Flybrian

Its because you have that Goddamn TOYOTA in your driveway! Oh God, you're not going to see this post until morning. I'm scared now.

lol...wtf?

That means $$$$$$$$, Sixty.

Since excitement(?) over my '76 LeSabre acquisition seems to be building by the day, let me clue everyone in on the itinerary. Saturday, August 4th, 2007 10:05am - Depart Tampa via Southwest Airlines 12:40pm - Arrive in Philladelphia, meet Camino Sunday, August 5th, 2007 2:00pm - Arrive in Lorton, VA, board Amtrak Auto Train 4:00pm - Depart VA for Sanford, FL Monday, August 6th,2007 9:45am - Arrive in Sanford, FL I will be winding my way from Philly to just south of our nation's capital sometime between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, so if anyone is interested in meeting, sharing a coffee, or just saying 'hi', please book early! I fill up quick! j/k. Seriously, just let me know because I'd love to meet some of you guys if I can during this abbreviated road trip.

I approve of that in no way modified idea.

I'm betting that comparison application is derived from AIC's. I forgot to make mention of it, but AIC's comparator often makes odd and specious determinations for 'advantages,' such as overall height and the bore and stroke figures you mentioned. That's why I never really preferred it to the other ones. Cars.com, for example, has very detailed breakouts of options, etc. and they at least attempt to explain what certain things are, like 60/40 split rear seats vs. pass-thru vs. (one whole big) folding rear seats.

Arrogance is registering on a General Motors forum only to make cocky statements and take potshots at the 'blind.' And as much as I disagree with GXT and his above formulations, at least he did make a contibution. In fact, so have the other members you've mentioned; they do so frequently and with a modicum of rational thought. That's why we - GASP - do listen to them...and not to you.

Just as long as he doesn't defile it with his girlfriend, I'm fine.

Oh, and as an update of sorts of the G8/G6 GXP deal, 50Cent actually requested those vehicles because he thought they looked good. Take it for what its worth.

Well, are you guys enjoying fondling my woman?

Exemplified by that lack of tuned Civics of that generation. Silly or not, it showed a lack of enthusiast interest in the car, something recaptured with the coupe of this generation. I still think the last 'worthy' Camry was 2001. '02-06s were lousy and today's model isn't much better.

China's Brilliance BS6 sedan fails German crash test 06.21.07, 10:52 AM ET | Link to Original Article @ Autoblog FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - A car with which China's Brilliance wanted to conquer Europe's automobile market has failed to pass a benchmark German crash test, the German ADAC automobile club said today. The BS6 sedan, made by Chinese car maker Brilliance, won only one out of a possible five stars in the crash test, carried out in accordance with Euro NCAP regulations, at ADAC's crash test laboratories, the organisation said. It was the second time in less than two years that a Chinese-made car has failed the test, following the spectacular failure of the Landwind sports utility vehicle (SUV) made by Jiangling Motors 18 months ago, said ADAC spokesman Maximilian Maurer. 'The BS6 sedan performed almost as badly as the Landwind in November 2005,' Maurer said. The test consisted of a frontal and side crash at 64 kilometres (40 miles) per hour, and the front crash showed that the safety cell of the Brilliance BS6 was too soft and not stable enough, ADAC said. Most European-made cars win four or five stars in the crash test, so the result is not encouraging for the BS6, which was launched at the last Geneva Motor Show. 'After Landwind's 2005 test result, it stopped being sold in Europe,' said ADAC's Maurer. The BS6 could therefore face the same fate, he warned. Click to view test footage Click to view test footage with commentary (am Deutsch)

Is this a ransom post? Geez! Corolla - 2414lbs Shadow - 2608lbs Total - 5022lbs LeSabre - 5127lbs

