z28luvr01

Thanks PK. The Lucerne really has a striking side profile, and your pics prove once and for all that the grille is chrome in the center, not black.

Does that guy still post here? http://www.cheersandgears.com/public/style_emoticons//AH-HA_wink.gif

what bowtie_dude said. I've always loved the 1992-94 full-sized Blazer Sport and Yukon GTs. I'd much rather have a 2dr SUV, practicality be damned. It's so hard to find one in good condition, though.

There's only been two Pimp My Ride episodes where the result actually impressed me: the one with the 1955 Bel Air and the 195x Chevy Panel Truck. Both were done very tastefully, and they actually bothered to do something under the hood.

Yeah, this guy's a serious import humper. I have the (dis)pleasure of reading his drivel every Friday. Once he went on and on about how the bad his experience with the GTO was because when large drinks were in the cupholder they interefered with the shifter. It probably wouldn't surprise most of you if I told you that this newspaper is intended to be read on a 4th grade level.

from Newsday: Tom Incantalupo ROAD TEST Chevy’s big new V-8 Impala is in a power class of its own It's an exaggeration to say that the Chevrolet Impala SS has no equal. But, for the money, the 303-hp. V-8-powered SS has no direct competition. There are few other front-wheel-drive cars available with V-8s. One, the Pontiac Grand Prix, is smaller. The new Cadillac DTS and upcoming Buick Lucerne are more expensive, and, as of the end of the '05 model year, the Pontiac Bonneville is gone. The Cadillac STS V-8 and the V-8 sedans from Ford and Chrysler are rear-drivers. V-8 sedans from Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, Mercedes, Jaguar and Volkswagen are rear-drivers or all-wheel-drivers - and expensive luxury models, too. Partly, the dearth of competitors for the Impala SS is because it's unlikely that anyone but an American automaker would put a V-8 in a car for ordinary folks. As high as we think gasoline prices are, they are even higher in Japan and Europe, so automakers based there tend to offer fewer cylinders. Offered for the first time as an '04 model, the SS had a 240-hp. supercharged V-6. Even then, this variant of the front-drive Impala added some fun to a car that, while a good value, is more utilitarian in nature. The V-8 ups the fun quotient again. But it comes at a price; SS versions for '06 start at $27,130. My tester, with leather seating and a few other options, came in at just under $30,000. And, while front-wheel drive has its benefits in winter driving, the forward weight bias of such vehicles make it not the best layout for a performance car. The SS is a bit crude around the edges, too, with a ride that seems unnecessarily jiggly and four-wheel disc brakes that don't feel quite up to the demands of a performance car, especially one weighing more than 3,700 pounds. The SS interior isn't trimmed well enough for a car that, at $30,000, nears the "luxury" classification. Even on moderately hard acceleration, the steering pulls to the side, a phenomenon known as torque steer, a once common affliction among front-wheel-drive cars with powerful engines. And a four-speed automatic transmission is hardly anything to brag about in an era when almost everyone else offers at least five forward speeds, while six is becoming common and seven is available in some luxury models. But the SS is an interesting solution for the buyer who needs a big sedan, can't spend a lot and doesn't want to be bored. The payoff for the firmness of the fully independent suspension is deft handling that makes this car feel livelier and more agile than its bulk would lead one to expect. And there's nothing quite like the torque and throbbing exhaust tone of a V-8. The Impala displaces 5.3 liters, has variable valve timing, prefers premium gas (but will accept regular), delivers zero-to-60-mph acceleration in 5.7 seconds according to GM, and brings the new Impala a step closer to the last great Impala SS, the 1994-'96 models that were rear-drive and had 5.7-liter V-8s. The Impala's last redesign was for the 2000 model year. What it lacks in finish, the interior makes up for in equipment and user friendliness. Switches are where they should be and are large enough and clearly marked. Gauges are clearly readable day or night. The heater/AC system allows the driver and front passenger to set their own temperatures. Also standard in the SS are antilock brakes, traction control, head curtain air bags, fog lamps and a tire pressure monitoring system. Available options include a Bose eight-speaker sound system and XM satellite radio capability - sold separately for $495 and $395, respectively. Unfortunately, neither a navigation system nor stability control are available in Impalas. For those more interested in value than performance, the more basic, V-6-powered Impala is well worth considering. A freshened version for '06 includes new flip-and-fold rear seats for cargo carrying, what Chevrolet says are suspensions revised for a better ride and handling; stronger brakes, improved ABS and traction control; improved seats; and exterior aesthetic touches such as new head lamps and tail lamps. With three-across seating available in front, the Impala will seat six adults. Impalas start at just under $22,000 with freight, without any factory or dealer discounts. A $1,000 factory rebate is being offered on '06 Impalas until Jan. 3. The standard Impala engine, which is new, displaces 3.5 liters and delivers 211 hp. That might not sound like a big deal, but it's one more horse than you'll find under the hood of a Camry V-6. Torque ratings are nearly identical. Opting for the more expensive LT and LTZ versions of the Impala puts a 3.9-liter 240-hp. V-6 under the hood. While we're on the subject of Camrys as competition, note that the Impala offers more shoulder and hip room and a bigger trunk than the Camry, with legroom virtually identical. Quality? Consumers Reports gives the Impala the magazine's "recommended" designation for better than average quality and overall features, although it also thinks the Impala is a bit rough around the edges. Although it comes in below average in the J.D. Power and Associates survey that measures things that go wrong in the first three months of ownership, Chevrolet scored above average in the Power surveys that measure overall customer satisfaction and dependability over three years. All of which is not intended to dissuade you from a Camry if that is your preference, only to point out that the smart shopper no longer has to dismiss American brands out of hand because of concerns about quality. 2006 Chevrolet Impala SS As tested: Engine: 5.3-liter V-8, 303 hp. Transmission: Four-speed automatic, front-wheel drive Safety: Dual front and side- curtain air bags; four-wheel disc brakes with antilock; tire pressure monitoring system; fog lamps, daytime running lamps. Place of assembly: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Weight: 3,712 pounds Trunk: 18.6 cubic feet EPA fuel economy rating: 18 mpg city, 28 highway Price as driven: $29,980 including destination charge

