NOS2006

Drove a V6 Premium with 3.31s yesterday and they're as good a driver as expected. The V6 has a surprisingly nice feel to the shifter (which has a much lower throw than expected too). Very nice ride! Pricing the V6 Premium against a GT and GT Premium for a 12,000 mile 36 month lease showed that the base GT is the cheapest option, and the GT Premium is only $46 more per month than the V6 Premium. Tempting. Although they were all a bit higher than I expected, I'm sure some talking could be done.

I also found a really nice looking '04 A4 1.8T on Craig's List. Anybody know how good Audi's reliability is?

Also, I'm going to make it a point to drive all the cars I want to check out both now and once the weather starts getting cold and some snow gets on the road. I was told by a friend that someone he knows has a 3-series and it's terrible in the snow.. but that doesn't necessarily mean he has any snow tires or weight in the trunk. But I do want to see how each type of car handles itelf in the crappier weather around here since it will be my all-season daily driver.

It depends what you're making and what your priorities are. If you're making pop that's going to be drunk right away, then real sugar works better, I'm not arguing otherwise. The stuff I make uses 1lb of sugar for every gallon of water and I wouldn't dream of using corn syrup in it.

You know why beer gets you drunk and pop doesn't? Because the pop is already drunk when you get it.

If I were to rate the three, I'd say I like the Camaro's exterior styling most, then Mustang, then Challenger. I feel like the Ford designers made a real good mix of '7 Mustang and '10 Camaro cues in their design and made it look much better than the '09 Mustangs, but I was a little offended when the newest body style debuted because, in a way, it resembled the Camaro too much to me.

Interior design, I'd rank it: Camaro / Mustang (tie) then Challenger.

Interior materials: Mustang, Challenger, Camaro

if the engine hasn't made anough go juice before 7000 rpm then there are other issues.

ultimate question. is a 4.8 litre 60 degree v8 or a 3.6 or 3.0 twin turbo a better uplevel option for cadillacs. fuel efficiency, packaging, power. at least if the v8 can be force fed then it perhaps can become a top level engine and the extra money spent by consumers on the force fed version can help amortize the base v8.

i think chrysler having an 8 speed means GM will have to at least develop one.....

Honestly, I expect the NG CTS or XTS to debut with an 8-speed. Lexus has one, Chrysler will have one next year. Both Hyundai and BMW are reportedly developing one. Mercedes has had a 7-speed for awhile.

I'm not a big fan of the Challenger and haven't been from day one. It just doesn't compete with the others, but most like its looks a lot. Here's something I found really, really interesting:

Model / 0-60 / qtr mile / 60-0 braking / lateral accel / rated hwy MPG

V6 Premium / 5.1 / 13.7 @ 102 / 104 ft / 0.96 Gs / 29 (Motor Trend)

'10 Mustang GT / 4.9 / 13.5 @ 104 / 108 ft / 0.95 Gs / 24 (Motor Trend)

'11 Mustang GT / 4.4 / 12.7 @ 111 / 104 ft / 0.97 Gs / 24 (Motor Trend)

'01 Camaro SS / 5.2 / 13.5 @ 107 / 120 ft / 0.87 Gs / 27 (Road & Track)

'10 Camaro SS / 4.7 / 13.1 @ 111 / 108 ft / 0.92 Gs / 25 (Motor Trend)

Challenger RT / 5.1 / 13.6 @ 105 / 135 ft / 0.82 Gs / 25 (Mustang Blog)

Not too bad... Only thing that's significantly better than the others on this list is the '11 GT.

I have driven a GTO before, and it did have a nice feeling powertrain and a great interior. And there was definitely a time when I did want a GTO, but when it came down to it, I felt like the car was too big and opted for something else (my SS/SC). I still feel the same thing.. I want a car that feels smaller.

I checked out an '11 Mustang V6 Premium today and it was slightly more impressive than I was expecting (which is definitely a good thing for Ford). The interior materials in the Premium were superior to the Camaro. The Shaker system was surprisingly good and all it's talked up to be. Nice steering wheel, nice dash design, nice layout overall. I wasn't able to drive it because they didn't have a six-speed at this dealer (although they had a ton of 5.0s and GT500s). I really anticipate driving this car though because I was truly impressed by it, even compared to the '11 Camaro SS I got to drive. If this thing drives as well as I think it will, Ford may have some money in their hands by the end of the year.

I was never big on the supersized RWD Cavalier look.

I liked it a lot more at first. Now, it just really looks old and huge. I prefer hard lines (a la Camaro and Mustang).

The M3 and Mustang have way less torque, Camino, and that's what worries me about the GTO. I read up on it in forums earlier and it the summary I got from all the GTO owners said "any more than 4 inches, don't plan on moving." I know our winters and we definitely get more than that a couple times a season and the roads will be trash all day.

haha, I'm not sure why, but I was expecting that link to be for a Fiat 500.

The Cooper is an interesting car, but I think if I were to get one it'd have to be a John Cooper Works edition. I'm not an enormous fan of their styling... it's not the retro part, it's the boxy-like-an-xB thing. But I wouldn't mind checking it out if I found a good deal on a JCW edition.

Regarding the 2011 Mustang v6 you can get the 3.31 gears for the v6 as a stand along option for just a few hundred. No need to pony up for the sport package. The normal suspension setup is very good.

