The O.C.

Good work. Couple of things......Sonata's NOT surprising to me. I see them everywhere in rental lots. I don't think anyone on here is going to say they are trying to hide the fact that Sonata sells big to rental fleets. The argument has always been that despite that fact, Sonata is a big improvement over any other recent Korean midsize sedan and a viable competitior for the other Japanese midsizers...and in some ways superior to some of GM's midsizers. W-body versus LX cars.......so DCX comes within 5K units of GM with a lineup of only two volume sedans versus GM with three volume sedans. (MC and Magnum are more niche-like.) Do you really think GM has a valid "bragging right" with your W-Body/LX argument?

NOpe LR3 was the worst......RR second-to-last.

You aren't looking? And most of the topics on here relate to GM...? For example.....I've been known for my outright disgust over the design of the new S-Class.....going way further than "nitpicking" on this car.

What's more striking is that the ancient Ranger is outselling the Colorado!!!!! <The O.C. ducking....awaiting the sure-to-come "add Chevy and GMC together" argument....>

I'd take the new LS ANY day over the (IMHO) BUTT-ugly S-class. I happen to think it's a beautiful car......inside and out.

It's a lease. Money-no-object (or less-of-an-object) I would have taken the 5-series. That being said, I'm quite thrilled with the CTS. The new testing methods refers to the EPA changing the way they test for their EPA numbers.....which has somewhat diminished their ratings compared to last year. (Hybrids are supposedly hurt much worse.) My first full tank of gas in the CTS netted me 17.5mpg.....with a mix of I'd say 65% freeway, 35% in-town driving. (In the exact same commute, I was averaging between 18-20 with my '06 Corvette.) The second tank, however, seems to be doing a bit better......

.....except that Toyota hits on the "engineering" and "execution" parts of the equation.......

.....would beat a cloth Aura with a pushrod 3.5L any day...... VW's new 2.0T engine is a true gem......

Where'd you get your 50% figure? Can you please post other makes for comparison? What's Impala? What's 500? What's Camry? Thanks.....

Uh.....read it again.... If I remember correctly, the dealer was quoted as getting "within $500 of window sticker" not "invoice"

I'll have to wait to see what the 4-door we'll get will look like in profile.....otherwise I LOVE the "cute" factor the new Corolla is presenting at least in the front third of the car. It's kindof a "grown-up" Yaris.

Yeah and it was also just rated as THE least-reliable new car available in the U.S. I forget what the study was....but I saw it on msn.com......LR3 was the worst and the Range Rover was second to last....(which my friend that owns one can attest to.)

I quite like it....! I don't like it enough to buy it over the new X5 or even the Edge/MKX.....but I think it's unique, adventurous, and it does have a stunning interior.

I think the Aspen is quite an attractive looking big 'ute. Should compete with GMC Denali quite well when equipped with the HEMI.

More likely it's due to the new SAE standards for rating horsepower.

Absolutely Good summation Turbo......

The cell-phone navigation thing is COOL...! I was travelling with a co-worker and it rocked.....and it even displayed a map in the cell phone screen in case you wanted to refer to that. Also, I think people actually LIKE having a navigation screen in the dash of their car. People are visual....and like being able to look at a visual depiction of where they are going....along with the voice directions. I'm not big on this OnStar navigation program.....

GM's spoiler-type sunroof does save headroom......however, EVERY single one I've been in roars quite loudly in the fully-open position at freeway speeds. I'm sure it's because with the spoiler-type, it's opening up directly into the rushing airflow. I much prefer the "normal" slide-back design that is quite a bit quieter at speed when fully open.

:rotflmao: Oh lord......

A leaking sunroof is the LAST thing I worry about nowadays....no matter what kind of car I'm in. I can't remember the last time any one of my cars with sunroofs even leaked in a high-pressure power car wash. Wind noise with it closed is nonexistent as well. I think the technology has dramatically improved with sunroofs over, say, the last 20-30 years. I can remember my 1984 Skylark T-Type with a "pop-up" sunroof that whistled at speed and would drip water in heavy rain or car washes.... Seems you used to have to put up with some compromises....but not any more.

I think all auto-up windows have pinch-guard. It seems like the (dirty word) competitors in the CTS' segment all have auto up-and-down on all four windows. It's GM's overly-conservative lawyers that are keeping some of those things the way they are on GM products.

Got the car last night.......and what a hell of a vehicle...! WOW....! I never imagined how Lexus-like this car has now become......(and I say that in a good way.) The ride quality is incredible and yet the chassis is so solid, it handles quite crisply. This car is NOT a BMW......it's still a bit too soft.....even with the 18-inch sport/performance package......but actually the ride-and-handling compromise really suits this car perfectly. While it's soft, it's in no way floaty or wallowy. I actually quite like it.....because the ride is soft, but the structure is REALLY stout. Combine the ride-and-handling with the performance brakes (that have a nice, firm pedal feel) and the performance steering gear (another nice touch) and you have a superb package that mimics Lexus-like isolation with BMW-like handling and response. The 3.6L is VERY refined and has an expensive, import-like sound and feel to it. This engine is a PRIME example of why I feel that GM's pushrod V6 engines have lived well past their time..... The 6-speed manual is a dream to shift with extremely light and short throws and a clutch that's absolutely fool-proof to modulate. This is the way a manual transmission in a luxury car should operate. LOVE the dial-switch sunroof control. Bose system sounds INCREDIBLE. Only true negatives are the absolutely stupid pedal-operated parking brake and the power windows that are auto up and down in front (good) but ONLY auto down in back (lord....let's just make them ALL auto up and down for heavens' sake.) Also, I agree with the buff mags about the GM-generic tilt steering wheel. First of all, the wheel is a bit big, and there are not enough detents for a comfortable setting. In one case, the wheel is too low and touches my thights. In the next setting up, it's too high for me (I like it lower instead of higher.) And the lack of a telescoping feature is missed too because the wheel does stick out quite a bit far. Here's to a long-lasting and enjoyable relationship! I'm going to try to get some cool photos of the car WITH my C6 together and I'll try to get those posted soon.

I have a total buzz cut.....but I still go to this gal to have her cut it. Crazy, I know.....but she also trims and cleans up my eyebrows.....she gives me a 15-minute head massage each time.....and.... ....the place is called "Shampoo Cocktails." They give you a free glass of wine, champagne, or mimosa every time you come in to get your hair cut. How's THAT...?

I wanted a 5-series......but the payment for a loaded 530i was going to be ~ $250/month more than the CTS.....and I wasn't ready to foot that kind of payment. Cost be no object, I would have paid it and gotten the 5-series. But not at this time. I would have gotten a loaded 330i, but seems to be the favorite "chick-mobile" of southern California right now. The CTS is more of an "edgy" decision.....a bit more rare.....and it's still a great car.

Did it REALLY sell well though? How are the Rendezvous sales numbers compared to other crossover vehicles in ~ the same price range? ....or did it just sell well for a Buick? I'd love to see the numbers.......