Drew Dowdell

Take a pic of it, and maybe you can with a model of a 1967 Camaro Z/28

New Aveo5 and a Traverse.

A new Avalanche for myself and a 2010 Equinox for my Bf.

Well, on Facebook, I regularly get news onto GM's Facebook page (linking back to C&G of course) waaay before GM does..... and I'm talking GM press releases even.

Win a 1967 Camaro diecast model! A new feature here at Cheers and Gears will be our "PhotoHunt" contests. In this, our premier contest, we are looking for photos of any year Camaro in an autumn like setting. Contest details: 1967 Camaro

Well, I just went into CheersnGears twitter account and followed 80% of the follower and following that GMI does. BTW, we outclass GMI on facebook.... so there.

Win a 1967 Camaro Z/28 diecast model Contest open till November 7th, 2009, 11:59pm Here's the deal: Scour the net, search your hard drives, do what you need to do to find a Chevrolet Camaro (any model year) in an autumn like setting. Use the "upload feature" to post the picture here in this thread. You can use ANYONE's photograph, it doesn't have to be your own. The Rules: 1. The contest is open to registered Cheers and Gears members with a valid email address and an account in good standing (not suspended for bad behavior). 2. The photo can not have any embedded labels or watermarks from anyone other than GM or Cheers and Gears. 3. URLs will not be accepted. You MUST use the upload feature. 4. Minimum picture size is 1024x768. (the board may downsize your picture for posting, that's fine) 5. Winning submitter of duplicate photographs will be determined by the board software's time stamp. 6. Winner will be determined by poll of the Cheers and Gears users. 7. Voting will commence on November 8th, 2009 at 12:00pm. 8. Multiple Entries are allowed! Prize Details: Brand new 1:18 scale diecast 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 by Maisto. Has steerable wheels. Brand new box. Rubber tires. Made of diecast with some plastic parts. Has plastic display stand with window box. Detailed interior, exterior, engine compartment. Dimensions approximately L-10, W-4, H-3.5 inches.

I don't know that it's limited to the US. Send me your qualifications anyway.

Cheers and Gears is on Twitter as @CheersnGears

It's called "60 day money back guarantee" Actually, I wish GM would bring back the overnight test drive again....

It'll take a little more time for GM. Ford didn't pull off their perception turnaround overnight, it took them 3 years.

I am currently in discussions with a contact at GM for C&G to receive test vehicles for us to review. I am looking for editors to join the staff who would be willing to review and write these articles. I can only accept one or two positions. You must be over 25 years old, have access to a good digital camera <no camera phones>, and be fully licensed to drive. Some ability to write well would be helpful. There may be further requirements.

GM Looking at New Ad Agencies for Chevrolet For a long time, politics and personal relationships have kept the Chevy/Campbell-Ewald relationship bound together as if by Crazy Glue; even when the advertising and thinking that produced it was terrible. The agency has been Chevy's agency since 1922. 1922!!!!!!! That was then. Chevy IS General Motors. It used to be that Chevy was just one of eight brands at GM in North America. Going forward, it is one of four. But in fact, it is the whole show. If Chevrolet does not increase market share and improve perception, it's not going to matter what happens at Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Discussion: Chevrolet hunting for a new ad agency

GM Looking at New Ad Agencies for Chevrolet The Auto Beat General Motors, facing criticism that it may not be moving fast enough to stir new conversations around its brands, is about to start hearing new pitches from new ad agencies. As first reported by Jean Halliday in Ad Age, it does not appear that long time ad agency Campbell-Ewald, Warren MI is facing a firing. But the automaker is finally doing what this blogger has been advocating for years—-it is opening itself up to hearing great ideas to push the Chevy brand down the field to a better place. For a long time, politics and personal relationships have kept the Chevy/Campbell-Ewald relationship bound together as if by Crazy Glue; even when the advertising and thinking that produced it was terrible. The agency has been Chevy’s agency since 1922. 1922!!!!!!! That was then. Chevy IS General Motors. It used to be that Chevy was just one of eight brands at GM in North America. Going forward, it is one of four. But in fact, it is the whole show. If Chevrolet does not increase market share and improve perception, it’s not going to matter what happens at Buick, GMC and Cadillac. New Chevy chief Brent Dewar obviously knows this. Campbell-Ewald is expected to keep doing the bulk of work on the account. It is a huge account with lots of moving parts. And it requires that GM maintain continuity to keep the trains running on time. But new ad agencies will be invited to become roster agencies so that C-E is always challenged, not only on the ideas themselves, but regarding the talent they bring to bear for Chevy. Why should the creative talent pool be restricted to people willing to live in Southeast Michigan? There are going to be some “retirements” at Campbell-Ewald, I am guessing. Dewar clearly understands, finally, that it is nuts not to have hungry, creative agencies, whether they are in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, Brazil, Romania pitching Chevy ideas that will stir the conversation anew. Finally….Religion has arrived at Chevy!! The problem right now is that there are so many car accounts in review that it is taxing some of the better shops trying to respond. Chrysler’s brands have been in review. Volkswagen is in review, and will be decided after October 20. Cadillac is now in review. Now Chevy. Deutsch, which is pitching Volkswagen right now, will be expected to pitch either Chevrolet or Cadillac if they should lose. Perhaps, they can pitch both—Cadillac from its LA office perhaps and Chevy from New York. Nike agency Wieden & Kennedy is pitching VW too, as is Goodby Silverstein. Those are two agencies I would love to have creating ideas for Chevy if I am Dewar. Another terrific agency, Fallon, Minneapolis is pitching Chrysler. The Martin Agency (Geico) is available, and will most certainly be asked to pitch Caddy and Chevy. New York’s Strawberry Frog is handling Indian automaker’s Mahindra & Mahindra’s launch in the U.S. Could they also pitch for a Cadillac model that doesn’t compete? Because C-E is expected to keep working on Chevy, GM has the luxury of tapping all kinds of small shops for ideas that don’t have to be full-service ad agencies. Agencies in St. Louis, Kansas City, Texas. The company should have done this a decade ago at least. Politics is the only reason the company did not do it before. Funny, that it took U.S. government ownership of GM to get rid of the politics. GM is advertising a campaign with the theme, “May The Best Car Win.” As far as Chevy’s advertising goes…now, it’s “Let The Best Idea Win” no matter where it comes from. Via Business Week

