trinacriabob

I think a Pontiac colonnade of sorts would work wonders if balthy's holiday stocking were to be stuffed with one.

MECHANICAL PHOTOS This shows the engine bay with its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, turbo ducting and such, service points, and an easy to service battery This indicates that it's a 2.0 liter engine and that one thing remains constant - standardized OBD II diagnostics are now well past 2 decades of use Of the different brands I've driven, Android Auto connections behave differently, with Nissan products disengaging most often and GM vehicles staying fairly consistently connected. Here, the map feature disengaged. The screen can also show either only the map or only the music.

INTERIOR PHOTOS This is the view of the front of the cabin upon getting in from the driver's side This is the view of the front of the cabin upon getting in from the passenger's side This shows the expanse and sensible layout of the dashboard Here the additional storage space under the deck of the console can be seen The main instrument pod provides some "relief" - conventional and easy to get used to layout, a temperature gauge is included, and it can be set to a digital speed readout. Having been given the car at over 59,500 miles, I took this photo of the odometer turning over 60,000 by pulling off somewhere. I have been getting rental cars with many more miles on them than in the past. Because some controls are elsewhere, I really appreciated the simplicity of the steering wheel controls This shows a very typical GM infotainment screen layout, nicely placed air conditioning vents, and the push button start at the left of this photo; the base of this screen groups information such as exterior temperature, the clock, etc. This shows the climate control panel below the infotainment screen, which is pleasantly symmetrical and very easy to operate This shows the transmission selector pod in what I felt was a very convenient location, as well as the cubby space beneath it handling different types of USB connections and a 12 V charger slot. The R and D gears have a "pull tab" sort of operation. The seat shape worked very well for me, even though they appear to be leather, when I prefer fabric upholstery for better comfort across different exterior temperatures This shows the roominess and finish of the second row seats Here, many of the similar functions available to the front passengers are available in a consolidated area in the second row This is the third row seat, which I kept in this position most of the time This shows the rearmost pillar. While thick, it seems to have improved a little over time and visibility is helped by the verticality of the glass. This is the rear storage area with the third row seat down This is the rear storage area with the third row seat up

EXTERIOR PHOTOS Side view Angled front view Angled rear view

I went in to get a rental car and, as usual, the sedan I had rented was not available. I was going to get upgraded into a SUV and asked what was available. I was told about a Toyota Highlander and then a GMC Acadia was added to the short list. For whatever reason, the Toyota Highlander has never gelled with me and the Acadia had more things going for it that I like – a GM product, a vehicle I’ve always wanted to test drive, and it’s even a place I like! Having sat in various renditions of GMC’s Acadia in showrooms, I’m not too surprised that I mostly liked spending time in this vehicle. The positives outweigh any negatives, and this is a pleasant vehicle for both everyday driving in many driving contexts and has the extra bonus of hauling space if you were to need that. The closest thing I’ve driven was a Chevrolet Traverse, which I’ve reviewed here, but that was at least a handful of years ago and had a very different powertrain. Like that Traverse, once on the road, the Acadia exudes that it’s quiet and stable. (If only more people were that way.) Both vehicles once shared the 3.6 DOHC V6, and those add weight up front, so I’d say this Acadia feels a little more agile and lighter on its feet owing to its 4-cylinder engine up front. It’s a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder and it is turbocharged. It makes 228 horses. And with being nimbler, the handling feels fairly predictable. However, since it sits up higher, I don’t know how being overly aggressive with the Acadia in the twisties would turn out. I drove it around highway cloverleafs at the posted speeds. The automatic transmission is a geared unit. It has 9 speeds, which is a strange number. How about 6, 8, or 10 speeds, for those of us who like even numbers? The geared unit’s shifts are very smooth, with only 1 and 2 being felt and going by fluidly under normal throttle. The Acadia is attractive upon immediately getting into it. This becomes evident upon seeing a front cabin compartment that imparts spaciousness, given both the substantial and nicely crafted bucket seats and the breadth to accommodate quite a bit in the expanse of its dashboard. In that breadth is the main instrument pod that is clean and symmetrical, with a very logical arrangement of speedometer, tachometer, and fuel and temperature gauges. (This makes you ask yourself why other manufacturers can be so illogical with such a set up.) The same logic applies to the infotainment touch screen, engaged under the cowl of the dash, and also in how the center stack is vertically arranged. The switches are those used across the GM stable and are both easy to operate and clean looking. While automatic transmissions have recently used dials, shorter levers, and push buttons up to the right of the instrument cluster, this one places a pod toward the base of the center stack, yet above the phone cubby. It has a good “plug and play” look about it that hopefully translates into being just that if needing servicing. The console deck height is sensible. And they were able to maintain that sensible placement while still putting an additional storage slot underneath that deck, in part owing to placement of the transmission selector “pod” within the center stack. While it’s an exterior “control,” the Acadia follows the same formatting as other GM vehicles in that it has a capless fuel filler and a fuel door that doesn’t feature an interior remote release. Many cheaper imports and some of the domestics are keeping the remote door release. Several other functions such as auto stop-start, traction control, and emergency flashers are located on the console deck, both ahead of and behind the cup holders, rather than being placed here and there. The roominess extends to the rear parts of the cabin, and this Acadia included a third row seat. Clearly, those are never as roomy as the second row, in which the legroom is comfortable and in which the craftsmanship carries through from the front of the cabin. A slightly bigger SUV like this Acadia requires a thick enough frame at the corners of its cabin and, even though the pillars at the rear are somewhat hefty, visibility seems to have improved a little with subtle restyling and reshaping. It’s not the best, but one can work with it. Parking assists and other driving assists help navigate these situations. The Acadia is up to the task on most occasions … and without a doubt for everyday driving. This is when the powertrain is at its best – a muted hum from the engine and nice, clean upward shifts. It also merges onto highways well. I did not attempt a difficult pass with it. In pulling a little quickly away from a light, the engine hums more loudly but, mostly, the transmission shifts were more identifiable and the time in each successive gear felt very “short,” which feels very different for people having cut their teeth on 3 and 4 speed automatics and, in more recent years, 6 speed automatics. Again, qualities such as quiet and smooth are expected to go together but, they can also diverge. The Acadia feels quieter than it does smooth, although it is mostly smooth. Imperfections in the road and expressways with some washboard paving can send a jiggle or two into the cabin, but it’s not offensive. The Acadia’s size, and AWD in the unit rented, push it over 4,000 lbs. This doesn’t make for the best fuel mileage. It was acceptable, but, for its small displacement, not that commendable. I did not calculate fuel consumption (but was able to see the EPA ratings) and it seems like the last Impala fleet sedan with a brisker 300 hp N.A. 3.6 DOHC V6 got either the same or slightly better fuel mileage. Lastly, this vehicle doesn’t slot into parking spots and through narrow spaces requiring nary a thought while doing so. It requires more calculation than that on behalf of the driver because it’s a somewhat larger vehicle. I liked the feel of being at the helm of an Acadia. It didn’t have the isolation and slightly more refined feel of the 3.6 Chevrolet Traverse I drove, but it came close enough. For most U.S. and Canadian situations, other than a city where you’d hunt for on-street parking every night, the Acadia could be easy to live with and provide versatile motoring for many situations its owner might encounter. - - - - - PHOTOS FORTHCOMING

