MERKURXR4Ti

Agree 100% You can't be quite as rough on Cherokee's as you can anything BOF but they aren't bad. The GC is good for its size but not great, and from my understanding the GC has a LR style hybrid BOF Unitbody construction. My Wrangler has been ripped out of mud so violently that it spider-cracked my windshield, with no other damage...try that on Unitbody.

I run between 13.8 and 14.3 on good days, I suppose that's not too bad for a 20yr old 4cylinder. With cars becoming ever faster sooner or later a camry will beat me... Top end has kissed 165 on the Cosworth 200mph speedo (I'm not as silly anymore) And my Wrangler went 95mph once...

I guess the younger generations just like plain paint. This whole thing reminds me of those people who just can't stick enough tacky items on their cars: vents, portholes, chrome grilles, extravagent wheel covers, chrome tint, chrome door/window/everything else trim, crome strips on the doors, and so on... Some of the cars around here will blind you on a clear day

It seems like a more modern styling of that car could be a hit here, something about the size of the Chevy Trax concept but with FoE styling.

How was the mix fiesta vs fusion? Also, as stated before it's being replaced. How's that Cortina selling these days? (sorry Nick had to do it)

Not working for me either.

My bet is it'll be in the BLS (1-3 series fighter). And they will probably use a Turbo DI 4cyl with good power.

Gotta love election season... People generalize half the nation and hate them without knowing a thing about them other than voting stance. Shit like this should be removed from an automotive forum in my opinion (though I am well aware that it comes from both sides equally this time of year). On subject: I was most shocked to read that GM is considering putting the Tahoe on the lambda platform! That'll give us...oh about 10 lambdas. It's amazing how quickly the US auto companies are running away from BOF construction. Oh and the Malibu postponement is a big letdown too, that car has the potential to dominate - if they keep it updated.

This is what I would count on happening. FoA has had a RWD sports sedan for far too long to just ditch the market completely, but the lesser falcons do not necessarily NEED to be RWD. This could help combat Toyota in the FWD market by bringing in a fullsize FWD. Say next gen D3x capable of left or right hand driving positions, build some in Australia for all FoA and Middle East/China; and then utilize a GRWD platform for Mustang, Lincoln, and Falcon to be built here and in Australia.

I agree that most people won't buy a high mileage XFE in a manual; meaning one less car will offer one in the future (unfortunately). Though since it comes with a 6spd auto in Europe, that would most likely be the choice. I bet the current cobalt XFE is only manual because it's that or a 4spd? and GM didn't have time to stick a 6spd auto in there. Though as you said, still not the volume (base) model, I doubt any DI Turbo engine will reside in a base model (inexpensive) compact for some time. But with a 6spd and a retuned 4cyl, the base should still be close to 40.

So they make a Cruze XFE, give it a six speed, a 1.4L DI Turbo engine, low rolling resistance tires, and fine tune the aerodynamics..I don't see 40 all that hard to get. It might not be the base model, but it's possible. This would sell really well.

It's not for sale here. Have they even alluded to the price yet?

Agreed, wandering around a chevy dealership the other day I found an Aveo gets 1/1mpg better than a Cobalt (worse than an XFE Cobalt), and 2/2 (I think) better than a Malibu. Heck if I had the money there would be no question I would happily lose 2mpg to drive a much nicer car. Furthermore, with the increasing price of compacts and subcompacts I agree that this will be a major factor.

Thank you, I will look into the Ralliart and C30, most the others seem overpriced for their power or are ugly in my opinion. And to add to the 'Cobalt sucks fire': my girlfriend has one and try driving for 3 hours in a car without a center armrest. Sounds like a silly reason to bitch, but just try it...it's obnoxious and your arm becomes sore in no time. The price is dead-right on a Cobalt SS, but the Mazda is truely worth nearly 10K more based on driving them. So pending additional cars on the list, I think I made a choice.

Ok, I might sound stupid..but what exactly is a "jelly mould" and why are the mondeo and sierra in this category?

I hadn't considered that, very recent used is not out of the question, though I don't care much for the newer WRX styling. Coupled with the slower times compared to the mazda I'm not so sure about a subaru. Though I agree that it does warrant consideration, and a test drive. Thank you. Also, I have never appreciated FWD until I drove these two; FWD sports compacts have come a long way in torque steer and handling.

I would like to, but it seems far off - 2011 or 2012 all the while I'm chugging 60mi/day in a wrangler.

As of 08 they put the 2.0Turbo engine from the Solstice GXP in there (260hp/260tq) it also ran the 'ring in 8:22. The hatch practicality is not a major concern as I usually have driven 2door cars. Also, I haven't been able to find any direct comparison between the two in any publication; though I don't care too much since it'll be my senses that make the choice. Just looking for some tips.

Recently I figured I'd look into a fun compact for work and back. I wanted a good amount of power, handling, & speed but still decent mileage. First off, the Calibur SRT4 is out..ugly. As far as I can tell the only small cars offering very good performance for about 20-25K are the cobalt ss turbo and the ms3. Reviews said the cobalt was faster and could actually handle. The test drive confirmed the handling but the car felt like it didn't want to move. All in all, a decent car and with employee pricing it ended at $20750 - not too bad. The Mazda stickered at $25500 and was rated at 4mpg less on both hwy and city. But good God what a difference! This car is a rocket. The interior was fairly nice and the handling blew the chevy away. Anyone shopping for a small car needs to drive one of these even if you don't want to buy...wow. So now I'm deciding and keeping in touch with the dealers. Any cars I missed or any suggestions?

Not bad, I like how clean the install is! What kind of subs & amps are those? I've been out of that business for a few years now. Very nice!

By all means lets hear some more about the great Ford Cortina... All this jabbering and you'd think the thing was dipped in gold. Yet still no response to the constant mention that FoE is in the black. Sometimes selling fewer cars isn't necessarily a bad thing.

You are looking at two very small pieces of a massive pie. Were we talking about the same exact cars built in the same plant, by the same unions, with the same logistics costs, sales, equipment maintenance costs, sale price, material costs and so on, then yes the unadvertised one would make more money. But we aren't. PS: I love the Robocop picture, to bad another thread went to panther hell

I'm so sick of this arguement I could puke. Pathers selling for dirt cheap (19-25K) to fleets cannot and will not ever make the kind of profits that the F150 and Mustang make. Think about how many Lariats and King Ranch F150's have sold for 40-50K, logically there's a solid profit there. There lies a fundamental difference between fleet sales and retail sales: A COMPANY MAKES MORE MONEY SELLING RETAIL! And as Timmm55 proves an awful lot more 150's and "galloping donkeys" have been sold than your sacred platform. Prove your own assertions, and if you refuse to accept that; well by your logic I assert the earth's core consists of twelve types of European cheese...and you get to disprove me.

I was mistaken, nonetheless, the 2009 RL (I thought it was a '10) is a monstrosity of automotive styling. The STS has received the new DI 3.6 and a minor facelift (fender vents...), I am not sure how the M35 has been updated but it may well have been. My point is that there are many months to go, and while it is great that the MKS is selling so well versus these established names, in a few months it might not hold up as a luxury car next to BMW/MB/Infinity... Don't get me wrong, I love this car (as I said before) and I hope it succeeds for the sake of Ford (and my money). It has all the credentials except for RWD or a rear biased full time AWD system (correct me if I'm wrong here). I say good thing, just don't get too excited yet.

I like this car; I'm still waiting to see one on the street... But is it really fair to compare it to the RL, M35, and STS since all three of those are nearing (or needing) upgrades or restyles? Lets hope the sales keep building.