Flybrian

If by 'old one' you mean the preceeding one, then yes, that car made zero sense.

Ladies, ladies.

She says she bought it used. My car came the same way since it was from a dealer. My engine bay also looks good n' clean.

Unlike the real Oldsmobile, you'll be back, my friend. A pox on Chas; no, rather, a Corolla with undersized wheelcovers that don't quite bolt on correctly. Sometimes you do just need to get away from it all, enjoy life, yourself, and everything else. You're very fortunate in that a job opportunity is your catalyst for this, so at least finances are secure. I'll keep my eyes open for a Toro down here that fits your bill. Perhaps you can also celebrate your grand return to the states with a gently-used '96 Cutty convertible? You'd better have internet in Europe. Fo' realz.

I only base my opinions on my personal feelings towards different cars and when I look at an LS, I cannot see interesting visually arresting, stirring, or even that tasteful. Its a design composed of derivative cues and upward extrapolations of the GS' design language, which itself isn't that spectacular. Your own definition of the typical restrained, introverted, characterless LS buyer - something that I do not disagree with - admits that design is not a priority to these people. On the contrary, the lack of anything that can be considered distasteful, unattractive, or downright ugly would steer them away from a certain competitior and towards Lexus. It is the safe choice, the choice of the man who wants his cocoon to waft unnoticed through traffic, never called upon by gazing eyes of fellow motorists or bystanders. He doesn't want his friends or family taking about how his car looks; he doesn't want hallways filled with mumors about "What kind of man buys a ____?" or "Wow, he didn't seem like a _____ guy." And to that regard, I still think Cumberford's analogy is dead-to-rights accurate. My personal taste means I would have nothing to do with any Lexus - they're boring, unexciting, unstirring. They sit there, wallowing in their micrometer perfection and do nothing. They don't even class up the place wearing boring silver paint and dulled alloy wheels. I've said many times how the 7-Series is frightfully ugly, how the S-Class looks goofy, and that the Town Cazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. But they all have a personality in their distastefulness and I'd rather drive any single one of them than an LS. That, and they're all more engaging - yes even the Town Car because 'floating' is a form of (non)control. The only Lexuseseses that were ever attractive to my eyes were the original GS and SC. The former was penned by Giugiaro and the latter was "based on emotion and feeling rather than linear aesthetics" as so noted by its own designers. And if it were up to me, all Lexii would be smilarly outsorced. Make the LS look like something, give the GS back to an Italian firm, stop not calling the SC a roadster, and quit using up the big box of leftover RX300 mirrors on the IS.

What Autoholic said. Its more like comparing fresh, hand-churned vanilla ice cream to self-serve vanilla at Sizzler. One may portend to be a bit fancier, but they're both vanilla. You don't buy an LS with your heart; you buy it so you can tote around a spec sheet and brag about having one more in the gearbox than a Benz or five more speakers than a Bimmer or my owner's manual is bigger than yours. No doubt that the LS is - aside from the aluminum - far more sophisticated than, say, the Jaguar XJ. But the Jag is lustful, sexy, and desireable for the sheetmetal alone. The LS is...not...in any way, shape, or form. I've seen the road presence LSs have and its not much - dark-colored twelve year-old Town Cars have more bespoke elegance than the LS. Malibu, similarly, will be an altogether competent and - dare I say - class-leading product that lacks the passion, uniqueness, and diversity that other midsizers (even those on the same platform) will have. It really doesn't need to, though, because its a Chevy sedan and the only thing a Chevy sedan needs to do is turn over, drive, and fall apart slower than a Ford, Dodge, or Toyota. Its the other divisions that will have inspiring products.

You must mean the '61s... If it was a 1961 Belvedere, I would've left it in the ground. No, I would've buried it in MORE concrete. No, I would've taken the remains of it, rounded up every last surviving 1961 Plymouth, unloaded 20 gauge buckshot into each of them, dug a huge tomb, filled it with salt water and muriatic acid, dumped each and every car in there, and capped it with poorly-mixed concrete poured by drunk Honduran laborers and placed a rusty, leaky septic tank on top of it all...in a Mississippi bog. I would repeat the procedure exclusively for 1958 Lincolns.

You'd probably see that in Michigan before anywhere else. Then again, I'm reminded of my own state, which owns the whole lot of 'ya with 112 specialty plates because all you need are 10,000 signatures (people will sign anything) and a $30,000 application fee (I...don't have that on me) for your thing to become a specialty plate here. And if we already have plates like this supporting our 'oceans'... ...though we only have one or these schmaltzy tags, which all say the same thing... ...or this stupid one, which I still have figured out... ...I could certainly see people buying a Big 3 plate. I would.

