NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR - January 13

One month plus a day from now you'll hear who took the crown of North American Car (& Truck) of the Year. General Motors swept the two-title series last year with the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Silverado. Out of 54 possible nominees, GM showrooms hold four of the final six candidates. Present in the COTY triumvirate are Chevrolet's Malibu, the Cadillac CTS and the Honda Accord. The loosely named 'truck' category is represented by the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and Mazda CX-9.

Does the Malibu, a bolder; better version of last year's winner, really deserve to win? Has it moved the game on that much? Will the Tahoe Hybrid hype override what The Good Car Guy noticed to be dismal real-world fuel economy and a poor driving experience to take the TOTY title, especially considering the Mazda CX-9's seven-seat sports-car on stilts reputation and the best-Buick-in-decades Enclave?

We shall see. It should be known, however, that it was.... today - yes; today - that Cadillac's entry won GoodCarBadCar's American Impact Car of the Year.

CDN COTY

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has named their many cars of the year. AJAC doesn't like to herald the advent of one new vehicle more than another, it seems, and so the awards are split amongst mutliple - specific - categories. The category names do not remain stagnant. For more about the proceedings, visit this link. The various winners are below. Remember, The Good 12 debuts December 20th here at GoodCarBadCar.net and carries through until the end of 2007.

Saturn Astra, Honda Accord EX sedan, Mercedes-Benz C-class, Audi R8, Mini Cooper S, Audi S5, BMW 335i convertible, Hyundai Entourage, Chevrolet Silverado, Nissan Rogue, Saturn Vue, Buick Enclave.

16,667 '09 GM LAMBDA CROSSOVERS RECALLED - ENCLAVE, TRAVERSE, ACADIA, OUTLOOK

Four General Motors crossovers are being recalled, NHTSA says, for failing to measure up to requirements for safety standard #209.... the one for seat belt assemblies, don't you know? The second or third row seat belt buckle could be missing a rivet.

Model year 2009 examples of the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook - basically identical vehicles under the skin and inside the seat belt buckles, apparently - will have any deficient seat belt buckle replaced free of charge under this Recall. That could be up to 16,667 CUVs, NHTSA says. The Lambda platform could even be the foundation for the next Cadillac Escalade and/or Chevrolet Suburban if General Motors money remains..... er, tight, and if fuel economy standards make the possibility of a 20+mpg giant SUV impossible.

Lambda crossovers were also involved in a GM Recall in August relating to overheating windshield washer fluid and another recall in August for detaching windshield wiper linkage. If these General Motors vehicles are going to be in the garage continuously free of charge to customers, GM is going to want to keep the issues minor.

BEST WINTER CARS PART I

BusinessWeek's automotive section recently showcased winter's best automobiles. Along with the vehicles brandished ↓, BusinessWeek provided some interesting statistics.

Subaru, which equips all of its North American vehicles with all-wheel drive, sees its market share rise from the cross-America total of 1% to 5% in Colorado, 6% in Alaska, and 8% in Vermont. 85% of all vehicles Audi sells in America send power to all four wheels. All-wheel drive won't help when braking begins.

Terrific winter tires are your best friend(s) in emergency stops. Because of all-wheel drive's limitations, BusinessWeek also emphasized vehicles which feature technical equipment that will help you in wintry situations - perhaps in ways that AWD couldn't dream of.

One Land Rover test driver also made clear the importance of practice, in empty parking lots of need be. My personal winter driver training came at the wheel of my future wife's cousin's Nissan pickup. A very old and very rear-wheel drive Nissan pickup. A 5-speed manual Nissan pickup with a lever for an emergency brake hidden just beneath and to the left of the steering wheel. So, let it be clear: despite our apparent lack of winter to this point - I can drift into a snowbank with the best of 'em. Here, then, are BusinessWeek's best winter vehicles, spread across a wide swathe of the marketplace, with their reasons for induction and The Good Car Guy's further reasoning for purchase.

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SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5i: BW says: "Standard all-wheel drive is the Impreza's primary claim to fame when it comes to winter driving" TGCG says: "It ain't pretty nor a terrific value, but you will make it up any snowy hill faster than any Civic in town."


