Robert Hall

When I see console-mounted window controls, I think Mercedes..that's been an M-B thing for decades (console or center-stack mounted). The Jeep Liberty has 'em that way, which was an MB influence, I assume..

Yeah, front plates ruin the looks of a lot of cars...unfortunately, I think more states use 2 that those that use 1...and of the states I would consider living, I can only think of two that use 1.

My choice was practical also...the '08 CTS. I love sports cars, but a sports sedan like a CTS fits me very nicely for an all-around daily driver, weekend getaway car, road trip car, etc...

Interesting..I'll have to read up on that... I think the Ford Sync system that is coming may have such capability also..

I wasn't sure where to post this, but it could be an interesting thread..i.e. features in a new car that no one offers currently today. While driving around earlier today, I realized that I'd really like to have TiVo capabilities for car audio...that is, the ability to pause live radio, back up, record it, play it back, etc. I do listen to a fair amount of talk radio (NPR and Air America) and inevitably, I don't hear an entire broadcast because of timing (or running errands--hop out of the car for 15 min, come back and have missed 15 min of a broadcast). No car maker offers features like this currently that I'm aware of.

You had to make some smartass remark, didn't you? Go play with your boring W-bodies and leave the G8 alone...

Thanks for posting...I've been to all those places also...brings back happy memories of my Sept 03 trip there.

Cool... my most recent ex-gf had a BMW (3-series conv) and a Jeep (Wrangler), so we were pretty compatible car-wise since I have an M3 and a Grand Cherokee. That relationship lasted 5 years, but sadly it would never have worked out in the long term, I'm afraid. I've gone out on a couple of dates recently with a lady that drives an '04 Mitsu Diamante..not sure if it's going to go anywhere, but she is interesting.. My friend Steve drives an '02 Maxima and a '91 Acura NSX and his wife has a '99 Intrepid..they are thinking of going all-Acura--he wants to replace the Maxima w/ a TL Type S, and his wife replace the Intrepid w/ an MDX... My sister who has been a Benz fan for years and has two older Benzes (500SEL, 300CE coupe) is talking about selling both Benzes and buying an STS.

Heh-heh...I have a friend/former coworker that seems to be out of the norm for ES buyers... 30 yr old software developer, traded a VW Jetta on an '03 ES back in '05.... he's thinking now of trading the ES (has 80k miles, in great shape) on a Prius. His wife recently traded her Maxima on an RX, so they have 2 Lexuses (and 1 dog and a cat).

That sounds like hyperbole or wishful thinking..the pics so far show very little of the exterior, mostly disguised..not enough to make any kind of judgement, IMHO..

2008 CTS w/ 3.6 DI and manual trans. It would make a perfect all-around commuter car for me...

I wonder what percentage of LaX/Allure sales are fleet....is it as much of a rental queen as the Grand Prix?

Good point..the Epsilon based 'Regal' replacement for the LaX will probably have a similar grille.

Grand Cherokee...uniquely a Jeep, a platform not shared with Dodges.

The 'coupe' aspect is the ultra sleek roofline, frameless side glass, 'close coupled' aspect of the greenhouse.. Coupes are usually 2drs, but 2drs aren't necessarily implied by the term. Just as sedans can be 2drs or 4drs. One definition of coupe as found on the internet: A coupé (French word from the verb couper to cut) or coupe is a car body style with a close-coupled interior offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers up front and for two occasional passengers in the rear). Through the 1950s convertible models were sometimes called convertible coupés, but since the 1960s the term coupé has generally been applied exclusively to fixed-roof models. Coupés generally, but not necessarily, have two doors, although automobile makers have offered four-door coupés and three- and five-door hatchback coupés, as well. Modern coupés generally have the styling feature of frameless doors, with the window glass sealing directly against a weather-strip on the main body.

Yes, very stupid..I've lately seen several cars driving around with passengers with their feet on the windshield..smart..or one hanging out the window (older cars without working A/C, probably)...

'Starting'? heh-heh..it's been Buick's version of the Impala since it first came out...just another W-body rental car..

I like how they did 2 separate fascias for the ones w/ and w/o foglights, instead of nasty black plugs like so many carmakers do...though I think the lower venting on the coupe is nicer than the sedan's...

Very cool...I like recent French concepts and production cars..very modernistic.

It will sell quite well, no doubt. Much nicer than the Camry, inside and out. And Honda will continue to contribute to the Ohio economy.

Hmmm...some BMW wannabe in the doors. I like the biege leather interior with the plood..the gray base interior is too dull. The lower slots in the bumper doesn't match the grille and look cheap and ugly...remind me of a faceguard on an old football helmet.

Some of the most irritating drivers are those that lack lane discipline..they drift over the line, etc..can't stay squarely in their lane. Or they change lanes without signaling. Or they change across 3 lanes w/ no signal to get into an exit lane..proper usage IMHO means get to lane next to the exit lane at least 2-3 exits prior, not at the last minute...

I'm guilty of all of these... and the people that play their music really loud at a light or whatever, it always seems to be the $h!tiest music (mindless rap or whatever)..

Well, it is supposed to start around $20k, so I wouldn't expect much as far as the interior...

Sleek, but just another FWD sedan... the greenhouse reminds me of the Intrepid crossed with the Peugeot 607.