Drew Dowdell

I nearly re-smashed the Roadmaster when I saw one on the road for the first time.

Reading the comments on his Myspace page makes me think there might have been trouble with his GF. His status is also set to "lonely" edit: And his last log on to Myspace was today.

Edmunds is now "just some website"?

Interesting point you have there... it seems familiar... you say that people buy BMWs despite their replacement of all those buttons with iDrive.....? it's almost as if that was precisely what I was saying.... the number of buttons does not matter and even a craptastic system like iDrive doesn't hinder sales.

Do I smell a C&G business franchise coming on?

I've been thinking about founding a company based on this very premise. Vintage Limos show up cheap on ebay in VERY restorable condition. If you consider that the regular Towncar stretch is over $70,000, you can quickly do the math to see that purchase + restoration < Towncar stretch .... and it gives me a way to tinker on old cars for a living....

.

One word: iDrive Cadillac is routinely praised to the ease of use on their interface. Can you think of an interface technology that has been as universally panned as iDrive? If you need extra buttons to feel more premium, print this out and tape it to your dash:

Well look at what Nissan is canceling. QX56 Armada <maybe> and Quest There was talk of a Titan HD but the Titan is already so irrelevant I don't blame them for not bothering. Look at what Chrysler is canceling Durango/Aspen/Commander PT Cruiser Convertible Viper <maybe> Compass Crossfire Pacifica The two companies could fit very well together. Restyled Ram to Nissan Joint venture on a largish SUV Work together on the next batch of minivans/midsize crossovers Chrysler gets a b-segment car Restyling of the FM platform for a Crossfire replacement

make up your mind please...

6 years?

Of course.... it wears an H.

The Camry had a 4-speed standard as recently as '04, the Accord as recently as '02<and the 5-speed that followed has been riddled with problems>, the Altima as recently as '06, the Mazda 6 as recently as '05, the Jetta in '04, the Galant still has a 4-speed standard as do the Subaru Legacy and Hyundai Sonata. Now I know other domestics don't count, but the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan started with a 5 speed in '06, 500/Montego started with a 6-speed in '05, the Sebring/Avenger/300/Charger/Magnum all still have a 4-speed standard. So.. some perspective please in terms of the rolling out of greater than 4 speed transmissions. From what I can find, it looks like VW was the first to the midsize segment with a 5-speed automatic in the Passat back in 1998. So please don't make it sound like "OMG! GM IS Teh SUXORS! GM shoulda HAD 5-speeds in '84!!!!@121!"

I'm going to have some very difficult choices once I get to Germany. I really want an '08 CTS diesel, but the Alfas really call to me. The BF wants an Astra Twintop.... I wouldn't be disappointed with one of those either. This Insignia is also a possibility.

Have you seen one of those Alfas in person? They look really good. I still like the Insignia... it looks handsomely understated.... and far better then the awkward looking Accord sedan.

No... you should stop... because Ford did. They wised up and stopped trying to do a FWD unit and instead farmed the work out to the people who know FWD automatics better than anyone.... General Motors.

If you've been following, his wife doesn't want to keep anything till year 5,6, or 7. Unless 0% financing is in play, financing will be cheaper total payments on a CPO than on a new car.

'08 Malibu with a 2.4 litre/4speed gets 22 / 30 mpg. Detune the Turbo-Ecotec to around 250hp and tune it for fuel efficiency. It'd probably be 26-28 highway with a 6-speed.

Isn't the FWD unit in the Edge a GM designed 6-speed?

Well, I disagree about putting old cars out to pasture. In my case, I'm using the Roadmaster Estate in place of a full size truck in order to run my apartment rental business. In that regard, the Roadmaster gets much better highway and somewhat better city fuel economy than a Silverado would. Plus, it's much more comfortable than a Silvi when not being used as a work vehicle. I can also do most repairs myself.

have I ever mentioned I'm a deviously evil person?

Step 1. Remove all idiot light bulbs in the dash Step 2. Loosen the water pump bolts a teeny tiny bit. Step 3. Roadtrip

what is "The Roach"? Forgive me for not knowing the make/model

That looks like a substantially more expensive car than it is. I know I'll probably get shouted down but the looks like what would be C-class or E-class in stature.

Don't worry, it'll probably be dumbed down for us 'Mericans....