trinacriabob

15 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

I was looking into the Canadian market Parisiennes a while back and recall reading that they also had a Caprice based 2dr...  and I think for '82 Canada got the Caprice based Parisienne like the US got for '83. 

I always thought it was odd that in the US for '82 they dropped the B-body Pontiacs and moved the Bonneville name to what had been the A-body LeMans sedan. Kind of a rogue move.

 

I agree.  Bonneville Model G was a head scratcher.  The front grille was too tall and the rear taillamps full of eggcrates.  Similarly, for a few years in the early '80s, Buick threw the Century name onto what was really a Regal notchback, right along with Limited trim found in the Regal coupe of the same year.  My dad had that sedan in dove gray enamel inside and out.  It was a mostly a good car with intermittent spark knock and a metal pan had to stay on the garage floor for seeping oil.

That Catalina coupe is nice!  You didn't see many.

I forgot that Pontiac stopped making their 4.9 and 4.3 in 1981/2.  I've never been a fan of the 305 after being "burned" by one in a Camaro I kept for a short while.

Pontiac's 301 never made it into California IIRC and what they did is substitute 305s.

18 hours ago, NINETY EIGHT REGENCY said:

I approve of the options on the list. I agree with what he said completely. What about the GM E Bodies? Cadillac Eldorado/Seville, Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado 1979-1985( Oldsmobile Toronado and Buick Riviera) and 1988-1992( All E/K-Bodies)? They used the 3800 V6 and the Oldsmobile 307, and Cadillacs much improved 4.5 and 4.9 liter V8 which was based off the HT 4100. A loaded Grand Marquis LS is sharp with digital gauges. The 1989-1993 Deville and Fleetwood I feel should be on the list too as well. I know he recently did a Deville video. He forgot the Pontiac Parisienne 1983-1986. I really enjoyed the video and footage. I smiled all the way through nodding my head.  He did say any GM that used the 3800 V6. I went with two Oldsmobiles( 98 and Toronado) on that front. 

The Toro/Riv that definitely did not belong on the list was '86 and '87.  They were disappointing.  Yay for Toro's trestle shifter. I loved it.  But that was about it.

In 2007, a neighbor had an '88 Coupe de Ville in triple chocolate brown/mauve metallic.  It had the velour interior with the wreath embroidered into the cushioned seats.  Also, alloy wheels.  It was beautiful.

It had the 4.5 V8 and it had been hassle free for him.  Cadillac improved their aluminum V8 engines as time marched on.

I should have included this for a laugh.

Sometimes, Google Maps does a great job of telling you where you are but scratch its head when it comes to providing directions to get you somewhere.

This was just great, in terms of what he has to say.  I agreed with most of it.

5.

Those years of Eldos and Toros were too big and too thirsty.  I'd always opt for an Olds 455 over a Cadillac 500. Then, if we're talking that span of years, it has to have a true opera window. That would limit me to the '75 and '76 Toronado.  The '77 would have had a 403.

4.

Uh ... no.

3.

Mostly, I agree.  My favorite would be the Parisienne (he didn't mention it) followed by the 88.  Right, 307s and 301s over 305s (for me, anyway).  By the end of this mentioned period, the Chevy 4.3 TBI Vortec V6 was available in the Chevys and Pontiacs.  It made for better fuel economy and it's 3/4 of a Chevy 350, so very durable. In '81 and '82, the 88 (certainly not the 98) could be had with Olds's 260 V8, so the biggest Olds to have this small but quiet and smooth powerplant.

2.

I have never liked the LeSabre.  It's about its dowdy looks. He gives a long span of years, with '88 onward getting the nod. To that, I would instead say Bonneville for '90 and '91 - nicer, color blocked taillamps.  And then, skip over to 2000+ Bonnevilles, which is usually my favorite GM full-size car as it is.

1.

I agree.  Not a huge fan of FoMoCo, but these cars became more attractive and were in fact reliable.  Some later years of Grand Marquis actually looked very nice. (But so did the last 2 years of Mercury Milan with the vaned grille.) Yes to the 4.6 SOHC V8, but it would be great to know which few specific years had quirks.

- - - - -

He does not mention any colonnade coupes or their 4 door variants.  It's that the nicely kept ones are not cheap.  Also, from his many vids, he is definitely fond of larger cars.

He also did not mention the '94 to '96 Caprice, which people later realized are/were very good.  Again, I'm guessing it has to do with their used car purchase price.

- - - - -

He knows so damn much about a vast span of years for so many cars from different manufacturers, right down to trim related stuff and mechanical specifics.  I might only file this stuff away in my head if I was a big fan of certain (GM) cars.

