Flybrian

Foldout in the very front of the magazine. I like it at least... Only bad part - no mention of the 4cyl/6AT coming soon. Just the 4cyl/4AT and 6cyl/6AT. This class-exclusive powertrain must be mentioned.

Whoever has that Alero is seriously an awesome guy.

Your hobbies include downing MiG-23 Floggers? Me too!

Thine eyes doth not decieve. Courtesy of Jalopnik.

My guess is NYIAS (April '08) or NAIAS09 (Jan '09)

On the contrary. I care very much to have a temperature gauge (or at least a digital readout), center armrest, and more than one cupholder. This isn't because blankity-blank has it, rather its because GM should have it. When I get into an Asian car, I expect to be disappointed with the feature content, things like flimsy sunvisors with only one shade, big goofy LCD screens that do nothing, manual headlamps, non-auto-locking doors and the like. I expect those little features that make car ownership enjoyable and I'd expect nothing less from General Motors, which has traditionally brought me all those little features.

The oil burn issues were corrected by ~97 and my car simply drips oil, not burn it for an altogether different reason. If you were to look for an Aurora, I'd limit it to '97-'99. Those years have the best features as well as the most suspension and engine tweaks done thoughout the years. Avoid '95s if you can. Don't get me wrong, a '95 can treat you very well, but that year simply had the most problems of them all, one being a transmission solinoid issue. Plus, some of the preventative maintenance things can be tricky to scan because of they OBD-I/II hybrid system. Over time, you'll learn to do some of the light maintenance things yourself and though a transverse layout, the Aurora 4.0 is rather simple for certain things. I would personally choose an Aurora over a DeVille because of the ride quality, uniqueness, and the simple fact that some Cadillac parts cost more by very virtue of being a Cadillac. But don't let that dissuade you because I am an neo-radical Auroraphile. The DeVille Concours offers a very high-quality ride and rather sharp looks. For fuel, I tried a few tanks of 87 once. I got poor mileage, weak acceleration, and by the time the car seemed to get 'used' to the lower octane, I decided it wasn't worth it for the performance tradeoff. Stick with 91/93. If you don't think that is a financial committment you want to do in the long run, then don't consider the cars. They really do get the most out of higher octane. Inspection-wise, for the Aurora, check the transmission shift quality. Is it smooth? Is the fluid fresh? Check the engine temperature. Does it stay around 200-230 in hot conditions? If so, its fine. If it exceeds that, could be a not-good sign. Check the load-leveling suspension. Check the oil pan gasket for leaks. Other than that, just the basics - make sure everything works, etc. Oh, and despite what anyone tells you, the SES lamp is hardly ever 'just a bad O2 sensor don't worry doesn't need fixing.' Its likely a misfire if its blinking or a bad sensor under the hood if its steady. Most of the time its an easy fix, but get it scanned anyway for free at PepBoys or Advance.

Hard to tell from some of those photos, but she shines up very well. We've already gone over it with several stages of Poorboys products and its now probably the best it'll be without a repaint. Still have some exterior detailing to do (like all the chrome), but that may wait until after I get my ___ __ ______ ______ for the Olds.

We'll help you out with that in the coming days.

