13, 2005 22:51:56 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
The Taurus hold still the 11th place is sales according to Bill C's list - fleets and all. Perhaps the game would be more at its favour if the La Crosse would be rwd. As I heard,that is the factor that is making the Chrysler 300 a good seller.
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BillC
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Post by BillC on Apr 16, 2005 9:40:44 GMT 1
Dear Sirs: The Taurus hold still the 11th place is sales according to Bill C's list - fleets and all. Perhaps the game would be more at its favour if the La Crosse would be rwd. As I heard,that is the factor that is making the Chrysler 300 a good seller. That, and the Hemi The LaCrosse actually had a pretty good month in March, Of course, GM is now offering a lease on the LaCrosse, Cobalt and G6 that allows you to return the car after a year with no penalty other than losing your $1500 deposit. That tells me things are really heading south at the Renaissance Center. Funny thing is, everyone is saying GM will get all better next year, when its new pickups and big SUVs are rolled out. Guess nobody told GM the market for the big 'uns isn't quite what it used to be. Bill C. Bill C.
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Post by cfesmire on Apr 16, 2005 13:59:04 GMT 1
This from the "for what it's worth" files. I recently listened to some so-called automotive "experts" on the radio (this word is so often used by the self proclaimed) that were espousing the decline of GM. Their thoughts were that GM is far too big to take it all the way to the dumpers but that they would eventually get out of the car business altogether and concentrate on other things. GM happens to be heavily invested in the food processing and financial businesses.
Cum grano salus
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stanhas87
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1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Apr 16, 2005 16:56:41 GMT 1
That, and the Hemi Funny thing is, everyone is saying GM will get all better next year, when its new pickups and big SUVs are rolled out. Guess nobody told GM the market for the big 'uns isn't quite what it used to be. Bill C. Bill C. Dear Sirs: With the fantastic gas prices,the SUV is a item to avoid - unless one is 'loaded'. And is still going on: while GM has all kinds of pick ups and SUV's, Ford F150 pick up is still a best seller and the latter do not have this many truck models.
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Markus
Junior Member
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Post by Markus on Apr 18, 2005 20:14:46 GMT 1
Dear Markus: Love to hear that;I can see a share of old cars going by around here. Another interesting modern classic should be the 1991-1992 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser Station Wagon or Kombi if you prefer. Only 4000 of these were made and were built on a two year period. When one of these is avaliable,it disappears quickly. Nick K Its funny, that allways combis has a lot of friends. I`d like to turn my `90 Town Car into an Combi. Like "Pimp my car" but we dont have such an scene here. If i find a Lincoln Town Car as a model, i wanna try it out.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Apr 18, 2005 23:18:04 GMT 1
Its funny, that allways combis has a lot of friends. I`d like to turn my `90 Town Car into an Combi. Like "Pimp my car" but we dont have such an scene here. If i find a Lincoln Town Car as a model, i wanna try it out. Dear Markus: Avaliable models: 1990 version. 1/64, from Jada Toys (I do not know if this brand reaches Europe). If I am not wrong (I will check) BS Design has a 1980's version. Nick K
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Post by Christian on Apr 19, 2005 10:07:04 GMT 1
Someone open a Lancia thread and we have everything covered on the closing down sector ... What's the deal with the Buick Lucerne? It looks rather similar to the LaCrosse to my untrained European eyes.
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BillC
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Post by BillC on Apr 19, 2005 14:14:38 GMT 1
What's the deal with the Buick Lucerne? It looks rather similar to the LaCrosse to my untrained European eyes. Think Jumbaa with glasses... ;D The Lucerne is due this Fall and will offer an optional V8 engine.
