pow

The 2010s are a definite improvement over the previous models. Interior looks pretty good now... the center console is more integrated, and I like the new controls.

At least a TSX Wagon is coming...

And even if these cars go to rental fleets, at least they're good cars that might convince a buyer to choose GM or Ford...

A Malibu or Fusion might change perceptions. A Sebring, on the other hand...

My first inclination is to assume that she forgot a few steps when she chose to exit the car, then stepped on the gas for leverage to get her butt out of the driver's seat before rocketing off when she took her foot off the clutch. This just doesn't speak to me as though it has anything to do with Toyota's unintended acceleration issue. I mean, who the hell has their car running in gear when they open their door?

Yeah, sounds like her foot slipped off the clutch pedal.

They have an Oregon Trail iPhone app now.

I don't know what to attribute it to... but some vehicles have a smell that give it a feeling of spaciousness, while others make it feel more claustrophobic.

Just a little, but didn't China ban Facebook too?

Yeah, but you can easily get around it with a personal VPN..

How does the CVT feel on the highway? Loose and slushy, like a slipping clutch or unlocked torque converter? Or nice and tight?

What kind of equipment is there on the base model? Trip computer? Keyless go? How does that work in practice?

Thanks.

What I was going to drive, etc. today up north is pretty much the antithesis of all of these vehicles & so called wants, but I continue to want one. That rare, different, cool, etc. factor no matter how impractical also speaks to me. RARE, especially...hmm...

Maybe a Subaru WRX for ultimate fun in the winter, and your G8 for ultimate fun in the summer? I've driven my cousin's 2009 hatch (265 hp), and it's simple, down to earth, and very very brisk. Looks surprisingly good in black, too.

Saab 9-3 XWD wagon? With a Thule roof rack on top?

Have to say, I'm a fan... especially Bad Ro-ma-roma-ma-mance.

Dictionaries with term 'oral sex' to be re-shelved

10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

PDF: Read Menifee schools’ statement on dictionaries at Oak Meadows Elementary School

MENIFEE - Dictionaries pulled last week from the shelves of a Menifee elementary school will be put back, an official said this afternoon.

Superintendent Linda Callaway read a statement at today's Menifee Union School District board meeting reporting that a committee reviewing the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary had completed its work.

The dictionary, and an alternative dictionary, will be available to fourth- and fifth-graders, the committee decided.

"Parents will be given the option to determine whether or not they wish their child to have access to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary," Callaway said in her statement.

Officials said today the dictionary in question was only in use at Oak Meadows Elementary School. The district pulled the books from shelves last week after an Oak Meadows Elementary School parent complained about a child stumbling across definitions for "oral sex."

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_W_sdictionary27.362f5a0.html

And Apple is very happy they've convinced you it's a Hyundai vs Cadillac difference. IMO it's at most a Buick vs Cadillac difference. And if the OS is worth that much more to you, add $50 to the cost of the PC and buy the Mac OS & install it. Not that hard.

You prefer US goods, eh? You do know that Apple products are almost universally made by Foxconn, which is based in Taiwan, right? Of course some of the actual hardware is made in China. If Foxconn hardware is what gets you excited, I can build you a computer using primarily Foxconn products. It'll cost a fraction of what it would if it had a little fruit with a bite out of it on it. Oh, and it'll have more features & higher specs. And since you like the Mac OS, I'll throw that on there for ya too. And since I have my own business that (among other things) builds computers, you'll be supporting American business just as much, by paying an American company to build your computer out of Asian parts. I'll be glad to double or triple the price if that's your thing as well.

Sorry, I forgot to address packaging, branding, and sales care. Also known as "ways to make people who can't make a decision based on substance like your product better than the competition." Guess you got me there, Apple does spend a crapload on advertising and expensive packaging. Makes it all worthwhile.

They've added perceived value to a product, and I find it worthwhile to pay a premium for it. Works for me. It's about the whole package and experience, not just what components make up a computer.

