Variance

As before, everything loads fine for me. My earlier suggestion in this thread of deleting temporary internet files doesn't work?

Looks good but it's kind of hard to see the extent of the results on cars with light paint. Definitely go for the '06 tails. The spoiler... If you asked me maybe a month or two ago, I would've said it's fine without one. But since then, I think it actually accents the rear nicely and it's pretty tasteful. I feel spoiler take the blandness out of a lot of rear ends (and sometimes whole cars).

That's because they aren't. Main LED headlights aren't DOT-certified yet and no production vehicles have them anyway. I believe the reasoning is LEDs as they are now don't have enough of a suitable light spread to illuminate to road in front. A light spread isn't needed for tail lights and turn signals as they only need to illuminate not project. This is why LED daytime running lights (like on the A8) and front turn signals (as on the Amanti) are fine and legal.

Was his Tundra the Darrell Waltrip edition? He might've thought he was a race-car driver.

Holy $h!, that sucks. I would be pissed beyond belief. What hit you?

Intriguing. If you did hear a supercharger, I'm thinking it could be a Blue Devil mule. Or it simply could be a Z06 modded by a regular owner. Some of our members more attuned to the world of spy photography may be able to shed some light on this. At any rate, thanks for the photos and welcome to C&G.

March 2006 Update After living with the 2006 Pontiac Solstice for four months now, we're starting to feel like we're walking in extremely attractive shoes that everyone compliments us on, but that hurt like heck to wear. The curvy convertible roadster is provocative enough to inspire whoops and whistles from passers-by, and it leaves its driver feeling gorgeous just to be associated with it. But in reality, our long-term two-seater's sluggish performance and small interior had us saving it for quick loops and errands rather than weekend getaways or Costco runs. With its long nose, knockout curves and speedster looks, the Solstice never wanted for attention. "The car is a head-turner and conversation starter. I was amazed at the number of people pointing, waving and asking questions. Whether parked in the driveway or cruising with the top down, the Solstice is anything but discreet," said Vehicle Testing Assistant Mike Schmidt. Senior Content Editor Erin Riches went so far as to call the Pontiac the "only GM car I've ever found beautiful." However, she conceded that she had "just got beaten by a Camry — and a four-cylinder at that — pulling away from a traffic light." And that's the rub: When asked to be more than just a pretty face, the Solstice falls short. In a comparison test against a formidable opponent, the best-selling affordable sport roadster for the past 15 years, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the MX-5 spanked the Solstice with its "true sports car" personality. Executive Editor Scott Oldham wrote, "The Pontiac, although fast, just doesn't offer the same connection to the machine. It feels distant, more like a boulevard star than a true two-seat sports car." The Pontiac's extra 350 pounds over the Miata likely contributed to its comparatively detached feeling. Even though the MX-5 had 170 horsepower versus the Solstice's 177 hp, the Pontiac was a bit slower off the line: 7.7 seconds zero to 60 vs. 7.5 for the MX-5. Our long-term Solstice's best 0-60 at the test track was 7.8 seconds, with a 15.9-second quarter-mile. Not all that impressive for a car that looks so fast. But despite its tall gearing and its tendency to whine under light throttle, editors have remarked how fun it is to drive. Erin said, "The car's suspension and tires really hold on during semi-hard cornering. As a result, the Solstice is easy to drive relatively fast and it never makes the driver feel stupid. It doesn't talk to you like a Miata but it behaves well enough to give its driver a sense of mastery — most GM cars don't do this, so the Solstice is really something special. But it's not a friend like the Miata." Other editors shared this sentiment but were irritated by the car's small interior. Brent Romans, senior automotive editor, said, "The lack of interior storage is really annoying. I'm always having to put my stuff on the passenger seat. Which is fine unless someone else has to ride in the car." Most regarded the tiny trunk as a novelty rather than something useful. "Hey, guess what? I just used the trunk. Top up because it was cold outside. I put three small bags of groceries in there," one editor enthused. Do we hate this car because it's beautiful? If anything, its beauty, $20K price tag and top-down fun, help us see past its mediocre performance and usability shortcomings. Let's face it: The 2006 Pontiac Solstice was made for pleasure, not for the business of hauling groceries. And with many other rides in our long-term program to fall back on, the Solstice should continue to be a fun supplement to the other more practical company cars. Current Odometer: 7,045 Best Fuel Economy: 24.9 mpg Worst Fuel Economy: 15.3 mpg Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 21.7 mpg Body Repair Costs: None Maintenance Costs: None Problems: None. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...42/pageId=69333

