Blake Noble

I can afford to sacrifice function for form, so I will always buy coupes. There have been some highly attractive sedans, though. But the emotional aspect of a coupe's design will always win me over.

Tom Slick from Chicago, IL. He wears a fanny pack. He is a motherfucker.

Wait ... how did anyone miss these? This looks like either a Hyundai or a NG Impreza ...

That's what think. The simple fact that the markings have three lines makes them similar to the hobo code for "not a safe place" (shown here, fourth column, fourth square to the right). Also, interestingly: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_iconography#Tilaka So I guess it could also mean someone really loves Shiva?

Nosferatu Man - Slint Spiderland will always be on the top of my list of essential albums. What an album. What a band.

Everyone defending the imports in that argument are all pompous asses.

As if it couldn't get any better:

Basically, the other guy offered to shine his shoes just before the camera got turned on (there is a barely audible clip of dialog about it just as the video begins). The old man took it as a joke and asked him how much he charged and the other guy took it as racist that he was talking to him about it and got pissed off. Because the old man realized the other guy was calling him racist it pissed him off. It snowballed into an epic fight where the other guy gets his ass seriously handed to him by a 67-year old man wearing a "I AM A MOTHERFUCKER" tee-shirt and a fanny pack. Yes, that was his tee-shirt. This is a still from the actual vid.

That I can't stop laughing at this video? I'm speechless regarding the old man's shirt. Disclaimer: don't watch near the end if you don't like the sight of blood.

Perhaps the ROPOS should be called the ROPOSMP (rusty old piece of shit money pit) from now on.

I'm not going to be much help here, but I will do the best I can to tell you what I do know. Ocn can probably elaborate on this better than me. There are four methods that I know that people use to remove pinstripes: a stripe-off wheel, a razor blade, spray-on chemicals, or a heat gun. The razor blade is for DIYers who don't feel like slapping down $10 bucks on a stripe-off wheel or $50 to $100 bucks for a heat gun, so it's pretty much safe to say that I don't think any professional body shops use this particular method. You can cause clear coat damage using a razor blade after all. The 3M Stripe-Off Wheel is a giant rubber disc that is attached to a shank. DIYers and professionals alike use them because they can be used in power tools capable of spinning at least 4000rpms, like a power drill or Dremel tool. They can also be used in combination with a Large Area Stripe Remover disc for things like large decals, etc. Now, I will caution that the SOW can not only remove pinstripes, but burn clear coat off as well. It's fairly difficult not to on old, cracking pinstripe. I removed the pinstripe on my old '98 S-10 with a SOW in an old power drill and wound up burning the clear coat off of the passenger side front quarter panel (it did great everywhere else). With such little age on that Buick, though, I think there would be little chance for that happening. Whoever uses one should use it very carefully. The heat gun is another method that leaves a fair amount of chance of not allowing the adhesive of the pinstripe to remove sections of clear coat. I would also expect some professional bodyshops to use this method as well. There's also spray on products from 3M (GP Adhesive Remover, Decal and Woodgrain Remover) that can remove pinstripes quite safely as well. Sometimes these products can break down pinstripe to where it takes a rag, some elbow grease, and a good hand wash to get them off. I would ask your dealer if they can remove the stripes and then ask exactly what method they use to remove them. Use your best judgment based on what they tell you. If I'm telling him something monumentally wrong, someone step in and correct me. I know how much it sucks to remove pinstripe and damage the clear in the process.

It was, but it nicely integrated the styling of Silverado HD front clip. Something that can only be done on the SUVs with custom fabrication work done to the rear quarters.

It's bad enough that Derek mentioned he wants an Av and I've been seeing them everywhere (and wanting one now) since, but with the GMc converted pics being posted here, now I really want one to transform into a GMC!! If you do buy a GMT-900 Avalanche for the conversion, use the Yukon front clip. For example, I have seen a 900 Silverado with a 900 Tahoe front clip running around in the wild before and it wasn't pretty. The flaring of the front and rear fenders simply do not mesh well at all. While I will admit everything forward of the cab was fine, the rear of the truck really turned me off and looked like a half-retarded dually. It would be the opposite for a new Avalanche with a GMC Sierra front clip; everything aft of the rear doors would be a mismatched mess. Now, someone could modify the front fenders to accept the Sierra hood, headlights, grille, and bumper but that would be a horribly expensive amount of work. You could also modify the rear quarters to accept the crew cab pickup's bedside flaring, but again, it would be a horribly expensive amount of work to undertake. It is possible, though, to make the package look factory; anyone remember the GMT-900 Duramax Suburban SEMA concept?

It all depends on if who removes the stripes knows what they are doing.

Wait, wait, wait. There's a Regal wagon too? I know there is an Insignia wagon but I didn't think that bodystyle was going to be sold here with the Regal badge.

The Buick. Agreed on the rarity factor mentioned earlier.

Other than the donk wheels and stupid ride height, this looks sweet: Again, screw the wheels:

You can have the plastic painted, which is a total PITA to do.

While I also hated the lower bodyside cladding on the regular Avalanche, I liked it better than the WBH models because the front-end styling was so much better and so much more aggressive. I wonder if there is a way to combine the front of the BH models with the cleaner sides of the WBH models? The WBH also has a strong-suit: I've seen one converted over to have GMC Sierra front sheetmetal and it does look awesome.

If only I could make an $800 dollar offer on it ... It looks really, really solid and not at a horrible price either. The lower half of the paint work would have to be redone, though.

Having a fire sale of random stuff that's collecting dust on Craigslist. Lets see if I can get to it in time. Think I can get $200 bucks out of an Atari 2600, two joysticks, and a buttload of games? On the other hand, though, I don't want to sell it. Who needs Mass Effect 2 when you have Asteroids?

Poland = Auto-Trolled.

You are correct, sir. I also failed to remember about the Indians out amongst the plains ...

It shouldn't take long for Camino to make the swap. It took under a half-day's time total to swap the engine and trans out in my old Regal. A transmission-only swap shouldn't take longer than that.

I understand your pain, sir. I am the same way about F-Body cars. When you feel a car or truck fits you and who you are perfectly, you won't want to buy, own, or drive anything else for very long.