CreativeVision

Knightfan: I believe you are correct. They are one of 19 different benfactors. I don't recall the actual amount my wife said went to charity, but it sure is worth the ticket price to know you are helping others as well. I am definitely going to take a camera with me.

So my wife went and surprised the heck out of me this year for Christmas and purchased 2 tickets to the First Look for Charity event the night before the Chicago Auto show officially opens to the public. Here I was thinking I was getting a Dewalt 18V drill and instead I receive, IMO, one of the best gifts EVER for a car nut like me. Its tradition that I attend this show every year and sit in a Corvette. But to hob nob with some of the high society in my tux and sip champagne while nibbling on the finger food is completely outrageous. I owe her big time for this! Hey with some GM debuts at this show, maybe Wagoner and Lutz will be in town for me to meet! I'm so excited...Feb can't come soon enough now.

I think that is what I am having the most struggle with. I *had* no issue with them when they were first introduced. I even owned a set for my '97 Eclipse Turbo. But after nearly a decade of seeing them on everything from Lexus to Chevy trucks, to Civics, they are becoming more cheesy and ho-hum than classy and trendy. Again the overall outer shape and red/white parts DO work with this design, but it could have been acheived just as easily minus the circular pieces in the center of the red.

While I do see how the taillights work with the design (Ie. clear portion of light matches with Chrome bar on tailgate), BUT they really take away the class of this vehicle. Inside and out it looks fantastic and worth every penny in terms of quality and design. But the designers really should have re-thought those taillights. Sure I *may* be able to swap them out, but why should I have to pay extra to do so. It really just a personal thing though, as many people here and in the rest of the world either love the tails or will be so non 'car-guy' people to care. Oh and to the Dodge Ram comment...come on get real. Just because people are collecting a paycheck from somewhere doesn't mean they live their life around it. To each their own!

I'm not sure he meant the wheel arches...I took it as the bumper area between the headlamps and the foglamps. That area on the Silverado is huge, so since the poster made reference to that vehicle, I can only assume this is what was meant.

I found this in the Powertrain guides... ------------------------------- Northstar 4.6L V8 4565 cc / 279 ci DOHC 4 valves/cyl 275 HP @ 5600 RPM 290 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM Buick Lucerne LD8 Northstar 4.6L V8 4565 cc / 279 ci DOHC 4 valves/cyl 275 HP @ 5200 RPM 292 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM Cadillac DTS LD8 Northstar 4.6L V8 4565 cc / 279 ci DOHC 4 valves/cyl 291 HP @ 6000 RPM 286 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM Cadillac DTS L37 Northstar 4.6L V8 4565 cc / 279 ci DOHC 4 valves/cyl 320 HP @ 6400 RPM 315 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM Cadillac SRX, Cadillac STS LH2 Northstar 4.6L V8 4565 cc / 279 ci DOHC 4 valves/cyl 320 HP @ 6400 RPM 310 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM Cadillac XLR LH2 ------------------------------- So what creates the difference in these motors that it makes 275HP and 291lb-ft of torque in the Lucerne/DTS, but up to 320HP and 315lb-ft of torque in the SRX/STS? I am guessing different cams, valves, size of ports???

Are you referring to the 4.6 Northstar in the Lucerne here? Was considering a Lucerne, but maybe I need to rethink this...

Autoweek did one up in purple in their latest publication. Probably out on their website by now too.

If the new Malibu is not being unveiled in Detroit, it will at least be on display in Chicago come Feb.

It doesn't exaclty squirt all over the place, but if you have the lock on the pump, it doesn't cut off until after it has spewed some extra out the filler neck and down the side of the car. Even if you don't use the lock on the pump and are just there holding it, I have had it happen. Even tried positioning the pump differently to see if there is something allowing it to happen.

I don't think its the pumps. For one it has happened at multiple locations between Chicago and Maine. Secondly, neither of my 2 cars have experienced the same problem at our local stations.

It's nice to see the Sky in green. Looks sharp if you ask me...just needs a different color top(how about green hardtop). White looks awful on it.

