The Lounge

Old article, but still interesting... Gridlocked GTA ECONOMY DINGED BY EVERY CRASH ON THE 401 - NORTH AMERICA'S BUSIEST FREEWAY By BRIAN GRAY, TORONTO SUN Ready ... set ... GO? Waiting the hardest part No Easy Way Out THE "PHENOMENAL" number of vehicles on Hwy. 401 as it cuts through Toronto makes it the busiest freeway in North America -- and each collision can cost Ontario's economy thousands of dollars. Traffic on the 401 has doubled in the past 25 years and now averages 410,000 cars an hour, said Phil Masters, the head of the province's advance traffic management centre, commonly known as the Compass system that monitors traffic throughout the GTA. "Hw…

Hello, I am looking for an Aura or a Fusion/Milan for my sister. She has narrowed her car search down to those three choices and I was wondering if anyone here worked for a dealer that had any in Michigan.

"soft driven slow and mad like some new language" Know it?

This is a great place you got here. I go by Floyd Henderson but some call me Hendershot. Just thought I'd introduce myself. Not always around during the week but it's nice to catch up whenever I'm around. Again, real nice place, keep up the good work.

I went to an official unveiling of the new Ducati 848 tonight. WOW is it beautiful. That is one foreign vehicle that would look great in my garage and under my _ss. Maybe I could talk my wife into a good used Ducati Monster . . .

So it is Monday, let's break the new week's blues with the next one. Rules: 1. Production cars only. 2. These are your only vehicles. 3. Maximum of 5 choices. 4. Any era and market is allowed. 5. At least TWO NEW cars/trucks. 6. Maximum price is $30k. Please, be reasonable with the new/used choices. NO going over MSRP (deals or no deals), and no very high mileage used cars.

I found myself staring at his sig for too long and have to play. Now, I am doing this from memory (I do have many of these CDs downstairs) and I did not blow up the picture so there will be some missing titles/artists. Now edited with all responses Column 1: Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love Rush - Moving Pictures Hardline - Hardline Column 2: Davis Lee Roth - Eat 'em and Smile Dokken - Beast from the East Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged In Column 3 RATT - Dancin Undercover The Cult - Love Sammy Hagar - VOA Column 4 Firehouse - Firehouse Slash's Snake Pit - It's 5 o'clock Somewhere Guns and Roses - Appetite for Destruction Column 5 …

VONAGE? I'm thinking about it. Cable phone? pros and cons please.

If Autonews' new future product predictions for GM are any indication, GM is going down the tubes in terms of desirable and unique products. Pontiac's going to sell rebadged Chevys, Saturn is getting products delayed or cut right and left, Cadillac and Buick are never going to turn their images around because they're going to keep old, uncompetitive cars around until they can't pay people to take them, and Chevy gets globalized and attempts to keep afloat by selling cars, not SUVs. Anyways, here is what I would do, knowing that it appears GM doesn't want to cut brands but rather just costs associated with them (see Pontiac being rebadged Chevy's). I'm trying to reduce o…

I get my gas at a local convenience store. There is a lady at the counter in there, about 60 years old. Every time I go in there, she asks me about my car. Does it have Onstar, I need to try the turn-by-turn, is it an '09, it's a nice looking car, she has a Torrent, same as the Equinox, but she likes it, her husband likes Cobalts... etc. etc. When I had my Sierra, I always went to another place to get gas, but before the Sierra, with my Colorado, I used to go in there, and she would always tell me her husband had a Colorado, and that mine was nice looking. It's kind of amusing, especially when she repeats herself every time I see her, but it's also kinda nice to he…

It was another unforgettable year that we would like to forget. It started with an assault on democracy in the nation’s Capitol by deluded and enabled followers of the previous occupant of the White House. A new President was sworn in with the first female and person of color as Vice President. In May the U.S. started the quick removal of troops from Afghanistan, which was the longest war in U.S. history, at 20 years. The immediate takeover of the country by the Taliban showed that the Afghan National Army was incapable and probably would never have been capable to keep the government in power. In June, 98 lives were lost in the coastal town of Surfside, Flor…

I paid off the Grand Prix GXP yesterday, the Equinox has been paid off ... Just 40K left to pay off on my house behind the gate and then I'm debt free ... It feels so good ...

