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Throughout its existence, we at Cheers and Gears have taken pride in providing the internet with a reputable source of GM-related news, information, editorials, and discussion while providing a relaxed, fun atmosphere for every one of our members. What we’re about to say here really reflects out desire to ensure that we can continue to provide an enjoyable experience to everyone who visits C&G. There are a number of issues that have come to our attention in the past several weeks or so, and it’s time for us to address them. For the most part we’ve been against micro-moderation, but these issues have gotten to the point where members are expressing dissatisfaction with C&G. We need to nip these problems in the bud if C&G is to continue to flourish as both a well-respected resource for GM news and info and a great hangout for all of us. Firstly, we’ve noticed that topics throughout the forums have a potential to go off topic and degenerate into any one of the following: • Personal conversations best left to myspace • Immature, senseless remarks (HoNDa iZ TeH suXXorZz!!!111!!11) • Arguments over RWD/FWD, unibody/BOF, import/domestic, OHV/OHC, etc. In addition, we have noticed that members post mulitipul times in a row without any responses from other members, and we ask that this be held to a minimum. While we don’t want to stifle anyone, we do feel that when topics veer off course in one of these manners, it detracts from the C&G experience; members who may want to join in the discussion may feel hesitant to do so, while casual browsers of the site (including people at GM) may view our member base as a whole to be immature people whose thoughts and opinions are not worth considering. So, when posting on C&G, we ask that you step back and think about how much your post adds to the topic at hand. Take care to proofread it for grammar and spelling mistakes, as a poorly-written post could send the wrong message. Now, we know what you’re thinking….”What about the Lounge?” It’s true that topics in the Lounge don’t have to be about cars, and we’ll add that it’s not as important for Lounge topics to stay on topic or even contain proper English. However, it’s important that in the Lounge, fun, friendly, and easygoing should reign supreme. We have no intentions of renaming the Lounge into “The Battlefield”. That brings us to our next point – personal feuds. It seems to be a growing problem on C&G, one that starts in the Lounge and spreads throughout the forums like beige Camries in a retirement community. It’s only natural that when you cram a couple of thousand people into one room, albeit a room located on the Internet, that there’s going to be a few personality clashes. The same rules for getting along with people in the real world apply to getting along with people on C&G. Treat everyone with RESPECT (as you would want to be treated), listen to what they are saying, and respond to them in a polite, inoffensive manner whether you agree with them or not. If you do appear to be getting into a heated argument with another member, diffuse it by not carrying it any further. If need be, step away for a while and cool off, or talk to one of us about the problem. Finally, we’ll take a moment to discuss the issue of front-page updates. That’s our fault, plain and simple. C&G is a hobby for all of us – everything we do here, we do out of dedication to C&G, GM, and our members. Like all hobbies, sometimes real life has a way of sneaking in and pulling you away from it. That was pretty much the case these past few weeks, as many of us have needed to step away from C&G to tend to real-world matters. We apologize to you all for that, and vow to improve our performance in this area. We’ve said this before, but it’s worth saying again – if you’re reading this, you help make C&G what it is. Whether you’re an admin, a moderator, a writer or editor, whether you post news articles, contribute financially, or just provide insight into a topic, you’ve helped shape this site. Whether you realize it or not, what you say and do on C&G matters for something. What we're saying here is that everyone - staff and members included - is charged with the task of keeping Cheers and Gears a fun, automotive-related atmosphere that feels just like a big family, just like it always has been. If there's an issue, don't let it pollute the forums. Instead, PM or email any one of us and we'll do whatever we can to rectify it. Thanks for reading.

What happened to the discussion about the Sierra? You guys are pretty off topic. Steer it back now, mmmkaay?

As long as the bolt pattern for the tranny matches the engine. I dont see the issue. And even that's not insurmountable, as I've seen adaptor plates that'll allow a B-P-O trannsmission to bolt to a Chevy block, and vice versa.

Never, ever, ever quit a drug cold turkey, even caffeine. Your body becomes used to it being present and gradually begins to believe that it's normal for the drug to be there. Weaning off is usually a safer approach. However, since you've already stopped the drug, I'm not sure I recommend going back on it. Fight through the symptoms, they will go away after a while. My mother quit smoking 16 years ago...cold turkey. She was basically unbearable for the first few weeks, but after that it was like she never quit. Vipes, I could go on a long rant about how drug companies have this country by the short hairs, but I'll spare you. Instead, I'll just say this: ALL drugs have side effects. They are designed in a laboratory using chemicals that are not produced by the human body. The body can have an adverse reaction to anything that is foreign to it. What kind of reaction you get depends on your body chemistry. The other thing about drugs is that they treat symptoms without necessarily curing the problem. Think of it as putting black tape over your Service Engine Soon light. The problem is still there, but you don't see, hear, smell, taste, or feel it anymore. Once the withdrawal symptoms wear off, there may or may not still be an issue that's causing your depression. I think I've said this before, that depression is as much a physical condition as it is a mental condition. Try taking care of the physical side through nutrition and exercise, and your body should begin producing the "feel good" hormones on its own. Who knows, maybe the mental aspect of it could stop bothering you as much.

They offer the LSJ from the Cobalt SS/SC

Happy Birthday, Cort!

It wasn't that great of a performer during the 70s, but it was still very, very popular.

I always make it a point to eat there at least once when I take a trip out west. I love their fries, and you can get breakfast any time of day I also loved the Taco Cabana I went to in San Antonio....Taco Bell's got nothing on them. I'm not that much of a cook. I can follow directions pretty well, and I know I don't have to resort to going out 7 nights a week, but noone will confuse me with a gourmet chef.

