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At last GM is coming out with a Hybrid car.--'bout time.Its about time they updated their designs.Just maybe folks will now start buying GM cars.Wonder where its made though-hopefully in a factory in the US.
 
strange...

I don't see MPG ratings... just the lofty 25% number. How... um... yes. 25% savings over what? If the standard one is 16/22, then why not mention that? Seems kinda hinky to me.

Or, she could just get a car, and not have to have $10,000 in technology to get the same fuel savings. I wonder how much driving one would have to do before buying a hybrid car would let you break even. And then what about maintenence on the hybrid system?

I still don't get the SUV thing. I always feels very unsafe when I drive one. My car choices have always been low to the ground, some like my Grand Prix were wide... always felt nice and secure and nailed to the corners. Corners are fun!

But maybe she needs to haul around lots of stuff all the time? If thats the case, then a hybrid SUV is a good idea.

Yep, the BMW X5 is made here in the USA. There are no milage stats on the website for either the 3.0 liter inline 6 or the 4.8 liter V8. Strange...
 
Bring back the wagons

The last capable wagon, Buick Roadmaster of 1996, aka Chevy Caprice and Olds Cruiser, had a LT-1 engine. Basically same as the Corvette, and also had a highway rating of 26mpg, city was 17mpg. It could also out accellerate most cars on the road. I have a Crown Victoria (2003) rated at 25mpg, but I get 28mpg on long trips, the Roadmaster probably would too.

With the tow package you could tow up to 5000 lbs. Vehicle weight was about 4200 lbs.

The 2007 Tahoe weighs 5265 in 2wd form, and gets 22/16, better this year because of automatic cylinder shut-off at cruising speed. It can tow more: up to 7500 in 2wd, with a 3.73 axle ratio, which probably won't get the 22/16.

Anyway, the SUV's get such cruddy mileage because of their weight, but also because of their height. That tallness reduces the efficiency by about 20%. That's why I like the wagon, more like a car to drive, less likely to tip over too.

The only real wagon available now is the Dodge Magnum, it will tow 4000 lbs with the HEMI, but I have never seen one with the tow package. The dealer says they will just put the hitch on, but I want all the oil cooling, and 7 pin trailer plug wiring so I can put in an electric brake controller. The dealers would just rather sell you a truck or suv, which is fine, but personally I don't want to have that much heavier vehicle for all my driving.
 
We're getting 17 city

and on our last trip we got close to 30 on the highway when I was driving. When the SO drives the MPG goes straight to hell unfortunately.

Some people just gotta have those big vehicles. I don't like them but the SO wouldn't drive anything else. I guess it's a guy thing!
 
YES...CAPRICE ESTATE WAGONS!

Bring them back, we did nothing in the 70's & 80's but bit-h about big gas guzzling cars. Now look....there are not enough Caprices in the world to use all the gas SUV's use!

PLUS...nothing like a Caprice Estate Wagon, with that "contact paper" that always seem to peel!

My dream wagon a 1990 Caprice Estate Wagon!

Stupid GM turning Caprice factory in Arlington, Texas to make those SUV's for shame!
 
But wagons have always had a stigma, nobody would be caught dead driving a Wagon (unless you were a funeral director and had a Cadillac hearse wagon). People probably drove less because of that and if we still had wagons, the US probably would not use so much oil. Just look at the expression on Eric Forman's (70s show) face when he drives the Vista Cruiser. Also, after Bobby put an umbrella through Mr. Brady's convertible Greg was stuck having to take his dates in the wagon, where he didn't have many dates. Wagons also tended to rattle, leak, and smell more than the sedans after awhile but the same thing will probably happen to SUVs as they age - except that people now get "A good deal on a lease" so they always have a new SUV and Always have payments (which begs the question - Why are the automakers in trouble if people are always leasing and making payments?).

I would like to see hybrid drive in a commercial van, something I may buy in the near future. When I asked Ford about flexible fuel in the E150 they said no, but is in the pickup truck. Repair people who have to drive a van full of equipment to do their jobs really would benefit from a hybrid or diesel engine in the vehicles to save them money in doing business.
 
Bob,
Chevrlet does (or at least did) sell a diesel van..The Dodge/Freightliner does as well..

She's hell bent on getting one.... Her Tahoe will be paid off by then (i figure it'll have 90K ish by then) and her divorce will be final as well, so she'll have money to pay for it (her ex was a dentist turned druggie, she got a huge settlement)... It'll probably be like 25/20 somewhere in tat range fuel wise from what gm told me..Almost as good as an EScape or Vue
BTW, The EPA is chaning gas ratings next year to show "more realistc changes"
 
It's all fashion

The past trend away from station wagons and into mini-vans was more fashion than anything else. Then into the SUV's. It will eventually trend toward something more practical. The "American" manufacturers, however, have exploited our fears.

The French designer Clotaire Rapaille has consulted with all of the major manufacturers, and encouraged the tall vehicle, it makes one feel more secure. And feel is more important than thought when it comes to a vehicle purchase.

That height is designed to make the owner feel secure. Yes, you can see over the shorter vehicles, but due to the high center of gravity, roll-over is easier, and you are less secure. Granted, the vehicles which have the stability control system are less likely to flip, but only the more expensive ones have that.

http://detnews.com/2005/specialreport/0501/09/B08-54258.htm
 
Stability Control

If you live in a harsh wintery climate, like me, the stability control is essential if you have a large vehicle. Traction control is a must as well. We were turning a corner last winter in my minivan, and we would have almost hit something if the stability control wasn't there. We also would have stalled about a dozen times if not for the traction control as well.
 
Of course she doesn't but as that psychologist says, "The reptilian always wins!".

