Intrepidation

I haven't looked these up, nor do I really care, but it is unfair to judge the Neon, it's ancient after all, and also since it's being replaced by the Caliber. I'd like to see how that does in cash tests.

lmao :rotflmao:

Sadly, the GT-500 will e the last SVT, they even did away with the Sport Trac Adrenalin, which I throught was really cool.

You know I have to say I rather like the new Toyota Yaris, particularly the sedan in "S" trim. It's cute, like a baby Camry. It's only got one flaw. Why oh why did Toyota yet again stick the guage pods in the center of the flippin' dashboard?! I mean seriously, it's such a stupid place to put them, you have to look down and away from the road to check them. Everyone gripes about them, I'm sure Saturn won't do it again with the next Ion. It just baffles me why Toyota is so dumb. Oh well.

That's too bad, it's a pretty nice looking interior. I heard reading a review on auto123.com that the Grand Cherokee was designed before Chrysler Group became profitable like it is now, so they cut costs on the interior, but according to someone at Jeep the reviwer alked to, the GC should get improved interior materials when it's refreshed. Lets hope so, it's a nice `ute aside from teh interior. Thanks for replying!

oh i see it now, my bad, eheh

I was just wondering if the Grand Chaerokee interior is as bad as the reviews have said. I mean early reviews said it had soft touch materials, but more recent ones said everything is as hard as a rock. Does anyone own or been inside one that knows? I'm just curious I guess if there's anything besides the seats that are soft.

Northstar, I agree with that the GTO has a nicer interior overall, at least from the looks; I don't care for the Charger's design, but I don't hate it either. However, from what I've read at least, the Charger outperforms it. I like the GTO, but I like the Charger better, especially where looks come into play (subjective). The Charger is also more practicle as muscle car a family can own and use, which also gives it an edge. The whole arguement of the thread, at least originally was if the Charer SRT-8 is a good deal or not, and to that in I say, "Hell yes!" BTW I like your avatar Northstar, it's the MXK (Mmm-Kay-X, har har) headlight right?

So..did you give up on bashing the pricetag and interior and now switched to bashing..the kicback in the rear? Clever.

Some of the posts on this thread are pretty funny, particularly with some of the negative comments. Ok, tell me this: SRT stands for Street and Racing Technology, does it say anywhere that that they stand for Fluffy Interiors? No. For the clueless, the Charger SRT-8, like every SRT product, is about performance, and a hell of a lot of it. Their mission is to give you maximum performance for the best value. You show me a car this big with this much power for 44k and I'll show you a Vice President that can tell humans from Quails FYI according to the the SRT site, the Charger SRT-8 starts at 38k Anyway, if you're gonna be picky about the interior and think it's too pricy cuz it's not made with baby seal hide or something, go buy a Caliber SRT-4...it's supposed to start under 25k. There are certainly fancier cars for 44k, but none of them come with a fire-breathing 425 horsepowe Hemi, sport tuned suspension, and other performance goodness. As for looks...well that's always subjective. I wasn't fond of the Charger at first, but seeing them in real life is much more gratifying than pictures. Plus, once I saw a photo of the SRT-8...well that just looks badass. Not everyone likes Dodge's designs, but credit to Dodge for not being afraid to build something that actually creates an opinion, not a collective yawn *coughgtocough* Permission to start drooling!

D'oh! I shoulda known that...lol. Thanks XD

Here is something that baffles me about today's compact car interiors (and even some midsize). I have a 1989 Dodge Shadow. It's no luxery car but the dash, door armrests and center armrest are all made of soft-touch materials, and the doors themselves are covered in soft fabric. The hard plastic portionson the pillars and lower dash are nicely textured, at least I think they are. So why is it that an 80's subcompact has nicer materials than most of todays? I wanna go and take a look at a Caliber up close, and poke around for myself still though.

The American Caliber and the Euopean Caliber are the same, at least exterior wise. btw can someone tell me how make the quote show who it's from please?

