Flybrian

1980 Chevy Malibu 4dr sedan. A/T, Cold A/c., New brakes, good tires. Good condition, a couple of minor dents. Drives good. 137k miles. 3.8 V6. $650 OBO Selling to close estate. Clicky Reliable? Easy to fix? I hope its not a 'Classic' with glued-in rear windows.

Ha. Redundancy is my middle name. I'm all about redundancy and redundancy is part of who I am. I'm redundant. And that's okay, because I'm redundant. Our next car would be a large sedan anyway.

Its a '96 with 170k miles. I bet this'll go for $1,000. Clicky Thoughts?

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Welcome to the Choppin' Competition #40 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 two (2) entries in this format: 1st place 2nd place Each first place vote earns 2 points, and each second place vote 1 point. Voting begins now and will end Saturday, June 2, 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 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!

China's offensive capability could be largely neutralized by strategic nuclear strikes on select military targets and unlike the Soviet Union, China's military assests are typically not co-located with large population centers. Likewise, metropolitan defenses aren't as strong compared to the USSR. If China was to attack Taiwan, they would've done so during the first Persian Gulf War when our military was heavily focused on the Middle East and ill-deployed in the Far East. Recliaming their 'renegade province' would be an ill-fated decision for China. They know we support Taiwan and they know we would not let that nation fall under their control. On that matter itself, the lack of recognition of Taiwan as independent by the United Nations is another example of that 'organization's' failings.

Sure, one or two of the products may be decent, but it doesn't matter how good your cars are if you can't sell them. As said, in my area (West Florida), three Mitsubishi outlets have shuttered in the past two years. The nearest former Mitsu retailer (an Olds/Saturn dealership) won't even service them anymore; they send them 30 miles south to St. Petersburg and that location is moving their Mitsubishi store into the former Kia Used Car building. Whoever is running the show for Mitsu in this country is a joke. Seriously. Massive dumping of inventories into fleets followed by idiotic financing gimmicks that gave cars away to every McDonald's clerk who could sign their name followed by pointless (Raider) and forgettable (Galant) products that made anyone who used to care about Mitsubishi to abandon the brand completely. Without the Eclipse, what's the point? The Lancer and Outlander are encouraging, yes; but are they selling well? Who knows? I wish I could reference numbers, but Mitsubishi shrouds them in secrecy and corporate newspeak. Let me sum it up this way - I'll give Mitsubishi credit when their monthly sales figure press releases show actual figures, not specious percentages. ECLIPSE SPYDER SALES UP 147%! OUTLANDER RECORDS BEST MAY EVER! Meaningless without real figures, which are obviously too embarassing to publish.

lol. Sadness is more like it.

1) Find a local Mitsubishi dealer. 2) Hope it will still be there in three years to service your car. That alone would dissuade me from ever thinking about one. Marques the likes of Isuzu, Oldsmobile, and Plymouth at least had parts commonality with other in-production vehicles. Plus, look at last-generation Galants and Eclipse for an example of the worst paint quality this side of a Zhiguli; forget orange peel, try clearcoat peel.

When Chrysler were more reliable than Mercedes, that said something.

My most recent former employer, yet they're the ones getting their company truck fleet reposessed, not me.

Over 300? Good to know. Thanks.

