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From what I understand, they still have the same problems with wind and noise. Just a hard no for such a niche vehicle that routinely prices over $40K.

I am happy to say that I've had both injections. As soon as it was announced that it would open up, I jumped on 2 retail pharmacy websites and, lo and behold, found an appointment just 2 days away at a location about 1:15 from me. I was ecstatic. I was given Pfizer. Surprisingly, those same retail pharmacies around me were giving Moderna, but this store was giving Pfizer. I was happy about getting Pfizer. Some friends have had some transient side effects from the Moderna. From what I've heard, Pfizer is the one mostly dispensed at hospitals while Moderna is more likely to be dispensed at retail pharmacies. The only side effect both times was a dull headache for about a day or so after the injections. Ibuprofen took care of that. It's very sad to me that this has become politicized. A friend of mine is trained as a nurse and she did not want it. This didn't surprise me because the mindset in her household is very Christian (not the more denominational kinds) and very Republican. The response to the vaccine seems to be "packaged" with predictable beliefs and attitudes that lend themselves to stereotyping, and the pollsters' numbers prove that. I'll STOP right there with the politics. With the amount of effort thrown at this, and with pharmaceutical horsepower so advanced compared to decades ago, I was waiting for this. I knew there are risks involved. And, if they detect some issues, they'll probably find new pills to fix the old problems and correct the vaccine formulation. If we need boosters, I'm ok with that, too. I see this as a money printing press for Big Pharma, but it is what it is. I can deal with having it rolled in with the flu shot ... or as two separate annual episodes. I will do what it takes to TRAVEL. That said: R-O-A-D T-R-I-P !!!

Speaking of the Bronco, an NE Ohio Ford dealer posted on FB one they got in for training...

I am happy to report that the whole family, Wife, Daughter, Son and Myself are fully vaccinated. My son's girlfriend also got vaccinated. Pfizer is stating a need for booster shots 9 to 12 months after you are fully vaccinated to maintain 100% protection. Seems this will become an annual thing to vaccinate against the virus much like an annual flu shot. Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine Updates: Booster Shots, E.U. Supplies | Nasdaq Pfizer COVID Vaccine Likely Will Need Third Booster Shot, BioNTech CEO Says (newsweek.com) Moderna much like Pfizer is also saying the same thing, booster shots to maintain 100% protection and to take into account variations in the virus. We'll need booster vaccine shots against Covid-19 variants ‘starting this fall,’ says Moderna CEO — RT World News Always good to post the link again for those with questions about the vaccine from the CDC. Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC

The latest wrangler, the 2018 up adresses a lot of issues with earlier Wranglers. I find myself hiking more than wanting to go four wheeling. And I think the new Bronco, when it finally goes into full production in August, will kick the Wranglers ass in so many ways. Again, I am convinced Bronco will be much better. They had to heavily discount Gladiators to get rid of a bunch of them. Wranglers were moving, Gladiators were not. Wranglers are stupid hot around Columbus and elsewhere. On a recent trip to North Carolina it seemed like every other vehicle was aWrangler. And they hold resale like nobody's buysiness. The 97-2007 Version has frame rust issues that would make toyota blush. Kick ass Impala.

I'll add this here- back around '17 when we bought the '11 Liberty for my son, I was shocked to see a couple Wranglers on the lot for $42K. As crude and youth-freindly as they are, I assumed they were more like $25K. I forgot- I drove a Wrangler as a plow truck one winter maybe 8 yrs ago, (it had poor traction) but that's hardly any indicator of on-road comfort or anything.

The one Wrangler I was in was shockingly cramped. And I hated the raised lip at the door sills; I would be on my ear every 4th time out of the vehicle.

That bridge is a... ...for me Beautiful but my vertigo will simply not allow me to do that.

Two door is the way I would go (and the V6). Who knows? Maybe one year I can swing a $40K splurge. For now, I'll just have to enjoy the lunchbox (what I call my Flex).

Watched over the weekend movie Wander on Amazon Prime. The movie is a bit weird but actors are great. They had 1970 Olds Toronado, which I think looked pretty cool.

Yes, bouncy ride. With my back I'd be in a world of pain if I had to commute any distance in one. I recall riding in one for with friends on I-70 in Colorado from Denver to the mountains about 15 years ago--was about an '03-04 vintage-- with the soft top on we had to yell at each other to talk...so loud at 70 mph. After a couple hours it got really tiring. I'm sure the newer ones are better (esp. w/ a hard top on) but probably not that much.