2010 Pontiac Firebird or GTO? Is Pontiac raising GTOs or Firebirds on its muscle-car farm? Conceptual Rendering by MJDecker BY STEVE SILER, June 2007 | Link to Original Article @ Car and Driver Every day, we get letters from readers asking us to write stories about things that, frankly, we don’t know anything about. Recently, citing the well-known return of its longtime platform-mate, the Chevrolet Camaro, some of you have been screaming like chickens about another storied muscle car from our past, the good ol’ Pontiac Firebird. After all, it would be easy—graft a beak onto the Camaro and ship it to Pontiac showrooms. And so we made some calls. Our first fact: GM public relations people aren’t quick to return phone calls when one leaves a voice-mail saying things like, "Could you call us back with everything you know about a future Firebird?" Crickets. Tumbleweeds. And here we thought we were friends. But later rather than sooner, our pal Jim Hopson from Pontiac communications called and promptly made up for lost time by shedding some real light on what is looking more like a choice between raising goats or chickens, rather than goats and chickens, on Pontiac’s muscle-car farm. Pontiac Muscle Car Must Be Distinct Although it’s still unconfirmed at this point, Pontiac is pretty much guaranteed to get at least one muscle car from the prolific rear-drive Zeta platform (officially, Global Rear Wheel Drive Architecture) by 2010. The first fruit of Zeta loins for Pontiac is the 2008 G8 sedan, which will replace both the long-departed Bonneville and the current Grand Prix early next year. The G8 will be exported from Australia, where the Aussies engineered the RWD family. As for a second Zeta for Pontiac, Hopson confirmed the brand has been kicking around "heritage" names, including Firebird and GTO, for a future muscle car. Although either "can be done" relatively easily, we don’t expect Pontiac to do both. Furthermore, although a Firebird would seemingly be less expensive to produce if it shared—as it always did—its body stampings and many interior components with the Camaro, we suspect Pontiac is leaning toward the GTO. Thank (or blame) Bob Lutz, GM’s deified product guru, for that. He has asserted that the days of product sharing and badge engineering are more or less over and has stated emphatically that no carbon copy of the Camaro will make it into any other GM-brand showroom. The challenge, Hopson said, becomes making a new muscle car unique enough to appease Lutz and the market at large without being too unique for those Bud-guzzlin’, mullet-draped traditionalists who see it as their mission in life to ensure any future screaming chicken returns as "Pontiac’s Camaro." "Heritage" Names: 50-Percent Risk, 50-Percent Opportunity This challenge underscores the double-edged sword of resurrecting heritage names, which must be competitive and relevant today while meeting expectations of performance, character, and appearance held by nostalgic fans. Attempts to cash in on nostalgia can backfire, as Hopson knows all too well. b he said, citing lessons learned during Pontiac’s struggle to convince buyers that the Australian-built, Holden Monaro–based 2004–06 GTO was, in fact, worthy of its hallowed name. Two Performance Coupes Unlikely Conceptual Rendering by NOS2006 Still in question, according to Hopson, is whether it makes sense in this day and age to sell two muscle cars under the same brand umbrella, or even three under two brands. "The market in the ’60s could sustain more than one muscle car under the same make, but today’s market may not. I don’t think anything is off the table," he said, "but there’s an extraordinarily small chance you would see two performance coupes." Pity, because Zeta is flexible enough to spawn all kinds of variants, including a larger G8 coupe. Hmmm. If it were up to Hopson, which would he choose? "Personally, some form of a GTO would be most appealing. Firebird and Camaro would be expected to be extraordinarily similar, and we could do more with GTO." Wonderful PR-speak, but we see it as good advice for product planning, too. Under the Skin So what would be under the skin of Pontiac’s future muscle car? It would certainly share both of the upcoming G8 sedan’s engines, including a 261-hp, 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 and 362-hp, LS2 6.0-liter pushrod V-8, offered with five- and six-speed automatics, respectively, with available six-speed manuals (the G8 gets autoboxes only, at least at first). As with most of GM’s big V-8s, this 6.0-liter would have cylinder deactivation or "active fuel management," as GM now refers to this technology. At the drag strip, where we expect this car to be headed, look for 0-to-60 runs in the low sixes for the V-6 models and about five seconds for the V-8. More potent engines are certainly being considered, but output is anyone’s guess. All G8s get a strut-front and multilink-rear suspension, setups we expect to be mirrored on the shorter, steroid-enhanced two-door versions. Whatever form it will eventually take—and whatever name will be assigned to it—Pontiac’s Zeta-based muscle car will certainly get prominent placement in its U.S. dealer showrooms, which are increasingly being combined with Buick and GMC brands—neither of which has sports cars or muscle cars of its own—by the time it arrives. As the "excitement division," Pontiac needs a sporty car more capable than the Solstice and Solstice GXP to remain, well, truly exciting. Besides, as arguably the most storied brand in muscle-car history, Pontiac would be remiss not to cash in on the phenomenon of modern muscle-car mania.

4WD Limited V6 - 3675lbs.