Well, after tooling about for a little over a year in the Buick, I see my GMAC coupons are telling me that I have 8 payments left..... So, considering that I have seen some rumblings about lease pull aheads, and assuming they will still be in effect in the next few months.... What ever shall I purchase this time?? My wish list before looking at the $$ deals, is a Camaro or pick up a G8 before they are gone. I wish the orange was still available on the G8. So, orange Camaro, with orange interior trim and black SS stripes, aqua blue Camaro with white SS stripes, stryker blue G8 or either car in the Sport Red tricoat. Thoughts? Other suggestions?

Just to clarify for the one or two who did not get it, the remark about insta-banning PINGAS meme posters for being "trolls" was a joke, an example of dry humor. I was pretty sure that anyone remotely paying attention since, oh, about 2002 would have figured out that I have a very dry sense of humor, but apparently not. Is PINGAS no longer funny? Oh, absolutely. It is played out beyond belief, as I and numerous other posters have pointed out. BUT--insta-banning PINGAS offenders was just NOT a serious suggestion. I'm well aware that this site has a process of raising a "warning level" in 20% increments, imposing posting approval, temporary time outs from posting, and…

Cadillac (with the STS wood) BMW Mercedes Lexus Lincoln

whats up everyone, just thought id share my instrument panel ive been working on for a while... in my nova i got tired of the boring gas guage/ speedo combo, you know, the looooong horizontal speedo..... i had an oil/water/volt and a small tach under the dash but it got pretty annoying any cluttered. It seemed my only option was the Covans dash, witch i didnt like the look/fitment of at all. since my cluster was pretty beat, i started with another i got off ebay from a 74 apollo..(i dig the wood panel stickers/fasten seat belt light) The "chrome" outlines were kinda trashed so i wound up repainting the whole bezel with VHT interior paint, you can see it well later Th…

not including any child's games like go fish or war, what are the ones you know, favorites? 10 point pitch euchre spades golf pinochle poker to an extent, but not fun if you're not playing for something, like money. chips can be fun. but when you have, even $5 in coins makes it fun, for the winner. what kind of card games do you like?

Yep, I think it's gone. Outside sits an 06 Saturn Ion. Blue. Might want to keep it. WTF? The guy that has ripped these huge for years? The story: Wife's Cavalier is getting some work done to prepare for (back brakes/brushings/new back rim) for our vacation. So I borrowed a buddy's ION for a few days. Whole family got to use it. Kid even hit it a few times! The more I thought about it-the more I thought it might be a good replacement for the Cav. Nothing fancy, but it does the simple things well. Wife does not want a new car, knowing that 1)new cars cost money 2) my knowledge of car maintaince/cars in general. It fits in a few ways: It's plastic- This thing is goin…

I have yet to see someone under 60 in an xa or element, though I choose the xa because the whole brand line was for the youth.

I know there are a few B bod fans around here, so you know what I mean when I say these cars are the damn coolest out there! I have wanted one for a long time and will be gettin a job soon hopefully to fund this project. Anyway I'm in college and I want to put all these rice burners to shame around here!

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0.../C03-385986.htm

Am I the only one around here who likes everything "neat?" Like, most things have to have "neat" colors (nothing real bright, mainly light colors and earth-tones), be right in place (obsessive compulsive), etc? Nothing metro about it.. just everything has to be "neat" Am I the only one?

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/2029858837.html

How the f@#k does the guy crash this thing way up there on a deserted street?!?!?!? Stupidest wreck ever Turn in your driver's license and get yourself a bus pass. Seriously.

i have a wonderful friend who is selling a 1999 Ford , Yellow/Custom Paint/Yellow, 56000 Miles *Custom* Award winning, 35th Anniversary 1999 Ford mustang A ford nationals winner out of 4,000 cars in its class. Best of show out of 20,000 other show cars. Exterior: Lambo doors, custom $8,000.00 paint job, ground designs2000 black widow kit, cobra R wing, billit grill, clear tails,Piaa hyper white headlights, 18x9.5 tsw Heaven 7's, and tinted windows. Interior: Audio, and Video- PS2, 2- t'vs (7" motorized in the front, 13"in the trunk), 155 decibal sound system (2- eclipse 15's in a custom made ported box '1" mdf', 2- phoenix gold ZX600 amps, and a Phoenix gold 15 Fer…

Well, I guess I do now. With the Cobalt now done, I can enjoy being payment free....or maybe not. As I found out, there is going to be some kids in the family (adopted and born) on the wife's side. Since we all tend to help each other out (what family doesn't), this is calling for a bigger something. Her Cavalier is simply not going to cut it. (Though it' still a keeper) But I really don't want payments, but want a family hauler. I'd love a SUV (Trailblazer, Tahoe), but really need a (mini)van so that we can really be ready. (those with large families can understand) So, an order van that I can put a few bucks in may be the choice. The Current two choices: Astro/Safari …

I love this shot.