I dunno why but the other Aero X thread was locked, which sucks. So i wanted to make a thread to post some cool pics of the Aero X and some thoughts about it. I'm sure a lot of people have seen these already, but they're still sweet to look at. Check out that altimeter style speedo...it's sweet. This is what Saab should have, as like a halo car. I mean, it's the only car to really back up the "Born from Jets" slogan. It looks absolutely stunning. I'm sure they won't build it but you know...they could if they really wanted to. Granted, building it off the RWD Corvette platform goes against the FWD tradition of Saab...but you know I think building the Saabaru and the Saablazer aready went agsinst tradition. Instead of spitting in Saab's face like the other two cars do (although I must admit I kinda like the 9-7x), this takes the brand to a new level. RWD and the twin turbo V6 will make it a better perfomance car than it could ever be as an FWD (can you say "torque steer"?). Plus, since it'd be built of an existing and very good platform, it'd cut costs down. I think the canopy is so cool, and it's different, and like a jet, just like Saab's tradition. People wonder how how expensive or complicated it would be to make it...but think about this: the Volvo C70's 3-piece hardtop is uber complex, as is other hardtops. If they can build a G6 hardtop with a decent price, they should be able to build that canopy. In fact the only issue I can see with it is the window. I'd have to be sections so you could actually roll down the windows, lol. That speedometer is freakin' sweet...I think Saab, if nothing else, should make a funmctional speedo like that to put in their cars. Anyway, those are just my thoughts, it's a sweet concept!

SO much for annalists thinking that Chysler Group was starting to loose its momentum. Considering that not only are the Charger and 300 at record monthly sales, and the PT Cruiser is even up (bet you annalists didn't see that coming) they'll be doing even better as the Caliber becomes more widely available. I'm surprised that the COmmander is selling well, I heard it wasn't, I guess it's doing better now. If they keep these sales up, they'll be in great shape when the Nitro, Avenger/Sebring and minvans are launched. They'll only get stronger at this rate. Keep it up Chrysler Group!

First off, the Avenger is the sibling to the Sebring, it doesn't use the LX platform. Second, I think DCX did a fine job at seperating the LX cars. The 300 and 300 wagon aren't sold in teh states, giving dodge the wagon as the Magum, with it's own front end, so it's totally unique in this market, and the only thing the Charger has in common with them (besides the interior) is the windshield. You can tell they're related, but not the same. Plus each has it's own driving characteristic. That's certainly better than slapping a Pontiac grill on an Equinox and calling it a Torrent.

