pow

The early-build ones suffered from some build quality problems, but they eventually got it down. The Focus is a brilliantly packaged car, and the fancy multilink rear suspension is impressive for its price... the Corolla and Cobalt use twist-beams.

So it wasn't razoredge after all...

I thought we're talking about the Fusion...

I really don't mind, as long as they're not speed cameras. Normal CCTVs are okay, as long as I trust the people behind them. Britain has been pretty tough on terrorism, and they seem experienced because ofthe IRA and everything.

Agreed, the new Civic is a much more substantial and thoroughly engineered car than both its predecessor and the Cobalt. The fact it's the only small car to be an IIHS Top Safety Pick should be enough.

Headlight technology sounds cool... not a fan of special editions myself, though.

Yeah, the Liberty is a real butch looking SUV... :AH-HA_wink:

I don't know, it just looks bad, like something designed at the last minute by a high school student. The Ford GT's interior is retro, too, but it looks professionally done.

I came across this today and found it rather interesting... www.windingroad.com -- an excellent online mag, by the way

Hopefully no water freezes on your brake discs, either...

The CTS-V was tested in the rain.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=36338842953281826

Uh, right... Either way, the Camry is a lame duck, and lame ducks always depreciate heavily once the new model arrives. And AFAIK, fleet sale info for MY 2006 models aren't available yet, and I see a damn sight more rental Camrys than Fusions (none).

Hm, now that I think it over, my main beef with this Challenger is that it looks like a molded caricature of the original. It has the general shape down, but the subtleties that make a car timeless aren't there. Maybe I'll like it better in silver or blue.

Those prices include sales tax and destination charges ("MSRP" in the US usually doesn't include either). Before tax and destination, the Meriva costs £8,005, which works out to be $13,952, plausible enough if they throw in some goodies. Making it in Poland will lower it even more.

So about that Malibu...?

IMO, it's too blocky and clumsy... personally I prefer something more modern and athletic, like the Solstice, or even the Mustang. But I'm sure for every person that hates the styling, there'll be someone else who loves it. The interior looks fairly horrible, though.

I know what you mean, but the first recent automotive use of "crossover" was used to define unibody, car-based SUVs.

That's what I like about Bangle... he got rid of the one-sausage-different-lengths. Now we have a Cubist X3, Surrealist 5-series, and Frank Gehry interiors...

And Nissan needs that. All their current small cars, the new _____ included (it's so forgettable and generic that I forgot its name... starts with a V), are rather dreary. This, on the other hand...

Speaking of the Astra, if VW can send over the German-built Golf GTI as a niche product and make a profit, why can't GM send over the Opel/Vauxhall Astra VXR as an image booster? I'd definitely consider one, maybe choose it over the GTI because its a GM product, though maybe not if Ford sends over the Focus ST.

Agreed. The Quest has a very progressive design. Its interior wouldn't be out of place inside the MoMA in NY. Too bad the quality is poor, and I'm disappointed the red leather option is no longer available.

AFAIK, it's not a "crossover" by the traditional "crossover SUV" definition -- Pilot, Highlander, Murano, etc. But I suppose by its most literal sense, it can be a crossover... in the same way the Vibe, Outback, Ridgeline, and HHR are "crossovers."

Gosh, that Milan looks beautiful. The Zephyr isn't bad, either... I like the cowl area, how the hood meets with the windshield and fenders. The Fusion is less of a looker without the 17" machined alloys and black paint, but as I recall, it's still fine close up. I have a feeling the '06 Fusion will beat the '06 Camry in residual value, considering the Toyota is a lame duck, and many are sold as rentals.

I'm sure the taste is there... it's just that the compromises, be it safety, weight (from additional reinforcement), or cost, are too great for something most people won't recognize anyway.