Will Scion Add More New Models? A fourth line – or a hybrid – may be in the works. by Paul A. Eisenstein | Link to Original Article @ TheCarConnection Three's company - but would four be a crowd for Toyota's trend-setting Scion division? What sounds like a riddle is actually a serious issue for the youth-oriented brand. Since its launch in 2003, Scion officials have insisted on offering a maximum of just three models in the lineup. For the '08 model-year, they're dropping the original xA to make room for the new xD. But as sales grow, so might the model count, according to Scion corporate manager Steve Haag. "We have to expand a bit," Haag said, adding that "We have to offer more products, (though) we want to remain small." Exactly how many more products and when they might appear, the Scion executive declined to discuss, but during a morning of formal and informal discussions, he gave at least a few hints. Scion is all but certain to remain primarily focused on small, entry-level models, like the three currently available. But it may be possible to move a bit upmarket, or add something slightly larger than existing models. And a hybrid would fit the line-up well, Haag said, but not at the current price premium. Toyota is pushing down the cost of its hybrid technology, he noted, and that could make a Scion gasoline-electric vehicle possible. The new xD is Scion's most fuel-efficient model, but even with a five-speed manual, it gets only 27 miles per gallon in city driving, according to the newly-revised 2008 EPA guidelines, and 33 on the highway. Haag acknowledged that Scion's overall fuel economy numbers "may not appeal to those buyers" focused on the environment, many of whom fit the "trend-setting" mold that the Toyota division is targeting. Despite its reputation for being able to rapidly respond to market trends, Haag said Toyota simply didn't have enough time to shift gears when fuel costs began their rapid run-up in 2005. But with pump prices running near record levels, it's a factor that Scion will have to seriously consider in the future. So far, there's little indication that fuel prices are affecting Scion sales. Volume nudged a record 170,000 last year, and Haag said the biggest question for the brand is how much higher it can aim. "Maybe the sweet spot," he suggested, is "200,000 to 250,000." About 950 of Toyota's 1200 U.S. dealers now carry the brand-within-a-brand, and there are early signs that Scion buyers are opting for other Toyota products when it's time to trade in. Right now, Scion claims its buyers are, on average, the youngest in the industry, with a median age of around 30. They are clearly the Internet generation, spending 50 percent more time online than they do watching television, revealed Haag. That justifies the decision to avoid traditional advertising outlets, he explained, such as TV. They're also deeply individualistic, which fits the Scion "mono-spec" strategy. The brand's products are available from the factory with only a limited number of choices, such as manual or automatic transmission and paint color. But there are a wide array of accessories that can be ordered through the dealer, including bodywork and audio systems. About half of all Scion buyers have customized their cars this way, Haag noted, spending, on average, about $1000 a vehicle.

General Motors to build new Chevy crossover in Tennessee, not Michigan Sharon Terlep | Link to Original Article @ The Detroit News Artist Conception by Northstar General Motors Corp. won't add a third shift to its Delta Township plant near Lansing, where the automaker builds a new trio of seven- and eight-passenger crossover sport utility vehicles. GM had been considering adding work at the Delta plant when it adds a fourth crossover to its lineup for the Chevrolet brand. Instead, the factory in Spring Hill, Tenn. will build the Chevy, expected sometime in the 2009 model year. A GM spokesperson said it's not yet clear how many jobs the decision could affect.

Those are really magnificent looking dogs, Camino.

Once you live with a car for an extended period of time where you can carry ungoldly amounts of items and don't have to fold down the rear seats to accomodate long and irregularly-shaped things, you understand the benefits of a large trunk. P.S. That's what a cargo net is for. My car, huge as it is, has 'only' 16 cubic feet due to its tapered rear styling. The fact that a car like the Avalon with its largish exterior dimensions and malformed rear shape can only claim 14.4 cubic feet of trunk space is downright criminal. What's its excuse? My car is also roomy in rear (G vs W, I know), but is over 10 years old, so I don't get how Toyota can fail in this regard. Again, this is shown in the Avalon's limp performance in the marketplace. I'd argue that since most midsize cars aren't family cars, rather personal cars used predominately for two people, cargo space is valued over rear seat comfort. Personally, I'd rather have more trunk space for things I want to carry rather than more 'comfort' for two additional people that will likely never be there. However, I do not disagree with the rear seat issue in the Impala, though I venture to say this is more an MS2000 issue than a general W-body flaw. Regal/Century never suffered from this issue, yet the LaCrosse/GP do. I think the sportier 'pancake' flattening and sweepback of the revised MS2000 edition is to blame for this. Some of your complaints, I don't care about (auto up windows, pass manual recliner - most cars in its class also have a lever), other I completely agree with. The lack of a gear indicator on the console is pretty inexcusable simply because it violates common sense. GM has been known to 'forget' certain lights or indicators from time to time (the Bonneville line, for example, has no CRUISE lamp), but this was a purposeful omission that I still don't understand. Worse yet, the preceeding '95-99 Monte Carlo had indicators, yet the Impala/Monte of today do not. But looking back at your complaints, realize they center around problems that will effectively disappear in a year or so's time as the new models roll out. Apparently, the chassis composure, interior materials, and powertrain are above average or excellent.

Yeah...?

Enter the Autoblog Relaunch Celebration Sweepstakes featuring the All-New 2007 Dodge Nitro "Did you enter yet today? You may as well make entering the (deep breath) Autoblog Relaunch Celebration Sweepstakes featuring the All-New 2007 Dodge Nitro a part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth or playing Solitaire at work. The Sweepstakes spans 23 days, which means if you enter every day by clicking here, you'll have a better chance to win the loaded 2007 Dodge Nitro R/T than someone who enters only once or twice. Did we mentinon the prize is loaded with 20-inch chrome wheels, the high-end 4.0L V6 engine making 260 horsepower, and... AND the optional MyGIG™ Multimedia Infotainment System? " Click here to register and enter Wouldn't it be cool for a C&G member to win? Regardless of make/model.

