trinacriabob

I had the opportunity to rent a Chevy Cruze. This would have been the last gen model, prior to the arrival of the new one that is now in the showrooms. While the Cruze was definitely a step up in that niche from Chevy's previous Cavalier and Cobalt models, it was starting to get long in the tooth. It was never ungainly. It just seemed a little chunky. Though I haven't driven one, the current Cruze fixes all that. I got to select a car from the specified category at the rental car agency in SoCal. Take a pale gold one (a color that does NOT draw attention) with Florida plates (far away!) ... or take a red one (a color that DOES draw attention) with local plates? I went with the latter. Given that I have driven Buick Veranos, Cruzes are easy to get used to, on many levels. This one, if I recall, had the 1.4 liter Ecotec 4 cylinder engine with the turbocharger. Pulling off the lot, driving down some side streets, and getting onto the freeway told me that this Cruze was up to the task and that it would be fine to live with for a week. The ride was smooth enough and the cabin was quiet enough, although not exactly Verano smooth and Verano quiet. You can tell exactly why there's that difference in their price points. It's in everything you touch and feel. Still, I am in no way denigrating the outgoing Cruze. It's a good value. The new one is evidently a better value. The engine is peppy and the 6 speed automatic, which is sort of ubiquitous for GM, does what it's supposed to do without any fuss. The handling is fairly predictable and agile, but then a car this size is easy to maneuver, whether in a parking lot, on city streets, on 2 lane roads, or on the freeway. I got to sample them all. The car is quiet enough but seems to be more hushed cruising on the freeway at 65 or 70 mph, and can handle crosswinds and gusts fairly well on freeways in the California desert. It's a little coarser if pulling away from a light quickly and, most of all, if passing. As for passing cars, I'd be cautious with that task. There are only 1.4 liters under the hood, which means LESS than 90 cubic inches! And to think my baptism into driving meant putting around in something with over 5 liters and thinking that was sort of average. Anyway, I would make sure there is one very long stretch of unoccupied and visible territory ahead of you before attempting to pass someone on a 2 lane straightaway in a desolate part of California, or anywhere. When one can do that, the hum from the engine compartment is fairly healthy ... and audible. I liked the Cruze's cabin and the seating was satisfactory, finished in black cloth that wasn't uptown, but wasn't too cheap, either. It was comfortable and ergonomic enough. Again, the seating does not match the finish, size, and comfort of the bucket seats in its more lavished upon sibling, the Verano. The placement of some of the upholstery on the lower part of the dash as an accent was unusual. I've never seen that before. It has been carried over into the new Cruze. I wonder how this will hold up, especially in climates where it is boiling hot and where the dash is handled quite a bit The dashboard does share some parts and knobs with the Verano and it's just slightly less cluttered than that of the Verano. Everything seems to make sense. Mostly, the only thing I don't like is all those information settings you operate from the left stalk. That alone is probably the thing with the biggest learning curve in getting used to this car. However, big kudos are given for having the soothing blue display of both the digital speedometer and the analog one where your eyes instinctively go, right atop the steering wheel's center hub. Visibility was decent, especially since this model is a little more upright. However, to improve visibility even more, I reclined the empty passenger seat such that the headrest would move out of the lateral view and below the belt line during big city driving. This proved to be helpful and made it easier when changing lanes. Mixed driving decreases gas mileage and the readings on those tanks weren't stellar, but definitely acceptable, especially when hilly terrain was involved. As for the economy readings for uninterrupted highway jaunts, they came in at a respectable 37 and 38 mpg, and this included some stretches of 70 mph driving where it was permitted. The bottom line is that I think the Chevy Cruze is a pretty good car. I liked it, but I didn't love it. I'm wondering what driving the latest rendition will be like. I'm predicting that I will "like it +." As I returned the car, I realized that it was a good set of wheels to putt around with, but that I would definitely prefer to have a Buick Verano over a Chevy Cruze as my daily driver, even if returns a handful less mpgs in both city and highway driving. - - - - - Including a photo of a last gen Chevy Cruze in the desert:

I saw that. I'll have to give it a read to see how different the reaction was. As for driving around or being in Boston, though, wow ... especially the North End for pastries and pizza.