Introduction By editors at Edmunds.com Date posted: 04-03-2006 When the Pontiac Solstice first appeared at the 2002 North American International Auto Show we knew we had to include this gutsy little roadster in our long-term fleet. It was named our Most Significant Car of 2006 even though it lost after going mano a mano with the current champ in this class, the Mazda MX-5 Miata. What is it about the Solstice that so quickens the pulse? Driving dynamics? Fuel economy? Practicality? A resounding "No" to all those questions. What seems to drive Solstice fever is summed up in this quote by one Edmunds.com executive who took the little ragtop for a weekend: "If I had an extra $20 grand lying around and I wanted a little roadster to run around town in, I'd probably buy one of these just for fun." In short, the Solstice will rarely be your only car. It will occupy the extra space in your three-car garage and, like a sundial, will only record the sunny hours. The pint-size convertible seems to offer a sort of frivolous appeal with an equally small price tag (once the current feeding frenzy of over-sticker prices dies down). For around $20,000, the Solstice features a four-wheel independent suspension, standard 18-inch wheels and a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. But if you want power windows, cruise control, or even air conditioning, you'll have to pay extra. Our search to be the "first on our block" to own a Solstice lead to Desert Buick, GMC, Pontiac, in Las Vegas, Nevada. There, Lou Gordon, put our name on a deep-blue Solstice moving down the line in GM's assembly plant in Wilmington, Delaware. Since time was of the essence we were not in a strong negotiating position and agreed to pay $24,425, $2,000 over MSRP. However, reports of $8,000 over were circulating so we swallowed our pride and paid the markup. Gordon patiently fielded our weekly check-in calls and one day we heard the words we were waiting for: "It's here." We drove up to Las Vegas from our Santa Monica, California, offices in the pouring rain. With Gordon's help we were in and out of the dealership in record time. Senior Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed was the first one behind the wheel and reported that he felt a bit vulnerable driving the little car in the rain. "I was envisioning a top-down, wind-in-my-hair drive through the desert," he wrote in the logbook. "Instead, I was hemmed in by 18-wheelers and SUVs. Obviously, I can't fault the Solstice for my reaction, but I was reminded that practicality is not part of the Solstice equation." Mike Hudson, consumer advice editor, was more partial to the convertible. He reported, "You can't really enjoy this car until the top is down. Then it makes sense. Everything is better — even the engine sounds better. I like it." With this in mind, Phil drove it, top down, and found that Mike was right. The exhaust sounds throatier and the convertible experience — wind and flickering sunlight — overloads the senses and makes up for any other deficiencies. Later, Phil got a chance to put the top down and pick up his son at school. Unfortunately, there was precious little room to fit his son's backpack anywhere in the trunk and there is no room anywhere else to stash it. Further, Phil reports that Pontiac designers were disappointingly unimaginative when creating the environment inside the car. Even the window buttons are hard to reach with your left hand. "Instead," he wrote, "you need to perfect a crossover maneuver with your right hand to reach the switch." Inside Line Road Test Editor John DiPietro had a number of criticisms of the Solstice. "The engine makes good power, but suffers from what feels like a heavy flywheel. It revs up and down too slowly. It doesn't feel sporty." About the interior, John wrote: "The fuel gauge is ultrarecessed and hard to read in the daylight. There is no storage at all except the hard-to-access compartment between the seatbacks. There is no inside unlock button; you have to use the key fob or pull up on the knobs." On the other hand, John loved the Solstice's athletic handling and the large, easy-to-use climate control knobs. About the exterior design he wrote that "the styling and proportions are perfect — not a wrong line here." A check of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site found four Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs). So, with only 3,200 miles on the Solstice, we took it in to the dealer to look at the TSBs and the powertrain clunk. We went to Boulevard Buick Pontiac GMC in Signal Hill, California. The service advisor said he only showed one open TSB for our car based on its vehicle identification number (VIN). This involved torqueing down the engine harmonic balancer (which was not properly seated at the factory). We described a low-speed clunk we had heard in the drivetrain, and he agreed to check it out. The advisor also recommended an oil change but we declined since, according to our information, only the severe maintenance schedule calls for an oil change at that mileage. Two hours later the service advisor told us the TSB was addressed and a safety check performed. "The technician heard the clunk but he said he thought the noise was normal," our service advisor told us. We didn't feel completely confident with this assessment but we did accept it for the time being. The engine felt a little smoother to us with the engine harmonic balancer securely seated. So we agreed to keep our ear tuned to the transmission to see if the clunk got any worse. Meanwhile, we continue to get envious looks from other motorists and people on the street who respond to just the same thing that hooked us in the first place: a great-looking little car. With the top down it has that catlike "coiled and ready to spring" look. Despite its shortcomings in other ways, that stylish design keeps our interest revving at an enthusiastic level. Current Odometer: 3,281 Best Fuel Economy: 19.2 mpg Worst Fuel Economy: 14.6 mpg Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 16.5 mpg Body Repair Costs: None Maintenance Costs: None Problems: Clunking in the drivetrain at low speeds. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...42/pageId=67756