Here's one of mine, the Citroen SM. 3.0l V6 from the Merek, Citroen innovation, and a bit of American panache. Features include swiviling, self-leveling headlamps with glass shielding, self-centering power steering, rainsensing wipers, and the famous hydropneumatic suspension system which delivered a composed but oh-so smooth ride over any terrain. As some regular Top Gear viewers know, Citroens were notably used as camera cars due to ability to glide over rough surfaces. Some Citroens can even reportedly be driven on three wheels thanks to this suspension setup. Just under 13,000 were built, about 2,400 of which were exported to America. When I was about four or five, I remember walking with my parents up and down the beachfront houses. Beautiful old-money Cadillacs, spendthrift Corvettes, and Mercedes sat in driveways. But at the end of the cul-de-sac, an old Spanish-style mansion always had a black SM parked out front, partially shrouded by palms. It was so mysterious to me at that time and, yeah, I still want one.

Future Watch: Buick Skylark for China in 2009 Link to Original Article @ Inside Line Artist rendering by C.H.U.D. SHANGHAI, China — General Motors will launch a new Buick Skylark compact in China in 2009 that could be exported to the U.S. as a 2010 model. The Skylark will replace the Daewoo-based Excelle in China and will be assembled by the Shanghai GM joint venture, Inside Line has learned. GM also is considering whether to add another Chinese Buick, the new Australia-sourced Park Avenue sedan, to its U.S. lineup in 2009, supplier sources told IL. The new Skylark is based on GM's Delta 2 global small-car architecture. It will share its underpinnings with the next-generation Chevrolet Cobalt, Opel Astra and Pontiac G6. A new Saab, the 9-1, will be based on the same platform, as will the next-generation Saturn Astra. The current Buick Excelle that's built in China is a version of the Daewoo Lacetti that's also sold in North America as the Suzuki Forenza and in other overseas markets as the Chevrolet Optra. The next-generation Lacetti also is expected to shift to the Delta 2 platform in Korea. The new Park Avenue is based on the Holden Statesman and goes on sale shortly in China. IL has learned that Buick's U.S. dealers have asked for the car in late 2008 as an '09 model. GM has tentative plans to assemble a redesigned Park Avenue, based on its Zeta rear-drive architecture, in North America in late 2010, alongside a new rear-drive Chevrolet Impala. What this means to you: The Skylark could be the first GM import from China.

Sorry to hear about this, Sly. Just remember that divorces can be extremely detrimental to a child. Luckily, your daughter is at an age where her education won't be affected by it. I don't know if lucky is the right word for it, but looking back, I consider it very fortunate that if my parents were destined to split apart, it was in between kindergarten and 1st grade. The circumstances were different and probably a lot less amicable than it is in your situation, but by the time it was largely over, I was able to go right into school with a mostly uncluttered mind. I don't know what you intend to do about custody (and its probably none of our businesses anyway), but please always consider the welfare of your daughter above everything else. The worst thing seperated parents can do is make the child a centerpiece for arguments. Its very harmful and I've seen people go through it. Most of all, good luck. I hope this is as painless and as amicable as can be for you and your daughter.

Ha. I got a brand-new set of Khumos shipped to my door from TireRack for like $250. You could probably get wheels and tires for a Saturn for $300. The 'needs new tires' gig is fun to pull at a used car lot, but I don't know what people expect from private sellers. This is why I'll likely keep my cars until they completely die, then drag it into a dealership as a trade-in. I'd hate dealing with people like that who want to low-ball and play games. It just brings to light the lamest mentality of American people - cheapness. If anyone's ever hosted a garage sale, you know exactly what I'm talking about. People trying to bargain a $1.00 item down to $.50 and walking off when you refuse like they just cost you some big commission. As said in the other thread, you're asking a fair price. People are asking the same amount for older SLs or ones with 100k+ miles.

If someone/people want to write up a real nice but direct statement about why Saturn should accept GM Card earnings, we can put the C&G signature on it and forward it to her.

This wasn't some redneck misadventure either; this was a professional engineering modifcation done by the Grant Piston Ring Company. Clicky.