Lamar

Well, right around when we get ready for a second kid, we'll need to replace the wife's car, which may well be over 160k at that point (it's at 142k now). And since we're pretty heavy roadtrippers throughout the year (average four trips from GA to VA), we'll need extra space for all the little kid gear. Sad to say, but it looks like we'll be looking for the M-word. I wanted an SUV, but Amy will have none of it... can't blame her since it would be her daily driver. On the other hand, the Bonneville is pretty much paid off, and in three years I've put 43k on it. Replacing the Maxima is the first order of the day, but I wouldn't mind getting into something RWD if I could swing it. No idea what, though.

You know what? I've test-driven Passats from that same time period, one with the 1.8T and one with the 2.8L V6. The turbo-4 definitely felt faster. I'm glad I'm not crazy.

Kinda like how a Maxima has a better standard engine than a more expensive Infiniti G, or how an Avalon has a better standard engine than a more expensive Lexus IS. It's not unheard of for a mainstream full-size sedan to have a more powerful standard engine than a compact luxury car from the same company. One more nitpick: Passat no longer has a 2.0T unless you count the diesel. All that aside, you are correct here; Ford's putting the 2.0EB in the refreshed Taurus as well as the updated 3.5L (290 hp or so). Both engines will have similar torque numbers (250 for the 2.0, and 255 for the 3.5), so the performance numbers should be interesting. They wouldn't dare put a NA 4cyl in that car though. And I too wish the XTS were instead the top-of-the-line Buick.

So do you all want to see diesels here for performance, fuel economy, or both? BMW, MB, and Audi (and VW) have pretty much evidenced that you can't get both. Now, I'm not against diesels by any stretch. But I also understand the market here, and I'm of the opinion that if Cadillac does offer a diesel ATS here, they shouldn't expect to move them by the droves. Also, SMK, I was under the impression that the ActiveHybrids would use the turbo-4s, at least in the 3. Thanks for pointing out that they'll be the straight 6.

Still no, make eAssist optional on the 2.0T and V6. Sports sedan: performance first, fuel economy second. I meant with the 2.5. Wouldn't dream of pairing it with those engines. Plus, it would probably sell better than a diesel here. Europe can do what they want.

Fair enough. What would you say, then, if that engine came standard with eAssist? (no one's really discussed it, but it is a possibility) 1M is discontinued after spring of 2012. And that 74% applies only to the CTS Sportwagon. The CTS line as a whole sees about 48%.

If they don't care at all about performance then they aren't looking at, or shouldn't be buying, a Cadillac sports sedan. Why not then put a 2.0T in a Corvette because I am sure there are people that don't care about speed and like how the Corvette looks would buy it. Plus 270 hp in a 3300 lb car is good enough so maybe GM should do that too. So why is the 328i/528i traditionally the most-visible BMW? They're definitely not the performers of the family. Also, as another example, everyone pretty much agrees that of all the Acura TSX models, the 2.4 with the 6MT is the way to go. (Yes, Acura is fading into irrelevance, but work with me here.) Who's to say that the 2.5 couldn't be comparable to that (but more sporting since it's RWD)? In favor of your point, though, I would hope that if the 2.5 isn't substantially upgraded for Cadillac duty, it should be rather hard to find on lots.

Aston Martin Cygnet is a great inclusion... and I would venture that its shameless rebadge status would rival that of the Cimarron if AM were more visible.

Saw a new XJ driving in my opposite direction yesterday. Definitely has a road presence... stands out, but isn't bombastic.

Interesting how super-ultra luxury Bentleys are using lowly Audi and plebeian Volkswagen engines.

Why just 317 from the LFX when it makes 323 in the Camaro? I would agree, and hope that you're right, on the 2.5.

I just looked up competitors. The ATS will be matched only by the C-Class in the number of mainstream engine offerings (three). BMW, Infiniti, and Lexus only offer two, and Audi only has one.

GM usually bumps the power when they turn their engines 90 degrees, so I agree. By how much do you think?

We had record snowfall last January (11"). Paralyzed everything since no one here in GA seems to know how to drive in snow... driving 25 under on completely plowed roads is evidence of that. Chances are there won't be snow like that again this winter.

Just the other day, saw an all-white 911 GT3 pulling into the gas station while I was filling up. Driven by a 70something-year-old man that seemed to be struggling to figure out how to put gas in...

Maybe it's just me, then...?

Current Altima, and previous and current Maxima here. I liked it better in the Maximas, probably more so because the engine itself didn't allow me to focus on the transmission. The Altima was an I4, and I really wasn't enamored with how the CVT worked with it, for one reason or another.

Wow... 101" wide... that'll trump the XTS by far. Toyota wins! I think that's a mistranslation of "wheelbase."

Here's my thing though... it was said before that Buick was positioned to take on Lexus. Why, again, is Cadillac redoubling Buick's mission?

Right, so I was wondering what place it had in the discussion.

You mean like the joke like the Rolls Royce Ghost ($225K) on the 7-series platform ($71k) which is in turn based on the 5-series platform ($41k)?? Re-fixed. Both the 5 and the Ghost are based on the 7.

Wife and I decided that, when we named our kids, none of the girls would have any name that ended in "esha". One-for-one so far. She needs a job that doesn't entail dropping fries when she grows up...? ----------------------------------------- Anyway, back to my rants: Venza drivers take the cake when it comes to clueless Toyota owners. And I would have posted this two days ago, but C&G just HAD to be down at the time.

There are 21 used G8s for sale near me (between here and Atlanta). And I have no money.

Was stuck behind a Fiat 500 on my way to class this afternoon. I say "stuck" because the driver was going about 10 under. Also -- and this isn't such a new or exciting sighting -- I was about 400 feet behind a current-gen E-Class this afternoon. Is it just me, or has the rear of that car become so anonymous that it looks like a Camry?

Congrats are in order then, Satty. Consider yourself a lucky man that your wife at least knows what she wants. I'm looking to replace Amy's Maxima before it falls apart (everything but the drivetrain) and she has given me no indication as to what she would like.