sciguy_0504

I agree with Oldsmoboi and Petra. I noticed that Toyota was packing more standard equipment into their newly redesigned cars and allowing people to order upscale options for cars they don't really belong on. For example, a base IS has the smart access system, push-button start. The new Yaris will also have that, I believe, though not standard. Plus, you have to remember that Toyota only has 3 divisions, each of which has a pretty specific market so it's fairly easy to design a car and get it to market knowing who your target market is.

Who's Tom Wait?

I'm providing for my own retirement. In my short 18 years I've learned not to rely on government or business to support me and I'm all the better for it.

2.5 Altima moves pretty well for a 4 cylinder.

Double standards irritate the hell out of me, too.

Nope, just terrorist land. People won't be too thrilled about that. Did any company ever consider launching a plant in Africa and heavily using it? I know GM has one in South Africa to produce the H3. I'm pretty sure South African currency (the rand?) is far below value against the USD. Plus, the Aussie dollar is still below the value of the USD.

I will never support socialized medicine for the masses. Medicaid (for poor people) and Medicare (for old people) are just it for me. I'd rather continue to spend money on my own health insurance knowing that I am supporting myself and only myself (family included). I recently had a surgery and I was able to log-in to my health insurance carrier's website to see how much it cost: $13,000. That one surgery was much more than my family's health insurance premiums. Cutting down on these idiotic malpractice awards (if it REALLY was the doctor's fault) would help tremendously. Congress is a bunch of lawyers so that won't happen anytime soon.

People suing everyone because they're "offended" with what they said or did. AHHHHHHH!

Hey Stace, just wondering: Does flying planes into buildings constitute peace?

Southwest has made a profit since it's 2nd year in business, I believe. Those $49 one-way flights make money somehow.

Sounds like the plot of a weird movie.

HAHA. German-style.

It looks like it's trying too hard. Take off the body kit and ugly rims and we'll see how it looks then.

...because doing keg stands and what not is sooooo cool.

IBuyGM - The teacher union thing was on my local news station in Philadelphia. It was a suburban school district. I posted it because I said something about unions asking for huge pay increases and that made my point. 15% a year each year for 3 years is 45% total. For example, a $50,000 will jump to $72,500, not including benefits. That is totally rediculous, especially when the teachers are demanding less work, as they are in this case. I know, I know, they ask for 15% so they can have some negotiating room. Funny thing is that if the school district came back with a proposed 5% pay increase for each year up to 3 years, they'd strike.

Northwest and Delta filed for bankruptcy today. Yes the management is at fault but it's not all their fault. Everything that eats at a company's profits is to blame from wages to fuel.

I see a fair share of upmarket Accords and Camrys around here, as well as other cars. I'll admit that I don't live in the poorest area of the country, though.

I want to be a smartass and make an Edmund's-esque comment but I won't.

I just saw a piece on my local news about a local teacher's union going on strike. They're demanding a 15% raise each year for 3 years, I believe, and less work. Less work meaning not monitoring elementary school kids on the playground or in the cafeteria, shorter hours, etc. Average salary is in the $60's.

Why did I have to click on this thread?

Hopefully Saab/GM can keep the momentum going. I haven't seen an ad for it yet.

The current gen Passat, quality issues or not, is in a different league.

That's what I say.

:puke: :puke: :puke:

From experience, you and your relationship with your girlfriend's "friends" (as I call them) will break you up.