SAmadei

Should I ever have children, my worst fear is that they will find my NIB diecast car collection and will play with them! Or worse... that I will cherry pick (steal) the best examples out of their collection!

I was recently reading about plastic bumper repair, and I'm amazed by what they can do. I'm tempted to try to repair the little nicks and scrapes in my bumper. Judging from your pictures, I would say a good bodyshop would fix both pieces quite easily.

Yeah, it did seem badly phrased, and most people read into it the wrong thing, me included. That said, I like that you are saying (I haven't looked at the numbers myself, and I trust your facts) that the G8 is the 6th best selling GM car right now... trailing the Malibu, Impala, Cobalt, CTS and G6... and it's increasing. Considering the lack of marketing or dealer apathy, I would say that's a great thing. The cash on the hood is irrelevant. _Every_ GM car has cash on the hood. I would even say that at this point, everything selling less than the G8 can be cancelled... Whoops, no Buick in NA! ;-) How much better would the G8 do if it was build in the US, without production limits and the long boat ride? It's my undertstanding the Aussies make roughly as much as US workers, so I would say that a US built G8 would be $3K less (shipping and less expensive raw materials in the US). It's not like there isn't any unused factory capacity in the US. Plus those "buy American" people wouldn't shun it. I'm convinced if it would have been built here, was a little more American in feel and simply named the Grand Prix, it would be on target for 100K a year and potentially a COTY.

Sorry to be anal, but that is a '73 or later. The styling on those boxy '78-'83 Malibus really have come around. I remember watching the boxy fad of the late '70s-early '80s unfold, and I thought "Ugh, how could it get worse?". Yeah, everything turned into crap underpowered FWD jellybeans. Now the "grandma" boring cars like the '78-'83 Malibu, '75-79 Nova and other B-bods and G-bods look awesome. Everytime I see a nice Malibu box coupe, the mind just reels with ideas. It sucks thinking about the nice RWD X, A, G and B bods that I could have had for a song. I had dibs on at least THREE Mailbu coupes and a wagon. Wish I had a time machine shaped like a two-car garage.

[sarcasm] VW has too many brands! Why would anyone buy a Audi when its a just an overpriced Volkswagen?!? [/sarcasm] Seriously, if it wasn't for all the ground in the US that Volkswagen has to gain, I would say Volkswagen is quite successfully beating GM in the multibranded attack to the top.

Well, I don't set out to destroy anything... but a test drive needs to represent your driving... especially for enthusiasts. Keep in mind, we all have selective amnesia on the shocking was we abuse the car we "love". ;-) The C&G crew are definitely unique. However, internet savvy, C&G-like, already-know-a-good-deal-about-what-they-want types are increasing. You can buy cars sight unseen on eBay, delivered to your house next week... the OEMs need to start doing this. An informed consumer is a good thing, as long as you aren't trying to peddle overpriced garbage. Sometimes, I think these salespersons are the worst... they get defensive... or obnoxious... and working with these folks can be a PITA. Agreed agreed agreed. Of course, this is the best time for GM to fix the dealer system... while the dealers are weak and GM has, well, nothing to lose. Just adding a true online channel would make alot of people happy.

L.C.H.C. (Liberty City Hard Core) fictional radio station in Grand Theft Auto IV.

