General Discussion

liberalmike27

(2,479 posts)

62. I Used to Drive

Mon Jul 22, 2013, 11:01 AM

Jul 2013

My mom's 1966 Chevy Bel Air, which I believe was very similar to this car, perhaps on the same chassis. It was a pretty good car I thought.

My mom still buys Chevy's, has a 1996 Caprice, and if she manages to buy another one, it'll likely be an Impala. I have a Cobalt, first year model. It's pretty fair, had to have both headlights replaced due to wiring, which they did for free, had a small leak in the AC inside on passenger side, which they did for free, and the Steering electric motor stopped working, which made it drive like a tank. It took some phoning, but they covered that under the 5 year drive-train (happened at about 45,000 miles), for free. Then later, they recalled it.

It sounds like a lot, but it has been a pretty sound car otherwise, and I expected some problems. But the company has been honorable at fixing what went wrong. So I can't complain too much.

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OK, born and raised a Detroiter. Over 60, and here's my take on what happened. [View all] Faygo Kid Jul 2013 OP

Thank you for this bit of history, my dear Faygo Kid. CaliforniaPeggy Jul 2013 #1

Thank you, CaliforniaPeggy, for always being there for all on DU. Faygo Kid Jul 2013 #3

Gutting of Globalization liberalmike27 Jul 2013 #61

I agree, liberalmike27 JDPriestly Jul 2013 #69

i have always wondered if japan was literally 'given' the small car market. i ran across an HiPointDem Jul 2013 #75

Being a tad older than Faygo Kid ... GeorgeGist Jul 2013 #110

i'm old enough to remember that too. but appearances can be deceiving. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #111

I have lived in small towns and rural areas all of my life but the cities were something roguevalley Jul 2013 #26

Industry and national trade gave rise to cities. JDPriestly Jul 2013 #70

looks more like urban life is going to become a gated community, & suburbs the hell. suburban HiPointDem Jul 2013 #76

Depends on how you define "suburb." JDPriestly Jul 2013 #77

I think there's a standard definition for suburb though. I assume that's the one researchers are HiPointDem Jul 2013 #79

Interesting. I live close to the inner city. My area is being gentrified, but they want to build a JDPriestly Jul 2013 #83

i thought those cubicle apts were targeted at 20-somethings who don't want roommates & are HiPointDem Jul 2013 #98

K&R pscot Jul 2013 #2

I spent much of that time in Boston Warpy Jul 2013 #4

Well said. I forgot to mention Poletown in Detroit. Faygo Kid Jul 2013 #6

There were white elephants in Boston, too Warpy Jul 2013 #11

I wonder if those urban planners were disciples of Robert Moses ... eppur_se_muova Jul 2013 #99

What about the instances where that doesn't happen? Heywood J Jul 2013 #22

Those aren't going through dense, east coast city neighborhoods. Warpy Jul 2013 #25

You're correct. The last three are dense, (vaguely) midwest city neighborhoods in a city founded in Heywood J Jul 2013 #39

Why not have public transportation -- trains -- instead? JDPriestly Jul 2013 #71

That's not a blanket answer that works everywhere. ag_dude Jul 2013 #88

Trains are desirable to have as well, but trains only work in certain places. Heywood J Jul 2013 #95

the freeways are for us foreigners, at least partly hfojvt Jul 2013 #100

You have two ways to get to Windsor from Detroit navarth Jul 2013 #102

If you don't mind taking a slight detour... DissidentVoice Jul 2013 #103

That is more than a slight detour to get to Windsor navarth Jul 2013 #106

They are DissidentVoice Jul 2013 #109

Only thing that is different Warpy is that TO is not on the coast. ConcernedCanuk Jul 2013 #46

Wow! - 400, 401 - Don Valley Parkway, even snuck the CN Tower in there! ConcernedCanuk Jul 2013 #45

Great post. Scurrilous Jul 2013 #5

I was born 11 years after you and grew up 3-4 miles north of you. etherealtruth Jul 2013 #7

Hoping to complete the circle, and retire back to Michigan next year Faygo Kid Jul 2013 #9

The DIA is still incredibly wonderful! etherealtruth Jul 2013 #12

Love the Perry Hotel, and everything Petoskey Faygo Kid Jul 2013 #20

What a sad irony. surrealAmerican Jul 2013 #8

Detroit ain't "killed" - just struggling ConcernedCanuk Jul 2013 #49

My first car was Honda civic, great front wheel drive. xtraxritical Jul 2013 #57

Took the North American auto industry decades to catch on ConcernedCanuk Jul 2013 #58

I watched it happen. xtraxritical Jul 2013 #66

I saved some "Detroit Metal" though ConcernedCanuk Jul 2013 #89

Detroit was damaged by its economic model. Blanks Jul 2013 #63

What an amazing story DainBramaged Jul 2013 #10

Thanks, as well, from a fellow motorhead Mopar151 Jul 2013 #44

Speaking of pretty cars, this was mine ConcernedCanuk Jul 2013 #50

I Used to Drive liberalmike27 Jul 2013 #62

I lived in Southfield in the 50s... First Speaker Jul 2013 #13

Ah, the Chevy Vega. Brigid Jul 2013 #14

Quite honestly, I really liked my Vega. kwassa Jul 2013 #41

It could be worse, it could have been a Pinto! xtraxritical Jul 2013 #68

My ex brother in law still has his Pinto! 7962 Jul 2013 #104

I'll never forget the Pinto DissidentVoice Jul 2013 #114

I grew up in the western suburbs of Detroit. sufrommich Jul 2013 #15

Actually, that comes from people that knew Coleman well Faygo Kid Jul 2013 #18

East Town Theater, Cobo Hall, Joe Lewis Arena, etc. Holly_Hobby Jul 2013 #16

I grew up in the Flint area, and now live near Detroit. GreenEyedLefty Jul 2013 #17

