The Car Thread ... !

[D.T.]

Ken Block (the driver) posted it six days ago and it already has over 13 million views!

I usually catch most of the new Ken Block rally stuff which is insane, but this somehow wasn’t on my radar (in my car-guy-defense, I was also on an insane heads-down all week dev crunch [which involved on-the-fly learning a whole new code framework], so I pretty much missed everything )

Thanks again!

DT

 

[AustinIllini]

I’m talking about the plastic crap.

I have a pretty intimate experience with the Corvette: I’ve owned 4, been on the Corvette forums since ’99 , involved with events at the NCM (I even picked up my Z06 as a museum delivery), Vette only HPDEs, written a few articles for a print magazine, talked to GM engineers, and driven and instructed in mine at road tracks all over the southeast.

Myself and other owners/enthusiasts [especially those who have seen the car(s) in person] all recognize that the C7 and C7 Z06 variant have some cheap exterior finishing materials and details.

Yeah but that's not the point. You can't buy a car as good for the price. You can barely buy one as fast at twice the price.

The ATS is brilliant, and honestly Cadillac does not cut as many corners as BMW does as it attempts to achieve a terrible brand dilution (The 320i is a disgrace)

 

[D.T.]

Yeah but that's not the point. You can't buy a car as good for the price. You can barely buy one as fast at twice the price.

Love the Corvette (that should be obvious ), didn’t say anything about the performance which is stellar, and even praised the general design - that being said, my point (which is the point ): there are some cheap/gimmicky design finishing details (some bad aesthetic choices, some from material/build issues).

GM isn’t the greatest in the “finishing” department - it’s OK to recognize and discuss deficiencies, otherwise we wouldn’t see improvements like the order-of-magnitude improvement on the interior.

Just like Jalopnik said:

I am not as keen on all the contrasting black accents. The car I drove was an obnoxious yellow that I'd never ever order. All of the black accents, like the wing, rear bumper, side gills, and more, look cheap. This just looks like an angular bumble bee.

But it isn't all perfect. Sitting to each side of the TFT rev counter are gauges that look terribly cheap. I'd like to wheel to be a little smaller and thicker, possibly Alcantara covered. Also, the paddles for the rev match feature feel plasticky.

Doesn’t mean that they - like myself - don’t think it’s a fantastic ride, just that it has some so-so design elements and some cheap/plasticky parts.

 

[AustinIllini]

Scion takes a page out of Honda's book. Takes something good and does nothing with it.

After years of reports indicating one thing, then the other, before swinging back to the first thing, neither a convertible nor a turbocharged variant of Scion’s FR-S sports car will see the light of day. In an interview with WardsAuto, Scion senior vice president Doug Murtha states unequivocally that the FR-S will remain a coupe with a naturally aspirated, Subaru-sourced flat-four.

On the topic of the madly yearned-for turbocharged engine option, Murtha deadpanned: “That’s not something that’s coming.” Ouch. As for the droptop variant (rendered above), it appears no business case could be made that didn’t involve losing oodles of cash. According to WardsAuto, Murtha claims Scion “went down swinging” on that project.

Besides chilling the hearts of enthusiasts everywhere like cold November rain, the news that Scion failed to convince parent company Toyota—which sells the FR-S as the GT86 globally—to invest further in the FR-S signals that the model’s future could be in turmoil.

Recent word is that the FR-S and its Subaru-badged sibling, the BRZ, might not see a second generation, a future that grown ever more real in the case of massively slowed sales of the cars. As WardsAuto points out, the turbo FR-S and the droptop were intended to stanch the typical sales hemorrhaging every coupe experiences roughly two years into its life cycle. Guess how long the FR-S has been on sale? Yep, and Murtha adds that sales are indeed cooling. The only possible positive from this news? Deals on spankin’-new Scibarus down the road.

What a waste.

 

[D.T.]

Scion takes a page out of Honda's book. Takes something good and does nothing with it.



What a waste.

Oh wow, hadn't heard anything about the turbo variant in a long time, now I see why. What a huge bummer!

I see quite a few off the Toyota flavor around here, wonder what the sales numbers look like?

 

[quagmire]

Love the Corvette (that should be obvious ), didn’t say anything about the performance which is stellar, and even praised the general design - that being said, my point (which is the point ): there are some cheap/gimmicky design finishing details (some bad aesthetic choices, some from material/build issues).

