The Lounge

Malaysian Airlines Plane Shot Down over Ukraine Two planes have been shot down this week in the conflict, what isn't this a no-fly zone for commercial airliners?? Such a sad loss of life.

Summer's in full swing! Maybe there's a Dart Swinger out there on the road. Time to go boating? Oooo... maybe a sweet Corvette! Whatever cool and unusual vehicles you see through your sunglasses, post 'em up in here!

Not a good way to end the week, this. On Friday I was on my way home from picking up some lunch before I had to go to work. Car up ahead was stopped waiting to turn left. I stopped and a Neon behind me stopped. Some ass clown in a Mountaineer didn't notice and ran right into the neon, which ran into me. The neon apparently kept rolling until it came to rest across the street half way on the sidewalk. A mix of disbelief and extreme anger overcame me. The only thing I said to in the direction of the Mountaineer driver was "What the f*ck?! You hit my f*cking car!" Called the police, home, and work, and stayed by the car. if I had gone over to the Mountaineer owner i would…

...in your opinion?

Do any of you have trouble with sleep? Sleep has been a nightmare for me lately. I have a mattress that is only about 18 months old, but I still wake up with a sore back and stiff neck. Stress from work and life leave my mind racing. The bed issue has gotten to the point to where we have moved into sleeping in the guest bedroom a few nights a week. What do you do to deal with sleep issues?

Are these the most boring cars you can own? G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy www.CheersandGears.com MSN posted a story today about the most boring cars money can buy and one common point was the lack of driving excitement and what you got for the price. Interesting is that many of these autos are also considered to be rental fleet dumps. The other clear point being made is that they are not haters of hybrids, but of the CVT transmission that makes the driving a bore. Their list starts off with number one; Mitsubishi Mirage Toyota Prius Volkswagen Jetta Mitsubishi Lancer Honda Civic Hybrid Nissan Altima Chevrolet Tahoe Acura ILX Buick LaCrosse Nissan LE…

What do you see as unique about North America as a place to market cars? Why do some cars, which sell well elsewhere, like the Jag F type, rot on dealer lots here? And why do we sell cars like the KIA Soul like candy to a pedophile?

Probably should ask this in the Buick forum, but why are Regalnsales so weak? The Mazda 6 is a fantastic car, yes...but Mazda 6 is outselling it by over two to one.

I hardly recognize the place - so much has changed. It is looking like at least one of my projects will be back in gear very soon, and I can't do a project without updating the appropriate thread with a blow-by-blow of the work and lots of pics. So I will be around starting pretty soon. It will not be right away, since I will have to switch-over to a new computer ( this one really doesn't function on C&G). Also, I need to get my camera back up and running first. That said, look for me to be showing up here more often in the near future.

June... wow, it came fast. People are itching to get their cool and unusual vehicles out of mothballs and onto the streets! See how many you can catch, and post 'em here!

I am giving someone a gift...I'd like to include something special in the package... so I need you guys to help me find something. I need a high-res, desktop wallpaper worthy picture of a Toyota Camry or Corolla, beige preferably, in some elegant pose. Toyota PR pictures preferred. Lets see who can come up with the best "gag" for this gift!

April is done... weather's warming up. Time to break out the sunglasses and spot some hot stuff! Post it here, your cool, or just unusual, vehicle spots.

Hey guys, just wanted to pop in reql quick and give you some updates on my life as there are lots of changes recently. You guys saw that I got a new car a couple months ago, but I'm also changing addresses (staying in the same town though), I may have a new job on the horizon, and this past weekend I proposed to my girlfriend of 3 years. We're planning on getting married at some point during the summer of '15 Hope everybody else is doing well!

Have a good day, Walt... our Founding Father here at C&G. I hope you stop in and give us an update on things.

Long story, short... I've moved. Anyone who follows me on Facebook will know, but I forgot to update everyone else here. No longer stuck in rural Pennsylvania, I'm now in Metro-Detroit, in the Novi/Wixom/Walled Lake area. Essentially, I'll be doing some freelance photography and I have a couple "jobs" lined up. After being here a week, I have to say that I should have moved here a long time ago. Beyond the added opportunities, there's simply so many things to do, places to go, and everything is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. In addition to that, my apartment complex has a great view and close to everything I like. Actually, no... The nearest Sheetz is 2.5 hours away, …

To the one that tries his best to make sure everyone else's birthday is acknowledged here on C&G, ocnblu (aka Bill)!! I hope you have a fun-filled day crusing around in your new Duramax-equipped 2015 regular cab 2500 HD pickup!

Here's hoping the Polar Vortex becomes a distant memory. Spots should be springing up everywhere this month. Post yours here, if you please.

Well I hope Spring has you in its grips up there where you are. Get those mowers ready! Have a good one sir.