K & R !!! WillyT Jul 2013 #19

China(mid70s): GHWBush, Prescott Bush, and Jackson Stephens plot with Chinese industrialists to move blm Jul 2013 #21

Googled the Bushes and Jackson Stephens... BornLooser Jul 2013 #34

It was the trade-off that paid off....for Bill. blm Jul 2013 #53

Brought into the fold. Vetted, controlled and owned by Bilderberg_Carlisle, etc. BornLooser Jul 2013 #87

Wait till you realize what a dog and pony show the whole Whitewater 'investigation' blm Jul 2013 #91

I've seen it and much more cover being given... BornLooser Jul 2013 #96

google stephens & the clintons as well. stephens (now jr) has tentacles in both parties. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #72

I'm reading the docs, statements, quotes, old news reports, etc., BornLooser Jul 2013 #85

I have: Global Fascism. Corporate empires ruled by powerful elite. blm Jul 2013 #90

For a long time now...keep 'em distracted with gadgets, gimmicks and guile. BornLooser Jul 2013 #97

Missed a big point...black people in Detroit pelister Jul 2013 #23

I think you missed my reference to that. And welcome to DU. Faygo Kid Jul 2013 #24

Some racism was brought up the Hillbilly Highway FarCenter Jul 2013 #31

Yup, racism deancr Jul 2013 #54

Once a Detroiter, always a Detroiter nt MrScorpio Jul 2013 #27

I tell people to go to a radom spot in Detroit and then in Windsor. It was intentional. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #28

Brilliant and thanks. Maybe low rent/artists will help bring it back? KittyWampus Jul 2013 #29

Thank you for the story! Vinnie From Indy Jul 2013 #30

The way the Detroit politicos are playing this is telling SleeplessinSoCal Jul 2013 #32

This message was self-deleted by its author silvershadow Jul 2013 #33

great thread, thanks ! nt steve2470 Jul 2013 #35

Interesting. Thanks for your insight. Arugula Latte Jul 2013 #36

Thanks you for this post, Faygo. spartan61 Jul 2013 #37

One thing nebraska has right is annexation laws joeglow3 Jul 2013 #38

Thank you for that lovely overview. SheilaT Jul 2013 #40

excellent insight! kwassa Jul 2013 #42

Born in Detroit, 1952, dad worked for GM ... kwassa Jul 2013 #43

Rec'd for a post which is really well put together. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #47

Born in William Beaumont hospital bluedeathray Jul 2013 #48

Regarding freeways... NWHarkness Jul 2013 #51

I'm right there with you FaygoKid! JNelson6563 Jul 2013 #52

In the Fifties, Robert Moses pretty did the same thing to the Bronx. no_hypocrisy Jul 2013 #55

Great post! Thank you so much! LiberalLoner Jul 2013 #56

Governor George Romney, father of the evil spawn, Mittens.. mountain grammy Jul 2013 #59

Many good times in Detroit. Cobo Hall, Masonic Temple, Ford Auditorium concerts L0oniX Jul 2013 #60

That photo of Northland The Blue Flower Jul 2013 #64

This article almost brought tears to my eyes. gholtron Jul 2013 #65

Well since all the Detroiters are checking in..... navarth Jul 2013 #67

kick kentuck Jul 2013 #73

History! Great stuff, Faygo Kid! calimary Jul 2013 #74

I personally think there were underlying factors that were more important than the ones in the HiPointDem Jul 2013 #78

Just curious? kentuck Jul 2013 #80

Um, I blame it on the war on unions and the working class and outsourcing, but, whatever, grahamhgreen Jul 2013 #81

+1 n/t Populist_Prole Jul 2013 #92

Hudsons downtown at Christmas was amazing... Bay Boy Jul 2013 #82

'Nother rust-belter. Cleveland - Akron - Pittsburgh. toby jo Jul 2013 #84

Great post Faygo, thanks, and thanks to those who added. Scuba Jul 2013 #86

I've called the Detroit area home for 21 years now..... llmart Jul 2013 #93

I guess there is no need to say much Faygo Kid!!! mstinamotorcity2 Jul 2013 #94

I wonder if they could lessen some of the poverty by converting some of the abandoned buildings back cstanleytech Jul 2013 #101

I believe there was a plan to do just that not too long ago 7962 Jul 2013 #105

Mixed messages going on GigiMommy Jul 2013 #107

No Mention of Redlining? Noslenca Jul 2013 #108

also low-interest & racially-targeted loans for homes in the suburbs v. the city. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #112

I now understand your ID: Faygo Kid emsimon33 Jul 2013 #113