Drew Dowdell

This is where I'll point out that Commodore has not been in the US market.

I'm tired of google invading every part of our lives. Just stick to being a search engine company and stop documenting my every move so you can blast me with advertising.

Nobody liked the styling in the US either. (though the Sable wasn't as bad)

I don't like either of them in standard cab. they look too stumpy.

While that may be true, I can't imagine someone buying a Captiva 3.0 LTZ AWD for $31k as a company vehicle.... and yes, those are available.

It is "new car" with a "name not currently" in the "North American" "Chevrolet brand" lots of wiggle room there. It also kinda goes with Malibu.

I'm referring to WMJ's point 3

wrong side of OH, otherwise I'd join you.

I can think of about 100 other fun fix-up cars that will be 100 times less frustrating than an Opel GT.

Can you buy a Captiva retail now?

agreed. it's ok to have opinions, just be able to back them up.

I wonder if part of it is improved feel of manual transmissions in smaller cars. I used to hate driving Civic or Acura 4-cylinders with manual transmissions, but the Cruze and Sonic 6-speeds are about the nicest to drive manuals I've ever been behind.

I think it is fine to editorialize, just have the facts to back up your opinions.

Finding a dealer to service my car is getting hard these days. I always let my Cadillac dealer service my CTS. Oil changes weren't very expensive and they even would pick the car up from my office for me. The oil life monitor was on a 10k schedule it seemed, so $65 once every 12 months for a full synth oil change wasn't unreasonable.

Well....at least it's a manual?

There are more in the class than that.

The 318 hatch is a decent little runabout as long as you're not expecting to win any races. Better than driving a Civic...

The mid range trim BMW and Mercs seem to be the most common. Then again, a lot of 3-series are sold with vinyl seats.

All dealers are like that in pricing. I never had any out of warranty work done there, so I don't know if their service prices are high or not. I went to that place because I was treated like crap at the fancy new Cadillac store in Monroeville at the time. To be fair, you also have an oddball car to work on.

SMK, you've driven the 2.5 liter ATS? Can you share your impressions of it? The numbers are class competitive with the other base engines out there, so I'm curious what the issue is.

If Fiat is smart, they'll bring the diesel 500 over. That said, why a mini-Opel if Chevrolet is here in the EU to sell to the low end with the Spark?

All of these were spotted on the streets of Cologne just today (Saturday) First up, an Opel Kapitan being used as a wedding car. Then we spotted this Citroen SM in the city center. Those of you who haven't seen him before, can see my Albert waiting patiently in the background of one of the pictures for his car-freak partner to finish taking pics. And then this 1938 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe later on in city center: Also spotted but not photographed was an Audi R8, Nissan Skyline (RHD)

+1 but I will add that there are lots of Cadillac dealerships still out there that need to be bulldozed and rebuilt to today's standards rather than being stuck in 1978 like so many are. The dealer SMK and I both have dealt with has superb service, but highly dated dealership.

Base price, I think you are entirely correct.