Flybrian

Large front overhang. Huge rear wheelwell-to-beltline ration makes the wheels look tiny. Raked to look like its hanging its ass in the air. Its going to break in a month.

Oh no. I didn't come to a full and complete stop at 1:30 AM on a Tuesday. I really deserve this ticket. f@#k you, California. Seriously.

Yeah, if you're honestly suggesting a Diplomat over anything FWD, well...that's just a poor decision. Plus, seriously, how many of those cars do you see in 'great' condition for $700? Diplomats don't even exist anymore, S-10s have been beaten to hell, and I wouldn't touch a sub-$1,000 Crown Vic. I don't want a sunflower-colored car with YELLOW CAB sloppily spray painted over.

The Passat is poorly-shaped all over and having an engine mounted mid-way is an even poorer excuse that front-wheel drive for such a massive overhang.

The fact that this trim - with apparently no inherent value over the normal model - is sold out already says volumes about this country.

Flybrian's Random Car Showcase Presents... The 1956 Buick Centurion Through boredom and...well, just boredom, I bring you the second in likely many little 'diaries' of a completely random car. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1956 Buick Centurion Of all General Motors divisions, Buick was arguably the most prolific builder of concept cars. Perhaps it was the motiff of classic American style and attainability that destined the middle-luxury marque to be the showcase for some of the most beautiful automobiles never to be produced. Beginning with the very first dream car - the 1938 Y-Job - Buick took center stage at GM's famed Motorama and gave us all something to fantasize about. Arguably the peak of these fascinating design exercises came was reached at the 1956 Motorama when Buick unveiled its dream car du jour, the Centurion. Though its far-flung exterior styling instantly dates the Centurion, it is far from old fashioned. Consider this car as the pinnacle of jet age styling. Extremely low-mounted headlamps are deeply inset and encircled by faux turbine vanes and the whole assembly is dramatically swept to form the beginning of a trademark Buick Sweapspear. The large grille mimics jet intakes, perhaps that of the F-100 Super Sabre which entered service two years prior. The hood opens forward to reveal a V-8 engine. Alongside the Centurion's body - or, shall we say, fuselage - runs a thin chrome accent ridge that gracefully sweeps downwards and quickly up again, kicking over the rear tire and forming part of a complex flat fin design. Three chrome sashes ahead of the rear wheelwell decorate the fender. Large chrome turbine wheels wrapped in thinner-than-period whitewalls are pushed out laterally moreso than usual on cars of this era and fill in the wheelwells nicely. Move to the rear to appreciate the Centurion's designwork even more. The chrome Sweapspear ridge wraps around a flat, thick, angular fin design, terminating in a chrome tailcone. The effect is graceful with virtually no 'hard' edges or corners. Above the tailcone sits a rearview closed-circuit tv camera. Exhaust outlets are vertically paired with taillamps in dual jetlike pods. Even the license plate mount isn't obtrusive. Inside, the innovation continues. You'll first notice the Centurion's cockpit is surrounded by a thin-framed glass bubble canopy, giving driver and passengers 360-degrees of nearly unobstructed vision. However, despite this incredible field of view, the Centurion features a dash-mounted television screen fed from a patented CCTV camera mentioned above, perhaps one of the first instances of television inside even a concept car. A revolving speedometer sat ahead of the steering wheel while a gear selector dial rested in the wheel hub. The cantilevered steering column ran down the center of the car, giving the driver more legroom. Doors opened with the touch of a button and automatically moved and swiveled the front seats to provide easy entry. However, being a 2+2 coupe, access to the rear was easily granted with the touch a button on the front seats that automatically moved them up and folded to allow entry. Like most dream cars - especially of that era - its high-tech features and design never made it into production. However, many details eventually did. The rearview camera was revisited in many concept cars to come and is now a rather common feature in higher-end automobiles. Elements of the Centurion's exterior styling also came to life in future Buicks. The three chrome fender sashes debuted on the 1957 Roadmaster and were multipled to fifteen in a different configuration for the '58 Roadmaster Riviera. The 'catseye' headlamps and angular rear fins resurfaced in 1959 on the new Buick lineup. Even the nameplate found its way to the showrooms with the short-lived 1971-73 Centurion line. But in truth, nothing can duplicate the original Centurion. It was a product of its time and unique among them in being both wild and somehow tasteful simultaneously. The complex curves and facetless body panel integration is something manufacturers still strive for now. Yet even in achieving that quality, the heart and soul of what makes dream cars like the Centurion so fondly remembed can never be realized again. They made us dream and lust and fantasize without constraints or limitations. And for that, they will always be cherished. Today, the 1956 Centurion resides in a private collection.

