America finally doing it right?
 

Viper ACR and Corvette ZR1 hold the two fastest production cars around the ring. Jalopnik

$25k Chevy Cobalt SS destroying everything in its price range and then some... C/D's lighting lap

Cadillac's new CTS-V is about to be the 4-door performance king...

Yes, they are.

The real question is, can they build small, fuel-efficient cars to keep themselves afloat?

Yup...but still GM made.....i.e. no reliability.

Yup. You don't sell 50,000 Vipers each year. The focus needs to be on the high volume sellers, which is where they most significantly trail.

They need a Civic/Corolla competitor.

While I'm a GM owner, I have to agree that there's still a huge quality issue.

Helping a friend find a car recently we looked at a 2006 CTS-V and some even older BMW's. The BMW's with more miles and more years where hands down better condition and I don't think the previous owners were completely to blame.

Yep, like Chris and Matt say, it's the small cars that will keep Ford, GM, Chrysler in business. Vipers, Vettes, CTS-Vs, and Cobalts aren't what Joe Blow has in mind for DD duty.

I posted this on another thread; it's worth a read:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-factory18-2008oct18,0,4162059.story

As well, small diesels will only help the cause...

My point is that the whole misconception that American cars only go fast in a straight line is gone. Of course all of those are just poster cars. All of the best "joe everybody" American cars are in Europe...

The latest C&D has a review of the new CTS-V, and makes a good point. Cars like the CTS-V are proof that America, even GM, has the ability to engineer and build cars that are as good or better than the Germans at their own game. In the case of the CTS-V, just as good but for much less money. Americans aren't the problem, it's a piss-poor corporate culture of mediocrity reinforced by limited R&D/engineering spending, compounded by indifferent quality control.

Recent products, especially from GM, have shown that they can build good cars. But is that enough, and is their reputation too far gone to recover?

I wouldn't mind a Z06 or CTS-V for DD duty.

What about the Focus? It does pretty well in the UK, doesn't it?

This, IMO, has to be one of the best deals on the road:
http://www.thetorquereport.com/2008_...c_g8-thumb.jpg
And I've seen only two of them here in town.

BTW: it's not like they get horrific gas mileage.

Hard to beat 360 HP and a 6-speed manual for under $30k.

Wait...the Cobalt IS a small car. It is a direct competitor to the Civic/Corolla. Chevy just put out an SS version to appeal to the tuner crowd--which is a brilliant move IMO. Can't afford a $25,000 Cobalt SS? You CAN get the $14,000 base Cobalt and modify it yourself!

I also thought the old GTO from a couple years back was a great car. It certainly was a fast car on the race track in the straights and corners.

Chris - I think the Cobalt SS is another good American car, and the magazines seem to come to the same conclusion. However, I don't believe the average driver will understand what the Cobalt SS means and represents.

The old GTO was a great car in a horrible body. Not ugly, just incredibly dull. Otherwise I agree, they are very good cars.

The Cobalt SS is a good car, but a niche product. The average car buyer will shop the regular Cobalt for their commuter car, only to find that the Mazda3, Sentra, Civic, Corolla, etc is better. Chevy took an average car and made it great. They'd be better off making a great car and making it better, like Mazda with it's Mazdaspeed3.

Zef, we have several GM cars(Trailblazer, 2008 Malibu) in our garage, and I have to report that reliability has not been a problem. I know what Consumer Reports always says, but I have not seen it. The absolute worst cars I have had were Chryslers and VW's. Our Carrera is a peach, of course;)

That sounds great now, but what happens in 3-4 years? Historically GM depreciation has been horrid, especially when compared to Toyota and Honda. Add in the fact that in general GM's dont wear well and you have some PO'd customers.

I hope the new cars are better, but only time will tell. Unfortunately time is one thing GM doesnt have.

Nice...but not my case...I got two GM products in past years...Both get their engine opened before 30 K....The Montana was always at the dealer....I have no more time for that. My father-in-law is an retired GM employee...He got deals...and he's always at the dealer for problems....I now got two Matrix...a 2005 (Surprise...never went to the dealer) and a 2009. A co worker have a 2005 Sunfire...Man....the list is too long with what is going bad on it....:(