SoCalCTS

Michael Moore is a true American hero. I hope his next movie is about George Bush hearing God's Voice. "God would tell me, ‘George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan’, and I did, and then God would tell me, ‘George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq’, and I did." That would make a great movie!

I agree that the red Start button is a little tacky but I see no resemblance between this car and Honda in any way!

Sydney Morning Herald Story Holden hot-rod By Joshua Dowling October 13, 2005 - 12:47PM Holden unveils its wildest concept car ever - the Efijy. Holden today unveiled its wildest concept car ever: a hot-rod version of the famous 1953 FJ, with more power than a V8 Supercar. Holden has been surprising the media and public at the Sydney motor show since it unveiled the Commodore coupe in 1998. Unlike that car and the many concepts that followed, this vehicle - called the Efijy, a play on Efigy - is not destined for production. The Efijy was originally going to be built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the FJ in 2003 but was delayed by other projects. It is powered by a supercharged 6.0-litre HSV engine. With 480kW of power and 775Nm of torque it is almost 11 times more powerful than the 45kW (60 horsepower) engine in the 1953 FJ Holden. The show car is almost as long as a Statesman, as wide as a Hummer and yet has a lower roofline than a Monaro. It is capable of being driven but only at low speeds at this stage, because the Soprano Purple bodywork is made from fibreglass. The car was built relatively cheaply for $200,000 because about 20 suppliers and designers donated time, parts and expertise. If it were to be built again from scratch - and if the parts and labour had to be paid for - Holden estimates it would cost $1.5 million.

This is very interesting. The E-Class was rated as the MOST UNRELIABLE CAR SOLD IN NORTH AMERICA by Consumer Reports. I guess quality did not figure into these rankings. This was from an article that appeared in the Globe and Mail in September

Nissan Motors sold its stake in Fuji/Subaru to GM a few years back. Now GM is selling it to Toyota. Apparently, Subaru is a bad investment. Let's hope that Subaru can help drag Toyota down too.

Brookville, Pennsylvania From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Brookville is a borough located in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, 100 miles (161 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. 2,472 people lived in Brookville in 1900, and 3,003 people lived there in 1910. As of the 2000 census, the borough had a total population of 4,230. It is the county seat of Jefferson County6. Geography Brookville is located at 41°9'35" North, 79°4'49" West (41.159654, -79.080276)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 8.4 km² (3.2 mi²). 8.3 km² (3.2 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water. Demographics As of the census2 of 2000, there are 4,230 people, 1,849 households, and 1,140 families residing in the borough. The population density is 507.2/km² (1,312.6/mi²). There are 1,976 housing units at an average density of 236.9/km² (613.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough is 98.35% White, 0.26% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 1,849 households out of which 28.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% are non-families. 33.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.23 and the average family size is 2.85. In the borough the population is spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.2 males. The median income for a household in the borough is $30,843, and the median income for a family is $38,438. Males have a median income of $29,940 versus $20,395 for females. The per capita income for the borough is $18,437. 13.2% of the population and 9.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.1% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. ____ Sounds like a nice place to live.

Just better than anyone else. Even any Asian convertibles.

Chevrolet Corvette Those with the means happily pay six-figure prices for cars with the Corvette's kind of track-ready performance. At about $53,000 new, the Corvette is a bargain for exotic car wanna-haves. There will be a big market of people looking to save even more by buying your used one. The Corvette was also among the Overall Top 10. Gallery: See the winners in Nine Categories. October 5, 2005; Posted: 2:53 p.m. EDT (1853 GMT) CNN Money Story NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - When you're buying a new car, you don't want to think about unloading it even before you've gotten the first whiff of new-car smell. But failing to think about resale value -- how much the car will likely be worth when it comes time to trade it in or sell it -- can mean thousands of dollars. In fact, depreciation is the single biggest cost in the first five years of a car's life, far outpacing fuel and maintenance costs. For a variety reasons some cars lose value much more quickly than others. To honor those cars with depreciation curves that look more like freeway off-ramps than roadside cliffs, Kelley Blue Book's Web site, KBB.com, is holding an awards ceremony Wednesday morning at the California International Auto Show in Anaheim. While the company would not reveal the exact projected resale values for any of the cars, those receiving awards are expected to retain about half their value over five years. That's compared to an industry average depreciation of 65 percent over five years. So if you purchase a Chevrolet Corvette, one of the winners that costs around $60,000, then in five years it will probably be worth about $30,000. The average $60,000 car, meanwhile, would be worth only about $21,000. Awards are presented to 2006 model-year vehicles that have best projected resale value in each of nine vehicle categories. Awards are also presented to the top 10 vehicles in value retention overall and to the top brand overall (this year, a tie between BMW and Mini).