Photos of him with the illustrious Marge Schott can be found all over the interwebs. That's where he spent the bulk of his career. It's that he lied/denied ... sort of how Clinton started out when the Lewinsky thing was hot off the press.

The knee-jerk understanding seems to be that these events affect the coastal areas where they make landfall. Here, we see that that's far from true. I can't believe how badly interior areas of Southeastern states have been damaged. When I lived in Atlanta, I remember how big weather events would work their way inland and drop a lot of rain onto that red Georgia clay that just laid there like a layer that wasn't absorbed, but my friends, coworkers, and I were not impacted, while select areas were. This has gone way deeper inland. I'm holding good thoughts after seeing and listening to so many distraught people describe how much they've lost.

I'm putting together a review on a rented Acadia ... mostly, I liked it quite a bit.

So, I just crossed the pond going east and, again, used Finnair after flying AA (the airline, not the organization) to get into their DFW gateway. Their flight attendants have been great on every flight. Q (me): Excuse me, but how would you say "airplane nerd" in Finnish? A (them): "lentokonenortti" (with nortti being the nerd part) This makes sense since the airport is the "lentoasema," so "lento" must mean air and used as a prefix - - - - - Italians are again selling out in preserving their language, and have always used "secchione" but have also adopted "nerd," pronounced "naird" I'd go with "secchione dell'aerei" for the boot country

One month to go ...

I agree and this applies to many who have lived long lives. Aside from those who have medical issues that were not expected or ran in families, these long lived people expended their energy to make good choices, do good things, and sow positive energy. There seem to be few exceptions to this. I'm laughing about your advice to RUN from the car. It looks damn good for its age. It's that GM's colonnades, W-body coupes (gullwing handle in the pillar all the way to this, the very last one), and even a W-body sedan is what I've driven and liked for years. They have fit like a glove. But, yes, even as a second car, it doesn't pencil. I can stay on the "diet," but still read the menu.

Happy birthday @ccap41. Today, or was it yesterday? Enjoy ... perhaps good food (and libations)!

Today, a presidential record is made. Jimmy Carter becomes the first American president to become a centenarian. Happy 100th birthday, Mr. Carter!

More of an intense sudden thought than a random one: I am driving down the street on this beautiful day in the Redneck Riviera and I see this ... ... do I knock on the door when I'm not in a fixed enough situation to buy? It's just what the doctor ordered ... the last rendition of the simple "less is more" base Monte Carlo in white, with alloys, and some glass tinting ... hopefully gray or tan cloth inside. At any rate, this is a 17 year-old car (if 2007) and an 18 year-old car (if 2006) and, well, I'm in love ... sort of ...

