Random Car Facts

[RandomCarGuy17]

Of those Holden, Opel, and Vauxhall are not sold in GMs home market of the US.

Yup, because some of their cars are sold here already under other badges.

The current gen Holden Commodore will be sold here as the Chevrolet SS Sedan and the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia is sold here as a Buick Regal. I also think there were about 3 opel models sold here as Saturns before GM dropped Saturn and Pontiac (I miss pontiac).

 

[Slash]

The Ford Pinto was actually proven as safe as, if not safer, than other cars coming out at the time. There was actually very few confirmed deaths from that car, of the 30+ million sold, only 27 deaths were ever recorded. Other cars with similar sales figures have many more deaths.

(I miss pontiac).

I also miss Pontiac, it was my favorite GM line, with Oldsmobile and Buick following close behind.

 

[Badasp5.0]

I also miss Pontiac, it was my favorite GM line, with Oldsmobile and Buick following close behind.

+1 Pontiac should have lived they should have brought both the GTO and G8 here years before they did. IMHO GMC should have died, I lothe the "duplicate truck" brand.

 

[Slash]

+1 Pontiac should have lived they should have brought both the GTO and G8 here years before they did. IMHO GMC should have died, I lothe the "duplicate truck" brand.

From a $ standpoint, it made sense to let them go though. GMC brought in a lot more than Pontiac and Olds. I agree about the GTO and G8. Would have been interesting to see a 1980s GTO.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I wish they had killed off GMC instead. I mean, all the vehicles GMC makes can be had as Chevrolets anyway, so why not keep the sportier Pontiacs?

 

[Badasp5.0]

From a $ standpoint, it made sense to let them go though. GMC brought in a lot more than Pontiac and Olds. I agree about the GTO and G8. Would have been interesting to see a 1980s GTO.

From a bean counter point of view sure there is a massive case and major sales but damn it killed GMs most interesting brand right when they were getting awesome cars.

I wish they had killed off GMC instead. I mean, all the vehicles GMC makes can be had as Chevrolets anyway, so why not keep the sportier Pontiacs?

+1

Anyone who cares or dislikes GM should read Lutz's book "car guys vs bean counters" its a good read about how stupid and backwards GM really was/is.

 

[White & Nerdy]

I almost agree about GMC. Once upon a time, they might have served a purpose, but now they're just luxed-up Chevies and a couple of expensive, ugly me-too luxury crossovers.

Apparently they almost cut Buick instead/as well, but China <3 Buicks so it made sense to keep them. And that's why they're about to insult the Grand National and GNX nameplates by putting them on the new Regal, instead of working on building an all-RWD brand.

 

[Badasp5.0]

. Would have been interesting to see a 1980s GTO.

Yep GM should have not wasted the time and BILLIONS on producing that horrible W-body FWD sedan platform and just brought over RWD.

 

[Joey D]

Yep GM should have not wasted the time and BILLIONS on producing that horrible W-body FWD sedan platform and just brought over RWD.

You realize most people that buy cars like that don't care which wheels are powered. If GM didn't see an economical reason to make RWD cars, I'm sure they had some research to back it up.

 

[Slash]

Yep GM should have not wasted the time and BILLIONS on producing that horrible W-body FWD sedan platform and just brought over RWD.

Amen to that. What a mistake.

You realize most people that buy cars like that don't care which wheels are powered. If GM didn't see an economical reason to make RWD cars, I'm sure they had some research to back it up.

A lot worse BS came from them when the switch was made. While your point is valid, it did also anger a lot of enthusiasts, and continues to.

 

[Badasp5.0]

Amen to that. What a mistake.

And to think GM killed the Grand National for that.

You realize most people that buy cars like that don't care which wheels are powered. If GM didn't see an economical reason to make RWD cars, I'm sure they had some research to back it up.

Very true but that platform was horrible and wasn't that cost effective it was a $7 Billion dollar program and that was back in the '80s.

 

[Slash]

And to think GM killed the Grand National for that.

It is almost a blessing though, because it increased their value that much more. Depends on how you look at it. Yeah it would have been nice for a longer production run but even still.

 

[Joey D]

A lot worse BS came from them when the switch was made. While your point is valid, it did also anger a lot of enthusiasts, and continues to.

There was literally zero reason for GM to cater to enthusiasts when they were making their mid-sized sedans.

Very true but that platform was horrible and wasn't that cost effective it was a $7 Billion dollar program and that was back in the '80s.

It wasn't cost effective? The platform lasted nearly 20 years.

 

[Badasp5.0]

There was literally zero reason for GM to cater to enthusiasts when they were making their mid-sized sedans.

It wasn't cost effective? The platform lasted nearly 20 years.

