CANADA'S ecoAUTO REBATE

The Government of Canada's initiative to put more people into fuel efficient vehicles by giving them money sees a rearranging of models for year 2008. The list, with the cashback value, is below.

$2000
Toyota Prius
Honda Civic Hybrid
smart fortwo (coupe and convertible)
Ford Escape Hybrid (front and all-wheel drive)
Saturn Vue Hybrid

$1500
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Nissan Altima Hybrid
Toyota Highlander Hybrid

$1000
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Yaris (hatch and sedan)
Mini Cooper (and Clubman)
Honda Civic (coupe and sedan)
Honda Fit
Lexus RX400h
Jeep Compass (2.0L w/CVT and 2.4L manual tranny)
Jeep Patriot (2.0L w/CVT and 2.4L manual-tranny)
Chevrolet HHR
Nissan Rogue

FLEX FUEL VEHICLES $1000
Chevrolet Impala
Dodge Avenger
Chrysler Sebring

CDN COTY

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has named their many cars of the year. AJAC doesn't like to herald the advent of one new vehicle more than another, it seems, and so the awards are split amongst mutliple - specific - categories. The category names do not remain stagnant. For more about the proceedings, visit this link. The various winners are below. Remember, The Good 12 debuts December 20th here at GoodCarBadCar.net and carries through until the end of 2007.

Saturn Astra, Honda Accord EX sedan, Mercedes-Benz C-class, Audi R8, Mini Cooper S, Audi S5, BMW 335i convertible, Hyundai Entourage, Chevrolet Silverado, Nissan Rogue, Saturn Vue, Buick Enclave.

CAR DESIGN PART I

So all the AutoCAD has got you down. Car styling ain't what it used to be. I remember when every new model year meant significant changes, say you. They didn't used to explain why it looked good, you just knew when you laid eyes on the car, say others.

Well, I wondered. And I wondered. And I wondered some more. And then I edited some pictures to (mainly) show the profile of a dozen or more vehicles. Plenty of people suggest that a typical midsize sedan, especially those built in Japan or America, or just carbon copies. The designer of the Nissan 350Z said, on that car's debut, that a car's design impact derives from a singular profile line.

I'm going to show you the profiles of multiple "family" cars, all priced under $30,000. Then you can look at the profiles of multiple mid-engined, high-dollar sports cars. Where has design evolved the most? Where has modernity struck heaviest? Who designs with cookie cutters? Which design group resides 'in the box'? Does anybody?

INEXPENSIVE FAMILY VEHICLES

MID-ENGINED SPORTS CARS

From the top: Citroen C5, Nissan Altima, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Saturn Astra, Koenigsegg CCX and Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera.

'09 SATURN VUE RECALLED FOR BAD KNUCKLE

2,149 Saturn Vues from model year 2009 are being issued a Recall because of incorrect right and/or left front steering knuckles. This means - apparently - that "the tie rod ball stud could pull out of, or fracture, the tie rod housing. This could cause the tie rod to separate from the knuckle". Those are the Circle Y Ranch's NHTSA's words, not mine. 

Drivers might'n't notice the affect immediately because steering inputs in normal circumstances would remain relatively normal. On rougher roads or with more aggressive driving or under braking, however, one wheel could "turn out and skid". Yikes. 

The Vue was also recalled in September because of a power steering issue. 

16,667 '09 GM LAMBDA CROSSOVERS RECALLED - ENCLAVE, TRAVERSE, ACADIA, OUTLOOK

Four General Motors crossovers are being recalled, NHTSA says, for failing to measure up to requirements for safety standard #209.... the one for seat belt assemblies, don't you know? The second or third row seat belt buckle could be missing a rivet.

Model year 2009 examples of the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook - basically identical vehicles under the skin and inside the seat belt buckles, apparently - will have any deficient seat belt buckle replaced free of charge under this Recall. That could be up to 16,667 CUVs, NHTSA says. The Lambda platform could even be the foundation for the next Cadillac Escalade and/or Chevrolet Suburban if General Motors money remains..... er, tight, and if fuel economy standards make the possibility of a 20+mpg giant SUV impossible.

Lambda crossovers were also involved in a GM Recall in August relating to overheating windshield washer fluid and another recall in August for detaching windshield wiper linkage. If these General Motors vehicles are going to be in the garage continuously free of charge to customers, GM is going to want to keep the issues minor.

