regfootball

Which Murano did you sample....the first ones or the newest ones? The standard Altima's CVT is quite good. the 2.5 altima with CVT i spent 1000 miles in is faster and far more responsive then my father in laws grand prix with 3800 v6 and auto and its right up there with any excellent performing powertrain today. All the CVT's I have driven lately are quite good. You did not demonstrate that any of the CVT's you drove were recent. The Ford's was the worst of the bunch BUT THATS ALREADY 5-7 years PAST. Get in today. Just because the loser engineers at GM or Ford in the past couldn't design and build a decent one does not mean that the rest of autodom hasn't improved the breed tremendously. EPA economy and more importantly REAL WORLD economy does in deed depend on the tranny. The CVT's drop the engine rpms a lot lower in comparison to conventional autos and even manual gearboxes. The infinite adjustability, quick response is why they can do that. A Mazda6 manual turns 3k rpm at 70mph but a Subaru Legacy runs almost 1000 rpm less at same speed with its CVT. Most 4 bangers with even 6 speed autos are still turning close to 3k rpm at 70+. The response capability and wider spread of the CVT allows them to get the gearing to drop down at higher speeds and better FE. If they could do this with conventional autos and sticks, why aren't they? You keep talking in engineering speak, but you haven't addressed the basic question. Why do the CVT's run lower rpm on the highway, why are so many manuf's putting CVT's in their smaller cars to get better FE? Even GM just said recently they will be going back to CVT's. Apparently that is in direct conflict with what you just tried to lobby against.

is it worth 20 grand. does a cobalt make more sense at 8 grand less can it get out of its own way does it have any trunk or back seat space that you couldn't just get in a Kia Forte5? would you say its fit for interstate travel will you get epa mpg will the dual clutch tranny blow up on you while you have it, otherwise is it a good tranny how are those drum brakes how is the heated seats how are the seats in general, good support?? is it FUN?

Why has Nissan spread CVT's across nearly its whole Nissan brand lineup then? Subaru, Mits, Lexus, hybrids, all using CVT's. Ford stopped because they did an ASS job on it. Just like GM.. When you look at all the R&D time and money spent on traditional automatics and compare that CVT's have maybe seen 1% of that investment historically it suggests the engineers are finally doing a good basic job and now things can only improve tremedously. Traditional automatics are pretty tapped out in terms of what else they can do with them. If CVT's had the same amount of R&D behind them they would leave traditional autos in the dust. Every CVT I have driven lately has been quite good. The engine drone you suggest is constantly being improved as the logic behind the CVT behavior improves. Drivers also adjust their throttle style to take advantage of the right ratio for each situation. The CVT's are great, especially when they drop down to super low rpm's on the freeway. Not sure how something like a new Subaru outback can turn high 30's mpg on real world mpg numbers with an AWD vehicle and a normal stepped tranny. the CVT in those run 500-1000 rpm lower in top gear than the manual trans do, and respond faster to boot. The breed is improving, you may need to go out with an open mind and sample some. The latest Nissan v6 CVT's even get praise. You are basing your 'facts' on old information and to be honest piss poor engineering from those companies on older models. If CVT's have torque limits why does the Lexus hybrid sedan with all that power use a CVT? I think CVT's have great use in small to mid size cars. I do think stepped trannies probably will still be more prevalent in larger vehicles.

I am all for a Lotus and Caddy joint venture clean sheet DOHC engine for Cadillac application. No recycled truck motors for Caddy.

i'd like to see a manual override on the stop start. for example in winter its much better to leave your car running especially in extreme cold. the user should have the ability to be able to decide whether they want it on or off.

the eAssist if its not riddled with reliability issues. the malibu/aura hybrids were lemons, and i really think the whole stop start thing needs to be proven to work over time and in all sorts of weather. likewise with anything involving belts and generators etc. the 8 speed automatic is inevitable anyways, if other mfrs do it then GM will be forced to do it. dual clutch may prove a role in some smaller vehicles but I think CVT is probably a better idea for economy-mid level cars. true manuals are probably headed for the grave. I like sticks myself, but i think dual clutch has the best chance of usurping the real manuals.

