The O.C.

It's been awhile, but SPI is nice but there are no big cities nearby, so if you want a dash of nighlife and culture to go along with your R&R, better look elsewhere. IF that's not important to you, you'll probably like it. There's lots of high-rise hotels and resorts lining the Gulf.

BV, I've ALWAYS liked you..... You know.....it seemed you toned down quite abit around the time the "gay" thread was on The Lounge and everyone (including yourself?) was coming out of sorts..? Was this when you kinda dealt with being open about being gay? Seems like you are WAY more upbeat now....and that you are beginning to really enjoy life.

You know how many manufacturers offer a "First-Time Buyer Program" incentive? Buick has a "Last-Time Buyer Program" incentive!

....the difference is....."Steptronic" is simply what they call their system. You don't see BMW resorting to cheesy marketing tactics to promote the name "Steptronic." Pontiac, however, is pushing "TAPShift" out there like it's some marvel of engineering and technology.....(maybe hyperbole, but hopefully you get my point.)

IF there is ANY sight of a pushrod engine within 100 miles of the AURA, then GM will have shot themselves in the foot for the LAST time....

It all depends on your definition of utility..... I had a Maxx one time as a rental.....and my (overly) large suitcase wouldn't even fit in the cargo area....unless I lowered the seat(s.) It DOES fit in a Malibu SEDAN's trunk however..... To me, and for my purposes of utility.....I'd shy AWAY from a Malibu MAXX.

....but at least if you compare 0-60 times all from the same source (in this case, C&D) then I think it's somewhat relative.....ESPECIALLY in C&D's case because they DO correct for testing-condition-variations.... Avalon 6.0secs Passat 5.9secs Lucerne V8 6.9secs

No....I really was impressed..... ...it's just that IMHO if you put the 3.6L HF V6 into that same car, you do away with the few complaints that I DID have with the 3.9L.... ...and get a smoother running, even quieter, and better sounding powertrain. The 3.9L is a GREAT pushrod V6 GM engine......but even the 3.9L is not the best V6 engine GM makes.

Maybe different strokes for different folks.... But to me, the whole presentation and execution of the Camry radio controls, display, and background look way more stylish and upscale. I will admit that the Impala's (and Lucerne's) is GM's finest effort to date and pretty nice.... ....but it once again points to my comments of how GM catches up for a second only to be eclipsed once again.....

See.....to me, the SS gauges don't look "jazzy"..... ....they look cartoonish.....

I've pulled the I/P trim piece on the edge of the gauge-cluster-hood off on EVERY Equinox, Torrent, or VUE I've sat in at the auto show....JUST to see if it's designed that way....and it is.... I don't consider myself a vandal because that same trim piece snaps back into placde just as easily as it came off....

What's even remotely uneven about the steering-wheel controls? Oh yeah....your GM kool-aid must be blurring your vision.....

I agree WHOLE-heartedly....! A well-said explanation of why GM continues to struggle to gain acceptance of its products.

This is an EXACT example of how GM's interior styling has just barely caught up with the better imports, only to now be eclipsed by cars such as the new Camry. AND.....as the pics show.....GM's actual execution (aside from overall styling of the interior) is still inferior.....

Don't confuse a design decision with fit-and-finish...... Check out a Malibu or G6 to see a console that is misaligned with the dash. If you inspect the (old) Camry dash and console closely, the fit is excellent even if it wasn't designed to "flow" into the dash (a la Mazda6 for example.)

LOL Yeah, it's cracking me UP to see everyone (almost everyone) on here rag on the new Camry's styling......all the while ignoring the bastard-of-a-car-design that the Malibu is.... Impala, I will give you, is an attractively-conservative design and is no where near as offensive as the Malibu.... If writing the check, I'd probably take an Impala SS over any Camry. However, if you limit me to a non-SS Impala, I'd take the Camry.

I like this car! Just saw one (with wheel COVERS no less) yesterday in the parking lot at Ralph's and it looks like a quality piece.....base model or not. NO....I would never buy an "appliance" like this, but to me, especially with the interior, Toyota has really mastered "bland".....and I mean that in a good way. Compare this to a rental-grade Impala.....and the Toyota just has way more of an upscale air to it.

After FINALLY getting a chance to go to a dealer and inspect a few Calibers, I'm quite impressed. Although they were both base models, it seems to be quite a bit of car for the money. I was impressed with the interior roominess in the back seat (for such a small car) and the interior quality was not as horrible as I remember the auto show cars being (were they prototypes or pre-production?) The word on the street is that early sales reports are quite encouraging with the car selling relatively quickly and covering a broad age-spectrum of buyers. The SRT version outta be HOT.....!

