pow

I'm doubtful GM will spend the money on reengineering side curtain bags for the convertible. That's probably why the seat-mounted side airbags are available as stand-alone options. As far as performance, the GT sounds like it'll be a dog, with 201 hp, a four-speed automatic, and 3800 lbs with those heavy 18" wheels.

And no LaCrosse Super V8 or whatever.

So you really think the GP, Freestar, and Colorado are fine, class-leading products?

Damn, the Solstice GXP sounds exciting. Power is what the base Solstice always needed, not Miata delicacy or poise. Brute American force always makes up for it.

Passat has been fined twice for no front plate... interestingly, no fix-it ticket. Since then, we've put it back on. The Odyssey still doesn't, though, but who'll do such a thing and fine a poor, family-values minivan?

One of my favorite interiors... I love how the matte cherry wood bisects the dash, how it feels like a modern but cozy, British-owned, German-engineered resort in the frosty Swiss Alps. The gauges and switchgear are a bit too fiddly and unergonomic, but they are nice and intricate, sort of pre-German and pre-industrial.

It's difficult for me to pick one current interior and say it'll work fine in a particular GM car. A successful interior, IMO, apart from looking professional and being well-made, has to reflect the character of the entire car. And that's what most GM cars still need: more character. Fitting a chic Range Rover interior into a generic appliance like the Malibu doesn't work from a design perspective. Likewise, the Jaguar door panels (and seats) and the uninspired dash design of the Lucerne is fitting with what the Lucerne is: a highly derivative, but competitive-enough, unoriginal car.

It's too vertical, IMO, leaving too big of a rear 3/4 area.

Hope you're not referring to me because I'm sure as hell not GM brand loyal...

The Si's engine is in a completely different compared to the xB's in terms of sound quality.

Safeway = Pavilions, Vons, Genuardi's, Dominick's, Randalls, Tom Thumb, and Carrs, and they each sell Lucerne products. I say "lew-scern", btw.

More HEMIhumping from Edmunds...

Watched it this morning thanks to some "Operation Read" program. It seemed a bit thin and blatant.

I'd suggest hiring some attractive-looking "civilians" pretending to be impressed by some Terraza. Have them all over the Buick area, saying BS like "Honey, I like this more than the Sienna."

Yes, it sounds like iDrive, MDrive, and BMW Assist.

:rolleyes: Yawn... and so it goes on.

Hm, well, yesterday, I was driving up a hill in our Odyssey and was sandwiched between a slow Grand Caravan in front and a tailgating Quest behind. I passed the GC after it finally moved into the right lane, and then I moved into the right lane as well. The driver of the Quest floored it, as did I, and um, Odyssey > Quest. http://www.tripsystem.net/odyclub/odyssey2.avi Can you do that in your Uplander? :AH-HA_wink:

ROFL! The interior plastics don't look flattering, either. From a styling standpoint, this car's success solely relies on its reputation.

The RL's SH-AWD is the only system that does that, I believe. BMW's xDrive is similar, but can only shift power between front and rear axles, not independent wheels. Conventional limited slip diffs mechanically redistribute power whenever there is wheelspin; xDrive and SH-AWD do it to predict and prevent wheelspin by first inducing neutrality.

Rest assured that if the Sixteen were to be ever mass-produced, probably in the form of the ULS, it'll have plastic engine trimmings.

I find Cadillac's renaming of models fitting with their distinctly-American A&S theme. Plus, it's not really alpha-numeric unless you include the 2.8 or 3.6. STS = Seville and so on, though I think "DTS" should be reserved for a proper A&S RWD Cadillac, not some AARP or Enterprise, parts-shared special. For that same reason, the Escalade name works. I'm all in favor of an ETC (Eldorado). Edit: Whoops, I thought I was in the Cadillac forum. Um, yes, G6 is pathetic and meaningless, particularly because there isn't a G3 or G9.

The DCX Hemi, Ford 4.6 V8, and Saab 2.8T are all questionable selections. GM's LS2 or LS7 are more deserving of a win, IMO, the Explorer/Mustang V8 doesn't plow any new ground, and the 2.8T supposedly suffers from excess turbo lag and doesn't offer any additional performance over the NA HF 3.6.

I rode one at Yosemite National Park... it didn't seem noisy or smelly, but to be fair, I haven't ridden in many buses before so I can't really compare.

I personally like the modernized tail fins on the XLR and CTS.

Sounds like a cool experiment... I'll do one for the South Bay area (PV, Torrance, Redondo/Hermosa/Manhattan, etc.)