Croc

Love it! This will likely be my future ride. As much as I like the aesthetic of center exhaust outlets, I have to wonder how GM will avoid the obvious problem of people trying to load/unload something from the trunk (perhaps way back in the trunk) and severely burning themselves on the exhaust outlets. When mounted to the side, they are out of the way of the trunk opening and any loading/unloading operations.

...What are you arguing? I said "one of the most intellectual," not "the most intellectual." Not to relive 2004 or anything, but Kerry has a much more impressive academic record than GW. I can't stand the guy because of his rampant disregard for the Constitution, cronyism, and overall ideological differences, but I think he's very charismatic. He's got a very disarming, "one of the people" personas, whether it's totally affected or not. That he is now unloading the Crawford ranch after obtaining it just prior to 2000 sure makes it seem affected, but I do not know him personally so I cannot say for certain. Washington politics is Hollywood for the ugly people--GW deserves a political Oscar for his performance, IMO.

Kerry wasn't clueless; quite the opposite in fact. He was too intelligent to get elected simply because policy wonks tend to have a difficult time relating to the public. John Kerry would have been one of the most intellectual presidents. Kerry lost because of the Swift Boat Veterans (and his failure to realize the impact of this smear campaign and defend himself) and a deficit of charisma as compared to GW.

The private schools don't :AH-HA_wink: I went to a private HS, but it was fairly diverse both ethnically and socio-economically. The HS was "multifaith" though run by Jesuits, and as a result had a very generous scholarship program to allow kids to "work off" what their parents couldn't afford in the form of staffing concessions during football games, helping with basic maintenance around the campus, and other things. Additionally, many parents used the program because they wanted their kids to have a work ethic, or to get a break on tuition. As a result, there wasn't any stigma against the work-study kids, and yet you had a high school where it was socio-economically diverse without everyone knowing who was what. It was a great experience.

QFT

If you have a problem with a specific post or posts, alert the mods instead of making snide comments that contribute NOTHING to the conversation.

You don't have to defend yourself to me. Not going for specifics here. You've been right about things and wrong, but my main point is that yours is not the word of Og. Yes...Pretty much the point of my post... Just an observation made from your postings. Why thank you, I enjoy them myself. :AH-HA_wink:

Guys, PCS is not the word of Og. He works for GM, somewhat high up it seems, and that's about it. We also know he has a bit of a vindictive streak, as evidenced by his replies concerning Chris Doane and others. We also know he feels wronged by Pontiac due to some internal politics a while back. Knowing all this, it's pretty much obvious to me that PCS has an agenda to further his current career (nothing wrong with that) at the expense of Pontiac, with which he has some sour grapes (kinda immature). PCS presents one viewpoint, and his posts reflect that viewpoint. GM has many viewpoints, hence its chronically-indecisive product planning. Let's not get carried away here. PCS has been wrong about things before, and he will be wrong about some in the future. He will also be right about some things. But the levels of freakout around here lately are getting ridiculous. Facts: Pontiac sells well; along with GMC and Buick it is the second largest sales division. Pontiac sells absurdly well in Canada. China saves Buick, what about Canada and Pontiac? It's a possibility. Finally, Saturn was given a product surge of well-regarded products, yet sales have not improved at all. Again, nothing has been decided yet. ------------- Nothing against you, PCS. I enjoy reading your posts.

This doesn't happen. CA only governs itself. If other states adopt things CA adopted first, your issue is with those legislators, not the state of CA.

The Aurora name was used as a Cadillac concept car way back in the day, but the actual Aurora was not designed as a Cadillac. It was designed as an Olds that could be sold as a Buick if Olds were to be shut down. That's why the radio is the only place that says Oldsmobile in the classic Auroras--very easy to switch out a radio, no other badging. I also suspect that that's the reason the Toronado's classic rear light bar was made much more rounded-looking for the Aurora.

I was referring to the sleekness as being almost Aurora-like. Hmmm...considering the first-gen was a 4-door Riviera and would have been a Buick had Olds been shut down in the mid-90s, I'm gonna have to call on that. But nice try.

Disagree. It seems to have a very sleek look to it...almost Aurora-like.

Dude, you can fly high for a few days legally with prescription--DOOOOO ITTTT!!

What, you're supposed to judge other people by...a completely foreign set of values? Sorry, no way. Certain things are just wrong, and always will be. Genocide being one of them.

So lucky Vicodin works on you. Doesn't for me, so that surgery sucked bloody cotton balls. At least I now know to ALWAYS request Percoset.

"Cruze" sucks. "Cruz" would be much better!

Nice interior? What do you drive, an X-body?

Agreed. Balthazar: When you put a positively-charged magnet next to another positively-charged magnet, the repelling perfectly coincides with the placement. Clearly there's no correlation whatsoever

Here's the thing, though...increasing gas prices are not insular. You may be spending an extra $30 a week at the pump, but so is everyone. As a result, the overall cost of living increases. Moltar's $30 dinner for two in 2007 now costs $40.

Re-read my original post, quoted below (emphasis added): I can see a measurable difference in the air quality of Los Angeles between now and prior to the Clean Air Act. From when CFCs were targeted in the late 1980s until now, the hole in the ozone layer trended toward closing--optimistic predictions said around 2050. Is that just a strange coincidence? Polar ice caps have always formed and shrunk as part of the natural cycle; no one disputes that. What is disputed is whether or not the marked increase in accelerated depletion of the polar ice caps is attributable to humans. Those who think so cite the fact that this marked acceleration perfectly coincides with the onset of the industrial revolution. Another indisputable fact is that the sun's intensity is a lot greater today than it was 50 years ago. The reason the push for SPF is so great these days is because of the state of the ozone layer: less UV light is being filtered out before it reaches us on the ground. The ozone hole is over New Zealand and southern Chile--it isn't just a funny coincidence that those two areas have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Now, do I agree with the Al Gore hysteria? No. But there is definitely some truth in it, and we have a responsibility to try and do something to reverse it. Previous generations were ignorant as to the effects of industry on the planet--but the greater crime is to know what we do actually know today, and choose to ignore it for selfish reasons.

Bingo.

I said "zero impact" now didn't I?

Yes, there is a lot of proof. I've been a skeptic for a long time on this, but we do need to lessen whatever impact it is we are making on the planet. I don't think there's anyone out there who seriously believes we are making zero impact on the global environment, so we should at least try to lessen it.

Autozone scans for codes for free, I hear.