Post your dealbreakers

[Camino LS6]

I think GM needs a refresher course.

[Sixty8panther]

Two door or four door is fine.

Four pieces of side glass, all 100% hidden when rolled down, separated by ZERO b-pillars.

Mercedes can do it at minimal cost... (E-class 4dr post versus CLK 2dr hardtop)

[BigPontiac]

No stick, no sale.

I think the package size of my BMW 330i is a very good overall compromise. If you can't "fit" an alternative to finding a bigger car might be to join a gym and make yourself smaller

[Camino LS6]

No stick, no sale.

X2

[Blake Noble]

No manual transmission and front-wheel drive are the main deal-breakers for me.

Although I am partial to V6s and mid-sized vehicles and would much rather drive such, I am not totally closed minded to compact-sized vehicles and four-cylinders (I am already making due with those two things right now).

Good design is a must!

Edited June 4, 2008 by YellowJacket894

[vonVeezelsnider]

Less Than 18MPG City, No Sale.

Daewoo-Developed Product, No Sale. In the future I'll stick with the GME Developed NG Astra over the GMDAT Developed NG Cobalt/Aveo to go with my Impala.

No Automatic, No Sale

Ugly and Or Excessively Complicated Interior, No Sale (ala new Malibu- I'd much rather have an AURA)

No FWD or AWD, No Sale. RWD Will Never Cut it For Me. Please Don't Flame/Hate Me, but I don't like the concept, especially here where there's snow on the ground from October till May. You all have preferences, so do I.

Edited June 4, 2008 by vonVeezelsnider

[Camino LS6]

No FWD, under any circumstances, ever.

[Oracle of Delphi]

NO HUD!

[daves87rs]

Less Than 18MPG City, No Sale.

Daewoo-Developed Product, No Sale. In the future I'll stick with the GME Developed NG Astra over the GMDAT Developed NG Cobalt/Aveo to go with my Impala.

No Automatic, No Sale

Ugly and Or Excessively Complicated Interior, No Sale (ala new Malibu- I'd much rather have an AURA)

No FWD or AWD, No Sale. RWD Will Never Cut it For Me. Please Don't Flame/Hate Me, but I don't like the concept, especially here where there's snow on the ground from October till May. You all have preferences, so do I.

Don't Worry Veez, I don't hate ya, I actually agree with you....

While I do like RWD, it should be saved for more performanced based cars....

[Robert Hall]

No FWD---I have an SUV for snow, though I'll be replacing it eventually, maybe w/ an AWD car (Audi A4 Quattro would be ideal).

Manual is preferred, esp. in a performance car, but I can live with out it in a daily driver since most of my driving is city/freeway/suburbia. 2dr or 4dr, sunroof preferred, good cupholders, good sound system, CD changer, iPod jack, good interior plastics. Visibility is important, as well as good ergonomics, and good power seats. Good handling and reasonably quiet ride preferred.

One thing that I've realized living in AZ is that leather interiors aren't always better....a light tan cloth interior would be great here...unfortunately, and cloth interiors are pretty much impossible to find in my price bracket ($30-40k).

Edited June 4, 2008 by moltar

[capriceman]

No FWD, under any circumstances, ever.

?

So no AWD 4WD????? it is a FWD in a circumstance.

[Intrepidation]

Less Than 18MPG City, No Sale.

Daewoo-Developed Product, No Sale. In the future I'll stick with the GME Developed NG Astra over the GMDAT Developed NG Cobalt/Aveo to go with my Impala.

No Automatic, No Sale

Ugly and Or Excessively Complicated Interior, No Sale (ala new Malibu- I'd much rather have an AURA)

No FWD or AWD, No Sale. RWD Will Never Cut it For Me. Please Don't Flame/Hate Me, but I don't like the concept, especially here where there's snow on the ground from October till May. You all have preferences, so do I.

Quick question: how is the Malibu's interior ugly or complex? Styling is subjective., so I can give you that, although I personally dislike the Aura's interior for several aesthetic reasons, but as far as complex goes the major controls, if not all of the controls, are shared.

As for dealbreakers...

