Intrepidation

I know what you're all thinking; "What happened to my Jalopnik??" Don't worry, we're not a fully engaged Planelopnik just yet, but we had to show you this newest iteration of the F-15. It's a Jalopnik-esque story of a beat up and forgotten platform, that's been revamped and re-engineered to compete with the newest bad boys on the scene, the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Boeing is marketing the new F-15 Silent Eagle for the international set that want to get into the modern jet age, but don't have access to our newest, greatest ninja toys. The customers that Boeing has aimed its sights at are Israel, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, which are all current F-15 customers. Boeing has significantly re-worked the aeronautic design of the jet, though the overall profile remains familiar. Most noticeable are the new canted vertical V-tails that not only improve aerodynamic efficiency, but provide additional lift and critically reduce airframe weight. Also attributing to the improved aerodynamic profile is the Digital Flight Control System, which allows for much greater pilot control and feedback. The ninja factor of the F-15 Silent Eagle is not anywhere near the stealth features designed into the F-22 or even the F-117 Nighthawk, but Boeing has improved certain design treatments as well as using a special coating on the jet's exterior to help deflect enemy radar. The single largest improvement to the F-15 Silent Eagle is the new conformal fuel tanks (CFT) that give the jet the capability to carry its air-to-air AIM-9 and AIM-120 missles and the air-to-ground weapons, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) inside the tank, dramatically cleaning up the exterior radar signature. It can also carry the traditional F-15 armament attached to the wings and under belly, making the F-15 Silent Eagle a truly configurable jet. Boeing is planning an in-flight test launch of this system in 2010. Boeing is not officially marketing the F-15 Silent Eagle to its largest customer, the U.S. Air Force; but has announced the ability to retrofit any existing F-15 with the new system. If you're buying new, Boeing is estimating that the total cost, including air frame, spare parts and training will run around $100 million per unit. You won't find us buzzing around in one of these, but while we're wooing "Maximum" Bob Lutz, we thought we'd bring this 'Countach of the Sky' to his (and your) attention. Jalonik

One of the things that helps an economy is actually to purchase something new. Buying used doesn't help a company. It's like someone saying, "I'm GM's biggest fan! But I'll never buy new, so I'll never actually show support for them" Just sayin'

And sure you bet, the Charger and G8 don't compete at all so clearly they shouldn't even be cross shopped or compared at all. Oh and if you've got a source to show me that this year 65% of Chargers are fleets I'd like to see it, since I can't find a source. But hey whatever, like I said sales couldn' t possibly be any better at all or anything, so I won't bother to encourage higher sales potentials.

The battle for Jay Leno's approval has been won. Sure, it's an apples-to-oranges comparison, but Leno recently told Reuters that he's excited about the upcoming Chevy Volt and that, "I think it will be great. I think you'll find that the Volt will be a superior package to the Prius." Leno also said he's in line to give the Volt a test drive when that option becomes available. In other news, Leno recommends bringing a book with you if you're filling up a hydrogen vehicle. Leno has been driving a fuel cell Chevy Equinox for about a year and said that, "The only downside is that it's about a 20 minute wait for a fill-up, so bring a book. But that's only because the infrastructure is not here yet so it takes a little longer to fill." Autoblog Green

Actually neither. See I'm crazy and would probably look into fixing the car.

Well it's in pieces now...so you'd have to put it all back together.

Hah, well I don't know, if it were me I might go either way. So no I'm probably not the best person for the job. I have a feeling I would pick car B. LOL

lulz

Hmm...well the pluses for the Cobalt: Even in base trim it rides well on the road. It absorbs bumps and imperfections very well. It handles pretty well too. It'll cruise at speed with the stability of a larger car. It's reasonably quiet inside. It's more basic but that means less to go wrong. It's newer with less miles so there's less chance of things going wrong. It's pretty quick Find a junkyard with a new wrecked Cobalt with more features and have at it. I can see how it's like buying a Toyoda though. However, if you still want the Jetta, make sure to triple check every possible aspect of the car, and be ready for the "just in case something breaks" moments. With all that said, I would still lean for the Cobalt. Odds are much better of it being reliable transportation, which is what you really need. It's a screaming deal, you know about the car, and you could always upgraded it down the road or get a 2nd car that's more of a toy/weekend warrior later.

Or I could just say "Ok sure, sales couldn't possibly be any better." Happy?

If smk could only post.

Looking back, I think the lack of marketing is a big issue. Chrysler really hyped up the Charger's release, and had all kinds of material ready to go the day of it's unveiling. They also really hammered away at the cars strengths, and let everyone know it was something special. Not nearly as much effort was put into the G8's adverting. Sure there was the video game ads and the toy car ads...which were cool. BUt Unless I'm mistake the G8 didn't get its own mini site or anything like that...and adverting, like most GM cars, dropped off. And this is a shame, because the car has been universally praised by auto rags. GM should be adverting the hell out of that fact...I bet if they did they could at least double the sales.

That is a valid point, although for some time the Charger had a greater than 50% take rate on the R/T. I stand by that I think the car could sell better, and I think it's a lack of marketing and the rest of Pontiac's lineup being rental queens that is mostly to blame for this. Oh well, at Pontiac has one truly no compromise car.

Don't sweat it. It's not like you're the only one who forgot that he's current list is for new cars, since he already has hundreds of used choices.

I don't know how many times he's said this, but this time around he is looking for new. NEW NEW NEW NOT USED I hope that clarifies it for future reference.

I think it matches my XP theme nicely....

Bleh, my girlfriend installed it...some yahoo game, and played it until she got bored with it...I've just been too lazy to uninstall the stupid game. I think you get to be president and try to try run the country or something. I don't know.

I'll restate this then: It's on track to sell 18k a year. Original sales goals were 30k-50k annually. So that means, be it "mainstream" or not, it could still sell more...and for whatever reason it isn't. Yes the economy is in the crapper, but the Charger still manages to sell 3x (or so) more in the same market conditions, despite the G8 being an overall superior car. That is point I've been making all along. That's all.

Uh right...you seem to conveniently read over the fact that almost if not everyone on this thread has said this is a great car, one of GM's very best in decades. The point that was being made was that it's, fro whatever reason, not generating as many sales as it could. Even in the down economy it should still be doing better. Why it isn't could be many factors, but ultimately it is unknown the exact cause. That should clear it up. kthxbai

Viper would be first for me. I love the raw engineering behind it. It's you and the car, and no stupid nannies or computers to get in the way. A rare breed it is. The a Ford GT...I love those. The a ZR-1

Viper

I plan to drive all 3 too.

Well then the minute you have spare time go drive a Challenger R/T 6-speed and a Mustang GT 5-speed.

Suck up much?