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derrado

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  1. The latest issue of Wheels has an article amongst its Car of the Year feature detailing an accident that occurred during testing. They were testing the new Kluger (Highlander) along a gravel left-hand bend at 100km/h at the Lang Lang testing ground (a bend they use to test high-speed stability, and which they've used with countless other cars). They had two Klugers, both with ESP, one FWD and one AWD. The FWD was regarded as having dodgy dynamics by all the testers, having "inconsistent steering and ESP all over the place, alternately over intervening, and at other times nowhere to be seen". The AWD was taken out along this bend and it started drifting, but the ESP didn't intervene. At around 85-95km/h, the Kluger slid into a shallow drain, the driver's side tyres popped off and deflated and the wheel rims dug into the ground. The vehicle then flipped. The driver was safe due to pre-tensioners and a strong cabin. Toyota checked the wreck and chalked it up to driver's error, sending a letter (displayed in Wheels) saying as such and that the Wheels test was too subjective and they are welcome to observe a proper international standards lane change compliance test. ALL the testers agreed the Kluger was more or less rubbish dynamically. Wheels has also noticed ESP difficulties in the Lexus LS, Toyota Aurion (Camry V6) and Lexus RX. It was the first roll-over in 45 years of Wheels COTY.
  2. Yeah, well, if GM Europe can supply a suitable platform/truck to ease the CAFE burden in GMC, I would LOVE to see it. ...oh wait. GM Europe doesn't make any trucks. It only makes vans (in a joint-venture with Renault-Nissan). Point is, I don't think, even if they were all-powerful, that GM Europe would deny a useful vehicle such as a Crewman to GMNA. That is absurd. Unless they manufactured something similar, which they don't. PCS, this is all just bizarre innuendo.
  3. Well, the power base certainly isn't Brazil. And this is NA market stuff we're talking about. I don't think anyone other than NA GM management and GM Holden cares if a GMC Crewman is sold in NA. Yes, GM Brasil probably wants to make sure it has a big market for its trucks but... it's crazy to infer from that some conspiracy to keep Zeta out of the US.
  4. The antagonism, the multiple posts and the use of weak anecdotal evidence has all the markings of a troll. It's really quite irritating to read.
  5. The upcoming Zeta Impala was rumoured to be taking styling cues from the ol' 66 Impala and looking as bold and badass as possible, correct? Well, nothing's stopping that. I will bet that if they take a stretched Epsilon FWD platform and wrap it in really dashing and bold packaging (eg, Chrysler 300 but FWD), they will sell them by the boatload. We have to remember that us enthusiasts are the minority. Why do you think so many people buy Camrys? Everybody will want the newest, biggest thing and if they really take it to the next level with the Impala styling, FWD or RWD, it will sell. It may not be as scintillating a drive with the power going through the front wheels, but it won't be terrible. GM's been making high-performance front-drivers for longer than anyone else. Only things to worry about: 1) If they're gonna go the FWD route, they better have a few decent, gutsy but fuel-efficient engines. If they release a FWD Impala with a 5.3 V8 only, they'll kill that fuel efficiency cred they had going on. 2) The proportions. RWD does equal better proportions. 3) Handling. With FWD, handling isn't gonna be great, especially when this rumoured FWD Impala will be a big'un. I think if they're gonna go ahead and make a FWD Impala, it's gonna look a helluva lot different to the Malibu. They will make it bold. And it will sell.
  6. There was scuttlebutt about the Impala becoming somewhat of a niche vehicle, to go up against the Chrysler 300 and offer the same type of brash styling. Then, we heard how successful the Impala was becoming, seeing sales increases even in slow times in the market. We then heard about Chevy offering a stretched version of the Malibu to cater for those "lost" Impala buyers who wouldn't buy a higher-priced, lower-volume replacement Impala. That's what I imagine will happen. Chevrolet will channel the ol' 60's Impalas and use that type of brash American styling to make somewhat of a halo model for the passenger car range and kinda sock it to the bland Avalon, Taurus and such. The Impala drivers who like the current Impala's place in life will just leave to the Malibu (which is much bigger than it was) or go to this theoretical stretched version.
  7. The interior has got some SRT touches, I suppose, but one thing that really irks me is that empty cavity in the dash. That just irritates me, it's pointless and oh-so cheap looking. My mom's Daewoo has got a similar cavity, and that doesn't really speak volumes about quality. However, on a different note... who cares about the interior?! Holy crap, that Caliber probably goes like stink. And I love the exterior, they've really amped up the aggression. I'd love to take one for a spin.
