vonVeezelsnider

From what I have heard the 3500/3900 don't have the kind of headgasket issues the 3100/3400 had. Also by design of the engine the chronic Intake Manifold Gasket leak has been removed by using some sort of coolant bypass system. All in all completely bulletproof. All Impala and Monte Carlo applications of the 3900/3500 have been VVT but the 3500 in the earlier G6/Malibu models pre 2007 were non-VVT and that makes a big difference coming from the point of view of having one 3500 VVT (Impala) and one 3500 LX9 (Malibu).

I think the rattling wouldn't seem as bad if I lived in a place like AZ which has much better roads than Alberta... and doesn't get rutted permafrost covering them from October to May.

Now is that a decade and a half older or newer I wonder? I'm thinking CTS DI...

In all fairness to my Cavalier it rattled less than the Malibu does...

It's too bad because Flow-Through Ventilation worked. I first noticed it the winter I first got the G5 (Same thing happens on the Cobalt too). I always drove around with 4 people in the car and the Cavalier back windows never fogged up but then the G5 windows kept fogging up back there and I was like WTF?! but now I understand why that is.

Because the world is so electronic and distant it's easy to not think about but at the same time it's a terrible human tragedy. Our Governor General is from Hati and she was crying on the news last night. The Government of Canada is going to match all civilian money donations dollar for dollar and I think I will donate some money.

You've put about the same amount of mileage on your car since your replacement as I have had on mine. Maybe the rutted up rough Canadian winter has something to do with it...

Lets start with the Cobalt. Around the time I got the Cobalt last January I noted that there was this loud annoying rattle coming from the steering column when driving over rough road surface. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the whole steering column stating that there was a design defect with the steering column where there was excessive backlash in the electric steering gears causing the noise. They replace it, noise goes away. Heaven only knows for what reason but almost a year later the noise is back. I understand that GM is suing the supplier over the defect, but it's a pain in the ass. Also the front door panels on the Cobalt are making this annoying creaking noise when you put any amount of weight on the armrest and it's getting worse. Lovely. It's not like I abuse my car, in fact I probably treat it with more kid gloves than the lions share of Cobalt owners and yet it persists. Dealership is going to think I'm effing crazy I'm sure since this is the second time I'm complaining about both issues. This brings me to the Malibu, whoever designed the headliner assembly really needs to be trotted out over hot coal. There is this DEAFENING loud rattle coming from the dome light are and skylight when the road is less than completely smooth and silky. It is seriously the loudest rattle I've ever heard in any car, ever (it is louder than the noise the tires make going over a manhole cover or thru a pothole). So I do a little poking around with the Malibu and I find that the reason it is rattling at the dome light is because the dome light is SUPPOSED to be stuck to the roof with double sided tape. Who uses double sided tape to stick up a headliner I will never understand. Well surprise surprise eventually the double sided tape lets go and the headliner droops just a bit, and when you go over bumps the dome light impacts the roof and comes back down. Around the skylight and I didn't even touch because it's all complicated with the retractors for the sunshades but the same thing is happening there methinks. Which brings me to the intermediate steering shaft which has already been replaced once and as of today is gone again (!) and adding to the cacophony of rattles. I can kinda tolerate it in the Cobalt because its sorta hushed and isolated but the rattles in the Malibu are so loud and intrusive that it makes you just not want to drive it. I swear to god I'm just this close to ripping off the interior trim and filling it with Dynamat or foam or something. The Impala of course, remains to this day flawless. No rattles and no issues over the time it has been with us. Just goes to show you that the good ol' W-Body even though it doesn't have the nicest interior plastic (Malibu does) or the most rigid platform (Cobalt does) simply stands up better to daily use. /rant

It's kinda sad how a lot of the stuff that they brag about you don't even see on new GM Vehicles because they've been decontented/cost shaved out (Washer Fluid Filter, Flow Through Ventilation (Cavalier had it but none of our cars since have had it)).

for comparison's sake the footwell might not be narrow as you think if you compare it to this pic of the current DTS which has lots of room to stretch. Of course it does have a smaller steering wheel than the DTS/Lucerne/Impala so that might hurt the frame of reference a bit. Also the back seat for comparison's sake The back seat and front Fascia are probably my favorite parts of this car, I love how the back seat is sculpted and styled like that- it almost reminds me of a late 60s- early 70s big GM car (Cadillac or Buick). Regardless I think I'll drive it when it comes out but I'm skeptical that those proportions will look any better in person.

I've seen the Sebring up close and all and I never really understood the hate either. It's not the prettiest car but it's not as bad as it is made out to be.

