16th Oct 2010, 06:50

The only new one I like is the new Fiskar that is lined up to be built in Delaware. But bring your wallet. A lot to pay to go green.

16th Oct 2010, 12:35

GM builds some of the world's best cars, such as the world-class Corvette, the world's fastest sedan (Cadillac CTS) and the great looking Volt. However Ford has the world's highest rated hybrids in the Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. I think the Volt needs more range on the batteries and a lower price to be successful, but I expect those issues will be addressed in the future in order to compete with the far more economical hybrids such as the Fusion.

16th Oct 2010, 21:36

I hate unibody cars, and you might as well total them after a good hit. I ate through tires that couldn't hold alignments afterwards. You can buy one and cut the floor pans out and add subframe connectors if you see the seams pop in your roof pillars or rattle with age. It saves money building a unibody, but not when they rot or need to be repaired. I will carry that comment to pertain to American unibody cars as well

17th Oct 2010, 09:54

My friend drives her Prius because of a very long commute, and it's only about saving gas. She has zero interest in this car regarding styling, handling or driving enjoyment The car has never seen a coat of wax. It's no more than a lawn mower to her.. Just get in and turn the key. If it costs too much to fix, it's back to her credit union to start over the process every few years, and she racks up the odometer. I was baffled why a back up camera was needed in a small car like the Prius. Pointing a car A to B; no enjoyment, no enthusiasm, is a real depressing way to be. I love my domestics; they run great and I can't wait to drive them.

17th Oct 2010, 10:26

Like I said, GM is going to have to do a lot better if they are going to be competitive. Thanks for copying my post and then reinforcing my point!

As far as GM the best in the world. You are basing that on basically hand built specialty cars that are so much more expensive than the average car it is ridiculous. Any company can build supercars in limited numbers. Look at the Dodge Viper. Chrysler overall has been weak, but who wouldn't want to own a Viper?

The Volt will be yet another failed idea, because once again GM can't produce it for the right number, so people will actually want it. There are so many better choices for that kind of money, and some of them, like the Fusion hybrid, do even better on gas overall for more than a 40 mile trip. The facts will be as they lie in the next year or so if it succeeds or fails. I wish they would just create cars that run on gas, but get 100 mpg. The technology has been there for decades, but has been squashed by the oil companies in favor of profits. All this hybrid battery waste in our landfills is going to do wonders for the future of our kids and grandkids!

17th Oct 2010, 12:52

"I ate through tires that couldn't hold alignments"

I recently went with a friend of mine to get tires and an alignment on his 2009 Toyota Corolla. He was told the rear sub-frame members had bent from the weight of the car (it has never been wrecked) and that it could not be aligned to specs. This car has only 42,000 miles on it. Can you imagine what it will be like at 90,000??

18th Oct 2010, 08:23

I rented a bigger Crown Vic in Fla for 3 passengers, and got over 30 mpg at 70 mph on Fla legal limit interstates.

My Vette gets over 30 mpg on the interstate, barely running at 1600 rpm. Yet I can jump on the interstate in 5 seconds touching 60 mph. Where there is a clear stretch or winding road, you can have fun and stay legal.

My Acura TLs were pretty impressive 0 to 60 in under 6 seconds as well. The trans stunk, but I will compliment them otherwise. Both requiring 93 octane. There are fun cars to drive and own.

I always buy bigger engines, and as far as engine life, have had better longevity than over revved hard working engines, running air conditioning and other power robbing accessories. Especially in the heat of summer.

I commute from the Northeast to family in Florida. My SUV and truck are also domestics now (V8s).

My oldest son bought a Viper RT/10, and got 28 mpg in 6th gear running 800 miles back to Northern Fla, and used it as a daily driver for a year. Another great car you can run on the tracks or 1/4 mile dragstrip, and drive it home.

I realize not everyone can afford to own these cars, but they are well designed bulletproof drivetrains, and we feel fortunate to enjoy these great cars.

I wouldn't say an entire manufacturer is bad, just a certain model on here. I read comments such as this on here, yet they likely haven't owned the same models we do. If you owned a certain model, condemn that model, not the entire manufacturer.

Spending a lot for a hybrid with more complex motors and batteries to go down the road is fine. My emissions are low on my cars; well tuned vs older cars as well. Tractor trailers and large vehicles run by exempt due to weight. No one comments on them on here.

Enjoy what you drive, and at least get a car with some styling.

18th Oct 2010, 10:14

You are missing the point of the Volt entirely then. The Volt was never ever marketed as an all-electric car. There was also never any claim in regards to it having a gas engine that got anything above normal fuel economy for a smaller 4 cylinder 1.3 liter engine, which is what the Volt has.

The reason the Volt was designed as it was is due to the fears tied to range anxiety. If you buy the all-electric Nissan Leaf with its 100 mile range then therein lies the problem: If you have a long commute then if you run out of juice, too bad. If you want to take a long road trip... then again, too bad. Once it runs out of battery power then you're out of luck. GM realized that many people are skeptical about electric cars, mostly over the fear of running out of power. Heck. A lot of Americans still go on and on about how awful the Prius is, even though it's proven to be a highly reliable vehicle and has been on the road for 11 years so far.

The Volt is a compromise between an all-electric car and a gas powered car. Something like 70% of all Americans drive less than 40 miles per day. Thus that was the target range for the Volt's battery which GM met. So perhaps 40 miles isn't as long as say the Leaf, but you'll never have to worry about running out of electric power, because after the battery is dead a gas engine kicks in.

In addition, let's say that you are one of those 70% of Americans who drives less than 40 miles a day to work. If so, then you would hardly ever use the gas engine. The MPG of the gas engine would then be a non-issue wouldn't it? The MPG rating on a car like the Volt is extremely reliant on the owner's driving patterns. If you bought a Ford Focus for example, it's going to get exactly the same MPG all day long, around 30-35MPG. The Volt, on the other hand, might not use any gas for a week with maybe the occasional use of it on a long family vacation. Simply put, the two cars are not comparable.

As far as the Volt being the failure, GM has already received so many orders for the car they are ramping up production to 50,000-60,000 units next year. The Volt and other like it are going to become the new norm for what we will eventually be driving.

Those of you going on and on about how wonderful cars like the Crown Vic are, a car that incidentally is going to cease production, are a bit behind the times.