Using the 3800 as the base V6 in the CX would be far more acceptable if the 3.6l were standard fare in the CXL.

General design, which is pretty much absolutely spot-on.

Helping Hummer GM tries to improve brand's fuel economy By RICK KRANZ | Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek | Updated: 06/18/07, 8:25 am et DURANGO, Colo. -- As the sun rises over downtown Durango, residents head to work in a parade of SUVs and pickups. Nestled amid the Rocky Mountains, this small town embraces the four-wheel-drive lifestyle. A popular pastime is rock climbing - motorized, that is, behind the wheel of a Chevy, Jeep or Toyota. But over at the Rochester Hotel on Second Avenue, several workers assigned to the Hummer press event here are washing off the residue of broken eggs hurled at a dozen 2008 Hummer H2s. Hummer has an image problem. It is the poster boy for poor fuel economy. And now that Congress is about to boost corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, Hummer has a fuel economy problem - and a bigger image problem. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, the quintessential devil-may-care Hummer owner, has become an environmentalist. Now it's Hummer's turn. General Motors believes it can improve Hummer's image and fuel economy without hurting the brand's two bedrock attributes, in-your-face styling and off-road performance. For starters, GM will introduce a mix of engines that run on diesel fuel or ethanol blends. The automaker also is expected to introduce a small, more fuel-efficient model dubbed H4. The bottom line: GM will adapt, but it will not abandon Hummer. "Those are bumps along the road but they are not unsurpassable," says Hummer General Manager Martin Walsh. "Hummer is what it is. It has an iconic design that stands out from anything else. That design attracts attention because it is easy to recognize by those who love it and those who don't." Diesels, ethanol But the world is changing, especially when it comes to fuel economy. The H2 currently is exempt from CAFE regulations because its gross vehicle weight exceeds 8,500 pounds. But in the 2011 model year, the exemption for big trucks is scheduled to rise to 10,000 pounds. GM estimates that the H2 gets 13 to 14 mpg in combined city/highway driving. So it would drag down GM's fleet fuel economy at a time when Congress seems likely to boost CAFE. An industry-backed proposal by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., would increase truck fleet fuel economy standards to 30 mpg by 2025, up from 22.2 mpg today. The current Hummers won't approach that standard - GM would rely on smaller trucks to do so - but they'll do somewhat better. For the 2009 model year, the H2 will be configured to run on E85, a blend of ethanol and gasoline. A year later, the H3 adds E85 capability. And in model year 2011, Walsh expects to introduce a line of diesel-powered trucks. Hummers won't be equipped, though, with cylinder deactivation or hybrid powertrains. Cylinder deactivation would provide little or no increase in fuel economy, GM engineers say. And hybrids would degrade Hummer's off-road capability, a no-no for the brand's testosterone-drenched image. Overseas markets There is yet another incentive for Hummer to get religion on fuel economy: overseas markets. Today, Hummer is sold in 34 countries, and this year the brand is expanding into Australia and South Africa. Last year, overseas markets accounted for 10 percent of the brand's global sales of 82,000 units. That percentage will increase as Hummer enters new markets. To prosper in foreign markets where gasoline is costly, Hummer will downsize. Walsh declined to confirm reports that the new model would be dubbed H4, a vehicle that would be smaller and cheaper than the H3. Walsh adds that GM has always intended to add models. "We are going to get global growth by building vehicles that are definitely appealing to those markets," he noted. "Logic dictates that we are probably going to go smaller to get into those markets." Will more fuel-efficient Hummers mollify environmentalists? Perhaps not, but analyst Rebecca Lindland suggests that the brand will continue to appeal to off-road enthusiasts. "Hummer is not for everybody," says Lindland, a senior market analyst for Global Insight, a consulting firm based in Lexington, Mass. "There are certainly people that would not be caught dead in a Hummer. There are more fuel efficient vehicles, but that is not what Hummer is about." Hummer executive Walsh is optimistic that the brand can prosper in an environmentally minded era. "We're in this for the long haul." he said. "... We are going to do whatever it takes to be successful."

Pfft. You didn't charge that much for your self-pics.

$50

Excuses excuses

Titan Diesel for 2009 Navistar-sourced motor for light-duty pickup By BOB GRTIZINGER | Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek | Published 06/15/07, 1:01 pm et News reports from Japan confirm that Nissan will put a diesel in its Titan full-size pickup truck by 2009, but so far the Japanese automaker shows no hint of interest in launching a truck in the heavy-duty pickup segment. Nissan reportedly will buy V8 diesel engines from International Truck and Engine Corp. Automotive News has reported that the company also may offer a low-budget V6 gasoline engine in the Titan in the future. The Titan’s only powerplant is a 5.6-liter, 317-hp, 385-lb-ft V8 gasoline engine. Nissan had hoped to sell 100,000 Titans per year when the truck debuted in the 2004 model year, but so far the model has sold at about 85,000 per year.

