Flybrian

Yeah, that's my point. It doesn't make sense unless you apply the same mispronounciation allowance to the root word. Nucleus is the root word of Nuclear. If more people understood basic English, then people wouldn't make asses out of themselves so frequently and abundantly they have to make idiotic changes like that.

Any updates on this?

So...science discovered a 'Nuculus'?

Its actually pretty unAmerican to not ride a bike to work out of necessity. Last time I checked, America was the land of doing-what-you-had-to-do-to-get-by-and-succeed. People do what they have to in this country and work towards better times.

Agreed, but ask yourself - what irons did SAAB have in the fire before the GM takeover? My guess is 'none,' so is GM at fault for SAAB's mediocrity? Not really. They didn't 'starve' them of money or 'rob' them of anything; they just bought SAAB and let it largely fend for itself. GM may have not called 911, but they didn't start the fire nor did they throw gasoline on it.

88lbs = a 3-4mpg drop in economy? So, what happens when people sit in it? Seriously, aside from emissions, this seems like a very inadequate car. 25/34 is on city mpg more than a 4cyl Accord stick and not much more than V6 Accords (21/30 stick & 20/29 auto). Is this car that much more expensive than a comparably-equipped V6 Accord, because if so, what's the point? I'm believing more and more that hybrids aren't two $h!s about saving gas; they're about emissions but moreover a testbed for all these new engine management electronics. I believe JDM hybrids advertise their remarkably advanced electronics and nothinga bout fuel savings.

No, not in the same way SAAB is/was. BMW and Mercedes were large in their home market, Subaru a player in theirs, Volvo much more dominant in Sweeden, and Acuras are Hondas. All that means they had the financial support to fall back on as 'niche' brands stateside and major brands elsewhere. GM has had less than a decade of full SAAB ownership during which time its experienced its own ups and downs.

and if you do happen to do 'a', never, ever do 'b'... From a friend of mine. She just bought a Del Sol. No, like, a good one.

You don't consider Fiji a major country? How dare you.

I agree about the screen. The stack looks very empty without it, too empty. And its not like GM doesn't have experience in making touch-sensitive CRT displays. If not NAV, give it some cool, dynamic radio readout with some IR or Bluetooth capability so you can upload some address book/planner/calendar thing on it.

SAAB starved themselves of product for decades, that precedent was set long before GM took over. What people don't see when comparing the Sweedes is that Volvo has always been more mainstream while SAAB was definitely boutique - two models, a few variations, years and years between significant changes - with a limited market willing to pay a large premium for a largely-unsupported car with quirky aspects. The 9-5 is a vestige of that pre-GM thinking. Now, I agree GM should've exploited SAABs limited appeal to these lower-end models becoming so popular now (TSX, S40), but they have tried. I don't see how you can blame SAABs langusihing as a brand on GM because it seems extrodinarily difficult to bring a niche product into the mainstream while not alienating the core buyers. The 9-3 is a great product no doubt and that was partly (if not more)-GM. I'm not even going to get much into the SAAB/Subaru debacle. That became a clusterfuck when it could've panned out perfectly, giving SAAB Subaru's AWD knowledge and performance while giving Subaru some quality and more safety.

I'll bet money (how 'bout $5.00?) the next Malibu has LED tails. The load-leveling is a product of the Avalon discussion.

Heh. I was speaking generally of Chevrolet of today. For the Impala and Monte Carlo, absolutely. In almost every era, there is something with greater appeal to me. Versus the Impala, select any other GM fullsize - Catalina, Bonneville, Eighty-Eight, LeSabre. In modern times, I'd gladly choose at GP GXP over a similar Impala SS, 'tacky' styling and all. For the previous Impala, no question a Regal GS. Regarding the Monte Carlo, a fine car, but consider other personal luxury coupes like the Toronado and Riviera. Too expensive? Cutlass, Regal (Grand National, anyone?), and Grand Prix coupes. In modern times, no question - GP GTP coupe over a similar Monte or for the price of entry, again the Riviera. Now, the exceptions would be the '94-96 Impala SS and the 1995-1997 Monte Carlo. While the Roadmaster and Fleetwood had the same V8, the SS was set up for performance. Plus, it has sinister looks and sportier buckets. Against GM's other midline coupes in the mid-90s, I liked the Lumina Carlo the best, but when the GTP coupe bowed in '98 with the s/c 3800? See ya, Chevy. El Camino I'll give you, that's a Chevy classic no doubt and a very neat vehicle. Plus, I'd rather drive a road than a gentleman . In general, though, I prefer the looks of GMCs to Chevrolets. The Corvette is obvious, too. The XLR is nice no doubt, but it ain't no 'Vette. That's why I said 'vast majority.' Truce?

That's it right there - you're used to it because (I'm assuming) cars you drive have it. Its significant as it keeps the headlamps level even with a loaded trunk and/or passengers in the back. A car also has a bit more class when its driving at an even keel and not dragging its butt along like a dog in heat. I would argue its 'better' than the headliner material. As long as its of quality, who cares? I typically don't rest my hand or head on the actual roof of the car. Carpet mats are a $199 option? $600 for Roadside Assistance? That's something domestics have offered on every car for as long as I can remember. Even if you never use it, its a nice piece of mind. Ponchoman brings up another point in the Avalon's trunk space, a paltry 14.4 cu.ft. For a car its size, that's flat-out unacceptable. What excuse does it havehave? Compare against segment leaders: 2006 Avalon - 14.4 cu.ft. Chrysler 300 - 15.6 cu.ft. Buick Lucerne - 17.0 cu.ft. Chevy Impala - 18.6 cu.ft. Mercury Montego - 21.2 cu.ft. And these... Toyota Corolla - 13.5 cu.ft. Chevy Cobalt coupe - 13.9 cu.ft. Honda Civic sedan - 14.0 cu.ft. 2006 Avalon - 14.4 cu.ft. Saturn ION - 14.7 cu.ft. Mazda6 - 15.2 cu.ft. Chevy Malibu - 15.4 cu.ft. ('05) Camry - 16.7 cu.ft.

Would the latter be a direct result of the former?

None and likely never will. For the vast majority of Chevrolets, GM makes something better under a different brand.

Retail perhaps, but probably not fleet. I had a 2005 base Impala with cassette deck only.

Oh, know what I'm sayin'?

And the same can be said about many current domestic products, yet Toyota gets the free pass on this. I'll make a remark about load-leveling, something that the Avalon in its third generation still lacks. Domestic fullsizers have had this feature for decades. This is something I don't understand as they're constantly made out to be the obvious front-runner when the reality what's best depends on the compromises you're willing to make.

Its very ass-heavy, like J-Lo ass-heavy. Unlike J-Lo, its unattractive.

They still look funny regardless.

Bennifer. That needed to die so, so very bad.

Heh yeah. There was a 12-pack for like $50,000. No thanks.

Got my Aurora at the tender age of 19.

Coupelike in a Mercedes CLS way I suppose.