BEST WINTER CARS PART II

BusinessWeek's automotive section recently showcased winter's best automobiles. Along with the vehicles brandished ↓ and in Part I, BusinessWeek provided some interesting statistics.


SUBARU OUTBACK: BW says: "The Outback has as much ground clearance as the taller Tribeca SUV (which is based on the same platform), and like all Subarus, the Outback has permanent all-wheel drive as standard equipment." TGCG says: "The Outback is an obvious choice and obviously good."


VOLVO XC70: BW says: "Ground clearance is almost three inches higher than the V70 wagon, and only a fraction of an inch less than the more imposing Volvo XC90 SUV." TGCG says: "The previous XC70 was the most comfortable vehicle I've ever spent a weekend in, a weekend with snow and sun. I expect nothing less from the new Cross Country."

AUDI A6 AVANT: BW says: "Besides Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the A6 Avant has headlight washers. Standard equipment includes heated front seats and heated exterior mirrors. A cold-weather package of options ($600) includes heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a removable ski sack to keep melted snow from dripping in the rear cargo area." TGCG says: "Much as I love the headlight washers, I stick to the imposing appearance and impressive capabilities as reasons for making wintry use of an A6 wagon."

TOYOTA SIENNA: BW says: "The Sienna is rare among minivans in that it has all-wheel drive in its highest trim and equipment levels." TGCG says: "You and your's and their's and their stuff will fit comfortably and possibly unaware of the peril outside."

HONDA RIDGELINE: BW says: "The oddly styled Honda Ridgeline gets good marks for off-road performance in slippery conditions, with a driver-friendly combination of all-wheel drive, traction control, antilock brakes, stability control, and a five-speed automatic transmission that helps take care of most slippery situations automatically." TGCG says: "It may look funny, but the Ridgeline is capability personified."

TOYOTA FJ CRUISER: BW says: "Toyota says the FJ Cruiser is the most capable off-road SUV in the Toyota lineup." TGCG says: "That lineup is freakin' full of SUV's, too. Put a plow on the front and take care of every driveway in the neighbourhood. So cool."

HUMMER H2: BW says: "Features aimed more specifically at Old Man Winter include heated front and rear seats, heated outside mirrors, and remote starting." TGCG says: "Read my review."

RANGE ROVER: BW says: "With a single knob, the driver can select one of five modes, depending on the road (or off-road) surface: general, for everyday pavement; grass/gravel/snow, for slippery conditions; sand; mud and ruts; and "rock crawl." The system governs throttle response, automatic transmission operation, electronic differentials, antilock brakes, the air suspension, traction control, and hill descent control." TGCG says: "It may be the world's most impressive all-around vehicle... the Queen seems to think so."

SATURN VUE: BW says: "The front-drive version, with a four-cylinder engine sitting over the driving wheels, probably provides enough winter traction for most people, coupled with antilock brakes, traction control, and electronic stability control, all standard—plus winter tires, which cost extra." TGCG says: "The Vue is almost cool now, but not if the badge lacks the V6 and AWD alphanumerics."

TOYOTA TUNDRA: BW says: "Something called the Tundra better be able to go (and stop) in the snow, and with optional all-wheel drive this pickup certainly has the right equipment, subject to proper tires." TGCG says: "The Tundra is fast, and will accelerate almost as quickly in slippery conditions when badged 4x4. But be careful, you've many thousands of pounds to slow down."

THE DETROIT THREE OFFERS TOO MANY TRUCKS? BY THE NUMBERS

Wall Street insiders attempting to predict the demise of the Detroit Three (GM/Ford/Chrysler) blame most of the domestic auto manufacturing difficulties on the rise and fall of the SUV. They believe that General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler LLC (mostly under the management of Daimler-Benz) didn't have the foresight to build high quality cars when money was pouring in from easy-profit vehicles like the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Dodge Ram. On the surface, these insiders appear to be correct. 

Take American luxury cars, for instance. In the early part of this millenium, the only prominent vehicles at Cadillac and Lincoln were their jumbo SUVs, the Escalade and Navigator. Mainstream brands like Chevrolet and Ford were offering an abomination called the Malibu and an ancient design called the Taurus. The few takers snapped them up at rock bottom prices.

