Robert Hall

Interesting this discussion about Holden. I didn't realize Holden (and Opel) were considered 'subsidiaries' of GM...I thought they were just brands within the larger whole of GM, like Chevrolet, Cadillac, etc. GM's NA brands at one time were divisions with semi-autonomy and extensive design and engineering groups (and division-specific engines, etc) somewhat separate from the whole, but aren't they today really just marketing organizations within a single, larger entity?

My family's place in eastern Ohio is like that ...150 acres up in a heavily wooded valley, two 10 acre ponds, can't see the neighbors, 5 miles from the nearest town (250 people), 20 miles from the nearest Wal-Mart, 50 miles from the nearest Starbucks, about 2 hrs from the nearest big city (about equal distance to Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh). I enjoyed living there as a kid, but it's way too isolated for my tastes...fun to go spend a few weekends a year there, though. Very quiet...the deer will come right up to the back deck, in the summer, you can sit out on the back deck or front porch and listen to the crickets, birds, etc.

What is the largest domestic car offered in NA today, by length? (not including limos) What is the largest Japanese car offered in NA today, by length? (not including limos) What is the largest European car offered in NA today, by length? (not including limos)

When did Chevy, Buick, Olds, and Pontiac each LAST offer a full-size (RWD B-body) model with a 6-cylinder, prior to the 1977 downsizing? When did Ford and Mercury each LAST offer a full-size (RWD) model with a 6-cylinder? When did Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth each LAST offer a full-size (RWD) model with a 6-cylinder ?

I wonder how much this beastie weighs.. I'd like to see Chevy have a Silverado SS, with the 500hp Z06 engine. And even better, a Suburban SS.

They've been owned by GM for 76 years, though...not like Saab, which GM has owned for less than 20 years...

Interesting list... not sure about the Fiero and SL2 (what is that--a 2dr Saturn?). I'd put the last of the 4th gen F-bodies on there--like the Camaro SS).

Interesting...I use Conoco 85, never noticed if they have the Top Tier seal..

I'd call it a 4x4. SUV to me implies a wagon for the suburbs (Explorer, Tahoe, etc)..

Maybe..but a small Caddy crossover would make sense in the US to compete with the X3, RDX, GLK, LR2...

I saw a rusty gray '60s Fiat 500 and a green w/ white top Riley Elf yesterday... I've seen the Riley around for the last 5 years or so, but never seen the Fiat..

I couldn't imagine choosing the W-body GP (ancient platform, 4spd auto, FWD, wierd styling) over the G8 (modern platform, RWD, IRS, clean styling, 6-spd manual)... but to each their own, I guess...

I wouldn't consider the SRX 'too small'..more than big enough...I wouldn't want an SUV any larger than that. Cadillac's planning a smaller X3 competitor, aren't they? (BRX?).

Sounds like a great summer plan... I want to go to Europe and stay for a couple of months or so sometime...in 6 trips to Europe, I've never stayed more than 2 weeks at a time.. I'm going to Hawaii (Maui) for a week for Easter, leaving tommorow, coming back next Tuesday. I've got a few short trips (long weekends) planned---Memorial Day in Ohio with family, Napa Valley for my birthday at the end of June, Chicago at the end of July for the Crossroads Guitar Festival. I'm also taking a week in mid July, probably going to take an Alaska cruise. I've got a few car shows planned to attend, incl. the Denver Concours de Elegance in June, the 6th year in a row I've gone there with my friends in the NSX club..I'll be volunteering to help set up and coordinate parking. I'm also going to a track day with the BMW club in May.

Ok...that paint scheme works aroung Oct 31, but the rest of the year.... they did a similar paint scheme on a Harley-Davidson Super Duty a few years ago, IIRC... hideous.

Maybe GM could sell them the plant that builds the 3800 and the engine tooling... Toyota could claim a pushrod V6 is a new 'innovation'...

Looks good..subtle changes to the front...I really like that shade of green, reminds me of the Orvis edition on the 1st gen model.

Yes, and hopefully the G8 will help continue to build Pontiac's performance credibility...FWD rental cars just don't cut it.

The GNX was a neat car...not sure if I would pay 100 large for one, though.. I'd much rather have this Turbo that's on ebay for $70k..

Wherever you go, there you are. Screw you guys, I'm outta here. Captain Obvious strikes again. His elevator doesn't reach the top floor.

