Mule Bakersdozen LS

Glad to see they're finally kicking the long-rumored Green Line program into gear-I hope they sell, and hopefully they'll have an Aura Green Line, that would really sell. And call me crazy, but how about a Sky Green Line? That would be most unlikely, but hey, a hot roadster with better fuel economy and still-hopefully decent performance, why not?

I don't get why some of you guys want a Kappa compact so bad-where's the business case? Besides, it wouldn't be here until at least 2009, and that's over 3 years away. I'm not for a rebadge either, but Pontiac needs a compact, and they need it now. I'd also shift the Cobalt SS Supercharged to Pontiac, so that Pontiac would have the performance image/edge.

I agree they should import the Swift here (I read in Motor Trend today that wouldn't happen until 2010), but not as a Chevy. The Metro in most memory was a lousy car-it was stylish in the last generation, and I think maybe a sub-Aveo car (but larger than Spark-though that could fit too) could do well-I'm not talking like 400,000 or even 100,000, but more like 50,000 or less production wise.

Its really more a premium B-segment MPV-like a more luxurious version of the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva-so, a tall 5-door crossover hatchback-wagon-MPV. Looks okay, but this is a booming segment guys...

Well even though it doesn't say so, the bottom-level Aveo is the SVM-until Chevy decides to at least make a CD player, air conditioning, and more importantly, ABS at least optional on that level, I'd suggest you avoid it. Its the subcompact (really compact according to EPA-roomier than a Cobalt), I recommend most. I checked out the new Kia Rio a few days ago and while it is a far better car (not that hard though for that improvement) than previously, it still isn't as good as Aveo in my opinion. You can't get a stereo or wheel covers on the Base Rio (sedan only), yet both of those are standard on Aveo SVM. The Rio is much better looking in person than in initial pictures however, but I did not yet get to sit in one. Yeah I was checking out a 2006 Silverado last night too-the grille/hood appearence on all models makes it much more substantial, but they're much past their prime as most of us think/know, but the LT1/LT2/LT3 is really confusing, stupid, and annoying for a trim change-and that goes for all models as well. Why not Base, LS, LT, LTZ, and for rear-drive models, SS (maybe call Cobalt SS the Z-24 or RS-even though the last RS was really just a base model).

The new Avalanche looks bland, at least compared to the more daring current model. Hopefully all of its features will be retained.

I totally agree-and if that were the case, then I would be all for Pursuit coming here. It would need to be upgraded from Cobalt, with more standard and optional equipment, even if that meant taking away models and features from Cobalt, especially to better compete with the Mazda 3-the Pontiac would need to be more stylish and sporty, styled after the 2000 Piranha (which is what I'd name it) and 2001 REV concept cars.

I picked none of the above-Grand Am evokes bad car to me, G6 I'd like to ditch, Tempest leave for a mid-size, and Phoenix says to me forgettable car, I'd pick the one-time Can Am, which of course was a limited-edition, special-edition 1977 LeMans Sport Coupe.

Oh no, the Patriot and Compass would never replace the Liberty-its too strong of a seller (best seller of the Jeep line I think) and too much of a following. They both look great, but they're still car-based Jeeps, and that's a move I question. Why not unsquare one of them a little bit and send them over to Chrysler to compete with Acura RDX and BMW X3?

91z4me-educated guesswise, I would say 3.6-liter DOHC High Feature 250-255hp V-6 and 4.6-liter DOHC Northstar 275hp V-8 engines, 5-6-speed OD electronic automatic transmissions. V-6 standard on all three inital models-Saturn Outlook, Buick Rendezvous (or Centieme), and GMC Acadia (formerly Serrano)-the latter two are guess names based on trademarks in GMC's case. I don't imagine the V-8 being optional on the Outlook or minivans, but who knows.

Never heard of that Pontiac Farago concept. Those middle two AMC hatchbacks were actually productions vehicles in Venezuela I think dubbed the Lerma.

Looks great and very right for Mercury in particular, but I still wonder what could have progressed with New Edge.

No, I'm going by what AH-HA said on the old boards-he said the 5300 V-8 would not be making it into the Lambdas, but hey, you never know. I was thinking 4.6-liter DOHC V-8 brand name ideas to be Buick Eight and Chief-yours were nice too Flybrian-and they all need more power I think.

Equinox is a mid-size-compare size to Ford Escape-there is the Saturn VUE however, but a possibly smaller Chevy compact could work-as the HHR seems to be more of a tall station wagon.