O-M-G. Look at how small the gap is between the cab and the bed. What a well-built pirce of machinery!!! That's it, I'm selling my Cobalt and going to Toyota. So long GM.

Interesting, if only for the fact that if the powetrain info is true, then it's not too hard to imagine the 2.0L DI finding its way into the Cobalt for the 2008 MCE.

Wow, that is one clean, straight S-truck. Most of the ones I see (including the one I used to own) rot on the quarters, rockers, and fenders. IIRC, you're in Arizona, so that should never be an issue. Think of it as a blank canvas. The stance and wheels tell me it's 2WD. If/when that 2.5L kicks the bucket, a 350 should slide in there quite nicely

This is great news. I think all that talk about GM pulling out of the small car business a few years ago was a bit premature. By and large they got this one right. Hopefully this will be incentive for GM to continue to sink some serious money into the car as opposed to letting it die on the vine like the Cavvy. I'm looking forward to the 2008 MCE.

If I ever take ownership of another SUV again, I'll only do so if it's a 2dr. Both of these are great looking concepts (the K5 more so than the Shark) that should have made production. Hell, if I were running the show, I'd have approced these ahead of the Avalanche at the time.

Here you go Ocn, and all our other Firefox aficionados.

S10s are tougher than they look and what they get credit for. If I do decide to get a vehicle to practice driving a stick, a five-speed S10 is at the top of my list. My sentiments agree with ocn's for the most part. Fix what's broken first (in order of importance to you). The broken super stalk would annoy me after the second time it came apart. I'd tackle that first. Unfortunately it's probably a GM-only part, but IIRC it's not that bad to install. The dash will be a PITA to fix, since the whole truck has to come apart. I'd either shove some soft glue in there and paint over it, or throw one of those dash rugs over it. Check JC Whitney...maybe they have one of those vacuum-fit dashboard overlays. If you have a plastic bedliner, by all means rip it out. Water laying in a bed is bad news. Even though it may not be touching metal directly, the extra moisture could accelerate rust/rot. Replace it with the rubberized spray-on bedliner that's in vogue right now. They sell it at Autozone by the gallon for pretty cheap. Just watch that the factory drain holes don't get plugged with the stuff. You can probably get a good grille from a junkie for a song and a dance. The seat probably needs to be deep cleaned. Whatever's causing the smell is embedded in the fabric. Febreeze won't do anything because it sits on the surface. You can try it yourself with those interior cleaners with the brush on top of the can....I have one made by Prestone. Saturate the seat with the stuff, and work the brush in tight, heavy strokes. Then let the truck sit in the sun with the windows open. If that doesn't work, a professional cleaner can probably save it.

Meanwhile, deep in the nether regions of hell, Satan brims with evil laughter at the prospect of acquiring another soul. If you do get the job at Toyota, steal office supplies. Lots of them. Leave the lights on wherever you go. Jam the printer up so that it needs major repair/replacement. Make them bleed cash like it's going out of style. Me---> <----Northie Now that I got that out of my system, take whatever job in your field you can get. Right now your goal is to rack up experience wherever you can get it. That's every bit as important as your GPA, and will only become more so as your career progresses.

Kids, kids, kids. You can both get me a beer.

Stop talking. Work faster. *cracks whip* Actually, if anyone is experiencing slowness, instability, or the like, know that our ISP is overhauling their entier network infrastructure for significant performance gains. I'm not sure when they'll solve their problems, but we'll keep you posted as soon as more info is available.

Having owned a 4x4 S10 Blazer through five Long Island winters, I can attest that once you learn how RWD behaves in inclement weather, you do get more granualr control of the vehcile. I learned how to steer the rear of the truck the way I wanted it to go by forcing a loss of traction with the gas/brake. In fact, I only used the 4WD once to get it off our front lawn in 12+ inches of snow, and once after a forced dump into a snowbank. I have a question for you manual tranny drivers. I'm about to show my naivete on the subject, but keep in mind that I've only driven a stick exactly twice. You seem like you're hinting that you prefer engine braking as the primary means of slowing the car down as opposed to using the pedal. Won't that wear out the clutch prematurely, or are they designed to be used that way. Are you referring to lower speed driving? I'm confused, except for the fact that if I had to replace something prematurely, I know I'd rather replace brake pads/shoes than a clutch. I think I better acquire myself a cheap (<$1000) manual truck so I can gets some practice in before the Corvette is done.

Camino: Thanks for looking. Get to it when you can, I know you have other things on your plate. Olds Guy: Sort of. See this thread for some background info. When it's done it should look like the car in my sig, except for the fact that mine'll have a 427 hood and removable hardtop.

No no no, you got it all wrong...love is a battlefield.

Noone touches my car but me, and that's that.

If I were you I'd try getting the car for even less than that. If you know it's going to the wreckers, offer them $100 or so. They'll only get pennies on the pound for junking it anyway. A 3800 Series II swap could get expensive. Newer ones have different computers, wiring harnesses, etc. than the Series I. I think you're better served buying a master overhaul kit for the engine that's in it and rebuilding it. Bore out the cylinders to get rid of the wear, and change whatever doesn't meet the acceptable tolerances for that engine.

Are you sure you're not forgetting something: I too share the excitement. It's amazing that this time last year we were worried about whether or not there would still be a GM to talk about. Not only does that look to be the case, but it looks like from MY2007 forward they;ll be kicking ass and taking names.

Cheers and Gears is updated with news stories and articles multiple times a week, if not a day. We have a whole section devoted to member articles and car reviews that sess lots of action. As for the rivalry with GMI, let's just say we're not concerned with it. We're most interested in making C&G the best that it can be - continuing what made it so great in the first place, but coming up with new ideas that keep it from going stale. Of course, if you have a suggestion for an improvement or a feature that you'd like to see, please let us know.