March 2006 Update The wheels of our long-term 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT have rolled many a mile since the car's last update. More than 9,500 miles have been added to the odometer between the introduction of this vehicle back in October and the present. Senior Automotive Editor Brent Romans accounted for much of the mileage accumulation while driving the car near his home in Fresno. After nearly a month behind the wheel, he had plenty to say about it. "I love the exhaust note," he starts. "From 3-5 grand it has a nice snarl. It eggs you on to go faster and makes the Eclipse seem faster than it really is." Apparently, the Eclipse doesn't just sound fast. Brent's subsequent logbook entry explains how he started his Valentine's Day on the side of the road, receiving a speeding ticket from a California Highway Patrol officer. Alluding to its Sunset Pearlescent paint job Brent adds, "[This is] one of the dangers of driving a bright orange sport coupe." Brent's extended seat time in the Mitsubishi gave him some insight into the challenges inherent in the use of this car as a daily driver. "Outward visibility is poor, not unlike many sport coupes. For people who like to use head-checks for blind spots, the rear three-quarter view is challenging." The turning radius was also an issue Brent noted in the logbook. "I never encountered a situation where the car ran out of room, but it's very noticeable that there is not much room for the wheels to turn. Maybe because of that big V6 under the hood that's transversely mounted?" Road Test Editor Brian Moody, like much of the Inside Line staff, is all too familiar with rush-hour traffic on that artery of anxiety commonly referred to as the 405 freeway. Since our long-term Eclipse has a manual transmission, it is all the more important when he notes that "1st gear is tall enough to leave it in for the 405 grind." As our resident sultan of stereos, Brian is impressed with the sound system in the Eclipse and describes the rear storage area as "large enough to hold groceries and some stuff, even with the big subwoofer." For those looking for sports-car handling from this coupe, though, he feels that the Mitsubishi is "a sport coupe that drives more like a sedan." During this extended tour of duty, the Eclipse required a few stops at our local dealership for maintenance and repairs. The "service engine soon" light first caught our eye and led us to Mitsubishi of Santa Monica at around 6,800 miles. It turns out that a misfire in the No. 3 cylinder was the culprit, so parts were ordered and the light reset. Since it was already at the dealer and time allowed, the Eclipse's prescribed 7,500-mile service was also performed. This service comprised a tire rotation, battery service, brake adjustment and oil change. The cost was $108.08 for parts and labor. An encore appearance of the "service engine soon" light precipitated the arrival of new spark plugs and an ignition coil at our local dealer. The car went back to the dealership, the parts were installed under warranty and the light was reset. Issue resolved. No charge. With nearly 10,000 miles on our Eclipse, it was a mystery that the car was still in need of a front license plate bracket. With this in mind, we made a third visit to the Mitsubishi dealer. The cost was $49.45 for the bracket and the labor to mount it, which required drilling holes in the front bumper. Edmunds.com's editor in chief, Karl Brauer, summed up the consensus of the editors when he noted, "It's really interesting how Mitsubishi maintained the spirit of the Eclipse after all of these years." He continued, "I wish there were a turbo all-wheel-drive version available, but even as it is I enjoy the fun-to-drive aspect that its engine and handling provide." Current Odometer: 10,950 Best Fuel Economy: 32.7 mpg Worst Fuel Economy: 11.8 mpg Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 19.6 mpg Body Repair Costs: None Maintenance Costs: $108.08 for regular maintenance service: tire rotation, battery service, brake cleaning and adjustment, oil and filter change. Install new front license plate bracket for $49.45. Problems: Replace faulty spark plugs and ignition coil under warranty. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...02/pageId=69355

