LosAngeles

It would be nice if Toyota's next Avalon was a Crown adapted to US tastes (i.e. stretched about four inches in interior). If it's good enough for Japan, the rest of Asia, and South Africa, why not us? I don't see where we have to have a big frontie (that crowd is well-catered to by the Camry) And the return of an affordable not-so-high-endish Supra would be the business also. Celica can return as a frontie and it wouldn't make any difference.

In order of what piques my interest: CTS-V STS with V-8 Infiniti M (the only car that seems agreeable with either engine) CLS E55 AMG M5 GS RS6 Yeah, there really isn't much available. Don't care for the Jag. And Acura and Lincoln needs to get their bars up.

Is thsi GM Kappa based?

I'm not gonna be ridiculous and throw roadsters in on a discussion of everyday-use compacts. What I would seriously look at, however, goes like this, in this order: HHR (2.4 and stick) Mazda3 hatch (maybe the 'Speed, if it doesn't require premium) Cobalt SS Astra (liked it as a Vauxhall, should like it as a Saturn) Ion Quad Coupe Redline Caliber (maybe the SRT-4 if it doesn't take premium) top of the line Vibe with stick Lancer RalliArt wagon Spectra 5 the VW A5 gang Elantra Forenza Focus wagon Civic's too ubiquitous, I'm waiting for a Sentra SE-R, Corolla/Matrix just doesn't do it for me. I'll take a used WRX

If I was in the market for a brand new bread-and-butter intermediate piece, this is what I would gun for: G6 (I'm a sucker for Pontiac, and I like the center stack myself) Aura Sebring (one man's ugly is another man's interesting) Mazda6 fastback or wagon (the 'Speed takes premium fuel...not the business unless I was rich) Fusion/Milan* Legacy turbo Accord V6 with a stick (and the Japanese Inspire front end) Sonata Malibu Maxx* Optima (with a more powerful V-6) Passat's dumb expensive, Galant and Camry just aren't my look, Avenger's too ugly (would make a nice fastback, however), too many Altimas out there. The '08 Malibu will be within the top five of my list, need to see what they do with the new Accord. Maxima, the W-body GMs, and the D3 Ford twins are big cars to me...that's another thread. *Really needs more than a conventional automatic. Now about the stick issue. I was on Powell St. in an Integra. Thoroughly frightening. Coming to the end of La Cienega at Sunset is similar, but I had a torquier Supra and more experience.Next new car will be a stick if it makes sense with the overall package.

I can't wait for SoCal jurisdictions to get out of those damn Vickys. Would be beautiful to see more Chargers and Impalas. Tahoes here are basically used by seargents (sp?).

You mind telling me what the hell you're talking about?

That's not a written in stone requirement (see Fox Mustang)

There are L-sounds in Korean, you know.As far as the car: All we have right now in the affordable FR sports/GT segment Mustang, Z, and RX-8. Camaro and Challenger aren't here yet, and there's no Supra, or anything from Honda or Mitzi. Why not? And unless they're going absolutely premium, I'd like to see the Chrysler-Mitsubishi-Hyundai engine under the hood as a base.

OK, I'm angry. The name had me expecting a damn limo and I open to find this. I guess the French just don't do big cars.

The Japanese Odyssey (of a couple years back, anyway) begs to differ.

The people who hate this car have gotten overly biased and snobby IMO. There's not a disagreeable line on it. This is what the G6 coupe should have aimed to be (as opposed to a porky RSX). It has the proportions I like visually, and the chassis and powertrain will be rough and ready. Audi hasn't done a notchback 2-door since the 4000 of the 80s. It's about time they re-entered and this is a great example, following the look of the rest of their line, as opposed to being something from way in left field. It's quite nice to me. And it will grow the 2-door market, because the Audi fans (they do exist) and the Beverly Hills and West Hollywood crowds will eat them up. If it was given to me, I'd drive the hell out of it and not even trip off of your weirdly spirited criticisms. So will the customers.

Beats the old one.

Great move forward. It's about time they made the grille look better. And with SRT-8's doing 400 large, and the SRT-4 moving into 300 territory, one can only hope they're doing Avenger and Sebring SRT-6es with 350 horses. It's only right. Don't say no to it because of how conservative the intermediate market has been in recent years. It's time for something more liberal, and it would be nice if it ran on regular instead of premium.

The compass is a taller, uglier Caliber. Wasted effort. Going into road-only frontie SUVs was not a good idea for Jeep. Liberty, the new Wrangler, even Commander and Patriot, all winners.

Looks about like what I proposed for a Firebird (though the roofline suggests it's a strict 2-seater, all Vette-like--Banshee, maybe?)

Tune it right and style it right, and drive wheels don't matter (thought I voted rear, for the record). I was thinking yesterday though, that in this rush for intermediates to grow to the damn near the size of 60s A-bodies, that there hould abe a car kinda in-between with "tunable pep." You know, where's that 180-184" car with decent rear interior room (more headroom in the back than the current G6), sporting character, and one engine that can go in either direction (spirited or sedate, a 2.5 liter about 210-230 bhp, 30 mpg avg. by today's standard)? Something kinda like the Integra or Toyota Chaser. A touring car more so than a family sedan.

I guess this passes for fun in some parts.

Isn't that what I said a while back? You've gotta be kidding. Turbo cars are probably the most no-brainer cars to modify. You can add boost control, a fuel computer, as wide open an exhaust as you like, wastegate, a different turbo, different intercooler and more, and still leave the engine itself bone-stock.

To me, the harbinger of things to come was how the original Saturn SL looked like a compact Cutlass Supreme. Even the second one arguably looked like an Intrigue.They should have (done what was rumored and) merged the two brands under one badge in the first place and saved the later heartache, when it's obvious that that is essentially what happened. Outlook = Bravada Aura = Alero, Calais, Cutlass Ciera, et al. Saturns even have this "metallic creaminess" that reminds me of Olds.

I'll tell you what's gay...that Euro-tech music dude felt the need to throw on the listing. Bastard should be kicked in the chest for doing that.

I'm guessing Chicago is totally different from SoCal. Every 8th to 10th car I see out here is a damn Charger. And the Sebring took out quite nicely also.And assuming you're referring to Camcord, it's not because they're front-drive, it's because of Toyota and Honda's reputation that those cars stay on top. This would be the case if they were rear-drive instead...I guarantee it, call me George Zimmer.

I'd much rather have a G6 estate. Seriously. I think the Pontiac would have made for an attractive estate.

I always loved Vauxhall.....great millenium Lotus Carlton follow-up. but... Is this an implication Vauxhall is again separating from mainland Europe's Opel? What stops such a car from being offered in Germany, France, et al? I'm also surprised I haven't heard a ton of rice calls in this post.

Before what? What do you think is on the horizon that will stop that sort of thing?Everything I've heard here lets me know everyone in the US is glad they don't live in L.A. There's all kinds of raging 2.83s and 2.90s in this town. Only down in the South Bay was I seeing more palatable numbers of 2.74. We'll be back in three-buck hell by the ides of March.