I feel sorry for you wasting a good half hour if not more of your life by doing exactly what GM wanted you to do by visiting Saturn's website, then opening page after page and a .PDF file, scanning over every piece of minutia while running back and forth through Honda and Toyota's beleagured sites to run their lousy Build n' Price apps to determine that GM engaged in an act of travesty worse than Watergate by incorrectly stating the Camry has steel wheels, all the while ignoring that the non-GM third-party AIC Comparator - an application multitudes of manufacturers utilitze - disclaims that it does not guarantee the accuracy of its information. And since we're all atoning for our sins, why don't we take a closer look at the disingenuous advertising done by Toyota and Honda. Remember the 280hp Avalon? Remember the 270hp Avalon? Oh, how about the 268hp Avalon? The first lie can be blamed on inaccurately-converted horsepower estimates knowing used by a number of Japanese manufacturers for years and years. The second lie, however, is just that...a lie. But I guess its not quite a lie if its +/-2hp; its just an estimate. I like seeing the $199/mo Accord Value Edition lease special ads on TV, radio, the 'net, and in papers. But what I'd really enjoy is seeing an Accord Value Edition...anywhere. Have you seen one, you know, the 4-cyl 5spd stripper Accord with manual mirrors and locks and two speakers? I haven't. Its because a handful of these cars actually exist and they're so poorly-equipped that no one would buy one if they could even find one. But, for only $3000 more, we'll be glad to move you up into an LX. Guess the dishonesty goes all around, doesn't it?

Consider this forum the Dog Pound.

Keep in mind, guys, this is not 'recognition' or 'glorification' of Toyota; simply organizing the overwhelming Toyota news that people DO have an interest in into one forum. You can clearly see that the number of Toyota articles was rather extremely large and took up a huge portion of the Asian Marques forum. This makes it easier to get through that clutter and focus on the other brands you have more of an interest in and makes it easier to avoid reading news you don't care about if you so choose.

2008 Toyota Highlander Preview Larger, more refined - and still with a hybrid by Marty Padgett | Link to Original Article @ TCC Toyota calls its new 2008 Highlander "intelligent and advanced," a step away from traditional SUV styling. The new vehicle was introduced at the 2007 Chicago auto show on February 8, and Toyota release pricing on the Highlander on June 20. The pricing for the new crossover will put the base front-drive vehicle at $27,300. The base 4x4 will be $28,750. Sport models will cost $29,950 and $31,400 for front- and all-wheel drive, respectively. And the Highlander Limited will go for $32,700 and $34,150 for front- and all-wheel drive, respectively. Prices do not include a $685 destination charge. As for features and specs, Toyota says the new version is four inches longer and three inches wider than the first generation that went on sale in 2001. The new model also has an inch more ground clearance and three inches more in its wheelbase. The new Highlander rides on a version of the platform underpinning the Camry and Avalon. The Highlander has standard anti-lock brakes, with stability and traction control. Seven airbags are outfitted to the crossover vehicle, too. Active head restraints and a pedestrian-safe hood design have been designed into the new vehicle. Toyota promises the Highlander will have a more flexible interior, with a stowable second-row seat that allows easier access to the rear cargo area and third-row seat. The flexible interior arrangement has two second-row chairs that can be converted into a three-seat bench - the middle seat stows into the floor when not in use. The second-row seats also slide fore and aft 4.7 inches for more third-row seating room. The third-row seats fold flat for cargo, and the hatch glass is flip-up on most models. A new 3.5-liter V-6 puts out 270 horsepower in the Highlander, up 55 from the previous 3.3-liter engine in the last edition. Hybrid models will be offered in base and Limited versions, all with all-wheel drive, electronic steering, and stability control. Though the Highlander has gained 500 pounds in its latest growth spurt, the increased engine power - the Hybrid is now a 3.3-liter V-6 with battery and motors - horsepower is identical to the gas-only version at 270 hp. Toyota says the Hybrid's fuel economy stays the same at 31/27 mpg, though the figures were calculated by 2007 model-year methods, not by the updated EPA methods. Other features on the new Highlander include a backup camera that doesn't require the buyer to order a navigation system; a Smart Start keyless ignition system on Limited and Hybrid models. Nineteen-inch wheels will be standard on some models. Options will include a six-disc, nine-speaker JBL audio system; leather seats; and the ability to delete the third-row seat. Real-world economy Perception and reality have proven to be sitting on either side of a large gap when it comes to the mileage of hybrid-electric vehicles. Various industry sources show that the promised fuel economy on vehicles like the newly-updated Toyota Highlander Hybrid can run as much as 30 percent less in real-world driving. Toyota's goal, however, was to not only match the EPA-generated mileage numbers for Highlander, but get real-world performance closer to what's on the window sticker, said the automaker's Paul Williamson. That was no easy task, he stressed, considering the new crossover/SUV is larger and heavier than the vehicle it replaced. To improve fuel economy, the '08 Highlander makes greater use of lightweight body and chassis materials, as well as a wind-cheating belly pan. Additionally, three steps were taken to make the hybrid drive system more fuel-stingy: A new LED readout in the instrument cluster shows a motorist the best RPM range to drive within to yield the desired level of acceleration; A new ECON button on the center console effectively smoothes out the way the engine management system responds to the throttle pedal. The effect is similar to what happens when an automatic transmission is in overdrive, explained Williamson, noting "you won't get as much engine response." The third new feature is an EV mode button that will force the management system to drive on electric power only whenever possible, at speeds up to 25 mph and for up to one mile with a fully-charged battery. Even with these new features, the 31/27 mpg rating for Highlander is expected to be trimmed back when the EPA officially switches to a new and more accurate testing process in 2008.