Every time I ride in Wrangler of any year, I feel like a bobblehead with palsy. Would never, in a million years own one with my back and hip problems.

Which is why I've driven Grand Cherokees for over 20 years instead of Wranglers. I've ridden in and test driven several Wranglers over the years, and think they would be fun for weekend use if I was really, really into off-roading. But I find them too loud, harsh and cramped as a daily driver.

Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator is a niche novelty vehicle. Like the Wrangler, it's strengths are more as an off road vehicle than as an on-road SUV or truck. For most potential buyers, a normal SUV or pickup is far more practical and drivable.

On the surface, its a nice enough looking ride that pays homage to the Scrambler days of old but it is horrendously overpriced and underperforms on nearly every level that is not related to off-roading, not to mention the host of quality issues already plaguing them.

^ But you see; in the 1870s the plow horse would move slower in the winter too, and sometimes the dry weather would cause his hooves to chafe, so it's really the same thing.

Because much like every other industry out there, not all of them can be "winners" but maybe I'm just guilty of using common sense here instead of using sensationalism and exceptionalism to make a point.

For many years this was the largest exterior emblem (I believe) : But recently it's been challenged :

@A Horse With No Name Totally agree, brothers in awe of Asian woman. We got married on a tight budget but a few years later took my wife to get her the glamor portrait she deserved in her wedding dress. My wife Sun Felt! ?

Post your May auto spotting here! Ran an errand to Costco and saw this classic auto!

The Riviera '66 and '67 to me, was on equal footing as the '66-'67 Toro. Well, the Toronado edged it just a tad to be a more sensual design. But both were awesome! So much so, that I prefer these 2nd gen Rivieras over the 1st gens. But yeah, Buick's refreshing styling direction from '68 onward DID surpass Oldsmobile's. I agree with you Balthy.

They neutered it by 1968. They squared off the look in 1969. But went back to the bladed front end in 1970 like you posted. @ykX The 1st gen Toronado was a looker. Any year. But in my opinion, the 1st year was THE masterpiece and Oldsmobile/GM just kept on messin' it up year after year after what they had created in 1966!

Independent front suspension will make the Bronco 100 times better on-road. It might not be 100% the Wrangler off road but 95% would still be great.

So in other words, not much different than the early decades of ICE before they started to focus on MPG. Some were terrible in comparison to others that did much better for burning fuel based on temperatures. We have to start somewhere and I am sure gm as well as others are looking at the auto's that are out there including Tesla which has been benchmarked by many OEMs in their battery tech. I agree that Zero Degradation is a pipe dream, but I do not seen why with proper engineering of the battery cell, battery packaging and temperature management that you cannot reduce the drop in extreme cold or hot to be a very small thing. Over all, be it BEV or ICE, extreme weather affects all.

NOTHING can make toyoter blush.

They are wicked fun to drive though. Cornoavirus sadly is going ballistic worldwide even as it ramps down a bit here in the United States. And Drew was right in one of his comments about us never hitting her immunity of going fully back to normal because of people who refuse the vaccine. https://www.axios.com/covid-cases-global-india-pandemic-who-1aa326d3-55c0-485c-a546-dee93a6da155.html

Interior layout, towing power, handling, payload capacity, wanted a new Chevy Trail Boss more...but yeah....lots of people not happy with these.

Here are some articles I have found regarding disappoint Gladiator owners. https://www.motorbiscuit.com/this-2020-jeep-gladiator-owner-is-so-disappointed-hes-getting-rid-of-it/ And apparently going mudding goes against the warranty, thus leading me to ask "What is point of this?" https://www.thedrive.com/news/38601/jeep-gladiator-owner-fixing-her-own-truck-after-dealer-allegedly-voids-warranty-for-mudding

Still have a soft spot for those trucks! Growing up our neighbor down our street had a custom red one.....

Aslo for Baltahzar...and everyone else...

As a response to Balthazar, the older Fords never lost their appeal to me. Patina on this is just right. I love it. Apologies for posting one more pic but I couldn't resist.

My good woodworking buddy Dustin's college room mate was one of the guys who designed the RAM and the RAM TRX. His other room amte is one of the lead designers at Harley Davidson. Dustin runs his own design company, some of his work. http://dustingerken.com/dustin-gerken-design----work.html http://dustingerken.com/images/02_02.jpg?crc=427737220 Any new car will have bugs. So far, other than a few very random interior rattles that rarely happen, the Ranger has been flawless. I really wish I had been alive and around when this era of car was new and running around. It grows on me more and more all of the time, even the fugly Fords and the wierd Mopars of the Era. Mild Fetish for the 60 Edsel...please no one shun me or unfriend me on Facebook because of that admission. Buick goes up in my respect of cars as time goes on. Would love to own an interesting midsize car from the 68-72 era. Under rated GM design. Love the mid sixties Riv as well.

