CARBIZ

"Under promise and over perform" are sage words for those in engineering, design and marketing. I don't know that GM had much of a choice. They had to do something to wrestle the PR agenda away from Toyota and Honda. I like the remarks about Lutz. Remember Henry Ford's timely words,"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you will be right."

Actually, there is an awful lot of cushion in the way we consume energy. Anyone who has spent any time in Europe or South America will attest to that. Home energy consumption can drop as much as 50% by better construction and conservation. After the 'energy shocks of the late '70s, world oil consumption actually went into decline for several years as the developed world implemented new energy conservation standards. Although unpopular on this board, simply making the Aveo and Fit the #1 selling vehicles in North America would probably arrest demand for gasoline here for at least a decade.

Oh, is this the monthly WHICH BRAND DO YOU PERSONALLY HATE MOST thread? I say Desoto is the next to go. Am I too late?

I read an interview with Leslie Gore the other day (It's My Party!). She lamented the music industry moving to California. She said it was livelier, more hip when it was centered on the east coast. She said that now when you go to a record company, they are surrounded by a iron gates and armed guards; whereas, in the Motown and New York days, you could just walk into the studio....Just thought I'd throw that out there. Being gay, I don't have much of a choice but to live in the center of a large city. I did the small town thing for 11 years, and although it has its merits, the 2 hour drive to have a drink and relax (or get laid) was too much stress. Personally, I think anyone living in California (or Florida, for that matter) is kinda nuts: you guys are living on borrowed time, and unfortunately, you are going to take the rest of us down with you when the Big One hits - like the clowns living in a swamp at the end of the Mississipi: HELLO! WAKE UP! The rest of us have to pay when people CHOOSE to live in an area that is clearly suicidal. Every couple of years a bunch of big waves come along and wipe out the homes along the Carolina shores and we see a bunch of hicks crying and boo-hooing about their lost homes - meanwhile, the rest of us pay through the nose because everyone's insurance goes up when the insurance companies have to fork out a couple billion to bail out those idiots. Newsflash: don't build your homes in Nature's way. The northeast may be cold for 3 months of the year, but for the most part Mother Nature takes pity on us. (This winter notwithstanding!) Just as we will all be expected to pitch in when half of L.A. ends up in the Pacific, I would expect those living in more temperate climates to have more sympathy for the plight of the jobless in the mid-west and north central States. L.A. is fantastic, and it is a great place to visit, but it is seriously whacked for 12 million people to take up residence in a desert criss-crossed by a half dozen fault lines. And anyone living in a city that requires video stores to hire armed guards (like when I was in Philedelphia a few years back) also needs to shake up their local government: that is no way to live!

That's hardly a fair comparison, considering GM's not too long ago 45%+ market share peak here. GM never had, nor ever would have, that kind of market penetration in Europe.

Maybe, maybe not. Our gas prices have typically run about 25% higher than yours for decades now, which is why perennial best sellers here have been the Caravan, Civic, J-cars and not the Impala, Tahoe, etc. People's habits and priorities do change. Each incremental increase of $1 a gallon will make a lot of people think. I only spend about $120 a month in fuel, but then I only drive about 600 miles a month. For many commuters, a $1 a gallon increase in price could wipe another $100 a month out of the family budget. Then it would hardly make sense to drive an Explorer to work when a Focus would do. Our middle-class friends in Brazil do quite well with the small Fiats and Corsas. It is amazing how people's energy use changes when the costs are ratcheted upward. Even in luxury condos in Sao Paulo, interior lights are on motion- sensors and a/c is a rarity.

I don't understand Americans' penchant for eating their own. Detroit is a dying, decaying city? Then fix it! If Boston can get billions in federal aid to build a freakin' tunnel, why can't Washington wake up and fix what used to be a dynamic, growing city? It isn't like Detroit is alone. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Akron and others have all gone through their pains. The industrial heartland of America is literally its HEARTland. Have we become that shallow and self-centered that a few bad snowstorms can suddenly make a place undesireable? It isn't like London's constant rain or the sewers in Paris are that much fun! And before too many more people throw in with the sunny weather in the southwest, remember one thing: they don't have any water. Up here in the wintery northeast, we have a quarter of the world's drinking water. Something to think about when enjoying one's vistas in Pheonix.

About $4.20 a U.S. gallon. Get used to it.

