2002 caprice
 

Found this site I did not know that GM still makes the carprice
It is a rear drive V8 300 hp but here is the thing it is only sold
In the middle east ??? what gives


Norm
http://popularmechanics.com/automoti...th/index.phtml

Re: 2002 caprice
 

They are rebadged General Motors Holden Statesmans. Run crate LS1 as will the new Monaro old Camaro. Built in South Australia. We also have a Holden Caprice, have now since 1974
Australia home of the modern Muscle Car.
And wait to you see what Ford OZ has done. Don't beleive it myself but I may be driving a Falcon soon.
Rgds Terry

Re: 2002 caprice
 

Lately we have been getting the Australian Supercar Series on the Speed channel. Looks like the New GTO has potential if they don't price it out of sight.

Re: 2002 caprice
 

I just don't understand why GM would not offer the Caprice in the US, emissions? That is a good looking car and I would have went with the Caprice over our '98 Regal.

Re: 2002 caprice
 

They have priced the Monaro, (the donor car ) at US$35,500.
This is a loaded car.
PW, leather,premium sound, climate control air, ABS, traction control, LSD, etc
What they will price it at is a figure that will allow around 20,000 sales per year.
They sell around 8,000 - 10,000 here and it needs around 30,000 to justify its tooling R&D cost (also sell some to the middle east. Not sure how many )

Re: 2002 caprice
 

Mike we scatch our heads on that one here and don't understand it either. Our Caprice/Statesmans only sell in numbers under 10,000. Why they can't sell them to the US is GM policy. To meet your Design Rules, it requires a move in the gas tank, no big deal. Fully loaded they sell here for around US$35,000, although the non leather version, can be had with LS1 for around US$30,000.
GM has decided that you all will drive Front wheel drive cars, as they are cheaper to build and engineer. or Trucks, which is something else no one in the world outside the US understands.
GMH's latest problem is matching the Ford Falcon output. Their last Commodore LS1 ran under 14.00 at the mag road, test (our drag tracks have virtually no rubber build up to help the launch so the speed could be repeated on the open road,) I'll bet that the car had been played with, something Holden usually does not do.
The Turbo six Falcon ran 14.2 in three different mag tests, (one of those carrying a passenger )and that is their no. 3 car. Its 240KW, with 260KW & 290KW, 5.40litres cammers coming in March. These are 4 valve engines, not available in the US.
Holden now has to do something with the LS1, as it is going to lose the bragging rights real soon. Hope Chevrolet has something waiting in the wings.

Re: 2002 caprice
 

<font color="red">Not enough buyers!! No one wants the rear wheel drive cars + they drag down the CAFE for GM. They sell too many trucks and SUV's and need all the economy cars that they can sell. The Olds Delta 88 and the 98 are gone, the Park Ave is a slow seller. And Pontiac is struggling selling a lot of Bonneville's. Poeple want Tahoes, Yukons, Suburbans etc.

I know the owner of a Chevy dealership for many years, said he sold more front wheel drive Impala the first year than he sold rear wheel drive ones in 5 yrs. People want a change, sure some would like them they way they were but not enough do.

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Re: 2002 caprice
 

I Have to disagree about no one wants a rear wheel drive car
I have three front wheel drive cars and my 91 blazer
My blazer in two wheel drives better than any front
Wheel drive car. My 2001 Pontiac front wheel with
Traction control is awful A few weeks ago we had a little snow and ice
I had to drive my wife to work . Because this car was not safe was all over the road you have to be real careful
The front end will go sideways real quick
I am now looking for a rear drive car for my wife and
Dumping the front wheel car hope to get rid of the other two
Also. I HATE front wheel drive cars
I am not alone on this I hear it all the time is why
There is no rear drive cars to be had This is why there is
More suv,s being sold . I know one reason is the four wheel
That most suv,s have but it is also the rear drive
My local chevy dealership is all ways telling he wish he could
Get rear drive cars because he would sell a lot more of them
That is why I am glad the pontiac,s new GTO will be rear drive
And I hope that when GM brings back the camaro they leave it a
Rear drive car I wish I could get this rear drive caprice
Sorry for the long post but I just really hate front wheel drive cars

Re: 2002 caprice
 

IMO unfortunately peolpe do not want big RWD cars. At my dealership Crown Vics are as stale as 5 year old crackers.
It's a shame because they are a great car for the money.

Re: 2002 caprice
 

<font color="blue">I see the Crown Victoria is in the news for bad gas tank design. I see a couple of police got killed in a firery crash and now some police agencies are suing Ford over the cars. One of my coworkers brother is a MSP officer and he says he hates the Fords and would rather the Tahoe or Jeep Cherokee.

