 Buick Musings
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Learned Hand
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OP
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With other manufactures recently reviving old models (Charger, Camaro, Challenger)
Why is it that Buick doesn't borrow the 556 HP V8 from the Caddy CTS-V, and revive The Grand National?!
It was built off the Regal, and the Regal again exists...
No Market?
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Re: Buick Musings
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Maybe they think they will be selling to the same Camaro customer. I also always though they should bring back a proper looking GTO>
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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They are talking about a 2012 Buick Wildcat 
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Re: Buick Musings
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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A couple years ago and just before GM dropped the Pontiac brand, they were about to import a Holden Ute from their Australian subsidiary, slightly redesign the body and re-badge it as some sort of an updated "El Camino" named, I believe it was to be, the "G6".
(yeah, yeah, I know...a "PONTIAC El Camino"???!!!)
Well anyway, it appears those plans are now shelved since the demise of the Pontiac division. And so MY question here is: Why GM? Why didn't you go ahead with these plans, but now just name it the CHEVY El Camino?...which would have made MUCH more sense from the beginning anyway.
(...I mean, there has been many a time in the last couple decades in which I've heard from a lot of folks who have expressed interest in a revived El Camino...there might even be a few you around here who feel this way too, right?!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
A couple years ago and just before GM dropped the Pontiac brand, they were about to import a Holden Ute from their Australian subsidiary, slightly redesign the body and re-badge it as some sort of an updated "El Camino" named, I believe it was to be, the "G6".
(yeah, yeah, I know...a "PONTIAC El Camino"???!!!)
Well anyway, it appears those plans are now shelved since the demise of the Pontiac division. And so MY question here is: Why GM? Why didn't you go ahead with these plans, but now just name it the CHEVY El Camino?...which would have made MUCH more sense from the beginning anyway.
(...I mean, there has been many a time in the last couple decades in which I've heard from a lot of folks who have expressed interest in a revived El Camino...there might even be a few you around here who feel this way too, right?!)
I'm a 'Camino fan. LOVE the 68-72 bodies! I would've liked to see this one made available too...
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come; He will guide you in all truth:
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Never really understood why GM dropped Pontiac and Saturn, brands that appeal to the under 50 market, and kept Caddy and Buick, brands that appeal to the over 70 market. Their market share is dying.
I guess I get Caddy...but Buick?
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
I'm a 'Camino fan. LOVE the 68-72 bodies!
Oh yeah. You've got good taste, Rob. I too always thought that body was the best lookin' Caminos ever. Loved the "Sailback" look. Plus, with that "Sailback", there was a lot more storage area behind the seats than there was with any other of the Caminos.
In fact, from about 1999 to 2007, I had a '69, and I wish I wouldn't have sold it. However, it was gettin' pretty long-in-the-tooth and was needing a major restoration, and so I sold it a guy who really did it up right. It turned out beautifully.
And re that later model Impala-based El Camino pictured above...it must be a custom one-off there, eh?! Looks nicely done.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Oh, and Mike, and re this Buick concept: Quote:
They are talking about a 2012 Buick Wildcat
I like it...though I have to admit it kinda reminds me of a cross between a C2 Corvette Stingray and a Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky.
(...but that's not a bad thing)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Yeah, there was talk of (and apparently prototype of) a 1995 Impala SS based El Camino comeback. Sadly it didn't happen.
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come; He will guide you in all truth:
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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So, do you know if that is a GM factory concept there, or was it done by an aftermarket shop?
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I don't know. I just googled that pic because i remembered seeing it in a magazine back around that time.
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come; He will guide you in all truth:
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Jan 2005
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come; He will guide you in all truth:
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yeah John, cool! Good find. 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Never really understood why GM dropped Pontiac and Saturn, brands that appeal to the under 50 market, and kept Caddy and Buick, brands that appeal to the over 70 market. Their market share is dying.
I guess I get Caddy...but Buick?
I was told once that the Buick brand had better value outside the U.S. than Pontiac's and GM's plan was to position Buick for export. Of course that was several years ago and the economy may have shelved those plans.
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Quote:
Quote:
Never really understood why GM dropped Pontiac and Saturn, brands that appeal to the under 50 market, and kept Caddy and Buick, brands that appeal to the over 70 market. Their market share is dying.
I guess I get Caddy...but Buick?
I was told once that the Buick brand had better value outside the U.S. than Pontiac's and GM's plan was to position Buick for export. Of course that was several years ago and the economy may have shelved those plans.
I think you're right about the export thing, Steve. From what I've heard from a number of different sources, Buicks are selling very well over in China at the moment.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
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Quote:
They are talking about a 2012 Buick Wildcat
Wait a minute! I recognise that ass ....
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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Yeah, I knew I'd seen that somewhere.... 
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Quote:
With other manufactures recently reviving old models (Charger, Camaro, Challenger)
Why is it that Buick doesn't borrow the 556 HP V8 from the Caddy CTS-V, and revive The Grand National?!
It was built off the Regal, and the Regal again exists...
No Market?
I'd say forget the Grand National and revive the Gran Sport name. A 1970 Buick GS Stage-1 was one of the fastest and coolest cars That I ever got to drive, belonged to a friend of mine.
Looked just like this one:
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I liked the Skylark GS, a friend of mine had one but it had all the chrome trim on it too. The fender slits and the chrome that ran on the arch that swooped from the fender across the door. his was red and I think a 69 but not sure of the year. The 69 Tornado would be cool too! My dad had one with a 455 in it.  
