sanity check ...

Thu Oct 27 12:40:45 PDT 2011

I have to say, I think the Buick LaCrosse and Regal are really fine-looking cars. I had a LaCrosse when it was first redesigned
as a rental when taking a day-trip to Maine and thoroughly enjoyed it. And the Regal GS with 6-speed manual has me very interested. 

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

________________________________
From: Mark Rosenkrantz <speedracer.mark at gmail.com>
To: Hayes Myers <hayesmyers at gmail.com>
Cc: quattro at audifans.com
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 3:22 PM
Subject: Re: sanity check ...

GM used to be CRAP products.  My father had an 1989 Sedan DeVille which went
through 3 engines in 100K miles.  I mean total crap.  But starting in the
early 2000's and certainly today... they seem to be producing world class
products.  One of the really cool features on that 1989 Caddy- you could use
the climate control interface to pull codes.  Built in code reader!  My Z06
has something similar... I don't know why GM stopped doing that.  Really
cool... because it's a built-in code scanner... not just OBD2.

Why the Escalade?  Nice styling (for a truck), comfortable ride.  It's a
pickup which can take 4-5 people out to lunch in business suits and tow my
cars and haul dirty track tires, too!  Oh, and it's been TROUBLE FREE, save
for some age related items, like an alternator at 120K miles, wheel bearings
at 135K miles.  Two window regulators around 110K.  Seriously, trouble
free.  I broke it in, Mobil1 since 1000 miles.  5K intervals.  Change other
fluids every 50K miles.  Oh, and grease fittings everywhere... it still has
the original ball joints!  That truck is the most trouble free vehicle I've
ever owned, including my family vehicles.  Did I mention we had TWO
brand-new A8s which were lemons?  One a 1999 and one a 2000.

Oh, and at winter driving school one year, I had the fastest time (I was on
studded hakkas) driving the Escalade.  Really miffed quite a few Audi
drivers!  LOL
(Had I had my S4 on studs, I would've been faster, of course!).  =)

Mark Rosenkrantz

On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 11:43 AM, Hayes Myers <hayesmyers at gmail.com> wrote:

> my bud has 99/2000 GMC 2500 fully loaded with Allison and Diesel.  It's a
> boat anchor <2000000 km on it.  10k to do the head gasket fix. Scary. So be
> happy you don't have a new GM diesel!
> Yeah, my dad worked at GM and I'll never buy one.  Tundra would be tops on
> my list of big trucks.  As for Cadillac...well I guess one lives and
> learns.
> Z06 I understand, Escalady I don't.
>
> Cheers!
> Hayes,
>
> On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 10:07 AM, Vincent Gelinas <vrgelinas at gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > I would never own a GM product... I've had lots of family members that
> have
> > had nothing but trouble from them.
> >
> > Has anyone really lowered an A8?  I can imagine with the right (very
> mild)
> > body kit it would look like a missile cruising the freeway.
> >
> > V
> > Scoffing at Prii since 1989!
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 9:52 AM, Mark Rosenkrantz <
> > speedracer.mark at gmail.com
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > OK, so yeah, I have a Z06.  Best mileage car I currently own- 28 MPG on
> > the
> > > highway, all day long.
> > >
> > > My daily driver is a 2003 Escalade EXT.  14-15MPG, owned it since new,
> > > currently has 165,000 miles on it!  I'm looking for a new vehicle, the
> > GMC
> > > Acadia Denali is on the short list, primarily due to the 24MPG highway
> > > rating, 7 passenger seating, and 5000lb tow rating.  Wish I could get a
> > > manual transmission and a TDI (type) engine.
> > >
> > > You want low carbon footprint?  Go old, light, low power, low handling
> > > econobox (with no airbags, crash structure, ABS, etc.), or even
> something
> > > like a 1980's Rabbit GTi.  Save the planet.  After all, I need fuel for
> > > track events, so I thank-you in advance.  =)
> > >
> > > Or a Lotus.  Just don't bring more than a suitcase.
> > >
> > > Bottom line- weight is the enemy, and safety requires weight.  More
> > weight
> > > means beefier suspension, stiffer chassis, and wider tires to support
> it
> > > all.  Ultra light weight materials aren't commercially viable for most
> of
> > > us.  Audi does lead the way with the A8, but stops short.  Where's the
> > > carbon fiber, or TDI engine?  And that's an expensive chassis.
> > >
> > > I'm sorry, pretty much any Audi owner can't complain about others
> > wrecking
> > > the planet.  ;-)
> > >
> > > Oh, and lowering a car usually yeilds +2MPG.  One of the few
> performance
> > > items which RAISE fuel economy under all conditions.
> > >
> > > Mark Rosenkrantz
> > > PS- Steve, my 1987 Bertone (FIAT) X1/9 (which I still have in pieces),
> > has
> > > cast magnesium 13" rims.  Super light...  In high school, about 4 of my
> > > friends grabbed the rear bumper (mid engine car), with me in it... and
> > > almost raised the suspension fully so the tires were off the pavement.
>  I
> > > looked back and said, "do you really want me to spin the tires right
> > now?"
> > > LOL  It got 35-38 MPG with that 1.5L NA engine.
> > >
> > > On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 4:00 PM, Tess McMillan <tessmc at eskimo.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >> ha ha ha ha! &:-)
> > >>
> > >> Good point (made by the guy with the Z06)
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Wed, 26 Oct 2011, Mark Rosenkrantz wrote:
> > >>
> > >>  "creating more friction on the road" is an interesting way to look at
> > >>> it.... But isn't that the point?
> > >>> I'll take my luxury and performance, thank-you,
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >
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> >
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