SAmadei

After seeing the Top Gear UK opinion of the Quattroporte, I think Some Chrysler common sense might help out Maserati.

If you guys have been following Jalopnik, there is a lot more stuff to be found in South Park... but only until Sept. 14th... http://www.bonanzacarcollection.zoomshare.com/0.html

You'll make money on these all day long. People leave them out in the rain too many times, and every one I ever see has the same problem. As for business cards, I've used overnightprints.com for relatively quick, small runs. Anything bigger that required real professionalism, I farm out locally.

LLT and LFX are still derivatives of the HFV6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_High_Feature_engine

That's just the pushrod HV engines, though, isn't it? And those are gone for MY '12... Depends on how you count. The HFV6s are also 60 degree and can be made as small as 2.8, so they are the spiritual successors to the 1980 2.8... just like the LSx engines are spiritually related to the Chevy small block by a few crucial measurements. I just haven't had much love for 60 degree V6s over the years.

That sounds high to me. What does it idle at when warm and the AC is off? Even with the AC on, I'm used to none of my cars idling over 1000 rpm. In these days of computer controlled engines, you don't hear of high idle problems too often.

I'd have to agree. The 3.8 was the V6 to drive. 2.8, 3.1, 3.4 are the Chevy based 60 degree V6s and I've never drove one worth zilch. Most could be out driven by an Iron Duke 2.5. Putting your foot to the floor in a 2.8 did nothing but make more noise. It makes me cry a bit inside when I remember all GM's current V6s are (distantly) related to the 1980 Citation.

I would have to say yes. The import invasion was well upon us while Detroit was in its heyday, well before CAFE. And Detroit has always understood that economical cars do sell... but they were not willing to down-engineer cars to the point of the Beetle. And I can't blame them... a 6 cyl A-body got 75% of the economy of a Beetle without giving up a ton of features and space. Because, IMHO, the big three reacted badly to CAFE, it has led to Toyota and Honda and some friends becoming monsters in the playing field. Had the big three simply reacted to the oil shortages, they could have continued to build the big cars they were good at, and in time they would have designed decent small cars because they had to compete with Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Remember, CAFE didn't move for something like 15+ years. Toyota, Honda and Nissan would not have had such an easy time attacking the midsize and large car markets without CAFE. Of course, without CAFE, SUVs would not have come to the forefront for replace the big cars screwed by CAFE. This actually caused average vehicle fuel economy to dive, not rise. So I imagine gasoline has been more expensive over the last decade due to the side effects of CAFE. In any case, people like to bash GM for taking 30 years to build a good small car... but no one else could have built today's small cars in the '70s... the tech was simply not there. Not there in the '80s or '90s, either. So in the end, I don't feel CAFE had much bearing on today's choice in small cars. We might not have had as many imports, as a few may have stayed home due to stronger American offerings... but we'd also likely have more American choices than the Cruze, Focus and Caliber... at least Pontiac, Saturn (I think GM would have still created Saturn without CAFE) and Plymouth counterparts, if not a few more. While it may sound like I am laying a lot of Detroit's downfall on CAFE, it is not the only thing... obviously the UAW and a few other disasters also contributed.

Warm up your voter registration card. Lots of politicians need to join the unemployed.

I'm not a 4 cyl fan, either. I don't like driving something I have to drive like I hate it to get through traffic. And every time anyone bad mouths a 4 cyl, someone posts pictures of the LNF and that awful dyno chart GM made up (I have YET to see a actual dyno chart from a stock LNF). Sure, the LNF should be good, its got a big turbo on it! Well, the LNF is dead, just like the short lived GNX. The 4 cyls GM is plugging into most cars right now are not even derivatives of the LNF. Stuff like the LAF... 182hp@screaming 172tq@way too late. I drive 4 cyls... the Sunfire's Twin Cam does good in traffic... 150hp@5600, 155tq@2400 (Not bad for a 20 year old design)... but at a cost. It gobbles fuel. I get better fuel economy from a V6... notably the 3800NA and 3800SCs in the family. I don't currently have a V8 in the family newer than a LT1... but knowing the massive changes, I imagine a LS3 would give me similar economy. I fear that people are being persuaded and duped into 4cyls by friends and salespeople who brag about great fuel economy, but in the end, they get a compromised vehicle... too little engine in too fat a vehicle giving meh fuel economy. In the meantime, GM is getting stingier in what cars will have the big V6, V8 power. The next rumored to be Malibu being 4 cyl only... thats a lot of car to be saddled with a 4. GM has happily saddled all of its cars in low powered engines before. I hope they aren't moving in that direction again.