GM's World Car Seeks To Conquer America By Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief | Link to Original Article @ Edmunds | Date posted: 09-26-2007 One letter. On paper, only one letter separates Frankfort, Ohio from Frankfurt, Germany. In reality, the two cities could not be more different. One is a small town with a blue-collar population of 1,045; the other is a true international city of 650,000 with industries ranging from biotechnology to banking. Regardless, General Motors is betting the same small car will play in both places. The car is the Astra, and history supports the theory. "We sell the Astra everywhere," says Michael Harder of Opel, GM's German subsidiary. "From Iceland to South Africa, from New Zealand to Moscow." And it does so with great success. Still, we can't help but think the little hatchback is about to embark on its toughest challenge: America, the land of the free and the home of the slow-selling hatchback. On top of that, the 2008 Saturn Astra needs to make people forget the horrible Saturn Ion, the very worst car ever sold in America. This won't be easy, even for the best selling three-door compact in Europe. But after a day behind the wheel we're confident the Saturn Astra has a shot. We Drove the Three-Door Flat-out on the autobahn just west of Frankfurt, the Saturn's speedometer needle is creeping past 110 mph. Jon J. Lauckner, GM's vice president of global program management, told us we would be impressed with the Astra's high-speed stability, and we are. The road is smoother than I-70 just outside Frankfort, but the Astra is undeniably locked in. We knew it would be. In the past six months we've taken advantage of the Astra's world car status and have driven the 2007 Opel Astra 1.8, which is sold throughout Europe and Russia, and the 2007 Holden HSV Astra VXR, which is a regular down in Kangaroo land. This time we're in the three-door Saturn Astra XR, the hottest version Americans will be offered. It rides on standard 18-inch Dunlop SP Sport summer tires, which give the Astra plenty of road-holding. A quicker 14:1 steering ratio (optional on five-doors) is also standard, along with sportier suspension tuning and a 15mm lower ride height. Under the hood, however, is the same 1.8-liter DOHC Ecotec four-cylinder that'll power every other Astra. It packs variable valve timing, a 6,500-rpm redline and an iron block. The compression ratio is 10.5:1 and it runs on regular. With ratings of 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 126 pound-feet of torque at 3,800 rpm, it's strong for the class, especially for its size. The 1.8-liter in the Versa delivers just 122 hp. Still, it's far from the class state of the art. The 2.5-liter in the VW Rabbit makes 170 hp and it's backed by a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. The Astra's standard manual also packs five gears, but its optional automatic offers just four. No Turbo, No Drop Top Although the Holden HSV Astra VXR is powered by a turbocharged 240-hp version of the Saturn Astra's engine, that engine is not U.S. bound. We had hopes it would morph into the Saturn Astra Red Line, but Lutz tells us it's not happening. "Too much emissions work," he said. The wagon version will also be left in Europe because Americans buy even fewer wagons than they do hatchbacks. Sadly, the Twin-Top convertible Astra, which has a retractable hardtop, won't make it because of the investment needed to make it meet U.S. crash test standards. Instead just two body styles, both hatchbacks, will be offered: three-door and five-door. Trim levels? Also two. The five-door is offered in XE or XR trim, while the three-door is XR only. Pricing starts at $15,995 (including destination) for the five-door XE, $17,545 for the five-door XR and $18,495 for the XR three-door. That may sound like a lot for a car in this class, but the standard equipment list is long. Even the XE comes with a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, ABS, 16-inch wheels, OnStar, six airbags, stability control and a CD player. Every three-door XR, like our five-speed test car, gets steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, power door locks, power windows and height-adjustable sport seats. Nicely Finished but Noisy Car snobs will check the Astra's chassis hardware and mock it for not having an independent rear suspension. And they might have a point, but the front-wheel-drive Astra XR is far more fun to throw around than its hardware and 63 percent front weight bias would suggest. Although understeer is definitely its preferred cornering attitude, on a snaking mountain road it should outrun and out-fun most cars that cost under $20,000. We also like the tight shift linkage and easy clutch take-up, but had a hard time with the Astra's pedal placement. Heel-and-toe downshifting is easier in a Peterbilt. Praising the Astra's electrohydraulic steering is easy. It's a touch dead on-center, but it's weighted nicely and properly quick, and the leather-wrapped three-spoke wheel feels substantial. Actually, everything about the Astra feels substantial. Unlike the Ion, which had a bucket-of-bolts quality, nothing about the Astra is tinny or cheap. From its overall structure down to its interior trim, the Astra has a tight, well-assembled, upscale finish. Still, things aren't perfect. There's only one cupholder, for instance, and it's located where the missing center armrest should be. Rear visibility is compromised by the low roof line, small backlight and standard rear headrests and the 160 mph speedo writes a check the car can't cash. Top speed is about 130 mph. We also wonder why there's no engine temperature gauge. Dynamically our wish list is limited to a 6th gear. The five-speed manual is geared too short. It gives the car a spunky feeling around town, but on the highway the engine is working for it. Eighty mph in top gear equals 4,000 rpm on the tach. That's too high and it causes quite a bit of engine boom to find its way into the Astra's cabin. If you're road tripping in an Astra, bring aspirin. Rabbit Size At 170.5 inches long, 69 inches wide and 57.4 inches tall, the Astra five-door is dimensionally very similar to the Rabbit. The three-door is the same length and width but is almost 2 inches lower to give it a more sinister squatted stance. The cost, of course, is some rear-seat headroom. Cargo volume also takes a small hit. The five-door offers a maximum of 44.7 cubic feet with its rear seats folded (a Nissan Versa offers 50 cubic feet), while the three-door offers 37.8 cubic feet. GM says that's OK because the three-door is more about style and driving fun than practicality. "The three-door shows the essence of the Astra design family," says Uwe Muller, the car's designer. He points out the car's wedge shape, dominant shoulders and arching greenhouse as its highlights. And there's no denying it's quite butch compared to the Versa or the Rabbit. Exterior differences between an Opel Astra and a Saturn Astra are nearly impossible to spot, although Saturn says the front and rear bumpers are different, as well as the grille. Christmas Present When the Astra hits Main Street this December, it'll conclude a two-year-long product onslaught by Saturn, and it'll make the still-fresh Saturn Sky the oldest car in the brand's lineup. Trouble is, the Astra isn't really a new car. This version of the hatchback debuted in Europe way back in January 2004, which means it's fast approaching another redesign. Rumor is there's a sedan in those plans that will find its way to America's 440 Saturn dealers around 2010. In the meantime, the 2008 Saturn Astra is a real alternative to the popular Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla and VW Rabbit. Is it perfect? Nope, it isn't even the best car in its class, but it is the best small car GM has ever sold in the United States, and it's worth a look. ---------------- The Versa, FWIW, is a boring box of rocks.

