trinacriabob

The grass is always greener. Let me tell you, I lived in the PNW (Oregon and Washington, both) and, while it may seem like a real progressive place, it is very smug and uptight. I got tired of the "oh, you're from California." When I lived in the Southeast, I never heard that, because they didn't see many Californians, so there was no resentment. For the Northwesterners, Californians with "cash in hand" changed their lives, largely through changing the price of housing, so it may not have been for the better and I can sort of understand their resentment. I won't comment on the personal aspects of what you detailed a few posts above. All I can say is that one has to be their own best friend. That's the most important thing. I can either do things on my own (travel to far away places, take road trips or stay locally) or do things with friends or relatives (most of whom are overseas). The funny thing is, when you're not looking for friends, you start making friends. On a real general level, letting people (regardless of demographics) into your life who can 'eff it up and make it more complicated is not a good thing. The reality is that we actually know when people are bad for us from the very start - some choose to revel in the drama and others run from it. In these cases, we are probably better off by ourselves. Within the last few years, I bounced a few friends I had been friends with from 15 to 30+ years. I was better off for it and should have done it a long time ago. I had a good friend in Atlanta and she once said (about anything: jobs, relationships, neighborhoods) that "the positives have to outweigh the negatives." I've learned to use that...it's real simple...it seems to work very well. Oh yeah, since the thread has to do with age, I'll come back around to that. The notion of a "cougar" or a "sugar daddy" is funny, but it's really kind of sad...for both the older and the younger person. Sad for the older person in the pairing because they are desparately trying to "purchase" affection and will be insecure throughout this process, which always ends, and sad for the younger person in the pairing because they're looking to fill some psychological void...if the age gap is almost 20 years, then they're looking for the parent that's missing and was "unavailable." All I can say is that I stick to the "Starbucks or B&N Test" - most couples who come in are fairly evenly matched, on all levels....age, race, level of looks, education, socioeconomic status, religion and what not. No, they are not clones of each other. They just complement each other. When the pairing is way off, I wonder "What's up with this?" It's interesting to "peoplewatch" the situation, but, in the end, I really don't get it. This thread had been dormant for about a year. What woke it up from its slumber?

Bea's oven

lustig

Germany

I saw that, too, but keep in mind that this forum is populated by hard-core aficionados of those brands, Olds/Pontiac, who (unfortunately) do not represent the general car buying public.

Yes, like that one! The rallys seen to work even better with the convertible, but I do recall those turbine-type wheel (covers). I have seen some really interesting color combos on these convertibles, such a white with the burgundy vinyl or leather interior, or the various blues with a white interior and blue trim, with rally wheels. And the coupes of that model were equally interesting.

Wow, no one claimed Buick as their preferred brand. I mean, I REALLY like my cars for how great they've been, but 2 other GM brands have made more of an (emotional) impact on me.

Would have been really sweet to see a '75 or '76 Grand Ville or Bonneville Brougham, in 2-door convertible or 2-door colonnade coupe form with a landau...and rally wheels...and in perfect condition. For a big boat, what a good-looking car. Too much to ask for!

bet

Nice pictures. The ones that really caught my attention were: - the 7th picture in the 1st post - the lime colored GTO - I remember really liking the front window (as shown) WITHOUT the side opening air vent. It made it look cleaner. My Dad's base '70 LeMans didn't have the side opening air vent, and it looked better for it - the 77 Can Am (probably a 403 V8, I assume) ... call me a dolt, but I really liked that body style decked out as the up-market LeMans with the smallest displacement V8 available ... that dashboard in that whole family of cars is unforgettable - the white G8 ... WOW ... along with the slate blue, this has to be one of the better colors for this car ... I'm assuming it was a V8, and not a standard V6 model?

I usually replace OEM with Michelins once or twice, and then go to a different price point (BF Goodrich, though a great value, actually). Both of my cars had Goodyears as OEM. The Goodyears on the new car appear to be a fairly impressive tire, with a nice tread design and good balance of ride and handling.

shear

Right now, if I saw someone I know or work with pull up in a Fusion/Milan/Mustang/MKS, I would think highly of their choice. In the past, this wouldn't have been the case. Oh yeah, I forgot, probably "couldn't relate" to a P.T.Cruiser buyer.

...Hot August Nights...

I can only vouch for BF Goodrich. I have gotten long service life from this brand. Just as good as Michelins, and for less money. In fact, I remember Michelins squealing a little bit in cloverleaf type ramps, whereas the BF Goodrich tires were quiet. I'm sure that last issue had to do with the tread design, but I like(d) the BF Goodrich tires I've owned.

While not that intense, I have gotten a lot of crap for driving domestic cars from co-workers and friends For the Regal: I love to throw it in people's faces that it has 262,000 miles For the LaCrosse: well, there's no question that it's more attractive than, and just as reliable as, a Camry And it usually starts out with "eeeewww, why do you drive that (or an American car) (or a Buick)?" Never fails.

I apologize. I outright forgot. I grew up with "5 + GMC" etched in my brain.

compression

Domestic: any of the odd-styled Chrysler products (Cordoba) that tried to copy popular GM products (Cutlass Supreme, Regal, GP) but instead featured awkward proportions, chrome in weird places, padded vinyl tops, strange grilles...that includes 80s New Yorkers and stuff like that Foreign: some things will never change...Subarus

hands (clapping of hands)

Yep, that would have to be Saturn (Spring Hill, TN) If any of you like(d) Saturn, then note it in your responses. I'll pass.

response to thread: heights (Citrus Heights is a sometimes vapid/sometimes ghetto NorCal suburb known as "Syphilis Heights")

France

Most of my friends were from my own college, followed by CSU folks (Northridge, Long Beach, Fullerton), UCLA (geographically closest to my childhood home) and some USC people. The dude I launched the thread about is the same one I complain about...he is the same one that tries to find houses for you and tells you how to invest...his financial profile is too risky for my comfort zone, and he has incurred major losses in his life because of this. It's sort of the same thing with 1 or 2 people I've known in the past...they drink, you are more than happy to go to a happy hour with them ($1.99 food specials + a refillable Coke or Sprite, all for under $5) and then they have an "issue" that you are NOT drinking with them. So, I guess, they all want a co-addict on some level...

delicious