Robert Hall

I've owned 2 vehicles w/ them and had experiences w/ a couple others...definitely like them. Alas, it looks like the only way I'll have another new vehicle w/ a straight 6 is to get another BMW.

I Don't see too many Impala police cars here..some in the city, but the most common city police cruisers here are Crown Vics and Tahoes...lots of Tahoes. The highway patrol has a mix of CVs, Tahoes, Expeditions and quite a few extended cab Silverados and F-150s. For freeway revenue points (photo radar), they have Escapes w/ blacked out windows (supposedly now bullet proof glass, after a nutter shot and killed one last year).

Chrysler's 'lean-burn' system. My Dad's '79 Power Wagon had a 318 w/ a 2bbl carby...it would stall and flood easily, my left turn phobia came from learning to drive in that truck...accelerate on a left turn was a guaranteed stall.. Silver and dark metallic gray paint on '80s Fords that peeled. 2 years old, 10k miles, my '86 Mustang LX was starting to peel in '88..

I think MY '96..last of the '80 style F-150s. I'm pretty sure the all-new '97 that came out in early '96 had a V6 standard.

A long time ago Ford sold a lot of F-series pickups with a big straight 6...I could see 6 cyl full size trucks making a comeback.

The last 12+ years living in the dry, salt-free West has made rusty cars a distant memory for me, even when I travel back to the Rust Belt to visit family I don't see many rusty cars..certainly nothing like how I remember the late '70s-early '80s, even the late-80s-mid 90s.

For some reason, the mid '70s full size Fords and Mercs were notorious rusters also-..esp. the rear bumpers and trunks...saw many in Ohio as a kid, my brother had a couple. The Lincolns of that era seemed to be less so...I don't recall my folks' Lincolns rusting, but they kept them pretty clean all the time.

The later Pintos and Vegas rusted also...3 winters of Ohio salt left the doors and rear quarters of my Dad and sisters' cars pretty holey by 79-80, IIRC. They were cheap, disposable cars not built to last.

Some cars are probably best left in the '70s. I remember those--my sister had a '76 Pinto Runabout back then, my Dad had a '77 Vega and later an '81 Chevette Scooter. Best forgotten. My folks had some really sweet Mercurys and Lincolns in the '70s, though. I generally like most of the big cars and midsizers from the Big 3 from that decade, and the pony cars (excluding the Mustang II).

Saw some interesting vehicles out in Tempe this afternoon...a white '09/10 Challenger R/T, first I'd seen in white...looked great. Saw 3 current Renaults--second Megane 4dr I'd seen in the last couple of weeks, a Safrane 4dr, and the large Traffic van, a passenger version w/ side windows..unusual styling. Also a very clean white '70 4dr Chevelle..don't see 4drs very often. Saw an odd bling accessory I hadn't seen before--on a blinged out late model Chrysler 300C (just a V6 version)---huge chrome wheels w/ green lights on the disk brakes--looked like LEDs around the edge of the brakes. Strange.

2011 Aveo Here's an article on the '11 Aveo. So potentially by '11-12, Chevy NA will have plenty of B- and C- seg FWD models for the mainstream to choose from--Spark, Aveo, Cruze, Volt. And the FWD Malibu and Impala in the mid and larger size, and the Corvette, Camaro, and Caprice PPV/SS for RWD fans. Sounds like a lot of variety.

One article I read he says he has a '67 Corvette w/ 427 and a '58 Austin-Healey. interview

Fascinating.

Being 3dr only would limit the Ka's potential in the US..however, the Fiat 500 which it is based on is coming here. With a 5dr, the Spark has more sales potential than the 3dr only Ka.

I don't think they are 'shoving it down anyone's throats', and the Spark is below the Aveo, as the entry level model (i.e. Matiz replacement), and would be a new niche for Chevy in the US. I assume the development of the NG Aveo is on track also..(rumored to be called Viva in some markets?). I don't see why you are so negative on this--obviously, you aren't the target consumer.. Anyway, since Buick dealers don't have Pontiac for the G3 anymore, I wonder if Buick will get a lux version of the NG Aveo to fill that niche?

Point is, Ford's success proves OHC engines are applicable to truck applications. OHC V8s are hardly a new technology.

Yes, but Ford has been quite successful with OHC truck engines for over a decade now.... Toyota's a niche player(in the full size truck market), Ford has long been the market leader.

Width, yes..the length of an inline four is pretty much the same as a V8, though. I'd love to see a Chevy Kappa w/ a turbo 4 (Solstice GXP), but badging it as a Corvette would freak the fogeys...maybe find another name for a small Chevy sports car.

Since Opel didn't continue the Omega, I don't see them going back to a large V8 model. Larger mainstream brand models from Ford, Opel and Vauxhall died out in the 90s in Europe. It seems only the premium brands can support cars larger than the Mondeo/Vectra/Insignia in the European market. Outside of NA, about the only market for big American trucks seems to be some South American markets and the Middle East. Have no idea the volume in such markets. As far as V8 RWD American style full size sedans, it seems Australia, the Middle East and China are the markets for these, i.e. w/ Holden based models and Ford in Australia (do they sell a LHD Falcon anywhere?). Other than Chrysler and potentially some Holden-based imports, I don't see a lot of future for them here, since GM and Ford have largely abandoned them for FWD models, as have the public... Other than the Charger, 300, Challenger, Mustang, Camaro, CTS-v, and Corvette there won't be any RWD V8 cars made by the US 3 after the Panthers go away in '11, unless GM really does bring some Holden-based models like the Caprice PPV.

'tradition' can only go so far, GM has to be able to evolve their products and move forward. With the demise of the Kappas, GM has no small sports car now..something like this could be a good intro model for Corvette.

A lighter base 'Vette w/ the 3.6 making 325hp or so could be quite tasty, though.

And in 2010, GM still is doing pushrod V6s and 4spd autos in some models..look at the Impala, totally outclassed by the Taurus, selling only on price. Sad situation.

Well, it is one of the most vile and disgusting climates in the US...kills quite a few engines every year, no doubt. Killed my cooling system after 2 summers. I hope to get out of the endless dull and blandscape of Chandler and Phoenix before next summer...

Found the white Vista Cruiser w/ the multi-spoke wheels at Target the other day..still haven't found the '63 Caddy ambulance

One thing about 'View New Content', doesn't look like it has the option to view the last week's worth of posts like 'View New Posts' did w/ the old software. One of the things I don't like about the default behaviour of View New Content or View New Posts is it only shows posts since I last checked, whether that was 10 min ago or 10 hrs ago. I'd really like the ability to see all the threads active in the last 24 hours, for example. That would be more useful.