Well, the whole tongue-in-cheek point is that certain cars the get constantly blasted for OMG OVERHANG aren't that bad.

Hey... Mariner Hybrid?

The Echo is a very easy car to get of yet exceedingly difficult for anyone with self-respect to get in

No point in driving without a radio.

Consider also the first two are about a quarter mile long and have more heavy metal than a stoner's record collection and its really sad the LS weighs as much.

Well, this is the group unless anyone else has anything to add?

Thanks for posting. What is it with Toyotas getting seriously porky?

VUE, CX-7, or a great deal on an Outlander. The Murano's CVT is very irritating and you won't get good fuel economy. The novelty of the interior design wears thin quickly, imo.

El Camino...? So, you're not restoring your beloved Tercel?

20 Cadillac DTS Landed At King Abdulaziz Airport In Jeddah Jeddah, kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Aljomaih Automotive Company, General Motors’ Premium Brands exclusive dealer in the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia supplied Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah with 20 Cadillac DTS - a car that symbolizes luxury. VIP guests arriving to the airport will now be transported in Cadillac’s. In addition to this delivery, the agreement is to include Cadillac DTS at King Fahed airport in Dammam and King Abdulaziz airport in Al Madinah Al-Munawarah throughout the remainder of 2007. This is part of a long term plan to include the Cadillac DTS as part of the VIP carriers in all the Kingdom’s airports. “This deal is part of Jeddah airport’s aggressive expansion plans,” said Mazen Khashakgy, General Manager, King Abdulaziz airport. “We are extremely delighted at the signing of the partnership with Aljomaih Automotive Company. The Cadillac DTS was an obvious choice for us. It stands for luxury and sophistication, offering ultimate comfort, convenience and safety features and this is exactly what we want to offer our VIP guests.” “From its Cadillac-signature styling to its power and refined ride characteristics, the DTS is a product of unwavering attention to detail building on the strengths and appeal of the Cadillac brand,” said Sheikh Ibrahim Aljomaih, Vice Chairman, Aljomiah Automotive Co. “We are extremely excited to see the eventual expansion of the Cadillac DTS presence across the Kingdom’s airport. It is by far the best choice for VIP service.” Present at the handover that took place at the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah were Mr. Mazen Khashakgy, General Manager of King Abdulaziz Airport, Sheikh Ibrahim Aljomaih, Vice Chairman of Aljomiah Automotive Co and Muneer Alhassan, Regional Fleet Manager of General Motors Middle East & Africa. Cadillac has applied its contemporary design vocabulary to the DTS. At first glance, DTS strongly reflects the appeal of Cadillac’s trademark design with vertically shaped headlamps and tail lamps, and egg-crate grille. It has an architectural, linear exterior style and a look that separates it from the competition. With its unique design and construction under the skin, the Cadillac DTS sophisticated, luxurious interior incorporates a clean, sculpted contemporary design featuring genuine materials, fabrics and low-gloss, tactile surfaces. Dual-firmness seats are engineered for comfort and support with an additional 25 mm (approximately 1 inch) of seat travel. The DTS chassis combines performance and luxury capabilities to a degree never before reached on a full-size Cadillac sedan. Chassis tuning achieves a smooth, quiet, refined ride. The DTS features a front cradle design, with the engine mounted to the cradle, and the cradle mounted to the body rails. Aljomaih Automotive Company, winner of the coveted GM Chairman Challenge Awards, highlights the importance of customer satisfaction and support by offering nothing less than outstanding premium services that are associated with Cadillac, such as superior after sales services and a comprehensive customer support network. The company continually strives to enhance the customer ownership experience and ensures the best levels of service are provided to all customers.

