Duncan

Wouldn't work with a manumatic setup, which is (inexplicably) all the rage these days. So that was probably out from the beginning. Though any Camaro I buy is going to have three pedals by default, I would have liked something more Hurst- or B&M-style for the automatic.

Which leads into the next question - when's the fullsize Transit coming over? I'd suspect the Connect is a trial balloon for Ford to see if there's more room in the market for Euro-style vans.

Yes, Isuzu has announced that they will be leaving the United States light-vehicle market after 2008. Not that you might have noticed, of course, since their final two products are rebadged GMC models. Still, they did provide some cool stuff over the course of their stay with us. The Isuzu Impulse, for starters (either the original rear-drive version or the front-driver better known as the Geo Storm). Also the original Trooper, which may be lacking in design flair but has very good credentials as an off-road machine. And then there was the Amigo, as well as a very solid line of small pickup trucks (starting with the Chevy LUV and evolving from there), and Honda's first overpriced SUV (the Passport), derived from the popular Rodeo. And let's not forget Joe Isuzu, their irrepressible (and irresponsible?) pitchman of the 1980s. Post your remembrances, eulogies, or whatever, here.

Your Mazda 6 example is perfect. They said, "why not" and brought over a few thousand each year. Same for the 6 hatchback, which I didn't think was even on the radar for this continent, but it's still available. Pontiac's image is similar to Mazda's - sporty, but attainable. There aren't enough wagons in that category these days. Excellent analysis of the Magnum's marketing, by the way.

I've got an E-85 pump just down the street from my apartment. Hopefully, the Camaro will allow me to make use of it...right, GM? :AH-HA_wink:

A Crosley looks overweight compared to early Hondas.

By the way, for those who would complain about my car: I bought it used (at a Ford dealer), and it was built in Flat Rock, Michigan. I don't make any apologies for owning a Japanese vehicle; it fits my budget, suits my intended use and has required (fingers crossed) not much more than routine repairs over the four years I've had it. (Of course, I baby every car I come into contact with, but still.) Like I've said in other threads, I will be getting a new Camaro as soon as they arrive. Consider it a triumph of the American auto industry that they've managed to provide a product that I can be proud to own - not that I wouldn't have appreciated any number of their previous efforts, but I've only been driving for 12 years or so and had mostly hand-me-down vehicles up to my purchase of the Mazda. I do agree about the inability to purchase anything American-made. I recently built my own computer (the one I'm using now), with some dismay at the number of components that can (apparently) only be sourced from China or its neighbors. American brand names, sure, but all with foreign countries listed on the back. Didn't we used to be the world leaders in computer technology at some point, or did I miss that along the way? One final point: I swore off shopping at Wal-Mart long ago, for the simple fact that they seem to have no particular devotion to this country - only to themselves and their shareholders. Problem is, for as much noise is made about Wal-Mart basically being a Chinese outlet store, it's hard to find any other place that sells products made elsewhere.

My parents just had their two-year-old GE microwave repaired, as the thing kept randomly shutting off. Guess where it was built? Mexico. Same as the gas range; not sure about the fridge. Thanks, NAFTA! And this isn't a cheapie model, either - it's a full-up, stainless-finish, 1600W Profile version. I'm curious to see how long it lasts - as well as the one in my apartment, which is similar but (apparently) cheaper.

I'm not sure it's the liberals, actually - the massive oil conglomerates might have something to do with that, too. They're not exactly in the leadership position on ethanol, and their production system doesn't lend itself well to ethanol either. So they've got quite a bit to lose if this country starts switching away from oil. And it certainly wouldn't be the first time they've mounted an "alternate" PR campaign in their own interest. Wrap that in a would-be "green" message (like the groundwater contamination example), and it starts to gain traction. Gotta look at both sides of these issues, you know?

And why, pray tell, are you here? I like cars, for instance. How about you?

I can just hear them saying, "What the fu....whoaaaahhh!!"

Firefox has always been open-source and entirely free to download. (Their e-mail client, Thunderbird, is also top-notch.) All kinds of great features, numerous plug-ins and add-ons, full compatibility with (from my experience) about 99.5% of all websites - it has become my first choice in browsers. (I only use Internet Explorer to run Microsoft Update, because Microsoft requires it.) Avast Antivirus is free in its "Home" edition, which may only be installed on one computer (never had a problem separately downloading to each of my PCs, though). The pro version (intended for use by IT services, etc.) costs money. Either way, the program updates itself about twice a day and works seamlessly in the background without stealing all kinds of RAM. Having used both Norton and McAfee, and having been underwhelmed by their outright rape of my system's resources, I'm very impressed with Avast. Spybot: Search and Destroy (yes, that's the full name) has also been free forever, though it doesn't update itself like the other programs do. You have to periodically download updates, but the program does remind you to do so when you load it up. It's absolutely thorough in its scanning, though, and has a background function to let you know when programs or websites try to screw with your registry settings. I don't use AdAware personally, but I hear good things. It too is a free download.