Pictures! Review it! Let me drive it!!!!!

I know it might seem like you've misspelled that, but its an accurate description of some of those places' work.

I mean, if this is as bad as first-hand reports have said, isn't this really almost garbage? Perhaps the Walter P. Chrysler Museum would be interested simply because its a Chrysler product, but otherwise...its junk, right? I can understand bending over backwards to save the very last remains of something that doesn't even exist in any way, shape, or form anymore, but there are many other '57 Plymouths running around, many exact Belvederes to be precise. Oh well...

How bored are we, Oklahoma?

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Welcome to Sketch Competition #19! Though certainly not as beloved as the Corvette, Chevrolet's little Aveo is not something to be ashamed of. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact; the little Korean compact is America's second best-selling subcompact (behind only the Yaris) and still the only domestic offering in its class. And, with recent improvements, its become a car whose only real sacrifice is exterior bulk. As fuel prices continue to climb, traditionally low sales of smaller vehicles can only go up, especially as new entries from Ford, Chrysler, and others find their way stateside. Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to design the next generation Aveo. The biggest restriction in this competition is size as the Aveo is a subcompact car. Exactly how small is your determination, but remember this is America and cars ridiculously small (SMART) are niche market players. Bodystyle and configuration are your choices; remember that this segment is no longer the realm of the stripper - subcompacts must feel substantial. Sedans are the standard, but remember the utility of a 5-door hatch, the sportiness of a coupe, and, yes, there are still some that miss the Geo Metro convertible, so be innovative! Point out any unique or special features your vehicle has and remember, in this market, sometimes the more creative, the better. Apply that consideration to interior as well as exterior styling. The recent microcar concepts may provide some inspiration. Please include at minimum 2 (two) of the following: -3/4 Front View -3/4 Rear View -Interior View **Entries without two perspectives will still be accepted, but will incur a 2-point penalty at the end of voting** Remember, people will be voting based on the overall presentation of your entry, so the more views, the better, including ones not specifically listed above. Aside from 800x600 size guidelines, remember this must be a Chevrolet vehicle. The winner will recieve a GM-related prize! Deadline is Saturday, July 14th @ 11:59PM your local time. Good luck!

Welcome to the Sketch Competition #18 Voting thread! Remember, artists who entered must vote for someone other than themselves. Those that do not vote or vote for themselves will be asessed a two (2) point penalty. Voters, please nominate three (3) entries in this format: 1st place 2nd place 3rd place Each first place vote earns 3 points, each second place vote 2 points, and each third place vote 1 point. Voting begins now and will end Sunday, June 24th, 2007 @ 11:59PM. Only those votes cast during that time will be counted. Remember, the 1st place winner will recieve a special GM-related prize from Cheers and Gears! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 VOTE----------------VOTE----VOTEVOTE----VOTEVOTEVOTE--VOTEVOTEVOTE-- -VOTE--------------VOTE---VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- --VOTE------------VOTE----VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- ---VOTE----------VOTE-----VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- -----VOTE--------VOTE------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE---- ------VOTE------VOTE-------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE---- ------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- -------VOTE--VOTE---------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- ---------VOTEVOTE----------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- ------------VOTE----------------VOTEVOTE----------VOTE---------VOTEVOTEVOTE-- Good luck to all who entered!

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And done!

Welcome to the Choppin' Competition #41 Voting thread! Remember, artists who entered must vote for someone other than themselves. Those that do not vote or vote for themselves will be asessed a two (2) point penalty. Voters, please nominate three (3) entries in this format: 1st place 2nd place 3rd place Each first place vote earns 3 points, each second place vote 2 points, and each third place vote 1 point. Voting begins now and will end Sunday, June 24, 2007 @ 11:59PM. Only those votes cast during that time will be counted. Remember, the 1st place winner will recieve a special GM-related prize from Cheers and Gears! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 VOTE----------------VOTE----VOTEVOTE----VOTEVOTEVOTE--VOTEVOTEVOTE-- -VOTE--------------VOTE---VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- --VOTE------------VOTE----VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- ---VOTE----------VOTE-----VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- ----VOTE--------VOTE------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- -----VOTE------VOTE-------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- ------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- -------VOTE--VOTE---------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- --------VOTEVOTE----------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- -----------VOTE----------------VOTEVOTE----------VOTE---------VOTEVOTEVOTE-- Good luck to all who entered!