VAUXHALL REIGNS IN JUNE! Vauxhall top of UK sales chart for June Astra overall best seller; Astra, Vectra, Zafira and new Corsa all number one in class Highest June retail market share since 1996 Last month might have been the wettest June since records began, but it certainly didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Vauxhall buyers. Official figures released today show that Vauxhall overtook its main rival to become the best selling automotive brand in Britain, with a massive 33,161 car sales – that’s 3,447 more than its nearest competitor and gave Vauxhall a 14.88 per cent share of all car registrations in June. The result was boosted by sales to private buyers, attracted to showrooms by exciting new product, exceptional finance deals and innovative environmental campaigns. For the first six months of 2007 more than 67,000 Vauxhall cars were registered to non-fleet customers, giving the company 10.4 percent of the car retail market, its highest car retail share since 1995. The Astra was overall number one best seller, and it was joined in the top-ten chart by the new Corsa, Vectra and Zafira which all out-sold their class rivals. A total of 10,425 Astras found new homes in June, up 29.6 percent on the same month last year. The award-winning new Corsa continues its success, with sales of 8,980 for the month. Since its launch in October last year, more than 61,000 new Corsas have been snapped up by eager buyers, and supply is struggling to keep up with demand. Moving up the range and the Vectra topped its sector with sales of 5,826, up from 5,067 last year, and the Zafira continued its dominance of the MPV market. An 11.4 percent sales increase saw 5,224 sold in June, almost twice that of its nearest competitor. It’s not just Vauxhall cars which had a great month – the commercial vehicles were also hot sellers, with registrations rising by 10.5 per cent compared to last June. “Reaching the number one sales position is a testament to the quality of our products” said Bill Parfitt, Vauxhall Motors’ managing director. “Models such as the Astra and Corsa are clearly hitting the right spot with the public and it’s truly encouraging to see that there has been a sharp increase in sales to private customers. When buyers choose to invest their own money in a Vauxhall it’s proof that we have got our range just right.”

GM Luton builds 500,000th Vivaro 20 June 2007 | Link to Original Article @ JustAuto Production at General Motors Europe's Luton commercial vehicle plant reached a significant milestone when the plant's 500,000th van came off the line. The red Vauxhall Vivaro SWB panel van was the half millionth vehicle produced at the General Motors Manufacturing (GMM) plant under a joint manufacturing agreement established in 2001, under which GM builds all European specification low-roof versions of the Vivaro for both its Vauxhall and Opel brands, as well as slightly restyled versions for Renault and Nissan. The van, and a larger model (built elsewhere) also sold by the four brands, was developed largely in a Renault-GME joint venture. High demand for the Vivaro makes GMM Luton Britain's largest light commercial vehicle manufacturer, with 2006 output of 89,065. The plant employs about 1,700 people. Plant director Donna Sanford said: "The recent success of the multi-award winning Vivaro is down to the hard work and dedication of our workforce - and this milestone shows just how successful the van has been in the market." Total production for 2007 is expected to set a record for the Vivaro and its variants, following a boost in popularity helped by some improvements, upgrades and new engines in 2006. The Vivaro is one of Europe's most successful vans, and its recent honours include best medium van at the Van Fleet World Awards, Van of the Year 2006 from Professional Van and Light Truck magazine and best medium-sized panel van from What Van? Magazine.

Saab Takes Pole Position in Environmental Class 7.9.07 Saab continues to enjoy great success with its environmentally-friendly BioPower model range. It is now clearly the leading supplier of bioethanol (E85) ‘flex-fuel’ cars in the Swedish, as well as to the European market. During the first five months of the year, Saab delivered some 6,800 9-3 and 9-5 BioPower models to Swedish customers. And the sales pace was maintained last month (June), when the Saab 9-3 BioPower, launched in early spring, came top of the Swedish sales charts, giving Saab a 38% market share in the segment for environmentally-friendly cars. “It is very satisfying that our customers appreciate our BioPower offer,” says Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director. “BioPower shows it is possible to choose an environmentally friendly and safe car, without sacrificing comfort, driveability or power.” Saab is firmly established as a technology leader in realizing the full potential of bioethanol (E85) as a fuel. This expertise leverages Saab’s unrivalled experience in turbocharging, making it possible to deliver enhanced performance as well as greatly reduced fossil CO emissions. Saab will continue its R&D efforts to bring new products and solutions to the market that focus on both high performance and energy saving, as seen, for example, with the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept premiered at the Stockholm Motor Show last year. “There is huge international interest in what is happening in Sweden regarding the technology and infrastructure for use of bioethanol,” adds Jan Åke Jonsson. “Countries such as Norway, Ireland and France are following Sweden’s example by investing in a bioethanol infrastructure. Everyday we receive requests for more information regarding our environmental efforts.” Jan Åke Jonsson and Saab’s technical expert, Kjell ac Bergström, are to participate in the Swedish political event “Almedalsveckan”, where they will meet, among others, Andreas Carlgren, the Swedish minister for environmental affairs. The EU Commission has also invited Jonsson to a top-level international conference on environmental issues, where he will represent the auto industry.

