trinacriabob

I am not a fan of firm seats in cars. They cite support. When I had the Cutlass Brougham, I could drive for 10 hours in one day and feel pretty good when the day was over. As for the Impala, I drove one for a day. It was new and it rode and handled well, but I hadn't driven a car with such hindered visibility ... yet. I took it back the following day and got that mid-2010s Malibu, which I had for a week in Reno/Tahoe, the Bay Area, and NorCal. I was much more at ease driving that.

Very much so. I believe it is, or is almost, the same. So, the Equinox also has a nice dash. Besides the fact that the Equiox is a CUV/SU and the Malibu is a sedan, I believe they have the same engine, but the Equinox keeps a 6-speed automatic transmission ... a plus. My opinion may not be popular, but, of the last 10 years of Malibu, I liked the one with the Camaro-esque rear lamps and taller trunk ... possibly a 2015 or thereabouts. I see so many on the road. It has a 2.5 L Ecotec 4, which was base power for very the last Impala.

PHOTOS: Side view of the Malibu Front angled side view of the Malibu Rear angled side view of the Malibu; here you can see the attractive sweep of the rear fascia and the taillamps, but also the relationship of the greenhouse and the trunk that I think could have been handled a little better. You can't argue with the beauty of the beaches on Florida's Panhandle The main instrument pod is really sensible and has good graphics: symmetrical big tach and speedo, symmetrical but smaller main gauges (fuel and temp) at the top, and center information square area with digital speed (my selection), compass, odometer, and gear. For temperature and time, you need to check the infotainment center screen. The dashboard has a good feel about it, is nicely shaped, and things are sensibly clustered together Photo # 7, not 7-7-7, but still a bonus! (Or maybe not.) - - - - - End of photos

I’ve rented the Chevrolet Malibu before and I was treated to a normal weekly rate that didn’t have a drop charge in the Florida Panhandle, most likely because their tourist season is beginning and that area could use the cars. It didn’t really drive in from Malibu, but from elsewhere within Florida! It’s last call because the Malibu is bowing out this year. Chevy and its General Motors stablemates are overhauling their product lines in a big way. Nonetheless, whether as daily drivers or company cars and fleet cars, there are quite a few of these on the road, first arriving in 2017. With newer powertrains, first a smaller turbocharged 4 cylinder engine and then the arrival of the CVT (continuously variable transmission), the Malibu appears to have been reliable enough. I don’t know what Consumer Reports has to say, but most of the automotive press seems to give the nod to Toyota and Honda products. The only issue I’ve had with rented Malibus having over 30,000 miles was a road drone in the rear that could have been a failing hub bearing. (This last rental vehicle had less than 10,000 miles.) However, if a person wants an American “Camcord,” this is it. Basically, the car saw few changes during this last generation. One would distinguish model years through changes in the front grille and colors. Mostly, I like the Malibu and it would make a good daily driver. There are a few things about it I don’t like and have never liked. The Malibu doesn’t look good from every vantage point. Its “best side” is its rear fascia, which was refined with new patterns in the taillamps in the last few years. The front end is a little clunky, and the layered latticed grille didn’t help all that much. Inside, I’ve come to appreciate its very sensible dashboard and seating, especially after being in other mid-size and full-size rental cars where the dashboard and cockpit are a “fail.” The Malibu is economical in its use of fuel. What is worth nothing is that, at highway speeds, an extra 5 to 10 mph can have quite an impact on fuel economy. With cruise set at 70 mph, the legal speed limit on some treks, the mileage was coming in at under 35 mpg. When I went to 65 mph on cruise, the engine was laboring less, at about 2,000 rpms or slightly lower, and fuel consumption (with minimal city driving thrown in) came up to about 37 mpg. Considering that early Malibus with V8s couldn’t even get 20 mpg on the highway, that’s quite a leap! Driving on a road with a 55 or 60 mph speed limit would make for less consumption - at or even slightly exceeding the 40 mpg mark at constant speed. The ride is pleasant, but not refined. The handling is easy, as it seems to be with so many electric power steering units, but not agile. The controls and instruments are easy to use or, at least, quickly become acclimated to. The seating is comfortable and supportive enough. The Malibu does what it needs to do without much fuss, but without impressing. Power from the 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine and its turbocharger is enough for most situations, such as smartly moving away from stop lights and picking up speed on an on-ramp to merge. I don’t know how I’d feel about a high speed pass with its less than 200 horses. As with other cars, the CVT seems to be getting more predictable … or not as erratic. The important thing is that its service life is long. CVTs also need periodic servicing. The engine bay is very neatly organized. However, it uses a prop rod. When Malibus were ‘80s RWD GM mid-sizes, struts automatically keep the hood up. The trunk is roomy. Fuel tank capacity is generous and makes for respectable range with the car’s highway mileage numbers, but it won’t get you from one side of Texas to the other on I-10! Maybe close, though. In my mind, the Malibu could have been more, especially after the Impala was discontinued. It looks like GM does not want to keep a single sedan in their stable, so they didn’t invest in it and let it wither. First, a 1.8 or 2.0 L 4 cylinder engine without a turbocharger could have been tuned to get the same fuel mileage. While an 8 speed automatic would have been preferable, I’d take the CVT if paired with a larger non-turbo engine. The CVT is mechanically simpler (and also sits inside one casing) while an engine with a turbocharger is a more complicated set up. Once it made its initial splash, the Malibu wore on and may have become ho hum to consumers. The greenhouse looks elongated and has some strange quirks, making the rear deck lid look too short. A more upright domed shape to make the greenhouse look more proportionate would have been preferable. This is all about fractions of an inch, or centimeters, but they make a big difference when it comes to styling. (One example of a vehicle that accomplished this is the Mazda 6 sedan from about the same time this last Malibu was introduced.) In short, it’s wishful thinking that General Motors - via Chevrolet – would be keeping a bread and butter sedan they’d work a little magic on to make it more refined, more compelling, and more reputable such that a buyer’s choice between a domestic and a foreign sedan would be moot: the Malibu would be just as good as a “Camcord.” However, it won’t be happening. The curtain is falling and the Malibu’s chapter is closing. - - - - - Photos forthcoming