.....see, to me, on the road they look bloated and overweight and decisively un-glamourous..... ......certainly not anywhere near as imposing and athletic-looking as a sport-packaged 750 or just about any Audi A8.....OR the previous, AMG version (or AMG-wheel-equipped) S-class. I've never been a Maybach fan...and to me, it just looks like a slightly-shrunken Maybach.... I was talking last night to a close friend that is a (automotive) wholesaler....and he said that the new S-class is getting a chilly reception in the eyes of many consumers. Of course some will buy it JUST because it's the "new" S-class....but he said the resale values of the previous-generation S-class, while they took a nose-dive JUST prior to the arrival of the new S, are starting to solidify as a result of people seeing the new one in person. Even in car-conscious southern California, I've only seen two new ones on the road now..... On a side-note........(from this same friend).....M-Benz of Laguna Niguel, one of the largest-volume Benz dealers in the country, is selling only 7 (!) new R-classes per month....and just rec'd a shipment of 50 (!) new ones to stock.....!

Uh....how did a "negative media" create a 20% drop in business for GM? If GM had shown an increase in March, that "negative media" would surely have reported that success just like they did when mentioning BMW's increase. GM only receives negative media because in many cases, they deserve it. You can argue how buff mags are biased.....but THIS news item is doing nothing but stating facts.....how can you deride them (the media) for that??

Your comments are a somewhat narrow view of the union and it's overall impact on business. My company is a multi-billion dollar company (automotive-related) and has been around since the mid-1940's. It is not, and has never been, unionized. It's by far one of the best-managed and highest-quality employers that I have ever worked for. My quality-of-work life NOW is 100% better than what I ever enjoyed during my 11 years at General Motors......(for all of what the union may have ever done for GM employees over the decades....)

It IS lame.......and stupid.......!!!!!!!!! By the way, I never said it was a "big issue"....I just said it seemed really cheesy to me. Putting "4MOTION" on the back is not the same.......it's differentiating an AWD vehicle....such as "4MATIC" or "Xi" (BMW) or "Quattro" or like you mentioned, "SH-AWD" (even though RL is only AWD.) "TITAN V8?" I thought the truck's name was Titan....and it's got a V8 engine.....how is that cheesy like "TAPShift?" GM has been notoriously bad about this kind of crap for a long time and I think all it does is bring out snickers and giggles in most educated consumers out there.... BUt...... .....that's only MHO......

......well I wouldn't say they have less vroom....... Even de-rated, the new Avalon still shoots from 0-60 in 6secs flat (C&D comparo) and the slightly de-rated Passat 3.6L (280 down to 276) went even quicker at 5.9secs to 60 (C&D road test.) Even as impressive as the new pushrod 3.9L is in the Monte Carlo rental I'm driving now is.....it's nothing compared to these two V6 motors.......

I currently have a new Monte Carlo LT with the 3900 as a rental car...... ......and I'm fairly impressed with the 3.9L VVT pushrod V6 in this car! First, let me just clarify that I HATE the exterior styling of this car (always have) and I think the interior fit-and-finish and materials is horribly unforgiveable. (As we know, the Monte Carlo does NOT share the vast majority of the MUCH nicer Impala interior upgrades.) The whole car strikes me as "typical" "old-school" GM. NOW that that's off my chest, I can say that the 3.9L in this car is the nicest execution of a pushrod V6 that I've ever seen GM accomplish. Wierd because in the G6 GTP rental I had about a month ago or so, I was really UNDERwhelmed with the engine. I don't know why there would be such a big difference, but in the MC, it was smooth, punchy, and refined for a GM pushrod V6. I'm actually a bit surprised at the low-end punch combined with an almost-un-pushrod-like willingness to rev to the redline. Maybe that's the VVT doing some of its tricks. NOW.....would I still choose this engine over the 3.6L HF V6? NO......but it is the first GM pushrod V6 that I feel rivals the pushrod V8s for overall execution. There was some vibration through the pedals and steering wheel at idle with the car in gear and foot on the brake.....and the engine still SOUNDS moany and thrashy.....it's just not as loud as it used to be. GM did a much better job this time in muffling the unpleasant sounds. Also, the 4-speed auto ( ) really does even this pushrod engine a big injustice. The chasm between 1st and 2nd gears at full throttle really seems to take the wind out of the sails of this decently-powerful V6. Also, throttle-induced downshifts at in-town speeds feel like they don't get you down enough into the powerband for quick acceleration and merging. Compare to a Ford 5-speed auto which when shifting from 1st to 2nd seems to dump you RIGHT into the meat of the powerband. However, there is next to no torque-steer. I can't comment too much on the ride-and-handling other than to say it's not too floaty and the structure and suspension feel pretty solid. I'm going to assume though that if I push it hard through some corners, the body roll and grinding understeer will rear their ugly heads. In comparison, the LaCrosse 3.6L I drove (MC platform-mate) was that much MORE refined sounding and feeling and had an intoxicating pull up to redline that the much-improved 3.9 still lacks to a certain degree. But even I can admit this pushrod V6 is a pretty good effort. (That doesn't mean it will change the majority of consumers' perceptions about this technology unfortunately....)

Maybe he just needs a good B/J..... (JUST kidding Reg.....)