PurdueGuy

I can't help but feel that the main reason behind this argument is just a psychological attachment to the number 8 as it relates to cylinders. Seems like it all starts with "I want a V8, how can I justify that?" rather than "considering current technology and needs, what is justified?" I'm not against 8's, but I just see this whole argument as a defensive move to displace the threat away from the 8 toward anything else, in this case the 6cyl.

I'm used to tornado warnings, and while they can seem kinda freaky, they strike such a small area that you're not likely to get hit by one, even living in an area known for them (we got quite a few in northern IN). Still good to take proper precautions, but it gets to where it's not really that freaky, especially since I like storms. Haven't experienced a hurricane, but I imagine I'd take proper precautions to know I wasn't going to get hurt, and then I'd enjoy watching that, too. No earthquake experience either, not sure how that would be. I have felt tremors before. Would be interesting. Probably most likely around here in ID would be wildfires or blizzards. The national lab west of here has a well supplied firefighting team, and the area around here has good irrigation, so it probably isn't a very high risk of reaching my home, but it's a little concerning. I got diverted around one while out driving one day last year. I've been in ice storms & blizzards before, and haven't had anything bad happen, so I'm probably overconfident about that too. I guess I'm just not much of a worrier. *shrug*

LEDs barely use electricity, but I could see using an uber-high reflective material for the bolt instead.

It would be kind of a shame for them not to do something with Pontiac, but I don't think it would change how I view the company all that much.

You've obviously never spent significant time in the midwest to make such a gross and inaccurate generalization. Typical Californian.

If they could get rid of all the overhead involved with Hummer being a division-like brand, and just make it a brand name to be used or not used as the market dictates, then I would support the keeping of Hummer. In the short-term, I would fully expect the H2 should be killed, but the H3 is iffy, and the H4 would've been sweet. I made a thread about this a while back, but I personally think that some of GMs brands should be changed from being division-like entities, to just being brand names to be used or not used as they think they can get sales from the product. I would probably put everything but Chevy and Cadillac in this position, and all but those two in the same dealers. Of course, realities of the situation make this pretty much impossible.

If they can make it just as well equipped, styled as well or better, drop the price $1-2k, and have more engine options (including something that offers more power, and something that offers more fuel economy - the current setup seems to be an un-inspirational compromise between the two), the next gen could be a big hit... assuming they actually advertise it well and let people know it exists.

I really like the look of this (though the blue lighting wouldn't be legal in the states). I'm sure it's a polarizing style (some will love it, others will hate it), but that's the kind of thing GM needs to do more of (especially in the non-volume brands, but some is fine at Chevy too). Shame we don't get this (or am I confusing myself, and we're getting it, but just not built in the US?)

I agree, someone who does a lot of highway driving is likely to be better off with a standard, fuel-efficient ICE vehicle, or maybe a standard or mild hybrid, or even better, a diesel. The Volt should be fine for occasional long trips - I doubt it's mileage will be bad after the initial 40 miles, just not as good as it could be with a smaller battery pack.

You guys are overlooking something. It would be wasteful and dumb for the engine to fully recharge the batteries. Once the batteries are depleted to the set level, it's just like a hybrid car. It's still going to turn the engine on/off as it needs to, and use electric as it needs to. The engine isn't going to sit there and run and not charge the batteries, but once the batteries are at a certain threshold, it's not going to keep running the engine and FURTHER recharging the batteries. How dumb would that be? You get home at night, go to plug in your car, and find the gas engine already recharged the batteries. FULLY RECHARGING THE BATTERIES WITH A GASOLINE ENGINE COMPLETELY CONTRADICTS THE POINT OF A PLUG-IN HYBRID.

I only own S-Series, Opel's got nothing on me!

They've decided the 'bird isn't coming back. Should SLP wither and die because of it?

For the most part, there isn't that much info on the next gen out yet. The Saturn version is expected to be built in mexico for the next gen, and we should be getting a sedan version. I want to say the next gen probably won't differ all that much mechanically from the current, but it's really hard to say that for sure, and especially when talking specifically about the Saturn version. GM should make parts readily available for the time frame you're looking at, but it's hard to say how much aftermarket & used availability there will be. You may be stuck paying dealer prices quite often. That may not bother you, though.

Saabs of the last 5 years or so are great looking cars (some are decent before that as well). Can't really complain about turbos, either. Only things that would keep me from considering one (if I were in the market for a car) is cost of purchase and repair. Friend with a '99 saab (forget the model) decided to live with a cracked fog light, because they were over $100 each. That was the best price he could find... USED. FROM A JUNKYARD. That's crazytalk. Of course, I'm a Saturn owner, so I'm a tightwad. lol

Medium truck = Kodiak, etc?

aftermarket floormats

You would have to gas it up along the way, but yeah, you can drive it anywhere like a normal car. The only difference between this and a regular hybrid (in a functional how-you-use-it sense) is that you get a notable all-electric range. After that, you drive it, gas it, park it like a normal car.

It's a good question. An electric drivetrain is highly efficient, and it certainly helps to run an ICE at a specific RPM where it is at it's most efficient. Whether the overall package is more efficient than a normal ICE direct drive setup or not will be interesting to learn more about. I agree, GXP (can't believe I just said that) - if a person's normal parking space doesn't allow them to plug in the Volt, it probably won't come even close to making sense for them to buy. The good thing is that the plugging in isn't required, so if you drive it to the airport and park it without plugging in, you won't return to a giant paperweight.

fixed

interesting. *dreams about a new Saturn model with polymer panels* *then wakes up*

it doesn't matter that it's a complete crapbox, it gets high mpgs, and there are plenty of people willing to suspend logic and concern for safety to buy a car like this, replace or rebuild the engine, and drive it and brag about their mpgs. Remember that not long ago someone paid more for a metro on ebay than the car cost new?

hood windows have been around for a while... way to be behind, Jalopnik.

I was gonna say, they mention "featuring the volt", but it's a buncha malibus...

I bet that metro will sell easy.

you may not always be able to recharge it. Again, that just means you don't have the advantage of the plug-in system, but it will still be operable with the gas engine. (how many times do I have to say that?)