Drew Dowdell

On Sunday she took 2nd place in the 80-89 Full Size class. and again was the only Toronado on the show field. However, there is another club member who owns a '70 Toronado that I've never seen because he is terminally ill. He did manage to visit the show, though without his car. I took some time out of visiting the show to come back to my car when he visited. He spent a lot of time going around my car with me and was very happy that some "new blood" brought a Toronado to the show. He shook my hand and thanked me for bringing my car. I was happy and sad at the same time. Her reward for winning second place was a two day trip to Brook's Buick-GMC where Dominic works for a new exhaust system from the engine back, new ball joints, new idler and pitman arms, and an alignment. I can't wait to get her back tonight and see how she drives. Side note: I spent most of Saturday driving around a 2008 Benz S550. While it has a fine engine and handling, getting back into my Toronado made me realize how much of a great investment she was. For $2,300, I have a car that brings me far more enjoyment than a $100k Benz could.

Na, the pipeline is too long for too much reaction in either direction.

Still, nope. Although I entertained the thought of a Beemer, the insurance premiums and price of one in good nick threw it off of my radar. I didn't think someone would guess correctly this soon, but that's got it. The title of the thread is a Jeremy Clarkson quote, for those who were wondering. When reviewing the Astra OPC/VXR he said that "in a hot hatch beauty contest, [the Astra] would certainly go home with the tiara." I know this will undoubtedly raise financial questions. To simply answer them, I raised half of the money to buy the car and my parents matched that to help me out with college, since the Dakota was rather inappropriate as a daily driver for a poor college student. You think the 5 pages long article you're working on might have given me a clue?

I have his address. I've been to his house.

anyone in the Chicago area that might be able to check in on him?

Well, there is a pattern. When new cars are released, sales peak and then taper off. The speed at which they taper off is typically a measure of how successful a given vehicle is. The CTS is still tapering off and a new model will most likely invigorate the line. So the premise then becomes, the manufacturer with the most vehicles due to be replaced/introduced is the manufacturer with the most potential upside on their sales figures. Now, this premise isn't always true... witness the current Civic for proof of that. If Honda does a repeat on the Accord, they'll be in serious trouble. With Chevy and Ford... we've seen the new Impala and new Fusion. Impala sales will be down in terms of raw numbers, but I imagine transaction prices will be way up. I think the Fusion has a really good chance to capture first place in the segment.

His last activity here was May 13th at 10:17pm

well, i think all it is is an assumption isn't it? i wonder what 25% will be replaced? CTS impala Trucks SUV's Corvette Camaro Lambdas + Thetas

Astra

His facebook profile is gone.

For the pump pulley, it doesn't need to be just e-body. Any 307 from a G-body or E-body is compatible. Probably others too. I know F-body, Y-Body, and B-body are not compatible even if they have a 307. I'd happily pay for the whole assembly if I could get the rails.

Anyone heard from him lately? Noticed a couple of things that have me worried... and he's not answering voicemails.

Well I'm hoping to set up some automated searches for some NOS stuff for the Toronado. The part that is on my mind at the moment is the rails for the center ash tray. I'm sure they were used on lots of vehicles, but I can't find the p/n. Also could use a p/n for the smog pump pulley...not the whole pump.

What is interesting to me is how well this could work with a light hybrid system and a small displacement engine. You could end up with 1 liter engines that get 200 hp at full boost/assist yet be fuel misers on the highway.

I.Like.Big. Butt and I cannot lie...

Was the purpose of slanting the 6 just to accommodate a lower hood height?

Their 4 cylinder already makes 180 horsepower... which is more than their V6 could produce as recently as 10 years ago and I imagine more and more Camry buyers are turning away from the V6 when the 180 hp 4-cylinder is sufficient for most buyers.... so I highly doubt that this plant capacity doubling has anything to do with Camry. If anything, the doubling of capacity has more to do with the coming Tundra redesign. The Tundra is currently in its 5th year and the 235hp 4.0 looks rather weak sauce when the Camry V6 sitting next to it has 268hp. You know what would be really funny? Toyota using this plant capacity to make a Turbo-V6 to put in the Tundra to compete with F-150 Ecoboost.

Wow! Dropping 1,000 pounds!

Does anyone know how to locate part numbers for older GM vehicles?

I worry.... moving to a Toyota platform maybe?

Tronado?

No matter what happens, the first word most will say will be "Civic". In reality, size and stature aside, they are 2 completely different cars and in person do not appear related. Size yes, but drive and look, no. Glad our first is black. The wheels look great and so does black. Next up another graphite one and a Hybrid. I've seen it in person.

I still see way too much Civic in these....

oh wait... 20 miles east of Pittsburgh PA.... I'm 12 miles east of Pittsburgh PA....

Love the look... but even a 350 Diesel would be an improvement over the 4100...