Persistence pays off. I wanted to "test drive" of these units. The day I picked up my rental car, they didn't have any Malibus on hand. Instead, I was "upgraded" within the full-size category to the new Impala. I believe it was the LTZ, and even had a V6 and a sunroof. Within a day or so, I took it back. I didn't like it much, largely because I couldn't see out of it all that well. Well, the morning that I took it back to Dollar-Thrifty, they had a Malibu there and I asked them for it. I've found that, of the majors, Dollar-Thrifty has morphed into one of the worst in terms of customer service and attitude. So, in the end, I got my Malibu. I don't know if I'll warm up to the current model because I like a more upright cabin and exterior silhouette (read: more notchback like). The 2015 Malibu is hardly a notchback, but it was the nicest of the Malibus on that particular platform. This one finally hit the sweet spot because of the revised grille up front but, mostly, because of the freshening of the rear fascia with the two Camaro-esque tail lamps on each side and a flatter rear deck lid that seems to be grafted onto the design, yet still works with the silhouette very nicely. This Malibu was a LT, had a 2.5 liter Ecotec 4, a sunroof (yay), and black leather interior (nay). It actually had a lot of miles on it ... over 45,000 of them, which is something I rarely see in rental cars. The only problem with the car is that the rear vision screen, which flips open via a toggle to reveal a cubby hole, was not working. However, audio functions were displaying correctly. It's funny how rental agencies now consider cars that were once mid-sizes as full-sizes. That said, this Malibu behaved like a full-size in every way. The ride was composed, quiet, planted, and make it very easy to live with this car. The engine and transmission worked together in harmony, and it saw some mountain driving on winding two-lane roads. The 2.5 Ecotec was almost always quiet enough, letting you know it was working, and only growling just a little when pushed hard. The 6-speed automatic worked well in all situations and shift points, even 1-2 and 2-3, were barely detectable, which is something I prefer. The best highway mileage I could reel in was about 36 mpg. I really enjoyed the living room in this car. While I wish it had a cloth interior, the seats were nicely proportioned, visually appealing, and very comfortable. Even with the slightly raked backlite, visibility was good. Along with that, the rear seats, leg room, and window greenhouse for the rear seating area were ample. I liked the cockpit. While it wasn't revolutionary, it was functional with some nicely sculpted areas in the both the instrument panel and the center stack. Unlike Ford's current effect of placing the driver below the surface of the console, the Malibu's console was perfectly situated, with a nicely finished shift lever, cup holders where I want them, and a console box with enough room. I cannot remember whether or not the console box had two layers - the flatter one on top which needs to be flipped up to get to the larger one. I sort of like that system and it's not ubiquitous. Compared to foreign cars considered full-sizes which I've driven, such as Camry, Altima, and Passat, I like the sum total of the last-gen Malibu LT more. If in the market, and that market were in "freeze frame" mode, this Malibu would be my second choice. I don't need the rear seat room as much, so the Verano would be my first choice because it's slightly smaller, slightly better styled, slightly quieter, and has that unmistakable Buick build quality and feel. However, this Malibu impressed me and would very easy to live with. I had driven a Malibu on the same platform in 2009 or 2010 guise and was pleased. The latest rendition of the last-gen Malibu had gotten even better.

