z28luvr01

Agreed 100% Drew. Ethanol is probably the best way to keep the V8 alive in its currrent form. We were able to design engines with that kind of compression in the 1960s, so it shouldn't be a big deal to do it today.

The problem isn't really whether or not these types of cars will suit is. Sure, we all could "survive" with an Aveo or Mini, but does that mean we should be forced to? We're essentiually being told that we need to change our tastes and preferences and adopt those that are not and never were our own, and may not even be feasible in this market given our road conditions and terrain. Now, I hope you're not stereotyping me as one of those who live in the past. Sure, I love the sound of a big ol' V8, but I also love the idea of flipping the bird to those we get our oil from. I strongly believe there's a way to satisfy both ideals, that Americans can be given cars they love that are also uber-efficient and environmentally friendly. Sure, it'll take lots of effort and research to bring this to fruition, but it'll be a lot more successful in the American market than trying to force us all into small cars.

Anyone want to call PCS and have him pick their lottery numbers? This will be an absolute nightmare. You said it best in the other thread - the car guys and enthusiasts of the world are being told to shut the hell up and like it. We'll become a society overrun with micro Opels and Daewoos while every trace of the American formula for the automobile (yes, that includes Holden) is wiped off the face of the earth. Could anyone here bring themselves to love a Chevy Beat or Groove like they would a Camaro or right-whee-drive Impala? I know I can't. This can't work - it just can't, and at this point I'm not even talking from an enthusiast's perspective. What would you, as a salesman, tell the average American Joe DoubleWhopperWithCheese when he tries in vain to fit inside every car in your showroom, yet can't afford or doesn't want the extra costs of owning a truck? Our roads are wider with rougher surfaces. The potholes I see on the way to work would swallow a Beat alive or shatter it to pieces, yet they are no problem for just about every car currently on the road. Any person who thinks they can make such sweeping changes to the types of cars we drive will pretty much be the person that kills GM. The company will only be viable if it's able to keep cars designed for American roads and people and creating innovative powertrains that are designed to further decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.

The only option I can see working, albeit one that I'm not entirely thrilled with, is to have an EpII Impala in coupe and convertible form only, while Malibu stays a sedan. Basically, replicate what Pontiac has with the G6 variants (which I hope move to Alpha anyway) and what Toyota has with the Camry/Solara. Of course, I'd want the Impy to have different styling than the 'Bu.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

<sarcasm> Because we all know that all RWD cars are gas guzzlers, just because they're RWD </sarcasm> Seriously, how many times do they have to make that stupid assumption? Consider all of this: 1) A FWD Impala WILL cannibalize the Malibu, which they've already made so much effort to market it as THE answer to the Japan Inc. midsizers. Thanks to the impressive push given to the new Malibu, the Impala right now seems like an afterthought. The early reslts are hugely promising, as the Malibu is doing well right out of the gate and the reviews are generally great. As word gets out about the car things will only get much better. Why do anything like, say, release a second FWD car of similar size and price, to disturb that momentum. 2) I won't disprove the "FWD=better MPG" argument because I've already done it, but I'll add that GM"s better hybrid system (in terms of increased MPG) is currently available on RWD vehicles and should translate to Zeta without too much trouble. I had more arguments, but I'm honestly getting more and more upset as I type this. I'm starting to see a GM that's in the midst of a war with itself, which is taking away time that GM just doesn't have. There are two GMs right now: 1) The bold GM that gives us Zeta and multimode hybrid trucks, and is fast tracking the Volt to production 2) The tepid GM that is giving us FWD Impalas and microcars, and thinks rebadging is OK If GM lets its tepid side win out, this company will get swallowed up by the competition by 2020. Mimmicking the competiton is something GM has never been good at. If they're to survive, GM needs to let its bolder side win out, and innovate its way to more efficient products that still engage the customers.

Merry Christmas to all.

Wow, Sixty. Sorry to hear this. I'm glad you are OK. Looks like your Datsun took one for the team. She's probably gone, but you're still here and that's the important thing.

Happy birthday, XP. Hopefully you don't get jipped out of presents.

Did mine 100% online, and I've had all gifts bought and wrapped since the beginning of December. No crowds. No craziness. Best of all - no dings.

I do like the shape of the bulge in the hood. Harkens back to the early C3 big block hoods.

The transfer is done. I've updated the cookie settings in the admin control panel, so everyone should probably chuck their cookies and temporary files one last time, then login. Buh-bye Dreamhost. We hardly knew yet, and are better off for it.

That's in the pipeline. I plan on it sometime after the domain is switched over permanently.

Seriously, it's time to do something about that carb. Pull it off and take it to someone who can rebuild it.

You may have to clear out your cookies and all temp files, and then log in again. I had to modify the cookie settings on this copy of the boards so that logins would be persistent.

I can't believe it doesn't have a cancel button for the cruise control. GM still doesn't get it. I'm with you, NOS. This thing is probably waaay underrated.

TARGET: ACQUIRED Before the change we were hovering around 7-8% of CPU usage. Now we're at under 3%.

