Chris_Doane

Yeeea....because GM *wants* to lose money on their trucks... The Gen V V8 will be in there, yea. Which V6 it will get is still a little uncertain. Some sources indicate it might actually launch with the ancient 4.3L V6. Others think the 3.6L will go in. There's also the matter of the 3.0L turbo V6 currently being worked on. Though most seem to think the 3.0L T won't be ready in time for launch.

No, it's a Chevy. Possibly a Silverado Sport. Not an SS, but something to go against the R/T or FX2.

So I just found out the real story on that Impala test car. Fortunately, I know an engineer on the Impala program, and when I showed him the Autoblog link, his reply was: "Hah, I was sitting in that car on Friday. That front fascia is to cover up the Long Range Radar module. Anyway, DEFINITELY NOT a SS car" Then I asked if it was even an Eco model, and he said "Nope, just an adaptive cruise car."

Well there is still a turbo 6 coming...whether it ends up as one or two turbos remains to be seen. Or maybe there will be both variants?

Definitely not an SS model. Probably Hybrid/Eco or foreign market.

I'm also getting that Crosstour/5er GT vibe. I dunno, it's weird...not what I was expecting. Kinda seems like the front half and rear half were designed by different teams, then glued together. Rear looks like an Infiniti M.

Well, let's see... I've owned 4 American cars and 2 German cars. The American cars had their fair share of troubles. On the other hand, I've had no problems with the German cars. Unless you want to count a small stone getting wedged into the brakes as a problem. Neither of my German cars have had emissions components that fail every 15-20k miles like my last American car did. The only car an OEM has ever bought back from me due to its' extensive problems was American. My parents have had similar experiences with their American cars. Mostly Chevys and Buicks. I've also reviewed all sorts of cars from OEMs around the world. The only time a brand new press car ever broke down before the fleet company could even drive it over to my place was a 2010 Chevy. There was also the 2011 Cadillac press car, with less than 200 miles on it, that I cut my hand open on thanks to some smashed/misaligned chrome trim. So, yes, it's been my experience that German engineering is better.

*rolls eyes* Yep, German OEMs are the only ones using non-serviceable wheel bearings.

Oy, yes, just a rock. That was a nice waste of an afternoon.

Ha...I think it might've just been a rock between the backing plate and the rotor...

So you are saying Michigan roads are not for cars just trucks and suv's? I know based on pictures that the roads are bad, but I would think the axel should be able to handle a little pounding before the marbles let loose. Hah, oh....it's not just a little pounding around here. We gots no money for roads in these here parts. Or anything else for that matter. usually you take the pounding after you grindr LoL. Maybe that's how it works with you... Lemme know if you see anything nifty.

So you are saying Michigan roads are not for cars just trucks and suv's? I know based on pictures that the roads are bad, but I would think the axel should be able to handle a little pounding before the marbles let loose. Hah, oh....it's not just a little pounding around here. We gots no money for roads in these here parts. Or anything else for that matter.

Yea I'm kinda surprised too. I mean, I know 4 years of Michigan roads haven't been kind to it, but still. Edit: And now that I think about it, I think maybe the right front was the corner that took a huge hit when I bent a wheel a 2 years ago.

Ha, it's my A5. Knowing Audi/VW, Im sure they are non-serviceable bearings. It was odd. I took it out of storage for the season, drove it all day yesterday, and everything was fine. I came home, parked in the garage and was home for a few hours. Later, I went to go somewhere, started to back out of the garage and that noise from Hell started. Oh well, it's warranty.

Wheel bearings are overrated. Grinding terribleness. from Chris Doane on Vimeo. Edit: Nevermind, it was just a rock in the brakes. *rolls eyes*

Uh, when did I say that?

Chrysler Group = Viper and Dart Rallycross Lexus = ES Cadillac = SRX Honda = Crosstour Infiniti = Leaf-based concept Subaru = XV Acura = RL Hyundai = Santa Fe

I think this is still the best sunset I've ever seen. I'd hiked up a mountain and was sitting on a peak at about 12,600ft when this unfolded before me. I don't know if calling it a religious experience is the right way to put it, but, it was certainly a "wow" moment. 11 minutes passed between the first shot and the last shot. I have a 20x30 print of the last frame. (Edit: Hmm, the files don't look as good now that they are hosted than they did a minute ago on my computer. )

Yea, sometimes mother nature just throws some weird light at ya. Hmm, she sounds like a copy editor... Yea still photography just does a better job of catching the moment.

I think I would've wanted to see what the scene looked like 4-5 mins later. It looks "early" in the sunset and the colors tend to get more intense as the sun goes down. Then again, if the sun is just peeking through one tiny opening in a cloud layer as it sets, you might only get one brief look. Crop-wise, I think you want to be about here. Maybe even a little more off the top.

Hah well I don't know if its scary. That show was on when I was kid. Pop culture ingrained in my brain.

Ha...you say "Mr. D" and I think of this...