It's all good, isn't it? I agree with most of your observations - telepathic, in some ways. I was in the last-version of the Cruze and couldn't believe how much nicer it was than, say, a Cobalt or a Cavalier, or even the outgoing Cruze ... all the way around. If this new version has bumped up the acoustics to a higher level, as well as the build quality, it will be a winner indeed. I think that this car could make inroads into the Civic market, for example. In fact, the Cruze got better looking and the Civic got uglier. I also think that, since Chevy is now sharing that design vocabulary across their main cars (Cruze, Malibu, and Impala), the new trademark roofline and proportions of hood/cabin/rear deck work best on this new Cruze. I like the new dashboard quite a bit and the center stack is great. It keeps the Verano interior packaging alive, to some extent, especially in the center stack. However, while comfortable, the seats aren't as detailed and one "fine" experience as are the ones in the Verano. The other thing you mentioned is something I immediately noticed when I went through the trim details - the LT doesn't have a leather wrapped steering wheel. It should. One shouldn't have to get into the "premier" model just to get a leather wrapped wheel. Also, in the LT, the power seat has to be bundled into a "convenience package," which costs over $1,100. What if you just want the damn power seat? I am excited about the prospect of driving the new Cruze, ideally in LT sedan form. Nice write-up, reg. You covered all the bases.

Reviewing the Altima was on my bucket list. I then saw another member did a very thorough job of reviewing it and wondered if I should review it. My spin on the car is somewhat the same, yet different, so I will review the typical base model Nissan Altima found in rental fleets. Japanese iron has made serious inroads into rental fleets. If you call ahead to find out what the full size car might be, you are likely to hear a list of Camry and Company. After a very slushy and unremarkable but absurdly cheap 2009-ish rental of a Camry in Canada, I vowed to avoid renting the larger Japanese cars in the future. It turned out that I had a weird flight connection in MSP, one that required that I overnight there. I arrived late one night and departed the next day. The trip was on a free ticket. To get around, a mere $22 got me a full size car from one of the majors at the airport. When I arrived, the inventory had been picked through and their IT system was down for maintenance, so my R.A. was filled out by hand. After hemming and hawing about the choices out on the parking deck, I opted for a silver Altima. Being that I'm so used to GM, I had to get familiar with all of the features and controls in this car. Not only that, it was dark and I was tired. I got a better feel for the Altima the next day. The interesting thing about the car is the CVT. I wondered if it would feel like an electric cart people use for maintenance chores. Not a chance. The CVT revs upward to get the engine where it needs to be relative to how much throttle you give it. Then, it retreats down to a cruising level of rpms, perhaps 100 or 200 rpm lower on the highway than I have seen in a car where the transmission has gears. This will placate the driver's need to feel as if they have gone through a shift point. Reports on CVTs have been all over the board. The explanation of how they work sounds very plausible, and even appealing. Some claim they've been reliable. Others report that they have not. In speaking to a Nissan agency, I learned that they don't overhaul these often. It's most likely a R&R (repair and replace), to the tune of about $3,000. The Altima has some appealing angles, such as the profile, and some angles which are less appealing. With this latest model, the extra canted vane in the front grille helps make the expanse of it look smaller and more agreeable. Also, the previous rear tail lamps looked too narrow, and the latest ones extend inward toward the license plate more and look nicer. Inside, the Altima has a lot of features that are commendable - a clearly organized dashboard, a simple center stack that doesn't take too long to learn, flatter as opposed to overly sculpted yet still comfortable cloth bucket seats, headrests in the rear seats that are integral and don't block the view, and sort of an opera window effect in the C-pillar area that make visibility decent. Controls for the trunk release, fuel door release, and resetting the trip odometers are fairly obvious. It might all be utilitarian, but it's all user friendly. The only major demerit was the kink at the bottom of the center stack, where it leans back in, yet doesn't provide much room nor a cubby hole to make it very usable. It reminded me of the console lever in the 06-07 Monte Carlo (last gen) where the gear selector in park position interfered with operating the lowermost tier of the center stack - the climate control panel. The Altima's ride is smooth, comfortable, and predictable. This is a car that doesn't want to be pushed in the cloverleafs, though. It is quiet enough, but not GM quiet. There's a slight tire drone ... or some sort of a hum. If the CVT gets to the point of being almost faultless, this could very well be a good car for many people. However, I'd only recommend it in base form. Out the door, and before taxes and license fees, this is a car you don't want to spend more than the low 20s for. I see going into the high line, leather trimmed, and sunroof equipped versions as sort of pointless. Most of the rental fleet cars feature a black cloth interior. I noticed that they offer a beige cloth interior. Paired with the dark blue metallic exterior, this sounded like a winner. In real life, the beige is practically a soulless off white color and it has black trim. It looks terrible. Had the shade of beige been darker and the trim been a darker shade of a similar color, it would have been very attractive. Lastly, the fuel mileage for this size of car is remarkable. I could tell it sipped fuel. On one jaunt, on a very cool night, with no A/C, flat terrain, and the cruise set at a hair under 65 mph, I recorded about 41.1 mpg. It's remarkable because a mini Smart car doesn't even get that sort of mileage. Three exterior views (2 in silver and 1 in burgundy) and one interior view (rear headrests and C-pillar area):

