pow

Wow, six-speed manual for the 4-banger.

Their website SUCKS.

Give me an auto-tilt passenger mirror and parking sensors and I can parallel park anywhere. Reversing cameras are only good on large SUVs and minivans, and self-parking is pretty much useless.

Thanks for the responses. That's enough for now. It was for Gov AP homework, but then it occured to me that I don't have enough time to not BS it.

1) Age? 2) Gender? 3) Primary source of news? 4) Prop 85, Y/N? Abortion parent notification (pretend you're in CA, if you're not) 5) Prop 87, Y/N? Tax for alternative energy research 6) Prop 88, Y/N? $50/property tax for schools

They should have skipped the stuff from the 1970s to 2002.

It's good value, too. You get $4K off sticker if you do European Delivery, plus $2K travel stipend, free maintenance, and 5/100 powertrain warranty.

That's actually quite nice. The lowered ride hide makes a huge difference.

Werd. I saw a shiny gray '06 9-5 wagon today, and honestly, it looks amazingly fresh for an eight year old car. The front end looks great in person, and I love the ironed look of the fenders. I'd take one over a technically-superior TL or ES.

It all depends on your taste. The X3 interior is more arty and progressive, the Touareg interior is more business-like, etc.

It outgripped and outbraked a 330i from that year... hence the bone-shaking ride. 330i w/ Performance Package: skidpad: 0.87g 70-0: 158 ft X3 3.0i Sport skidpad: 0.88g 70-0: 157 ft

I prefer the 3er's organic yet Teutonic interior any day. The G's is too techy for me...

But it has a much, much more powerful electric motor. The FEH beats the VUE GL in 0-60, passing, braking, etc.

With the Escape Hybrid's $2600 tax credit and $1000 rebate, there's really no reason to buy the "affordable" hybrid. The FEH can be driven on electrici motor alone, which is a huge plus in bumper-to-bumper traffic. FEH MSRP: $26,320 - $2600 - $1000 = $22,720 VUE GL MSRP: $22,995 - $650 = $22,345 FEH MPG: 36/31 VUE GL MPG: 27/32 When you factor in better performance, available AWD, and better build quality, it's a no brainer. GM's BAS system makes more sense in cheaper and newer vehicles like the HHR. Isn't a new VUE debuting in two months?

And you'll probably get better resale value, too. Also, $0 servicing for 50K miles.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...icleId=117281#8 ntroduction By editors at Edmunds.com Email Date posted: 10-26-2006 STORY TOOLS Print thisPRINT THIS Save thisSAVE THIS Email thisEMAIL THIS Most PopularMOST POPULAR Our test garage is typically reserved for all-new vehicles, but occasionally we like to revisit an old favorite to reaffirm its benchmark status or check the overall progress of a manufacturer. Although the 2007 Cadillac SRX has received a number of upgrades, the decision to add it to the Edmunds long-term fleet is as much a check on General Motors' self-proclaimed commitment to improved build quality as it is about the SRX itself. Not that the Cadillac crossover SUV hasn't received substantial improvements. Immediately noticeable is the higher-quality materials in the upgraded interior with redesigned instrument panel and center console. There's also a new Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system that we were anxious to sample. But in the spirit of trying to keep fuel mileage up, we passed on the optional all-wheel-drive system and opted for the V6 engine instead of the V8. To keep the price palpable we also skipped the third-row seat and the Sport Package, which tweaks the suspension and adds larger wheels and tires. Instead our rear-wheel-drive SRX rides on the standard Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires: P235/65R17s on the front and P255/60R17s on the rear. Responsible performance Rated at 255 horsepower, the Cadillac SRX's 3.5-liter V6 engine provided adequate power around town, and our first trip to the test track for instrumented performance testing confirmed our initial impressions. The SRX closed the 0-60-mph gap in 8.2 seconds, crossing the quarter-mile mark in 16.1 seconds at 86.4 mph. A slalom run of 58.2 mph was also impressive for the luxury SUV, which exhibited precise steering through the cones. The Caddy's 60-0 braking distance was an average 136 feet. This year the V8 receives a six-speed automatic transmission while our V6 keeps the five-speed, and earns a 16/23 mpg rating for city/highway. You're beautiful on the inside With just over 1,000 miles on the odometer, praise is aplenty for the SRX's new interior: "The interior redo is great with classy style and upmarket materials," noted Editorial Director Kevin Smith. "It's very comfortable and livable, but just a little busy in some of the small electronic functions, like audio-system navigation and trip-odometer reset." Edmunds Editor in Chief Karl Brauer sums up the interior upgrades: "Cadillac has decided on less science, more art for its interiors, and I think it's an excellent way to go. The CTS/SRX interiors always felt too 'machined' for my taste, and the new SRX interior is much more 'organic,' not to mention much higher in quality." Brauer continues: "All the materials in the cabin are new, and areas like the center stack, the dash and the door panels are vastly improved. The wood inserts are also much better, as is the optional wood steering wheel (which we got). The weight of the switchgear (windows, audio system, etc.) is also quite good, as is steering feel and feedback (though that was already pretty good on the SRX). Cadillac also reworked the door sill area to make it easier to get into and out of, and it's something we immediately noticed." Driving impressions Driving impressions were a little more divided. "I get an odd sense from the vehicle's on-road feel and drivability, like a hint of slowness and ponderousness was intentionally designed in to make it feel larger than it is. Escalade envy, perhaps?" asked Smith. Brauer's biggest complaint was that the brake and gas pedals don't line up. The gas pedal is noticeably lower and that's before you apply any throttle. "I hate this issue, as it makes a quick transition from throttle to brake very difficult, especially in a panic situation. Our test car has the power-adjustable pedals, but playing with these didn't help. Also, the clock is placed at a weird angle, so that the blue-tinted portion of the upper windshield is reflected in the clock's face (at least it is for how I set the driver seat). On the plus side, I like the engine, transmission, steering, brakes, handling, seat comfort, interior materials, interior design, exterior design and ergonomics (except the pedal issue). Bonus points for the look and the function of the LCD touchscreen. Very slick!" "The ride is firm for a luxury SUV and the engine gives you the best of both worlds — it's nice and quiet if you are mellow but it growls when you goose it. Spiraling down an off-ramp, it leaned more than I would have liked but it has good steering feel. Brakes are a bit mushy, though," Smith said. We look forward to spending the next 12 months behind the wheel of the Cadillac SRX, and invite you to come along for the ride as we regularly report our findings in our Long-Term Road Test blog. Current Odometer: 1,397 Best Fuel Economy: 14.6 mpg Worst Fuel Economy: 26.1 mpg Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 20.3 mpg Body Repair Costs: None Maintenance Costs: None Problems: None. The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.

I'd spend the extra $950 for a 328i.

With all the polished chrome and quilted leather, it reminds me of the Spyker C8... It's very coachbuilt feeling.

The lighter beige should go all the way up the stack, IMO. It looks awkward changing color halfway.

KIA... a real benchmark.

That's what it should have been priced at anyway...

Tell him Dodge resale value sucks.

Sadly, no. OnStar has to be activated in order to use the SOS.

Dynaudio! The upgraded system in the EOS sounds great.