ocnblu

Both colors would be worthy additions to the G8 line and should be incorporated asap. The G8 colour palette as it is, is woeful.

If this thing is eventually built, it would be a much less compelling product for me if it is not on Zeta.

I ordered my '07s when they first went on sale and got them in short order. I have not seen a thread confirming the 2008 versions are ready, or that Fly even got enough photo submissions together to start working on them.

So, does that make Eli Manning a Jolly Green Giant, since he got the keys to an Escalade Hybrid?

I'm looking forward to more photos from the Philly show. I decided not to go, but instead I now have plans to head down to Baltimore next Saturday for that show, one of those Motor Trend shows, if the weather holds.

Firebird?

Shoot, Chevy and Pontiac use the "fascia spoke" steel wheel with integral cover as a slightly upscale alternative to a standard full wheel cover, why couldn't Saturn see fit to equip Astra XEs with them? Your photo looks much better than the XE wheel covers we get here.

Why not think of the Caprice as a gift, rather than a high price to pay? It is a gift from your father who loves you.

Mr. Jacket, darn it, why you gotta put that sweet "Camaro" word out there. I am at the age where I need to sock every available penny away toward retirement, these are supposed to be my "prime earning years", or whatever. I am trying to live well within my means, here. Plus, with all the doom and gloom out of Detroit lately, I've lowered my expectations... I am trying to promote my "needs" at the expense of my "wants", especially when it comes to a vehicle. During the month I was driving a Taurus loaner vehicle from my job while my truck was being repaired, I don't know, it was like I was numb, I didn't actually miss driving my truck. I started to feel like the 5.3L, Flowmaster-enhanced horsepower was like an addiction, and the Taurus was rehab. It forced me to sit back and think about what I "should" be doing with my money. I am on my own, with no one else to fall back on. I need to think about the deep, dark, mysterious future, and plan accordingly. Whether I actually will do that is a test of willpower. I love vehicles. Will this love cost me too much? Am I sacrificing my Golden Years to satisfy my lust for sheetmetal? Time will tell.

Laughter, the best medicine. I think I've got Winter Dysfunction, blah, and these pictures are helping. Keep 'em coming, plez.

There are quite a few dancing bananas in this thread. Reminds me of the beach. Sigh, is winter over yet?

Saturn saleschick agrees... she set me up with that one, as we were on the test drive, she said "the base model wheel covers look..." she glanced over at me and I put the ball in the basket, "Pep Boys?" I finished. She said "That's good, yes."

I think it would be a fantastic way to redeem Zeta in NA and a nice addition to the line in AU to add this engine as an option to the platform.

HHR SS is a sweet vehicle, no doubt, but it is kind of pricey v. my goal of saving money on payments, insurance and gasoline. I am still making up my mind.

I have info from someone recently departed from C&G that GME (the arm of GM in charge of passenger car diesel engines) has decided NOT to allow Holden to use the diesel in their VE Commodores.

Whaaaaat!? WOW, that thing is fantastic! That 4.9L smallblock DI AFM engine, with and without hybrid, should be on the market asap in all the half-ton GMT900s, as well as all the Zeta vehicles. This is the Zeta GMC Ute then... I love what I'm seeing so far. Maybe the future is brighter than we were lead to believe... but I bet a production version of this vehicle would sell for at least $45,000... too rich for my blood.

Brand new Impreza STi, all black, very cool, with the wide-spoke wheels as opposed to the multi-spokers, which are ugly, imo. $36,000 MSRP!!! And the guy said it was "the base model".

