Enough BS about the 2005 Tacoma!

[Jaguar D-Type]

Originally Posted by Prime First

Toyota always knows what it is doing. It's just incredible how near-perfect they are...and business-savvy too, unlike a lot of the German/American companies.

And unfortunately for the American companies, 2005 will be a rough year. GM's bonds are to be downgraded to junk at any minute, with a shrinking market share. And Toyota is going to overtake them in global volume faster than people have estimated.

Toyota is business-savvy. Too bad they aren't enthusiast-savvy. They are dropping the MR2 for the 2006 model year for the U.S. market.

Also, the Tundra isn't available with a diesel engine (lost performance and sales).

[Prime First]

Haha, yeah I'll miss the MR2

[Filthy Sanchez]

Originally Posted by Prime First

I picked the Sunfire because I said it was ugly. I don't think the Trans Am, Solstice, and GTO are ugly. In fact, I like the GTO. And I didn't know there was a difference between "real" and "unreal" Pontiacs. The Firebird is dead. The Solstice hasn't reached mass-production, and the GTO is a rebadged Holden. I would say the Sunfire is a real as they get

I agree with Prime. The Solstice, Trans - Am, and GTO are all descent looking cars. Unfortunetly the Firebird is dead along with the Camaro (an example of what we are talking about bad GM decision making.) and the GTO is pretty bland, I don't think it's ugly just plain Jane in the looks department. The Solstice is a suprise to me that it's going into production as it was too far along for GM to scrap it, when they decided to pull the plug recently on rear drive platforms, the Camaro, Monte Carlo and others weren't so lucky. The thing is GM could be so much more, yet even their little economy cars and basic models are just plain ugly and nobody wants them. Taking nothing from Toyota, but they make nothing I desire, it's all front drive cars. Yet even though they make an occasional ugly one (The last Celica as example or the Scion box twins) for the most part at least they look good. Which is more than I can say for GM, or even Nissan for that matter.

[Jaguar D-Type]

The new Chevrolet Cobalt is a decent economy car.

check here

New Cobalt

The 2006 Pontiac Solstice has a new rwd chassis.

[Filthy Sanchez]

Originally Posted by Jaguar D-Type

The new Chevrolet Cobalt is a decent economy car.

check here

New Cobalt

The 2006 Pontiac Solstice has a new rwd chassis.

The Cobalt is hopefully a car that can save GM we'll see. I don't think it's an ugly car, just nothing I'd drive. As I said the Solstice was a surprise production model seeing that it's rear drive. It was too far alng for GM to scrap it, like they did the Camaro and others.

[arctic_front]

I too bought a '05 Taco TRD. I have only had one complaint with it, the paint chipping problem. But Toyota Canada paid for a new paint job with little hassle. Truck looks sweet! Speedway Blue

As for ugly cars....no one mfgr has a monopoly on that. The reason GM's and all domestics don't sell is simple. they are cheaply made, and breakdown or suffer from maintenance issues far more often than a Jap car. The years and years of the big three forcing that junk down our throats is over. If you own just one comparable jap car to its domestic competitor, the 'stupid' consumer sees through the difference pretty fast. Hence the current "employee discount' marketing the big three are all using. They can't give them away. build a reliable car, people will buy it, even if its ugly...ie: Matrix.

I regularly drive new domestic cars and trucks, and I'm amazed how soon they develop squeeks and rattles, some after just 4-6 thousand miles. My previous vehicle was a '90 Toyota 2WD truck, 250,000 miles, no leaks and no squeeks....oh, and it never required any repairs. just simple maintenance like oil, filters and brakes.

I drove that little truck 14 years, and I live in Yukon, not exactly a vehicle-friendly envioronment. I couldn't really afford the hefty price of my new 4X4, but I think it will be good investment and I expect that another 14 years use is forthcoming. I couldn't really "not afford" this truck.

[Filthy Sanchez]

GM does make a relaiable ugly car calles the Pontiac Vibe (I.E. Toyota Matrix) and no one will buy it. Same assembly line, hell same car! Made at the same plant as the afore mentioned Tacoma!