This was shocking.

The Airplanes sub-forum is intended to be a celebration of airplanes and aviation.  The following does not qualify, so it's here in Random Thoughts.

You know how when you sometimes get a snippet of a piece of the news and the gravity doesn't sink in?  Well, it sounded like 2 planes in Tokyo bumped into each other while taxiing or maneuvering and would need to be repaired. 

Far from it.  

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67879308

This was an actual crash as a newer JAL A350 had landed at Tokyo Haneda and clipped a smaller aircraft with 6 people in it while moving on the runway at high speed.  Five of the six people in the small craft died (the pilot is in serious condition) and everyone on the Airbus 350 - 379 people - made it out in time as they plane was starting to catch fire.  They filed out to the different slides and listened NOT to reach for their carry-ons.  The hull is a complete loss.  They are investigating the situation and Airbus experts have gone to Tokyo to assist, but people have some general ideas about what happened.

This hearkens back to the weirdness of Air France 358 from Paris to Toronto where the A340 overshot the runway (there was no other plane involved), went into an embankment on the side of the big 401 expressway, broke up, caught fire, and yet everyone was able to exit the aircraft and survive the crash.  

Thank you for encapsulating what 2023 meant in global terms and for the automotive scene.

Yes, cheers to the new Envista.  I will have to test sit or even rent one when possible.  It brings around a Buick at an entry-level price point that's not a jellybean-like Encore, although a very different Buick. Having driven a Citroën C3, I had assumed there were 4 cylinders under the hood.  There were 3, as with the Envista!  That shaves off mechanical hardware and weight.  It did what it was supposed to do without much fuss and 3 cylinders under one cylinder head can be made to feel balanced "enough." And cheers to it for being made available with a simple enough geared automatic transmission.

Yes, jeers to Subaru most of the time ... for me, anyway. I had to take a look at this Forester. If not badged, I might question what it is. It looks less Subaru because of trim that says Nissan and volumes that say Fiat, specifically the Panda, and Toyota.  The new front end is mostly clumsy.  The dash loses the cubby with information at the top of the center stack that I like - which the Ford Focus and Fiesta also used - in favor of larger and more vertical touch screen.

Many jeers for world events and situations.  Some megalomaniacs put their needs above human lives and seem to sleep easy despite how many lives have been lost.  Dysfunctional is an appropriate word for people, things, and processes that seem to be gaining acceptance as being status quo.

Thanks for the well wishes, too.

17 hours ago, NINETY EIGHT REGENCY said:

Trinacriabob:

All the best to you in your move to Europe. You finally made the choice and decision.  I recall the conversation we had some time ago. I hope for the best and that everything works out in Europe and that you enjoy your new life there.  All the best to you. 

Thank you for the kind words, @NINETY EIGHT REGENCY

Everything is a balancing act, it seems.  I won't have big freeways, gleaming skyscrapers, and cheap fuel ... but gain some other things in the United States of Europe. Where I'm at right now, I'm about an hour from France and an hour from the French speaking part of Switzerland.  You overhear numerous languages, which is very okay with me because I don't do monolingual ... one of my quirks.

I like hearing about the cars you own, and have owned, because you have a lot of passion for and information about the cars that I loved growing up.  Happy New Year.  Stay healthy and safe!

Thank you, David.

I definitely will.  There is a completely different "inventory" of cars over here.  Some are familiar to me and some are not.

I have known of this site for quite a while.  It's how you find cars over here.  You would use the filters just like on any other automotive buy-sell website:

http://www.autoscout24.com

I have already found several Aldi stores at which to buy essential stuff.  One night I went in there and ended up buying a nice enough jacket/parka for a bodacious price.

I also had one of the first significant "spotting" occurrences there:

My wind up, or wind down, for 2023:

I moved across the pond.  I'm going to try to make a go of it.  I've been thinking about it for a long time.  I spent about 4 years in Europe between ages 4 and 13, so it's familiar turf.  

It had become exhausting weighing the pros and cons of where to consider living in the States.  Southern Europe checks more of the boxes for me.

I was dragging my feet in getting my act together (more so with administrative stuff than the packing) and restocked frequent flyer tickets I'd use to move with ... twice.  About a month or two before, I called Cunard and the lady I spoke with said to put my name on the waiting list because it didn't cost anything to do so.  Right around Thanksgiving, I was notified I cleared the waiting list for the upcoming transatlantic crossing of Queen Mary 2, which I've wanted to travel on for a long while.  I guess it was meant to be and people I knew told me the crossing would be a good way to de-stress for 7 days.

