Robert Hall

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?

Those vans remind me of Pokemon characters...very pointy

Hardly...I'm talking about stuff I vaguely remember seeing in car magazines 25+ years ago. I'm sure they exist...there were a lot of outrageous van customs in the '70s...and it's all subjective, anyway..what might seem outrageous to me might be mild to your expert eyes.

So you say they are losing $10k per Solstice/Sky? That's outrageous...too big of discounts, or are they underpriced? Or not enough volume relative to the development costs?

Here's a Prius w/ an ultra aero body kit by Auto Labo:

Yes, they are pretty wild. Speaking of customized Toyotas, I'm really surprised I haven't yet seen any tuner-style or other modded Priuses....must be because they mostly sell to people that aren't car people. Though I remember the 6dr one and the convertible, those are mild though. A quick search turned up this custom Prius, which was done by George Barris--pretty mild compared to the outrageous stuff he did 40+ years ago:

Whatever...I'm sure you have pictures in your files, since you seem to know everything there is know about automotive history...

Ok, maybe it was covered here previously...I forgot to consult with you, oh great expert on everything automotive. Why don't you lighten up and realize people other than yourself can contribute to threads??? And the US van craze in the '70s definitely had some monstrosities of this scale...I've seen pics of metalflake candy orange vans w/ gullwing doors, etc... Or something like this...

And of course, real American vans are big in Japan... More on Japanese van culture.. Vanning in Japan

Check out this van from Dream Factory Blow--looks like a scaled down '80s Chevy van grille. Or this '60s Dodge look.. or this '70s one.. How about a '69 Blazer front look for your Toyota bB? Japan fascinates me...

That sci-fi looking van craze is in Japan..don't know if it's here yet. Of course, the US had it's own share of often hideously customized vans 30-35 years ago. One interesting van trend in Japan in recent years I've read about is some company there making custom front ends that look like scaled down '70s Chevy and Dodge vans, to fit on tiny Toyota, Nissan, etc vans..