Flybrian

TheCarConnection Daily Auto News: Sep. 15, 2006 The first two models from Toyota's Scion division are on their farewell tour. But unlike Cher, Toyota really means it: the Scion xA and xB will end production this year in advance of two new models coming to the division in spring of 2007. "The xA and xB will always be very special models for us and have contributed greatly to Scion's success, but we're ready to move into our next product phase," said Mark Templin, vice president, Scion. The pair, on sale since June 2003, have sold more than 200,000 copies combined through July. The new models replacing the xA and xB will be 2008 models, Toyota said in a release.

I just read this (and was about to post it...) and I have to agree with their conclusion - calling this a Malibu LTZ while giving the SS a little more (5-spd auto/optional stick, turbo'd 3.9l, more neat trim inside) would've been appropriate.

A Vue With Some Room Motley Fool Thursday September 14, 4:57 pm ET By Rich Smith Link to Original Article @ Yahoo!Business Whenever I write something not particularly flattering about U.S. automakers, I find myself promptly inundated with reader emails -- some of them even printable in a family publication. "Why don't you report the good news?" people ask. And I answer: "As soon as there is some, heck, yeah, I'll write about it." Well, let the bells ring out in Mudville, folks. I've finally got something nice to say about Detroit. A couple of weeks ago, the weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal ran its regular column on a particular car of particular interest. This particular week, it was the Saturn Vue Green Line, a hybrid SUV manufactured by GM (NYSE: GM - News), that caught the Journal's eye. For years now, it seemed Detroit could do nothing right. If it wasn't cutting production, it was losing money on what it did produce. If it wasn't selling enough cars, it was practically giving them away with absurd financing terms. Perhaps the ceaseless stream of bad news has made the Journal jaundiced when it comes to writing about GM, but I must say I disagree with its opinion that the Green Line is "a scaled-down hybrid," a "compromise," and a "half-step." If you ask me, this "half-step" is just what the doctor ordered. Sure, the Green Line uses dated hybrid technology. It's not as fuel-efficient in the city as are hybrid SUVs from Ford (NYSE: F - News), Honda (NYSE: HMC - News), or Toyota (NYSE: TM - News). But consider the Green Line's strong points. When compared with its competitors, its base price of $22,370 beats its cheapest SUV rival, Ford's Escape hybrid, by a good $3,000, and is just half the price of a top-of-the-line Lexus RX 400h. Moreover, although the Green Line falls short of its rivals on city-driving fuel efficiency, it beats all comers on highway mileage (32 mpg, according to EPA estimates) -- and it does this while providing better towing capacity and more horsepower than the Escape. None of which, however, touches on the real reason why I think GM's Green Line is going to be a success story for the Detroit automaker. For that, you need to turn to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or (for the Cliff's Notes version) to a column I wrote back in January, titled "Detroit's Stealth Subsidy." You see, starting this year, the IRS is giving away tax credits to buyers of hybrid automobiles. The credits range in value from $250 to $3,400 and are an improvement on the tax deductions that were offered in years past. But there is a catch. Each carmaker has a quota attached to it. Only the first 60,000 buyers of any given company's cars get to claim the full credit, which means that right about now, Toyota and Lexus buyers are running up against their quota, and Honda buyers are eyeing their own quota warily. But Ford and GM have a veritable cornucopia of quota slots for the taking. Because Ford came late to the hybrid game, it doesn't make enough hybrids for its tax-credit quota to run out any time soon. Because GM comes later still, it too has quotas aplenty. Long story short: thanks to the U.S. Congress, Toyota and Honda hybrid shoppers are about see their expected tax credits start disappearing. For many, that might push them to another brand. And to whom will they turn for a cheap hybrid SUV, fully loaded with the optional tax credit package? GM. Not sure why a credit isn't a deduction, or vice versa, but afraid to ask? Drop by the Fool's own Tax Center and learn more than you ever wanted to know about the Internal Revenue Code. Fool contributor Rich Smith does not own shares in any company named above.

