Robert Hall

Toyota really does nothing for me...too dull (like most of GM's cars). I like some of the Lexuses, but I'd buy a BMW, Infiniti or Cadillac over them... The one Japanese car I'd mostly like buy in the near future is the Infiniti G37..really liking that car.

Yes, it looks juvenile and unprofessional to have a thread title like that.

'78 is right for the Mopies...not sure about Ford, when they make their last 4dr ht LTD and Grand Marquis..'78 at the latest.. For GM, it was definitely '76 for the B- and C- bodies.

Yeah, '80s carburated cars I'd avoid at all costs...

I wonder what happened to ex-brother-in-law #3's mother's car...she passed away at age 95 a couple years ago, she had a silver blue w/ dark blue interior '86ish Fleetwood Brougham...I recall riding in it back in 2000, it only had 25k miles then....

I'm thinking of getting one...a 2005+ Grand Marquis or Town Car...lots of them around here. And they get better mileage than my Jeep.

Astros were unsafe at any speed (ever see the crash test video?). Definitely not something for a family. I'd recommend an old Volvo wagon if you want something cheap, RWD and safe.

In my view, health care is a basic human right... I think progressive countries like Canada and Western European countries have done a good job of balancing social responsibility with capitalism and still have democracies....the quality of life in countries like France is considered higher than the US, for example (and they take the life-work balance seriously, way more vacation time). (yes, I'm an atheist liberal and a bit of an elitist, nothing wrong with that..)

One of the things that was a deciding factor in my new job was the health benefits (Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO) paid for entirely by the company w/ no monthly employee contribution. That is something I've never had at a job before (always had a deduction), but it seemed like a good deal (along w/ 3 weeks vacation). When I've been a contractor I've had to get health insurance myself (when I was a 1099) or through a contracting house (when I was a W2). Health insurance coverage is definitely part of the total package I would expect in a job offer (I couldn't imagine it not being available for a salaried position).

Long time.. I'm just wondering if you will ever get rational and join the 21st century.. Seriously, those old land yachts are nice, but way impractical as a daily driver....

That is eclectic..sounds like one of my playlists...I've got Johnny Cash, NWA, and Moby all on my iPod...

In the Northeast, though, FWD would make sense...get a used minivan, would be practical for a family and decent on gas.

Haven't been outsourced yet... there was a lot of outsourcing about 5-6 years ago, but that was mostly backoffice IT work and maintenance and call centers..new development is still alive and well in the US, in small companies, medium size and large companies. It seems like some of the routine stuff was outsourced, but the creative and high end stuff is still alive and well here. My job market seems to have been unaffected by the current downturn, I had a ton of job leads in Denver and many here in the Phoenix area when I was on the hunt last month.

Maybe...it's just my demographic (late 20s-to 40-something software engineers and other tech industry folks in suburbia), but everyone drives Japanese or German...I know a few people w/ domestic SUVs and a couple of Mustang owners, but that's about it.

That approach wouldn't work for me... if I lived that way, I'd have no friends..

I don't see the point of all the hatin'...it's ultimately futile and accomplishes nothing...better to focus your energy on something productive. I wouldn't buy a Toyota as they have nothing that really appeals to me...though I would consider Acuras (TL), Hondas (Accord), Nissans (350z) and Infinitis (G35,G37).

My commute is about 40 miles a day round trip, so I'm spending about $60/week on gas...not bad.

For an Avis car, though, the Impala is adequate...not something I'd buy, but it makes an ok rental.

D'oh..I knew that..bird, antelope, same difference..

It's not bad... some areas get backed up pretty bad at rush hour (parts of the 101, 51, and 10). The nice thing for me is my commute is reverse the usual rush hour flow, so my 19.3 mi drive (from N. Central Phoenix to N. Scottsdale) is usually 20-25 min at most. The Phoenix metro area has a well-developed network of freeways and construction continues. Overall, I've found the traffic congestion at rush hour in Denver to be worse than what I've seen so far in the Phoenix area. In Phoenix itself, 2 things I've found irritating.. the reversable lanes on 7th St and 7th Ave, and the lack of turn arrows at many major intersections!

IIRC, my Maine fiend is originally from Bar Harbor... I've been to Maine once, about 15 years ago...my sister and I drove up from the Boston area (she lived in Weston and had a Saab 900 Turbo, a stereotypical NE car of the era), we day tripped up to Kennebunk/port and Portland..the coast was pretty scenic, though I'll admit I don't recall much about the local folk.

I have a friend who is from Maine, he graduated from Stanford, and is one of the smartest (and smart-assedist) software architects I know...

Don't hate the playas, hate the game.

Cool...have a good trip. I'm looking forward to going back to Europe...been over 3 years since my last trip there....I've gone to Hawaii instead the last two years, not sure where I'll go this year...

I just saw a yellow '90s Roadmaster w/o a vinyl top go past on the 101 freeway that is visible outside my office conference room window...cool. There is a white Roadmaster and a white '94-96 Caprice ex-cop car in my company parking lot also.. update: A white '70-72 Cutlass coupe just went by on the 101...sitting here w/ my laptop w/ a good view of the freeway.