Who's Ready For Some Publicity Stunt?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Bob Lutz is, apparently. So is Jack Baruth. But will the “V-Series Challenge” prove anything? Not so much. Nobody will be surprised when a CTS-V sets the fastest lap time of the event (at the hands of GM’s test-driver John Heinricy), or if Lutz’s god-knows-how-many practice laps brings his lap time lower than his challengers’. As we’ve said before, GM has set the terms of a battle it is nearly incapable of losing… but what of the war? Who cares what your top-of-the-line sedan is (even if it’s amazing, which TTAC readily admits it is) when your point of entry is the Aveo? Oh, and how much profit does the CTS-V make? Still, we can’t say no to a few hot laps on someone else’s dime. Do you know what a membership to Monticello costs?


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Steven02 Steven02 on Oct 24, 2009
    Via Nocturna : The point in bringing up the Aveo is that, while Maximum Bob and company are orchestrating their three-ring circus, GM’s bread-and-butter continues to take a beating. The Malibu is the only bright spot in Chevy’s car lineup; the Cruze is still nothing more than an unproven promise, the Aveo is, well, the Aveo, the fleet-astic Impala is a bloated, mediocre pig, and every installment of Volt Birth Watch makes that project look ever more like a boondoggle. Meanwhile, the oft-trumpeted renaissance of Cadillac hinges on just one car, the CTS. Short of the new SRX, there’s nothing else on that plate that looks appealing. GMC is utterly irrelevant, and Buick can’t seem to find a reason to exist either. We all know the CTS-V is an excellent automobile, so yet another luxo-sedan comparo is little more than redundant indulgence. You completely miss the point. Apparently, GM can't have some publicity for Caddy b/c of a lack luster Aveo. If you really want to dog the Aveo, go ahead. The Yaris is almost as bad. The only good car in that space is the Fit. Much better than anything else in the class. The rest (including the Aveo, Yaris, Versa, and Accent) are bottom feeders. I am not sure what one good car in this segment means. But apparently, it means anytime GM does something right with a car, someone has to talk about the Aveo. As for the Impala, I don't see why people dog it so much. Is it a great road carver, no. It is a inexpensive large car that gets you from point a to point be with decent mileage with an enormous trunk? Absolutely. I have rented a few and drove one on a long trip. The car isn't great. But it isn't bad either. But compare it to the Avalon... how are the sales for that car doing? Don't get me wrong, I think the Impala has room for improvement. All cars do, but it isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Jack, aren't the rules for Sedan's only?
  • JuniorMint JuniorMint on Oct 25, 2009

    WOW, those of you indicating that the Yaris is only marginally better than the Aveo have either never driven one of the cars, or weren't paying close-enough attention in either one. Or are you going J.D. Powers on us, and projecting a 40-minute rental experience into a full-fledged opinion of the car? Should we talk about which is going to last longer? Or how critical reliability is for the segment of the population that is looking at the market's cheapest cars? What do you think your opinion would be of the company who made it, after owning each of them for, say, five years? "Gosh, this may be the minimum of transporation but at least it runs," or "gosh, I wish I didn't have to enter my car through the rear passenger door."

  • Jimal Jimal on Oct 25, 2009

    Not to get too far off topic, but I recently (last week) spent a day driving a base level Accent sedan (so it wasn't the $9,970 model, but it was close) and I it really isn't any better than the Aveo I drove a couple years ago. The dealer installed radio was poorly installed and rattled over bumps, the engine would hang at high RPMs, as if the thing had a huge flywheel (despite being an automatic), when doing things like accelerating to highway speeds. The door chime was a nostalgic touch, reminding me of the Nissan pickup my neighbor had when I was a kid in the 80's. When Hyundai announced the $9,970 stripped hatchback special, I thought it was an intriguing deal; upgrade the suspension, wheels and tires, install a stereo (I'm sure the speakers are in the doors) and you would have a modern version of the original Mini. You know, cheap and underpowered but fun. After driving the rental I'm not so sure.

  • Steven02 Steven02 on Oct 26, 2009

    @JuniorMint So I have taken it that you have owned both of them for 5 years as you suggest? Or at least you have been significant seat time in both? I am sorry, I can't deal with the Yaris having all of the guages in the center. I am sorry that it feels much smaller than the Fit. I am sorry that the fit is more versatile. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way saying that the Aveo is a good car or one that I want to own, because I simply don't. The Yaris, I have been in as well and don't car to own it either. Both cars suck. Period. The Fit is a much better automobile than both of them, combined. It is far and away the class leader in the US. But this is all nothing to what the original comments about the Aveo started. Why is it even mentioned in the article? Yes, we all know the Aveo sucks. Apparently, anytime GM does something right, no one here can admit that. They must bring up the Aveo. I guess anytime Toyota does something right, it would be appropriate to bring up the problems with the floor mats?

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