Opel Adam, bring it to America?

[Raza]

Why not? Wouldn't you buy a $40K Audi? Dollar for dollar the top of the line Buick seems like the better value, badge snobbery aside.

The badge does have an influence on how you experience the car.  Why do you think so many here want a BRZ, but put aside the FR-S?  To me, Buick will always be cheaply made, sub-Lincoln, old-person-mobiles. 

[2o6]

You haven't driven one.


Lincoln has been making straight shit for about 10 years now. Pretty much all Buicks are pretty competitive; on styling alone I'd take them over any Acura.


BRZ vs FRS is stupid, especially since there are no visual fucking differences between the two.




With that said, I wouldn't buy a Regal, I feel like it's a weak product.

[280Z Turbo]

BRZ vs FRS is stupid, especially since there are no visual fucking differences between the two.

Well, that's clearly not true.

[2o6]

Well, that's clearly not true.

Yeah, a piece of plastic up front. They look the same.

[280Z Turbo]

I prefer the Subaru.

It's also nice to get away from a fake children's brand like Scion.

[2o6]

I guess. 

I don't understand how you guys have that argument, but give Wimmer shit for H&H.

[280Z Turbo]

I'm not you guys.

I give Wimmer shit for trolling and posting off topic pictures of shit cars from the 70's. He's right about H&H.

[TurboDan]

The badge does have an influence on how you experience the car.  Why do you think so many here want a BRZ, but put aside the FR-S?  To me, Buick will always be cheaply made, sub-Lincoln, old-person-mobiles. 

The badge also comes with intrinsic, built-in value. As much as people try to deny it, it's true.

[Vinsanity]

The only "problem" with the Scion brand is that the marketing people tried too hard to make it cool. Hyundai can sell a $60k Equus because they didn't create that problem. Whereas Scion can offer the car enthusiasts wet dream at less than half the price, and said "enthusiasts" will snub the car just because of a damn badge.

But at the end of the day, I'd choose an FR-S over say, a GTI. All day, every day.

[CALL_911]

I won't lie, I'd be tempted to replace the Scion badges with Toyota badges if I got the car.

That said, I'd absolutely buy one. I'd have probably gotten an FR-S over the GTI had it been out when I got my car.

[Raza]

You haven't driven one.


Lincoln has been making straight shit for about 10 years now. Pretty much all Buicks are pretty competitive; on styling alone I'd take them over any Acura.


BRZ vs FRS is stupid, especially since there are no visual fucking differences between the two.




With that said, I wouldn't buy a Regal, I feel like it's a weak product.

I'm going to borrow this from the Cosby Show. 

What if I were to cook you up a steak?  A steak of the highest quality, cooked exactly to your wants, using the best meat available in the world.  You'd want that steak, right?  Well, what if I served you that steak on a trash can lid?  Doesn't seem so appetizing anymore, right? 

Presentation does matter. 

[Raza]

I guess. 

I don't understand how you guys have that argument, but give Wimmer shit for H&H.

No one ever said that H&H doesn't matter at all--just that Europeans seem to value it too highly.  And a negative stigma is not the same as lacking history and heritage. 

[Raza]

The only "problem" with the Scion brand is that the marketing people tried too hard to make it cool. Hyundai can sell a $60k Equus because they didn't create that problem. Whereas Scion can offer the car enthusiasts wet dream at less than half the price, and said "enthusiasts" will snub the car just because of a damn badge.

But at the end of the day, I'd choose an FR-S over say, a GTI. All day, every day.

It's never cool to try to be cool.  When was the last time Steve McQueen drove around in a Jag D-Type that also turned into a DJ station with strobe lights?  I'm not a historian, but I would probably have to guess never.  But I've seen an xB do that. 

[Vinsanity]

I'm going to borrow this from the Cosby Show. 

What if I were to cook you up a steak?  A steak of the highest quality, cooked exactly to your wants, using the best meat available in the world.  You'd want that steak, right?  Well, what if I served you that steak on a trash can lid?  Doesn't seem so appetizing anymore, right? 

Presentation does matter. 

Is it a clean trash can lid?

[Raza]

Is it a clean trash can lid?

