oldshurst442

Im beating a dead horse if I answer this one. But Ill just show you pics instead. All Mercedes cars that have engraved into our psyche that Mercedes Benz cars are simply engineered like no other! And Heads of State ride in them because simply the best they are! You think that in the years 2000-2017, NOT PRE-WAR Europe, but at a time when Mercedes Benz should be at the top of the world catering to the stupendously rich, not the for the masses, should be offering these? Rolls Royce...there was a time when Mercedes Benz was ON EQUAL footing with the likes of that 500K and 770K of Adolf Hitler.... You are the ONLY one that thinks that M-B is that high on the lux scale.. They could be....but not if they continue selling Cimarrons to the masses! Sorry SMK....there are some things we agree on with Cadillac on why they fail often and there are things that we agree on why Mercedes Benz succeeds.... But Im baffled as to why you think selling literally shoddy CLAs and B Classes to the masses IN NORTH AMERICA is a good viable strategy where North Americans were actually sheltered from seeing Mercedes-Benz be a mainstream automaker in Europe! This MAINSTREAM insanity in North America to gain volume is gonna hurt M-B's image in the long run. Its OK of you dont wanna see it...but THAT is 1 reason on how Cadillac screwed the pooch. A Cadillac for all approach did not work out so well for Cadillac. Hell, that strategy is starting to hurt BMW as of now....

Yeah. I wished we got the GTO up here in Canada. Id probably would have bought one instead of the 2005 Impala SS I traded my 1999 Olds Alero for. All this discussion and Im getting all kinds of memories flooding in from this time period. I got married on the 7th of June 2003. Yup...just a couple of days left for our 14th Wedding Anniversary. Plus...this concept just entered my brain. What happened to this? It never materialized? I just remember it had a decent horsepower rating that had me excited at the time, but the 300 HP STS was still the one I wanted!

I did not know that. I thought that the Omega, Catera, Commodore and the Middle Eastern Caprice and Lumina were all the same car. I mean...all the same wheel bases and such. Internet...well, I did not have access to it then as I do know... Nice to know.

Ill have to super agree with your comment on the Miata/Fiata and FR-S/86/BRZ . Mazda has been doing this since 1989 or 1990 with the Miata and that is EXACTLY what Toyota and Subaru told us what those cars were gonna be all about.

About that Catera... The Middle East got even BETTER versions of this car! The Lumina SS These had the Corvette's venerable 5.7 liter V8 under the hood in SS form! I don't know if it was the LT1 or the LS1, but yeah...V8! Maybe Cadillac should have gone the V8 direction in North America too with the Catera. Anybody read Arabic? Anyway...there are numbers in the article down at the link that makes sense to my English eyes! Maybe they make sense to your English eyes too...just click on the link! http://www.motiontrends.com/2001/m10/features/holden/holden.shtml About the CLA not doing any damage to M-B's image... All in due time. When M-B OVER saturates the market full of CLA's and closer to mainstream C Class and E Class cars in North America along with the GLA and other MAINSTREAM offerings that play the pretend luxury card...you will see that damage...not now...in 5-10 years from now. And they will hurt as much as Cadillac is hurting now... They walked away from this mess ONLY because dumb Americans were blinded by the love they have for German cars and the HATRED they have for American cars...but as Cadillac and Chevrolet offer BETTER cars for each and every price point Mercedes Benz offers...that hurt will come awfully soon! You see, American cars are getting better and better perceived by Americans themselves...

About this chat of slow tossability and today younglings discovering it... 1. I don't think today's cars have this slow fun tossability quality to them, therefore I don't think this phenomenon exists! Why? Today's cars are sooooooo in tune with safety in mind (electronic and computer controlled safety nannies), with traction control and electronic hand brakes and the like...that how CAN one toss and turn and break the tail end loose? One has to have wet pavement or snow to do that, or reach speeds that are too dangerous to achieve all that in the first place requiring insane horsepower levels JUST to achieve that in a short amount of time and space! 2. Today's cars are soooooo good in balancing weight and driving dynamics and the brakes are soooo good and the tires are wide and the tires have sooooo much more grip and the handling of MOST cars is so taut that the limits of even the most mundane car is pretty damned high requiring any type of shenanigans to be made at high enough speeds that are too dangerous to achieve all that in the first place requiring insane horsepower levels JUST to achieve that in a short amount of time and space!