I've thought about getting a Montana myself. Would you ever consider a Buick Rendezvoux.....almost as cavernous as the minivan. actually probably has a more useful load area....

That Lexus LFA sure is snappy looking. This lambo looks old already.

wow, this is original.

based upon your comment on the slick cruise control buttons I would assume the finger push button cruise on the stalk of GM's of yore seem a tad silly now, don't they..... just from sitting in the showroom it felt to me like the Regal has fantastic seats. I know the LaCrosse does. Having driven a Mazda6, it's got a nice level of refinement for a family sedan, but it feels large and I would hope the Regal is a much better drive. Even though the Mazda might be near the top of the heap in the family sedan class, I don't think its worthy of benchmark status Or maybe that just goes to show you how numb all the bread and butter sedans are these days, which is why I think the Regal has so much promise for Buick. I think that the point about this car as a commuter with the base 4 is valid and more than likely a lot of folks will buy the car this way. In return they get the better handling and luxury you don't get in the bread and butters. Then the turbo can compete with the near lux cars. If I were Buick I would get the base car up to a 200hp 2.5 spec and then use the GS turbo spec as the turbo option.. The GS would go beyond 300hp. The suggestion for noise cancellation in the car is a good one. Nice writeups.

8 speed auto standard 2.4 is a waste anything with a 'belt' scares me on reliability v6 is needed

right.

the beancounters would say that one less chassis to engineer and they might also say that exporting from AU is not cost effective. they would prefer to make fwd daewoos in china and korea and send them your way its not gonna change until we rid our executive culture of those types. Enjoy your front drive camaros! IMG_2251.MOV

i suppose its hard to sell saabs when the hyundai sonata turbo is lurking somewhere in the background.

if i werent so lazy right now i would get my phone and post that video i made at walmart yesterday in the toy aisle.... a kids toy camaro doing burnouts. but the camaro was FRONT DRIVE...lmao!!!!!!!! those wacky Chinese that make the toys sure know how to poke fun at the smoky burnout crowd!!!!

if i am going to rate stuff, i'd rather it be the t-- flashes on voyeurweb that's stuff worth rating. and well worth the time.

by 2020 I doubt any other carmakers will make a RWD platform non lux car.....

maybe they should downsize into an Aveo......er, Sonic.

http://www.buick.com/vehicles/future-vehicles/verano.html

the net has stooped the entire population to new lows. Sites like 'am i hot or not' where you rate naked bodies or something of that ilk. Don't get me wrong, that is fun....... but it's very LCD (lowest common denominator).

I have driven several of the basic 9-3's with the 2.0 and either the 6 manual or 5 manual. Most recently an 09 9-3 6 speed and its a very nice drive. Better than a Passat. Very good for a front drive car. Better than things like the run of the mill midsizers. Rear leg room is the major flaw with this car, and a very uncomfortable rear seatback and headrest. Ruins the car. The outdated dash may not be for some, but I like it. One thing is clear, at 21 grand (assuming you already own a Saab) that is a lot of car. I can live with 16" wheels for that price on a Saab. I've driven the v6 9-3 and its nose heavy. The 9-3 is light on its feet. Maybe Chevy should have put a bowtie on the front and just sold the 9-3 as the new Cruze. No money needed to design and certify.....lol

notice how it's from the one angle and a view you never see in normal view.

by 2020 I think you will see a majority of cars sold with AWD as the only drive option anyways.........this may just be a quicker path to that. You'll have your Zeta Cadillac by then anyways. Alpha too.

Are you all of a sudden trying to repress a desire to get a plow and go plow snow?

who's posting it............ http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101210/CARNEWS/101219999