For a deeper look at the gravity of the situation in numerical terms, check this Numbers post from a few days ago with figures supplied by TIME. For perspective on the issue, read The Good Car Guy's question from yesterday. For facts about automaker offerings in the U.S. domestic market in 2009, keep reading. Oh, and by the way, to attempt to sway the argument in favour of cars instead of trucks, models like the F-150, F-250, and F-350 were lumped together. It didn't help. Also, TSV means anything that isn't a car: trucks, SUVs, and vans.

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TOTAL CARS @ GENERAL MOTORS: 21

TOTAL TSVs @ GENERAL MOTORS: 26

TOTAL CARS @ FORD MOTOR CO.: 10

TOTAL TSVs @ FORD MOTOR CO.: 14

TOTAL CARS @ CHRYSLER LLC: 8

TOTAL TSVs @ CHRYSLER LLC: 16

Buick cars/TSVs: 2 to 1

Cadillac cars/TSVs: 4 to 3

Chevrolet cars/TSVs: 6 to 9

GMC cars/TSVs: 0 to 8

Hummer cars/TSVs: 0 to 2

Pontiac cars/TSVs: 6 to 1

Saturn cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Ford cars/TSVs: 4 to 10

Lincoln cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Mercury cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Chrysler cars/TSVs: 3 to 2

Dodge cars/TSVs: 5 to 7

Jeep cars/TSVs: 0 to 7

HOW CONSUMER REPORTS RELIABILITY RANKINGS RELATE TO GCBC AWARDS

Late last year and in early 2008, The Good Car Guy handed out twenty awards. Well, let's be honest: eight of them were shameful awards. The Good 12 and The Bad 8  place significance on vehicles that can be purchased by people you and I know - no Ferraris, Lamborghinis, or Bentleys. Of the hundreds and hundreds of different models available to the North American consumer, The Good 12 tells you which you should buy if at all possible in 2008 and The Bad 8 makes very clear which cars you should not buy if at all avoidable.

Of course, those vehicles are in the running for 2009's Good 12 and Bad 8. If they're still the best, they ought to be recognized that way. But before that comes, it appears that Consumer Reports has released its reliability rankings, pieces of news in which many consumers (how ironic) place a great amount of trust.

So, how do those rankings compare with The Good 12 and The Bad 8? Have a look below.

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Small Cars: Consumer Reports says the Scion xD and Mini Cooper Clubman are at or near the top while the Nissan Versa sedan is the worst. The Good 12 holds fast on the regular Mini Cooper while the Versa sedan resides in The Bad 8.

Family Cars: Consumer Reports puts the Toyota Prius and Kia Optima at or near the top with the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger platform-mates at the bottom. GoodCarBadCar.net is silent on the topic.

Sporty, Coupes, & Convertibles: Consumer Reports places the Lexus SC430 and Volco C30 at the top with the Chrysler Sebring convertible and Saturn Sky at the bottom. The Bad 8 has both the Sebring and Lexus SC in its grasp.

Luxury Cars: Infiniti's M35 and Lexus IS250 are CR's most reliable; the V8-powered Cadillac STS and V8-powered Mercedes-Benz E-Class are at the bottom. GoodCarBadCar.net speaks neither well or ill of all four.

Minivans/Wagons: The Toyota Matrix and Scion xB are the best of the bunch in CR's rankings, the Chrysler twins (Town & Country, Grand Caravan) are the worst. GoodCarBadCar.net is silent.

In the SUV/truck arena, the Toyota Tundra; Honda Ridgeline; Toyota Sequoia; Honda Pilot; Lexus RX400h; Honda Element, and Toyota FJ Cruiser are all leaders of their respective packs. Conversely, the Ford F-250; Land Rover LR2; Saturn Vue in V6 all-wheel drive form; Land Rover Range Rover; Volkswagen Touareg; V8-powered and diesel-fired Mercedes-Benz GL-Class; and the Dodge Dakota 4x4 are all unreliable by Consumer Reports' standards.

One more thing: Consumer Reports also said the Honda Fit; smart fortwo; and Infiniti G35 are "also very reliable". Those cars are in The Good 12.

