Robert Hall

I'd love to see GM offer manuals across the board in as many vehicles as possible. However, given that Americans overwhelmingly prefer automatics, I doubt if they can make the business case to support the cost of tooling up for vehicles that will never be more than 2-5 percent of sales of a given model (non-performance models).

The thread with no end...it goes on and on and on... Thread answer: McCormick Place (home of the Chicago Auto Show)

McCormick-Deering

Same here...my GC 4.0 l6 averages around 18 mpg in my freeway/in-town/suburbia 50 mile commute. Not bad for a comfortable small-midsize SUV. I've been driving it near daily for over 9 years and 104k miles now..

I've read about manuals in '78-80 Monte Carlos and Grands Prix as well, remember seeing them in magazine reviews. Don't know about the other A/Gs of the '78-80 period..i.e. Grand Am, LeMans, Century, Regal or Cutlasses...haven't read about any '81 or later A/Gs w/ manuals (other than the famous Iraq Malibus).

Not surprising, given the luxury nature of the Riviera. I wonder what was the last RWD manual model from Buick? A late '70s Skyhawk, maybe?

That's China. Buick is in a different market there. Americans in general can't/won't buy a manual, and a brand like Buick (soft near-lux) attracts 99.99% automatic buyers.

I like it more than the pricier BMW 6 series, at least from the pics. Compared to the comparable A5/S5 or cheaper 3 series or G37 coupes, I'd have to study it in person before forming a strong opinion. I really like the A5/S5 and current 3 series coupe design.

Saw a goregous maroon w/ black top '66 Dodge Polara conv on a flatbed this morning in traffic.

Have the usual cloudless silver blue sky and mid 80s here...supposed to get warmer and have 97 by Friday, a bit high for October. One set of predictions I read predicted that by 2040 or so the typical daytime July highs here could reach 140 instead of 115, and the Valley of the Sun's population could be 10 million people instead of 4.5 million now. I want to get of here by next year.

I remember when those first appeared, I thought they were a revival of vent windows...but they don't move. It's just there because for some reason the door shape would allow a full window to roll down in the door, apparently.

Yeah, lots of great car choices at $60k...also lots of great car choices at $35-45k. I'm thinking of going to CPOs in the $35-40k range for my next car instead of new.

I saw a sharp black C6 convertible at Chipotle about an hour ago. The guy driving got out, about 50 or so, 275-300lbs, tight plaid golf pants and tight polo shirt, hideous comb over, big gold frame aviator sunglasses. Not a good style to be rockin' in such a sharp car.

It's an odd detail that looks like it occurred because the styists and engineers didn't communicate. Stylist: 'Lets have a big side window opening!'. Engineer: 'The window won't go all the way down because of the wheel well'. Stylist: 'Let's just stick a little window in the corner and make the side window smaller so it will go all the way down'. etc..

I saw a car tonight on the freeway that I'm not really sure what it was. Maybe some kind of Callaway Corvette. Appeared to be a black C6 Corvette convertible, but it had a custom rear cap with a recessed, forward leaning taillight area w/ oval taillights similar to the C5 w/ a license plate between the lights. Hmmm..

No doubt...maybe an 'out-of-grad school' car instead. A buddy of mine from the U. of M bought a new '97 C5 after he got his Masters and started at Intel...I got my M3 after I started at MCI.

Mmmmm...having a craving now for bacon pancakes w/ maple syrup. Need to visit Old Pancake House.

The author is confusing the Corvette pricing w/ the Camaro pricing, I think. The Corvette is at a fine price point, undercutting other sports cars like the Boxster and Cayman. The G37 and M3 are a different category, sports coupes/sports sedans. I do understand the generational aspirational difference, though...the M3 was the car I lusted after in grad school and I bought one 2 years out (in '98). Today, as I approach 40, I like the current M3 but a G37, 328, loaded Camaro SS or Mustang GT is more in my price range. I respect the Corvette's performance, but I couldn't see myself in one..seems like it's more the aging Baby Boomer's toy. R

Lots of interesting cars posted.. I noticed the '70 Buick wagon, pretty rare car, a one-year only body (IIRC, Buick didn't have a B-body wagon from '65-69) with a vinyl top.

I remember seeing an ad from one of the car magazines in the early '80s advertising the 4.1 V6 and it's mileage in the Caddy de Ville.. Info on the 4.1 and more here... Wikipedia article

Cool..more delicious excess. 500+hp and 4000+lbs.

Thanks for posting the pics, guys. Looks like there were some very cool cars and trucks at this event.

You missed all the drama of the bailout, bankruptcy, death of Pontiac, the Saturn and HUMMER debacles, etc.

The Liberty had the 3.7 V6...

My sister's definitely felt more sensitive to crosswinds compared to my Grand Cherokee. Felt tall and narrow in comparison. I drove it from Phoenix to San Diego and back a couple times, wasn't a bad overall to drive. The lack of height adjustment on the seat was irritating (base model). The Mercedes-style power window switches on the console take some getting used to if you aren't familiar w/ MB details. One thing that took some getting used to for me relative to the GC is that the windshield is pretty vertical and the dash very shallow... very upright feeling. As far as the overall design, for a small Jeep I prefer the XJ Cherokee, but those haven't been sold since '00-01, so it would probably be hard to find one now w/o high miles and wear.