Cars and Other Driving Machines

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Don't they have gloves where you live?

Yes, and as a matter of fact I own a pair. And yet, it's not the same. Warm and toasty v. cold and furry.

The cold weather package on my 2002 enormous gas guzzling SUV did not come with the heated steering wheel option so I am forced just to ride in the heated seats and look into my heated mirrors. Apparently the 2004 cold weather package on the 5 series includes the heated steering wheel, which some day I hope to be graced with permission to drive.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
I happen to live in Texas with a lot of people who drive giant SUV's because they think they look cool. Stupid and dangerous in my opinion, but as long as they don't try to cram into a compact car space that I would (rightfully) use, whatever.

That's because we are cool.

Maybe this is more your style...
The Lexus RX400h sport utility vehicle (SUV), based on Toyota's second-generation hybrid technology, will be more fuel-efficient than an average compact sedan and have peak output of almost 20 percent above the non-hybrid RX330 SUV.

"In real-world terms, you can drive the new 400h from Los Angeles to New York and back nine times -- that's 54,000 miles -- and produce less smog-forming emissions than painting a room with a gallon of house paint"

Not all SUV's are gigantic and some of us would rather DIE than park in a compact spot. Door dings, you know.


SUV drivers are cool.

[Dave]

In case you missed it, Monday marked the start of GM's effort to get more people into the showroom by giving away 1,000 cars between now and late March. Supposedly, you don't even have to get a sales pitch or test drive to enter. You just hit a designated on-star button. Instant gratification is cool.

I'm trying to decide which brand to take my shot on (the rules say you'd get some model from the brand where you enter) -- probably Saab, but maybe something with better odds.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Dave
In case you missed it, Monday marked the start of GM's effort to get more people into the showroom by giving away 1,000 cars between now and late March. Supposedly, you don't even have to get a sales pitch or test drive to enter. You just hit a designated on-star button. Instant gratification is cool.

I'm trying to decide which brand to take my shot on (the rules say you'd get some model from the brand where you enter) -- probably Saab, but maybe something with better odds.

I don't think you're going to get an easy choice like that. Sounds like there's 1 promotional vehicle per dealership and you probably take what you get. But, who knows maybe you'll get the 1 Corvette they're giving away. And then this gives them your phone number so they can hound you for the rest of your life. Some things just aren't worth the risk...

GM plans to encourage consumers to participate in the promotion with a marketing campaign that includes TV, print, Internet and direct mail advertising. To take part, consumers must visit a local GM dealership and press a blue OnStar button in a designated promotional vehicle.
Contestants will be required to provide identifying information - the last four digits of their driver's licence number and home phone number - to an OnStar operator, who in turn will tell them whether they've won.


http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentSe...=1073280779866

[Dave]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
I don't think you're going to get an easy choice like that. Sounds like there's 1 promotional vehicle per dealership and you probably take what you get. But, who knows maybe you'll get the 1 Corvette they're giving away. And then this gives them your phone number so they can hound you for the rest of your life. Some things just aren't worth the risk...

I'm enough of a geek to have actually read the rules. You get the brand (Olds, Chevy, GMC, etc) of the type of vehicle you "play" in, you just don't get to choose the model or anything. So if you play at a Chevy dealer and win, you're probably getting a Cavalier or whatever the low end car is now.

But they are giving away some of each brand -- 625 Chevys, lots of Pontiacs, on down to a handful of Saabs and 2 Hummers.

Since my mission is to test as many different models as possible anyway, I'll probably all myself to be talked into a demonstration of a 9-5. As for the phone number thing, everyone short of Alcanon has my number, what's one more telemarketer?

Link to official rules

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by Dave
I'm enough of a geek to have actually read the rules. You get the brand (Olds, Chevy, GMC, etc) of the type of vehicle you "play" in, you just don't get to choose the model or anything. So if you play at a Chevy dealer and win, you're probably getting a Cavalier or whatever the low end car is now.

But they are giving away some of each brand -- 625 Chevys, lots of Pontiacs, on down to a handful of Saabs and 2 Hummers.

Link to official rules

I wouldn't take a Cavalier for free.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
I wouldn't take a Cavalier for free.

funny. I was just thinking that. Besides, if it doesn't have a heated steering wheel, what good is it?

[Dave]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
funny. I was just thinking that. Besides, if it doesn't have a heated steering wheel, what good is it?

edited to delete inadvertent post

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by mmm3587
Evaluating a car's protection based solely on size and weight is excatly the kind of antiquated thinking that kills Americans in traffic accidents at a much higher rate than similarly developed countries.

Exactly. Everyone thinks that an SUV will hold up better at impact without realizing that a smaller car can maneuver better to avoid the impact in the first place...

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by NotFromHere

Nice minivan.

I'm waiting for Mork to jump out.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
[blah blah blah ... suv stuff]

Great. Wonderful. I still would not buy one. Why do you care? I prefer the handling and pep of my compact sedan. It is mainly a "fun to drive" thing for me, though I do get annoyed by ginormous suv's (and pickups, for that matter) that obstruct my view or take up multiple parking spaces. And on some level I think that the sheep who buy one just because they are the current trend are wasting gas and money.

As an aside, my SO has a small suv that probably gets better gas mileage than my car (and cost significantly less than my car). He has it for hauling band equipment. I respect his decision to buy it and it was not a bad decision for him, but I would never buy/own one. I have no need and they do nothing for me.

As a further aside, I have been passing on the Saab station wagon discussion to him in hopes that he might choose a cute little wagon for his next vehicle. Hey, I can try...


ETA: As a yet additional aside, my mom (who lives in rural NY state with a 40 or 45 grade gravel driveway) also has an suv (little one again) out of necessity. Again, fine with me - I'm glad she can get out of her driveway during the winter. She had a Suburu a while back and it was crap compared to the Jeeps she's owned ever since...

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
As a further aside, I have been passing on the Saab station wagon discussion to him in hopes that he might choose a cute little wagon for his next vehicle. Hey, I can try...

I'm glad I can admit this here. I have been longing for a Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon for a couple of years, but now I think the Audi allroad quattro wagon, which I met last weekend at the auto show, might be my soul mate.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
I'm glad I can admit this here. I have been longing for a Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon for a couple of years, but now I think the Audi allroad quattro wagon, which I met last weekend at the auto show, might be my soul mate.

just get it with the cladding painted, though.

[Dave]

Auto accessories, some interesting, some not so much, found at Detroit Auto Show

(spree: newspaper story, limited kiddie porn)

Yes, Virginia, you can get your Touareg with a heated steering wheel.



Germans may start importing German cars from the U.S. to save big bucks

(spree: CNN news story, no porn at all).

Da (sounds like a better deal than drugs from Canada) ve

[dc_chef]

J Mays did a far better job on the new GT than on the new Cobra:



especially when compared to the old one: