pow

Carl's Jr's jalapeno burgers are also pretty good. I went to the on-campus one at SC, and it's probably one of the "better" (if not "best") national burger chains.

Agreed on the distinct style. In-n-Out burgers aren't all that meaty or juicy. The word I'd use to describe them is fresh. They can get boring, but they're consistent and predictable. They make for a good cheap lunch. The best thing about their burgers is the slightly crunchy bun.

Ruby's Kobe-beef burgers are pretty good. It reminds me of the awesome pan-fried steak my mom makes. The "crust" of the meat is deliciously salty and almost crispy, while the inside is meaty and flavorful. Unlike other burgers where the patty is diluted with the rest of the burger trimmings, the Kobe patty really stands out... it's wonderful.

The Aveo is a very personable car but with poor engineering. It needs a more efficient engine and better crash performance.

The availability of the 3.3 (170 hp?!) and 3.8 is odd. Most minivans only have one V6, making 240-270 hp. Unless base level DCX vans become considerably cheaper, I don't see the point.

The current Odyssey is a generation newer than the lame-duck Pilot. You'll find the 2003 Pilot heavier than the 2003 Odyssey.

They go across the tire... When the tread is level with the bar, it's definitely time to replace them.

I replace 'em whenever it reaches the wear indicator bar, but then again, it never really rains here. A recent study suggests replacing them earlier.

Doubt it. Honda's IMA is comparatively mild. A simple BAS-like system with the diesel would still do wonders for idling in traffic.

MY2006 PZEV cars: BMW 325i Ford Escape Hybrid Ford Fusion (I4) Honda Accord Hybrid Honda Civic Hybrid Hyundai Elantra Kia Spectra Mazda 3 Mazda 6 (I4) Mercedes-Benz E350 Mercury Mariner Hybrid Mercury Milan (I4) Nissan Altima 2.5 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Subaru Outback 2.5i Toyota Camry (I4) Toyota Prius VW Rabbit VW Jetta 2.5 VW Beetle 2.5 Volvo V70 2.4

Werd.

Yes, it is astonishing how the past 200 years have changed the atmosphere composition more rapidly than it has changed the past 10,000 years. With exponential population growth, it all seems inevitable. I think we've all been so fixated to cars being our sole transportation that millions commuting in their gas-burning cars seem normal. But when you stop and think about it... it really dawns on you. How could this, everyday, in thousands of cities, not affect the atmosphere?

Countless microclimate simulations have proven that significantly increased concentrations of CO2 (500 ppm) in the atmosphere will increase temperature. It's just a characteristic of the gas... However, greenhouse gases are one of several factors that affect climate, and how big a role it plays is the debatable part. Personally I like the "better safe than sorry" approach.

Wonder what the VW version would be like...

"Will you contribute to reducing the effects of climate change?" And to do that task... I'll eat less beef. A cow in a year warms the earth (methane) as much as an H3 does over 12K miles.

It is true that the earth is warming, but not enough (~1F) that you would notice.

That's a 9-7X...

Better than I expected. It has a far nicer interior than any recent DCX product. Let's hope the quality is there.

Wonder how it's going to drive. The rear suspension doesn't look independent.

What matters in a minivan is the interior...

HHR?

"...the only four-cylinder/six-speed automatic combination in the segment." Jetta or Passat?

Me too. With $3/gal gas, people want nice 4-cylinders.

Isn't there a plug-in expected too?

Bad steering, throttle, or brake feel