Roadrunner

That's definitely smart of Ford to import something closer to home than shipping from Europe.

Putting the 3.5L in it might silence some critics. Have you thought of making the 3.0L an optional engine though?

I think your tone went downhill after "Btw, drive a new Spectra and then a used Cavalier (since they're not manufactured any longer). If you still make the claim above then I'll simply write you off as someone who has an aversion to driving/owning a foreign car, OR that you're a moron. To be fair (and nice), I'll assume the former." and "Gee 2005Explorer.... you think so???"

Ovaltine, what's with your condescending tone on the forum?

A Matrix is the same thing as a Vibe - there's no reason to buy either until they get that visibility fixed.

I think it's okay except for the difference in size between the headlights and turn lights. If that got fixed, then we'd have something.

That Kia looks ugly. Tell Kia to make a new front end on that car. Ovaltine wrote: <<In my new Spectra, I simply lowered my window (using its 1-TOUCH DOWN mode... a nice feature), folded my mirror back against my car, raised the window, and easily exited the car through the now wide-open door.>> Most Ford and GM vehicles today have the one-touch-down system. What is your proof the Fusion does not have one? <<Yes... I was aware of the type of lights you first mentioned. I've seen them on several kinds of pickup trucks. I was simply pointing out that my (ahem) "piece of crap" KIA has a similar standard feature that serves the purpose you described. Those lights on the bottom of my doors light the step-out area well too.>> The Ford 500 has those -- not sure about the Fusion. And, wait, did I just restart a thread from January? (Looks sheepish if so)

I rented the Vibe and drove it halfway across Washington state and back. Problems with the Vibe: - Underpowered - Odd blind spots in the front and rear - To make it worse: tiny side mirrors - And, very little zest in the driving experience, although the steering was fairly tight Good things about the Vibe: - Comfortable seating - Great stock stereo system (other people complimented it) - Nice instrumentation - It actually looks good, IMHO But, I made a decision right there and then that I wouldn't buy one of these, especially due to the visibility factor - and I'm 5'11.

Having driven a '99 Explorer and ridden in an S-10, I thought the Chevy was inferior. The S-10 interior seemed very basic, and I thought the large bar on of the passenger side (for bracing yourself in a crash, I'm guessing) was an odd additon. In fact, the Blazer of the same era had one of those bars as well. The seats were basic, the instrumentation was basic - everything seemed inferior to the Ford.

Admittedly I wrote that poorly. But, with that said, I think the 1998-2005 Jetta looks much, much better than the 2006 Jetta.

This is true. Very, very sadly true.

<<Now, they bought a dual cab Colorado. And my friend said that "yeah, and it's an expensive one too". Right there, he tipped his hand as usual, meaning that he can identify with the greatness and smartness that was made to purchase a Chevy because he has one too and that makes him look good too. Hogwash! >> ---- The Chevy Colorado just screams "cheap" and "unsafe" to me - the bed looks square and the cab looks small. That's just an exterior look. Who knows what an interior looks like. I was unimpressed with the interior of a 1990s Chevy S-10, I wonder if they've improved it all? Nah. The Silverado -- now that looks decent and sturdy.

Yeah but in this case the lineup has good-looking cars. Outside of the Intrigue, Oldsmobile had a bland Alero (screamed rental car) and an ugly last-gen Aurora.

I never saw a Freestlye being driven by anyone except a dealer, and I think everyone who bought one traded theirs in already. The Freestyle just looks like an Explorer to me - or a shoe.

I wasn't around when the Rabbit was, but my impression of the name and car was not highly impressive. A Golf is a Golf - the name stands for something: A decent entry-level VW. I know people who stand by their Golf happily. The old Rabbit just reminds me of low-buck, not entry-level. Bad, bad move. The worse move was that they are using the "new VW look" - I think the new look is a downstep from, say, the current Jetta. The current Jetta looks classic, even better than the mid-90s Jetta. The newest Jetta looks... bad. Awkward taillights, scrunched up nose ... I think it's unpleasant to look at.

What door technology does Ford have that they could integrate into the Zephyr? In other words, what Ford cars have doors that, if used, would be an improvement for the Zephyr? (I want to say the Ford Five Hundred sounds solid in the door -- but I haven't tried out a Zephyr or Fusion.)

Zephyr is a classy name that can be associated with Lincoln; MKZ is unrecognizable.

I just saw a commercial for the Milan - she was convincing, although is it my imagination or they making Mercury into a more feminine brand?

That sounds dangerous -- the Mustang has a rear seat that slides forward, or is just a seat that hinges for rear passenger entry? Are you sure that it was not just locked in the track? We had a Bronco II with a setup where the seat sat on a track to move forward for people to get in the back, if I remember correctly. If the seat wasn't locked back from its sliding position, it can move under braking. Hard braking may have made it move a lot more in your Stang.

I agree - I am yet to see any Fusions or clones, but I am seeing more 500s now - about one a day. But I see about 2 'new' Malibus a day and many others. Camrys scatter the parking lots like no other.