Drew Dowdell

Malibu has contrast piping, Fusion and Milan have contrast stitching, so I wouldn't call the Passat doing it market leading. Is the Passat still using that rotary control for the sunroof that GM was using way back on the '97 Catera? Again, I'm not bashing the Passat. I'm just not seeing the breakaway market leader you are.

Considering it was done 4 years ago.... Fancy colors only take you so far. It's the material quality that finishes the job. The Passat certainly looks like it could have both.

The only mid-size I'd rate substantially higher in design is the Lacrosse. I didn't sit in the Passat, so I cannot comment on the material quality. But the Lacrosse has a couple of misses on the material sheet, so it may be a wash.

It's the same damn car with the Euro Civic SI nose!

Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible to Pace Indianapolis 500 New Camaro SS convertible in white with orange stripes and orange leather-trimmed interior evokes classic 1969 Camaro pace car model One of the 50 Festival Committee cars will be auctioned for charity at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction on Jan. 22 2011 is the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500 DETROIT – A special-edition Chevrolet Camaro Convertible will serve as the official pace car of the 2011 Indianapolis 500. Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials made the announcement at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale classic auto auction, where a bidder will have the opportunity to purchase the first of 50 Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee cars. The 2011 Camaro Convertible is the 22nd Chevrolet chosen to pace “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing®” and the seventh Camaro. Adding to the rich heritage is the fact that 2011 will mark the 100th anniversary of the first Indianapolis 500, as well as the centennial year of Chevrolet. Chevrolet will donate full proceeds of the auction to the David Foster Foundation, a charity devoted to supporting families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants. David Foster, the 15-time Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter, founded the organization in his native Canada. The pace car, along with the matching festival cars, features a Summit White exterior accented with orange stripes and door graphics. The interior is trimmed in orange leather, including front seat headrests embossed with the Indy 500 logo, along with white door panels and instrument panel trim. The instrument panel trim features extensions of the orange exterior stripes. The color combination is similar to the design used on the 1969 Camaro Indy pace car – replicas of which have become among the most popular Camaros in the collector world. “It's an honor for Chevrolet to pace the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, especially during this landmark year,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “This is also a great opportunity for us to build on Camaro’s strong momentum, while supporting an important charity.” The auction for the commemorative edition pace car takes place Saturday evening, Jan. 22, during SPEED’s live coverage of the Barrett-Jackson event. The vehicle carries lot number 1284 and bids can be submitted at the auction in person or online by clicking this link for a 2011 absentee bidder registration packet: “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Chevrolet name have long been associated with one another beginning with Arthur, Louis and Gaston Chevrolet’s participation as competitors in the Indianapolis 500,” said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and CEO Jeff Belskus. “It is fitting in this 100th year for both brands that we reinforce that relationship through this year’s Camaro pace car, which resembles what many argue is the most famous pace car in IMS history, the 1969 Camaro. We are looking forward to seeing this car on track, pacing the greatest 33 drivers in the world on May 29.” Pace car details Equipped with a 400-horsepower (298 kW) V-8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, the actual pace car for the race requires no performance modifications to perform its duty in front of the racing field. All 50 of the Festival Committees cars will be SS convertible models fitted with the 2SS equipment package, offering the following standard features: Four-wheel disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers and hydraulic assist StabiliTrak electronic stability control Competitive/sport mode that enhances on-track performance Performance Launch Control (with the manual transmission) that optimizes hard-acceleration launches for quicker, more consistent performance Twenty-inch polished aluminum wheels and performance tires Head-up instrument display Center console with auxiliary gauge package. Along with the 2SS equipment, the cars feature the RS package, which includes HID headlamps and unique tail lamps. Convertible refinement The Camaro Convertible delivers coupe-like driving dynamics, with the unmatched fun of open air driving. The Convertible model contains an enhanced structure designed to eliminate the traditional compromises of open cars, such as cowl or steering wheel shake. The goal is a convertible that drives like the coupe. All the powertrain and suspension elements of the existing Camaro Coupe carry over unchanged in the convertible. The top has a smooth, tailored fit, with acoustical foam in the headliner that helps deliver a quiet ride with the top up. Four strategic reinforcements enhance the already-stiff body structure to eliminate common convertible maladies of cowl and steering wheel shake. They include: A tower-to-tower brace under the hood A transmission support reinforcement brace Underbody tunnel brace Front and rear underbody “V” braces. The power-folding top retracts in about 20 seconds. It is built in partnership with the same manufacturer as the Corvette convertible top, and operates in a similar manner. That means it folds in a simple “Z” pattern and latches with a single, convenient handle located at the center of the windshield header. Other convertible models in this segment still offer convertible tops with dual latches, forcing drivers into two-hand operations reaching across the car. The regular-production versions of the 2011 Camaro Convertible will begin arriving in Chevrolet dealerships in February, opening a new chapter in the Camaro’s ongoing 21st century rebirth. Even before the introduction of a convertible model, Camaro ended 2010 as the sales leader in its class in the United States for the first time since 1985. Chevrolet’s pace car heritage Louis Chevrolet, who founded the brand with William “Billy” Durant in 1911, was a racer, mechanic and pioneering engineer. He raced in the early years of the Indianapolis 500, which also started in 1911, and served a luminary of the event in the years after he retired his racing helmet. That included driving the official Indianapolis pace car, which was developed by Indy 500 founder Carl Fisher, who believed a rolling start was safer than a standing start. The first Indianapolis 500 featured a pace car driven by Fisher. The first Chevrolet selected as the Indianapolis 500 pace car was the 1948 Fleetmaster Six. The brand would go on to lead the racing pack more than any other manufacturer. The list of Chevy pace cars includes: 1948 Fleetmaster Six 1955 Bel Air 1967 Camaro 1969 Camaro 1978 Corvette 1982 Camaro 1986 Corvette 1990 Beretta 1993 Camaro 1995 Corvette 1998 Corvette 1999 Monte Carlo 2002 Corvette 2003 SSR 2004 Corvette 2005 Corvette 2006 Corvette 2007 Corvette 2008 Corvette 2009 Camaro 2010 Camaro 2011 Camaro

