The O.C.

This also brings to mind a memory of something I pulled together one time at the Reno Air Races in Reno, Nevada. At the time, I was working for Buick in the San Francisco Zone (which Reno was a part of) and as a result, we were responsible for Buick's sponsorship of the Reno Air Races at the time. We had exhibits there, focusing on the new Buick Regal and the SC 3800 engine, and I had the idea to stage a drag race competition in between the air races to demonstrate the power and torque of the new (at that time) Regal GS with the SC 3800. The plan was to stage this drag race on the main runway that happened to run parallel to the main grandstands for the air races, which was full of spectators. We also had the main announcer describing the event in detail to the spectators as we pulled it off. At the time, my goal was to dust off a Mustang GT (of that era) with a "Buick." That was the attraction.....blown V6 Buick beats a V8-powered pony car. I knew that the car mags were putting the Regal GS at 6.8 seconds 0-60......and I think I remember a road test of an automatic-equipped Mustang GT in the low 7-sec range. (Of course the auto-equipped GT would give Ford a slight handicap over a stick, but the audience didn't know that.) Just to be sure before hand, the night before the races, once we acquired the vehicles, my "staff" helping me stage this event and I took the GS and GT out on a deserted desert road and ran them......and sure enough.....the GS held a slight-to-moderate lead on every run we ran. Just to add insult to injury, we also added a Taurus SHO (ovoid-shaped, also V8-powered like GT) a Toyota Camry V6, and a Honda Accord V6. Of course the runway was definitely wide-enough that we could stage all five cars easily for a five-car drag race. I drove the Regal on every run......and right next to me was the Mustang. On every run, the Regal GS came in first.....the GT second.....(then the biggest surprise)....the Camry 3rd (!! beating the SHO)....the SHO.....then pulling up a distant last place, the Accord V6. The last run, just to make sure we weren't falsely staging this whole event, we invited the announcer down with four of his staff to repeat the drag race.......(5 non-GM, non-Buick, indepenent guys).....and the race finished the way it did in every other run. I've never had so much fun in all my life. Interesting to note.....the lead Buick product planner for the time for the Regal thought I was crazy to do this......he thought the Mustang would slaughter us.....(shows how much HE knew) but I persisted and insisted......and we had a fun time.... After the drag racing......during the rest of the weekend event.....the Buick display with the Regal and SC 3800 was packed...... (Sorry for hijacking this thread....lol)

From my understanding, no manufacturer save Mitsubishi was willing to provide their own car (after Jaguar backed out) so GM had to rely on I guess individuals that brought their own cars....?? Prolly not easy for GM to find this caliber of vehicle at a rental facility or something similar..... All in all, I think this was an interesting exercise and certainly drew some attention to GM and the CTS-V......and being it's already being posted on sites such as YouTube, will probably continue to draw attention for many weeks to come....

It's something that's almost impossible to explain......it just is what it is. I wish I could extrapolate on it, but it's just that I tend to be attracted to younger guys. I'm 39......let's call it guys from 24-35 are the range I seem to fall into..... I can tell you this.....it's not some sort of "Daddy" complex....and it's not like I want to "take care of them".....so I don't know what deep inside me pushes me that direction.....but something strong does. And it's not like I try to "ban" meeting any guys my age or older.....but whenever I have, I simply just have not felt the emotional or physical attraction......

WOW....! My post LIVES!!!!!! I cannot appreciate the difficulties in trying to date interracially........being that I am white......but I too find dating very difficult. It's funny.......I admit I'll hook up. But ultimately, I do want a relationship. As I stated earlier, I too am attracted to guys younger than me.....usually at least 10-years younger. While I can find a way to "hook up" with a younger guy for sex pretty easily, to find one to really begin to spend time together in hopes of something stronger relationship-wise is extremely difficult. It's funny about how age and maturity really change someone.....(usually for the better?) My ex and I have been broken up for three years now and he just got out of another relationship. When we first got together, he was "only" 24. Now he is almost 30 years old. (We broke up and remained like best friends.) I just spent three days in close proximity with him.....helping him drive a moving truck cause he moved from SoCal to Kansas City.....and we had such a great time on a very non-uneventful trip I might add.....NEVER even had an argument, which is surprising....lol.....the whole trip, other than we not having sex, was like we were still in a relationship......he has grown so much in the last 5 years or so.....it really made me long for him again I have to admit.....it was "like old times" only better....

Well, obviously it's wrong to ticket someone because they only speak Spanish...... ......but I have to admit this problem of people immigrating over here and not learning and speaking the language really irritates me. Too many don't seem to even make an effort. Being in L.A......where we have so many different cultures.......I'd have to say that in my interactions on a business and personal level, it is the hispanics that seem to be the majority that don't seem to want to even try to learn. (Edit: Of course there are many hispanics here that DO speak English....not trying to generalize....just an observation.) I deal with Asians, Middle-Easterers, and even quite a few Polish/Russians as of recent.....and they have all learned enough to communicate at a decent level. And I'm talking about people that haven't been over here for all that long. Am I just being harsh? I remember a few years ago being in South Gate (a very hispanic suburb close to east L.A.) and I went into a McDonalds there to eat lunch.....and couldn't get my order through because they simply didn't understand my english....?? WTF??

No.....not at all. GM displays have been ghost towns out here for as long as I can remember.

I was referring to the auto show.....

I know.....it just really pisses me off........it just seems like the more things change (great products) the more they stay the same (same arrogant, "it's not my fault" attitude, etc.) I mean jeezus.....Ford was out front with this whole Fiesta test-drive event.....(cool little car, btw) but where was the new "LaCrosse/Equinox/Pick Your New GM product and Insert Here" test-drive or marketing event?

