Flybrian

50.1% to be exact. Its dropped, yes, but the Optima clearly picked it up. Also, for such a 'great car', Sonata numbers are high.

When I used to drive to Tampa daily, I'd hit the Olds with a spot-free rinse from a cheap $1.00 open-bay carwash just to prevent accumulation of road crap. Now, I rinse/wash about once a week, polishing and detailing when I feel like it. I need to do the interior, though, and definitely going to put another coat of Poorboy's on the Olds before I get my cosmetic project car!

While the lack of A/C as standard is - at face value - odd, expect every single Astra to be equipped with it.

Welcome to the posting world of the forums, Randy! As Camino said, we certainly do appreciate your spirit and candor (and willingness to put up with our gentle nudging )

2008 Saturn Astra Ordering Guide Click here for Guide Key Standard Features (XE) 1.8l VVT 4-cyl Dual-stage front, thorax, pelvic side airbags; rear side curtain airbags AM/FM w/CD | 6-speaker stereo Cruise control Driver's infomation center Tilt and telescoping steering wheel Dual lighted vanity mirrors Lighted glovebox Assist handles Power windows w/express Power mirrors Halogen projector headlamps 16" steel wheels Rainsense wipers/speed-sensitive rear wiper XR Adds... Air conditioning MP3 playback | 7-speaker stereo Steering wheel audio controls Overhead sunglass bin Foglamps Stainless steel moldings 16" alloy wheels Door sill plates Key Options Dual panel sunroof 4-speed automatic Stabilitrak (std on XR 3-door) 17" alloy wheels (std on XR 3-door) 18" Star Spoke alloy wheels (opt only on XR 3-door) Advanced Audio Package (incl 6-disc CD changer, AM/FM/MP3, 7-speaker stereo, enchanced radio display) Premium Trim Package (incl heated leather seats, vinyl door trim, ambient LED lighting pack) Sport Handling Package (opt only on XR 5-door) Color Pallette

Belated Blowout Chevy offers incentives on '06 models By RICK KRANZ | Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek | Updated: 06/25/07, 9:23 am et DETROIT -- Chevrolet's 0 percent interest program to sell 10,000-plus new 2006 models sitting on lots nationwide strikes some Chevy dealers as being way overdue. The program, which began June 15 and expires Wednesday, June 27, offers 0 percent financing for up to 60 months on 2006s, including 404 Corvettes and the last 16 SSR hot rod pickups. As an alternative, rebates of up to $7,000 are available on some models. "It's great," said one Chevrolet dealer who has more than 20 2006 vehicles in stock. "I'm as happy as a lark, but why weren't we doing this six months ago? I have to get rid of these things." Traditionally, GM has launched a program late in the third quarter or the beginning of the fourth quarter to help unload the previous model year's vehicles. Chevrolet spokesman Terry Rhadigan acknowledged that dealers would have liked an incentive in late 2006. But, Rhadigan said, "That is when we were trying to make money for 2006." He says the current backlog of 2006s is "pretty manageable." A second Chevrolet dealer said the lack of good incentives on the 2006s has prompted buyers to select a 2007 model, which has the advantage of a 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Last week, Chevrolet told dealers that 10,231 2006 models were in inventory nationwide. Colorado pickups topped the list with 1,588 units, followed by the Monte Carlo with 1,390. At the bottom were the Suburban with 10 units and the TrailBlazer EXT with four.

New Tiburon LR2 or whatever it is.

"Imports don't fleet..." Hyundai Elantra - 21.5% Hyundai Sonata - 27.6% Hyundai Azera - 22.7% Hyundai Entourage - 29.9% Kia Rio - 27.3% Kia Spectra - 25.7% Kia Optima - 52.8% Kia Amanti - 42.5% Kia Sedona - 32.0% Mazda5 - 43.8% Mazda6 - 42.7% Mitsubishi Galant - 35.4% Mitsubishi Eclipse - 24.8% Mitsubishi Endeavor - 28.9% Nissan Armada - 19.4% Nissan Murano - 24.6% Toyota Avalon - 15.3% Toyota Highlander - 23.6% Infiniti M35 - 15.3% Mercedes C-Class - 15.0% Volvo S40 - 37.5%

