Variance

That sucks. Hope there's no electrical damage.

That's basically it. The Highlander has been largely unchanged (appearance-wise) since 2000 with no replacement in sight. The 4Runner isn't due for replacement yet but is losing ground to newer competitors. The Sequoia is the same as the Highlander. The Land Cruiser is just ancient and seriously outdated. It been the same since the 1998 model year save for an engine update in 2005. Also, why would you buy one over a newer, roomier, less-pricey Sequoia? Their new SUV offerings are flying off the lots (at least the RAV4 is, unsure about FJ). Another thing is, a lot of Toyota SUVs don't age well, IMO. The Highlander, 4Runner, Sequoia and LC look older than they actually are.

Counterpoint: In a way, they are more "American" than they were 10 or 20 years ago. But to say Toyota is 100% red-blooded American is pushing it (just plain incorrect, really).

Avatar: Eyes ... kono machi wa itsu mo hitomi kanashikute Bonus points (i.e. nothing ) to whoever can guess where I got it from. :AH-HA_wink:

Future Camaro Update: Australia's GM Holden May Be Taking the Lead Toward Production Date posted: 04-20-2006 CANBERRA, Australia — A task force based at GM Holden — set up shortly after the debut of the Chevrolet Camaro concept at the North American International Auto Show in January — is reportedly working on the production version of the car, according to the Telegraph newspaper here. "The only thing I can say on the record is that our new rear-wheel-drive (Zeta) architecture is the main candidate for the future American rear-wheel-drive products, including the Camaro concept," said GM Holden Chairman Denny Mooney in the report. "We have a significant number of engineering and design resources…working on the project." The newspaper said Mooney was careful to avoid any confirmation of a Camaro car project and also declined to discuss whether the Camaro project would affect the future of a new Holden Monaro. What this means to you: Chevy's upcoming muscle car may have roots Down Under. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=110100

Damn it. Yours looks more professional than mine. I hate it now. I'm making a new one.

Sold Out: Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice and Chevrolet Corvette Are All Spoken For This Year Date posted: 04-20-2006 NEW YORK — General Motors may have posted its sixth straight quarterly loss on Wednesday, but many of its low-volume sports cars, including the yet-to-be-launched 2007 Saturn Sky, are already sold out for this year, according to GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz. In a speech in New York, the GM executive said in reference to the Sky, "All available production for 2006 is accounted for." The Sky shares its platform with GM's other popular roadster, the Pontiac Solstice. Lutz said the Solstice has the best turn rate of any vehicle in its segment and that the car is sold out for the 2006 model year. Pontiac launched the Solstice last year and by the fall had about 13,000 orders for only 7,000 units. The roadsters are often selling for more than their starting sticker price of $20,490. Lutz said the Chevrolet Corvette is also sold out for the 2006 model year. What this means to you: Expect to pay top dollar for the Sky, the Solstice… and the Vette — if you can get your hands on one. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=110101

Ever considered a match-making web site or a personals column?

Basically what Mustang said. That ish has embedded itself in your registry and can't be dealt with that simply. If you screw around with the registry, you could do real harm to the system.

It's just how the coupe is going to look, not the sedan.

Wow, I do not like what's going on in the mid-region of that front end (the whole ugly waterfall thing).

Corvette? Maybe not. Ford GT? The GT-R's racing history isn't exactly insignificant. But not hanging with the Mustang or Camaro as a legend? I don't quite agree with that. Hell, if Dodge can move Vipers (which really have no serious history to speak of) at $87k, Nissan can certainly handle the GT-R.

Lotus Sport Makes North American Debut Date posted: 04-19-2006 DULUTH, Georgia — The first U.S. products to feature the Lotus Sport badge — the track-only supercharged 243-hp Lotus Sport Exige Cup and the street-legal 2006 Lotus Sport Elise — were unveiled at the New York International Auto Show. The British brand also introduced the first in a new line of Lotus Sport competition parts for the U.S. market. "There are thousands of Elise owners in this market who are serious about increasing the performance of their Lotus in a motorsports environment," said Mark O'Shaughnessy, Lotus Cars USA director of sales and marketing. "The debut of Lotus Sport products will give them access to the most sophisticated and factory-proven performance products and parts." Sport Ohlins shocks will be the first Lotus Sport part to hit the U.S. market. The company describes the performance shocks as having "extensive rebound and compression adjustments." Lotus Sport is the British automaker's competition subsidiary which develops, designs and engineers limited-edition production and purpose-built racing cars as well as individual parts and accessories. The Lotus Sport team also builds individual competition cars, such as a Lotus Exige that was specifically built for GT2 competition in the Asian market. What this means to you: It appears that the cottage industry for performance is alive and well in Hethel. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=110088

