gwilson

Yeah, that rumor has been around. Right now the dollar is pretty weak, so imports would be expensive. Building replicas in the US might be more economical, like how Saturns now are Opels with different badges.

Are you sure the Maybachs aren't running in the other direction?

The G8 is a Holden Commodore. They aren't importing them from Australia, they are building Holden designed cars since GM owns Holden (just like Opel with the Astra and Aura).

As far as the Buick, the Chinese apparently LOVE Buicks, it is THE luxury brand there. http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2007/04/2008-...hinese-get.html

Perhaps an S-Class/7-Series would be a more appropriate comparison.

I haven't seen the new Malibu in person, but it doesn't look bad in the pictures. Somehow I can't associate "Chevy Malibu" with "sexy". The current Impala was certainly an improvement over the last version.

The new Impala (also a Holden design like the G8) will be a much sexier car than previous gens ('cept for the 95-96 SS's, those were hot).

Buick's new Park Avenue in China gives Maybach's a run for their money

Spit on Hummer all you want, but it is one GM brand that picked its target and hit it. Too many GM products are watered down versions of when the design team originally wanted. Blame it on the bean-counters, blame it on whatever, but most of their mainstream auto's just dont hit the target.

The Corvette, CTS, Hummer, and their full-size pickups are the only products that dont miss the target. Out of all the cars and trucks they make, thats sad.

I wasn't spitting on Hummer. I was simply sharing a truth. I love Hummers. They are fun. Just be prepared to drop some coin to maintain it.

I meant design targets. It hit what the designers intended to create. The H3 has one of the nicest interiors GM has created in the past 20 years.

The new Tahoe/Suburban/Avalanche and the new Cadillac Escalade and CTS as well as Sierra and Yukon Denalis are all very nice interiors. The new Malibu is downright sexy.

Useful, maybe, but the design is so OTT for trips to the mall and such. Of course, I suppose Hummers are all about overdone styling.

I liked the ones from the late 1980s, before they started getting bulbous:

A hummer product is still a hummer product. There is a reason the military has mechanics in every convoy. They are needed to keep the things runnin.

The H1 hasn't changed since inception save for very minor changes. But it is a bit more delicate than people think. Having personally broken one, I consider myself accomplished.

The RL is really supposed to more boring than not. The TL is more in line with your demographic I reckon. Especially the 07/08 Type-S.

10k miles on our 07 and no complaints so far!

flipper

But the TL is small. The RL is in the same size range as the Avalon, LS, S-Class, A8, (swb models respectively), 300 Chrysler, etc. The TL is more in the E-Class/CLS, GS, A6 range.

I'm definetly not feeling the 4 door accord. I hope the 09 Acura TL doesn't take any inspiration from it.

flipper

I looked at the RL and was REALLY disappointed with it. It is a very nice car, but so boring. They could have tried harder.

The concept that FWD is more efficient than RWD is outdated. Now they are starting to put 300+hp engines in FWD cars. So long as the gear boxes can handle the power, there is nothing wrong with this either.

FWD has it's advantages for handling as well (less oversteer, car pulls you to where you want to go, etc). RWD is more fun, that's for sure.

Mistaking a Toyota for a Benz? That doesn't say much for that college educated Rocket does it?

FWIW, I'm dissapointed in the Accords. They are starting to look too American.

...or it could be saying a lot for the Avalon.

The new S-Class is an extremely nice car. It is light years ahead of its predecessors. It is a great looking, very technologically advanced vehicle that is extremely luxurious to boot. If I was looking to drop $140k on a luxury super-sedan, the S63 would be on my list damn near, if not at, the top.

It isn't a sexy vehicle, but it is a nice car. I've had one as a loaner a couple times, both times it was a vert as well. It is certainly nicer than other large verts in that price range.

My understanding is that it is going to undergo a major redesign and release under a new badge (my guess is an Avalon Couple or something of the like).

I know I'm glad I bought my Avalon though. I test drive every large sedan between 25 and 65k and the Avalon outdid them all. It was the best mix of luxury, looks, comfort, features, technology, power, interior styling and features and Toyota reliability didn't hurt.