This was the last eastbound crossing of the year of the QM2 - New York (US) to Southampton (UK) in early December.  The price was to my liking for an inside cabin and it being "low season."  Also, I'd be spending my b-day on the ship.  For it being December, the crossing was benign as the North Atlantic was unusually calm.  It can be agitated in the winter months and this ship was built as an ocean liner, as opposed to a cruise ship, to handle that.

- - - - -

Embarkation will occur after check in at the ship terminal in New York, but it's great to take a deep breath and survey this grandiose ocean liner

Sailing away, with Governor's Island standing in front of Lower Manhattan ... those of us who could brave the windy evening and wanted to take in the views were either here (Deck 11) or at the very top (Deck 13)

The front of the ship, with its bow pointed toward the Verrazano Bridge, meaning letting off the harbor pilot and the transition from New York's harbor into the Atlantic Ocean 

This was the basic view of the route, with the screen rotating displays of various maps and factual information

This is the Grand Lobby at midship, which will mean the purser's office reception area, which will apply to everyone, and some shops and bars you may or may not visit

The library, which is excellent and nicely appointed, sits in the forward superstructure and you can look out over the bow toward the sea

Sitting in one of the indoor "promenades" that skirt the sides of the 2 main theaters with a cup of tea watching the wake passing by the sides of the ship

For it being mid-December on the North Atlantic, these were outstanding conditions

This was the main dining room, meaning the bulk of the staterooms were assigned to it and, while anyone could nitpick, most of the meals here ranged from good to excellent, with a few items having fancy haute cuisine names I couldn't decipher and that I passed on

There was a theme night or two (I only stuffed one regular dark suit into the luggage) but some people came prepared ... this is someone's get up ... "Mambo Kings?" ... not sure ... and this is up at the late night buffet where all the night owls and characters are to be found

This is the indoor pool (one of 4 or 5 on the ship) and its two jacuzzis on Deck 12 just in front of the main funnel

Check this out - this is the rearmost pool and some folks are hot tubbing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean as winter is officially a week or so away

This is at the very top of the ship, with a path that wraps around the front of the ship and above the bridge

Somewhere between New York and Southampton, with some/most of the 5 pounds I packed on, standing behind the main funnel and in front of the kennels - I think about 20 dogs and 5 cats were along for the ride

There was time to have breakfast and walk around Deck 7, which is the open promenade immediately under the lifeboats ... it looks like they're driving on the wrong side of the road, which means this is Southampton (UK) and it's time to disembark

- - - - -

I will be staying in Turin (yes, that Torino, home of FIAT and some other famous Italian automakers) before heading south toward the country's south - where the palm trees are - fairly early in the new year.

It has been a weird year for me, many of us here, and other people I know.  So, best wishes for 2024 to my friends on C&G.

I was handed the keys to a Chevrolet Malibu 3 times in the last 2 months.  On two occasions, it was in the province of Quebec and, on the other, it was upon coming back to the U.S.  One rental lasted only 2 days.

As for the Quebec rentals, both of my vehicles were plated in the province of Ontario.  I was told that Malibus were common in rental fleets because they were one of the more obtainable cars during and after the pandemic.  I don’t know how much sense that makes, but it’s not something I’d investigate further.

Since they’ve released this last-gen Malibu, I’ve had them in so many rentals, probably aggregating somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 miles.  When I’m given the keys to one, I am somewhat relieved because getting used to the car and setting it up won’t require much effort.

The Malibu will be living on for at least another year.  Essentially, it will continue as the model we currently know.

I’m not going to review the car as I’ve done so in the past, but distill this to its best points and not so good points.

Top 5

1 – For being close to a full-size package, it gets very respectable fuel mileage

2 - The interior is roomy, as is the trunk, with a nod given to the very roomy back seat and large rear doors that enable one to easily load large items into the rear passenger area

3 – The logical layout of the dashboard, and its symmetry, are appealing, and the forward lean of the dashboard and low cowl enhance visibility as well as provide a more connected feeling to the road, and I really appreciated this in coming over from a Nissan Altima

4 – The handling is fairly nimble, with each generation of FWD Malibu improving on the previous one

5 – It makes enough power to handle everyday driving situations, yet not enough to tempt a frisky driver to be frisky

Room for improvement 5

1 – The styling has gotten long in the tooth and, while some really took to its silhouette and trim when newly released, I always saw some homely or ungainly vantage points in this car

2 – The 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine can start sounding grainy when pushed

3 – The powertrain is a small one in terms of displacement and, with its size, had to be turbocharged

4 – The auto stop-start doesn’t seem to remember you don’t like it and has to be deactivated (unless I missed something) when starting the car up the next time

