Robert Hall

I just see two dull GM FWD compact sedans with 4drs.

Wierd that GM was doing mainstream DOHC engines back then and then later walked away from them, considering the competition went for them completely...

Yes, the new GTI is pretty sweet...I like the interior a lot...the hatchback style is so much more appealing to me than a trunk in a small car also...

Wow..a time when steering wheels weren't standard? Did they have a tiller standard instead... All joking aside, I remember a time (not that long ago) when some cars still had AM radios and manual windows standard.

Looks great in red.

The article says it will come to the US as the Verona in '07 and Canada and Europe as the Chevy Epica. carscoop

Exactly...I can see comparing a 3-series to an IS, though. The ES is catering to a totally different market segment.

I saw a bunch of the new Hyundai Azeras--first I've seen of them...they were sitting on the Hyundai dealer lot, which is right next door to the local Subaru/Lamborghini store..

Well, poor safety is definitely a reason to make the worst list...GM had vehicles that would have made this list last year (the old Blazer and Astro, two of worst as far as safety).

The point is a 3-series is all about feeling the road..it's stupid to compare the ES to a 330..different cars for different purposes. I don't care about 50 yr old Camry/ES buyers, the Camry and ES buyers I know are all 25-35... (a 30 yr old coworker bought an ES a few months ago).

Yeah...I just don't see anything about the ES to get excited about...it's a pleasant, comfortable commuter car, nothing special. Now the GS I really like. The IS is interesting, but the lack of a manual in the 350 version is a turn-off.

We have some really good local authentic Mexican places here in the Denver area, but the best Mexican I've had has been in Phoenix and the LA area. That said, I like Chipotle for what it is...tasty and fresh, fast and definitely a cut above Taco Bell or Del Taco.

Quarter-mile numbers don't count for much..what really matters is how the car feels to the driver and handles on a winding road.

Yes....nose-heavy FWDers are no match for a balanced RWD on a winding road..that's why I'm glad BMW has stayed on the true path to driving enlightenment..

This morning I saw a silver Elise today with the targa top off, and a gray E46 M3 convertible with the top down, windows up and wind blocker on...both out on the freeway... it's a sunny day, but only about 40 degrees out... brrr..

I see a few around..saw one last week.. I really like the interior and front end. I haven't seen one in a while.. I saw some at a Ford dealer a while back..I don't see many compact pickups around here... (then again, I generally don't notice trucks..not my thing). Still making them... I only seem to see them when I'm in Cali...I see quite a few Priuses around here (esp. in the Boulder area) and Civic hybrids. It's gone..the Assender is the only Isuzu SUV left...(are they on their way out the US? Sure seems like it). I saw one at a car show a year or two ago, but haven't seen any on the road.. Haven't seen any yet.. Haven't noticed..minivans aren't my thing. Saw one. None that I know of...seen a couple of the Chevy and Pontiac versions, though. I see a few now and then, but since the styling hasn't changed in years, I have no idea what year they are.. Seen a couple..

It will still be a FWDer based on the Avalon, though, right?

Well, the Scorpio was sold in the US from '88-90. I couldn't imagine having a gas hog like that truck in Europe!

People seem to always fixate on the gas mileage aspect of hybrids and forget the real advantage of a hybrid is that they are cleaner and pollute much less....

That was a neat concept car... could have made a great little roadster for Plymouth (instead of overpriced nonsense like the Prowler).

A Plymouth brand could be used very effectively against Kia and the low end models from other brands (Aveo, Yaris, Versa, etc). With Smart not coming to the US and likely to be sold off, this is a definite gap in the DC hierarchy.

I found this description amusing on the Gaz website: "The Volga passenger car has always been characterized as a car with simple, even austere design, profound and majestic. It embodies yet today the ideas of dignity and prestige."

FWD and 4spd auto is just fine for the main audience of most GM sedans (Avis fleets)

Or 'DUMB' and 'PHUCK'..

The Lucerne website shows pics of a NAV system...