FUTURE_OF_GM

I'm not that excited about it... Just too much. And, I'm not sure how it works, but what happens if you DL a music file or something that is corrupted? Will it crash your phone much like it would your computer?

Best of luck man! I'm actually jealous of you, I'd love to be secure enough to just pick up and move half a world away. You can review the... umm... future Saturns for us.

I figured it go over well, especially in collector car circles and enthusiast groups (Like C&G... Too bad all of you aren't from NC, lol) GMTRUCKGUY74: As for the Sky, I thought about maybe playing around with the word LIGHTNING since the Sky was originally derived from the Vauxhall Lightning concept.

Amen brother! I'd gladly switch the Camaros and our entier fleet to ethanol if it were available. BTW, anyone remember the Ethanol drag car that used to run IHRA (Might still) It was the same idea as the Mustang concept a few years ago that made HUGE power off of Ethanol.

I *believe* those or a version of those are made by Sprewell racing, but it looks like his site is motorcycles only. They remind me of the Sprewell Camaro: But then for some reason, I'm thinking Pacer as well. Pacer is part of a bigger company that I can't think of at the moment.

A little off topic but; In NC we have TONS of specialty/themed plates that range anywhere from "Friends of the Smoikes" to "Sons/Daughters of Confederate Veterans" So, I recently e-mailed the DMV about putting together a "Detroit Automakers" plate in which those who back our companies could display it with pride. Not surprisingly I haven't heard anything back from the DMV, but I would love to know how to pull something like that off!

TRANSLATION: "We're going to keep screwing the consumer, just in more creative ways!" It amazes me that Detroit is constantly chastised for fuel economy and being "behind the times" yet we let this circus of an industry with it's sluggish expansion and price fixing slip right by without a damn word. I guess it's because the Detroit companies are american, whereas the oild companies are not... Remember, we only try to destroy our own and bend over backwards for anyone foreign. They'll gouge us at the pump with gas this way and then they'll turn right around and double their profits by gouging us on biofuels by blaming the high prices on "refinery expansion" and "strange weather patterns" Reason # 3, 456, 000 why "Mergers" are a BAD IDEA. Whatever happened to busting up oligoploies and monoploies??? Did our government forget about that part of it's job description or have we just introduced so much foreign ownership into the equation that we CANNOT break this "control" these companies/nations have over our lives? Or is it just that our officials are in the pockets of those very same oligoploies/monopolies? And BTW, what the hell is the big deal about funding terrorism again?!?! Was that just smoke and mirrors, because it seems like we refine the MAJORITY of what we use. Assuming all other things equal, such as number of cars, population, umm I dunno, DEMAND.... That's bull$h!. My god... If only the automakers had this much power! Just to tell the government and the consumer to essentially eff off. So not only did they increase efficiency and cut costs, they're also rolling in higher profits on top of it all.

1) Hummer never had an image problem until the media started hyping another mandantory "flaw" with another 'hot' domestic brand. No one bitches about the Land Cruisers that get fuel economy that's almost as bad and nobody recognizes that the H3 is indeed smaller and more efficient. 2) The greenies, politicans and "do-gooders" do not care if "Hummer isn't for everyone" it contradicts their views on life so they will do all that they can to stomp out the division and it's enthusiasts (Just like they'll probably try to do with all of us enthusiasts in one way or another eventually) Remember; these are the same people who preach democracy and equality for all but then in the very same breath, denounce the war in Iraq and bitch at everyone around them because they're not "living their lives as they should." (READ: As the "do-gooder" wants them to live it) 3) I wish like hell I had the money for an H2 because I'd buy it just to drive it around and piss people off. It's not that I think everyone NEEDS an H2, or SUV for that matter. However, I do believe that everyone NEEDS the ability to choose whatever the hell they want for and in a vehicle. Hummer does have a bit of an image problem in the people who control "pop culture"... Luckily, the people who buy Hummers usually don't care about the people who control that "pop culture" But then, the Prius also has/ is getting a bit of an image problem as well.

