NOS2006

Horrible! It needs to look more like the cobalt coupe. This thing is a joke. No offense to the artist because the chop is top notch. This is more of a 3 door than a coupe and what we really need is a true coupe.

Reading > you

This was never called a coupe by the artist or anywhere in the article. It's called a two-door hatchback (it's a 3-door like the Astra).

Hmm, I can't find anything real attractive about Audi interiors. They're just too plain to me. A few of them look very Saab to me, but with less attractive color combinations and lines.

Also, I love the XJ interior. I love protruding, round vents (see my 370Z choice). That's one of the reasons I loved the F430 interior. I think Jaguar portrayed this look very well...

And how could I possibly forget my current favorite interior... Aston Martin One-77!

Sell me one ASAP!

What are your favorite interiors on the market today (by looks, not materials)?

For sedans, I like the Cruze's (with white trim) and Regal quite a bit.

For a sports car, I really like the 370Z's.

For SUVs, I'm a huge fan of the new Grand Cherokee and the Cayenne.

one of Fiero swaps that always intrigued me was the 3.4 DOHC + turbo setup that seems to be common.

I was always a fan of the Northstar swaps. I've got a friend who has a Fiero and 5.3L out of the Monte/Impala SS, but he hasn't had time to do the swap yet.

I'd like to see Cadillac do it, I've been saying for years they need to go up market and forget about the old geezers and forget about volume leaders and make high dollar, high profit cars. But this is territory GM has never been in, and isn't yet equipped to build cars for. Does Cadillac realize twin-turbo V12s is pretty much the norm in this class? They don't have one. Do they realize it takes 120 hours to make the headliner for a Bentley? I'd love to see Cadillac do it and put American cars back on the map, but I am not going to get my hopes up. This is the brand that made the XTS.

Just thought you'd like to know that the 2011 Continental GT comes equipped with a V8 standard.

What is a price diferrences of new ford 5.0 l v8 and ls3? I think ls3 weight less, have smaller external dimensions but what is the price? I think Ford engine is on sale for around 7000 $. IF (big if) LS3 version is around that price(i think it cost less) then i can't understand how Ford can make V8 with Dohc heads etc (without DI) for same money GM needs to make V6 DOHC (with DI). I'm not sure how much version with 440 Hp from Boss cost. Does anyone knows what was the price of northstar engine when it was in production?

LS3 costs $6134. LINK

Current/past cost of Northstar isn't available on this site, but they do list the XLR-V's supercharged Northstar engine at $14,354. Using the percentage between the LS3 and LSA (LS3 is about 56.5% the price; LSA costs $14,087), the Northstar would cost about $8110 if made today based on the supercharged Northstar price.

Dave, where are you living?

I give up on auto's, so it's a non-issue for me. I don't plan on buying another automatic until my left foot falls off.

hahah. I completely agree with this statement.

Nope, V6 Premium starts at just under $26k.

Happy Birthday, Cort!

Gentlemen, I have absolutely no words after that drive. Holy $h!.

Yeah, it's too bad they had to design the 427 with such thin cylinder walls.

I wouldn't at all mind seeing the 4.8 SC or 5.5 make its way into an ATS-V given your estimated numbers. And put the 4.8 NA in some Buicks, full size Chevrolets, and small trucks (as the performance model).

i used to tease my cousin that if i won the lottery i'd buy everyone in the family am corvette of the year they were born... she was born in 83 hehehe

haha That is hilarious!

And cletus, I completely agree about the '72s being among the last good looking classic Corvettes.

Wow. If there was a Cruze SS hatchback available today that looked exactly like this (especially the interior), I would be going down to the dealership ASAP and signing on the line. Not even kidding...

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/09/chevy-cruze-hatchback-interior-snapped.html

Anyway, right now I'm stuck on two cars. The V6 Premium w/ 3.31s and 6-speed and the '04-05 330i/330xi (likely with ZHP package). I've driven the Mustang and loved it, but I haven't even looked at a 330 yet. The decision will come down to three things: payment vs. outcome (do I want to lease it for a couple years or do I want to pay approximately the same size payments and end up owning the car in the same amount of time?), if I even like the fit and feel of the 330, and how they do in the snow.

I feel like the best of these for the snow would be the 330xi, which is surprisingly not too bad on fuel (rated at 19/28 vs. 20/30 in 330i and 19/29 in Mustang). The 330s both have 70 HP less than the Mustang (with ZHP package) and probably don't handle as well, but who knows. The 330 is something I would have paid off within a few years and wouldn't have to worry about looking for a new car once the Mustang's lease is up. Also, the 330 has more room for passengers and luggage and likely has better comfort and options.

I really need to check out a 330 and figure out if I like it and go from there.

I'm not really sure how much I agree with that. With the new dual clutches and all that, they're getting automatics to shift way faster than any human can shift a manual. Yeah, these perfected transmissions aren't in your Chevy or Ford yet, but the high-tech things always get passed down and soon they will be. I'm really interested in seeing how one of those 8-speed dual clutch Chargers will feel when they come out.

Sounds spot-on to me, although I could see slight differences in displacements being a possibility.

Agree completely. I don't at all expect the 6.2, I expect the replacement motor that will be put in the C7. Something in the mid 5.x liter range that will produce 420+ HP (depending on the vehicle's weight).

Apparently Chrysler's developing a 9-speed for FWD cars (and the 8-speed for RWDs will be out next year I believe)...

The dealers also got news about plans for a nine-speed automatic transmission for front-drive vehicles, which would follow an eight-speed automatic transmission for rear-drive vehicles due out in 2012.

Both will be adaptable to all-wheel-drive and hybrid applications, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told dealers in an hour-long address Tuesday. He did not say when the nine-speed automatic would arrive.

Source: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=1805206&_blg=1,1805206

I've thought about this a lot of times. They keep adding gears to these cars, but I'm not sure I'm much of a fan. I think six speeds is where it should be limited, maybe 8. My mom has a new Vue XR and it's the first 6 speed auto I've driven. It's a real smooth transmission, but it just seems like it shifts way too much, even if it's hardly noticeable. Yes, technology is getting better in these cars and soon you won't even know when the vehicle shifts at all, especially with dual clutches and all that good stuff. Maybe I'm old school though because I like to feel that upshift or occasional downshift to go WOT.

Thoughts on this?

Oh yeah, without a doubt. That's a LONG time to hold onto something like that. He probably put it on the car's dash and didn't open the car up again until he called you lol.

Congratulations on the new job, DF!

That's just effing impressive, Camino. Good luck on purchasing it!

lol It's funny you said that... I'd be most interested in black with Saddle leather interior.

Yeah, I'm positive that they will. I'm hoping to be buying sometime during the holiday season or mid-winter, so hopefully the dealers will have a huge lack in sales at this time and I'll be able to get something for less than I would during the fall or summer.

Yeah, I've been able to trek it in the winter in a V6 Camaro on all-seasons and sand in the back (except one problem with black ice, but those accidents understandable), my '06 SS/SC on bald Pirelli summer tires, and my '04 Neon on the cheapest all-seasons I could possibly get (the tires didn't do well at all and never had grip, but somehow I made it). I can typically get around in the snow pretty good, but it does also come down to the ability of the car itself.

I know the Audi (especially with Quattro; A4 1.8T Quattro gets surprisingly good MPGs) would definitely be the best winter choice of the ones I've chosen, but if they're unreliable (which it seems they are), then I can't have that.