trinacriabob

Z, I usually see your point, but not this time. I thought this was one of the ugliest rear panels and grilles ever (though better than the bathtub RWD mid 90s Impala). Thank God for the current freshening. I agree to some extent. However, keep in mind that the effect is beyond the lens. The lens design itself may be unique and more flattering during the day when you will probably concentrate on the design of the lens ... and not the red circles behind it. Also, keep in mind that someone did research on perceptions. Red circles may be akin the red traffic signals, and thus grab your attention more than another geometry.

I have read numerous comments in auto mags and auto guides that newer engines are more efficient and lasting longer? I am in the 200,000 mile club myself (the first time). So what are the reasons? Lower rpms by additional gears, better tolerances in the factory, fuel delivery systems? Please chime in on what is making engines last considerably longer. I am curious. The one that stumps me the most is fuel delivery? How does multi port fuel injection improve the longevity of the engine over carburetion?

Thank you, Vipes. While the Lucerne won't cause orgasms, it won't make you barf like the Avalon either. The first Avalon was nice...somewhat Intrigue-like in its silhouette (no Olds pun intended). The last 2 renditions have been nothing short of hideous. In fact, there are a lot of ugly cars from Japan on the market at this time...the Avalon, the 350 Z and on and on.

Sidebar -- sidebar -- but that's cool: Yes, Boeing knows where the market is, more so than GM does. Boeing's 777 and 787 have great versatility and there is more growth projected for short to medium haul flights, which the latter plane ought to handle well. Boeing has the option of doing another variant on the "47" which, as anyone who knows me well on the site can attest, gives me goosebumps...I love it. (Incidentally, are you sure that the A340 consumes that much more fuel than a Triple 7? Each engine on the Triple 7 puts out some 90,000 to 105,000 lbs. of thrust which is mind boggling. Each of the 4 engines on the A340 puts out about 30,000 to 40,000 lbs of thrust. They are considerably smaller in size. It's obvious by being near one. However, take note that A340 literature really plays up that you are traveling on your "over the water" flight with 4 engines). Yes, true. GM needs to identify their 777s and 787 Dreamliners.

Just thought of another one. I hate it when people call me "buddy." My company has a contractor client who always ends a phone call or meeting with this term. Today, his project manager ended a phone call with this term. First, I think it's kind of unprofessional in the work setting. Second, I am not his buddy, nor do I want to be.

There were a lot of courageous people and a lot of skanky people in the N.O. disaster. Most of us knew how painful that could be - I know that my mom and I each donated a nice check to "Catholic Charities" earmarked for Katrina relief. (And, no, I am far from being a "holy roller.") I calculated that if each American, per capita, donated $ 50 to $ 150 dollars, the money raised would be astronomical. I am actually shocked at how little was collected. Rich Beverly Hills entertainment moguls and Westchester County NY execs could certainly afford a lot more, yet I doubt they sent in $h!. On another note, a lot of crass e-mails circulated with names "N.O. survival checklist" and the like, making fun of some of the foibles that went on (the looting and all else). They were sometimes funny and sometimes sad in that they made fun of people who were dealt a $h!ty hand.

GM has its share of problems and they are multi-faceted. I think what GM is trying to do is attack their problems synergistically...across their product lines, cost structure and overall corporate strategy. Cutting a dividend is a very, very serious thing. Stock prices are computed as a present value of all prospective outflows from a company. It generally reduce's the stocks value. However, in time, if the market perceives that the action was the correct thing to do (as it did in the case of Florida Power and Light - a case study I had to read), it will bounce back. I think they need to really dissect what is going on and take a multi-faceted approach. They have to ask "What's wrong with EVERYthing?" They can't be in denial. There's a lot wrong. It needs to become a leaner organization, for one. Boeing, another giant, has "ebbed and flowed." It's stock is in the mid 70s at this point. Hopefully, the General can make a comeback. I'll be standing by them.

I started the topic and voted "yes." There is so much infrastructure already in place...did you see the footage of all those tall buildings, streets, bridges, universities and the like. Some will have to be torn down, but most will be able to remain. Again, there is an important port and, of course, the French Quarter. The problem was the shoddiness behind what kept New Orleans safe. Many other cities in the world (particularly in the Netherlands) have this problem taken care of. That NO's infrastructure be substandard is a governmental misallocation. There are people that have to stay. They have homes that survived, they work at Tulane, they own a pub in the Quarter. Rebuild it. Do it right. In time, others will return.

