the_yellow_dart

LOL@Sunfire.... Man, I really wish this forum printed people's locations... I can't remember where Ocn is from.

Toronto may hit its all-time record of 38C today (100F)

NY Times

$15/month??? The cheapest city-run weight rooms in Toronto are barely less than that! Yes - I said room and I mean it. They're maintained for low-income people. Double is $30/month. That's still less than almost all the private gyms in Toronto. I had to hunt to find one under $40/month, most are more like $60-80. I can't believe you can find gyms so cheap. I wouldn't hesitate to pay the $30/month if the gym is better.

I think people are missing the point when they are accusing large car buyers of being fat. That is certainly one demographic that would like larger cars, yes. However, certain people (like Olds) just like more room. Can't fault them for that. I wouldn't worry too much about 'the future' - just remember, capitalism usually finds a way to satisfy people. If there are enough people who still want large cars, someone will make money selling them and continue to do so.

The Maxima went from Compact to Full-size in 2 decades. link

Yeah, last September. I thought I posted here about it, but maybe not...

It's not my wife or regulations that make me want a smaller car. It's just practicality - I want something that's high mileage, easy to park, and easy to drive on cramped Toronto streets where you regularly squeeze through in the half lane between the guy turning left and the parked cars. The Lumina I had was bought entirely because of the low insurance rate it would get me. After I rolled the Sunfire, I needed all the help I could get to lessen the raping that the insurance company was giving me. Even the Cruze is bigger than I would normally look at. If I could have gotten something slightly smaller with better mileage, I would have.

This just goes to show how little I care about Chrysler. I had no idea this thing was even cancelled in the first place.

Saw a '40s suburban-shaped Mercury, which my internet searches tell me is a Mercury Town Sedan. Also, a 3rd generation Toyota Cressida ('84-'88) which had somehow not disintegrated into rust. I never see Toyotas this old anymore.

Internet programming does not yet do it for me. I searched around the Netflix site for about 10-15 shows that my wife and I watch, and one of them came up. Sad. Also, if I did go that way, I would have to substantially upgrade my internet so I don't run into the cap. It would cost almost as much as the cable does now after the multi-service discount.

Since when is insurance limited by miles? Also, how is 15k enough for a year?

Yeah, that was my thought. However, GM doesn't do any of that type of engineering in Ontario that I'm aware of.

The guy driving was a 20-something pasty white guy with a beard. Definately not Mexican.

Saw a Chevy Spark yesterday, driving down the QEW in Burlington. It was silver, and had damage to the driver's side front quarter panel. Plates had very small writing on them that I could not read, and I did not recognize the plates as any of the normal Ontario or Michigan plate types. What's going on with this??

Yes. Dream of NEW Saabs! Pay no attention to the fact that we can't pay the bills! In the meantime, could you please buy a 9-3 or two? How about five?

The Canadian media was positive about the 2003 Malibu. In fact, I could take a $h! in the middle of a preschool and the Canadian media would be generally positive about it. Granted they're not as negative as the American media, but I wouldn't go that far. I've seen a lot of hate for the Camaro lately in the Canadian media. Example of Camaro hate

I probably would have reacted similarly to 'blu. Then, I probably would have felt terrible about it later. Is raging the correct, rational thing to do? No. It's just how young to middle aged men react when someone threatens their freedom or property. So, I'm torn in this thread. I somewhat sympathize with 'blu, but I also somewhat sympathize with those telling him he's out of line.

I agree with about 95% of that. My only point of difference from you is on the Mazda 3. The front doesn't bother me as much, and I think it's the best looking compact in profile.

The Canadian media has been very positive... see this article for an example.

...and honestly, I believe a good part of the great asbestos panic is lawyer-created paranoia. My grandfather was awash in asbestos all his professional life as an electrician in the shipyards. He helped build the USS New Jersey. Lived to be 96 or 97. The doctors on his deathbed even admitted he still had asbestos in his lungs, which was making it hard for him to breathe in his reduced state of health. My grandfather worked in a paint and varnish factory. He told me stories about replacing the furnace insulation yearly - by taking something akin to a power washer to the old asbestos layer, then spraying new material on. He's 81 now, and still walks about 5km daily. I hope to be as healthy as him when I get that old.

This is not a Cruise Night, but it's an appropriate a place as any to post this, I think.... Saw a small gathering of classic Chevies in a parking lot in Hamilton. Was appreciating the well-maintained Camaros and Nova, when I saw a yellow C3 convertible... with crappy yellow neons underneath. Can I get a medal for having the restraint to not find and beat the owner?

We've had very nice weather so far this year in Toronto. Only a few semi-hot days so far (around 90). Haven't installed the air conditioner yet. Usually, I only use that in July and August. Today it is rainy and around 70.

Thank you! If you look at the highway mileage only, there are only three cars out there that are better than the Cruze Eco - Prius, Insight, and Civic Hybrid. Note that there are a whole lot of hybrids not in the list above.

Thanks all. My name does not come from the car. My name comes from this Strong Bad email. It's a nickname that Strongbad randomly assigned to some guy, then my friend started using it for me.