pow

The body tack-ons look really tacky. If I had one, I'd sacrifice 1 or 2 highway MPG and get rid of them.

With the introduction of the '07 Camry V6, 100% of Toyota cars will get over 30 MPG highway.

I think the next CTS is crucial for Cadillac, followed by an STS update and a $70K big sedan. A Kappa CLR would be excellent, particularly with a folding metal or glass roof.

Yes, I was quite impressed by the Mazda Mazdaspeed Mazda6's interior, particularly in two-tone leather. Of all the sub-$30K cars, that and the Subaru Legacy were the only ones with "great" interiors. The Jetta, A3, Accord/TSX, and Fusion had acceptable interiors. Most of the others had pretty miserable ones... seems like mainstream manufacturers are concentrating on engineering and leaving quality for their expensive stuff.

I'm a huge Top Gear fan so I'm aware of the show's compexities and biases that make it all so entertaining. That would be considered a positive review, and for cars they like, they always present the problems first, and then end up with a strong, positive conclusion. Jeremy Clarkson, the tall one, is the strongest presenter of the three, and IMO, he is best characterizing and almost humanizing cars. I disagree with him at times, and factual/technical knowledge seems to confuse him (or he couldn't be bothered to get it right), but it's all part of his irreverent, laid-back, opinionated character. Top Gear is still by far one of the best and most controversial motoring shows I've seen.

Uhh, no, those are your words, in that you believe deviances from the majority need to be cured. Do we spend millions each year to "cure" abnormalities like attached earlobes? It is you who decides whether certain abnormalities are in need of change. From a biological standpoint, abnormalities increase biodiversity among species, which in turn, helps species to survive, though I suspect sexuality depends more on gene expression.

Your logic is flawed in that it does not consider abnormalities like gene mutations. Does a person chose to have cystic fibrosis?

This one is good, too: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1...25&q=fifth+gear

News Release • January 8, 2006 REAR CRASH PROTECTION IN SUVS & PICKUPS: MOST SEAT/HEAD RESTRAINTS WOULD DO A POOR JOB OF PROTECTING PEOPLE'S NECKS IN REAR-END CRASHES Rest: http://www.iihs.org/news/2006/pr010806.html

I have a feeling that number will soon be 25,001.

This isn't directed specifically toward you, MyerShift, but rather, I wanted to comment on this quote for all. One thing to keep in mind is that your perception of what homosexuals are like is inaccurate, because for the majority of the time, you cannot differentiate between a heterosexual and a straight-acting homosexual. Thus your exposure to gays is limited to only the extremely vocal, open, and feminine males that do stand out. There are millions of homosexuals in the world, but you allow only a minority of them (the "gay-acting" ones that catch your attention) to mold your opinion of homosexuality. Not that there's anything wrong with "acting gay" if it's natural, of course.

The interior looks sensational. Horbury really knows his stuff.

Almost as bad as TAP-SHIFT.

Those are '06 prices; '07s are likely to receive more standard equipment. Add however much GM charges for 4WD to a $44,015 LTZ and pricing is still competitive.

Agreed, the interior looks horrific. I can't believe they think that Europe will buy it. The exterior, on the other hand, is passable.

Yeah, the IS350 competes against the 330i. The author only mentions the M3 in an anecdote about a thought he had while sitting in traffic all day.

Wow, I'm kinda of liking this site. His opinions of Lexus are quite similar to mine: "The GS300 makes a mockery of Lexus’ well-earned rep for imperious wafting-- to the point where you wonder if the model was designed as a secret torture device for America’s nouveaux riche." As you can tell, I'm not much of a Lexus fan, either.