Introduction By editors at Edmunds.com Date posted: 04-03-2006 Things have been a bit rocky at Mitsubishi lately, and the Japanese automaker has a lot riding on the flashy new 2006 Eclipse sport coupe. We gave the car a mixed review this past May, complimenting its sharp handling and distinctive styling, but knocking off points for excessive torque steer and a noisy cabin. Rather than settling for a week in a press car that may or may not be representative for the breed, we requested a long-term test vehicle we could ring out for a full year. Mitsubishi complied, and in early August the company delivered a spankin' new 2006 Eclipse GT. Loaded with Sunset Pearlescent Orange paint, a two-tone orange-and-cream interior and the Premium Sport Package, the newest member of the Edmunds/Inside Line long-term fleet is loaded for bear and sports a $27,694 price tag. Not cheap, but still reasonable for a comfy-yet-capable sport coupe. So far, staff members generally seem to enjoy driving the car. Road Test Editor Dan Kahn was pleasantly surprised by the Eclipse's combination of comfort, style and speed. "I'm a die-hard rear-wheel-drive fan, so I wasn't expecting to like the Eclipse," Kahn says. "But the 3.8 V6 is buttery-smooth, makes a great exhaust note, and pulls really hard. Of course 263 horsepower makes torque steer a major issue, but I learned to deal with it. I also really enjoyed the comfy seats and the car's incredible Rockford Fosgate stereo. Overall a great road trip car, maybe even better than the faster-but-harsher Nissan 350Z." Senior Feature Editor Joanne Helperin appreciated the Eclipse's smooth clutch and powerful engine, as she taught herself how to drive a manual transmission in the car. "I will always have affection for the Eclipse because it is the car that got me 'over the hump' when I was learning to drive a stick," Helperin says. "After trying four other cars and feeling like I might never get it, the Eclipse's clutch, in particular, made it possible. I found the clutch very forgiving, allowing me to get moving without stalling. The interior is roomy, and I like the interior color arrangements — particularly on the seats. I also like the details, such as the door handles. It's a cool-looking ride, something I would actually buy if I didn't have kids." Not all reviews were golden, however. Several staffers complained about excessive road noise and unruly torque steer, while a few commented on the car's aggressive styling and unusual color scheme. "The first time I saw the Eclipse, it took my breath away, and not in a good way," says New Vehicle Reviews Editor Jeff Bryan. "The color combo shocked even my color-blind eyes. I basked in the attention of frightened tourists. The suede seat bolsters are a nice touch, but I wonder how good they'll look after a year of wear and tear. Also, I noticed the Eclipse has quite a bit of road noise, especially at higher speeds. The rear hatch requires a healthy slam to close tightly, and the doors lack a reassuring thud when being closed." After a scant six weeks of service, the Eclipse is proving to be quite the controversial little sports car, and after a few more months of steady use its true colors will certainly come shining through. In the meantime, sales have far exceeded Mitsubishi's initial goals for the car, and its unique lines and comfortable cabin may give the Nissan 350Z and Mazda RX-8 some unexpected competition. Current Odometer: 1,382 Best Fuel Economy: 19.2 mpg Worst Fuel Economy: 14.6 mpg Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 16.5 mpg Body Repair Costs: None Maintenance Costs: None Problems: None Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...02/pageId=65868

That looks hot (crappy photo quality aside). I'd totally rock that.

IL Exclusive: OnStar To Help Customers Find Ethanol Date posted: 04-08-2006 DETROIT — OnStar President Chet Huber said his company will unveil a new service in June to let customers know if their vehicle is E85 compatible and help them find ethanol filling stations. Customers will receive an e-mail telling them where ethanol filling stations are in their area — or they can press the OnStar button in their vehicle and get help from a representative. Huber said OnStar is also working on another new service that would alert customers when their tires are underinflated. "Even minor underinflation has an impact on fuel economy," Huber said. He would not say when that service would start, only that it will make its debut in the "short term." OnStar is also teaming with the Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan to develop more sophisticated ways of alerting emergency personnel at places like level-one trauma centers and air ambulances when severe car crashes occur. Such a setup could conceivably send such information as how severe the impact was, whether multiple impacts occurred, and whether the vehicle rolled over. This would speed the response of emergency personnel, he said. What this means to you: OnStar, which started out as simple roadside assistance, has pretty sophisticated ambitions. Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109936

That's a Nissan Teana shell. It's actually the test bed for the new Altima. The Teana won't be coming here and the 2007 Maxima won't look like that.

