Flybrian

^^ I needed it for something a year ago. Never took it out. Waiting for the drunken idiot.

Well, the funny thing is despite being "late to the game" , the domestics have the segment stunners. Swanky stylin' Classic wagon remixed Spongebob DVD on constant loop

Riviera Aurora Allante Reatta convertibles CTS-Vs that aren't thrashed out SKY Eldorado coachbuilt convertibles Mark VIIIs SSR

Um...how is that blue 'flash'? Looks like a flat blue to me, similar to what Dodge used on its trucks in the late-90s. I like the deeper blue better.

Okay, seriously...where does everyone get this impression that there is some pent up American demand for Opel, that everyone knows what Opel is, that Opel has this hallowed image in the states, that anyone besides us car nerds realize Opel exists? What would you change about Saturn, just calling it Opel? How inauthentic is that?

You mean big station wagons? That's really all they are - station wagons with extra headroom and unnecessary ground clearance. I understand the need for the larger ones - Lambdas, Taurus X, Pacifica - but the small sport/luxury crossovers are so laughable to me. Overpriced, worse on fuel economy than a comperable sedan, and totally lacking utility. I recently saw a couple try to squeeze a vacuum cleaner into a Hyundai Tuscon - they were rearranging some bags, folding down a seat, all this hassle. I helped my girlfriend buy a similar vacuum cleaner a few weeks ago and I opened my trunk, put it in, and closed my trunk. WTF? Give me a '76 Estate Wagon with the power tailgate and glass. I'd fiddle with it to make it operate with a key fob to irritate those without power liftgates on their '08s. Not only does it look better than these Veracruz, R-Class jokers, but it carries more, tows more, seats more (9 versus 7), and probably gets similar mileage.

You probably don't go to your Chevy dealership because the dealership atmosphere there sucks and Saturns are more visually-attractive and upscale in apperance and feature content than a comperable Chevrolet. A simple fact is - and no offense to the good Chevy salesmen that post here - if the Chevrolet dealer network did a good enough job keep their customers happy instead of trying to shuck and jive them on undercoating, clearcoating, and sidecoating, there would be no rationale for Saturn.

My thinking is "change for the better" rather than "change for the sake of change." Changing Saturn to Opel in badge-only after years of developing an identity for the brand falls under the latter. Saturn has always been known as a good, cheap, friendly, economical car. Just replace 'cheap' with 'value' and add 'attractive', and that's what Saturn is now.

lol...complaint about the trunk, which is as large/larger than the competition.

I would have to say some of that is completely backwards. 1) No one in the country - aside from us geeks - knows what Opelis. For the vast majority of its existence (and even now), most people didn't know Saturn was associated with General Motors. 2) I counter that people do get what GM is trying to do, GM just isn't doing the best job at conveying it. The AURA debut was met with somewhat stunted advertising, as is the new VUE. And in the case of the OUTLOOK, people are simply not used to higher priced or large Saturn. People have zero familiarity with Opel and Opel has zero resonance with 90% of the buying public. 3) You say Saturn has a "non-image" problem, but then hint at it with "great customer service." Saturn as industry-reknowned customer service, and its an arguable statement that service was the only reason Saturn sold those average, buzzy little cars as long as it did. 4) The advertising may indeed be ironic to us who understand that about half of the future Saturn lineup is imported and the majority of coming models will be designed overseas. But do you think anyone else gets it? Does anyone know the Astra is really an import? Futhermore, does anyone care? Remember, this is the same country that regularly throws out thirty grand on a foreign car with zero ties to the United States without a care and even proudly do so. No offense, but re-recasting Saturn as Opel is a pretty stupid idea, especially since GM has already invested whatever it has bringing Saturn around with some early success.

There are plenty of other new cars coming from the states itself, Europe, and Asia in the next few years. I don't know how anyone can think GM is putting all its eggs in the Zeta basket.