GM isn’t the greatest in the “finishing” department - it’s OK to recognize and discuss deficiencies, otherwise we wouldn’t see improvements like the order-of-magnitude improvement on the interior.

Just like Jalopnik said:



Doesn’t mean that they - like myself - don’t think it’s a fantastic ride, just that it has some so-so design elements and some cheap/plasticky parts.

Jalopnik has no credibility after one of their guys stated the ATS drives like the old floaty Cadillac's of the past.

There are things you can criticize the ATS for( rear legroom, small trunk,etc), but what is undisputed is the fact the chassis is outstanding and is a drivers car.

There are more issues I have with Jalopnik as well. I don't think they are an media outlet that has any journalistic ethics or integrity. Which is understandable considering they are a Gawker-owned website.

 

[2298754]

There are things you can criticize the ATS for( rear legroom, small trunk,etc), but what is undisputed is the fact the chassis is outstanding and is a drivers car.

While the ATS is a fantastic drive (I took one out last week from ZipCar. ATS 2.0T AWD), it's not my choice in this segment. There are too many good cars in this segment for me to pass up and buy the mediocre Cadillac. My main issues are the poor back seat, poor interior quality/fit finish, CUE, reliability, and to top it off, residuals.

If I was only focusing on picking the best "driver's car" in this segment, that goes to the Lexus IS350 F-Sport AWD. Yes, it's pretty weird looking, but it is a better car to the ATS and no one can beat Lexus reliability/resale/quality.

However, since I have to live with this car on a daily basis, the overall package is important to me (ride, infotainment, seats, etc), and that distinction still goes to the 335xi M Sport or Audi S4. I give the S4 a slight edge for its better interior and engine. But my money now is now on the new C400. Mercedes knocked it out of the park.

 

[quagmire]

While the ATS is a fantastic drive (I took one out last week from ZipCar. ATS 2.0T AWD), it's not my choice in this segment. There are too many good cars in this segment for me to pass up and buy the mediocre Cadillac. My main issues are the poor back seat, poor interior quality/fit finish, CUE, reliability, and to top it off, residuals.

Point was that "journalist" was way off base to say the ATS is soft and floaty like Cadillac's of old. The ATS's chassis is among the best. C&D, MT, R&T, etc have all stated the chassis of the ATS is top notch even beating out the 3 series( though granted the F30 got even softer again) and a close match to the IS.

What you listed are fair criticisms of the car not really going to dispute that. CUE is not for everyone, though I have no troubles with it in my dads ATS. Reliability has been solid though it's the 3.6, not the 2.0T( where I have read reports of issues) you drove, etc. My biggest issues with the ATS is the fact with the sunroof headroom is greatly reduced in the backseat, the 3.6 V6 does not deliver the same experience as the N54 in my dads old E90 335xi( it's not a bad engine, but the N54 is on another level), and the instrument cluster is incredibly cheap looking( thank god for HUD!).

Overall though, my smile is bigger driving the ATS than it was driving the E90 335xi.

 

[puma1552]

Not very specific.... Talking about the carbon fiber? The vents? The fact a lot of the body is made of fiber glass?

If I'm not mistaken (I may be), isnt' the C7 completely composite and no longer using any fiberglass?

Yeah but that's not the point. You can't buy a car as good for the price. You can barely buy one as fast at twice the price.

The ATS is brilliant, and honestly Cadillac does not cut as many corners as BMW does as it attempts to achieve a terrible brand dilution (The 320i is a disgrace)

Hot damn we agree on something. I'll admit I still have a decade-long chip on my shoulder towards BMW after owning two, the latter of which was the biggest mechanical ******* I've ever owned. But looking at BMW, the way they've diluted their brand so, so, so badly with every variant of every number under the sun (GT, gran coupe, etc.) and then looking at their completely asinine pricing structure (face it it's by far the greediest and worst of the Germans) really has turned me off from the brand. Then throw the same low-rent interior in everything up to and including the upcoming 2016 7 series and it's comical. Meanwhile Mercedes is playing to win, across the board.

The other thing with BMW - every single model NEEDs the tired and so played out Msport package to look halfways decent - but then they try and cram the same damn Msport bumper on every model from the 2 series to the X6, no matter what the vehicle looks like. Same interior, same boring Msport, rinse and repeat throughout the line and charge an arm and a leg for it.