VOLVO C30: BW says: "Traction control and sophisticated antilock brakes are standard, including electronic brake force distribution and brake-assist—features not always found on small cars." TGCG says: "It's a little, pretty, Volvo hatch, so if front-wheel drive, ABS, trac-con, EBD and brake-assist don't save you; you can rest assured the structure will keep you safe."

HONDA ACCORD: BW says: "Like other front-drive cars, the weight of the engine over the front axle makes for better traction in slippery conditions, especially with winter tires instead of standard-equipment "all-season" tires." TGCG says: "It's probably the best mid-size sedan you can buy, so garnish it with winter tires and enjoy whatever season comes."

BUICK LUCERNE: BW says: ".... unlike its competitors, the Lucerne is front drive, with the engine over the drive wheels. Rear drive is supposed to confer sportier handling on dry roads, and in pursuit of a sportier image, most of the competition has evolved to rear drive." TGCG says: "Buy an AWD Buick Enclave instead."

MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC: BW says: "unlike the previous product generation, the Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is now available for the C-Class." TGCG says: "An all-new Benz is cause for paying attention. The advent of the best C-class ever is reason for purchasing, with or without AWD."


MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC: BW says: "The 4Matic is a competitive advantage for Mercedes, since archrival BMW does not offer AWD in its flagship 7 Series." TGCG says: "You'll be cool enough - in your neighbour's eyes - when your driveway holds the flagship Benz, but when you venture out in a strong winter storm and they're stuck inside.... well, that's cool at another level."

THE DETROIT THREE OFFERS TOO MANY TRUCKS? BY THE NUMBERS

Wall Street insiders attempting to predict the demise of the Detroit Three (GM/Ford/Chrysler) blame most of the domestic auto manufacturing difficulties on the rise and fall of the SUV. They believe that General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler LLC (mostly under the management of Daimler-Benz) didn't have the foresight to build high quality cars when money was pouring in from easy-profit vehicles like the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Dodge Ram. On the surface, these insiders appear to be correct. 

Take American luxury cars, for instance. In the early part of this millenium, the only prominent vehicles at Cadillac and Lincoln were their jumbo SUVs, the Escalade and Navigator. Mainstream brands like Chevrolet and Ford were offering an abomination called the Malibu and an ancient design called the Taurus. The few takers snapped them up at rock bottom prices.

For a deeper look at the gravity of the situation in numerical terms, check this Numbers post from a few days ago with figures supplied by TIME. For perspective on the issue, read The Good Car Guy's question from yesterday. For facts about automaker offerings in the U.S. domestic market in 2009, keep reading. Oh, and by the way, to attempt to sway the argument in favour of cars instead of trucks, models like the F-150, F-250, and F-350 were lumped together. It didn't help. Also, TSV means anything that isn't a car: trucks, SUVs, and vans.

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TOTAL CARS @ GENERAL MOTORS: 21

TOTAL TSVs @ GENERAL MOTORS: 26

TOTAL CARS @ FORD MOTOR CO.: 10

TOTAL TSVs @ FORD MOTOR CO.: 14

TOTAL CARS @ CHRYSLER LLC: 8

TOTAL TSVs @ CHRYSLER LLC: 16

Buick cars/TSVs: 2 to 1

Cadillac cars/TSVs: 4 to 3

Chevrolet cars/TSVs: 6 to 9

GMC cars/TSVs: 0 to 8

Hummer cars/TSVs: 0 to 2

Pontiac cars/TSVs: 6 to 1

Saturn cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Ford cars/TSVs: 4 to 10

Lincoln cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Mercury cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Chrysler cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Dodge cars/TSVs: 5 to 7

Jeep cars/TSVs: 0 to 7

IS GENERAL MOTORS LAMBDA PLATFORM BIG ENOUGH FOR NEXT ESCALADE?

Rumours abound that with the soon-coming stiffening of miles-per-gallon standards in the United States that General Motors is considering arresting the development of larger Cadillacs (or has already) and that the next Cadillac Escalade won't be on a shared platform with the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe.

No, as the rumour goes, the gigantic Escalade could be a cooperative effort on the Lambda platform - the architecture that's spawned the Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse. 

Heresy, you say. Can you imagine such a backwards solution? What 'Slade owner would be willing to sacrifice their magnitude and grandeur? 

