Intrepidation

I hope Japan's automotive manufactures help out like the Big 3 did after Katrina. In fact I'm just thinking, GM, Ford, and Chrysler should donate vehicles or money to help out the Japanese people first. Would be a great PR move.

What was up with that fad? I've seen late model Shadows with them, Subarus, first gen Quests. They suck and tend not to work after so many years.

The return of the large, stylish, American RWD luxury sedan.

I'm here to help.

Drilling in the gulf wouldn't do a whole lot of good. It's a short term answer to a long term problem. Come to think of it, if that plant does metldown I bet it would do less damage than the BP rig did.

Coolant Temperature Sensor.

No, but to be fair, a wrecked Cavalier tends not to release toxins that can contaminate a larger area and many people for years to come.

Dunno, but Japan does have the highest building standards in the world because they are so prone to Earthquakes. But even so... Blast at Japan nuke plant after quake and tsunami

Imagine being in that boat.

Maybe our problem is that we aren't focused enough. Forums with a specific focus and direction have very active communities. LHF has about 1/3 our membership yet more than 2/3 our total posts. Then again, what I liked about C&G and one of the reasons I joined is because I could get up to date news from around the industry (not just GM) and not have to go to 20 other sites to get it. I agree getting the design forum going and keeping it going would help. If we keep them regular and keep advertising for it, maybe we can get some new members that way.

New Elantra. In white. Higher spec model. Looks very sharp.

Those wheels look familiar. I approve. Interior looks to be very, very nice.

Good idea. Not only does it keep the Equinox out of fleets and residuals up, but it makes use of the money GM spent making the Vue meet US standards. Good way to return on your investment.

You guys should see my collection now...

I hope it actually sizes up against the 3-Series/C-Class/A4 so the CTS can move up in price and focus on competing with the 5-Series/E-Class/A6. Can't wait to see it.

Well certainly personal lives make an impact. I know Drew's swamped with work and I barely have the energy to stay up after a 10 hour day at work. There's just so little time. But even so...it goes deeper than that.

Bad PR for Chrysler. There's a certain level of professionalism the agency should have held up, as they are (were) representing the company. I can't blame Chrysler for firing the agency.

I don't think its that enthusiasts have given up. I mean look at smaller forums like LHF, which mainly discuss one platform. They have less than 1/4 the members we do yet there's always discussions, not only about our cars but about what's happening in the automotive industry, news, and so on. For whatever reason people don't seem to post here. And maybe it is because the same 10 or so people are basically regurgitating the same opinions in every thread and there's no fresh opinions. I don't know. It sure would be nice to see new posts and different thoughts, insights, and opinions.

Red Fiesta sedan

Yay let's not get gas today but tomorrow instead. That'll show `em.

"Happiness isn't around the corner. Happiness IS the corner." So said an ad for BMW created in 1996 for the Z3. In the TV version (see the video at the very bottom after the break), a heavy-metal music track underlined the idea, which was carried over to magazines and billboards. I'm reminded of that ad, one of the more perfect expressions of the BMW brand I have ever seen, this week as I take in the Bavarian automaker's plan to launch vehicles powered by "alternative" powertrains under the "i" sub-brand: as in, yes, iPad, iPod, iMac. So far, I'm not hearing about Apple filing trademark infractions. It is, I believe, also "i" as i Isetta, the last time BMW brought out a mini city car. "I" for innovation probably figures into the choice, as well. BMW has brand issues. Take the Super Bowl on Feb. 6. BMW ran two ads in the big game for a cost of between $5 and $6 million. One ad was to push diesel engines. Another was to push the fact that all X3 crossovers are now being built at BMW's plant in South Carolina. "Designed in America. Built in America," says the voiceover at the end of this ad. How about using the big game to push the core of your brand equity – driving excitement. How about an ad that says: "aspire to own and drive this marvelous machine." Something has gone horribly wrong at BMW. And I think I know what it is. Back in 2006, then- BMW marketing director Jack Pitney (who tragically died in 2010) shared with me a Powerpoint strategy showing how far too many people, in his mind, weren't considering a BMW because they were intimidated or otherwise put off by the performance image of the brand. It was this finding that led BMW to first do a corporate ad campaign touting BMW's independent ownership, and then the softer "Joy of Driving" campaign that ran most of last year. It was literally meant to advance a "softer side" of BMW, and attract more people who were not necessarily driving enthusiasts to the brand. Continue Reading

Considering Chris does this for a living, I'll take his word for it.

I still wish they had put the Canyon AT4 into production. I liked it a lot. Not only does it differentiate it more from the Colorado, it looks like someone actually bothered to design the front fascia. I for one prefer the bumper to integrate more closely to the fascia rather than having a massive gap and looking like poor build quality.

Average. Average person doesn't know where the dipsick on their car is or what it is.

I'd like to know how many people were even aware the Dodge Sprinter was a Mercedes product.