2009 VAUXHALL INSIGNIA.... AND ALL ITS ENGINES - PLUS 77 PHOTOS

You'll know it - or something like it - in the future as a Saturn and you've known it before as an Opel. Pictured here is the Vauxhall Insignia from General Motors' British outpost. As a replacement for the long-running Vectra nameplate, GM hopes the Insignia will reignite some desire for mainstream large cars in the UK, a segment that is struggling to keep up with small MPVs from mainstream brands and low-powered sedans saloons from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.

Plans to bring a vehicle like this, thought at one time to be the core of the brand, back to a place of significance include a range of engines wider than the gap between Alaska and Russia. Ahem.

Starting out with diesels, Vauxhall will start the Insignia with 128-bhp and 158-bhp powerplants, both of which surely make up for their horsepower problem in the torque department and at the fuel pump. A 187-bhp mill will be added to make a diesel trio sometime next spring, a few months after the late '08 launch.

If 'petrol' is your fuel of choice, engines ranging in power from 138-256 horsepower will be available. Only that 256-bhp V6 comes standard with an automatic. 

Highlights from this engine lineup include a 1.8L gas engine that weighs 20% less than its predecessor; a 2.0L turbo with 217 horsepower; and diesels with a range of 750 miles. The turbocharged gasoline models are available with all-wheel drive. 20-inch wheels will be an option. Yes, you did just read that 20-inch wheels will be an option. This is the Vauxhall Insignia and not a Cadillac Escalade, but yes, 20-inch wheels will be an option.

Why does this matter to ye who are not Across The Pond? For one thing, there's the Saturn connection. Secondly, there's the here's-what-you're-missing factor in an age when GM is trying desperately to avoid sinking in a market where swimming is very difficult. 

Saturn Vue Driven

GM's invitation to drive a variety of vehicles at their own proving grounds in Milford was not something I would normally turn down. So I didn't. Buick's Enclave, the Cadillac CTS, Pontiac Torrent GXP, Saturn Sky Red Line, and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid have already been reviewed here at GoodCarBadCar. Now it's turn for a second Saturn in Part II of Milford's SUV quartet.

Read all of The Good Car Guy's Milford posts here

SATURN VUE: The new Vue looks good. In fact, Saturn's new Vue feels good. Better yet, the new Saturn Vue is good. But I wish it were better.

Ironically, a vehicle I mocked here on GoodCarBadCar was the very vehicle I drove first around the proving grounds: Pontiac's Torrent GXP. The existence of the GXP doesn't draw me to the Pontiact brand, and the overall feel of the Torrent didn't draw me any nearer. However, giving a Torrent GXP it's head around five miles of GM's own tarmac proved that a small, relatively inexpensive, American SUV can really cut the mustard. Check out the GCBC Torrent Driven here .

Read Part I of Milford's SUV Quartet here

Why do I mention the GXP's dynamics, especially in such a praiseworthy tone? Becuase the Vue, a vehicle competing in the very same sector at a similar price point, is so good in so many arenas but fails so miserably in one. That'd be driving dynamics.

6-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, 257 horsepower, quiet interior, pleasant materials. Present and accounted for. $26,950 price tag? Also included. 4,325 pounds. Excuse me, what did I just type?

4-3-2-5. P-o-u-n-d-s. Man, it hurts just to type that. Especially considering the fact that a Torrent GXP hits the scales as a comparative lightweight; a few hundred pounds less.

Build your own version of the Vue at Saturn.com

There is one major factor hindering me from recommending a Vue to you: the weight of the Vue, a vehicle with less length, height, and wheelbase than the Torrent, creates a driving experience that feels more Saturn Outlookish than Saturn Auraish. And if you're in the market for a high-priced cute ute, don't you want a carlike experience? The segment, almost automatically; almost by definition, suggests that car-like is what you get.

Where the Torrent was tied down, Saturn's Vue was not. When the Torrent felt as if on rails (no, really..kinda...sorta), the Vue felt as if on butter. On a straight stretch where the GXP felt strong, the Vue felt breathless. When steering needed sharpness, the Vue gave me, umm.... dullness.

I was excited about the Vue, a similar feeling to what I felt as I approached the Buick Enclave. In both instances the excitement felt wrong, but was exhibited because of two things: the old Vue and the Buick Rendezvous, both banished. Thankfully.

