Robert Hall

We are surrounded by chaos. Madness is everywhere.

I like Japanese beers, sushi, teryaki, etc. I've liked Japanese consumer electronics for decades--heck, my last 3 TVs have been Japanese (Sony, Toshiba, Sony), had a Toshiba laptop (ruined by Vista inside), and my home theatre gear is mostly Japanese (Sony, Yamaha). But I prefer Apple for my MP3 player and newest laptop. Not a big fan of Japanese cars in general--too many FWD models, but I definitely understand their success and appeal in the US.

I'm sure GM will be selling the Volt for a loss... I can't imagine people lining up to spend $40k for a Chevy economy car.

Yes...it looks like the battery pack stations will be a reality in Denmark and Israel in the near term, given what I've read about Renault-Nissan and Better Place's efforts. When they will appear in the US is another story, but I'm sure it will be either in the LA or San Francisco area or both first..that's where the cutting edge and innovative technology usually pops up first, like the Tesla...

Riiiight..I'll believe the Volt is for real when it's in the dealers..

I can say the same thing about the Cobalt, it's near the bottom of GM's range, only the Aveo is lower in appeal.

Yes, there is a lot going for the Prius..I can't see myself in one, but they are very appealing from a technical perspective, very modern rather than the same old, same old. Plus, it's real, been around for nearly a decade in the US now, a lot more than unfortunately GM's Volt, which is just vaporware at this point.. if GM had been innovative and introduced something like this in '99, recent history for GM could have been quite different...and the GM fanboys would have been eating it up.

The first person I knew that bought a Prius was back in 2000, my friend and the CTO of an ill-fated startup we worked at, bought it because it was the most high tech and geeky (his words) car he could find. He's still got it, along with a 2nd gen model and an RX hybrid for the family now. I remember driving his a few times and thinking how spooky it was to roll up to a light, hear no sound, then pull away.

Yeah, I'd love to see it.. so they can go toe-to-toe with the Shelby and SRT8. Like the CTS-v and Z-R1, high end speciality models may not be high volume, but they are great for the company's image...

True...not likely to see production in the near future, I meant.

Yes..they are pretty mainstream these days. My CPA and my chiropractor both drive 'em.

I've had a mix of 2dr coupes, 2dr SUVs, 4dr SUVs, 4dr sedans, and 3- and 5-dr hatchbacks over the years. All have their pluses and minuses. I prefer having a 4dr sedan or 4dr SUV for a daily driver, just easier to get in and out of in a parking garage or lot, easier to haul people and dogs around when I need to... but I will always have coupes for fun.

Yes, I know Prius drivers that are normal computer engineers, consultants, DBAs, teachers, etc. Even a CTO. You live in a small town in rural PA, don't you? It's different out here in suburbs of the West....the Prius is very mainstream in my world.

You are full of it... I personally know plenty of normal people driving them. The car has its merits, great gas mileage and it's clean.

Good review...I'd like to see a comparo between the '10 Shelby GT500, Challenger SRT8, and Camaro SS (since the Z-28 is mythical at this point). As far as these 3, I'm going to have to check out all three...they all have qualities that appeal to me..it would be tough for me to pick one.

Hardly. And remember, it's the geeks that rule these days. Anyway, if you want to stereotype, I'm sure there are plenty for Cobalt drivers...

That's cool...I had a 30gb hd and a 120gb out of dead computers that I put into an external HD enclosure to try and recover the data, but the computer I hooked it to never could see them...the old drives must have been damaged.

I think they have sold very few of them...it was a pointless diversion, IMHO.

Part of the problem with GM and hybrids also is that they f*cked around with nonsense like fullsize truck and SUV mild hybrids...woo hoo--huge letters on the side of $50k 6000lb trucks and SUVs that barely got more mileage than the regular ones...pointless. The Volt could have been to market sooner if they hadn't wasted time, money and resources on this nonsense.

Slick....I see a bit of Aston Martin and Maserati in the nose, nice profile. Wasn't Henrik Fisker involved in the design of this car at one point (and that led to a lawsuit, IIRC). Is this car RWD? It looks it judging by the proportions..the article said AWD available. Future cool..

Yeah, and the Prius has buyer demographics any car maker would envy..besides celebs and assorted environmentalists, it has a lot of interest from people in my world--well educated, well paid computer professionals.. I know a lot of people that bought Priuses for the high tech angle. It will be interesting to see if the Insight and Volt gain traction with this market as well..

They remind me a lot of the scoops on the last 2nd gen Firebird Formulas--

I don't like it in white, and the rear bumper is very cheesy....looking forward to seeing it person, though.

I don't see the connection to the Aztek..the scoops clearly reference the '71-72 GTO, '69 Trans Am, '70s Firebird Formulas, etc.

Wierd that you are getting so much tire rot, Michigan is not exactly a dry, sunny place...I thought tire rot was more of a desert thing...