Croc

QUOTE (Paolino @ Dec 14 2008, 09:55 AM) I skipped breakfast because I overate last night. I made this dish my friends moan over, since they were here, and long-story short, we stuffed ourselves very well. I really don't want to hear any more, ever again, about you and your friends stuffing yourselves and moaning. You are officially king of the overshare. ------------------------------------------ Today's "breakfast" was leftover spaghetti and meat sauce, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Yum.

There is plenty of empirical proof that ABS improves stopping distances unless you are trying to stop on loose gravel, or another equally-not-dense type of surface. Like many features you don't see the need for until you use it, ABS makes you wonder why you lived so long without it.

The exterior looks about the same as the last generations...but I have NEVER laughed out loud at an interior pic. I think this one might just be too Asian-bizarre for mainstream American sensibilities.

The point is that GM should offer it at the very least as an official dealership-installed option, if not a factory-installed option. But they don't. That's my issue. Hell, most of my issues with GM equipment/trims would be mollified if they'd at least offer things as options. Price the trims so you get bulk discounts with certain option groups, but at least offer the damn option on lower trims.

What a tard. Did what was your response?

Yeah I saw that. I only knew who she was because a lot of people said the hot chick from the last Project Runway had her look.

Well, with all due respect, things have definitely slowed to a crawl since around the time Fly left, and while I want to stress that this isn't an indictment of any sorts, it pretty much is what happened. I know you guys all have lives outside of the site, and having been in your shoes before I know how tedious it can be...but it is pretty disheartening to see so little in the way of news being posted, the front page being updated, and in general things (seemingly) not getting done like they used to be. I love this site and am certainly not going anywhere on my own volition, but I also remember how it used to be just a short time ago. Now, if Sal is taking this public after previously being rebuffed by Walt, that isn't cool and I was not aware of it. I just assumed he was making the offer as a followup to his previous posts. Anyway, my offer still stands, and will be an open offer if you guys ever need any additional help.

I learned at 16 or 17 that texting while driving is NOT OPTIMAL. Except I wasn't even texting...I was dialing a phone number as I was leaving my HS parking lot, and creeped into the car in front of me (no damage). At that point, dialing became reserved exclusively for red lights or situations where NO ONE ELSE is on the road, and even then I check the road between each number. I have texted at red lights before. But I still find that hella distracting...so I don't do it very often.

Agreed. If you would do this, I'd greatly appreciate it. I will also put this out here that I am willing to donate my time again and be a moderator again...I have the time and passion to do it, and I swear there won't be any politically partisan moderating, or any other forms of "over moderating" from me. It's been several years, and while I would be more involved than many of the current mods are, it wouldn't be like before.

Anyone who voted for a senator--or did not call their office to lobby as a concerned constituent--who voted against the bill has no one to blame but themselves, and their fellow voters who also voted them in. Anyone who is surprised in the least that the vote went down the way it did also has not been paying attention at all recently. No one I voted for voted against the measure.

Wait...individuals have to trim their trees along public utility lines? In Indiana, every year, the electric company goes through and butchers the hell out of any tree that could interfere with an electric line if it is not properly trimmed. I've seen trees that once had a perfect shape to them suddenly have a giant "V" cut through them to accommodate a line.

I stopped reading the article when they said "Studies by other researchers at the university have shown that driving while talking on cell phones is as dangerous as driving drunk." That's a load of bull. I talk while driving regularly, and while I'm not boasting about it, I've driven when I shouldn't have...and there is simply no comparison. None whatsoever. Yes, some people may be affected by it to such an extent, but those are the people who can't drive competently while drinking a non-alcoholic beverage, or who swerve across a lane when they change the radio volume. Talking on a phone while driving is no less distracting than talking with another passenger. And at the very least, if you need to focus ALL of your attention at the road (terrible congestion, bad weather, etc) THEN PLEASE BY ALL MEANS TELL THEM YOU'RE DRIVING AND NEED YOUR FULL ATTENTION AND CALL THEM BACK LATER. I've never had or been involved in an accident while on the phone, and I doubt I will be, honestly, because that's how I do it. I've also noted my reaction skills aren't compromised much because I have successfully swerved around idiots who nearly hit me while on the phone...and no it wasn't because I was so distracted by talking I was running red lights.

