The Lounge

WTF??? B!tchslaps all around! A Russian Lada converted into a Horse Trailer. :blink: Found these on the net today, thought I'd share.

These days, all the talk is about how Detroit is losing X amount of market share each year to imports. Well, I did a little thinking about it tonight and have written up this nice little example to show it in a different light of thinking: For simplicity's sake, I'll only deal with 4 companies and small numbers In 1900, there are two companies, GM and Ford. Each company sells 1 car in that year, meaning that they each hold 50% market share. Then in 1950, a newcomer, Mercedes, comes to the US market. While GM and Ford have each sold 10 cars, Mercedes sells 2 cars that year. Calculating that out with 22 cars total for that year, GM's market share is 45%, …

Okay guys, I am trying something really strange. This idea came to me at my sons track meet this ayem, and I'm writing a fictional story based on all of us and GM cars. It is a strange story, based as a parody or satire. The only two of us I reveal by name or user name are myself (who I write about in third person) and Caddy Cruiser, because I needed a car salesman for my story and I felt like making him a character. Don't know how this is going to work out, but here goes...into the world of the odd...

Explain this: http://forum.910bluebird.com/index.php?showtopic=4123&hl=

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badge_engineering

Yesterday, I was cleaning around the engine bay with a rag, an old toothbrush and some cleaning fluids for this purpose. When I had my very first Cutlass (carburetor, no electronics), I would go to those wash places and steam clean the engine on a self-serve basis. Not any more. I am willing to employ elbow grease. BTW, are there are benefits to a clean engine other than the way it looks (which can be very nice)?

And so this is Christmas... To everyone who reads this... I hope everyone has a great holiday. Let's make 2012 a good year. Cheers to you all.

I found a red, 1985 Camaro setting not to far from home yesterday. It's been slightly modified with a front fascia from a early '90s Camaro, which needs paint, and a hood from an IROC-Z, which needs the hinges fixed. Other than the two hiccups I pointed out (I'm not making much mention of the upholstery, which is only torn in one or two places, which I don't much care about, and the missing headliner, which you don't notice because of the t-tops), the car is very solid, is rust and ding free, and, except for the bumper, has great paint with plenty of sheen. Now, on the door handles I noticed a few interesting anomalies that read "Turbo." Now, correct me if I'm wrong, bu…

First off, I'm loving all the other threads, and the participation!! With that said, this is the third and final DG thread I came up with based on the 4th of July. It's a day in celebration of independence. This installment is based on that, stand alone maker's independence from huge corporate umbrellas. The premise is simple you will only be allowed to choose from vehicles that came from manfacturers that were completely autonomous at the time. That means no Chevys post-GM. No Ferrari's or Chryslers after FCA. No Dodges after ChryCo merger. No post-Audi Lambos. No post-VW Porsches, etc, etc. Rules- 1) Maximum of 10 vehicles, as with o…

Sometimes I don't feel right talking general automotive discussion in The Lounge. Does it go in the kinda general part of The Other Guys? Is the general car discussion intended to be here? Or is it likely we should start a new sub-forum for general car discussion (topics that aren't specific to one brand or otherwise don't fit other forums, but don't fit the tone of the Lounge)? To me The Lounge seems more for social topics than anything automotive. Mods, Admins, other regular posters, what say you?

Friday evening after work, I stopped in at a new local diner to have supper. It had been a long time since lunch, and I was feeling pretty hungry. As I was waiting for my food, I caught myself staring at my server as she took care of her other tables. I realized my eyes were locked on her every move as the minutes ticked by, my table and my stomach empty. When she assured me "yours will be out soon!" with a little knowing smile, I became amused at myself and realized I probably had a half-crazed, desperate, "FEED ME!" look in my eyes, a look this waitress had probably felt dozens of times before.

For the past few months I've been strongly considering getting a second job. At my current one, management keeps reducing the Pharmacy hours and since I'm on the bottom, I'm the one taking most of the hit. For a while there, when the one girl quit, I was getting near full time hours. I was happy about that despite still being stuck at my rather paltry wages. Now I'm down around half that and it's really not worth it for all the more I make. However, in 3 or 4 months, my benefits start. I don't want to give those up. So this is where a second job would come in, essentially giving me the hours I want and putting me over 40 hours a week. I could really use the extra income. …