I was once meeting with a homeowner with the owner of the company I was contracting for. He was driving a brand new S550 Benz and I was in my Avalon. Parked next to each other, they look very similar. The owner (a player for the Rockets) passed up his Benz and hopped in my Avalon and started playing with stuff. The best part was how ticked off the owner of the company was.

The new release I'm looking forward to the most is the redesigned Sequoia. I imagine it will take on the new Tundra's exterior and interior styling but with a bit more luxury. This sounds perfect to me.

I held the same opinion of the new Accord until 2:36PM yesterday afternoon. I saw one driving down Westheimer in silver paint. It is a pretty decent looking vehicle. It does look larger, but not in a bad way. It looks more adequate.

I still would take my Avalon over the Accord any day of the week, but it was definitely better than the previous generations.

EDIT:

The coupe is the sexiest coupe to come out of Japan in a while. Definitely better than the Solara and anything Nissan makes.

The mall is close to it's target demographic. You being a "white guy," I'm certain you're not going to concern yourself with where the black folk are staying, so let me school you. Most of the patrons who come to Sharpstown are from Fondren SW, Corporate Dr, Club Creek, Woodfair/Forum Park, Spice Lane and a number of middle class neighborhoods with sizeable black populations. The balance comes from the other side of town on the 2 - Bellaire (a bus black people ride). Most of the people who utilize the mall live within a 5-10 mile radius of it.

wow, condescend much? lol

This mall needs to be shut down, but not razed.

The mall has historical value in the country, not just the city. I would love to see it renovated to it's former 1960s glory. Had I won the megamillions, it would have happened too. lol.

Where is riverside terrace, I wanna take a drive today.

I'm glad they provided so many pictures!

No interior pics =(

VicMan, what is the point of always listing the schools? lol You do that in every thread with a HAR link.

The house is beautiful but the owners have ruined the interior with that semi-french country/provencial/smooshed together style.

If someone bought it and restored it to a true mod interior, it would be awesome. I LOVE the study and the game room, though they both need some de-rich-old-man-ifying.

If I had the money, I'd jump on this one. Horrible property taxes though.

So long as they enforce standards and demand that residents work to become gainfully employed in a reasonable amount of time, then great.

otherwise, yet another hand out. and handouts are proven to not work.

I like the old floor better. Color is good.

I still hate the logo though. Had I won the Mega Millions, I'd have doubled it in a day or so and bought a controlling interest in the Rockets and made them go back to the old logo or get a better new one.

I'm glad to have Mike back as he is a buddy of mine, so he will be around more often.

So what's the new name going to be... Pension Place?

No, that is the Enron building. Oh, wait.

I want to buy it and change the name to "GWilson's Big Friggen Building with a Bunch of Points on Top", not to be out done by what I rename Transco when I buy it "GWilson's Big Friggen Building with a Light on Top".

I'd be a skyscraper MOGUL!

*cough*exhale*cough*

Roche Bobois, Ligne Roset and Design Within Reach are all great for inspiration while on a tight budget. Definitely visit these stores for a good idea of modern design. Cantoni and Eurway are, well. I don't think they are as refined.

We did a photoshoot in the Ligne Roset (Lig knee Ross it) store for a business venture a few years back.

I've bought stuff from Exclusive Furniture. I've got some friends that work there so I get killer deals.

Most of the stuff is name brand. Got a really nice microfiber recliner for my father for $300 delivered (it was $900 everywhere else).

Some pictures of Hana-Barbera Land from another forum I found (too small to really see anything):

I'd still love to see some pictures of hana barbera land.

I could have SWORN it was in Sugarland or out that way.

Also, does anyone have any pictures of the hold castle hotel/apartments that was on 59 just north of Sharpstown Mall?

Someone mentioned that the restaurant in the picture with the Shamrock Hotel was Christie's Seafood. I thought the Shamrock was at Holcombe. Christie's is on Westhiemer by Texadelphia and Mama's cafe and has been for decades. A client of mine used to own it.