REFER TO MY ABOVE PARAGRAPHS.... They'll keep our companies around (as opposed to running them into the ground with negative publicity) because they can make $$$ on them by whoring them out to China and India. Just like all of our other businesses, industries and our souls, americans will sell anything to make a buck. It this mindset that has allowed us to slip from being the world superpower and it'll only get worse IMO. I just hope Ford doesn't downsize too much. If the sell of PAG goes through, that leaves a controlling stake in Mazda, a struggling Ford division, a virtually non-existent Mercury division and a starving Lincoln division. Or, IMO, pretty much what the anti-Detroit wants, a company standing, waiting for a death blow. (READ: UAW) Or they could combine LR & Jeep and then combine Dodge, Chrysler and Jaguar and have ALL areas of the market covered. Combine the LR & Jag dealers and VOILA! And we care because?!?!? Last I heard, we bought al of GBs industry a long time ago. (Of course, the same will happen to us in 10-20 years, except it'll be Japan, Korea & China buying all of our sh*t) I haven't heard any of this "scrutiny" They invested in Detroit (the enemy) of course the government and media is going to turn on them. Won't be long 'til the public does too if history is any indication.

Just as 'The Street' wanted, revenue from the busting up of an automaker. VERY INTERESTING, since he was the one who had a fetish for Euro brands in the first place. Ford acquired Volvo, LR and Aston under his leadership if I'm not mistaken. The company also was very healthy under his leadership, until the bombs started going off, and the media started attacking. So, does that make Aston american owned still? Which shows 1) how STUPID the analysts are and 2) that what 'the street' says is usually half truth, half bull$h!. I don't even think Ford should sell the brands now. Which explains why both 'the street' and the media have been less negative about our auto companies as of late. Because they can make $$$ on them by keeping them around. Whatever... If this were actually the case IMO, their values would've increased back when these markets BEGAN maturing 5-6 years ago (Which is when GM announced most of it's initial Russian and Indian partnerships.

Thanks for the compliments These are my babies, and unfortunately, one of the reasons why I'm 25 and still in college. I spent a bit too much on restoring these as opposed to investing in my education ovr the past 5-6 years. But hey, you only live once! Some cool ideas! I also thought about RED HOT or RED HOT Z on the '73. Originally I wanted to run BAD ASS Z but now the DMV has gotten so picky that I'm not sure bad ass z would fly. I also looked into ST. ANGER, back when that MetallicA album first came out and BLACKEND because "Blackened" is my favorite MetallicA song. That meshes my two life passions (Cars & Music) For the '68 I thought about somehow making "Sweet Emotion" or "Dream On" (Aerosmith songs) fit. DREAM ON was the front runner, but I decided that it might come off as too arrogant and give me bad car Karma. Maybe I could look to ZZ Top for some inspiration as well... Hmmm. [/end rambling]

If you feel like bringing it to NC (LOL) I have an excellent body man that does all of my work. My '73 camaro was in MUCH worse shape than that when I started on it. Body work is the worst part of restoration IMO because unless you know how to do your own work (which I don't, yet) you'll sink A LOT of money into the car. Either way, I think it's a sweet ride as it is right now.

It's sad, but I pretty much go through this every year and can never think of anything cool. So I just end up renewing the regular tags.

I'm thinking about putting vanity plates on my Camaros ('68 SS & '73 Z28/RS) but I can't think of anything really cool. Anybody have any ideas? EDIT: Basic specs: The '68 is a 350 4-speed car that is/will be more of a "classic" cruiser. The '73 houses a 406 with a Turbo350 transmission and is/will be more of a "custom" car. Neither will be too wild though, the plates will be NC plates which means 8 letters or less. A few pics:

Jr. isn't worthy of the #3 and never will be. Honestly, he's not that good of a driver because he cannot be consistent. However, I will admit that Hendrick Motorsports COULD change that. Maybe Chevrolet should sign a corporate deal like Dodge did with EMS. We all know that Toyota will eventually catch on and dominate the sport if GM doesn't factory back it's teams. So GM should either commit or pull out altogether.

