Hudson

The article claimed that this $7,300 Metro sold for about $9,000 in 1996.

"Solid" may be a bit of an overstatement, but it was a well-built little car. They don't usually rattle as much as other little cars and hold up very well. This summer will be the 18th anniversary of the assembly of my Swift and it's still a great, reliable, unembarrasing car.

I've driven Metros (and Sprints) and Swifts for many years. I never felt unsafe in them. As a matter of fact, I've still got a Swift (GT) and as soon as they put new struts on it (to replace the 17-year old originals), I may drive it daily. Well, almost daily since it doesn't have air conditioning and my current daily driver, which gets about 10 mpg less, does.

The video I watched at that link doesn't look anything like a VW. It's a Brilliance...and it's an ancient video, probably two years old.

They were never seriously interested in it. Chrysler would have compromised their competitive stance with other customers.

As was Plymouth.

Harley...you, as a world-famous designer, should know reasons for such things. The "triangular tailights" allow for as much metal as possible and a low cut-out for the trunk without sacrificing body strength.

Yes, it is funny how one person can see things one way and another see things differently. The Chevrolet Traverse was the most basic looking crossover I've ever seen. And the Aura, to me, is far better looking than the Malibu...in side and out. I can't defend a European import's pricing over a basic American-built compact, especially with the value of a dollar today.

Jim Henry should know better than to write such a myopic article. Volvo's 4%(!!) sales slide in the past half decade IN THE US is worthy of being killed? Mercury has deserved to die for many, many years and could easily be merged into the newly diluted Lincoln without sacrificing many buyers. Maybach, Saab, and Jaguar have always been niche players and could easily remain so if not for the parent companies who demand higher volumes. Even in today's hypercompetitive market, there's still a place for niche players. Think about it: in a world of $100 million movies, there's still a place for a good indie flick. Same goes for a market flooded with corporate music, there's still room for an excellent underground band or singer. Why should it be different for the automotive world? Why can't niche players like Hummer or Saab or Jaguar or Maybach survive in a world with mass-produced me-too vehicles? There's always going to be someone who wants to something a little different (me included) without having each of his/her neighbors driving the same vehicle with a different exterior color.

But the new owners haven't had enough time to make their presence known.

It sounds like Rough Trade or the Headpins, but I think I know who it is (after a quick Google).

How was that a "tune out of Canada?" Chris De Burgh was from England (born in Argentina).

I own that album!

It sounds like Red Rider

I've got the first three Honeymoon Suite albums...The Big Prize being the second (and probably most popular).

Column 1: Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love Rush - Moving Pictures ? Column 2: David Lee Roth - Eat 'em and Smile ? Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged In Column 3: Ratt - Dancing Undercover ? Sammy Hagar - VOA Column 4: Firehouse - ? Guns and Roses - Appetite for Destruction Column 5: Van Halen - Van Halen Winger - Winger Honeymoon Suite - The Big Prize Column 6: Def Leppard - Hysteria Extreme - Extreme II Pornograffiti ? Column 7: ? ? Van Halen - 5150 Column 8: Warrant - Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich Autograph - Sign in Please Foreigner - 4 Column 9: Autograph - That's the Stuff (thanks XP....you're right) Great White - ...Twice Shy Mr Big - Mr Big Column 10: ? Night Ranger - Dawn Patrol Asia - Asia Column 11: Tesla - Great Radio Conspriacy ? ? Column 12: Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love ? Journey - Frontiers Column 13: ? Cinderella - Long Cold Winter Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet Column 14: ? ? ? Column 15: The Eagles - Hotel California ? Whitesnake - Whitesnake Column 16: ? Yes -90125 ? Column 15 The Eagles - Hotel California ? Whitesnake - Whitesnake Column 16 ? Yes -? ? Column 17 ? Don Henley - Building the Perfect Beast ? Column 18 ? Rush - Power Windows Judas Priest - Turbo Column 19 Def Leppard - High and Dry KISS - Destroyer ? Column 20 Europe - The Final Countdown ? Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry And I own a surprising number of them.

You know, I really hate it when I'm in total agreement with everyone. Top Gear is FUN...this one will, if I can borrow the term from everyone else, SUCK! Could it be watered down more? Could it be a better way to coddle advertisers and not entertain (or even educate) viewers? If only I had some on-air charisma...and broadcast television didn't suck the life out of any good idea...

Sorry. The only picture I saw was the one in your signiture. Obviously, not the one you were talking about.

I kind of expected someone to beat me to this one. It is NOT the Cadillac CTS coupe, which has a front end that is obviously related to the CTS sedan...and this one is different. There's that...and the Buick logo on the floor. This is the Buick Riviera concept that was first shown in China.

They produced the 350 diesel from 1978 through 1985, as I recall.

I think I was confusing the old 3.2L V6 offered in the Monza (which must have been Buick-derived). When I looked it up, there was a 3.3L (200cid) version of the small block-based V6 in addition to the 3.8L (229cid) and long-lived 4.3L (262cid) engines.

Why I'd want one...or why I'd never seen one?

If my memory serves me, I think you have those engines backwards. The 3.2L was a Chevrolet V6 while the 3.3L was a version of the 3.8L Buick engine. One rare powertrain combination I always wanted was the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with the 260cid V8 diesel (there's a rare engine for you) mated to a 5-speed manual....they built them but I've never heard of anyone having one.

I agree, I would love for the market to take care of the needs of the economy/buyers. The problem is that I don't trust business to fill the gaps. Basic economics teaches that if there's a need, the market will fill the void. But this rule has been avoided my modern businesses. I believe that affordable no-emission and alternative-fueled vehicles can be made but since the cost to enter the automotive business is so high, nobody is willing to introduce them. If the major manufacturers weren't afraid to offend someone (unions, service industry, traditional buyers, environmentalists, anyone), we would have the fourth generation GM EV1 on the road today or a larger, more practical Th!nk or GEM. CAFE did a job when it was needed. In the 1970s, car makers were building vehicles that were almost purposefully inefficient. By the early 1980s, this had been rectified...partially due to CAFE, partially due to the increase in gas prices, and partially due to competition. The concept of CAFE has outlived its useful life. And CARB's continued attempts at mandating EVs is just silly...even sillier than CAFE ever was. Personally, I'm tired of being tied to fossil fuels. I'm tired of a huge portion of my paycheck going directly to the Middle East. Given the time and energy, I would build my own electric vehicle for my daily commute, since nobody makes an affordable electric (and eBay has amazingly high prices on Standard-Vanguard Citicars).

I'm going to add emphasis to your statement...I think it IS the most competitive in the US. Name one company that has a "mediocre" mid-sized car that's selling well.