  8. Wouldn't that be because the 2007 xA and xB are being discontinued to make way for the '08 xB and xD? Or weren't they not doing '07 models of them?
  9. Pretty sure I didn't say anything at all about targeted consumers. Don't be so curt.
  10. Maybe because of traditional Chrysler Corp woes? Also, the mid-size segment is a lot more competitive and dominated (eg Camry, Accord, Altima) than in Australia, where it's a tumultous segment with no clear winner in sales. Over here, the Sebring offers something different than over there. If they just sold it with a manual and the bigger V6 here, I would be looking at getting one used down the track. The individual styling, huge features list (they have really loaded it up over here!) and such would help overcome the traditional CC woes.
  11. They both represent two entirely different groups of cars. The Regency represents the big, bechromed, floaty American luxobarge, but it isn't the best example. Honestly, I think you would have a lot more fun driving an Intrigue daily than a Regency. Besides, that Intrigue looks nice and tidy, and it was one of the better GM mid-sizers in recent history so it isn't a crappy car. Love the colour, too. Very contemporary. The Regency.... meh. If we were talking, say, a big DeVille, I would be less unanimous in my decision. But it's a Regency and, nice as it is, it's a bit dull and that is not what you want in that type of car.
  12. Carpoint is Australia's best motoring website (Drive is pandering rubbish), and their reviews are always very, very fair and balanced. They're never as pretentious and arrogant as British reviews, biased and poorly-written as Motor Trend reviews, or dull and boring like all other American reviews (don't believe me? Pick up an issue of Top Gear mag and CAR and read them back-to-back with MT and C&D) They just reviewed the '07 Sebring Convertible, which goes on sale here in a few months. Although things are looking bad for Chrysler and their products have appeared to fail terribly, perhaps we have been wrong? The ultra-touchy Brits haven't moaned too much about the new Chrysler/Dodge/Jeeps, and I've read good or at least average assessments on the new Compass (good at everything except interior quality and low-end grunt), Sebring (needs some softer plastics, more powerful engine). The Avenger allegedly has terrible, floaty handling but I read that in a British mag and the Nitro doesnt' receive much critiquing because it offers a very unique package. The Caliber is seen as mediocre, and it is amplified by the great competition it has. I'm not sure what to think of the newest Chrysler Group offerings. I intend to check out the big Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealer in town in the next few weeks, just to get some first impressions. At the very, very least, these new cars are mediocre. Carpoint's 2007 Sebring Convertible review: http://www.carpoint.com.au/car-review/2720950.aspx
  13. Trouble is, if you're not the off-roading type, the Grand Vitara falls flat. Sure, it's reasonably attractive and affordable, but it's also more unrefined than most, lacks brand equity, has a so-so interior and a big ugly tyre on the back (which I can somewhat tolerate on the RAV4 as it is vastly better in other areas). Besides, how many Suzuki dealers are around? The Equinox strikes me as just a metal-for-your-money deal and a bit too 90's GM for my taste. The only reason the Torrent graces my good books is because I am a bit of a Pontiac fan and it is the most attractive cute ute out there. The RAV4 may be much larger and different in concept to its predecessors but it looks great inside and out, has all the usual Toyota perks, a powerful V6 and is well-suited to either a family or a single person. The Outlander, I agree, is unfortunate in that it is a Mitsubishi, but alas it is quite a good car. Resale values and a cheapish interior are the only downsides I can see, and it is almost attractive as a Torrent. The CR-V is a lot more... friendly than its predecessors and I am warming to its styling but it is terrible value. And the Escape/Mariner/Tribute triplets are pretty damn uncompetitive and I wouldn't recommend any of them bar the Hybrid variants. The Mariner, though, is pretty stylish and I suppose my vanity says I wouldn't mind it. Damn. I feel like revising my choices. Push the Equinox and Compass up and drop the Tribute down. Done.
  14. [2007] 1. Aura 2. Altima 3. Legacy 4. Fusion 5. Mazda6 6. Camry 7. Accord 8. G6 9. Optima 10. Milan 11. Avenger 12. Galant 13. Sebring 14. Sonata 15. Grand Prix 16. LaCrosse 17. Malibu
  15. [2007] 1. Mazda3 2. Civic 3. Rabbit 4. Lancer 5. HHR 6. Impreza 7. Focus 8. Cobalt 9. Sentra 10. Elantra 11. Vibe 12. Matrix 13. Caliber 14. PT Cruiser 15. SX4 16. Forenza/Reno 17. Corolla 18. Spectra 19= Aerio 19= Ion
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