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General Motors discussions

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  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    What GM doesn't want to mention about E85 is that you take a 15-20% hit in both horsepower and fuel mileage when you use it.
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    Yes but the most important thing is the addiction that we will not longer be fueling to oil. ;)
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    that gas stations here in Maryland are soon going to run a blend of 90% gasoline/10% ethanol. Dunno if it's true or not. Would a blend like that really do much good? On one hand, I guess it wouldn't hurt fuel economy as much as a blend of 85% ethanol/15% gasoline. It might not even be that noticeable. And it would reduce oil usage a bit. And provide a use for all those crops the government pays farmers to grow and then plow under.

    My buddy from Michigan says they already do this there.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    E85 gotta be great news for farmers! I just wish we would stop covering fertile farmlands with shopping malls and tracts of $400K cardboard McMansions. Breaking an oil addiction in favor of E85 can be like a recovering junkie. Instead of being hooked on herion, he'll be instead hooked on methodone.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    The stations in Ohio for Speedway (subsidiary of Marathon) have had 10% for years and tried not to let people know. The rep for company told me years ago it might hurt mileage slightly; my experience was it hurt it more than that.

    But it doesn't help farmers much if any. It costs as much to make the ethanol as it saves in energy if I understand the reports I've heard recently. It does benefit ADM, a main owner of the plants which make the ethanol from sources including corn. Of course if you donate enough to politicians they turn anything into law to benefit your company...

    I put only pure gasoline in. I avoid the Speedway chain which no longer has the required little tags on each pump telling you that the fuel may be a mixture up to 10% ethanol. They used to be required by state law in Ohio (attorney general's opinion). Of course the attorney general has now changed a couple of times, so guess what?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I actually read 10%. However if you have a 300 hp. engine, and want to stay at 300 with ethanol, then just give it 310+ to compensate for the loss. ;) simple enough huh ?

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    But it doesn't help farmers much if any. It costs as much to make the ethanol as it saves in energy if I understand the reports I've heard recently. My father in-law said that he would actually get paid something for his corn or Milo if we went to Ethanol as a fuel source. The yankee farmers get enough rain so they will make more than my FIL who has to rely alot on irrigation. ;)

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Heard That !!! Who can afford these things anyways ?????

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I've never tried them, but would an octane booster help? I've seen a product at Pep Boys that claims to boost octane to 104. Are these products a scam?
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Nope they do work. I used to put em in my 92' Bonneville SSEi and it was faster. ;)

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Somebody's buying them because the landscape in Montgomery County is full of 'em! I think it's mostly people living beyond their means. I bet if you open the doors of some of those McMansions, you'll see a scene reminicent of any inner city ghetto. The place will be unheated and you'll see the family huddled around a kerosene heater eating ramen noodles from chipped bowls as an old black and white TV flickers in the background.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    lemko-OH MY GAWD your a funny clown. :D You however are a very good storyteller. I can just "picture" your words. ;)

    BTW- I love the word McMansion. ;)

    Rocky
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Hell, sign me up for half a dozen! They're more like $700K+ in these parts. More like $850K+ if you want a nice one. A house up the street sold last summer for $490,000. Decent-sized 2-bedroom brick rambler with a 2-car carport and a basement, and a separate cinderblock building that could easily accommodate 4 cars, all on two acres. Well, last time I drove down that way, there was a sign out in front that said "Hearing" on it, and it listed a proposal to subdivide it into FIVE lots! So basically, almost a half-million just for a TEAR-DOWN! Heck, at the time it was on the market, I was really wishing I could have afforded to buy it!

    Lemko, about 5-6 years ago, when I delivered pizzas, I remember taking a delivery to this new house which, at the time was probably a $200-250K house (which back then was pretty pricey for around here). Anyway, there were a couple of Benzes in the driveway and an Escalade at the curb, all of them with blingy aftermarket wheels (can't remember if people were calling it bling-bling back then though)

    Dude shows up at the door in no shirt, with expensive looking tatoos all over his body. I swear there was not a stick of furniture in that house! I hate to jump to conclusions, but I was really expecting to get stiffed on the tip. However, he actually gave me a pretty good tip.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Where do you live again ?....

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...you could get a beautiful house for $250K in Montgomery County. Today, a single home built in the 1950s went for $309K in my neighborhood. Heck, I probably couldn't afford my own place if I bought it today.