Yahoo, reprinted a story by "The Street" that covers the top 10 WORST auto's ever in the world. Seems 8 of the top 10 are right here in the US. Look at the 10 and tell me if you agree. They start by saying #10 is the 1979 Oldmobile Station wagon Diesel and end with the #1 worst Pontiac Aztek. The pictures are in the order of the story. Their justification is interesting. Some of it I do feel is personal experiance versus actual fact, but each person is entitled to their opinion. http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-worst-cars-of-all-time-revisited-012257791.html;_ylt=Al5rVgaNjh2_MKSMECEr4nImhvZ_;_ylc=X3oDMTduaWFhdTdlBF9TAzIxNDY4NjI2MzAEYWN0A3RpdGxlBGN0A3N…

I just noticed your announcement. Good for you!

So with all the discussions that we have had about various engines and how the auto companies are pushing to standardize engine families across the world to address the tax's imposed on size, this made me wonder about why GM has never built a complete family of V engines based on the tough durable Corvette Push Rod V8. I admit I do not have the engineering chops to dig into the fine details and invite those here that do to share with us what they think the HP, Torque and Efficiency would be like on a family of Push rod V engines. This would include my desire to know if a V2 could work as a efficient engine for the Subcompact market? My thoughts Base line Corvette DI V8…

Take 'er easy!

Same as the old boss. I'll have better photos later down the road when the weather doesn't suck and I finish up my first round of mods.

Hey there. I just figured I'd stop in and see what everybody was doing. It's a little slower around here (activity-wise) than it was last time I was here. I think the layout looks nicer...

Your Marching orders: get out there and report back your cool or unusual vehicle sightings. Post them right here!

Despite my user name and the title of the thread I really just wondered how many people are actually interested in customizing their interiors with dash kits, dash covers, colored LEDs, bezels, etc... Now, I am obviously in the business of catering to tuners, modders, enthusiasts what have you but the majority of people on the road, from you purists to your commuters, don't really seem to give a lick. Well, maybe they care about window tint but that is about the limit. So, what about you guys? Granted the audience here is a vastly different demographic than the general driving population, but I really respect the breadth, depth and passion of most of the users here so …

As I browsed the various automotive news websites for my daily virtual reading, something hit me. It was a bit of deja-vu from looking over an image. I'm not certain, but it may have been an image of the Subaru WRX STi from the numerous first tests everyone published. Why it hit me now, I haven't the slightest clue. I started digging to find the source. Soon enough, I found what brought on this repetitive phenomenom. What started out as a couple vehicles here and there soon morphed into many. In fact, by the end, I was able to find hints of this design feature in nearly every manufacturer's lineup. All the big automotive names... like GM, Ford, Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, Ho…

Hey everyone, Just a quick question for you: If you had to think of the best name to describe people who like to modify and customize their cars and trucks what would it be? Tuners? Modders? Restylers? Or something else? I know this sounds like a joke (and I'm actually waiting to see the creativity of some of our forum members) but I have been giving this a lot of thought. Tuners make me immediately think of imports only, restylers make me think immediately of professionals and modders bring to mind something else entirely. SO, what do you call people who like to play with their cars?

I thought an interesting topic would be come up with the best car throughout history from the primary GM divisions, Chevy, Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Oldsmobile. Saturn was pretty short lived, so not too many cars to choose from there. It should either be a game changer, or car way ahead of its time or maybe just best best car that brand ever made or that you want want to see return. I'll start with my nominations. Buick: 1987 GNX It is fast by today's standards, for 1987 it was insane, and menacing looking in black. Chevrolet: 1969 Camaro and 1963 split window Corvette Stingray. Cadillac: 1953 Eldorado GMC: 1937 to current Suburban/Yukon XL Since th…

Have a good one, sir. I hope you're enjoying that tropical Michigan weather right about now. Spring's coming!

Look deep into my eyes... and post what you see.

Maybe that should be Afternoon Delight, if anyone can remember that popular Starline Vocal band song? Lol. Cars from that time can get a bad wrap, but there were some worthwhile things from those days like GM's radial tuned suspension (RTS) and ESC ignition, and some interesting rides. What notable cars can you think of from those years? Mazda Rotary Pacer Pickup

Ain't seen ya in a while, but maybe you'll come in and see this. Happy 43rd birthday, NOS!

yo balthy, have a rockin' b-day, sir

Almost a decade has passed since I officially joined Cheers and Gears in 2005. In that time, I've graduated from high school, quit work, started work, started college, and what seems like several dozen cars have been in my ownership. Despite the multitude of variables in my life right up until today, this website has strangely been one reliable constant. I've even contributed to this site beyond my mere musings with a small host of articles and opinion pieces that have managed to find their way onto the front page of the site. While Cheers and Gears has been a constant in my life, my activity 'round these here parts has been fairly -- hmmmmm -- quiet here lately, more va…

It's that time of year again, are any of you starting any new diet or fitness plans? I actually started a rather drastic cutback on calories before the Christmas holiday, cheating only on the Xmas day and New Years Eve. At 5'10" in height, 180lbs is the limit I let myself get to before I start actively dieting.... only this year, I went over that before the holiday and I have to fit in a suit next week. I normally run 165 - 170 lbs. I cut my calorie intake from 2500 - 3000 per day down to a strict 1500 per day. I've tried to make time to hit the gym, but it simply isn't happening right now. How about you... making any changes for the new year?