3 March 2006 By Robert Farago It’s official: bankruptcy is good for GM. In their recent ass-covering exercise for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), The Ford Motor Company listed "adverse effects from the bankruptcy or insolvency of a major competitor" as a significant risk to its financial future. Translation: if GM goes bankrupt, The General will slough off its excessive labor costs and become… wait for it… competitive. So competitive, in fact, that Ford reckons GM’s products would gain an important price advantage. Well how about that? Obviously, there’s more to it than that. Ford’s SEC filing also alerts investors that GM’s Chapter 11 could destroy The Blue Oval’s supply chain. Both automakers share a large number of mission critical parts suppliers; if GM’s submersion sucks vital parts makers into bankruptcy-- which it most assuredly would-- Ford will lose access to the bits and pieces it needs to build Fords. In fact, it’s hard to see how Ford could survive a GM bankruptcy. Or why it would want to. The automotive community is slowly (and quietly) beginning to conclude that bankruptcy is both the only thing and the BEST thing that can happen to GM, and, by extension, Ford. To review: GM can’t build competitive vehicles at a profit. It’s got too many models, brands and dealers. Too much bureaucracy, waste and inefficiency. Its labor costs are too high, its capital investment is too low and its supply chain is about to snap. And GM can’t change a thing. The United Auto Workers (UAW)’s contract prevents any wage or benefits cuts, and precludes any alteration to their Byzantine working practices. Legal obligations also stop GM from trimming its distended dealer network or euthanizing fatally wounded brands. To survive, GM needs to lower its costs and revamp its business. And it can’t do that without Chapter 11. Oh, OK, it could, if everyone pulled together: investors, management, unions, dealers, suppliers and customers. But they won’t. It’s not in their nature. And even if it was, GM CEO Rabid Rick Wagoner is singularly incapable of tackling this monumental leadership assignment. And even if Rabid Rick could unify all the negatively charged particles in the GM universe, it’s too late. The General doesn’t have enough cash to weather the turbulence between business-as-usual and the end result of a lengthy, radical, difficult and dangerous overhaul. Nobody’s going to give them the extra money-- at least until The General declares bankruptcy. As Ford publicly acknowledged, only bankruptcy can give GM the wiggle room it needs to implement necessary changes to the way it designs, builds, markets and sells its products. So be it. As I said at the beginning of this odious odyssey, GM will emerge from this multi-decade debacle a smaller, leaner and better automaker or, preferably, automakers. And that’s why Ford’s worried. Of course, they’re not the only ones. The prospect of revolutionary change is making everyone involved apprehensive, frightened, angry, defensive, aggressive, desperate and, well, crazy. We’re already seeing some strange behavior emerge from GM World: a public pledge to end to discounts followed by a “March madness” incentive campaign, exciting new cars announced and cancelled and re-announced; a Board Member and Car Czar squabbling over a moribund Swedish car brand, etc. It’s the End of Days, Detroit style. As GM’s fate reaches its terrifying conclusion, workers will get all the attention. The moment the axe falls, whether by a slow strike or a lightning default, the spotlight will shift to “the little guy.” Needless to say, the media will depict them as victims. They’ll highlight the most desperate cases and blame their fate on management incompetence, outsourcing, the Japanese, the Chinese, foreign trade policy, currency manipulation, oil prices, George W. Bush, the anti-GM press, anyone and anything other than the workers themselves. Never mind that a huge number of these workers performed two hours work for eight hours pay. Never mind that thousands were willing to receive full pay and benefits for doing nothing whatsoever. It will always be someone else’s fault. Understand this: GM’s workers are no better or worse than any of the other players in this sad saga. All of them work for a company where personal responsibility doesn’t exist. Where everyone thinks they deserve to be well-paid, no matter what they or the company does, or doesn’t do. Yes, there are plenty of good people within GM. And here’s the kicker: most of them can’t wait for the company to file. They want to see an end to the waste, laziness, greed, corruption, inequality and stupidity they see around them. When GM becomes the world’s largest bankrupt, these good men and women will be satisfied, knowing that there is justice in the world. And they’ll be hopeful; that something good will replace something bad. from The Truth About Cars -- So what does evryone think of this article? Some things make sense, some I dunno. I just came across this while looking at car reviews, heh.

Yeah it was quite the powerhouse. But even if they didn't put any of the performance upgrades, just puuting the ram air 6 package on the stock GTO would have done wonders for it. I emailed Pontiac once saying they should build it. they said something along the lines of "We're glad you like it, but we don't plan to build it, sorry." Idiots. I know what you mean though, it keeps the essance of the stock GTO but spices p the design. BAM! Too bad it as never built.

I really do feel bad for the GTO...it definitelly deserves better than this fate. Yes, the main reason is cuz Holden is phasing out the platform, but it's like no one in the mdeia seems to care. Do you guys remember the very first GTO commercials where it was dark and all you could see was the rear tires making a smoke show. What a teaser, I got so excited about it. Still, styling is a bit of an issue. Without the scoops and stuff it kinda does look like a Cavalier's big brother. The interior looks great, and the LS2 is a sweet engine. If Pontiac had been smart, they would have offered the Ram Air 6 appearance package. the concept looked badass, had they put it into production it would have shut all the critics up about it's styling. I do hope the GTO gets another chance later on, it deserves it. Look at that sexy beast!

If I recall, one of the gripes Edmunds.com had about the Equinox/Torrent SUVs was that their interiors were full of hard plastic. So even if the Nitro's interior has the hard plastic stuff, it's not any worse off than the GM twins. On top of that, we can't say exactly what the interior plastics will be like until they're in showroom and someone pokes around the interior. The GM twins I think have a bit slicker interior design (especially the Torrent with the nicer steering wheel), but I think the Nitro's looks petty good, in a rugged sort of way. Better than the design in the Durango at any rate. Another thing to consider is that, while it's based of th Liberty platform, and it's bigger, that platform has been modified for on-road biased handling, not offroad like the Liberty. Also keep in mind that without all the heavy offroad gear the Liberty has, the Nitro should not way much more, hell it may even be lighter. Combine that with a more powerful V6 option, and the possiblity of an SRT version (check out TCC's spyshot archieves), and it should b a pretty quick SUV. I happen to like the overall look of the Nitro (especially the black R/T), it kinda looks like a modern interpretation of that Power Wagon photo. You guys are griping about Dodge's designs being too different, but let's not forget that it's that differenciation/originality that's made them profitable while both GM and Ford are in the money hole with their mostly bland designs. On that note, credit to Dodge for at least taking the time to make the Nitro look different inside and out from the Liberty on which it's based, unlike how GM just slapped some Pontiac badges, a new grill, and a new steering wheel on the Torrent...hardly a distinction from the Equinox. I mean damn, they could have at least put a more powerful V6 under the hood and gave it a sportier suspension option.

