trinacriabob

Hot rod them up? Yes. I was in CA and AZ for a few days last month. In AZ, I took my crappy rental car up toward Mt. Lemmon outside of Tucson. In a pullout was one pimped out looking red Charger Hellcat. I think it was a car club. I lowered the passenger window and asked the Hispanic guy who owned it, "What, about 700 horses?" He proudly said, "707." Yep. I thought so. He had the model that makes the most horsepower. Not interested in feeding that.

As I scour for articles on the next version of the Charger, I can't seem to keep the timeline of what has been said in order. I'll see an article that says it will be on a version of the Alfa Romeo Giorgio platform modified and tuned for the new Charger. Then, I'll see an article with the late Marchionne saying it will be on a highly modified version of the current chassis that will perform very differently. (I interpret that as "better"). What seems to be the latest train of thought for the next Charger ... and the next Challenger? Also, do you think the next rendition will roll out in 2021 instead of 2020?

I didn't know where to put this ... here or in the thread about struts I once started. I let the struts go through another winter and I will be using the all-in-one quick strut assemblies (cartridge, coil spring, rubber parts, and hardware). You are supposed to get a trade-off. They cost more but you pay less in labor. I've read people's reviews on these and the DIY-ers love them. They have 3 bolts at the top and 2 bolts at the bottom. They cite very short time periods in which to replace them ... at home. So, today around lunch, I go into a shop that I haven't used but gets good reviews. I met one of the two mechanics last time and he is very laid back but doesn't work up quotes. I can see why. Today, I met the older mechanic who works up the quotes. I know he has to go with book rates and such but, for the quick struts, he quoted me $ 485 in labor. I don't think so. That's what you'd pay in labor when you'd have to compress the springs because you would just be replacing the strut cartridges. I have found some great prices on-line for Gabriel's all-in-one product. I can deal with a fair parts markup if the labor cost is closer to what it should be. Not only that, this mechanic that gets good reviews is in the middle of nowhere, doesn't have a waiting room, and would be keeping the car all day. Why not give me a window of time during which I can stick around and wait for it? For routine stuff, I wait for my car. I have a feeling that finding the right mechanic to replace the struts with the brand I want and at a fair price is going to be a little challenging.

Fantastic performances. Incredible talent. I will say that the little Italian that was spoken, even if it was a dialect such as Sicilian, wasn't as accurate as it should have been. They should have paid a little more attention to that.

Mostly accurate, though Dr. Shirley's family disputes some of it. We know the color of the Cadillac was off. The events in the South were more disturbing than in the Midwest. The one event in the Midwest that was really bad took place at Hanover College in Indiana. If that is in the Ohio River Valley part of Indiana, then that would be more Southern and the mentality would have been more hick in 1962. As you can imagine, a new Cadillac with New York plates and a black man in the back being chauffeured around also saw its share of being pulled over by cops. However, without giving it away, the last time one of these that occurs on the way back up North has a positive spin on it and really shows the loyalties and mindset of the people who wrote and backed this movie.

I won't say that much because y'all need to see it. When I knew that Tony "Lip" Vallelonga was going to be driving him around the Midwest and the South, I knew before I saw the movie there would be a phenomenal scene following that then new Cadillac aerially as it crossed the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan to New Jersey. And there was! Beautifully done. The funniest scene to me may not be the funniest to others. As they start driving off and are in PA, Dr. Shirley starts telling Tony that he needs to clean up his vocabulary because of the sort of people they'll be around. Dr. Shirley said, "I have a problem with your diction." Tony got defensive and told him that everyone understands him just fine. Dr. Shirley looked away and said something like, 'Perhaps your diction has some charm in the tri-state area.' I howled at that one. The movie is definitely very Yankee versus Southerner. And it does rely a lot on stereotyping, which probably held water in 1962. Also, they HAD to cross on the George Washington Bridge because the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge wasn't opened until 1964 or so. Epic flick. A lot of great music from that era, too. I wasn't expecting it.

Yes. It's great. Have you seen it? Or has anyone else seen it?

Anybody seen "The Green Book?" A Jewish lady I know strongly urged me to go see it because she thought it would be right up my alley. She was right. Simple story, more or less ... a lot of message embedded within it. It has its difficult spots but emerges as a feel good movie.

