A Horse With No Name

The largest thing we have lost IMHO is the technology lead for the "new world order" or how things will be in ten, twenty, fifty years et al. China, India, Germany, France, et al are taking the lead on alternative energy. We need to get away from drill baby drill to windmills, windfarms, safe nuclear power, Solar, biofuels, et al. We are loosing our leadership position in the world, which scares me far more than what we have lost. Also, we've dug ourselves so far into debt that we won't be able to recapitalize to move forward. Fifty years ago we were the people who responded to Sputnik by putting a man on the moon. Right now we're trying to respond to our crises by putting a mom into a mall to shop...we've fallen SO FAR IMHO. Okay, off the rant. More sadly than anything, I wish GM had kept a lead in excellent small trucks, with a world class S-10 replacement. Wish the Malibu came with more bodystyles, a la the G6. Wish Buick had a full lineup in place before they killed Pontiac. Was getting the Miata washed at the car wash today (usually wash it myself) and the woman behind me was getting her CTS washed. We started taling cars, and we both talked about how hot the new Lacrosse is. Woman is probably my mothers age, and I'm 44. She didn't want to buy the new LaCrosse because she thought of Buicks as "Old Peoples Cars." She's been a GM customer since the 1960's and she doesn't see a Buick as youthful enough for her....hmmm. We've lost the next generation of hot rodders and customizers and racers. Seems like the younger generation is moving away from cars. I have three teenage children, and seems like a whole lot of their friends are just not into cars. My two cents. Chris

Wow...that's sad. Saab built some cool cars over the years. Chris

I can probably get the whole car done for $1500-1800...and that's for good work, not a crapy MAACO style repaint. $250 a panel is pretty much the going rate for paintwork. Chris

I'll bet the girls in Kentucky are glad that you don't pursue sex with the same passion you pursue the Pontiac Trans Am. Glad to see your passionate. Wish you would keep the Regal. Chris S4 is a neat car, one of the guys in the Miata club has one. FUN car! Chris

Just be cool and you'll be cool. Chris

For what it's worth...Ohio requires a front plate. Bought the Concorde in 2002 and the front plate got lost a week after I bought it. Traded the Concorde for the wife's crap box /toaster in 2005. Drove it without a front plate. Wife finally got pulled over in July of 2009 and got a verbal to get a front plate on the car. 2002 to 2009 with no front plate...don't think they pay that much attention. Chris

The Carolinas are beautiful! Nice pics! Chris

Do the illegal thing and drive really carefully with the wrong tags. Done it, don't like to do it but...haven't had a problem yet. Had a friend get pulled over, he showed them the bill of sale and the cop was cool with it. Good luck, and glad you found a new set of wheels! Chris

I actually had and built the sweathogs dream machine as a kid. Brings back memories! Chris

The whole car business is so irrational it just makes me want to scream. No wonder CARBIZ rants and raves like he does. I do NOT like the new Accord...even the coupe I find just really awkward. Chris

Camino, your Solstice came through my local Pontiac dealer right before the edn of he Pontiac era-Manual Shift Coupe, GXP, black on black. SWEET car. Chris

Sweet car...glad someone else here loves British stuff. Chris

I would agree on VW, Buick, and Suburu. Chris

Nice old Blazer! Chris

Glad to see both the Camaro and MINI so high on the list. And yes, Toyota's current lineup is ugly. Chris

Epic Fail! Chris

Too bad you couldn't have sold it with a "rat"... chris

Yep. Sell that Tahoe now, guys and gals. It is going to get ugly. Real ugly. Seems I am one of the few people here actually looking forward to the Volt. Chris

Pretty much cars from every era. I am like you, in that I like a lot of everything. We both LOVE the 1960's Pontiacs. I also am tired of a lot of the stuff that I grew up with. Interesting that we both chose such different ways to enjoy the automotive thing...me moving into a few more modern small sporty cars and you building a magnum opus with a B-59. We couldn't be any more different. Starting to really like the 1950's mopar stuff. The 1950's cars I love are actually the 1950-1954 Chevrolet two door post coupes. Don't ask me why...I just do. Think because I've owned a 55 Chevy and a 1957 Chevy, and would want something different if I got another 1950's car. Chris

That actually would be a very decent solid project car I think. The perfect start of that ten year project I was talking about. Chris

It would be nice if things were like they were in 1940 and we had several different news sources to go to. Back then, lots of different newspapers. Now everything seems to be owned by a few people...hmmm. Consumers reports is more or less worthless. Chris

Sounds cool, keep us posted! Chris

The Euro Focus really does it for me. Really thinking that I want three cars, 1 Asian (we ALL know what THAT will be) 1 American (Sport version of the Focus or Cobalt, methinks) and one European (MINI Cooper S or VW TDI/GTI). I am really starting to get excited about the idea of an SVT version of the new Focus. Or they could do the Focus RS and I'd be really happy. Cobalt SS really does it for me as well. 300 HP with the reflash....hmmm...methinks the local Toyota boys will be going home with their pee-pee between their legs when I show up with one at a local Autocross. But all of this begs the question...and I haven't made myself clear. I JUST want GM to build a small car that's as good as the Ford Fiesta and Honda FIT. They can do it...just went out with my son to go to the drug store and the music store. We passed the local Cadillac dealer on the way back. New CTS wagons out front. How can a company that builds a world class sexy gotta have it OMG car like the CTS wagon NOT build a world class small car? Chris

Given how hot the new Taurus looks...I think we've got a few good suprises coming from Ford. Chris

Actually I think the Volt is going to do really really well for GM. And as for thinking that all of us here just hate Detroit...we don't. Actually I see signs of it coming back. I'm down in North Carolina visiting my folks, who have bought asian cars since the late 80's. My mother couldn't wait to run me over to the local Ford dealer to see the new Taurus, which is a great looking car. Actually, the Mustang may be Ford's least attractive product when they new Focus gets here....who would have ever thought? ...and the Malibu grows on me every time I look at it. Chris