Don't worry, just like with the engine issue(s) I'm sure Toyota PR (READ the american media) will cover this up. BTW, why hasn't Ford advertised this?!?! It's sad, because since I've come home (To my very liberal/greenie $h!bag of a hometown) I've seen more Turdras then I saw thew whole time in school at Charlotte. I'm sure everyone thinks their pigs are saving the earth via "spectacular" gas mileage and reliability, after all, Consumer Reports said so...

No major news, of course.

First off; that thing is god-awful. Secondly; I fail to see how this in ANY way is better than even the Camry interior, much less the very handsome new Malibu. I will give them the benefit of the doubt for now though, simply because the picture is horrible. Who was it again that mention the MKS having a goofy dash?!?! Just take a look at that horror... I just can't get into the new Honda interiors, it's like they've went back to 1980 "futuristic" designs yet used materials from the 21st century. The designs look like an abortion from the first Terminator movie, nothing but dark hard poorly manufactured plastic with ugly digital layouts. I'm sure it'll (in the words of ALL media) be "MUCH better than anything currently offered by any domestic automaker" and I'm sure it'll be showered with awards just like the crapline and civic.

small pic: It's certainly still salvagable with a little TLC. If I received the car I would restore it. And BTW, the "pratice car" is probably the 'sister car' that was bought by the city at the same time and has since been restored.

I agree 100% (although I like the Outlook the best) Am I reading into this correctly?!?! Is GM actually hampering the sales of one of it's hottest vehicles becuse of the UAW talks? P.S. DAYYYUM, someone is good at the slalom!!!!

EXCELLENT news!!! This is exactly what the doctor ordered for my family. We'd like better fuel economy and the power of a diesel, yet everything we tow can be handled by a half ton truck. I can see my parents in one of these as soon as they come out! P.S. Nice to see Hummer included as well, maybe this will give the greenies and hippies a nice dose of STFU.

I'm not so sure about that... There's a difference between killing thousands of people and making an unreliable car. One of the reasons I'm very anti-Japanese is because of Pearl Harbor, that's not "f@#king retarded" it's simply my opinion and my beliefs based on personal ties to the war. I think it's just personal preference much like religion, sexuality, politics or "success." Anyone who was alive in the 80s remembers the constant grudge match and rivalry between Japan and america and some, such as myself, still believe that this 'battle' rages on. The only condition is that Japan actually cares and seeks to win (by aiding their businesses) whereas america, in it's typical apathetic state, couldn't care less. EXACTLY! Which is also why when Japan FINALLY agreed to allow U.S. cars imported into their country, the cars were 'allowed' to sit on the dock for months before eventually being failed by 'inspectors' for not meeting some BS requirement.

Agreed 100%!!! This wasn't a war without merit, yet I do agree that it is time Iraq becomes responsible for itself and we bring our soldiers home. Back before our country became a "has been" I agree 100%... *MOST* of this country, epecially those that yell the loudest, are spoiled, pompous assholes who care more about whether or not their Wal-Mart goods were discounted properly by their '10% off' coupon than their fellow americans. That is probably one of the best paragraphs I've ever read on this forum... BEAUTIFUL!!! LOL... Which is excatly what I'm referring to when I say "America is everyone's bitch" Gospel. OMG... That just tops it off perfectly!

Wow! Lets hope it is as nice a car under the sheet metal. I think this is probably still the best looking Epsilon car at GM.

Pretty sad that americans are so f**king ignorant these days. I know what will happen if someone sneers or comments at me... Probably a very heated yelling match and then me getting arrested for assault. REMEMBER: Violence solves everything! (Or so our government tells us) Much sarcasm implied.