Where to begin, well simply at the beginning, this trip had been planned for quite a while. We left Delaware and headed south on I-81 picking it up in West Virginia. Drove the 1st day to Knoxville, TN where my wife's sister lives and where the PCS 1st gave us trouble with the key locking or being grabbed by the ignition. Had AAA come and get the key out, on to Texas the next day. Always like to see those warning signs on I-10, for alligators. Stayed a few days at my mother's in Texas, we had a great visit with her. I seem to miss Texas a little more as time goes by. But wouldn't you know it the key issue reared it's ugly head again in Texas the night before we left, this …

270 votes needed to win the election, Obama has 238, McCain has 227. 73 are up for grabs. See on who's side your state falls on, or not. Link: http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/presiden...states/map.html

For the first time in what seems like forever, I'm going to be able to do something on Halloween. We're planning on going to the pub crawl, and I need to think of a kickass costume. My initial though was a giant tampon, but that would lead to logistical problems. I've also though about putting on a dress and makeup and just being a drag queen for a night. I cant think of anything good. Maybe I can be the white Mr. T

Me and the gf are going to get away from it all for about a week and a half She said she was sick of it all so i looked at my frequent flier miles and DAMN!!!! We are leaving tonight and flying into SoCal and just putts around down there hopefully soak up some sun. then flying up to Alaska and check the building process of my home and make sure its warped for the winter as i don't see much more getting done to it this year. I want to go rent a car and cruise around Arizona too if we have time. then We will fly to Las Vegas for 2 days and then go home. I think I will surprise her in Vegas with the "knot" but we will see. I was just wondering about anything to do in soc…

If you had the chance to buy a 1970 Buick Wildcat Custom for one-thousand, five-hundred dollars in solid condition, would you do it? Or would you rather buy a(nother) 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme for the about the same price in about the same condition?

I seem to recall you mentioning you knew someone with a high mileage 300M...what color was it and do you know where the owner lives?

Prolly no one remembers, but I posted back in April about a purple old-skool Mini that appeared on our lot that I got to drive a li'l bit. Here's a photo I had of it in our mechanical shop next to a slightly larger vehicle that was in for an earl change:

... he REALLY likes the color of my car, and the wheels REALLY set it off. (this is him using psychology on me to keep me from wanting to get back into a truck)

06 Passat 06 Passat black int 03 530i 04 RSX-S 03 A6 So my favorite is the BMW, but it is also the most expensive. The A6 is the cheapest, but also has the highest mileage. The Passat is one of the cheaper ones, and the newest, but the biggest drawback for me is FWD. Same for the RSX-S, but both will be better on gas. I'm really leaning towards the BMW or Passat, but am having a hard time deciding if I want to pay $2k more for a 3 year older car, as it would be stretching my budget right now.

For the weekend. I'll be camping 2 miles away at the Knox Dale Fireman's Homecoming all weekend. Activities include: ATVing, drinking, partying, camping, softball, volleyball, demolition derby, games, contests, eating, more partying and more drinking. After I drop my bro off for practice, I'm heading over to my grandparent's place to help bring the camper and supplies over, then setting up the camper and my tent over there, and finally walking the 2 miles back home to ride my 300EX over. This year seems like it will be boring... as there arent as many activities as there has been in the past. I'll make sure to take some pics... including drunk pics. …

So, which meat do you like better? White meat or Red meat? Me... I love chicken. :D

Want to know how much Toyota thinks a Cavalier is worth? Well... :blink: :P

...actaully since he hates retro he may not, who knows. I think it's pretty cool! :D 1995 Datsun 240 Look closely, it almost has a Aston Martin feel to it from this angle.

Well fellas i finally got another car. Its a 2001 Nissan Xterra SE. Manual tranny 4x4, 100k, 6disc cd changer etc. here are a few picture from the auto trader listing i will take some better ones later the interior is as clean as i have ever seen for a 5 year old car and the paint only has 1 or 2 minor scratches.

i hate to say it but i think i really like that front end

Since Camino LS6 asked, I thought I'd share with everyone some pics (14 total, plus 2 extra) of my family's muscle cars. The first post is for the blue 1969 Barracuda, the 2nd post will be the orange 1979 `Cuda, and the last two are msic images. Enjoy! Very little rust on this car at all. It does run, and was last driven in the fall, although Today I noticed there's large wet spot under the car. It's raining so I'm not sure if it's a leak or not. This Barracuda has a 340 and a manual tranny, it also has factory A/C. There's been a lot of work done to this car over the past few years. The nterior had a lot of work done to it, including the seats being reuph…

the dude just withdrew his application for graduation 5 days before the ceremony and will be returning for a 12th year of undergrad studies. Johnny Lechner myspace Johnny Lechner dot com google search johnny lechner old article this dude has it going on!

