NOS2006

Agree completely. I don't at all expect the 6.2, I expect the replacement motor that will be put in the C7. Something in the mid 5.x liter range that will produce 420+ HP (depending on the vehicle's weight).

Apparently Chrysler's developing a 9-speed for FWD cars (and the 8-speed for RWDs will be out next year I believe)... Source: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=1805206&_blg=1,1805206

I've thought about this a lot of times. They keep adding gears to these cars, but I'm not sure I'm much of a fan. I think six speeds is where it should be limited, maybe 8. My mom has a new Vue XR and it's the first 6 speed auto I've driven. It's a real smooth transmission, but it just seems like it shifts way too much, even if it's hardly noticeable. Yes, technology is getting better in these cars and soon you won't even know when the vehicle shifts at all, especially with dual clutches and all that good stuff. Maybe I'm old school though because I like to feel that upshift or occasional downshift to go WOT. Thoughts on this?

Oh yeah, without a doubt. That's a LONG time to hold onto something like that. He probably put it on the car's dash and didn't open the car up again until he called you lol.

Congratulations on the new job, DF!

That's just effing impressive, Camino. Good luck on purchasing it!

lol It's funny you said that... I'd be most interested in black with Saddle leather interior.

Yeah, I'm positive that they will. I'm hoping to be buying sometime during the holiday season or mid-winter, so hopefully the dealers will have a huge lack in sales at this time and I'll be able to get something for less than I would during the fall or summer.

Yeah, I've been able to trek it in the winter in a V6 Camaro on all-seasons and sand in the back (except one problem with black ice, but those accidents understandable), my '06 SS/SC on bald Pirelli summer tires, and my '04 Neon on the cheapest all-seasons I could possibly get (the tires didn't do well at all and never had grip, but somehow I made it). I can typically get around in the snow pretty good, but it does also come down to the ability of the car itself. I know the Audi (especially with Quattro; A4 1.8T Quattro gets surprisingly good MPGs) would definitely be the best winter choice of the ones I've chosen, but if they're unreliable (which it seems they are), then I can't have that.

Drove a V6 Premium with 3.31s yesterday and they're as good a driver as expected. The V6 has a surprisingly nice feel to the shifter (which has a much lower throw than expected too). Very nice ride! Pricing the V6 Premium against a GT and GT Premium for a 12,000 mile 36 month lease showed that the base GT is the cheapest option, and the GT Premium is only $46 more per month than the V6 Premium. Tempting. Although they were all a bit higher than I expected, I'm sure some talking could be done. I also found a really nice looking '04 A4 1.8T on Craig's List. Anybody know how good Audi's reliability is? Also, I'm going to make it a point to drive all the cars I want to check out both now and once the weather starts getting cold and some snow gets on the road. I was told by a friend that someone he knows has a 3-series and it's terrible in the snow.. but that doesn't necessarily mean he has any snow tires or weight in the trunk. But I do want to see how each type of car handles itelf in the crappier weather around here since it will be my all-season daily driver.

You know why beer gets you drunk and pop doesn't? Because the pop is already drunk when you get it.

If I were to rate the three, I'd say I like the Camaro's exterior styling most, then Mustang, then Challenger. I feel like the Ford designers made a real good mix of '7 Mustang and '10 Camaro cues in their design and made it look much better than the '09 Mustangs, but I was a little offended when the newest body style debuted because, in a way, it resembled the Camaro too much to me. Interior design, I'd rank it: Camaro / Mustang (tie) then Challenger. Interior materials: Mustang, Challenger, Camaro

Honestly, I expect the NG CTS or XTS to debut with an 8-speed. Lexus has one, Chrysler will have one next year. Both Hyundai and BMW are reportedly developing one. Mercedes has had a 7-speed for awhile.

I'm not a big fan of the Challenger and haven't been from day one. It just doesn't compete with the others, but most like its looks a lot. Here's something I found really, really interesting: Model / 0-60 / qtr mile / 60-0 braking / lateral accel / rated hwy MPG V6 Premium / 5.1 / 13.7 @ 102 / 104 ft / 0.96 Gs / 29 (Motor Trend) '10 Mustang GT / 4.9 / 13.5 @ 104 / 108 ft / 0.95 Gs / 24 (Motor Trend) '11 Mustang GT / 4.4 / 12.7 @ 111 / 104 ft / 0.97 Gs / 24 (Motor Trend) '01 Camaro SS / 5.2 / 13.5 @ 107 / 120 ft / 0.87 Gs / 27 (Road & Track) '10 Camaro SS / 4.7 / 13.1 @ 111 / 108 ft / 0.92 Gs / 25 (Motor Trend) Challenger RT / 5.1 / 13.6 @ 105 / 135 ft / 0.82 Gs / 25 (Mustang Blog) Not too bad... Only thing that's significantly better than the others on this list is the '11 GT.

