Robert Hall

Ford and Chrysler for mainstream, Mercedes and Porsche for premium.

That's an advantage to buying in a one-plate state. All the states should be one plate. Would be nice. Alas, there are more states that are 2 (apparently 19 states are one only)...and of the states I'm likely to move to, only one is 1 plate. All the cars I've had over the years have been from two plate states, though I live in a one plate state now. I've kept the front bracket and had a college plate for a while there and now a motorsport series plate there. As far as plate integration, I like what GM did with the Corvette for a generation or two--the front license pocket that had a cover for 1 plate state usage.

They already have Theta, Theta-Epsilon, Lambda for CUVs. You thinking about a wagon-like CUV, something like the Venza, Crosstour, or Freestyle/Taurus X?

Since the Malibu is going to be a global model, it wouldn't surprise me if there isn't a 5dr or wagon variant outside NA in the next year or two...

By the way, I noticed yesterday Johnny Lightning now has an '80 Citation hatchback in beige and tan 2 tone.

surround sound

I like the design overall..clean, clearly a BMW and similar to the 5 series. I don't like the tabs on the outside edges of the grilles that link to the headlight clusters--seems forced and artificial.

No ATS convertible?? Weak.

A coupe based on Epsilon II with it's own identity separate from the Malibu (i.e. Monte Carlo) could be interesting.

RRIV Rennsport Reunion IV link

Sounds interesting...good luck if your a dad again, dude...Happy for ya! I'd love to have had your weekend...but Arizona rates next to Texas as a place that can pretty much secede from the US anytime it wants. NOT a fan of Arizona in any way, shape, or form. Neither am I...working on a plan to escape. I'll post some pics and a link to my pics in the Porsche section tonight.

That's pretty cool.

My weekend wasn't bad at all. Friday night, went to airport. Got upgrade to first class. Flew to San Jose. Picked up nice comfortable rental car (Chrysler 300). Drove about an hour and a half on bumpy Cali freeways and nice backroads to hotel. Spent the weekend at a great race track (Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway) looking at and listening to hundreds of Porsche race cars and street cars. Talked w/ some fans and owners, met Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. Saw some racing. Listened to presentations by retired race drivers and engineers. Ate well. Drank German beer. Bought some merch. Took a ride in a Cayman. Got to see some beautiful coastline and scenery in Monterey area. Flew back home last night. Got upgrade to first class again. Dozed on the plane. Back at work in cubeland in hot Arizona today.

Definitely looks like a wagon...too low for a CUV.

That's an advantage to buying in a one-plate state.

From behind, the taillights of the new one reminds me of the Camry from a couple generations back..

Well, about half as many... Ohio + Indiana is only about 17.9M, Cali is 36M. I suspect between Cali, Oregon and Washington, Honda sells a lot more cars there than in the Midwest...

Happy belated Birthday, WMJ.

Happy Birthday, BK!

One thing I don't like about many front ends, not just from GM, is that it seems no thought is paid to how it looks with a license plate...many cars look worse w/ the plate (the Solstice was a great recent example)...no integration.

Had a silver w/ charcoal cloth interior rental 300 this past weekend...very smooth, quiet and pleasant to drive around the San Jose/Monterey CA area. Had a favorable impression overall (other than I set off the alarm from inside a couple times and it seemed like the seat heater was on, though I don't think it had a seat heater).

The West Coast dealers have the highest volume for Civics, maybe?

Interesting. Not enough buyers find the new appliance sufficiently different from the old appliance?

The Aveo was outdated and uncompetitive in the market. The Sonic seems to be more competitive and up to date, and the Spark goes for the entry level market below the Sonic.

Nothing wrong with it..it's a strong family styling cue across multiple models. It's more distinctive that the trapazoidal grille that is common at many brands.