If it's a performance car, manual must be an option. I may or may not get it as a manual of say I have one as a manual already.

It must be fun to drive if it's a car, but I don't expect a minivan to handle like a BMW for example.

It must have a nice interior.

It must have modern conveniences if it's new. The Nav is a little iffy, as I prefer it, but I could make an exception for a car I really like (G8, Camaro). I like technology so there.

No Cancerous headlights or tail lights, the Solstice being the only possible exception, but I like the sky better anyway.

Edited June 4, 2008 by Dodgefan

[caddycruiser]

Ugly and Or Excessively Complicated Interior, No Sale (ala new Malibu- I'd much rather have an AURA)

Have to agree with Dodgefan here, and not just because we own one. The Aura is okay but just doesn't have near the cohesiveness and is still riddled with more cheap bits and pieces than the Chevy. Not bad, but eh, inside.

Otherwise, for me with a new car...good question. I'm thinking new car right now and am still baffled by what is is I want, don't want, must have, or refuse to have. Hmm. I think 1) terrible cheap blues (think Chrysler's current medium blue...eck), 2) a flimsy, looser, or just not tight/solid feel on the road, 3) bad gas mileage...wow, I guess lots of things.

[Sixty8panther]

No FWD, under any circumstances, ever.

Agreed.

I personally think 4x4s are for pu$$ies.

My short list of winter beaters:

RWD 1983 Pontiac Firebird t-top, 350-tbi crate motor intended for chevy pickup

RWD 1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance

RWD 1987 Mercury Cougar XR7 5.0

RWD 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham

RWD 1984 Datsun Maxima I6/5-speed

RWD 1982 Mercede Benz 240D

RWD 1992 Buick Roadmaster sedan

[caddycruiser]

I personally think 4x4s are for pu$$ies.

YES! Big one for me, actually. I despise AWD/4WD, almost to a weird level. Unless I lived on a mountain in the extreme north or had to climb boulders daily...why, in your right mind, would you want to drag around the extra friction of more axles, transfer cases, electronics and more...just so you have that special switch if there's a flurry out?

I know it's also a sporty car thing that gives more traction and can really help with sticking to the road all around...but just too overused, ordered, and depended on as a necessity still.

[Camino LS6]

?

So no AWD 4WD????? it is a FWD in a circumstance.

Actually, when we are talking car (rather than truck) then the answer is still yes. No car I would buy would be AWD or 4WD.

I have a truck for that.

[Intrepidation]

Have to agree with Dodgefan here, and not just because we own one. The Aura is okay but just doesn't have near the cohesiveness and is still riddled with more cheap bits and pieces than the Chevy. Not bad, but eh, inside.

Otherwise, for me with a new car...good question. I'm thinking new car right now and am still baffled by what is is I want, don't want, must have, or refuse to have. Hmm. I think 1) terrible cheap blues (think Chrysler's current medium blue...eck), 2) a flimsy, looser, or just not tight/solid feel on the road, 3) bad gas mileage...wow, I guess lots of things.

One of the blues I really like lately is Chrysler's Steel Blue Metallic.

[Camino LS6]

Except in very rare cases, no sedans.

[vonVeezelsnider]

Quick question: how is the Malibu's interior ugly or complex? Styling is subjective., so I can give you that, although I personally dislike the Aura's interior for several aesthetic reasons, but as far as complex goes the major controls, if not all of the controls, are shared.

Have to agree with Dodgefan here, and not just because we own one. The Aura is okay but just doesn't have near the cohesiveness and is still riddled with more cheap bits and pieces than the Chevy. Not bad, but eh, inside.

I would agree 100% that it's all subjective... When I talk about complicated I mean that If GM Makes a car with a center stack and control stack ala the new Accord- I will not buy it. It's too freaking complex, and I want something more straightforward. If they must integrate the controls, I think the Invicta and CTS seem to do a better job of this. The Malibu Interior is, however, wrong in a few fundamental ways by my eyes... It's not hideous, but for the same price, I'd rather have the Aura. Yeah I know it's got more hard plastic than it should but I don't care about it either way- given the Aura has the Metal Finish inserts instead of that gawd awful plood it looks better to my eyes, For comparison's sake:

As you can see, the Malibu has lots of cutlines in the door panels that make the whole thing look hacked up IMO.