BARCELONA: 2008 Chevrolet Matiz (facelift) Link to Original Post @ Carscoop Oops! We don’t know what’s wrong with us -God forbid we haven’t lost our touch, but we “sort” of totally missed out on the updated Chevrolet Matiz that premiered at the Barcelona Motor Show (June 9-17). There’s no official release on Chevrolet Europe’s behalf but we did manage to discover several high-res images of the new Matiz. So, let’s begin with what’s new on the 2008 model-year mini: redesigned front and rear bumper –um, that’s about it! The re…bumpered Matiz will go on sale in Europe over the next few weeks, available with a 3-cylinder 0.8-liter motor delivering a whopping 52Hp and a “luxury version” equipped with a 4-cylinder 1.0-liter engine pumping out 66-alive-and-kicking Korean horses. Refreshed Matiz includes new exterior and interior styling features in MY 2008 The Chevrolet Matiz has been among the most attractive and best-selling city cars on the European car market since its introduction in 2005. The exterior changes for MY 2008 will give the Matiz a fresh, sporty and more modern look. All modifications will be available for the SX and SE models. The exterior changes are most noticeable at the front end. The new two-tone bumper (black and body color) integrates the air intake in a sporty, more aggressive fashion, compared to the current design. The upper part of the bumper, which is noticeably larger, includes the Chevrolet logo. The lower part features a honeycomb design and extends into the black area where the number plate is mounted. The theme is continued by black rails that run across the doors and the entire side of the vehicle. The sharp edges of the rear bumper take up the design and the lower black portion of the bumper complements the sporty character of the new Matiz. The three-tone interior will be available for all Matiz models. The small Chevrolet can now also be ordered with orange, green and blue interior trims. While the current trim is only available in grey with colored patterns, the new interior offers colorful fabrics with grey patterns, giving the car a fresh and young look.

GM: Buick ads to downplay Tiger Woods; golfer to tout OnStar Link to Original Article @ The Detroit News Tiger Woods will end his eight-year stint as the main spokesman for General Motors Corp.'s Buick division, the automaker said today. Instead, the golf phenomenon will help tout the OnStar roadside assistance program, which GM has heavily promoted in recent years. The switch was prompted by a desire to refocus Buick marketing on the product, the company said. "We don't want a celebrity at the core of any brand. We want the message on Buick to be about Buick," said Mark LaNeve. But, he said, GM still wants to capitalize on Woods' star appeal. The golfer still will appear in Buick ads, but not as the main focus of campaigns. "Tiger's a great asset and he's got an association with General Motors. Why not use him beyond Buick?" The extent of Woods' involvement with OnStar is unclear but GM indicated he won't be the only celebrity helping to promote the service. Woods started as Buick's spokesman in 1999, according to the automaker's Web site. Organizers of next week's Buick Open at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc are still hoping Woods will put in an appearance, but that's uncertain due to the June 18 birth of his first child, a daughter named Sam Alexis Woods.

GM to sell 20,000 fewer cars to fleet customers Link to Original Article @ The Detroit News General Motors Corp. said it will sell 20,000 fewer vehicles to rental-car companies this month, driving down its total sales, Bloomberg News reported today. The company's planned decline in low-profit rental sales will reduce its first-half total by 100,000 vehicles, GM sales analyst Paul Ballew said today on a conference call. "We're going to try like hell" to sell more cars and trucks this month, sales chief Mark LaNeve said on the call, Bloomberg reported. He declined to say whether GM expects an increase from June 2006, which had one fewer sales day than this month. The reduced business with so-called fleet customers such as rental companies makes it harder for Detroit-based GM to halt a seven-year U.S. sales slide and end market-share losses to Asian rivals led by Toyota Motor Corp. GM's sales fell 3.2 percent this year through May and its market share dropped to 23.2 percent from 23.7 percent a year earlier.