The same can be said of anyone who has rented a Cobalt before. I just sold a Cobalt LT with the sport package (spoiler, 16" wheels, ABS sunroof, leather steering wheel, etc) who said they had rented a Cobalt 3 years ago and didn't like it. They were convinced a G5 would be better. I convinced them to drive the '08 Cobalt, as opposed to the base vehicle they had rented 3 years ago. The improvements are obvious, and that is with the regular 2.2.

I don't believe monogamy is natural. As a society, we have tried to enforce it for millenia, and it isn't working. IMO, a lot of straight couples just become unbelievably fat, stop looking after themselves and sit in front of the TV because they have grown bored of each other sexually. Rather than opening a can of worms about threesomes, swinger's clubs or 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell Alternate Fridays," they just bloat out and give up on sex. It is easier to say,"she won't have sex with me because I have a beer gut and haven't cleaned my toenails in 6 months," rather than admit you are just boring in bed. Sex is waaaay too much fun to be left to amateurs. Then there is porno, which raises (no pun intended) people's expectations way too much. I was the chauffeur at my (now ex) brother-in-law's stag party. I drove 8 drunken straight guys to a stripper bar (my Caprice was a 9 passenger, boy did it get a work out that night!). I remember watching the ladies bumping and grinding on stage and thinking to myself, "My sister looks nothing like that. This is soooo cruel to Brian." Gay relationships have a better chance of survival when they are open and honest with each other about their sexual expectations. For straight people, it seems like it is just too taboo to even mention. The trouble is, if one of the partners manages to hold onto their looks, they inevitably will stray. I guess 'threesomes' are more complicated for straight people because, obviously, one of the partners has to either be bisexual, or at least put up with the concept of 'it's your turn, honey.' I would bet half the marriages that break up could have been saved if the couple talked about 'opening' the relationship - or at least building a decent dungeon in the basement.

Complete disaster in the making. Toyota sells less than 20% of its world volume within its own country and you'd never hear them even dreaming of moving their headquarters. As the volume of GM's sales tilt away from North America there could be strong arguments for decentralizing the design and production of certain types of vehicles, but a wholesale moving of headquarters would be a frivolous waste of resources. GM may eventually end up with 1/3 or so of its total volume sales within North America, but North America's market is always going to be significantly larger than Japan's. I would be surprised if even China reached the 19-20 million units a year that are sold in North America.

Frankly, what she has to say doesn't really bother me at all: it is so far 'out' there and full of untruths - any idiot can see she epitomizes the toothless, backwater mid-western trailer trash. I particularly liked the bit about no state lasting more than a few decades that had some sort of gay agenda. Tell that to the Greeks. Their empire lasted a helluva long time and they were over-run by fags and dykes. IMO, it is the religious zealots (of all stripes) that have done more damage to America, and to civilization in general than any 'gay agenda.' All her stupid arguments about gays having a lower life span, more suicides, etc. is the cart before the horse syndrome. Since some gays have problems coming to terms with themselves, thanks to toothless hags like this woman, then that is the cause of their emotional probems - not their homosexuality itself. If some teacher or guidance counselor (who is probably married) sought sex with children, it is more probably because they are afraid of their own feelings and can't come to terms with them. If kids could send valentine's cards to same sex people they had crushes on, openly date the same sex in highschool and have their parents equally excited when they took a same sex person to the prom, then and only then will these problems with suicide and other issues go away. How can dumb bitches like this not see that is the case? Do people like her seriously think that if children were educated and suddenly given a choice that 80% of them are suddenly going to 'turn' gay? If her fears weren't so dangerous, they would be laughable. News flash: there is no Gay Agenda, we only want the same rights as others and people to dress better. (Oh, and do their hair.) (Oh, and go to Penngintons and not Wal-Mart.)

That's pretty mind blowing, considering the Camry CE is still about $24k up here. Good for GM, but sucks for Toyota.

Ah, re-read my post: I recommended the Journey to her. The space in the back of the HHR, especially with the completely flat folded seats is quite a bit bigger than the Vibe. I looked at the Vibe and HHR for myself last year. When you are looking to put a large dog in the back, the Vibe would be tight, but it's also the generally anemic Toyota motor that puts me off. My mother is not Maria Andretti, but she has had the 3.8 for quite a while (her last car was a '96 Cutlass RWD). Even though she is only packing for one now for her bi-annual treks between the Great White North and Florida, I can't see her squeezing her computer, dog and all her seasonal crap into a Vibe - and being happy about its hill climbing abilities in the Tennessee mountains. I don't think she will like the look of the HHR, but being a Chevy guy, I have to at least present it. I also added the Uplander to the list, because around here the SWB is cheaper than a base LS HHR and you get OnStar, 17" wheels, ABS, a V-6 and a lot more space for less money. She may not want the Uplander because it isn't much smaller than her current '03 Grand Caravan.

