Robert Hall

Invalid comparison. The ES platform shares with the Camry--it's as the LaCrosse is to the Impala. Not a rebadge. The Cimmaron is undefendable--it was a rebadge of the Cavalier.

This is an interesting development. I'm a long time Bush hater, but it is nice to see he recognizes the importance of the auto industry and is doing something, while the scum in the Senate from his own party did nothing..

As a self-employed contractor myself, the software engineering contractor market is much better now than it was when the bubble burst (mid 2000-mid 2002), and after 9/11. I'm still getting 2-3 emails and calls from head hunters every week, and still see a lot of job postings on Dice, Monster, etc...there have been some layoffs, but in general, the demand is still there. We will see what it's like in 6 months, but I don't see it dying off completely...existing and new companies always need software designed and implemented.

And in the US there are a lot of regional variations...the Denver metro area (and esp. Boulder) are relatively fit compared to the rest of the country..lots of granolas and outdoorsy folk there... at 6'0"/225 I feel fat there.... but when I go back to W. Pa and E. Ohio, I feel like I'm in the land of the lard---I'm skinny and svelte compared to a lot of people I see there.

Wow...Akron..haven't thought of that place in a while...lived in the area 6 years..pretty depressing place in the winter. Yes, the resale value of the DTS is awful..but it's primarily an F&F model (fleet & fogey) and isn't really competitive as a full size luxury sedan. I hope GM can deliver with Alpha...I'm just afraid it's going to get cancelled or watered down in the current horror situation GM is in...

Put some port holes on the front fenders, Buick badges, and waterfall grille and everyone here would be going ga-ga over it.

You miss the point...the CTS is an excellent car, it's 5 series sized, but it's the entry level model. Thus, it is compared with the 3-series, G35, C-class, etc that are in it's price range. If Cadillac had a compact RWD entry level model, then the CTS could be a 5-series competitor. I'd love to see Cadillac have a compact RWD entry lux model, a mid-level model (CTS-sized), and a full-size model to compete with the S-class, 7-series, LS... but I don't see that happening anytime soon. There is a standard range categorization of compact, midsize, and fullsize the other luxury makers generally stick to, but Cadillac doesn't.

You mentioned 1995, which was FWD.

I had a Pepper today... I've pretty much cut back to 1-2 soft drinks a week. When I was in my mid 20s in grad school, I had a serious Mountain Dew habit--2-3 a day (and 1-2 more in the evenings, often mixed in with lots of vodka and Jaegermeister, microbrews, and Prozac)...

I've heard Pon-Bon for Bonneville. Then there are the folks that have nicknames for their car relative to the color. My brother refers to his Mustangs that way---black pony, red Stang, silver stallion.. then there are folks that name their cars--people with a pickup named Rufus, or a Corolla named Patsy. That's a bit wierd, IMHO. My sister calls her Merc 500SEL the 'Big Dog' because that's what the big dogs (CEOs, etc) drove back in the Big 80s when it was built.

Not necessarly..the po' fat each cheap fatty foods, so they spend less on food than the healthy organic food consumers.

I know they are usually round and black. I don't get into the details unless I'm buying tires.

I don't know about 40 series, but trucks of that type seem to have narrow tires w/ thick sidewalls.

I'm sure instead of a consumption tax, the obese can buy carbon credits to offset their consumption eventually..

Yes, the CTS is close to the 5-series in size (but not features). As the entry model, it's been compared over and over and over and over and over and over with the 3, C-class, etc. Cadillac needs a compact model to compete directly with the 3, etc. But I doubt if Alpha will ever happen given GM's current situation.. Can't compare the CTS-v with the 550, since the CTS-v has the specialized body trim, limited interior color choices, etc. The 550 is a regular 5-series with a V8, not a specialized M model. The big problem is they made the CTS and STS too close in size..for it's price point, the CTS probably should have been about 10 inches shorter and more compact.

That's big... I thought tow trucks and such usually seem to have small diameter wheels with huge tires...

Yeah, BMI isn't really accurate. I'm a bit overweight, but I'm still a size 38 waist (6'0", 225). Definitely not Ohio/West Virgina style obese (50 inch waist, barely able to get around, etc).

I'm talking about the RWD model in the recent years, not the FWD Sevilles. The RWD STS's price range, size range, V6/V8 availability, etc put it in 5-series, GS, M35/45, E-class territory. The execution was less than great. The CTS doesn't compete w/ the 5-series...it's in a wierd size spot between the 3 and 5... the CTS doesn't offer a regular V8 version and priced way below the 5, priced in the 3-series range. Though it's larger than the 3 and the C-class, IS, and G35, that's clearly its market segment.

It's 5pm somewhere... I had a couple Boddingtons earlier. Thread answer for prediction: forecast

Yes, Mercedes diesels are legendary for their reliability and longevity. If I were going to buy a new daily driver in the $50k range and drive it for 20 years, the E320 Blu Tec would be my choice.

Well, the STS was supposed to compete w/ the 5 series, E class, A6, etc but that plan didn't work out...the current STS was underdeveloped and too close to the CTS in size..

Yes..and donuts! Lots of fun. I used to hoon around in my Caprice and Mustang LX in college....find empty parking lots after a big snow.... almost clipped a light pole doing that.

I'm pretty good at avoiding most buffets...though I have a weakness for Indian ones and good Chinese ones. I'm about 25-30 lbs overweight for my height. I'm 50 pounds more than I was 10 years ago..not good. Need to exercise more and spend less time on a computer.

Was in traffic tonite behind a minty '71 Coupe De Ville--white w/ white top, red and white interior, '71DEVIL' licence plate. Drool...

I did the same thing when I was in the BMW world...called my M3 an E36 when I was around fellow Bimmer fans. Likewise w/ the Mercs, W124 and W126 in the driveway...