    I remember when gold chains were a big fad. I remember a guy who wore more gold than Mr. T. His entire new worth was hanging around his neck. However, he lived in a really dumpy house in a shabby neighborhood and drove a beat 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Rocky, I'm in Maryland, Prince George's County, in the 'burbs. Well, it used to be the boonies but then once farming became unprofitable they decided to grow McMansions instead. If you want a new single family home around here anymore, that's your only choice. Brand-new townhouses typically fall into the $400K range, while an apartment style condo is your typical "starter home" these days, and they're generally around $200K+.

    I did a search on a real estate website, and the last time I checked, the cheapest house for sale in my area code, 20769, was $250,000. 1/2 acre lot, built in 1889, and with this blurb... "VALUE IS IN THE LAND...HOUSE IS UNHABITABLE!! HOUSE COULD FALL DOWN; BULLDOZE HOUSE...AND THEN BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME! NEAR SOME SHOPS"

    It's crazy around here...the only way I can afford it is because my family's been around here since like forever. Well, my Grandma's uncle built the house I live in back in 1916, so at least that far back!
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Heck, to p***-off the yuppie neighbors, I'd leave the house standing and put a trailer next to it! I've seen those so-called "townhouses." They remind me of Philly's numerous rowhouses. Gee, leave the city and move to the suburbs into your own rowhome!

    Anyway, we better get back on topic or be directed to the real estate discussion boards.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    MY GAWD :surprise: .....That's expensive. If you ever sell out, you will be rich/well-off if you relocate.... ;)

    BTW- Do you have to fertilize & Water those McMansions ? :D

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Ya'll must make some serious money to buy cars.....What do most people drive around there ? domestic or foreign ?

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    In Philly, I'd say it's 75% domestic and 25% foreign. Philly is a very strong union city. My neighborhood has all kinds of cars from the kids' trashy beaters to S-Class Mercedes. Yesterday, I saw a guy in a nice suit passed-out in a white Mercedes SLK 280 coupe.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I'd say that the mix is roughly 50/50 foreign/domestic. And the only reason that the domestic content is so high is trucks and SUVs...with cars it's definitely majority foreign. I wouldn't say the average is overly extravagant though. Lots of Hondas and Toyotas. I work for NASA, so there's a disproportionate number of Priuses and Insights here at work.

    As for GM though, one thing I'll say for them is that the Lucerne, Cobalt, and '06 Impala seem to have made a lot of headway. In contrast, when the '04 Malibu came out, '04 Grand Prix, LaCrosse, etc, it seemed to take much longer before you started seeing them regularly. I remember when the '04 Malibu came out, I think it was several months before I even saw one other than on a sales lot.
  • plektoplekto Member Posts: 3,738
    Housing has gone up 50% in the last 3 years here in California, far FAR outstripping any levels of wage increases.

    500K gets you a hole in the wall - 6000 sq ft lot in a neighborhood with gangs, bars on the windows, and homeless peeing on the side of your house.

    Sigh. I say - build a Geodesic home. Best cost-to sq ft ratio of any structure, hurricane-proof, and the 40 ft tall roofline has got to piss off the neighbors. :)
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Pletko, I've always been kinda intrigued by those geodesic homes. There are two of them within a few miles of my home. One went up in the early 80's, and I'm not sure when the other was built. I didn't know about it until I delivered a pizza to it one night in the 90's.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    What the heck is a geodesic homes :confuse:

    Rocky
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    It's a housing style that looks like this.

    IIRC, the exterior is completely self-supporting, so the inside has no bearing walls, and almost infinite possibilities for layouts.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    WOW I like that. I was thinking it was a dome-ish house :shades:

    Rocky
  • torque_rtorque_r Member Posts: 500
    Another massive recall for GM, affecting 800,000 full-size trucks.
    It will be interesting to see how GM does for the first quarter. It will probably be a small loss, and will hopefully break even by mid year.
  • torque_rtorque_r Member Posts: 500
    New GM's I am expecting to see for the first time next month at the New York Auto Show.

    2007 Chevy Silvarado.
    2007 GMC Sierra.
    2007/2008 GMC Arcadia.
    2007/2008 Saturn Outlook.
    2008 Cadillac CTS?? (or Maybe at Los Angeles in November)
    2007 Buick LaCrosse Ultra (with a 303hp V8)
    2007 Pontiac G5 (The Cobalt SS twin)
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    I bet the roofing people dislike geodesic domes. :)

    Next thing ya know, there will be the goedesic Scion xG !