My biggest gripe with BMW though, is that they have a fantastic marketing machine that makes everyone drink the Kool-aid for very mediocre vehicles. Ultimate driving machine? Yeah right, I had an E30 325iS coupe and an E36 325i sedan, these were the bread and butter of the "Ultimate Driving Machine" lineup at the time and they were about as mundane as rear wheel drive cars can get. Nothing ultimate about them (spare me the "You gotta get an M3!" speech).

I will disagree a tad on the 320i though - really, a stripper 320i with sport package and a manual is probably the BMW most true to BMW's heritage - they never really were powerful cars back in the day. I briefly considered one when I decided to get my '14 GT instead but the BMW chip on my shoulder kicked me back into reality.

However, since I have to live with this car on a daily basis, the overall package is important to me (ride, infotainment, seats, etc), and that distinction still goes to the 335xi M Sport or Audi S4. I give the S4 a slight edge for its better interior and engine. But my money now is now on the new C400. Mercedes knocked it out of the park.

S4 (my next car most likely in a few years when the B9 is here with the kinks worked out) or C-class (wife's next car, albeit a 300) all day over the 335. 335 just looks like any other garden variety three series, plus the F30 just looks/feels low-rent all around, period. It's kinda sad that the long-in-the-tooth B8.5 S4 interior from 2008 still craps all over the 2012+ F30 interior. Plus for AWD, I think Quattro > xdrive.

 

[D.T.]

If I'm not mistaken (I may be), isnt' the C7 completely composite and no longer using any fiberglass?

Most of the panels on the last few decades of Vettes are SMC (sheet molding compound), which isn’t fiberglass in the traditional manufacturing sense, but still a fiberglass foundation - i.e. the fiberglass material and resin are press-molded (vs. laying up fiberglass sheets), that allows for smoother finish, more accuracy in high volume manufacturing, etc.

Also a number of other body materials: polycarbonate in some late model roof panels, polyurethane on bumper caps, carbon fiber in fenders, hoods.

Cool stuff.

 

[AustinIllini]

C&D Full Test: Stingray? The new Z06 is a stun ray.

This thing looks awesome.

 

[determined09]

Thinking about buying the 2015 Toyota camry or a 2014.5 Toyota camry. Anyone here has any thoughts about these two?
I currently own a 2000 Toyota camry with 219,000 miles on it.
Thank you.

 

[AustinIllini]

Thinking about buying the 2015 Toyota camry or a 2014.5 Toyota camry. Anyone here has any thoughts about these two?
I currently own a 2000 Toyota camry with 219,000 miles on it.
Thank you.

The only knock I have seen was on the interior material, which you can fix by spending a little extra. Looks like a solid car and you can expect a Toyota to run forever (obviously you can confirm that).

For comparison sake, if you wanted to have one competitor to look at, I would check out the Honda Accord. Accord has more back seat room, pep, and handling ability than the Camry. Honda also has a strong reliability reputation, and the Accord engines are tried and true for the better part of a decade.

 

[2298754]

Thinking about buying the 2015 Toyota camry or a 2014.5 Toyota camry. Anyone here has any thoughts about these two?
I currently own a 2000 Toyota camry with 219,000 miles on it.
Thank you.

You want the 2015 model, which went through a heavy refresh. In fact, in XSE trim, it actually looks quite good. (I can't believe I just said that about a Camry)

The 2015 Camry interior is much improved. They dumped the cheap plastic from the pre-15 models. I prefer the interior layout of the Camry more and Toyota's infotainment system is superior to Honda's for ease of use. (touchscreen display audio with Entune)

That being said, I would check out the new Accord too. It will be just as bulletproof and reliable. Not to mention, once you hit 200k miles on it, someone on craigslist will pay stupid money to buy it off you because it's a Honda. (Same with the Toyota)


You honestly can't go wrong with either. I'm a Toyota guy myself and don't like Honda's current lineup, but the Accord is one of two standout products in their lineup. (Fit is the other.) Having driven both, the Camry is a little more spacious and comfortable, whereas the Accord is a little more noisy, but drives a little better. (Driving dynamics are superior)


Other good choices in this segment are the Mazda6 and Sonata, but I don't think I trust them nearly as much as I would a Toyota or Honda.

----------

C&D Full Test: Stingray? The new Z06 is a stun ray.

This thing looks awesome.

What a monster. The C7 Corvette shows the world what GM can do (if they set their mind to it.)

However, for $97k, I'm going to my local Porsche dealer and buying a loaded Porsche Cayman GTS. or CPO 911 S. If I was buying a regular Corvette, it's an unbelievable value, but near $100k, I want something that feels more upscale.

