Mule Bakersdozen LS

I like this one-too bad Ford U.S.A. isn't following this school of design-Mercury in particular. Gain for Ford of Europe, another big loss for Ford's home.

The HHR is going to sell and I'm seeing quite a few in my area-I'm seeing a good number of H3's, a couple G6 coupes on lots (they wasted so much space in that its not even funny-too expensive as well), and I'd like an Opel Rekord Kappa, over the Pontiac. I bet it would look good if done right. Maybe send it over here, but have it emulate the 3-Series, but at a much lower price, and have equivalent or more passenger and cargo room.

Yes, officially from 1959-81, and dating back to 1950 for a 2-door hardtop coupe body style. I voted Bonneville though, and since that is and was largely better-known, that's what I would pick. I'd want the CLS+Quattroporte styling, but merged onto a Caprice BOF-L architecture. I'd call my mid-size sport-luxury coupe Grand Prix, GTO as is, maybe detuned in base form with a few bits of equipment taken out, and LeMans as Pontiac's mainstream mid-size car, all based on a BOF platform. LeMans and GTO would seat up to 6 (9 on Bonneville Grand Safari-LeMans would be a short-tail SportSafari with no third seat), while GTO, Grand Prix, above-SJ trim LeMans and SSE-up Bonneville's would seat 5, with rear buckets optional on GTO and Grand Prix, maybe Bonneville.

Looks nice-I read on AutoWeek it would be built in Korea alongside the S3X. 3-door hardtop crossover SUV-nice idea-probably not totally feasible, but then again, no one 20 years ago could have seen a tall hatchback Mercedes-much less 2 or 3 of them. I hope Saturn does well with the next VUE.

Me too-I just wish GM would consolidate all their subcompact and compact cars so that everyone benefits. I don't know why Chevy (and Holden) are imitating the Ford/Honda/Mercedes-Benz school of triangular taillamp design-I know Chevy can be more original than this. Better exterior styling would serve well-not all subcompact cars need to be tall.

That, and it trails nearly every single competitor in passenger room, particularly the rear.

That's interesting-does it work the same way as the Grand Prix GTP's did? I don't like the new Envoy bodyside moldings-they just lack the integration and upscale look the 2002-05 models did.

I'd like to see Aura and other upcoming models to have the Sky concept's side swoosh and have more daring styling-the Aura looks nice, but still from the popular 'pleasantly bland' school of design as far as I can tell. Why not make a fastback version to distinguish when the Buick LaCrosse is redesigned?

I'd go with a 2006 Chevy Impala-all three Buicks are inferior in my opinion.

I agree with regfootball and avro206-plus there's too little passenger room in Cobalt already, as all-wheel-drive would eat up more of the dinky passenger space Cobalt already has, and though the trunk is above-average (probably the only thing about the car other than engines and coupe rear styling that IS above-average), it would reduce it to like 10 cubic feet. And this Cobalt should be focused more on mainstream-market compact cars, and fuel economy. Give AWD to a Buick or Pontiac version, but leave it out of Cobalt, and leave it out of this generation period.

Me too-it looks like a great, even if not revolutionary, car-I'd snap it in a heartbeat. I also like it because its priced right and has a front split-bench seat in all the models that people will actually buy. Now about that ABS and side air bags becoming standard on every model.....

Still too high-especially for the base ST trim level. The wheels on 2004-05 ST's just absolutely ruin the truck-it used to be the best looking base-trim truck, but it should be $19,000 or 20,000. And they should dump that V-6 while they're at it-it just isn't appropriate for anything sized above Grand Cherokee. The Sport package sounds nice-upgraded too-now the HEMI and front bucket seats are standard.

