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GM News, New Models and Market Share - READ ONLY

32000 messages,  Last post on Feb 14, 2013 at 7:24 PM

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Messages Page 3114 of 3201

#31128 of 32000 Chevy Caprice police car... by andre1969

Jan 24, 2013 (4:35 pm)

spotted this morning, in Baltimore, MD. Truth be told, style-wise it's a bit of a yawner. Nothing wrong with it, but it just doesn't grab me like the Charger does. But, at least it's still fairly big, RWD, and offered as a V-8!

#31129 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [xrunner2] by ateixeira

Jan 24, 2013 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 24, 2013 4:30 pm)
Encore must be a lot smaller, and with quiet tuning they brag about it would be interesting to compare noise levels, something Honda only started caring about recently.
 
Honda showed a concept based on the Fit which would be closer in size.
 
They've gotta squeeze more power out of that engine.

#31130 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [ateixeira] by xrunner2

Jan 24, 2013 (5:05 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 24, 2013 4:40 pm)
CRV and Encore are close in vehicle weight, functionality and market segment.
 
No doubt there are hard-core GM/Buick potential buyers that by their nature will stick to GM and will have blinders on to all of the other vehicles in the market segment. Perhaps the "young professionals" that Motor Trend cites as potential buyers have open minds and will at least look at and test drive brands and models other than Buick and/or GM. Maybe they won't pick GM as a rationale because that is what their father or mother bought.

#31131 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [xrunner2] by ateixeira

Jan 24, 2013 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 24, 2013 5:05 pm)
On paper, it doesn't stand a chance, but....
 
It is the only premium brand compact crossover at that price. That segment is red hot.
 
They're hoping people who get sticker shock from an RDX.

#31132 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [xrunner2] by bpizzuti

Jan 24, 2013 (6:49 pm)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 24, 2013 4:30 pm)
It's a bit small for the run-of-the-mill Buick buyer, but Buicks have been steadily getting smaller. I wonder if the handling will lean Buick or Caddy? If Buicks start having taught, athletic tuning, despite how wonderful I might think the idea is, will GM customers accept that outside of Caddy.

#31133 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [ateixeira] by bpizzuti

Jan 24, 2013 (7:00 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 24, 2013 5:08 pm)
You forgot the Mini Countryman, which is also considered "Premium." Then there's the BMW X1, but that's a much higher price range. The Juke would also compete with it though, similar price and size.
 
Come to think of it, both the Countryman and the Juke offer significantly more power than the Encore, though the Countryman requires an engine upgrade to get it. That's going to be a problem.
 
There aren't all that many subcompact-sized crossovers out there actually. Honda's got something coming that's Fit-based, but nothing concrete. .
 
It's disingenuous to call the Encore a "Compact" SUV though, because it's really a size smaller.

#31134 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [bpizzuti] by steve_ HOST

Jan 24, 2013 (7:25 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 24, 2013 7:00 pm)
The problem with the MINI is that dealers are few and far between. At least compared to GM, Honda and Nissan.
 
The posts are still a mixed bag, but there are a few recent ones where test-drivers and owners think the 2013 CR-Vs still have too much road noise.

#31135 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [bpizzuti] by xrunner2

Jan 24, 2013 (7:36 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 24, 2013 7:00 pm)
It's disingenuous to call the Encore a "Compact" SUV though, because it's really a size smaller.
 
Encore is about 2.5 inches less in wheelbase than a Honda CRV but about the same weight. Honda is base priced $2K less. Anyone looking for a smallish SUV would be smart to look at many brands in or around the segment in dimensions, price range, test drive and then make their decision.

#31136 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [xrunner2] by bpizzuti

Jan 24, 2013 (7:49 pm)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 24, 2013 7:36 pm)
It's not a "compact" SUV. It's a subcompact SUV. The Encore is 168 inches long, to the Forester's 179 and the CR-V's 178. The wheelbase is 100.6 inches, which may be 3 inches off the Forester and CR-V but is only ONE inch off the Juke, at 99.6. Rear legroom on the Encore is only 35.7 inches, while Forester and CR-V give you 38 inches. Rear shoulder and hip room are also short. Frankly, the MINI Countryman actually has a longer wheelbase than the Encore.
 
It's a subcompact SUV. This is life, deal with it. There's nothing wrong with that per-se. Supposedly GM wants to market this to empty-nesters that might nee to periodically tote a borrowed grandchild around. But don't make like it's something that it isn't, because if it's truly a "compact" SUV rather than a subcompact, it's a hideously small compact compared to the competition. And some of said competition is cheaper too. Put it up against a CR-V or a Forester or a RAV-4, or an Escape, and it loses. Badly. Heck, it loses to the Equinox and Terrain.

#31137 of 32000 Re: Buick Encore reviewed in Motor Trend [ateixeira] by tlong

Jan 24, 2013 (10:56 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 24, 2013 5:08 pm)
It is the only premium brand compact crossover at that price.
 
GM may think Buick is a premium brand, and some old people may also feel that way, but I don't think too many younger people see Buick as a premium brand. The branding is an issue that's going to be tough to overcome.

Messages Page 3114 of 3201

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