Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 21:07:55 +0200 From: "Mark Gerritsma" <nl.autonopsamtmfweb.nld> Subject: Re: GM to increase SAAB lineup
Nel Frikandel <nelfrikandelnopsamail.com> schreef: >> When I see the Cadillac or Mercedes one, I want to gag - they are so >> ugly to me. > > There U go! And Mercedes made an outstanding 'real' 4x4 with the G > series. I mean Sahara cruisin' quality 4x4. The car is so good many > mainland European armies standardized on it, replacing the ancient but > indestructable Land Rover's in the case of Holland. Why then, I ask, > come on the market with such a useless toy-car like the M series!! Because there is a huge market (mainly in the US) for SUV's bought by people who will never ever come close to anything that resembles rough terrain. In fact, while the Mercedes ML still has a low gearing, the BMW X5 doesn't even have that. Some US models are even sold RWD only. Despite this trend the most recently launched SUV's (VW Touareg /Porsche Cayenne) do posses both excellent on- and off-road qualities (why does the US not get the V10 TDI?). A Cayenne Turbo lapped the Zandvoort circuit about 2 seconds faster than a 996 Carrera 2 did! BTW, not Mercedes MADE, but MAKES, because the G is still rolling of the assembly lines. > The cad leaves me even more baffled. I mean, OK, I'm Yurpean, and I > understand that tastes & marketing ideas from the US to Yurp differ > about as much as the pond between them is wide, but *pahlease*, a > Cadillac badged monster-truck, based on a GMC??? Come on! They must > have had some pride over at Cadillac. Money talks. Thus if you want to sell lots of cars you have to offer what people want. If they want SUV's they get SUV's, it's that simple. > However, having said that, I > doubt that, because back in the 80's they already had the Opel > Ascona/Vauxhall Chevallier rebadged to Cadillac Cimarron shoved up > their shadowy spot... However, they were on their way back with the > '92 STS and successor. Now they seem to have completely lost it > again. You forgot a more recent attempt with the Cadilac Catera. This was a rebadged Opel Omega MV6. Problem was that car journalists liked the Opel better than the Cadilac. And when you then realise that the MV6 wasn't exactly the best car in it's class, that kind of gives an idea of the Catera. -- mvg, Mark Gerritsma
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