This one is a classic from the mid-'70s ... perfect to pilot a Cutlass Supreme to ... and its only lyrics throughout the entire song are "do the hustle." That's it. When I was younger and heard it the first few times, I thought they were saying "to Nassau" ... wishful thinking and projecting on my part.

It's still Saturday night somewhere in America, but I doubt there's any Saturday night fever to speak of. A childhood friend who is a Spanish-Italian-Irish mix born in the Bronx and ended up going to parochial schools with me in SoCal when her family moved out West thought that this song was about her, so that's who it reminds me of. IT's one of the songs that stands out more in the collection because this one Gibb brother can get his voice this high, just like Tracy Chapman can get her voice real low ... either way, great vocal acrobatics for both of these artists.

Bison is a relevant thing and word these days. People like to take selfies with them in very close proximity.

June 2 National Donut Day At some places, they'll give you one for free. At some places, it requires a purchase. So, if at Dunkin' and you bought a cup of coffee, I believe they wouldn't lose much money on this and that it could possibly even yield some profit. They should all just give you one free f***in' donut. But they're probably worried about a select few folks who may keep coming back and/or going to different stores (LOL).

Spotted on May 28 Well, it's apparent that that this is a Rite Aid store. I know the car's owner and the owner likes their popular mid-'90s value-packed rendition of the big RWD Thunderbird coupe. Without the little V8 badge, it runs with FoMoCo's 3.8 L V6 which, unlike Buick's 3.8 V6, has a cast iron block and aluminum heads. This car also has a sunroof and there's a spoiler in the back. I've only driven this type of T-bird once, albeit equipped with the reliable and smooth FoMoCo SOHC 4.6 L V8, and I enjoyed spending a long weekend behind the wheel of one. I liked it more than I thought I would.

Spotted on May 26 About to leave Starbucks and I see this coming in to park, so I took out my phone Side view - I spoke with the owner, he said it's a 350 V8 when I asked "350 or 305?", and, so I could take a "better" photo, he ducked ... the color is the firethorn metallic two-tone of that year, those are some of the wheel trim options that were offered, and they had their heads screwed on correctly for the 1976 MY in offering a deep burgundy for the interior trim, but lost their minds for the 1977 MY when they went over to potent firethorn (red) interior trim. I'd prefer some thin whitewalls, which look great on Lincolns and larger FoMoCo RWD products. The interior had the regular bench seat without an armrest, manual windows, simple warning lamps instead of the full instrument cluster, and air conditioning. Angled rear view - if only they could have grafted similar simpler rear lamps onto the very last-gen MC instead of the ones with the squiggly Coke bottle contours. Angled front view - this thing was menacing and you could easily have a gathering for a picnic on its hood ... a very unique window of time for American automotive styling.

It very much looks like something that could double as an ambulance rounding a busy traffic circle in Sofia, Bulgaria with the ambulance graphics in Cyrillic characters but making the wailing sounds of an ambulance in Paris. Just a thought.

I'm mixed on this car. The styling is a little too derivative. I am not crazy about the square retro front. I do like the rear light bar ... the way they've sort of layered it in there. The greenhouse is really weird when seen from the side. Is this meant to be a coupe with ready access to the rear seats? I want coupes to look like coupes.