(Click here for Lambda search results from GCBC)

Truth be told, of the three generations of Escalade produced so far, only the short-lived first-gen suffered in terms of differentiation. The first real Escalade (2001-2006) was a very unique vehicle, and the current Escalade is about as far from the Yukon and Tahoe as an SUV can get without jumping to a new platform. So fears that Cadillac wouldn't be able to produce a sharp, edgy, high-class Escalade ought to be allayed with that realization.

Ignoring the Escalde ESV and EXT for a moment, have a look at the Numbers below. They show the dimensional differences between all-wheel drive derivatives of the regular Cadillac Escalade and the most luxurious Lambda to date, the Buick Enclave. Now, is it such a stretch.... or rather, such a shrink?

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680 - extra pounds on the Cadillac Escalade

0.7 - extra length of the Cadillac Escalade, measured in inches

0 - difference in overall width, measured anyway you like

2.1 - extra height of the Cadillac Escalade, measured in inches

2.9 - extra length between the wheels of the Buick Enclave, measured in inches

0.6 - extra height of the Cadillac Escalade in ground clearance, measured in inches

7.3 - extra cargo volume in the Buick Enclave, measured in cubic feet

18 - extra passenger volume in the Cadillac Escalade, measured in cubic feet

2.5 - extra seconds required by the Buick Enclave to hit 60mph from rest

3 - extra miles each gallon of gasoline will give you in the city in the Buick Enclave

BUICK ENCLAVE - Driven

Search... I mean, search, for another automotive blog where a young import-loving guy posts twice in one afternoon; consecutively; where the titles both feature the name Buick. Email goodcarbadcar@gmail.com if, not when; you find one.



And we ain't joking around. Nor does the joke start at the next sentence. The Enclave is good. I apologize to and for those who can't submit to this fact. Don't believe for one minute that The Good Car Guy would ever buy a Buick Enclave. I started writing about cars when the smart fortwo hit Canada. Polar opposites; the smart and Enclave? Not quite, but pretty close.

I wouldn't be skipping the Enclave, however. I'd be skipping the whole class of vehicles. Large, upscale crossovers aren't my thing and the absence of children in our life doesn't seem to bode well for Buick salespeople who want an Enclave parked outside my door. I don't need it, I don't want it.

But I know the Enclave is good. A fellow blogger at GM's Milford Proving Grounds just two days ago told me that he enjoyed driving the Saab 9-7X Aero a whole lot more, but the 9-7X Aero seemed pointless. And although he'd never have previously considered a Buick, this Wired Magazine correspondent's father just bought an Enclave. Hmm? How's that end up happening later in life?

The Enclave will never handle like that Swedish-American muscle SUV (did I already say pointless?) but it shouldn't and won't. The Enclave should possess true Buick characteristics and have a strong sense of desirability and some urban chicness. Nope, I'm not in the market for an upscale utility crossover, but I do know what a Buick needs to be and represent if I am ever to be tempted by any sort of Buick.

When I broke two wrists at once, the doctor asked me which news I wanted first; good or bad. Well, I asked for bad first. (There was no good.) Call me Dr. GoodCar and let me offer suggestions on treatment for Buick's maladies. 1) Build more Enclave-like vehicles. Not crossover/utility/SUV type cars, but beautiful cars. The Lucerne and Allure/Lacrosse are not beautiful, and that actually hurts the Enclave. 2) Learn to make the vehicles as quiet as the Enclave while also putting them on a diet. Don't lose the quiet, but lose some weight. You're too fat, Buick. 3) Ignore loyal buyers. Sorry to sound harsh and uncouth, but the loyal Buick buyer has a life expectancy which ends..... next year. Don't cater to him. A good car is a good car is a good car. If you make it good, old guys and gals'll like'em, and so will I.

To the Enclave, more specifically we go. Prior to my Enclave drive, I was in a Pontiac Torrent GXP for about five miles. It's worth reading about. Talk about two SUV's with different priorities. Actually, don't talk about it right now. Keep reading - I'm trying to hold your attention. The GXP is a performance edition of a somewhat boring vehicle. Enclave's are an exciting new addition to a traditionally boring brand. Buick's were once an aspirational purchase. When Cadillac's were cool and became the obvious choice for a rich dude in Elvis Presley's era, a Buick wasn't just a respectable choice. These were respectable Cadillac alternatives. Give me an early 60's Electra or a first generation Skylark, please.

