That's just crazy talk. Man up and buy that 4-dr. like a real American making a family decision.

You're not a car guy anymore, right? :D

Seriously, it seems like a really great car... those Aussies know how to make a manly man's transportation device for sure, eh mate?
;)

That they do, indeed! No kid left around here, so no 4 door needed. Hell, when the kid was around, we had a four door Volare wagon...slant 6. Gawd, what a boring car. But you know, cost per mile delivered? Probably the best car we've had. I definitely could haul people and groceries...plenty of room for that.

I'm still mulling it over...after all, the G-8 doesn't feel like a sedan, not at all. And while I'm driving, I don't see those 4 doors.

Loved the "drag" story above...:D

(edit) Stay tuned...I'm sure more driving reviews are to come...

I have to agree with Heel n' Toe. You aren't going to get a better car than the G8. Not out of an American manufacturer. The CTS-V is better as in more powerful, faster, more luxurious, but the $$$ amount premium, IMO, does not justify the CTS-V if the G8 is also available.

And anyway, the racier version of the G8 four door looks hella nice.

Now, if it's size that bothers you, get a four-door Cobalt SS, which is smaller, not as fast, but fast enough, with probable better fuel economy.

Now, getting back to the CTS, what upsets me about Cadillac is they won't import/produce the CTS turbo diesel for U.S. customers. That car will flat-out kick CTS-V ass in everything except intensive race track work. But they're a Europe-only car, so no diesel fun for us.

Another option with the CTS that Cadillac offered for a very limited time, was the CTS Sport. I can't remember which magazine did a write up on it, but evidently, the car was very much an equal to a 3-series BMW. Much of the reason was it was lighter and had a six-speed transmission hooked up to the 3.6 V6. It had no chrome, but came with performance wheels/tires/suspension. Best of all, it was priced less than the standard CTS. Unfortunately, it was produced during the last iteration of the CTS. I don't know if in this current model, Cadillac is offering a CTS Sport, but many of the automotive luminaries at the time believed it to be a better car than the CTS-V.

SmileWavy

Heh heh... you just brought back a memory... from "when kids were around" (2 boys)...

http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u.../fairmont9.jpg

'82 Fairmont. Bought used in '85... picture it in some boring "champagne" color without the vinyl top. Same plastic hubcaps, but I put big, fat black radials on it in honor of trying to maintain a bit of car guy dignity. Mind-numbing dark burgundy interior. Straight 6 with a 1-bbl.

Doesn't get any more boring than that. :D It was the fambly car... still had a '74 Manta as my daily driver.

But... very fond memory of going to the '86 24 Hours of Daytona in it with 2 friends and one friend's g/f... and my 5-man Eureka Drawtite and other assorted camping paraphenalia in the huge trunk... to see Holbert's 962 hold off a late race charge by Foyt's 962.

http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u...ytona_2-86.jpg

Paul,
I know you want new but there is a low mileage 2006 GTO at Guaranty in Junction City. Cheap!
Troy

“Porsche. There is no substitute.”

Dredged from a few pages back...

Paul, I'm guessing you've already signed on the dotted line, but are waiting for the carbon fiber hood to come in and be installed before you take delivery.

why not find yourself another earth pounding, tire burning 66-67 GTO! Convertible if you can find one. Guaranteed to make you smile every time you fire it up. Wont't handle the corners like the 911 did, but that's not what it's for. You've mentioned in other posts the Goat you owned long ago so you know what it does and doesn't do. you don't have to keep it for decades like the 911. unless you trash it, you'll never lose money if you decide to sell it when you feel you're getting too old and sick to handle the raw power and attention that thing draws out on the road. just imagine rolling up to the front door of the pool hall and setting off car alarms with the exhaust rumble of a bigblock American Iron classic GTO. or you could just buy a new car that looks like every other car every one else drives.

Good thought, John...I've often thought of returning to "muscle"...true muscle of old. I had a '65 and then a '66 Goat. Of the two, think I liked the '65 better.

But then,memory suggests these cars rode on highways paved with gold. In reality, the only thing they did well was go in a straight line.

I would go for the new GTO or the G8

Wrx?

this is true, but driving a 60's GTO down that straight line activates a time warp and transports you back to younger days of faded memories. ehhh that's my story and I'm sticking to it. hard to believe a 60's GTO in good condition is probably worth as much or more than a 2009 GTO.

More from what I've seen. Memory lane can be an expensive road.

(edit) Here's a '65 with the 2 speed automatic...a "slow" GTO we called 'em back then. (automatic and 4 barrel, not 3 deuces.) Still asking near $40K
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1965-Pontiac-GTO-389V8_W0QQitemZ330305220458QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20Truc ksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash =item330305220458&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms= 72%3A317%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

sometimes memories are all you have left. and then you die,, might as well go kicking and screaming while .hauling ass in a car that makes you happy. just buy the car that makes you smile the most

As I understand it your requirements are:

A car with soul.

A car you can use and park without undue worry.

A car that can be maintained in your local town.

I don't think you'll find a car that will totally satisfy these criteria. The best option, I'm sure, is a late Porsche like a Cayman or perhaps a 964. For your own reasons you don't want another P. car, which is fair enough.

Some cars I would look at:

Have you checked out the Honda S2000, (you could probably get a hardtop, or have one made if yoy don't want a convertable),

Any of the sporty Toyotas?

Or how about the Mazda RX8

...oh yeah. A sporty Toyota.

Where would I find one of those?

At my local Sporty Toyota dealer?

They make sporty Toyotas. They are called trucks.

If you drive a toyota off a cliff it is sporty. For awhile.

No. It may seem that way. But that's just gravity.

In my Webster's, next to "oxymoron", it says "sporty Toyota".

Other requirements are that it be 1) new, 2) RWD, and 3) be a performance-oriented car.