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Detroit, 12:26 PM
Fri Dec 11
28 posts in the last 24 hours
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03/19/09
I really hope that 40 miles isn't an "up to" ideal case. When this thing launches and most people see 20 miles on E-only, there's going to be some backlash.
I also hope GM's doing some snooping or speculating or something about where the Prius and Insight (and whoever else) are going to be 2-4 years after the Volt launches.
My fear is that GM's going to put all this development into the Volt 1.0 of 2010.5, but it will be usurped by something in 2012, with GM still 5 years away from Volt 2.0.
03/18/09
03/19/09
I forget what the pre-nest page limit was...100?
03/18/09
Sucks that it's going to take so long to get the Cruze to market. I'm hoping it eats the Civic.
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03/18/09
...And I personally requested 'Puppetry of the Penis', but for some reason Ray declined to oblige...
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03/18/09
The_J0k3r: Why so serious?
03/18/09
Wankelin'
03/18/09
As for globalizing its offerings..
Saturn and Pontiac dont mean anything outside of the U.S
And the cars are already in other parts of the world.
As for more badge engineering...
Check out the Holden Volt, the Opel Ampera and even Caddy is getting one.
So as you see.. there is no difference in one lump of crap from GM.. as long as their is some cheap shit badge on the hood or tail of that dirtbucket, do ya know its really not worth shit.
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03/18/09
...fun till your friends catch you riding one
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03/19/09
1) If it's small enough to be a one-person car, but big enough to have crush zones all around, then people will wonder why something with room for 2 or 3 only has 1 seat.
2) The 1-2 seater market is already pretty well served by motorcycles.
3) (This is the big one) I think in the US market, there's a "floor" to what can really sell in the new car market. Smarts are overpriced, but even if they weren't, they'd compete with very nice 2-3 year old Civics or Corollas.
For most people, "tiny" isn't that much of a feature, and the marginal increase in mileage over "real cars" isn't going to justify it either.
Having said all of that, I'd love for the Smart Roadster to make a comeback. I do a 45mi one-way commute, all on 80mph freeways. If someone took the "city car" idea and turned it on its side to make a "super-commuter", I'd be interested. 45-50mpg at 80mph, in a remotely sporty package, please?
03/19/09
No wait - I meant there's only one seat actually occupied. My bad!
I also have a long commute - it's 23.2mi door-to-door for my leg, then the wife takes the car the rest of the way, for about a 45mi total for her part. She has to shuttle around during the day, too, but I have access to a company vehicle. We would be amply served by a two-seater, but dang if the Smart, for all its ittybittiness, doesn't get merely fair mileage. I'd do as well to get a Fit, and have seats for kids on the weekends.
03/18/09
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