Flybrian

I saw my first fit today. Overall, not bad - bland like every econobox - but the front looks like it suffers from Down's Syndrome.

Because props tend to get in the way when working under the hood and are simply inconvenient. Also, for all this talk about how things like double-padded deluxe suede trunk weatherstripping and such adds to the luxury image of cars...well...a prop is hardly respectable. Some expensive LX-cars as well as the Mercury Montego also have props. Makes you wonder is all.

Heh. Okay. That's from FamilyCar.com obviously, but the G35 I saw at the mall yesterday was $35 and change. I can also mention $25k Grand Prixs and $19k Buick Centuries with lifters.

The Suzuki bitching is legit, but the rest? Man. Retarded.

'96 Olds - 98,5xxmi '00 Bonneville - 108,xxxmi

Why does a $37,000 car like the G35 have a hood prop... while a $14,000 Cobalt has a gas strut?

That's somewhat right. I dislike it because its Korean, which in this case does not refer to country of origin but to design. The inside is filled with parts bin leftovers, chintzy center stack readouts, ugly deadplates on "loaded" models, an awkward and downright ugly radio positioning, weird ignition cylinder angle, asymmetrical cutlines running all over the place, ill-located hazard/airbag display, and worst of all, the same f-in seventy-five cent TIMEX travel clock that's graced every Hyundai since the Excel.

Talk about FWD proportions. Yech. The S80 really broke the mold for Volvo. Everything else was merely a replicant of the S80 in various sizes. And the V50? Which of the fourteen have you seen?

To reiterate, cloth, bench, manual seats...this is a work truck. People who typcially buy this trim of pickup don't nitpick hard touch plastics or a cold interior ambience.

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SAAB is limited by its very nature. Make it too univerally-appealing, it gets panned by enthusiasts and no one cares anymore. Make to too quirky, and no one but the diehards buy it. And for those those that say, "What about Volvo?", just because they're both Sweedish doesn't mean jack. Volvo sold on boring and safe; SAAB sells on fetish. Look at the last Sonnetts, I mean, Jesus. Buying one of them is true love of brand.

Domesticated is obviously Lutz.

Ick. Too bad its on Edmunds. Dear GM, Feel free to use the C&G Java Chat for any consumer relations needs you see fit!

I love the Skylark idea. Cadillac may not quite be the brand for such a car, but Buick is ideal. Agreed about your four ideas there. Not really that appealing except the SAAB and even then. Also, I believe at least the TSX sucks premium. No thanks.

An absolutely excellent point. Many of the office buildings we do work in are home to companies that either have couriers or use such vehicles to courier things themselves. We also have several subcontractors that would surely have a need for such a vehicle. Right now, they operate anything from Vibes/Matricies, to xBs, to 4cyl Plymouth Voyagers, to PTs and HHrs. Many of them love the Pts and HHrs for their roominess inside. I think a nice commercial lineup of HHr panels and a stripped ECOTEC Uplander cargo (now that the Astro is dead) would be nice, worthwhile additions to GM's Fleet lineup.

I really see that happening with the Zeta or what-have-you. Malibu will grow in size on Epsilon II to somewhere between Epsilon I and the MS2000 W-body Impala while the Impala itself makes the leap to fullsize RWD with pricing more or less as is. I'd expect (hope?) to see a wider selection of Malibu models with varied engine/transmission combos (Ecotec to hi-po SS V6) and a more limited range of Impalas with a Lucerne-esque structure - LS base V6, LTZ V6/V8, SS hi-poV8. Right now, its transitional. Remember, there used to be a Cavalier/Corsica/Lumina/Caprice heirarchy until that was supplanted by the Cavalier/Malibu/Impala. There was just nothing really crowing the lineup for about eight years until the s/c Impala SS in '04 and today's V8 SS. I think the Cobalt/Malibu/Impala lineup can work out beautifully if done right. Three nice choices, none too similar, and a nice variety within each model.

If he's interested in one, why not wait another year until Enterprise does another fleet buy and clears out all their '06 Sonatas? Yes, Virginia, they fleet the hell out of these crates.

Really? Okay. I think Ocn has some Sgt. Schultz pics on his harddrive...

Malibu would cover the lower end of the Camry's segement, Impala the upper end as well as most of the Avalon's. I don't think GM needs to build benchmark competitors. Its lame, unoriginal, and pointless.

So, tell us what you think?

Kidd of Speed Enjoy!

$16 billion in tax breaks and aid. For what? 120 billion some-odd in profit.

Nissan's VQ would be fine if it weren't for that irritating, shrill tuned exhaust note they have.

Not really...

There isn't anything like a V8, but a supercharged six comes awful close, and at 23-27mpg I was averaging while my car was in the shop...worth it.