He was unspecific. 

[Colin]

Back on topic, there is specific mention in this week's Autocar from a GM spokes person that neither the Adam nor the Cascada have been designed to meet US market regulations, which sounds to me like as unequivocal a statement as we are ever likely that says that you will be spared both....... in the case of the Adam, that is probably a relief, as the thing is utterly dull to drive, so unless you love its looks (and the jury is still out on how many people do, sales are not that buoyant yet), then you would probably be better off with a DS3, a MINI or a 500 (or a conventional B-segment product).

[TurboDan]

It's never cool to try to be cool.  When was the last time Steve McQueen drove around in a Jag D-Type that also turned into a DJ station with strobe lights?  I'm not a historian, but I would probably have to guess never.  But I've seen an xB do that.

If they can get a '14 F-Type to do that, I'll pick one up used in three years... 

[Submariner]

The 500's a flop. This doesn't have the 500's H&H advantage, it would flop even harder.

It is?  Solely observational, but I see about a million a day in Manhattan.

[hotrodalex]

It is?  Solely observational, but I see about a million a day in Manhattan.

They're popular in areas with a dealership nearby. But there aren't many dealerships.

[280Z Turbo]

Well, that's because Chrysler decided they didn't need dealerships to sell cars.

[12,000 RPM]

City cars are pretty unnecessary in America for the most part. I still want a Fiat Panda though.

[2o6]

City cars are pretty unnecessary in America for the most part. I still want a Fiat Panda though.

Unless they're cheap as fuck (Spark)

[Soup DeVille]

It is?  Solely observational, but I see about a million a day in Manhattan.

They're pretty common in Detroit as well.

[Raza]

I see a dozen daily.  My dinner was delivered by a guy in a Fiat 500 yesterday.

[Madman]

Back on topic, there is specific mention in this week's Autocar from a GM spokes person that neither the Adam nor the Cascada have been designed to meet US market regulations, which sounds to me like as unequivocal a statement as we are ever likely that says that you will be spared both.......

My Omega/Catera wasn't originally designed with US regulations in mind, either.  And neither was the first generation Volvo S40/V40.  Or the original Honda Fit.  Seems to me when a manufacturer really has the will to make something happen, they find a way.  This whole "wasn't designed with US regs in mind" argument gets trotted out whenever a carmaker needs an excuse to deny us anything even remotely good or interesting.  (witness the VW Scirocco)  Closer examination reveals this argument to be utter bullshit.  Modern cars are designed and engineered to be sold globally and the people designing and engineering them are always taking different regional requirements into consideration even when the executives and marketing people are not.

If GM really wanted to, they could have both the Adam and the Cascada in American showrooms within 12 to 18 months.  The only things stopping them are outdated assumptions of what Americans want in a car and a chronic case of "Not Invented Here" syndrome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_invented_here

[Soup DeVille]

My Omega/Catera wasn't originally designed with US regulations in mind, either. 

It was however, designed to be Right or Left hand drive, which is a big part of it.

[2o6]

My Omega/Catera wasn't originally designed with US regulations in mind, either.  And neither was the first generation Volvo S40/V40.  Or the original Honda Fit.  Seems to me when a manufacturer really has the will to make something happen, they find a way.  This whole "wasn't designed with US regs in mind" argument gets trotted out whenever a carmaker needs an excuse to deny us anything even remotely good or interesting.  (witness the VW Scirocco)  Closer examination reveals this argument to be utter bullshit.  Modern cars are designed and engineered to be sold globally and the people designing and engineering them are always taking different regional requirements into consideration even when the executives and marketing people are not.

If GM really wanted to, they could have both the Adam and the Cascada in American showrooms within 12 to 18 months.  The only things stopping them are outdated assumptions of what Americans want in a car and a chronic case of "Not Invented Here" syndrome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_invented_here

No

[Galaxy]

It was however, designed to be Right or Left hand drive, which is a big part of it.

So is the Adam however.

[68_427]

Just because I think these look dope

[Madman]

There's no firm decision yet, but at least GM is considering bringing the Adam to America.......

http://jalopnik.com/opel-might-sell-the-adam-in-america-as-a-buick-1287144124