Shock! Shock! Shock! Buick's in a real predicament right now-I see a lot of LaCrosse's and increasing amount of Terazza's around here, but they're just junking their huge flowing styling potential, and that could be a major problem for Buick, along with the lack of products, namely more relevant ones to catch smaller, more-popular models so that Cadillac doesn't have to take the dive and risk their increasing 'Standard of the World' luxury status. Also, Lucerne is going to have to depend on how the CX trim looks inside and out (base models still sell the most, you know) and how the price will justify a 2006 full-size, front-drive car with a weak V-6 and a now-outdated 4-speed automatic transmission. And every LeSabre buyer had a front split-bench seat, which is now optional-not sure if it will be extra cost here or not, but if it is, I can surely bet Buick will lose more and more sales. I mean, what are the advantages here? Lucerne lost trunk space compared to the previous LeSabre and Park Avenue, now at 17.0 cubic feet.

And the V-8 engine will be the 4.6-liter DOHC Northstar V-8 (more than likely), and that it WON'T be the 5300 LS4 V-8.

Envoy's are definitely the best GM Trucks in my opinion-much better dashboard than TrailBlazer, Rainier, 9-7X put together. I know Isuzu Ascender's a rebadge directly of the Envoy, but do they share the dash too? I haven't seen a Popular Mechanics magazine since the April issue-why is it Jim Dunne is such an ace photographer and used to have such great info and talent, and he's stooped this low in recent years? And I still have no clue why in tarnation GMC is getting another car-based crossover SUV. Congrats on the new Envoy purchase Roger!

Yeah the Aveo's are very popular, and despite mediocre passenger room and cheap interior materials on Base models, Cobalt's are multiplying around my area. And there's definitely a lot of Equinox's out, and (sigh....) Colorado's as well. I have to hold my words to my friend about his 2001 (and another's 1999) Grand Am-the coupe is better than the sedan in my opinion, but all in all-good riddance they're dead. Its just too bad Pontiac screwed up the styling, engines, and interior room for the G6-its not beyond help, but knowing GM, that probably won't happen until 2010.

I mean its okay for Chevy and GMC to be conservative styling wise-but not to the point where it looks so similar to the current models. And I was referring to Dodge in reference to cab sizes (they foolishly shrunk the pickup bed lengths in the 2002 redesign).

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103041

Dodge is going to laugh at them-and hard. Those cabs and beds look small and too similar to current models. Silver to me is the body shells and wheels. That color "silver" is really a light cool gray. I've been comparing companies' silvers to my silver metallic pencil, and there's a huge difference.

I like your lineup-a lot. I'd ditch all the High Value engines however-they should never have even been produced to begin with. I think however Buick needs to go upscale-so it can rival Volkswagen and maybe a few luxury cars, but lower priced and with better appointments, and more passenger and cargo room. So therefore, I would make the 3.6-liter DOHC High Feature 255hp V-6 engine and 5-speed OD electronic automatic transmission for Century S/R (aka LaCrosse CXS), all Rendezvous', and Terraza's. Remember, the Lambda may have the 4.6-liter DOHC 275hp Northstar V-8 optional. ABS, side airbags, every other possible safety feature we know now needs to become standard ASAP on every single Buick trim level and model!!! If a Hyundai Sonata or Kia has all this safety equipment standard, there is no excusea premium near-luxury brand such as Buick to make these optional, or worse, unavailable on certain models. And maybe excepting Century CX (aka LaCrosse CX), make aluminum wheels standard on all models. I agree with the nasty fake cloth and vinyl seats on Terazza CX-an absolute disgrace-more so than on similar Relay 2, Uplander Base/LS, and Montana SV6 1SA.

Nope, Holden is pretty much like Chevy-its Australia's mainstream brand for GM. There was an article about this on GoAuto, I'll have to look for it when I get a chance. Of course, the HSV offshoots are all about performance. Suzuki even with Swift, Esteem, Aerio, Vitara/Grand Vitara and XL-7, they've never been high in the quality/reliability ratings anyways, so I don't know why they're pointing fingers. Too bad Forenza and Verona aren't selling well-there was an article last or earlier this week on AutoWeek.

Thanks for posting! Yeah it sucks they're adding these cars to the lineup. I'm all for Jeep expanding, but only if they're Rubicon ready-and I'm not talking overboxed junk like Commander either.

Yep, Chevy offered a Regal Blue on Base Impalas right on through 2005. I just took one more look at the 2006 Malibu page-you can't even get aluminum wheels not only on LS, but LT as well! What is up with that???? Many people buy aluminum wheels, so why is Chevy limiting them here? I remember on the 1997-2003 Malibu, you could get almost everything as a stand-alone option on the Base car as well as LS (now LS and LT). I also saw that to get the now-optional V-6 engine on LT, you have to get the 2LT package to do some. These marketing moves should cost that team their jobs, IMO. Its just really stupid, 9,000-steps backwards thinking.