Unless everyone is redeeming miles or being comped, those sitting at the front of the aircraft (business, first, similar) more than pay for the fuel used for a flight.

Good morning ... Wishing you all a happy Memorial Day.

Tzatziki is perfect the way it is. Also, I can't believe how many different incorrect ways tzatziki is spelled by both restaurants and people here. I believe the same happens with pastitzio. That's how I spell it. I've seen it spelled pastichio. - - - - - I was doing some errands and passed by a Honda dealer. After renting a regular Accord, I was given an Accord Hybrid at another rental shortly after that. I wanted to see how much they cost. The Hybrid MSRP was about $32,500 (USD). The regular Accord, possibly not the base, was about $30,000, with a urethane (?) steering wheel. Both had sunroofs! I thought the spread would be much more. This spread makes the hybrid worth considering and it could pay for itself over a long ownership period. It sips fuel. However, I didn't mention the additional mark-up, on all types of Accords: $2,995. I went over and looked at some Civics. These are now baby Accords. The rear light bar now looks great and its front end looks like a big pug compared to the Accord. This was a Sport edition but it had an MSRP of about $28,000. That's not a big savings from a new base Accord. The nice thing is that it runs with a 2.0 L and NO turbocharger. The additional mark-up on Civics was $1,995.

Per the birthday news, today's is an interesting one! It's the birthday of Charger4U. It's also his big 3-0. He joined us when he was just a teenager and had the kind of moxie where he could hold his own with the adults (chronologically, at least) on C&G. His parents had moved their family from SoCal to a small town in South Dakota, IIRC, like a lot of people were doing and have been doing by moving to other less populated and quieter states in the West ... my parents included. He had a high level of intelligence and high ambitions. I hope he's having a great birthday, wherever he may be, and wish him every success.

I like the second livery. Aegean is in the Star Alliance, therefore it's grouped in with United and Air Canada. I'd sure like the seem them cross the ocean to North America, like Olympic did. @oldshurst442 Classic reliable "olds" humor!

There are some strict rules about the Gateway Arch, folks! I know you know. I'm sure this thing flew over it.

A random spotting Pensacola, FL - I had never seen this vehicle by Chevrolet before ... a "City Express." The angled front driver and passenger windows made it look like something you'd see in Europe

Some pony car and sports car spotting Pensacola Beach, FL - "Smile, you're on C&G" ... I just know it's a Corvette ... I have a hard time telling the MYs apart "Treasure Coast" area, FL - here's a grumbling and rumbling Camaro of 1970 to 1973 vintage. I only liked from second-gen models from 1975 onward ... hey, there's a Wawa "Treasure Coast" area, FL - here's what is probably a 1988 (+/-) Ford Mustang convertible, with burgundy cloth bucket seats (cloth? in a convertible?) and a 5.0 (302 c.i.) V8

Some Cadillac spotting Pensacola Beach, FL - seen within 15 or 20 minutes of each other - tackiness applied onto massive '70s land yachts (the headlamps on the Eldo were not rectangular) and, except for the grille emblem, it was hard to "knee jerk" identify an SLS as a Cadillac

Some Buick spotting Tampa Bay Area, FL - Have really enjoyed driving some rented Buick Veranos in the past Pensacola, FL - seen near a Waffle House (classic) on Pensacola Blvd., which is "car dealer row." What a (welcome) blast from the past ... Buick was not in stodgy mode with their last Skylark compact - some sweeps on the silhouette and interesting light bars, a really cool dash for a smaller car, and, if you scrutinize the photo of the rear cabin's interior, you can see the manual window crank. Also, I suspect the A/C might not have been working, and you need it on the Panhandle. I often wonder what could jump out at me when I photograph car interiors up close like this.

Some Charger spotting, telling me more and more how I will miss this car .... a chapter of Americana closing ... Tampa Bay area, FL ... another great color ... wow, what a great color ... they really outdid themselves with the color palette in the last 5 or so years Pensacola Beach, FL ... Louisiana plates Dania, FL ... I also like this color, but not so much the gimmickry of the upline models, as well as the higher prices, insurance, and fuel costs,. With 292 horses in the base V6 car, I'd be a happy camper.

My second favorite Tina song ... also the title cut from a subsequent album: With respect to female vocalists, Tina seemingly owned the '80s and Donna Summer seemingly owned the '70s. The types of music were different, albeit both popular and mainstream, but it's the vocal horsepower that is unforgettable.

I'm saddened by what I just read. It was reported that Tina Turner passed away today. I didn't know she had been sick. She was unstoppable. I thought she'd have a good many more years left. I was hoping she'd keep going and enjoy her later years living outside of Zurich, Switzerland. Many good songs on the album of the same name launching her new solo career, but the title cut up above is its best song, IMHO. What a comeback story! RIP Tina.