I think some women find the power politics of sex exhausting and seek out female affection as a substitute. I have often bumped into foxy babes at gay dance clubs, who tell me that they are just there to get a little high, dance and have a good time without the BS of guys hitting on them. Not all women like sex. Maybe they were abused as a child or maybe they are afraid of the male physique. Let's face it - to a woman who has never been around before, a 'manly' man can be a pretty daunting prospect. A co-worker of mine (umpteen billion years ago), who was 17 at the time and (ahem) shall we say rather well endowed had a hard, er, difficult time finding female companionship because they were put off by the size of his appendage. (Frankly, I was totally aghast at their reluctance and even offered to intervene on their behalf, being the good Samaritan that I was.) Most lesbian relationships that I know of (and I am making broad generalizations here - no pun intended), are more based on affection, cuddling, etc.; whereas, most male gay relationships are more passionate, sex based. One would imagine that the male-female arrangement would be a more 'natural' pairing of talents and expectations, but since our society is so generally terrified of sex, most young adults enter into relationships totally oblivious to sex and the opportunities therein. From what I have observed, a lot of hetero relationships fizzle and burn out because one of the partners is totally inept in the sack, or just plain scared to explore. Gay people tend to be more open to exploring, but often that can reach to insane heights. The old role over in the middle of the night, stick it in, 2 minute happy ending and then back to sleep can get old real fast. Besides, women are raised to show their feelings more. At sleep-overs, the gals will often sleep in the same bed; whereas, the guys are probably too busy punching and kicking each other (which in of itself is a form of homo-eroticism, IMO).

Well, not to mention the nightmare at the dealer level. Back in the days when dealers would stock 400+ vehicles on the lot, making people happy was easy. But now, most dealers have less than a 100 vehicles on the lot (around here anyway) and being all things to all people is impossible. I had a customer yesterday who wants 20" wheels on a Silverado 4X4 crew cab, but doesn't want leather, sunroof, etc. Dealers usually only get the 20" wheels on the LTZ, so I found him 1 non-leather seated LT Silverado in ONTARIO. People don't understand when they are price shopping to death that there are inherent costs to sending two drivers 200 km to pick up a vehicle, re-PDIing the vehicle, worrying about scratches, dents, etc. That $1,000 gross deal can quickly turn into $500 when all those costs are factored in. So REDUCING customer choice (believe it or not) is actually a good thing. Easier for Honda when they have fewer model choices than we do, but nevertheless it is important. It is easier to blame GM by saying "it isn't available at all" than to say "it isn't available in Ontario." Another nasty tactic I've seen is a dealer telling a customer that it is 'no problem' at getting a vehicle combination that they know damned well isn't available, getting the deposit and taking the customer out of the market. I know each state and each Province has their own consumer laws, but in Ontario, once you've signed the dotted line, the dealer has 90 days to deliver the vehicle, which is more than enough to factory order the vehicle, but no consolation to someone whose vehicle was just written off and needs a vehicle sooner rather than later.

My family is car shopping. I am putting my youngest sister into a new Cobalt as I type this. My mother plans to trade in her Grand Caravan over the summer. She likes the Vibe, but I think it is too smal and gutless for her. I am going to get her to look at the HHR and the Journey.

