Okay I hate to say it but this is the kind of stuff that is pulling GM performance fans to other brands. Especially the family and youth markets that still consider driving fun. http://www.mopar.com/street/products_srt4_stage3.htm http://www.dodge.com/srt/index.html 355 hp Neons from the Dealer. 425 hp Factory Charger SRT 8 's , Magnum SRT 8 's , and 300 SRT 8 's 415 hp Factory Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8 's Time to wake up GM engineering fossils. A family can't afford or fit into your only performance cars (GTO, Corvette, CTS-V, STS-V) and the youth can't afford them either. Okay I'am done. :Smarty: Pete
I agree with you 1000%. Unfortunatly you will now see the people that feel GM can do no wrong come into this thread and tell you how great GM performance is, and how theres plenty of vehicles to choose from if you want to go fast. All you have to do is buy a $60K Caddy or Vette and you'll be able to compete with the Neon. :error: :laugh: This is the reason why I have a WRX for a daily driver. The domestics do not produce anything close to it for what you get. FLAME SUIT ON!!! :TU:
So before the fire-storm comes I say my peace. I here ya. Although I am a big supporter of full-size GM Trucks and SUV's, I have owned many and I don't think you can beat them and as a mechanic I usually never see them except for regular maintance. My beef is with the GM car lines. Pete
Yep - Next family car purchase around here is likely to be a Magnum RT AWD. And when I drive by the chubby dealership on my way to Dodge I'll be yelling out the window "GM will screw you!"
Stage 1 I saw this emblem on the back of a PT cruiser yesterday and thought what is this all about. I see Mopar now has a Stage 1,2 and 3 package for the turbo cars.
It would be nice if GM would build a retro Camaro / Firebird with available big block, normally aspirated, rear wheel drive. How about a retro 442, GS, GTO? Who knows, maybe they would benefit from the retro / performance image enough to make it a reality. Don't underestimate the General. They may have plans.
GM just dont get the picture. They got rid of the Camaro and Firebird because the could not sell them. Then they make the GTO and cant sell them either...........GO figure!!! DUh The bottom line is Ford and Dodge are tearing them up when it comes to sales of there performance cars. Why would you buy a 32-34K GTO when you can by a Mustang GT for 24-25 and get a way better looking car. Yes the GTO is faster!!!! But by only 1 tenth in the 1/4 mile! Is the extra 6-8 K worth that? NO. I dont see WHY GM cant figure out they cant sell these type of cars for that much money. They are just to damn expensive in comparison to what the other makers are offering. Heck, The STI and Evolutions are in the price range of a GTO. But they run a heck of alot faster for the extra money! Plus they hold there value better. GM needs to get some sense on these type of cars and make something that will compete with a cheaper price tag!
They need the fossil engineers - you know, the people who designed the 50s and 60s cars. The newer engineers just don't get it.
what ever it is...... it had better have 2 door and rear drive :shock: rumor has it dodge is going to bring back the Challenger :Brow: in 09 if GM doesnt have their act together by then uzzled: .... I'll buy the hemidodge....... :Brow: The 05 GTO looks a lot better with the hood scoops and the tail pipes in the right spots :bglasses: the chevy motor in it still sux :shock: but I could live with it :boring: :sleep: I would have loved the car if it were a Chevelle SS :Brow: :bglasses: of coarse the price of gas will be a big factor when buying a car like that :rant:
I was at a meeting in Luxembourg the other day, and there was a club of American army men, stationed in Germany, all driving Neon's with Stage II goodies on them. I never saw a Stage II Neon before here in the Netherlands. Started talking to one of the owners and I was amazed to find out that there is a big aftermarket (and also a lot of stuff right from the dealers) for performance parts for cars like this.
I think GM is trying to get slimmed down My thought is that GM is trying to slim their product line down(hence to axe on Olds, mistake in my opinion). I really think Buick and Pontiac are next. The problem they ran into was consolidating the lines thinking it was saving money(and it was). What they ended up with was a bunch of look-a-like cars with different badges and trim. Hard to sell to the public when all joe public sees is the price(Wal-Mart mentality low price is best). GM makes bank lending money(ever heard of GMAC), and selling trucks. They are now in a crunch trying to support the pensions of the babyboom workers that retired from them(I guess that is why they cut the new rear drive platform they were working on to save money). If they can make the hump I think they will survive, anyone in business will tell you cashflow is very important to staying in business. Other wise the government may have to bail them out like they did the steel industry. I wouldn't buy a pontiac with a chevy motor(GTO), nor would I buy a Buick with a Chevy motor. Build a Gran Sport with a Buick engine and I'll be down to check it out. Rear wheel drive, two doors, and a useable rear seat please. A fuelie 350 buick would be just the ticket. 455 would be even better. Good Luck GM as I think you need to re evaluate. Rich
Horsepower ratings shmorsepower ratings. I'd think that Buick guys would know that a 370 hp rated car can take a 450 hp rated car just from 36 years of experience Anyone remember the Chrysler bailout? I say: if a car maker is tanking, let them DIE . It's called business and if GM can't pull their thumb out and make it work, they should have to close up shop. Competition is good for business and it's good for your wallet. I'd buy a new Mustang over ANY new GM, even a Vette. Ford saw the market and catered to it- just like they did in 1964! What's so hard to figure out? The US has all these car shows like American Hot Rod and folks obviously like cool cars. If GM designers are designing UN-cool cars, fire them!
I agree too! I don't see why they won't make a little sports car that people can afford and have diff. engine options with. They will sell many of them. All you can do is watch them get beaten up though. :spank:
By the time GM figures it out I will probably be too old to do any kind of driving. I think if any of you guys have ever been around the old Caddy engine 472 & 500 you will see that the LS1 engine and Caddy really look alike. If I were in the market for a new car I think I would buy a Mustang GT. I have a friend who bought one and for 24,000 it is a real nice car or a Dodge Charger. Man I can't believe I just said that.
The "H" word So I guess you can understand why I have a deposit down on a Charger SRT 8! Up till now I was hesitant to mention I would be driving a car with the "H" word but I need a family car that is fun to drive and what does GM have to offer? The GTO is nice on paper , 400 HP , 6 Speed, but it looks like a Grand Prix that mated with a Grand AM and gave birth to a defective G6. If it had been retro like the new Mustang, I would have jumped on it.