@Sal Collaziano I don't really care about all this back and forth to tell you the truth. It was just a perception that I caught that I thought was a tad false and misleading. I gave my opinion on it, you rebutted, I countered again. You acknowledged me. I respect you for that and that is why I upvoted your retreat post. I don't want to bully you into submission. I don't want you to feel like you owe me something. I want you to continue with your insights. You the hell am I to make you do otherwise???!!! With that being said. Buick and Lincoln, in 2017, serve different roles in the luxury market both in North America and in China. Buick and Lincoln, in 2017, serve different roles within their respective corporate parent company as well. I wanted to get that message across. I did it with an "in your face" way about...that is just how I do things to make a point! Nothing personal. Just entertainment. But that opinion that I shared with you, even if it was 'in your face', it is still a reality that is closer to the truth than what you originally wrote. As far as your latest post is concerned, that post is more sincere and closer to reality than what you originally posted. Thanx Sal, for hearing me out!

I dont know! Im a tad (phoqued up ) after reading it too!

@A Horse With No Name I know you are just busting my chops in a playful way! I enjoy returning the banter! Its all in good FUN!!! No peeing on the carpet for me anymore! Im all grown up!!! Im a big kid now!

@Sal Collaziano I noticed that @2b2 gave you a +1 for this post. I took it away... Why? This explanation is more for @2b2 rather than yourself. I gave you a +1 for the last post you made! There it is! A DIRECT comparison! Hence why I rebutted with this: And this: INCLUDING the pics of the late 1990s/early 2000s Lincoln Continental and Buick LeSabre!!! @A Horse With No Name The exclamation points are still there!!!! No!!! Today was a nice WARM day!!!! Thank-you for asking!!!

The 1990s is where Mercedes got its real wind!' That is the car that started it... Before that... Beverley Hills trophy wives drove these around... Yeah...they were lusted after...but really, this model was sold in the 1970s all the way to 1989... in the 1970s...THIS was TRAILING IN EVERY ASPECT ANY CADILLAC CAR in terms of tech, luxury AND desire!

Now...seeing your failed attempt to make it seem that Mercedes-Benz was a luxury car maker in the 1950s and 1960s...(at least you have moved on from that!!!)...you are trying to make it seem that Mercedes-Benz has high almighty in the 1970s...(yes Mercedes was starting to role but as a MAINSTREAM car maker with a couple of high rollin' models!) I tolod you...I visited Greece thrice in the 1970s...the one time I was 1 years old...but the other two times I remember quite well... The mechanicals of the W123 was sturdy like a tank...the interior left much to be desired...both in taxis and in civilian hands...why? Europeans were POOR! WE Americans were LAVISH! WE were the ones to bask in the luxury! Hence why ours cars were the way they were in the 1950s, 1960s and the 1970s... And hence why European cars were SPARTAN... Maybe you should start adding things up in your head and come to the proper conclusion! THAT is what you literally saw...plus many in civilian hands too! I rode in both taxis and civilian models both in 1977, 1979 AND in 1985 and 1987...because I went to Greece in 1985 and 1987...and trust me...the W123 was nowhere near being luxurious! My dad's 1979 Chevrolet Impala was VERY comparable...interior quality...actually...WORSE than my dad's 1979 Impala!!! In the good 'ole USA...we got the luxury side of Mercedes Benz...but even in the 1980s...Mercedes Benz was BEHIND in luxury and in sales to Cadillac! Perception was changing...but 'twas the JAPANESE that headed THAT attack! Not Mercedes Benz!!! I don't know how you got this idea that Mercedes Benz was high and mighty in the lux department after the war....but we are 4 guys trying to school you...please listen! Drew mentioned that Europe was war torn. Casa said that both Allied and Axis forces bombed the shyte out of ALL European factories. Balthy said that Europeans were too poor to buy Luxury cars and that Europeans are too nationalistic to buy fporeign makes...Drew and Casa also said that. I POSTED pics...I gave you anecdotes of MY personal experiences... The truth is there for you to acknowledge!

