BuddyP

What's up with the stupid prices on used vehicles now days? I started looking into used '07 Avalanches about 2 years ago. I thought the prices for a '07 where high then, now 2 years later a comparable optioned '07 Av is no less money!! I bought the Av when it was 2 years old and paid half of MSRP. Now a 3-4 year old vehicles is barely 70% of what it was new. is there a "car bubble" that is going to pop?? Been in the market for purchasing for a year now. Just drove a loaded up '08 Tahoe.... $33k and that is actually "cheap".

The 292k mile Alero has had regular ol Quaker state in er since 50k miles (sure it wasn't synthetic before that either). Motor still has great power. Change er every 3k-5k miles.

I work in Fort Wayne, IN. You'll have to keep me posted on your journey and maybe I can meet up with you guys.

We are in the hunt for a Acadia/Outlook. Wifey likes em, I do to but have doubts with towing. I actually would use it for towing a trailer (4500 lbs loaded down). I test drove a new Traverse LT and loaded up my trailer and hooked it on. While it did just fine on the back roads (55 mph or less) when I got it up to speed on the highway it was seeing it's limits. This is something that the Tahoe, Burban, Yukon wouldn't be doing and why there will always be a market for them. Now we'll have to buy used, which puts us into a '07 or '08... the lesser hp non DI motor. If the DI motor of the Traverse was on edge at highway speed I can't be a little concerned about picking up an older non DI motor.

Not too giddy on the material patterns that Ford has been using for interiors. Mainly referring to the Flex, but I see some of that (the ugly woodgrain for one) made it's way into the new Edge.

GM Announces New Program to Design and Manufacture Electric Motors http://gm-volt.com/2010/01/26/gm-announces-new-program-to-design-and-manufacture-electric-motors/ GM is taking the next critical step to position itself competitively in a future of electrified automobiles. Vice Chairman Tom Stephens is announcing today that GM is expanding its in-house core competency to include the design and manufacture of electric motors. This will make the company the first major US automaker to mass produce its own electric motors. Electric traction motors are a critical component for both hybrid and electric cars. Stephens likens them to the combustion engine, and the battery to the fuel tank. “In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now,” Stephens said. Doing this development and production in-house will allow the company to improve quality and reliability while at the same time reducing costs. The first vehicle to launch with a GM-built electric motor will be the next generation rear-wheel drive 2-mode hybrid expected to arrive in 2013. “Electric motor innovation supported the first wave of automotive growth a century ago with the electric starter, which eliminated the need for a hand crank, and revolutionized automotive travel for the customer,” said Stephens. “We think the electrification of today’s automobiles will be just as revolutionary and just as beneficial to our customers. Electric motors will play a huge role in that.” GM has already gained considerable experience designing and building electric motors during the last seven years, and over that time has spent $44 million dollars quietly building up expertise and competence. The new electric motor production project will receive an investment of $246 million which will go towards converting the Baltimore Transmission plant in White Marsh, Maryland into a mass production high volume electric motor plant. GM says it will build some but not all of its electric motors, but also claims their expertise will better help them better understand the supply chain and to become better customers for buying some motors from outside suppliers. Pete Savagian is GM’s Engineering Director, of Hybrid Powertrain Systems. He notes that electric motors are made up of a few core elements, including steel, wire, magnets, bearings, mountings, and cooling systems. H explains that it is important to optimize these elements to create motors that have high power density, low cost, and excellent longevity and performance. Reducing noise, vibration and harshness is another major tactic for improving customer satisfaction. This new electric motor core competency and assembly plant adds a new thrust towards the goal of electrification of the automobile in addition to GM’s already operational Brownstown Volt battery pack assembly plant. Make no mistake about it, this time the electric car is here to stay.

Finally made it up there today, the last day opened. Now I have been at every show since the late '90s except two, one being last year because I sprang my ankle the day before we were going to go. I gotta say the econonmy's toll really showed at this years show. Of course we all heard about Porshe, Mitsu, and Nissan/Infinite not making it to the show but Wow, never thought I'd see exibits upstairs that I was used to seeing downstairs. Also in the main lobby before walking into the show there used to be cell companies and radio stations lined up in the area's were you entered into the main show form the lobby. Those area's were blank. And when one went down stairs to were there always used to be a show of aftermarket companies and such, there was none! Just a food court and a large road track for people to test drive electric cars/hybrids. Also a lack of concept vehicles. I gotta even wonder about the GM booth. There the Volt was, the same year it's going to be released and that was it... just the one volt. No cutaway models, no battey packs sitting out on display. It was also the easiest I've ever been able to manouver around the show due to a noticable lack of public showing. It really puts in perspective of what the automotive industry has been hit with in the last 1-2 years. Guess we'll see what 2011 brings... if it's the same I'll just stay home.

I have driven both a V6 auto RS and a SS RS 6 spd manual. The suspension on the 6'er felt almost identical to our Saturn Aura XR. The 6'er in my mind would be a perfect daily driver, forgiving suspenion, good power, great milage for what it is. The SS was a bit choppier ride but not in a bad way. I felt the shifter had a nice throw to it. I'm almost 6'-4 and felt very comfortable setting in the car. The higher beltline doesn't really hinder the visibility any. I had no problem with it. The back seat room as you can imagine is a joke, pretty much worthless except to put a couple 9 year olds or some luggage in.

So.... when are you picking one up to do a C&G writeup on?!!!

Nicley done, plenty of info and not to long. Great writeup, I look forward to the future writeups.

I'll help you then... vote for mine! LOL

Ok I gave it a shot.... took this tonight, got home from work a bit late and lost the sun. We are loosing leave fast! Don't think I'll have a chance to get a better one.

If only mine was finished... but I'll try and get a decent one put up here!

DId anybody actually thing you could just say "nah, don't like it" and take it back? Like that old saying, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

Saw a burgundy one at the Woodward cruise this past weekend.

We're looking at getting a used Lamda by fall/winter. Just need to sell the Avalanche. Planned on selling the Aura as well but hard to say how well it'll sell with the Saturn name.

Yeah Yeah, Dec. 21st 2012. It's not so much that the world is going to end (per the mayan calander), just that the calander stops on that date. Another 2 years people are going to get so worked up over nothing that that in itself is going to damage mankind. As far as this Chrystler thing, I'm glad this appeal took place. There is no reason that this bankruptcy should go any differently than any other.

So basically in a couple years Saturn will be all imports. That's not a deal maker for me. Bye bye Saturn.

He owns 60% of it. Look, I understand... but there's also a difference in US Airways refinancing that loan privately vs gov't saying "we'll forgive the loans so far" and bypassing all standard bankruptcy laws. I'll just go back 7 months ago when I said I was against the first bailout loan, and I said to let em go Chapt 11 and get it over with. Well..... 7 months and many billions $$ later, they are going through Chapt 11. I hope it goes as smooth as it possibly can as well. And while Obbie says that the gov't has no intensions of running a car company, and they keep getting deeper and deeper involved everytime they say that, I hope that all changes for the better as well.

Obama still owns those airlines? While I am not that extreme, I do understand the guys frusterations.

I still can't believe that Camry sells over 30k a month.

Wow, Malibu down -10.7%... not good.

Hey do you work at the McD's in Quincy? I alwasys see that red VW settin there when I drive by.

unf'in believable http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524520,00.html

Good to hear!