Some spotting 1 - over the weekend - getting on at the ramp on the other side of the freeway was a 1975 or 1976 Cadillac Eldorado coupe. The body was intact but the metal bumpers and fins were not in the best shape. It was silver with a silver landau top, which was reserved for the upscale GM cars. The lower divisions didn't have gray interiors to go along with this combo but Cadillac (and Buick (Electra/Park Avenue) and Olds(98 Regency)) did. As far as I could see, this one was burgundy inside. I couldn't believe its length. Sort of like landing a great white that snags a record for its size. This car weighs over 4,800 pounds and cruises with a 500 c.i. V8 ... or 8.2 liters ... or 8200 cc. 2 - over the weekend - a studious looking high school kid is parked next to me at the store playing on his phone with his girlfriend in an immaculate last gen 2003 Pontiac Bonneville LE in purist form. What a relief. No cladding, no spoiler, wheel covers. I asked him if he'd sell it. He said that he just got it from his grandmother with about 25,000 miles. I told him he was lucky to own one and wished him well. Of those bigger cars, the Bonnie was the only one I liked, and in purist form, except for adding the base alloy wheels. This kid's car was the metallic bronze color and it was beautiful. 3- on Tuesday, a Pontiac Sunbird sedan of 1988 to 1994 vintage is sailing past me on the freeway at about 70 mph. This car was clean. It looked like a Cavalier. It had the red appliques from some optional package. I don't know much about the 1.8 and 2.0 4 cylinders of that day but apparently this one has held up for 25 to 30 years and was maneuvering like a whipper snapper. I don't know if it had Eco-Tec technology in its 4 cylinder engines that early. It's rare to see a Cavalier or a Sunbird these days, let alone a Cobalt. Dud sighting - a Camry under 5 years old is going down a major boulevard at about 10 mph below the speed limit. It was nighttime. The streets were uncrowded. There was not much lighting because it is a wooded area. As I get next to the car, it's a 30-something dude who, based on the glow coming from his phone, is texting away. I guess that justifies going 10 mph below the speed limit ?!? Ass hole. There are many deer that cross the area he was driving through.

I had a Camry as a rental within the last few years. For one day. It idled so erratically (about 29,000 miles) that I thought it would conk out. I got it changed. For the remainder of the trip, I was given a Verano. The lady at the counter told me she would be giving me a Veracruz! So, that made for a big laugh (when I saw a Verano in the numbered parking spot) and a much nicer car for the rest of my rental. I hated the Camry's dash and console. I didn't warm up to that car.

This all makes sense, especially in the case of the Toro. I'm sure it's a relief that you'll do the scavenger hunt, so to speak. This is something I plan to do soon. I've already gotten the price the retail parts store will charge me. I will ask him up front if he has an account with them. If he marks up more than 30%, then it won't work. I've given him work repeatedly before. I just haven't had to do much to it lately (keeping my fingers crossed). If it doesn't work, I'll just return to the mechanic with the small shop who suggested bringing in the parts to get the brand and specific items I wanted. I'll gladly give my regular mechanic, in addition to a dealership I use, the first crack at it. I'm hoping it comes together.

I tend to be slower than most here to welcome most design changes but this one looks good. - Front fascia is bold yet doesn't look like an "angry appliance" - Rear fascia is somewhat Volvo - Side view is LaCrosse and Malibu, but without a weird moulding kink in the C-pillar - Dashboard nicely melds a lot of items in the info zone without the "laptop left open" look - Hooray ... this one has a tan interior and not everything on the dash or the door panels is black, which is the cheapskate way out ... instead, they merged tan and black bits nicely Hyundai has really gotten some momentum and even the strong step up in its baseline Accent, from being sort of dowdy, is worthy of a look.

First, I usually don't do this. I used to bring Castrol or Valvoline to gas stations to have my oil changed not expecting much of a credit back. I have a friend who does often and I think it's tacky if the part is easily sourced. I'm in a situation where some parts are available on line, they are becoming less available in retail channels, AND, a few months back, one mechanic said. 'Why don't you bring in the parts?' It's a small shop. They don't even have an alignment rack. This small mechanic's shop gets real good reviews. What are the pros and cons of this? What would happen if there was a warranty issue in terms of fixing the problem (the part was a dud but the installation was correctly done)? Any help with pros and cons, and an assessment of situations where someone would want you to bring in your own parts, would be appreciated!

I would have never believed that little 4 cylinders Aleros would go the distance, seeing so many on the road to this day. Great going, Olds!

Very true. In Montreal, it is very okay to ask someone what their ethnicity is. Everyone talks about it. It's healthy ... and interesting. They might also do that in New York or Philadelphia or Chicago. That is almost not acceptable in the Western United States. It might be something you discuss with the offspring of more recently arrived Asians but not with the offspring of Europeans. It's very sad, especially if you're first generation. I hate the whole notion of the American "melting pot." It may be relevant if you are 4 or 5 different nationalities. It is certainly not relevant it you are 100% one nationality or a perfect 50:50 split of two nationalities. I just noticed this is in the car spotting thread. No worries.