Not necessarily true, otherwise we'd be using turbines. However, the testers felt the power came on too unnaturally... and the project ended.

The years where the V8 was the norm are not as common as you would think. Yes, they were more common, especially in cars then they were 10 years ago, but with the exception of higher luxury cars like Olds, Buick and Cadillac, more models came with I-6s and V-6s than V8s. I'd say you need to go back to the short window between '72 and '76 (35 years ago) where you could accurately describe V8s as being the norm.

You need a public address system.

She knows there is nothing you can do. I don't usually give out the finger... as far as I'm concerned, giving the finger is a last ditch effort that implicitly signifies defeat. I would have [redacted by my lawyer]. Teach them a thing or two.

The 2004 Grand Prix GTP has been in the family about 3 years now, and recently it has started belching out an awful, dieselly odor from the HVAC every so often. Its been too intermittent for me to put my finger on the problem, so I'm curious if any other GM owners have come across such a problem. The problem is that the car will just be driving along normally when it happens... not hitting any bumps, turning or braking. We've observed it with the AC on and off, with the Recirc on and off. The smell lasts about 5 seconds and smells remarkably like one drove into a big cloud of diesel smoke. Of course, there is no smoke... or any diesels for miles, usually. I would imagine a lot of people would not even notice this was going on. I was suspecting the cabin filter, but with the Recirc on, no air should be being drawn through that. I know the recirc is working, as the AC is noticeably cooler with it on. The cabin filter, IIRC, is not that old... but will be the first thing I check, eventually. Its such a PITA to check it once you install the improved water deflector. Any thoughts?

Time for a cell phone jammer.

I only cluster in with others if they are alert, speedy, friendly drivers. Its part of trying to drive at about the 95th~97th percentile speedwise. When you are part of a group, you are less likely to end up in the 99th or 98th percentile, where people getting tickets are. And police seem less likely to pull over a cluster of drivers all doing the same speed... within reason, of course.

The Atlantic City area hit 105.1 Friday, second hottest of all time. Felt like 122. We got some protection being on a barrier island... it was "only" about 97. but it was worst today for us, our barrier island difference disappeared and we hit the 100 at noon. Apparently, AC got 102~103 today. Just nuts. Thankfully, there is still a island breeze... mostly... but the greenheads are hot, agitated and out for blood. I had one accost me in the car buzzing around my head, luckily I was only doing about 25... faster and it would have been a major distraction... I hit the thing about 3 times and it still didn't die.

Cars were cheaper... even as little as 3 years ago. As far as the LeSabre goes, did the engine sound normal when it was turning over? No new clunks, screeches or taps? If not, the engine is basically fine. 3800's are good for 200K+ so yours is barely getting broken in. The only things I can think of if it is not the fuel pump would be all ignition related... coil packs, ETC sensor, crank sensor, PCM... and most are normally easy to replace. Fuel pump is a PITA... probably a 6 hr or more task according to their book... but every car is that way now.