No, I'm almost sure there is a homo erectus in some high school science book showing the evoluation of man at the point where he can stand up and he's not dragging himself on the ground.

I have more of an issue that it doesn't have a telescopic feature as standard. But, with the given positions of the steering wheel, most normally sized people ought to find one that works. I am not a big fan of the dash. It's a scaled up LaCrosse/Allure dash, much the same way that the Alero had a junior version of the Intrigue dash, if you recall. I think that there are enough economies of scale that they didn't have to replicate the LaCrosse/Allure dash.

Hey, this is how sheltered and bookish I was...growing up on the west side of LA, no less.I would go to high school and periodically come across this unusual smell. I now know it is patchouli oil. But I didn't know it then. And this smell was almost always on surfers or surfer chicks. For years, I thought that smell was marijuana!

Five months ago this time, all we saw was Katrina aftermath footage. It was pretty grim. Most sickening was the dead guy in his lawn chair near the Superdome as well as the things that reportedly took place inside the Superdome. Now, we don't see much about it. In about a month, Mardi Gras will be around. People ask the question as to whether they should rebuild. I say "absolutely." I've been to some places but I have never been to N.O. because every time I was driving through on 10 back to LA, I had too much stuff in the car and did not want to invite "curiosity." New Orleans is an important city. At the mouth of the Mississippi, its harbor handles more cargo than that of any other US port (at least that's what one almanac said). Not only that, it is home to a unique history (Cajun / Creole / Acadian), architecture, culture and food. It is also the home of Tulane University and other schools. Where they messed up was in the levees. I couldn't believe they were so rickety. I would assume that any place under sea level would have an incredibly monolithic concrete seawall holding back "Mother Nature." Galveston learned from their 1900s hurricane and put up a huge concrete seawall embankment.

Oh, man, that's great.

Bobo, It sounds like you subscribe. Thanks for the accuracy of the wording. It does sound kind of apologetic, doesn't it?

I was at B and N working on a paper this AM. After some coffee, I went over to the magazine area. I saw that Car and Driver reviewed the Lucerne. Overall, the review was positive. It praised the craftsmanship and the quality of the product. It seemed a little shortchanged on the power of the V8 engine. But, overall, not bad. The first picture one encounters is indeed flattering. The one comment that bugged me is that the styling piggybacks onto that of the mid 90s Camry. How is that? I think that the Lucerne's styling is closely aligned with that of the large VW Phaeton. In fact, one day I was driving down the freeway and thought that the car 1/4 mile ahead of me might be the new Lucerne. Instead, it was a Phaeton. I then moved over to Consumer Guide Buying Guide with all the new cars where they give numbers between 1 and 10 to a bunch of categories. They assert that the best Lucerne purchase is a CXL with the 3800 V6. Ha ha ha. I had to laugh because so many C&Gers hold views to the contrary.

I like the indentations at the rear lights and the different surfaces on the deck lid - it's somewhat Rivieraesque. As for the front end and the strong hourglass shape in its side profile...well...that needs to be toned down.

Jew(couldn't resist).

You're a smart one.

Yes, I am quite pissed at the crimped greenhouse in a lot of GM cars. Chief among the culprits whithin GM is good old Pontiac. Yes, both the G6 and the Grand Prix take up the belt line way high compared to their predecessors. This does not make for the optimal driving experience, though I have yet to rent/drive a G6. Also, have you seen the latest C/R in which the Charger is reviewed? They point this out for the Charger rear seating area as well. In fact, it shows an adult whose head is barely visible. Auto designers - come back to angular slab sides and fuller greenhouses.

Let's try again... West Palm Beach... (think C&G, now)

It's being taped. I'm a geek - I'm currently in the university library working on a paper due tomorrow for a grad business class with a girl who is in my group.

Yeah, she's a tough one all right. In fact, this came through on an interview. I have an issue with tough broads. They can be castrating and I want to keep both of my testicles. By the way, I think she's...yes...a Hoosier (hear that, Croc)?

West Palm Beach...

I can only do a few words. Whatever Paul Hogan has said along the way. The latter - is that similar to homo erectus?

No, just one of my favorite expressions for people who are in a crappy mood or some object that isn't working. Onward.