The Enclave proved itself to be worth an increased heart rate. No, not because the driving experience was so exhilarating, but because Buick built a true, desirable Buick. With the Vue, my satisfaction with the interior quality and space as well as the refinement and maturity of the vehicle went downhill as soon as I had to drive the thing.

Give me a Saturn Vue. Yes, please do. But only if it drives like that Pontiac Torrent GXP. I never thought I'd want either one, and I still don't. I just wish I could have the best of both world's.

SATURN SKY - Driven

Negativity towards the Sky has already been revealed by The Good Car Guy on video. There's more to the Sky than its shaking hood and inner door panel; more even than its vibrating rearview mirror and never-still steering rack. Plenty more.

Positive fact numero uno: it's fast. The turbocharged Saturn Sky that I drove uses 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque to set its 3,036 pounds into motion. Oh, but wait - here's another negative fact. Three thousand and thirty-six pounds? Fortunately that's just a miniscule weight gain over the standard, non-Red Line Sky in a world where the performance version tends to weigh more than 71 pounds extra. But.... I gotta mention it, Mazda's dominant MX-5 Miata weighs a fair 500 pounds less.



Horses need to be given a run, ya know. Especially when 260 reside in the stable. Tension is building; the legs need stretching; they need to see the great outdoors. Saturn says that, from rest, you can hit 60mph in 5.5 seconds. I believe them. Turbo lag is rarely felt and is never intrusive. Torque seems to be available anywhere and everywhere. In-gear acceleration is phenomenal.

Shifter and steering effort is nice. I'm driving a driver's car, so let me drive it, I say. And the Saturn does. The Sky also expects you to hold down the hood, rest your left elbow in a position that will silence the door panel and forget the windshield mounted rearview mirror. While shifting the snickety-snick 5-speed manual and careening 'round corner after corner at the Milford Proving Grounds. General Motors hosted a group of web-savvy car folks at Milford and supplied a large grouping of Sky's and the Pontiac version named Solstice. I drove only one of these rear-wheel drive roadster, so I'm not qualified to say that all would suffer from the shakes.

Read other Milford articles here.

Perhaps the Sky tries to do too much. And in so doing, becomes too little; less than the sum of its parts. This Saturn grips corners tightly, but doesn't feel at home on the corner or on a straight stretch. Any stretch of road ripples or bumps reveals a chassis unwilling to cooperate with real life; yet, what's worse, the roof is too challenging to operate and luggage capacity is severely lacking.

In the United States, pricing for the Sky begins at $25,595 for 173-bhp and a less aggressive suspension. Pay $30,000 and you'll get that turbocharged engine you want with a little room for an upgraded stereo.

Read other Driven articles here.

Or sacrifice 94 horsepower, gain a retractable hard-top and a more mature driving experience for as little as $25,035. That's called a Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT. My advice would lead you to this paragraph.

Or, if you prefer the look of a Solstice, take a trip to your Pontiac dealership and save a couple grand. Before you follow the link, check your volume. Especially if you're at work.



Indications were that an official 'positive fact numero dos' would appear at some point: the Sky is the best-looking of this bunch. Handsome, classy, clean, but full of visual impact from any angle. It was General Motors' own styling boss who first suggested that people will buy a car for the way it looks. Saturn's roadster proves Harley Earl right.

SATURN SKY VIDEO REVIEW

The voice of The Good Car Guy is revealed (so is his hair) in the embedded YouTube clip found below. A more thorough Driven article on the turbocharged Sky is upcoming, but spending a minute of your personal time will give you a hint of what to expect when the review comes along.

Saturn's Sky is seen parked on the Milford Proving Ground's Black Lake this past Tuesday afternoon during a bloggers event hosted by General Motors at the massive facility outside Detroit. A vast network of roads surrounds this vehicle dynamics centre. Read about other proving grounds here, or check out the other Milford posts in the label below. Feel free to ignore me and replay the part of the clip when the Corvette fires up. Hallelujah.