I'm really not digging it only from the B-Pillar back (poorly proportioned). I think it should have a more formal roofline and a longer deck. Also I'm not digging that convex rear end that shows up in the side profile. Additionally- a spoiler, on a Cadillac? Really? I would've reacted more favorably if there was some fin action in the back, even ala the 1965-68 models where the taillights were the longest point on the car or at the very least equant to the rest of the rear end.

More: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/12/detroit-2010-cadillac-xts-platinum-concept-ready-to-replace-sts/ http://jalopnik.com/5445942/cadillac-xts-platinum-concept-the-cadillac-of-luxo+barges Alright so I reserved my opinion until I saw the car and I am now going to say that these pictures are not promising! I'm sorry this does not cut it, especially the side profile which is atrocious. Not only that but less than 204in, and a wheelbase only an inch longer than the W-Body Impala? Even the current DTS has a wheelbase in excess of 115in. I can't even begin to start. Short hood, LaX-ish side profile, nonexistent rear deck (a big Cadillac should have a noticeable decklid) all seem to spell out a smaller car with much less interior space and no doubt another 12cu ft. trunk at the expense of styling. Sure it might look better in person like the Terrain but I don't know how well I am going to warm up to this car. That being said the interior does show an impressive attention to detail which will hopefully transfer to the production model.

Not a bad looking little car, but alas, it's french and therefore it will look like this in no more than three years:

I was looking forward to the Focus and at least the sedan is nice, not a big fan of the hatchback or the interior. The Cruze interior is more aesthetically pleasing with the two-tone Ebony/Brick options. I would also like to see the Malibu but I think that's going to be at least until LAIAS. Pretty much all I'm looking forward to at this point is the XTS and I hope I am not disappointed.

City Car: Toyota Corolla Country Car: Volvo V70/XC70

Glad to hear you got that beautiful Caddy fixed!

Thank you for confirming to me that I'm not crazy.

As the tires wear the Integrity tires quiet down. Also in our 2010 Impala LS rental we noticed that the doors feel tinny. That's odd because all 06-08s I've seen haven't been this way but it seems the 09-10s are. Perhaps a change in supplier.

Not Bad...

In terms of worst cars I think my mom would take the cake. Before my parents got married my mom had a sum total of two cars 1973 Morris Marina 3dr Hatch 1979 Ford Fiesta MkI I've noted some of the stuff my dad had in my signature but he had 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible (Candy Apple Red, 283 V8) 1965 Chrysler Newport 4dr Hardtop (Light Blue, 383 V8) 1967 Oldsmobile Delta 88 2dr Hardtop (Black, 425 V8) 1973 Datsun 610 DX 2dr (Yellow with Black vinyl top, 1.6L I4) eek! 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass S Fastback (Black, 455 Rocket V8) 1969 Acadian 4dr Sedan (Powder Blue, 250 I6) 1975 Pontiac Grand LeMans 2dr Coupe (Powder Blue, 400 V8) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am LE 2dr Coupe (Gray/Silver two tone, Quad 4) With my grandparents it's a bit more spotty by on my mom's side I know my grandfather's last car was a 1985 Caprice Estate, and that he at one point had a 1948 Chrysler Town and Country, and that my grandmother at one point had a Sunbeam 90 Mk III and a Vauxhall Cresta. On the other side I recall my grandmother had a 1976 Monte Carlo, a 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis and the above 1969 Acadian. My grandfather had a 2007 Impala LS 3.5, a 2001 Dodge Caravan Sport 3.3, a 1996 Ford Windstar GL, a 1994 Dodge Neon Sport, a 1989 Ford Tempo L, a 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue 350 V8, a 1969 Ford Country Squire, a 1975 Mercury Colony Park, a 1954 Ford, and a 1956 Cadillac Sedan deVille Hardtop in White.

I second it. This is the most common sense of the three.

Honestly surprising given the source.

300M with cloth carriage top (puke)

All of these changes would be effective for 2009 not 2010. As far as I can see between 2007 and 2010 the following has happened: Pros: + Dual Zone Climate Control standard on all models (on my LS there is only the single zone) + More functional cupholder up front (the one in mine has no set partitions and some weird adjustable partition) + New Seats and Headrests in front (Headrests lean more forward and are more padded, seats have more bolstering) + Improved back seat comfort (Feet fit under seats, rear headrests much more padded) + Drop of 2 HP, gain of 1 MPG Hwy Cons: - Ugly ass rocker molding - Lack of Antelope or LS Badges - Cupholders and storage areas no longer have rubber liners