A thought occurs: Would it be possible to swap in these Vectra headlights?

Judge approves Delphi-GM-UAW attrition plan By Nick Zieminski Fri Apr 7, 6:43 PM ET Bankrupt auto parts maker Delphi Corp. (Other OTC:DPHIQ - news) won court approval on Friday for its attrition agreement with former parent General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news) and the United Auto Workers Union. The deal frees Delphi to offer GM-funded retirement incentives to about 13,000 UAW members, and allows 5,000 workers a chance to return to factory jobs at GM. Delphi, which last week asked the court for permission to reject its labor contracts, has described the attrition plan as a first step to slashing wage and benefit costs and reversing losses in its U.S. operations. "We believe that it's not only a good exercise of business judgment, but it's fundamentally right to offer as many options to our labor force as we can," Delphi lawyer Jack Butler said. "We believe this program provides a menu of options that will make the transformation softer than it otherwise would be," he added. In his ruling, Judge Robert Drain agreed with that argument, saying the agreement provided an important option for UAW workers. "This right is significant in that there is tremendous uncertainty with regard to the future of the debtor's operation and the future of the collective bargaining agreement," Drain said. Drain also said negotiating a new union agreement may be easier as a result of his approval of the attrition program. Delphi on March 31 filed court papers to reject its labor contracts after failing to reach agreements with its unions or GM on the more contentious aim for wage and benefit cuts. The UAW has said a long strike would be unavoidable if Delphi eventually imposed wage and benefit cuts, though Delphi has said it expects talks to continue. Delphi's Butler did not comment on the status of labor talks, and said he could not estimate how many workers would take the retirement deal. "These are personal situations. They are family situations, people have to talk to their spouses and their children," Butler said, adding that Delphi would seek similar retirement deals with its other unions. Delphi has about 33,100 U.S. hourly workers, including 23,300 represented by the UAW and 8,500 by the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America. Drain also said he would approve a cooperation agreement between GM and unsecured creditors. The creditors' committee had asked for GM documents detailing its ties to Delphi so it could estimate the scope of GM's claim. Lawyers for GM said in court that the claim could exceed $4 billion if all eligible workers opt into the attrition program. Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060407/bs_nm/...wN5bnN1YmNhdA--

This is a "MySpace" description but I think it's basically the same way when posting here. http://photobucket.com/tutorials/myspace/mysp_tag.html Just use the "IMG" code instead of "Tag".

It's true: Sad Lads: American Media Pulls the Plug on MPH Magazine

I chopped a gap in between the hood line and chrome bar. Before: After:

Cool. It's like something out of "Monster Garage".

Bump because it's on now. :AH-HA_wink:

Chrome? It looks more like body-color to me.

Not to my knowledge... Um...MPH mag was 86ed not too long ago as well. --- At any rate, good riddance. The host was corny and the show basically sucked anyway.

It does look less "mean" than the concept but it still looks pretty good. I hope if they do a Redline version they give it the concept front end. The Sky Redline looks hot, too.

I'm getting a registration/log-in screen.

As a member of the C&G Staff, I feel it's my responsibility to make the members aware of features that may make their time on the forums more enjoyable (or less irritating depending on your current viewpoint). If there is a certain member whose posts irk you and you don't want to read what they have to say, I suggest you make use of the forums user ignore feature. Instructions: -Go to "My Controls" on the right menu. -On the next screen, there is a link called "Manage Ignored Users". -The next screen explains the details for you but basically you just enter the name of the user(s) you don't wish to hear from. From then on, you should not hear from that particular user. Personally, I feel there's a certain threshold that seperates an annoying member with less-than-popular opinions from a troll whose sole purpose is to intentionally disrupt the flow of C&G. The latter will be dealt with appropriately by the staff as seen fit. The ignore feature is suitable for the former. Thank you for reading. -Variance