I don't think you're being unreasonable. Well, I am generally anti-dealer. I feel that dealers have some built-in degree of a conflict of interest, at some point trying to sell you a new car. The idea that they are trying to talk you out of fixing what sounds like a decent car reinforces that. I imagine they want to sell you a new car and put that one, after a minor fix, on their used car lot. Used car lots will always welcome low mileage cars, even if its older. I also feel that dealers tend to want to fix everything immediately, not understanding that some people can't afford to do that, which leads to estimates that quickly go over the value of the car. I also think that some dealer mechanics are not comfortable with the older cars, as the troubleshooting techniques fall out of practice and they don't like looking like fools, trying to relearn what screw to turn to set the idle speed on a old carb. But that is certainly not every place. As for starting the car, I think its shameful they had the car so long and would not have checked the spark, basic timing and fuel pressure... all simple things to do, which should have led them in a direction to explore. Jumping to the intake it not right, as I feel it would not have led to a very hard start situation. The 6 hours quoted for the intake comes from their book... and its going to be 6 hours regardless... even if we know it takes less. Since you do have mechanical experience, try asking them some though questions, mechanically... like, what was the fuel pressure? Maybe that will get them to understand they aren't dealing with a person who thinks whatever happens below the hood is magic. Without examining it myself, or knowing whats already been replaced on the car, my first impression is that its going to need a fuel pump. Typically, this is true. But if the issue is intake related, but not Dexcool related, it could be a severe air leak or a crack, and the oil/coolant would be untainted. I don't think this is the situation, however. And tainted oil/coolant would not lead to a hard starting condition... IMHO, the only way it would affect the starting would be if it was hydrolocked.

Agreed. In fact the only engines I drive that are noisy as hell... The Sunfire (2.4 Twin Cam) and Corolla... both OHC. And both sound worse than diesels.

Please don't jinx Chrysler. As much as I like their efforts, Chrysler is at FIATs mercy for the time being, and the cars themselves are too damn heavy. Not only that, but the LX cars are a half size smaller than the large cars we are watching pass... DTS, Lucerne, TC, CV. They do seem to be Detroit's size kings now, though. I should stop by the local dealership for a sit in, just for SnGs... With FIAT's track record, I cannot bank yet on Chrysler still being in business 5 years from now, let alone being in the RWD game. I like to be able to change out of a light jacket without getting out of the car, punching a passenger or window.

Tell that to Big Show in person, big talker. Let us know when you get out of the coma.

Did I ever say SUVs weren't part of the female influence? Women like that up high seating position. They don't seem to mind driving the QE2, as long as they can do it from the crow's nest. This somehow conveys "safety". I'm not getting your tie-in logic here. I don't care if anyone is seated in the middle of the front bench. Quite frankly, I like Bucket or Bench about the same... what I don't like is tiny buckets because we need a 14" wide console in a 66" wide car. As far as Interior packaging getting better... then riddle me this: Why is the new Camaro, based in spirit on the first Gen Camaros, longer, wider and taller (in body height, not ride height) than the original, yet suffer from horrible ergonomics and have no visibility compared to the first gen Camaros? For all my monsterous size... I used to ride in the BACKSEAT of the 1st gen F-bods without trouble. (My back would probably prevent it today). Its not possible in the 5th gens. I barely can ride in the front seat. Interior packaging seems to be set up to maximize the EPA measurements, not the usefulness of actual human beings. I'll keep that in mind when forced to rent one, because its listed as the only full size left on the lot. But in the meantime, I've been driving the Sunfire on a regular basis since my normal driver's tranny died. I doubt the Cruze is easier for me to get in/out of than a Sunfire coupe. I didn't say the Lucerne /DTS is "too small"... only that they are a bit tight and and virtually extinct, according to GM. Once the Lucernce, DTS, CV, TC, GM are all gone, whats left? Going to just adjust your attitude that anyone who can't fit in the Impala/LaCrosse is no longer a valid consumer? I can fold up into some small cars, but that does not make it comfortable. In the long run, a lot of you young guys are going to regret the passing of the big cars... when your knees, backs and flexibility fails. You'll be surprised what minor "design issues" can quickly remove even mid-sizers off your list because you can't bear to be in it for more than 20 minutes.

Things in life change. What happens when you may need to put some linebackers in the back seat on a regular basis, perhaps ones you work for? One reason I like coupes... its not an open invitation for backseat riders. But I also like to know that I can get a big sedan, if I need one. Actually, the women in my family are also fine with larger cars. In fact my mother has probably driven bigger trucks than most people here have... with a stick. This is why I find the attitude over the years of women outside my family who will simply refuse to drive anything later than, say a Chevette. My father found a very sweet low mileage Citation, cheap, for a friend of the family 2 decades ago... and she refused to test drive it. Bought a Chevette for nearly double the price a few days later. Then another Chevette the next year. And A few more Chevettes until the supply was pretty much dried up. Then bought a '88 Nova.