longtooth

My suspicious nature causes me to wonder if, the factory being in NC, hotbed of illegal immigrant labor abuse, there were any illegal/expendable alien workers in the place. (?)

That is good news. The weird thing is there are some with ridiculously low miles on them. I churned out 25k annually on the two that I had. I can't imagine not driving them.

Camino' must address this shortly as he's the acknowledged (in my view) expert in this field. No slight to you 'Stang. My view a a former owner: Nothing lovelier than an '02 WS6 or Firehawk. Evocative of an era pre-dating the collapse of an empire. When Rome was still Rome so-to-speak. I recently tried to hook-up with a 6 speed, black, '02, low mileage example of the 'Bird. I was within millimeters of pulling the 'trigger' on the deal and I thought of Wolfe's warning: "You Can't Go Home Again". I lowered my 'gun' and walked away. The nicer examples of these cars are being brokered more or less and command relatively big bucks. For now, for me, it is enough to admire the nice ones still patrolling the byways driven by owners which care for them.

Fool me once. And I've had enough. Had a few used-car lemons or cars of questionable virtue in my time. Two being memorable for the length of time it took to straighten-out every last kink. Since then I know going-in that the purchase of a used vehicle means that you've stepped to the head-of-the-line, and paid-for no less, the privilege of repairing (if you really want it to run right) someone else's heartache. Caveat emptor.

Oops! Better late than never. I hope that your special day held a few good surprises for you. Birthdays seldom fail to surprise. Best wishes PCS...

I've seen real talent exiled from GM. Some were fortunate to be asked to come back as consulting personnel. Engineers primarily but in one case the equivalent of a holistic-electrician. Practically a shaman. I swore that this guy was Tesla reincarnated. Far better people than me were simply let go. I hope for a GM Renaissance, for real. And thanks to Fred Schmidt, William Csenteri, Walter Fornal, Joe Simonson and Ken Strycharz, engineers and toolmakers extraordinaire. As I've stated here previously they're geniuses. My folk heroes as I grew up in General Motors. Special acknowledgements to welding and metal-fab wizard Mike Potts of Wilmington Assembly. (thanks for your patience w/me Mike) And to Jeff Korsyn of the Body Shop. Good people all.

A real beauty. Impossible, judging from the photos, to tell it from new. A solid and attractive way to get around. Great color too. Many happy miles. Very exciting.

Do it. A drivable classic but as with any older used car be prepared to hunt down some obscure parts for her. Very nice. Actually a timeless design in my opinion. My Aunt had a '77 Caprice (?) Thinking back real hard. The first year of the really downsized Caprice. Had the aquarium-styled, wrap-around rear window. Good luck.

"4" He's a jolly-good fellow. Many happy returns of the day to you...

My, my. All of the accolades here. Much appreciated and am just getting up and around after my longest night since I turned 21. It was all good. Surrounded by loving family (and those friends I haven't totally alienated) and we're staying through Tuesday, that is, most of our party at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Sumptuous decadence, plus all the bacon one could ever want. Even my Dad's having a good time. It's gratifying to see him effortlessly enjoying himself. Back to Earth then after all have checked-out, the Memorial Day long weekend winding down. Thanks to all of you good people for the wishes.

Thank you. So it goes. Very humbling to be acknowledged for doing what really good cheese can do though not as well. My brother called this morning, the youngest of us, telling me not to go to the light. Funny guy. Thank you once more.

Subjectivity. Also reminiscent of interrogating two suspects separately.

Fiero was, even given it's flaws, a masterpiece of engineering. GM wasn't shy regarding disclosure of the number of off-the-shelf parts used in it's manufacture. Never owned a 4 cylinder but had the '85 and '86 GT. The '86 had the sail panels added to give that car the classic Fiero GT look. Even today, the examples I see appear contemporary. The RIM panels used in it's manufacture have held up rather well if they've not be damaged by collision. Firing up the red '85 at night for the first time and seeing the headlights emerge urgently, hearing that mellow 2.8 litre V6 wanting to transport my wife and I... Good in the snow too. Relatively faithful in terms of reliability. Those be my recollections of the Fiero anyway. Uniquely Pontiac. Greater than the sum of her parts.

Things we once manufactured here. Textiles, appliances. The gamut. Now we rely on continually developing nations to do our heavy lifting and drain substantive employment here. It isn't limited to automobiles nor the 'dreaded' UAW.

Even in the complete absence of the UAW; compete with Chinese-peasant labor? China maintains a standby workforce of 400 million, to fill sick-outs(?), and these subsist on the equivalent of $1 (US Funds) per day. Even Mexico can't match the discount placed upon undervalued human endeavors. Even those most humble as manuel (sp)labor.

Weak dollar, China imports more oil in April driving demand, globally, higher. What I have difficulty in squaring, philosophically, emotionally and practically is seeing the United States, the North American Continent's preeminence being usurped over the span of my adult work career. It is as though that a film company has wrapped principal photography and is in the process of hurriedly and haphazardly striking the sets and getting out of town, so rapid is the decompression. Makes my head spin. Even as withering criticism is being leveled at the UAW, Unions, skilled and unskilled and labor here is being assailed, I cannot believe that the perceived wickedness of labor-at-large is at fault. Perhaps I am wrong in this mind-set of mine. While I was in Junior High School, coordinated by chance with the very first "Earth Day" in 1970, I read a book by Alvin Toffler, titled "Future Shock". And now, old curmudgeon that I am, I find myself living the 'shock' day-to-day. Very interesting. A favorite Toffler quote of mine: "One of the definitions of sanity is the ability to tell real from unreal. Soon we'll need a new definition." Alvin Toffler

The examples of that model Cutlass, rendered in black, with the chrome or stainless trim 'round the T-Tops were/are stunning. Even today when I see a rare survivor on the road.

The Onion has the cleverest satirists bar none. Even given that I feel that I have the capacity to scorch with my acerbic wit, when I am not being gratuitously cruel, I feel akin to an amoeba when something The Onion publishes hits me in a particularly unique way and then I realize that I could never scale the heights which they own. Vice President Biden's Trans Am article is modern classic, imo. I'd think even the Vice President would have to get a kick out of reading that article.

Children under 40 lbs. might be sucked into those large lower openings on the blue one. In the old days mothers only needed to warn of strangers in black cars offering candy. Like in Clint Eastwood's "Mystic River".

Just save the converters for inspection. They'll last almost forever. Don't fall for the blue-collar baiting which can occur here, infrequently, sometimes.

That is an impressive cabinet for the Nav. Is the brandy stored there too? Roomy cab.

CTS-V. The color doesn't matter. Just how it's equipped.

Even if we knew. To the fraction of a cent, what's the use? May as well imbue a seagull with the knowledge for the good it would do. The fact that we're leveling the playing-field, at our expense, is somewhat reprehensible. The populace here's so diverse, diffuse that you would have twenty special interest groups howling in protest for their ox if it were being gored. We lack the unity, the courage and the homogeneous make-up of our competitors. The ruthlessness.

The 'Guzzler' tax is the great equalizer at that level. The Pontiac GXP qualifies for that 'honor'. GM's wares have to have the ability to compete. Someone once said: "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." They can pander. Yes GM can pander. Get themselves some better marketing advice and sell bland, mainstream. Enough'll be convinced to keep them afloat.

"Worth". Value. Somewhat abstract concepts right now. But I agree that when things stabilize we'll have a clearer picture of the value of many things, concepts, i.e.: The relative value of our labors.