It looks big. It feels big. It drives mid-size. It's AWD.... so the RWD thing is moot. Feels like I sit up very high compared to other sedans. Seat comfort is excellent considering that I also have a Regal Turbo this week, the contrast is even bigger. I'm still fighting with the seats in the Regal. I have to figure out how to use the active park assist. It has a substantial size advantage over a CTS. This is almost, but not quite, DTS feeling inside. Without my measuring tape, the only real loss of space compared to a DTS would be in the trunk. The CTS has a more imaginative interior, but quality is about the same, each having their own downfalls in different areas. The rain sense wipers are schizophrenic. I've only really driven it at night so far, so I don't have much to say about rear visibility. Nothing jumped out at me as "oh that's bad" on those terms.

Well was there?

The back seat of the CTS coupe is usable by adults, unlike the Camaro. Not someplace I'd want to spend 300 miles, but it's much more comfortable than the Camaro.

Guys, Buick just dropped off a Regal Turbo in the same color. Do you think we need an interactive or should I just do a writeup on the differences?

Balth, the omission forces you to pay attention to it. Due to the tight quarters in the rear, your outboard arm is forced to use the arm rest... as there is no other place for it to go. The lack of a center arm rest gives you the sensation of being forced to tilt inward. I normally wouldn't think it to be a make or break issue, but in this car its absence is noticed more than most.

Switchgear quality... specifically the power windows/doors/mirrors

This Just In: 2011 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost Stock Photo Shown Just in for an interactive review is a 2011 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost. First impression is DAMN! It's fast! Join in the evaluation after the jump: Interactive Review: 2011 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost

Interactive Review: 2011 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost Stock photo shown Lincoln just dropped off a 2011 MKS Ecoboost AWD. My first impression with the car is; DAMN! It's FAST!, however I already have a couple minor issues with the interior. I've only gotten to drive it for a quick spin around town, but with 3-6 inches of snow predicted for my schedule trip to Lordstown tomorrow, having the AWD will certainly be a help. So gear up your questions for the Interactive Review: 2011 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost Media Gallery: 2011 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost AWD

Dwight, can you talk about what you think the engine would look like if you swapped out the V8 for the rumored 3.0TT?

The drive chain in a lot of early Toronados was nylon... which is a plastic The gears on cam sprockets are often nylon.

Yeah, NSAP pulled down the front page article when I notified him of the correction. The thread is still there.

The CTS Coupe has a usable back seat, verse the Camaro, I'm sure I could rock it.

LOL @ NOS

Early ones had issues with the timing chain idler pulleys. The pulleys were originally plastic and could split from stress. In typical GM fashion, the engine was killed about 2 years after they got it right and switched the pulleys to steel. After that, change the timing belt at the proper interval and they'd run just as long as any other GM V6.

I replied to their comment section, but they have yet to approve my post.

Do you get much more "GM volume seller" than the Lumina in 1991? It had the TwinCam. The Lumina 2-door, which was also the predecessor to the last Monte Carlo came with the TwinCam option. The W-body Cutlass Supreme sold in droves... almost all with pushrods despite a DOHC option being available. The GP was available with the TC for just a few years and in limited numbers. You want to compare Le Sabre? The V6 Aurora is a superior vehicle in nearly every measurable way, yet the Le Sabre handily out sold it many times over. Even the pricier S/C 3800 Park Ave at $37k easily outsold the Northstar powered Aurora at $34k....and that's a DOHC V8 v. a Pushrod V6. So one of the most famous (by name) of DOHC V8s gets outsold by the engine GM is most harangued for despite being $3k cheaper and in a superior vehicle. The LeSabre outsold Concords, it out sold Avalons, it outsold Grand Marquis... and all had OHC or DOHC. The Intrigue was a superior vehicle to the Regal and Grand Prix in just about every measurable way also... definitely on interior. The "Wide Track" Grand Prix's track is actually about half an inch narrower than the Intrigue's. DOHC and all, the Intrigue $22k base was outsold by the Regal with the same base price, and Grand Prix GT $21k and the Impala $18k. People liked GM's 3800. And for most of the 90s, they preferred it over DOHC options from the same company. In some cases they even preferred it over DOHC options from other companies.