19 December 2005 By Robert Farago Jinking through traffic somewhere above the ton, it quickly became apparent that the Lexus IS 350 wasn’t the ideal car for the job. The erstwhile sports sedan bumped and jiggled over surface imperfections like a tied-down tunermobile. It rolled through directional transitions like a luxobarge, helming with unacceptable imprecision and unwelcome lean. While the powerplant provided more than enough shove for the work at hand, the IS 350’s dynamics drew a definitive line between “doable” and “enjoyable.” If further proof were needed that I was in the wrong car at the wrong speed, the BMW M3 keeping pace provided it. After a few polite lead exchanges, the M3 dropped the hammer and disappeared. I rejected the idea of visiting V-Max. The IS 350’s 3.5-liter V6 holsters a surprising percentage of the mighty M3’s oomph (at a fraction of the price), but it’s no Bimmer beater. More specifically, maxxing-out a 3-Series anything is like driving through the tunnel of love compared to the baby Lexus' Autobahn of Doom. Who needs THAT kind of excitement? Indeed, why would anyone suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous ride and handling when any number of similarly priced cars offer a more pleasurable driving experience? It’s all about the big O: ostentation. The IS 350 may be as manic as a radio controlled Kyosho Inferno, but the Lexus badge on its nose and tail tells the world that its driver is a man of wealth and taste. Thanks to a few meticulously-engineered models and exceptional dealer service, US public opinion has elevated Lexus to level-pegging with BMW, Mercedes, Audi, et al. Meanwhile, back where the rubber meets the road, Lexus has lost the plot. Although the company continues to manufacturer some superlative wafty coddlers, the IS 350 is yet another Lexus displaying a stunning lack of brand consistency. It’s no more a luxury car than a Mustang GT. Thankfully for sales, looks can be deceiving. The IS 350’s combination of sharply-tailored creases and sensual curves create a perfectly judged blend of accelerative intent and stately elegance; a recipe that's bound to make upmarket buyers feel good about driving a small car. The bland butt is a tad too Toyota, but the rest of the IS 350's sheetmetal projects all the restrained modernity that Chris Bangle failed to realize for BMW. Overall, Lexus’ mid-market model proves that their new house style-- “L-Finesse”-- is more than a pissed-off Pokemon in a Brioni suit. It’s a pissed-off Pokemon in a Brioni suit with a touch of Maserati thrown in. The IS 350’s cabin certainly isn’t the swish inner sanctum you’d expect at this price point. Although you can’t fault the pliability of the soft-touch plastics or the leather’s Velveetatude, close your eyes, press a button and you’ll swear you’re sheltering inside a top-spec Avalon. The sooner Lexus replicates Audi’s haptic hit squad, the better. And while they’re at it, the Japanese designers should L-finesse some of that lustrous wood onto the main fascia; the dark grey plastic surrounding the IS 350’s instruments and gauges is about as classy as a quilted toilet roll holder. Still, you get some aluminum paddle shift wings and a dead cool “engine start” button… That hooks you up to one of the most mental motors made. It sure doesn’t sound like much-- a Pontiac Grand Am’s pushrod powerplant whines to mind-- but the Lexus’ V6 is ready to go anytime, every time, all the God damn time. With 306 horses underfoot, and a six-speed automatic gearbox that grabs the next gear like a two-year-old coveting her sister’s Nintendo DS, going fast is simply a matter of forgetting to go slow. Drop a couple of cogs via the paddles, plant your right foot, and the IS 350 will punch through the ether at a ferocious clip, belied by a dearth of engine vibration. Not to put too fine a point on it, this dog will hunt. But it won’t dance. The IS 350 is only slightly less hard-riding than a Skyline GT-R-- with none of the corresponding car control. Woe betides any hard-charging enthusiast who finds an expansion joint or a big old bump in a tight corner; the little Lexus will hop, skip and jump like a colt struggling to get out of a horsebox. Switch off the electronic Nanny, and it’s woe Nellie!-- oversteer oblivion courtesy of the sharpest yet least progressive brakes money can buy. By the same token, I pity the poor bastard who bought an IS 350 thinking he could cruise through an urban landscape without an overly-intimate exploration of the concrete topography. In short, the IS 350 is a bad BMW, rather than a great Lexus. Shame. As I watched the M3 evaporate that afternoon, I wished I was driving an LS, SC or RX. I could have cranked-up the tunes, kicked back and… relaxed. http://thetruthaboutcars.com/content/11350...07406/index.php

All I'm saying is, "nothing short of stunning" is a gross exaggeration in my book.

The 3400 is made in China, which helps keep the Equinox's price down. Perhaps we can get the HFV6s if China makes them, too. ^_^

Interior isn't that horrific, though the wood looks awfully cheap. Lincoln does a lot better with light woods.

Wow, this is excellent news that truly makes GM cars more competitive.

I actually think the pricing is very reasonable, and this coming from a person who finds 95% of GM products overpriced in relation to how good they are. It might not be "value pricing", but these new GMT-900s have more value baked in than any other previous GM model. The '07 Tahoe is actually desirable and class-leading, and the public is willing to spend money for that.

Bah, you beat me to it.