The REAL BMW of the 1960s THIS is the car that kept the lights on at BMW THAT was the state of LUXURY in Europe and THAT is why Cadillac did NOT go to Europe! This is what they also sold at this time Elvis bought one! But it was AMERICAN MONEY that bought that! Not European money! He also had...plenty of CADILLACS! Not too bad lookin. Sexy Id say! But nowhere near the technology that American cars had! ONLY the Gullwing had state of the art tech! But the top American cars all had access to that tech and was offered as options before the decade was up before 1960... The Vette itself offered the same tech as the Gullwing the year after with Fuel Injection and the like!!!

Post-war Europe was left a disaster... In reality...most RURAL Europeans rode these well into the 1970s... In the cities...it was not all about the donkey, but in the 1950s and early 1960s, most people did not own that W114 Mercedes. He will big time disappointed to know the reality of post-war Europe. He does have one clue though, he keeps on mentioning it.... The displacement tax... He should google what engines those cars came in....and he just might realize that Mercedes Benz wasnt selling that many W114s anyhow....'twas SMALLER Mercedes cars... PS: a 2.4 liter engine in Greece is STILL humongous displacement, so NO! Cars for the regualar Joes in Europe well into the 1990s all have displacement of 1.9 liters or LESS!!! sold from 1935-1942 then from 1946-1955 The engine offered will only embarrass him further.... 1955-1962 1.8 and 1.9 liter 4 pots in either gas or diesel And these were for the better salaried folk of Europe...NOT MUCH TO TALK ABOUT, HUH? Citroen 2CVs and Morris Minors and Opel Kadetts were the cars that really sold Opel Kadett sold from 1962-1965 Kadett 1965-1973 I was born in Montreal in 1973, but I visited Greece in 1974(baptized), in 1977 and in 1979. I remember 1977 as a dream, but I do have vivid memories and in 1979 is crystal clear to me. If anything, I could equate to 1970s Greece as 1950s or 1960s Europe...because THAT is how it was... And how was that? Well...it does not take a genius to figure out how poor Europe was AFTER the war!!!

Im waiting for the Tesla Model 3 to make its debut!!! Tesla is America's next generation of Great American Cars! The NEXT CHAPTER!!! Tesla is....um....Tesla!!!!

It is still bloody cold in the St Lawrence Valley!!! Its JUNE fer chrissakes!!!

Does it really matter what I said about Lexus being ugly? I said it was falling from grace AND it was ugly as shyte!!! NOT JUST because it was ugly as shyte!!! I did not give reasons as to why it was falling from grace....I did not require the need to....besides...YOU KNEW as to why Lexus was falling from grace as YOU pointed it out....and I knew YOU knew hence why I did NOT NEED to mention any reasons!!! And...let me repeat... Buick for the most part of its existence ALWAYS played second fiddle to Cadillac and consequently to Lincoln as Lincoln was Cadillac's rival! Sure Buick had many many models in its historic past that were Cadillac and Lincoln equals, it really is NOT a compliment to compare the HISTORIC and AWESOMENESS of what the CONTINENTAL NAME PLATE MEANS TO THE LACROSSE NAME!!! Unless of course we want to think about this Continental to which yes, Ill agree...the Lacrosse's Predecessor (the LeSabre) would be THAT Continental's competitor! But somehow, I dont think Lincoln was envisioning Quiet Luxuriousness of the late 1990s... IN OTHER WORDS: The Lacrosse is more like a MKZ rival. Buick really has no answer or competitor to the Continental. If people think that the Continental could be cross shopped with the Lacrosse, I think its a WIN for Buick, NOT the OTHER WAY AROUND!!! YOU trying to defend yourself really does not do much for your argument!!! WHY IS IT THAT INTERNET FOLK NEVER WANT TO ADMIT THEY MADE A MISTAKE!!! Listen....I dont want to make Federal case about this, but NOBODY said Buick was gonna be America's Lexus.... 1. Buick is Buick.... Buick will ALWAYS be America's....um...BUICK!!! 2. What we, um, North Americans want is Buick to become...um....Buick again.... Not Lexus, not Acura, not even Oldsmobile....but BUICK.... 3. What we North Americans want LINCOLN to become, is for Lincoln to be LINCOLN again! Not Lexus, not Buick, but LINCOLN!!! Both brands in the modern world of them being themselves! So....Please....stop trying to convince me that your article is accurate in its content! Its false! Its lazy! Its an attempt to re-write history! Its stereotypical fodder!

