Satty

Talk about a blast from the past, I saw an old Saturn the other day with those stupid automatic seat belts. They still worked too, I watched the guy get out of the car because I'm a creep like that. Or I was in awe. I hated those things in moms old Saturn, so glad they're gone.

I'd love to see the split from other years, I'm sure there would be some interesting theories as to why Pontiac didn't have a 100% retention rate over the last 20 years.

Facelifted Magnum

With backup cameras and blind spot warnings becoming ubiquitous, something like that could fly these days without the rear visibility issues. Hopefully someone gives it a shot, mix things up a bit.

Planning a move?

I'd like a convertible, but I'm not seeing a path towards one that doesn't require Inceptioning the wife...

I don't think the point is to filter anything out, but to increase posting on the other boards.

Our core membership became a bit divided during election '08 and some people seem to be clinging to the Us vs. Them mentality

There isn't much in the way it discussion anymore, every thread seems to follow the same formula, the same half dozen or so people post the most predictable things and that's about it. New members seem to be non-existent. I'm thinking it has a least a little to do with cars becoming a secondary concern to even the most diehard car fans due to economic stress. It can't help that most of the news the last few years has been about the books instead of the cars.

Actually an open politics forum could drive traffic up to the auto boards, but as the last couple years have shown, some people can't keep theory political bias in check and it spills over into the other sections.

Have you considered making C&G a political forum with an automotive section?

Blue Devil mule

I just tell people to walk or ride a bike or take the bus if they dont want to pay gas prices. You'd think I was telling them to drink baby blood. As for the psychology, I equate it to ordering a Diet Coke with your bacon double cheeseburger and large fries.

Someone actually got pissy because I pointed out it would only be a strike if they didn't actually use any gas. At what point did we, as a country, become completely retarded?

According to Facebook, today is the gas strike. You're not supposed to go buy gas in order to send a message to big oil or something stupid. Apparently they don't realize that reduced use will lead to lower prices, not putting off a purchase for a day? I may go get gas out of spite.

Maybe we will get a Spark with a bed, a mini El Camino....

If it can haul as much or more stuff and use less fuel, it'll do fine.

My brother in law loves his trucks, in the last decade he's had some pretty sweet ones, even bought an old Accord for a commuter to justify keeping the F-150, but now its almost impossible to separate him from his Harley-Davidson Sportster. My friend Brandon has moved from being the biggest Mustang afficianado I've ever met to being a bike addict. He has a Harley and a Suzuki. So yeah, they can be addicting.

It's also nearly the time of year an inexpensive motorcycle will be a perfect commuter. I know a few people who have gone that route, since they need the truck for hauling 2-3 days a week, they get a bike for the rest of the week.

Crazy cycle, people buy gas guzzlers when gas is cheap, then freak out when it spikes and trade them off, then gas prices level off, which makes it seem cheap even though its significantly more than it had been so they grab another guzzlers. Then gas spikes again. It's pretty predictable, when gas holds steady around $3.75, people will buy trucks again until it spikes to $5, then when it settles around $4.50, more trucks! Sheep are sheep.

The problem Suzuki has is that people over 30 hear the name and think "rollover" while people under 30 hear it and think either "motorcycle" or "who?" Add that to the fact that they don't advertise and you have a recipe for going the way of Isuzu.

Assuming the Ducato gets here diesel only, it will have a very strong point to sell on.

Yeah, this seems,like one market where looks aren't a primary, or secondary or even tertiary concern.

Like the one he traded off a few weeks ago? Check Craigslist, I bet Metros go cheap.

If Wikipedia is correct, the Ducato is diesel only at the moment.