The new devices section of General MOtors actually cares about what I think... they sent me a cool form letter saying I need to re-submit my ideas for the 5th gen. Camaro. My biggest & most important "hot-button" is that they keep the hardtop greenhouse for production. Check out the letter they sent: http://i3.tinypic.com/117qtug.jpg http://i3.tinypic.com/117ra76.jpg ------

Back when I was a kid, I thought it was cool and liked it. But since now I drive on my own, it's not that great of an idea actually if you think about it. When you're waiting in line, you're using your own gas when you keep your engine idle. And at busy hours, it can take long. Not to mention the greenhouse gas that you emit into the environment while you idle (Unless, of course, you're driving an EV1). With gas prices these days, I can imagine how much money I waste from idling in a drive-thru line. Also, another problem I figured is, if they gave you the wrong stuff or something's missing in your bag, you would have to run back and ask them. Double the worse, if you…

Has anyone else seen the original Vanishing Point. I just watched it last night and it was great. Good car chase as well. Motor Trend ruined the movie for me though. They explained the 2 bulldozers so I knew the meaning in the first part of the movie. The car that was crashed into the bulldozers was actually a 67 Camaro. Motor Trend explained it because you can see the upside down Camaro badge when the townspeople are examining the wreckage. I didn't see the badge but I saw the body and windowline and I knew it was a Camaro. This was a good car chase movie. Anyone else seen it or seen any other good car chase movies? My favourite car chase is in Bulitt.

cnn

Sounding like this...."Come to jersey...bring cash..."

Pay attention to your studies, young man; however, I'm sure some of us would like to know how your college experience is treating you thus far. So chime in when you can, "college boy." That's UNIVERSITY to the Canadians on the board... Yeah, yeah, I know you know. Sidebar: I worked with a jerk who said that I would like working with a particular person at a client company because "he's college, like you" (meaning me, in this case). The guy who said it was a moron.

You just can't make stuff like this up... Richard Paul Dembinsky NPA for Governor of Florida website ...read the text.

* ...Probably because I prefer NOT to think about "doomsday", despite the circumstances in which I find myself now. I suppose, though, this would've been one way to get back on the radio.... I'm trying to retain my positive/fighting outlook/attitude, but having to sell my cars at the start of the summer (i.e. cruising, gathering, road tripping) season is a bit much ... perhaps more so than having OHS. I can't imagine no longer owning cars that have been part of my life for so long now, let alone not being part of many MC forums. It's been quite a ride (pun intended) meeting many people, attending shows/gatherings/cruises, etc. Looking through my road trip pics &am…

On CNN now.. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1338294.html

* For this week: Truck Tuesday, class of 1954: Chevrolet, Dodge, International, Mercury http://www.oldcarsstronghearts.com/2015/05/19/automotive-daily-121/ Convertible Thursday, class of 1964: Cadillac, Imperial, Lincoln, Rambler http://www.oldcarsstronghearts.com/2015/05/21/automotive-daily-123/ Saturday will feature personal cruising coupes, class of 1974! Meantime, what do you spy in this 1958 photo? http://www.oldcarsstronghearts.com/2015/05/22/friday-photo-18/ Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com 1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve "Get to what's real" __ Van Halen __ 'Jump'

Happy Birthday to Mr. Prototype66.

What?! Did you expect a new car or something? Yeah, that's my $20k car. No. Really. It is! Just ask the Cashier at the Kwik-Fill in Clarion! So, the story goes as is. I'm riding around with a few friends and I'm aching for gas. I go to pull into the BP, when my one friend says to go to the Kwik-Fill because they have his favorite gummy fish. So I do. I get out and as soon as I walk inside I hear "Hey, is that a Cutlass or a Grand Prix". I answer. He says "How much? I'll buy it". I let out a little laugh and find the gummy fish my friend wanted. I walk up to pay as he continues to talk about it. He says "That car is worth alot of money, especially sitting on the origina…

As we get to the range where the first digit becomes a '3', we start to see a lot more diversity. In this bracket we have everything from mid-engine rockets, to benchmark sport sedans to AWD rally fighters, to entry level muscle and pony cars. Something for everyone! Rules- 1) Production models only. 2) Maximum of 5 choices. 3) These are your only vehicles. 4) Any era and market is allowed. 5) MFR's power rating MUST be AT least 300hp, but NO MORE THAN 399hp. Have fun!

