Intrepidation

Of course, the CR artcile had most of the reibale cars be Japanese...although the Monte Carlo and Mariner made it in there too, a bit of a surprise (too bad no one really wants a Monte Carlo). Funny how no Europeans made it on the reiable list...and the media bashes Detroit for poor reliablity? hah! Is the Cobalt that unreiable? My best friend's mother bought a 2000 Dodge Neon new, and has never brought it in the shop for anything besides routine maintainance and brake pads. That thing still looks brand new 6 years later...seems pretty reliablle to me. aand omg it's American! heh

good article

It's a lot of talk. They say the proof is in the product, so if the lastest vehicles are any indication, then they are far better than what's out now. I think Caddy is an exception, but even it still needs work as far as the interiors go, so that's probably what will be addressed in the future. Lutz waas probably summing up most of the cars as a whole, not all. Most GM cars in fact, have sucked, (Cavalier, LeSaber, Grand AM, etc.) The new Tahoe makes the old one look crude in comparison. So perhaps he simply means that the future cars will be better than the crap ones being replaced (Malibu) but also so good they'll be far superior than the good cars already out. Just a thought

Very good point. GM seriously needs to focus on redesign it's volume cars. The Malibu needs to e redesigns, but at least when the Aura comes out there will be something competetive in the segements besides the G6. GM desperately needs new minivans, but only give them to Chevy and maybe one other band. Still, when the Saturn lineup is revitalized and the new pickups come out, it should help GM so long as they are as good as the Tahoe in terms of quality.

You guys are deffinitely right about it being the Verona and not the 6...

I think the Caliber competes more directly with the Mazda3 hatchback. I think the HHR is ok, but I'd personally go for the PT if I was looking into something like the HHR

Nice sig They've sold quite well, and yeah I seem them everywhere too. Rstyled headlighs and bumper, new interior, new taillights and new wheel designs

Insterested in the Caliber SRT-4? I know I am *drool*

That's true, but you have to admit that as the 90's went on and Honda and Toyota were putting out new designs, companies like GM were sticking with the same car the had for years (making reference to the Cavalier, plus the 99-06 Neon). That's too bad about your Shadow. This thing was bought used back in I think...98...and has been in the family since, and handed down to me as a first car. It's only once had a major issue where the headgasket needed to be replaced at 180k miles. I must admit that thing has gone through several motor mounts, hah. Oh but the stories of our `86 Caravan...man that thing has had problems...though ironically never engine problems). I think people just need to learn that every car will have to be repaired as it gets older, some things small, some things larger, nothing is perfect after all (thought Toyota would liek to have you believe it is).

I believe in every shootout these two cars have been in so far the BMW wins. Jusr goes to show that they're not as overrated as some people think. If driving is your thing, the BMW wins easy. It also shows that TCC does good reviews I like the IS's overall design inside and out better than the 3-Series, but if I were to buy one of the two I'd probably go for the Bimmer. Toyota needs to learn how to build a driver's car before Europe or any car enthusiast will take them seriously.

Nope, the PT will continue production as a refresh until it's redesign. DCX just invested money into the PT plant as well. When I was in Wichita, KS in January, I saw so many of the PTs...I couldn't believe there was so many on the road (I was there for 2 weeks and saw at least 20). Back in MA I don't see as many refreshes, but still at least 2 new ones a week.

I've yet to go shopping for a family sedan (not in the market for one), so I haven't test driven an Accord or Camry or Sonata. I suppose when I sit in an Accord I can actually give a better verdict. But I have sat in a Sonata, and I find i to be very nice inside. The exterior design is a bit derivative but it looks better than the Accord or Camry. So I can see people buying it. My neighbor bought a new one because he said it was the most comfortable to him. He genuinely likes the car. He had a Taurus wagon before, a 98 I think, which he gave to his son or something. I still think Kia sucks, cuz they have yet to put a nice looking vehicle into producion (Aside from he Sorento I guess), but Hyundai's doing pretty good as far as designs go. Perhaps in coming years they'll be more daring (in a good way). But I digress...since this thread is about the Azera after all ;;

Man If I were that guy I would have told her to put the facts down or sleep outside. What a bitch. Every damn car is gonna need repairs no matter who makes it. My friend has a 92' Corolla. That things has had it's share of issues, from bad sparkplug housing to something broken with the fuel injector...it's also had the passenger side window crank break off, cuz depsite what people think of Toyota's superior plastics..those door plastics quality, both the door handles and the cranks are made out of the $h!tiest cheapest plastic I've ever seen in a car. He doesn't care about what car he drives, as long as it goes...so he's not an import nut or anything. Anyway, I have an `89 Dodge Shadow...yes that thing needs work...The front motor mount is broken, the gas tank had to be replaced, the catallytic converter is bad, and the blower motor is dead. But you know what? That thing just GOES. It's starts when you tell it to, it drives without complaint, and it's interior is solidly made. It needs this much work only cuz a lot of it was neglected for 2+ years before it was given to me. It has 203k miles on it and has the original engine/tranny/exhaust system. On top of that, it recently (And unfortuneately) was in a car accident when some idiot in an Olds hit me in an intersection. But you know what? I was able to drive away with a dented fender, and some loose ground wire (Which i gotta fix)...his front end is smashed and had to be towed. The point I'm making, to all those blind, import loyalists, and the jackasses at CR, is that every car will have issues. And don't you dare tell me all American cars aren't safe and/or unreliable, cuz I will hit you with a tire iron and beat some much needed sense into you.

