trinacriabob

Auto parts stores can be like candy stores ... at least for me. I was looking at the bottled oil. Both Castrol and Valvoline offer a "higher mileage" oil which they recommend using when you're over 75,000 or 100,000 miles. It's $ 1 more per quart. I asked if it was worth doing if the car has been pampered and the counter folks said 'not really.' I also took a close look at the bottle and it said synthetic blend. You can extend your oil change intervals with the full synthetic but I was told the synthetic blend keeps you on the same oil change interval as conventional oil. I've also read debates on Castrol versus Valvoline multi-viscosity oils. These debates rage on and on. What I was able to take away is that, in colder climates, the Valvoline formulation runs "thinner" while warming up and the Castrol formulation offers better protection at very high temperatures. Since most of us live in moderate climates (ahem), I think this might be more applicable to people living in the Upper Midwest (MN, ND) and the Southwestern desert states, respectively. That is, if this finding or rule of thumb even holds true. When I first started driving and had my own hand me down cars I had to take care of, I used Castrol GTX oil religiously and loved that product.

I know! Since my current car's spec sheet called for conventional 5W-30, I'll probably just do that until I get rid of it. (The dealer charges me $34.95 for a LOF with conventional oil and even offers to wash the car.) This sort of vigilance got me close to 300,000 miles on my last car ('90s vintage) without having a wrench taken to the engine/transmission/axle for anything other than spark plug changes and transmission fluid changes. I have a feeling my next car will be technologically very different so I will act accordingly.

On Sunday, I saw one of these. I was driving, so I could not take a photo. It was the exact same color as this one in Wiki ... that pale ivory offered in those years. Unbelievable. I believe it was a 1966 Bel Air. I surfed the web and found the Bel Air and the Biscayne. The Biscayne had 2 segments in the rear lamps but the Bel Air had 3 segments in the rear lamps, as the Impala did, and the one I saw had 3 segment real tail lamps. I am guessing it had a 283 V8. However, the stripped down version came with the 250 inline 6 standard. Both were indestructible. The full size Chevrolet modified its front grille and rear fascia ANNUALLY back in the day. It made for a great sighting. Oh yeah .... the guy driving it was not even middle aged. It was a hipster who looked just like the guy who is the spokesman for TD Ameritrade these days ... same glasses, but with a bushier beard. That also made the sighting humorous.

I change my oil every 2,500 miles. (I know the rule of thumb for conventional oil is every 3,000 miles.) I do it every 2,500 miles for the math. That is, I end up on even 10,000s. So, every 5,000, I put in a bottle of fuel injector (and system) cleaner. And, every 10,000, I change the air filter. That means I change the oil 1 time more per year than if I did it every 3,000 miles. At $ 35 extra per year, I don't view that as a big deal and it really helps me stick to my maintenance schedule.

@dfelt I am on board with Cadillac returning to names. As a result of the letters and numbers, I no longer know what's what. As for the name Calais, it was on a Cadillac product at one time before Oldsmobile picked it up as a type of Cutlass ... and as a stand-alone name plate. French names and Cadillac go hand in hand. Cadillac is a French word. It's even one of the stops on the Montreal Metro's green line!

Buick's price point has risen dramatically. It's too close to that of Cadillac. As for the Verano, I guess it depends on the dealership's catchment area and its demographics. At the dealership I use, people have been asking for the lower priced Buick cars and CUV/SUV products. Some of them want to only spend about $25 K on a new car. In wealthier markets, this would be a non-issue. I see a lot of Veranos and last-gen Regals on the road. I also see way more last-gen LaCrosses (2010-201?) on the road than the current one ... a lot more. GM, as a whole, should address its vehicle hierarchy and price points. Its offerings feel slimmer and more confusing at the same time.

