Opel Adam....

[2o6]

People always think I'm being facetious.  I wasn't this time.

But Buick will survive because it has a steady flow of old, middle aged, and, if what I'm seeing rings true of a trend, black people who will buy their cars.  They make good cars and they're nice.  My friend is considering selling his Mazda2 and getting a Verano.  But this car as a Buick is too much, too fast, and it'll suffer the same fate as the Saturn Astra. 

My parents are about to do the deed on a Rendezvous.

[Rich]

My parents are about to do the deed on a Rendezvous.

Make sure they do it in the shade.  The sheetmetal gets hot in these temps.

[Rich]

Re: The Opel... I'd hit it.

[Payman]

Make sure they do it in the shade.  The sheetmetal gets hot in these temps.

[Madman]

My parents are about to do the deed on a Rendezvous.

You have my sincerest condolences.

[Eye of the Tiger]

pics of shins...

[2o6]

Make sure they do it in the shade.  The sheetmetal gets hot in these temps.

You have conjured up an image in my mind that I did not want to have.

[2o6]

You have my sincerest condolences.

I tried as hard as possible to not have this happen.



But it's about to happen. And I can't stop it. I can only find them a good example for them.

[280Z Turbo]

I don't get how people don't like this.  It's such a handsome little care that doesn't fall into the "little car, big styling" trap that most small cars do, and it's not so willfully rehashed and pointless like the 500 is (thought I do like the 500). 

Because we don't like faggity ass li'l furrin cars. We wunt Chevy powar.

[Xer0]

You know, I can totally see this as a Buick.  Besides, Buick is Opel's American dumping grounds anyway.  It looks nice and premium which is the image Buick is going for.

[280Z Turbo]

Good for CAFE too.

[TurboDan]

Buick is in no way on life support.  Have you seen the new Lacrosse?  The interior is pretty damn good, it's quick, and the ride is extremely good, but not floaty.  And the Regal?  Excellent car.  The Enclave is also very good. 

It could be the greatest car ever manufactured. But nobody under age 70 is going to buy one. The Buick Regal? Come on, the name sounds like something Rev. Fulton J. Sheen would drive.

I question the wisdom in producing an entire division of "near luxury" cars in the first place, but if they want to try it, they should admit the average Buick buyer is going to be dead before the warranty expires and create a new, revolutionary brand to do something different and appeal to a wider demographic.

[2o6]

It could be the greatest car ever manufactured. But nobody under age 70 is going to buy one. The Buick Regal? Come on, the name sounds like something Rev. Fulton J. Sheen would drive.

I question the wisdom in producing an entire division of "near luxury" cars in the first place, but if they want to try it, they should admit the average Buick buyer is going to be dead before the warranty expires and create a new, revolutionary brand to do something different and appeal to a wider demographic.

Buick is on fire, sales wise. Demographics show that their age is getting younger and younger.

[Vinsanity]

You know, I can totally see this as a Buick.  Besides, Buick is Opel's American dumping grounds anyway.  It looks nice and premium which is the image Buick is going for.

I'm sure someone at GM is tempted to revive the "Buick Opel" nameplate in bringing this over, but one pretty big issue is that it just doesn't look anything like all the other Buicks. The designers have explicitly given the Buick lineup a family resemblance, and this, though very attractive, shares zero resemblance with the rest of the lineup.

I'm sure Buick dealers wouldn't mind these in their showrooms, but it'll have to wear a different nameplate.

[2o6]

I'm sure someone at GM is tempted to revive the "Buick Opel" nameplate in bringing this over, but one pretty big issue is that it just doesn't look anything like all the other Buicks. The designers have explicitly given the Buick lineup a family resemblance, and this, though very attractive, shares zero resemblance with the rest of the lineup.

I'm sure Buick dealers wouldn't mind these in their showrooms, but it'll have to wear a different nameplate.

They could easily graft a shield on the front.

[Vinsanity]

They could easily graft a shield on the front.

True, but if they try to take it a step further by incorporating the waterfall grille as well, then that would just look stupid.

[sportyaccordy]

Its funny how folks are dumping on this using the same exact logic I did in doubting the success of the ATS...

Difference of course being, premium compact segment has room and REASON to grow, w/not a lotta competition (even in Europe- A1, DS3, Mini, 500- and only the last 2 here)

I'm lukewarm towards the car itself- Sniff Patrol is spot on in how derivative it looks, but many great car designs were derivative. What turns me off are the bargain basement mechanics- beam rear suspension and boring engines. Premium products deserve premium components. Leave the cheap shit to the Corsa. But this is a smarter idea for GM than the ATS, many times over.