I have the same issue with the Cadillac CTS V-Sport. Performance is mind-blowing, but for $70k, I can get an Audi S6.

 

[D.T.]

You want the 2015 model, which went through a heavy refresh. In fact, in XSE trim, it actually looks quite good. (I can't believe I just said that about a Camry)

That’s hysterical, I was _just_ talking to a neighbor about replacing his Mom’s Camry, and I said the new model looks pretty terrific and the XSE is even ... ~sporty~

What a monster. The C7 Corvette shows the world what GM can do (if they set their mind to it.)

However, for $97k, I'm going to my local Porsche dealer and buying a loaded Porsche Cayman GTS. or CPO 911 S. If I was buying a regular Corvette, it's an unbelievable value, but near $100k, I want something that feels more upscale.

I have the same issue with the Cadillac CTS V-Sport. Performance is mind-blowing, but for $70k, I can get an Audi S6.

Yeah, that’s about the extent of my perspective from above, and without question, it’s a stunning performance vehicle.

Now, I may have used language that was just a little more derogatory with regard to one component of the “upscaling-ness” (and I was mostly just kidding around ... ) but the sentiment is about the same. Doesn’t mean I don’t love the Corvette**, but when you push the $100K mark, some other options that offer a different +overall+ experience show up on the radar. I’ve got the same outlook on the GT-R. When the entry price was $65K-ish, it was a spectacular deal, as it creeped up towards $100K, the “value” went down.



**Speaking of Corvette love, anybody else have Corvette signs in their _kitchen_ ? I also just found (we’ve been in a crazy clean up mode, the “tech/server closet” was un-enterable ) my NCM Corvette delivery plaque.

 

[AustinIllini]

That’s hysterical, I was _just_ talking to a neighbor about replacing his Mom’s Camry, and I said the new model looks pretty terrific and the XSE is even ... ~sporty~

Most reviews still seem to indicate that the Accord (even the non-sport) is still "Sportier" than the latest camry.

The issue with Honda (and Acura, for that matter), is they severely limit the options across line. For example, the TSX had a manual option on the 4 cylinder only. The six was automatic. The Accord Sport is supposed to be strong, but it's significantly lacking in terms of options. Meanwhile, the V6 Accord in sporty red can't be a manual. It's just mindnumbing.

In short, the Accord is sporty, the V6 doesn't get a manual, and Honda hates North America.

 

[D.T.]

Most reviews still seem to indicate that the Accord (even the non-sport) is still "Sportier" than the latest camry.

The issue with Honda (and Acura, for that matter), is they severely limit the options across line. For example, the TSX had a manual option on the 4 cylinder only. The six was automatic. The Accord Sport is supposed to be strong, but it's significantly lacking in terms of options. Meanwhile, the V6 Accord in sporty red can't be a manual. It's just mindnumbing.

In short, the Accord is sporty, the V6 doesn't get a CVT, and Honda hates North America.

Honestly, she’s not really looking for something sporty, I just mentioned it in our conversation (he was slightly amused when I said “I’d get a new Camry”, knowing what I typically drive, then I said, “The XSE package is actually pretty sporty” )

Yeah, I think if I was personally in the market for something in that market segment, I’d definitely cross shop the Accord, though I hear you about their bizarre choice of mutual exclusivity with packages/options/features.

 

[2298754]

That’s hysterical, I was _just_ talking to a neighbor about replacing his Mom’s Camry, and I said the new model looks pretty terrific and the XSE is even ... ~sporty~

Haha. One of our family friends just picked up a 15 Camry XSE V6 and I got to drive it over Thanksgiving. It actually doesn't drive like a glorified couch on wheels anymore. They got it in his gorgeous pearl white and black leather. Looked very upscale. Not to mention, it even had LED headlights!

 

[iLog.Genius]

Point was that "journalist" was way off base to say the ATS is soft and floaty like Cadillac's of old. The ATS's chassis is among the best. C&D, MT, R&T, etc have all stated the chassis of the ATS is top notch even beating out the 3 series( though granted the F30 got even softer again) and a close match to the IS.

What you listed are fair criticisms of the car not really going to dispute that. CUE is not for everyone, though I have no troubles with it in my dads ATS. Reliability has been solid though it's the 3.6, not the 2.0T( where I have read reports of issues) you drove, etc. My biggest issues with the ATS is the fact with the sunroof headroom is greatly reduced in the backseat, the 3.6 V6 does not deliver the same experience as the N54 in my dads old E90 335xi( it's not a bad engine, but the N54 is on another level), and the instrument cluster is incredibly cheap looking( thank god for HUD!).

