- 1,948
Here are pics of the New 5.7L Gen III Ponitac GTO.
http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/*query?gto&source=all
http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/*query?gto&source=all
vat_man, any statement I make about auto design, you may disregard. According to me, the Aztek is inoffensive, the 350Z is horrible, the original Vectra is beautiful and a missed opportunity for GM in the US, the first WRX was striking and pleasant, and the (Mazda) Tribute is one of the best-looking cars for sale in this country. Oh, and I think the All Sport Mazda MPV 4WD was one of the better-looking cars ever sold.Originally posted by vat_man
You called the Monaro ugly? You have a vision problem - see an optometrist.
I seem to recall you describing some very unattractive SUVs attractive - bad trend, big fella...
Oh - I think we have some common ground here, if you're referring to this Vectra:Originally posted by M5Power
vat_man, any statement I make about auto design, you may disregard. According to me, the Aztek is inoffensive, the 350Z is horrible, the original Vectra is beautiful and a missed opportunity for GM in the US, the first WRX was striking and pleasant, and the (Mazda) Tribute is one of the best-looking cars for sale in this country. Oh, and I think the All Sport Mazda MPV 4WD was one of the better-looking cars ever sold.
Originally posted by The Vanishing Boy
What GM is doing right now to survive is giving that zero-zero-zero incentives on customers, and later on, they will suffer for the utterly poor resale value of their vehicles.
Originally posted by vat_man
Oh - I think we have some common ground here, if you're referring to this Vectra:
I had this model (in CD trim, the one pictured is a GL, but the colour's right) - I thought it was a very attractive mid-sizer.
First WRX - yeah, not bad - basic shape of the first Impreza was good, just the details need cleaning up, most of the issues were addressed by the WRX (I detest that 'roll-over bonnet - you either have a grille or not - you don't shape the car to have a grille and then don't!)
Re the others - I'd be hard pressed to pick an SUV I like - the Aztec shots that I've seen (not having seen the car in real life) show a car with a mismatch of angles and Korean-amateur detailing.
And if the Mazda you refer to is this...
...a duller vehicle I could not imagine - except maybe a Toyota Camry....
Originally posted by vat_man
Funny you should mention that - we took a beating on the resale of the Little Silver Rocket. Hopefully they don't screw up the new Legacy/Liberty
Zero zero zero is the worst move ever, in the history of automobiles. Ever. Because not only did GM still lose loads of money by doing this cheap car crap, but now everyone has a new car and doesn't want another. No-one at GM thought through 0-0-0 at all.Originally posted by The Vanishing Boy
Vat_man, it is only affected by the stupid 0-0-0 are the US GM cars not the Aussie cars.
Originally posted by M5Power
Yep -- I loved that car. Probably just because I didn't see them every day, though. When I went to England in 1999 I was delighted to see them everywhere. Strangely, I'm not a Mondeo fan the same way.
...and the basic feeling of people worldwide was that it was growing on them. A redesign, in my opinion, was completely un-necessary.
I'd be hard-pressed to find an SUV, minivan, truck, or family sedan that I truly dislike. I find beauty in the 'form follows function' rule, and if you've even been in an Aztek you know that it has one of the most functional interiors ever (ugly, but functional) for an 'active' lifestyle (which I do not have).
Are you nuts!? Look at the great two-tone, the wonderful wheels, and the perfect archiecture over from the windshield on...[/B]
Originally posted by vat_man
We test drove one in the run up to buying the Vectra - awful.
The facelifted model is meant to be a big step - and actually looks pretty good.
3) No - I'm pretty comfortable with my position
Originally posted by M5Power
No question it's better, but the facelift was costly and, in my opinion, too early. The car was SELLING!
Originally posted by vat_man
Oh - look, I agree. I have a sneaking thought that the facelift was driven by the rally team. In Australia, every model except the WRX had sales well up on the prior model - and we're talking very significant double digit figures here.
The thing is - WRX was one third of Subaru sales here - so if they're down - Subaru listens.
Originally posted by M5Power
[B Frankly, I think they're doing a good job by staying ahead of the pack -- they keep it inoffensive, well-priced, and loaded with stuff, and they didn't want to become controversial now. But if they had listened to me, they would've just promoed it more. After all, people like other bug-eyed cars. [/B]
Originally posted by vat_man
I think the new one will sell up an absolute storm. Much as we'd hate to be proven wrong, I think the new one will be huge hit - the road test reviews indicate they've fixed the understeer and mid-range torque issues from the prior model - I think people who were thinking of the old one will sit in the new one and change their minds.
Originally posted by M5Power
Both are ugly