Robert Hall

LLT and LFX are still derivatives of the HFV6. http://en.wikipedia...._Feature_engine I meant HV..the pushrod oldies... too many similar acronyms. The point I've tried to make is the HV pushrod engines are descended from the 1980 Citation 2.8. The modern HF DOHC engines are unrelated AFAIK. The HVs are not descended from the 2.8 in anything other than they are both pushrods. Ok, so that's a misconception that's been spread around over and over and over and over ad infinauseam. Anyway, they are gone, it's a moot point...

LLT and LFX are still derivatives of the HFV6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_High_Feature_engine I meant HV..the pushrod oldies... too many similar acronyms. The point I've tried to make is the HV pushrod engines may or may not be descended from the 1980 Citation 2.8. The modern HF DOHC engines are unrelated AFAIK.

That's just the pushrod HV engines, though, isn't it? And those are gone for MY '12... Depends on how you count. The HFV6s are also 60 degree and can be made as small as 2.8, so they are the spiritual successors to the 1980 2.8... just like the LSx engines are spiritually related to the Chevy small block by a few crucial measurements. I just haven't had much love for 60 degree V6s over the years. Those are all gone, though. GM's only V6 family in NA for '12 is the HF DOHC family (LY7,LLT,LFX).. And I'm not aware of any relationship of those engines to the HVs (pushrod)... I thought the Northstar was related to the earlier Cadillac 4100 V8 from the early '80s. I've never heard of any connection between the Northstar and the older or newer OHC V6s (except for the short-lived Shortstar).

That's just the pushrod HV engines, though, isn't it? And those are gone for MY '12...

Well, I've had 4 vehicles w/ 6s--1 V6 and 3 straight 6s...('88 Ford Bronco II, '96 BMW M3, '91 Mercedes 300CE, '00 Jeep Grand Cherokee)...a 4cyl wasn't available and wouldn't have made sense in any of them, and the one that was available w/ a V8 (Jeep) I didn't need the V8 towing capacity.... Of the 4cyl cars I've had, one felt fine w/ the 4 (Escort diesel) the other was underpowered and would have benefited from the optional V6 or V8 ('86 Mustang LX). Other than rental cars, I haven't spent much time w/ modern 4cyls, but I still really wouldn't want one...(though there are some 4cyl sports cars I'd like to drive)

i can agree to that, but that can't be changed. we had the metro/civic/(others?) that are/were damn close to numbers we're getting today... 40+ highway. 40+? More like 50+. The late 80s and early 90s were the days of true fuel misers, lacking the hundreds of pounds in safety devices and high strength steel. Just don't wreck one. 1986 Chevrolet Sprint... 55 city/60 highway 1990 Geo Metro XFi.... 53 city/58 highway 1986 Honda CRX HF... 52 city/57 highway 1995 Honda Civic VX... 47 city/56 highway Yes, from or my past, '84 Ford Escort diesel...50-55 highway. I wouldn't want to drive any of those cars today, though...too basic and stripped down, too small and lacking safety features.

The Cruze has done quite well in BTCC and WTCC...

I watch the BTCC, WTCC, DTM and V8 Supercars series when they are on Speed channel..some great road course racing in stockish-looking cars (though DTM cars have gotten absolutely wild looking in recent years). I suppose the closest series in NA are the GT class cars in ALMS and Grand Am racing...

Saw a white new SAAB 9-5 tonight..first one I'd seen...very sharp!

Reminds me of F1's Senna and Prost run in at Suzuka in 1989..in Honda-powered McLarens...

Harley Cluxton III (I've met this guy, quite a playa in the classic racing car world..lives here in Scottsdale, bought Mirage from John Wyer back in the '70s..)

Funny thing about Mazda is they are one of the car makers for which such regs would probably be the easiest to meet, their fleet is mostly fuel-efficient cars...

That's 14 years away...lots of room for improvement in efficiency from a mix of vehicles w/ a variety of power sources, incl. gas, diesels, hybrids, electrics...I wonder if fuel cell vehicles will ever take off..been a lot of talk for years, but not much beyond the FCV.

'Late '80s' was a long long time ago - the industry has progressed massively since then. I know..my point being is that personally I long ago moved on to 6s and V8s...going to a smaller vehicle w/ a 4cyl would be a step down for me. V8, at least 4000lbs, RWD is the likely configuration of my next car (or an SUV w/ RWD/4WD)....(I'm really leaning towards another Grand Cherokee, Charger R/T, or 300C for my next new car..GM and Ford don't have anything equivalent...(though I still like the idea of going old school w/ a late model Grand Marquis or Town Car )

I've been listening to Hans Zimmer (Gladiator,The Dark Knight, Inception) and Clint Mansell (Requiem for a Dream, Smokin' Aces) soundtracks tonight..

Clean medium blue '68 Cadillac convertible rolling down the street this evening, top down..

Sweet...I saw a white GXP coupe in Scottsdale a couple weeks ago, the only Solstice coupe I've ever seen..they are pretty sweet looking.. I'm not sure what you mean - it's the same targa-type roof like in the Corvette. The engineers on the progam told me the roof was 31lbs. Not terrible, but it's probably a two man job to get it stowed in the trunk safely. I'd love to find one, even an auto. From my recollection, you cannot stow the targa top in the back of the Solstice Coupe. The rear hatch/glass is a very narrow opening and the trunk floor was not modified for the coupe (fuel tank/cell was still in the same location as the roadster). If I'm wrong, please someone feel free to correct me. I read something to that affect in a car magazine when these first came out.

I had 4cyl cars (one a diesel) back in the late '80s and early '90s. Can't imagine going back..

The proto wagon looked too much like a practical, mainstream wagon at the back, not a dramatic sportwagon like the production car is... IMO, for a regular practical type wagon for GM, a Malibu or Regal wagon would be better..

Motorola Droid. I have few vtech cordless phones around the house on the land line, which I rarely use..still have a land line for the alarm and fax. I had Vonage for a few years, but dropped them in '08.

Saw a red Fiat 500 today..first one I'd seen on the road...tiny!

I was a late adopter to smart phones..but after having one for a year+, I wouldn't want to go back to a plain phone...being able to read email, surf the web, etc when on the go is invaluable to me.

I've been thinking tablet because for casual surfing, etc while watching TV, my Dell Studio XPS laptop is kinda bulky and heavy...a tablet might really be useful in that context...

Battery life still seems to be a limiting factor w/ many Droid phones...a coworker recently went from a Droid 1 like mine to a Samsung Charge, it's battery life is even worse than the Droid...

I like the Aussie V8 Supercars series, DTM, BTCC and World Touring Car..they are definitely closer looking to stock (though DTM has gone wild in recent years)...I like how there are Chevy Cruzes in World Touring Car... Of series I've seen in person, the GT class in Grand Am and ALMS races are definitely stockish--Mustangs, Camaros, BMW M3s, Porsche 911s, Mazda MX-8s.. for all-out racing machines I enjoy the ALMS, LeMans, Indy Car and F1 series...(I think F1 finally goes to HD broadcasts next year).