Oh. Well, here's one. Back in October, 2000, we had a Jasper Green/Storm Gray '99 Regal GS and were pleased as punch with the car. Our only intention was to refinance it under the then-unprecedented 1.9% interest rate going on at the time. We went to Dick Norris B-P-GMC in Palm Harbor and while they were running the numbers, my father stepped outside to have a cigarette and I joined him (not in the smoking part - I don't - just hanging around outside). We sat there next to two cars, one a black 2000 Trans Am WS6 with everything - high-end stereo, chrome wheels, T-tops. She looked sexy. Needless to say, we both liked it. Alot. Of course, we talked about insurance, the financing, and the fact that we really can't do anything with a Trans Am but burn tires and gas and slowly the dream became a cold reality. Next to it was another year 2000 leftover that my dad liked. I thought it was ugly as hell. In fact, I told my father, that I remember getting a little calendar, brochure, and video about that car the year before and how I thought it was horrible, horrible, horrible. I told him how GM made this car the year before and it looked pretty handsome, but now they smacked it with an ugly stick. What the f@#k is wrong with this thing? No wonder why its still here! A few minutes later, another salesman who came out for a smoke mentioned, man, what a great deal on those right now. 0%. ZERO! "They're trying to get rid of these. And I'll tell you, 0% will never happen again on a car like this." We then figured out that, though being several thousand more than the Regal we had, the payment would actually stay the same and insurance would drop thanks to side airbags and stability control. My dad was sold. We cleaned out the Regal, thanked it for a great time, gave it a kiss goodbye, and drove home in our Bonneville. That's right. It was butt-ugly when I first laid eyes on her, but I love her to death now. More of a "One that DIDN'T get away" tale. Years and years prior, though, we were in not-so-good financial shape. My father was going to buy an old Daytona, a Datusn Z car, and some Tempo before getting the cheapest car at Bert Smith Olds - a 1979 LeSabre Limited coupe. We had that for years.

1996 Roadmaster Limited. Leather, CD, teal blue metallic. I was intending on buying it, but they already sold it. But a beautiful Aurora caught my eye and, well, the rest is history. I'm actually happier I didn't get the Roadie; the Aurora is infinitely cooler.

They need it. Forget about the facilities, the people are nasty, at least around here.

I'd say the G-bodies are still competitive and leading in many regards, its just the class (affordable fullsize sedans) has been eviscerated. What else occupies the direct territory of the Lucerne, the Avalon? Grand Marquis? Amanti?

How about an Acadia?

I missed that sig. Someone should combine it with this one!

Millen To Race Pontiac Solstice GXP To The Clouds At Pikes Peak Drifter Going For Mountain Glory Pontiac Solstice GXP Formula Drifting standout Rhys Millen will run the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb – The Race to the Clouds on July 21. The 14-time participant and double Hill Climb record holder will take his drifting expertise back to the mountain for another run to the clouds in the new Time Attack class. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the world’s highest auto race, starting at 9,400 feet and finishing above 14,110 feet. Millen will manuever his 550 horsepower Red Bull Pontiac Solstice GXP through the 156-turn, 12.42 mile mix of dirt and pavement tract to the top of Pikes Peak. The mountain terrain is a little different surface for the Solstice and Millen who is used to the closed, tight confines of a controlled asphalt Formula Drift event. The Californian will be going for speed on the stop-watch instead of style points. “This will be my 15th year running the Hill Climb,” Millen said. “I have won six times and hold two records. We decided to take the Pontiac Solstice to the Hill because the organizers have formed a new Time Attack class. Time Attack is becoming a very popular within the sport compact market.” “What we are doing is taking the drift form of racing back to its roots on the mountain,” Millen explains. “Drifting began on the mountain roads, we then took it to stadiums, small ovals, and wide open asphalt arenas and now it is all going back to the dirt. The same driving technique that it takes to be successful in drifting are the identical car control methods that you use to get up the Hill fast.” Millen explains the new Time Attack class, “The Pikes Peak Hill Climb organizers have created a new class called Time Attack. This is specifically for the type of cars we use in drifting - the production based, two-wheel drive modified street car. The other classes are similar to NASCAR or open-wheel with specially built, nearly unlimited modifications to chassis, tires and suspension setups. It is nice that the organizers have taken into account the popularity of the sport-compact market and that we are welcome at Pikes Peak.” “The last time I ran there was in 2004 in a Pontiac GTO. I took a lot of what I learned at the Hill and applied it to drifting, I believe that is why we had the early success we did. The low grip surface of the hill and the way you drive in drifting events is very similar, so we had that knowledge, now we are taking it back to the hill and hopefully have an advantage from the know-how accumulated from four years of drifting competition.” The Solstice GXP drifting car will not have to undergo many modifications to take to the Hill. The suspension settings used in drifting will translate well to the dirt and pavement mix assuring that Millen can negotiate turns such as Bottomless Pit and Ragged Edge. The challenge will be to get the 2.4-liter, Turbo ECOTECH Solstice GXP power plant to be able to maintain a strong power-curve while rapidly ascending elevation. “The 550-horsepower motor will have to be mapped to reduce the three percent of power that you lose with every 1,000 feet of elevation, as much as 30 percent from the start to the top. The engine naturally wants to get richer because the elevation will rob air from the car. The trick is to progressively lean the motors air-to-fuel mixture to maintain a consistent power curve all the way to the top.” “We will retain the drift suspension setup. The Hill is a low grip environment. Just like in drifting you are trying to maximize mechanical grip. You have gone past the threshold of the grip for the tire and you are now relying on the chassis to maximize what hold you have left on the road. The aerodynamics of the car stay the same, we change the attack angle of the wing to compensate for the thinner atmosphere. To attain the same amount of downforce as we get at sea level, we will need to add 50 percent more wing angle to achieve on the same result on the mountain. Drag is not an issue, because you are pretty much doing acceleration bursts from turn-to-turn.” Rhys will follow in the tire tracks of his father, Rod Millen, who has quite a legacy on the Colorado hill. Often called "Millen’s Mountain", Dad owns the overall championship and the record for the fastest driving time up the mountain, in his 850 horsepower all-wheel-drive Toyota Celica Turbo. Rod drove up the 12.42 mile, 156-turn dirt road with a time of 10:04.06 set in 1994.