Sorry. Would've known that if I weren't pulling three shifts at Dunkin' Donuts so I can afford a Lexus...

This thread is better now.

Thanks, guys. Now, I'm going to go get a second job so I can afford a Lexus. Oh, wait... All I need is $299 down for a 12kmile/year lease? Maybe I'll get just one now... By the way, you know a person runs out of steam when they bring up the simply hillarious 'can't afford' statement.

2002 Camaro

Reminds me of the Chrysler Citadel. Also, that Nepta is about the only appealing Renault I've ever seen. Citroen usually makes some beautiful cars.

I simply found it funny that the 'all-new' GS carried over a then-lacksidasical 245hp V6 at a time when everyone else had long passed that by.

Spending so-and-so much on a car with the same V6 its had for eight years when the next year, one with so much more horsepower comes out. Duuuuuu'h

GM sees gains in pickup truck segment Reuters Wednesday September 13, 2:08 pm ET By Jui Chakravorty Link to Original Article @ Yahoo!News DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp.'s (NYSE:GM - News) new warranty program will give the automaker an edge in the highly competitive market for full-size pickup trucks, a segment where GM will likely gain market share in the near term, a top company executive told Reuters on Wednesday. Brent Dewar, vice president of sales, service and parts, also said that the world's largest automaker is on target to sell 3 million vehicles in U.S. showrooms this year, almost unchanged from 2005. "We're on track ... It's going to be almost flat year-over-year," he said at the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit. "We had some tough (comparisons) in the June-July time frame," he said. "We will beat our retail numbers on the back half of the year." GM is trying to recover from a $10.6 billion loss in 2005. The company's near-term strategy hinges on selling new pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles -- models with the largest profit margins -- to help revive North American operations. Last year, GM spearheaded a massive incentive program that offered employee discounts to all consumers, boosting sales through the summer by luring people into showrooms sooner, but subsequently weakening sales for the rest of the year. In keeping with its recently-launched plan for clearer pricing and reduced spending on incentives, GM has cut its incentive-spend by $900 per vehicle, on average, so far this year, Dewar said. GM's new five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty on 2007 models will help the carmaker take sales from rival brands in the pickup truck market, a segment that has suffered because of declining U.S. housing starts and higher interest rates. "(The new warranty) is a huge enabler on full-size pickups," Dewar said. "It's a real plus." PICKUPS MEAN PROFIT Pickups have been a source of profit for the Big Three U.S. automakers - GM, Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - News) and DaimlerChrysler AG's (XETRA:DCXGN.DE - News) Chrysler Group, which have steadily lost share in small and mid-sized cars to Asian brands in recent years. Dewar said GM's 24-percent share of the U.S. market is probably sustainable. "We think that's probably a good number," he said. "In days gone by, we might have been driving that number harder." He also said he expects resale values of GM vehicles to rise through the rest of 2006, boosted by the new warranty program. So far this year, GM's resale value is up 7 percentage points on cars and 3 percentage points on trucks. GM's vice chairman of global product development, Bob Lutz, earlier this year said U.S. market share is sustainable in the low-to-mid-20 percentage range over time. The company plans to launch the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks later this year to compete with Ford's F-Series pickup and the upcoming Tundra pickup from Toyota Motor Co. (Tokyo:7203.T - News). GM is also banking on the success of three new crossover vehicles -- which generally look like SUVs but are built on the underpinnings of a car and are more fuel efficient. GM plans to launch the GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook models early next year. Total U.S. vehicle sales, including heavy trucks, are running at an annualized rate of about 17.1 million units so far this year, and GM expects the industry to end the year at about 17 million. Dewar said he expected the U.S. market industry-wide to remain near current levels in 2007. "When we weigh it all in and we look at where we think interest rates are going to be next year, where we think crude (oil) will be next year, we still see a pretty strong marketplace here in the United States ... " he said.

