Pittsburgh sounds like a dream come true... (California: buy, college)

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

II would never do it...but there are certainly some parts of the Midwest like that - Michigan for sure. It does seem most common in the SOUTH though...I think I recall some Hollywood movie about some Texas town and their high school superstar on the football field, if I recall correctly.

Are you being sarcastic? Giving you the benefit of the doubt, the movie was Friday Night Lights, now made into a TV program. I wouldn't make a statement about the culture of an area based on something meant for entertainment.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I wouldn't make a statement about the culture of an area based on something meant for entertainment.

Read the book, much different perspective.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Are you being sarcastic? Giving you the benefit of the doubt, the movie was Friday Night Lights, now made into a TV program. I wouldn't make a statement about the culture of an area based on something meant for entertainment.

The movie is based on a nonfiction book written by a journalist, and his portrayal of the town is far from entertaining.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_...m,_and_a_Dream

[Fiddlehead]

I think Hopes comment about the small town thing is probably closest to the truth ,in my experience. I grew up in Porterville, a poor little hispanic/oakie farming town of the southern San Joaquin Valley in California (think "Grapes of Wrath" meets "Lone Star"). It is a dusty town with friendly people, character, and some world class mountains nearby, but where few folks go to college, and if they do, they don't come back. In that town, your high school achievements are often the highwater mark for your social life. Needless to say, high school sports are a very big deal, as are school band and choir concerts, plays,etc. . and of course, "cruising" on Friday and Saturday nights, oh, and bowling trophies.

My Dad was a basketball nut, but my Mom's family did not really go for that. Grandpa owned a wrecking yard, and my uncles were dirt track racers at Rocky Hill Speedway! One uncle had a blazing orange Chevy with the number 007 on the side. High school football can't touch that for cool I had a very "bitchin" 1970 Chevelle in high school, but was destined to disappoint the family by not becoming a mechanic, and worse yet, becoming a tree hugger.

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

I had a very "bitchin" 1970 Chevelle in high school, but was destined to disappoint the family by not becoming a mechanic, and worse yet, becoming a tree hugger.

If there's one thing the 70's got mostly right (I was pretty far from living them) it was the autos. My stomach sinks every time I have to hear the story about how my aunt's 1969 Mustang was destroyed by a major flood in New Ken. Chevelles are about the only type of Chevy I have any taste for. I actually almost had the opportunity to buy a late 70's Datsun, but in hindsight, probably wouldn't have been the best car to learn to drive on.

Seriously though, I'm a pretty "green" and "environmentally conscious" person too, but I think I could make an exception for vintage era cars.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

I think Hopes comment about the small town thing is probably closest to the truth ,in my experience. I grew up in Porterville, a poor little hispanic/oakie farming town of the southern San Joaquin Valley in California (think "Grapes of Wrath" meets "Lone Star"). It is a dusty town with friendly people, character, and some world class mountains nearby, but where few folks go to college, and if they do, they don't come back. In that town, your high school achievements are often the highwater mark for your social life. Needless to say, high school sports are a very big deal, as are school band and choir concerts, plays,etc. . and of course, "cruising" on Friday and Saturday nights, oh, and bowling trophies.

My Dad was a basketball nut, but my Mom's family did not really go for that. Grandpa owned a wrecking yard, and my uncles were dirt track racers at Rocky Hill Speedway! One uncle had a blazing orange Chevy with the number 007 on the side. High school football can't touch that for cool I had a very "bitchin" 1970 Chevelle in high school, but was destined to disappoint the family by not becoming a mechanic, and worse yet, becoming a tree hugger.

Sounds like small town America everywhere, not just the midwest and the south, since you grew up in California, which was somewhat my point.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Impala26

If there's one thing the 70's got mostly right (I was pretty far from living them) it was the autos. My stomach sinks every time I have to hear the story about how my aunt's 1969 Mustang was destroyed by a major flood in New Ken. Chevelles are about the only type of Chevy I have any taste for. I actually almost had the opportunity to buy a late 70's Datsun, but in hindsight, probably wouldn't have been the best car to learn to drive on.

Seriously though, I'm a pretty "green" and "environmentally conscious" person too, but I think I could make an exception for vintage era cars.

There was a thread, I think on the Detroit or Michigan forum...something about what the Detroit auto companies should do.

One person suggested, they need to make CARS that were cool again, like the Chevelles, Mustangs, etc. That is what American autos were all about. I thought about it for a second, and yeah, I can see that.

Most of the American cars these days look almost identical to Japanese and foreign cars, but are such poor quality and poor gas mileage, what's the point?

Granted the old gas guzzlers weren't much better, and even myself growing up from MI, should buy American, but I'd prefer the quality/efficiency of a Japanese car. BUT, if I could get one of those cool cars like back in the day....hmmm....maybe I'm getting a bit too old for one...but still, those were so cool.

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Most of the American cars these days look almost identical to Japanese and foreign cars, but are such poor quality and poor gas mileage, what's the point?

That in there lies the problem. Chevy's new models look American and they out perform their Japanese counterparts in virtually every category, including mpg. Look it up.

This is not direct at you, personally, but people need to start researching cars again before they purchase. They just assume anymore that, "Oh, it's Japanese, it must be better." Well, they're not.

Like the adds say, may the best car win.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by dugdogmaster

That in there lies the problem. Chevy's new models look American and they out perform their Japanese counterparts in virtually every category, including mpg. Look it up.

This is not direct at you, personally, but people need to start researching cars again before they purchase. They just assume anymore that, "Oh, it's Japanese, it must be better." Well, they're not.

Like the adds say, may the best car win.

I'm actually in Japan now, almost no American cars here...except for the occassional Hummer type or status ones.

The Chevy's new models...is that 2009 or upcoming 2010? New cars would be way out of my price range, but that is good news down the road when I'm looking for a good 5-year-old used car!

I'm going to have to check those out later online - the new Chevys, for aesthetics, etc. That is good news.

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by tiger beer

the chevy's new models...is that 2009 or upcoming 2010?

2010.