Drew Dowdell

Well first things first: They fixed the ginormous speedometer and tach needles that were so thick you couldn't see what speed you were going very precisely: 2011 version: 2012 version:

in case you hadn't seen, they sent a 45th Anniversary Edition Camaro hard top instead of a convertible. But still... an SS Manual

Interactive Review: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS - 45th Anniversary Edition Joining us this for a review is the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS 45th Anniversary Edition. 2012 marks 45 years of Chevy Camaro, and to celebrate, Chevy is offering the 2LT and 2SS with unique hood and decklid stripes in red and gray that contrast with the Carbon Flash Metallic paint, as well as badges located beneath the front fender emblems. Deep silver foglamp and taillamp bezels and 20-inch wheels. The interior has the 45th Anniversary logo on the Jet Black, leather-appointed seats, steering wheel and sill plates, and red, white and blue stitching on the seats, steering wheel, shift knob. For our part, we'll be putting this SS to the test with some good long distance driving. It will be going with us to the AACA Show in Hershey PA on Saturday, October 8th. On Sunday October 9th, we will be visiting the East Broad Top Railroad, and then Wednesday, October 12th, I am returning the SS to GM's fleet office in New Jersey where I exchange it for a Cruze Eco to go with me the rest of the way to Connecticut. So, there will be lots of seat time and opportunity for other C&Gers to check out the car.

Which brings me right back to my point that synthetic oil changes do not EVER cost $90 at Cadillac.

Well what is Benz going to do once the A-class comes to the states? That's a $24k car... Cruze territory. The 1-series is 27k. That is Verano territory. You can't be having $90 oil changes in those classes. There are plenty of people who can afford a $90 oil change and can afford a car in the CTS/C-class/3-series price range yet do not want to pay $90 for an oil change. My grandmother is a perfect example of someone like this. She had the 7-series twice because she always wanted a BMW. There are absolutely no money worries for her and the amount she drives means an oil change once a year. But despite her ability to pay she resented the excessive costs of maintenance for the car (on top of also being a lemon, twice) After two 7-series, she went back to Buick but not because she couldn't afford another 7-series. Her Park Aves never let her down and now she has a loaded Lacrosse.

I'd like to have something like Jalop's "nice price or crackpipe" thing they do on oddball cars found for sale, but we need a different title. Anyone have ideas?

You just described every Hyundai ever... yes even the Equus.

Oh come on, even I can do a timing chain on a north/south chevy pushrod....

Tomorrow evening.

I may be there a little earlier than planned

Disagree. There are plenty of people who step into a 3-series or a C-class because they are reasonably well off DINKs but are still careful about money. My friend with the C-class is an exact example of this. After his first oil change at the dealer costing him $90, he had already sworn off Mercedes after his first and only one. There is no such thing as non-synthetic Dexos 2 oil. Before you say "it's a coupon"..... it's a perma-coupon. That special has been running forever. I do not disagree, but right there on the main coupon body it says: Also if an Owner's manual does not say synthetic is "required" then the dealer may not honor the form if you ask your car to have synthetic oil. Aren't all GM vehicles Dexos2 required now?

There was no Passat sedan in production for U.S. consumption at this time last year, they were selling the leftovers. CC was the only large sedan they had available at the time.

LIKE i just remember back when people were appalled at the 2008 redo, ford continued to sell that car like gangbusters despite that it was not the euro version. now we have the euro version, its new, it's loaded, and its also overpriced and not selling. It's not hard to sell a car like the previous gen Focus when it can be found for $12,999 with A/C, Power windows, power door locks..... Supply issues for the Focus are one thing, but look at how wacked the market is right now. Ford, Chevy, Honda, and Hyundai come out with new compacts all at the same time, Chevy and Hyundai takes the top sales spots while Ford and Honda struggle.

Fuel pump Fuel injector

and it's RWD... you can't refuse a RWD car based truck!!!!

I'm pretty sure most Cadillac dealers charge $100+ for oil service. Synthetic oil ain't cheap. Luxury cars are inherently more expensive to maintain. Thankfully there are independent specialists that charge more reasonable rates. Nope. $29.95 for GM spec synthetic and they even rotate your tires for you. I beg to differ. It is 59.95 for synthetic with tire rotation. 29.95 is regular oil change. http://www.mycertifiedservice.com/auto-service-offers/ There is no such thing as non-synthetic Dexos 2 oil. Before you say "it's a coupon"..... it's a perma-coupon. That special has been running forever.

I'm pretty sure most Cadillac dealers charge $100+ for oil service. Synthetic oil ain't cheap. Luxury cars are inherently more expensive to maintain. Thankfully there are independent specialists that charge more reasonable rates. Nope. $29.95 for GM spec synthetic and they even rotate your tires for you.

all right hand drive

the styling, the interior styling (benz and bmw are too flat for my tastes), the fact that I can have a great handling, great looking luxury car without $90 oil changes after the standard maintenance is up

