Robert Hall

Hmm...squishy

The way I would do it would be G8->Grand Prix, G6->Grand Am, G5->Sunfire/Astre/whatever. The last Bonneville and Grand Prix were pretty close in size, the G8 more or less replaced both, but the G6 definitely replaced the Grand Am.

I like toast..need some good jelly or marmalade to spread on it.

Good analogy... I'm biased as a 2nd gen GC owner, still like its exterior styling and interior design over the 3rd. Looking forward to seeing how the 4th develops.

Well, I was living there when in my late 20s...I was wilder then, making the life transition from grad school to corporate America, I ate a lot more spicy food then, so had a lot more seat time in the bathroom then..

I'd keep the Astra name, it was the name of the Pontiac small model in the '70s (Pontiac Astra was a Chevy Vega w/ a Pontiac nose).

Ah, the very rare Camry 4Runner TRD.

Agreed. I never liked the the alphanumeric scheme, some continuity from the previous models to the newer would have been better, IMHO.

Speaking of Toyota strangeness, I had a friend in college that had a then-new Tercel, must have been around 1992. It was a 2dr with different seatbelts on the left and right--since the driver had an airbag, there was a normal 3-point there, but the passenger had a motorized belt. Wierd. Nasty, cheap gray plastic inside also (did they inspire GM for the cheap arsed interiors in cars like the Cavalier or vice versa?)

I can't watch Fox--way too much bias to the right. CNN and BBC are about the only major news sources I watch, though occasionally I watch ABC.

Remember the convertible version? I used to work w/ someone that had one, and someone w/ a Corolla FX16 (the one shaped kind of like a Gremlin). Also knew someone that had an '86 Corolla SR5 hatchback (the last generation of the RWD models), years before they became cool and much sought-after.

These modern, low-water volume flush 'environmentally friendly' toilets are my enemy. They aren't made for massive American BMs (and people that use a lot of paper like I do). Liquid Plumr Foaming Pipe Snake has saved me from many a call to the plumber.

Wow...that's pretty cheap.. $400k in areas I'm used to (south Denver suburbs) buys about 3000sq foot, 4-5 bedrooms, 3 baths, usually finished basement w/ a 3 car garage in a cookie cutter subdivision on a small lot. But for a bachelor pad w/ easy access to downtown and the airport, it would be perfect for me. A 1200 sq foot condo w/ 1 parking space was fun for a few years, but I need more space.

I've seen some incredible bargains here in Phoenix lately (so many forclosures also). A nice 5br suburban house--less than 10 yrs old-- w/ 3 car garage, pool for $250,000. I've looked at buying something like that in the Denver suburbs, and w/o a pool, and they have been easily $350-400k in the past few years. I'd like to sell my condo (I got it before the value ballooned and crashed so I'm not upside down on it) and move up to something in the 3000sq ft range in the next year or two....but I really don't think I want to buy in Phoenix, probably most likely back in the Denver area. (By house sitting in Phoenix and (paying my sister nominal rent and the internet and cable TV), I'm taking care of her house and doggies, and I'm saving her the cost of the house cleaning service, in-home dog sitter, and probably soon the yard service--her last yard service was horrible). I did replace one toilet I destroyed, but I do that everywhere I live..

Yeah, I consider generational changes like when the CTS went from the '07 to '08...or the Malibu from the '07 to the '08. Serious changes. The Catera went thru an MCU/MCE.

Not sure what you mean..there was only 1 generation of the Catera. It had a mild facelift at some point, but was still the same car it's whole run. Supposedly, though, the 1999 onward had improved reliability.

Only when it's 25 years old and with 150k miles. That's how he rolls..

When the post-move out repairs meet or exceed the deposit. I've never gotten back a full deposit.

Nothing wrong with the G6..it's a decent rental car. I've driven one, much nicer than the last gen Grand Am that it replaced.

It matters...more consumer sales mean the product is more desirable to consumers, not fleets. The last Grand Prix was 77% fleet at one point, for example.

How much of that is consumer sales, though, vs. fleet?

A compact, light V8 would be an interesting idea to explore.

Thanks... the short fender-to-wheel spacing is probably the most off-puttng aspect to me about typical FWD proportions.. Yeah, that's kind of an extreme example...but the typical Japanese custom vans are probably closer to a US counterpart, lowered, custom wheels, custom paint, maybe a mural or two. How about the wild Japanese semi trucks with all the chrome and dozens (hundreds?) of lights across the front? Nothing like that here..

Ok..there's probably a Kia version of it that's even cheaper and nastier, though. Rio?

Well, customizing is very subjective...I'm not sure how one can get objective about it. Some people find George Barris' customs of the '50s-60s fantastic, I find most of them hideous. Same with chopped '49 Mercurys. One person's gorgeous custom is another's nightmare. ... ... ... ... I have to admit, though, when I was 9, I thought a '70s Dodge Tradesman panel van w/ bubble side windows, chrome wheels, and side pipes would be a very cool thing to have. Saw something like that in a Dodge 'Street Van' ad for dealer-installed custom parts. Something like that now would have a wierd kitchy appeal today, wouldn't it?