Drew Dowdell

I think from the press releases, the most number of gears the 7 and 8 speeds can jump at a time is 2. I think a jump from 8 to 3 would be a bit drastic don't you?

Bimmer is hot.

HHAHA I did exactly that with that extended Ford explorer hearse. I had seen it before and I captured it with my camera phone just so I could post it here. FOG usually beats me to the reviews.... but I'll read a review and think to myself "Gee... FOG is going to be busy tonight...."

Didn't Chrysler leave nascar completely for a while? They only came back with the final generation Intrepid. I hope it's GM. $140 million a year is a bit much. They certainly aren't getting the returns in the form of Impala or Grand Prix sales.

You know you're becoming addicted to C&G when you know more about how some member's day went then you do of your own spouse's day.

The Escalade will crush the Audi Q7 <which he makes mention of> in sales.

Good for at least 7 hp right?

I'd love a hybrid avalanche that can run E85. That said, I do actually need a full size truck. I only use my current Avalanche for actual construction hauling.

Rates GM a sell? Why would you do that? GM stock has no where to go but up. Last I looked, their market valuation was less then their net assets.... which is just because people are scared they'll declare bankrupcy. This is why we don't listen to analysts folks.

They lost 10 billion last year and the markets adjusted GM's stock price to reflect that. GM lost $323 million in first quarter this year.... losing money at a rate much slower then 2005. They also had record revenues... so sales are going up. Once they can get their costs under control, they'll be very profitable again. I've been buying GM stock every month since it tanked just before Kirk started buying in. $20 a share for GM stock is a steal! Once they're profitable again, the stock will rise back to it's previous levels or higher.

ABS is important in the summer when you have idiot drivers out. It has saved me more then once. I wouldn't consider it optional.

*snicker* [/geek humor]

He'll never have torque steer in a Solstice. It's RWD.

Enter yourself on "Queer eye".

Sales of hybrid vehicles. Vue, Aura

Uh... around here we call that Toyoguy.

Yeah... you're an ass... You know what gay guys do to asses.... right?

Small cars. The new Aveo, cobalt sales are increasing, pursuit will be joining us soon. They'll be doubling their entries in the affordable roadster market.

Honda, Audi and Saab have them now too.

What is with this new style of the lights on the trunk being 3/4ths the height of the lights on the fenders... I don't get it....

size queen

So should a Rainer be a GMC, Chevy, or Oldsmobile? A Rendevous should be a Pontiac. Mini and Rolls Royce Phantom should be BMWs. Things get really scary over at Ford.... is it a Ford, a Lincoln, a Volvo, or a Mazda?* *Hint: Crown Victoria, Mustang/Thunderbird, Five Hundred, Fusion

There are skip shift removal kits out there.

In my experience driving the Roadmaster over the mountians 345 ft/torque @ 3100 RPM means you don't need to downshift nearly as often. Remember, it's not a vette, it's an Avalon competitor. <in purpose it's purpose> My point is, have a huge amount of torque, way down low in the RPM band, and the number of gears become less important. 23mpg out of a V8 1957 Buick with a 1 speed dynaflow is fairly impressive. I've often wondered what the result would be if someone developed a modern dynaflow since it is really just a CVT from the 50s.

I agree that skip shift, as it's currently set up, isn't a really graceful solution. Would a 1-3-5-6 shift pattern work better do you think?