MyerShift

*If I Only Had a Brain!* Thank you Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz!

Amusing post! I don't, and won't since I don't have a clue who anyone is, really. And besides, how much can you tell about someone from their posts? It's not the same as being around them.

Wicked awesome! Oh good Lord, someone has found an alternate and legitimate use for various bouncy SUV's! This is what could be the best marketing exercise EVER!!!!!

As much as I detest BMW's because they seem overrated regardless of how good they really are, I would have chosen the 330i here as well. I like its interior, especially with aluminum trim and no i-Drive. I don't care for its exterior. The front has the silhouette of Audi's gaping maw, and the rest of the car resembles a hacked potato, yuck. Hmm, I hadn't paid attention to the plastic blank panels in the IS350 until someone mentioned it. Thank you! Now I can dislike this other ugly even more! And, I find the Mercedes-Benz to be outdated in many areas, regardless of engine. I like the multitude of buttons for its Comand system, though- just like I really do find the button madness of SAAB to be cool.

Here's almost exactly what they looked like: That thing reminds me of the Chevrolet Corsica/Beretta! Depending on price and quality/reliability, this new VW could be my favourite new small coupe! (Currently, that title belongs to the Chevrolet Cobalt (especially in SS trim))

The array of powertrains is extremely surprising. Generally, small cars have one or two engines to choose from, and two transmissions.

Holy shit, DCX is turning all of their American automobiles into boxes! Yes, that 6-speed version of Chrysler's 4-speed automatic has been on Allpar for quite some time now. I certainly hope Chrysler has finally figured out how to do a transmission.

You know, I do believe that I read somewhere that Chrysler swore they would never do a Jeep that was unable to be a true off-roader. One of the other things I have read was that one of the main reasons that Schrempp wanted Chrysler was for their profit star- Jeep. Ta-dah! Now we have car-based "wussy" Jeeps. It's too bad that most people don't even begin to understand the real purpose of an SUV, you know, to go places unreachable due to terrain by other vehicles. But, in order to survive, I can understand why this is happening. Brand expnsion to make Jeep more viable to all sorts or consumers like the five-foot blonde hairdresser that finds an inch of snow a disaster (don't kill me for that one, please <_< ). And hey, the more Chrysler vehicles that are out there, the happier I am!

Not quite as bad as I thought it would be, but as I have stated before, DaimlerChrysler's North American Operations (Chrysler Corp.) need a proper small car. This, thing, disappoints in most areas. It's too big and too pricey when equipped with the various gizmos and gadgets. In a way, looks like the younger, retarded brother of the Pacifica :P . I'm not saying it won't grow on me, as the second generation of LH cars (notably the Concorde) grew on me after a while. It definitely needs a differently shaped and body-colour grille, plus less SUV flavour. SUV's suck. Just because you make trucks Dodge (cough, Stuttgart, cough) doesn't mean all Dodges have to bear THAT kind of family resemblance.

What's wrong with the new 9-5's interior? The corporate stereo head unit, that's what. What's wrong with the exterior? Um, I think you mean "What isn't wrong with the exterior" Gee, and I liked the 9-3 with all its buttons. To me, having buttons make the car seem important. No buttons at all = so what with me. *cough* i-Drive *cough* Plus, it looked cool. And if you owned the car, then soon enough you'd have all of the damn buttons memorized anyway!

The VW Phaeton and Buick Lucerne do share a resemblance in their rears, but I find the Lucerne's lamps to be more finely detailed:

Too generic and squishy looking. Interior is ok, but centre stack needs attention. Rear/Greenhouse is like a Ford Taurus, and the front is just rather ugly. Of all the W-body makeovers, I think that the LaCrosse(Allure) is one the worst (others being the Grand Prix & Monte Carlo) and the best is the Chevrolet Impala. The other great W-body was the Olds Intrigue.