Rear wheel drive cars are not popular anymore, there design can't keep pace with the more fuel efficient front wheel drive cars. The GTO has to be imported because none of the GM assembly plants except for the Bowling Green Corvette plant are geared up from rear wheel drive cars.
I am not found on front wheel drive cars either. Of the 4 I have owned, I traded or sold each one because I did not like the way the drive, e.g. torque steer. The best one of the lot was a 1995 Buick Park Avenue, ones I hate and would never but again are the Lumina, Monte Carlo. Worse handling car IMHO. You can see what I prefer below. </font color>

Re: 2002 caprice
 

Frank I have to agree with you what a shame The problem is thatÃs all you can get is front wheel drive. The biggest joke was the sales man that sold my wife on the front wheel with traction control was IT IS THE NEXT BEST THING TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE And she believed his sell pitch I hate it that Gm is trying to jam front wheel down our throat : [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I am getting a bad feeling
That if GM ever brings back the camaro they will screw it up as a
Front wheel drive As far as front wheel being more fuel efficient [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
Is bull I am getting average of 13 mpg on my three V6
With a 3.1 My 91 full size blazer 4x4 with a 350 tbi is
Getting around 13 mpg so where is it more efficient
Look at the SS impala what a nice car [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]
Big four door a/c and it still moves out pretty good
When I find one in good shape I am going the replace
My front wheel driver

Re: 2002 caprice
 

There was a 95 Impala SS on a lot in the Gulf Coast. My dad has one and my uncle had one. I can't stand big cars, but give the Impala SS its due [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/ooo.gif[/img] It would smoke the tires off. I love that car. My dad's Impala is in good shape, could use some paint, but he says there isn't a car out there that could make him tade his in on. And I agree.

Re: 2002 caprice
 

I agree, the factors in fuel economy are torque curves so she won't have to rev too hard, gears, both, box and rear, so the ol engine once more dos'nt have to spin so hard, and aerodynamics for the same reasons. Nothing to do with front or rear wheel drive.
My Commodore 1600kgs (3520 lbs ) about 192" long 4 door gets over 22mpg in the city and very high 20s in the country
Also runs mid 14,s and smokes the tyres off idle.
GM makes front wheel drive for the reason that its cheaper and then tells you that it is better for you.

As for some of the other opinions offered, if front wheel drive is better for driving don't you think BMW and Porche would have caught on by now or is it a US only secret

Re: 2002 caprice
 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>
As for some of the other opinions offered, if front wheel drive is better for driving don't you think BMW and Porche would have caught on by now or is it a US only secret

<hr></blockquote>

Most people dont' want to buy these brand cars, they are every expensise in US

Re: 2002 caprice
 

I'll take an M5 any day of the week!

Re: 2002 caprice
 

What's an M5. Sounds like a tank?

Re: 2002 caprice
 

I also am not fond of front wheel drive cars and probably will not buy one any time soon. I have the nova and the 71 vette and my 96 gmc s-15 with vortec engine and love them but have driven fwd cars and just can't make myself like them at all. I am considering buying the Honda S-2000 this spring because it is just all out cool. It is A rear wheel car and is putting out some ponies from what I have read. It's the only import car I have remotly considered in the last few years. I really wish the manufacturers would quit badging new cars with old names and even trying to make new cars look more masculine and dropping neon engines and similiar types of sewing machine junk in these cars and trucks. It is fun to play with these guys when I am out in the Nova and I let the ol tug boat engine eat A little....

Tommy

Re: 2002 caprice
 

-----I think the problem of no rear-wheel drive cars is about to change,somewhat.Around Detroit its pretty common knowledge that Cadillac will have rear-wheel drive sooner,not later.The Detroit Autoshow should have them on display very shortly.I believe Daimler/Chrysler is about to begin again as well.
-----I think part of Detroits problem is that they have only been building BIG rear-wheel drive cars the last several years.If all the german car companys can build all sizes of rear-wheel drive vehicles there is no reason we cant.Personally,I think the percieved cost difference between building front and rear wheel drive cars would go away if the rear wheel cars were built in the same volumes.
-----You have to give it to the major US auto manufacturers and their PR flakmasters,though.They have persuaded 90% of the US population that they need rear-wheel drive.You cant talk to a 60 year old woman who doesnt think her life is in danger in a rear-wheel drive car every time she gets into one.
-----It also seems to me that us performance oriented guys actually may be making a difference.Front or rear wheel drive,there are a tremendous number of high performance cars out there right now.Ill grant you that anything beyond opening the hood may be beyond our talents,repair-wise,but some of the latest offerings are really bitchin!.......Bill S........ol red!

Re: 2002 caprice
 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>
General Motors has abandoned the rear-wheel drive muscle car segment since it ended the production of its Camaro and Firebird cars this past summer and closed the Quebec plant that built them. "We have gotten out of the muscle car sports segment, if you want to call it that, in terms of the rear-wheel drive thing," said Richard James, a spokesman for General Motors Corp. of Canada. "But there is some limited demand for it in that our Cadillacs are all going to go back to rear-wheel drive."



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Full Story

Re: 2002 caprice
 

------Got my Autoweek yesterday and there was quite a story in there about future Daimler/Chrysler rear wheel drive cars.Also,great shot of new GTO and great story about Ford 427,10 cyl/590hp,4-door.Check it out.......Bill S.......ol red!

Re: 2002 caprice
 

Speaking of rear wheel drive V-8s in our latest issue of Wheels they did their annual test of new cars for speed, both 1/4 and flat out.
One of the stand out performers was GMH's new SV8, a stripped down LS1 four door Commodore with 17x8, spoilers and not much in creature comforts (ie no leather , sports seats , etc )
Ran a respectable 14.1? ( did'nt use a strip so no rubber to help the lauch ) but a very nice 164+MPH top end in the flat out test.
The price , under US$25,000. or about $5,000 more than a V6 Camry here.
Those LS1's are being put to good use.


Australia the Modern VEEE8 Muscle car capital of the World.