Drew Dowdell

Alienware is now owned by Dell. If you get a Mac get an Intel based Mac. They're faster then the G5 cousins and all the new Mac software will be written for them. With the new MacIntels, you can also get a piece of software called BootCamp that will allow you to boot into Windows XP or the forthcoming Windows Vista. The best part is, Windows XP runs faster/better on a MacIntel than it does on most PCs. That said, I use a PC for my business.... but I steal my partner's Powerbook G4 whenever I can. Even though it's nearly two years older then my Acer Ferrari 64, it's almost as fast at most applications.

So much like the "new" e-class.... it's the "new" c-class.

I like Chinese. I like Chinese. They only come up to your knees, Yet they're always friendly, and they're ready to please. I like Chinese. I like Chinese. There's nine hundred million of them in the world today. You'd better learn to like them; that's what I say. I like Chinese. I like Chinese. They come from a long way overseas, But they're cute and they're cuddly, and they're ready to please. I like Chinese food. The waiters never are rude. Think of the many things they've done to impress. There's Maoism, Taoism, I Ching, and Chess. So I like Chinese. I like Chinese. I like their tiny little trees, Their Zen, their ping-pong, their yin, and yang-ese. I like Chinese thought, The wisdom that Confucious taught. If Darwin is anything to shout about, The Chinese will survive us all without any doubt. So, I like Chinese. I like Chinese. They only come up to your knees, Yet they're wise and they're witty, and they're ready to please. I like Chinese. I like Chinese. Their food is guaranteed to please, A fourteen, a seven, a nine, and lychees. I like Chinese. I like Chinese. I like their tiny little trees, Their Zen, their ping-pong, their yin, and yang-ese. I like Chinese. I like Chinese. They only come up to your knees...

Toyota actually had a chance to win me over a few years ago before I bought the CTS. I had the Cutlass Convertible and was looking to replace it after 160,000 miles. I really dislike the florida rental fleet Sebring, so I went to look at the solara. It seemed to be an ok car, nothing that got my heart racing, but I probably would have been content with it <especially on days like today>. What put me off was the dealership. To you sales persons out there: Tip #1 don't diss the customer's current ride. Tip #2 don't brag about the power of the car when the customer's current ride is 10 years older and has more power. Tip #3 don't say "Come back and see me when you're ready to trade that thing in"* , while the customer is walking out.... save your breath or they'll only loath you more. *my bolding for emphasis on what he said.

I'm never tempted, with any car, from any brand to think the car is perfect in it's first year or it's tenth year. I waited till the '04 CTS for a reason.

My sister has what seems is an affinity for old Nissans with valve tap issues. Every vehicle/nissan she's had, have sounded like they are 4 quarts low on oil. Not to say that they aren't 4 quarts low on oil..... I am kinda strange in the fact the I like the bustle back cars, <85 Seville, 85 Continental, 81 Imperial> and the 79-85 E-body coupes that everyone else seems to hate. I really like the long hood/short deck squared off design like on the E-bodies and Mark VI/Thunderbird/Cougar.

Sorry? What? I can't hear you over the roar of 300 horsepower and glasspacks! * *The car I was tooling around in all afternoon.

Well, the 159 would likely replace the Passat as it's currently the oldest in our "Fleet". Since Chas was probably going to get another Passat or an A4.... the loss goes to VW/Audi rather than GM.

They'd be LED lights... use hardly any juice at all.

The '08 CTS better be damn good otherwise I'm getting a 159

The front end is a 2 generation ago honda civic mated with a current gen Infinity Q

Well are there any reviews as to how the Vectra handles?

How generic..... what does it have to sell better than? Solara convertible? Sebring Convertible? Sebring Convertible minus fleet sales? Or does it just have to meet/exceed it's own sales goal?

Except that it's also a version of the Saab, which handles pretty well for a front driver.

Curve is a coupe Nomad in a 3 and 5 door

So they're moving up.... that's good to hear.

Yes, I like me some high quality, leather wrapped &#036;h&#33; knobs in my car too....

I'll give you that Honda can do that.... but they don't put the S2000 on that same platform. The closest I can think of to your original proposal is Audi/VW where they have the TT/A4/Beetle/Jetta/Passat/Golf all on the same platform. The problem there is that the TT being on the A4 platform is rarely considered a "plus". I think the next Kappa should be Nomad/Solstice/Sky/Curve/Baby XLR. Plus what ever foreign brand sales they want to use. GM has already consolidated their platforms greatly. I don't know how much more contraction they can handle.

uhm..... k?

Oh... one I forgot on my '85 Continental: The little "smokers window" vent in the front doors. Press the power window button and that small window would drop first... once it was down, the main window would lower. Great for getting just the right amount of ventilation.

Wait, you guys want to do what? a nimble 2 seat roadster and a 4 door sedan.... on the same platform? I can understand wanting the Nomad... it'd be a great Mini competitor.... but lets get real folks, 3 Kappa IIs for Cadillac, one for Buick, 3 for Chevy, 2 for saturn, 1 for Saab and one for Hummer (!?!?!?!)... all on the same platform? And I thought the old J-body was whored out too much.... sheesh. OOOh OOOh! I know... the next Avalanche on Kappa II also! Try to keep it somewhat plausible folks....

You don't like that high pitched synthesized rat squeal? I'm shocked... shocked I say!

On my 1985 Toronado: The turnsignal/headlight/highbeam fiberoptic indicators on the front fenders and in the center of the rear window. Load leveling suspension On my 1985 Lincoln Continental: Load leveling suspension A fuel gauge that read in gallons instead of E, F or somewhere in between. Automatic highbeams On my 1994 Cutlass Convertible: If you pushed both the rear window down controls simultaniously, it would auto down ALL the windows. Something I wish more cars offered. On my 2004 Cadillac CTS: XM Radio... love it love it love it Best automatic climate control EVAR.... all my other cars have had auto CC, but none were as good at keeping me comfortable as the CTS's The little iPod style, click wheel volume control on the steering wheel. Another feature that should be on more cars. Programable buttons on the wheel and DIC. The Traction Control button is in the glove box, but Cadillac lets me assign a button on the dash <or steering wheel> to act as a TC button also. Snow Mode Transmission.... I wouldn't be able to get out of my driveway in the winter without it. On my 2003 Avalanche: The midgate. Probably the most ingenious thing GM has done in years and they hardly get any credit for it. It makes the truck so incredibly versitle. In my business I use it constantly.

263,000 miles on mine before the car was stolen. The engine itself was fine... but the radiator and heater core went bad, with the water pump following not long after.