intrigued

How does the person you are speaking of feel about that? Our relationship has been a turbulent, not because of issues that we have with eachother but her life has been a sh!t shoe the last two years or so. He brother passed away unexpectedly and her mother hit rock bottom drinking and we had to get her into rehab clean out her apartment and get her on her feet again. It's been very taxing on both of us even though I've supported her 110 percent through it. We're finally ready to put that chapter behind us and refocus on eachother. Actually we have already started and the last 3-4 months have been great. Assuming things keep going in the directiong that they are I expect an end of the years engagment might be in the cards. I'm not setting an arbitrary deadline, I'm not going to rush her but I think 4 years in by that point, and living together for 3, that might be a good time to pull the trigger.

So I try to set myself goals every years. Some are realistic and I don't quite make it and some are a reach and I actually acomplish them. Either way I like making a list at the beggining of the year and do my best to acomplish it. Here's what I got for 2011... 1. Get a new job with a company that is more organized and pays 25-30 percent more base. 2. Finally finish my undergrad (I did college part time after my freshmen year) 3. Sell my car. 4. Move to Brooklyn 5. Get engaged. What major goals do you guys have for the year?

cool man. Hope everything works out for you there. How was the F-150 with the 5.0?

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/07/2012-chevy-impala-to-soldier-on-with-new-v6-replacement-delayed/ That would be... interessting if it proves to be true. On the other hand the sources are quetionable. The 3.5 and 3.9 v6s arent used in anything else though at this point so maybe there is a grain of truth to this. I always heard that the 6 speed tranny wouldn't fit or there was some sort of complication with it and the W-body.

With the arrival of the new explorer, the new focus right around the corner and the new escape later this year or early next year Ford is on a roll and I am not worried about them keeping their momentum. Lincoln on the other hand I am very concerned with. I've resignmed myself to the fact that they will likley use FWD/AWD platform for everything. I think that's alright as long as they go the Audi route, i.e. standard awd of future models with the possible exception of the c-car and base MKZs. For Lincoln to be successful they need the following. 1 - nothing can be seen as a rebadge! Platform sharing isn't a bad thing but the vehicles can't look you can swap a grill and ti would be a ford. 2 - exclusive tech! This might be harder because Fords these days are tech leaders and can often be compared with other luxury makes. Lincoln needs some stuff that you can't get in a Ford to help justify the premium pricing. 3 - They need to make performance versions of some vehicles to spice things up (like an AWD 3.5 TT MKZ) 4 - They need a halo vehicle or two. Lincoln will have it's 3 basic sedan sizes and crossover sized (small, medium and large) but they need something sporty. I wonder if they can get an SLK or z4 competitior off the next Mustang platform. It could be 3.5 tt only with the 3.5 tuned to for max RWD performance. Anyways I anxiously await the new direction of lincoln.

I think the SRX is supposed to get a moderate refresh in another year 2 model years to go along with the new 3.0 turbo that everyone hears about. All the rumors point to that engine being a beast. That should help the SRX keep its momentum.

looks pretty sharp. Not sure about the rear. I'm pretty dissapointed with the MPGs for the 2.4. I am interested in hearing about the 2.0 turbo though.

I think Lincolns are handsome cars but they are also tarted up fords with little in the way of unique tech. With Mercury shut down and the PAG brands sold what do you think Ford needs to do to catapult Lincoln into the top tier of luxury vehicles? We know that there are 7 new or heavily revised vehicles coming to the brand in the next few years so let's speculate what each of us would do if we were in charge of product planning. I'll get this kicked off. My plan has then emulate Audi with wider use of more advanced AWD and turbo. Focus based sedan and maybe a wagon FWD/AWD with 1.6 ecoboost 180hp/180ftlbs base and optional (awd only) 2.0 ecoboost at 245hp/265ftlbs - Competes with Audi A3 and lower end 1 series. MKZ sedan and coupe based on next global mondeo/fusion, AWD only. 2.0 ecoboost 245hp/265ftlbs with 3.7 liter v6 at 325hp/285 ftlbs in sport models. This body styles should compete with the A4/A5 and 3 series. MKS Sedan - AWD only with 3.7 liter v6 at 325hp/285 ftlbs and optional 3.5 ecoboost with 400 hp and 420 ftlbs. A6 competitior with a8 interior room, bit of a tweener. MKX - I like the new MKX as is, matches up perfectly in the segment. MKT - regular updates swap out the 3.7 for the updated mustang version and it's fine Navigator - total exterior and interior redesign with 3.5 ecoboost as the only engine (use the version from the F-150.) Highstrength steel, aluminum and magnesium would be used to achive lower curb weights across the board even with standard awd on some models. I think this would be a good next generation with a better realignment of the larger sedans coming in the next gen.