Could you imagine what a Vista Cruiser, a Brady Bunch wagon, or a Wagon Queen Family Truckster would look like if this guy had been around then?
 
I could only Imagine her driving one of those wagons (not!)

She was driving a Saab 900 Turbo Convertible b4, they both thought it was ok to haul kids around in this..However she reluctantly gave it up, wheb every one scoffed at her for driving such a small car with kids

I tried to convince her a Nice fully loaded Subaru Legacy was far more in order for her and the Kids than the Tahoe..Oh no, that would never do... She needed the big soccer mom Car.. She has NEVER used the Third Row Seat... At least she didn't get a Suburban (they didn't have one in the Grey Color she wanted)..
 
Probably did not come in gray because that would be too light a color for a Suburban which, according to the book "High and Mighty" was and is very popular with funeral directors. In fact, funeral homes were the first customers when the Suburban came out in the 1930s. They use Cadillacs for the funeral procession but often use Suburbans for other funeral tasks, such as picking the people up from the hospital morgue to the funeral home. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be morbid, just trying to offer an explanation. Maybe your sister found out about this and did not want a "funeral car".
 
No, she wanted a Dark Gray Suburban (theres a picture of it on my yahoo pictures)..Both Tahoe and Subrban came in this color and it was quite popular... But no one had this color in South FLA... Only Maroone in West Palm had this Color in the LT model...She also almost got an H2, but they where more money... That would have been worse

Why she drives it is beyond me... She was complaning about her expenses and i politly reminded her of the overgrown land yacht she drives... She simply stated that it was to Thwart off other drivers in the rechid Miami traffic....
 
I have a dirty little secret.

I have always thought that minivans are excellent all-around vehicles - more practical even than a pickup truck or a station wagon.

Relatively good on gas, can take seven or more people, with seats removed can take a big load from the garden center or home improvement center, etc... I think most washers/dryers would also fit nicely inside a standard minivan.

I don't really know why minivans have such a negative stigma - you, know the soccer mom association. After all, the VW microbus doesn't have the same stigma, and it's nearly the same form factor.

It looks like the best minivans are the Chrysler and Honda offerings. Ironically, even though Ford originally developed (and rejected) the minivan concept, theirs are the ones to absoultely avoid.

And no, I don't have a minivan. I have sedans, coupes, a couple of pickup trucks, and a few motorcycles. But no minivan. WHY?
 
Saw one of my favorite peeves yesterday while having lunch at an outdoor cafe. In the strip-mall parking lot---soccer-mom type driving a Suburban (complete with "W" sticker---of course), (in stunning "Stepford Wife" taupe metallic, of course), yacking away on her cell-phone trying to park the beast she has not yet mastered---and never will. She taps one car twice and the car on the other side of her she taps three times before giving up and moving to an area where she can take up two spaces. But, never sets that cell-phone down, emerging from the vehicle and heading for her shopping errand without the first glimpse over at the cars she has just dented up.

The guy at the table next to me who also witnessed the event commented " no wonder some wives get beaten"!
 
Dubya stickers

lol!! Steve, I have not seen one of the "W" stickers around here for quite awhile. I think most people that were ignorant enough to have them have taken them off within the last year or so.

What a wonderful example that lady must set for her children.... NOT!!
 
Gyrafoam

I sure hope you somehow notified the owners of the cars she hit. Whether by leaving a note with her plate number on the windshield, or calling the Police.
Its so typical, those kind of people. A typical Bush voter is out for one thing and thats themselves and their pocketbook!
I for one don't see many "W" stickers on cars here in Central Florida. Either they have gotten smart or don't want to be associated with a lame duck loser of a president.
 
Rich---You're absolutely right; A minivan is the most flexible vehicle for most people's needs, especially if it has all-wheel drive. I don't have a minivan either, and when I finally get a new vehicle, it will probably be the Ford Fusion sedan. It's gotten great reviews by CR and the first year reliability has been excellent.

I plan to keep my little '94 Geo Prizm (a twin of the Toyota Corolla) as the commuting/around-town car (for my 3-minute drive to work) and use the new car on the highway. I'd get a Toyota Camry or Sienna, but I try to give my business to the locals. Mine is such a small town that a few extra sales make a big difference for them. The nearest Toyota dealer is 70 miles away.
 
Love the fusion...I like the cavalier wagons as well... I wouldn't mind a van either, but after reading consumer reports, epinions and others, the ONLY van i would consider is the Sienna...There aren't very many out there that are cheap enough for my budget.. The Honda, Chrysler, Ford, Nissan, Mercury Hyundai and Kia vans are all very poorley put together and un reliable..

My truck has fallen apart, i band-aided it together, but it just clungs and bangs alot..So i guess it's time for another car..(The exploder limited stays with me but it is not my daily driver, only my week end car)

My current choice is a Mazda Protege, but they want to much money down..
Next choice is a Nissan Altima with 46K or a 5-speed Altima with 84k...

Also like subarus, but they are VERY expensive.. Too rich for my blood
 
mistereric

Is Mistereric's red wagon a Chevy Cavalier? I remember them from 81 when I was in Chicago, but that red wagon looks much too new - how long were they made in USA? There was an Australian equivalent, the Holden Camira. It was Car of the Year when it was launched, but it turned out to be one of the worst cars ever made here, totally unreliable in every imaginable way and extremely rust prone to boot. Production here stopped in 1988. I have heard that the equivalent UK car, a Vauxhall Cavalier, was very well regarded, love to know how they are considered in USA. The panel work for the wagon was developed in AU you know, the design work to turn the original sedan design into a wagon was done by Holden in Melbourne and given to other GM divisions around the world. I have a real soft spot for them myself, pity Holden couldn't screw them together properly.

Chris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Camira
 

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