[sportyaccordy]

You have conjured up an image in my mind that I did not want to have.

2o6, I think its time we had a talk about the birds, the bees, and the Buicks....

[2o6]

Its funny how folks are dumping on this using the same exact logic I did in doubting the success of the ATS...

Difference of course being, premium compact segment has room and REASON to grow, w/not a lotta competition (even in Europe- A1, DS3, Mini, 500- and only the last 2 here)

I'm lukewarm towards the car itself- Sniff Patrol is spot on in how derivative it looks, but many great car designs were derivative. What turns me off are the bargain basement mechanics- beam rear suspension and boring engines. Premium products deserve premium components. Leave the cheap shit to the Corsa. But this is a smarter idea for GM than the ATS, many times over.

1. iQ and fortwo are also in this segment.

2. This idea is terrible. Sales will be low, and profit margins are going to be likely smaller than say, the ATS. ATS is a huge market. Fiat 500 and Mini have heritage to draw upon. DS3 is in a different segment. A1 is also larger, and replaces an old model (A2)

3. There is nothing wrong with torsion beams....torsion beam =/= solid axle; DS3, iQ, 500 and I think the A1 use twist axles out back.

4. DS3, A1, iQ and 500 all use components found from cheaper models. A1 is a VW Polo in drag, iQ's powertrain is found in pretty much every small Toyota, DS3's engine range is shared with the rest of Citroen's lineup. Fiat 500's platform comes from the cheaper Panda, and is shared with the Ford Ka. It too has engine and transmissions found all over Fiat's lineup. Heck, even MINI's powerplants are shared with Peugeot, IIRC.

[Xer0]

I'm sure someone at GM is tempted to revive the "Buick Opel" nameplate in bringing this over, but one pretty big issue is that it just doesn't look anything like all the other Buicks. The designers have explicitly given the Buick lineup a family resemblance, and this, though very attractive, shares zero resemblance with the rest of the lineup.

I'm sure Buick dealers wouldn't mind these in their showrooms, but it'll have to wear a different nameplate.

Well, with a grill swap it will have enough of a family resemblance for it to kind of fit in.  Besides, I think family resemblances are over rated.  This looks like an upscale product which is what Buick is so I think it should be fine.  Besides, where else would you sell it?  Buick is pretty much it since Chevy is going to be saturated with small cars and Cadillac would probably not be interested.

[TurboDan]

But this is a smarter idea for GM than the ATS, many times over.

Huh? So the 3er has jumped the shark in price and Caddy is making what could be a superior car to lure away its buyers at a better price in a segment where there is a gaping hole in the domestic lineup, and that's a bad idea.... but Buick making a car designed for urban young people even though it hasn't sold a single car to a young person since like, 1953, is a good idea?

In America these types of cars exist in a niche market. And it's a niche market that's getting quickly flooded with competition. I'm not against this car coming over here, and I'm not necessarily against Buick trying it, but I think it would be a complete disaster. Maybe it would be fleet bait for a "premium" small rental car option, or something, but I don't see this having any success in retail applications.

As Raza said, the people who would buy this type of car go to a Fiat "studio," not a Buick dealership. Remember, we're trying to think like a young urban hipster douchebag here...

[cawimmer430]

Well there are an awful lot of Europeans who are not convinced.

I think it looks pretty dreadful and those ridiculous trim names of Jam, Glam and Spam (sorry, Slam) are just stupid beyond belief.

Opel want to sell this a premium priced product to compete against MINI. It will be fascinating to see how successful they are.  

Exactly.

The way I see it, the Audi A1 stands for sophistication. The MINI and Fiat 500 stand for heritage and cult factor. The Citroen DS3 has design heritage on its side from a manufacturer known for daring design and innovation. This thing leaves me emotionless and bored.

The whole car looks stupid and like rip-off of the 500 (in terms of design). It doesn't look cute to me at all but like a "wannabe Fiat 500".


Not to mention the dumb marketing campaign behind it.



I swear this is retard German in the speech bubbles. Just like the target market obviously.  


The only car that interests me in this class is this. 