Mercedes Announces Pricing on 2007 SL550 and GL450 Date posted: 04-19-2006 MONTVALE, N.J. — The 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL550 coupe/roadster starts at $95,575, including a $775 destination charge, while the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 SUV has a base price of $55,675, including destination, the company said. The new SL550 comes equipped with a four-valve-per-cylinder V8 that produces 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, a power increase of more than 26 percent over the outgoing SL500. In the U.S., the SL550 features the company's hands-free communication as standard equipment, as well as standard Sirius satellite radio. The seven-seat GL450 will be sold in the U.S. with a 4.6-liter V8 that makes 335 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. It is equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. Mercedes also announced a slight price increase for the 2006 SLR McLaren coupe, to $452,750 from $452,500. The SLR McLaren price includes a $2,750 destination charge for container shipment, the company said. What this means to you: Think about it: You can get a full-size Mercedes-Benz SUV for the price of a Toyota Land Cruiser. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=110073

I like watching "Good Times". It's a pretty cool show. But for the life of me I cannot stand J.J. Evans. He's so damn irritating in every way. His voice, his clothes, his face, his over-inflated ego and the worst thing of all, his damned catchphrase: "Dynomite!" I just want to strangle him. Mind you, I don't have anything aganist Jimmie Walker, the actor who played him but I just hate the character J.J. Any TV characters make you sick?

Thank you. I now have a horrid, disturbing image in my head...

Toyota's Tundra Is Probed by U.S. for Steering Flaw (Update1) April 17 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s 2004 Tundra pickups are being investigated by U.S. safety regulators after more reports of a steering-system defect that led to a recall last year of 790,000 of the automaker's vehicles. The inquiry covers 95,000 Tundras built after Sept. 30, 2003, the last manufacturing date for vehicles in the recall last May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today said on its Web site. The Washington-based agency said it received four additional reports that a ball joint in the front suspension broke, causing drivers to lose control. Toyota recalled some 2002 through 2004 Tundra large pickups and Sequoia sport-utility vehicles in May, as well as 4Runner SUVs from 2001 and 2002, and 2001 through 2004 Tacoma pickups. That recall was one of the largest in the U.S. for Toyota, the world's second-biggest automaker. ``We are cooperating fully with NHTSA to investigate the allegations,'' said Sam Butto, a spokesman at Toyota's U.S. offices in Torrance, California. The agency said the reports that led to its investigation included one accident, with an injury. In the recall, failure of the ball joint, which helps keep the suspension in place, was blamed for at least two accidents without injuries. The automaker, based in Toyota City, Japan, is second in sales to General Motors Corp. Toyota's U.S. shares fell 45 cents to $112.67 at 4:02 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have gained 55 percent in the past 12 months. Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=100...Up98&refer=asia ----- Sucks for them.

Supposedly, the way Nissan tuned this latest CVT in the Altima is supposed to simulate shifts to it feels more like a regular automatic.

It isn't per se. The 350Z is a sports car. The G35 Coupe is more of a GT car.

Fountain of Youth: Solstice Drives Down Average Age of Pontiac Shoppers Date posted: 04-18-2006 BANDON, Ore. — Pontiac, on the shoulders of its popular Solstice, saw the biggest decline in shopper ages — from 54 in the first quarter of 2005 down to 41 in the first quarter of 2006 — according to a new report by market research firm CNW. At the other end of the scale from Pontiac, Korean automaker Kia took the lead in snaring older customers. The average age of Kia shoppers in 2006 is 35.5, compared with 30.3 years in 2005. CNW interpreted that as "good news" for Kia, because the brand "wants to move further upscale in both price and content so it needs slightly older buyers who can afford the more expensive vehicles." The average age of Mini shoppers declined more than 8 percent, from 46.8 in 2005 to 42.9 in 2006. The average age of Mazda shoppers is creeping up, from 39.7 percent in 2005 to 41.3 in 2006. At the same time, Toyota has seen a dramatic 11-percent increase in the average age of its shoppers, even factoring in its Scion youth brand. The average age of Toyota shoppers was 40.5 in 2005 and is 45 in 2006. Overall, the age of shoppers is actually older than the average age of buyers, CNW reported. This year, the average age of shoppers is 47, up from 46.5 in 2005, while the average buyer is slightly more than 41 years old, up from 40.9 a year ago. What this means to you: This report is an important sign of progress for Pontiac, and an important sign of danger for Toyota. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=110062