Empty Promises: The Top 10 Automotive Technologies We Didn't Get By black-knight (Editor/Reporter) for Cheers and Gears.com Saturday, 8th January, 2011 For over a century and a half, mankind has made amazing strides in automotive technology. The car itself has been an amazing tribute to just how far we as human beings will go to keep our spot right on top of the food chain in the grand scheme of things and to how ingenuitive we are to keep solving problems. However, we sometimes don't exactly lend well to ourselves and push the envelope as far as we have in the past in the name of invention and innovation, and with your help we have chosen a some of the high-tec…

Hey everyone! There's going to be a vintage carshow at Lexington's Keeneland horsetrack this Saturday from 10am-4pm and I was just curious to know if anyone is going to be there? Its only $15 entry so I'll probably go, should be cool. Radio commercial this morning said that they have 5 classic Corvette's on loan from the GM Heritage Museum, including a Mako Shark. From looking at the 2005 show winners on their website: http://www.keenelandconcours.com/ They apparently have EVERYTHING classic, from Porsches to Maseratis to Corvettes to Mustangs. For $15, can't really beat a good show like that. If anyone's going to be there, we can maybe have a meet'n'greet or something,…

It's the last weekend of summer. I'm sort of looking forward to cooler weather...but not too cool. What are you folks doing? I get on a plane tonight and fly up to Mom's (that's PDX). Since I will inevitably get in a fight with her (she's a supreme pain), I will take the rental sled up to Vancouver BC for a few days and come back down just in time to catch my flight. This will be my first flight with the new "bans" in place. Unbelievable...no toothpaste, suntan lotion, deodorant or any of that stuff in the cabin. I wonder what check-in and the security line will be like. Everybody, have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day and report back.

Lately I have been suffering from depression. I haven't felt like drawing so I don't know if I will enter the BRX contest but I have my entry done before I started feeling depressed. After I got back from Woodward, a few days after getting back, I started feeling depressed. It gradually keeps on getting worse and people have just been fueling the fire. Peoples stupidity lately haven't been helping. I have been losing my patience with most people and I have been secluding myself from everyone because I just want my own time. I havent talked to anyone lately or just not felt like talking. I have also been getting constant headaches and I believe it is from stress. I haven't…

I went to Northern California to visit family for Christmas. Stopped by a consignment shop and snapped some pics to share. This one said "7ft bed, 454, $800" This Gran Torino sold while I was walking around. I *really* wanted this F-100!! I also liked this one. Note price tag below!

My mom is way over due for a newish car. She loves her current car (a 1994 Isuzu Rodeo) to death, but the thing is starting to fall apart. To the point where it would make more finantial sense to buy a newer car. So we went dealer hopping today. She really didn't say she liked anything in particular. Just walked around and was like "hmm" every so once an a while. She isn't picky about brands (mostly because she is clueless when it comes to cars), although my dad is another story. He has a strong distaste for Korean cars, and American cars. I try to tell him that they we're DiamlerChryslers that we owned (1993 Voyager and 2001 Dakota) but he doesn't listen. Wh…

I was hungry so I cooked myself a decent Sunday Dinner: Glazed ham slice Leftover ham from Easter. I put a slice of it in a pan with a little water, honey, ground ginger and a dash of ground cloves. Cooked it down on medium high heat until the liquid was syrupy. Stuck it on a plate and poured the glaze over top. Baked Mac-N-Cheese Cooked some macaroni and set it aside. Mixed Velveeta, cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar and milk with pimentos, paprika, cayenne pepper, a dash of garlic powder and a little flour to bind it together. Heated it until melted, poured it over the mac, topped it with bread crumbs mixed with melted butter and baked it. Steamed Asparagus…

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SPA...-01-15-23-50-16 First time any detail has been published about his condition. Will be interesting to see how/if things change when Fidel is gone.