Antiknock sensors take care of it. Also, buying 93 doesn't guarantee you won't get tainted fuel. Ask Shell.

2008 Chevrolet Classic Chevrolet Classic leads 1st half of year with 57.7% share of economy sedan market Since its initial launch in 1995, the Chevrolet Classic has been making enormous strides in the Brazilian market. In the first half of 2007 (Jan-Jun) alone, GM of Brazil reports 43,673 regestrations of the Classic, a growth of 37.0% compared to the first half of last year when only 31,877 units were sold. The 2008 line of Classic is already available at Chevrolet retailers nationwide. The Classic has led with record sales in the month of June with 7,996 units sold, representing a 57.7% share of the Brazilian economy sedan market. “The success of the Classic is evident and is representative of a car that has earned the approval of consumers as a financially-responsible choice. Among the reasons why customers choose the Classic are the distinguished versatility of the 1.0l Flexpower engine that guarantees the value in the segment”, said José Carlos Pinheiro Neto, Vice-President of the GM of Brazil. The Chevrolet Classic is a champion of economy in the GM Brazil line of products, a portfolio that consists of superior products of the Brazilian automobile industry, each model fulfilling the needs of each consumer. Classic - best value in the market The Classic plays an important role in the marketing strategy of the General Motors, one that offers in the Brazilian enthusiast the most complete and modern line of vehicles in all segments. The Classic resides between the Celta - the entry-level model of Chevrolet - and the Corsa. The Corsa sedan, launched in 1995 was remarketed in 2002 as the Classic and began to use the “VHC” (Very High Compression) engine, a concept also used in the Chevrolet Celta and Corsa. The 2008 Classic includes a new solid color, Gray Meridio, as well as Mahler white and black color Liszt (solid) and metallic Bluet, Hazel beige, and Polaris silver. ------------------ Though it looks very, very spartan (and it is), the Classic and other Brazilian Chevies powered by the 1.0l Flexpower engine are reknowned for being able to run very efficiently on both gasoline or ethanol. In fact, these 1.0ls are among the world's most powerful 1.0l displacement engines. If it looks somewhat familiar, its because its based on the second-generation Corsa B first introduced in 1993. Its sold elsewhere wearing the Chevy badge under a variety of names, including Sail (China), C2 (Mexico), and Corsa Lite (South Africa).

Running a lower octane in a modern car will never f@#k up your engine, but as someone on the Aurora Forums said in response to a thread discussing 87 vs. 93, "If you're worried about the price of 93 octane gas, you probably shouldn't have bought a car that requires 93 octane."

The V8 is dead for the average passenger car, that's a fact that can't be denied. Tally up all the Northstars and 5.3ls and compare it to number the 350s of just 30 years; you cannot compare. In a world where modern V6s have the output and performance of past V8s, it simply makes no sense as a volume engine in passenger cars. Six cylinders off the balance of power and economy that most of the buying public needs and I don't see what's wrong with that. V8s are not for everyone, nor should they be. However, it is still a prestige engine and always will be. More sensible than a V10, 12, etc and typically not as high-strung as a six cylinder at high operating speeds. V8s sound different - they're stronger, more substantive, more intimidating. They seem to 'breath' easier and turn slower at midrange (50-80mph) speeds. Plus, nothing beats telling someone you have a V8. I will say economically, V8s are surprising in certain applications. My Murano rental and its 3.5l VQ-derived V6 mated to a CVT was driven for nearly 4,000 miles over five and half weeks andreturned 17.1 mpg. My V8 Aurora with a 4-speed automatic returns 17-19mpg on a regular basis. Wuh? Buh? Yeah, that's right. Ignoring the fact that the Murano was a pathetic drive, I'd rather have the V8. But, again, V8s as volume engines? Never again. V8s dead? Never. Just smaller in numbers and geared towards performance and luxury applications, therefore making them all the better.