FUEL SAVINGS TRADE-OFFS : SAVE YOUR MONEY

Re-hashing a BusinessWeek story that used EPA statistics may not seem like the most inventive GoodCarBadCar.net post of all time, but it is strikingly informative. Every second car will save you some money compared with the car that came before, and that's just at the fuel pump. In some cases, your monthly payment will tumble as well. Remember, the fuel savings were calculated with Environmental Protection Agency figures and not AutoEnergy numbers. The comment below each contrast is The Good Car Guy's alone and shouldn't be taken as commentary from BW or the EPA.

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*minivans*

HONDA ODYSSEY costs $250 more than a MAZDA 5

Complete cents and sensibility. If you can sacrifice a little space and save a lot of money. Read AutoEnergy's comparo between the Mazda and Kia's Sedona here.

*SUVs*

CHEVROLET TAHOE costs $1,100 more than a SATURN OUTLOOK

On the surface, a GM crossover comes across as so much more effective than a GM jumbo-SUV. That doesn't make the Outlook economical. Check out the Tahoe's bigger sibling match up with the Ford Flex.

*taxis*

FORD CROWN VICTORIA costs $1,630 more than a FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

If only every taxi would make the switch. Huge mileage helps the Escape's case to no end.

*SUVs II*

TOYOTA SEQUOIA costs $1,500 more than a TOYOTA MATRIX

It sounds like a massive drop in practicality, but with a measured look at your space requirements, you might see the sense in a Matrix.

*small wagons*

BMW 328XI WAGON costs $700 more than a HONDA FIT

Obviously, luxury and performance fall off tremendously, but the Fit is fun.

*sportscars*

PORSCHE 911 GT3 costs $500 more than a MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

The $500 savings helps the Porsche's case. Imagine, a massive increase in performance that comes with the world's most famous sporting car in its second-most hardcore form. An extra $500 in fuel? Bring it.

*family*

MERCEDES E350 costs $1,200 more than a TOYOTA PRIUS

Curiously, BW skipped the possibility of the E320 Bluetec, a car that would cut this gap significantly. Read about the E320 Bluetec's comparison with the E350 here.

*size matters*

FORD F-150 costs $1,400 more than a FORD FOCUS

For the truly pickup needy, this is irrelevant. For those who use a pickup as family transportation, this should enlighten you.

2008 & 2009 SATURN VUE RECALLED FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEM

Saturn's heavyweight Vue, a cute-ute of the cuter kind, has been issued a Recall by NHTSA for problems related to power steering fluid. 42,408 Vues from model years '08 and '09 should head to dealers so that "the nut securing the power steering line to the power steering pump" can be inspected. If there are no signs of a fluid leak, dealers will tighten the nut. If a fluid leak is present, (the) dealer will tighten the nut and check the fluid level."

The Good Car Guy drove the Vue at GM's proving grounds about a year ago and found it to be the perfect small SUV but for one major fault. It's a heavyweight - and driving dynamics seriously suffer. It also works a whole lot better when the power steering fluid isn't leaking.

857,735 VEHICLES FROM 13 DIFFERENT GENERAL MOTORS NAMEPLATES RECALLED FOR OVERHEATING WASHER FLUID

Pay close attention, because this is about to get really deep. The list of recent General Motors vehicles affected by this Recall is below. For some of them, this is the second recall currently affecting their model. For instance, the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook were just sent to the principal's office for other windshield wiper problems.

This time 857,735 GM vehicles built sometime between 2006 and 2008 with heated windshield wiper systems will be recalled, but NHTSA isn't yet sure just when. "A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire." This could lead other electrical systems to malfunction. Dealers will be installing a wire harness with an in-line fuse to take care of the problem. More information is perhaps available at GM's recall page. Add up the vehicle sales from other countries and your total hits 944,000 GM vehicles.

The vehicles affected are as follows:

2008 Buick Enclave

2006-2008 Buick Lucerne

2006-2008 Cadillac DTS

2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalde EXT, Escalade ESV

2007-2008 Chevrolet Avalanche

2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado

2007-2008 Chevrolet Suburban

2007-2008 Chevrolet Tahoe

2007-2008 GMC Acadia

2007-2008 GMC Sierra

2007-2008 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL

2006-2008 Hummer H2

2007-2008 Saturn Outlook

LAMBDA CROSSOVERS RECALLED - Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia

88,809 General Motors crossover vehicles are being recalled because an excessive buildup of snow or ice could on the windshield could cause the windshield wiper linkage to detach "from the motor shaft and the wipers may become inoperative." However, this Recall is highly specific, so pay attention.

