Blake Noble

I suppose I would start by doing a mild restructuring. I would create a new sales channel of Saturn-Buick-GMC so that there is a "step up" system in place at these dealerships that is absent with the current Pontiac-Buick-GMC sales channel. Buyers of Saturn cars could step up to Buick cars. Buyers of Saturn SUVs could step up to the Enclave or a GMC truck if they so desired. I would also create a sales division for what would be "niche" brands, which would be Pontiac-Saab-Hummer. Each brand within this sales division would only adhere to a strict brand mission and a low sales target. Chevrolet and Cadillac could be combined at a dealership or could stand alone separately. I'll post more later.

Could someone convert one to Ethanol or another fuel source? As long as I am not tied down to just gasoline anymore, I suppose I will consider any GM motor with reasonable power for this project.

Keep it away from here.

How about the Acadia goes away and goes away for good? Why does it have to go elsewhere? Couldn't the Outlook go just a little more upmarket?

When you boil it all down, it is a "competition of size" so to speak, a way to see who has the bigger technologically-advanced penis, on the side of both the manufacturer and the consumer.

Another reason for me not to like this era of Skylark.

Both engines could be the basis for a nice Ethanol conversion if my diesel engine conversion falls through. The main objective of this project is to have a nice, modern daily driver that can get good mpgs and can run on something other than gasoline. I am tired of gasoline; after I put ten dollars in my truck today and barely got a 1/4 tank I finally got to see the final nail being driven into the coffin, so to speak.

The Brera/Spider/166?

Yes, I considered the rumored 4.5, but I don't think I can justify having the Camaro just sitting out in the family driveway for up to two years (it has been said to start production at Tonawanda after '09, correct?), waiting for the MiniMax to come into production. I might would consider a Cummins diesel if they make one that would fit, but I don't know.

I love Alfa Romeos and this is no exception. It is a small car I actually would not mind to own as a daily runabout. I hope this Alfa and the others are really coming to America. Affordable well-designed Italian cars are one thing I would like to see return to America.

Thank you, Sixty-8. This is an idea I have turned over in my mind a few times before and I think I may have found the opportunity to actually do it, if I can find a way to make it work, which I hope I can. I am going to e-mail the owner in the morning for a phone number, directions, and when it is the most convenient for them to let me see the car. Then I will take it from there if the car seems in as good of shape as it is in the Craigslist pics. Regardless if the diesel will not work, I still want that car.

With a gun to my head, and only five minutes to make a decision, I would go with the Astra over the Vibe, no contest. Doesn't mean I would ever buy one, no matter which name it is sold under, and no matter how much I like the appearance of Opel/Saturn products.

That is a shame because I really want to do this and really want to make this work. I think the mpgs would be quite good, a lot better than what I get with my Sonoma. In any case, I seriously think I might try to buy that car and do something with it. It is in good shape and deserves to be repaired. Hell, there could potentially be very little wrong with the engine, you never know.

It's because it is a clay mock-up. :AH-HA_wink:

So here is what I'm thinking I might do for a project sometime in the future, hopefully the near future. 1996 Chevrolet Camaro, bad engine, $700. Then I take out the engine, transmission, etc., and drop in a diesel, preferably a Duramax from a wrecked Chevrolet or GMC HD truck (isn't there a six cylinder version used in commercial-grade trucks, too?). I wonder what sort of manual transmission would work with the Duramax, or if all of this would even fit in a Camaro? Hmmm ...

These sort of features (e.g. self-parallel parking systems, laser-guided cruise control, etc., etc., etc.) are really all about making a statement, both from the manufacturer of the car and the buyer/driver of the car, and that statement being made is that they are going to be technologically "with-the-times" at whatever cost. To me, those sort of unintuitive options are the "dark side" to driving. In a way, it would be nice to see GM producing a global model along the lines of the Dacia Logan, a bare bones form of essential automotive transportation, instead (could something like that fit with Pontiac?).

Did someone say Pontiac Astra?

Very nice and distinctly Saab. Glad to see that the interior continues and refines themes seen in previous Saab interiors.

It is a neat feature, but one I would chose to pass on.

Sanitarium (Welcome Home)

Metallica C'mon. Common sense here.

winds

Hope you have a fast and painless recovery. What did you have surgery for, if you don't mind my asking?

nail

Very nice interface. I like it.