Drew Dowdell

Well look at what Nissan is canceling. QX56 Armada <maybe> and Quest There was talk of a Titan HD but the Titan is already so irrelevant I don't blame them for not bothering. Look at what Chrysler is canceling Durango/Aspen/Commander PT Cruiser Convertible Viper <maybe> Compass Crossfire Pacifica The two companies could fit very well together. Restyled Ram to Nissan Joint venture on a largish SUV Work together on the next batch of minivans/midsize crossovers Chrysler gets a b-segment car Restyling of the FM platform for a Crossfire replacement

make up your mind please...

6 years?

Of course.... it wears an H.

The Camry had a 4-speed standard as recently as '04, the Accord as recently as '02<and the 5-speed that followed has been riddled with problems>, the Altima as recently as '06, the Mazda 6 as recently as '05, the Jetta in '04, the Galant still has a 4-speed standard as do the Subaru Legacy and Hyundai Sonata. Now I know other domestics don't count, but the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan started with a 5 speed in '06, 500/Montego started with a 6-speed in '05, the Sebring/Avenger/300/Charger/Magnum all still have a 4-speed standard. So.. some perspective please in terms of the rolling out of greater than 4 speed transmissions. From what I can find, it looks like VW was the first to the midsize segment with a 5-speed automatic in the Passat back in 1998. So please don't make it sound like "OMG! GM IS Teh SUXORS! GM shoulda HAD 5-speeds in '84!!!!@121!"

I'm going to have some very difficult choices once I get to Germany. I really want an '08 CTS diesel, but the Alfas really call to me. The BF wants an Astra Twintop.... I wouldn't be disappointed with one of those either. This Insignia is also a possibility.

Have you seen one of those Alfas in person? They look really good. I still like the Insignia... it looks handsomely understated.... and far better then the awkward looking Accord sedan.

No... you should stop... because Ford did. They wised up and stopped trying to do a FWD unit and instead farmed the work out to the people who know FWD automatics better than anyone.... General Motors.

If you've been following, his wife doesn't want to keep anything till year 5,6, or 7. Unless 0% financing is in play, financing will be cheaper total payments on a CPO than on a new car.

'08 Malibu with a 2.4 litre/4speed gets 22 / 30 mpg. Detune the Turbo-Ecotec to around 250hp and tune it for fuel efficiency. It'd probably be 26-28 highway with a 6-speed.

Isn't the FWD unit in the Edge a GM designed 6-speed?

Well, I disagree about putting old cars out to pasture. In my case, I'm using the Roadmaster Estate in place of a full size truck in order to run my apartment rental business. In that regard, the Roadmaster gets much better highway and somewhat better city fuel economy than a Silverado would. Plus, it's much more comfortable than a Silvi when not being used as a work vehicle. I can also do most repairs myself.

have I ever mentioned I'm a deviously evil person?

Step 1. Remove all idiot light bulbs in the dash Step 2. Loosen the water pump bolts a teeny tiny bit. Step 3. Roadtrip

what is "The Roach"? Forgive me for not knowing the make/model

That looks like a substantially more expensive car than it is. I know I'll probably get shouted down but the looks like what would be C-class or E-class in stature.

Don't worry, it'll probably be dumbed down for us 'Mericans....

I still think she needs to get over her CPOaphobia. If you are trying to cut out the fat financially, buying new does not make sense. and please... trying to impress people in a Princeton office? Not going to do that with anything inside of all three of our price ranges combined. Buy a CPO with very low miles then brag about how savy you are in getting a great deal on a car.

Hmm, I didn't know it was that wide spread. It's just never been on my radar....

Then drop the 3.6 and make the 2.8 Turbo 300hp and the Turbo-Ecotec 250hp. It's everything behind the firewall that makes the Buick unique from the Saab. I'm also trying to think about a reasonably large Buick sedan <at least Malibu sized> in a $4.00 a gallon world. The new Buick sedan is going to need to at least tickle 30mpg.

Aren't the 900s a good bit heavier than the 800's?

Oh look, Cadillac got the latest J.C. Whitney catalog.....

but you get the point....

I don't even know if they do.... I was just giving a reason to Ford to buy it... even if just to start a 'Heritage Center'

Can you blame GM for that decision when the 3800 sold much better than the 3.6? GM offered the more advanced power train and no one bought it.