If you look at it as a whole yes it was but for the 1st few years they lost money on every car they sold on that platform. My point is GM could have used a Holden RWD platform instead and all the engendering would have been already paid for so that $7 billion would not have to be spent.

 

[Slash]

If you look at it as a whole yes it was but for the 1st few years they lost money on every car they sold on that platform. My point is GM could have used a Holden RWD platform instead and all the engendering would have been already paid for so that $7 billion would not have to be spent.

Right, and on top of that only having to invest very little in an already well established platform to upgrade it slowly over the next decade. But oh remember, Buick can never be better than it's bigger brother Chevy according to GM.

 

[Badasp5.0]

Right, and on top of that only having to invest very little in an already well established platform to upgrade it slowly over the next decade. But oh remember, Buick can never be better than it's bigger brother Chevy according to GM.

Other way around Buick and Olds(RIP) were to be stepping stone higher from Chevy with Cadillac being on the top of the brand. I cannot recall if Buick or Olds was "higher".

 

[Joey D]

If you look at it as a whole yes it was but for the 1st few years they lost money on every car they sold on that platform. My point is GM could have used a Holden RWD platform instead and all the engendering would have been already paid for so that $7 billion would not have to be spent.

GM probably had a logical reason not to use it since I'm sure if it would have made sense, they would have. Judging by how bad the two more recent examples of Australian platforms failed in America, I'm going to guess the W-body would have had a similar fate.

And, like most businesses, new platforms or concepts often don't make money right away.

Right, and on top of that only having to invest very little in an already well established platform to upgrade it slowly over the next decade. But oh remember, Buick can never be better than it's bigger brother Chevy according to GM.

I think more engineering would have gone into than you think. Australian platforms are engineered for RHD, not LHD, and they are beefier due to the rough nature of much of the Australian continent.

 

[RDF97]

Samsung makes cars.

Got a pic of that? In a way I don't believe you.

 

[Joey D]

Got a pic of that? In a way I don't believe you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Samsung_Motors

 

[Slash]

I think more engineering would have gone into than you think. Australian platforms are engineered for RHD, not LHD, and they are beefier due to the rough nature of much of the Australian continent.

You are probably right. I just seems like an wasted effort but clearly it wasn't.

 

[Doog]

In 1977, the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 retailed for nearly $40,000. This is just over $154,000 in 2013 dollars.

The Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI was named the meanest vehicle to the environment in a Forbes study in 2007.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

In 1977, the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 retailed for nearly $40,000. This is just over $154,000 in 2013 dollars.

The 2013 S600 starts at $160,000. The more things change...

 

[Slash]

In 1977, the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 retailed for nearly $40,000. This is just over $154,000 in 2013 dollars.

That's an increase of 285%. By that, a 1965 Mustang 2+2 Fastback with a 289 V8, which retailed at $2,533, would cost, in 2013 dollars, $9,750. That's still freaking dirt cheap, at least by todays standards.

 

[Sage Ages]

That's an increase of 285%. By that, a 1965 Mustang 2+2 Fastback with a 289 V8, which retailed at $2,533, would cost, in 2013 dollars, $9,750. That's still freaking dirt cheap, at least by todays standards.

Actually, it would be $18,770. Still cheap as hell.

 

[Slash]

Actually, it would be $18,770. Still cheap as hell.

Punch in $2,533.19 with a 285% increase on this calculator. You can't possibly tell me that it's wrong lol. I have no idea where $19,000 came from.

http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/calpcent.htm

 

[Sage Ages]

Punch in $2,533.19 with a 285% increase on this calculator. You can't possibly tell me that it's wrong lol. I have no idea where $19,000 came from.

http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/calpcent.htm

You wouldn't buy a 1965 Mustang for $2533.19 in 1977 either. You'd buy it for whatever that was in 1977 dollars.

 

[Slash]

You wouldn't buy a 1965 Mustang for $2533.19 in 1977 either.

True, I forgot to factor that in. So I guess the percentage of increase would rise. Silly me.

 

[Badasp5.0]

I think more engineering would have gone into than you think. Australian platforms are engineered for RHD, not LHD, and they are beefier due to the rough nature of much of the Australian continent.

IIRC alot of Australian cars are sold in the mideast as well which is a LHD market but anyways your probably right. Except there is a ton of rough places in the US, just come to NM Good debate.

 

[RDF97]

In 1977, the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 retailed for nearly $40,000. This is just over $154,000 in 2013 dollars.

The Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI was named the meanest vehicle to the environment in a Forbes study in 2007.

"Meanest"?

 

[Doog]

"Meanest"?

Their words, not mine. It got the worst score of any vehicle for sale at the time for environmental impact.