pow

All this DOHC OHV BOF turbo stuff is making me sleepy, but just to throw it in there... ... inline-sixes are teh rulez!~!! Seriously, though. The other day I had my windows down, and I didn't realize I was in 3rd instead of 5th, because the engine is just so damn smooth. Without looking at the tach, you can't tell the difference between 5000 rpm or 2500 rpm.

Twelve years is far, far away, and with oil prices the way they are, as well as the interest of green technologies and a new generation of drivers, I'm confident we'll exceed 35 miles per gallon, CAFE or not. I don't see performance cars or classics being compromised any time soon, as they exist in relatively low numbers, and apart from the odd 300C or G8, there aren't mainstream V8 sedans anymore. This effects the average everyday car, and for most people, the silence of hybrid drive or lower fueling costs would be an advantage.

I'm sorry, but how can a car that doesn't have Bluetooth be TECH car of the year? If it's vote for "best looking" or "most improved, then sure, but this is something you use every time you drive. With new cell phone bans coming soon, it's arguably more useful than DVD entertainment, automatic parking, or nav (except live traffic, of course). Odd how there's no mention of SYNC... sure its interface is dated, but audio text messaging is nice.

Sorry, I only lived seven months in the '80s.

I'd lease a Rabbit or GTI with the crazy sign THEN drive lease deals they have going on... Rabbit: $249/mo, $0 due at lease signing, 12K mi/yr, 39 mo GTI: $309/mo, $0 due at lease signing, 12K mi/yr, 39 mo Ends January 2, 2008 Payments can be negotiated even lower, especially if you're a current VW owner. GTI's fuel economy is pretty good for 200 hp and 207 lb-ft -- 21/29 compared to 24/33 for a five-speed 2.2 Cobalt.

Should have gotten a Highlander. The only Toyotas with "good" head restraints are the Tundra and Highlander. http://www.iihs.org/ratings/head_restraint...nts.aspx?toyota Cars with "good" head restraint performance: Acura: MDX, RDX Audi: A3, A4, A6 BMW: X3, X5 Buick: None Cadillac: None Chevrolet: Cobalt Chrysler: None Dodge: None Ford: Edge, Five Hundred, Freestyle, Taurus GMC: None Honda: Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Odyssey, Pilot HUMMER: None Hyundai: Entourage, Santa Fe, Sonata, Veracruz Infiniti: None Isuzu: None Jaguar: S-type Jeep: Grand Cherokee Kia: Optima, Sedona, Sorento Land Rover: LR3 Lexus: None Lincoln: MKX Mazda: None Mercedes: E-class, M-class Mercury: Sable MINI: None Mitsubishi: Lancer, Outlander Nissan: Sentra, Versa Pontiac: None Porsche: None SAAB: 9-2X, 9-3 Saturn: VUE Scion: xD Subaru: Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Tribeca Suzuki: None Toyota: Highlander, Tundra Volkswagen: New Beetle Volvo: C70, S40, S60, S80, XC90

The whole point of a cute ute, IMO, is something light, economical, roomy, cheap, and easy to park, like a hatchback, but taller and with AWD. Think last-gen RAV4 or first-gen CR-V. The newer ones are too big (almost as long as a midsize sedan), too heavy (3300 lbs+), and too expensive ($22K+). They're replacing midsize sedans when, in fact, they should be a step up from an econobox. Most small SUVs = econobox quality, econobox driving dynamics, midsize sedan room, midsize sedan price, and midsize sedan fuel economy.

Looks good. I can't imagine recessed headlights and grille being any good for aerodynamics, and besides, the concept looks too much like a Camaro.

No such thing as snow here, but I spotted two smart fortwos yesterday. One was black, and the other was red - a cabrio, I think. That's twice the number of Malibus I've seen on the road so far, which incidentally, was a LS model with a barcode. It was going pretty fast, too, so it probably had the fleet-only 3.5 V6.

With more features, the price would have gone up, too. Features are worth 20%, price is worth 25%, so the scoring is arguably already in Malibu's favor. This is one of the best Malibu reviews/comparison I've read so far; there's tons of detail, enough to let the reader come up with his or her own conclusion. My experiences with all four of these cars relate with their's.

Yes. Speaking of which, I stopped by the Chevy dealer again (I was picking up wiper blade inserts from the VW store next door), and they had a 1LT with the cocoa/cashmere cloth interior. I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked it, especially compared to the other interior combinations I've been in, Ultralux and leather included.

