Drew Dowdell

Sure! Get a nice enough quality shot and I don't see why not.

Welcome to Cheers and Gears! We're glad you're here. This is the thread for you to introduce yourselves. Oldtimers logging back in after a long hiatus are welcome to post here too.

J.D. Power: New-Vehicle Sales Decline Becomes Less Steep via AutoRemarketing WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — October's new-vehicle retail sales will likely show the first single-digit year-over-year decrease in 17 months, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which has projected the industry to retail 651,600 new units for the month. This would be just a 6-percent dip from October 2008 and a 15.2-percent gain from September. The only time that retail sales haven't fallen double digits year-over-year since May 2008 was in August, when sales climbed 13 percent due to CARS, J.D. Power indicated. Meanwhile, new-vehicle fleet sales are projected to fall 4 percent from a year ago, resulting in total new-car sales volume of 816,600, which represents a 6-percent yearly decrease and a 9.7-percent gain from September. The resulting seasonally adjusted annual rate would be 10.3 million units, compared with 9.3 million in September and 10.5 million a year ago. "While year-over-year comparisons benefit from a low selling base in October 2008, improvements in consumer confidence and credit are propelling the return to positive sales gains relative to last year," explained Gary Dilts, senior vice president of global automotive operations at J.D. Power. "October's selling rate is expected to come in at 10.3 million units — nearly flat compared with 10.5 million units one year ago — which is an encouraging sign for the industry and in line with our expectations for the rest of the year," he continued. Officials noted that most of the segment mix on the retail side has remained consistent, but pickup trucks' market share has grown to 14, compared with less than 12 percent in September. They attributed this climb to strong marketing programs, steady gas prices and incentives. Continuing on, J.D. Power said it is keeping its 2009 forecast for total sales at 10.3 million vehicles and its retail projections at 8.6 million units. For 2010, analysts expect 9.5 million retail vehicles to be sold and 11.5 million vehicles as the total. "As economic conditions improve, there's a renewed sense of optimism and momentum building in the industry," shared Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting at J.D. Power. "While 2009 has been a difficult year, this crisis will lead to innovation and efficiency gains, ultimately creating a healthier industry," he added. "Total sales in 2010 are expected to improve 12 percent from 2009, but given the right conditions, next year could be even stronger than currently predicted."

I'm gonna make you guys guess BTW! Where's LaSalle, Oakland, Marquette, Viking and the others?!?

makes more sense.... especially to all the new people joining

Just in case you hadn't seen it in the Site News thread, we've begun accepting submissions for the 2010 Cheers and Gears Member's rides calendar. Not only do you have a chance to have your ride featured in Cheers and Gear's stylish and tasteful calendar, but the calendar will also list historically important dates AND the dates of the major automotive shows around the world. You have till November 15th to submit a pic of your ride. Full details here: Cheers and Gears 2010 Calendar

Cars only come in metallic black, the rest are just mistakes at the factory.

Take a pic of it, and maybe you can with a model of a 1967 Camaro Z/28

New Aveo5 and a Traverse.

A new Avalanche for myself and a 2010 Equinox for my Bf.

Well, on Facebook, I regularly get news onto GM's Facebook page (linking back to C&G of course) waaay before GM does..... and I'm talking GM press releases even.

Win a 1967 Camaro diecast model! A new feature here at Cheers and Gears will be our "PhotoHunt" contests. In this, our premier contest, we are looking for photos of any year Camaro in an autumn like setting. Contest details: 1967 Camaro

Well, I just went into CheersnGears twitter account and followed 80% of the follower and following that GMI does. BTW, we outclass GMI on facebook.... so there.

Win a 1967 Camaro Z/28 diecast model Contest open till November 7th, 2009, 11:59pm Here's the deal: Scour the net, search your hard drives, do what you need to do to find a Chevrolet Camaro (any model year) in an autumn like setting. Use the "upload feature" to post the picture here in this thread. You can use ANYONE's photograph, it doesn't have to be your own. The Rules: 1. The contest is open to registered Cheers and Gears members with a valid email address and an account in good standing (not suspended for bad behavior). 2. The photo can not have any embedded labels or watermarks from anyone other than GM or Cheers and Gears. 3. URLs will not be accepted. You MUST use the upload feature. 4. Minimum picture size is 1024x768. (the board may downsize your picture for posting, that's fine) 5. Winning submitter of duplicate photographs will be determined by the board software's time stamp. 6. Winner will be determined by poll of the Cheers and Gears users. 7. Voting will commence on November 8th, 2009 at 12:00pm. 8. Multiple Entries are allowed! Prize Details: Brand new 1:18 scale diecast 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 by Maisto. Has steerable wheels. Brand new box. Rubber tires. Made of diecast with some plastic parts. Has plastic display stand with window box. Detailed interior, exterior, engine compartment. Dimensions approximately L-10, W-4, H-3.5 inches.

I don't know that it's limited to the US. Send me your qualifications anyway.

Cheers and Gears is on Twitter as @CheersnGears

It's called "60 day money back guarantee" Actually, I wish GM would bring back the overnight test drive again....