Now Cadillac is fighting to be taken seriously as a worthy hi-lux player, and Buick is disregarded by a huge percentage of anybody born after 1950. Yikes. (Read about Enclave's success here.)

Now the Enclave is an aspirational purchase. You would feel good owning this vehicle. You'd enjoy living with it and be, at least, comfortable driving it day-to-day. Enclave has all the luxury you'll ever need (luxury = need?) plus the space your family requires. A luxed-up all-wheel drive Enclave does weigh a hair under 5000 pounds, though, and that's a real down side after driving a Torrent GXP.

Granted, these two GM vehicles aren't competing. (Read the Enclave's 3 To Beat here.) The Enclave has to fight off Saturn's Outlook and the GMC Acadia instead. The Torrent proved the performance SUV case, at least as far as driving dynamics go. Buick's Enclave, on the other hand, is no fun to drive. 275 bhp sounds like a lot, but we're talking about 5-0-0-0 pounds here, folks. No biggie, though. I don't seek more power every day at home - I try to conserve. So, I'm not looking to worsen the 3.6L V6's fuel economy ratings of 16/24 US mpg. Power will suffice.

Nonetheless, the power-to-weight deficit, when combined with a bit of pillowiness over yumps and the disconnected feel of the steering... well, then I begin to mind the dynamics of the vehicle. Then again (again), we're intentionally driving aggressively and a Buick crossover isn't going to - and shouldn't - behave like a Saturn Sky. No, I want some pillow-like qualities. Ya know what; I don't want to submit to a writhing steering wheel fighting to maintain the straight-ahead. I want my Enclave to wrap me in a warm cocoon at the end of a 9am-5pm day, serenade me with satellite radio, preserve me and protect me when necessary, and provide me with the space I need for my peoples and their things. Quickly. While looking goooood.

To meet those demands the Enclave gives you: tri-zone automatic climate control, power seats and a tilt and telescopic wheel; six speakers with speed-compensated volume and XM sat-radio; ABS, StabiliTrak, traction control, Xenons, side curtains for all three rows, cruise control, a 50,000mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and tire-pressure monitoring; seven seats; a capable V6 with a 6-speed automatic; 18 or 19-inch wheels and a really wicked front wheelarch. For proof of that just look at it this pic, edited to really show the wheel, arch, and curves. Taken at Milford by The Good Car Guy just two days ago.

BUICK LUCERNE PROVING ABS

Milford Proving Grounds, a General Motors facility, is equipped to do just that.

Prove.

This video shows a Skid Monster-equipped Impala in the distance, but what you want to see is the Buick Lucerne. Charging hard at a narrow lane - cones on either side - the driver was told to maintain the prescribed speed (35, 40, 45, and then 50mph), then brake hard and get out of the way of those cones which started coming at you really stinking fast all of a sudden. But you didn't start the braking-into-turning until the instructor said, calmly, "Now." If you did it too soon, as if trying to predict his call, you failed to trust him as well as the capability of the car.

This test proved a couple of things. Despite the fact that I don't want you to buy a Buick Lucerne, it's not because the car is lacking in ability or quality. It's simply due to more exciting competition. However, the Lucerne proved the merits of ABS (few would doubt those merits these days, hopefully) as well as the directional stability of the car. Plus, dare I say it, the Lucerne's ability to change direction under hard braking. The back end wouldn't truly slide. Just a slight skid-hop-skip. Always under control.





An Impala SS was used at similar speeds and then also at 55mph in a test where the task was similar until it came time to turn. Rather than brake hard at the call, we would have to turn right or left sans braking and then regain enough control to brake in front of a row of cones at turn back. And repeat. The Lucerne's test was left-turn only and more proof of braking than grip.

ENCLAVE PROVES POPULAR FOR BUICK

Of the three Lambda-platform vehicles which are sold by General Motors presently, the most expensive has generated the most hype. You're not surprised. You knew that one vehicle was a Saturn and the other was a GMC, right? Did I mention that the most expensive crossover in this trio is a Buick? That it starts at almost $41,000 in Canada? And is one of the best-looking large tallwagons available?

