balthazar

I was just pondering PW today while driving home. I have no problem with either and yes: I would prefer a choice here. I know it goes against common perception, but not everyone wants PW. My '94 F-150 has cranks (regular cab) and I prefer them there. My '04 2500HD has PW and they are a bit fussy what with the express down feature on the fronts and all. But that's a Crew Cab, so there is a bit more reason to have PW. My '64 GP has PW and they are hot whether the key is in or not. That's a great feature that you don't get today. I grew up with too many crank-window vehicles so I like those fine. Most people are far too lazy as it is. I know, I know: it's 'convinience', not laziness. Right.

Once again- the eyes are fine. The something that's not right is that interior for $42K....

Hawiian weather is divine. Not to mention if it's too hot, a 30-minute drive can put you in a zone 40-degrees colder. I work outdoors summer & winter. Living in Jersey most all of my life has accustomed me to high humidity- so I can handle just about all of it. I would rather deal with 90 degrees/ 90% humidity than temps in the low 20s and lower with wind.

The point about the saab key was that if it made others want to see the car it fit, I would find the interior embarassing and would want to avoid that scenario. This is supposed to be an upscale interior?? An '06 aero convert starts at $42K- what I saw was fitting for something half that price. Materials are one thing- I did not fondle the car as I didn't know the owner (it was a convert parked on the jobsite), but I'm not addressing those. Most passerbys don't fondle other people's cars but they do look; it's the visual impression I'm referring to. The flat plane of the instrument panel (as opposed to the overall dash) and the plethora of air vent grilles slaps you in the face- too much and too dated. The rest was simply mediocre. I've not made it secret here of my disdain for saab's existance within GM, but the look-over of the 9-3 yesterday was an unsolicited affirmation of my opinion: there's nothing aspirational here whatsoever. No wonder saab is in such trouble.

>>"Test results can be compared only among vehicles of similar weight. Like full-width crash test results, the results of offset tests cannot be used to compare vehicle performance across weight classes. This is because the kinetic energy involved in the frontal test depends on the speed and weight of the test vehicle, and the crash is more severe for heavier vehicles. "<< I believe that should have read: 'the crash is more severe for lighter vehicles'. >>"...the Institute's 40 mph offset test.... The barrier's deformable face... makes the forces in the test similar to those involved in a frontal offset crash between two vehicles of the same weight, each going just less than 40 mph."<< This does not make sense on the surface of it. Hitting a stationary object at 40 MPH should not be comparable to hitting an object moving towards you at 40 MPH. The latter should roughly double the kinetic energy encountered.

No one needs to hose out their interior. No one. People are told this is a benefit, a neccessity, and they believe it. It's ludacrious. The element where half the body is cheap black plastic is the farthest mass-produced.... thing from "finished" available. It's the vw Thing of the new millenium.

In the context of the thread; obviously I meant hit each other at what would amount to a 95-MPH impact.

'58 Fury with optional Golden Commando dual-quad V-8.

So, as I intended to comment on originaly but forgot- people will say smaller cars are safe but no one does these tests anymore (to my knowledge- I hope that's incorrect), and they should. The roads are not filled with concrete blocks but moving vehicles. Let's see a H2 hit a sentra at 95 MPH. Physics will not be denied.

Ehh- it was worth the ticket price but I have no desire to see it again.

As you gape at the below pictures and ready your snide 'see; old cars suck' commentary... please keep in mind that the pics you are used to seeing are 30-MPH impacts into stationary objects. The below pics (from the IIHS) were conducted from 43 to 49-MPH... BUT as both vehicles were moving towards each other, that's an 86 to 98-MPH impact. Still, and I agree: yikes.

Lots to love from BMD. Particularly partial to 59s, but I also really appreciate the '53 Skylark, the '56 Roadie, the '65, '66 and '72 Rivs. '58s have really moved up on my list, too. '64 Wildcat, '69 225... wow; I didn't know I liked quite so many...

Reason enough so people will ask you what kind of car you drive???? BTW: looked over a 9-3 aero today. What an awful, obviously dated interior! That flat plane dash with the overabundance of vent grids; if I owned one and people wanted to see what I drove because of the key, I would get a generic hardware store replacement to avoid having to show it off.

Cordovan is another small brand that I've used about 5 times on different vehicles. Good tire, very good longevity, great price. On the East Coast, RS Strauss sells them; not sure where else they're available. Last time I checked, they were made in the U.S.. I do like Goodyears, tho they are a bit more in price than many others. I put a set of Michelins on my truck the last time and I don't like them- too squishy and they scrub in sharp turns. They are standard load when I should have extra loads, but the truck isn't that heavy and they should not be this awful. I suppose with the way they traditionally wear, they'll be on there forever. I have to buy a new set of 245/75-16s for the Silverado... not sure what to get yet. Has Hankooks on it now- seem good tho I've been told they are very pricey.

I will be blowing my hand off tomorrow with some circa 10-yr old fireworks that largely made it thru a fire/dousing. Look for markedly more typos from me coming to a message board near you soon.

Clearly the public has a very good idea of 'what an SS is' or articles from know-nothing numbnuts like newspaper auto 'journalists' would have no basis on which to base their complaints.

While I also hate to see a integral part of the U.S.'s past industrial might fall into disrepair, there were dozens and dozens and dozens of Fisher Body plants over time. No auto manufacturer of any appreciable longevity has maintained all the facilities they've ever had, either. Anyone know which division was supplied by FB# 21? I would love to lift at least something for use in my shop- a bank of lights, a short row of lockers, anything that GM once used...

Oldsmoboi nailed it; I agree. Some of the ideas floated are ludicrious (BMW V-12 in a Cadillac?).

Other: DeSoto. I like their last 6 years of product and where/what they represented in the market.

>>"what about "Hot Rod Lincoln" then? I haven't a clue who did that"<< Many... Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen being one of the better known versions.

Wow; this article is all over the place, tripping over itself to avoid the obvious facts that counter the "success" of many of these proported "premium" brands. Those crazy germans... >>"Range Rover...uld be in trouble if Ford failed to understand how important innovation is... ll Terrain Response harnesses computer power to control off-roading with settings for conditions like mud, snow, rocks and sand, and almost automates the driving skills required. "<< That's automation, not innovation.

{bites fist in frustrated envy}

Well, we can talk about having too many models, but it doesn't apply to Cadillac in the '60s. The Division set sales records year after year and dominated the segment.

Here's just 6: Breadfan - Metallica Problem Child - AC/DC The Hand That Feeds - NIN Hot Rod Man - Tex Rubinowitz Black & White Thunderbird - The Delicates Dragster - Johnny Fortune

Whew! {regarding 'not blisters'} What's 'looking rough' about it- the leather upholstery assumedly; anything else? Were y-you able t-to.... to.... t-touch it? Maybe a fleeting caress? spins madly in jealousy