Drew Dowdell

I'm actually going to go look at a new HHR this weekend. This thread inspired me to do so. Found a black 2LT with a 5-speed, leather, and roof where my friend Dominic works now.

I don't think every model needs a 2-door version, but I'm all in favor of more models with 2-doors. I think a sporty 2-door crossover is one that could work... and I think it's precisely why monstrosities like the X6 and ZDX have tanked so hard.

I too am hoping they do more than just a grill change on this one like they did ont the Full Size GMC. Just please no oversized cheap plastic grills. What vehicle today doesn't use a stock OEM plastic grille? Pretty much everything on the market under $75k comes with a plastic grille (I'm just making that up, just in case someone says that the XYZ Supercar priced at $100k comes with a metal or some other type of non-plastic grille ) I see a lot of Equinox/Traverse in the Chevy Colorado replacement truck, which is fine because it meshes well as a "family". On that note, let's hope that the GMC version (I'm hoping for the revival of "Sonoma" over the re-use of "Canyon" btw) takes after the Terrain and Sierra HD (and the Sierra HD All Terrain Concept) for its boxier, professional grade style. As a service to SMK, I walked around the NYC auto show last year and poked my finger in the grill of every high end are I could. There wasn't a car under $150k that had a metal grill. My bet is that Rolls my be the lone marque with that spec (Rolls wouldn't let me poke their grill) This came about because SMK was complaining about the "cheap plastic grill" on the CTS-V while gushing about the look of whatever Jaguar he was humping that week..... yeah, the Jaguar has the same chrome plastic you can get in an Ertl kit.

What about an HHR then. Manual, utility, fuel economy, GM, good zip around town, and you can get them cheap.

What's funny is I remember seeing Sprinters badged as Mercs at least 6-7 years ago or more, so some owners must have been rebadging them.. but I already knew they were Mercs since I'd seen them in Europe when across the pond.. They were sold as Benz in Mexico since the beginning of time.

Actually, the Sprinter was marketed solely as a Freightliner in the US until 2003 when Dodge gained access to them as well. Mercedes badging didn't start until 2008 and even then only on the "limo" models. It wasn't until the Dodge version was canceled with the severing of the Chrysler-MB link that Mercedes expand their branding to the entire line. So no there wasn't "general knowledge" that it was a Mercedes. If anything people though of them as Freightliners. but you're not all that savvy about cars... so I wouldn't expect you to know that.

right... cause the $10k price premium to start really hurt the Sprinter.

How about we wait till they actually go on market with pricing and options before deciding if they will sell. Again, Dodge moved 12,000 $30,000+ Sprinters in 2008.... that isn't a high hurdle to cross if pricing is better on the Ducato (as I suspect it will be). All Ram has to do is offer it as a diesel at the same base price as the gasoline Chevy and Ford, and it will have a compelling reason to exist in the market.

That's what their websites said. Only 17" size available is a Michelin ice & snow tire. If I had the 18" tires of the GT/GXP, then they have my size available. Uh.... I'm coming up with 16 tires for the 17" G6 on Costco's website. http://tires2.costco...f1-b5b1cc265de0 Shows just one for 225/50-17... what am I doing wrong compared to you? Go by tire size... not by Model/Year... For some reason they only show snow tires for 2008 Pontiac G6. If you flip it to 2007 (the exact same tire size), you get the 16 variants I mentioned. You should always search for tires by the recommended size and NOT the Year/Model method. You don't know if their database is exactly correct.... but a 225/50-17 will fit a 225/50-17 every time.

That's what their websites said. Only 17" size available is a Michelin ice & snow tire. If I had the 18" tires of the GT/GXP, then they have my size available. Uh.... I'm coming up with 16 tires for the 17" G6 on Costco's website.

FWIW Ram Trademan - 5.7-liter V8 with 390 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque / five-speed automatic transmission. Starting at $22,780 But I agree there is room for good compact trucks. Problem is most aren't good and aren't cheap either, as they end up running into full size pricing. As they should.... but a standard cab 4x2 full size isn't going to be the same kind of truck that a crew cab 4x4 with leather, heated seats, roof etc mid-size is going to be for the same price. That's fine, but consider the Dakota: Ram 1500 msrp* starting at $20,810 Dakota msrp* starting at $23,110 Dakota Laramie Starting at $33,535 Dodge Ram Sport Starting at $32,355 but with intensives: $30,740 and if I'm reading the incentives correctly, a Laramie can be had for $36,880 Dakota seems to be a different animal since it's the largest of the mid-sizers. I am looking more at the Ranger, Colorado, Tacomoa and Frontier which all start in the $16k - $17k range.

How is the build quality on the Kizashi? They seem very well put together on the show floor, but that isn't always the best place to judge something like that because they could have been gone over. The XL7's interior looks great in photographs but then the build quality has been horrid in person the few times I've been in one.

FWIW Ram Trademan - 5.7-liter V8 with 390 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque / five-speed automatic transmission. Starting at $22,780 But I agree there is room for good compact trucks. Problem is most aren't good and aren't cheap either, as they end up running into full size pricing. As they should.... but a standard cab 4x2 full size isn't going to be the same kind of truck that a crew cab 4x4 with leather, heated seats, roof etc mid-size is going to be for the same price.

I was going by the current pricing listed for 2011.... but yeah.. Remember guys, that's still a no frills other than the hemi.

All the new ones here are Freightliner now.

and Freightliner

I'm thinking that the $35k base price for the Sprinter... a full $10k more than a new base Savanna.. has more to do with the Sprinter's limited adoption rates by contractors than any "perceived manliness issue"

Cool... let me know. I have my finger on the ban button.

A Silverado 1500 4x2 regular cab that isn't a stripped out Work Truck bases at $27,9.... for the V6. A Ford F-150 4x2 regular cab that isn't a stripped out work truck bases at $26,5 for an admittedly much better V6 A Ram 1500.... well you get the picture... is $26k but has a 4.7 liter V8. Even after discounts, there is room under those trucks for a mid-size pickup starting at $17,7k like the Colorado does today.

Im not saying you can't, but there is a big up charge for a Duramax or PowerStroke. Neither are full economy minded either but are all about power.

Sync sounds great on paper.... it's less functional in real life. It has a hard time understanding me... and those of you who've met me know I speac vewy cweeerly.

No tires available for a G6?

Gosh... we spent less than $500 installed on a set of 4 Michelins at Costco for the CRV. I'll spend less than $600 on a set of custom width wide whites for the Toronado.

Seriously, it's a box.

It is an indicator of it's abilities. If the Ducato provides for better fuel economy and/or better ride and/or a good out the door price.... it will sell. It's not just another Econoline... and that's it's advantage. Lots of "ifs" in there. It will be the comparison to Sprinter that will tell the tale. If it can do any one of them, it will have a leg up on the market. The Econoline rides rough. Even an Express is a luxury cruiser compared to the Ford. The Econoline's best available fuel economy is about 12 city/17 highway because you can't get the V6 anymore. The Ducato gets up to 32mpg highway in it's most basic form with a diesel and 5-speed. Even if that were to drop to 25mpg with an automatic, that's a BIG difference over the Ford or GM counterparts. Base MSRP for the Econoline is $26,055. The cheapest GMC Savanna is $25,600 with the weezy 4.3 V6. You can't even TOUCH a Freightliner Sprinter for less than $35,000. There is room in the market for the Ducato. Get it in around $27k with the diesel as the base engine and they'll sell every one they can import.