Nissan pushes fuel-cell limits X-Trail benefits from decade-long research effort By DINO DALLE CARBONARE AutoWeek | Published 04/18/06, 11:09 am et Nissan has devoted 10 years to fuel-cell research and that decade of development is packed into its latest FCV X-Trail sport/utility vehicle. Nissan developed and built a fuel stack in-house and its latest unit manages to squeeze the stack’s advanced technology in a smaller and lighter package. The new stack develops 120 hp—35 hp more than the one fitted to the previous 2003 FCV X-Trail. As a result the new model offers better acceleration and response, not to mention higher top speed. The benefits of the fuel-cell packaging improvements extend to the interior, where space is freed for passengers. The lithium-ion battery pack, which is stored under the trunk floor, is also smaller, allowing for more cargo room. Finally, the smaller fuel-cell unit liberates 40 percent more space under the front seats. The massive egg-shaped hydrogen tank, which features an aluminum inner liner and tough carbon fiber exterior shell, still poses the biggest packaging problem. Nissan positions it under the rear seats, considerably cutting into headroom. The tougher tank allows for a substantial increase of gas pressure, permitting 30 percent more hydrogen storage, which extends the vehicle’s cruising range to 312 miles. On the road the X-Trail feels potent. Once the onboard computer system gives the “ready” signal, driving is as simple as selecting drive and tapping into that zero-emission power. Nissan has engineered the FCV X-Trail to make the driving experience feel normal, except for the obvious lack of an exhaust note. There is no hiding the fact you are being propelled by electric power, as the train-like motor whine is always audible in the background but is never obtrusive. Engineers shaved 220 pounds off this X-Trail compared to the 2003 fuel-cell X-Trail, decreasing curb weight to a more acceptable 4100 pounds. Floor the X-Trail and it accelerates effortlessly up to a 70-mph cruising speed and easily attains a 93-mph top speed. Nissan’s efforts to research and develop fuel-cell technology recently paid off in approval from the Japanese government to begin public road testing and leasing of the company’s latest fuel-cell vehicle, which will allow for more stringent real-world testing. No word yet on when Nissan plans to put fuel-cell vehicles in the hands of consumers. Link: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...E/60417013/1065

Not Happy Loss of GT-R sports car to Nissan angers Infiniti dealers By KATHY JACKSON | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS AutoWeek | Published 04/17/06, 10:36 am et NEW YORK -- Infiniti dealers were incensed last week by Nissan Motor Co.'s decision to sell the high-performance GT-R sports car under the Nissan brand. Infiniti lacks a sports car, and dealers desperately wanted the GT-R as a halo for the brand. It goes on sale in the United States in spring 2008. Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan Motor, said this week at the New York auto show that every country except the United States wanted the redesigned model to be a Nissan. The U.S. unit could not prove that branding the car an Infiniti would generate more sales or profits, he said. "I was very neutral" about the matter, Ghosn said. The decision bothers dealer Ed Lennon, chairman of Infiniti's National Dealer Advisory Board. Lennon, owner of Circle Infiniti in West Long Branch, N.J., says the company never promised the vehicle to Infiniti. But he says the U.S. executive team favored the vehicle's becoming an Infiniti in this country. "We thought that Ghosn would abide by the regional needs, but that didn't happen," Lennon says. "Now they need to tell us where we're going. We're very disappointed. We truly counted on that vehicle to be a halo for us." Infiniti sells four car and two SUV models in this country. Sales are down this year on every model except the M sedan. For the first three months of this year, overall sales were down 9.0 percent to 29,187 units. In November, Infiniti dealers are expected to get a redesigned G35 sedan, the marque's sales leader. The FX crossover was freshened earlier this year, but dealers say the company is mum on any other future products. "We're limited; we're not a complete Tier 1 brand," Lennon says. Jack Collins, chief product planner for Nissan North America Inc., acknowledges that the Infiniti lineup is narrow. "There is more room for us in the luxury crossover segment," he says. "We have no convertible for the G35. That is another obvious opportunity. Our biggest constraint is manpower. We have the capital but not the manpower" to develop new products quickly. Ghosn says Infiniti has more product now than it ever has, adding, "We will be giving them more product in the future." The GT-R concept was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in October. The production model will be shown in Tokyo in 2007. The GT-R is expected to sell for an estimated $65,000, with targeted sales of about 1,500 in this country. Sources say it could make more than 400 hp. Link: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...E/60417005/1041