Back in August, the Enclave was discussed with three of its competitors on GCBC in a traditional 3 To Beat. Apparently, this curvaceous luxury vehicle had 8000 advance orders in the States prior to this past April.

857,735 VEHICLES FROM 13 DIFFERENT GENERAL MOTORS NAMEPLATES RECALLED FOR OVERHEATING WASHER FLUID

Pay close attention, because this is about to get really deep. The list of recent General Motors vehicles affected by this Recall is below. For some of them, this is the second recall currently affecting their model. For instance, the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook were just sent to the principal's office for other windshield wiper problems.

This time 857,735 GM vehicles built sometime between 2006 and 2008 with heated windshield wiper systems will be recalled, but NHTSA isn't yet sure just when. "A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire." This could lead other electrical systems to malfunction. Dealers will be installing a wire harness with an in-line fuse to take care of the problem. More information is perhaps available at GM's recall page. Add up the vehicle sales from other countries and your total hits 944,000 GM vehicles.

The vehicles affected are as follows:

2008 Buick Enclave

2006-2008 Buick Lucerne

2006-2008 Cadillac DTS

2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalde EXT, Escalade ESV

2007-2008 Chevrolet Avalanche

2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado

2007-2008 Chevrolet Suburban

2007-2008 Chevrolet Tahoe

2007-2008 GMC Acadia

2007-2008 GMC Sierra

2007-2008 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL

2006-2008 Hummer H2

2007-2008 Saturn Outlook

LAMBDA CROSSOVERS RECALLED - Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia

88,809 General Motors crossover vehicles are being recalled because an excessive buildup of snow or ice could on the windshield could cause the windshield wiper linkage to detach "from the motor shaft and the wipers may become inoperative." However, this Recall is highly specific, so pay attention.

NHTSA only wants you to take notice of this Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, and GMC Acadia recall if your vehicle is currently or has been registered in one or more of the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. That basically precludes those of you who live in winter-less states from involving yourself in this recall. 

I guess you better watch out if you go on a winter vacation up north. If you haven't learned your lesson, folks, never turn your car off without also turning off your wipers in the winter... especially if you know a storm is coming. The wipers will try and clear 10 inches of snow as soon as you turn the car (its heater, and defroster, and heated seats) on in the morning. No wiper has that kind of strength. Don't ask it to find such strength, and don't kill your wiper motor. For clarity's sake, let it be clear that The Good Car Guy's drive in the Buick Enclave did not require the testing of wipers.

AVOID!

Three reasons for not buying the Buick Lacrosse/Allure? To begin with, how old are you? If you're 75, you likely don't want to announce it. If you're under 40; you typically steer clear of activities and purchases which cause you to appear over 80 years of age. So.... why are you considering the Lacrosse?

Secondly, driver involvement. Well, there is none. The Buick Enclave is a gigantic crossover and few drivers would expect to derive 'fun' from such a vehicle. Lacrosse/Allure is a largish midsize sedan. Quiet Tuning is terrific, Buick. What about suspension tuning that would do more than just smother the bumps?

Finally, other cars. Other cars offer plenty of reason to avoid an Allure. Honda's Accord or a Subaru Legacy would provide the aura of youthfulness with driver enjoyment. The Lacrosse will, however, keep you safe.



Saab makes a car which it entitles the 9-5. I once drove inside an old 9000 Turbo. It felt really fast. The turbo lag was so sick it was awesome. The 9-5 isn't much different, a decade.5 later. Yikes, isn't that enough reason? Do I need to give you three reasons to avoid the Saab 9-5? Here's four.

1. It looks familiar. Like a 1994 Saab 9000 kind of familiar.
2. 2008 Cadillac CTS (A fellow General Motors car - a car GM whose development GM invested in.)
3. Audi A6
4. It's not a jet.
   

Suzuki makes a thing - a car I guess - called the Aerio. They also have the Reno, Forenza, and SX4. The SX4 is basically a better Aerio. And the SX4 is still available as a hatch. With all-wheel drive. And a lower base price. The Aerio looks like the type of vehicle that European automakers stop making, then license the building of it to some south-Asian country to market as their own. The Aerio would make a great Perodua flagship. I need no other justification for naming the Aerio as a Must-Avoid.

