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Car Blog - The Bell Curve

by James Bell

James Bell: Publisher of IntelliChoice

James Bell, Publisher
of IntelliChoice

Four Surviving GM Brands

The New General in Town...and it ain't Government Motors!

When the automotive industry is your passion, center of interest, and where you spend all of your working hours, the absolute best part is actually getting behind the wheel and DRIVING. With the recent news from GM, whose entry and exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy has cast a long shadow over the summer, I thought it was the perfect time to go for a drive in the General's latest and greatest. After all, since you and I now hold 60% ownership of this company, shouldn't we know if its stuff is any good?

I offer you the following brief reviews of my time in a vehicle from each of the four surviving GM divisions. I chose these vehicles because they embody in many ways the distilled soul and best chance of survival for these brands. And for good measure, I included one model from a brand that has been tossed overboard... and may go down in modern auto history as one of the greatest performance and unsung values on the road - ever.

But first, a bit of housekeeping. The title of this little semi-regular rant is "The Bell Curve." I like that name for two reasons: 1) it invokes the vision of a winding strip of road I used to attack on a regular basis along the Angeles Crest Highway while growing up (and learning to drive!) in the mountains two hours from L.A. and 2) I hope this space makes you pause and consider how to take my thoughts and ideas. A verbal "curve ball," if you will. But it struck me that a bell curve is, according to Dictionary.com, "a symmetrical bell-shaped curve that represents the distribution of values, frequencies, or probabilities of a set of data. It slopes downward from a point in the middle corresponding to the mean value, or the maximum probability." With the thought of furthering statistical science for all mankind, I offer to you the "Bell Curve" scoring system. Nothing too detailed... just a solid 1-10 score for each model tested based on three important criteria: value, performance and desirability. If these new GM vehicles score poorly, you should not be too surprised when your "investment" in this company performs as well as your 401k. But I think you will be in for a pleasant surprise.

2010 buick lacrosse cxs

2010 Buick Lacrosse CXS

Buick LaCrosse (Value = 7, Performance = 7, and Desirability = 6)
As stated by Buick executives at a recent LaCrosse media drive, this vehicle is "step two in our renaissance" with step one being the Enclave - and I tend to agree. Based on an award-winning vehicle now on sale in Europe by Opel and designed with input from Buick's successful design house in China, this might be one of the truest "global vehicles" that GM has been promising for a very long time. It has been worth the wait. Take the comfort and detailing of the Lexus GS model line, add a dash of Mercedes-Benz solidity, and mix it all with a big scoop of American value. There you have the all-new 2010 Buick LaCrosse. It is not perfect, but it is a HUGE step in the right direction. Rumor is that step three in this resurgence will take the shape of an expressive coupe to evoke the classic Rivieras of the past. After tasting the LaCrosse, I can assure you this recipe is sure to delight.

2009 cadillac cts v

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac CTS-V (Value = 6, Performance = 9, and Desirability = 8)
Wow. Wow. Seems a week does not go by that I am asked to define "horsepower vs. torque". Usually this is in the context of the new cast of modern diesels on our roads. Diesel = torque = that fun but dizzy feeling in your gut when you launch away from a stop sign. But what is the best way to explain horsepower? Easy: the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V. Rated at 556 ponies, I unleashed each and every rabid one of them on a sleepy stretch of late-night L.A. highway while already rolling at 68 mph. After regaining my composure, a quick glance at the speedo confirmed high horsepower usually only within the grasp of fighter pilots. In as long as it took you to read this short sentence, I was cresting 110 mph and accelerating - violently. Ladies and gentlemen, that is HORSEPOWER. And the CTS-V is my new perfect definition.

2010 chevrolet equinox ltz

2010 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ

Chevrolet Equinox (Value = 7, Performance = 8, and Desirability = 7)
In our currently dismal automotive marketplace, there are few bright spots. One of the brightest is the small crossover segment usually defined by the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV. Simple... reliable... peppy... efficient...reasonably priced and loaded with as much utility as possible in a small vehicle. The last few years have also seen very credible entries from Kia with its Sportage, Hyundai's Tuscon, and the refined and much-improved Ford Escape - especially in hybrid trim.

But I recently tested the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, and I can assure you that this nameplate has gone from "only buy if you get a smokin' deal" to the absolute standard of this very competitive class. Yep... you read that right. Unless we see something extra-special from Toyota or Honda in the next versions of their compact crossovers, the very best is now for sale at your local Chevrolet dealer.

2010 gmc sierra 1500 hybrid

2010 GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid

GMC Sierra Hybrid (Value = 5, Performance = 7, and Desirability = 7)
I do a fair amount of live radio interviews, and invariably the host turns to his or her phone lines to take calls and questions from listeners. More and more, I am asked for a clean and green choice for buyers who also need towing or cargo-hauling capability. And here is where GM is crazy like a fox. The hybrid versions of its Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks, as well as its Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade full-size SUVs, represent the best choice...all the workhorse reliability you expect from these classic nameplates, but with an unexpected jump to over 20 mpg. Now, I know what you are thinking... a hybrid that only gets 20 mpg? Put that number into correct context and you can see that these are vehicles worth their utility - electrification of their power plants provides over 50% fuel savings compared to the non-hybrid versions right from tank #1. And that, my friends, is home-town value.

james pontiac g8 gxp

Pontiac G8 GXP

Pontiac G8 GXP (Value = 8, Performance = 9, and Desirability = 7)
All together now... "sigh". Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that a reality of GM's Obama-led restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings has been to reduce the number of dealers supported and brands that GM will bring to market. With a quick wave of the BK wand, Pontiac will be gone before the clock turns 2011.

Pontiac has been a misguided brand for many years now... think Fiero, Montana and Aztek. But with the G8 sedan, that magic has been recaptured - just in time to go away. Sigh. When GM decided build a GXP model and squeeze in a 6.2L V8 rated at 415 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque mated to a 6-speed manual, I had to experience it. Just 1,500 of these will be built for the U.S. market, so move quickly if you want to own what will surely become a living legend. Perfectly balanced... excellent brakes...and a size that can seat four adults comfortably when it's time to take friends for unexpected roller coaster rides in this beast. Make that 1,499 GXPs in the U.S. market, as I intend to keep one of these in my own garage for just that reason.

Posted on 2009-07-22 | Permalink | |

Car Blog - The Bell Curve Archives

Click on the title of any of the archived car blogs below to read about James' insight into the auto industry.