Croc

I don't agree. I think the problem is not a sense of entitlement, per se, but a total lack of awareness for people who might not have it as well off. You mention the phones and the cars, but there are very logical reasons for owning them, especially if one can afford it. iPods aren't expensive, especially the cheap ones, and they pretty much replace walkmans and discmans. Cell phones are pretty much a safety issue. I know I got one when I got my license so I could call in cases of emergency. As for the blackberry and iPhone, yea, not necessary, but again I don't think they're over-the-top either. Many of my friends pay for at least portions of their data plans. Drugs and alcohol are nothing new, my friend, and the computer pretty much replaces the hours of TV people used to watch. Really, though, the problem is not with "having," but with forgetting the entire world isn't as privileged.

Because it was Toyota reaction post that made you do it, not lack of self-restraint, right?

Don't give up! At least settle for an early Intrigue

GM gets repetitive pushing mediocrity on the marketplace.

Is it bad that when I saw the picture of the interior rear seat I thought I smelled the scent of a dining hall at a hospital or nursing home? Clean ride, glad to hear it runs well!

Dude, it's a '97. That's not heavy mileage at all.

No, Chevy is getting the Traverse, and it's a better vehicle for the wait. The Outlook as a Chevrolet would not have sold well as it is the most bland design out of GM in the last couple years. Traverse also gets more cargo room, a minor shortcoming of the current crop of lambdas.

I know what you're saying, but the lambdas are far more differentiated than the GMT-360s, and those were pretty differentiated IMO, sharing no exterior sheetmetal save the roofs. The lambdas also share very little sheetmetal (if any), and while the Outlook/Acadia share a bit too much of their interior components for my liking, the Buick is fairly unique inside. GM definitely did more than change out the grilles on these. Traverse is also longer than the other 3. As for the Ws, well...ignoring the Century/Regal badge engineering, the Grand Prix and Intrigue were pretty similar-looking from the outside, especially when the comparison involved the grille-less GP SE.

Can't agree with the lambdas. They each have a very distinct personality.

I'm just saying, though--what would GM do? Essentially the choice is between HSV/Pontiac, or continue marketing and expanding Chevy SS. SS wins out everytime. Really, GM's internal politics cost the company more and more each year...the Japanese don't have that crap going on...

Just run a fork down the side of the donor car's clay model. All kidding aside, the only question I have is: what about Chevy SS? That's pretty much the domestic branding equivalent to HSV.

That's another really good one...

But it is the perfect example of my point: platform sharing among the "middle brands" leading to nondifferentiated product.

3.8 is dead. Lower mileage in the 3.6 is due to a combination of weight and transmission pairings.

At least when compared to similarly-priced brands. Pontiac can share all the platforms with Cadillac as it wants and there will be no internal competition. The biggest problem with GM is their mindset that Chevrolet needs nearly every platform, that Cadillac gets "exclusive" platforms, and the other divisions get a subset of the Chevrolet platforms. It doesn't matter if it's Pontiac, Saturn, Buick, Oldsmobile, etc.--whatever you call the division, with GM it will eventually become "damaged" because of the mindset that gives us three Epsilons in the same general price range, just like the W-body before that and the X-body before that. Until GM realizes that it should develop platforms that, to utilize economies of scale, should be shared between Cadillac and a non-Chevrolet division, or Buick and Pontiac, or Saturn and SAAB--brands that have very little overlap in price or mission--then it will continue to face the same difficulties it currently faces.

Justice - "Stress" Prince - "I Would Die 4 U (Extended Version)" ...this one clocks in at 10:20. It's an early recording that was essentially a jam session in the studio. If you can find it, definitely worth a listen.

Why do you equate FWD with volume? Please explain as it does not make sense to me.

Sounds like a good time, man. I'm not gonna judge the driving, though--I don't think I've driven drunk out here...but I've been plenty tipsy, especially that one time in Costa Mesa when I drove back on the 405 to the 110 at 1am...f@#king hate the 405. Worst freeway ever. @ the Denny's...I just got back from Lucy's--pulling an all-nighter on a term paper that was due at midnight. Oops...

Yeah...that's not a drunk face or anything...

Leasing, though, forces you to pay more than purchasing outright, assuming you actually like the car and want to own it past the balloon payment. Also, while Chrysler may not have the most desirable lineup now, many of their vehicles are pretty safe and would be appealing for parents to buy as a first car, or graduation present, for their kid.

This sentence contradicts itself. Yes, she didn't respect a mutual decision, but the whole "man = head of the house" is soooooo quaint and really doesn't have a place in this day and age. Trust me, she'd resent it. I'm with Borger--do a contract about it. I'd also see about couples financial counseling--if, of course, that's affordable. At the very least, see if a mutual, neutral friend is in the financial planning sector to see what options are in play and maybe the two of them can work something out. Also, instead of thinking in terms of "X sum of money will go toward debt repayment," how about setting aside a portion of the paychecks, say 10%, and then gradually pay the debt off with that? Since it's a marriage, the two debts really are a "couple's debt" and setting up a specific bank account for bills might not be a bad idea. Once the debt is paid off, this could easily morph into a joint account, so each has their own discretionary accounts, plus the joint account for joint purchases or bills payments. What do you think, Newbiewar?

My mother won't be in Los Angeles until Wednesday, so I'll prolly just eat some In-N-Out while thinking of her and make a phone call.

I'm sorry, what century is this? Please...that approach will get him straight to a judge for a divorce, and rightfully so.

Hello, Alfred Sloane.

Welcome back! The more you post on here the less you're out running red lights!