Robert Hall

And why not...a $40k car should have an interior worthy of a $40k car, not the interior of a $25k car.. horsepower has no relationship to interior quality and content. 425 hp doesn't mean much when it weighs 4100 lbs... I'd like to see a road test comparison between the Challenger and a 335i, for example... I really want to like the Challenger...I like the styling overall, but if it were my money, for $40-45k or more, I don't think I could justify one over a 335i coupe..the BMW would be way nicer inside to live with day-in day-out and a much more enjoyable drive (better overall performance).

But in reality, with dealer 'market adjustment', it will probably be north of $50k...

I do like the interior, though....the exterior isn't impressive, but Acura does know how to do nice interiors......

Not exactly..the Omni and Rabbit had a similar shape, but didn't share a platform or body panels... (though I think some of the early Omnis had VW engines?).

The problem is that a lot of Chrysler's $25k car interiors look like they came from a $15k car.... they aren't even price point competitive at $25k, let alone $40k.

Yes....lots of fun... IIRC, I've driven on 3 different roads named Rollercoaster Road--one near Colorado Springs (Black Forest), one outside Ann Arbor, MI and one in eastern Ohio...I love that type of road...rolling hills and curves..

Interesting...and that 300hp V6 would be the 3.6 DI like in the CTS? Very interesting...I figured they would cheaparse the Camaro with one of the old pushrod V6s..

Toyota has too many overlapping small cars, IMHO...

This could make an interesting choice for the Post Office...replace the Windstars eventually.

Strange name..Routan. Fits with Sharan, Tiguan, and Touran, though, I guess..(is this going to be an NA-only model?)

Yes...nothing more depressing than an all flat gray interior, IMHO...I couldn't imagine driving it once, let alone day after day, year after year.. I wonder how the quality of materials are...my big frustration with Chrysler products in recent years is they have had materials in $40k cars that look worse and feel cheaper than a $15k Hyundai interior... they need price point-appropriate interiors!!!!

I wonder if they will make the NG Equinox smaller and cheaper..it's a bit big for the compact SUV class, I think..

Yeah, I'm guilty too, I know...I can be obsessed with RWD and interior materials and features..

Hmmm..I used to live on the far west side, though I'm not sure if Ann Arbor qualifies as a Detroit suburb...

True...30k is entry level, IMHO.... that's the starting point for pretty much any vehicle I'm interested in. Overall, I like the Mustang interior..some of the plastics are hard and cheap feeling, but since the V6 model is sub-20k, that's understandable...(though I'd like to see higher quality materials in the GT and Shelby versions, i.e. price point-appropriate materials).... Overall, though, the equipment/option list on the GT is decent for the price point...

Some interesting details...unusual that the grille badge reads SRT instead of SRT8 like it does on other SRT models.. the bumpers seem very thick/tall... I like the wheel design compared to the concept. I'd like to see one in white.

Yes...it's the endless, repetitive harping...no B-pillar--waahh... FWD sucks... BOF.....waah...waaah... it justs get really, really, old. I just wish he would contribute something meaningful and new to the conversations, rather than the same old, same old..

True, if my GC were an SRT8 instead of a Laredo, it would be well over 40k...I think what I was saying is the level of equipment and options needs to be appropriate for the price points....

Yeah....I HATE HATE HATE solid gray interiors... I'd love to see a black and red 2-tone interior w/ a gray exterior...my favorite Mustang GT color scheme. The original Challenger had some neat interior color choices--blue, green, black and white 2-tone, etc...I know 1970 color schemes probably won't fly today, but it needs more than infinite depression gray...

I'm not talking 'plush opulent' interiors...all the features I mentioned are in my $30k Jeep, just basic, modern features...

Nice...I like the Malibu-inspired dash....the taillights are neat, not at all what I expected. Looks like all the sheetmetal (except roof) is unique. GM has done a really good job differentiating the design of each Lambda overall, IMHO.

Heh-heh.. I've driven a few '60s muscle cars..they tend to be pretty damn basic inside...my '69 Mach 1 has a black vinyl interior, manual seats with fixed seat backs, am radio, manual windows, and a giant, non-adjustable steering wheel. Fast in a straight line, but nothing pleasant inside for the daily commute. This is 2008..I want a modern muscle car with actual handling, power, and with modern conveniences---10 way heated power seats, iPod jack, 6-disc CD player, power windows, heated power mirrors, automatic headlights, etc...-- all the modern, basic features I'd expect in a $30-40k car...

Well, the MB starts around $50k. Could GM really build a $19k-30k 2dr ht? And it would add weight compared to the Camaro coupe..the coupe would weight as much as the convertible probably (which lacks the b-pillar). I think hardtops are great...I've driven vintage ones. But I don't think most car buyers today care...with air conditioning, rarely ever drive with the windows down. Nothing wrong with dreaming, but reality is another thing... in the real world, companies have to compromise... this isn't spare-no-expense Porsche or Mercedes, this is meat-and-potatoes and bean counters GM we are talking about.. Repeating your rant about B-pillars over and over and over and over again isn't going to make it happen..

I caucused...interesting experience, to say the least...

The Mustang Shelby GT500 has the same problem---$20k car interior with a $40k price tag...they upgrade the performance and price tag, but leave the interior at the entry price point..