VW.com says 15.8k starting price.

Any W-body designed prior to 2000. Those are some great, underrated cars. The 2000 Impala marks the point when the W went from stylish, affordable, and easy to completely mediocre and banal. +1 for the Aztek and Rendezvous. Great cars, especially the Rendezvous. I'm going to nominate the Aurora, particularly the 2nd Gen, despite Brougham-Holiday's troubles with him; mine's been relatively problem free. Cadillac Deville/DTS doesn't get enough love. Anything by SAAB HUMMER H2 is the most unloved vehicle ever. Chevrolet Suburban. Pontiac Fiero Mercury Milan Mercury Mariner Mercury Mountaineer (it's tough being the red-headed stepchild) Ford Explorer Chrysler Sebring (coupe only, not current design) Dodge Avenger/Stratus (again, Mitsu-sourced coupe model) Cutlass Supreme convertible Buick Reatta Buick Riviera Buick Park Avenue (1997-2004)

Sassy black women, and yes. Them and Jewish girls are the closest thing to a "type" that I have. Black women are both awesome and hilarious. No doubt.

Thank you. Most people who know me in real life either think I'm hilarious and awesome, or that I'm devoid of any emotion and am essentially a Grade A Douche. It's always one or the other, never both.

They at least looked decent IMO. Of course, I think that GM materials took a step back with the first generation of Epsilons, especially when compared to the N- and W-bodies.

Your eyes don't deceive--it's better. And +1 on the haggling. Disagree. The materials in the Intrigue would have improved, if continued, and not taken a step back. I never understood the praise for the AURA...it screamed cheap to me with the plastic door sills and fake plastic "stitching" on them. Oh, cheesy fake wood, and that corrugated guage plate? Amber backlighting? Yikes.

How do you have power out for that long? Is your infrastructure that bad, or do you guys need a more competent public utilities commissioner?

But I don't think giving SAAB more dealerships is really "managing" or "developing"...it's more like "HELLO PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE YOU THEIR MONEY AND CANNOT EASILY!"

Agreed.

I'm surprised you have so many above-ground electrical wires. Parts of LA do too, but we only have the Santa Anas to worry about, not ice or snow bringing wires down...

The hell is your point? Saturn hasn't sold the S-series in years, and when it did, that was before Saturn was repositioned as a premium brand, essentially to replace Olds. Exactly. And Saturn doesn't have the lack of dealerships problem that SAAB does. Frankly, though, I don't think the blame lies on Saturn entirely...Note I previously said GM "attempted" to reposition Saturn...GM never did that. I took one look at the AURA when it first came out and knew then that it would never work. GM doesn't know how to reposition brands that aren't Cadillac. GM I suspect designs cars to a strict budget, instead of designing a car and letting the transaction price reflect the extra quality that goes into it. How many times have we seen GM cars with obvious cost-cutting moves to save a dollar or two per car? Does anybody think consumers would balk at a hundred dollars or two for the same car, but without all those little cheapo cost-cuttings? Cars would probably sell better, and at a higher price because no one would feel like they were "settling" as much.

Olds, comparing your two pictures of the Honda/Acura TSX and the Insignia/Regal, I could quickly discern differences in quality almost immediately. These two are not equal. First off. Look at the design of the interior. In the Honda/Acura, everything in the center stack is pretty much flush. Things line up, gaps are minimal. In the Regal/Insignia, though, it wasn't even designed to be flush. You have the buttons sticking out from the radio backplate, a dash upper that sticks out even farther, wood trim that isn't flush with anything, and numerous cutlines that aren't even consistent in width, i.e. things weren't lined up properly in manufacturing and the interior doesn't fit well together. And panel gaps are 2-3 times the size of those in the Honda/Acura. Next, WTF with what looks like a very hard plastic center console and miniature "armrest"? Red backlighting also doesn't jive with Buick, but that's easily changed. My issue is like what Northie said: it isn't coming out today, it comes out in 3 years. It is IMO substandard now, it will be abysmal and ripped a new one in the press in 3 years. As it should be.