Reg, I totally agree that the current Verano is a gem, so to speak. After renting a few, I fell in love with them. This is currently the car I would buy. My preference would be either the mocha or dark blue, with the cashmere (tan) cloth interior. As for Buick, I've seen great work in the grilles of their new cars, but don't like how they peter out in the rear jelly bean style. Also, per Consumer Reports, each year of Verano since its introduction gets high marks on all the systems they rate. That's not typical for a new model. The last gen Cruze, which shares the chassis, didn't do as well per Consumer Reports. The only big difference was the engine. Most of the other underpinnings, including the transmission, were/are the same.

I agree. I had seen some spy shots of a 2017 Verano, obviously on the new Cruze platform. The sculpting on it toward the rear made it look jelly bean-like and the rear deck lid with the Buick emblem looked like a recent Passat or Jetta. Inside, the dash was much more horizontal along the cowl and in its general layout, and not as attractive as in the current car, while the Cruze spruced up its dash a little and it looks nice. At any rate, we won't be getting it. But the Chinese market will. Not only that, Verano is a cool name. Cruising around in your Verano during the "summer?" Sounds like a plan.

I thought I'd do a cluster of reviews of cars I've rented and what I thought of them. I've rented Buick Veranos a total of 3 times - twice here locally and once, of all places, for a strange and long layover at DTW. For an extra $10, I thought, "WTH, I'll take the Verano." One of the things I have to accept is that the days of the cast iron block and cast iron head are gone. I've got one now. The next time around, it won't be an option. I'm now at the point where I sort of know that this technology has been improved and that these all-aluminum 4 cylinder engines can go the distance. Of the 3 Buick sedans in the current line-up - LaCrosse, Regal, and Verano - I think the Verano is the best looking of the lot. It doesn't have any ungainly, thick parts. The front grille isn't too big and sits up high. Luckily, it is not chromed and an exercise in bling. I like the sculpted line that flows along the base of the car and then veers upward at the rear door, as I do the rear side opera window that is remarkably fitted into the silhouette. The rear lamps, with the eyebrows, took some getting used to, but they're not bad. Inside, I like the fit and finish of the Verano. The seats are plump and comfortable, making this a smaller car you can sit in for a very long time whereas, in the "olden days," you had to get out of a smaller Toyota, Nissan, or Chevy frequently on a road trip. With the seats being big, they seem to shrink the available space inside, especially in the rear of the cabin. The Verano is really meant for 2 regular sized adults and maybe 2 children in the back ... or 2 more "small" adults. I'm not the only one that notices that. All of the professional reviews do, too. As for the instrument cluster, I like the fact that both an analog and a digital speedometer are right in front of you, and that you can set the cruise control very accurately because of that digital speedometer and the setting tab. What I don't like is the stalk with the small button that one needs to toggle through to find a whole bunch of settings and readings. It feels like, if used for one year too long, it will give up the ghost and be an expensive repair. The Veranos I've rented have had rear cameras, side traffic alert, and front collision alert. It doesn't take much to set them off, and it takes only a short time to get used to them, but they are definitely appreciated. Once you pull out in a Verano, you know you're in a Buick. It might be on the same platform as the previous-gen Chevy Cruze, but the feeling is unmistakably Buick. It is quieter, has a softer but still controlled ride, and it handles nimbly while feeling like at least a mid-size car, or one that weighs about 200 to 300 pounds more than it does, although I wouldn't call it sporty. One review described it as "library quiet." I'd say that's fairly close to reality. The only thing one has to watch on an interstate ride is the possibility of drifting slightly and quietly toward another lane. This is a non issue in the previous-gen Chevy Cruze. Being a little rougher, and less expensive, there is more sensing what the tires are doing and where the Cruze is. The Verano has gotten excellent Consumer Reports ratings for all of its systems, going back to 2012. Good job, Buick! However, of all the smaller cars about the same size, it does not return the best fuel mileage and reviews mention that. The engine is a 2.4 liter inline 4 and the highway mileage is in the low 30s. I'd say that's about what I got. However, on a tank in which the car was driven with no demands - highway, flat, cruise at 63 mph, and no air conditioning - I did pull in around 37 or 38 mpg. I think GM has done a great job with the 6 speed automatic transmission. As with all of these units, you only feel the first and second shift points and, after that, it's a mystery, almost as if you're in CVT land. However, as long as they do their job and hold up, it's not something I'd give much thought to. If I was in the market for a new car today, this would be my "go to" vehicle. The decision would be easier than it was the last time around. Verano in metallic mocha: Verano in white: The taillamp is nicely shaped and the eyebrow is unique (not too bad): Nicely finished instrument panel, and it is a few notches up from its Chevrolet sibling in its build quality: The way the center stack is shaped is really appealing: The seats are more comfortable and nicer to look at than those in my current and larger car of the same brand: If you can throw one into the batter, I'll take an opera window any day of the week and twice on Sundays:

