Intrepidation

So I checked my email this morning and eBay has informed me that the T&C sold. At first I was ecstatic. However the message from the buyer seems, I dunno...weird? I t just me? 0.0% Positive Feedback Member since Mar-31-09 in United Kingdom Location: East Sussex, United Kingdom

I wouldn't say they're behind at all from a technology standpoint. I could be wrong but isn't the 2-mode system as advanced if not more than Toyota's hybrid system? The problem is you can't get it in cars, where the fuel economy gains will be largest. You get them in trucks and SUVs only and the cars gets stuck with the half ass mild hybrid system.

Hey, maybe you can teach them a thing or two about making reliable electrical systems.

Thank you sir.

Find me one and I'll add it. Nice to see you mightymouse.

I felt it worth posting because I thought the video was very well done and the philosophy is something special.

As enthusiasts, we sometimes make the mistake of referring to Honda as a car company. Honda started out as a motorcycle manufacturer, and now makes everything from generators to IRL engines to robots. The Japanese automaker has produced a series of short films to give the rest of the world a better idea of what it's all about. There are three videos so far, and the latest of these short documentary-style productions is about Honda's unique view of failure. The video, titled "Failure: The Secret to Success," provides insight into the thought process of company founder Soichiro Honda, and how he viewed failure as a means to winning. It also shows how much Honda, a successful car company by all accounts, has failed in the past and what it's learned from those missteps. Have you ever seen an orange 1996 Civic? Neither have we, and you'll know why when you watch the video after the jump. The short film includes appearances by racing team chiefs, designers, engineers, and the one and only Danica Patrick. The video is just over eight minutes long, and it's available to view after the jump. It's worth your time whether you love the big H or not. Autoblog

REPORT: Hummer's fate to be decided by Tuesday Tuesday, March 31, 2009 is the day of reckoning for the Hummer brand, as the Associated Press is reporting that GM will announce the fate of Hummer. Follow the jump to read the full story. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=29323

General Motors has been trying to unload its Hummer division for nearly a year now. Despite assertions late last year indicating that it hoped to have the troubled brand off its books for good before 2009 rolled around, we are now nearing the end of the first quarter of '09 and Hummer is still wholly owned by GM. According to a new report by the Associated Press, tomorrow is the day that we'll finally find out what the future holds for Hummer and its 160 or so dealers across the United States. We've heard all along that there are multiple parties interested in the brand, and that's apparently still the case. A GM spokesperson has said that companies from "all different parts of the world" are in the mix to purchase Hummer and the automaker is "cautiously optimistic" that a sale will be made. If a decision to sell Hummer isn't made by tomorrow, it sounds like the brand will likely be abandoned to die a quiet death. Autoblog

Because if they are as good or better than the competition from a quality standpoint, then that's one less thing for people to complain about. It's also a big issue since people have been complaining about the Domestic's interiors for decades. You would think that after so long it wouldn't b that hard to put it together properly and out of quality materials. I personally am not anal about interior quality as much as others, but I can see where they are coming from. It's not your house but think of how much time you spend inside your vehicle. It should be an enjoyable, comfortable place to spend that time in.

I would start by demanding that their interiors stop sucking from a quality standpoint.

Jessica doesn't read manga but I did get her into anime.

Aww yeah! Thanks guys

That was fast: Chrysler and Fiat agree on framework of a global alliance

Don't go making them FWD too.

General Motors' OnStar in-car communications system can give you directions or help you make a phone call, and soon it may also be able to send and receive Tweets. Gear Live recently received a survey from the General announcing that Twitter functionality could soon be on the way. With a press of a vehicle's OnStar button, users will reportedly be able to send voice-activated Tweets of up to 140 bytes to everyone in their Twitter network. The text would automatically be added to the owner's Twitter account via the "What are you doing?" section at the top of the page. The system would also read aloud messages that are sent to the OnStar user. Adding Twitter functionality would be a boon for fans of the social networking site, while also giving users less of an incentive to take their eyes off the road to check for messages on their smart phone, although the jury's still out on whether this can be done safely. From where we sit, this innovation would make even more sense applied to all text messages (not unlike Ford's Sync), which has somehow become a preferred means of communications for everyone on the planet under the age of 30. Thanks for the tip, Jonathan! Autoblog

Do you really feel the need to throw in this bit? It was unnecessary to say, unless you just get a kick out of riling people up.

Happy birthday!

Now if they can just make the manual n option...

One of the weakest points of the base V6-equipped Dodge Challenger SE has been the transmission. Chrysler saddled the SE with the old four-speed automatic instead of the Mercedes designed five-speed used in the V8 models. Chrysler used the occasion of an LX owners meet this weekend to debut a new SE Rallye edition that finally gives the V6 the extra ratio it needs. The Rallye also gets hood and decklid stripes, and five spoke 18-inch wheels. Hopefully Chrysler tightens up the suspension a bit to eliminate some of the floatiness of the SE. The SE Rallye will reportedly run $26,490 after production starts next month. Autoblog

There was a home show on TV I saw a while back about homes. This $600k house in California was having major foundation issues because a tree's roots were cracking the foundation in multiple places. I don't remember the show though, but I have seen it.

My question: why the f@#king hell are the banks being held to this sort of strict standard?

Poor BV can't get a break. At least my car waited 5 months before I had to replace a leaking fuel pump gasket. Oh well, it should be good to you once you get those things taken care off. I did enjoy mine. Also, manual locks aren't bad. Sure power is nice, but I never found myself really complaining about it in the Prizm (except when I was delivering and wished for remote). I just wish it had an inside trunk release. It's on the list.

That'll buff right out. Is the motor still good?

Oh, a few other goodies I forgot: Those particle board spare tire and trunk liners for the Prizm Sixty8 through on the pile like 5 LED light strips from Cadillac Sevlles, a gas can, and a crate of other stuff I don't remember. Oh and plenty of emblems.