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Buick Musings
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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I believe that car was called a Toronado, not Tornado.
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Re: Buick Musings
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep Ian, Chet's right. You left out a non-superfluous "o" in Toronado there!  (...oh, and if that B&W picture on the left up there was your Dad's car, then that was a '67 Toronado...I can tell 'cause the '66's[first year] disappearing headlight covers were not totally flush with the surrounding fascia like the '67s[and that above pic], and in '68[and '69], GM made the front end of the car much heavier[and not as nice looking, in my opinion] by designing a large wraparound chrome bumper on 'em)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Yep, I always look for the "egg crate" grill to distinguish the '66 from the '67, but the headlights are a good tell also.
If Ian's dad's car had a 455, it was a '68 or later. The '66 and '67 had the 425 (Which was a great engine BTW).
The same friend who had the GS also had a '66 and a '70 Toronado.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I remember as a kid walking past a newsstand and spotting a "Motor Trend" with the new '66 Toronado on its cover and thinking..."Wow! The future has arrived!". And then, about a month later when I spotted the first one out on the streets, I was not let down at all. I still think it a great lookin' car to this day.
In fact, there's a guy around town here who has one that he's painted a metallic purple(yeah, I know...but somehow it looks pretty nice on this car), and he shows it at some of the local car shows and cruise-ins.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Our fascination with the Toronado might have something to do with our love of sprocket/chain drive. I always marvelled at the Toronado's FWD set-up - but I never really trusted it pulling all that weight. An unwarranted concern obviously.
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep Steve. I've heard GM's early attempts at FWD, such as those on the Toronado and the Eldorado(another car I thought was a nice lookin' and clean design, especially the '67s and '68s) were somewhat "fragile".
(...and maybe the reason you don't see all that many of 'em anymore, and maybe why they aren't especially high-priced collectables if they've survived at all)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: May 2011
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I am quite happy with my 2010 Hemi orange Challenger R/T. I always was a Mopar guy from as far back as 1963. Took a detour to Mustang in 1966 after I got out of the army, but was soon back in the fold. That Buick looks nice, I gotta say.
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Re: Buick Musings
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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I dunno, that TH 425 with the chain drive held up pretty well in my experience. And that's with around 500 lb-ft of torque too. I was a mechanic at an Olds dealer in the late '70s, and never saw any problems with the chain drive. The axles? Different story 
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Buick Musings
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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That Toronado was a very cool car. My best friend in high school got hold of an insurance check after his dad's death and had two cars, a '70 Charger with a 426 Hemi piped thru dual quads and a '71 RoadRunner with a 440 six pack. He was obviously a Mopar guy, too. I loved that Charger. Sitting next to them in the driveway, his cousin had a Shelby GT 500 with a 428 Super Cobra Jet LeMans. We lived in a small town in Indiana. I can only imagine what that collection would be worth now.
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Re: Buick Musings
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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If they are going to make a retro car, Chrysler should extend the 300 Hemi about 9 inches behind the front doors, put on a modified Challenger grill, nicey up the body lines, soften and quiet down the suspension and call it a New Yorker. The problem with nearly all cars these days is that they have greatly increased road noise while trying to get a "sporty" feel. A relatively large family saloon should not be sporty, it should be very quiet and ride like a Packard.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
They are talking about a 2012 Buick Wildcat
Nice. The Grand National would be sweet too. 
Buick makes a very good car.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
...A relatively large family saloon should not be sporty, it should be very quiet and ride like a Packard.
...unless its made in Germany and has a three-pointed star sittin' above its grill, or maybe an insignia that resembles a rotating A/C prop, OR maybe an insignia that kinda sorta resembles the Olympic Games logo.
And THEN, said "large family saloon" can be "sporty", "quiet" and plush. Or, in other words, the BEST of all possible worlds.
(...but yeah, those Krautmobiles certainly don't come cheap at all...but then again, has anybody priced a nice used Packard lately?...well, other than those early '50s models that look like a pregnant Kaiser/Nash...you can get one o' THOSE for a song 'cause nobody wants 'em!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Oh, I forgot to add one of those "sporty, quiet and plush" relatively large family saloons to that list...AND they're EVEN made HERE in the good ol' U.S. of A.: The latest line of Cadillac sedans.
(...though that straight-edge style still hasn't entirely wormed its way into my cold cold little heart)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
If they are going to make a retro car, Chrysler should extend the 300 Hemi about 9 inches behind the front doors, put on a modified Challenger grill, nicey up the body lines, soften and quiet down the suspension and call it a New Yorker. The problem with nearly all cars these days is that they have greatly increased road noise while trying to get a "sporty" feel. A relatively large family saloon should not be sporty, it should be very quiet and ride like a Packard.
Man, that Chrysler 300 is , IMHO, just about the ugliest car I've ever seen. It look like a cross between a showbox and a beetle.
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Re: Buick Musings
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Now wait a sec here, Chet! The 300 is "a cross between a shoebox and a beetle", ya say?!
Okay, while I might grant you that the 300(a loose take on the mid-60s Imperials) are a little "shoebox-ish", but where exactly does the VW Beetle "teardrop" element come into play?
Actually, I think Chrysler's stylists did a fairly nice job with the recent 300s.
And now if only Chrysler could get their long-term quality reports moved from down where they've been for that last few decades(perennially at or near the bottom) to up near the top, then maybe more folks might buy them!
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Buick Musings
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Just me. Not my cup-o-tea.
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