If the rumored Altima coupe comes to fruition, it definitely has a shot. A hybrid version is definitely on the way.

Part family sedan, part hooligan By Karl Brauer Date posted: 04-17-2006 The Altima is arguably the most important Nissan product of the last decade. If you go back a mere 10 years and look at Nissan circa 1996 you'll see a company struggling to survive in the North American market. The Z was about to die. The "premium" products coming out of Infiniti were lackluster at best, and nothing in Nissan's future portfolio indicated a turnaround was anywhere on the horizon. Fast-forward to the New York auto show — spring of 2001. Nissan rolls out an all-new Altima that offers more interior space, more horsepower and considerably more attitude than the former family sedan benchmarks from Honda (Accord) and Toyota (Camry). Can you say "shift-paradigm"? Fast-forward another five years to spring of 2006. The Z-car is back, there's a full-size Nissan Titan challenging the domestic trucks, and the Infiniti G35 is openly threatening BMW's 3 Series. Yet the Altima's claim to fame remains the most impressive of them all: It is among the top five best-selling cars in the U.S. Nissan obviously hopes to continue, and even build upon, the car's success with an all-new 2007 Altima. We were lucky enough to road test an early production model before the 2006 New York Auto Show unveil, and we have a solid picture of how the redesigned Altima will fit into this ultracompetitive segment. All-new from the platform up Starting with an all-new "D" platform, Nissan lowered the engine, upgraded the front suspension geometry and improved the shock absorbers for better steering response and handling. The new engine location allows the half shafts to be mounted at equal angles to reduce torque steer, while a new upper cowl structure provides increased rigidity at the front-suspension mounting points. The rear suspension continues to use an independent, multilink design and antiroll bars are mounted at both ends of the car. Base Altimas utilize 16-inch steel wheels with 215/60 tires, but 17-inch alloys wearing 215/55 tires are available on the 3.5 SE models. The 3.5 SE also features a sport-tuned suspension and larger antiroll bars. Much of the 2007 Altima's improved rigidity comes via the use of high-strength steel throughout the platform, as well as a 1-inch-shorter wheelbase. Despite these structural gains the new model is only 55 pounds heavier than the current car. With a proclaimed engineering target of creating "the best performing front-wheel-drive sedan in the world," we had rather high expectations for the new Altima. What we got was a noticeable uptick in steering feel and feedback and an overall sharper, more nimble car. The improved front suspension tuning, along with the new speed-sensitive, power rack and pinion steering system, provides a precise and linear steering response that rivals the class leader in this area — Honda's Accord. Drivetrain developments Adding to the Altima's fun factor is a more powerful 3.5-liter V6. Final SAE horsepower figures have yet to be released, but expect the peak number to come in around 265, a 15 horsepower increase over the current model's V6. Reduced internal friction and improved cylinder head cooling contribute to the increase in horsepower while also providing a more refined engine note. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder gets a bump in compression ratio, an improved balancer system and a larger intake manifold, but final numbers for this engine are similarly pending. More impressive than either engine is the new Xtronic CVT. This is the same unit found in the Murano SUV, but it has benefited from an upgraded "Sport" controller that uses adaptive logic to adjust shift patterns under varying conditions. As a rule we haven't been too impressed with CVTs, but our brief experience in the Altima suggests this technology is finally ready for prime time. While technically not "shifting" at all, this CVT made the most of both the four-cylinder and V6 engines' power and torque. When rolling into the throttle, or climbing a hill, the CVT allowed the engines to rev quickly and build power before executing a simulated — and very positive feeling — "upshift." Nissan has been pushing CVT technology for over a decade. It feels the improved efficiency and smoothness offered by this transmission design represents the wave of the future. The company expects to sell 1 million CVTs globally, every year, by 2008. If they all work this well we'll happily contribute to that number. Buyers still not sold on the merits of CVTs can select a six-speed manual transmission for either engine. It's what's on the inside that really counts While we appreciated the 2007 Altima's structural and drivetrain improvements, I think everyone can agree on where this car really needed a redo: interior quality. As paradigm-shifting as that 2002 Altima was, it never threatened the segment leaders in terms of cabin environment. For this redesign Nissan wanted to "build on the strengths, address the weaknesses" of the current model. Tapping on the new Altima's dash and door panels confirmed Nissan did its homework. The previously rock-hard plastics have given way to…well, supple plastics. Seat leather and interior controls are also clearly improved. It's not like you'll confuse the Altima's interior with an Aston Martin's, but the car can finally stand toe-to-toe with Accord and Camry cabins. For instance, our test car was equipped with dual-zone climate controls and the temperature knobs had a confident, weighty feel as we turned them back and forth (also a slick temperature display inside the knobs). The gauge cluster and radio displays have a significantly brighter and more polished appearance, and the available Intelligent Key system allows for push-button engine starting. Other options include a nine-speaker Bose audio system and a Bluetooth hands-free phone system. Of course there's still that Nissan-esque folding door over the storage pocket at the base of the center stack. But the one on our test car actually worked smoothly without feeling like it was about to break off in our hand. It's also worth noting that although Nissan shortened the car's wheelbase by 1 inch during its redesign, the Altima's total interior volume remains the same. This was accomplished by reworking the firewall location and trunk layout, yet trunk space remains about the same. All-new car, same old mission Nissan wants the 2007 Altima to be among the top three selling cars in the U.S. Beyond the improvements listed above, the company will add a hybrid model during the winter of 2007 as part of its goal. These enhancements will probably maintain the Altima's standing in the market, but with an all-new Camry (and Camry Hybrid) hitting showrooms, along with increasing pressure from upstarts like Hyundai and Mazda, getting Altima on the sales podium will be an uphill battle. Nissan doesn't appear concerned, however. The Altima has been part of uphill battles before. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...rticleId=110046