I was simply pointing out how retarded your comparison of the iPad to a netbook was. A netbook is 2/5 of the price of the entry iPad. For an equal price you get a device that blows the iPad out of the water in every measure of usability except portability. Not sure what your problem is with Windows products (I assume you mean windows-based products, no matter what manufacturer they come from), but I know plenty of people with 5+yr old windows laptops that are still quite functional. I will be replacing the DVD drive on one next week, as everything else on it is working fine and the DVD player only recently decided to quit. Batteries wear out in ~3yrs, but Macs aren't exempt from that. A friend of mine has a macbook whose battery exploded after ~6 months.

Apple makes some good stuff, but quit being such a fanboi. The Mac tax only applies to upper models? Let's look at what you get in a $500 Mac laptop. Oh wait, they don't have one. The Macbook starts at $999, let's look at what you get:

13.3" screen

250gb 5400rpm HD

DVD-RW

2.26ghz Intel Core2Duo

1066mhz FSB

2gb DDR3 ram

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM (sounds like a dedicated graphics card, which is good)

What's a windows-based machine offer for the same money? Here's a quick example from Toshiba, which consistently gets rated very highly for building a quality product.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114743

16" screen

500gb 5400rpm HD

DVD-RW

2.8ghz Intel Core2Duo

1066mhz FSB

6gb DDR3 ram

NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M 1GB GDDR3 discrete graphics memory (sounds like a much better dedicated graphics card)

So how is the Mac not ridiculously more expensive?

In the same way you get a lot "more" from a Hyundai than a similarly priced BMW or Caddy...

There is a Mac price premium if you only look at specs, but there's also interface, design, user experience, build quality and materials, packaging, branding, after sales care, etc.

And besides, I thought C&G preferred products from US-based companies over those based in China (Lenovo) or Japan (Toshiba).

Here's one powered by a V10...

I would be interested in buying one once the price goes down. I have an old MacBook right now, and there are instances where I wish it'd behave more like an actual... well, notebook (the paper kind).

For simpler tasks, like taking notes in class, quickly showing pictures to friends, reading a book, or surfing the web during moments of free time, it's nice not having to unzip a laptop case, unfold its screen, wake it up from sleep mode, and wait for the appropriate program (iPhoto, iTunes, MS Word, etc) to load. If it's like an iPhone, those features can be accessed immediately.

And judging by Apple's current products, it's going to be nice looking and well-made, too. I'd personally get the optional case... reminds me of elementary school when I had my Five-Star zip-up binder...

Interestingly the cheap $51 Fuzions (a brand of Bridgestone) on the van were made in the USA. Low price and US country of origin aren't mutually exclusive..

Why'd it have runflats to begin with? I thought only E90s started having them...

He will only do a new car. He has pretty much narrowed it down to a new Malibu 1LT or maybe an Accord.

If you want him to buy the Chevy, you can also say the Malibu is an IIHS Top Safety Pick, whereas the Accord and Fusion missed out (if only slightly).

I find the Fusion to have better frontal and side visibility than the Malibu, which could be important for driver's ed. Both cars kinda suck for rearward visibility.

If I were set on getting a Chevrolet Malibu, I'd buy a CPO one and save $5,000.

Ok so you can get your choice of a 27K Regal with a 182 HP 4 cylinder and leather, a 27K LaCrosse with 255 HP V6 and cloth or a slightly discounted Lucerne CX with cloth and 227 HP and considerably more torque than either other offering. Is it me or does something seem a little wrong here with the new pricing structure? The lack of V6 option in this car is going to hurt sales even if the 220 HP turbo option puts out similar numbers to the LaCrosse V6. The tiny 2.0 liter motor is much harsher sounding and noisy, requires super and more maintenance and will be more costly to work on down the road as many shops automatically get more per hour for those turbo engines. Trying to make Buick into a Fast and the Furious Saab pretender will meet with few sales I fear and many more confused customers.

On another note, I find this car much better looking than the Lexus copied bloated ungainly looking LaCrosse which will also use the 182 HP 2.4 engine with it's 4000 curbweight and all.

I think it's fine... for the same price, you can choose among quality over quantity, quantity over quality, or lots of quantity over quality. For many, the Regal is as big a vehicle as they want, and they'd much rather have technology and luxury instead.

