But I wouldn't say all K-cars are ugly. I have an '86 turbo convertible that looks pretty good. When I bought it, I was specifically looking for '86s because they were the only K-body convertible year after the midcycle refresh ('87 convertibles were on the J-body).

@mackenzie: The quarter windows do retract. You may frequently see them up because the motors are made of unobtanium (unless you have some fabrication skills).

It's important that full-line manufacturers figure out how to cope with the changing market. Their health is really what matters to the NA car industry.

It's similar to the airline industry, I think. The low-cost carriers can make a killing on the flights between big cities, but the connections to the small and medium cities ultimately are what matters to most fliers. The full-service airlines are left holding the bag on that one, and they hemorrhage cash while doing it.

It must depend on more than just height then. I'm 5'9", with really short legs and a long torso. I can't really get comfortable in a Civic. The way I have to adjust the seat makes entry/exit difficult. Fullsize cars are way easier for me.

I'd further bet that a fullsize car with a telescoping steering column would "fit" you better than a Mazda 3 (though let me say that the 3 is a great car, and it's wonderful that it works for you, so I commend your choice).

And there would be a large chorus exhorting "but it really is the best one." And they believe it because they paid 50% more for it. It must be better.

Now, GM, how about an affordable station wagon?

The G5 is coupe only, so it's not what most people want. And the Aveo isn't very nice.

The Lancer is perhaps a different story. Sometimes good products don't sell because it's too much of a chore to find them. I don't know where Mitsubishi dealers are in three of the last four cities I lived in. This same situation applies to Saturn, I think. They have some very good products, but a tiny distribution channel for them.

I always imagine that it's owned by the monks at the monastery across the street, since it would take a vow of poverty to get most people behind the wheel of one of these.

I always imagine that it's owned by the monks at the monastery across the street, since it would take a vow of poverty to get most people behind the wheel of one of these.

Some unibody trucks:

Nonfunctioning "speed holes" like hood scoops and fender vents drive me nuts, too, but I'll put up with them if the rest of the car is good. In fact, I just bought a ventiported car.

I don't like alloy wheels, either. I want to be able to curb the wheels without causing hundreds of dollars of damage. But it's easy enough to swap wheels out.

But now that premium is comparatively less expensive than it used to be (as Mark said in the article), I use premium gas and I returned the timing to spec.

Only a handful of people are so uncompromising that they won't drive what they don't want. These people are Jalopnik. Unfortunately, we often end up saying "screw the new car market; if I can't get what I want I'll get something cheap, used, and close enough." And then our dollars don't end up speaking to the decision makers.

Gasoline just doesn't feel that expensive yet, and by two measures: (1) its cost relative to public transit, and (2) its cost as a percentage of income. Sure, the rate of price growth is rather astounding, but the price itself isn't.

Also, I caution against pouncing on the truck drivers for misjudging their vehicular needs. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt—that they do honestly need what they have. If their words and actions reveal a different need, then you can criticize.

Back in February, there were two 505s parked in my neighborhood for a couple days. I hadn't seen them before, and I haven't seen them since.

In the final photo, do I see the absence of a twist-beam rear axle? It's about damn time the GM compacts have independent rear suspension!

Also, this thing better have an awesome interior. Otherwise, it goes to the rental fleets.

Like some others have said, I think there is room for the Buick brand. Buick's role should be to sell cars that are traditional in design but offer all of the refinement found in the modern sport-luxury segment. By "traditional," I'm thinking of design elements such as bench seats and trunks larger than a toolbox lid.

I'm pleased that so many people have come to the Trishield's defense. When I saw this QOTD, I momentarily feared that I won't like what other Jalops have to say on the matter.

Personally, I'm quite fond of the Buick design ethic. I've owned a Century wagon for years, and I just bought a Park Avenue:

Yes, that's two-tone paint! I was all ready to buy a new G8, but with the cancellation of the wagon I just couldn't get excited about it. This, I concluded, is more my style.

[www.allpar.com]

I'm upset that I missed another “bring the G8 Safari” rant session by not checking on Jalopnik until 11:40 p.m.

So, GM, bring a G8 wagon.

And make it quick, so I can cancel my fallback plan to buy a used car.

My 1998 Dodge half-ton van is a unibody and it has a 6,900 lb maximum tow rating. No one would say it's not a real truck.

GM: Do not take styling inspiration from those cars!

They really need it in order to get the ride up to the Civic/Mazda 3 level of refinement.

Sure, the Corolla still has the old twist-beam, but GM really should aim higher with these. There would be nothing wrong with having a class-leading C-car come from Detroit (or Lordstown, OH, as the case may be).

Maxichamp a while back had an an excellent idea for a similar QOTD:

“Which 2007 or 2008 model cars would qualify for PCH 30 years from now?”

I'm going to elaborate my rant further now.

A lot of people on here put down 80s cars because they don't have the performance or reliability of their 2003 homologated rallycar. Or because they had bad memories of a summer vacation spend sticking to the vinyl seats in some strippo model that their parents drove when they were young and poor. It's not fair, and frankly, I'm tired of it.

People need to realize that automotive awesomeness was alive and well in the 1980s—on all of the major carmaking continents, no less. Have we learned nothing from Murilee?

The fact is it's still more refined and more reliable than all of the classics it shared the lot with on that rainy Seattle day. It's not lacking in style, either; it has 1980s style, to which the classic car fan's eyes have not yet adjusted.

The Z24 Cavaliers were respectable cars among their peers, and when enough time has passed, they will be remembered fondly.

When I first saw it, I seriously thought about bidding. But then I didn't remember to check on it again until after the auction ended. It went for a song, too.

My impression of him is that he is, in general, too optimistic. His message is often something like “if we do this handful of really easy and inexpensive things, we can save the environment with no sacrifice to our way of life.” It's a message that sounds great, but I'm skeptical.

Still, it's important to have people like that around. Many of their ideas have merit.

Northstars are really wide. They're 90° Vs with huge DOHC appendages.

To the few “oh, it was a Chrysler” folks—take it easy. This can happen to any car. I've seen it happen on vehicles from all the major US, Japanese, and German manufacturers.

Also, I think “VP TP Lassdora” is actually “Tom LaSorda,” the president and vice-chairman of the company.