And as a follow-up to this post, since Oldsmobile is disappearing, maybe GM should take the 4.0L V8 from the Aurora, and stick it in the Park Avenue, and then add a fourth porthole; then give the other six-cylinder Buicks three portholes? That way they'd at least be (somewhat) consistent with older Buick heritage.
The Solistice had a porthole trailing the shape of the Pontiac logo. A small but clever detail I liked from the show car. Range Rovers will have them..Are they making a come back?
one porthole per cylinder. Now all older Buicks, or at least the ones I grew up with, were all 8-cylinder cars. However, 4-portholes was always reserved for the premium Roadmaster. I don't think we'll ever see "all" 8-cylinder Buicks again, but now that the Aurora is going, I could easily see that engine going in the premium Buick model, which is the Park Avenue.
The Aurora engine is probably expensive, like any DOHC V8 unit. Since the Park Avenue is marketed as a "premium" car, it makes sense. It's positioned just under a Caddy DeVille.
For some reason GM is addicted to that big 3.8l engine. I guess they have it figured out and it's cheap to just keep making it.
It is nice and torquey, but Buick will have older buyers as long as GM doesn't offer something in that price range comparable to the G35 (3.5l, 260 normally aspirated horses).
I've never cared for models that small. I've never found the detailing to be very good. It's just too small to get it right. Although, these models look pretty good for 1:43. I much prefer a larger 1:18 scale model.
BTW, I saw in London in Sloane Square, a few years ago, a gorgeous British Racing Green Jaguar XK SS, like the model displayed.
model range has the largest number of cars, including Legacy wagons! There are a few Imprezas also in the 1:18 scale series. AutoArt makes beautiful stuff.
Bob: do you have today's AN yet? Lutz is talking about ditching the cladding on all Pontiacs.
Can you believe the stuff on the Avalanche costs $750?! They will make it optional, apparently. Though it's designed that way, so they'll have to change the sheetmetal to get rid of all the cladding around the wheel wells.
Also, the Cayenne is supposed to cost about $67 grand. They're only forecasting 12,500 sales per year, not a hard to achieve number.
the real name of those portholes? I'm pretty sure it was something monstrously dorky like "aerodynamic ventiports." The sort of name you pick after a 4-martini lunch.
All this retro stuff tickles me. Now if we can bring back the Ladybird hood ornament for Caddies that doubled as the hood latch. To open the hood you had to give this lovely winged lady one heckuva mean karate chop to her chin.
Story, remember the hidden gas cap on 1950s Caddy? They were under the left taillight! You had to push the little round reflector (button) at the base of the taillight to release it, then flip the taillight up to find the gas cap!
Also, a lot of 50s cars used to hide the gas cap behind the rear license plate. The license was on a spring-loaded mount.
Man, that dude is heading down a one way path to revolution. And when it comes, the new guys are gonna have all those shiny F-15s and AWACS to play with........
I actually like the hidden gas cap idea, even with the locking gas caps that are becoming the norm on modern cars (but not - ahem - on my Forester). I also liked having the filler in the rear center of the car, as on my first car ('66 Mustang) and my hobby car ('63 Lark). Safety aspects notwithstanding, it allows the driver to pull up to either side of the pump.
Whenever you pull in to a busy gas station, the only available gas pump is on the wrong side of the car, in terms of the gas cap location...
I often wondered why there isn't a gas filler/cap on both sides of the car? Remember the old Jag-u-ar sedans? They had two gas tanks, with a filler on each rear fender. My father-in-law had one. He hated it, as it had Lucas electrics controlling the tanks. Need I say more...
I used to drive a Caddie like that Bob. It gave me a smug sense of satisfaction when the gas pump jockey had to come knock on the window because he didn't know where to put the gas. Not a problem I've had lately!
....I'm just here to fill the creamers and start a fresh pot of coffee.
Krispy Kreme, anyone?
lark6: Meet the Members will be the spot for new people to introduce themselves and/or get directions to discussions to post their questions. Also, the place for general Subaru talk.
Don't be surprised to see our roving host, Kirstie, checking the counter here for the next few days. I'll be out of town till next Tuesday.
You bet, man. A Southern icon moves North and conquers. Many a long study night at UGa and Emory fueled by KKs. Such anticipation driving by the big store on East Ponce de Leon waiting for the "HOT DOUGHNUTS NOW" neon sign to start flashing. They need to get the store in Penn Station back open, at least before my next trip into NYC.
paisan: That's what I thought a "Guinea Badge" was but I didn't want to make any assumptions nor ethnic slurs. I live in a largely Italian neighborhood and see a lot of those. I use the term "guinea" to describe guinea fowl, the small, chicken-like birds that my grandparents had on their farm for eggs and meat.
It's smart if they both fill up the same gas tank. It's dumb if they fill two separate gas tanks (which is what your post said). Imagine having to gas up twice to fill both tanks.
I really don't see why auto manufacturers haven't offered this before. It can't be "that" expensive to do. It certainly would make life at the gas pump just a bit easier.
Then again, we have enough sources for CELs, and this would maybe double the number of annoying dealer visits for little vacuum leaks. Maybe we should rethink that.