Without voiding the warranty, what is the best way to check whether the engine is healthy, if no codes come back on the OBDII? Also, if there are signs of extremely fine sludge buildup (consistency of a clayey substance instead of a sandy material) at the bottom of the oil pan/sump is that considered normal wear and tear or initial stages of a bigger problem?

So, I am driving this Tundra into a small business parking lot. It's got about 50k miles on it, and I've owned it since new. It is quiet and solid as the day it was born. I think to myself, "I really like this. I think this is one I'll keep." Seriously, this was a dream/nightmare that woke me up last night. I've got real issues.

SHOULD I???

So the Bonneville is in need of repairs and has numerous annoyances at the moment... much more than I'm willing to pay for. Plus, with two kids, I'm out of space when it comes to traveling. Ergo, I'm seriously looking to let it go and move into something bigger. As the thread title suggests, my budget is really low, to the tune of no more than $8000. Now I realize that most of the vehicles I look for in this price range will be high in miles, but there are some reasonable examples out there on a miles-per-year basis. So, fellow C&Gers, here's my short list in order of preference: 1) GMT360s, preferably with 7 seats. Pros: Not a weak engine in the bunch, space, …

Well, we survived another year. As 2013 comes to a close, the entire automobile industry is doing well while the rest of the economy plods along in the jobless recovery. In politics, the bickering two parties continue to bring shame on themselves in petty upmanship, with the losers being the American public. The Tea Party made a mockery of itself as the country waited weeks for the federal government shutdown to end, and the President’s signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act, struggled in its implementation. Edward Snowden, working as a contract worker for the National Security Agency, spilled the beans on what many would say is overreach in the U.S. government …

Got any ice cold spots? Post 'em if ya got 'em, right here in this thread.

Apparently, Dubois is riddled with people who can't properly park a vehicle. Whether this is out of inability or just sheer laziness remains to be seen... This CRV driver just left it parked halfway on the lane, partially in two separate Handicapped spaces. This Explorer driver wasn't satisfied with a single parking spot and clearly needed all four spaces. To be fair, this guy was still in his vehicle... and happened to be a 2015 Tahoe with M plates. The real question is why he was in Dubois, of all places...

I am taking nominations for the best cars we can't buy in the US. I am looking for one of each category, but if there aren't enough nominations for a category, I'll just drop it from the final article. Any body style that fits in the size category is fine. Current production only please. Micro Sub-Compact Compact Midsize Full Size Small SUV/CUV Midsize SUV/CUV Large SUV/CUV Truck *wildcard *in case I missed something

Would you make a major life decision based on something as petty as front license plates?

I hope no one minds but I wanted to start a thread where everyone can contribute quick, easy and low-cost ways to improve your ride. I'm primarily interested in this thread being about non-cosmetic mods although this first one kind of straddles the fence. Anyway, here goes the first one which is a hack that recommends simply wrapping the inside of your car door in order to make it more visible when you open it on the street: http://auto-trim.org/2013/12/11/prevent-accidents-by-wrapping-the-inside-of-your-door/

Have a good one, sir.

Here we are, nearly another full year in the history books. Post here if you spot a Holiday Coupe, any car with a Northstar engine, a Jeep Arctic Edition, or anything in between that's out of the ordinary!

Wrangler.

Yahoo Autos has this really interesting article on actual car (truck and tractor) parts being transformed into every day furniture. Read the article here: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-pieces-of-awesome-automotive-furniture-014620673.html I'm interested in the first showing, the blue collar reclaimed bench. I may seriously pursue looking into having something like this done for me. I'd like to find a '55-'66 GMC stepside tailgate, have it restored and then converted into a bench. What automotive-related piece of furniture would you like to have?

Have a good one there, chief!

You get the idea... That is a shelf from a wall mount wire rack set that you might have in a kitchen pantry.

Same name pairs... 1956 DeSoto Fireflite Seville 1956-1960 Cadillac Eldorado Seville 1952-1959 Dodge Sierra wagon 1971-present GMC Sierra 1958-1959 Edsel Ranger 1967-the end of time Ford Ranger {For many initial years the Ranger was a top-line trim package on the F-Series} 1958 Edsel Citation 1980-1985 Chevrolet Citation 1958 Edsel Pacer 1975-1980 AMC Pacer 1958-1960 Edsel Villager 1993-2003 Mercury Villager 1955-1981 Pontiac Safari 1985-2005 GMC Safari