VenSeattle

A friend on mine is on his 2nd ION Sedan. He loves it. He's weird, but amazingly enough, he's completely loyal to Saturn because of the ION.

Funny, because that's pretty much what the RL actually is... unfortunately Acura wants $50k for what Infiniti & Lexus are charging $40k for.

This... and this... equal: See this topic and all will be revealed!

http://www.cadillac.com.cn/cadi2006/gallery.asp?model=sls The link opens to the SLS "exterior" photo gallery. Click on the 2nd tab from the left (just below the pic thumbnails) to load the "interior" photo gallery.

Happy Birthday! Nothing witty to say at the moment, but hope you do well on your finals!

Link to source Don't give DaimlerChrysler a Pass The financial press has mostly given a pass to DaimlerChrysler, thanks to booming sales in the U.S. of its Mercedes line. But that can't cover the woeful state of its overall business. By Robert Walberg Investors shouldn't be so generous. Thanks to 10 consecutive months of record-breaking sales of Mercedes in the U.S., with year-to-date figures up 13.9%, DaimlerChrysler has avoided the focus on restructuring at General Motors and Ford. Unfortunately, not even this growth rate is sufficient to offset the growing woes at Chrysler. Looking for answers Declining sales and bloated inventory have management and investors looking for answers, including the predictable decision to slash production and cut jobs. Taking a page from the playbook of GM and Ford, DaimlerChrysler recently announced that it could lay off as many as 4,000 employees in its North American truck unit next year. DaimlerChrysler’s top management team is also leaning on another industry crutch -- executive turnover -- to prop up its sagging U.S. division. In the last year alone the company has turned over virtually all of its top sales and marketing folks, with Joe Eberhardt, Chrysler’s sales and marketing chief, the most recent victim. Tom Lasorda, Chrysler’s CEO, is rumored to be the next to go. Given Chrysler’s current state, few would argue the need for a few changes at the top and for some cuts in hourly jobs. However, these moves are designed to improve operational performance and please Wall Street -- they won't fix Chrysler any more than slashing and burning has turned around Ford and GM. Ultimately Chrysler must make cars and trucks that appeal to a wider audience. This isn’t rocket science, folks. Chrysler currently builds way too many Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge Ram trucks and Chrysler Sebrings than American consumers want to buy. As a result, dealer lots are stuffed with inventory that won’t move unless the company increases its incentives, which it has started to do. JD Power and Associates recently reported that it would take 118 days to clear Chrysler’s dealer inventory -- a number exceeded only by Isuzu (say it ain’t so, Joe). Discounting merchandise in order to reduce excess inventory is a necessary step, even if it means suffering compressed margins and short-term losses. The problem facing Chrysler, however, is that it will be replacing unwanted old cars with unwanted newer ones, which means continued red ink. Lack of cars people want Chrysler unveiled a slew of new or revised SUV and truck models in 2007, just as consumers were demanding more fuel efficient vehicles to cope with soaring gas prices. Oops. Its updated Sebring line and the new Dodge Nitro, models that face serious foreign and domestic competition, also debuted to mixed reviews, suggesting nothing more than lukewarm sales going forward. In other words, there is no product like the Chrysler 300C waiting to save the day. Domestic car makers are quick to cry foul given their high operating costs, but history shows that if U.S. automakers deliver a fresh, well-built and exciting product -- such as the Chrysler 300c -- consumers are more than happy to buy American. How sad that Chrysler’s German partner better understands the needs and wants of the U.S. consumer than it does. The upside is that, with guidance from Germany, the folks at Chrysler might be able to get back on track sooner rather than later. This doesn't change the fact that next year will be tough for the automaker (projected loss of $1.3 billion), but it might keep Chrysler from suffering the same death spiral facing GM and Ford. Regardless, investors are advised to take a pass on DaimlerChrysler until there are more signs of stability and success at the U.S. division. At the time of publication, Robert Walberg did not own or control shares of any companies mentioned in this article.

Oh my dear gaud! How did I miss those pics... :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: The new Malibu will the Avenger.

Congrats on your new car NOS.

That Seville was such a beautiful generation back in the day. A family at my parent’s church had one (well, quite a few families did, actually) and they were close friends. I always loved riding in it.

Congrats Ocn. I missed this topic completely. Can't wait to see the pics!

Oops. Sorry. I got caught up in trying to guess the car that wasn't mentioned. After looking, I think the Lincoln Blackwood would be fun. It would probably be the only way I'd ever own a truck... Here's one I found for sale...

Hmmm.... Two-doors: 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird? Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler? Chrysler Crossfire? Ford Mustang Cobra? Original Mustang Shelby? Slightly used Solstice/Sky? Corvette has been mentioned. I liked the Allante & Riviera Silver Arrow suggestions. I'd consider a pristine Buick Reatta myself. Sedans: Bonneville GXP? Used CTS-V was mentioned. For this price, a used STS-V might be available soon. Final 500 Oldsmobile Aurora Truck-like: Chevrolet SSR was mentioned... but what about a Lincoln Blackwood?

Actually, Buick dropping in this survey is a positive sign. We've read several times over the year where Buick "retail sales" have increased. This survey hints that Buick is gaining first-time buyers. I'm sure it will continue as Enclave and the next-gen LaCrosse become available. For now, I'd definitely give credit to Lucerne. It appears to be attracting both loyal Buick owners and those who aren't familiar with the brand.

Happy B-Day BV! It only gets better from here on out.

I hope I'm interpreting that comment correctly, because I agree. I believe the S-Class just stands alone in this category. It's flat out beautiful. I admit the Jag has more character than any of the others, but still, the S-Class is at the top of its game here.

Based on what I've seen, read, and experienced so far... my scoring would be identical.

That's my problem. Weather is not allowing me to clean my car and snap pics. We've had more precipitation this month than any other month on record!

Wasn't the Camry Hybrid tax credit just cut in half as of October? isn't it only $1,300 for the 2007 Camry Hybrid.

I've sat in the Sebring also, and only the current Malibu has worse plastics. The Sebring interior is practically all hard plastic. Then you have to look at what engines are going to be available in the Sebring convertible. They won't match the G6 GTP's 3.6l.

Sorry, but at this point, the G6 coupe exterior looks great compared to the Altima. Those who despise excessive-looking overhangs would probably agree: The 3.6l & 6sp in the 2007 G6 GTP will also help it out.

Since you're speaking of looks, the exterior of the Pontiac G6 convertible is fine (with many saying it's attractive.) The G6's problems are interior materials and lack of storage space. IMO, the G6 convertible comes across as more expensive and refined compared to the Sebring convertible (based on the pics.) There are just too many things wrong with the exterior styling of the Sebring convertible. The same Sebring interior has already disappointed from the sedan.

Discussion already in progress here.

That's EXACTLY what I thought!

Yeah, but that's because they weren't originally planned to be part of the same model family. The 1st-gen Sebring sedan was just a freshened Chrysler Cirrus.