We are getting rid of bank tellers. If I have a transaction with my bank that doesn't require a teller, and I use one, I get hit with a $1 fee. We are getting rid of department stores... they have been a dying breed since the '50s. We like big box stores now. I'm not advocating getting rid of ALL dealer salespersons... just the 60% cruft. When I was at the dealer two months ago, there where people hanging around left and right doing NOTHING but admiring the shine on the floor. I had to talk to three clueless salespersons before they could locate a G8 IN THEIR LOT! This is a well known GM dealership with 5 big GM brands. Nobody knew crap about GM product. Even when I got to the point to talk to someone who could make a deal, it was painful. I walked out... AGAIN. How effective is a test drive today? You can't _really_ drive the car hard without scaring the salesperson. And most cars in the same class all handle and drive about the same anymore. Actually, a couple years ago, I went to a Toyota test driving event. In other words, I got to trash Toyotas all afternoon. While it was geared towards the young and featured the more entry level stuff, at least I could drive the cars more like real life... and all the cars stayed shiny side up. While I had ZERO chance of being swayed, I could see this being very good for the more impressionable. Me? I like going to the car shows. I can try them out without being bothered. For an actual test drive? I'll rent a car from Alamo. The one car I rented I drove VERY aggressively for 150 miles through mountain switchbacks. The brakes and tires definitely got a workout... but the W-body's limits were quite exposed. Can I rent a G8 for a test drive? It's hard... but it was hard trying to get a G8 test drive at the dealership, as well. "We don't have any G8s... would you like to try out a new G6?" Are you f'ing kidding me?!? Granted, some dealerships do have better test drive setups... however, I am never offered them. And no, I don't walk in looking like a homeless crackhead and my cash and credit is quite sufficient.

I'll still stick with a '73/'74. Here's what I had in mind... I don't think it has a B-pillar... just crap growing on the weatherstrip/trim strip. Also note the bodyline crease that starts at the top of the door and slopes down to almost the bumper... its very clear, IMHO, in the underwater picture. 68, I didn't think Pontiac or Buick due to the body crease... which looks like the above Chevy and some Caddies.

Yeah, I never thought I'd own a bulldozer and a dump truck... (I'm a computer geek, remember) but life throws weird things at you. Of the post-war US-sold brands, I have never had a Cadillac, SAAB, Saturn or GEO. With the gas crunch and due to parking constrains in NYC, I considered a Saturn or GEO that I was going to modify into a shorter, two-seat version. Eventually, I will have a Cadillac. Probably an Eldo. Because I'm 137 years old.

Edited for my prefs... but you need to add the '68-'72 GS stage 1... especially the 455 '70 in yellow and black. I also like the 90's Rivs... even though they power the wrong wheels.

1970 Orbit Orange GTO Judge, a 1969 Firebird and a 1967 Grand Prix convertible... I have two of the three in the yard. The closest thing to the GTO is my '70 Tempest. A 1967 GTO hardtop would command #4 in my list...

I'd like to know where. I was searching for a decent one for months... everything is either 5K+ or has a serious flaw... mostly rust. I like the limited edition 199 degree Chevettes... Those are stock, right?

Just start selling cars online. You already pay a delivery fee to the dealer, why not just pay that to an auto transport company. The brick and mortar dealers can stick around... doing service and parts and sales to people who need a hand-holding experience... for a price. This will put most unnecessary dealers right out of business. For those who know what they want, let 'em buy direct, rather than deal with PITA dealers.

I've never had that, but after having REAL Chicago deep-dish, Pizzeria Uno is awful. Actually, it was awful before. Of course, living in the land of awesome pizza (Phila-Jersey-New York), no franchise is going to be even close to good. In fact, I rate franchise pizza on a separate scale... "corporate pizza" vs. "real pizza". Of course, "corporate pizza" includes stuff you find in the grocer's freezer, so "good corporate pizza" is not really a compliment. Red Lobster is meh... but the cheesy buttery biscuits are fantastic. I've been known to eat 20+ of those... Makes for a cheap meal, ordering the minimum needed for the unlimited biscuits. ;-)

This is the same early '80s where the Cutlass Supreme was the top seller in America? I wish I could have such a product on "life support" that was a perennial best seller.

I was thinking '73-74 Caprice coupe. It doesn't seem to have any fin. I think the trunk might be ajar. I'm amazed how well the upholstery is holding up.

I title everything ASAP, as well. Even though a couple of my titled cars fit in a shoebox now. If you cut it up small enough, you can always find people to take the steel. ;-)

What is the story on that? Mafia or artificial reef?