@ocnblu Nice try. The word "coiffed" has 2 f's. Regarding the car, it's a nice try. It is sort of boring. Maybe it won't be boring to drive. A proportionately long wheelbase is often a good thing to have for ride quality. As has already been mentioned, the front overhang, or lack of it, could be a problem. In terms of the side/rear, I do not like that kink in the belt line where it meets the C-pillar and the heavy handed chrome there. I'd like to see what this car looks like in rear 3/4 view before judging it more firmly. I'm all for people scooping up Cadillacs. I'm not one of their customers. Buick has failed me and others by not offering a new Verano. The dealers have told me this ... that people are asking for it.

How did I miss these? I like how you summarize highs and lows. Pictures are worth a thousand words and you've sequenced them nicely. I find it interesting that you liked the 2.0 T over the naturally aspirated 3.6, or seemed to. I wouldn't know. I haven't driven this car but have driven vehicles with 3.6 engines in way different applications. Today, the 3.6 would be my "go to" engine at GM, probably followed by the 2.5. I would imagine AWD would make this car heavy. For being smaller, they sure pack on the pounds. You can tell when you slam the doors. The build quality is there. I have "test sat" in these new Regal sportbacks while in service. I am getting used to the more horizontal dash over the previous more vertically arranged dashboards. What is bizarre in this car is how, once you sit down, looking back feels like peering into a tunnel. In most wagons, the back lite feels much closer, and this is not even a big car we're talking about. GM has really gone on the cheap with interior color choices and base models come with next to none (choices, that is). If a person were to "build and price" a base Malibu or LS, the only interior color that can be had with many exterior colors is black. That's it. The only Buick that is currently selling well is the Encore. That's what salespeople have indicated. I feel that this car's sticker can climb too high and too quickly for the niche it's intended to be in .... the entry-level Buick passenger car. Were you okay with the "new" console height in Buick products? So true. It seems that the Midwest and the Southeast are the few American regions that are feeding the domestic manufacturers in a much bigger way. It's all about attitude and perception. The West Coast seems to have been brainwashed that having a foreign car is indeed better. When I see what some service items cost for some foreign cars, the idea that they are superior makes little to no sense. What seems to eventually go south in most American cars is power equipment and electric gizmos, while the powertrain keeps going strong. And when these items go out and begin to work intermittently, it is very annoying.

@frogger This is all true. It's weird, though, that, when growing up, it seemed there were more larger coupes chosen by families than there were sedans. Families were able to get the capacity of a larger proportioned American car in a more attractive silhouette. Then, when Americans began learning how to design sedans correctly, and which grabbed people's attention, they increased in popularity and the demand for coupes waned. That's what I think happened. The Intrigue, released as a 1998 model in late 1997 to mark Oldsmobile's centennial, took the market by storm ... relatively speaking. I use this as an example because I can't think of many better examples. https://consumerguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/00128991990003.jpg https://file.kbb.com/kbb/vehicleimage/housenew/480x360/2002/2002-oldsmobile-intrigue-rearside_olintgls02b.jpg

Saw that gen of Monte Carlo that was based on the Lumina, IIRC. So it would have been a 1995 or so. It was on the freeway in the fast lane and cruising along nicely. It was a metallic dark green color. It was in very good shape, considering its age. I had almost forgotten about this generation of Monte Carlos. The very last version (2000-2005 + 2006-2007 refresh) seemed to have been more popular than the one I saw today. Who the hell said we don't need midsize and full size personal (luxury) coupes?

I could be o.k. with that. Sort of. Also, David Beckham can't drive for 6 months. Great to see he's not above the law.

@Robert Hall I hope it's a good direction, whatever it may be. They are keeping the lid on this next design real tight. Meanwhile, the prospective solutions for Lordstown (previous home of the Cruze) will certainly not be a "one size fits all" solution. Some do not know and/or do not trust the possible new tenant, a manufacturer of electrical "mobility" products.

Right. I may have even test driven this car (road hum, if I recall) when it was released. They can work with this and the 1999 concept and bring it forward to 2020 or 2021. If they plan to keep the law enforcement market, the size and shape of the greenhouse will be critical.