Suzuki's SX Appeal New compact sedan and other upcoming models help expand lineup By KATHY JACKSON | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS Thanks to the new SX4 hatchback and the redesigned XL-7 mid-sized SUV, Suzuki is headed for its second straight 100,000-sales year here in 2007. Suzuki will add a small SX4 sedan this fall and expects the SX4 nameplate to be its best-seller in the coming years. The company also will get its first pickup, a version of the Nissan Frontier. ******** Aerio: The 2007 model year is the last for the Aerio sedan. Reno: A freshening is scheduled for the 2009 model year. Suzuki is considering a high-horsepower engine for the vehicle. Swift: The Swift was last sold here in 2002. It will return to this country as a hatchback for the 2011 model year. There also may be a hybrid sedan. Forenza: A freshening is planned for the 2009 model year. SX4: A sedan will join the SX4 five-door hatchback as a 2008 model. Like the hatchback, it will be powered by a 143-hp, 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine. Unlike the hatchback, which comes with standard all-wheel drive, the sedan will be front-drive only. Awd "was good for the dealers in the Northeast, but it made the car more expensive," says Gary Linam, an Alabama dealer who is a member of the Suzuki dealer council. "A lot of dealers wanted the sedan to come with fwd." New sedan: The Verona, built by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., was plagued with quality problems and killed after the 2006 model year. Sources say Suzuki is designing a Verona-sized sedan that could be on sale here for the 2010 model year. Grand Vitara: The small SUV is due for a freshening for the 2009 model year. A hybrid version may be available by the 2010 model year. XL-7: The vehicle was redesigned for the 2007 model year; no more major changes are planned. Pickup: Suzuki's version of Nissan's Frontier small pickup goes on sale next year as a 2009 model. It will be built at a Nissan plant in Mexico.

Its never not Prius season.

2008 Pontiac G6 GXP Pricing Date posted: 08-24-2007 | Link to Original Article @ Edmunds DETROIT — Pontiac has announced that its new 2008 G6 GXP, now the top model in the G6 lineup, will be priced at $26,795 for the sedan and $26,595 for the coupe. Both prices include a $650 delivery fee. The 2008 G6 GT is priced at $22,995 for both models. In addition, the Street Edition package can be added to either G6 GXP variant. Cost is $990, and it includes a new hood with scoops, plus a hammerhead spoiler unique for both the coupe and sedan models. The coupe's wing is larger than the sedan's. All G6 GXPs are powered by a 3.6-liter DOHC V6 that produces 252 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include a performance-tuned suspension with antilock brakes, 18-inch aluminum-alloy five-spoke wheels and special exterior and interior touches. The G6 GXP will arrive in dealerships in mid-September. What this means to you: GXP fun for your G6 will cost you a few extra grand.

The brakes on my LeSabre are shockingly responsive. Panic stops yield zero problems, other than a little nose dive, and that classic rear end bounce after the car comes to a stop. Another newfound reason for my LeSabre is driving places when traffic is bad. You won't believe how many people simply don't get near this car, on the roads and in the parking lots. I saw a new MDX actually stop, look at the empty space next to me (the third closest to the shopping center), and drive on to park about fifteen spaces further out.

Welcome to Choppin' Competition #44! The sadness about the news that the Chevrolet Trailblazer is slated to be slowly phased out over the next few years begins with the fact that its predecessor, the Blazer, helped birth the midsize SUV market and compounded by the fact that the GMT-360 platform it rides on and Atlas I6 powertrain its powered by are still both very good. Blame substand interior materials and features, aged exterior design, and a seeming lack of interest by GM for this tragedy. But what if it were guaranteed a reprieve from the gallows if you could make a convincing styling argument for it? Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to give any GMT-360 sport utility a design relevant to today. Whether you want to make a mild change, a complete ground-up redo or even add a bodystyle, its your choice. Please use only use the Chevrolet Trailblazer, SAAB 9-7X, GMC Envoy, or Buick Rainier for your base image! However, if you'd like to give your GMT-360 to another brand such as HUMMER, that is acceptable. Get revising! Some Picture Sources... -Chevy Trailblazer @Autodeadline* -Chevy Trailblazer @ GM Media -GMC Envoy @Autodeadline* -GMC Envoy @ GM Media -Buick Rainier @Autodeadline* -Buick Rainier @ GM Media -SAAB 9-7X @Autodeadline* -SAAB 9-7X @ GM Media Size guidelines remain at 800x600, so please size your entry accordingly. Please do not submit your images as Bitmap (.bmp) files. The winner will recieve a GM-related prize from C&G! Deadline is Saturday, September 15th @ 11:59PM your local time. Good luck and have fun! *Instructions for accessing high-resolution images through AutoDeadline: Replace the bold, orange section of the URL... (http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/*query?silverado&Source=all) ...with the make/model/etc you're searching for. Replacing 'silverado' with 'lesabre' will bring up downloadable hi-res images of the Buick LeSabre. Copy into your browser. Hit enter.

