ocnblu

Good one, empowah! I've participated in these before, but I'll go again because I don't remember exactly what I advocated the last time: Beta coupe and sedan, RWD entry-level. A real name, no alpha bullcrap. 2.4L standard, 6 speed manual/6 speed manumatic. 2.0 DI Turbo with GXP. Looks must emulate the flagship coupe and sedan (BMW does it). Value price point to blow competitors away. Hardware and looks to make it THE car to have if you're a kid, or just a kid at heart who loves to drive. This would be the hook to build loyalty to the Pontiac brand and keep buyers who'll want to move up within the brand. Solstice roadster and closed hatchback. No other changes needed yet. Maybe a nice rich orange or bronze color, with saddle leather as an available interior. Delta-based sportwagon to replace Vibe and Torrent, with AWD only. 2.4L standard with 6 speed manual/6 speed manumatic transmissions. Turbo version on GXP. Totally unique looks from sister car HHR. What to do with Ep II? I know I don't want any more FWD Pontiacs, but I need a mid-size replacement for G6, called Grand Am, in coupe, sedan, soft top convertible, and perhaps even a wagon (BMW does it). What the hell, let's put this car on a short wheelbase Zeta with DI V6 engines of varying displacements, with a V8 coupe and convertible as the top dog (GTO). 6 speed manual/6 speed manumatic transmissions across the board. Zeta long wheelbase sedan as flagship, with DI V6 standard in large displacement, V8 optional. 6 speed manumatic transmission. Optional V8 power up to 6.0L. Sister Impala would have 5.3L as top engine, this will give Pontiac room to breathe. Buick Invicta could have 6.0L, but in a slightly more sedate, upscale package. All of these cars (Solstice is already nailed in looks) would have a new, distinctively Pontiac set of styling cues, meaning heritage without regression, to blow away the competition. Great design without gimmick (ground effects are sooo 90's) and GM's most relevant new hardware (drivetrain) are what Pontiac needs to succeed.

just friends!

PMs

Nice.

hunky

hurt when you pull them off

green boogers

How about a new Rio5? Cheap and relatively "throwaway", with tidy dimensions, and those huge black rubstrips to hide the inevitable multitude of door and bumper dings.

...fries with that?

The puddy cat looks absolutely thrilled and thankful to be wearing her smart new knitted ensemble.

Keanu is hot even with that dorky "apparatus" strapped to him in bobo's pic.

It would be pretty fun to leave the tent attached while driving and later see photos of your Aztek in a magazine with the "Brenda Priddy & Co." watermark...

moonwalk

myopia

leiderhosen (sp?)

Carrying wood?

Continuing with the C&G Automotive Awards 2006 presentation, which vehicle do you, dear readers, nominate as C&G's Most Powerful Love Magnet Car for 2006? Let's face it, first impressions are important, and most of us choose a vehicle that we feel extends our personality. For those of us who are single, and even for those of us who are taken, but still like to be the recipient of admiring glances on the road, which vehicle tops the list for attracting friends and potential dates?

We all know how kids are. They anxiously await that first taste of freedom that comes with a driver's license, but a lot of them just aren't ready for driving life. Which car do you nominate as C&G's Best First Car, 2006? I nominate the 1973 Chevy Impala four door hardtop with a transplanted 2.5L Iron Duke engine, 3 on the tree transmission, and no power steering or brakes. That should keep 'em out of trouble while learning to drive in a most basic way. I truly believe everyone should know how to drive a manual transmission, and we should all know how to handle a vehicle with no power steering or brakes. Everything else would be cake, and ya never know when you'll need to escape your captors and your only means is... a 1973 Impala with an Iron Duke, three speed on the column, and no power assists.

The Producers

City living can be rough on a car. Parking by feel, heavy traffic, stop&go, pot holes, manhole covers, etc., can age a car quickly. Which new car would you nominate as C&G's Best City Car, 2006?

*sneeze*

It's gonna be really cool when GM returns home with a RWD Impala, G8, and Invicta.

lincoln logs

Congratulations, Variance!