pow

Awesome. The wheels look fantastic. Let's hope the steering is all sorted out.

The VUE sounds awesome. Its level of quality and presentation is simply unprecedented in a NA GM car, especially an inexpensive one. The indicator stalks, window controls, steering wheel, gauges, light switches, etc, are far more elegant and artistic than what we're used to seeing. I particularly like the door panels... the leather graining, aluminum door pulls, and lacquered wood wouldn't be out of place in a Saab. The Astra looks hot, btw.

The Marmalade owns them all.

CR-V LX 2WD: $21,195 VUE equivalent: $21,395 CR-V LX AWD: $22,395 VUE equivalent: $24,515 CR-V EX 2WD: $23,445 VUE equivalent: $22,715 CR-V EX AWD: $24,645 VUE equivalent: $25,835 CR-V EX-L 2WD: $25,395 VUE equivalent: $24,530 CR-V EX-L AWD: $26,595 VUE equivalent: $27,650 CR-V EX-L 2WD + NAV: $27,395 VUE equivalent: $26,705 CR-V EX-L AWD + NAV: $28,595 VUE equivalent: $29,825 2WD CR-Vs are generally more expensive than comparable 2WD VUEs (both with 2.4L I4s), while AWD VUEs are more expensive (by $1,055 to $2,120, depending on trim) than comparable AWD CR-Vs (mandatory V6 on the VUE AWD). CR-V 2WD: 20.4 lb/hp VUE 2WD: 23.3 lb/hp CR-V AWD: 21.1 lb/hp VUE AWD: 20.1 lb/hp (V6) Of course there are some equipment disparities, though I tried to keep them as close as possible. For example, the CR-V gets a rear view camera with the navigation system; the VUE doesn't. The VUE offers OnStar; the CR-V doesn't. LX CR-Vs get 17" steelies, while XE (the trim level I used throughout) VUEs get 16" alloys. EX CR-Vs get 17" alloys. But overall, the VUE is priced neck-and-neck with the CR-V; any differences in performance are accounted by price. MPG-wise, the '08 VUE Green Line will probably be comparable to the regular 2.4 CR-V -- hopefully the BAS system can cancel out the extra 500+ lbs. It should be interesting to see how the GL is priced; the extra cost will probably bring it to CR-V 2WD pricing.

The Astra, not the Cobalt, is GM's competitor to "the Civic, Rabbit, and Mazda3", or so says the online Saturn rep. The Cobalt targets the Spectra, Caliber, Corolla, Lancer, Forenza, Elantra, Focus, and other second-tier compacts.

http://www.saturnfans.com/Cars/Future/2008vuepricing.shtml VUE I4 2WD - $21,395 RAV4 I4 2WD - $21,595 VUE 3.5 AWD - $24,515 RAV4 V6 AWD - $25,030 VUE 3.6 AWD - $26,895 VUE 3.6 FWD - $24,895 RAV4 V6 FWD - $23,620 Pricing seems competitive... I hope it does well.

My biggest beef with the XE are the "cloth" seats and black moulding. The leather makes a world of difference.

The top is made by Karmann... the same people who do all the other hardtops and some softtops.

I think I still prefer the Velite, which makes this seem boy racerish by comparison. This Riviera is just too angular, small, sterile, and cold... it reminds me too much of the '90s LaCrosse concept. One should "waft" around in absolute comfort and power in a Buick.

Stuff like this helps make Buick seem more technologically advanced. That's a good thing.

I guess that's SAAB's answer to... or... Some different colored canvas. I'm sure the 9-3 Cabrio is a fine car, but there isn't much going for it.

Good to hear. SAAB needs more differentiation from Opel.

I'm a fan of this sketch... The front and rear design elements are nice and intricate.

Hua li! The interior is gorgeous. The exterior is nice as well, but it's a bit too sporty for a Buick, IMO.

It's Earth Day...

It has curtain and side airbags, too. The DX is only there to lower the starting MSRP.

No, the statement was issued through the gunman's sister (on behalf of the family). She's a Princeton graduate who works with the state department as an Iraq reconstruction contractor. Amazing how different their lives turned out..

BMW inline-sixes BMW V-10 Porsche flat-sixes VW inline-five VW VR6s Ferrari V8s Audi V8s Nissan V6s GM starter sounds Honda starter sounds

It's his mental illness that "influenced" him more than gun culture or a $h!ty childhood. We now now that he stayed at a mental institution before and was evaluated as "an imminent threat to himself and others." His mental record never showed up when he applied for a gun.

Very nice. I like the retro nose.

Well you guys wanted to reduce energy consumption through means other than increasing fuel economy... I guess this is what they came up with.

Absolute awesomeness.

Wow, what a C&G Featured Article.

They're not "biased dopes"; they just have preferences for certain types of cars, formed by their experiences as mechanics. Conventional wisdom takes time to change, and it's particularly difficult to teach old dogs new tricks.

If this car was made three years ago... ... it would have had a four-speed automatic ... 185-hp pushrod V6 ... garish styling cues ... ill-fitting panel gaps ... Rubbermaid interior ... Pac Man dashboard ... floppy suspension ... 10.8" front discs/rear drums ... 87 cut lines ... rude dash bonger :AH-HA_wink: