trinacriabob

Yesterday...unbelievable and very funny... ...a 1970-ish Dodge Dart coupe, in baby blue, with white upper paint (not even a vinyl top) in MINT condition...I was waiting to see who was driving the car and it was a 20-something (very)red-haired chick who worked as a checker or grocery clerk at the very Safeway I was going into for a deli sandwich.

Come to think of it, they've (2010)all been silver. I'm having a tough time digesting this new car.

I'm not knowledgeable in that area. However, along the lines of a trivia thread, what is the acronym to remember the Great Lakes? Answer: H.O.M.E.S. Huron Ontario Michigan Erie Superior Moving right along...

When I go on vacation over Memorial Day, I will remember to take a picture of a Bob's Big Boy

This is crazy BUT...a white Buick Terraza. A few things: (1) they are fairly rare, it seems, (2) if I had to buy this genre, it would be this (since the Silhouette is gone), and (3) I was looking at the grille...and the blacked-out treatment, contrasting the white paint, looked great. I wish they had used this treatment for the LaCrosse instead of the bright chrome featured in the grille.

Moltie, have you ever gone for their free breakfast? That coupon shows up every other month or so, with an asterisk saying "except Houston" or some other city. At any rate, I went once. The line was absurd, but I endured it. Then I figured out that the cost of gas to get there did not offset the "savings" in the free breakfast, but at least I experienced it. The only thing I've bought at IKEA were some cost-efficient fluorescent bulbs. I hate the sterility of the place and their merchandise.

Unbelievable. The 1981-1986 Grand Prix was beautiful, and got increasingly better through this span of years, ultimately adding the 4.3 TBI Vortec V6 (though the 4.3 Pontiac 265 c.i. V8 was a nice little engine as well). I always thought there was a big gap between the Cutlass and the Grand Prix, but in these years, the Grand Prix was catching up (but didn't completely catch up, IMHO). Of these models (1981-1987ish), my ranking would be: Cutlass, Grand Prix, Regal, Monte Carlo. But, back to the GP: the rear lights with the taper out where it met the bumper were great, the fender sculpting was not too much/not too skimpy, the grille was clean (w/ or w/o hood ornament), the dash was really interesting when the circles had actual gauges, and the interior finishes, especially in the Brougham or LJ, were plush and comfortable. I've driven one or two and, true to Pontiac form, it handled a little better than the others, with the Regal having the vaguest handling of the quartet during this period. I liked this car as well, though I wound up "inheriting" a 1984 Cutlass Supreme Brougham coupe in the mid-90s. I will always miss this GM vehicle platform.

This will be a short work week, as I am taking Friday off to make it a 3-day Easter weekend and flying out of town. Friday will mean some good fish for lunch and dinner (maybe salmon and halibut) and Easter Sunday ought to bring a good brunch buffet. Today is Passover. I asked one of my co-workers if he was celebrating the Seder meal, but he told me he was not observant. I would like to get invited to one someday to experience it. Are you doing anything to celebrate this week's religious holidays? Resting? Traveling somewhere?

I like that commercial for the 1975! I only wish that the vinyl top was silver instead of black. The tri-silver on 70s GM cars, possibly with a red or white pinstripe, looked great. BTW, that was the L.A. Coliseum in the background. I grew up within 10 miles of that place.

I, too, will relentlessly defend the W-body. What great cars ... though some more than others. Obviously, I'm partial to the Buick versions of this platform, but others were also great. I, too, found the 2006-2007 MCs (in rental experiences) to drive nicely enough, have sufficient power, and get great gas mileage (I hit 33 mpg (!) in a 3.5 V6 between Portland and Tacoma). Still, I'm waiting to see what this next "tune up" holds for the Malibu. I accept that the W-body is gone, just like the rear-wheel drive GM mid-sizes were eventually phased out. They all had their place in the sun, and we await the next great GM platform.

Ninety-Eight, for you, I would have guessed an Oldsmobile...but is there one that made you drool more than the others?

This one is easy for me ... and it should be no surprise. The 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe...preferably in Brougham (loose cushion seating) or Salon (tall reclining buckets) trim. I'm still confining myself to one car for my answer if I say that the 1975 version was also a very attractive car, but the 1976 was a leap forward with the absence of fender sculpting and rectangular headlamps. Wow. 1976 - one of the better poses for this car, and everyone fell in love (credit to Classic Oldsmobile.com) 1975 - my favorite color at top of photo, but it needed a white vinyl top; nice tan swivel-out buckets at bottom LH suited to the rust exterior (credit to Mclellan's automotive) Your turn...

If it sounds like a lawn mower or a sewing machine, then I don't really like it. Electric engines sound like golf or maintenance carts, so they might take some getting used to. I've heard that the quietness of an electric engine poses a danger in and of itself. I've grown accustomed to the sound of the Buick (and other GM)V6s over the years and I now like it. However, for me, the most beautiful engine note is that of a small block Olds V8 when it is newer...and the exhaust system is in perfect condition. Nothing sounds as confident and as balanced.

It hit 81 yesterday and was fairly nice. Today is kind of breezy and rain is expected. I walked over to a Subway for lunch and it was fairly cold already. Looking forward to summer and shorts weather...and Europe!

