gmcbob

Okay, maybe offer the 6.2L LS3 motor as an option below the SS too.

I like these changes to the Impala actually. This car needs a more modern drive train for sure. I see TONS of 2006 + Impalas on the road and as far as nondescript 4 doors go, it's a pretty good looking car. I drove one as a rental once too - and it struck me as they type of car I would be in the market for with about 10,000 miles on it because I could probably get a screaming deal on one. (If I was in the market for just basic point A to point B family hauler) But this nameplate deserves to be on a much higher profile, very well executed rear drive sedan. My 68 Impala had some real character to it. There were coupes, fast backs, convertibles, SS packages, etc..that made that car super awesome. I know the Camaro more or less fits the need for the rear drive V8 coupe and convertible buyers these days, but I know there's a solid market right now for rear drive sedans. My suggestion to GM = build an Impala sedan and coupe off the new CTS platform with current Chevy styling. Give the base model this new 6 cylinder engine, then have a more powerful V6 in the middle, and then offer an SS version (for both sedan and coupe) with the LSA motor.

We're in Houston so it really isn't very cold here, but we've had some unusually cold weather the last couple of weeks sprinkled in with a couple of nicer, warmer days, which gives us a flavor for how the car behaves based on the outside temp. That being said, 0ne thing that both my wife and I have noticed, is that when it's cold outside (in the 30s or lower) the car takes a while to start running what I would consider normal. It seems kind of sluggish and not overly responsive on real cold mornings. But after a few minutes, it runs great. This is my first adventure with a turbo car (believe it or not) - I'm wondering if that may have something to do with it ?

Very nice. Like the new VW's a lot. Our 2011 GTI is sweet.

Thanks for all the good comments! We both really like it. She drives it mainly, but on the weekends I've been driving it a lot when we both go somewhere. Lots of fun - and to my pleasant surprise she actually wanted the manual - so even better. As a side note, I'm getting excited about the 255 HP Buick GS (with a manual)...I could picture that sitting along side the GTI in a year or so.

I haven't posted on here in a long time, but thought I'd post a picture of our new 2011 VW GTI. My wife traded in her G35 earlier this month. She wanted something "fun and zippy" - of course the first thing out of my mouth was "GTI!". We test drove a 2011 Mazda Speed 3 but ultimately ended up with the VW. Also in the background is my 68 Impala (which I hate to say I really haven't been keeping up with) and the trusty 08 Vue.

This is weird, the round plastic trim piece that goes around the knob that adjusts the lumbar support for my seat came off my seat. One of the clips that holds it onto the seat actually snapped, and the two remaining clips won't hold it so now when I sit down, it just pops off (along with the knob). So I just took it off and have the knob on there without the trim piece. I don't think I'm going to buy the trim piece as the knob works and stays attached to the seat just fine w/out it. It doesn't bother me too much, but it definitely makes me wonder if I should be defending GM as adamantly as I do. I know a lot of people who would be pretty bummed if this happened to their car. Generally speaking, I still really like the car...but these are the kinds of things that really just shouldn't happen.

Yeah, it's not anything in the door pockets because I thought the same thing and took everything out of them. I did clear out a lot of the stuff in the glove box too that would cause it and it still does it. It sounds like a loose screw or maybe the glove box door itself. I can live with it, but it's just ever so slightly annoying when I catch it (usually if my radio is off)

I actually haven't been on here in a VERY long time. I hope everyone is doing well. Well, my 08 Vue is two years old and has about 36000 miles on it now and for a while I've been hearing this slightly annoying rattle coming from the passenger side of the dash. It sounds like its on the inside, but I'm not sure. I can only hear it with the radio off and going over bumpy or worn out streets or gravel like pavement. When the surface is smooth, the rattle instantly stops. I almost want to say it's the glove box or even the front seat, but I don't think it's either one of those, because if I press on the glove box or hold the seat steady, it still rattles. It's really the only thing about the car that kind of ticks me off. Other than that, I'm perfectly fine with it. Any ideas?

Yeah, I sort of get what you're saying. It's almost a little too nice for it's intended audience (younger people who buy BMW 3 Series). I also kind of think of the current CTS as sort of this weird, somewhat expensive misfit in the world of luxury cars. It isn't a true G35, IS350 or 3 Series competitor because of it's weight, but it also really isn't cross shopped by those in the market for a 5 Series, Infiniti M or Lexus GS either because it isn't quite that size (that's a complete assumption, but I'll bet I'm right). I hate to say it, but as much as I really like the car, I can sort of understand why it's having trouble gaining traction like the first generation one did. Actually, my wife and I looked at them before we bought her G35 back in 08. The new (at the time) CTS was just too expensive the way we wanted it equipped. It was supposed to compete with the G, but it sort of didn't - it was too nice but at the end of the day, it didn't seem as "valuable" in a sense. (Plus my wife still associated Cadillacs with old men - even though she liked the car - go figure). I think GM would be smart to make the next CTS a little bigger to compete with the Lexus GS / Infiniti M and 5 Series (and keep it rear drive of course). They would also be smart to make a 426 hp version LS3 motor optional (as well as still having the uber mega 556 hp V8 in the V Series). This would give Caddy an honest to God competitive midsize type luxury car that it doesn't really have in the current STS. This new smaller ATS we all think may be coming can then truly compete with 3 Series / IS models as Caddy's "entry level" car - something that only tips the scales at around 3300-3500 lbs like a 3 Series or IS. Make the direct injection 3.6L engine they have now available across the line - but tune it up a bit. I think it needs around 350 horsepower - which I'm sure is quite possible without much tweaking. Doing these things would give Cadillac more relevance and make them more competitive in the market place. The CTS isn't working because it's the wrong size and doesn't have enough power to lug it's 4000 lbs weight around. It comes in mid pack in comparisons because of this I think - and it kind of shows in the sales. I see plenty around Houston - but I don't see them in the same quantities as I do other luxury cars. They're sharp, but just not quite right in the market place. Maybe Cadillac should do something crazy and go back to using names - like Eldorado and Seville. It could create some buzz and get people looking at them that may not have even given them a thought. I sort of think it would be this sort of cool, retro-yet sort of post modern thing that could make Cadillac somewhat more interesting to young people.

Oh ,and to add to my post above - I think the CTS may simply just be a little too expensive. Just a thought. I'll bet the sales of the CTS would pick up a bit if they lowered the price around $5k or so.

Yeah, the CTS sales have been disappointing lately. And I like that car a lot - I'd hate to see GM turn that into a FWD car in the future, which I can certainly see those bozos doing. But keep in mind it still sold right in line with the Infiniti G and outsold the Lexus IS - which is essentially it's core competition.

I have a slightly annoying rattle in my 08 Saturn Vue XR. It sounds like it may be coming from the glove box or perhaps the center stack - maybe from the plastic around the gear shift??? It's real tough for me to pinpoint. I can only hear it at somewhat low speeds over rough concrete. I thought it something in my glove box, but after removing almost everything from it, the noise is still there. The radio masks it fine, but it sort of sucks. Any ideas? Overall I think this car is pretty solidly made, it almost seems like an out of character noise to hear when I'm driving it.

Is it odd that I actually went onto Google Maps and found that exact location?

Yeah, it's a little disappointing to see the CTS drop like that. But it still looks like it outsold the Infiniti G Sedan and it's right in line with Lexus IS sales. As the months go by, I'm seeing more CTS' around Houston, which is cool. I saw a new GMC Terrain in traffic tonight. I'm still trying to decide if I like it or not. I'm seeing a lot of new Enclaves on the road here now. It seems like just in the last couple of months Buick Enclaves are popping up in traffic almost daily for me.