Robert Hall

'00 Jeep Grand Cherokee--72k '96 BMW M3- 55k '87 Ford Mustang GT- 63k g/f's cars: '02 BMW 330Ci - 35k '99 Jeep Wrangler- 45k

I saw one for the first time in LA last weekend, along with my first Caliber sighting (my immediate thought was that the rear end design looked like a small version of the Range Rover Sport), and my first BLS sighting.

I don't mind a hood prop. At least you don't have the problem of how to keep the hood open when the struts fail. I had to keep the hood open with my head on my Jeep when the struts failed until I could get them replaced.. (though I almost never open my hood except to periodically check the oil, trans. fluid, washer fluid, brake fluid).

Same numbers as my Grand Cherokee w/ the 4.0L 6.

Hmm...interesting..first time I can think of where the GM full size trucks and SUVs didn't have the same dash design within the same generation. Doesn't look as nice as the Tahoe, IMHO...looks too utilitarian.. Hopefully, the 'professional grade' GMCs will be more upscale and less gray plastic inside..

Interesing..I don't think I've seen a DTS convertible..I have seen a '90s Eldorado conv. (very nice) and a Coupe de Ville convertible made from around a 1990 CDV.. Speaking of unusual Cadillacs, I saw a BLS with Michigan mfgr plates on the 405 freeway in Orange County this past Saturday... looked pretty good in person.

The VQ is the V6 in the Maxima, 350Z, etc? I had a 350Z rental last week and the one thing I really didn't like was the sound on startup..I don't know if it is the ignition or the engine, but it didn't sound good...otherwise, very smooth..

I think I've only seen one Lincoln Blackwood. Maybe 3 Envoy XUVs. 2 Ferrari F430s so far (incl. one this past weekend). 2 Rolls Royce Phantoms (incl. one this past weekend). 2 Mercedes SLRs. 1 Porsche Carrera GT. 2 Enzos.(incl. one this past weekend). 3 Ford GTs (2 at new car shows) 2 Alfa GTs (the current model) 1 Caddy BLS (this past weekend) As far as oldies go, these come to mind: I don't think I've ever seen a '59 or '60 Caddy Fleetwood Brougham in person, though I've seen one '57 (stainless steel roof, suicide doors, etc). 1 '69 Charger 500, at a classic car show I think I've only seen 1 '61 Olds 98 4-window 4dr ht w/ the wraparound back glass.

Hmmm..I don't think that a car is widely used as a taxi is much of an endorsement..I certainly wouldn't want to drive a car that is known for being used as a cab!

The Stratus and Caravan are the only ones I can think of currently that would be 'badge jobs', though the Stratus sedan has a unique fascia and headlights (I don't know about the metal) from the Sebring sedan.. The Sprinter is also, but since the M-B version isn't sold here, it's less noticable.. Back from the mid-70s to the mid-90ss, pretty much anything Dodge and Plymouth (and Chrysler to a degree) were really badge engineered with each other with only trivial differences....

I hope they replaced the Chevy badge on the steering wheel with a Pontiac badge...

For the record, I produced both the echo fart (in a mausoleum, no less), a few teflon farts (on an airplane), and a mild shart this past weekend.

Been there, done that... the 'double ended firehose'---nausea + diarreha...happened to me once, couldn't make it to the toilet or sink, went all over the bathroom wall and a magazine rack..quite the mess to clean up..

I try and avoid public farting as it's uncooth and unprofessional...but, sometimes you can't avoid one... I once let loose with an explosively loud one after holding it when I thought I was alone on a dock, but there were two tourists directly behind me...they went back about 20 feet in a few seconds.. Underwater farts in the pool or tub are fun.. I've been plagued by sharts at innoportune times..I let some in an elevator once, and while riding a gondola, while driving in cold weather w/ the seat heater on (melty poo).. unfortunately, sharts can be a prelude to something much, much worse---firehose diarreha... when you really, really hope those car seats are Scotchgarded..

Whatever...the '08 CTS is just talk at this point..just a 4dr again...this is a coupe. Unfortunately, GM has nothing remotely competitive with the 3 series coupe at it's price point.. I like the back end a lot, much nicer than the 4dr 3-series..

Did anyone notice the new Honda Fit print ads? Kind of strange, with cartoon pics and odd phrasing like 'Greetings, humans!'. With the tag line 'Fit is go!'.

I'm sure Domesticated is.. It's the all-new, first ever G5! Guaranteed excitement!!!!

Looks great..esp. in the latest photos. I can't wait to see it in person...maybe I can convince my g/f to trade her '01 330Ci up on one.. I could see myself in one of these, it would make a great all-around daily driver.

I'm not sure if I've ever said 'Ecotech' outloud, but I'd pronounce it E-co-tech, pronouncing 'eco' as in ecology. An 'Echo' pronounciation would require it to be spelled Echotech or Eccotech (like the shoe company--Ecco), I think..

A lot of people know about the Skyline GT-R, the fact that we all know what it is is proof enough that the car is fairly well known in the automotive world, despite never being sold in N/A. Since this is a low volume car, and peopel who are car enthusiasts will be the ones buying them, Nissan doesn't have to worry about the uptight rich guys who just want an expensive toy but don't want it under a Nissan badge, or Altima buyers who just want a family car. Exactly..there are car enthusiasts in the US who have been aware of the GT-R for years...I first heard about them about 15 years ago--read about gray market imports of the R32 version to the UK in Car or another British magazine...then got the Tamiya 1:24th model kits, then saw one for the first time in 1999 when I was in the UK. I've seen a few here in the US in the last couple of years also...

I am dissapointed they are calling it just 'GT-R', 'Skyline GT-R' sounds much better, IMHO....though I think in Japan this generation is going to be just 'GT-R' also, since it's not based directly on the Skyline (current generation is the G35 in US) anymore...

From the company the brought out the very wierd Rodius (minivan inspired by the Aztek and Merc ML-class) comes the Actyon Sports...very strange...looks like a surrealist vision of a Ridgeline-type vehicle.. Ssangyong Actyon

Get over it...symmetry is overdone and too predictable..nothing wrong with asymmetry in a design. I'm bored with all the current designs that have everything left-right symmetrical...I miss the traditional BMW driver oriented designs, for example...

I was talking Euros... I think the only VW made in Mexico (Peso) and sold in the US is the Jetta...

How about Steve Buschemi....or he just scary looking..