I plan on keeping my newer car for a long time...and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I am one of the few who does not like the new LaCrosse at all. I sat in one at a dealership in Chico about a month ago. Sure, the interior ergonomics are very advanced, but visibility is poor and it is too expensive. The Regal makes more sense, but it looks like an American Passat. If I had to buy in the near-term future, I would wait for the new Malibu and get the base, or LT, model with a 4-cylinder. (I onced rented an 09 Malibu 4 and it was great...I wrote a review). If it turned out I didn't like that car once released, I would buy a base Milan 4-cylinder. There aren't many cars out there that turn my crank right now. In fact, the more I see the current inventory, the happier I am with my decision to purchase the '08 LaCrosse.

I'm not buying in the near-term future but, after yesterday, I share your opinion that the GM 4-cylinders are probably better than their Ford counterparts. There's a huge difference in revving a Milan when sitting inside as opposed to revving a Malibu, which remains fairly quiet. However, I do agree with the post that the Fusion/Milan...right now...has the more pleasing shape/silhouette. That may change.

I've probably said I time or two how much I like the Fusion/Milan...especially the Milan, and especially in white. (I took some pictures and, once I get my phone data cable, I'll post them). I still like the Fusion/Milan and, at the present time, I like them more than the current Malibu. However, the way the next-gen Malibu is shaping up (on that sub-forum), I am fairly impressed. Fast forward: this afternoon, I went to a nearby dealership and was looking at the Milans. I asked the salesperson (he was not pushy) if I could open up a four-cylinder and start it up...and I was able to do that. The bottom line: the four-cylinder in the Milan is a little loud, despite being given high marks for reliability. I've rented V6s in these cars, so this was a new experience. The four-cylinder in the Malibu (EcoTec) is a lot more pleasing to the ear. With updated styling and the already reliable powertrain, the new Malibu is looking good! Do you have any opinions on the Ford or Chevy 4-cylinder engines?

...we seem to be "recycling" threads lately...let's talk about food instead...I was checking out buffet ratings for Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend...

More attractive than the current one. I like it. Several things I noted: the greenhouse has a more pleasing outline, the roof rails aren't as thick, and the rear light assembly is varied and interesting. I'd buy one. Since GM puts together nicer dashes and interiors than Ford, this sort of car could tip me out of the Fusion/Milan which would currently be my choice for a vehicle purchase.

Ok, here's the update. I just took the Regal in for its emission test and it passed! I was a little wound up when in the waiting room and looking through the glass. I did not want to go down the diagnostics flowchart with a repair shop. Just as I expected, it did fine on CO2, O2, H.C., CO...but, again, it came real close on N.O. In fact, it gave roughly the same reading as it did 2 years ago and 7 years ago: a couple of dozen ppm under the low speed max of 772 ppm. What did I do in the meantime: ( a ) ran a bottle of FI cleaner through it one tank ago, ( b ) got a new air filter, and ( c ) got it tuned, changing its plugs after some 57,000 miles since the last tune-up (they were still clean) I was expecting a healthier drop in N.O., but it didn't happen. I think that: ( a ) the lack of an EGR valve on this model might make it a little "dirtier," and ( b ) the fact that the cat is the original might not help either On the plus side, I looked at the values for CO2, O2, H.C., CO particles and those readings are virtually unchanged since its Spring 2003 printout and its Spring 2008 printout. I guess that's good...for having 268.5K miles. Thanks for the suggestions, gents.

Yesterday, on a major street near downtown... 3 words: oh...my...God - Unbelievable! 1975 Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible ('75 because of its round headlamps, instead of quad rectangulars) Cranberry metallic (Olds's name for burgundy that M.Y.) White convertible top Cranberry vinyl interior Not a blemish on it to be found. The Olds Rocket V8 (prob. a 350) sounded pretty healthy as it was accelerating from a light. I was the only person that stopped on the sidewalk and stared as it drove by. Others seemed oblivious. Wow.

FLURRIES this weekend... ...let me clarify: this was the situation over the Donner Pass (elev. 7239 ft), coming back from Reno to Northern California at about 6 pm Sunday night. From the windward side of the pass down to about 6,000 ft, there were wind-driven horizontal flurries that didn't stick. The weather in Northern Nevada earlier that day was beautiful. Down here, at sea level, it's about 70 degrees during the day.

I have to correct my DFW mistake...it's I-20, meaning dowtown Dallas is connected to downtown Atlanta (learn something new every day)... Speaking of open spaces and desolate, I sometimes think I'm agoraphobic. That's probably why the only 2 regions of the U.S. I've lived in and that I felt at home were the densely wooded PNW and Southeast.

Driving through West Texas once you clear the large metro areas (San Antonio on 10 or Dallas on 40) is "challenging." It's very desolate. I once had to overnight along I-10 west of San Antonio, and prior to arriving in El Paso, in a town called Van Horn. I got up and kept driving west the following morning as quickly as possible. It was nice to see the New Mexico and Arizona state lines come into view, plus it was summer.

I thought about that, but that's the acronym he's known by here, so I passed... ...the reality is that, once having had a personalized plate, I'd rather not have one and go unnoticed...which is even easier to do in a gray or silver car...