I don't know, I welcome the different viewpoint of the review. Clearly you can tell from the tone of his voice, he isn't buying the hype, and the article doesn't have the same generic Lutztacular background you read elsewhere, about how it's so significant and game-changing and so on. It's amazing how different the response to the new Malibu is compared to the very-similar AURA. The point about the A-pillar is legit (the qualms with his pre-production car less so), and I think it speaks to the fact that, as a midsize family appliance doing midsize family duty, it isn't very good. In this regard - functionality, practicality, ergonomics - the Malibu is overrated, especially by some unlikely press distracted by its good looks, confusing it for having the same polish and thoroughness as all-new cars like the Lambdas, GMT900s, and CTS. But being a GM fan, that's fine with me, and this being a GM forum, I'll shut up now...

"Sorry, I don't know sir. Actually, I made a wrong turn. And to be honest with you, I think we are lost." "Hm."

I don't think the add-ons were designed to the same level as the rest of the car. The extra slashes and creases and bulges detract from the strong (yet clean) lines and shapes of the regular CTS.

Pontiac cuts $1,500 off base price of Vibe Pontiac Announces Pricing for 2009 Vibe All-New Version of Compact Crossover Starts Under $16k DETROIT - Pontiac today confirmed pricing for the 2009 Vibe will start at $15,895 when it arrives in dealer showrooms in February 2008. Also returning to the Vibe family for the 2009 model year, an all-wheel drive model will start at $19,495 and the performance-oriented GT model will start at $19,895. All prices include a $585 destination and freight charge. "Our goal with the new Vibe was to enhance its style and performance without sacrificing functionality and fuel economy," said Craig Bierley, Pontiac marketing director. "Every Vibe model now comes with a bold new look, increased engine power and a host of standard safety features, but still gets up to 32 miles per gallon." The Vibe is powered by a 1.8-liter engine and five-speed manual transmission that can be upgraded to a 2.4-liter engine. Standard safety features include four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, six airbags and OnStar. All-wheel drive and GT models come standard with the 158 hp 2.4-liter engine. Customers can get a closer look at the 2009 Vibe at www.pontiac.com/2009vibe.

Hello G35 with RL headlights and LS hood.

As far as observed fuel economy, it's within four percent of its EPA rating of 17 MPG city, so it's plausible. The observed fuel economy for the other cars were also close to their EPA city rating - 19 MPG.

That's how I would have predicted, too. I do agree with some of M/T's complaints -- rear seat comfort and brake feel. The LT model I drove had a clunky initial "loose" feeling before they engage. But I don't find the interior as luxurious as they describe. I wonder when the 4-cylinder reviews/comparisons come out, since they're predicted to make up 70% of Malibu sales.

... as long as it's the one in the Impala with AFM and the lower final drive, not the G6, which gets 15 MPG city, 22 MPG hwy. Lucerne CX: 3800, Series III 197 hp, 227 lb-ft 3761 lbs 16/25 MPG Impala LTZ: 3.9L, AFM 233 hp, 240 lb-ft 3,729 lbs 18/28 MPG The 3.9's additional power and economy would make Lucerne more competitive with Avalon (268 hp, 19/28 MPG) and Taurus (265 hp, 18/28 MPG). For the LaX base engine, the 3.5 would probably be sufficient. The Impala LT gets 18/29, and the LaCrosse is even lighter, so who knows. The 3.9 would render the current 3.6 HF pointless on paper.

The STS Platinum interior is actually pretty nice. The design isn't all that great, but the fact that everything is covered in leather makes up for that.

The outrage should have been directed at plain old stupidity than political correctness, IMO.

Yeah, I just cut-and-pasted it from Wikipedia (the "political correctness" definition). I'm with you in that I don't mind the ad; it's just that without such a title, I have a feeling these replies would be rather different. And I'm not saying monaroCountry made it up; it appears to have come from different forums, likely designed to generate some outraged responses. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/misce...-offensive.html http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3572658

Better watch it before YouTube takes it down... http://youtube.com/watch?v=c-xRvDpVtfw The differences between that and the G8 are power (414 v. 362), transmission (available manual), styling (more tacky add-ons), and RHD, but other than that, they're pretty much the same.

It does add more fuel to the fire, but sadly it doesn't add any knowledge or fact. I can quote tons of crap from the internet, too, courtesy of a three-second Google search:

Before you guys get all riled up by an agitator, there is not a mention of the word "offensive" anywhere in that linked article. This has nothing to do with "political correctness" - it doesn't cause offense to racial, cultural, or other identity groups.