It would be nice if Toyota would follow the ingenius marketing model of Ford. Ford 500=Ford Taurus Mercury Montego=Mercury Sable Toyota Camry=Toyota Blandry Honda Accord=Honda Imbored LOL!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-El-Cam...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_5941513?nclick_check=1 And... http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...itories%2FChina

I was a little on edge Thursday, as I would be taking the Regal, with some 236,000 miles on it, up to Portland OR to park it in Mom's garage as I go to Europe and then come back to relocate/job hunt. I had a sensor and a tie rod end replaced the week prior, so I had spent some money on it. The tie rod cured the slight shimmy, but there was still a road drone which was atypical and it changed with the movement of the steering wheel. I said "WTF, I'm setting out on the 600 mile journey." As I got past Mt. Shasta, it got a little louder. About 20 miles south of Eugene OR, it started sounding like a helicopter and it was 8 pm. I proceeded at 50 to 55 mph, with the truc…

My thread about letting your kid practice motor sports seems to be a success, and most people there say they would let or even encourage their kid/s to get involved into such an activity, so the next question is... how much does it cost to give a kid a shot at some of the cheaper options, like go - karting? How often do those things break down anyway?

http://rochesterhomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=12373 Woo-hoo!!!!! Its about freaking time!!!!! I don't care at all about politics, but I was just so, SO sick of seeing this on the news, and how this guy stonewalled EVERYBODY!!!!

Since nobody else has posted this- MT- Grand Sport vs Carrera S Test Great read. Sounds like they were pretty torn between these 2. They both tug at the heart strings and deliver incredible performance, but in different ways.

Please see http://www.leftlanenews.com/early-look-sal...s5s-raptor.html

I havent been on this site for a while and i forgot all the good content! So i thought id say Hello! How is everybody! Im doing great incase your wondering. I have finally started again on my 70 K/5 Blazer. I think last year i posted about overhauling an automatic transmission for it. Well i instead found an old manual to put in it. It runs now, but next week itll run optimal. Yes! Anyway youll probably be seeing my posts more often! - Austin

It's summer and one's mind turns to wood. Here's a '48 Oldsmobile Woody wagon:

Randy Pausch

This is kind of an odd question and I'm going to be a bit vague initially because I don't want to lead to a specific answer. About two years ago, my cholesterol level had gotten to the low end of what is considered borderline high, so my doctor recommended that I start taking a minimal dose of lipitor daily. I was very hesitant at first because I didn't like the idea of taking anything long term. After a long discussion with my doctor of the pros and cons I decided to go ahead and start taking it while I continued on my fitness program and watched my diet. It has worked out well so far. I take 10mg daily which is half of the smallest pill made. My cholesterol level…

Boomers: 3 ways the crisis whacks your retirement 10/17/2008 12:01 AM ET Link to MSN Money For the generation of Americans born between 1946 and 1964, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression comes at the worst time imaginable. Baby boomers are nervously trying to navigate their nest eggs to a safe port in a stormy sea of wild stock market swings, falling home values and a weakening job market. It can take years for nest eggs to recover from heavy investment losses. But time is something baby boomers -- the oldest of whom turned 62 this year -- just don't have enough of. Here are the problems near-retirees now face and what (if anything) baby boomer…

I just landed in Germany from Sweden. I will be leaving within the hour, heading back to the USA, my dad is in bad shape an has been put in the ICU of the hospital. There is no other reason I am returning, so don't read anything into my return to the USA.

Was unable to take a picture but saw at the local home here that offers detailing an immaculate 1969 Cadillac Eldorado. Was painted brown, had all the original hub caps. Just Sexy as Hell. Very much looked like this one I found for sale online.

