trinacriabob

How did I miss these? I like how you summarize highs and lows. Pictures are worth a thousand words and you've sequenced them nicely. I find it interesting that you liked the 2.0 T over the naturally aspirated 3.6, or seemed to. I wouldn't know. I haven't driven this car but have driven vehicles with 3.6 engines in way different applications. Today, the 3.6 would be my "go to" engine at GM, probably followed by the 2.5. I would imagine AWD would make this car heavy. For being smaller, they sure pack on the pounds. You can tell when you slam the doors. The build quality is there. I have "test sat" in these new Regal sportbacks while in service. I am getting used to the more horizontal dash over the previous more vertically arranged dashboards. What is bizarre in this car is how, once you sit down, looking back feels like peering into a tunnel. In most wagons, the back lite feels much closer, and this is not even a big car we're talking about. GM has really gone on the cheap with interior color choices and base models come with next to none (choices, that is). If a person were to "build and price" a base Malibu or LS, the only interior color that can be had with many exterior colors is black. That's it. The only Buick that is currently selling well is the Encore. That's what salespeople have indicated. I feel that this car's sticker can climb too high and too quickly for the niche it's intended to be in .... the entry-level Buick passenger car. Were you okay with the "new" console height in Buick products? So true. It seems that the Midwest and the Southeast are the few American regions that are feeding the domestic manufacturers in a much bigger way. It's all about attitude and perception. The West Coast seems to have been brainwashed that having a foreign car is indeed better. When I see what some service items cost for some foreign cars, the idea that they are superior makes little to no sense. What seems to eventually go south in most American cars is power equipment and electric gizmos, while the powertrain keeps going strong. And when these items go out and begin to work intermittently, it is very annoying.

@frogger This is all true. It's weird, though, that, when growing up, it seemed there were more larger coupes chosen by families than there were sedans. Families were able to get the capacity of a larger proportioned American car in a more attractive silhouette. Then, when Americans began learning how to design sedans correctly, and which grabbed people's attention, they increased in popularity and the demand for coupes waned. That's what I think happened. The Intrigue, released as a 1998 model in late 1997 to mark Oldsmobile's centennial, took the market by storm ... relatively speaking. I use this as an example because I can't think of many better examples. https://consumerguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/00128991990003.jpg https://file.kbb.com/kbb/vehicleimage/housenew/480x360/2002/2002-oldsmobile-intrigue-rearside_olintgls02b.jpg

Saw that gen of Monte Carlo that was based on the Lumina, IIRC. So it would have been a 1995 or so. It was on the freeway in the fast lane and cruising along nicely. It was a metallic dark green color. It was in very good shape, considering its age. I had almost forgotten about this generation of Monte Carlos. The very last version (2000-2005 + 2006-2007 refresh) seemed to have been more popular than the one I saw today. Who the hell said we don't need midsize and full size personal (luxury) coupes?

I could be o.k. with that. Sort of. Also, David Beckham can't drive for 6 months. Great to see he's not above the law.

@Robert Hall I hope it's a good direction, whatever it may be. They are keeping the lid on this next design real tight. Meanwhile, the prospective solutions for Lordstown (previous home of the Cruze) will certainly not be a "one size fits all" solution. Some do not know and/or do not trust the possible new tenant, a manufacturer of electrical "mobility" products.

Right. I may have even test driven this car (road hum, if I recall) when it was released. They can work with this and the 1999 concept and bring it forward to 2020 or 2021. If they plan to keep the law enforcement market, the size and shape of the greenhouse will be critical.

Is that an armrest I see in the front seat? The exhaust looks modified. I had a small metal model of this car when I was a kid. I remember the sculpting above the wheels wells. The first Riv may have been better proportioned but the first Toro made a bolder, sleeker statement. It's amazing how many people will ride your tail when you're on the freeway and have the cruise set at 5 mph above the speed limit AND you're one lane inboard from the fast/left lane. Is that not fast enough for them? Too fastback to retain to police cruiser segment. Will need some modification. Front headlamps are too 04-07 GP, one of the few but big styling demerits of the last Grand Prix.

I saw an aqua colored 1994 Chevy Cavalier sedan in near perfect condition. The owner, a senior, said it had about 95,000 miles on it. I'd have to look it up and see which 4 banger it had. But, today, I saw something more annoying and which counters the typical demographics. Young women who text at the wheel outnumber young men who text at the wheel. Today, I saw 4 "kids" texting at the wheel - 1 teenage girl and 3 guys. The girl was in a Japanese econobox sedan. The guys were in a Subaru Outback wagon, a black, last rendition Dodge Charger, and a white Ford F-150 truck. The girl was on surface streets. The guys were on the freeway. And I remember when it was a big no just to talk on the phone while driving.

I do see some type of recession coming. I hope it isn't of the magnitude of the last one. If it comes before the election, we can almost bet that a certain individual won't be in a key position he so much enjoys. I, too, am passionless about the current automotive market. I'd probably consider FCA products and Japanese products at this point.

I know. They may be reliable but I'll be behind the wheel of a Toyota long before I'll ever be behind the wheel of a Subaru.

Two things: (1) God, I hate Subarus, and (2) I am anxiously waiting to see what the next Charger will look like. Next ...