GM will build luxury condos on riverfront Construction of high-rise near RenCen to start in '08 Sharon Terlep | Link to Original Article @ The Detroit News DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. struck a deal with a prominent development firm to build luxury condos at the epicenter of Detroit's riverfront, a move that comes as efforts to rebuild the city's long-neglected waterfront are coming together. GM said Wednesday it will give the Houston-based Hines real estate firm six acres just east of the automaker's world headquarters in the Renaissance Center in exchange for a cut of the future profits from the development. If the plan comes together as envisioned, the developers eventually would build 600 luxury condominiums that would sell for roughly $300,000 to $1 million. Hines will build the project in phases, starting with a high-rise condo tower on a one-acre plot next to the RenCen. If that's successful, more will follow on three more adjacent parcels. The developer hopes to break ground in the spring of 2008. The first residents could move in by the following spring. The overall project could take five to 10 years to complete. While GM has for years promised to bring residential development to the riverfront, Wednesday's announcement is the most concrete sign yet that the vision will become a reality. "We clearly want to be a part of the fabric of a great downtown and a great urban center," said Matthew Cullen, head of GM's Economic Development and Enterprise Services. "There needs to not only be places to work and shop, people need to be living there. It needs to be a 24-7 environment." The development will be largely residential, designed to take advantage of the waterfront property and the many amenities offered in the RenCen, which houses retail stores, a movie theater, and restaurants. Hines will head up the development project, though GM will weigh in on any plans. The riverfront for years offered little more than a few struggling businesses, dilapidated buildings and acres of land scarred by heavy industry. The area is now designated as a Renaissance Zone, allowing for significant tax breaks. GM took a lead role in the riverfront's redevelopment with its $500 million acquisition and remodeling of the Renaissance Center, which replaced the GM Building as the corporation's global headquarters in 1996. Detroit and the state then demolished three cement silos along the river, making way for the Detroit RiverWalk that's now taking shape. GM timed Wednesday's announcement just before the first Detroit International RiverDays, which starts Friday with the waterfront promenade at the center. The event will mark the grand opening of the East RiverWalk, a 3.5-mile walkway from Joe Louis Arena to the Belle Isle Bridge. To be a successful center of city life, the public sections of the walk must be paired with robust retail and residential development, said Caroline Marks, spokeswoman for the RiverFront Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that will oversee the RiverWalk. "A riverfront can't be just one thing or another -- it has to be a big comprehensive picture," she said. Even as Detroit loses population, the city's center is attracting a core of young, educated and affluent residents to new housing, according to a market study released earlier this year by Katherine Beebe & Associates. The downtown core, roughly bordered by the Detroit River, the Lodge and Interstates 75 and 375, grew to 6,259 residents in 2005 from 6,141 residents in 2000. While relatively small, the gain is seen as vital to a city that has lost more than 50,000 residents since 2000. "We are convinced even though it's a tough time for our resident real estate market, there's still a lot of pent-up demand for people to live in the city of Detroit," Cullen said. "There is no better real estate in the region." Hines has experience in Detroit. It was hired by GM to oversee the RenCen makeover and built the Comerica tower downtown. It also manages the City-County Building and Compuware headquarters, both downtown. It is one of the world's largest real estate firms, with more than 950 properties worldwide and $16 billion in assets. "We understand that Michigan is having a bit of a lull, but we sense some strength in the downtown residential market," said Dean Stermer, a project manager at Hines' Detroit office. "We're going to aim for the top of the market in terms of what's available in Detroit." The Hines development joins three other major riverfront projects in various stages. Ex-Detroit Piston Dave Bing is heading up a $60 million luxury residential development -- called Watermark Detroit -- that calls for 112 apartments, town homes and condos priced from $400,000 to $1.2 million. Another project known as Chene East, still in its early stages, is envisioned as a residential/retail development on a 40-acre parcel near the Belle Isle bridge. A third riverfront project -- the @water, pronounced "Atwater," by developer Dwight Belyue -- began selling 225 units, including $1.5 million penthouses, in March. Deposits have been put down for 40 units, including two penthouses.

Interestingly, from what I've picked up on, there was a plan concocted in the late 1980s to create a 'superdivision' comprised of Saturn, Oldsmobile and Aurora. Saturn was to handle low-end, entry-level cars (which it eventually did) while Oldsmobile offered mainstream intermediate to fullsizers. Aurora would've been comprised of three cars - a midsize AWD sedan, a large V8 FWD car, and a large V8 RWD car. The midsize AWD sedan was reworked and presented as the 1990 Cadillac Aurora. The large V8 FWD car manifested itself from the 1989 Tube Car design study that eventually became the Olds Aurora. I know nothing more of the large V8 RWD car. Obviously, certain other divisions had issues with that *cough*Buickcadillac*cough*. One possible path not taken.

Hope you like it