Is that an armrest I see in the front seat? The exhaust looks modified. I had a small metal model of this car when I was a kid. I remember the sculpting above the wheels wells. The first Riv may have been better proportioned but the first Toro made a bolder, sleeker statement. It's amazing how many people will ride your tail when you're on the freeway and have the cruise set at 5 mph above the speed limit AND you're one lane inboard from the fast/left lane. Is that not fast enough for them? Too fastback to retain to police cruiser segment. Will need some modification. Front headlamps are too 04-07 GP, one of the few but big styling demerits of the last Grand Prix.

I saw an aqua colored 1994 Chevy Cavalier sedan in near perfect condition. The owner, a senior, said it had about 95,000 miles on it. I'd have to look it up and see which 4 banger it had. But, today, I saw something more annoying and which counters the typical demographics. Young women who text at the wheel outnumber young men who text at the wheel. Today, I saw 4 "kids" texting at the wheel - 1 teenage girl and 3 guys. The girl was in a Japanese econobox sedan. The guys were in a Subaru Outback wagon, a black, last rendition Dodge Charger, and a white Ford F-150 truck. The girl was on surface streets. The guys were on the freeway. And I remember when it was a big no just to talk on the phone while driving.

I do see some type of recession coming. I hope it isn't of the magnitude of the last one. If it comes before the election, we can almost bet that a certain individual won't be in a key position he so much enjoys. I, too, am passionless about the current automotive market. I'd probably consider FCA products and Japanese products at this point.

I know. They may be reliable but I'll be behind the wheel of a Toyota long before I'll ever be behind the wheel of a Subaru.

Two things: (1) God, I hate Subarus, and (2) I am anxiously waiting to see what the next Charger will look like. Next ...

Haha. It's still running. Probably a dog in the snow and ice. Sure would have loved seeing a mid '70s Grand Ville or Bonneville coupe with rectangular quads up front in its place. I'm going to guess that that's the north side of your downtown as opposed to the south side, mostly because I don't see inclines in the backdrop.

Do you like the LG V20? The reviews seem to like it. - - - - - Here's where I'm at. I want to buy a damn phone this week. (I do no want an I-phone.) LG V20 (2016 release date) O.S.: Android 7, upgrade to Android 8 available Battery: removable Reviews: 4+ (around 4.3) Glass: not Corning and not waterproof Quirks: dual screen or something to that effect; will definitely need a strong case Purchase: after market, can participate in "AT&T bring your own phone." Question: will it in fact be new and what does "open box" mean? Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 (first version was Android 4 or sim.) (2018 release date) O.S.: Android 8 Battery: non-removable Reviews: high 3s (almost 4) Glass: sapphire (does not scratch) but not as tough as Corning Gorilla glass; some amount of waterproofing Quirks: no FM radio - which I've never used on any phone; sturdy construction but some still report breaking the glass Purchase: offered by AT&T - I would be continuing on at about $15 a month for the phone Both phones: storage, RAM, camera megapixels, etc. about the same for both phones. I want to stick with AT&T (long-time customer) and I want a mid-priced phone since I am not a power user. Of these two, which would you choose? Thanks.

When I was in grad school at a Big 10 school in a not particularly likable location, days with snow on the ground and a bright blue sky and a shining sun were the worst offenders. You would go outside only to find out it's 18 degrees ... or 8 degrees. Saw a LaCrosse of my range of M.Y.s. It had the add-on customized full vinyl top hearkening to the Cadillacs of the '80s. It looked terrible. It was an elderly white woman in the burbs. And someone spent money for that? She looked like she had extra cash. Just like those people spend money to have the fake tire and cover put on the back and middle of a Cadillac's bumper ... wth? People don't get it: less is more. I know ... I know.

It's recent but not new. The LG V20 (Android 7) is such a phone. Have you had more current phones freeze or lock up? How did you get them "unstuck?"

Let us know what you think.

Very true. If I had a Pontiac G8, I'd be babying it. In fact, I'd probably have another daily driver, though I haven't done that in years.

I saw "The Green Book" for the second time last week. It was a free community showing. It was even funnier the second time around. Tony: "Maybe he's a doctor of playing the piano." Dolores: (incredulous) "Is there such a thing?" Two plus hours of Bronx New Yorkese ... what's not to like?