Oh really? Sweet! I'm going to head up to the Ford dealer tonight after work; this was on my mind all night. I went to bed, and I was sitting there thinking "damn it, would I get the performance or the premium?" I think I settled for the premium, but it'd be very difficult to step down to the 2.73 gears.

Hmm, I might be able to give that a shot.

Why can't you just configure your own car? lol I'll take the interior and feel of a 370Z, looks/size of an E46 or E90 M3, and efficiency/power of a V6 Mustang w/ Performance Pack and 6-speed manual.

I'd love a G8, but unfortunately I can't get a manual unless I get a GXP, and that's out of my range lol.

Not a big fan of the 1st Gen CTS (it's much like the 9-3 IMO... nice looking car, not a bad interior, but it just doesn't feel all that special). I'd love a new CTS, but MPGs are hardly any better than the E46 M3 and given the choice of the two, I'd likely take the better performer, especially since the M3 can be had for about the same price.

STS only came with an automatic.

I don't think I want a GTO in the winter up here. I really don't think they were designed to handle it at all.

Yeah, I really love the Corvettes. My two favorites (as far as what I'd like to actually own) are an '04 Z06 or '08 Coupe. But Michigan winters tell me no for right now.. lol

Oh, I didn't realize that was your car. lol

By Z350, do you mean 350Z? If so, I thought about it... but I plan on getting a Corvette in about 3ish years, so the 350 would be pointless since this car I'm looking for will end up being my all-weather car and the Corvette will come out in the nicer weather only.

And with the G35, I'm impartial. They're not bad looking, not bad specs, but the interior's pretty ugly IMO. I do have that car in the back of my mind though..

Honestly, I think the perfect car for me would be a brand new ATS, but I'm a couple years premature to be thinking about that.

Z-06, the ZHP looks like a pretty good car and basically what I'm looking for, but what worries me is the reliability factor. Most of these (in my price range) have 70k+ miles on them, and I can only imagine that 5-8 year old BMW parts would be pretty expensive.

However, E46 335i ZHP and 2011 Mustang V6 Premium Package are the top runners. Any others?

That's actually a pretty intriguing option... the '11 Mustang V6 w/ Premium Package. Didn't put too much thought into it because I've always felt that if you're getting a Mustang or Camaro, it's V8 or bust. But these V6 cars are pretty badass now. I might have to take one out for a test drive. Best part about it: it's American.

However, to get the 5.1 0-60 time, you need the performance package. I'd want the performance and premium packages.. my price would likely be well over $25k.

As some of you may have read, I'm looking to purchase a newer (not necessarily brand new) car within the near future (say... by the new year). I was looking at '08+ Saab 9-3s, but I took one for a test drive today. Beautiful car inside and out, sufficient power, and it seemed to handle pretty good. However, it just felt like a car. It didn't give me any type of special feeling, it was just a ride. I want more than that.. something that I get into and it just feels special. The Camaro SS I drove a few weeks ago felt more "special," but it still had a terrible feeling interior and wasn't as amazing as I had expected. My friend's S2000, however, had a very appropriate feel to it.

So, my criteria is relatively good gas mileage (was looking at E46 M3s, but 23 MPG highway doesn't cut it), manual transmission, $25k or less, and it must have a sunroof. Better looking cars with better quality interiors will take priority, but I'm very open to suggestions. It doesn't have to be a sports car, and it doesn't have to be a luxury car. What I'm looking for is something like an M3 (as I'm assuming), a really nice all-around performer but with better MPGs.

lol That's fine with me. I don't want to be rowing 8 gears... 6 is just fine.

Does it have 73 way power seats? Does it have surround sound?

...73 way?

Well, I dunno...I've been inside a cobalt.

Actually, that is a lie, but I can imagine the two are very similar.

lol Well to put it into context, I'm pretty sure the least expensive vehicle we do at my company is the IP and center console of the CTS. The most expensive is the Bugatti Veyron's complete interior.

That being said, the leather is top notch. I've watched them wrap the leather IPs for the Corvettes from start to end... from when the leather is just a hide hanging to the fully wrapped piece. It's a very precise job they do and it shows in the end result. Unfortunately, the Corvette just doesn't have a good design for an interior in its class, but the materials are great when the higher interior option is chosen. When it is not, the IP literally feels like some Rubbermaid garbage.

I need to know how the dash materials feel.

The leather dash? If so, I'm biased.. I work for the company that designed, engineered, and produces the Corvette's leather IP and console.

I'll have the opportunity to take one for a drive in a couple weeks and was wondering what information you guys would like to know when I test it out. I've never driven a Corvette, nor have I ever driven in a Corvette, but since this is one of the cars I would love to own in the near future (although base car, not GS), I am very excited to take this opportunity and answer any questions you might have that I can!

Probably was part of the UV8 project.

But still, it was my understanding that the new 5.5 was designed to be able to use pushrods or (D)OHC as the application warranted.

It very well could've been. I've heard "at least 800 HP" in certain applications. Which would make sense if GM really was going to go with a wet dual clutch setup.

I didn't know that about the 5.5; I'll have to catch up on my knowledge on upcoming GM powertrains...

I got word that GM was actually developing a small, very high-power and highly technological DOHC V8 for the C7 before the whole financial crisis fully developed. I don't want to say too much on it because I'm not sure how much is true, but I trust the sources I have on this. Just wondering your thoughts on this since we've always had pushrods in the Corvette and this would be an entirely new direction.

Probably the best looking Colorado I've seen. Congratulations and great purchase!