Keep Oppo Calibra

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 09/10/2016 at 22:47 • Filed to: None

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RT > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/10/2016 at 22:52

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Calibre is the plural of Calibra?

Zohaibman72 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/10/2016 at 22:52

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I love the look of these. They look normal enough that they would be great modified, but they look aggresive enough to be desierable (in their time).

I wish they where imported to North america. Would make a good pontiac or buick. But then again, I know nothing about these cars other than the look.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > RT 09/10/2016 at 22:55

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Yes.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Zohaibman72 09/10/2016 at 22:57

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Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/10/2016 at 22:59

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I swear that this better not be a theme day starting post...

RT > Zohaibman72 09/10/2016 at 23:00

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Here’s some basic info on the car…

Based on the same platform as the Saturn L-Series and Saab 9-3.

Made from 1989-1997.

It was the most aerodynamic production car for 10 years!

The I4 Turbo was faster than its V6 engine and available in 4WD.

It was planned to be sold as a Saab in America, but it never happened.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 09/10/2016 at 23:00

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Keep Oppo Caliber

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 09/10/2016 at 23:03

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Keep Oppo Cali Bro.

Zohaibman72 > RT 09/10/2016 at 23:05

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I also found out it was a Ford Probe competitor that outsold it. We got the probe. The Calibra probably would have done decent in North America I think. 4WD for North American winter in a coupe.

I think it would have been successful if sold under a more mainstream brand, like Oldsmobile, Pontiac, or Saturn. Saab it probably wouldn’t have got the sales because the Subaru SVX (closest car to it, really) didn’t exactly sell well. A back light change and it would’ve made a good Saturn I think.

RT > Zohaibman72 09/10/2016 at 23:16

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Yep, pretty much no-one bought the Probe but the Calibra was a fairly common sight for a while.

Oldsmobile was a dying brand by then and Pontiac already had their own coupes. It could probably be a good car to promote Saturn though, as a flagship sports car or something. As you said, it looks like one with a light change, and it fits in with the lineup since it’s compact.

Stuff like this makes me think that if GM managed their brands better, some of them wouldn’t be in the same state today.

Zohaibman72 > RT 09/10/2016 at 23:45

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GM was horribly managed until recently honestly. Pontiac and Saturn turned into importers, and Pontiac barely had any unique cars. Axed in favor of GM.

Oldsmobile’s best sales year since the 60s was their final year, 2004. The Bravada SUV could’ve saved the brand, but GM didn’t give it a chance.

Hummer being it’s own brand was a little dumb, should’ve been a GMC imo. And GMC would’ve have merged with Buick instead of axing both pontiac and saturn imo also because GMC is basically Buick of Trucks. It would be weird at first but we’d be used to it now, like the Cadillac Escalade.

GM just makes a lot of stupid decisions in my opinion, especially during the 90s-2000s and their brand management.

404 - User No Longer Available > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/11/2016 at 00:11

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...all I know is, it is NOT the Calibra, but it is the Calibra’s Swedish Cousin!

Nauraushaun > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/11/2016 at 00:44

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A few of these made it to Australia as Holdens. They’re sort of cool.

bhtooefr > RT 09/11/2016 at 02:05

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Looks like the same wheelbase as the NG900, for what it’s worth. (And the same platform, too.)

duurtlang > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 09/12/2016 at 18:28

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I accidentally spotted a 1991 (25 year rule!) Calibra . It is showing signs of one of two common deaths for these cars, which is clearly visible in the pictures. Upside: highest bid is €111 and I doubt that will multiply much if at all.

And lots of this:

It’s also the base model. That makes it perfect a blank canvas, right?

I like the text in the ad:

Der Wagen hat zwar nicht dem Papst gehört,
wurde auch nicht von irgendeinem Fußballprofi gefahren,
es wurde auch keine Spielerfrau oder anderweitig prominente Frau darin geschwängert,
war in keiner Fernsehsendung zu sehen, auch nicht bei Cobra 11,
vieleicht ist er trotzdem Interessant.

The car has not belonged to the pope,
it hasn’t been driven by a professional footbal player,
it hasn’t hosted the impregnation of a football wife or otherwise prominent woman,
it hasn’t been a part of any TV series, not even Cobra 11 ( look for that on youtube),
but maybe it’s still interesting.

RT > Zohaibman72 09/23/2016 at 19:36

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Definitely, GM had their problems back then.

There was some huge quality issues, and they had a bit of a habit of competing with themselves. Reminds me of what happened to British Leyland. Let’s see what went wrong…

So Chevy was the normal brand, and the only one which seemed to be reeling in all the $$$. Cadillac was apparently the luxury brand set on challenging the European rivals. …But Saab was also a luxury brand focusing on European rivals. Saturn was moving upmarket, giving it no reason to exist anymore. Hummer was just …there and Pontiac, Buick and GMC had no co-ordination whatsoever.

I agree with you that GMC could’ve probably merged with Buick, it would’ve been a risk but it could have boosted Buick’s image in return. Hummer and Saturn were past their time by that point, maybe a solution could’ve been made with Pontiac as a performance brand or something - but like you said, they became an importer in the end. Oldsmobile would be interesting to see what they could come up with, but I’m not sure where they would fit in in the present day. I’m a huge Saab fan so I am still annoyed by the events of the sale, I just wish it went to a better owner in the end. Perhaps if GM didn’t abort their V8 project things would’ve gone differently.

But this all speculation, at least GM have a decent grasp of Chevy and Cadillac today, here’s hoping things get better to come.