Yes, but there is also no argument that the main reason that England (and subsequently) the United States/Canada have become the most successful societies on the planet is because of SEPARATION of Church and State. Whenever the Church (and I am using the term loosely to connote all forms of religion) gets too involved with politics, the State inevitably fails. Mesopotamia was the cradle of civilization, but arguably the Middle East has gone downhill since the rise of Islam. The northern European states, France and others did not rise to the levels they enjoy today until the Catholic Church was reigned in. The Chinese have been bogged down in superstition/xenophobia for centuries - and have suffered for it. The Renaissance followed the Dark Ages as many Europeans began to question authority, and by extension, the Church. Information has always been seen by religion to be evil incarnate. The printing press was originally dimly viewed by many clergy, because they feared the dissemination of new ideas. Frankly, it disgusts me how much the Roman Catholic Church (and I don't mean to pick on them, but since they were the greatest influence over European science, politics and education for a couple millenia, they are the biggest culprits) suppressed information and progress. Being Gay, I have a particular interest because when I was in highschool, taking so-called Classical Studies, the contribution that gays and lesbians made to the Greek and Roman empires was completely ignored (except, of course, when we stumbled across poetry about the Isle of Lesbos, and the requisite snickers that brought into the classroom), yet when I continued my studies on my own I was flabbergasted by that sex and gay love played in those societies. Two thousand years of persecution ensued by the Catholic Church because various Popes decided they didn't like the 'decadence' of the Roman empire and blamed the entire thing on the fags and dykes. America is capable of many great things, but the amount of influence that the Christian Right still enjoys over every day politics and social issues is bewildering to the rest of the world. Opposing militant Islam with militiant Christianity is not the answer. Opposing militant Islam with reasoned and sound debate is. I view all religions with bemusement, but I have to admit that what I see going on in modern day Iraq (especially when I have met many intelligent, educated Iraqis living here) and the middle East in general shocks and angers me. This is the 21st Century and I cannot believe we are even still debating evolution and religion.

Wow! That was fantastic. thanks for finding that. I frankly hadn't known that KELLY GREENING had become famous, until I bumped into a mutual friend in a downtown bar about 15 years ago. He asked me if I knew who Lee Aaron was, and I replied that yeah, all my employees listened to her (I have never been a metal fan). When Keith told me that Lee was actually my old Kelly, I nearly died. It makes me wonder about the likes of Madonna and others. Kelly was a straight-A student, always did her homework, etc. AND (get this) had a small band together with a couple black guys and did DISCO at our highschool. So now she has moved onto jazz? She was always very talented. Yeah, she was very hot even at 16. I had to laugh when I heard she had become the 'metal queen.' It just shows how made up Hollywood and the music business truly is. All my old highschool yearbooks got stolen in '81 when I moved between apartments, but I still have some old photos we took backstage of Kelly one night during a talent show. When I've shown the pics to the guys at work, they've blown a fuse.

Same reason Washington isn't all over Japan Inc for their unfair trade practices: lobbyists, university 'endowments' and a huge PR machine. The oil companies learned from their early 20th Century mistakes, just like Japan Inc. learned from their early '80s union-backed anti-Japanese backlash.

GM, Ford and Chrysler already tried that. Frigidaire. Chrysler Marine (now Force, through Brunswick). Airtemp. Chrysler used to build missles and tanks. GM owned Hughes and built locomotives. I think it is hard to stay focused on what you are good at, if you are off buying up other companies.

If you were CEO of Exxon, would you spend a billion dollars to build a new refinery when you know that you will have to DROP the price of your product when it opens? HELL NO. They'd rather let the greenies take the heat for blocking all the new refineries and laugh all the way to the bank.

I owned a '91 Caprice wagon that I factory ordered new, then put American Racing wheels on it, 220W amp with 8" bazookas in the back, etc. But the '91 wagon only came with the 5.0 litre. In '92 they offered the 5.7. I saw a prototype of an SS version of the wagon in '94, I think, which had the color keyed grille, mags, and a version of the 'vette engine. I was ready to whip out my checkbook for that one (would have been a blast to tow my boat), but apparently GM never actually went ahead and built them.

DING DING DING! WE HAVE A WINNER. I would add that if GMC needs to go 'upscale,' then drop the WT versions of them and let Chevy occupy the lower end of the ladder. Give Chevy a SS version of the pickup, but let GMC have the 'plusher' one.

Wow, sounds like we should have a movie night........... I named my cat Mrs. Slocum, until the Vet informed me that she was a he, so we dropped the Mrs. Luved the way Mrs. Slocum (with the new hair color of the week) used to talk about her pussy. I used to watch Fawlty Towers, too. Huge fan of John Cleese. When I was running my two video stores I longed to run my business like that! One of my friends gave me the first couple seasons of Smallville as a Christmas gag because I am in love with Tom Weller. The BF prefers his dad, which is fine by me. To add what was said earlier, when I look at a hot woman (like Kelly LeBrock from an older generation), I do appreciate her 'hotness.' Put a woman like that in a tight skirt or revealing dress and I will turn my head, too. But the fewer clothes, the less interest. Bikinis can look hot on the right woman, but total nudity is a big YAWN. Guys, on the other hand. Well, I would drive a Toyota for a week just to see Tom Weller naked for 5 minutes!