I checked out the MSN web page today and got a more realistic account of the earthquake in Haiti, with its magnitude of 7.0. First, I was not aware that there was such a change in potential seismic activity from Florida (essentially nil) to a relatively nearby Caribbean island. Regardless, the amount of devastation is mind-boggling. I was sitting there thinking about how I bitch and moan about what isn't right while people out there are trying to survive in the most deplorable conditions. I plan to keep the Haitian earthquake victims in my prayers and will also make a small donation via one of the Catholic charities. I know that the Masses typically pass around anoth…

Congratulations to Jamie McMurray! He drove a Chevrolet Impala to victory in an oft-delayed Daytona 500, holding off an unbelievable late-race charge by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who came in 2nd in another Chevrolet. Jamie's tearful victory interview was touching and real. It was the first race I've watched in a long time. I don't remember there being so many good looking folks involved in the sport. It makes me want to get caught up in it again, something I haven't done since Dale Sr.'s death, and the new rules seem geared toward more exciting racing.

http://dailycaller.com/2010/02/17/man-infatuated-with-u-s-vp-breaches-2010-security/ Really? Infatuated?

...non-physical employment. God, I'm sore!

http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm5661_20050823.htm

:puke: Ugh... Why? Just Why?

As some know, I've been out of work with no pay for 7 business days due to abdominal pain that started with a trip to the ER Thursday, December 1. Given this morning's events, I figured I'd fill you all in...& give some other news as well.... That other news being the death of my grandfather, Virgil Weimer, this morning (Friday, December 9, 2005) in Mt Morris IL. After Thanksgiving, he had increasingly refused to eat. So, it was not a big surprise...but, still isn't easy. Unlike with my grandmother just over 3 years ago, we had no "advanced warning" from him; he died soon after he woke up this morning. Like with my grandmother, howeve…

Worth a click... :wink: http://www.buicks.net/misc/tommy_ivo.html

So for the second time in six months my Impala has been the victim of the CURSE. My car was parked in front of a friend's house last night when some dough head in a big GMC Sierra 2500 decided to do a 3-point turn and backed right into my car's left front fender. The upshot is that at the least, the fender is f@#ked in every way imaginable. Driving with a learners permit and didn't even feel the impact. Also the bumper probably needs to be replaced too since the little mounting holes for the wheel well liner are completely torn and deformed. I've no idea how fast the truck was backing up but I would hope that the unibody hasn't been somehow damaged. Regardless, I'm …

Does it have to do with someone with the last name Fragonard?

Here's an idea... let's start a thread of our favorite Camaro photos/artwork of all time. Here's mine.

My uncle in Grand Rapids is one of the first 2 in that side of the state to get one. He came down to our place today with his black Volt. He's had it for 3 weeks. Got to take it for a spin. Nice driving car. When first powered up and pulling out of the driveway it was on battery until getting on the road and starting to accelerate (keep in mind I'm over 2 hours away from his place so the battery was already depleted). Only when I started slowing down for the stop sign did I hear the motor running. When did accelerate hard for a stretch and you could then hear the motor rev up higher due to the harder acceleration. Regardless the motor was very quit in every condition. You…

If you remember this thread and put your name in it, good. If you didn't then you don't belong here. **** Okay, if you want a signature featuring our orgaization's name, leave a photo here and specify if you want "Mobster" or "Godfather" text. If you don't want one, fine with me. Also, make sure to list any kind of modifications you want. Thank you.

In all the complaining about GM have cheap interiors, I decided to check out hondas. We all wonder why they never complain about the civics digital speedo, when GM was blasted for using digital dashes. But did you know their stock stereo is 2 different colors and one of the colors doesn't even match the interior at any point? Compare that too a black tie stereo in the Cobalt. On the other hand, atleast you can replace the stereo in the civic unlike the accord.

Changing Minds: A Detroit News Series Part One: http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...382/1148/AUTO01 They are dramatically changing the way they do business by cutting costs, restructuring operations and pouring resources into new products. But Detroit's troubled Big Three automakers have an equally tough task ahead in changing the minds and attitudes of American consumers. Concerns about quality and reliability are the prime reasons that consumers avoid vehicles built by General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler AG, according to an exclusive study conducted for The Detroit News by J.D. Power and Associates. The News study…

The Wilmington, Delaware Italian Festival will be here in 30 days or so! Here's a few links to those close by that may want to come. This is my church - It's like Sapranos here in real life! http://www.stanthonynet.org/Festival/ http://www.discoverlittleitaly.com/home.htm http://www.discoverlittleitaly.com/events.htm I'm buying the THONG! http://www.cafepress.com/little_italy

Just in case, you have not seen this video, yet. Worth a watch of Luciano Rupolo and his collection of Italian cars.