Hey gang: Long time no post. I'm glad to see that a lot of the same names are still here. I was going to post an extended review of my car on its 8th birthday and didn't get around to it. So, now I'll post the update slightly after its 8.5th birthday. My 2008 LaCrosse, which I bought after a lot of vetting on this forum between it and other W-body stablemates of the same year, has been a good car. I can say that I am happy with the purchase. It now (only) has between 50,000 and 60,000 miles, largely because of using public transit or renting cars. The best feature about the LaCrosse is how it feels like a true to form Buick, with its very good build quality. I also like its balanced silhouette and I like it more each day as I see the direction auto design has gone and is going. I've actually gotten to liking the 4 doors, since I'm able to open them without putting a dent in an adjacent car in a parking lot. (I do still eye the '06 and '07 Monte Carlos when I see a nice one). The all cast-iron 3800 V6 works fairly quietly to me, though some reviewers have called it "coarse," and can deliver that 30 mpg that's on the EPA sticker when babied on an easy interstate jaunt. Most of all, I like the quality of the ride and how quiet it is, with a more nicely weighted feeling coming from the steering wheel, whether on the highway or on two lane roads. I guess part of that is that this car also weighs 300 pounds more than its predecessor on the same chassis I owned prior. The LaCrosse does have a few demerits. The first one, which I believe I already mentioned some years ago, is that the Series III 3800 V6s have a TSB out on them about oil consumption. My car does not go over their benchmark for being considered a problem child. However, I don't like to have to add oil in between my ahead of schedule oil changes. I'd say that the oil might be down 2 dots out of 5 on the dipstick operating range after about more or less 1,500 miles. If this remains constant, I can live with that, but I don't like it. The last car I had, with almost 300,000 miles, only used a quart of a quart if measured right before an oil change. So what's the deal? Buick nails it on the Series I 3800 engines, has intake manifold issues on select Series II 3800 engines, and has oil consumption issues on select Series III 3800 engines. Meh. The other demerits are the lack of a light in the engine bay and, while they have held up well and are supportive, the mouse fur velour seats could and should have been quite a bit nicer. Nothing, thus far, has had to be repaired. I'm crossing my fingers. I have had a check engine light that comes and goes during the winter months over the last couple of years. I guess the car is telling me it wants to live in a warm weather climate. The other is that the driver's power door lock is intermittently ornery with either the automatic locking feature or the fob. Here are some photos of it within the last 6 months: In a northern latitude: In Palm Springs (when it was newer and under warranty): in a northern latitude: on the coast: I seriously don't know what I'd buy if in the market today. I've had the opportunity to drive the very last Chevy Malibu 2.5L 4, with the more notchback styling and Camaro-esque rear lamps, and loved it. It's gone. I've had the opportunity to drive the outgoing Buick Verano 2.4L 4 and loved it. It's on its way out. I do not like the new Malibu at all ... have you seen the kink in the rearmost window's C-pillar moulding? It looks like a mistake. Also, the visibility, based on test sitting, is less than optimal. I thought the Verano would continue as Buick's answer to the Cruze. Now it only looks like the Chinese market is getting it. In looking at the spy photos, it looks more like a previous VW Jetta or Passat from the rear. As for other brands, which I hate to admit being open to, the Nissan Altima, in base form, gets stellar mileage (over 40 mpg) with its CVT, which feels surprisingly decent, and has a very easy to use instrument panel. For some crazy reason, I am now liking the basic, bread and butter Ford Focus sedan, in SE form and with some options, and am hoping that the series of a few years they've reportedly had with automatic transmission lurching problems are behind them. How time flies! Cheers ... and gears.