Yes. We're trying to enable FastCGI to make things move still faster and with less load on the CPU. If you should happen to see an internal server error, it's just us. I haven't gotten one error that hasn't been my doing.

To everyone that's complaining about the lack of a cancel button: fear not, help is on the way. . . . . . . . . . . .

So far so good over here. I searched the entire database and it doesn't throw an INternal Server Error. So far I am liking this. Continue beating the snot out of this thing.

technical difficlties + tired Z = we'll try this again tomorrow.

Just put this on the front page. Things they are a happpenin'! UPDATE: We're currently copying the site files over to a temprary home on a new server. At ~10:30PM EST, we will turn off C&G so we can copy the database as well. When all is said and done, we will give the new location while leaving this copy of the site disabled. From that point on, please use that URL so we can gage the new server's feasibility as the new home for C&G. Thanks.

I have a Garmin bluetooth unit that works in tandem with my PDA, and the reliability and overall awesomeness of thsi setup is what stopped me from taking the plunge on a smartphone. I have experienc with TomTom's software and find it to be pretty user friendly, especially when driving. For Christmas I got my sister a TomTom ONE 3rd edition from Amazon - $150, no tax, no shipping.

This morning I brought my Cobalt in for service, and after handing the service writer the keys, I slowly wander into the showroom to kill some time while waiting for the work to be done. I spent a good ten minutes in each of three cars, and my impressions follow: Malibu By far the crown jewel of the showroom. It got the coveted spot in fhe center of the showroom just in front of the entry/exit doors. This pot is usually reserved for a Corvette or SSR. This particular specimen was an LS optioned only with floor mats and color keyed rubstrips. The car was blue with the titanium cloth inside - a very attractive combination that sort of hid its base car status (the smallish wheels with the styled wheel covers were the only giveaway). I absolutely love the greenhouse - I was never a fan of the whole "tall greenhouse" look, and this car's sleek roofline a narrow greenhouse is much more appealing. Chevy showed some attention to detail that really give the car an upscale feel. The marker lights near the rear bumper and on the fender have a raise, beveled clear glass over them, and the refelctors for the headlight bulbs have little bowtie-shaped cutouts. The Malibu shines from the inside as well. The two-tone light grey interior - arguably the "ugliest" of the Malibu interior color combos, still looks great because it's styled perfectly. The fake aluminum trim is used tastefully and breaks up the grey nicely without looking out of place. Yes, there's hard plastic in the car - even on the rear package shelf where I'd much rather see a rug or some felt - but everything about this car screams quality. From the feel of all the switchgear to the sliding cover over the storage bin to the way the doors and trunk open and close, the Malibu feels very solidly built. The best part came when I got to talk to one of the showroom attendants. He told me that the dealer cannot get Malibus fast enough, and that they are flying off the lots as soon as they come in. It'll be interesting to see if this one is still there when I have to go back to put the part I ordered in. Truth be told, for $20K, you can't do any better than this car. Depending on how the Ecotec held up to my style of driving, I could certainly live with it. Equinox Sport Tucked away in the corner was a maroon Eqionox Sport. I'll preface everything I say with "This is what the Equinox should have been all along." The sport package touches up the front and side views very nicely. The monochrome front (save for the faux brake coolers) looks a heck of a lot less rental-grade, and the side skirts help give it a more aggressive stance. If I were to get one, however, I'd immediately order a set of Torrent taillights, because I still can't stand the altezzas. I hadn't been inside an Equinox with the new interior until now, and this one and the pre-07 model I last sampled feel like two different vehicles. All the console switchgear feels much more substantial, and the more restrained use of the fake aluminum actually upgrades the appearance. I could take or leave the fake carbon-fiber surrounding the radio and HVAC units, but the black tie radio far outclasses the previous unit lifted from the 04-07 Malibu and G6. Like the last Equinox I sat in, I found it to be very extremely roomy with plenty of room for people and cargo inside. Would I buy one based on my experience today? Maybe, if i can convince myself that the only way to easily tote around my bikes and some people is with an SUV. Only time will tell if that happens. Aveo Next to the Malibu they had a restyled silver Aveo sedan, and all I can say about it is "You get what you pay for". It looked OK in silver with the black inside, and most of the switchgear felt all right, but it had the typical Korean tinniness and cheapness that scares me of death of ever wanting to own one. Case in point, I had the driver's window most of the way down, and when I shut the door, it wobbled back and forth in it's tracks rather violently. For $300 over sticker price on the Aveo, on the other side of the Malibu there was a yellow Cobalt LS with dealer-installed 17" chrome wheels. The two cars have roughly the same amount of interior room (the one big plus for the Aveo), but as far as I'm concerned choosing the Cobalt over the Aveo is a no-brainer. And if this is the type of car that we'll be forced into thanks to the new CAFE regulations, I'll be getting to know my bikes a lot more.

Beautiful pics, Bob. I hope all goes well with your move, your new job, your health, and your happiness. Don't be a stranger. You'll be missed.