Drew Dowdell

'07 Focus = unloved little econobox '08 Focus = shiny re-do of the little econobox with neato iPod thingy built right in. Results = Retail sales up 33% over all sales up 44% '07 Malibu = unloved mid-sized '08 Malibu = fantabulously new mid-sized which reviewers can't decide if it's better than the Accord or Camry.... but definitely better than the Altima; Note, no NAV or neato iPod thingy built right in. Results = Retail Sales up 198% and over all sales up 58% just sayin.....

because that money has not been used to increase refinery production or build new refineries..... in fact... the oil companies have been closing smaller refineries thereby reducing supply

should I move this into the spam bin or.....

Don't let your last ride be your only ride in a Cadillac. sorry.... gosh I'm bored.....

How many years? :AH-HA_wink: Sedanette anyone?

Link to AutoBlog Talk about finding a good used car. Frank Orsenick bought his '91 Silverado in 1996. At the time, it had 41,000 miles on the clock. After 11 years of service (and a lot of driving), the old pickup is about to reach a milestone. Frank had the oil changed last week, just as he has every 3,000 miles since acquiring the Chevy, and it's sure to be the last one it receives as an everyday-use vehicle. You see, it's just 1,200 miles away from spinning past the 1,000,000-mark on the odometer. When it hits the big number, Frank is going to put his faithful ride into retirement. As for how he got this far, Orsenik credits regular maintenance and "a little luck." We should all be so lucky. [source: AP via Forecast Earth]

Taurus X => STD uhm...

Fairmont I'm tellin ya!

Link to AutoChannel WASHINGTON, Jan 31, 2008; John Crawley writing for Reuters reported that General Motors Corp plans a strong production run for its plug-in Chevy Volt, according to a senior executive on Thursday who also urged Congress to approve tax incentives to help spark demand. Jon Lauckner, GM vice president for global program management, said the automaker is mindful of the current high costs of battery development but expects the per-vehicle price to drop as the technology improves. "As volume scales up, you will move down this curve to see better economics going forward. You can't get hung up on the economics of the first unit or the tenth unit," Lauckner told an energy forum at the Center for American Progress. Lauckner said GM still hopes to start production of the Volt by the end of 2010 and said the company is planning a healthy roll-out. "We're talking about large numbers -- in the tens of thousands," he said. "It's not a niche market." Plug-ins, viewed by the world's two biggest automakers as one answer to reducing U.S. gasoline use and meeting sharply higher U.S. fuel efficiency standards, are designed for short trips powered entirely by an electric motor and a battery charged through a common electrical outlet. A gasoline engine would kick in after 40 miles on electric power. GM hopes to be the first to mass production and snatch the lead on all-electric fuel-saving technology from Japan's Toyota Motor Corp Toyota also plans a plug-in hybrid by 2010. The biggest hurdle to success of electric vehicles is improving lithium ion battery power and storage capacity while making it small, safe and light enough to fit easily under the hood with other components. "Cost is the killer right now," said Jack Deppe, a U.S. Energy Department consultant. Current estimates show that every 10 miles of electric power adds about $1,500 in costs. But with gasoline/electric hybrids comprising just 2 percent of the U.S. auto market even with gasoline prices above $3 per gallon, some experts are skeptical about the rush to perfect plug-in technology. John German, a hybrid expert at Honda Motor Co, said the case has not been made for mass-market plug-ins, arguing there are too many questions about cost, efficiency and consumer interest. German said "plug-in hybrids are coming" but stressed that automakers have embraced and then abandoned other fuel-saving ideas before. He said industry should not try to "force feed" electric cars to consumers. Lauckner said GM is not betting that gasoline prices will remain stable or go down and that consumers globally will rally around the Volt. All executives recommended that Congress invest heavily in battery technology and offer tax incentives to consumers like they have for purchases of the popular Toyota Prius hybrid. "That's a helpful role government can play to speed the technology and bring these benefits forward," Lauckner said. Editing for Reuters by Richard Chang

That's who that is?!

I think a lot of the yay zeta/boo zeta might have driven some people away. that... and there really isn't much news going on. There were very few rockin concepts at the NAIAS this year. The big thing on Autoblog today was that there is going to be a totally redesigned 2009 Taurus..... ooooh woopie!

by using GM transmissions no doubt.....

I think gay people will define "manhood" quite differently if you asked the general population. Here on the other hand most of the gay guys seem to be of the more masculine type. I think being a "man" has definitely changed since the time of my father's and grandfather's coming of age. Today there is much less emphasis on gender roles. It's ok for a man to be a stay at home, work at home, dad while the wife goes to the office every day. In gay relationships, the typically masculine and feminine chores can be split up any which way. I highly doubt you'll find anyone able to put a single definition on what it is to be a man other than having a penis.

Please GM, you're already going to build the CTS with a diesel for Europe. Sell it here.

what are you doing on BON in the first place?!

eh, 10 years after the last Impala SS and the Chevy still pwned it. in fact, even a same year Accord V6 is faster.

93-95 Cutlass Supreme Convertible. It is the only convertible since probably the 85 Eldorado choptops that actually had a usable rear seat AND a usable trunk. With the top up, there was no intrusion into trunk space from the convertible mechanism... you had exactly the same amount of room as a hardtop Cutlass coupe would. In the back seat there was *gasp* legroom! The 3.4 DOHC V6 would run with the Mustang V8 of the day and would easily chirp 2nd gear when it wasn't eating alternators. Yes the timing belt was an issue, but as long as you were good about changing it every 60,000 miles you'd be fine. There hasn't since been a single convertible this side of the Arnage that has the room AND performance that the Cutty did.

details can be read at suddenbreakoutofcommonsense.com

Ford Mustang SVO Mercury Capri.... the last Australian built ones the '82 - '87 Lincoln Continental - What made them unique was the available 2.4 litre BMW I6. The extremely rare 5-speed, AWD, diesel Tempo that Ford apparently produced... the parents of one of my friends growing up had one.

A Wikipedia entry on the cast of characters in Cars

Chick Hicks is a Grand National? Stanley, Lizzie's dead husband is a Stanley Steamer?

I tend to like the earlier ones rather than the later ones.... oh... wait... not what you meant....

Saab 9-3 Aero 2.8l V6 manual = 3,175 Saab 9-5 Aero 2.0t I4 manual = 3,470 just sayin.... edit: 400lbs lighter than my CTS with the same engine performance numbers... the 9-3 must go like snot!

I was going to take some pics last night as I was going to go rip the last inner fender off. But a series of unfortunate events chewed up my whole evening. I may go tonight instead.