    -loren
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    Same recall they had on later trucks. the rear tailgate cable corrodes and breaks.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...just think, if you had a geodesic house like the one in the picture, you could get some blue and white paint and display your true pride in Mopar by painting the roof to resemble a collection of Chrysler pentastars!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Buckminster Fuller's 'Dymaxion' was geodesic in design theory, I believe. Not a looker

    And where I am, the housing crap is just as bad. If I want to be within 30 mins of work, I might be able to get lucky and find a plain old 1500 sq ft 60s rambler in a passable area for 400K ish. Otherwise, it's condo city.

    Speaking of GM design, maybe this thread should relate to the 2007 models. I saw the new Avalanche in 'Automobile', and it finally lost that god-awful side cladding!
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Have you any pictures of the new Avalanche? Does the front end resemble that of the Tahoe?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I just googled it and found this

    No more rubbermaid side cladding. The current/first Avalanche was certainly in the running for one of the ugliest vehicles on the road. GM brilliance.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Not bad! Now if they only made the triangular and horizontal parts over the bed body color...
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    isn't bad looking. I wonder though, if the grille would look better if it were more symmetrical, instead of having the lower portion being larger than the upper?
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    and it finally lost that god-awful side cladding!

    Cladding was optional. People bought by choice.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...is there was less surface to wax. It's easier to spray Armor-All over your vehicle than to apply two coats of wax! :P
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    Dymaxion you say....
    The car is, or was, for viewing at the National Auto Museum, Reno, NV.

    What an excellent auto museum. They have a Toronado, which is one of GM's best efforts. Well the first ones looked cool, let's not consider the rectangular ones.

    Is it just me, or is there some sort of optical illusion which makes the new G6 sedan look smaller than it really is compared to others in it's class. Not saying good, bad or indifferent, just smaller.

    Loren
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I can't recall ever seeing one without the cladding.

    That crap really shows GM was under some piss poor design management in the early days of this century. The same anonymous irresponsible group of overpaid simps that came up with the Aztek, maybe.
  • chuck1959chuck1959 Member Posts: 654
    I saw the new Avalanche in 'Automobile', and it finally lost that god-awful side cladding!

    I believe that god-awful cladding could be deleted the last 2 year models or so.
  • chuck1959chuck1959 Member Posts: 654
    can't recall ever seeing one without the cladding

    I have quite a few without it.
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Is it just me, or is there some sort of optical illusion which makes the new G6 sedan look smaller than it really is compared to others in it's class.

    The nose sits notably lower than the trunklid, which makes it look kinda small from the front, but a side or rear view gives it the same wedge shape that Dodge abused so much in the mid-90s. The Cobalt has the same "high butt" foolishness going on, especially on the coupe.
  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    Local newspaper has article and picture on new Europe model Cadillac BLS. It has styling elements from CTS/DTS and of course is smaller. It was introduced at Geneva Auto Show. Article says it is based on Saab 9-3, but there are no details on engine/susp/etc. Wonder if any US folks might be interested in this Euro baby Caddy. Would seem to be good alternative to larger size Caddies when gas prices shoot up. Probably will be a success, as opposed to Caddy Cimmarron/Chevy Cavalier, being that it is based on Saab.
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    Maybe if AWD and not FWD.
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=9&article_id=1950

    http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0502/14/A02-89127.htm

    Per the article it is based on the "new" Epsilon architecture. Actually this is the old one which is FWD only. The future Epsilon II which will be available in FWD /AWD will be out around 2008 or so.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Not a horrible looking car, and the interior will probably kick the butt of NA offerings.

    But what does "BLS" mean? It's kind of weird.
  • jae5jae5 Member Posts: 1,206
    Ouch!!

    I mean, he is known as a head-chopper but at least he puts himself on the line, unlike Miller and others like him.

    Do you really think 'ol CG will turn into Miller in that time-frame?

    Wonder how he's really doing as head of both Renault and Nissan.
  • jae5jae5 Member Posts: 1,206
    Rock,

    Was thinking the same thing. This can be the start of the flood gates opening and "restructuring" taking on a new life. I'm just wondering how the new bankruptcy laws "really" affect companies now versus the older laws.

    Something tells me it's going to get ugly on the 31st. :sick:
  • claydogclaydog Member Posts: 26
    Baby Luxury Sedan ?
This discussion has been closed.

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