Saw some Chevy Impala and HHR's a week or two ago-LS trim levels-all great cars that I think will do well. Haven't seen any Sonatas yet, though I saw the Kia Rio Base and LX sedans last week. Much better cars than the outgoing model (then again, it wouldn't have taken much), but still doesn't measure up to a Chevy Aveo in my opinion. And the $11,000 base sedan MSRP does not include a stereo, air conditioning, or wheel covers. Also a couple days ago I saw a light blue....Daewoo Lacetti or Nubira 4-door notchback sedan (aka Chevy Optra in Canada/Asia and Suzuki Forenza here-the compact)! There were no plates, no badges, no registration-but it still had the Daewoo imprint on the multi-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. Saw it at Tom Wahl's, Bushnell's Basin a couple days ago.

I totally agree. And they should start deleting rear-drive too-and make Patriot a Chrysler or Dodge, same with Compass-I'd call them, Compass in particular, Eagles were that still around, and delete front-drive availability.

There's no such thing as a 1961 Jeepster-it was made from 1948-51 (really the 51's were retitled 1950 models I think), and 1967-73 in the Commando line. I love that cream color though.

http://www.autodeadline.com/detail?source=...536632&mime=JPG http://www.autodeadline.com/detail?source=...536699&mime=JPG

I agree with you there-the 1998 Signia station wagon concept is one of at least three concepts that trounced Centieme in styling and design.

I'm glad you're okay-how far is Jackson from Biloxi? I saw that city on TV last week and it was horrible-I've been praying for those people though. Gas here is now like $3.39 average-I still remember my first day at my few-week stint gas station job-"we're going up to $1.98!"-that was May 2004-just yesterday or the day before the lowest prices were $2.99. Where my best friend Tim's 1998 Escort (SE Sport) sedan once cost $10-12 to fill the tank (powerful and with great gas mileage-4-speed OD automatic transmission), he put gas in for the week at the 1/4 mark-it only rose to halfway between 1/2 and a full tank, with $12. Neither one of us could imagine what turbulation Hummer buyers must be going through now. For all you other guys on here I'll pray for you too-I hope you all will be able to keep going-look to the Lord for comfort.

You totally read my mind, ehaase. It would sound nice to have a rear-drive compact (I'd prefer shortened Zeta VE, but that's got the same likeliness at this point), but a front-drive compact makes more sense. As long as DIFFERENTIATION were key, then I'd better think of a Pontiac Delta-just because they're similar doesn't mean they have to be clones stealing from each other-that's just not always true, though I see your same fear (which I have too), that GM, Mopar, and Ford just don't seem to realize.

Base V-8 Camaro (and Firebird)-great idea! I don't know why they made it unavailable for the 1993 redesign and for Mustang's 1994 redesign and haven't been since. I was raised on the notion that even the base model can have the option of a V-8 (or V-6) engine, with no strings (preferred equipment groups) attached, or having to cough up an extra $2,000+.

I agree Moltar-I'd love to see Buick, Mercury, and Chrysler come out with compact cars to compete against not only Volkswagen Jetta, but also Acura TSX, Volvo C70/S40/V70, and a host of others.

That's a small V-8-sorry guys, I'm not perfect and I'm not an insider.

Maybe I don't understand some parts of the truck market, but I didn't need that sort of response. What parts here don't I understand? The fact that were I deluxe-trim full-size truck shopping, that I could get a bigger cab and more for a cheaper price and a more up-to-date truck for $3,000-4,000 less money? I guess part of me doesn't like change, especially the kind that still seems unnecessary and pointless. Of course I'd want them to sell trucks, I never said I didn't. And yes, the 1500's have a new grille (the HD's two-piece) as well as the hood-passed by some on the lots.

I'd say Malibu Maxx, then Cobalt, then Equinox and HHR, then 2008-09 Malibu. I'd give Aveo, Cobalt, and maybe Malibu Z90 editions-Z90 of course was the code for optional diesel engines, fitted into a few 1981-86 Chevettes. Start them at about LS level (LT for 2006 Cobalt/Malibu), maybe only make 2,000-3,000 each, maybe they'd find a niche market-put in the 1.7-liter turbodiesel (Isuzu or Fiat-the one used in the European Opel/Vauxhall Corsa), a 1.9-liter or so for Cobalt, and whatever larger 2.0/2.2-liter or such for Malibu from the European Vectra.

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103084