I think GM should buy the factory. It really needs to shift Opel production out of Germany and into a lower cost market.

Posted 10/5/2005 7:09 PM Satellite television for vehicles a growing fad USA Today article By Dee-Ann Durbin, The Associated Press DETROIT — As their average commute time rises, Americans are making their vehicles increasingly homelike, with cushy seats, multiple zones of climate control and DVD players. So it's no surprise that the next big thing in vehicle accessories is satellite television. "People want the same entertainment and services they have at home in their car," said Chris Watson, a spokesman for Rhode Island-based KVH Industries Inc., which first introduced satellite TV in vehicles two years ago. "It really is becoming an extension of the living room." Cadillac is now offering KVH's TracVision satellite system as a dealer-installed option on its Escalade sport-utility vehicle, an industry first. GM is considering pre-wiring its SUVs for satellite TV starting with 2007 models, Watson said. This summer, Avis Rent A Car began offering TracVision on Hummer H3 rentals in Phoenix as part of a test program. It takes about three hours for a dealer or electronics retailer to install satellite TV on vehicles already equipped with flip-down screens for DVD players or navigation systems. With the TracVision system, a 3-foot-wide circular antenna is affixed to the top of the vehicle, and a cable is inserted through the roof. The antenna is about 5 inches high. Screens can be placed all over the vehicle, including the dashboard, headrests and the trunk, where some tailgaters are now installing large-screen TVs. A handful of sports stars and celebrities have as many as six screens in their vehicles, Watson said. But the most popular location for the screens is the ceiling in the middle of the back seat, Watson said. Forty-five percent of sport-utility vehicles produced for the U.S. market this year have those screens in them, Watson said. Once the system is installed, viewers can watch more than 140 channels through DirecTV. Vehicle owners can continue to use navigation systems or DVD players on their screens. Safety advocates question whether the technology is just one more dangerous distraction. Already, 40 states have banned drivers from putting video screens in a place where they can see them, although there are exceptions for navigation systems. "Drivers need to be reminded that driving is a very complex task requiring full attention," said Col. Jim Champagne of the Governors Highway Safety Association, which has said it's not encouraging use of the technology. Watson said KVH installs a kill switch that will automatically turn off the TV in the front seat when the vehicle starts moving. Headphones also are available for viewers so the TVs are less distracting to the driver, Watson said. "We do not encourage people to have video screens operating where the driver can see them," Watson said. Watson wouldn't say how many satellite TV systems have been installed in vehicles, and a spokeswoman for Cadillac didn't have figures immediately available. But the consulting company Frost & Sullivan has estimated that 3 million vehicles will have satellite TV by 2011. Right now, the cost is prohibitive for many consumers. TracVision costs $2,295, and customers pay extra for DirecTV access. If they get DirecTV in their homes, installing it in their vehicles costs $4.99 a month. It's $41.99 a month if they don't get DirecTV. So far, TracVision is most popular in Florida, Texas and California, where there are long stretches of open road. The satellites don't work as well in urban areas where tall buildings often block the signals. Seventy-four percent of the systems have been installed in SUVs, while 9% are in recreational vehicles and 6% are in pickups, according to KVH data. Buyers say they're most likely to watch news, weather, sports and children's programs, Watson said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

GM in talks with Romanian govt on investment Last Update: 8:27 AM ET Oct. 6, 2005 Marketwatch.com story BUCHAREST (MarketWatch) -- General Motors Corp. (GM) is discussing a potential investment in Romania with the government, a General Motors Europe spokesman told Dow Jones Newswires Thursday. The spokesman, Marc Kempe, declined to elaborate on the nature of the investment. The Romanian government said last month that it is trying to persuade U.S. auto makers General Motors and Ford Motor Co. (F) to open new production units in Romania or buy Daewoo Automobilia Romania, the local plant of South Korea's defunct Daewoo Motor Co. The Romanian state owns 49% of Daewoo Automobile Romania and the government is in talks with creditors of bankrupt Daewoo Motor Co. to buy the remaining 51% stake to keep the plant running until a new owner can be found. -Contact: 201-938-5400

