pow

The SHO has EcoBoost, but at 16/25 mpg it's still not exactly an environmentalist's dream car... I was talking about the SHO's value for money, not its green credentials.

Interesting how you should mention that. The SHO is $6K more than the G8 GT, but even so, the Ford's pricing still seems very reasonable, even more so than the Pontiac's. The more expensive looking interior and exterior, the greater array of technology (SYNC, park assist, radar cruise, life traffic nav, etc), and all-wheel drive help. And something tells me it won't depreciate as quickly, too.

Awesome. I'd take one over a 535i and save the $20K... not to mention how a blue oval badge is probably more appropriate now than a BMW roundel.

Maybe it depends on what you order, or which restaurant you go to? A lot of Thai dishes aren't too different from Chinese dishes. You could always get fried rice, or dishes that aren't garnished with a lot of flavors... steamed mussels, for example. Pad see ew is almost identical to Chinese stir-fried rice noodle with broccoli, egg, and beef. I can't imagine there being anything offensive in that.

Haven't tried a cuisine I didn't like... Here's a blog where a guy eats food from a different country everyday... goes up to 102: http://www.manbitesworld.com/

There's nothing wrong with tofu, and it's certainly not "granola" or "chick food" or "health food"... people have been eating it for centuries, and most tofu dishes are quite tasty. It's the newfangled "textured soy protein" meat substitute crap, and I suppose that can be considered granola.

Looks like nothing else on the road... I like it. It's more interesting than the XC60 or SRX.

I wish it were more Opel or Chevy than Daewoo. I'm still getting a "generic Korean" vibe from that interior.

Costco seems to carry a lot of US-made goods. That BC3 actually looks pretty decent. Brilliance makes the 3- and 5-series for the Chinese market.

Switching to a fuel cell won't address the inefficiency of an E-REV; it just makes the generator emission-free. Until the battery can be charged as quickly as it is depleted - which is tricky under acceleration or while passing - there will always be underutilized battery capacity. With a plug-in hybrid, this is not a problem, as the engine can directly power the wheels.

Of course battery technology will improve over time, but an E-REV like the Volt isn't the most efficient use of 16 KWh. Because the batteries can't charge quickly enough, regardless of how powerful the generator is, half the battery serves as backup for the "extended-range" mode, leaving only half the capacity for EV-only propulsion. The advantages of an E-REV is the potential for 40 miles (city) of EV-only propulsion at infinite MPG. A plug-in hybrid like the Escape can achieve 40 miles of "just" 150 MPG, but it can use a far smaller, lighter, and cheaper battery. Past the first 40 miles, it will get better fuel economy than an E-REV, because it won't carry as much dead weight in unused battery capacity. If you gave the Escape Hybrid plug-in the same battery as the Volt's, you'd get far more than 40 miles of EV range, as you will using *all* of the battery's range. Once the battery is depleted, its gasoline engine can directly power the wheels.

It's as believable as an angry woman in a Chevrolet Captiva towing an offending tow truck away.

That sounds too stupid to pass. I doubt we'll see it.

While we're at it, 25 years of Volkswagen in China (cheesy patriotic Olympics material)... It seems as if they're really trying to "integrate" themselves into other countries' popular culture, much like Ford and Honda have done in Europe, building their vehicles locally and investing in local projects. Volkswagen in mainland China ("da zhong") means "the masses" - so imagine that, masses of the people's republic all driving to this one great unifying sports event... in the people's car!

Thank you. It's not worth replying to people who've already made up their minds on a state or city they don't even reside in. The ridiculousness speaks for itself.

Right. So now the majority of Angelenos have no common sense... As a fellow Kentuckian just said, when did ignorance become a point of view?

Um, there are plenty of Angelenos who have common sense, and I think you'd be surprised by how much we are like the "rest" of America. Turn off the Rush Limbaugh or whatever it is that's been "informing" your views, and you will discover hardworking, down to earth people who want the same things all Americans want.

This thing is a lot cheaper than the European Focus. It's a C-segment car for B-segment money. It has a version of SYNC called Blue&Me.

That's 100% BS, perpetuated maybe by media stereotypes but certainly not reality. To describe 38 million people in just a few broad brush strokes is ridiculous.

God I love gai lan. I've heard the corn starch marinade has more to do with texture than the actual amount of remaining liquid. To "da heen" (thicken a sauce), Chinese cooks usually pour in a mixture corn starch and water (just a bit) towards the end of the cooking, as a sort of reverse roux, I suppose.

It's 74F and sunny here on one of the "coasts."

You don't "need" a truck, but you "want" one? If you're not going to use it for towing or work, then it just depends on how desirable you think that particular truck is. I voted no, because you're going to regret buying something you don't need.

The best Honda is the Odyssey. Then the Fit, which is like a mini Odyssey.

There's always the Taurus, which is huge inside.

Sorry to hear that happened. The most important thing is you're okay.