It's been 3 years that I've owned the 2008 LaCrosse CX. The Regal is gone, fetching $1,500 at 271,000 miles. So, here I am with another W-body, a line which ceased production in 2009. The LaCrosse has been a reliable performer. It has not gone back in for warranty work. The build quality is quite good and it feels solid (well, it weighs over 3,600 pounds). The dashboard makes a lot of sense and I've finally started to understand the available commands in the center stack. Some of them are informative and I've had to make use of the tire pressure monitor which led me to the tire store. The powertrain is reliable. Best of all, the automatic transmission shifts seamlessly, sometimes giving the sensation it could be continuously variable because you can't feel the shifts. The 3800 Series III has plenty of power when called upon. If pushed hard, it gets a little raspy. Now, here's a tidbit of weird information. I was surprised that the engine (babied and oil changes every 2,500 from the start) used some oil during the last oil change cycle. I spoke with the dealer about this. It was not alarming, but I am not used to a 3800 (Series I) using any. Let's see where this goes. There is a technical bulletin (not a recall) saying that the Series III uses some oil, but not an alarming amount. One angry poster said that they had to keep tinkering with a good engine and keep on adding all these bells and whistles and made it inferior. I don't know about this. It feels quite well put together, save for the electronic throttle control which makes the feeling between the foot and the car's running on hills a little vague. The overall ride is quiet. It feels best on the highway, where 29 to 30 mpg can be had. On the boulevard, while it can feel a little wallowy, it is reasonably responsive when you have to make a maneuver. I will say that the steering feels a little heavy in the parking lot. I am comparing this car to the Intrigue which, in base form, handled better than the LaCrosse. In terms of ergonomics, I like the shape of the dashboard. It makes sense. I like the fingertip controls on the steering wheel. They free up the turn signal stalks from extra electronics. I also like the telescoping wheel (standard). Now, badda-bing, let's talk about the seats. I've rented these cars and was thrilled about driving one. However, after 3 years, I will have to admit that I am still hunting around for a comfortable seating position (I'm 5-10 and 180 lbs, so this shouldn't be a problem). The seats are a little hard and the fabric is not soft and pliable. Furthermore, the extra opera window in the back looks nice, but creates a manageable blind spot. I guess I am lamenting the cars of the 80s. The most comfortable car I've ever had was my 84 Cutlass Supreme Brougham coupe (hand-me down) where the "living room on wheels" was a great 80s feeling and, along with great seating positions and upright notchback backlites, both the comfort and visibility were top notch. I like the LaCrosse a lot. I don't love it. I was expecting to. Sometimes, I'll see a Monte Carlo of the same time-frame wizz by and wonder if. Oh well. I can say that the plump buckets in that were more comfortable but I was hemming and hawing about a new(er) engine with VVT for the first time. But I have a Buick. I think it will go for the long haul. I hope it will. There is NOTHING on the market that minimally interests me, except for maybe the Fusion/Milan. The LaCrosse is best described as highly competent. Because of this potential oil issue (minor at this point) and the harder seats (even compared to the 98-04 Regal), I give the car a B+. (The Intrigue got at least an A-). However, I am satisfied with the purchase because they delivered a car with great build quality and one that is generally tasteful in most regards in an era of automotive weirdness where one is made to feel more like an astronaut and less like the driver of their daily driver.