Thank you! Of the classics, I really like the mint green Buick Skylark 1970-ish convertible with the rally wheels. Of the GM intermediate quartet, the LeMans/GTO and Skylark/GS were nicer than the Cutlass and Malibu of that year. Also, in looking at the photos, I'm going to guess that the bright blue Charger had a V8 and the gray one had the standard V6. I do not like the cheap looking blacked out plastic grille on the current Chrysler 300. The 2014-2015 grille might just be the best of the lot for the current 300 model.

I believe the Aurora was introduced in 1995 or so while the Intrigue was released in 1998 for the brand's centennial. The Aurora was refreshed once, while the Intrigue never was. Maybe what I meant to say is nameplate. I think the Alero, Bravada, and Silhouette nameplates preceded the Intrigue, irrespective of updates.

That is great idea. Seriously. Did you folks know that, by default, Walmart's site stores your credit card? I think that's the way it goes. I buy household necessities there. Other places, such as hotel chains, ASK you if they can.

In 1960, Florida had just under 5 million people and California had just under 15 million people. For some reason, I was looking this up the other day. Under 5 million people in Florida probably loudly proclaimed "come on down!" And they did. Including some of my not particularly likable relatives from New Jersey.

Was on the freeway yesterday and had an Intrigue being driven by an African-American lady next to me. I was aligning with it to see what year it was. She was probably wondering what the hell I was doing. So, it had a trunk key lock and no hint that it was an Oldsmobile (no badge at the rear), meaning it was a 1998. Not at all scuffed up except for some minor dents and slightly weathered paint. She was cruising along nicely in a 20 year old card. As I pulled forward, the amber colored always on turning lamps were staring at me via my rear view mirror. Oldsmobile's last car and probably one of Oldsmobile's best cars. Very sad.

The city (MIA) is a mess. Too many neighborhoods with unchecked sawgrass and chain link fences, if you know what I mean. As for what they call "the beach" (Miami Beach), it's too full of people, new high rise condos packed in, and is now just too expensive. I remember it at a much quieter and less trendy time and it used to be decent. Find a meter, put in some coins, go to the beach, and get some Cuban food. Rinse. Repeat. Not now.

Pacific beaches are cold by Atlantic standards. The current on the West Coast comes down from Alaska. Same with Chile and Peru. That upward flowing Pacific current, which I think is called the Humboldt Current, makes Pacific South American beaches cold and the waves can be daunting. I've lived in Atlanta. I never made it to Myrtle Beach. I guess it's o.k. Virginia Beach seems to be well liked, too. For beaches, I went to the Florida Panhandle. I can only speak for Florida's Panhandle, meaning Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, and Fort Walton. They call it the "Redneck Riviera." Even the locals call it that and they're okay with it. If you vacation there, it will mostly be Southerners and Midwesterners. Easterners and Canadians typically don't go there. As for Florida's Atlantic coast, if you go too far down, you get into the hubbub of South Florida and its higher prices. Around Daytona and the Space Coast, it's very tacky. That sort of leaves you the beaches of South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and possibly even Delaware. I still default to the Panhandle. If not, I would opt to sit on the sand and swim in the warm waters of Italy, Spain, Portugal, or Greece. End of story.

I had opted for a mid size. I like to get a full size when the rates are clustered closely together. As it turns out, they were really, really low on cars. I could have gotten a Jetta. The state it was licensed to was "exotic" and far away, so I passed on it ... that way I could throw my stuff in the trunk and not think about it much. I took the Focus because it was a known quantity, though not as bad as what this unit turned out to be like! I should have taken the Jetta. They've gotten larger and probably ride similarly to a Passat, which isn't all that bad.

Sorry, but I found that a little humorous. The West Coast can be sensory overload, too! Wow, has anyone had the experience of giving back a rental car and then getting into their own decade old daily driver and feel like they're on "cloud nine?" I recently turned in a rented Ford Focus with 36,000 miles on it that didn't ride well (alignment or balancing issues, at the very least) and that much talked about automatic transmission shudder was in evidence, like clockwork, at every 1 - 2 shift. I was wondering if the transmission in the car would fail while in my tenure. It didn't. I sighed when I got out of it, got my belongings, and headed to board the plane.

Good luck on your new position. I hope you find it rewarding and enjoyable. Your articles are always informative, nicely laid out, and have a smooth flow about them ... just like an excellent car should be!