No humans were harmed in the making of the following video. Fortunately, a car was.

COOL FACT FOR THE DAY - BUICK ENCLAVE & CHINA

After General Motors introduced the Buick Enclave, the auto journalism world was turned upside down. If, in one's own life, the brand name restricts potential purchases, how can one avoid an incredibly favourable review of a vehicle if, as alluded to, the brand has for years been producing vehicles that auto journalists avoid like the plague?

The Good Car Guy reacted positively to the Enclave after driving the big Buick crossover at GM's Milford Proving Grounds. (Check out that Driven article here), wrote about the Enclave's success before that, and even gave space to the Enclave for a 3 To Beat article. All in all, critics are long past concluding that the Enclave is the best Buick.

Check out all Cool Facts with a click

However, China is the best Buick market. The planet's most populous nation consumes half of all Buicks produced worldwide. 

And in August - finally - Chinese car consumers can drive away from one of 400 Buick dealerships in an Enclave.

GENERAL MOTORS' LAMBDA CUV OPTIONS

This, my friends, is an unofficial declaration of General Motors' new slogan, in addition to admitting its Barack Obama-derivation: "Crossover Options You Can Believe In". GM certainly believes in Lambda.

Lambda isn't just the 11th letter in the Greek alphabet. GM has taken that letter and applied it to their midsize crossover platform. This platform/architecture/foundation has found its way under four vehicles. GM has options. Believe it.

To keep it brief, The Good Car Guy is going to reign in his wordiness to one sentence per vehicle. Add their manufacturer links and MSRPs from the American market. Although suitably differentiated, these four CUVs are identical under the skin. It's difficult to rank the quartet in terms of anything but personal preference. 

BUICK ENCLAVE: Stunningly beautiful but its heaviness (obviously similar to the other three) leads to a fuel guzzling nature which, when combined with its expense, makes the Enclave an expensive proposition for the latter part of this decade.  $33,995 - $38,190 - Buick.com/Enclave

CHEVROLET TRAVERSE: Its recently revealed price proves to be the value Lambda leader; already possessing the mass-market appeal that Chevrolet produces automatically in addition to more power than its mates. $28,990 - $32,995(GCBC est.) - Chevrolet.com/Traverse

GMC ACADIA: "Professional Grade" advertising seems silly when applied to a vehicle, however tough, that is so truly similar to a Buick and Saturn; though the GMC brand as a whole seems somewhat lacking in an anit-truck buying year. $30,470 - $39,015 - GMC.com/Acadia  

SATURN OUTLOOK: Ask why if you like, but GM is sticking with this import-fighter; leading you to also ask if the other three Lambdas are intended to battle only the Dodge Journey and Ford Edge. $29,360 - $33,370 - Saturn.com/Outlook

- Check out The Good Car Guy's drive of the Buick Enclave @ the Milford Proving Grounds or read about the GMC Acadia's position in the Top 5 Cars Police Should Be Driving and finally learn about GM's expectations for the Chevy Traverse -

DOMESTIC AUTOMAKERS MAY/08 RESULTS

It was a common belief at the beginning of May, when automakers released their sales date for April, that the first couple days of June would reveal bad news, as well. The commonality of any belief does not prove that belief to be true; however, the statistics manifest as proof that the common belief held true.

In a month where total vehicle sales fell over 10%, car sales climbed over 2%. Small cars were especially successful. Two cars that have not grabbed critical acclaim, Ford's Focus and the Dodge Caliber, jumped 52% and 7%, respectively compared with May of last year. 

It doesn't seem that long ago that America's love affair with truck-based SUVs and cheap gas led to a majority of vehicle sales being classified as trucks. In the 31 days of May, that former majority dropped to the low 40s%. Here are the Numbers for American automakers and their sub-brands in America in May... in agony.