The full-throated roar of a great sports car By John Pearley Huffman Date posted: 04-17-2006 Reviewers have long cut Aston Martin too much slack. They'd concentrate on the cars' hand-built nature and thoroughly British pedigree as if that excused lousy quality, extreme weight, disappointing performance, inhumane ergonomics, trucklike chassis and hideous expense. Then, using the hoariest cliché, they'd apply the rhetorical coup de grace by reminding readers that James Bond drove one and that that pretty much sealed the greatness deal. The new 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, however, is a no-excuses two-seat sports car. It's beautifully built, performs brilliantly and while the ergonomics aren't perfect, they're not bad. All Aston had to do to achieve that was give up some Britishness. And at $119,340 the Vantage is a bargain. Beyond beautiful As a sculpture the V8 Vantage is one of the most stunning sports cars of all time; the body is tautly stretched over the 102.4-inch wheelbase with minimal overhangs, the fenders cover the 19-inch Bridgestone Potenza tires with devastating sensuousness and the windshield is fitted into its one-piece aluminum frame at such an extreme angle that the car's profile is practically ballistic. But this isn't a car that only looks good from 50 feet away. It's actually more beautiful up close. The detailing is all very restrained and tasteful, but the body is undeniably provocative — the automotive equivalent of Kate Beckinsale in a skintight Versace gown. And it makes cars like the scoops-laden Ferrari F430 seem almost vulgar in comparison. It says "Hand Built in Great Britain" right there on the Vantage's door sills, and this car proves the label should no longer make you wince. If you're thinking a frame built by carpenters using fresh-hewn ash and metalwork with "close enough" panel fit, get over it; those days are long gone. The "VH" (Vertical Horizontal) structure that underpins the Vantage is an intricate assembly of aluminum extrusions, steel and magnesium castings and composite body panels, all bonded together with advanced adhesives, self-piercing rivets and welds so beautiful you can run your fingers over them and never feel a bump or joint. Some of the aluminum extrusions, like those framing the engine bay and bolstering the cockpit structure, are so luscious the designers decided they were better off not covering them at all. Throw in details like ventilated disc brakes clamped by perfectly detailed Brembo calipers and the result is a car that is thrilling to behold in every conceivable way — and stops from 60 mph in just 113 feet. It's a $107,400 semi-exotic ($119,340 with 19-inch wheels, satellite navigation and a few other options) that packs both the visual firepower of a $250,000 super-exotic and the restrained elegance of a Porsche 911. That's a neat trick. Leveraging the network Aston Martin is now owned by Ford and this dinkiest division of the Blue Oval has put the resources of its parent to good use in the V8 Vantage. For instance, the DOHC 32-valve V8 itself is based on the same block castings and general design used in both Jaguar products and the Lincoln LS, but has a personality all its own. Assembled in Aston's engine workshop in Cologne, Germany, (as all current Aston engines are — there goes some Brit content right there) the V8's 89mm cylinder bores and relatively short 86mm crank stroke result in a nominal 4.3 liters of displacement (the 4.2-liter V8 in the Jaguar S-Type has 86mm bores and a 90.3mm stroke). That short stroke design combined with Aston's own cylinder heads, variable valve timing on the intake valves and a dry-sump lubrication system results in a V8 that revs with astonishing eagerness and a sound that's somewhere between the growl of a panther and a Jack Roush NASCAR machine. In a world of 400-horsepower "base" Corvettes and 1,001-hp Bugatti