I dont think you realize. This line aint really a compliment for Lincoln! 1. Lincoln is compared to a falling from grace really freakin' fast ugly as shyte Lexus! 2. Lincoln is compared to a second tier premium brand like Buick! Buick for the most part of its existence ALWAYS played second fiddle to Cadillac and consequently to Lincoln as Lincoln was Cadillac's rival! Sure Buick had many many models in its historic past that were Cadillac and Lincoln equals, it really is NOT a compliment to compare the HISTORIC and AWESOMENESS of what the CONTINENTAL NAME PLATE MEANS TO THE LACROSSE NAME!!! Unless of course we want to think about this Continental to which yes, Ill agree...the Lacrosse's Predecessor (the LeSabre) would be THAT Continental's competitor! But somehow, I dont think Lincoln was envisioning Quiet Luxuriousness of the late 1990s... IN OTHER WORDS: The Lacrosse is more like a MKZ rival. Buick really has no answer or competitor to the Continental. If people think that the Continental could be cross shopped with the Lacrosse, I think its a WIN for Buick, NOT the OTHER WAY AROUND!!!

Im really starting to enjoy the Dropkick Murphys. Love this song!

OK... You mentioned Fleetwood Mac and I had the need to listen to this obscure song from them from the 80s. I miss the diversity of music that the 1980s offered!

I think its a handsome SUV for what my opinion is worth. (I HATE ALMOST ALL SUVs and I THINK ALMOST ALL SUVs are ugly) This one is boring as its just a box with the front and back corners rounded off. Yes its conservative in styling making that a very stereotypical SUV design, but it is nicely done. The new VW fascia and the back lights look 'Audi-esque' giving it a touch of high class elegance which in turn makes it handsome. The boxy design does give it a stately and authoritative stance which works very well with a larger SUV which adds to the handsomeness! I like it. Compared to the new Buick Enclave, I think that both are relatively good looking and if I was buying an SUV in this league, Id have a hard decision picking out a favorite IN THE LOOKS department between the two!!!

Well....NO! It is an American car maker, building cars in Canada, just like the other 2 American car makers building cars in Canada for the sake of POLITICAL respect of doing business between the 2 countries. The owners of this company are now Italian, Chryco. is still very much American as Auburn Hills tries its darnedest to stay that way!!! I know Casa and yourself means by it all and I dont take offense by it... Well, yes I did take offense to it. This part: This is why I said this: Trump has got me huffin and a puffin SORRY!

Its the size that I was hesitant about! I like them....BIG! Big and...um (clears throat)...black! Well, both cars are black! Enough of those shenanigans, I chose the S4 for the very same reasons and disliked the Charger for those very same reasons while I also LOVE that V8. But in the end, high gas prices (in Quebec) and it having a very cheap interior for those years did the Charger in for me! @Frisky Dingo @A Horse With No Name I read your posts in the Ford RS thread and realized you guys need to have another "A Would You Rather" thread in your lives! This one was buried fast with the sales threads that came out! ENJOY!

cool! Your story has piqued my curiosity. Now Im wondering if it truly has its original engine, how intact it is and inwhat condition? I like these! I believe that the Colonnade cars (the1st years not the late 70s ones) are underrated and underappreciated in terms of power (yes they were choked from the smog regs but like in the Olds' case (and the Grand Am) , the big block was still there!) and in style! The Monte Carlo and the Grand Am looked very classy and sporty along with that Cutlass 442/Hurst! Speaking of the Challenger... In 392 Scatpack or Hellcat trims, these have lessened my void in my heart for an Olds 442 that is no longer! I keep on saying that my next car will be a Tesla Model 3, but it might not be...it might very well be a Challenger before it goes away!

Id buy it and ship it back to Montreal! I bet you though the 455 is looooong gone though!