Robert Hall

This weekend, saw a '73 Century coupe today, black, Buick mags, very clean...haven't seen one of those in forever.... saw a couple CTSes--a black one and a dark blue one (hadn't seen that color before). Saw a silver G8. Also, there is a very clean gold '70 Impala or Caprice 4dr ht for sale at the Circle K a couple blocks away, been parked out there during the day for a few days now.,

Yeah, the Charger is a car I like as far as it's specs (in Hemi form), but the stying does nothing for me. I love the design of the G8--clean, subtle and modern with great RWD proportions.

Where is the trunk release on the G8, by the way? My '87 Mustang GT has the hatch release in the glovebox, which is odd..

Yeah, the Ws were platform mates..probably didn't share more than the windshields in any give year as far as external parts, maybe front doors on 4drs. Sky is a platform mate of the Solstice, probably no body panels in common besides the windshield frame.

I've really never been a truck fan or had a need for one, but I do have a soft spot for the mid-to-late '70s Chevy shortbed stepsides. And 'burbans of the '73-91 era.

Not necessarily. Some buyers what/need a 4dr but want a performance sedan. By the way, since you never have anything positive to contribute about GM, why are you here? Just to be an irritant?

I suspect if we eventually see Chinese cars in the US, they will be sold at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club under a store brand or at Costco as a Kirkland...since those companies sell massive amounts of Chinese products now, they would be a likely partnership venue..

Similar price range, but different market segment. I can see comparing a Challenger w/ a Camaro and a Mustang, or a G8 with a Charger. But the 335i is a BMW--a premium brand--it's competition are the Lexus IS, Infiniti G35/7, Merc C-class, CTS, Audi A4/A5 etc--other premium brand models in that price bracket. I think consumers rarely cross-shop between mainstream and premium brands, even in similar price brackets.

pointy

It's my sister's house in Phoenix and her cars... I'm renting her house, taking care of her cars and dogs while she works in Ohio (flies back and forth every couple of weeks, trusts family more than the dog sitter and 3 ex-husbands she had previously). I'm renting out my condo in Denver to a friend currently.. They drive great even with a lot of miles (the 500SEL has over 176k, the 300CE over 124k). Here's a pic of the 500SEL...I can't find one of the 300CE right now.

Different market niche than those cars, though...the G8 GXP's competitor is the Charger SRT8.

Sweet. It's priced comparable to the Charger SRT8 and has the advantage of a manual transmission. The question is, will/can anyone buy it in this market? Also, the manual should have been standard, the automatic an option.

Arizona

They've no doubt done a cost-benefit analysis that shows Americans don't buy very many manuals in midsize FWD sedans. Other than the Accord and Mazda6, what other midsize FWD family sedans are available w/ a V6 and manual in the US? Or are the Accord and Mazda6 manuals now just w/ 4s?

They've no doubt done a cost-benefit analysis that shows Americans don't buy very many manuals in midsize FWD sedans. Other than the Accord, who else offers a manual in their midsize FWD family sedans? VW used to in the Passat, not sure if they still do in the US.

Not sure how it is in the States these days, but I know after 25 it used to drop if you have a good record. I'm sure my insurance would have been outrageous for my car at that age--I got my red, V8 Mustang GT new when I was 17--but we kept the car in my Dad's name and on his-multi car policy until I was 24. (Insurance for a 70 yr old w/ 6 cars was pretty low, apparently).

I've certainly thought about it before... dissapearing to someplace like the Florida Keys (where I lived as a teenager), Maui, Snowdonia or Northumberland for a while. Somehow, I've stayed employed this year (with a couple months off), even after one contract ended (March) and then getting laid off (July), I'm still making 30% more than I did last year. Even with all the layoffs I'm seeing in some companies, I'm still seeing job postings and getting calls and emails from headhunters every week. My current contract is up in March, I'll do a nationwide search then; Phoenix isn't the best town for my thing.

Some of the funniest are titles that variations of regular movie titles.

Saw $1.99 for the first time tonight here in Phoenix..woo hoo...will have to gas up the Mercs this weekend.

Daymn....that's OUTRAGEOUS. I think the most I ever paid for full coverage was about $1600/yr for 2 cars ( Mustang GT, Bronco II) but that was when I was 24 and the cars were each 6 years old..

They came with the house--'84 Merc 500SEL sedan (silver, dk blue interior) and a '91 300CE hardtop coupe (bright red, black interior). Since I've been renting my sister's house in Phoenix since April, I've been taking care of her dogs and her cars while she works in Ohio.

A B-segment hot hatch would be cool..they have 'em in Europe--like the Fiesta ST or Vauxhall Corsa VXR. B-seg cars don't have to always be cheap, nasty penalty boxes...

Saw $2.19 today...supposedly there are a couple stations elsewhere in the Valley where it's under $2, but not here in the central city.

Yeah...a Merc 300CE with all the windows down and sunroof open isn't half bad either..this afternoon was beautiful...the kind of weather where I could almost love Arizona.

The G8 GXP is soo sweet. I'd love to see it dark gray with those rims in a dark titanium.