Oldsmoboi, I applied for a spot. Check your in-box. Thanks, Dan

I have similar issues going on. Still finishing my undergrad (fulltime work and part time school sucks) and I'm gearing up for trial. I have a base 35 hour work week. The first half of the year I averaged 45-50 hours a week while taking 2 classes. Totally mannagable, especially because I get 20 days vacation. The last 5 months have been insane. My primary case is heading to trial Nov. 30 December 10th, I am taking my finals for the 2 classes I'm in now early so I can go while I am working 70+ hour weeks. I havent slept longer tehn 6 hours in months I havent been able to work out and my personal life is strained because I'm never around. I'm going to wait till a graduate and then see how my sress level is, this would be a lot more managable if I didn't have to deal with school on top of everything else. My OT is off the charcts though. I'm at 550 for the year and will likley clear 700 at the very least before the end of the year.

The new focus will be dual clutch 6 speed also. I kno autos can out shift t all but the best manual drivers these days. I'm just saying that I think more gears could be benificial to less powerful drivetrains, ie. base 4 cylinder midsize cars and more powerful cars (I'm talking v8 or forced induction with lots of torque) may be so busy shifting they can't take advantage of their broad power bands.)

I really like most of the 6 speed autos I've sampled. Sometimes I feel, like with the malibu, they gear them too wide apart to stretch fuel economy in an engine without a lot of torque. In cases like this i couuld see adding a 7 or 8 speed with a final drive ratio like the 6 speed but with gears closer together so if the car isn't powerful enough for wide spacing the extra cogs will help. For a performance car with a lot of torque I'd think to many gear could be an issue becuase the auto would loose speed shifting so often.

What color combo would you get? Black is always good and it looks really good with the saddle leather interior. I also really like the stealth grey and even though I'm not usually one for extroverted colors I like yellow blaze.

I'm sure the mustang prices will come down some once the 2011's have a larger stock built up. So many people custom ordered them that there is not a lot of dealer stock sitting around right now. Glad to hear you liked it.

Regarding the 2011 Mustang v6 you can get the 3.31 gears for the v6 as a stand along option for just a few hundred. No need to pony up for the sport package. The normal suspension setup is very good.

If you want new you could probably swing a minimally optioned 2011 mustang premium for that price. 305 hp 31 mpg highway and 0-60 in 5.1 (motor trend test drive with 3.31 gears.) It has a really slick 6 speed getrag manual standard has a much nicer interior then the camaro. The premo trim comes with the upgraded leather interior, Ford Sync and an awsome Shaker 500 stereo for the price. Also its quite the drivers car. Really handles well. As for space its a very livable daily driver. I know that from owning an 05 GT for several years. The interior and storage volume has not changed. That's my Ford plug for the day.

Hey all, Does anybody have any opinions to share about baltimore? My girl friend and I are thinking of moving there late next year. We both graduate in may and I can easily get another senior paralegal or project manager job in DC. We both like the idea of Baltimore because it is so much cheaper then the greater NYC area where we live now even though we would both be working in DC and we would be getting paid roughly equal to NY wages. From what I've gathered Baltimore has parts you wouldn't want to be caught dead in but has great parts along the river like Ferderal hill. We're both suckers for row houses and we've been to some of the good areas and really like the night life, a little more arty with lots of small bands playing when compared to NY. We don't have a ton of savings but we were thinking of moving there to rent for a year or two while we save. Given the median cost of a house being only 150000 and some of the nicer ones in the area we are looking at coming in at only 250000 we could save a 25 percent downpayment for something within two year and then buy it at the start of our third if we liked the area and had a good time during our first two years. If not we can always move back to the NYC area and have our savings. So what do you all think of Baltimore?

Thanks all. Had a nice relaxing birthday. Just got back from vacation in New Port RI. Back to the grind. I'm thinking of changing my name to something Ford themed. With Olds gons and most of my bitterness disapated I think it's time to move on. Any suggestions?

Congrats! My brother and sister in law just popped out their 3rd a few weeks ago. You have some sleepless nights ahead of you but its more then worth it.