5 - It’s an important “one size fits all” sedan suitable for many buyers in this niche and it could have been just a little bit better in virtually every area – the powertrain, the styling, the appointments, etc.  Since it’s more agreeable than a Nissan Altima in my opinion, it could be ratcheted up to compete head-to-head with the Camry and the Accord

- - - - -

Picking it up, getting in, and seeing a sanitized car

Taken at the edge of the Ile de Orleans, with historic Quebec City beyond and across the St. Lawrence River

Going round and round to find a parking spot in Centre-Ville Montreal where persistence can pay off

It can handle quite a bit being put into the trunk and, with these decent sized pieces of luggage, it only appears to be half full

This shows the forward cant and low cowl of the dashboard that I have taken to and hope will remain in a possible future rendition

Dropping off the car, with yet another Malibu next to it - to the left - in the return line 

- - - - -

I found a review where the writer echoes a lot of the things I see in this car.  He even comments on the overwrought molding where the rearmost side window meets the sail panel, and it sounded like it irritated him.  It irritates me, too.

I like the write-up on the current Malibu seen via this link and his photos are very good:

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cars/chevrolet/rental-review-the-2023-chevrolet-malibu-last-domestic-midsize-standing-44502760

Now, we are learning from articles that there may be a forthcoming generation of Malibu.  There are many renderings going around and they are not all the same.  Some aspects look appealing, such as the slimming down of the front fascia.  However, in some renderings, I see a continuation of the rear backlite into the same plane as the trunk lid.  (Think Buick Envista.)  I do not care for what looks like a four-door fastback or hatchback and hope that there will be something akin to three volumes while still keeping the sweeping lines we’re being treated to via investigative journalism.

23 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Speaking of actresses w/ distinctive eyes, anyone remember Meg Foster from the 70s-80s?  Her eyes were very unusual...very pale blue.

Vaguely.  In that photo, she turned out looking like a cross between Jodie Foster and Stockard Channing.

I had to get Stockard Channing in there!

30 minutes ago, David said:

Wishing Everyone a Wonderful Christmas and a Happy 2024 New Year!!!

Thank you for the Christmas and New Year good wishes.

I'll say it.  I could use a wish coming through that would keep me from breaking out the Famotidine:  some primary wins for Nikki Haley.  I didn't know much about her until a few months ago. I assumed she was of mixed white, Hispanic, and/or Native American ancestry, not that it matters. She is also a Clemson accounting grad.  One or two of the others bowing out could pave her way.  This at least could prevent that one undesirable outcome.

We could all use more peace and tranquility in 2024.

21 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Yeah, they ran the 2.0T for a few years, 2017 - 2022, it had 275hp instead of the 335 of the V6

Thanks. I had no clue. I never tried to "build" one.

That's a lot of horses in that 2.0 T.  What's even funnier is that it makes more than 3 times the horsepower that the old 2.5 (151 c.i.) "Iron Duke" made (90 hp) in so equipped Camaros and Firebirds of the early to mid '80s!

I'd say that one could start getting into trouble with about 170 horses, which is what smogged and carbureted 350 V8s made in the venerable colonnades.

21 hours ago, David said:

Gym is filled with Nautilus equipment and free weights, looks out over First Ave and Jackson street.

Nautilus equipment isn't as ubiquitous as it used to be, but I remember it as the brand most likely to be at the fitness centers I first belonged to. It's still around as mostly Nautilus Nitro, and is also good.  There are some brands I can't stand such as Cybex and Hammerstrength.  They just don't feel right.  Whether good or bad, I never took to free weights.  The likelihood of injury can be higher, IMO.  Resistance equipment sort of keeps your range of movements in check.  I need to return to going regularly but resistance circuit + elliptical + treadmill kept me in shape and gave me good medical lab work numbers.

I heard this and it definitely was a unique song and hit.

I looked up singer Kim Carnes.  A lot of interesting info:  native of Los Angeles, ONE marriage for being in that industry and in that town, and now living in Nashville.  The places Angelenos have ended up moving to in the last 20 or so years never ceases to amaze me.

When I think of this song, I then wonder why no one wrote a similar song about Charlotte Rampling.  Those eyes are her "trademark."

I'm sure she has fewer doubles running around than Bette Davis did.  LOL

More of an aviation than airplane post, as this vid catches the approach into NY-LaGuardia Airport better than most I've seen.  To do so is quite a treat to begin with, but seeing it's Air Canada tells me why it was a bigger treat.  That's because they aligned with the Hudson coming south and then had to sweep over the harbor and align with the East River, giving a great view of Lower Manhattan and Midtown, before landing at LGA.  He got the Statue of Liberty, the Verrazano Bridge, and many of the other bridges, too.  Remember BMW - the order of the bridges up the East River starts with Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, etc.