Born in Eastern Ohio, about a 1 1/2 hrs from Pittsburgh. Grew up between there and the Florida Keys. Went to college in NE Ohio, grad school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, moved to Chicago after grad school then from there to Colorado Springs, Co and from there to Denver, Co with some time in Phoenix, Arizona. I came to Colorado for the climate, the outdoors, and the job market (which was very strong in the late '90s, less so today). I like it here it quite a bit, lots of friends here. I like a big city/suburban environment--I couldn't live in a small town or rural area (my folks loved rural, which is how I lived as a kid)...I want my Target, Starbucks, Borders, etc within a 10-15 min drive. A mild climate, a major airport within a 1/2 hr drive (I prefer direct flights) are important to me. I enjoyed living in Chicago quite a bit, have many friends there...but the brutal winters and sticky summers (worse that Michigan) were a turn-off. I've almost moved to the south SF Bay Area (San Jose/Sunnyvale) a couple of times---I worked there and traveled back and forth for a while, and while there are still plenty of job opportunities in my field there even after the tech bubble burst, the insane cost of living is a turn off. I also like LA, OC, and San Diego quite a bit..I try and take at least one vacation a year to So Cal. I have thought about Miami or the Ft. Lauderdale area...I like the east coast of S. Florida, though I'm not enthusiastic about hurricanes and humidity. I have thought about moving to Arizona since I have family there and don't mind the heat (I love the winters there and can tolerate the summers). But the job market isn't as solid overall there compared to Denver/Boulder, as far as I can tell.. At some point in my life, I'd like to live close to a beach again...living on the ocean in the Fl Keys for 6 years as a teenager was pretty special.

I saw one with the top up at the auto show yesterday..it looks really awkward with the roof up..the G6 and Eos look much better with their tops up, IMHO..

I've been to Park City in the winter, beautiful place. Drove to SLC for a concert once, wide streets..was surprised I could get coffee and beer. I've driven across the state on 80..the salt flats and salt lake are very strange to drive through. I want to go to the Bonneville Speed week sometime and visit the national parks. It's too sparsely populated and red state for me to visit very long, though.

Went to the auto show today... GM had none of their new concepts, and only two '08 models --a Malibu LTZ and Enclave-- (no '08 CTS, '08 G8) on display. The Camaro concept was there in red, looks great in red. The Malibu and Enclave looked really, really good. The G6 convertible looks better in person, neat in top-up hardtop mode. The G6 GXP sedan, on the other hand...giant ugly grilles. Cadillac had some hotties talking up the cars. Over at the Ford stand, the Lincoln MKR and Ford Interceptor were in attendance, along with a concept coupe (don't recall it's name, kind of like a modern Cobra Daytona? GR-S or something?). The '08 Focus 4dr was there, along with the Taurus and Taurus X, GT500 convertible, and some massive '08 Super Dutys.. The guy talking up the Taurus even said it looks like the Five Hundred. The Lincoln MKR and Interceptor looked great in person, much nicer than in pictures... I really liked the color of the MKR. Over at Chrysler, the new Sebring sedan and ht convertible are painfully ugly, and having a sedan in Petty blue (very bright light blue) didn't help. But the Asian lady in the black leather dress talking up the Avenger made up for the car's so-so design. Chrysler had a neat heritage display, with a massive two-tone '57 Imperial Southampton 4dr ht, a red '73 Challenger, a WWII Army Jeep, and something else. The usual assortment of exotics were on hand---Aston DB9 coupe, DB9 convertible, V8 Vantage coupe, V8 Vantage convertible, RR Phantom, Bentley Continental GTS, Flying Spur, Ferrari 430, 3 Gallardos (2 Spyders), a Murcielago Spyder and coupe, and a couple Maserati Quattroportes. It's always fun to mingle and hear what other people say at a car show...the Outlook, Sky, and Aura were drawing positive response for Saturn...I sat in all 3, very nice. I overheard a woman say 'Ewww..it's gross' about the interior of a 3dr Yaris, but her boyfriend/husband/whatever said 'No, it's a Toyota, it's cool'. Two college-age guys walking through the Acura stand said 'Acura is like Honda, but Japanese'.... ok.. There were some strange little electric cars including one called an 'iT' on display along with Smart cars, from Zap Motors, I think. One electric car I sat in was very tiny and primitive. A fun couple of hours wandering around...

A unitbody car on a truck chassis? You have to be kidding...madness.