Public to name Chevy Volt's paint color DETROIT – The initial production color of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) is a silver exterior with an emerald hue. That’s official. What’s not certain is what Chevrolet will name that distinctive exterior color, so the company is turning to the public to help make the decision. Starting today, on National Color Day, Chevrolet launches an online contest that asks for color name suggestions, with three finalists to be flown to Los Angeles this December to compete for a final chance to be among the first to test-drive a pre-production Volt. Discussion: Public to name Chevy Volt Paint Color

I almost never use my microwave. About the only things it's good for are cooking bacon and melting butter or chocolate for baking. I don't even boil water with it.

You've still got a month to take a shot. However, Please submit entries to [email protected]

If you can find a toaster oven in your price range with the convection option, go for it. Learn to use the convection part, cooks like a toaster oven but at microwave speeds. Edit: If you like that one on Costco.com and don't have a membership. Send me the money, I'll buy it for you and have it shipped.

GMT, remember, with the Fleetwood, you'll have $400 a month to do preventative shop visits to MAKE SURE the car never strands her. Comparatively speaking, once you're done with the shakedown, the Fleetwood should end up being the most reliable car your family has ever owned.

Unless you start dumping over $400 into the FWB every month in repairs, your wife doesn't have a leg to stand on with regard to new car reliability. Even a new car can break down. Remember how Avanti recommended a G6 or Malibu (one of the Epsilons) to friends of his and it broke down on the way home from the dealer? There might be a few teething issues for the FWB, but again, not over $400 a month for 12 months worth. Find a reputable, local, mechanic not at a dealership who will take the time to get to know you and know the car. Take the car there for everything. He'll be able to give you a heads up if he sees any mechanical trouble down the road. Buy a good set of Michelins, have them rotated regularly and they'll last you 80k miles. There isn't a single thing on this car that cannot be repaired or serviced by Joe's Gas -n- Garage. After you've paid off the loan for the car, simply consider any repairs and maintenance as your monthly car payment. You'll find that some months you'll have no payment at all. PUT THAT MONEY AWAY FOR A RAINY DAY. If money is tight right now, how is tying yourself to a car loan for the next 36 months going to help your situation? If your wife continues to fuss about it. You can sell her this way; "Honey, just think. Once the Fleetwood is paid off, we'll be able to afford an even nicer car for you the next time around. Remember that Enclave you liked?". or "I'm trying to save money for the kids' education. THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!"

Furthermore.... you have a Fleetwood and an Aura.... yet you're driving the Aura every day? Srsly?

Be careful with the tires. Check your lease. I believe all 4 tires have to match... you can't go buy a set of just two. PepBoys frequently has very cheap deals on tires. But I think your best route is to switch off the hanooks from the G6 and buy something nice for that car.

Get out of the car-payment finance cycle.... especially if you have something as great as a Fleetwood Brougham to cruise around in. What will feel better in the long run? A new car that you're likely going to have to compromise on in some way... or an extra $400 a month in your pocket. If your wallet gets too thick... don't worry, the Cadillac has very soft seats. Edit: If it takes going to a therapist for 12 months to get over the used car stigma, it'll still be cheaper for you in the long run.

Not dying in a runaway crash - advantage Buick.

I agree, it's poor labeling. It looks like the designer of the 2000 Florida Ballots went on to a successful design career at Toyota. However, even as complicated as it looks, it's still just a PNRDL automatic shifter. The shifts come at the same exact points as they would on any other car... you just get to wiggle the stick from side to side to get that expensive "Mercedes" feeling. "S" is for the "Sport Mode" so desperately needed in an ES350. "D" is directly to the right of that. I made this pic to show where everything is.