So this is the car that TCC had in their spyshots section. WTF? Why is it that the Chinese LaCrosse has such a nice interior, and overall better exterior design compared to the NA LaCrosse? I mean, just look at these images -- If nothing else, this is the interior that SHOULD be in the LaCrosse. As for the exterior, I like it a lot, it looks more muscular than the shapeless NA version, although I have to admit i see a little Ford Five-Hundred in the front end design XD If they put the NA Lacrosse's rear end or even the Lucerne's rear on the back of the Chinese LaCrosse, it'd be a knockout. Again, why is it we in NA get the dull, unimaginative interior, while the Chinese get something that looks like a true Luxery car interior? One more thing, why does the Chinese LaCrosse get a Nav system but not the NA LaCrosse? GM...you're so friggen' stupid... One other thing...how come during the design of both LaCrosse cars, GM didn't build them on the more modern Epislon platform? Seems like a smarter idea than sticking with the architechure they're stuck with now. FYI I'm 19, new to the forums, and a DCX fan, but I do happen to like the newer Lucerne (and some of GM's new designs) I just can't comprehend their stupidity sometimes. XD

Considering that most of the B-segment cars have engines that make less than 150 hp, 170 hp is a good deal, especially when you consider how much less it weighss than a Civic or a Caliber. 170 hp may not seem like an assload of power, but combine resonably light wait and small size will make it pretty quick. Also take into account the possiblity that it might be a mid-level or even base engine? Most B-segment cars that make around or slighty more mower are specialty ones (like SRT). And if the SRT guys get there hands on it it'll probably make like 250 hp As for design, this is far and away the best looking B-segment car I've seen to date, makes that hidious piece of crap xB look even more so. It's definitely the the coolest B-segment car to date. The interior looks pretty good too, there's A TON of legroom in back! The dash looks nice too, I hope that the production version gets a center stack like the concept's and not the corperate issues stereo and HVAC controls. Dodge could score big with this thing, because not only does it make Dodge competetive in Europe in that popular segment, it makes it competetive in the states where the B-segment is just starting to heat up. It also makes for a car that'll be cheaper than the Caliber, so critics of the Caliber's 20k pricetag (for R/T models) will shut up about it. Go DCX!

I totally agree, the Rampage looks badass, I do like the Gladiator too, but I'd buy a Rampage if they made it.

I love the Challenger concept, and I happen to like the interior a lot, I hope the production version gets to keep the unique stereo head unit and not be stuck withe the corperate faceplate like all other Dodges, Jeeps and Chryslers. I wonder that, if the Challenger does get a 6-Speed manual, that other SRT LX cars will get it as an option later. I also agree that settings sales objectives at 35k is a wise move, cuz it'll look way better for demand to out do supply than vice versa, I think initially a lot more than 35,000 Challengers will sell, so that would certainly qualify it as a hit. The beauty of the LX cars is that if they need more of one car they can up production of one and cut some production from another as needed, though since all 3 of the current LX cars are selling well that could be a problem. I for one Love the Magnum's looks (my girlfriend hates it, but too bad for her ). I see them all the time, in fact at the college I go too someone just bought a silver one. The SRT-8 is the best looking of the line, which can be said about the SRT versions of the other two cars. I just wish that interior looked nicer...but there's worse out there. I digress though I do wonder how Chevy plans to sell the Camaro though, if they'll mainstream it, or do a smaller number like Dodge. Either way, I hope both concepts look the same when they each reach production (Although I think the Camaro's interior, especially the guages, give off too much glare, but it'll change in production version Camaros anyway). One last thing...for the love of god please stop complaining about how many doors the Charger has!! I mean, so what if it's 4-doors, it's looks cool, especially in SRT-8 guise , and it's got the muscle to back up the looks. Wanna coupe? That's what the Challenger is for