It'll take a little more time for GM. Ford didn't pull off their perception turnaround overnight, it took them 3 years.

I am currently in discussions with a contact at GM for C&G to receive test vehicles for us to review. I am looking for editors to join the staff who would be willing to review and write these articles. I can only accept one or two positions. You must be over 25 years old, have access to a good digital camera <no camera phones>, and be fully licensed to drive. Some ability to write well would be helpful. There may be further requirements.

GM Looking at New Ad Agencies for Chevrolet For a long time, politics and personal relationships have kept the Chevy/Campbell-Ewald relationship bound together as if by Crazy Glue; even when the advertising and thinking that produced it was terrible. The agency has been Chevy's agency since 1922. 1922!!!!!!! That was then. Chevy IS General Motors. It used to be that Chevy was just one of eight brands at GM in North America. Going forward, it is one of four. But in fact, it is the whole show. If Chevrolet does not increase market share and improve perception, it's not going to matter what happens at Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Discussion: Chevrolet hunting for a new ad agency

GM Looking at New Ad Agencies for Chevrolet The Auto Beat General Motors, facing criticism that it may not be moving fast enough to stir new conversations around its brands, is about to start hearing new pitches from new ad agencies. As first reported by Jean Halliday in Ad Age, it does not appear that long time ad agency Campbell-Ewald, Warren MI is facing a firing. But the automaker is finally doing what this blogger has been advocating for years—-it is opening itself up to hearing great ideas to push the Chevy brand down the field to a better place. For a long time, politics and personal relationships have kept the Chevy/Campbell-Ewald relationship bound together as if by Crazy Glue; even when the advertising and thinking that produced it was terrible. The agency has been Chevy’s agency since 1922. 1922!!!!!!! That was then. Chevy IS General Motors. It used to be that Chevy was just one of eight brands at GM in North America. Going forward, it is one of four. But in fact, it is the whole show. If Chevrolet does not increase market share and improve perception, it’s not going to matter what happens at Buick, GMC and Cadillac. New Chevy chief Brent Dewar obviously knows this. Campbell-Ewald is expected to keep doing the bulk of work on the account. It is a huge account with lots of moving parts. And it requires that GM maintain continuity to keep the trains running on time. But new ad agencies will be invited to become roster agencies so that C-E is always challenged, not only on the ideas themselves, but regarding the talent they bring to bear for Chevy. Why should the creative talent pool be restricted to people willing to live in Southeast Michigan? There are going to be some “retirements” at Campbell-Ewald, I am guessing. Dewar clearly understands, finally, that it is nuts not to have hungry, creative agencies, whether they are in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, Brazil, Romania pitching Chevy ideas that will stir the conversation anew. Finally….Religion has arrived at Chevy!! The problem right now is that there are so many car accounts in review that it is taxing some of the better shops trying to respond. Chrysler’s brands have been in review. Volkswagen is in review, and will be decided after October 20. Cadillac is now in review. Now Chevy. Deutsch, which is pitching Volkswagen right now, will be expected to pitch either Chevrolet or Cadillac if they should lose. Perhaps, they can pitch both—Cadillac from its LA office perhaps and Chevy from New York. Nike agency Wieden & Kennedy is pitching VW too, as is Goodby Silverstein. Those are two agencies I would love to have creating ideas for Chevy if I am Dewar. Another terrific agency, Fallon, Minneapolis is pitching Chrysler. The Martin Agency (Geico) is available, and will most certainly be asked to pitch Caddy and Chevy. New York’s Strawberry Frog is handling Indian automaker’s Mahindra & Mahindra’s launch in the U.S. Could they also pitch for a Cadillac model that doesn’t compete? Because C-E is expected to keep working on Chevy, GM has the luxury of tapping all kinds of small shops for ideas that don’t have to be full-service ad agencies. Agencies in St. Louis, Kansas City, Texas. The company should have done this a decade ago at least. Politics is the only reason the company did not do it before. Funny, that it took U.S. government ownership of GM to get rid of the politics. GM is advertising a campaign with the theme, “May The Best Car Win.” As far as Chevy’s advertising goes…now, it’s “Let The Best Idea Win” no matter where it comes from. Via Business Week

Public to name Chevy Volt's paint color DETROIT – The initial production color of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) is a silver exterior with an emerald hue. That’s official. What’s not certain is what Chevrolet will name that distinctive exterior color, so the company is turning to the public to help make the decision. Starting today, on National Color Day, Chevrolet launches an online contest that asks for color name suggestions, with three finalists to be flown to Los Angeles this December to compete for a final chance to be among the first to test-drive a pre-production Volt. Discussion: Public to name Chevy Volt Paint Color

I almost never use my microwave. About the only things it's good for are cooking bacon and melting butter or chocolate for baking. I don't even boil water with it.

You've still got a month to take a shot. However, Please submit entries to [email protected]

If you can find a toaster oven in your price range with the convection option, go for it. Learn to use the convection part, cooks like a toaster oven but at microwave speeds. Edit: If you like that one on Costco.com and don't have a membership. Send me the money, I'll buy it for you and have it shipped.