Forbes Car review Cadillac SRX Vs. Volkswagen Touareg 10-04-2005 By Dan Lienert The Cadillac SRX sport utility vehicle exemplifies many issues facing Detroit. It is a typical Detroit car in that it is an SUV with declining sales, but it is also a rare American auto: a luxury car that can outsell European competition--excellent competition, at that--by some margin. In the first eight months of 2005, Volkswagen's Touareg SUV matched only 71% of the SRX's American sales. Considering that the SRX might be the best Cadillac, and that the Touareg might be the best Volkswagen, the Caddy's superior sales performance is evidence against the myth that Detroit cannot compete against the best foreign luxury cars. Some foreign luxury brands such as Toyota Motor's (nyse: TM - news - people ) Lexus subsidiary are idolized in the auto business and called infallible, but cars such as the SRX show that the best from Detroit can take on the best in the world. The Touareg and SRX are both outstanding vehicles, with multiple engine options, luxurious interiors, handsome exterior styling and driving dynamics that seem at times more like those of sports cars than SUVs. Cadillac SRX Vs. Volkswagen Touareg One reason for the SRX's superior sales performance could be patriotism among American buyers. A more likely reason is its slight advantage in terms of practicality versus the Touareg. It is 8 inches longer than the Volkswagen and can seat five or seven passengers, whereas the Touareg only seats five. Another factor in the SRX's convincing lead in the sales column is the effect of discounts. You can currently get 2.9% to 3.9% financing on a new Touareg, but similar financing deals have been available on the SRX for months, plus rebates, plus General Motors' (nyse: GM - news - people ) employee discount program, which applied to most 2005 models, including the SRX. Under this incentive, customers paid the same price for GM cars as the company's employees, and windfall sales resulted. GM's American sales increased 41% year-over-year in June and 20% in July. The popularity of SUVs is declining, and the SRX has seen several months of lower sales this year, with year-over-year sales down 15% in the first three quarters. But despite the swelling black eye on the SUV market in the wake of higher gas prices, even the SRX benefited from the employee program of June and July, with a year-over-year sales increase of 18% in July. But the SRX's lead in the standings against the Touareg could narrow substantially by year's end. The Cadillac had a terrible September, with sales down 33% compared to September 2004. In a recent report, Merrill Lynch wrote, "GM's sales have completely reversed course in the last two months of GM's employee discount program, with the company giving back nearly all its market share gains of June and July." GM's year-over-year sales declined 16% in August and 24% in September, and are down 1% for the year. Still, the SRX has been a bright spot. It is nowhere close to being GM's best-selling vehicle--or even Cadillac's--but it shows that the Americans can still build world-beaters, even in such a troubled area as the SUV market.

GM owned 20% of Subaru and got very little out of the deal. Toyota will own only 8.5% and probably won't get much more out of Subaru than GM got. The only real plus for Toyota is access to Subaru's Indiana manufacturing plant.

From popular mechanics. Link It's A Family Trait Major styling changes are in store for the 2007 Cadillac CTS. Among the more prominent differences are the bulging fender flares that contrast the slab-side effect of current styling. Also new is something that auto designers call a "character line" in the sides that runs through the door handles and ends up as a wraparound line in the trunk. This is the same visual cue seen on Cadillac's SRX. This is clearly a styling badge that Cadillac will adopt for all its vehicles. At the rear that character line marks a bend in the taillight faces and forms the top of the lowered license plate recess. The net effect here is a lower aspect for the deck. I hope the spy pic looked something like this.

The CEO at my former job had a Bentley, Rolls-Royce and a Callaway sports car. At my current job, the CEO has a Mercedes S Class and a BMW SUV. I think the Asian brands did not make the list because their brand image has been diluted by all of the cheap product that they dump on the market. Everyone can afford an Acura, Infinit or Lexus. The brands are about as exclusive as Buick. Lexus in particular needs to dump its low end models because they look too much like dressed up Corollas.