Amen! Generic R&B hits, served straight from a can. Such a shame too, because she has a most wonderful voice. Oh well. It's better to sell records than to be talented. Boy do I miss XM. I can't afford to re-up it until after Christmas.

While gut feeling says it's the 5.3, the Northstar supposedly fits in a W body engine bay. The grille upgrade is very nice. Right now the front end of the LaCrosse sometimes looks like it was designed for a different car. Hopefully this new one ties the design together nicely.

well, the board software is written in PHP, which supports object-oriented programming. Other than that, I'm not sure.

Take care, Fly. I'll be thinking of you.

I'm rooting for the Astros for two reasons: Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite...two guys the Yankees should have never let go.

WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birfday. Enjoy your Bible study!!

I'd prefer that trim levels go away altogether, except for limited edition performance models like SS, GXP, V, etc. First off, it saves the cost of at least one badge for every model produced. Secondly, GM has a habit of shuffling trim designations year in, year out. Notice the various changes that happened to the Grand Prix line, the Malibu line, the Cobalt line, and the Impala/MC. This not only confuses customers, it can hurt resale value. For example, the cheapest Cobalt for '06 gets the LS designation. '05 cheapies had no trim designation. Now, if/when I decide to sell my loaded LS, it might be lumped in with future stripper Cobalts that have the LS designation.

This list should just be titled "Blender's 500 Favorite Songs As of This Writing". Britney, Fiddy-Cent, Eminem, and the Backstreet Boys make the top 20, but Billy Joel and Bryan Adams (two of the greatest songwriters of all time) are nowhere to be found, and the first Springsteen song is at #252. If it looks like :bs: and smells like :bs:, it's probably :bs:, so don't bother tasting it.

I'm not sure if it's real or a chop, but I can tell you that I saw one just like this just outside of Great Adventure in NJ: The McDonald's by me also had on their sign "LOSERS WANTED"...I dunno, either the C fell off or they're really lowering their standards. Some more winners:

Whether or not it actually was designed to rotate depends on the answer to this one question "Did the shifter knob in the 1968 Mustang rotate?" http://www.cheersandgears.com/public/style_emoticons//rotflmao.gif Seriously I've never heard of a shifter knob that rotates by design. And given that the scenario where you wanted to shift but couldn't, it's possible that could happen at a more critical time. I'd take it to another dealer, and if that doesn't give satisfaction, complain to the Ford zone representative.

Did they install this engine in the 2006 Aveo that we have right now, or will the updated 1.6 debut on the '07? If EPA ratings haven't yet been released for the new engine, then you can't put too much stock in those numbers.

a wish of good health to all who are under the weather. I've been draining water out of the basement since Friday, so my primary problem has just been allergies (which include slightly labored breathing) and poor sleep from sleeping on an old recliner. I can't complain...at least my house is still standing.

It's estimated, meaning, they don't know yet. Still, an updated engine with the same MPG figures as the one it replaces would be pretty sad.

Check and see if it's under warranty before you bother. I'm not sure how they do warranties on monitors, but since you have to call them anyway,ask them if it's still covered. If it's under warranty they'll either ship you another flat panel or come by and replace the defective part. I've done a couple of LCD replacements on laptops, it's really not that difficult as long as you remember what screws go where. If you have a small Philips screwdriver with a magnetic tip, it'll be your best friend for this job. Also keep in mind that these days 17" flat panels can be had for anywhere between 300 and about 450, just in case Dell tries to rape you on the cost of replacement parts.

I can see how this makes sense. In a sense the current GMT360s and GMT800 SUVs do overlap a bt...especially the V8, extended versions. Between Lambda and the SWB GMT900s, the segment is pretty much covered. Remember the spy shots we saw of the Outlook? That thing was nearly the size of a GMT360, and we've already been told there will be V6 and V8 versions. THe majority of people will probably spring for the Lambdas, while thos who really need the towing capacity can spring for a base Tahoe/Yukon.

looks like a Holden Statesman/Caprice to me

And I read the topic as "Where Would America Be Without Onions?" I'll tell you where: - There would be no other vegetables that make us cry, finally giving us full authority over the plant kingdom once and for all - I'd have to find something else to add a kick to my tomato sauce. Grape Jelly? Ginger Ale? Whatever would I do? - The dish "Sausage with Peppers and Onions" would have to be renamed "Sausage with Peppers" :hijacked: