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I most likely won't act before spring, but I was tempted by a '98 SC2 for sale locally with roughly 150K miles for $2k. If I could find something for >$1K that doesn't require <$1K in repairs, it'd probably be worth it. -RBB

So this happened yesterday: Now, I fully plan on keeping my car until it dies. That said, I've been considering whether to buy a cheap older car with good gas mileage to keep from piling up more miles than necessary on my primary car. Would it be economically responsible to find a ~$2K beater that gets about 30-35 mpg to trek the 30 miles each way to work? Or would initial cost, insurance and probability of repair make it not worth it? -RBB

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For comparison's sake: |-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------| | |Chevrolet Traverse | Cadillac Escalade | Cadillac Escalade ESV | |-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------| | Wheelbase | 118.9" | 116.0" | 130.0" | | Length | 205.0" | 202.5" | 222.9" | | Width | 78.4" | 79.0" | 79.1" | | Height | 72.8" | 74.3" | 75.5" | | Front Head Room | 40.4" | 40.3" | 41.1" | | Front Leg Room | 41.3" | 41.3" | 41.3" | | Rear Head Room | 39.4" | 38.5" | 38.5" | | Rear Leg Room | 36.8" | 39.0" | 39.5" | | Cargo Volume | 117.9 cf | 108.9 cf | 137.4 cf | |-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------| | Weight | 4720 lbs | 5818 lbs | 5761 lbs | | City/Hwy MPG | 16/23 | 13/19 | 13/19 | |-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------| Data taken from http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/ Assuming they use the LWB Lambda, it's exterior dimensions are comparable to the SWB GMT-900 with more room inside and much better gas mileage. Transverse-mounted engine aside, it makes all the sense in the world to make the switch. -RBB

While I'm not thrilled about the idea of a Daewoo-produced, FWD non-sporty econobox in Pontiac's lineup, might this be a way to prop up Pontiac's CAFE numbers, thus allowing them to sell stuff like G8s and G8 STs in greater number? -RBB

I might be wrong on this, but in theory, it's the opposite if you think about it. The gasolene engine is simply used as a generator to charge the battery and/or supply electricity to the powertrain, correct? So, it would theoretically burn fuel at a constant rate independently of the vehicle's speed or accelleration needs. Say, and I'm just pulling these numbers out of my backside, that the Volt's engine burns through a gallon of gas an hour at 2500 RPM, which is the optimal speed to generate sufficient charge. If you averaged a speed of 60 mph, that'd be equivilant to 60 mpg, assuming constant use of the engine (60 miles in an hour divided by 1 gallon of gas used in an hour). The same engine, running constantly at the same speed, however would only return you 20 mpg if you averaged 20 MPH in rush hour. Of course, the engine won't run constantly - it'll only run long enough to recharge the batteries, then shut off until the 30% battery life threshold is reached again. But, the point is in this particular type of hybrid powerplant that high speeds can mean less gas burned per mile, unlike your Prius/Malibu- 2-mode-style hybrids. -RBB

From GM Media Online: -RBB

Is it just me, or does MT's '3 Series rival' sketch look like a Sentra? -RBB

It's pretty darn close, and where there are differences I actually prefer the production version. GM's done this one right. -RBB

Subtle, but I like it. Long live the mononostril! -RBB

http://jalopnik.com/5047980/chinese-automa...sensation-sedan Who says the Chinese don't know how to design cars.... -RBB

Cars That Go Boom by L'Trimm So many kinds, where can we start? we like them dumb and we like them smart. I like the ones with the pretty eyes, Well i like all kinds of guys. Stop. What happened, how about the ones we especially like? Which ones? You know the ones with the cars that go.. I hear you.. Hit it! {beat...............} It was me and the posse with Bunny (D) We were cruising in the Jags and the Lambourgini, When low and behold there appeared a mirage, He was hooking up a car in his daddy's garage. We stopped short, did a double take, He was looking so fly, I thought I wasn't awake. He was obviously hooking up bass, I asume, But then he turned a little button and the car went boom. We like the cars, the cars that go boom, We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom. We like the cars, the cars that go boom. We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom. We like them short, and we like them tall, We like them one, and we like them all. They're always adding speakers when they find the room, Cuz they know we like the guys with the cars that go boom. And see my boyfriend really knows where it's at, He's got 50 inch woofers all along the back. He makes a comment on going to my room, But I'd rather stay out with his car that goes boom. We like the cars, the cars that go boom, We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom. We like the cars, the cars that go boom. We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom. Now if your car ain't got it, go out and get it, We like the boom and don't you forget it. So turn down the treble, and flaunt your bass, So your car can be heard almost any place. Cuz when you're in the street you can't go far, Without hearing the boom pouring out your car. So if your speaker's weak, then please turn it off, Coz we like the cars that sound so tough. We like the cars, the cars that go boom, We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom. We like the cars, the cars that go boom. We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom. Everybody just beep your horn Everybody just beep your horn if you hear us, Now clap! Hit it! Beep, beep beep beep beep! Come on everybody! Hey, hey hey hey hey! Beep, beep beep beep beep! -RBB

I could be wrong, but I thought it was the Caravan that started the cupholder trend... -RBB

Yeah, cars with torsion-bar rear suspensions don't handle well at all. -RBB

One of these (not this exact one, but looked just like it) was behind me in traffic for a bit yesterday: -RBB

Actually, I believe they're updating it because it's a seven-year-old design. It's only been on sale in the US since 2006, but the same basic car was first debuted in Japan in June 2001. It is commendable that the second-gen NA version is coming so quickly as compared to the first one, and it's a credit to Honda that an older design still stacks up well against much newer North American competition, but to insinuate a 2-3 year product cycle for the fit simply because they're striving to be the best is a bit disingenuous IMO. -RBB

This is what I've been saying for a while now. Pontiac/Buick/GMC should be considered one 'brand'. Give Buick three or four good Lexus-lite models, Pontiac three or four good BMW-lite models, and GMC three or four good upscale Trucks/crossovers, and you've got yourself one well-rounded showroom that differentiates itself well from Chevy, Saturn, or Cadillac dealers. -RBB

Saw a white '47 Cadillac coupe on the highway yesterday. -RBB

FTFY :AH-HA_wink: -RBB

A used one, anyway - I haven't figured up savings and incentives on new vehicles. According to this article, the resale value of a Chevy Tahoe has dropped by 17% in the last year. Assuming the for-sale price of a used has dropped a similar amount, that extra money buys a lot of gas. A used Tahoe that was $40K last year, according to those numbers, would now cost $33,200. Let's compare that number to purchasing a Lexus RX400h. They're currently selling used for what a Tahoe would have cost last year, about $40K. The Tahoe gets about 17 combined city/highway MPG. The Lexus, 29 MPG combined. Let's say gas remains stable at $4.29/gal (a big assumption, I know). If you drove 15k miles a year, you're paying the following: 15K miles @ $4.25 /gal: Tahoe - 882.4 gals of gas = $3750.20 RX400h - 517.24 gals of ga = 2198.27 Lexus savings = $1551.93/year At that rate, it would take 4 years and three months to recoup the $6800 difference in the two vehicles - assuming you paid cash and did not finance the difference, in which case it would take even longer. This is admittedly a little simplistic, but I think it gets the idea across. Some are dumping their SUVs for pittances and paying over list for hybrids. While it's nice to have a smaller environmental impact, if they're doing this because gas prices are so high, then they're likely coming out worse in the long run. -RBB

Saw a mint-condition '69 Mercury Cyclone yesterday. Those are very rare around here. -RBB

"The Power Luxury" - better or worse than "Pontiac is Car"? Discuss. -RBB