The sad fact is.....none of the debates on this thread really matter........as has been stated over and over again.....what is GM going to do to get people to come into the Buick showroom....much less slow their car down to even glace over at the lot...? Because obviously good (excellent?) product isn't now good enough anymore for GM......and I'm the first to admit I don't have the answer.....nor do I have any really good suggestions anymore.... I REALLY like the new LaCrosse (especially after seeing it at the auto show in person) and the Regal looks like a car even I would buy.....but the sad fact of GM's perception problem was highlighted all over again when I was at the O.C. auto show. Again.....the GM displays were ghost towns. Except for a few people checking out ZR-1s and the Camaro, the displays....were....deserted.....even Cadillac, even the CTS-V didn't garner any attention while I was there. And Buick? Let me just say the entire time I was in the Buick display looking at the LaCrosse.....one, I repeat, one person looked at a LaCrosse or sat inside one......and, oh yeah, he was old..... Of course I'm going to tell you the imports were jammed packed....that's because they were.....you could hardly walk through Audi/BMW/etc.....even (bland) Toyota was crowded.....EVEN FORD had a ton of people checking out Taurus, Mustang, Fusion.....in fact, Ford was almost as busy as any of the imports.

I was just getting ready to say that (about it looking japanese/german)......sad to say, but it's about time.....you know...if you can't beat 'em.....join 'em......

Trust me....they suck gas.....but really, I liked mine alot.....and prolly would overlook that if I got one again. It was really the only downside.....for me..... I think with my automatic, I averaged around 14-16mpg. The 6-speed was much better.....closer to 20. The 3.7L is not a bad engine.....mine I remember being pretty refined for a trucklet SUV.....it just seemed overburdened at time with the Liberty's weight....but I never remember it being rowdy or rackety....

Do alot of research....over the years, there were some interesting packages available like the Renegade package.....some of them might have been regional option packages, but you can find a sharp, kinda unique Liberty out there. I think the "Freedom" package was one of them.....

Well I'm late to this party.....but I had two of them in the past and loved both of them....... They are more truckish and the only real downsides are they are kinda sluggish (heavy for the 3.7L) and they do suck the gas. But other than that, they were really enjoyable. My first one was a Limited with an automatic. The earlier Liberty's had pretty decent leather and plastics (even if hard) and mine was tight as a drum. My second one was a Sport with a 6-speed manual. Those are hard, if impossible to find....I had to special order mine. But the manual was very smooth to shift and drive.....MUCH smoother than the Wrangler with a stick I had awhile back. I'd say go for it. Just make sure you get one that has been taken care of relatively well......I always liked them because they stood out from the typical crowd of like-sized crossovers....it was meatier, tougher looking I guess.....

You prolly already saw it.....but $8 if you do e-tickets.....or if you print out a coupon online and take it to the ticket box....

Exactly. I thought the whole point of a "pillerless" coupe was that the entire side glass went down with no b-pillar showing..... This is even dumber than when the GM C/H cars had that front a-pillar glass......

Me too.....definitely.......

I agree.....don't need to make it cheaper, just make it worthy of the price-tag......I'd prolly jump into a 6-speed manual CTS-V over a Grand Sport for about the same money.....and I'd have those awesome Recaros....!

Well, "quality" isn't an issue. My '06 was as reliable as any car I've ever had. I never had any issue with the interior materials or fit-and-finish either.....plastics were nice, and switchgear was not bottom-basement Chevy either...... My issue was the interior, materials aside, was just very bland to me....primarily in the center stack....and yes....the seats suck..... As fun and as fast as my car was.......it still had a clunky, junky feel to it that said "Corvette" just a bit too much. At least compared to other cars the same price.....clunky junky not necessarily in squeaks and rattles, but from a notchy shifter and a rumbly suspension that jiggled and clomped over bumps. I'd get one again.......but if I did, it would be a much tougher decision......

Sad to say.....but I think his article hits spot on. And I'm as big a Corvette fan as there is........and even owned a few ('89 Coupe, '06 Convertible.) But as big a fan as I am, he makes some pretty solid points....I've just always hated to admit it. If I can afford a $60K car again......I'd be drawn to a Corvette because I've always had it in my heart. BUT....damn what I could get for $60K.....it's scary.....and is tough to admit that there are choices out there a damn sight more desirable....

For me and some other people I've talked to, that idiot rear quarter panel totally ruins this car.....no matter how good-looking or not the rest of the car is.....

I put this in the Lounge cause I thought I'd get a quicker response......I'm just wondering if any of you Southern California guys are going to the O.C. auto show? It starts tomorrow and runs thru Sunday......10-15 to 10-18. Anaheim Convention Center. I'll be there tomorrow evening......Thursday..... I know it's not a big show like L.A., but it's still a decent show.....and for us CA guys, it's the first one of the season....and usually has some cool things going on (like a Fiesta ride-and-drive) even though it's a smaller show, it's right in the heart of SoCal.....

Actually.....my boss and I were laughing at that.....she has a newborn and said she wished she had a sign like that..... ......she said it is the most annoying thing that every stranger in the store when she is out shopping wants to come over, touch, get close to her baby......pisses her off......

OK.....if I'm a late-bloomer to this phenomenon, I apologize.......but this is the funniest $h! I've seen in a LONG TIME...... www.peopleofwalmart.com Investigate, have fun, and laugh your ass off......

Chris and Cory.........are you two an ITEM....?

The front end makes it look like a Cylon......LOL "By Your Command...."