Second, look at the instruments. Those gauges look a bit too 'showy' for my conservative tastes, and with a speedo up to 220, it looks squished in there.

Third, look at that area from the top of the bulge for the instruments down to the bottom of the steering column. Even with two tone-interiored Malibus that area is all one color without any accent strips to jazz it up. The center stack looks stunning, but by moving the wood strip up so high they've killed the aesthetic value of those extreme sides of the dash on both sides. Contrast this with the AURA that has a trim strip that goes through the middle of there, and onto the door, cutting down on the cutlines and making that area less of a no-mans land.

On the exterior they're both really attractive, but the Aura's C-Pillar isn't as Obese as well.

But 'eh... I'm only one man.

Edited June 4, 2008 by vonVeezelsnider

[DetroitNut90]

Styling, first and foremost. I will not look into, let alone buy a car that I don't like inside and out.

Good handling. I never, ever want to drive something as sloppy and vague as my cousin's 2004 Sienna. So, that means I would prefer RWD, but would look into something FWD if it handled well.

The availability of a 6-cylinder. I don't want a 4 unless gas gets really crazy, and as much as I enjoy V8s, I think one would be too much for my needs. Besides, 6-cylinders sound more interesting, IMO.

Console shift. I hate column shifts.

Creature comforts...leather upholstery, auto climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, compass & outside temperature display, trip odometer, Bose or similar sound system, sunroof, reasonably quiet ride, keyless entry, that sort of thing. NAV isnt' necessary. They're cool and all, but I think I'd just save that money for something else.

The option of a manual transmission, or at the very least, an auto with manual shifting.

A nice set of rims.

[gm4life]

If its a Toyota no sale.

If its a Prius no sales.

If its a Camry no sale.

If its a Yaris no sale.

If its a Tundra no sale.

If its a FJ no sale.

If its an Avalon no sale.

Get the picture?

[Intrepidation]

I would buy a late model Supra if I could get a deal on one.

[FAPTurbo]

If it looks great, is soaked in sex-appeal, doesn't look too goofy blasting hair metal, and puts a grin on my face when I take the wheel... then I'll be a happy camper.

I'm not too picky if it's an auto or a stick, or how big the engine is, or what drive the wheels are. Bonus points if it makes eco-nuts cringe though.

Edited June 4, 2008 by Captainbooyah

[regfootball]

no microsoft sync, no sale

[2005 EquinoxLS]

I too do not want to deal with RWD in the winter time. FWD or AWD work much better here when it is slipery or snow. I am looking for more fuel economy next time. I guess I will list each of my contenders with its pros and cons.

Chevrolet Impala. My first choice.

Pros

I fit in it well. I dont have to do wierd contortions to get in and out of it. Good fuel mileage with the 3.5. Plus I can use E-85 in it which we do have here.

Cons

Back seat isnt as big as it could be. More expensive than my other choices.

Chevrolet HHR.

Pros

I fit pretty well. Good fuel economy. Rides and drives suprisingly well. Cheaper than the Impala by quite a bit.

Cons.

Tight back seat, Smallish windows,

The new Malibu.

pros

Good fuel economy in the 4-cylinder which is the one I would get. Cant account for driving it since I havent yet.

Cons.

I hit some part of my body every time I get in or out of it. Feels tighter than the Impala.

Chevrolet Aveo.

Pros

Good fuel economy. I fit very well in it for such a small car. Rides well for something so small. Quiet. Dash looks very nice for something so cheap.

Cons.

It moves pretty weill from 0 to about 35, after that like to get it up to 70 you feel like you really have to push it.

My size 13 feet sometimes catch the edge of the pedals ( Sometimes I will catch the edge of the gas pedal when I am braking and vice versa). Not much of an armrest for longer trips. Gets pushed around pretty easily by wind.

I may redo or update this list in a day or 2 but here it is for now.