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SALES INCREASE 35.6 PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER September sales total 27,036 units, a 35.6 percent increase over prior year sales Year-to-date increase of 22.2 percent Chattanooga-built Passat launches with 3,176 units in first month of sales First retail sales of 2012 Beetle with 722 units sold 55.4 percent increase in Jetta Sedan sales vs. last year with 13,128 units GTI sales up 43.4 percent and Golf up 19.4 percent Touareg sales increase 104.4 percent vs. prior year Tiguan sales up 22.8 percent High-mileage, clean diesel TDI models account for 22.7 percent of sales HERNDON, Va. — Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VwoA) today reported 27,036 units sold in September 2011, a 35.6 percent increase over prior year sales. Year-to-date sales are up 22.2 percent. “We are continuing to see consumer interest in our German engineered vehicles grow as we launched the all-new Passat and Beetle in September,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “As we enter the last quarter of the year, we anticipate Volkswagen to continue to outperform the overall industry as we expand our product portfolio and make German Engineering accessible to a larger audience.” The all-new, 2012 Volkswagen Passat went on sale September 12 with 3,176 units sold for the month. The 2012 Beetle, also launched in September, sold 722 units during its first month of sales. Volkswagen Jetta sales (including Sport Wagen) totaled 15,023 units, a 39.5 percent increase over last year. GTI sales increased 43.4 percent while Golf sales rose 19.4 percent versus last year. Sport utility vehicles Touareg and Tiguan experienced 104.4 percent and 22.8 percent sales increases, respectively. Volkswagen’s high-mileage, clean diesel TDI models accounted for 22.7 percent of all September sales and 41 percent year-to-date. <table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="585"><tbody><tr> <td align="left">VW - US Snapshot</td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td align="center"> </td> <td colspan="3" align="center">YEAR TO DATE</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> <td align="center">Aug-11 Actual</td> <td align="center">Aug-10 Actual</td> <td align="center">Yr/Yr % Change</td> <td align="center">Aug-11 YTD Actual</td> <td align="center">Aug-10 YTD Actual</td> <td align="center">Yr/Yr % Change</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">Golf</td> <td align="right">1,312</td> <td align="right">1,099 </td> <td align="right">19.4%</td> <td align="right">13,854 </td> <td align="right">11,303 </td> <td align="right">22.6%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">GTI A5/A6</td> <td align="right">1,197 </td> <td align="right">835 </td> <td align="right">43.4%</td> <td align="right">13,188 </td> <td align="right">10,922 </td> <td align="right">20.7%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Total Rabbit/Golf/GTI/R32</td> <td align="right">2,509 </td> <td align="right">1,934 </td> <td align="right">29.7%</td> <td align="right">27,042 </td> <td align="right">22,225 </td> <td align="right">21.7%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">Jetta - Sedan A5/A6</td> <td align="right">13,128 </td> <td align="right">8,450 </td> <td align="right">55.4%</td> <td align="right">115.612 </td> <td align="right">67,991 </td> <td align="right">70.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">Jetta - SportWagen A5/A6</td> <td align="right">1,895 </td> <td align="right">2,319 </td> <td align="right">-18.3% </td> <td align="right">21,376 </td> <td align="right">19,116 </td> <td align="right">11.8%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Total Jetta</td> <td align="right">15,023 </td> <td align="right">10,769 </td> <td align="right">39.5%</td> <td align="right">136,988 </td> <td align="right">87,107 </td> <td align="right">57.3%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">New Beetle - Coupe</td> <td align="right">722</td> <td align="right">662 </td> <td align="right">9.1%</td> <td align="right">924</td> <td align="right">10,850 </td> <td align="right">91.5%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">New Beetle - Convertible</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">350</td> <td align="right">-99.7%</td> <td align="right">841</td> <td align="right">3,897 </td> <td align="right">78.4%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Total New Beetle</td> <td align="right">723</td> <td align="right">1,012 </td> <td align="right">-28.6%</td> <td align="right">1,765 </td> <td align="right">14,747 </td> <td align="right">88.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">Eos</td> <td align="right">558</td> <td align="right">521</td> <td align="right">7.1%</td> <td align="right">6,166 </td> <td align="right">5,709 </td> <td align="right">8.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">Passat - Sedan</td> <td align="right">3,176</td> <td align="right">572 </td> <td align="right">455.2%</td> <td align="right">4,837</td> <td align="right">9,212 </td> <td align="right">47.5%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">Passat - Wagon</td> <td align="right">-</td> <td align="right">150</td> <td align="right">-100%</td> <td align="right">56</td> <td align="right">2,144</td> <td align="right">97.4%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Total Passat</td> <td align="right">3,176</td> <td align="right">722 </td> <td align="right">339.9%</td> <td align="right">4,893</td> <td align="right">11,356 </td> <td align="right">56.9%</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>CC</td> <td align="right">1,610</td> <td align="right">2,132</td> <td align="right">-24.5%</td> <td align="right">23,329</td> <td align="right">20,893</td> <td align="right">11.7%</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Tiguan</td> <td align="right">1,628</td> <td align="right">1,326</td> <td align="right">22.8%</td> <td align="right">20,016 </td> <td align="right">15,282 </td> <td align="right">31.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Touareg</td> <td align="right">656</td> <td align="right">321</td> <td align="right">104.4%</td> <td align="right">4,853 </td> <td align="right">2,832 </td> <td align="right">71.4%</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Routan</td> <td align="right">1,153</td> <td align="right">1,206 </td> <td align="right">-4.4%</td> <td align="right">10,407 </td> <td align="right">12,539 </td> <td align="right">17.0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> <td align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">TOTAL</td> <td align="right">27,036</td> <td align="right">19,943</td> <td align="right">35.6%</td> <td align="right">235,459</td> <td align="right">192,690</td> <td align="right">22.2%</td></tr></tbody></table>