Ironically, the Regal with its base 2.4-liter and six-speed will likely be quicker than a Lucerne with a 3.9-liter (!) V6. The "tiny" 2.0-liter should be plenty smooth... usually small-displacement fours are smoother than large-displacement V6s.

Whaddabout publicly funded elections like they do in many other democracies?

Money is considered free speech... right.

Buick Announces Pricing For 2011 Regal

Detroit – Buick today announced pricing for the all-new 2011 Regal. Prices start at $26,995 for the premium CXL model, including a $750 destination charge.

Regal's CXL turbo model will start at $29,495, including a $750 destination charge.

Regal will initially be offered in premium CXL trim only, with additional trim levels to be offered in the 2012 model year. The well-equipped Regal CXL includes the following as standard or available equipment:

* Standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected engine rated at an estimated 182 horsepower (136 kW)

* Available 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged and direct injected engine rated at an estimated 220 horsepower (164 kW) – available late-summer 2010

* Both engines have six-speed automatic transmission standard with Driver Shift Control (DSC)

* Estimated 30 mpg on the highway with the 2.4L and 29 mpg highway with the 2.0L turbo engine

* MacPherson strut front suspension and four-link independent rear suspension

* Class-exclusive Interactive Drive Control System is available with the 2.0L turbo,

offering enhanced vehicle stability and greater driving safety, while also adapting the driving characteristics of the car to the driver's preferences. The driver selects among three operating modes that adjust suspension, steering, throttle, transmission, and stability systems to personalize the driving experience

* Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel anti-lock braking system, brake assist and electronic parking brake

* Standard StabiliTrak stability control system and full-function traction control

* Standard dual-stage frontal air bags, side-curtain air bags and pedal-release system; and available rear-seat thorax air bags

* Available navigation system, Harman Kardon sound system, and internal flash drive (1GB)

* Standard 18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch aluminum wheels come with available Interactive Drive Control on the 2.0L turbo)

* Standard 12-way power, leather and heated driver seat; leather and heated passenger front seat; Bluetooth for phone capability; i-Pod auxiliary jack and USB port; XM Satellite Radio and OnStar

"The Regal is the next chapter in Buick's transformation and we're excited to bring this Buick sport sedan to market," said Craig Bierley, Buick Marketing Director. "The dynamic driving experience and intuitive, personal technologies offer customers a premium sport sedan for great value." 2011 Regal pricing compares to the 2010 LaCrosse as follows:

2011 Regal CX - 2012MY

2010 LaCrosse CX - $26,995

2011 Regal CXL - $26,995

2010 LaCrosse CXL - $30,395

2011 Regal CXL turbo - $29,495

2010 LaCrosse CXS - $33,765

Regal production for sale in the U.S. and Canada begins late Q1 2010 in Russelsheim, Germany, with vehicles expected to start arriving at dealerships in Q2 2010. North American production will begin at the Oshawa Car Assembly plant beginning in Q1 2011 .

About Buick

Buick is in the midst of a transformation that started with the Enclave luxury crossover and continues with the completely redesigned LaCrosse luxury sedan and Regal sport sedan. Buick is emerging as a modern, premium brand with vehicles characterized by sculpted designs, personal technologies, luxurious interiors and responsive performance. Future new sedans and crossovers are planned and will continue to expand Buick's portfolio both in North America and China. More information can be found at http://www.buick.com.

Pricing is excellent considering the level of equipment you get. In Europe, the Insignia competes against the EU Accord (TSX over here in the US).

Regal CXL - 182 hp

$26,995

Accord EX-L - 190 hp

$27,540

Regal CXL turbo - 220 hp

$29,495

TSX - 201 hp

$30,120

This is a much better car than the awkward and cheesy looking LaCrosse, IMO, and it's way less expensive to boot. You get a fully-loaded German sports sedan for the same price as a base velour-and-wheelcovers LaCrosse.

I'd expect prices to go way up MY 2012, as is traditional with new GM releases. Right now, a Regal CXL is less expensive than a similarly equipped Malibu LTZ 4-cylinder.

Nice to see Toyota making non-appliances. Wonder what the Subaru version will look like...