Drew Dowdell

We're going to have two quick contests on this one. Price is Right style: Guess my fuel economy for the weekend and win a $10 fuel gift card. Tonight, I'm driving from Pittsburgh to Ann Arbor - Guess my fuel economy to the nearest 10th of a gallon without going over to win. Monday night I'm driving from upper-mid-state Michigan back to Pittsburgh. Same deal. Label your guesses as "Monday:" and "Friday:" You can submit your guess for both. We will have a thread in about an hour for you to put your guesses in.

.... because the engine is the only criterion in determining the value of the car.... Actually for me, that would make the choice rather easy. The Verano is a better car and you give up almost nothing in interior room or cargo space.

In 1981, when they came out, the Aries and Reliant were great cars. I don't know about the flex you're talking about, but in the 8 years my Aries was in my family, it was a spectacular car. Granted, mine was an anomaly, but not radically so. In 1981, the K-Car (all three body styles, including my 2-door sedan) were considered to be relatively attractive. I, personally, think the Aries/Reliant (all body styles) have aged better than, say, a Skylark/Omega (either body style). Okay Hudson... I love ya and you're a long-timer here... but you have got to share whatever it is you are smoking....

No, it was an error in conversion... I don't know if they ever published a retraction.

The Pentastar is an awful lot of engine for this car....

I'd be inclined to think so as well, (LB made some rebadges for International), but while similar, the deck design isn't quite the same as any Lawn Boy I've seen of the era. LB also did some for JC Penney too. Why I think it's a badge job: 1. Deck shape - while not exactly the same, would be so close as to raise the eyebrows of the patent attorneys. 2. The self propeller mechanism is identical to a lawnboy I had (and is now my father's) 3. The Pull starter is classic lawnboy design. 4. Simplicity push mowers of the era were just badge jobs from other companies to give retailers something to sell next to their real product... tractors.

I imagine this will be much more of a hoot to drive than many here would give it credit for.....

Something that hit me today when I was driving home. I was happy that VW gave me such a new and clean vehicle and everything is nice and tight from the factory as should be for a car with 1,944 miles..... only ... this Passat isn't a 1944.7 mile car like I originally thought it was... it's a 19447 mile car. For a car with just about 20k miles on it, this thing is tight and solid. It had me completely fooled on the mileage.

Getting 42 mpg commuting so far... You can hear it is a diesel, but it is not at all loud. It's just a different sound that some may be unfamiliar with. After you've accelerated, it doesn't sound any different than a gasser. The Passat feels much lighter than it should for its size. It is one of the biggest mid-sizers you can buy, but out on the road it doesn't feel it at all.

August 8, 2012 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com Honda today release pictures of the re-sculpted 2013 Honda Accord sedan and Coupe. As one of their perennial best sellers, Honda did not stray too far from the formula that has kept them near or at the top of the mid-size family car segment for years. The overall look of the next Accord isn't much of a surprise since it is so close to the barely disguised concept-as-a-production-car Accord shown at the Detroit Auto Show last January. Honda has repackaged the Accord to allow for more room on the interior while being slightly smaller outside. Further information on power trains will be released later in 2012, but we expect the 2013 Honda Accord to be available with a new 2.4 liter 4-cylinder and an all new 3.5 liter V6 with cylinder deactivation. Both will come with direct injection and stop-start technology. Transmissions will be a CVT and a new 6-speed automatic respectively. We are also expecting the eventual return of the Accord Hybrid, this time using an all-new 2-mode system with plug-in capability replacing Honda's IMA. Aside from the familiar LX and EX trims, Honda is introducing "Sport" and "Touring" designations on the Accord with Sport sitting between the LX and EX 4-cylinder models and Touring being the top trim available. Drew Dowdell is Managing Editor of CheersandGears.com and can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter as @Cheersngears View full article

Well, in the list above, I think the cars with square headlights look newer than those with round. Also, those with square headlights, couldn't really get away with round ones and look ok. (just go back to 1972 for the Toronado and El Dog). It was a fad that lasted over 30 years.

Limo drivers are required by law to be shut off after 3 minutes of idling, except in extreme conditions where the passengers require climate control. Last I checked, a 4 or 8 used the same amount of gas while off. Also, I've always tipped better to drivers who got me from A to B quickly... most of my friends do, as well... and even mention this ahead of time. Limo drivers rarely do shut off after 3 minutes and the "climate control" is an easy excuse for it. You sit there with a stop watch during your limo ride? Do you require all acceleration to be full throttle? Even my 140hp, 14.9 second to 60 Oldsmobile can get you to the airport faster than the law allows without the secondaries ever opening. All of this tempest in a teapot over a livery vehicle's acceleration....which is still likely better than the preceding model.

I bet that '79 Simplicity is a LawnBoy badge job. Are you factoring in an hourly rate for your time when figuring out your profit?

Yes, that is Opel Insignia and Buick Regal. There is no Opel version of the Lacrosse.

Just like I'm a US Airways elite frequent flier because I have a whole bunch of 89 mile segments (you get status from segments or miles)

beat them senseless with facts

yeah, I don't want to be threatening to delete GM bashing posts..... rip them apart, but don't delete them.

If you're quoting the 0-60 in 3.7 seconds that C&D got in the S6, that has turned out to be false. It is actually 4.7 seconds to 62 mph.... so just about a full second behind the 3.9 the CTS-V does.

And we wonder why the US is like 43rd in education....