Robert Hall

Well, like I said, it's probably from long before my time... we need someone really old to know this..

Well, in the 80s, though, the overlapping between the CPOB brands got to the point that the models all looked much the same. All the generic, low quality, bland boxy FWD models that had very little differentiation in style or content...the X, J, A, N cars...

I like the idea of the I6...too bad that engine never was used in any cars... I love straight 6s.

Something from long before either of us were born, I suspect. Maybe a Cord 812? They were supercharged, and had a really cool dash w/ lots of gauges, IIRC. The Cord 812 is the car my Dad fell in love with when he was in has teenager and the 812 was a new car. Almost 50 years later, he and I built a Monogram 1:24th scale model kit of the '37 812 convertible.

Yes, both excellent books..I have both in my little collection of automotive industry books..

Verizon, LG Chocolate, 900 min/month, $79/month bill. I don't text. I like the Chocolate for the tiny form factor (fits in a front pants pocket easily), good sound quality, speakerphone works well. I read my email on it and the news, but thats about it. I'm a gadget freak about alot of things, but I like a basic phone that works well as a phone..

Not going to happen, what with their lobbyists and the states that have Toyota plants...

The point of something like this is just to keep the BPG dealers from whining about not having a cheap car.

I never used ME...but was happy w/ 95 and 98 at the time, and liked Win 2000 and XP. My experience w/ Vista has been mixed...a total dog on one machine (Toshiba laptop), fine on another (Compaq laptop). I'm using a Dell desktop w/ Win XP Pro (and Lotus Notes for email) at my new contract, a bit of a step down from the Mac Book Pro at my last place..

This got me thinking...the name Astra has been used by at least 4 brands, but on the same car and in different markets. What about names GM has used on different vehicles across different brands through time? Like Astro or Calais... I'm sure there are others..

That's what I assumed, wasn't sure..I haven't seen the specs on the gasoline engine--# of cylinders, hp, fuel tank size, etc.

Average mileage this week in the JGC has a not-so great 15.3. My new commute is all city, a mix of smooth flow on 6 lane avenues, 2 and 4 lane streets, winding up and down 7 stories in a parking garage, with some stop and go with the lights. Note to self--do NOT leave the office exactly at 5pm.

Did he get tired of all the bickering over Vauxhall's status and leave? He did provide some interesting colour and perspective..

Interesting... also, GMC had an Astro, and Chevy has had an Astra in some markets (Mexico, etc). How about an Astry (using a Welsh 'Y' vowel)?

One thing I wonder--the electric range is 40 miles, so after that it would run on the gasoline engine? i.e. would this car be useful for a road trip from Phoenix to LA (about 400 miles) and back for the weekend, for example? (or even up to Sedona and back, about 100 miles each way) My commute from May-July was right around 40 miles a day (19.4 each way--18 miles freeway), plus another 2-5 miles a day if I went to lunch or dinner. My new commute is about 12 miles a day, all city. Interesting stuff to ponder.

True..it's been going on for a long time...

I'm surprised we haven't seen more plastics in non-structural body parts, like hoods, decklids, and front fenders. Besides the Saturns, didn't some years of the LeSabres and other larger GMs use plastic front fenders?

Not really. It's sad to see a once proud brand turned into nothing but rebadged rental cars...

That's stupid. Another lame decision like the G3. I thought GM was getting past the rebadging nonsense in the US...I guess not.

Why not? Pontiac already gets Holden variants, Daewoo variants, Toyota variants, Chevy variants...

Chevy and Saturn already have those niches. Why does Pontiac need that sh*t???

Yeah, the Wave was sort of the conceptual replacement for the Firefly that Canada had long ago (the Pontiac equivalent of the Geo Metro turd). By the way, did Pontiac Canada have equivalents of the Geo Prizm or Chevy Specrtum?

By definition, it will suck... the Daewoo will be cheaper, cheaper built, with nasty materials, I expect.

I can tell fall is here---the convertibles have their tops down, incl. a bright red '80s Avanti. Saw 5 convertibles with the tops down tonight coming home from work, the arrival of cooler weather (highs around 100 or less) is bringing them out. Another sign of fall is the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks...enjoyed one this morning from the Starbucks in City Hall..

The dealers probably demanded it... BPG dealers didn't have anything this small or cheap to compete w/ the Chevy dealers. I wonder if Saturn will get one also.