Veyrons, the 380 hp available in the V8 Vantage seems almost modest — particularly since that power peak occurs at a screaming 7,000 rpm. That's deceptive. Stirring the rear-mounted six-speed manual transaxle takes some muscle and the Vantage rips to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and consumes the quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds at 106 mph — quicker than the last base C6 Corvette we tested. And it does that with ease, grace and straightforward technique. Beyond 0-to-60-mph and quarter-mile acceleration, this engine is both easygoing and flexible. While the 302 pound-foot torque peak occurs at a rather lofty 5,000 rpm, there's grunt available from just off idle right up to the redline. Yes, there are faster cars, but there aren't many that feel so eager or are more fun to play with. Environmental science The V8 Vantage's seats aren't for the wide-of-butt, the window switches are mounted a bit awkwardly on the doors and the crystal start button doesn't change the fact that it would be more convenient to just twist the ignition key, but the glamour factor of the Aston's interior overwhelms those hiccups. What it can't disguise is that the thick suede-covered A-pillars restrict vision, particularly when diving toward the apex of a corner. With the speedometer needle sweeping clockwise and the tachometer's pointer heading counterclockwise, the Vantage's cockpit is always a high-drama environment. The steering wheel is exactly the right diameter and the shifter rises up on the center tunnel to perch precisely where the driver's right hand naturally falls. Throw in the glorious sounds rising from the exhaust and this car envelops the senses in a way that cars running paddle shifters and other electronic interferences can't approach. As refined as the Vantage is, there's also something very elemental about it. Thanks to its dry-sump system, the Vantage's power plant sits low between the front suspension's wishbones — just as the transmission's mass similarly sits between the rear suspension's wishbones. The result is a very balanced chassis with very little body roll, even when diving into off-camber corners at extreme velocities. It ripped through the slalom at a thrilling 68.6 mph. The rack and pinion steering isn't as quick as a Ferrari's or as precise as a Porsche's but it's plenty good and provides significantly more accurate feedback than the heavier steering in a Corvette or Mercedes SL. Aston packs the V8 Vantage with such technologies as ABS, electronic brake assist, traction control, stability control and positive torque control, but they all operate almost transparently. Turning off the traction control only amplifies the car's reflexes; it doesn't turn it into a crazed tail-wagger. This isn't a luxury car with sporty overtones, but a sports car. It rides rather stiffly but offers immediate turn-in, tenacious grip and unflappable transitions in compensation. It is as engrossing to drive as practically any other car in production. Best Aston ever? With the V12-powered DB9 and Vanquish positioned above it, the V8 Vantage is as close as this tiny, ancient company has ever come to producing an "entry-level" model. But the Vantage will redefine Aston Martin for the 21st century by moving it from the lunatic supercar fringe and positioning it as a sophisticated alternative to high-end Mercedes sports cars, low-end Ferraris and, most directly, the Porsche 911. In Southern California, where 911s are more common than house cats, the V8 Vantage is as conspicuously imperious as a British lion (with a German heart and American financing) strolling up Rodeo Drive. It may be a little less English than before, but the Vantage V8 is the sort of world-class product that puts the Great into Britain. No excuses need be made. No slack need be cut. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...rticleId=109929