man, i know! the sdean reminds me of the mondeo ... but i think the mondeo is based on the mazda 6...either way, very slick look for the focus in the US. finally
de-badged o4 vibe
tein s-techs | 17" msr 105 wheels | 235 45 17 nexen n7000
weapon-r short ram (thanx BC!) | typeR sport pedals | LED 3rd brake
o2 triumph speed four
Don't be surprised if a Buick version of the Astra hits the Market. GM is well aware of the Pontiac and Saturn loyalists and they are working, albeit not quickly, to get these sporty hatches to market.
Quote, originally posted by JetBlack09VibeGT »Don't be surprised if a Buick version of the Astra hits the Market. GM is well aware of the Pontiac and Saturn loyalists and they are working, albeit not quickly, to get these sporty hatches to market. Somehow I don't really see myself moving from GM's "performance" brand to GM's "Old people" brand...I'm a good 40 years too young to even consider a Buick or a Lincoln... http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080703.htmlhttp://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080704.html
2009 Vibe 2.4L 1SC - Red Hot Metallic
2011 Sienna V6 CE - Sky Silver
Ouch! I bought a 1977 Buick Estate Wagon when I was 34! That was a problem child from the gitgo - kept blowing ignition coils and starter motors. 33 years later I might finally forgive Buick and look at another - but then again I hold a grudge for a long time.
2009 Vibe 1.8L Carbon Gray AT Power Pkg 1/12/092003 Vibe 1.8L Neptune AT Mono Power Pkg 1/27/03 [sold 2/2/09]2007 T&C SWB 7/31/07 "Broke people stay broke by living like they're rich. Rich people stay rich by living like they're broke."
Ever notice that Ford has an F issue. Fairlane, Fusion, Falcon, Focus, F-150, and I am sure more.
2009 Vibe 1.8L Carbon Gray AT Power Pkg 1/12/092003 Vibe 1.8L Neptune AT Mono Power Pkg 1/27/03 [sold 2/2/09]2007 T&C SWB 7/31/07 "Broke people stay broke by living like they're rich. Rich people stay rich by living like they're broke."
Quote, originally posted by jake75 »Ever notice that Ford has an F issue. Fairlane, Fusion, Falcon, Focus, F-150, and I am sure more. Pontiac had a G issue for a while... the Vibe was such a rebel.
2009 2.4L Automatic with Preferred Package and Sun and Sound package May 2010 MOTM March 2011 VOTM
Wow thats looks awesome.....as long as they keep it that way for production! Ford has been spitting out some good looking cars....if they can only fix the new Mustangs taillights LOL.....
* 2003 Vibe Auto Satellite Silver w / Moons & Tunes
* Kenwood Excelon KDC-X597
* Polk DB651-Speakers
* Soundproofcow Roadblock R sound deadening in all doors
* Drop In K & N Filter
* NGK Iridium IX Plugs
* 27 MPG City/Highway with AC on
the new focus has the global platform so its almost all euro. And the new fiesta should be sweet as well. I still have my fingers crossed on a RS global platform coming
Quote, originally posted by kowell »Somehow I don't really see myself moving from GM's "performance" brand to GM's "Old people" brand...I'm a good 40 years too young to even consider a Buick or a Lincoln... http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080703.htmlhttp://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/0 ... tmlawesome, someone else reads real life!as for the buick, i don't know if i would also trust their "old" person line to make a peppy car for us younger market, but that excelle looks very nice. i would consider that for a new car.
As for the Buick using the Astra platform. The new Regal is based on it.As for the Focus, 155hp may very well be class leading given that most are set at the 140hp mark. The new Mondeo is actually a little larger than the 6/Fusion and the new Focus rides on an entirely different platform than the current one rolling our streets now. Hopefully they will be smart and give us an AWD version since they missed the mark with the Mazda 3. And maybe, just maybe we get a performance version (RS cough cough). I would gladly pay almost 30k for one.