That's too bad about the sun roof rattling, I still wish the G6 looked like teh concept...that thing was sexay. Maybe on the redesign

Once again, as in the Ford threads, you are blind that competition is what improves cars. I'd never buy a Hyundai over a Dodge or Chrysler, but you know it's those import cars that push the domestics to get off their ass and build good cars. WIthout the competion we'd all be driving around in K-cars, Taurus' and Luminas still. You think the LaCrosse, based of what is it...the old W-platform or whatever is more refined? Now THAT'S funny. I agree that cross shopping is always a good idea, but don't be so blind as to think Buick or ANY other car bands are perfect. Need another example? Can you say Rainier? I do like the Lucerne though, especially in black.

Those new adds are hilarious, my friend who isn't even a car person wants one now. It's a nice change from the rather lame commercials VW has been putting out in recent years. They should smash one of these: And you those that Corolla was ugly... MOre of these at Top Gear's Carbage

lol

Inside Line Motown Surprise: GM Relishes in Strong SUV Sales Date posted: 03-17-2006 DETROIT — General Motors is accelerating the launch of the redesigned 2007 Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon, following the public's enthusiastic reception of the new 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe. GM also wants to move up the production startup of the long-wheelbase Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade ESV, according to Reuters, and has asked suppliers to ship components ahead of schedule. GM has said the introduction of its redesigned full-size SUVs is the company's most significant product launch in 2006. Dealer deliveries of the '07 Tahoe began in January, and sales in the first two months of the year climbed almost 50 percent to more than 28,500 units. Production of the new Suburban has been pulled ahead by several weeks. It begins next week in GM's Silao plant in Mexico. What this means to you: GM needed this to happen in a major, major way. -- Well I'm glad to see GM has a shot at turning around. It just goes to show what happens when you put enough effort into redesigning a product. Now do this with the rest of the lineup.

I've yet to see an Azera, but my neighbor bought a Sonata a couple weeks ago and let me take a look. I have to wonder what people complain about so much in the interior. Cheap plastics? The dash, top of the door, and armrest were soft, the looked nice, and the car has a whole looked nice inside and out. If the Azera is the flagship, I'm sure it's as nice as they say.

:lol: I don't think all Toyotas suck, but I do think they are overrated. Also I think the new Yaris is cute, except that stupid center-mounted guage cluster, and I like the Tacoma...the new Camry in "S" trim is ok...but yeah the Corolla is suckage, the new Tundra is ugly...so yeah I like some stuff but not all. Oh, and yes: I do like Dodge ^_^

I think badge engineering is when two or more cars look very similar to each other. For example, the Equinox/Torrent don't look much different at all, but on the other hand the GMT900's looks different because GM took the effort o give each a very unique front end, with the award for best SUV going to Caddy, cuz everything just looks cool, and that interior is slick. Anyway I think Honda should stick the CSX's bumper and headlights on the US Civic, it makes the car look so much better. SI it badge enineering? Sure, but again I say give us the front end of the CSX ion the US Civic sedans and it'll make it look better.

I think the Azera is pretty nice inside and out. Is it beautiful? No. The Lucerne is far better looking (I saw a black one today, it looked sweet). Is it ucking fugly like the Avalon? Nope. It looks nice, and far better than the vehicle it replaces. I would personally take the Lucerne..or the 300C...cuz it's RWD, has a Hemi, and looks badass, but I can see a lot of people buying an Azera because of the value and it's understated design. Hyundai's quality has gotta much better than it used to be, so buying one no longer means it'll only last 4 years. My only complaint is the rear looks a bit awkward at some angles, but then the Avalon looks bad at any angle so there ya go.

lol, burned

I wouldn't buy a Freelander, they've got pretty shotty interiors from what I heard, plus the only Land ROver I like is the LR3. Anyway I think the FJ is pretty neat, it's at least distinctive, unlike everything else Toyota makes. But if I were looking at an offroader like this I would probbaly check out an Xterra and wait on the redesigned Jeep Wrangler, which looks quite nice.

I like the interior of the Fit, it has a pretty nice dashboard, and the NA market fit has a cool redesigned center stack. The outside is bland, it's not particularly attractive, but there's worse designs out there. Personally I'd probably get a new Aveo or a Rio, cuz both cars (particularly the Rio) look nice. However I'd much rather spend the extra money and get a Caliber If they make the Hornet, I may consider it...