I love this city - always have and always will.

Can't GM or any entity, for that matter, announce layoffs AFTER Christmas or the holidays are over?  Is it about making some kind of a favorable accounting or tax related entry on the books for the current fiscal year? (I'm theorizing, since I can't come up with what that would entail.) Shouldn't it be about people?  Who wants to see glum faces at the breakfast or dinner table?

On 12/18/2023 at 6:28 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

Getting in and out of the Camaro was an issue, and I’m fairly limber. But once inside, it fit me so perfectly. It was one of the best ergonomic cars I’ve ever driven. The balance of the platform is fantastic and even in V6 form is more than enough to get you in trouble. 
 

great car and sad to see it go

I remember that from auto shows. It was easier to get into and out of the Corvettes on the exhibition floors.

Since I couldn't see out the C pillar too well, I never pushed getting to know the car, such as renting one. If they had put me in one as a free upgrade, I would have taken it.

When they first released the last generation Camaro, it looked too scrunchy to me.  As with the Charger's evolution, they did do make some nice modifications to the front and back fascias that definitely improved it.

I couldn't see owning a convertible, but if I had to drive a Camaro, I'd probably opt for it over the hardtop that felt too confining.

I thought that this last gen started with a 6 cyl. and had several V8 options.  Was there ever a 4 cyl. in this last gen ... or was that in a previous generation such as the "Iron Duke" days?

On 12/13/2023 at 3:38 PM, David said:

In the Seattle office for the first time since pandemic started in 2020. Wow, they are really trying to get folks back in as the landlord built a very nice gym that is free, a juice bar that is free and updated the whole building.

My last day back in February 2020 we had 2 EV charging parking spots and they were always full with people slacking each other to move EVs around to get charged. 

Today there is 12 dedicated stalls now.

Did I hear free gym?  What's in it and which brand?  Does it have a view of anything?  Before the Gateway Tower (initial name, IIRC) went municipal, there was a beautiful gym in it partway up - about 5 to 10 floors up - with some nice views that people could just be members of.  I think I used it a few times with a reciprocity agreement.

Join me in wishing @riviera74 a happy birthday (per today's birthday list).

May you enjoy your day on a riviera of your choosing ...

I've got this Toyota Camry they assigned to me.  Wow ... this has the second highest mileage of any vehicle I've ever been assigned - 56,000 miles!  That's over 9 transcontinental U.S. round trips. 

The only other car that beat it was in Italy when I was given a Seat Leon wagon with 105,000 km (which is over 60,000 miles).  That one looked kind of mangy and they didn't seem to care about all the scratches and all that, including the front bumper panel that had separated on one side and was provisionally fastened together.  I asked her if this Seat Leon wagon could get me from Ancona to Bari for the one-way drop (basically most of the length of the Adriatic side) and she said that it would.  It did.  

As for this Camry, it's a rough one.  The engine is noisy and, unlike ones I've been put in that have had about 20,000 miles where the 8-speed automatic had some of the best shift quality I've experienced, this Camry revs out to the next shift point and then there's what seems like a pause after that shift.  It reminds me of some Smart cars and Opel Corsa automatics I've rented across the pond ... some 20 years ago.  I don't believe in these new long intervals for transmission service.  I think people need to be routinely servicing their geared automatic transmission every 30,000 to 40,000 miles.

It's a basic LE and has none of the bells and whistles, like any of the traffic and parking sensors.  It also has that nasty diagonal sweep over the cubby hole for one's electronics.

Give thanks a few days later that @David is on board ... but wish him a happy birthday TODAY!

Enjoy your special day and let us know how you celebrated it.

Good/great music - the '70s and '80s

Decent music - the '90s

Heirloom music - the '60s

- - - - -

Here's a good '80s piece ... give a listen

It's the eve of Thanksgiving, so Happy Thanksgiving to us Americans (U.S., that is) and have a great extended weekend.

It's easy to default to being negative with everything that's going on around us, so think of things to be thankful for - the more I think about this, I have a fair bit to be thankful for - and go for the GLASS HALF FULL outlook.

Also, food unites people.  See below:

And, finally, take it easy on the tryptophan. 

There are some interesting things about that might look nice and then make you second guess if you really like it.  I'm talking the hunched down front end with the small grille.  It looks cool and then you realize it might look weird.  The same is true of the lengthy side silhouette.  And the same is also true of the inset taillamps into the small cove.  It's polarizing, but I don't think there are any agreed upon answers.