[cawimmer430]

I think this is lame. It's as cynical an exercise in trying to emulate 'retro' cars as the Chevy HHR was to the Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Whatever floats your boat, I guess, but I think it's too obvious a Fiat 500/Mini knockoff.

[Raza]

Isn't the DS3 bigger than this?  If this is in the same class as the 500 and the iQ and the Fortwo, I would expect the DS3 to be a size class up. 

[cawimmer430]

Isn't the DS3 bigger than this?  If this is in the same class as the 500 and the iQ and the Fortwo, I would expect the DS3 to be a size class up.  

I would compare it to the MINI, Fiat 500, A1 because it's often compared to these cars in local car reviews.

[AltinD]

wide angle lens.

Wide angle lens distortion.

More like Fish-Eye :P

[sportyaccordy]

1. iQ and fortwo are also in this segment.No

2. This idea is terrible. Sales will be low, and profit margins are going to be likely smaller than say, the ATS. ATS is a huge market. Fiat 500 and Mini have heritage to draw upon. DS3 is in a different segment. A1 is also larger, and replaces an old model (A2)Being that this is a warmed over Corsa(?), I'm also gonna disagree. Yes the market is smaller but premium urban cars are just a smart idea in this economic/environmental/regulatory/cultural climate. Sports sedans? Not so much

3. There is nothing wrong with torsion beams....torsion beam =/= solid axle; DS3, iQ, 500 and I think the A1 use twist axles out back.And yet the Mini, with its multilink rear, is the only car in the discussion known for any kind of dynamic prowess

4. DS3, A1, iQ and 500 all use components found from cheaper models. A1 is a VW Polo in drag, iQ's powertrain is found in pretty much every small Toyota, DS3's engine range is shared with the rest of Citroen's lineup. Fiat 500's platform comes from the cheaper Panda, and is shared with the Ford Ka. It too has engine and transmissions found all over Fiat's lineup. Heck, even MINI's powerplants are shared with Peugeot, IIRC.Fair enough, but I still think more expensive hardware would help separate it from the crowd. Its a good idea that just needs better execution

Huh? So the 3er has jumped the shark in price and Caddy is making what could be a superior car to lure away its buyers at a better price in a segment where there is a gaping hole in the domestic lineup, and that's a bad idea.... but Buick making a car designed for urban young people even though it hasn't sold a single car to a young person since like, 1953, is a good idea?

In America these types of cars exist in a niche market. And it's a niche market that's getting quickly flooded with competition. I'm not against this car coming over here, and I'm not necessarily against Buick trying it, but I think it would be a complete disaster. Maybe it would be fleet bait for a "premium" small rental car option, or something, but I don't see this having any success in retail applications.

As Raza said, the people who would buy this type of car go to a Fiat "studio," not a Buick dealership. Remember, we're trying to think like a young urban hipster douchebag here...

Think about what youre saying here... the 3 series is the sports sedan paradigm and is apparently no less brilliant with its turbo lumps and added size. And the price argument is moot. The base ATS w/the 2.5 does not compete with the 3. The ATS 2.0T starts at $36K- right in line with the 328i. The 3.6 is $42K- within 1K of the 335i. And its not even available with stickshift.

If Buick doesn't start selling to young folks, its going the way of Pontiac. Why else do you think they are moving away from the barges of yesteryear and selling rebadged Opels? I agree that this thing would be a hard sell to the type of folks who would buy a Mini, but then again Minis are fucking expensive. For someone who wants an urban runabout but DOESN'T want a Fiat 500, can't afford a Mini, and would like some kind of back seat, this doesn't seem like a bad choice. Its a worthy alternative in a GROWING segment. You say its a stupid move, I say its the kind of bold move necessary to keep Buick in business

[TurboDan]

You say its a stupid move, I say its the kind of bold move necessary to keep Buick in business

My contention is that Buick is not going to stay in business either way. The division is tainted beyond repair IMO.

[280Z Turbo]

My contention is that Buick is not going to stay in business either way. The division is tainted beyond repair IMO.

Chinamen think it's the real deal.

[sportyaccordy]

My contention is that Buick is not going to stay in business either way. The division is tainted beyond repair IMO.

The success of their current lineup (+51% in 2010, +17% in 2011) disagrees. I think you are letting your own bias against the brand obscure reason. I am not crazy about Buick either, but they are not the Buick of even 5 years ago and that is a great thing for them. This Adam thing could cement them as a brand for young folks and galvanize their market share. Stranger things have happened (think: Hyundai)