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Comments
<flame suit on>
;-)
-juice
-Frank
Well, like everything else in life... nothing is really free!
-juice
Bob
Bidding is up to $8100, so right now that represents a $1100 profit. Whoopee!
-juice
On another note, and I hope I'm not being a spoiler here, but how about Petter in Wales? The conditions were very challenging, but he hung in there and got the victory, even though he was plauged by a failing front wheel bearing in the final stages. It doesn't look like he can catch Loeb for the championship, but it was his third consecutive victory in Rally GB. Atta boy!
Owen
I haven't tried to log in there since earlier in the week (I'm out West on business through tomorrow), but I see that the site is down at the moment.
Ed
http://www.autoweek.com/page.cms?pageId=45
Bob
We've talked about the A3. That A4 took a big step down in terms of styling. Ugh. Worse yet the new Passat gets a similar gaping grille.
1 series isn't growing on me, in fact I find it hard to like. The wagon looks a little better.
H2R looks like an F1 car landed on top of a BMW 6 series and then they both melted.
M5 is still Dame Edna. A really fast Dame Edna.
Chevy S3X is basically the Euro Equinox. Nice styling but it still needs a better powertain.
Chevy World Car looks like some rebadged Daewoo. Still, better looking than a Malibu.
Citroen C4: the Aztek coupe! Yikes from the rear, but other angles look better.
The C5 is also a little obscure. There is just NO WAY that company is ready to compete in the US.
F430: I think this Ferrari peaked about 2 generations back, with the F355. The F360 got that beak in the front, and now the F430's tail lights looks like something off a Pontiac.
-juice
FR-V looks nice for a tiny people mover. Isn't that supposed to come here and slot below the Civic? Just imagine the price level. That thing would basically compete with the Scion xB.
Surprise, the FR-V looks more than a bit like the BMW X5 from the rear and sides. The front it pure Honda though.
Sonata looks too conservative. Accord rear, Camry profile, nothing new. I'd like to see them take more risks. The current one actually looks better.
Sportage also looks dopey, small. It's a shame because the Sorento is very handsome.
Murcielago is overdone.
Maserati put that cool grille on there. Isn't is funny how something so subtle makes just about any car look better (Jaguars for example).
Mazda5 looks pretty sharp, but it looks like it only seats 5. Question is, what's the point?
MazdaSpeed6 is kinda disappointing. No turn signals in the side mirrors, poor color choice for a show car. They chose to do the sedan instead of the sportier 5 door. The white leather and those rims make me think Lincoln, not MazdaSpeed.
-juice
the real problem is liability lawyers. we need judicial reform-- write your congressman.
~c
Bob
Bob
Audi A3 - I think it's going to give the V50, 3 touring and GT a a run.
Citroen - not that ugly.
Fiat Uproad - federalize it and give it to Pontiac to replace the Aztek. That would sell IMHO.
Hyundai Sonata - I was thinking it looked much more aggressive and sporty than the current one. I like it.
Seat Toledo - Is there room in the US for any line? Seat makes some interesting off shoots of VW. With VW going upscale perhaps that's the plan.
Toyota Prius GT - aren't Prius and GT mutually exclusive?
VW Golf- looks like the offspring of an Audi crossed with a Civic Si
Sonata- Hyundai looking at a TL- Accord? I agree with Rob, a little more sporty, perhaps less elegant (If a Hyundai can be) than the current model.
Audi- I don't think I like the 'open mouth' new corporate design. Otherwise, it's a Golf
Ferrari- what can you say? who wouldn't want one (if given to them on the Oprah show) ;-)
911- Looks the same- which is good.
Aston- They do make some handsome cars
Armani Edition MB- if americans have an Eddie Bauer Explorer, it makes sense MB has an Armani, I guess.
Prius GT- is this a joke?
Fiat- what's wrong with the Aztec? ;-)
Have a good weekend all!
tom
Subaru's got company!
Saw a new Golf on the road, wonder if they are for sale yet or if it was a press car.
-juice
CLS photos do *not* do the car justice. It looks a LOT better in person, just ask Bob. The thing is sleek, ultra-low, you'll do a double-take the first time you see it.
SLK350: been there, done that. Still don't like the Squidward nose (character from Sponge Bob Square Pants).
I really like the Vision B. The Vision R just seems too stretched. The B has a really well sorted D pillar, and a nice square back to it. But I bet it only seats 5.
-juice
Outlander Turbo?! Could this be the first challenger to the Forester XT? Can you imagine an EVO powertrain in that thing? It's nothing special with its current buzzy/weak engine, but put the EVO drivetrain in there and it'll be transformed!
Saw the Pathy in Detroit.
Tone almost looks like it has 911 lights. You see a ton of Renault influence on the rear portions.
Astra looks pretty sharp. GM always does better in Europe. Look at their Opel Signum compared to our Malibu Maxx.
Peugoet 1007: built for very tight parking spaces, obviously. Some neat ideas but it should have remained a concept. ;-)
907: we talked about that one already. Europe does a Corvette?