My wife purchased a 2003 Envoy brand new and it has always had problems with overflowing at the gas pump. It doesn't happen all the time, so I can't seem to figure out if it is just the position of the pump spout, or a defect part. We haven't mentioned it to the dealership yet, but my sister-in-law has the same vehicle(SLT vs. SLE is only difference), and experiences the same problem. I believe she has spoken to the service department about it, but can't recall what they responded. Its rather annoying since the gas spills all over the paint and the smell all over our hands/clothes. Anyone else notice this with their Envoys and does anyone know why it does this/how to prevent it? Suppose we should just mention it to the service dept again, but I'd like to have some insight into the matter before I go there in case they try to blow it off as no big deal.

So that would then make the Chevy the low end, starting around $24K-26K? Saturn base XE model starts at $28K according to Autoweek. GMC is now where? Starting at 30K-31K for entry level base model? There's also one heck of a swing in terms of Saturn's base model price to the fully loaded one. $27,990(XE base) all the way to $43,809(Autoweek's loaded XR tester). The base on the tester was only $32,290...They really get you on the options don't they. 10K in options, sheesh!

Anyone else notice they mentioned a Chevy version to be named later? I thought it was just the trio(Saturn, GMC, Buick) that were going to happen. Unless I missed something along the way, I don't recall ever hearing about a Chevy version. I also found the last sentence quite funny..."Now Outlook joins the mix, there's a new Vue on the horizon, and all that remains is to replace the Ion with an Opel to complete Saturn's transformation." I guess timing was a bit off, as we now know GM will have a US Astra to replace the Ion. My big concern is really the price point. However as opposed to another poster above who makes a reasonable suggestion of the Enclave coming in at $50,000, where does this place the Acadia? I was under the impression Saturn was the low end, GMC played mid range, and Enclave upper end. Now I'm wondering if because Saturn is trying to go against the Volkswagens and other Euro/Japanese markets, if this will put the GMC at the entry level? Odd because I personally think the GMC has more clout and a more luxurious interior. Any thoughts?

If it is positioned correctly and optioned with the rigth amenities/engine choices, the convertible above could be a real contender to the Eos.

Paolino...I like your style. That sounds simple enough to remain classy, but just enough zest to get attention.

What is it?

I like it overall, but I see how the Camaro is resonating in some people's minds. Its all in the overhang for the headlights. Taillights are interesting, but overall the back end looks lke it is missing something. However it is not a spoiler. It looks good without it, but if it had to have one, it should just be a simple lip style. The horse hide makes the interior look like it is all torn up and has been sitting in a junk yard since the 60's.

I was thinking the same thing. Kinda looks like the two-tone was getting lost the farther back you went. Doesn't tie it all together nicely. Even something small like a dark brown Buick emblem or Enclave logo stitched into the seatbacks or headrests could have helped it a bit. I also think I liked the oval portholes from the concept better. I'm still not a huge fan of the chrome surrounds for the taillights, but I suppose on a luxury vehicle like this it would look rather bland without them. Overall I love this car and glad to see GM "did it right" and stayed mostly true to the concept. We don't get to experience that too often.

How the do you see an RX-8 sports car in a big honking truck???

Nope...just went to Chrysler's website and the only reddish color available on the Aspen is called Cognac Crystal Pearl. Doesn't look as nice on the website, so I guess you'd have to see it in person to appreciate it.

I can't say I would ever own an SUV, but damn that Grand Cherokee SR/T is awesome. Had one next to me a few months back and the guy was really using the gas pedal, best sounding SUV ever! The Aspen is MUCH better than the Durango from which it is derived. I've been seeing alot here in Chicago, in fact saw one last weekend in a kinda red/orange color. Do you happen to know the name of it, very different but quite classy with the chrome rims, really stood out for me.

Fair enough... I didn't realize it had already been established as production. The latest Autoweek called it a "special concept ute". That's cool for Mitsu, definitely better than current model. Come to think of it, I have seen the commercial as well.

All you clarified was that your personal preference is a concept "Evolander" versus a concept Forester STi. The only difference at this point in time is that the Outlander is styled completely different than this version, whereas the Forester is a simpler bolt-on affair based on the current offering. For all we know the next generation Outlander will bear many resemblences to this concpet taking away its only standout difference. Your also muddying(SP?) the water more by encouraging an Outlander with Evo components, but at the same time dissing the Forester for using STi components. Besides looks these 2 are using the same equation...