Quote, originally posted by Whelan »As for the Focus, 155hp may very well be class leading given that most are set at the 140hp mark.Fors is set to introduce an ecoboost version of that new 2.0L that is estimated to produce around 200HP. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
2009 Vibe 2.4L 1SC - Red Hot Metallic
2011 Sienna V6 CE - Sky Silver
Quote, originally posted by Whelan »As for the Buick using the Astra platform. The new Regal is based on it.Actually the new Buick Regal is based on the Opel Insignia which was to be the platform for the Saturn Aura not Astra. The new Opel Astra may possibly become the new Buick Excelle.
Aura and Astra I get them confused apparently.And if this thing has about or just over 200hp with eco-boost I won't be too impressed. Given the Mazdaspeed 3 pumps 263, the WRX is up in that range and the others Civic Si and such should be coming up in the over 200 range soon enough. Focus RS/SVT would need a 2.5L boosted with AWD for my liking.
Don't be surprised if 200 HP becomes the new 300 HP. With things like Miles Per Gallon becoming more important than 0-60, I think the fun cars burning up tires and sipping down Premium gas are quickly going out of fashion.
I went to the Vibe after Ford decided that I didn't need a hatchback in 2008. Now that Ford appears to have gotten its $%@^ together re/ small cars, I'll most likely go back to the Focus in a couple of years after my Vibe has at least 150K miles on the odometer.
Quote, originally posted by JetBlack09VibeGT »Don't be surprised if 200 HP becomes the new 300 HP. With things like Miles Per Gallon becoming more important than 0-60, I think the fun cars burning up tires and sipping down Premium gas are quickly going out of fashion. Don't be too quick to despair. MPGs are becoming more important but power will remain. Europe has had much higher gas prices for a while and they still produce cars with fun power. The North American market is slowly making the transition to Europe's way of using engines. Insted of using bigger engines like we are used to here, they use smaller engines but turbo them, getting power equivalent to a bigger engine but with better MPG. The new Chevy Cruze will arrive with a 1.4L turbo engine with an output similar to the 2.2L currently used in the cobalt with with better MPG. The new Hyundai Sonata arrives with a GDI 2.4L 4 cylinder with 200HP which is a good power increase over the standard 2.4L engine but gets better mpg. Ford's ecoboost lineup is another good exemple. Ford's 3.5L ecoboost gives out power equivalent to their V8 from a few years back with way better mpg. The next Ford Escape is suppose to introduce Ford's new 2.0L ecoboost engine with 200HP but with MPG miles above the currently used 3.0L V6. MPG doesn't have to come at the expense of power. It just means that manufacturers will have to stop using the easier methoed of dumping bigger engine and insted have to make more with smaller engines.
2009 Vibe 2.4L 1SC - Red Hot Metallic
2011 Sienna V6 CE - Sky Silver
It would be crazy if they put eco-boost in the Mustang, which I hear is soon to come. A turbo Mustang...Do I hear a rebirth of the SVO?175-200HP in a 2.3L Turbo 4 between 1984-1986
Quote, originally posted by Whelan »It would be crazy if they put eco-boost in the Mustang, which I hear is soon to come. A turbo Mustang...Do I hear a rebirth of the SVO?So far it appears that one of the main reason behind the choice of the 3.7L over the ecoboost 3.5L for the 2011 model was specificaly to NOT put a turbo in the Mustang. A proper mustang should have raw power.
2009 Vibe 2.4L 1SC - Red Hot Metallic
2011 Sienna V6 CE - Sky Silver
Quote, originally posted by kowell » Europe has had much higher gas prices for a while and they still produce cars with fun power. Though true that Europe produces cars with Fun power, the vast majority of that continent looks to Diesel while most can still rely on a amazing mass transit system. Since they do have a real rail system, this allows many to have a fun car for the weekends. And so there will always be niche market vehicles. The reality is, the days of seeing standard HP ratings in the upper 200's are going away.