The Opel Antara GTC concept makes its worldwide introduction at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany Monday, September 12, 2005. (General Motors/Olaf Gallas)

CNN Story Jeep unveils two compact SUVs Though they are officially "concept" vehicles, the Patriot and Compass could see production soon. September 12, 2005: 12:54 PM EDT NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Jeep unveiled two concept vehicles at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany today that, a company executive said, hint at a worldwide portfolio expansion for the off-road brand. While both vehicles are relatively compact, with roughly 104-inch wheelbases, they offer distinct personalities. The Jeep Patriot has the tough, off-road appearance for which Jeep is known. The Jeep Compass concept has a softer, more wagon-like look. The company boasts of the high fuel-efficiency of both vehicles, although, since they are in concept form, no fuel mileage figures are available yet. "We've always planned on gasoline being over $65 a barrel," joked Jeff Bell, DaimlerChrysler's vice president in charge of Jeep and Chrysler, in a telephone interview prior to the unveiling. Although the concepts are similar in size, the Patriot has more traditional off-road styling cues with sharp angles and straight edges as well as a higher ride height for greater ground clearance. "Simple, geometric forms and planar surfaces define Jeep Patriot's timeless, purpose-built design," said Trevor Creed, lead designer for DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group, of which Jeep is a part. "Patriot's face features Jeep's signature seven-slot grille, a robust bumper, round headlamps, raised, free-standing fog lamps and a visible skid plate. All of this gives Jeep Patriot its robust, strong, capable off-road image," Creed said. The Patriot is reminiscent of the old Jeep Cherokee. The Compass concept was inspired by the Jeepster, a vehicle the company produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The low-slung Jeepster was also intended primarily for on-road or mild off-road use. The company expects to begin selling vehicles based on these concepts next year, said Jeff Bell, vice-president in charge of marketing for Chrysler Group. The vehicles fall roughly on either side of the current Jeep Liberty in terms of off-road readiness. The Patriot is aimed at more masculine buyers interested in genuine rock-crawling prowess while the Compass is intended for those who might drive occasionally in snow or on a well-groomed beach. Jeep, now a division of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group, has been looking at the brand's own past as it begins to move beyond a current stable of just three vehicles, said Bell. Right now, Jeep dealers sell the Wrangler, the small Liberty SUV,and mid-sized Grand Cherokee SUV. The Jeep Commander, a large three-row SUV, is just entering dealerships now. Reminiscent of the large Grand Wagoneer that ended production with the 1991 model year, the Commander will be entering the market just as a long run of popularity for three-row SUVs appears to be ending in the face of rising gas prices. Many SUV shoppers have, for some time now, been looking at smaller SUVS or crossovers -- SUVs intended for on-road use. They get better fuel mileage than larger SUVs and aren't us ungainly to drive in traffic and on the highway. The Liberty and these two concepts fall into that category. Two new small SUVs can be expected from Jeep next year, Bell said. Jeep will be expanding its line-up even more in the relatively near future, Bell said. Something we might see is a Jeep pick-up modeled on the Gladiator concept from the 2005 Detroit Auto Show.

Hmm. it might be good. Did you try to dip one of the crispier parts of the waffle into the dip?

I went to school at UCSD and never bought gas in La Jolla. Its always better to buy it right off of the freeway in places, like Oceanside, Escondido, or downtown San Diego. Someone mentioned the air quality resources board had something to do with raising gas prices. I think its the oil companies. They do not need to make 3 grades of gasoline. 87 and 92 would be enought and cut down on their manufacturing costs by eliminating one of the products.

$2.85 in Oceanside, CA. Usually, San Diego County has the highest gas prices in the nation. I'd say that I feel sorry for you guys elsewhere but you never feel sorry for California's gas prices. Suck it up.

This thread is sooo wrong. You should get informed. Other nations and celebrities have offered aid. So far, foreign countries have pledged money and support. The EU is also going to dip into its strategic oil reserve. Even Hugo Chavez ( who Pat Robertson said should be shot) has offered oil. E! article about some charity events There will be a charity concert at 8pm Friday on the major networks. On Saturday MTV will host another charity fundraiser. Even the MDA telethon will donate part of its earnings. When America suffers, Americans come to the aid of Americans.

I see at least one SMART car everyday on my to work in Carlsbad, CA. The guys at the Chryser Pacifica Design Centre have been driving them around town for years.

It looks better already. :P