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BillC
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Post by BillC on Apr 19, 2005 14:22:58 GMT 1
This from the "for what it's worth" files. I recently listened to some so-called automotive "experts" on the radio (this word is so often used by the self proclaimed) that were espousing the decline of GM. Their thoughts were that GM is far too big to take it all the way to the dumpers but that they would eventually get out of the car business altogether and concentrate on other things. GM happens to be heavily invested in the food processing and financial businesses. Cum grano salus Cum magno grano salus! The estimate I saw today was 20,000 jobs cut, 4 plants closed and one brand (preferably Buick) dropped to allow GM to shrink to their current market share. I decided long ago that most financial analysts only live up to half their title (the first four letters). Lacking any concept of why GM's salvation will only come from regaining market share, or the imagination to conceive of making money by increasing sales, the pundits want to cut, cut, cut until there is nothing left except the financial groups. Cutting your way to prosperity is like amputating your way to good health. Sooner or later, you're going to chop something you'll miss.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Apr 19, 2005 16:57:57 GMT 1
Cum magno grano salus! The estimate I saw today was 20,000 jobs cut, 4 plants closed and one brand (preferably Buick) dropped to allow GM to shrink to their current market share. I decided long ago that most financial analysts only live up to half their title (the first four letters). Lacking any concept of why GM's salvation will only come from regaining market share, or the imagination to conceive of making money by increasing sales, the pundits want to cut, cut, cut until there is nothing left except the financial groups. Cutting your way to prosperity is like amputating your way to good health. Sooner or later, you're going to chop something you'll miss. Dear Bill: Sorry, I can not help being confused here: didn't Bob Lutz stated that no more divisions will be shaved? Nick K
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skunk
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Post by skunk on Apr 19, 2005 22:01:55 GMT 1
Lacking any concept of why GM's salvation will only come from regaining market share, or the imagination to conceive of making money by increasing sales, the pundits want to cut, cut, cut until there is nothing left except the financial groups. Cutting your way to prosperity is like amputating your way to good health. Sooner or later, you're going to chop something you'll miss. Thank you Bill. Only product will save an ailing corporation - look at VW in the early seventies, the Golf and the Passat saved them. Chrysler used the K-car to good effect, Mazda salvaged their existence with the 323 after the oil crisis hurt them bad. The best example of the effects of an "amputation policy" seems to be BL, who pruned so efficiently back in the seventies... I suppose GM could do very nicely without Buick. But the problem is GMs lack of direction. The same thing happened with Oldsmobile; the Bravada had just been introduced when the announcement was made. Clearly one hand doesnt know what the other is doing, which adds up to a huge waste of resources. If the Bravada had been introduced as a Buick instead, maybe Buick would have been healthy today, and shutting Oldsmobile down would have cost GM a lot less. This slow bleeding followed by death is a very costly process. At least when DC decided to axe Plymouth, they didn't keep introducing new models until the last - all that was lost was badge engineered versions of the Neon, Voyager and Stratus (I will ignore the small series Prowler). But instead of acting decisively, GM waffles, allowing for rumours of impending doom for Buick while spending lots of cash presenting new models. Maybe GM would do better with only four brands, but only if they make a decision and stick to it, and stop changing leadership and direction every six months.
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BillC
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Post by BillC on Apr 20, 2005 8:25:03 GMT 1
Chester's earlier comments notwithstanding, if GM were to shed a division, it should be Saturn.
Unlike Buick, Saturn has never returned a real operating profit. Other than the ION, which wouldn't be missed, all of Saturn's current products are rebadged versions of other GM vehicles.
In addition, Buick's position in the GM hierarchy allows for the production and sale of more profitable vehicles instead of competing in the tough entry-level segment with companies that can build a better car for the same money.
This is not to say GM should axe Saturn. Many of Saturn's problems can be directly traced to GM's starving it for new product and some of the worst interiors in the industry (directly attributable to foolish penny-pinching). The upcoming Sky roadster and the new sedan I saw look better than any product Saturn has ever had. I had a chance to talk to Jill Lajdziak, the head of Saturn, and she realizes what Saturn needs and is doing her best to try to get it.
If you look at the history of the auto industry, you will find time after time where GM set the pace that everyone else followed. Beautiful styling and technological advancements kept customers coming back and gave General Motors over half of all light vehicle sales in the U.S.
For far too many years, GM has looked for the cheap way to do things, keeping designs and technology long after it was surpassed by its competitors and living off its past glories.
Right now, GM has the money and it can get the talent to turn itself around. But it means making a real break with the practices of the past quarter-century.
GM desperately needs to tell Wall Street to screw off, taking the company private if need be. Its assets far outweigh its market cap and I think investors and carbuyers would be excited by a revitalized General Motors focused on reclaiming its postion of leadership in the auto industry.
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Post by superba on Apr 20, 2005 15:06:42 GMT 1
Don't forget those great Buicks made and sold in China, production will soon surpass US production. Buick is the second best selling car next to VW. It is also precieved as more upscale to the VW. VW's are seen as being rural farm vehicles.
I don't believe that the Buick name will exit simply due to the fact that when you are running second in the fastest growing market in the world , you don't kill the brand.
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