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GM s car guy is betting Americans want to feel proud of their vehicles
Union Leader ^ | Apr 18 2002 | George Will

Posted on 04/18/2002 3:40:20 AM PDT by 2Trievers

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To: 2Trievers
American Legend O)||||(O


61 posted on 04/18/2002 8:08:36 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: clodkicker
My 19 year old son has no interest in speed and wants a Cadillac Seville STS instead. Times have changed.

Oh? Have you driven a all aluminium, DOC, 32V Northstar V8 Caddy lately? Believe me those things move! My dad has one and I took it on a trip, kicking it into the passing lane it pushes you back into your seat quite well and one might think its about to top out around 90; then the engine management system gets the clue that you're not on a Sunday drive and all those valves open up and it really starts to cook, and it doesn't feel like it wants to stop.

One of the best damn motors built anywhere. Mastercraft even offers them as an option on their boats.

62 posted on 04/18/2002 8:14:43 AM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: clodkicker
My 19 year old son has no interest in speed and wants a Cadillac Seville STS instead. Times have changed.

Heh heh heh. Speaking as a 19 year old male, I know EXACTLY what he's up to. A Caddy seems like a very buttoned-down, responsible car to have for a mature person, right? Keep in mind the STS is designed to handle quite well, and with the Northstar engine it's putting out around 280-300 horsepower!

Also look out for him to mention a Taurus SHO. It looks like your typical boring 4-door family sedan, but it has 220 horsepower and does 0-60 in under 7 seconds in some years. I almost got one; my dad was kind of alarmed by the power it had when we test-drove it. ;)
63 posted on 04/18/2002 8:15:15 AM PDT by mn12
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To: uglybiker
Yes, I meant the 440 Magnum. Don't know why hemi came into mind. That was a 426, wasn't it?
64 posted on 04/18/2002 8:19:03 AM PDT by pt17
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To: 2Trievers; general_re
My dream garage...

Daily Driver - BMW M3 Convertible

Pickup- Ford F250 Super Duty Diesel 4x4

SUV- V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Sportscar 1 - Ferrari 550/575 Maranello

Sportscar 2 - RUF Porsche 911 Turbo

Exotic - McLaren F1 GTR (or Porsche GT1 EVO, tossup)

Race Car - Ferrari 333SP (or 71 Porsche 917k, tossup)

Sedan - BMW M5

American Iron - 1967 Corvette 427 coupe (or late 60ish Hemi Challenger, tossup)

Motorcyle 1: Suzuki GSXR 1000, to go fast.

Motorcycle 2: Ducati 996, to look cool.

And maybe a Harley for when I need to make a lot of noise, but don't want to go fast.

65 posted on 04/18/2002 8:19:31 AM PDT by xsrdx
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To: clodkicker
My 19 year old son has no interest in speed and wants a Cadillac Seville STS instead

Hmm. Aside from costing $50k and the 150mph top end, the STS seems like a GREAT car for a teenager! Nothing like starting at the top. All joking aside, that Cadillac will flat haul a** for a big fat GM sedan, and a front driver at that.

How about an Acura RSX? Or even a clean used BMW 5 series if he wants a sedan.

66 posted on 04/18/2002 8:28:10 AM PDT by xsrdx
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To: 2Trievers
Recommend reading Ron Champion's book, Build Your Own Sports Car, ISBN 1 85960 636 9. I've had it with power stearing, windows, seats; sound systems, automatic transmissions, traction control, front wheel drive torque steer, computer controls, and the prospect of drive by wire. If I build it I know who to blame when it fails.....
67 posted on 04/18/2002 8:31:15 AM PDT by lmailbvmbipfwedu
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To: xsrdx
Nice list! LOL ... I have a couple of empty barns! &;-)

You have FReepmail.

68 posted on 04/18/2002 8:32:00 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: lmailbvmbipfwedu
Sounds like you need an old Lotus Seven, or maybe a nice clean E type Jag.

Add some stringback gloves, and a nice plaid beret, and off you go...

69 posted on 04/18/2002 8:34:18 AM PDT by xsrdx
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To: Trust but Verify
It'll be a long time before I buy another 'American made' car. They're pieces of CRAP! GM products are the worst. For what I can afford, Honda and Toyota make the best cars IMHO.