I think the CEL issue is more a matter of "how" people fill their tanks, not how tank filler there are. Although I do see your point; it just doubles the possibility for those so inclined not to tighten the gas cap properly.
The closer to the rear bumper, a gas filler is, the more it becomes a fire hazard in a rear end collision.
I think the CEL/gas cap problem could be easily rectified if there would be just a "reset button" that only involves the gas cap, that the driver could hit. That way you wouldn't have to visit the dealer.
Comments
I don't think having a gas filler on both sides of the car is dumb. In fact, I think it's smart.
Bob
Bob
rsholland "Subaru Crew - Future Models II" Mar 25, 2002 9:36am
And as a follow-up to this post, since Oldsmobile is disappearing, maybe GM should take the 4.0L V8 from the Aurora, and stick it in the Park Avenue, and then add a fourth porthole; then give the other six-cylinder Buicks three portholes? That way they'd at least be (somewhat) consistent with older Buick heritage.
Bob
The Solistice had a porthole trailing the shape of the Pontiac logo. A small but clever detail I liked from the show car. Range Rovers will have them..Are they making a come back?
-juice
Bob
That Aurora engine was expensive to produce, so GM may drop it. It's a baby Northstar, basically.
Then again, doesn't the IRL require a production version of the V8 engine to be available to the public? I'm not sure. Infiniti has the V8 in their Q.
-juice
found this on Autart's 1/43rd scale website....scroll down almost all the way...the subie models...
http://www3.autoartmodels.com/pages/oldpage/street_43.htm
Ah got to gets me one of dem wagons!
The Aurora engine is probably expensive, like any DOHC V8 unit. Since the Park Avenue is marketed as a "premium" car, it makes sense. It's positioned just under a Caddy DeVille.
Bob
It is nice and torquey, but Buick will have older buyers as long as GM doesn't offer something in that price range comparable to the G35 (3.5l, 260 normally aspirated horses).
-juice
BTW, I saw in London in Sloane Square, a few years ago, a gorgeous British Racing Green Jaguar XK SS, like the model displayed.
Bob
-juice
Thanks Karen.
Bob
-mike
John
Can you believe the stuff on the Avalanche costs $750?! They will make it optional, apparently. Though it's designed that way, so they'll have to change the sheetmetal to get rid of all the cladding around the wheel wells.
Also, the Cayenne is supposed to cost about $67 grand. They're only forecasting 12,500 sales per year, not a hard to achieve number.
-juice
Maybe it'll trickle down and the Baja will loose its cladding? ;-D
-Colin
All this retro stuff tickles me. Now if we can bring back the Ladybird hood ornament for Caddies that doubled as the hood latch. To open the hood you had to give this lovely winged lady one heckuva mean karate chop to her chin.
Also, a lot of 50s cars used to hide the gas cap behind the rear license plate. The license was on a spring-loaded mount.
Bob
Bob
Ed
Jim J.
I often wondered why there isn't a gas filler/cap on both sides of the car? Remember the old Jag-u-ar sedans? They had two gas tanks, with a filler on each rear fender. My father-in-law had one. He hated it, as it had Lucas electrics controlling the tanks. Need I say more...
Bob
http://www3.autoartmodels.com/pages/oldpage/perfor3_1.htm
John
Bob
John
P.S. I'm planning on going Saturday April 6
Ken
Bob
-mike
2. paisan: please define "Guinea Badge."
Ed
-mike
Krispy Kreme, anyone?
lark6: Meet the Members will be the spot for new people to introduce themselves and/or get directions to discussions to post their questions. Also, the place for general Subaru talk.
Don't be surprised to see our roving host, Kirstie, checking the counter here for the next few days. I'll be out of town till next Tuesday.
KarenS
Host
Owners Clubs
-mike
paisan: That's what I thought a "Guinea Badge" was but I didn't want to make any assumptions nor ethnic slurs. I live in a largely Italian neighborhood and see a lot of those. I use the term "guinea" to describe guinea fowl, the small, chicken-like birds that my grandparents had on their farm for eggs and meat.
Ed
My dad's Buick had the gas cap behind the license plate. I agree this is better - get gas on either side, no waiting in lines.
Bob: BOTH sides? Now that is just plain dumb.
Karen: I love KK donuts, but no thanks, gotta lower my cholesterol. Doc has me on a diet!
-juice
Bob
Thanks, Edmunds.
-juice
-juice
Bob
My Miata is easier - the gas opening is on top of the rear driver side fender. This way I can reach it even from the other side, easily.
I don't see how they could fix that with a wagon bodystyle, though.
-juice
I really don't see why auto manufacturers haven't offered this before. It can't be "that" expensive to do. It certainly would make life at the gas pump just a bit easier.
Bob
-juice
Bob
Maybe if it were farther back, close to the corner of the car, you could get the gas hose around to reach it.
I like simple solutions. Something cheap and easy that makes life better.
-juice
I think the CEL/gas cap problem could be easily rectified if there would be just a "reset button" that only involves the gas cap, that the driver could hit. That way you wouldn't have to visit the dealer.
Bob
Just read this in AN: the new Navigator's prices are up $3,245-$3,445. Pretty bold in this economy, but the luxury sport ute class is still growing.
-juice