I'm fond of the guy I used to see with the Cavalier who painted his front calipers red. Nothing wrong with that, I guess - but then he went and painted the DRUMS in back, too. I mean, you gotta be consistent, right? If it helps the image, the rest of the car was in a candy purple hue - apparently applied without the benefit of much body prep, since the bumpers flaked off and showed their black plastic origins.

Mercury Grand Marquis seems to be doing okay, considering its age. Then again, Marquis' average buyer gets older by the second. In my opinion, GM got rid of big wagons too soon - they owned that market when Ford abandoned the segment. But Tahoes and Yukons, with their higher profit margins, were an easy draw and GM dropped the ball on all their big cars. The Fleetwood, in particular, was perhaps the finest expression of classic Cadillac elegance in a long time - especially after years of front-drive fluff. Had that basic idea evolved into something more like today's Cadillacs, with independent rear suspension and Northstar engines, there would be no need for the DTS.

Good to see someone else likes the free software. Firefox, Avast and Spybot works for me, at least with XP. I haven't felt like taking the Vista plunge yet.

I'll second the Saturn, especially with a five-speed. I'm not big on Saturn's automatic (I think it's an Aisin?), but even the SOHC 1.9 moves pretty good with a stick. Decent in the snow, too, and rust won't be an issue. Gotta love plastic panels.

Lessee - there was the guy in high school with the four-cylinder Cherokee, who thought it was a V6 and loudly told me so. (Easy to tell - the sucker had "2.5 Litre" right on the hatch - not "2.8 V-6" as you'd expect.) And then my car-knowledgeable friend, who should have known better since he drove his mom's 4.0 Cherokee on a regular basis, BACKED HIM UP. I was later informed that I was correct after all, but not from the source of the stupidity. Then there was the guy in auto shop with a late-80s Jetta. This was a car that had obviously been in an accident (hood didn't seat right, windshield was loose, back door would stick), but he bought it anyway on the assumption that "VWs are fast." The shop teacher (and pretty much everyone in class) proceeded to explain that it was probably a stupid investment. In an attempt to prove the car's speed, he then further wrecked it and traded "up" for an AMC Eagle sedan - again, apparently purchased with no real inspection whatsoever. This one rolled into the shop with a slightly better (though not by much) body, but an engine that seemed to stall at random. A cursory investigation revealed that the carb was only minimally attached to the intake manifold, and would actually wiggle back and forth if you nudged it. Or the guy I used to work with at Target who, despite making roughly seven bucks an hour, was convinced he could afford a new Shelby Mustang if he saved up enough for a down payment. I attempted to explain that regardless of how much he thought that would be, there was still going to be the bigger problem of the insane dealer markup - and my doubts of his ability to make the gigantic monthly payments besides. He remained resolute - but last I knew, he was still driving his four-cylinder Ranger. Another dude in high school had a Benz 190E with rims about three sizes too big - to the point that there was no way to turn the car anywhere close to its actual steering radius. Or the sophomore with the newish Corolla who roared down a seven-percent grade hill during lunch break and apparently rammed into the back of a dump truck while tuning his radio - not injured, luckily, but certainly somewhat wiser. Ah, memories...

Not sure about that - I'd think that sort of engine would fit better in a Pontiac (youth marketing and all), but it is a brave new world. Like your thinking, though...GNX, maybe?

I'm not totally sold on the Camaro's interior, either. However, as I said about the Challenger earlier, I wouldn't care if either of these cars came with plywood and Astroturf inside, so long as there's three pedals on the floor and a V8 under the hood. The Mustang update is going to be interesting - how do you top the '67-69 look? If it ends up looking like a '71, there's gonna be problems.

Riviera deserves, and GM needs, a prestige four-place convertible. Standard V8, automatic, optional "Silver Arrow" package in 2013 (the 50th Anniversary year).

Ford's already doing that, in effect, since the F150 and the larger Super Duty don't share a common body. This then allows the Super Duty shell to be the basis for Ford's larger medium-duty models (up to F850).

Heh - hopefully you've got cats named Mitchell and Cole, right?

Arrgh - I can't wait for the Denver show! It's not until March...

Clearly, that would go against Toyota's strong environmental values - unless the cars really ARE biodegradable, like in that stupid ad!

Keep in mind that the Solara convertible, for the most part, exists almost solely to compete with the decidedly second-rate (last-generation) Chrysler Sebring ragtop. Obviously, the target buyer in this market is not possessed of a need for crisp handling or a robust structure. Toyota, then, is merely giving the buyer what they want. Meanwhile, now that Chrysler has managed to botch the Sebring so badly, Ford is enjoying a robust business in V6 Mustang convertible sales. And yet, people still buy the Solara convertible, because they've apparently been programmed without any "rational thought" subroutines in their brains.