What else, but a Grand Le Mans! Not a nice 75 or 76 coupe, but the downsized 78 sedan. It was the medium cream and looked a little frumpy, but, hey, it was turning on a major intersection in Portland. My eyes would have popped out of my head had it been a mint-condition 75 or 76. Grand Le Mans, baby!

Sunbelt cities also grew because they are located in states that were tax friendly. Neither TX, NV nor FL have state income taxes (3 of the 6 that don't), and businesses believe there are incentives to locating there. There is also the weather component. Despite blazing tropical summers in the S.E and South Central and blazing dry summers in the desert SW, the other 3 seasons are mild ... and, after footing a steep A/C bill for the summer, the living is easy during the other seasons. Another thing could be the source of our immigration patterns. Historically, Europeans got off the ship in NY or Boston and, if Canada was their destination, that would have been Halifax. Even though air travel is the dominant form of international travel, the ports of entry to the US from Latin America and Asia are now Miami and Los Angeles, respectively. The importance of Atlanta and Houston as Delta and Continental hubs also fuels the growth of the Sunbelt and has made it much more international than "Southern."

Rob: Exactly what I was thinking. The V6 lived on in 3.8 carbureted form in the 80s GM mid-sizes, and even some full-sizes (early Impala/Caprice and Parisienne). The in-line 6 was present, along with V6s, in '73-'77 mid-sizes. IIRC, the distribution went like this: Chevrolet: inline 6 in all of these years in the Malibu - makes sense, it's a Chevy engine Pontiac: inline 6 in LeMans in '75 and '76, V6 (odd firing) in '77 Oldsmobile: ditto Buick: V6 in '75-'77 (odd-firing) - makes sense, it's a Buick engine The reason I started this thread is because I remember that the inline 6 in my Dad's '70 LeMans was a lot more pleasing to ear than the 3.8 2 bbl. V6 in his '76 Regal coupe.

The Camaro is an eye-catcher but the visibility isn't the greatest and their overall practicality is limited (but, then, that's not why people buy Camaros). That leaves the Regal. Since I need to have things "proven," the 2.4 has turned out to be a good powerplant and NOT having a turbo makes this all that much easier. That's my 2 cents.

I think about this every now and then. As for the 3800 V6 engine by Buick, once it went transversely mounted, received roller hydraulic lifters and fuel was delivered via port injection, it became one of the best engines ever. I'm closing in on 270,000 miles on the old car and still love the car and this engine. However, I also think back to a 1970 Pontiac LeMans coupe my Dad owned. He never thought much of Pontiac, until he bought this car. He loved "la Pohn-tee-ak"...and so did our Australian Shepherd. It had the 250 inline 6 with a 1-barrel car and NO air conditioning, so the engine compartment was a mechanic's dream, with every plug easily accessible and lots of free space. It was a very smooth running engine and they had a 7-main bearing crank, pointing to long life. Now, the inline 6 has had a great track record since it was "born." The Buick V6 had some teething problems...older ones were odd-firing and prone to throw timing chains. So, then, here's the question: Under the exact same maintenance regimen, which of these two long-lived GM engines is more durable and reliable? I voted Chevy inline 6, but I could be wrong.

Great story. I have taken in an abandoned pet for a while every now and them; however, I have definitely fed quite a few. Some of them really warm up to you and others keep their distance as they eat the food you give them. I'm glad there are people who have some empathy for disadvantaged animals.