I'm sorry, but please let retro die. Leave the past in the past where it should stay. Take some cues, but no redos. And, as nice as the Opel-based Saturns may look or are, it still ticks me off that Buick isn't getting as much attention and funding as the other divisions. GM could have saved itself a lot of trouble if it hadn't eliminated Olds and neglected Buick and the others. (So much for leaving the past where it should stay) They should have killed Saturn. I mean, it had the lowest sales, didn't it? It seems odd that one would take the most pathetic of the bunch and spend more to elevate it and make it desirable than something that already has several of those (and more-like heritage) qualities. Things like this are almost as bad as VW trying to sell the Phaeton, as nice as it it. The brand isn't right for a luxury flagship like that. The way I see it, the brands that need the most attention currently (and over Saturn) are: 1.) Buick (Need I say anything?) 2.) Pontiac (We need more action and excitement!) 3.) Cadillac (keep `em rolling!) 4.) SAAB (they need help if you want to keep them)

Motor Trend indicates that GM is, in fact, abandoning minivans. I personally feel that that's a terrible idea. It's like admitting defeat, admitting that it can't build excellent minivans. I just hate ego-busters lke that.

I'd take the new Impala for exterior appearance. Interior and powertrain (torque issues aside :P ) I would go with the Honda. I mean, come on, a "240" horsepower V6 with a six speed stick? Gimme!

New steering wheel! Oh yeah, as if that's what the Malibu really needs. In my opinion, the only thing that it needs for the interior are new climate control vents that look a little more expensive and special. The rest seems ok. And yes, I drive one when they first came out. It was nice-base model with the 2.2L ECOTEC. The car seemed very solid and quiet. I just didn't care for the vents, more so than the steering wheel (or front end styling, which is still wrong even with its latest update, looks too tall).

Handling of a retirement home golf cart?? LOL! What a load of crap... Though I prefer the PT (Chrysler fan here, sorry) there is nothing wrong with the way the HHR looks, and I believe that is why cars like these sell. It's called S-T-Y-L-E, yes, smile and nod with me on this one. Sure, it's late to the party, but baby, when you look this good, everyone notices ya'.

Economics aside when considering production costs, and technical impossibilities, my ideal powertrain would probably be: Engine 2.5L Camshaft-Free Inline 4 cylinder engine 6 Electronically Actuated valves/cylinder (Unlimited Variable Valve Timing) (hehe) Aluminum Block and Heads (Or Ceramic, when the time comes) Direct and Port Fuel Injection Turbocharged and Intercooled Twin Counter-Rotating Balance Shafts for Smootheness Gasoline/ FlexFuel Ethanol Capabilities Transmission 7 speed close ratio manual transmission Layout Electronically Controlled All-Wheel-Drive with driver selectable torque splits varying from 10% front/90% rear to 90%front/10% rear as well as an automatic torque split selection Odd and Complicated...Perfect!

Bravo to all. What sense is a forum and discussions without differing opinions? Cheers to GM for great introductions in 2005 and 2004 and the future! And kudos to those who observe all sides of the story, and point them out to twits like me, lol.

And who says stereotypes are all wrong? :P

Some of that is really sick. You just KNOW that no one survived some of them. And here is what my vehicle looks like when mutilated:

Since my digital camera's software program doesn't seem to work on my computer, and I wouldn't be able to firgure it out, my sig is of a car that is not mine, though looks just like mine. Hehe.

Shh, don't tell anyone, but I like the Grand Am Coupes. Especially in that nice dark green. And stickshift? Say no more.

Wicked. Only the fastest compact performance car out there. And since it's a Chrysler product, I like it even better. It shows why no one should underestimate the potential of the domestic automakers. I really like them in that Electric Blue or Black.

I'd say I drive normally most of the time. However, there are many circumstances which cause that to change. The Exceptions? 1.) When that twit driving the SUV in the left lane more than 10 mph below the speed limit, now that pisses me off. Or Grandpa/Grandma going 35 in 55 zone on a road like U.S. 12 (Chicago Street) and oncoming traffic prevents a pass. As soon as the opportunity comes up, I'm pass them. I love driving on the freeway, speed control set to 75-80 mph, and insisting that slower moving traffic in the passing lane get over where they belong. I wish I knew what was wrong with people in that they insist on sitting there in the passing lane!! I hate it when people don't use their turn signals when the change lanes, turn, etc. And it's usually the damn SUV drivers doing it too! I mean, come on, I know I'm down here in my cloud car, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever whenever you want. (even though this doesn't cahnge my driving on most days) 2.) And if there are curves on a dry day? Well, that's just an invitation to have some fun. Kind of the Exit 13 for Interstate 69 North. It's fun to probe the laws of physics there, just have to have a bit of cowardliness to prevent an "uh-oh". I remember a couple of years ago I had the LeBaron Convert up to about 121. My friend in his V8 Thunderbird was coming into view again. Hehe. Less of a speed governor on my car versus his.