2nd Oct 2007, 21:10

Yeah, try a 'domestic'. You might just be surprised at how bad they really are. To anyone out there buying a new Ford or Chevy car: don't believe that they have suddenly and mysteriously improved. They haven't. Same crappy companies, same crappy cars. They all look and ride nice when they're new. Wait a few years and you'll wish you'd bought a Toyota or a Honda.

3rd Oct 2007, 17:58

Yeah, this review is a real testament to that.

4th Oct 2007, 14:13

Testament on how much worse life would have been with a domestic... engines every two months... oh my.

17th Dec 2007, 04:03

I have a 2004 Camry SE V6 and am very pleased with my car. Currently has 50K miles on it. I ride with the tires over inflated (works well) since I hate the low/rough ride. Concerning extras you bought from the dealership, it sounds like you should have stayed with doing it yourself. The excessive costs of dealerships have me going to other places to do the extras. Toyota service I have found to be excellent and I do take my car there for the maintenance. Hate the long wait, but none the less, I have been pleased with the service. Jacksonville, FL USA.

17th Dec 2007, 09:50

Yeah... " Try a domestic". I did, or rented one rather. The Chevy Malibu I rented for a week was less than 7 months old, had 4 cracked hoses under the hood, a loose Emergency brake cable flopping around under the frame, a cheap plastic interior that was no better than some of the entry level Korean cars I've seen, and had a trunk that was made out of such thin sheet metal that sitting my backpack on it actually made it flex like a flimsy piece of tin.

Been there, done that. I was not at all impressed... and this is supposed to be the "much improved" GM product everyone touts about. Improved from what? A Chevy Vega?

17th Dec 2007, 19:16

Why rent entry level cars? I do not get it. Rent a larger domestic ask for a luxury car special... do not base your comments on such a limited scope. Ask for a Lincoln, Cadillac and then go in comfort on your trip. This reviewer is a prime example of why I switched from almost new high end imports that fell apart to nicer domestics. Look at the warranty, performance, handling room and comfort instead of the gas pump only or resale bucks even at the sacrifice of riding comfort and serious mechanical woes for 4 or more years. No more imports............

18th Dec 2007, 10:21

I'm sorry, but the notion that it is perfectly OK for GM to make absolute crap at the bottom of their lineup and vastly superior ones at the top is ludicrous. If that's the case, then GM must be stupid because no car company intentionally lessens the quality of their low end cars. If they did that then nobody who drove their low end models would have a reason to move up. I think you might also be misinterpreting what I meant by quality. My definition of quality is fit and finish, the engine and drivetrain, and the overall design. These are traits that should be universal on any car regardless of the model. The engine in the Malibu I rented was the same used in several upper level GM cars. The fact that even the engine in the Malibu I rented was shoddy is reason enough for me to draw conclusions.

18th Dec 2007, 12:31

Renting a Cadillac or Lincoln will not help at all unless it is a brand new CTS. I sat in some DTSs and Lincoln and found them to be worse than my Accord. Maybe a step above my Civic because they had power seats. Other than that, the Civic was still built better.

I would be ashamed to own a domestic car again. I used to own a $25,000 dollar plus Buick and it lost its value and was worse than our Honda Civic. It was so bad it had to be sold to an auction for junk cars. I took care of it, but it just would not return favors. Engine seals, etc. Good ole 350, right? NO! Nightmares! Never again will I be deceived into buying a "premium" GM car.

18th Dec 2007, 17:57

10:21 In my opinion if you just want a point A to point B car with little in the way of any driving enjoyment, or want just a basic appliance type vehicle drive a Toyota. The focus on fit and finish is great if you are say shopping for a new coffee table or a set of drapes... in vehicle selection I go with driving enjoyment, handling, superior performance comfort and ride and much superior warranty with a current domestic. Being bored to death has no value in this household. Try ordering leather in a domestic if that's your focus, but at least get a vehicle you cannot wait to jump behind the wheel and love driving.

19th Dec 2007, 09:55

10:21, that's kind of a weird analogy. What you're suggesting is that if you want a boring ole' point A, point B car, then go with a Toyota, but if you want thrilling excitement, then go with a domestic? I'm sorry, but many of the luxury Japanese and European imports just about blow that notion out of the water.

For example, the 2008 Lexus LS sedan comes with a 380 HP V8, 8 speed sequential shift transmission, and will go from 0-60 in 5 seconds flat.

The car it would be compared to from GM would be the 2008 Cadillac STS, which comes in at 320 HP and a 6 speed transmission. Its speed is 0-60 in 6.3 seconds.

On top of that, the level of luxury, refinement, and fit and finish of the Lexus is light years ahead of the more plasticy Cadillac. I live in the Bay Area, CA where there is an awful lot of extremely wealthy people. That they choose to drive BMW's, Mercedes, Lexus, and Acura cars over anything domestic is telling.

So if what you're suggesting is that you'd rather drive a rattly V8 powered Pontiac that falls apart around the engine, but has nice leather seats, be my guest.

19th Dec 2007, 17:06

How about a new Viper or a Corvette under 4 sec 0-60 to go with your Pontiac comments and still have 5 more gears left to go. I know people that have 2 Vipers in the same household. How about a Toyota Twin Turbo Supra return?

19th Dec 2007, 17:29

09:55, Have you ever been inside of a new Cadillac CTS? The new interior was fitted with materials from the same source that Mercedes-Benz uses. I won't comment on the interiors of Lexus' as I have never driven/ridden in one, or care to. But as far as styling goes, these cars are about as boring as it gets. They are even blander than their predecessors. On the other hand, the new CTS is a very well designed car and actually has some flair. Frankly I would rather drive a Buick than a Lexus, even if the Lexus was in my price range.

20th Dec 2007, 00:19

Comment 13:29 makes such a GREAT point. I have heard import owners whose Toyotas, Hondas and in one case an Alfa Romeo had totally fallen apart in less than 60,000 miles staunchly maintaining that they were "The best cars in the world". That type of reasoning does make one wonder doesn't it??