Drew Dowdell

The Koreans still don't have their business model right. They're operating under the method of "build the car and let marketing figure out how to sell it" Not gonna work. Chrysler tried that one already. Honda seems to be the most conservative and steady of them all. Their biggest flubs still turn out ok...even when we're laughing at them. I mean really, none of us here like the Ridgeline or the Tundra.... but which screwup is going to hurt the respective company more?

Lexus engines are wrapped in enough sound insulation to make the Pink Panther jealous. Throw in motor mounts made of marshmellows <or active motor mounts> and yea... it'll be smoother. Guess what, the 3800 in the Lucerne is smooth and quiet to drive too and LeSabres and Bonnevilles were some of the first cars that came with an interlock so that you couldn't engage the starter while the engine was running because so many people couldn't tell when it was on.

The think I liked most about the Super 8 was the "skew view" wrap around windshield

BMW or Benz doing the FWD version? Chrysler doing the FWD version? Good lord no.... Might as well give the project to Ford

Isn't something like 90% of this 2mode hybrid transmission the same as the 2 mod that will go into the FWD version?

Toyota and Honda recalls are secret

Squirl-owned!

What do any of the alternatives do really well other than wear an H or T badge?

I look forward to seeing conquest rates for the CTS next may.

I'm sure... but they don't seem to last very long.

I know we've all ragged on GM for producing some particularly &#036;h&#33;ty commercials. But I was poking around on YouTube and I found some really good ones that I'd never seen before. GM's commercials aren't all that bad actually, they just get so little run time that even us enthusiasts can miss them. Some of the ones that I like: The Sibling rivalry series for the Cobalt: Chevy Impala *poorly executed, but the idea was there.Buick Lucerne: Drive Beautiful Enclave: Drive Beautiful *somewhat telling that I cannot find a Lacross commercial* Cadillac Cadillac STS: "Assume Nothing" All of these are great ads, but only the Lucerne, Enclave and Kate Walsh ad have I ever seen on TV. Why aren't these run more?

"WTF? How do I get Cheers & Gears on this thing again?!?"

Kinda like a "Then and Now" video for your desktop

Someone get Uncle Bob a sudafed and an allegra.... poor guy sounds so sniffly and stuffed up. Other than that, great presentation

I guess you didn't catch that my "plan" leaves Chrysler with the T&C and 300c, Dodge with Magnum/Charger, Ram, and Caravan, and Jeep with the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. Those are the only models Chrysler hasn't managed to F up.

There is going to come a point where the auto manufacturers realize that they have to offer a manual simply to keep the auto rags happy. Even if they only make 5 of them and put them in press cars, the good press would be enough to generate sales of even the automatics.

I know... I'm just preemptively shooting down the "OMG@!! The Malibu is teh suxors cause no NAV" posts.

32mph in electric only mode?! Why is this not advertised more? I think the Toyota version stops electric-only mode at 25mph

Toyota recalling 471,827 vehicles in Japan Link to Autoblog You know what happens when it rains: it pours. Right on the heels of Toyota taking a minor beating at the hands of Consumer Reports while claiming it carries nary a scratch, the Japanese automaker is recalling eight passenger car models made as far back as September 1999 for various faults. Some of the cars need parts swapped out in the fuel control system and pipes, some have malfunctioning fuel pumps, and some have steering systems with defective components. In Japan, the recall amounts to 471,827 cars, with another 680 cars sent to five export countries that needed to be fixed. Toyota was given an official reprimand last year by the transport ministry when Japanese police accused the car maker of knowingly ignoring a problem in one of its SUVs. In light of its well publicized recalls on this side of the Pacific, it's no surprise why the company has also been working to publicize its efforts to restore the reputation that helped get it where it is today.

Is it Cadillac's sizing that is wrong or Cadillac's pricing that is wrong? BMW has already proven that you can ask $42k for a 230hp AWD midsize car with "leatherette". Cadillac is probably leaving money on the table.

Oh for f@#k sake! The TL has the TSX under it, A4 has A3, G35 is on the small end of the midsize scale and the coupe is listed as a compact. You wouldn't compare the Lucerne to the 3 series even though they share a similar price range, why does the CTS get lumped in with the 3-series when it's dimensions and equipment meet or exceed the 5-series for most of the model range? The CTS is only a 3-series competitor because the 5er is so f@#king expensive. If Cadillac priced the CTS in alignment with the 5-series and equipped it with those 20-way power seats which are such a deal breaker for some, you'd be screaming bloody murder! Cadillac can't win with you people because you sneer at them for offering a 5er at 3er price or you sneer at them when their car priced the same as a 3er doesn't handle as well as the BMW because it's the size of a 5er. Jesus tap dancing christ what do you want from them?!

I'll see what I can do after I get my pony.

No the STS is NOT the car to go up against the 5-series. The CTS matches the 5-series in just about every dimension. The CTS is not entry level, it's just the least expensive Cadillac. Cadillac does not have an entry level model... something that will be remedied by the Alpha. The reason there was no V8 model there is because it's not out yet. CTS production just started. There is nothing wrong with the CTS's interior. It is every bit competitive with the 5er. I've sat in an '08 CTS also and I ride in a 5-series every tuesday on my way to work. Your hatred for anything pushrod gets automatically written off BTW. I've driven a V and the engine was perfect.

Why do you keep saying that the CTS does not have a V8? The CTS in fact famously has a V8. I like how you cherry picked your comparisons between the CTS and the 5er. Base price for the 535xi is 51k. The absolute top of the CTS line I can build on Cars Direct is 47.5k. However you can get a CTS 3.6DI AWD for about 34k msrp. This is interesting because a 528xi is a full $8k more and would get positively spanked by the Caddy in terms of performance. Again interestingly, the only way to get the 20-way power seats is to select options that push the 535xi over the $55k mark. In fact, in order to match the most loaded CTS V6 in price you have to opt for the 528xi with no leather <leatherette is not leather>, no Nav, 230hp, base stereo, no heated seats, 17 inch wheels <CTS comes with 18s at this price>, No satellite radio, No DVD entertainment system.... All that for $47.5k and it'd still get spanked by the better performing, better equipped CTS at the same price. The moment you pass the $51k mark at BMW I'm into CTS-V category. Bringing a 535i up against the CTS-V is like bringing a pistol to a tank fight. But I'm sure that blue and white rondel on the hood makes the car feel more luxurious.

The point is, we're still over 2 years out and this announcement just shows progress towards the goal. No one here was claiming that these were the batteries that the Volt was going to use. Edit: Indeed the Volt has created a race among battery manufacturers to get their products to market.