Robert Hall

I can't imagine someone in that low of an income bracket is looking at a car that costs more than $16k or so, let alone $30k. Yet they do just like people making 75-85K a year look at the tesla. Does not mean they really can afford it, but they will look and some will buy. Tesla seems more like a car for people making $200k or more.... I know when I was making $85k a year $30k car seemed to me a bit high...(but was fine when I got past $100k/yr).

I can't imagine someone in that low of an income bracket is looking at a car that costs more than $16k or so, let alone $30k.

Haven't seen the new CTS or ELR in person yet, probably would have to go with the ATS. The weak FWD proportions ruin the XTS and ELR styling, and XTS is too tall and narrow.

Bankruptcy requires hard choices regardless of what bank/funding sources are involved. Such it is. Pontiac, Saturn and HUMMER were NA only brands w/ limited volume.

Invalid. The A4 competes w/ the ATS, 3 series and C-class. This is below that level...though in size and price it's probably comparable to the late '90s A4.

Saw a '14 Sierra in my neighborhood tonight...the headlights are wild, with the LEDs in a ring around the main bulbs.

I always liked that detail...the round quad lights looked much better than the square/rectangular aero flush $h! that most everyone else used in the '80s-90s..round quad lights (regardless of the lighting technology) have been a BMW styling cue for decades..

Looks pretty sharp, but that greenhouse is derivative of several other cars...

Again, the i3 and i8 are very new...and disgusting, IMO. Personally, I like the generally evolutionary styling BMW, M-B, and Porsche use...continuity and heritage to grow on, rather than total change every few years...better than the generic appliance styling seen from other car makers, IMO..

Why change a classic design? They are also doing fresh and different with the hideous i3 and i8...

Definitely some E36 and later E46 styling cues in there...sharp.

I've heard good things about the 1M...favorably compared to the E36 M3. The current 1 series may be the last true enthusiast BMW without all the BS....

Problem is, the typical consumers are so clueless and non-serious about cars today they won't even pay attention to the FWD vs RWD aspect.

#1 positive-- the ride and the quiet. A nice place for a 6 hour drive or around town. Excellent outward visibility, something that is an issue on many cars today. It seems like a car I could drive for 5 years as a daily driver. But for $35k or so, there are other cars that I would probably take over it. #2 negative: nothing really...the only negatives really were small nitpicky items--some due to the rental trim level, probably--i.e. the lack of 2 piece visors, lack of telescoping wheel, the plugs on the dash where missing option buttons would be, the hard plastics on lower areas, the difficult gas cap. I didn't get to exploit its RWD characteristics, but definitely found it preferable to an equivalent FWD model, esp. regarding interior packaging--plenty of driver legroom..didn't feel cramped. One thing in the back of my mind is that neither GM nor Ford offer anything competitive to this car at this price point (considering size, RWD, V6).

Since the 2nd gen 3-dr and 5-dr RWD 1-series came out in MY 11, so probably around 2015-2016 they will have the FWD 1-series hatches (and presumably a sedan for the US), to compete w/ the A3 and A-class/CLA... though I think they should keep the FWD for Mini only.

Asian Buick I suppose.(not in a negative way--but in that it reminded me of what I think of qualities a Buick has--quiet, smooth, solid, and spacious).. ..it was pleasant enough on freeway and suburban street driving...didn't really have an opportunity to try any sports sedan style driving on a winding road or anything..

Saw a '14 Malibu today...didn't notice any rear changes, but noticed the new nose...not an improvement, IMO...kind of squinty looking.

The drive back from So Cal across the void was uneventful. Noticed the 8spd auto shifted smoothly and didn't really notice it even on some long, steep grades on I-10.

3300 seems about 500 lbs too heavy for a subcompact CUV..the Encore is very tiny, 138hp would be enough if it wasn't so heavy.

The drive over took about 6 hours...used 1/2 tank of gas...couple of pit stops. The Genesis cruised smoothly at 80 mph across the desert on I-10. Thoughts after about 340 miles of driving. Other than an '08 Sonata rental, this is only the second Hyundai I've driven...definitely seems a long way from the cheap and nasty old Hyundais. Pluses: Decent acceleration, good steering feel (not too light). Feels solid on the road. Doors close w/ a nice thunk. Smooth, reasonably quiet at freeway speed, comfortable, adjustable seats. Though w/ the firm bolsters the way they are anyone fatter than I would be uncomfortable, I think. Very good outward visibility despite thick A-pillars, they don't impede the view. Interesting dash design, I like the curves and black wood (plood?) trim easy to use, clear controls. The logical stalks (lighting left, wiping right) reminds me of my Jeep. Good iPod integration w/ aux jack and USB in the center console, nice to see little touches like the notches on the underside of the lid to route cables out and still latch the lid Decent sized cupholders and door map pockets Good interior lighting--like the bright white ceiling lights, white gauge lighting, blue other lighting. Excellent exterior lighting at night Spacious trunk Even w/ the driver's seat all the way back, decent rear leg room--room for a small cooler Minuses: Old-school single visors, double visors (side/front) would have been nice driving into the sunset. Anonymous styling, has touches of Infiniti (the first gen G35 is what it remind me the most of in profile), Maxima (roofline), Accord (the rear), BMW (deck and hood cutlines). Most of the interior materials are nice and soft touch--door, armrest, dash top, but the underdash/knee area and center console sides felt cheap and hard A few plugs for option switches on the left side of the dash

I assume so...there is no V8 badge on the rear.. Packed and ready to go, should be about a 5 hr drive across the void over to Ontario if I get out of Phoenix by 3...

Picked up my weekend drive at Enterprise a few min ago. This was there 'CTS or equivalent' luxury car. Silver, black interior w/ shiny black wood. Decent so far....leaving for So Cal in a couple of hours...

This sounds like a story from the Onion, but it's real...can't make this stuff up.. http://www.autoweek.com/article/20131018/CARNEWS/131019764?utm_source=DailyDrive20131018&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=article2&utm_content=20131018-Spiders-spur-Toyota-Camry,-Venza-and-Avalon-recalls&utm_campaign=awdailydrive

The ones I've seen look cheesy...but I generally don't like anything not OEM.

I wouldn't rent an EV..they wouldn't be appropriate for my use cases.