Drew Dowdell

I drove a bustleback 1985 Continental for 3 years so the line really jumped out at me.

Carbiz, you're smarter than this. Demand was nearing maximum supply capacity, since there was little slack in and inelastic market the initial spike in price occurred. The initial price spike fueled fears and a buying spree <sprinkled with some corruption> shot the prices up to that $147 market. People reacted surprisingly quickly, shifting to lower mileage vehicles, carpooling, flooding public transit. That killed demand at the retail level. Many of those users aren't coming back. (Anecdotal: I went from a full size SUV and Sports Sedan to no vehicle at all using public transit, car sharing, and borrowing my BF's car with no inconvenience) At the same time, the people who were still driving lots could no longer afford to both fill up their vehicles AND buy goods and services. That, combined with the mortgage crisis and credit crisis, is killing the retail sector. No retail sales means no shipments via truck, train, ship. No shipments means factories all over the world close. The demand has been killed in the commercial sector. Since supply is relatively fixed, even a 10% drop in demand would cause huge pools of surplus to form. The U.S. consumes about 7.6 billion barrels of oil a year. A 10% drop in demand means that there are an extra 760 million barrels out there on the market that were expected to be sold but weren't. Since last November, American driving has dropped by over 90 billion miles. At an average fuel economy of 20mpg, we saved 4.5 billion gallons of gasoline. In this perfect storm we've had a huge drop in demand, not 50%, but enough to cause this cascading effect on oil prices.

Waiting for SMK's outrage at BMW in 3...2....1....

BMW M3 recalled over new double-clutch gearbox From AutoBlog Dual clutch transmission... sounds complicated. And it is. Case in point: BMW's new DCT on its latest-generation M3. This new transmission from Munich is so complicated that apparently even BMW couldn't get it right the first time, so they're issuing a recall. The problem, as concluded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is that under hard braking the transmission's software is prone to initiate a multi-stage downshift, which could cause the car to stall. The solution, however, should be fairly simple, as BMW is asking all owners of 2008 or 2009 M3s equipped with the DCT (about 2,500 in the United States) to come in for a software update, free of charge, at their local dealership. After the software update, M3 owners can perform all the panic stops they want in smooth-shifting bliss.

Oil drops below $50 Again, I know most people here are cheering for their gearing..... but sudden moves like this are rarely good things. But yesterday's market can speak for me..... This is the lowest point since April 14, 1997. Some interesting numbers: • The 7500 area is the March 2003 low; • The 2002 closing low is 7286 (intraday is 7197): • 1997 Asian contagion bottom was 7161; intraday was 6971;

They and their staff should have piled into a Suburban, Expedition, and Durango and road tripped to DC.

You have to give him this, Bill Ford did try and then stepped aside when I was obvious he was no good at it.

Their governments already pay for healthcare.

There is something fishy about that lens.

what the hell? They've got lots of the cast members in there

ZOMG! They're even offering an 8-speed when GM is still using 4-speeds !!!@!WELEVNETY!!!@@!! This will CRUSH Buick sales unless GM can come up with a 9-speed and also offer a 27.1 surround sound system, but they have to price it at thirty twelve thousand or less or no one will buy it! *spittle* </smk>

Modern? Reatta and Allante' aren't modern. Modern sales flop would be the Astra. Reviewed well, received well by those who drive it, people seem to like the looks - yet terrible sales.

Like Cadillac's hint of fins, maybe a hint of a bustle back? The line from the rear of the C-pillar extends into the bumper.

many times.

Oil closing in on 2005 lows. Brent Crude $50.39 RBOB Gasoline $1.107

Flu doesn't last 18 years.

This is not a political comment but an economic one: Where did all the free market capitalists I used to do battle with go? This is classic stuff for them. Economic darwinism, global trade, etc.

AWD is available. In the Camry ES350 it is not. In terms of soft, entry lux, sedans, there isn't much for it to compete with. I find the interior a bit dull in style, but I can't say anything about it's quality. Style wise, even the Malibu can out shine this one... so I expect the Lacross will crush it.

Ok. My turn. So there is this cute little Starbucks Barrista that has been making eyes at me. Exactly what I like <shorter than me, dark hair, faux hawk, beard> so I can't help but check him out. Day before I went to Germany, I went in without my co-workers for the first time. He gave me my tea and muffin order for free. As a kindness when I returned, I brought him a small package of chocolate as a thank you. He came around the counter and gave me a kiss on the cheek and his phone number. I told him right there that I have a BF and I'm not seeking anything from him. He said that's fine. So we txt back and forth a little and in less than a few hours he's begging me to come over to make out. After I reminded him that I have a BF and I won't cheat on him, he went completely psycho calling me every name in the book. Apparently, being nice to someone who has been nice to you indicates a desire to f@#k. I had no idea. I guess I'm not really asking for advice, just venting.

Too soon.... way. just have fun with it for now.... no one says you have to go off and date other people.... it'll just solidify if it was meant to be.

I went from a DOHC 3.4 litre Cutlass Supreme to a CTS 3.6. I've taken both of them to the edge and slightly beyond. Now I don't rallycross like you, but I do understand the difference between a well balanced RWD car and your typical, front heavy, torque steering, FWD, car. What I'm trying to say is that the Cobalt SS has shown it's chops on the Nurburgring and beat Audi S5s and previous generation M3s and tied the Nissan GT-R R32. Now I know that the 'Ring isn't the only measure of a car, but that the Cobalt SS can even run with those big guns should really tell you something about it's abilities. Can't you give the hot little Chevy a chance?

Oh, I know it's no wood stove, but it can certainly keep the whole house warm. I leave my furnace set at 50 degrees to "catch" the temperature as it falls after we let the fire go out. When we're running the fire, it keeps the house in the low 70s. The fireplace is located in the living room and the stairs to the second floor come down about 5 feet away, so the heat travels up the stairwell and does the second floor as well. The setup of the heatalator is rather ingenious I think. At the bottom back of the fireplace is a 6" x 4" vent that runs into the basement. That helps to feed the fire with air. My house is drafty around the doors already even without the fireplace running. However, I do know that we wouldn't have a comfortable temperature in the house with the furnace at 50 and no fire... so we've gotta be having some heat gain.

I know I'm not going to get a rational answer to this.... but GM produces a FWD car that out handles and out runs previous generation M3s.... If the car is doing that to RWD cars of twice the price, what advantage does RWD bring to the table?

I'd want to be in charge of advertising. If you think Lutz talks a lot.......