NHTSA only wants you to take notice of this Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, and GMC Acadia recall if your vehicle is currently or has been registered in one or more of the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. That basically precludes those of you who live in winter-less states from involving yourself in this recall. 

I guess you better watch out if you go on a winter vacation up north. If you haven't learned your lesson, folks, never turn your car off without also turning off your wipers in the winter... especially if you know a storm is coming. The wipers will try and clear 10 inches of snow as soon as you turn the car (its heater, and defroster, and heated seats) on in the morning. No wiper has that kind of strength. Don't ask it to find such strength, and don't kill your wiper motor. For clarity's sake, let it be clear that The Good Car Guy's drive in the Buick Enclave did not require the testing of wipers.

THE FUTURE SATURN AURA? SEEN AS OPEL INSIGNIA

Vauxhall and Opel have brought nigh unto identical model lineups for quite some time. Recently, Saturn has been brought into this little subsection of the General Motors fold; but for the most part with the everydayish models. No Agila, Corsa, Tigra, or Zafira for those of us in the New World. But the Vectra remained fairly well intact during its Atlantic crossing and became the Aura. The Antara is the newest Vue and the Astra even kept its name.

For the brand-spankin'-about-to-hit-the-auto-show-circuit Insignia to become Aura v2.0, one can assume three things. Firstly, Saturn will have to be able to sell it at a great profit. GM buyers often find deals where Honda and Toyota customers can't. Yet the price can't get too low that the dollar/euro exchange eats further into profits.

Secondly, GM suits must decide whether they want to continue carrying a vast array of the competing models. Malibu, G6, and Aura are incredibly direct competitors. Easily toss the Impala and Lacrosse/Allure into that mix if you like. Furthermore, the G8 isn't out of reach for the top-line Malibu/Aura buyers.

Finally, to what degree does a financially struggling conglomeration like General Motors fall back on old habits - selling outdates automobiles with ridiculously high incentives for a really long time. See Saab 9-5, Chevrolet Cavalier, etc.

If, however, Saturn does import the Insignia as the Aura or as the Insignia or as the Vectra, it'll likely look a lot like the car in the pictures you see here.

GENERAL MOTORS' LAMBDA CUV OPTIONS

This, my friends, is an unofficial declaration of General Motors' new slogan, in addition to admitting its Barack Obama-derivation: "Crossover Options You Can Believe In". GM certainly believes in Lambda.

Lambda isn't just the 11th letter in the Greek alphabet. GM has taken that letter and applied it to their midsize crossover platform. This platform/architecture/foundation has found its way under four vehicles. GM has options. Believe it.

To keep it brief, The Good Car Guy is going to reign in his wordiness to one sentence per vehicle. Add their manufacturer links and MSRPs from the American market. Although suitably differentiated, these four CUVs are identical under the skin. It's difficult to rank the quartet in terms of anything but personal preference. 

BUICK ENCLAVE: Stunningly beautiful but its heaviness (obviously similar to the other three) leads to a fuel guzzling nature which, when combined with its expense, makes the Enclave an expensive proposition for the latter part of this decade.  $33,995 - $38,190 - Buick.com/Enclave

CHEVROLET TRAVERSE: Its recently revealed price proves to be the value Lambda leader; already possessing the mass-market appeal that Chevrolet produces automatically in addition to more power than its mates. $28,990 - $32,995(GCBC est.) - Chevrolet.com/Traverse

GMC ACADIA: "Professional Grade" advertising seems silly when applied to a vehicle, however tough, that is so truly similar to a Buick and Saturn; though the GMC brand as a whole seems somewhat lacking in an anit-truck buying year. $30,470 - $39,015 - GMC.com/Acadia  

SATURN OUTLOOK: Ask why if you like, but GM is sticking with this import-fighter; leading you to also ask if the other three Lambdas are intended to battle only the Dodge Journey and Ford Edge. $29,360 - $33,370 - Saturn.com/Outlook

- Check out The Good Car Guy's drive of the Buick Enclave @ the Milford Proving Grounds or read about the GMC Acadia's position in the Top 5 Cars Police Should Be Driving and finally learn about GM's expectations for the Chevy Traverse -