He's a McGill business grad, so a Montrealer. It sounds like a private university, but it's public. It's also Anglophone and smack in the middle of Montreal's Financial District. I've never been a fan of sci-fi, so I never got into Star Trek, Star Wars, or even Batman, Superman, and Spiderman. I don't think liking Jetsons cartoons counts. Shatner surprisingly makes the list of the least pleasant Hollywood celebrities you might see on homepages. I forgot the examples they gave. Good that he's high energy at 93. I was not surprised to see Steven Seagal and Jennifer Lopez on the list. Someone needs to remind her she's the product of a crappy part of The Bronx.

I will eat all kinds of Italian food: down home small restaurants in Italy, bistro Italian, Italian-American, and I have even had some excellent Italian food in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay the few times I've vacationed there given that, beyond those of Spanish stock, Italians are the largest immigrant group. I had a cannelloni lunch special in seaside Vina del Mar, Chile for a bargain price and it rivaled cannelloni I've eaten anywhere and at different price points. I still think about that cannelloni lunch. That place in Columbus was one of the worst Italian(-American) meals I've had. And if the two people dining can agree on that, then there's something to it! I can't believe how they pat themselves on the back when they're only resting on their laurels. There is a good Greek and Italian (both) restaurant in the Westerville suburb - near your IKEA - where I once had a great lunch. - - - - - Detroit made big plans, with a lot of elaborate buildings and grand (diagonal, so French in inspiration) boulevards. I believe it was nicknamed "the Paris of the Midwest" because of that. Kansas City, MO also put a lot into its urban planning and may have the nickname "the Paris of the Plains." I tend to retain a lot of "useless" information.

I have not been on the Atlantic south of Virginia Veach VA and north of Jacksonville FL. I would like to see the Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, etc. sometime. Rough or mild surf? Regular blue or turquoise water? Beach vacations where there's not too, too much going on are the best for recharging. A South Florida vacation might require a vacation on the heels of it. It can be work! Glad you enjoyed it.

I have a hunch that you might need a "Costco lunch" but if you just want to be quick and thrifty instead go hit up "Cafe' 150"

This happens too often when dining out. You order your meal. You order coffee. When you finish the meal, they remove all the utensils. You may very well be working on your coffee and may request another refill or two. With them taking away all the utensils, you have NOTHING to stir the coffee, creamer, sugar, and/or sweetener with! I'd say this happens 97% to 99% of the time.

I'm guessing it was highway miles. And hopefully in Southern Illinois rather than Northern Illinois. Check to see if it's a non interference engine. You should do that with any purchase. This is about timing chains and such. I don't know much about the 3.5 V6. It's a heavy vehicle, so it will drink up. Isn't a VVT actuator an appendage that can be repaired plug and play? How does C/R like this unit? It has the space you'll need. The dash modules are very squarish - FoMoCo. The weirdest thing to me is the grille up front, with the curves, and that's about it. But you seem to gravitate toward FoMoCo products. Do people take dealership purchases to their own mechanics for a look over these days? These aren't my type of vehicle but, within this genre, I like the GMC Acadia, but the reliability is hit-miss and seems to vary year by year! So, this unit is already gone?

Good morning ... ... maybe not

I'm starting to sour on Starbucks. It has been going on for a while. I went in and a grande (medium) Earl Grey hot tea cost me $3.75. That's 2 bags of Earl Grey tea, hot water, a paper cup with a plastic lid, and labor ... and just how much overhead and planned profit? Not only that, they are lowering the bar on their employees who are getting dumb and dumber.

Cathay Pacific aircraft are beauties ... nice understated livery. On that A350, black raccoon paint around cockpit windows, only 14 wheels (total), and it rotated very quickly.

I was going to mention that casinos are a real turn-off. They border on depressing. If a person has a basic statistics course under their belt, they wouldn't go into one. You don't really even need a course. I heard a story of a kid - about 10 - riding in a car with his parents down the Las Vegas Strip. He commented that if these casinos were paying out jackpots left and right, they couldn't continue to exist. Usually, I periodically stop in at casinos if they have a buffet. All of the buffets at the Stateline on South Lake Tahoe appear to be gone. It started with Covid and it's been used as a reason to not bring them back. Most, not all, of the casino buffets in Reno area also gone. "The Row" - Silver Legacy, Circus Circus, and Eldorado - have done away with buffets. The Eldorado had Italian night on Wednesdays that was the one buffet I'd plan the visit around, with pasta, chicken, beef, and polenta dishes that were really something! The Peppermill, Rail City, the Nugget, and the Bonanza at the top end of town no longer have buffets. Harrah's Reno closed its doors. The only 2 big ones that remain are Grand Sierra Resort (formerly the MGM Reno) and it is prohibitively expensive, and the Atlantis, which is more affordable. I used to go into the GSR for their breakfast buffet in the 2000s ... affordable and filling, and most of the food choices were very good. I found a third one with a good price point at the Sands and went in to eat. You get what you pay for. It was hit and miss. A long drive afterwards is difficult. The bottom line is that my stomach doesn't stretch well to accommodate buffets anymore. I'm now going about once every 3 months. I'm not missing them. They're going the way of the dinosaur ... like I.C.E. cars.

Look, it was posted by a certain "Karen."