...to figure out what to do next. No, not me; Mark Suppelsa, now former Fox 32 Chicago anchorman. This week, he turned down what is termed by the media a "lucrative" contract to continue as the main anchorman for Fox 32's 9p newscast. According to him during a visit Tuesday morning on WTMX's Erik and Kathy Show, it isn't about the money. Instead, he feels blessed to have the means and the time to take 3 months off [he has to wait 90 days before going back on the air, per his contract with Fox 32] to relax, enjoy his family ... and decide what he wants to do with his life. This news, and especially the interview Tuesday morning I heard on the radio en route to work,…

Holy crap, you know my day was made : just spotted a '59 Olds wagon, silver/ blue/ primer/ patch panels, motoring down U.S. Rt 1. No pic, damnit.

... that has a few '73-77 A-bodies in it. The local yard has exactly one car. Slim pickings.

I just spent 4 miles and about 4 minutes behind a Toyopet Camry that was blocking the passing lane in a 65mph zone, driving about 65/70 and refusing to yield after several motorists flashed their lights, honked horns & even flipped him off. This stretch of highway is usually flowing at about 85mph this time of day, same traffic flow, and all else being the same. Freightliners carrying gasoline tankers & Mack trucks hauling bulldozers were whizzing by him in the center lane while a line of about a dozen cars is behind this inconsiderate prick. Outrageous.

I have been so disgusted by the garbage coming from both major parties (even here in our own political threads), that I believe that I will most likely return to my long-established pattern of voting Libertarian this year. Last time I voted for Kerry (whom I don't like) just because I felt that "W" was such a rotten SOB that we needed to be rid of him at all costs - it was the only time that I have ever voted major party. I just feel that all rationality has evaporated in the shrill partisan bleatings from the dems and the repubs, which leaves me hating the idea of endorsing either with my vote. Not yet an absolute decision, but very,very, close.

With many four-cylinder cars now making really big power, and V6s having mpg like V8s without the power, couldn't the automakers dispense with many of the V6 applications? Might that not create an efficiency situation that would allow for V8 cars to fit more easily under the new CAFE regs while keeping the formerly V6-powered cars at similar power levels while dramatically increasing the CAFE numbers? Just a thought.

...all of the G8 ST evaluation/showcars.

Yesterday, with over a quarter of a million miles, I put the 4th serpertine belt at a blended GM dealership a little further out since they had a good parts and labor price (about $90). I had a great experience visiting that service department. This is actually the third such experience. a) At a Costco in California, I went in there for a tire rotation. There was this real weird guy who (a) wouldn't rotate my tires front to back as I had requested because he wanted to do the diagonal rotation, but did so after I kept arguing with him, and (b) while talking to him, told me that frequent oil changes (even 3,000 miles) hurt the car more than changing the oil infrequent…

Depending on what section you're in sometimes you get the option of changing the HTML when starting a new thread so you can embed, sometimes you don't. I know I don't get it in the Chrysler or Opel forums, in the GM and Ford sections I do.

went to a local gun show this morning and picked up a new toy. Got a Taurus PT 24/7 PRO Compact. I had looked at one before and almost got it, but backed out cause the show was coming up. the only thing i dont like about mine is that its got the factory sights, the other had heinke straight eights on it, but that will be fixed soon. i'll post some pics later. after taxes and all it came to $445. they had an XD .40 sub-compact for $519 but i backed out cause i like the fact that the taurus is a SA/DA. the XD also seemed a little too... little. Anybody else picked up something nifty in the shooting world lately?

Plans, plans...you know they change. So what are your plans with your current fleet? Any of the above? We all know what new cars we want, but not so much of the ones we have..... Mine- 2003(sedan) & 2004(coupe) Cavaliers....Both keepers. I'm running them both into the ground. They aren't worth much to sell anyways.......the 03 will become my beater when the wife gets a newer car, and the 04 becomes my (back to) school ride and track car. 2006 Cobalt-my current beater, looks like a keeper for now. The communting car, I'll decide after it's paid off (little over a year left). If I get a Cruze, it could make a good winter beater to keep that Cruze …

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran accused the United States on Wednesday of "intolerable" meddling in its internal affairs, alleging for the first time that Washington has fueled a bitter postelection dispute. Opposition supporters marched in Tehran's streets for a third straight day to protest the outcome of the balloting. The Iranian government summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents U.S. interests in Iran, to complain about American interference, state-run Press TV reported. The English-language channel quoted the government as calling Western interference "intolerable." President Barack Obama has reacted cautiously to developments in Iran, saying he shared the world's "…

happy birfday to mr. quiet pants, tmp. i hope it's a great one, wow... 102 years old today!