Overall though, my smile is bigger driving the ATS than it was driving the E90 335xi.

I don't know why people put so much emphasis on journalists opinions and views and treat it as fact. That's what creates this whole fanboy attitude towards a car manufacturer. Just go test drive and see what is best for you. Just because you think the chassis is best for you, doesn't mean the next person feels the same way. You think the ATS is a better car (drivers car?) than the E9X 335 but the media will disagree with you. Of all cars in this segment, ATS, F3X 3/4er, W205 Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4/A5, all would be behind the E90 if you want to judge who has a better drivers car.

 

[quagmire]

I don't know why people put so much emphasis on journalists opinions and views and treat it as fact. That's what creates this whole fanboy attitude towards a car manufacturer. Just go test drive and see what is best for you. Just because you think the chassis is best for you, doesn't mean the next person feels the same way. You think the ATS is a better car (drivers car?) than the E9X 335 but the media will disagree with you. Of all cars in this segment, ATS, F3X 3/4er, W205 Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4/A5, all would be behind the E90 if you want to judge who has a better drivers car.

I wasn't using the media to point towards fact. I was criticizing jalopnik as a credible media outlet which it is not. My point was bringing up the ATS is while opinion may vary on how it ranks it term of 3 series, C Class, etc in terms of chassis, etc, it is mostly everyones opinion that the chassis is outstanding. The ATS falls behind in other areas, but as a strictly drivers car( i.e. fun to drive, balanced, handles well, etc) it is up there with the others. For jalopnik to say it drives like a floaty Cadillac from years ago is a joke. They may think it may not drive as well as the E90 or whatever. But they go so far off spectrum to say it doesn't drive well at all when the general opinion is the opposite. I expect variance in opinion, but not so much that one persons opinion is on the other side of the country practically. It shows that person has an agenda and looking at the ATS through the fanboy glasses of whatever brand he is biased towards. Reviews should be done with a persons brand bias out of the picture.

Combined with the fact Jalopnik constantly breaks embargoes just to be the first to the story, etc they are a joke of a media outlet.

 

[iLog.Genius]

I wasn't using the media to point towards fact. I was criticizing jalopnik as a credible media outlet which it is not. My point was bringing up the ATS is while opinion may vary on how it ranks it term of 3 series, C Class, etc in terms of chassis, etc, it is mostly everyones opinion that the chassis is outstanding. The ATS falls behind in other areas, but as a strictly drivers car( i.e. fun to drive, balanced, handles well, etc) it is up there with the others. For jalopnik to say it drives like a floaty Cadillac from years ago is a joke. They may think it may not drive as well as the E90 or whatever. But they go so far off spectrum to say it doesn't drive well at all when the general opinion is the opposite. I expect variance in opinion, but not so much that one persons opinion is on the other side of the country practically.

Combined with the fact Jalopnik constantly breaks embargoes just to be the first to the story, etc they are a joke of a media outlet.

I didn't mean you specifically, it was meant as a general statement. Too many people read into the media and use that as their opinion. Then you ask them if they really test drove a car, they say well no, but so and so media source says it so it has to be true!

With that Jalopnik review, just enforces the point that you can't always trust the media unless you know all the variables they're using to test.

Using your experience with the ATS, you prefer the ATS to any car in this segment and that's valid because you actually drive/own the car. But the media says the E90 is still a better drivers car and someone will run with that. Is the E90 the better drivers car. To me it is, but you prefer the ATS. I can't argue with that because your preference is different than mine.

 

[quagmire]

I didn't mean you specifically, it was meant as a general statement. Too many people read into the media and use that as their opinion. Then you ask them if they really test drove a car, they say well no, but so and so media source says it so it has to be true!

With that Jalopnik review, just enforces the point that you can't always trust the media unless you know all the variables they're using to test.

Using your experience with the ATS, you prefer the ATS to any car in this segment and that's valid because you actually drive/own the car. But the media says the E90 is still a better drivers car and someone will run with that. Is the E90 the better drivers car. To me it is, but you prefer the ATS. I can't argue with that because your preference is different than mine.

Ah ok. And agreed with your statement. A person should read the reviews to get the general opinion of the car and see if it is worth their time to check out and then check it out to see for yourself.