Welcome to Sketch Competition #21! As hinted at back in the last Sketch Competition, there's a sequel and this is it. For all the naysaying and critiquing, the Kappa twins have been rather successful, both in their own sales - way outpacing the Miata with the Solstice alone - and in their halo effect, driving people into Pontiac showrooms and heralding a new era for Saturn, respectively. But what if it didn't just end there? Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to design a Kappa-based car for any other GM division. Though bodystyles should be limited to convertible, coupe, or hatch, the styling is completely up to you. Whether you want a baby Corvette under the Chevy banner, a new-age Reatta for Buick, a reborn SAAB Sonnet, or a Cadillac SLK competitor - you imagine it and draw it. And if you even think GMC or HUMMER styling cues could apply or want to show us an Oldsmobile what-if...give it a shot. Again, we highly encourage you to design interiors along with multiple exterior views to really give a complete feel to your design. In these cars especially, interior design is paramount and we'd love to see awesome interiors with awesome exteriors. The only restriction aside from bodystyles is that this cannot be a Pontiac or Saturn! You already did that for the last competition - or should've! Please include at minimum 2 (two) of the following: -3/4 Front View -3/4 Rear View -Interior View **Entries without two perspectives will still be accepted, but will incur a 2-point penalty at the end of voting** Remember, people will be voting based on the overall presentation of your entry, so the more views, the better, including ones not specifically listed above. Aside from 800x600 size guidelines, remember this cannot be a Pontiac or Saturn vehicle. The winner will recieve a GM-related prize! Deadline is Tuesday, August 18th @ 11:59PM your local time. Good luck!

Toyota has compassion for my vision More like the Grand Prix GXP*Front-wheel drive *No stick *V6 They really need to remove that tacky crap on the front. I don't understand that black grille demarcation...Jetta much? The engine sound nice, though. Just not in that car.

Gotta base my opinions on my observations of Focuseseses I've been close to. I cannot believe how shoddy they are. Do they divvy up production runs for laughs?

Neither. If something should happen to Pontiac (which won't be instantaneous, then by the time its over, Kappa should be dead. Introduce a better, more flexible KappaII/Alpha Bengal/Velite/whatever for Buick with four seats or at least a trunk.

The Bengal was a four-seater, hence the rear doors. They don't look comfortable, but they do look roomier than the SC430... Also, unlike the Kappas, the Bengal had luggage space. People who buy a 'soft' roadster/convertible are more likely to want utility from their car, for golfing or whatnot.

Awake and doing amphetamines?

Apparently, its just Cherry Metallic. It should also have memory seats, just check the sides of the door panel or seat.

The 78 Seville called...it said, "Hi. Welcome."

Nissan Rolls Out Fuel-Efficiency Gauge To Boost "Eco Driving" Date posted: 08-21-2007 | Link to Original Article @ Edmunds TOKYO — As part of its ongoing effort to get drivers to think green behind the wheel, Nissan on Tuesday said it is rolling out a fuel-efficiency gauge as a standard feature on such current models as the Altima and Infiniti G35 in the U.S. The company predicts it could "lead to an average 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency." The device eventually will be featured on all future new models, the company said. The gauge gives instant fuel-efficiency and average efficiency readings. "By accelerating, the driver would instantly see an increase in fuel consumption reflected on the gauge," the company said in a statement. "Based on Nissan's trials, drivers have tended to improve their eco-driving habits over time, prompted by the real-time fuel-efficiency readings." The device will also be installed on current models of the Nissan Skyline, Lafesta and Atlas in Japan. Of course, Nissan warns that results "may vary based on individual driving style." What this means to you: If you've got a lead foot, Nissan's fuel-efficiency gauge will be of little help in conserving fuel — but at least you'll know the damage you're doing.