Actually, that's true. As soon as the gov saw such a stupid decision, they immediately should withhold funds until GM's idiot management is cleaned out. Of course, the gov still likes bailing out AIG... but I don't think AIG has made a such a stupid decision. "Hmm... we got these millions of banking customers, and only two customers buying $4000 AIG Burgers... lets kill off the bank and stick with the Burgers... it's more profitable per unit."

Agreed. Coke Classic was unbeatable when it came back, and New Coke was forgotten overnight. If GM wasn't so close to death, I would suggest the resurrection of Olds in the Saturn footprint. But then again, if GM wasn't so close to death, they would dump 3 billion into Saturn and give all the VPs million dollar bonuses.

My experience is that junkyards don't want to sell the whole car. In NJ, all junkyard cars have titles, but they are savage and the yard _can_ sell you the whole car... but they want outrageous money for it. I offered about $800 for a trashed Bonneville coupe... they wanted $2K... two weeks later, it went to the shredder. They got about $300. As far as going to an auction, you generally will need either a dealer license or junkyard license or they won't let you in the door. eBay, CL seem to be the only ways to go. Also, drive around looking in backyards...

Doesn't look bad. Looks like it might be a '84 or '85? And your "right up the street"... that being 250 miles of Rt 322... which both houses are within 10 miles of. Does it run at all? Would it limp 250 miles? I would probably hope right on this, but I have a self-imposed car buying embargo until I get my garage built. I'll read your threads about it and think about it. I'm not sure he means free. Keep in mind Lancaster is on my way home, and would be a great place to break down for a couple hours, so try not to talk me into it too much!

About 16 years ago, a friend introduced me to a guy in North Jersey who bought and sold old cars. While climbing about his chicken coops full of cars, we had to climb up on a 2 foot high crumple of metal to get to another area... he told us to be careful about climbing on his $15K 1967 Shelby 500! I checked closer, and it was definitely very Mustang like... engineless and crushed to 2 foot high, 3.5 foot wide, 16 foot long and burned to a crisp. About the only thing to survive was the needle on the speedo... and the VIN. I laughed at his idea of getting so much for it, but he was firm on the price and it was gone the next time I was there. Crazy. I really dig the '70s Camaro. Looks like a clean body shell and would be a great project start.

Exactly, it drives me nuts. If I could fine a Stryker Blue GXP, I would likely buy it, but I am uncomfortable in being "driving Miss Daisy", if I am too tired to drive and have a friend or family member drive it. I likely _will_ buy a G8 GXP when the economic smokes clears a bit, but I foresee fabricating some seat mount relocators to be happy with the passenger seat. The Mini also has this front seat inequality... but the passenger seat gets a notch MORE legroom, not less. Yeah, I can fit in a Mini (not comfortably), but not the passenger seat of the G8 and just barely in the departed Grand Prix... come on, GM, you can do better than this. In the Grand Prix, once seated, I can't reach the door to pull it shut without removing my head. And I have gorilla arms. As far as a G8 being huge... well, I have a '67 Grand Prix, a '68 and '70 Catalina and several B-bodies... the G8 is sufficient. I would have loved to see the slightly larger Statesman sold here. Back on subject... Many of you have mentioned moving to a Ford or Chrysler in GM's absence. For me, this will bring tremendous family strife. In my family, we are close and very passionate about cars. I was raised by my parents to be GM loyal. My father was especially anti-Ford... and I have many reasons I really dislike Fords. My mother, however, was raised in a Dodge family... and she hates Chrysler cars for that reason. If I was to get a Chrysler, while I like their styling, I would never hear the end of it. OTOH, if my mother got a Ford... I would refuse to ride in it or fix it. Yeah, world war III would break out. ;-) Hence, my leanings towards BMW and Mercedes in GM's absence. Please, GM, you HAVE to survive! Peace in my family depends on it! ;-)