Though should still keep an open mind about the car without using the general opinion of others creating a bias within yourself. For instance the general opinion on iDrive( when it came out) and CUE are that they are horrible. I actually had no issues with iDrive and I like CUE( it isn't perfect, but have used far worse).

 

[iLog.Genius]

Ah ok. And agreed with your statement. A person should read the reviews to get the general opinion of the car and see if it is worth their time to check out and then check it out to see for yourself.

Though should still keep an open mind about the car without using the general opinion of others creating a bias within yourself. For instance the general opinion on iDrive( when it came out) and CUE are that they are horrible. I actually had no issues with iDrive and I like CUE( it isn't perfect, but have used far worse).

I agree. I thought the whole iDrive issue was blown over proportion and over exaggerated. Could it be more refined than what it was at the time? Perhaps but it wasn't difficult to use. If people thought iDrive was hard to use, then using a smartphone is equally or more harder to use than pushing the iDrive knob up, down, left or right...

 

[AustinIllini]

Ford going to make some noise next month

Ford may stun us with supercars at the Detroit Auto Show

There are enough rumors of what Ford has lined up for next month’s Detroit Auto Show to get the mouths of gearheads across the country salivating.

Road & Track reports that the blue oval is ready to reveal a host of performance-oriented additions to its lineup at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in late January, including a successor to the Ford GT, a wildly popular tribute to its Le Mans racer, the Ferrari-fighting GT40.

And a new GT makes sense. We’re coming up on the 50th anniversary of Ford’s first victory at the 24 hours of Le Mans. Accordingly, there’s already chatter that the brand may return to endurance racing with a brand new GTE-spec vehicle, one that would warrant a street legal variant, … and we may not have to wait long at all to see it.

2014 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition
But wait; there’s more.

If a new Ford supercar weren’t enough, the Mustang GT350 might get even crazier in Detroit. Only having just been revealed, rumors suggest the latest super pony car might be offered in a new race variant: The GT350R. Much like the Boss 302 Laguna Seca, the GT350R will predictably take the 500 horsepower and other improvements the GT350 promises, and build upon them with a fiercer aero package and stripping out the creature comforts.

If the Boss 302 was last gen’s store-bought race car, then the F-150 Raptor was certainly Ford’s buyable monster truck desert racer. The successful sport variant of the F-150 pickup is mentioned amongst the R&T rumors as also starting a new generation, which can only mean there will be more Dukes of Hazzard-style truck jumping to look forward to.

All these rumors seem to add up to the conclusion that Ford is ramping up to announce their own performance sub brand, much like the Mercedes-AMG division or BMW’s M branch. This will give Ford a chance to unify all its performance vehicles, giving us an easier time to keep track of their STs RSs and SVTs.

Nothing is set in stone just yet, but if these rumors turn out to be true, then American muscle fans just got themselves a second Christmas.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The Corvette is so cheap when compared with other cars in the same performance class that I give it a pass on it el cheapo trim...if you want more refinement in the trim buy a Ferrari.

However, for $97k, I'm going to my local Porsche dealer and buying a loaded Porsche Cayman GTS. or CPO 911 S. If I was buying a regular Corvette, it's an unbelievable value, but near $100k, I want something that feels more upscale.

The Cayman is just too ugly, and I just can't shake the feeling that nobody would buy one if it couldn't crib off the image of the 911. As a daily driver I would take a gently used 911 over the Corvette 10 times out of 10, but as a performance car the Corvette is the best value out there.

Actually, I'd take a Lotus Carlton over the 911, but I'm odd like that (and its a silly pipe dream).

New Camry: It looks quite a bit less boring, the V6 engines are crazy powerful these days so it's fast and it should be reliable...but it's a big fat FWD sedan and that makes it uninteresting to me. Even the best of the breed are still just not as good-looking or fun to drive as a RWD or even a an AWD sports sedan, and the grocery-getter floppiness is always going to be present. Leave FWD to the hot hatches, they do it right.

As for the Ford announcement, sounds great except for the F-150. I hate fast trucks, they are nauseatingly redneck. I've never met an SVT Raptor owner who wasn't a stereotypical "bro" with too much money. Though, to be fair, the current SVT-Raptor is a far better concept than the previous SVT Lightning, which was simply a faster way to run down to the gas station for some Copenhagen chaw and tallboy of Monster.

Am I horribly opinionated about automobiles? You bet.