I like Ford; the company, the history, the founder, and their trucks. Some of their cars, too. I've not seen a Flex up close/inside to examine, but I have a feeling I'd really like it. Was listening to a dark blue/black rims current 'stang GT going up the highway next to me today and the exhaust music was sublime. My comment on stocks was a counter to smk's that "investors love electric car stocks" when plainly they love Tesla/Musk. Whether a given company succeeds long term or not is another discussion. I like entrepreneurs, in fact I am often jealous of industrial entrepreneurs and how world-altering they can become.

I found this line very amusing while reading up on Fiskers current doings. It's real easy to go after EV "pipe dreamers" when they fail once or twice and it's even easier when you want to ignore some simple facts of the past. Like this line: It took Henry Ford three tries to start his own successful car company. Henrik Fisker is on his second try with his new company, Fisker Inc. How'd that work out for him btw? I forget. I do know that even after a century in business, Ford still has it fair share of issues yet no one is calling for them to be shut down (except for rabid GM fans maybe lol). I'm just glad my Flex has been relatively trouble free ?. Point being, there will be winners and there will be losers but how about let that play out a bit before obeying that five minute attention span, that most people in this country seem to have.

If "investors love electric vehicle stocks", why is Fiskar at $13 and Lordstown at $9?

Re: Ford quality--an anecdote, I know, but I did hear one of the podcasters I follow leased a Mach-e and the screen went blank and had to be replaced literally before they got off the dealer lot...

This may be the largest interior emblem/nameplate ever ('60 Buick) :

That’s a ‘55. That year, only the Special had 3 VentiPorts per side.

Every Mexican and Mexican-American I've told this one to nods, smiles, and/or laughs, so it passes the "ok" test ... Q: Why were there only 500 Mexicans at the Alamo? A: They only took 7 cars.

WOW, Sussanne Somers (74 yrs old) with her Grand Daughter (25 yrs old) who is getting into the movie business. Crazy.

Lori Laughlin...she's only 56...TV actor, known for 'Full House'. Her recent fame, though comes from the USC admissions scandal that she and others were caught up in. Spent 2 months in jail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lori_Loughlin

Who is this old woman? I honestly have not seen her before, so if political, sorry, but weird that this is the first time I have seen her and hav no idea what the story is about. What crimes? Wow, I really feel in the dark on this news story. Update me please!

I am in awe of the craftsmanship ... most types of craftsmanship. In February, I was able to go through the MFAH (Museum of Fine Art Houston) on cheapskate day and, in the first building, you see the paintings and portraiture that look real and that were painted by the famous artists of centuries ago ... as well as furniture from those periods. Then, you go into other buildings with more recent and modern art, and you see things that involve craftsmanship, humor, and even technical savvy, such as lighting shows. The MFAH is a stellar museum. - - - - - This photo is from one of the mansions you can tour in Galveston, about 45 miles southeast of Houston and on the Gulf. And every room in the mansion has this caliber of woodwork.

Upon relection on this....I think it would be better if it wasn't trying to pull of being a 'Vette. It would be fantastic as a remake of an early 70's Opel product. They had some unique and kind of attractive cars. One of my SCCA friends raced Opels for years. There is something right about some of the proportions and they do have a good selection fo colors. But I am not a fan of remakes of older cars out of newer ones.

BMW already tried this with Apple CarPlay, failed, and ended up giving it out for free with the car.... and that arguably might have some merit to it because then you'd be paying for updates etc.... what updates do I need to heated seat software though? It has 4 settings.. high, medium, low, and off. Edit: I Do see merit for charging a subscription for SuperCruise however (and Cadillac does after I think 3 years) because it costs GM an enormous amount of money to keep the LIDAR maps up to date. I could see GM eventually partnering with another company (Honda for Acura is the first to come to mind) to sell the LIDAR data for other autonomous systems.

This HAS to be a joke. You literally pay for the hardware & software, you OWN it... but it doesn't 'work' unless you pay again.

My sister and I got our 2nd shots of Pfizer on Monday, quick and easy. I really haven't had any side effects, a bit of fatigue but that is probably due to being awoken at 4:30-5 am 3 days in a row by the dogs. She had some all-over-soreness and out-of-it feeling, but slept it off.