I need to find the headlight adjuster for a '99ish Volvo wagon (a V40 I think). If anyone has a hookup for a used one, or knows an aftermarket source, please let me know. It's a needlessly complex affair made of plastic that just dry-rots and crumbles. I was replacing the bulb for my lanlord/employer and the damn thing just gave way.

OK.....if I'm a late-bloomer to this phenomenon, I apologize.......but this is the funniest $h! I've seen in a LONG TIME...... www.peopleofwalmart.com Investigate, have fun, and laugh your ass off......

... just posted 4 scary pics of me on facebook. I need to think about revenge.

What's the best store-bought airfilter brand, fellas? I'm with Fram, but want some more flow because I think Fram's a paperfilter. And I don't want K&N.

WTFHHH!!!! :blink: (what the fu$#ing hell happened here?) http://neptune.spacebears.com/gallery/ugly.html

I did this way back at the old forums, so what the hell? I'll bring it back. Feel free to post anything about music. The instruments you play, the music you love, the song you're listening to right now. Feel free to bash bands you hate, just don't direct it at anyone. I'd like to see this thread stay clean. Have fun! B)

OK, I went to Blockbuster and rented 3 movies because the weather sucks bollocks. "Wedding Crashers" "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" "Slutty Summer" I'm gonna watch 'em on the pc. Has anyone seen any of these? Let us know what you thought. I'll post my impressions later on.

The Yes and No are for crimes which, if convicted, would carry the death penalty. As one reads the paper, they can't help but see all the heinous, unprovoked and sickeningly violent actions carried out by certain individuals. While I may bill myself as a liberal practicing Catholic, religion doesn't even come into this one. My feeling is that if it is legitimate to kill an opponent in combat to protect yourself, it is certainly ok to permanently anesthesize a monster who threatens a city, a state or a region. Let's try to keep politics/religion out of this. Just your practical opinion. I don't apologize for mine.

Well we were drivin to the car show today, and these 2 cars pass us with Michigan Manufacturer plates. They were obviously some sort of preproduction vehicle, but they had no camo. My guess is they are some sort of Nissan. You can see the Nissan guage treatment in this shot, if you look closely. What do you guys think?

I'm about to fly to Japan to throw my Toshiba through the window of their corporate head quarters. Don't waste your money on a Toshiba. Not only did my mother-board break in less than 3 months of ownership, we had to fight them to fix it, it took 3 weeks to fix and now the radio buttons don't work and the sound is wavy. Don't even try talking to their customer service line, they could care less and provide some of the worst customer service I've experienced in years. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON A TOSHIBA!!

Hey guys, whats a "nema"? someone aksed me what mine was and i dont know what they're talking about.

Pardon the crappy iPhone pix. It'll probably be published to our site sometime next week.

Here is an interesting typo in the Toronto Star. Read the highlighted and lets see what you think.

My pacemaker was replaced on Monday, February 12, 2007, a day before ACHA's Lobby Day in Washington DC, at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Since the location was switched from my abdomin to my left-side chest area [the original wires are blocked by scarring from the 2003 surgery, causing the old pacemaker/battery to work harder/longer], I stayed overnight. They put the new pacemaker in my chest ... and then decided to take me to the OR to remove the old pacemaker, since it was under the muscle tissue. Luckily, I do not remember waking up with the breathing tube down my throat this time. I made it home safely, thanks to Mom and Dad, on Tuesday, despite Chicag…

Whoopsie: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/02/...in2530066.shtml ..maybe we could use this tactic to get out of Iraq? "Oh terribly sorry, didn't see the border....it was dark?"

"Members of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) say they've noticed a significant increase in traumatic foot and ankle injuries among patients who survived auto accidents. The reason? Air bags. …" "'We see trauma we never saw before,' says ACFAS President James L. Thomas, DPM, FACFAS, a foot and ankle trauma surgeon at the University of Alabama, Birmingham Hospital. 'A decade ago, these patients would have died from head trauma or other upper body injuries. Now, thanks to seat belts and air bags, they survive.'" Such a dramatic headline just so foot and ankle surgeons can put a spotlight on the great work they do and justify a big increase in both …