Nido looks like a Smart.
Like that Quark, another one we discussed here earlier.
-juice
Boxster also got a nice update. Lose the Infiniti clock at the top of the dash, though.
Fluence just looks dumb. Looks like any coupe from the late 70s. Mustant II or what was the Chevy one?
Seat Toledo is a bit bizarre. Looks like a Mazda3 until you get to the rear. Why not square it off? You're losing half the cargo space by cutting it out like that.
ForFour is an interesting concept, I just wonder if the modular panel idea will catch on. Saturn tried it with the Ion's pillars and the idea bombed, the car will be a low point in GM history.
Swift looks a bit like the Mini Cooper, eh? It's a definite improvement from the current dull car. Subaru will probably sell a rebadged version of it in Europe.
Prius GT: I think Toyota had said it was going to showcase a "performance" version of HSD, and that's probably the point here.
Basiscally future hybrids are going to offer performance, not just economy, beyond their regular counterparts.
GTI looks like someone did a cheap vinyl sticker job on the grille. Why does VW have to ape Audi? Be unique for once!
-juice
You can't really argue with the space though. Boot (trunk to you) is 500 litres with seats up with further 91 litres in a separate compartment below the floor.
Not sure whether I like the Bustle-Boot but maybe its a new idea. You should check out the Renault Meagne that is now selling well.
Cheers
Graham
Michael
There's a good writeup on how the STi's DCCD works, as well as a "how-to-do" install of the STi short-throw shifter. In addition, Glenn Wallace of nasioc & newimpreza.com has a feature story on the Alcan Rally in which he took part in last February.
I think this new magazine has possibilities. I just wish there were more than 16 pages. I've seen two issues, and I liked them both.
Bob
As in the standard Drive, I'd like to see them have a letters to the editor section with responses where possible. Consider: the Subaru of Dallas/Cobb Tuning One Lap Forester XT article conveniently glosses over the problems they had with the car's rear sway bar, endlinks and control arms - problems certain Crew members have experienced as well. Some sort of analysis of problems, even if it's resolved with a "don't use aftermarket sways; upgrade using factory warranted SPT/STi suspension parts" would suffice.
Ed
Craig
Paris cars- Juice, no offense buddy, but that 1007 is for Europe, and I'm not sure how in tune you are with that market's needs or direction
Seat had to do something more bold with the Toledo. As Graham mentioned, new Megane was initially described as quirky, but has since become a relative success.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100895
Bob
I see Volvo will offer a Yamaha-designed 4.4L V8 on the XC90.
Bob
Not at all. Zippo. I just paid $1.859 for gas and whined incessantly about it.
But yes, I was perhaps unfairly evaluating each car for use in the USA.
The Mazda5 gets 3 rows of 2 seats, I don't like that arrangement because leg room is cramped. The Pacifica hasn't sold well.
The Honda FR-V has 2 rows of 3 seats instead. Fold that front middle seats and it's a very roomy 5 seater with space to put a laptop in between the front seats. That's more appealing to me.
Yamaha did the Ford SHO engines, so they're back to help work magic on Ford blocks for Volvo. Good idea, IMO.
-juice
It's results could perhaps determine the fate of the JDM Odyssey for North America.
In Europe and Brazil even you see that a lot.
-juice
Ken
-Brian
(FWIW the 3 across seating in the Scenic is near impossible with USRDA Prime Corn Fed American Butts)
-Brian
-Brian
Bob
I'd be very surprised if they pitch it as a minivan. They did a good job launching a niche with the Protege5 the first time around- Matrix, Vibe, and other followed, all careful to avoid the "wagon" or "hatchback" moniker. They'll be aiming to do that again with the new 5- carving out a new niche. I am surely in the minority, but as a 30something with a baby on the way and plans for a second...and as someone whose wife will not accept a minivan or non-Forester SUV in the fold, AND who live in the city and all the attendant space woes, that 5 looks pretty kewl.
Steve
W12 is a completely dumb idea, though. Touaregs are selling slowly and being discounted heavily, will a higher priced model really help?
I say bring the Mazda5 here then let the MPV grow a tad. That'll help sales, I'd bet.
Still, true multi-purpose vehicles have done poorly here in the past. Remember the Colt Vista, the Expo and Expo LRV? All slow sellers that pale in comparison to the small SUVs that have essentially replaced them here.
-juice
And the W8 was a dud...
-juice
I guess Porsche now offers a 400hp Cayenne option, so that leaves room for VW to offer more power.
Volume will be so low that I have to ask, why bother?
Touareg missed the meat of the market. They should have come in a little lower priced for the V6, perhaps even with less content, then offered a diesel at or near the entry level, not pricier than the V8 option. Maybe like this:
V6: $29,999
Diesel: $29,999
V8: $37,999
Then offer plenty of options or a Lux pack and a Sports pack.
Bob's review revealed a few other misses, and I found it very small. mike's Trooper has about twice the interior space. A Passat is bigger.
-juice