Today I went to the dealership where I bought my '03 ION Quad Coupe to check out an Astra. The same lady who sold me that car went along for the ride, in a red 3-door manual with no options, priced at $18,400 or so. To sell for that price across town from other more-or-less Delta-based GM small cars, the Astra had to be loaded with "kit", as they say on The Continent, and it is. All of GM's latest safety equipment, including head curtains and Stabilitrak come on this car. Power equipment including central locking, mirrors and dual express-down windows are there as well. Handsome, 17" rims look good on the car, along with foglamps. This car has a lot of standard equipment. Turning the cool, switchblade key, the first thing I notice is the 1.8L Ecotec sounds and feels a bit harsh at cold idle. The interior is awash in black, with only the silver dash trim and tiny flecks of white in the upholstery to break up the theme, until you get to the typical light-gray colored headliner. The door closes with a very satisfying thunk. It reminds me of a VW interior, in that it looks and feels very well-buttoned down, I like that. I was a little concerned the small engine would feel anemic, especially after reading all the reviews knocking the car for power, but it did fine with the manual transmission getting up to highway speed. The transmission feels great to shift, unlike most FWD shifters, which definitely feel disconnected from the transmission (and they are, or course). The handling is excellent from what I could tell on the test loop, which included some back roads. The car feels solid as the proverbial ROCK, and rides quietly, without the expected thump over bumps most small cars exhibit. The lowered (according to Saturn), sport-tuned suspension feels great, and it rides very well. Since relatively few Astras will be imported, it would be harder for the dealer to find a car exactly the way a potential buyer wants. As far as the fairly mournful interior, that will be addressed, according to my saleschick, with an optional black/tan combo coming soon. I would take this car in white or blue, and although I'd like to see the black/tan interior before buying, I could live with the black. Next up, I went out to the Subaru dealership and hopped in a new, gray and silver Impreza Outback Sport with 5 speed. I like the look of the new Imprezas in Outback guise, with the two-tone paintjob and the goodlooking, sparkle silver rims. The taillights, however, I could do without. They look a bit cheesy with their chrome housings. The interior is not as nice as the Astra, but it is not bad. It feels a bit flimsier than the Astra. I love to hear the boxer engine rev, I love that distinctive growl. Out on the road, the car feels "softer" than the Astra, with noticeably more body roll, yet it feels like it has tremendous grip, an advantage of the AWD. Odd, I am not sure how to describe the feeling while driving after getting out of the Astra, but the chassis felt very grippy and solid, while the body felt less well-made, flimsier somehow. The Subaru radio sounded weak, as well. The car got up to speed quickly, it seems, with that wonderful, boxer sound I mentioned. The Subaru has a lot of endearing qualities, but some things about it make me shy away. First off, it is made in Japan, and secondly, Toyota has their filthy paws on this scrappy little company after GM got rid of their shares. Plus, although the AWD is quite an asset, it comes at a pretty good fuel economy penalty, and fuel mileage is fueling my desire (pun intended, ha) to search out a smaller vehicle that I will enjoy driving. Furthermore, the Outback Sport I drove has an MSRP of $20,900 or so. Among these two, I have to give Carl-Peter's baby the nod. It is sporty, economical, loaded with features, and it is a GM product, even if it is Belgian-made.

Ewwwww... at the Toyota dealership, saw a base model new Matrix in gray and a new green Corolla today in my travels. Not an auspicious start, but hey, it can only go up from here I guess. Has anyone seen anything out of the ordinary yet this month?

So, in order to breathe and stay unskunked, you're typing all this while wearing a wet suit and oxygen tanks? :AH-HA_wink: Sounds fun, Camino. I think I might hit the road in the morning with my camera and head up there to the show.

I rented Season One of The Wire this evening on my way home, so I'll be watching that tonight instead of Hyacinth Bucket. I want to see how Omar fits in the story.

Wentworth Miller is a very sexy man.

It's the gift that keeps on giving. You know, like the clap. :AH-HA_wink:

I don't watch much TV at all, in fact, recently I have only been watching Keeping Up Appearances, Saturday nights on PBS - "The BooKAAAY residence, lady of the house speaking..." :AH-HA_wink: I've been watching clips from "The Wire" on Youtube since hearing an interview on NPR of the guy who plays Omar (sadly, I don't have HBO). Yesterday at lunch with the gang, my friend Ryan commented on how much he likes the show, and Omar. I think this is the last season. I wonder if I can rent DVDs of this show at Blockbuster.