No comparison

[cochran]

Thursday and Friday last week, I was in Chicago on business and rented a 2006 Monte Carlo. This Monday, I was in Wisconsin and drove a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix.

The Monte Carlo had less than 15000 on the odometer, and was one of the worst rental cars I've ever driven. The throttle response was terrible. It felt like the power came on about a second after you press the pedal. The brakes felt digital, and the steering felt completely insulated from the road. On both cars, the interior trim and the gaps between interior panels were not well done.

Sure, the seats were comfortable and the air conditioning was cold. But the stereos were not great and the whole experience proved one thing: My almost 20-yr old BMW is an overall better car. The more rentals I drive, the more I like my car. There's been only one car I liked better, and that was a friend's 2002 BMW 330ci, which was like my car, evolved.

My car currently has over 300,000 miles. Getting there in one of the new GM cars? Not likely.

[Purdue89E30]

GM can't tell it's ass from it's elbow, Cadillac is the only thing they're doing right.

[Charlie]

Congratulations, you drove a rental car built for the rental car market. These cars are built to about an 8 thousand dollar price point, as opposed to the 25-30k an e30 was built to 20 years ago. The Monte/Gran Prix is built for rental car users that want something easy to drive, comfortable and that doesn't require any work to hustle down the highway. It's not a driver's car, and doesn't make any claims that it is.

-Charlie

[Dave]

GM can't tell it's ass from it's elbow, Saturn is the only thing they've done right in the last 40 years.

Fixed it for you.

[DEV0 E30]

doesn't make any claims that it is.

-Charlie

Whata' bout them Super Sport models?

[german g]

Congratulations, you drove a rental car built for the rental car market. These cars are built to about an 8 thousand dollar price point, as opposed to the 25-30k an e30 was built to 20 years ago. The Monte/Gran Prix is built for rental car users that want something easy to drive, comfortable and that doesn't require any work to hustle down the highway. It's not a driver's car, and doesn't make any claims that it is.

-Charlie

the montel carlo is suposed to be kinda sporty, i think, i mean it is a NASCAR lol...j/k

[ping65810]

My buddy sells Cadillacs, and he wanted me to look at some, so I did yesterday. Lets see, a $50k car that has an interior with huge panel gaps, cheap plastic throughout, and no sense of refinement.
They may look nice, and have power, but I wwas very unimpressed with the vehicles altogether. You'd figure they would be cheaper, too, but when you look at a $42k CTS, and see what you can get in a 3 for that, its idiotic why anyone would get a cts over a new 3.

[Jand3rson]

My buddy sells Cadillacs, and he wanted me to look at some, so I did yesterday. Lets see, a $50k car that has an interior with huge panel gaps, cheap plastic throughout, and no sense of refinement.
They may look nice, and have power, but I wwas very unimpressed with the vehicles altogether. You'd figure they would be cheaper, too, but when you look at a $42k CTS, and see what you can get in a 3 for that, its idiotic why anyone would get a cts over a new 3.

I'll give you one good reason, a new CTS is a hell of a lot better looking than a new 3... :D

[ZinRot325i]

That's a matter of opinion.
I'd take a new 3...or a new 5...over the CTS.

[redhatpat]

The new Caddys are fun to drive, but damn, are they ever ugly.

[delatlanta1281]

Dude it was a rental. Your job isn't to review the freaking car for us...
Your job is to take the thing off road and jump it whilst your buddy snaps some photos! What the heck is wrong with you????
That is like renting roller skates and saying they were subpar.

[cochran]

Off-road and jumps would fit in pretty well with what usually happens to rentals, for sure. Our last group in Germany managed to bring one back missing a outside rearview mirror - got too close to a road cone or something.

I know the car was a rental and is built for fleets, etc etc. But it should still not COMPLETELY suck. My whole point was that a brand new (almost) GM just doesn't measure up to a almost 20-yr old BMW.