Cadillac Ready for Right-Hand Drive CTS Production By Herb Shuldiner | Link to Original Article @ Wards Auto | Sep 26, 2007 9:17 AM NEW YORK – The strike late Monday morning by the United Auto Workers union is putting a crimp in General Motors Corp. plans to launch right-hand-drive Cadillac CTS production for export markets. The union called a nationwide strike at GM plants after it failed to reach a new contract with the auto maker in time to meet a self-imposed 11 a.m. deadline Monday. RHD versions of the new CTS, revamped for ’08, were to begin rolling down the line at GM’s Lansing, MI, assembly plant this week. Among markets slated to get the RHD models are Australia and South Africa, both set to offer the CTS for the first time. CTS Vehicle Line Executive Randy Schwarz said last week prior to the walkout that the domestic pipeline for the car now had been adequately filled, because the plant had reached its 400-unit per day target. He said GM expects to sell 60,000 CTS sedans in the revamped car’s first full year on the market, but the Lansing plant has capacity to build more – without necessitating a third shift – if demand warrants. The plant, which also builds the Cadillac STS and SRX, employed two shifts with some overtime prior to the walkout. The average transaction price for the ’08 CTS is in the $37,000-$38,000 range. The new direct-injection V-6 now accounts for about 35% of the CTS sales mix, but Schwarz said that should drop to 30% after the initial new-model purchasing rush. The 3.6L V-6 is a “free flow” option, meaning it can be ordered as a standalone option, not strictly part of some broader package. Schwarz forecasts 30%-40% of the cars will be purchased with optional all-wheel drive.

