Flybrian

What exactly did BV say that inspires you to respond like that?

On the Classic Aurora, the Autobahn package gives it a taller final drive ratio which enables a top-end of like 130mph give or take instead of the limited 110 on a stock Aurora. It was only a $395 option, too. I wish the original owners would've gotten that...and not driven on gravel roads so much...

A more accurate statement would be that Ford is selling underglorified Volvos.

I've seen a new STS with a leather-delete option. So what? There's also a big difference in the character of a two-door Tahoe (or Blazer, for that matter) and a four-door 5/7-seater Trailblazer. You're Mr. Salesman, who bought TBs more - families or offroader/sports-types who wanted manuals? What else during those years should've had a stick? Caprice? Lumina? Maybe the Astrovan? And if salesmen are too lacksidasical, disingenous, or just plain stupid to inform their customers about the existence of the stick option, how is that GM's fault? They manufacture the damn things, not directly retail them.

DRLS AND HIGHBEAMS AND FOGLAMPS ARE VERY MUCH HAZARDOUS TO THE ROADWAYS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MANDATE THAT THESE DEVICES HAVE A FUNCTION TO BE SHUT OFF MANY INNOCENT MOTORISTS HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY IRRITATED FOR ONE OR TWO SOMETIMES UP TO FIVE SECONDS BY DRLS AND FOGLAMPS WHY ARENT OUR LEGISLATURES DOING ANYTHING???? DO YOU WANT TO BE A VICTIM OF DRL INCITED ROADRAGE??? DO YOU WANT YOUR SON/DAUGHTER/MOTHER/FATHER/COUSIN/NEPHEW/NIECE/MILKMAN TO BE KILLED BECAUSE THEIR CARS DRLS ANNOYED ANOTHER FELLOW MOTORIST???? DO SOMETH ING NOW

On the 2000-05 DeVille at least, the Driver's Info Center reads "TOP SPEED FUEL CUTOFF" when you hit the ceiling.

Those are rear foglamps, mostly found on Euro-spec cars and a few Jaguars sold here over the years. I like the slicker integration found on the Classic... ...though those are merely reflector strips.

Heh. Good thing cars aren't made out of sheetmetal...

Wow. Mazda5. What an obscure reference.

OMG LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Watched Office Space again. I don't think I'll ever get tired of that. Also, checked out the Back to the Future trilogy from the library. "Flux capacitor...fluxing..."

So, if I fall asleep going 80mph and I ram into a brick wall...does GM owe me money because my car couldn't stop in time?

Siegen's comment about no one buying a $40,000 minivan had me thinking, so I did this... Note these buildouts don't include things like engine block heaters, handsfree phone packages (unless part of an equipment bundle), and all those DIOs like mudflaps, door trim, etc. Just factory options. Toyota Sienna XLE Limited w/AWD - $44,567 Lexus LX470 - $73,464 Mercedes R500 - $85,265 Most surprising: Ford Ranger FX4 Level II - $29,895

Yeah? An AWD Sienna XLE Limited starts at like $39k. I priced one out with all the factory goodies and came to $44,567. A 2wd model would come to probably around $40-41k, and that includes alot of items that should be standard on a vehicle that price, like $98 for an ashtray and lighter, $69 for a cargo net, $259 for an 'interior light package,' and $180 for an electrochromic mirror. All those things were options on a $35-38k MSRP vehicle. Ridiculous. In contrast, a fully-loaded Odyssey Touring comes to a hair under $40,000 with a handful of options (foglamps, cargo mat), a Terraza CXL is $38,300 with AWD, navigation, and Chrometec wheels, and A Chrysler T&C is $39,399 with navigation, sunroof, rear-seat DVD, and backup assist.

Look at the target markets for the Trailblazer and Seville/Eldorado. No one would've bought those with a stick. Even so, that's not that much lacking for the past 20 years.

But really the Mountaineer seems to have grown into its niche. I'm not sure about the sales, but its a nice-looking utility that does have its place. I would also argue that Mountaineer was Mercury's response to the Bravada as the original Bravada was among the very first luxury SUVs.

[quote name='PontiacTechNJ' date='Nov 19 2005, 12:08 PM'] the Alero that was a MUCH better car than the craptacular Grand Am (even though the Olds still had its own issues), [QUOTE] Still trying to figure why an Alero is all that different from a Grand Am - other then the Grand Am sold more , that is the only difference [post="45336"][/post] [/quote] Sleeker styling, better-looking interior. Nice colors. That's about it, but it does make a difference. An Alero is more a car you can take to a night out or to work and not have people laugh at you.

Don't you mean Chevy Decal = NASCAR?

Hasn't GM pretty much offered sticks in cars that it made sense to have a stick in? The only deficiencies I see are like the Malibu and Grand Prix. How many LaCrosses do you think would sell with a 5-speed?

The K-Cars proper (Aries, Reliant) sucked balls like none other, but the weird offshoots like the Rampage were pretty cool. This is the prefect suburban pickup, IMO. You don't need the Ridgeline's 5-seat capacity or AWD to help your brother move a credenza.

Better be careful about what SUV you buy over there. Don't want your... ...mistaken for a...

I would argue the first crossovers were the 1979 AMC Eagle 4wd variations of the Concord, especially the wagon.

'59 Buick Invicta 225 for sale '57 Roadmaster sedan for sale The GMC Sierra With Mercedes Badging guy

Then why don't you spend a little more on a proper trailer so when you tow your ugly beige Accord around it doesn't SWING INTO THE LANE NEXT TO YOU!! Yeah. Because the weather is so mild here this time of year, we're getting more and more idiots in these big RVs down here clogging the left lanes and taking up eight spaces at the mall. I wish I had a rocket launcher.

The IIHS has never been to Clearwater... Our city built a two-lane roundabout on the beach and decided to put a gigantic reclaimed water fountain in the middle, so everyone's cars got coated with this nasty, putrid water that spotted paintjobs. The since replaced it with a giant grass area that looks like a park but isn't. Roundabouts are fine if designed properly. I place half the blame for our joke of one on the idiots and tourists who don't get it and the other half on the city for another example of piss-poor planning. BTW: Our roundabout has traffic signals to stop oncoming traffic from entering when it gets too congested and gridlocks. So goes the theory.