I just bought a 2000 Honda Accord EX 4-Door. I love it! Wouldn't have thought to buy anything American.

70 posted on 04/18/2002 8:38:15 AM PDT by MotleyGirl70
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To: 2Trievers
I'll never buy a GM as long as Jeff Gordon is driving a Chevy.
71 posted on 04/18/2002 8:42:19 AM PDT by aomagrat
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To: Trust but Verify
Wishbone suspension; it drives nice and smoooooooth.
72 posted on 04/18/2002 8:42:30 AM PDT by MotleyGirl70
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To: xsrdx
My dream garage: Jeep Wrangler
Ducati Supersport 900
Suzuki Bandit 1200
BMW Z3
Attainable, affordable fun. Like Ralph Cramden being able to somehow get the lovely Audrey Meadows.

73 posted on 04/18/2002 8:54:46 AM PDT by Wm Bach
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To: xsrdx
No, no, no - you're all wrong ;)

Daily Driver - BMW M3 Convertible

Naahh - BMW Z3.

Pickup- Ford F250 Super Duty Diesel 4x4

SUV- V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Don't do trucks, but a Range Rover in a pinch ;)

Sportscar 1 - Ferrari 550/575 Maranello

No, no - 512TR.

Sportscar 2 - RUF Porsche 911 Turbo

Bleh. Gimme the HMS-modified Viper and I'll smoke that krautmobile like a cheap cigar ;)

Exotic - McLaren F1 GTR (or Porsche GT1 EVO, tossup)

Throw the F40/50/60 in, and now we're talking...

Sedan - BMW M5

Hmmmm. Jag - my wife likes Jags. I could care less ;)

American Iron - 1967 Corvette 427 coupe (or late 60ish Hemi Challenger, tossup)

1970 Pontiac GTO convertible, or maybe the '71 426-Hemi Barracuda - good call...

I'll grant you the rest ;)

74 posted on 04/18/2002 8:58:08 AM PDT by general_re
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To: general_re
'71 426-Hemi Barracuda

I forgot the 'Cuda in my haste, actually a better looking car than the Challenger. Not to mention the absolute hammer down ferocity that accompanies the phrase, "Hemi 'Cuda".

Those early 389 GTO's are still gorgeous cars also, they got a little bloated by the mid 70's.

Amazing how almost all of the truly great muscle cars were made between 1965-1971.

Imagine if the oil crisis hadn't brought us miracles like the Gremlin, Pacer and Pinto?

75 posted on 04/18/2002 9:13:23 AM PDT by xsrdx
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To: xsrdx
Imagine if the oil crisis hadn't brought us miracles like the Gremlin, Pacer and Pinto?

Oh, and the Vega, I can't believe I forgot the VEGA.

76 posted on 04/18/2002 9:25:11 AM PDT by xsrdx
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To: xsrdx
Yeah, it was gas prices that did 'em all in, I think. And rising insurance prices are gradually killing off their latter-day (inferior) replacements like your Firebirds and Mustangs. Sigh.

The '71 'Cuda was really the last and best of the breed. There's something special about that car...

77 posted on 04/18/2002 9:30:19 AM PDT by general_re
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To: SoCal Pubbie
1960 Chevy Impala


78 posted on 04/18/2002 9:57:54 AM PDT by Lost Highway
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To: xsrdx
Oh, and the Vega, I can't believe I forgot the VEGA.

Oh, the Vega wasn't so bad. Shoehorn in a built 350 and a beefy drivetrain, then paint it red. A 6-point rollcage and subframe connectors would be good ideas, too - that much torque tends to twist a Vega until the windshield pops out. Actually, I had not seen a Vega in years, save for ones gutted and turned into drag cars. Then, just last week, I saw a guy on the Interstate driving a *Cosworth Vega*. That was a neat surprise, and I'm not that big a Chevy fan.

79 posted on 04/18/2002 10:14:29 AM PDT by Charles Martel
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To: Registered
Yessir, the only car ever built with a barbecue pit in the back seat...as standard equipment.
80 posted on 04/18/2002 10:16:59 AM PDT by Ranxerox
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