Cheers and Jeers for 2006

[bobo]

It’s that time of year again! Here’s the 5th anniversary edition of the list of the best and worst of all things C&G and GM over the past year. Before we all relive these moments, here’s a mention of some of the more significant events that occurred in the outside world: The war in Iraq sadly continued to plod on without any seeming kind of direction. In the U.S. elections, control of the Senate turned on the word “macaca” along with a return to the concept of checks and balances in government. The year ended with the passing of the 38th President and the execution of a ruthless dictator. On this board, the year began with the shocking passing of Chief. GM introduced their most important product, the GMT-900 full-size trucks. And the Camaro was finally announced in the summer. Now on to the highlights and lowlights:

Cheers to GMan for the Best Thread on the 2008 Malibu. The initial post was unremarkable, a link to a spypic of the new Malibu on Winding Road. However, it started a lively discussion on a car in a market segment that GM once ruled but stopped being competitive. link

Honorable mention: Northstar's thread on the Commodore coming to the US as a Pontiac link

Jeers to the C&G Server for a year's worth of crashes. Internal Server Error was burned into monitors across the globe. However...

Cheers to z28luvr01 for being the Moderator of Merit and fixing most of the server issues, and the forum update was a pleasant way to end the year. Honorable mention goes to Flybrian for his evenhandedness and willingness to subject himself to all the abuse necessary to keep the wheels on the cart and prevent the site from careening out of control.

Cheers to GM for the Best Environmental Move by announcing the Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid, in contrast to the more show than go “Live Green Go Yellow” campaign. Now if only GM will follow-up the talk in a reasonable timeframe and take leadership in the hybrid market. link

Jeers to Kirk Kerkorian for toying with GM and calling in Carlos Ghosn for possible merger talks. GM's stock price went up and down with the rumors, and Kirk found that no one wanted to play, and then he went away.

Cheers to Bob Lutz and Anne Asensio for delivering on GM’s promise on better interiors. The interiors in the big trucks, the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and the SRX require no excuses. The interior in the upcoming Buick Enclave is nothing short of breathtaking. GM's emphasis on product is a hopeful sign.

Jeers to Chevrolet for the Most Disappointing New Sheetmetal on the new Silverado. After subjecting the country to a squinty face for last five years, Chevy makes the country's second best-selling vehicle about as bulky-looking as it can be, though not quite as dowdy as the Honda Ridgeline. Thankfully, the Sierra came out looking reasonably well, despite a passing resemblance to the Ford Super Duty, and the GMT-900 SUV's are downright handsome, aside from the questionable headlights on the Yukon. It's fortunate that styling is not foremost on most pickup truck buyers' minds because these are world-class products, just waiting for a wider application of the six-speed automatics.

Cheers to enzl, evok, and The O.C. for being the Voices of Reason. It's fun for everybody to be armchair CEO's, but it's good to hear the views of those who know what they are talking about. What they say may not always be what members want to hear, but they do have the credibility to back it up. Special mention goes to AH-HA, who gave the site priceless gems over the years but decided to unmask himself and walk away. His occasional visits are very much appreciated.

Cheers to the Biggest GM Fan, GMTruckGuy74, who purchased (or leased) not one but two Saturns in their debut years: a Sky and an Aura. And an Outlook or Acadia is pending for next year.

Cheers to Satty for the Most Significant Personal Development by becoming a father. link And cute little Alex has inherited the auto-oral foot fetish of his father. Honorable mention goes to lakefire for getting married and buying a new home. Worth mentioning is special member blackviper8891, who found and then lost love, but altogether seems like he's found his place in the world. Now if only he would find a job.

Jeers to the C&G Curse that has taken its toll on many forum members, some of the more notable victims being Satty, RBB, GMTruckGuy74, Bimmer325, and the former admin. Flybrian started it all with his attempt to assemble a brand new Aurora, piece by piece.

Cheers to NOS2006 for the Best Signature. In a sea of ginormous signatures, it’s nice to see a tidy one that also has some artistic merit.

Cheers to wildmanjoe for Best Avatar. Who doesn't like dancing chicks?

Cheers to Gizhost for Best Concept for his interpretation of the Buick Velite.

Honorable Mention: Best Nameplate to Return, PlumCrazy's Firebird:

Honorable Mention: Most Production-Ready, Ted's Brigadier:

Jeers to the Worst Poster/Troll of the Year to someone who does happen to be a GM fan. We all appreciate GM fans, but sometimes exhibiting blind loyalty does little for the cause when what you spew makes no sense at all or is just unmitigated idiocy. As usual, the worst poster shall remain nameless.

Cheers to Oldsmoboi and others who contributed financially towards the site. Also Cheers to the brilliant mind that came up with the idea for the Member’s Ride Calendar. Get one (or two) today to support the site.

And finally, Cheers to all the members and mods who continue to make this site the best place on the web to hang out. Whether it’s news from within the industry from thegriffon or mightymouse, the light-hearted banter from CD/BP or ocnblu, old school reminiscing from Sixty8panther or balthazar, or the youthful perspectives from Northstar or empowah, everybody adds to the site, even to those contrarians but realists like siegen who are necessary to carry on a healthy debate. And before closing, it's important to recognize Walt for his profound wisdom in creating a site to allow all of us to be GM's biggest fans and toughest critics.

Happy New Year everybody.

[FAPTurbo]

Funny you mention Domesticated. I happened to come across some of his old posts a week or so ago, and wondered whatever happened to him.

