GM s car guy is betting Americans want to feel proud of their vehicles

Union Leader ^ | Apr 18 2002 | George Will

[AppyPappy]

I drive a 95 Lincoln Continental now. If it were rear wheel drive, 6 speed manual with a bigger trunk, it would be about perfect. You can cruise at 80 like it's 55.

[StockAyatollah]

And they are made by UAW union thugs who vote DemoRAT. I'm sticking with Jap cars.

[1Old Pro]

German cars are the best.

[general_re]

He hardly EVER takes it out ...

Now that's just not right. These things are for driving - they aren't museum pieces. I don't know if I'd spend much time on the street with it, but if I could afford one, you can bet I'd be plunking down some cash at the local track pretty regularly. Hell, give me a nice big piece of land and I'll build my own road course for the thing.

McLaren had one that was clocked at 240 mph, for crying out loud. But I'd have to verify that for myself, to make sure I got my money's worth. No limey carmaker is gonna stiff me ;)

[Biblebelter]

George Will could explore this thing further by writing about Ford's former CEO Jacque Nasser. He could have been called the non-car guy. It has been alleged that while bringing this once great company to its knees(check stock price), Nasser neglected the product while nobly attempting to change the corporate culture. For whatever reasons, Ford has a big hole to dig out of because of Nasser's mismanagement.

[Registered]

My personal favorite.

"Go ahead punk...hit me in the trunk"

[boris]

I still don't trust Chrysler but I have to admit their stylists are on to something.

I drive a 97 Nissan Maxima, very reliable.

But I fantasize about Beamers, Audis, and Porsches.

Oh well.

--Boris

[uglybiker]

...1968 Dodge Charger w/440 hemi (Ahh, those were the days).

Must've been since Chrysler never made a 440 hemi.

[Benrand]

Have an Uncle who had a 300 with the big motor. He looked like Mario Andretti, the car was a white convertible. Sweet ride.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Most of you are missing the point of the article. The biggest problem for GM in the past 30 years has been their product is just plain bland. This is starting to change. I owned GM product in the last 20 years and yes the quality was lacking. The leadership has been the problem. Most of the exec's were bean counters. They now have a "car guy" heading design. If they can do the same for engineering and quality control GM may actually get their act together!

How many of you know that Toyota's quality was so HORRIBLE when the cars were first brought into the US they had to be pulled from the market? People went back to the showroom because the cars got better. Everyone is judging GM today based on cars they bought years ago. Let's see how they do NOW.

BTW, that BMW Z3? It was designed in California, largely by Americans!

[pjd]

I already have my dream car.

It's a 57 Chevy two-door Handyman wagon (BelAirized) with a mostly chromed 375-horse 327 Corvette engine and trans. Wanted one since I was a kid. Got it three years ago.

(sory I don't have a way to post a picture)

When ever anyone asks me about what I want in a car, I always say that transportation and reliability do not figure into the equation. Cars are toys, and all I care about is how good it will perform in the games I want to play with it.

Period.

[2Trievers]

Thanks 1OP ... and the best of those still remains ... *wink"

[2Trievers]

He had it up to 160mph on a stretch where he knew we wouldn't be clocked ... heart stopping! Effortless power! HOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH &;-)

[pjd]

Actually, I already own several `dream cars'. All toys.

A 63 Mini Cooper 1275
A 67 Morgan +4
A 72 Maserati Bi-Turbo
A 93 Jeep Wrangler (with about $8000 of modifications)
A 57 Chevy HotRod wagon.

They are all toys and they all get played with.

[2Trievers]

Where are you ... Mr. "Need for Speed"?????????? Hugs, 2T &;-)

[AFreeBird]

A blonde in a short skirt whose vocabulary does not include the word "no". ;o)

YES!

I like the way you think.