Robert Hall

I think that was a customizing trend back in the day..I've seen a few in magazines that way.

Got those here, but also a couple Cadillacs, 2 Lexuses, 4 Mercedes, a BMW 5-series, an Audi A4, a few pickups and SUVs, a yellow '65 Mustang, an '08 Mustang Bullitt, and a yellow '70s International Scout, in the garages, carports, and driveways on my street and the cul-de-sac. A couple streets over, there is a goregous white '62 Cadillac Sixty Special.

Speaking of global warming, it's been in the mid 80s all week here..that is unheard of for Phoenix in February. I hope this doesn't mean it will be 120 in July.

Yes..total slob. I'm glad I live in neighborhoods with covenants so their aren't people lowering the property values by having an unkempt yard full of broken down cars.

I had a technical interview Monday, with 4 people..w/ a manager, tech lead, architect, and QA lead. It went well, haven't received an offer yet. Should know before the end of the week. It's a 1 yr contract, good rate, through my same current contracting house, with a major bank...only big negative I see it's it's way out in Chandler in the East Valley, about a 25 mile drive each way. Talked to a couple other recruiters I've used in the past, they are going to submit me to some other places.. For realEXCITEMENT, today when I left work, coming out of the parking garage, going down the ramp to the exit, I had catastrophic brake failure.....was fun limping home thru traffic with very little brakes, in a 4800lb car. Checked the master cylinder, still had plenty of brake fluid.

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.