I guess he just left because we gave quarter to brands other than GM. Still, I figured he'd keep posting, with a more toned down, less blustery attitude... he did rack up quite a few posts for the short time he was here.

[trinacriabob]

At last, it's here. Delivered before the dropping of the ball on Times Square. As usual, clever.

[Charger4U]

Bravo! Good write up once again!

I thought id get on for either jeer or cheer for the post whore threads a.ka. associations!

Edited January 1, 2007 by Charger4U

[Satty]

Awesome work as always bobo, your Cheers and Jeers threads are always one of the true highlights of C&G.

[bobo]

Bravo! Good write up once again!

I thought id get on for either jeer or cheer for the post whore threads a.ka. associations!

One of these years, "Word Association" will end up on the Cheers or Jeers Hall of Fame.

I have a couple other things to acknowledge in the past year. This was my personal favorite concept, though I know most people probably don't share the sentiment:

Also, I didn't want to be dropping member names left and right, but I really enjoy the posts by VenSeattle, moltar, trinacriabob, and sometimes regfootball. They all have a maturity or a worldliness about them. And turbo200's posts are well thought-out and his perceptions are usually right on the money.

[NOS2006]

Another good listing this year, bobo. to you, good sir.

And thank you for the cheer.

[mjdecker]

Jeers to the C&G Curse that has taken its toll on many forum members, some of the more notable victims being Satty, RBB, GMTruckGuy74, Bimmer325, and the former admin. Flybrian started it all with his attempt to assemble a brand new Aurora, piece by piece.

... damn, I really do miss my Achieva.

[Cory Wolfe]

Great writeup.

However, I must question your pick for best sig. Come on... look at my pretty purple sig. You know you love it.

[Northstar]

Great write-up as always, bobo. Here's to plenty of cheers and hopefully very few jeers in 2007!

[Ravenfreak13]

To another great year of GM!

[turbo200]

One of these years, "Word Association" will end up on the Cheers or Jeers Hall of Fame.

I have a couple other things to acknowledge in the past year. This was my personal favorite concept, though I know most people probably don't share the sentiment:

Also, I didn't want to be dropping member names left and right, but I really enjoy the posts by VenSeattle, moltar, trinacriabob, and sometimes regfootball. They all have a maturity or a worldliness about them. And turbo200's posts are well thought-out and his perceptions are usually right on the money.

aw thanks! i finally got mentioned! i also find your posts to be clear-headed and full of logic and information. thanks for always doing Cheers and Jeers

[ocnblu]

Cheers to bobo for successfully and succinctly summing up another year at our favorite automotive website. Thank you, kind sir!

[Flybrian]

Happy New Year, Bobo. Cheers to you for being one of the 'godfathers' of this site!

Cheers to everyone else, too!

[NOS2006]

Happy New Year, Bobo. Cheers to you for being one of the 'godfathers' of this site!

Cheers to everyone else, too!

Oh snap. Whose the first to be killed? Edited January 1, 2007 by NOS2006

[capriceman]

Nice write up!

come to think about it a lot of people lost cars this year. wish i still had the Silverado.

[Robert Hall]

Thanks for the year end summary.. here's to a good new year..2007! Lots to look forward to from the General in coming months, I believe.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Wow... mentioned twice!!! (even if the second one is a memory I wish I could forget about) A very happy, prosperous and healthy New Year "2007" to ALL here at C&G!

btw, is there any way possible to find out exactly when I joined? My date now shows when we were switched over the last time; however, I know I've been posting on C&G since the fall of 2000 or spring of 2001. I'd sure like to know the actual date when I first joined.

[Intrepidation]

Wasn't there a study that found Pickup buyers ranked styling as a very high influence when buying a truck? Good read overall.

[knightfan26917]

Cool summary, bobo ... always love reading these .

Cort:33swm.Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip.pig valve.pacemaker

PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Look at everything that's come and gone" ... Bryan Adams ... 'Summer of 69'

[K.C.]

Even though I wasnt around then, it was cool to ready about the year in review. I read 2005s as well. I'm glad that this is a community where people put that much thought and effort into the place. I think it makes it a great place to spend some time and it doesn't seem wasted. Glad I joined here.

[capriceman]

Even though I wasnt around then, it was cool to ready about the year in review. I read 2005s as well. I'm glad that this is a community where people put that much thought and effort into the place. I think it makes it a great place to spend some time and it doesn't seem wasted. Glad I joined here.

leave now why you still have a chance. pretty soon you will be scrolling the forums at 4 a.m. even though nothing new happened. trust me its very addicting. Its like Crack you can have a little bit but once you start doing it a lot your hooked. If Flybrian asks you to drink the Kool-Aid just run away.

[aaaantoine]

On this board, the year began with the shocking passing of Chief.

And I completely missed it. In fact, this is the first I've been able to confirm it (although I've seen R.I.P. text floating around, I didn't make the connection / was in denial).

[76ChevyTrucker]

As always Cheers to everyone still here, nad thankfully not all that many Jeers. Best luck and wishes to everyone in 2007, and as always Bobo, thanks for putting this together.

[!!!TED!!!]

Great wrap up bobo.

Just wanted to mention I got a brand new, up-to-date computer Jan 3rd. You had me nominated a year or 2 ago as "most deserving of a new computer"

Heres to a great 2007!

[prototype66]

Cheers to C&G for making all of us newbees feel welcome and I hope everyone here has a great 2008!

Thakns to all!