I have driven a GTO before, and it did have a nice feeling powertrain and a great interior. And there was definitely a time when I did want a GTO, but when it came down to it, I felt like the car was too big and opted for something else (my SS/SC). I still feel the same thing.. I want a car that feels smaller. I checked out an '11 Mustang V6 Premium today and it was slightly more impressive than I was expecting (which is definitely a good thing for Ford). The interior materials in the Premium were superior to the Camaro. The Shaker system was surprisingly good and all it's talked up to be. Nice steering wheel, nice dash design, nice layout overall. I wasn't able to drive it because they didn't have a six-speed at this dealer (although they had a ton of 5.0s and GT500s). I really anticipate driving this car though because I was truly impressed by it, even compared to the '11 Camaro SS I got to drive. If this thing drives as well as I think it will, Ford may have some money in their hands by the end of the year.

I liked it a lot more at first. Now, it just really looks old and huge. I prefer hard lines (a la Camaro and Mustang).

The M3 and Mustang have way less torque, Camino, and that's what worries me about the GTO. I read up on it in forums earlier and it the summary I got from all the GTO owners said "any more than 4 inches, don't plan on moving." I know our winters and we definitely get more than that a couple times a season and the roads will be trash all day.

haha, I'm not sure why, but I was expecting that link to be for a Fiat 500. The Cooper is an interesting car, but I think if I were to get one it'd have to be a John Cooper Works edition. I'm not an enormous fan of their styling... it's not the retro part, it's the boxy-like-an-xB thing. But I wouldn't mind checking it out if I found a good deal on a JCW edition. Oh really? Sweet! I'm going to head up to the Ford dealer tonight after work; this was on my mind all night. I went to bed, and I was sitting there thinking "damn it, would I get the performance or the premium?" I think I settled for the premium, but it'd be very difficult to step down to the 2.73 gears.

Hmm, I might be able to give that a shot. Why can't you just configure your own car? lol I'll take the interior and feel of a 370Z, looks/size of an E46 or E90 M3, and efficiency/power of a V6 Mustang w/ Performance Pack and 6-speed manual.

I'd love a G8, but unfortunately I can't get a manual unless I get a GXP, and that's out of my range lol. Not a big fan of the 1st Gen CTS (it's much like the 9-3 IMO... nice looking car, not a bad interior, but it just doesn't feel all that special). I'd love a new CTS, but MPGs are hardly any better than the E46 M3 and given the choice of the two, I'd likely take the better performer, especially since the M3 can be had for about the same price. STS only came with an automatic.

I don't think I want a GTO in the winter up here. I really don't think they were designed to handle it at all.

Yeah, I really love the Corvettes. My two favorites (as far as what I'd like to actually own) are an '04 Z06 or '08 Coupe. But Michigan winters tell me no for right now.. lol

Oh, I didn't realize that was your car. lol By Z350, do you mean 350Z? If so, I thought about it... but I plan on getting a Corvette in about 3ish years, so the 350 would be pointless since this car I'm looking for will end up being my all-weather car and the Corvette will come out in the nicer weather only. And with the G35, I'm impartial. They're not bad looking, not bad specs, but the interior's pretty ugly IMO. I do have that car in the back of my mind though.. Honestly, I think the perfect car for me would be a brand new ATS, but I'm a couple years premature to be thinking about that.

Z-06, the ZHP looks like a pretty good car and basically what I'm looking for, but what worries me is the reliability factor. Most of these (in my price range) have 70k+ miles on them, and I can only imagine that 5-8 year old BMW parts would be pretty expensive. However, E46 335i ZHP and 2011 Mustang V6 Premium Package are the top runners. Any others?

That's actually a pretty intriguing option... the '11 Mustang V6 w/ Premium Package. Didn't put too much thought into it because I've always felt that if you're getting a Mustang or Camaro, it's V8 or bust. But these V6 cars are pretty badass now. I might have to take one out for a test drive. Best part about it: it's American. However, to get the 5.1 0-60 time, you need the performance package. I'd want the performance and premium packages.. my price would likely be well over $25k.