As you can see from the photos, the paint is actually in great shape elsewhere. I think its been repainted (at least parts) professionally once before and its actually a nice metallic brown. The cost of what I would consider to be a good paintjob makes no economic sense to me. If I were to do that, then I'd want to straighten out the rear bumper, buy new fiberglass fillers for the rear, replace the grille, find proper chrome molding for the sides, and of course get an accurate passenger fender. After spending several thousand dollars, it would be factory-perfect, undiscernable to the average Joe, and still be a brown LeSabre with crank windows. Oh, and I'd also feel like a 'tard for spending that much on cosmetics. So, negative to the paint job. Lots of mechanical work is taking place now - fluid flushes, replacement of expendable parts, new blankity-blanks. You all will see it shortly as hinted at above . A/C will wait until early next year as the mild winters don't necessitate any sort of climate control for the next few months. I want to get the damn clock to work, though.

Buick LeLectra. But if anyone asks, I'm going to just say this was a strike car from the '70s and the UAW folks in St. Louis thought it would be a riot. Ravenfreak - approximately the bottom six inches of the rear quarters appear to have been Krylon'd. I'll get better pics later.

No one in my immediate family doesn't own GM. No one in my girlfriend's immediate or extended family owns anything but GM or Ford. None of my close friends owns anything but a domestic at the moment (except one who has an '89 Accord). No one in their extended families (except my friend with the Honda) owns anything but domestic as far as I know. Heck, I even extended family on my mother's side who still live in Taiwan and they own a Buick Excelle. What is this Toyota that you folks speak of?

Oh, and in recognition of your achievements, Vonveezelsnider, you are hereby bestowed with the Cheers and Gears GMissary Badge for Meritorious Conversion... And the handy take-home version...

You need to send some of that kharma my way. Now, my friend wants a Tuscon or RAV4. I'm pushing hard on a pre-owned VUE or Equinox and I'm even pulling the Suzuki card in that if you don't get something domestic, get something quasi-domestic kinda sort of in a way.

Lots of great new entries, guys. Unless anyone has pending work, this will close Midnight, Thursday 9.27. If you have a pending submission, let me know ASAP. Thanks!

Unless anyone has something pending, this closes tonight.

2008 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra 1500 Series Trucks Only Full-Size Pickups With Top Five-Star Side-Impact Safety Rating DETROIT, Mich. - The 2008 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 Series pickup trucks have received the federal government's highest side-impact crash rating - five stars - making Silverado and Sierra the industry's only full-size pickups to earn this top rating. Silverado and Sierra 1500 Series Regular Cab, Extended Cab and Crew Cab models all received the highest possible side-impact rating for models tested with and without available head curtain side-impact air bags. The Silverado and Sierra previously received the federal government's highest frontal crash test rating of five stars. Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). "Customers continue to rank safety higher on their lists for new vehicle purchases and that helped us make safety before, during, and after a crash among our chief priorities when we redesigned the all-new Silverado and Sierra pickups for the 2007 model year," said Gary A. White, GM vice president and vehicle line executive for full-size trucks. "The industry-leading safety attributes of these pickups add to their well-deserved and longstanding reputation for dependability and durability, the hallmarks of a great pickup truck." Silverado and Sierra deliver 360 degrees of crash protection through a stronger frame and body structure as well as industry- and segment-leading technology. They are also designed to provide increased compatibility with other vehicles. Features include segment-first StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology; available roof-mounted rollover-capable head curtain side air bags, which are integrated into strengthened chassis and body structures to provide excellent passenger protection; and segment-first safety belt pretensioners that activate during a rear impact. The rollover-capable head curtain side air bags are available on Silverado LT and LTZ and Sierra SLE and SLT models; they are standard on Sierra Denali models.

I've always requested domestic and its netted me: Grand Am GT sedan Monte Carlo LTZ Impala base DeVille base Chevy Classic Dodge Ram (twice...never again) Freestyle And unfortunately... Corolla (thrice) Elantra (suicide) Murano (puke) Altima (bleh)

lol the xB and cohesive.

Don't you mean in the porcelain...?

In Reg's defense, the Aztek does have two reverse lamps.