[Shotimes] OT - 2006 Mercury Milan

[Ron Porter]

Since I have no interest in that car, I don't read the articles on it, other
than looking at the road test specs.

You also won't see the BMW folks headed to Cadillac dealerships to buy one,
either.

There is a key perception of quality when a mfr has all of their key parts
in the car, especially at the higher end of the price scale, where
perceptions are very key. It doesn't matter how wonderful the Chevy engine
is or isn't.....it still isn't a Cadillac motor, and that will keep Cadillac
from developing the following over the years that BMW & MB have.

Funny, the BMWCCA friends of mine are not wild about the new styling, but
they don't hate it.......and they also can't take the looks of the CTS.

Ron Porter

-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Donald Mallinson
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 10:17 PM
To: '_ShoTimes'
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] OT - 2006 Mercury Milan


Ron,

Surprised yuu don't know the answer to your question about 
why the Chevy engine?  The Northstar won't fit in the CTS 
engine bay. The four valve OHC Northstar is a lot wider.

The CTS is a sales winner for Caddy, and style is a very 
subjective thing, a lot of folks don't agree with you.  I am 
a bit neutral on the CTS, but think it looks a lot better 
than most new stuff from Japan and is WAY better than the 
"Bangle" BMW's and most BMW owners and club members agree 
with ME on that.

And that "Chevy" motor is a superb engine in its own right. 
  It does the job, is dependable, puts out the power and can 
be fixed in almost any city in the civilized world.

It isn't always about complication/exotic"ness", sometimes 
it is just about being good and a good value.  I know two 
people that have the CTS-V and they used to own much more 
expensive BMW's.  They love their "Chevy" powered Caddy, and 
couldn't care less where the cams are.

Don Mallinson

Ron Porter wrote:

> Same deal with the CTS-V. Now, I hate the styling and wouldn't consider
one
> anyway, but IMNSHO they would have had a really legitimate Hot Rod
Cadillac
> with a 6.0 liter or bigger Northstar engine, and not a "Chevy" motor. And
> yes, friends of mine, who would be potential customers for this car, have
> the same view. Cadillac used the Northstar in the rest of their line, why
go
> cheap on the CTS? With a real Northstar motor, the price could be higher
and
> they would have a real BMW 5-series competitor. And I know it's hard for
you
> young guys to understand, but most older folks who will spend $50K on a
car
> will easily spend $60K+ for a better car.
> 
> Cadillac still don't get it!!
> 
> Ron Porter
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
> On Behalf Of Jason Hartberger
> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 4:57 PM
> To: Jarrod Clift; '_ShoTimes'
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] OT - 2006 Mercury Milan
> 
> 
> I have no issues with the LS1, and I agree that it's a fantastic engine,
but
> the reason I say what I do is, well, the LS1 is so common! they're even
> putting them in PT cruisers (not from the factory, tho), and it dilutes
the
> value of the engine, IMO. One of the reasons the SHO engine is so special
is
> because Ford never put it in another car, and very, very, very few other
> cars have a SHO engine. Hell, few other people know what a SHO engine is.
> 
> Anyhoo, you're dead-on for all the other points. The GTO has a soul all
its
> own and a helluva history, especially for people that used to own one
(like
> my dad... feel old yet?), and Pontiac just butchered its name and its
> history by putting out this (foreign!) thing. They figured they could cash
> off the name with any ol' car. They were wrong. Cars aren't like shoes;
you
> can't just stick a name on it and make it 'good'.
> 
> Jason
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jarrod Clift" <clift@chartertn.net>
> To: "'_ShoTimes'" <Shotimes@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 3:55 PM
> Subject: RE: [Shotimes] OT - 2006 Mercury Milan
> 
> 
> 
>>The LS1 is one of the best V8's made IMO. The GTO is not selling well
>>because it looks bland and because the dealers were greedy and marking
>>it up way over sticker.  A lot of people wanted it to look more retro
>>styled, like the new mustang.  If it were called something other than
>>GTO a lot of the complaints (like styling) would go away.
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
>>[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Jason Hartberger
>>Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 11:47 AM
>>To: Leigh Smith; '_ShoTimes'
>>Subject: Re: [Shotimes] OT - 2006 Mercury Milan
>>
>>I think the GTO isn't selling not because it's underappreciated by the
>>public, but because the public feels betrayed by Pontiac using an
>>australian
>>chassis around an engine that ain't 'all that and a bag of chips'. I
>>know it
>>goes fast, but it just doesn't look... like a GTO. It's a cheap sellout
>>and
>>the public knows it.
>>
>>Jason
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>>Shotimes mailing list
>>Shotimes@autox.team.net
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> 
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