You forgot the picture of your gate guards interrogating a visitor.

Who the hell said I'd want to see YOU anyway?

I'll double check both at daybreak...if you can wait that long. As far as coilpacks, they go up to $80/per. My father purchased a set of high-performance ignition coils that ended up being $60 or so a piece, but he's doing a LOT more to the Bonnie than just maintenance; I just needed affordable coils, so mine were around $30.

SAAB's problem is that its living on one car and - unlike other monocar brands - its neither a purposely niche brand nor is its car (9-3) a real standout in the incredibly crowded entry-level segment. I know others will disagree, but I think the 9-3 does very well for itself being a high-torque front-wheel driver commanding a premium price through a weak dealer network with virtually no advertising. That said, its needs a full lineup of cars that can at least tread the water a la the 9-3 to do decently. If the new 9-3 manages to move the model above the 3500 mark on a consistant basis, a 9-6x does as well as the current 9-3 at ~2000/mo and a new 9-5, Sonett, and 'Delta II' compact move 2000/mo altogether, then SAAB is in good shape at close to 100k/yr total

I must say, this is the most elegent and classy post count announcement thread I've ever seen. Very glad to have you aboard here, John. You make no apologies for your passion and that's something GM needs these days. I must also extend a sincere 'thank you' for all of your non-posting contributions in the form of our own collection of exclusive Cheers and Gears wallpaper featuring Buicks, Cadillacs, Chevies, etc. and if you guys haven't seen John's work, please do check it out here... C&G Desktop Wallpaper Thanks also to your son, Chris, for the photo contributions from Chitown. Great stuff and we hope to have you guys help us out next year. Never leave! lol

Actually, its not that bad to do so. A coil pack is only ~$30 at Advance and plugs are under $5.00 apiece even for the very best. If you have a multimeter (or can get one for cheap), you can check the resistance on the poles of the coil pack to determine if those are the culprit. If that's not the problem, its likely the plugs or plug wires. Pull the affected plug (I believe #6 is on the back of the engine, so its a little harder to reach) and see how it looks. If you need new wires, replace them all (and plugs) while you're doing it. A nice set of Borg-Warners that both my and my father's (2000 SSEi) cars are equipped with run under $30.00 and best of all come with a lifetime warranty. Even if you go and replace everything, you're looking at $150 total for quality parts, though its likely just the one coil pack, so you're looking at $90. for one coil, plugs, and wires. As far as labor, as said, fairly easy. You're looking at an hour's work to do it right and taking your time. The front plugs are the easiest of course, the rear set a bit trickier, but still reachable. Pulling coil packs is simple. Let me know if I can help anymore.

You didn't just open the door; you invited me in.

Posted in the Sales Figure Ticker every month. May 2007 sales 9-2X - 2 9-3 - 2120 9-5 - 317 9-7X - 433 Total - 2872 On track for ~25,000 this year.

XD Oh well.

Oh that's scary. Glad you're going well, my friend! Rest up and get better real soon!