GM heading for Chapter 11?
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From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by polarbear
Had an old Olds Toronado back when- heckuva ski car. Also a rocket ship. Had a '85 Eldorado too- didn't have enough power to torque-steer.
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From: 3rd Rock
When posting a reply that is directly above … THERE IS NO NEED TO USE THE QUOTE FUNCTION....lets say we get 2500 posts a week, just
to pick a number, and only 50 percent used the quote function…well, you can imagine how many extra pages are used, and not needed…
Thanks Admin Tim here
to pick a number, and only 50 percent used the quote function…well, you can imagine how many extra pages are used, and not needed…
Thanks Admin Tim here
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
osbornk-The thing I remember about the 74 Toronado is that it had the worst fuel mileage rating of anything in America when it was new. In the mid 70s and just before catalytic converters, nothing got good fuel mileage due to emissions requirements. It was hard to get 20MPG out of a Pinto.
I can't remember what that Toronado got. It was a '70, so pre-converter, but I doubt it got 10. The worst mileage I ever got out of a car was a '73 Country Squire Wagon with a 460 in it and the Trailering Package. Bought it to tow a sailboat (buy a boat to tow the boat?). Even in the late 70's, that thing sucked so much fuel I parked it when it wasn't towing.
I can't remember what that Toronado got. It was a '70, so pre-converter, but I doubt it got 10. The worst mileage I ever got out of a car was a '73 Country Squire Wagon with a 460 in it and the Trailering Package. Bought it to tow a sailboat (buy a boat to tow the boat?). Even in the late 70's, that thing sucked so much fuel I parked it when it wasn't towing.
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From: Everett, Wa
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That was a very interesting article, thanks
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I had a 78 olds custom cruiser with a 403. I could actually watch the fuel needle move. Cost 20 dollars a day in fuel when fuel could be had for around a buck. Also had a 455 rocket. That thing burned fuel like a rocket.
The point to the eldo comment was even a big car with a huge motor, 472 and 502?, could get front wheel drive and work. Those things had a good reputation for getting around quite well even on ice.
The point to the eldo comment was even a big car with a huge motor, 472 and 502?, could get front wheel drive and work. Those things had a good reputation for getting around quite well even on ice.
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From: Dallas, Texas
My parents had one those Eldo's and it would burn rubber till the car was covered in smoke. You could watch the gas gauge go from right to left as you hit the gas.
I do remember to not hit a dip in the road as you turned the wheel, It would leave rubber and yank the wheel out of you hand.
I do remember to not hit a dip in the road as you turned the wheel, It would leave rubber and yank the wheel out of you hand.
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
tmyers- thanks for the link. Good article. I might disagree with him about Buick- I think it's still a viable division. Undecided about Pontiac though.
Logical Heritic- the big Eldo's and Toronados got around OK because they didn't have transverse engine installations (although the hoods stretched into the next county), and they could have equal-length half-shafts because of that. The old 472 and 500 CID's put out amazing amounts of torque.
Muffinman- thanks for reminding me about those dips in the road. HD shocks were a must on those boats if you got off of the Interstate.
Sadly, when you look at the styling those cars car (pre '71), it's not hard to understand that they sold well. That's probably GM's weakest link right now- the cars aren't bad, but there's a lot of boring stuff out there.
Logical Heritic- the big Eldo's and Toronados got around OK because they didn't have transverse engine installations (although the hoods stretched into the next county), and they could have equal-length half-shafts because of that. The old 472 and 500 CID's put out amazing amounts of torque.
Muffinman- thanks for reminding me about those dips in the road. HD shocks were a must on those boats if you got off of the Interstate.
Sadly, when you look at the styling those cars car (pre '71), it's not hard to understand that they sold well. That's probably GM's weakest link right now- the cars aren't bad, but there's a lot of boring stuff out there.
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IMO, GM's design team is either on crack...or on vacation and left the design work to the janitors. I mean how can a company let a truck THAT UGLY get out on the road??? Not to mention the cheesy interior, but thats my opinion. That Aztec, and everything else is just as bad.
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that interior i could brag on all day. it is simple and functional why ford or dodge can't rap a dash around a drive a little bit is beyond me. i think gm has the best dash design of the bunch. i am not big on the chevy either but i can't say that i think anything is better looking than the GMC right now.
don't mention the Aztec.
don't mention the Aztec.
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
The truck's OK (not great- I liked the old front-end better, and the interior works well). Aztek...wowsa. I'm not a real fan of the new Bonnie's or Grand Prix's- the word "overwrought" comes to mind. The Aveo...hmmm. Cobalt...yawn.
But then there's the good stuff- the 'Vette, almost any new Cadillac, any of the big SUV's. I have a last-bodystyle Riviera in the garage, just to remind myself that someone at Buick still understood what a Riviera was supposed to be. The public didn't "get it" though (big luxury coupes don't sell- period).
But then there's the good stuff- the 'Vette, almost any new Cadillac, any of the big SUV's. I have a last-bodystyle Riviera in the garage, just to remind myself that someone at Buick still understood what a Riviera was supposed to be. The public didn't "get it" though (big luxury coupes don't sell- period).
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GM really ought to have kept the Chevy's looking like they did up until the 02' MY. They could have done something less drastic to it while giving it a few updates if they wished. I still cannot reconcile myself to that truck. GMC is a good looking truck IMO, very understated with no regard for trying to keep up with the jones's so to speak.
No big massive grilles (though I like these on the Ford SD and Dodge Ram - Chev's looks like an afterthought - which it is), no jagged conflicting body lines, ( like the Titan and Dakota - another trait shared by the Silverado) and no weirdo headlamps.
All in all, the GMC is a very good looking truck and puts the Chevy's to shame.
This is an interesting testimonial on how people will buy a certain brand regardless of it's merits. No one can deny the GMC looks much better than the Silverado, and mechanically neither has an advantage over the other in any regard. They are identically equipt (model for model) - yet the Silverado sells what? 10 times as many trucks as the Sierra? All cause it says Chevy.
No big massive grilles (though I like these on the Ford SD and Dodge Ram - Chev's looks like an afterthought - which it is), no jagged conflicting body lines, ( like the Titan and Dakota - another trait shared by the Silverado) and no weirdo headlamps.
All in all, the GMC is a very good looking truck and puts the Chevy's to shame.
This is an interesting testimonial on how people will buy a certain brand regardless of it's merits. No one can deny the GMC looks much better than the Silverado, and mechanically neither has an advantage over the other in any regard. They are identically equipt (model for model) - yet the Silverado sells what? 10 times as many trucks as the Sierra? All cause it says Chevy.