balthazar

Mmmmmm - Wrist-Twist Merc!

I like the AT4 look but the 2” lift is a deal breaker for me. Also like that there is a LTZ for those that want it; i like chrome just fine. I’ve looked occasionally for a license frame from either my ‘59 or ‘64. ‘59 came from a small PA dealer (Pollino Buick-Pontiac) already gone by 1990, ‘64 came from a huge Chicago dealer (Grossinger Pontiac), now a conglomerate dealer, but neither the lil guy or the giant seems to have hardly advertised at all back in the day. Never seen a plate frame ever.

Yeah; I've built the Buick all with 'side money', IE; not paycheck money. I never wanted to be constricted on how/when I spend on it. I already have about -God I hate to commit this number to cyberspace, but- $20K invested so far between parts & hired labor (my time is free). That, plus the time span, I think, ironclads my 'enthusiast level'. Jeez- I took it off the frame / reunited it- most hobbyists never go that far. Since it's a 'side money' project & household finances aren't involved, it technically doesn't 'count' per the discussion terms as stated, IMO. I was more so referring to a daily driver / household budgeting purchase. A dream vehicle should always be more important to the enthusiast than a daily driver, but not everyone can work separating finances like that. To be honest, I can afford to buy a brand new 'household' $50K truck.... but my fiscal approach is highly resistant to letting me do so.

Whoo - that IS a bad influence! Understood, but I can't help reminding readers I last bought a truck 61 years ago tomorrow. Same model line, so that's logical.

YOU JUST BOUGHT A (basically) BRAND NEW TRUCK LIKE 38 MINUTES AGO! - - - - - I think that Northsky Blue is my favorite. I love black, but I think I'd pass on it. The Red Tintcoat is very nice, but I'm not a bright vehicle color guy. - - - - - '20 Sierra Elevation in Carbon Black, Crew Cab / Standard Bed, 3.0L TD :

I understand 'combinations', but there's no way the definition of it here (how detailed it gets) can build 35,000 combos in '18, and 36 combos in '20. Maybe if everything was made standard in '20 except the brief list above... but the 'at a glance' math doesn't come close to being feasible.

^ 6.6L Duramax is a $10,200 option!! I'm seeing different prices for the 3.0L. Looking at a '20 Sierra and the sticker says the 3.0L is $3890, but the same dealer is offering a "diesel special" of $1500 off- bringing it down to $2390. I thought I just read this month that GM was dropping the 3.0L's cost by $1500... but now I can't find that online.

$50K annual net = $4166/month. 10% of that is a payment of $416. To me, that sounds high vs. the monthly, enthusiast or not. https://www.cars.com/car-loan-calculator/ The above link is handy. A vehicle sold with 6% sales tax, no trade in, $3500 down at 3% interest would have to sticker at $29,000 to get the 72-month payment to $414/mnth. So apparently, via the financial standard, that 10% doesn't even get you to the median new car sticker (at $50K income). The average U.S. annual median income was $33,700 in 2018. Personally, I don't like a 72-mnth plan but might consider it. I would never go higher (84 or more), even tho I have been keeping my daily drivers way longer than I expected to (14 yrs, and 12 yrs). What tempers the question ["what percentage of one's income should an enthusiast spend?"] is that income and assets aren't the same thing. Some folk have liquid assets which may boost their ability to spend more than their recommended 10% monthly income. Whether they put in a larger down payment, or swing a larger monthly... After all of the above rambling... I don't know if there's a hard answer to the question.

Right, but this is an RST; there's still an LTZ and a High Country above this one.

'63 Studebaker Lark R-2. Rare machine, factory supercharged, full factory spec verified via engine teardown, runs a best of 12.2 @ 114 MPH.

Yeah, but, that doesn't mean it looks good.

Did you miss the part where the price begins with a '5'? Ugh. Guess what the 72-monthly is WITH my trade in? That also begins with a '5'. Ugh, again.

^ Yeah, maybe, but then -being consistent- there's no way the '20 is down to only 36. As soon as you do the engines / screen/ upholstery/ trim levels/ colors, you're way over 36. There's 8 exterior colors and 5 trim levels on the '20 Fusion as it is. That alone is 40, I believe. I suspect the 'research' on this is sloppy, as usual.

^ Autoblog did the math- said Ford reduced 2,000 combos to 36. Of course, Autoblog failed to define what makes 1 combo different from another. Note the article stated that prior to having 2000 combinations, the Fusion has 35,000. Try and tell me no one has screamed about Ford reducing the configurability of the Fusion to 1/1000th of what it was. I haven't heard a whisper of that. Wonder what constitutes a 'combination'.

You have to read press releases defensively; all OEM-sourced info is run thru a marketing department before you read it. Every piece is carefully worded to create the bottom line- new potential buyers. Journalism is the same way from a different angle; they'll pump anything new because they want buzz to create readership (potential buyers). EVs have to attempt to conquer the 97.4% of the market that hasn't chosen their game. Sure; a lot of it is pricing... but there's other, numerous, tangible obstacles. With the upside down fiscal yoke EVs carry from the start, you can bet the marketing is going to pump whatever vague advantage they can get away with. Reminds me of the noise aspect : EVs are being legislated to produce artificial noise up to 18-some MPH, because ALL vehicles above that make the same noise; tire and wind noise. There's no discernible engine noise from a Malibu at 30 MPH. You can barely hear it idling standing right in front of it. Yet the EV press trumpets 'SILENCE!!' How often are you driving under 18 MPH on a given day?? It's an intangible. Bottom line IMO; the advantages of EVs over IC are a laboratory best-case scenario that many buyers will never come close to. And that's just the nature of commercial products.

^ 3 engines, F or AWD, Synch3 or not, leather or not, 10 options = 2,000 configurations????

- - - - - And THIS is getting royally out of hand :

Buddy's shop. Upper L to R: '70 Chevelle SS (customer's) '77 Malibu, now a 454/TH400 '72 Cutlass S converted to 4-4-2, 455/4-spd '79 Firebird, Chevy 350/TH350 '74 Camaro, 350/TH350

Wait- so it still has 60% of IC maintenance?? I've been misled up til now! :P

^ That's not a 'GM thing'; it's an industry thing. And GM certainly could be profitable on many models doing ala cart, but they're MORE profitable doing packages.

You'd save MORE money dropping 1 tier on the trim level ladder and financing it.

HNNGGH. '20 Silverado 1500 RST Crew Cab / Standard Bed, inline 6 turbo-diesel / 10-spd. Rated 23/29 MPG. • Sunroof (don't want), • leather seating (don't want), • 22-in rims (would prefer 20s, tho these do look awesome), • Trailer brake controller (yes), • NO 'safety Group (YES!), • Convenience Package II [Universal Home Remote, rear sliding power window, 120-V power outlet, 120-V bed-mounted power outlet, Chevrolet Infotainment System with 8" touch-screen, SiriusXM Radio, HD radio/ HD Rear Vision Camera, Bose Premium Sound System] • All Star package [ includes Convenience Package I [dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power driver seat including power lumbar, heated driver / passenger seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated steering wheel, manual tilt/telescoping steering column, Rear Seat with Storage Package) ] PLUS locking rear differential & trailering package. $52,700.

^ I'll pass. Don't care for charred food, nor meat with large quantities of pure fat in it.

^ My son would agree via his recent rental use. 275HP / 295 TRQ, said he had it to 110 on a barren interstate, with ease. I drove it maybe 3 miles to refuel it/return it, and it was fantastic. EDIT per Drew (below) : 335 HP.

Yet that, also has seen a great degree of homogenization.