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37.8 - posted percentage loss for Buick for May 2008 compared with the same period one year earlier

26 - posted percentage loss for Cadillac, May/08 against May/07

27.1 - posted percentage loss for Chevrolet, May/08 against May/07

28 - posted percentage loss for the whole Chrysler group, May/08 vs May/07

16.6 - posted percentage loss for Ford, May/08 against May/07

38.8 - posted percentage loss for GMC, an all truck and SUV brand for May of this year against May/07

61.7 - posted percentage loss for Hummer, an all heavy-duty SUV brand that GM is interested in selling, for the May/08 vs May/07 comparison

42 - percentage loss for luxury brand Lincoln for May of '08 against the same period last year

28 - percentage drop in sales faced by Mercury, Ford's pointless brand, for May/08 against May/07

25.9 - percentage drop in sales for Pontiac, a brand featuring some new models, for this May against last May

28 - percentage drop in sales for GM-owned Saab for May/08 against May/07

32.7 - percentage plummeting in product sales for Saturn, featuring its best model lineup ever, for May/08 vs May/07

24 - percentage drop in sales for Ford-owned Volvo for May/08 against May/07

18,455 - lead, in sales, that the Chevrolet brand had over the whole Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep group in May

15,603 - combined sales in May for FMC's luxury duo (Volvo and Lincoln), out-performing GM's Swedish-American dup (Saab and Cadillac) by 107

97.5 - Pontiac Vibe's percentage points lead it held over the Pontiac brand as a whole in May-vs-May sales

23.4 - average decline in sales for Ford's four main SUVs, the Escape; Edge; Explorer; and Expedition

44.3 - jump in sales this May vs last May, measured in percent, for the Chevrolet Aveo

BUICK WEB STATS

Immelman and Rose may be leading at The Masters in Augusta, Georgia, but Cadillac; Mercedes-Benz; and Buick are hoping to lead going away. Hmm?

The two General Motors brands and Mercedes are the major sponsors at one of golf's premiere events, and web statistics provided by Compete.com are proving advertising's merits. Lovers of golf are approximately five times more likely to visit Buick's website than the typical consumer. For Mercedes and Cadillac, golf folk are about 2-3 times more likely. 

It would be interesting to see the results during a time when the trio isn't heavily advertising in tandem with an event like The Masters or without Tiger Woods pitching for Buick. After all (*stereotype alert*), golf is an expensive sport. It takes money to play. Buick, Cadillac, and Mercedes are commonly seen as upper-tier vehicles - especially the latter two brands. It may be that these automakers see an extraordinary percentage of golf lovers for the simple reason that golf lovers often have money. Golf lovers are also frequently of an older generation. Nothing says older quite as well as a Buick or Cadillac. 

CHEVROLET HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TRAVERSE

Badge engineering, the forming of multiple automobiles from the same foundation while adjusting the fascias and switching the logo, is alive and well. Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner? How 'bout the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5? 

Not surprisingly, the most prominent badges often steal the sales. General Motors' impressive Lambda platform has played host to a trio of successful crossover utes. At the high end, Buick's Enclave is a seller; plus it has earned favour right here at GoodCarBadCar. The Saturn Outlook is the garden-variety Lambda from the brand that promises something different. At present, General Motors' trucking badge, GMC, sits on the front of the Acadia, a vehicle that GoodCarBadCar named one of the Top 5 Cars the Police Should Be Driving.

The trio of Lambda CUVs will soon become a quartet. Typically, adding members to your band is a surefire bet for increasing tension and messing with the harmonies. Imagine what happens when the fourth and latest member is intended to be the lead singer and main spokesperson. Chevrolet wants its Traverse to eventually sell 150,000 units per year. That's about what the Enclave, Outlook, and Acadia sell. Combined. 

Is the Traverse able to attract the attention and hype to overwhelm its brethren in sales? More than likely, the Traverse will drive down the road with exactly the same mannerisms as the former trio. Features and content won't measure up to the Enclave, nor will the exterior appearance. However, the Chevrolet Traverse will be the most affordable CUV from the Lambda platform. Cheap is good.

CHAT TO THE SOLSTICE DESIGNER

General Motors will enable you to chat with Jose Gonzalez and Justin Thompson - designers of the Solstice Coupe and Buick Invicta, respectively - tomorrow afternoon at GMnext.com. Follow this link for registration.  

Block off the 11-12 EST chunk of your day for the proceedings, as well as 3-4 for Thompson. For more on the Solstice Coupe, see today's earlier post here.