Haha. It's still running. Probably a dog in the snow and ice. Sure would have loved seeing a mid '70s Grand Ville or Bonneville coupe with rectangular quads up front in its place. I'm going to guess that that's the north side of your downtown as opposed to the south side, mostly because I don't see inclines in the backdrop.

Do you like the LG V20? The reviews seem to like it. - - - - - Here's where I'm at. I want to buy a damn phone this week. (I do no want an I-phone.) LG V20 (2016 release date) O.S.: Android 7, upgrade to Android 8 available Battery: removable Reviews: 4+ (around 4.3) Glass: not Corning and not waterproof Quirks: dual screen or something to that effect; will definitely need a strong case Purchase: after market, can participate in "AT&T bring your own phone." Question: will it in fact be new and what does "open box" mean? Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 (first version was Android 4 or sim.) (2018 release date) O.S.: Android 8 Battery: non-removable Reviews: high 3s (almost 4) Glass: sapphire (does not scratch) but not as tough as Corning Gorilla glass; some amount of waterproofing Quirks: no FM radio - which I've never used on any phone; sturdy construction but some still report breaking the glass Purchase: offered by AT&T - I would be continuing on at about $15 a month for the phone Both phones: storage, RAM, camera megapixels, etc. about the same for both phones. I want to stick with AT&T (long-time customer) and I want a mid-priced phone since I am not a power user. Of these two, which would you choose? Thanks.

When I was in grad school at a Big 10 school in a not particularly likable location, days with snow on the ground and a bright blue sky and a shining sun were the worst offenders. You would go outside only to find out it's 18 degrees ... or 8 degrees. Saw a LaCrosse of my range of M.Y.s. It had the add-on customized full vinyl top hearkening to the Cadillacs of the '80s. It looked terrible. It was an elderly white woman in the burbs. And someone spent money for that? She looked like she had extra cash. Just like those people spend money to have the fake tire and cover put on the back and middle of a Cadillac's bumper ... wth? People don't get it: less is more. I know ... I know.

It's recent but not new. The LG V20 (Android 7) is such a phone. Have you had more current phones freeze or lock up? How did you get them "unstuck?"

Let us know what you think.

Very true. If I had a Pontiac G8, I'd be babying it. In fact, I'd probably have another daily driver, though I haven't done that in years.

I saw "The Green Book" for the second time last week. It was a free community showing. It was even funnier the second time around. Tony: "Maybe he's a doctor of playing the piano." Dolores: (incredulous) "Is there such a thing?" Two plus hours of Bronx New Yorkese ... what's not to like?

I saw a white Pontiac G8 at a Starbucks parking lot yesterday. I have rarely seen white ones. It was in perfect condition. The white made its simple but great styling pop.

Ok, how about removable battery or non-removable battery? There are still a select few that have a removable battery. I have removed the battery on my current phone some 10 to 20 times over the years to cause it to unfreeze. It was instinctive to do that and it sure has worked.

Right, the developer (for a particular client or business) decides with that business where they'll draw the line. As Android platforms have advanced, I've found that some apps on my phone no longer work. My phone looks like a Blackberry but it's the very last AT&T phone using Android that has the similar QWERTY keyboard. I am now almost sick of it.

I finally did it. I took the sled in and got the transmission fluid changed via recirculating flush. It's been done old school style 2 times prior to this. It's the first time doing this. Prior to this, I had always serviced my transmissions by having them change the fluid and the filter by dropping the pan, which meant leaving some fluid in there. So, within 50 or so miles, the shifts are less perceptible and shift points even seem to be 1 to 2 mph lower under the same light throttle. I don't mind this. However, is it possible that a menu priced transmission service would cause the shift points to change a little? How could that be?

I like the more jelly bean greenhouse. Upon seeing the side view, I do not like the V shaped kink or indentation of the rear lights and I do not like the rear lights that climb over the top of the rear trunk lid. More so than not, it's nicer than the current version. I only hope it's quieter when on the road. In its defense, this brand is one of the easier line of cars (as rentals) to get into, drive off, and get accustomed to.

I agree with this, except that the seating position is low. Damn ... I forgot it's a sports car. I don't like the circular vents in the dash. Someone I know bought one. It's a first year model, maybe second by now. It's silver. This person likes it. When I drive down the street in front of the dealership, they tend to be silver, black, red, and Schwinn bicycle blue metallic. Then, within the last week, I saw one in an enamel charcoal/putty color. It was really eye catching. The price swing between a base 4 cylinder with no sunroof and a V6 with all the options exceeds $15,000, +/-. This is not news, though. The same is true of gradations of big SUVs in the GM stable. I am very mixed on this niche vehicle.

I'm a little hesitant about spending big bucks on a phone. I've trembled *almost* when standing on the edge of a vaporetto in Venice and taking one photo after the next, wondering if the damn thing will fall into the Grand Canal. This railing of a ship, ferry, or water taxi scenario always goes through my head. Therefore, I'd like to stay at a mid-range price point. In general, how long are apps supported on an Android platform? Which is the last Android platform to be supported today by most major apps, or what's the cutoff? Any rules of thumb? Planned obsolescence .... cars, phones, you name it. 1889 vintage ... and to think they had plans to dismantle it.