So my parents just got a new Fusion SE. They were longtime GM owners who were very dissapointed when GM got rid of Olds. They sucked it up and moved onto Saturn, leasing an Aura 3.6 XR. The had mixed feelings about the car and not wanting to buy a Malibu since it was virtually the same car as the aura but still wanting to drive a Domestic they ended up giving the Fusion a shot. I bombed around it in giving my Mustang the night off last weekend and here's what I took away. (keep in mind i drive an 05 Mustang GT and owned an 06 Malibu SS before that. Also I have extended driving experience in The Aura XR) Specs: Fusion SE - 2.5 I4 175 hp 172 torque 6 speed auto. Silver Exterior - Charcoal cloth interior - Sync Premium Sound/Sunroof Package. Drive: The Fusion feels light on it's feet. The steering is well weighted. I whipped it through some corners and the car hunkered down and transitioned well cornering very flat with verly little body roll. It has substantial 17 inch p225 Michalin tires that rarley protested and had very solid grip. The biggest difference in handling between this car and an Epsilon was the width. The car felt wider and more planted than the tall and narrow Epsilon platform. It also is more compliant over bumps and feels lighter (and is lighter.) Overall it has noticable better ride quaulity and handling then a malbiu or aura. Drive train: The aura 3.6 had balls. You could floor that car and be at 100+ in no time. Of course you can't compare a v6 to an I4 so, for the sake of being openminded my folks and I went and test drove an I4 Malibu (we had already decided that my folks didnt need a v6 this time out) The Malibu felt sluggish. Some of it was the gearing because the tranny was slow to shift and the gearing seemed to be spaced out. The Fusion was downright spunky. It's not a drag racer to be sure but it revs quickly with agressive upshifts and down$h!s that made the best of the power band. I floored it on on on ramp and got adouble downshift and before I new it i was at 80+. Very respectable accelleration and this is coming from a guy who's daily driver is a 300 HP v8. My parents said fuel econemy has been close to 30 mpg in the 2 tanks since they have had it. Interior: The interior was very well put together with decent soft touch materials and very comofrotable seats. The dash is nice and the backlit gauges are handsome and easy to read. Sync is awsome. My parents have alerady linked their phone and ipod to it and have used it to get directions as well. The trunk is very large and usable for this class. It has a much wider opening and is deeper and much more usable then Aura's trunk. This was a bi selling point for my folks since my dad has a wheel chair and walker that need to be stowed in there. Overall it's been a great car since we got it on July 5th. MSRP was just under $25000 and we got it at 22,3XX (just 300 over invoice. While i liked the Epsilons and owned one for 3 years this car just makes them feel very mid 2000s. So far this is parents favorite new car since their 2000 Olds intrigue GLS which was their 2nd favorite all time.

The fiesta will likely get an ecoboost 1.6 utrbo good for 180 hp and 180 torque. It will deffinetly get a 1.2 3 cyl ecoboost with almost 140 hp and torque as well for the premium fuel economy model. It's a great little car either way.

Awful in the Tri-state area. It's been mid 90s for the past week and the last 2 days have been over 100. My commute has SUCKED. I have a mile walk to the train station and then another half mile from Grand Central to my office in NYC. Thats the worse part as NYC is even hotter then the surrounding burbs. It hit 105 yesterday afternoon in midtown. Also I am training for a half Marathon in early November. I'm up to comfortably running in the 3-4 mile range. On July 4 I went out for a run at the local highschool track near my parents house. I only made it 1.5 mles before i had to call it quits. I think I sweated off 5 lbs.

I heard GM was making a twin turbo engine based on the 3.0 HF v6. Any news on that? It should be a very importnt engine to Caddy with all the smaller displacment forced induction engines proliferating through the class.

My old job was a 35 mile drive that took about 45 minutes (all highway against rush hour since 98 percent of people head towards NYC in the morning and I headed away and vice versa at night.) It was a relaxing drive for the most part with only about 2 miles of non highway total. Cost me about 150 a month in gas. My new job is only about 20-25 miles but about an 50-60 min. 15 min walk to the train station, 30 min traind raide then 10-15 walk to the office. The train ride is relaxing as long as they arent short a car. The monthly ticket from New Rochelle to Grand central in NYC is 186 bucks but I pay for it pretax so it saves me a little money (actually kept my adjusted income down just enough to avoid the next tax bracket!) The only time this commute sucks is when its raining out or fridgid cold in the winter. I usually tough the cold out but I hate getting soaked so I usually end up paying for cabs. Either way I don't think I would would want to take on a commute over an hour long term if I had a choice. Still, a jobs a job and you can always move on if a better one comes a long.

nice HP bump. It will look good on paper and make the 2011 v6 camaro a tic or so fast but the 2011 mustang v6 will still be faster and with better fuel economy