The O.C.

Sounds to me like Toyota simply did what GM refuses to do..... ....play HARDBALL with the union....

I'd go for the 330i any day. I drove a sport-packaged 6-speed and LOVED it. For me, I like the exterior styling of the Lexus, but the interior is WAY too tight roominess-wise (even compared to the BMW) and while the fit-and-finish and materials are top-notch, the interior styling is almost too "Japanese" for me. I like the much simpler BMW design....which seems just as well-built. PLUS, I'm a manual-tranny fan.....and Lexus refuses to offer us a manual with the big 3.5L engine....WTF?

GM's getting much closer, but they still have a WAYS to go until they can match this interior, or most other import interiors, in material quality, switch feel, and fit-and-finish....

They might have done it for low-end torque.....the 3.8L is a pushrod motor while the 3.7L is a newer, OHC design. However, the 3.7L in my Liberty is pretty damn torquey on the low-end so I don't know why they needed the "minivan" 3.8L engine. Perhaps the pushrod architecture is easier for Jeep guys to modify....?

mphmag.....I thought you knew your stuff...... Fusion is NOTED for having lots of soft, squishy, deeply-textured elephant-grain plastic inside....there's almost NO hard plastic (unless you count trim pieces like HVAC/radio surround......or gear shifter surround..... But I do agree with you that in an SUV or truck it's less of an issue......as long as it's GOOD hard plastic. The new Tahoe is a perfect example. It's got nothing BUT hard plastic inside on the dash.....but the quality of it and the fit-and-finish is SO FAR ahead of the last-generation Tahoe, it still looks good and actually even feels okay.

Don't you bet it for a MINUTE. As we ALL have argued and ranted about, there's a TON of equity in the Honda name......like it or not...... The Fit will be a smashing success....

OH, you are right they will sell every one. But you know, I don't find the MDX particularly attractive EITHER....never have. I think the RDX interior is pretty cool looking. BUT, I'll take a new CX-7 ANY day of the week over this Acura......"Mazda" badge or not.....it's a far classier-looking design to my eye.

You know....I disagree. I haven't seen the Versa yet......but Nissan seems to do a great interior job on their cars....it's their trucks and SUVs that have really $h!ty materials and fit-and-finish. I recently had an Altima rental.....and since they redid the interior, the plastics are much better and things like the center stack really mesh well with the rest of the dashboard. Maxima quality inside is top-notch. NOW you may not like the LOOK of it, but they use really good materials and everything seems to fit. Also, Murano has for the most part pretty good materials and a flashy design. You can't tell hard plastic from soft plastic unless you touch it....'cause it's all matte-finish and done in the same graining. I'm hoping Sentra will follow suit....because the interior LOOKS good in pictures...

You know....I've decided I like the Camaro MUCH better than the Challenger. Oh, I do like the Dodge....it's just that the Camaro has a much huskier, more muscular design. I wish they'd production-ize that tacky interior though......

Spin it however you want.....Ford simply builds a FAR superior full-size pickup. AND my opinion is based upon many miles of test-driving in BOTH Ford AND Chevrolet full-sizers..... .....and YES....you ARE right.....IF GM is listening, they WILL make sure they fix their interiors in the next redesign.

I think it's nasty...... Like Acura is trying to answer the question that nobody asked of them...... It's a fancy CR-V that Acura's trying too HARD to differentiate from the Honda version....

I can't believe this thread has gone on for 4 pages! I didn't read all the posts......but this seems to be a pretty clear-cut issue..... A 4cyl G6 Coupe is a natural in the marketplace......will give the buyer more choice, will improve GM's CAFE fuel economy numbers, will give the buyer a more economical choice in these days of higher gas prices, and with 170hp, will be a more-than-decent performer in its own right. Accord coupes with 4cyls are peppy and responsive.....so are Solara coupes actually.... What's all the debate? I don't get it?

I really like it. I wish it had the 3.6L......but I haven't driven the 3.9L yet so can't comment on that. What I would change......get rid of the tacky woodgrain trim....it doesn't belong in a Pontiac, IMHO. Also, improve the center stack with HVAC and radio controls from the Impala/Lucerne, etc. Other than that, I think it's a nice FWD alternative to the Mustang V6 and certainly far sportier than a Camry Solara.....although I choosing between G6 and Accord Coupe V6 6-speed would be a tough choice....

.....uh....does everyone REMEMBER THE KOREANS? I guarantee you.....WHEN the Chinese get here, they will start on a much STRONGER foothold and with better product than what Kia and Hyundai did....

You know.....I'm sure there are plenty of people on here ready to bash this guy up and down.... BUT I think his post is one of the BEST ones (focusing on GM's CORE problem) I've read in a long, long time. His opinions are SPOT on and acurately spell out the challenge that GM has ahead of them. NOW.....I wonder if he would consider the new Enclave? B)

A VERY nice update to the Camry. Conservative, yet attractive exterior and an absolutely gorgeous interior (especially for a $20K-$30K car.)

Hold your horses....it's not back yet bud.... You'll have to wait until 2009......WTF? This concept is BEAUTIFUL.......but GM needs it NOW. By 2009, what will Mustang be like? How long will Challenger have been out? A whole model year? It's going to be like Solstice all over again.......(by the time the production Solstice came out after the original concept, Mazda has introduced another generation MX-5 that can easily stand with it toe-to-toe and even beat it in some areas.....) I would have hoped to see a concept Camaro in Detroit with the production version shown at NAIAS in '07 and hitting the market in Spring of '07. That would have given us only about a year to drool all over it.....

All I can say is.....NASTY.... Sorry but I REALLY hope the production interior DOESN'T look like this. I realize it's conceptually-stylized, but to me it doesn't look anywhere near as cohesive as the exterior...

To me, it just looks like the current G35 Coupe that got left in the microwave too long..... The interior's nice....but if this is supposed to hint at the new G35, then I'm afraid they really didn't go far enough..... Attractive, yes.....but I think Infiniti's missing an opportunity here....

I think Compass is a winner through and through. I like the style....the profile....the Jeep front-end.....the "hidden" rear door handles....the wheels and tires.... Definitely cute, but with a sense of ruggedness mixed with sporty style. There's really nothing else on the market like it...

What the hell ARE you smoking...?

AND you know WHAT? NO COLUMN SHIFTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!

Velite, Centime, and LaCrosse (concept) were never shown in such production-ready form.....

Nah....the different door panels is like what BMW and other manufacturers have started doing......(3-series.) Even my C6 is the same way......different door panels from driver-side to passenger-side...

You are foaming at the mouth? I'm CREAMING in my pants! If the Enclave is what we can expect from Lutz, then we as GM fans have a VERY bright future ahead of us! I honestly cannot find one thing to complain about on this new SUV. I think the exterior is sexy and modern and the interior is what I think a modern Buick ought to be like with its bits of Lexus and bits of Benz. Let's hope it drives as well as it looks......that the ride-and-handling compromise is perfected.....and that the 270hp version of the HF 3.6L V6 makes it to production. Anyone on here know how close the concept is to the production Enclave? I'm hoping what we see is like 95% true-to-form. What a BUICK! All I can say is...... ......Premium American Motorcars......