Your business manager/president is an idiot. Let's see how he reacts if you go to his house and open his mail (and do his wife). In any case, I like my suggestion. Also, write bogus letters addressed to yourself with things like, "If you're reading this, lose some weight" or "This paper is being handled by a lifeless bitch." What ground does she have to complain, "Oh, I was opening a letter addressed to Bob and it said..." Why don't you just go up to her and say, "Hey. Will you stop opening mail addressed to me?"

I think our only E85 stations now are at the Kennedy Space Center and Hurburt Field, so unless I'm the shuttle or an F-15...

So, everyone who bought the '06 GS is a total moron.

Welcome to the Choppin' Competition #27 Voting thread! Remember, artists who entered must vote for someone other than themselves. Those that do not vote or vote for themselves will be asessed a two (2) point penalty. Voters, please nominate three (3) entries in this format: 1st place 2nd place 3rd place Each first place vote earns 3 points, each second place vote 2 points, and each third place vote 1 point. Voting begins now and will end Tuesday, September 26, 2006 @ 11:59PM. Only those votes cast during that time will be counted. Remember, the 1st place winner will recieve a special GM Truck-related prize from Cheers and Gears! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 VOTE----------------VOTE----VOTEVOTE----VOTEVOTEVOTE--VOTEVOTEVOTE-- -VOTE--------------VOTE---VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- --VOTE------------VOTE----VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- ---VOTE----------VOTE-----VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- ----VOTE--------VOTE------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE---- -----VOTE------VOTE-------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE---- ------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- -------VOTE--VOTE---------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- --------VOTEVOTE----------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- -----------VOTE----------------VOTEVOTE----------VOTE---------VOTEVOTEVOTE-- Good luck to all who entered!

Welcome to Choppin' Competition #28! Saturn's new midsize Aura is certainly the talk of the town. We know near-future variants include a Green Line Hybrid and likely a Red Line performance version, but what can possibly be next? Its up to you. Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to modify the Saturn Aura in any manner you see fit. Show us what the GL and RL versions will look like. Rumors are that Saturn will import an Opel for their midsize wagon, so one sharing the Aura name is appropriate. Coupes, convertibles, or simply make some subtle improvements to the current sedan. Whatever you think would add to the Aura. Suggested Picture Sources... Aura @ AutoDeadline Aura @ SATURN.com (click 'Download Wallpaper') Size guidelines remain at 800x600, so please size your entry accordingly. Please do not submit your images as Bitmap (.bmp) files. Also, please use only the Saturn Aura as your starting image. The winner will recieve a Saturn-related prize from C&G! Deadline is Tuesday, September 26th @ 11:59PM your local time. Good luck and have fun!

Taking a guess - 1970s Skoda S100/110, rear-engined, 1.0l or 1.1l 4cyl motor, obviously a rally car. *EDIT* 1970-1981 Skoda S110R coupe. rear-mounted 1.1l 4cyl OHV. Won their Rally class for over 15 years. Popular in England for some reason.

Wheels look tiny. Plus, Its a Hyundai.

Idea: Send a letter to a friend at your work describing in ridiculous detail about how you plan to sacrifice the receptionist to the Egyptian god Osiris to ensure a healthy, fertile growing season for your marijuana plants next spring.

I would never spend money on a Chevrolet or Saturn. I'm sure I'm not alone. That itself is enough reason to get it in gear.

Certainly. I like it and I can seriously see it in 1:18 scale as a DubCity car. That's a good thing.

Deadline is four hours. Anyone need extra time?

Regardless, skyscrapers look cool. Which is more visually arresting? Also, they make an impression on your organization. People know the Pan Am Building, the Chrysler Building, the Sears Tower, the Transamerica Building. Who recalls The Oaks by the Woodland Lake II or Ye Olde TownePointe?

Agreed. Its all about control Few have it. Most don't.

Well, whaddaya know...its true. 105.3in vs. 112.3in.