A white 2006 or 2007 Monte Carlo in the next lane and behind me (per the rear view mirror). It really caught my eye because the rally wheels had gone into that "illusionary slower spin" mode. It looks great in white.

Mid-size coupe (and sport sedan) person all the way ... how long have I been posting here now? ... how time flies... Answer to thread: Minivans - of the GM variety - I like the Terraza and liked the Silhouette. I like them because one gets the ride of a car, decent gas mileage and a place to sleep or, with the seats taken out, an incredible amount of room to carry things. I am not crazy about the less than optimal reliability ratings and that these are intended to cart around soccer brats. Incidentally, today I saw a white Monte Carlo with the 2006-07 snout and I was experiencing some cognitive dissonance.

There is definitely a way to pull off upscale luxury touring sedan/coupe seating in cloth. And make it look New Millenium and not 80s. I am sure the seating design experts could work up something and make it durable, well-crafted, comfortable and not detrimental to the image. However, I don't see it happening, because of the expectation that all cars over $35,000 feature leather seating. At my price point, I get cloth anyway, but if I got a chunk of change, I wouldn't mind having one of the more subtly styled Cadillacs, and not have to put on the sheepskin covers during the summer. A DTS in ice blue metallic, with alloys, and a dark blue cloth interior wouldn't be bad. I hear they get about 25 mpg on the highway, which is pretty damn good.

I was also thinking about the furniture analogy and think that there a lot of people who choose cloth over leather, and who could realistically afford either. However, I think there are also a lot of people who think the "living room on wheels" (what my Dad called the higher-end BOP cars, and he meant that in a good way) concept went away in the 80s and should never come back.

Wow, when I started this thread, I thought I would be the lone wolf. Conditioned is the work I was looking for. I started the thread because seeing that DTS made me think of periodic sightings of late 1980s Coupes and Sedan De Villes, in perfect condition, that have the dark brown, dark blue or burgundy cloth interiors with the Cadillac crest in the upper cushion and the wide-ribbed horizontally banded velour in the lumbar area. It's well done. I also say this because my 84 Cutlass Supreme Brougham (loose cushion velour interior) coupe was far and away the most comfortable road-trip car of any car me or my family has ever owned. I could drive from Northern Cal to the PNW and take it all in stride 10 hours later. @ oldsmoboi - right, I remember noticing that on some mid-level BMWs while over there @ samadei - I remember that "shorts during the summer" problem in my Dad's Pontiac (vinyl seats) when I was a kid in L.A. - in the coastal basin, it might be a little uncomfortable....cross the pass into the San Fernando Valley and leave the car in the 100 degree sun for a couple of hours and I didn't want to even deal with the cool-down period (OUCH)...plus, I don't like the fine hairline cracks that eventually develop in the seats.

Today, a 1977 Mercury Cougar in tri-cream, with the padded landau roof, in MINT condition while I was parking at the post office. I nodded to the person who also got out of the car and he proceeded to tell me that he inherited it from his mom, that it had the 400 V8 and not the 351 V8, and that it ONLY had 73,000 miles! He said it's a hobby car and that it's not his daily driver. I had forgotten how long the hood is on FoMoCo personal luxury coupes of those years. Yikes.

Today I saw the most current version of the DTS driving alongside me on a major boulevard. I was thinking about how this car had "cleaned up nicely" and that there is nothing too overstyled about the Cadillac brand anymore (though I don't like the new heavy "eggcrate" CTS grille). At any rate, since it tends to be hot in inland Northern California, I remembered how Cadillac typically offered a cloth interior on the DeVille series. It was nicely detailed and very comfortable. Because of the heat, I will always own a car with a cloth interior. I was thinking that, on one model, possibly the DTS in Trim Level 1 form, a cloth interior should be offered in a couple of generic colors ... and that it could be a credit option. Now, I know that some of you may think this could be something that would make the import brands (and even Lincoln) double over laughing...and probably so. What's your opinion?

I was sort of thinking the same thing. That's funny.

Considering I have a (Catholic) high school diploma, I'm still Catholic.