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Originally Posted by fp115

Honda has no new platform or powertrain for a new Civic that would be able to compete with the Cruze. If they did it would be announced by now to compete with the Cruze next year when it is introduced.

Honda doesn't talk about their MY2011 stuff in 2008... unlike some other automakers.

Because hybrids don't last as long

Don't 95% of people keep their cars less than 10 years anyway?

hybrids are built in limited quantities

Tell that to the Prius... I think by itself it outsells most GM cars.

and you get extra weight on a car that dramatically affects handling.

Everyone knows that sub-$20k compacts are bought mainly for their great handling Price and mileage don't matter at all.

Honda sales were down 21%, how is that doing so well?

Honda 2008 sales (up to October 1st, the most recent data we have) are down 1.1% compared to 2007.

I call this "doing EXTREMELY well". Just compare to how GM/Ford/Toyota/Chrysler are doing this year!!!!

What does a link about stocks have to do with the Cruze?

You don't read, do you?

That link is my source for the quote posted right below (I always post links when I quote sources).

The quote posted right below (hope you read it, otherwise I don't even know why I bother) defends why I said, in my previous post, that the Malibu replacement could very well be put on hold, and the current one be allowed to grow stale. (When I said that, you said I was dreaming. The info in the quote comes from "several sources inside GM". I would tend to label that more reliable than you.)

So, this "link about stocks" has to do with the Malibu replacement being reconsidered due to utter lack of cash at GM. What has the Malibu to do with the Cruze, you ask? Well, YOU actually brought it up by confusing the Corolla and the Camry. Otherwise, I agree the Malibu isn't the subject of this thread.

The Malibu is getting an upgrade very soon, it can very well stay where it is. But that was not the point of what I said.

See the info from the "link about stocks" regarding what might happen to the Malibu in the future.

Yet the same people who said didn't like the CTS, Malibu or the Enclave saw it in person and said it was a dramatic difference. To judge any car by images is rather meaningless, for all cars.

Dramatic difference?

Non-conventional? You must mean the coupe, the sedan is bland and boring. The coupe is slightly better, but still nothing to be overly impressed about or that would make my head turn. It has very flat lines, and the details are carved into the shell, there are no defining accents or anything about the car. The front bumper is as close as it gets to any sort of definition, definition is what makes a car stand out.

Again, please read... that's YOUR personal opinion. I'm talking about the generally accepted opinion in the auto industry press back when the 8th gen Civic was intro'ed.

I said the Euro Focus is coming and it is, the Civic I said it came out in 2006 and it did, how is that wrong again?

OK, if you insist.

Originally Posted by fp115

Ford isn't getting much of a brand new car, they are simply getting their European version of the Focus.

If the MkIII Focus isn't a new car, then please tell me what qualifies... they're not "simply" bringing the current Euro Focus (MkII) here, as you seem to imply.

Originally Posted by fp115

You must be blind of something, the latest generation, 8th generation was released in 2006 as a 2007 model.

No, released in 2005 as a 2006 model. (But maybe you're right... in your own GM-centric world.)

It's actually the second time I have to correct you on this in this very thread... I pointed it out already when you first said it. I'm beginning to wonder if you read what I write...

The competition's future is easy to see as they have been repeatidly doing the same thing over and over again.

Of course. The competition is standing still, so as long as GM keeps improving, they're sure to beat everyone.

Honda and Toyota have not announced any new ground breaking platforms

Because they aren't in the habit of showing their entire Camaros, in, out, and specs, 5 years before they're in the showrooms.

their internal combustion powertrains are laughable comparatively. By the time the Cruze is introduced in Europe next year, the bulk of the competition will be caught red handed and by the time the powertrain for the US model comes around, still it will continue to lead with its powertrain. The only competitor I can see hitting the Cruze's numbers is VW, though with their TDI variants which also cost much more.

Yep, everything the competition does is laughable compared to what GM does. That must be why GM is down like 30% this year...