You know what would've saved the ATS?

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
05/09/2018 at 23:55 • Filed to: None

If GM would’ve just sold the friggin Chinese ATS-L here as the regular ATS.

Oh, and replace that cluster. Just freakin’ use the Camaro one with a different theme, it’s a friggin LCD. Parts sharing, lower costs.

See, I can take over Johan’s job just fine.

DISCUSSION (20)

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 00:00

This is literally word for word what I told the Cadillac salesman after my test drive, back in ‘13. Could have been the one. So close.

ranwhenparked > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 00:01

Also, an ATS Elegante model would have helped. Some nice two tone paint, a bit more chrome, maybe some button tufted seats.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > ranwhenparked
05/10/2018 at 00:02

404 - User No Longer Available > ranwhenparked
05/10/2018 at 00:07

We’re talking about the ATS here... not the XTS Senior’s Landau Special.

404 - User No Longer Available > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/10/2018 at 00:09

Going forward... that might not be a bad strategy. Stop building the cars here, import all the sedans from China.

GM’s not new to this anyways, Envision is already from China. Besides, there are indicators that the Envisions are actually better built than the UAW cars.

wafflesnfalafel > ranwhenparked
05/10/2018 at 00:09

and jack it up a couple inches, add an automatically opening rear hatch, stick some rear facing entertainment screens in the head rests - voila!

ranwhenparked > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 00:11

Some of them want something that’s easier to park. Also, some active lifestyle communities are built with tight garages.

404 - User No Longer Available > ranwhenparked
05/10/2018 at 00:13

Then they can stick with their hatchbacks on stilts. The target market you are describing have all moved into those, the higher seat height is easier on their hip.

gettingoldercarguy > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 00:16

While I understand how appalling the dash is, I almost never look at it while driving save for speed and fuel checks. What I did notice when renting one a few weeks ago was how well the chassis behaves, how the car feels like what the BMWs of you’re felt like.

Chariotoflove > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 00:18

I didn’t know that was a thing.

404 - User No Longer Available > Chariotoflove
05/10/2018 at 00:24

It’s actually a popular thing in China. Almost all compact luxury cars have extended wheelbase versions, there’s the 3-series Li, Audi A4L, C-Class Long, even the Jaguar XE L.

This stemmed from a cultural thing in China, where lower level employees cannot be driving the same car as their manager. They still want a roomy car without stepping up to a higher model. Weird, but true.

Tristan > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 00:42

A car with a USABLE back seat?!?! Heresy!!!

nafsucof > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 00:55

3.3” wider. probably drifts better too

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 01:03

I remember when the ATS sedan first came out I read all the reviews and quickly put it on my list of “cars to buy off lease in a few years.” Then I saw one in a parking lot, took one look in the back seat and crossed it off. I get that it is a compact RWD car and by nature isn’t going to have a huge back seat, but it didn’t even look big enough for my 4 year old (at the time) to sit behind me.

CRider > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 02:42

You mean the ATS d’Elegance?

jimz > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 04:54

Yeah, no.

boxrocket > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 06:01

Counterpoint: The ats was going to die anyway with cadillac’s idiotic new naming scheme. It also didn’t have the best reputation: while it was a good performer, the rest of the package was a massive letdown, even with money “on the hood”.

Mustafaluigi > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/10/2018 at 07:58

Is brought up the dash to somebody years ago when it first came out and they all thought I was crazy. For a luxury car it looked like you were looking at a dash of a car from the 90s. No fancy screens or LCD. Flat black and a moving needle.

404 - User No Longer Available > Mustafaluigi
05/10/2018 at 09:05

For the base model it’s probably OK, BMW’s clusters look worse in the Urban Line models in Europe. But having no upgrade was not acceptable, and it was easy money when GM has so many parts to reuse.

404 - User No Longer Available > boxrocket
05/10/2018 at 09:06

Theoretically it’s being replaced by a tweener model the Shitty5.